USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 B65h v.II 1139041
M. L.
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 8952
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https://archive.org/details/historyofoldsout2166hill
A
Old Mill Street.
HISTORY
OF THE
OLD SOUTH CHURCH
(Third Church)
BOSTON, MASS.
1669-1884
BY
HAMILTON ANDREWS HILL
IN TWO VOLUMES VOLUME II.
bienTau
The Riverside Dress
BOSTON AND NEW YORK HOUGHTON, MIFFLIN AND COMPANY The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass.
1890
Copyright, 1889 BY HAMILTON ANDREWS HILL All rights reserved.
The Riverside Press, Cambridge, Mass., U. S. A. Electrotyped and Printed by H. O. Houghton & Company.
1139041
" And these all, having had witness borne to them through their faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing concern- ing us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect."
.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. 1750-1758.
A NEW PSALM BOOK. - THE END OF A LONG CO-PASTORATE. - THE PRINCE LIBRARY.
PAGES
Thanksgiving Collection. - The Rev. Jonathan Edwards. - Preface to his "Humble Inquiry." - Troubles at Northampton. - A Council. - Old and New Style. - Death of Edward Winslow. - King's Chapel rebuilt. - The Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton. - The Bay Psalm Book. - The Earthquake of 1755. - Mr. Prince's Discourse. - Death of Edward Bromfield. - Triumphs of the British Arms. - Death of Josiah Willard. - Trinitarian Controversy. -Mr. Prince's Version of the Psalms. - Deacon Henchman. - Death of Mr. Prince. - His Position as an Historian. - His Library I-44
CHAPTER II. 1758-1767. TWO INSTALLATIONS. - POLITICAL DISTURBANCES.
Anthony Brackett. - Supplies for the Pulpit. - The Rev. Alexander Cum- ming .- The Fire of 1760. - Mr. Cumming's Installation. - The Installa- tion Dinner. - Mr. Cumming's Preaching. - The Doctrine of Shepard and Hooker. - Missionary Zeal. - Deacon Samuel Sewall. - David Jeffries. - Mr. Cumming's Death. - William Phillips. - The Rev. Samuel Blair. - An- drew Oliver. - The Stamp Act. - Mr. Blair's Installation. - Retrenchment at Funerals. - The Colleges and the Churches. - Dr. Sewall's Last Entry 45-89
CHAPTER III. 1768-1771.
CHANGES IN THE PASTORATE. - TOWN MEETINGS.
The Rev. John Lathrop. - Town Meeting at the Old South. - Gawen Brown's Clock. - A New Form of Admission to the Church. - Richard Gridley and Shippie Townsend. - Dr. Sewall's Death. - Tributes by Dr. Chauncy and Phillis Wheatley. - Mr. Blair's Resignation. - Correspondence between Mr. Blair and the Church. - Terms of Admission again changed. - The Boston Massacre. - Deacon Sewall's Resignation. - A Case of Discipline. - Mr. Whitefield's Last Visit. - His Death. - Jonathan Mason. - A Solemn Ad- monition. - The Rev. John Hunt and the Rev. John Bacon. - A Question of Precedence. - Thomas Dawes's Plan of the Church's Real Estate. - Testi- monial to Mr. Blair. - Death of Mrs. Gill. - A Double Installation . 90-145
vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV.
1771-1775-
MORE TROUBLE IN THE PASTORATE. - THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION. - THE SIEGE OF BOSTON.
An Unpopular Proclamation. - Death of Thomas Hubbard. - Town Meetings. - Destruction of the Tea. - Death of Andrew Oliver. - The Boston Port Bill. - Report on Mr. Bacon's Preaching. - Action on the Report. - Mr. Bacon's Reply. - The Fifth of March, 1775. - Joseph Warren's Oration. - Lexington and Concord. - William Dawes's Ride. - The Siege of Boston. - The Old South Meeting-House occupied. - The Old Parsonage torn down. - Death of Mr. Hunt. - Mr. Hooker's Sermon. - " The Hope of Man Destroyed ". 146-183
CHAPTER V. 1776-1799.
REHABILITATION.
A Scene of Desolation. - The Second Church. - King's Chapel opened to the Old South Congregation. - The Rev. Joseph Eckley. - Oral or Written Relations. - Mr. Eckley's Letter of Acceptance. - His Ordination. - John Hancock and Thomas Cushing. - Samuel Adams to John Scollay. - Testi- monial to Mr. Bacon. - The Old State House. - Restoration of the Meeting- House. - A Generous Appeal. - The Rev. James Freeman. - The Rev. John Murray. - The Doctrine of Restoration. - Mr. Eckley's Pamphlet. - Dr. Chauncy's Answer. - Mr. Eckley's " Appendix." - First Services in the Re- stored Meeting-House. - Tenure of Pew Property. - The Treaty of Peace. - The Rev. Peter Thacher. - Death of Deacon Jeffries. - Thomas Dawes. - A New Baptismal Covenant. - Death of Dr. Chauncy. - The Rev. Jeremy Belknap. - A Fire at the South End. - Hollis Street Meeting-House. - A New Missionary Society. - Death of Thomas Cushing. - The Rev. Jedidiah Morse. - Samuel Adams. - The Vice-Presidency. - Mr. Adams joins the Old South. - Installation at Concord, N. H. - Presbyterian Tendencies. - Death of John Scollay. - Mr. Eckley's Thanksgiving Sermon, 1791. - The Rev. Thomas Gray. - Death of John Hancock. - Samuel Salisbury and William Phillips, Jr. - Fire near Fort Hill. - Concerted Prayer. - Death of Jonathan Mason. - The Meeting-House repaired. - Dr. Eckley's Thanks- giving Sermon, 1798. - Death of Dr. Belknap 184-270
CHAPTER VI.
1800-1808.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE OLD SOUTH PROPERTY. - THE RIGHTS OF THE CHURCH THEREIN.
Proposal to build Stores in Milk Street. - Opinion of Theophilus Parsons. - Provision for letting Pews. - Death of John Sweetser. - Chandelier pre- sented in his Behalf. - The General Association. - The Rev. William E. Channing. - Death of Samuel Adams. -- Death of William Phillips, Senr. - A Paper by Dr. Eckley on the Rights of the Church. - Tuesday Evening Services. - Parish Business. - Incorporation proposed. - A Missionary Ser- mon. - The Rev. Charles Lowell. - His Ordination. - The West Church. - Dr. Eckley's Dudleian Lecture. - A Notice not read by Dr. Eckley. - Protest of Eighteen Church Members. - Adjustment of the Difficulty. -
vii
CONTENTS.
The Rev. Joshua Huntington. - A New Pulpit. - Mr. Huntington's Ordina- tion. - Mr. Channing's Address. - Removal of the First Church. - The Sec- ond Church in Dorchester. - The Rev. John Pierce's Sermon. - The Rev. John Codman. - His Ordination. - Mr. Channing's Sermon. - The Em- bargo Act
271-335
CHAPTER VII. 1809-1815.
A WIDENING BREACH AMONG THE CHURCHES. - ANOTHER WAR.
Death of Thomas Dawes. - The Rev. Henry Kollock. - Park Street Church gathered. - Its Meeting-House. - Mr. Huntington's Marriage. - New Par- sonage Houses. - A Report on the Funds. - The American Board of Mis- sions. - The Old South Meeting-House in Danger. - Isaac Harris. - Death of Dr. Eckley. - His Funeral. - Dr. Lathrop's Sermon. - Anniversary Week. - Fire at Newburyport. - The Rev. Edward D. Griffin. - State of the Churches in 1811. - Letter of the Rev. Francis Parkman. - Ordination of Foreign Missionaries. - The Missionary Spirit. - Another Embargo Act. - The Prince Library. - The War of 1812. - Two Ordinations. - Parish Affairs. - The Proposals of 1705 revived. - A Bank Defalcation. - The Treaty of Ghent. - The September Gale, 1815. - Absent Members . 336-389
CHAPTER VIII. 1816-1820. BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES.
Death of Dr. Lathrop. - A New Bell. - Abigail Waters .- An Historic Prayer Meeting. - A Vestry to be built. - Josiah Salisbury and Edward Phillips. - The Rev. Sereno E. Dwight. - Society for the Moral and Religious Instruc- tion of the Poor. - Education Society. - Samuel Hall Walley. - Christmas Day, 1817. - Parish Affairs. - Death of Samuel Salisbury. - Concert of Prayer. - Ordination of Missionaries. - Mr. Huntington's Address on Mis- sions. - Essex Street Church. - The Rev. James Sabine. - Old South Char- ity School. - Ordination of the Rev. John Pierpont. - Old South and Hollis Street Churches. - Death of Mr. Huntington. - Mr. Dwight's Sermon. - Mr. Codman's Sermon. - An Elegy. - A Committee of Inquiry. - A Mission to Palestine. - A Farewell Missionary Service. - Death of John Winslow. - Death of Mrs. Mason. -- The Rev. Matthias Bruen. - Sundry Expenditures. - A Letter from Mrs. Huntington. - The Rev. Benjamin B. Wisner. - His Call to the Pastorate. - The Church and the Parish. - The Dedham . 390-456 Case .
CHAPTER IX. 1821-1836. THE SPIRIT OF PARTY. - CHURCH EXTENSION.
Mr. Wisner's Acceptance of the Call. - Arrangements for the Ordination. - The Council. - Mr. Lowell not allowed to give the Right Hand of Fellow- ship. - Letter to Mr. Lowell. - The Rev. Ebenezer Burgess. - Divisions in the Essex Street Church. - The Union Church gathered. - An Organ im- ported. - Death of Mrs. Phillips. - The Church in Green Street. - Ordina- tion of Missionaries. - A Church gathered for Liberia. - Death of Josiah Salisbury. - Thomas Vose and Pliny Cutler. - Death of Edward and Wil- liam Phillips. - Salem Street and Pine Street Churches. - Communion Sab- bath. - Dr. Wisner's Resignation and Death. - The Rev. Samuel H. Stearns. - His Brief Ministry and Resignation. - His Death. - His Theological Position
457-498 .
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER X. 1836-1884.
THE CIVIL WAR. - THE REMOVAL TO THE BACK BAY.
The Rev. George W. Blagden called and settled. - The New Brick Meeting- House. - Proprietors of Pews in the Old South Meeting-House incorpo- rated. - Old South Block. - Opinion of Jeremiah Mason. - A Branch Chapel. - Proposal for a Co-Pastorate. - The Rev. Jacob M. Manning called. - His Installation. - The Uprising of the People in 1861. - Flag- raising at the Old South. - Enlistments in the Yard of the Old South. - Mr. Manning goes to the War as a Chaplain. - His Sickness. - The Close of the War. - The Death of Abraham Lincoln. - The National Council of 1865. - Convened at the Old South. - A Congregational House desired, but not a House of Bishops. - The Burial Hill Confession. - Freeman Place Chapel. - Dr. Manning's Bi-Centennial Sermon. - Purchase of Land in Boylston Street. - Dr. Blagden's Resignation. - The Fire of 1872. - The Meeting-House vacated. - It is leased to the U. S. Government. - A Pro- posal to the Massachusetts Historical Society. - The Issue between the Old South Society and the Public. - The Case of the Minority. - The Position of the Majority. - Charles Stoddard. - The Spiritual and the Material. - Questionable Zeal. - Fellowship and Dictation. - Mrs. Norton's Intentions. - As to the Rights of the Public. - A Private Trust. - Decision by the Su- preme Court. - Hearing before Mr. Justice Colt. - The Final Decree. - Sale of the Meeting-House. - Subsequent Attempt to annul the Contract. - Resignation of Dr. Manning. - His Last Illness and Death. - Death of . 499-550
Dr. Blagden
CHAPTER XI. 1884.
PARTISANSHIP DEFEATED.
Dr. Manning's Preaching. - The Rev. George A. Gordon called. - The Rev. William J. Tucker, D. D. - Mr. Gordon accepts. - He joins the Old South Church. - The Letter-Missive. - Partisanship. - Council for Dismission at Greenwich. - Installation Council at the Old South. - Mr. Gordon's Paper. - The Letter - Missive " condoned." - Cross - Examination. - Dr. Webb's Questions. - Dr. Withrow called upon for a Proof-Text. - Dr., Plumb's Questions. - Embarrassment of the Opposition. - The Installation Supper. - The Installation Services. - The Conscience Ecclesiastical. - Vicarious Suffering. - From Age to Age. - Conclusion .
551-580
BIBLIOGRAPHY.
Of the Old South Church, Society, and Meeting-House. - Of the Ministers of the Old South. - John Bacon. - George W. Blagden. - Samuel Blair. - Alexander Cumming. - Joseph Eckley. - George A. Gordon. - John Hunt. - Joshua Huntington. - Mrs. Susan Huntington. - Jacob M. Manning. - Ebenezer Pemberton. - Thomas Prince. - Joseph Sewall. - Samuel H. Stearns. - Thomas Thacher. - Samuel Willard. - Benjamin B. Wisner . 581
INDEX
. · 657
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
OLD MILK STREET. (Etched by Sidney L. Smith)
Frontispiece
GALLERY STAIRCASE .
I
CUP GIVEN BY MR. PRINCE .
44
CUP GIVEN BY ANTHONY BRACKETT
46
PORTRAIT OF ANDREW OLIVER 80
DR. SEWALL'S LAST ENTRY
89
SACRAMENTAL SILVER
90 99
PLAN OF THE OLD SOUTH PROPERTY .
I35
MONUMENT OF JOHN HUNT
146 183
DOOR IN THE OLD SOUTH CELLAR, MILK STREET .
KING'S CHAPEL PULPIT
184
OLD STATE HOUSE
2II
PORTRAIT OF SAMUEL ADAMS .
246
PORTRAIT OF SAMUEL SALISBURY
258
CHANDELIER
27I
PORTRAIT OF JOSHUA HUNTINGTON
316
MEMORIAL TABLET OF SAMUEL ADAMS .
335
OLD SOUTH PULPIT
336
GIFT TO ISAAC HARRIS .
353
PORTRAIT OF WILLIAM PHILLIPS
372 389
THE FANEUIL-PHILLIPS MANSION
. 390
PORTRAIT OF JOSIAH SALISBURY
401
OLD SOUTH TOMB
456
OLD SOUTH CHAPEL
457
MARLBORO' HOTEL
466
PORTRAIT OF BENJAMIN B. WISNER
474
OLD SOUTH TOWER, BOYLSTON STREET
499
PORTRAIT OF GEORGE W. BLAGDEN
500
CUP GIVEN BY THE SECOND CHURCH
503
PORTRAIT OF JACOB M. MANNING .
508
PORCH, BOYLSTON STREET .
580
SOUNDING BOARD, OLD SOUTH PULPIT .
PORTRAIT OF DR. SEWALL, 1764
CHAPTER I.
1750-1758.
A NEW PSALM BOOK. - THE END OF A LONG CO - PAS- TORATE. - THE PRINCE LIBRARY.
E IGHTY years had passed since the for- mation of the Third or South Church and the installation of its first minister, the Rev. Thomas Thacher. During this period, it had received eleven or twelve hundred members into its fellowship, more than eight hundred persons had owned the cove- nant in the presence of its congregation, and more than five thousand children had received the ordinance of baptism from its pastors. Emerging from the storm of strife in which it had been organized, it had taken its place immediately as one of the leading forces in the moral, social, and religious life of the town, and at the middle of the eighteenth century it was second to no church in New England in its Christian activity and usefulness. Another quarter of a century of great prosperity lay before it, and then, at the beginning of the American Revolution, with many other interests and institutions, it was to enter upon an experience of depression and loss.
We return now to the records of the church : -
2
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Lord's Day March 4. 1749-50
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stayed, and Voted
That twenty pounds be laid out in Bibles, and given to the Poor of this Church and Congregation ; and that the Remainder of the last Collection be given to the Poor of this Church and Congregation in Wood and other Necessaries of life, by the Deacons according to their best Discretion.
-
J. SEWALL.
The Rev. John Webb died, April 16, after a pastorate at the New North Church of thirty-six years.1 His surviving col- league, the Rev. Andrew Eliot, said of him, "I cannot but think him one of the best of Christians, and one of the best ministers." Mr. Eliot now became sole pastor, and so continued until the close of his ministry.
Lord's Day Augt. 26. and by adjournment Septr 2. and 9. 1750.
The Brethren of the Church stay'd : And the Hon. Josiah Willard, Deacon Henchman, Mr. Jonathan Loring, Mr. Isaac Walker, and Mr. John Kneeland were chosen to be the Church-Committee for the year ensuing. J. SEWALL.
Lord's Day Octr 21. 1750
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stay'd, and Voted
That there be a Collection for Charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Novr. I. next, and that the Rest of the Congregation be notified of this vote next Lord's Day, and be desir'd to assist in said Collection.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Thanksgiving Nov. 1. 1750.
Collected,
For the pious and Char. Fund
· £Io. 0. 0
For the Rev. Mr. Cambell of Tiverton 6. o.
Mr. Brett of Freetown 4. 0. 0
For several other persons
14. 0. 0
34. o. o
Unappropriated
. 160. 15. 5
194. 15. 5 .
O. T.
1 Mr. Edwards, writing from North- ampton, July 6, 1750, to the Rev. Wil- liam McCulloch, of Cambuslang, said : "Some of our main pillars are broken ; one of which was Mr. Webb of Boston, who died in the latter part of last April. Much of the glory of the town of Boston is gone with him; and if the bereave-
ments of that town should be added to, by the death of two or three more of their remaining elder ministers, that place would be in a very sorrowful state indeed, like a city whose walls are broken down, and like a large flock without a shepherd, encompassed with wolves, and many in the midst of it."
3
COUNCIL AT NORTHAMPTON.
Lord's Day March 10 1750-I
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stayed, and Voted
That £160. 15. 5 O. T. out of the last collection be given to the Poor of this Church and Congregation in Wood, and other Necessaries of life, by the Deacons according to their best Discretion.
Then the Meeting was adjourn'd to Monday, come Fortnight II. cl. A. M.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
March 25. 1751 .
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation met and
Voted - That Messrs Oxenb : Thacher junr.1 Benj : Dolbeare and Joseph Jackson be a committee to consider and inquire what are the deficiencies in the weekly contributions, whence they arise, and what may be the best method to make them up, and report to the ad- journment of this Meeting ; and to receive any money which may be offered to make good the deficiencies : And that the same Gentlemen be a committee to audit the Deacons Accounts.
Voted Unanimously, That the Contributors mark their money, and that those of the Church and Congregation who are now absent, be acquainted that every Person present in this very full meeting vocally express'd themselves desirous that all the contribution-money should be marked.
Voted, That the Deacons be desir'd to put to interest the Donation of Mr. Nathl. Cunningham deceas'd, being £500 O. T. ; to keep good the Principall, and distribute the Interest among the poor of this Church and Congregation annually, according to their best discretion.
Voted, That this Meeting be adjourned to Monday April 22 next at II. o. cl. A. M.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
April 21. The Meeting was further adjourned to the 29 this In- stant II. o. cl. A. M.
Lord's Day April 28. 175I
The Church stayed, when Letters were communicated from several Brethren of the first Church in Northampton and from the Rev'd Mr.
1 [Oxenbridge Thacher, Jr., great- grandson of the Rev. Thomas Thacher, represented the fourth generation of this estimable family in the South Church and congregation. He graduated at Harvard College in 1738; he was "a lawyer of fine abilities, an unassuming gentleman and scholar, and a man of the most admirable character in all the re- lations of life. In 1764, his publications in support of the colonial liberties had been widely circulated ; and though of a feeble constitution, which demanded a
penalty of suffering for every exertion at the bar, or in the legislature, of which he was a member, he entered into the strug- gle for liberty with an earnest heart, and his life was shortened by his anxiety and efforts in the cause. He died of dis- ease of the lungs at the age of forty-five, equally conspicuous for his unaffected piety and sterling patriotism." Samuel Adams was elected to the legislature in 1765, to take the place made vacant by Mr. Thacher's death. - Wells's Life of Samuel Adams, vol. i. p. 70.]
4
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Edwards, desiring our Assistance in Council. Voted. Messengers chosen, One of the Deacons, Messrs. Joseph Jackson, David Jeffries and John Kneeland.
Mr. Edwards had aroused violent opposition in his church and parish, first, in 1744, by an endeavor to call some of the young people to account for improprieties of conduct which had become the occasion of public scandal; and, later, and more especially, by the views entertained by him - contrary to those which had been taught and practised by his predecessor, Mr. Stoddard - on the proper qualifications for approach to the Lord's Table. On this subject he wished to preach a course of sermons to his congregation, explaining and defending his posi- tion ; but the church-committee, with which he had consulted, objected, because of the intense feeling which existed and which was already dividing the town into two hostile parties. Reluc- tantly the committee consented to his giving his views to the public through the press, and agreed to await the publication before having recourse to a council, which the church had been anxious to call, and which the pastor was willing to accept, after all other methods of reconciliation should have been exhausted. In 1749 he published An Humble Inquiry Into the Rules of the Word of God Concerning the Qualifications Requisite to Full Communion in the Church, a quarto, of about a hundred and fifty pages.1 A long and learned letter from Mr. Foxcroft to
1 The great authority of Jonathan Edwards is sometimes quoted in self- justification, by those who would anchor the present irremovably to the traditions of the past. Mr. Edwards had no sym- pathy with this false conservatism. In the preface to his Inquiry referred to in the text, he quotes and makes his own the following words of the Rev. Solomon Stoddard : -
" All Protestants agree, that there is no infallibility at Rome; and I know no Body else pretends to any, since the Apostles Days."
Again :
"It may possibly be a fault to depart from the ways of our Fathers : But it may also be a vertue, and an eminent act of obedience, to depart from them in some things. Men are wont to make a great noise, that we are bringing in inno- vations, and depart from the old way : But it is beyond me, to find out wherein
the iniquity does lie. We may see cause to alter some practices of our fathers, without despising of them, without prid- ing ourselves in our wisdom, without apostacy, without abusing the advantages God has given us, without a spirit of compliance with corrupt men, without inclinations to superstition, without mak- ing disturbance in the church of God : And there is no reason, that it should be turned as a reproach upon us. Surely 'tis commendable for us to examine the practices of our fathers, we have no sufficient reason to take practices upon trust from them. Let them have as high a character as belongs to them; yet we may not look upon their principles as oracles. Nathan himself miss'd it in his conjecture about building the House of God. He that believes principles be- cause they affirm them, makes idols of them. And it would be no humility, but baseness of spirit, for us to judge our-
5
PREFACE TO THE " HUMBLE INQUIRY."
Mr. Edwards, in support of the principles laid down in the book, was printed as an appendix; and there was a second preface, dated Boston, August 11, 1749, and signed by Thomas Prince, John Webb, Thomas Foxcroft, and Mather Byles, which we quote in full : -
Tho' the Doctrine here maintained by our dear and Rev'd Brother was bro't over hither by the pious and judicious Fathers of this Coun- try from the Puritans in England, and held by them and their Suc- cessors in our Churches above Threescore Years without Dissention ; yet some good and learned Men have since gone into another Way of thinking in this Matter. And as the Word of God is our only Rule of judging, and this only can bind the Conscience in Religion ; it must needs concern every Man to search the Scriptures, that he may come to as satisfying a Knowledge as may be, whether he has a Right to the Lord's Supper, and whether it be his immediate Duty to partake of it, or admit of others. And for all that we had hitherto read on this subject, it seem'd to us, there wanted further Searchings and Dis- coveries.
And tho' we have not all had Opportunity to read the Composure following ; yet we apprehend the Reverend Author singularly qualified to manage this important Argument, from his great Acquaintance with the Scriptures, and diligent Application to the study of them with a special Aim to find the Mind of Christ and settle his Judgment in this particular ; both to get more Light himself, and communicate the same to others. And we have this peculiar Motive to excite Atten- tion to what he writes ; that he is so far from arguing from the Preju- dice or Influence of Education, that being bro't up in the contrary Way of Thinking, and more inclin'd thereto from a special Veneration of his Reverend Grandfather ; yet on careful searching the sacred Volumes he was obliged to yield to those Convictions they produced in him and change his Judgment.
The following Treatise contains the substance of those Convictions, or the particular Reasons of this Alteration. And if those who are now in his former Way of Thinking would with due Seriousness, Hu- mility, Calmness, Diligence and Impartiality, search the Scriptures, and consider his arguments derived from them, looking up to God thro' Christ, and subjecting their Minds intirely to Him ; they may either see and yield to the same Convictions, and find Cause to
selves incapable to examine the prin- ciples that have been handed down to us. If we be by any means fit to open the mysteries of the Gospel, we are ca- pable to judge of these matters : And it would ill become us, so to indulge our- selves in ease, as to neglect the examina-
tion of received principles. If the prac- tices of our fathers in any particulars were mistaken, it is fit they should be rejected ; if they be not, they will bear examination. If we be forbidden to ex- amine their practice, that will cut off all hopes of reformation."
6
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
change their Judgments also, or will at least continue their fraternal Affection to the worthy Author and Others in the same Sentiments with him.
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