USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 18
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
hanged as he was. In short Mr. Bacon's defects and Errors upon those important Doctrines are many and will fully appear upon the perusal of the Sermons above referred to. We do not deem it in- cumbent on us to point out all the passages in said Sermons which we judge to be deficient or Erroneous, as we think it will be fairest to refer to the sermons themselves, where the Exceptionable passages can be viewed and considered, as they stand connected with such as precede and follow them. As to the Summary of his sentiments re- specting the Atonement which Mr. Bacon laid before the Church on Nov : 30, 1774, after what he has delivered in his sermons on Gal : 3. 13. it is very far from being satisfactory to us. He says in the summary that he believes an Infinite Atonement for Sin was absolutely neces- sary, but has not plainly and explicitly told us what he means by Atone -. ment for Sin. He says that he believes that Christ hath made such an Atonement by offering up himself a Sacrifice for Sin, or to express it nearly in our Saviours own words, 'by giving his Life a ransom for many,' in this offering up himself a sacrifice, but has not precisely and determinately given us his Idea of a sacrifice or of a ransom. They are all Scripture Expressions, and are variously interpreted and under- stood by different Expositors, and so as far from affording us, in a plain clear and determinate manner his sense of them ; and if they are to be construed with any degree of Consistency with the Doctrines and Sentiments he holds forth in his Sermons, we must still think and judge him to be Erroneous, and therefore to the sermons we must still appeal for his genuine Sentiments on this important Subject.
"Upon the whole, the general Tenor of Mr. Bacon's discourses are disagreeable to us, and as we find we cannot profit by his Ministry, we cannot sit quietly under his Administrations, and therefore think it will be for the Peace and Edification of the Church as well as for Mr. Bacon's comfort, that the pastoral relation between him and the Church be dissolved, and desire he would ask a Dismission accordingly. Which Request if he should comply with, without any further Altercation, and should think it necessary for his Vindication that the Sermons be- fore referred to, should be laid before the Public, we are willing they should be printed, as they were delivered, at our Cost and Expence. At the same Time, we cannot omit taking particular notice of the Hum- bling hand of Gods providence, in permitting so unhappy a Breach taking place between our Reverend Pastor and this Church : We cannot but express our sincere Regret at the unhappy difference subsisting between us, and shall conclude by saying, that altho' we widely differ from him in sentiments on the foregoing subjects, and in consequence of it have desired a Dissolution of the Relation now existing between him and the Church, yet we cordially wish him Prosperity in this Life, and Eternal happiness in the World to Come."
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ACTION ON THE REPORT.
The Church having spent the Evening in attending to the above Report the Meeting was adjourn'd to Wednesday Evening 5 o'Clock January 25th.
January 25th. 1775.
The Church then met according to adjournment. Mr. Hunt open'd the Meeting with Prayer. The Question being put, Whether the Church choose to consider the Report of their Committee now before them by themselves, passed in the Affirmative.
After mature Deliberation on. the Report of The committee of this Church, who were appointed to take into Consideration the Matters of Difference subsisting between the Revd. Mr. Bacon and them, and also to consider what further steps ought to be taken in this Affair, the Question was put, Whether this Church accept the Report of their Committee ?
Voted not to accept it-6. Neuters-5. Voted to accept the report -- 24.
Voted, That the Proceedings of the Church this Evening be read to the Revd. Mr. Bacon, and that he be served with a copy of the same.
Voted, to adjourn this Meeting to February Ist 1775.
February Ist 1775.
The Church then met according to Adjournment. Mr. Hunt open'd the Meeting with Prayer. The Church being prepared for Business, the Rev'd Mr. Bacon read to them some Observations he had made on their Proceedings at their last Meeting, and also some Proposals he had to make to them respecting the Matters of Difference subsist- ing between him and the Church, which are as follows -
" Brethren
" The Report of your Committee who were appointed to take into consideration the Matters of Difference subsisting between us, together with your Proceedings thereon at your last Meeting, you now expect my answer to. This, I shall now give you, after a short Rehearsal of Facts which have taken place, and a few Observations on the Report itself, which you have accepted, and thereby made it an Act of the Church.
"The particular Facts which, at this time, I think it expedient to mention, are these : vizt.
"Previous to your last Meeting but one, Mr. Cushing, one of the Committee, came to me and informed me that the Committee had drawn up a Report which they should lay before the Church at their next Meeting, which, if I mistake not, was to be on the Evening of the same Day ; and that the Committee tho't that when they made their Report, it would be most proper for the Church to be by themselves, and first to have an Opportunity of conversing upon it ; and proposed
164
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
that for this End, I should signify to the Church that I was willing to withdraw, as it would likely be more agreeable to the Church to have the Motion come from me, than for them to desire me to withdraw. Accordingly, after the Meeting was open'd, I mentioned to the Church what had been intimated to me, and proposed that if it was most agreeable to them to be by themselves, I would withdraw: Observ- ing at the same time, that after the Church had heard the Report, and had Opportunity of conversing sufficiently upon it, I should ex- pect to be called in, and also have Opportunity of hearing it, and of being heard as to any Matters therein contained, in which I might be interested, before the Church proceeded to act upon it. Accord- ingly I withdrew.
"The Evening, as your Minute says, was spent in attending to the Report of the Committee. The Meeting was then adjourn'd to Wednesday Evening, 25th January : the Church then met according to Adjournment : when, after the Meeting was open'd, I moved that if the Church had no other Matters to attend to, the Report of the Committee might be read, as I was not present at the last Meeting, and consequently, had not had an Opportunity of being heard as to any Matters therein contained in which I might be particularly inter- ested. It was objected by several of the Brethren, that I had no Right to intermeddle in the Affair, and that there was a great Impro- priety in my being present, till after the Church had acted on the Mat- ter, and either accepted or rejected the Report. I plead that altho' I was willing to withdraw, if the Church desired it in order to give them Opportunity of conversing upon it by themselves as long as they pleased : Yet, as I was peculiarly interested, I had a special Right to hear the Report, and to be heard upon it; and that the Church not only had a Right to hear, but that it was incumbent on them to hear what I might have to offer relative to the particular Matters contained in said Report : that altho' I had not been permitted to hear it read in the Church ; yet from what I had heard of its Contents from some of the Brethren, and from what I had seen, (having had Opportunity in private of once running it over in Haste while it was in the hands of one of the Deacons, since your last Meeting,) I had weighty Objec- tions to offer against your accepting it, and therefore begged that I might be heard previous thereto. But it was so overruled by the Church that I was excluded : And you have adopted the Report as it now stands, without ever hearing what I had to say upon it or even allowing me so much as once to hear it read in the Church. Thus much concerning Facts which have taken place.
"I now proceed, (as I have been refused an Opportunity of doing it in what I take to have been its proper Place) to make some brief Obser- vations on the Report itself. As to what you say of my having been informed of the Practice of this Church relative to the Administration
165
MR. BACON'S REPLY.
of Baptism to the Children of such Parents as do not come up to the Lord's Table ; I freely acknowledge that when I settled with you, I tho't that Practice might be indulged in the Church consistent with the Order and Rules of the Gospel : But upon further Consideration and searching the holy Scriptures, I have been fully convinced that I was then in an Error: and therefore have found myself obliged herein to alter my Practice.
" With respect to what is said of my having, previous to my Settle- ment, acceeded to the Confession of Faith of 1680, I acknowledge that I did adopt the said Confession of Faith, as being in substance agree- able to my Sentiments ; at the same time, as I well remember, I told the Church that there were some Things in it which were not expressed exactly as I should express my Ideas of the same Things, but that I did not recollect that there were any particular Passages but I could heartily consent to, with an Explanation, or in words to this Purpose. And I am not sensible at present of anything in those Passages which have been pointed out, concerning which I cannot still say the same : Altho' I will not say but that there are some Expressions in this Con- fession of Faith, which I should now find greater Difficulty in adopting without an Explanation, than I should have done at the time of my Settlement. However, as the Confession of Faith is no more than a Piece of human Composition, I conceive it to be a Question not of so great Importance, Whether I have deviated from that, as, Whether I have deviated from the Scriptures of Truth ?
"It is intimated as tho' I deny the great Doctrine of Imputation : Which Doctrine I ever profess to maintain, as an essential and very important Doctrine of the Gospel of Christ. As an instance in which I am supposed to deny this important Doctrine, a Passage is quoted from one of my Sermons on Rom. 4. 6. where I assert that the Right- eousness of Christ in the Propriety of it, is not so imputed to Believers that what he hath done is looked upon by God as if done by them, but that it is only in this Sense imputed, that the Fruit, Benefit, or Reward of Christ's Righteousness, which summarily consists in the Remission of Sin, is freely bestow'd on every one that believeth. As my business here is not to vindicate the Sentiments which I have advanced, since they have been already condemned by the Church: I shall only ob- serve that when I speak of the Fruit, Benefit or Reward of Christ's Righteousness, as consisting summarily in the Remission of Sin, I use the term Remission in its most extensive signification, as including a full Release or Discharge from all the evil Consequences or Disad- vantages to which the Person has rendered himself obnoxious, by rea- son of Crimes which he hath committed - as including a Deliverance, not only from what Divines call the Punishment of Sense, but also from the Punishment of Loss, that is, from the sensible, positive Punishment of Hell, and the Loss of, or an Exclusion from Heaven.
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
" I shall only observe here, that the difference between me and the Church respecting the great Doctrine of Atonement, appears still to lie exactly where I at first placed it. The only Question about which we differ as to this Matter, so far as I can yet perceive, is this, vizt. Whether Christ in making Atonement for the Sins of the Elect did actually suffer that very Punishment in Kind and Quantity which they must have suffered, had it not been for the Atonement? I do not see that you have yet pointed out any other, notwithstanding you have been so often called upon to do it, if there was any: And therefore I must conclude that there is no other, at least, if there is, that it is such as you do not chuse to mention. .
"As to what you say relative to the Sermons before referred to ' being printed as they were delivered' at your Cost and Expence, provided I comply with Your Request in asking a Dismission, without any further Alteration, I cannot see my way clear to accept your Proposal under these Circumstances and Restrictions. For, Ist. I believe there are very few Ministers, even those who are in every Respect greatly my Superiors, who would be willing to publish so large a Number of their Sermons, written in Haste one after another, and those on Points which are at present so much controverted among us, without any Cor- rections at all. For my Part, I have not Vanity enough to suppose that mine, which were composed under these Circumstances, are fit for the publick View. Altho' I am not sensible of any material Error as to the sentiment contained in them, yet I can see many Defects and Blem- ishes in the Style and Composition. And those who might view them with greater Discernment and Impartiality than I can be supposed to do, would doubtless see many more than I can at present discover. 2dly. It is not to be expected that People in general thro' the Coun- try who have heard the Report of my erroneous Sentiments, and of your Judgment concerning them, would be at the Expence and Pains of purchasing and reading a Volume of my Sermons, in order to satisfy themselves concerning the Truth and Justness of these Reports. 3dly. Those who might read these Sermons would be likely to do it under the Influence of great Prejudice, since they must make their appearance under the Opprobrious weight of a general Sentence of Condemnation that hath been passed upon them by a Church who have had Opportunity, not only of hearing them in Publick, but of accurately examining them in a more private Way. 4th. Should the Sermons here referred to, be printed, and meet with ever so favorable a Reception, this would not remove the unlimited Censure under which you have laid my discourses in general, And therefore, I cannot think that I should do Justice either to myself, or the Cause I am pleading, were I to accept your Proposal, and print the Sermons without taking any other Steps.
" Upon the whole, Brethren, it hath always been my Opinion that
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MR. BACON'S REPLY.
when Disputes, Contention and Alienation of Affections take place between a Minister and his People, let which may be in the Fault, it is best the Relation between them should be dissolved. And there- fore, upon taking into serious Consideration the present State of this Church, and the whole of your Conduct relative to me and the Mat- ters of Difference between us, my Way appears clear to comply with your Request, in asking a Dismission from my Pastoral Relation to you. But I do it upon this Condition : that all Matters of Difference between us be laid open before a Council of the Sister Churches, and their Judgment and Advice taken thereon. For, as I consider myself under indispensable Obligation to stand up in the Cause of Truth, and to vindicate my own Character, so far as it is connected therewith ; and as I look upon these to be greatly injured by what you have done, should Matters be suffered to rest quietly in the state in which they now are ; and as I have been from the first, and am still, willing and desirous that my Sentiments should appear in their true Light : And further, as the Constitution of these Churches is such, as renders them accountable to each other for their Conduct in Matters of such great Importance as those which are now before us : All these Consider- ations, I say, taken together, with others that might be mention'd, it appears to me to be highly expedient that a Council of Sister Churches should be called to examine and judge of these Matters : that so, if I am that erroneous Man which you have judged me to be, your Judg- ment may be confirmed by that of the Sister Churches, and they more effectually guarded against my erroneous Doctrines. But if, upon thoro' Examination, it should appear to them that my Sentiments are agreeable to the Scriptures of truth, the Way may be open for them to recommend me to the Churches, or at least, to certify that in their Apprehension, the Doctrines which I maintain, and which you have condemned, are not inconsistent with that form of Sound Words which by Jesus Christ and his holy Apostles, hath been deliver'd unto us : That hereby, the Embarrassments which seem now to be laid in the Way of my continuing in the Work of the Gospel Ministry may, in some Measure, be remov'd, provided they should appear to be unjustly laid.
"I cannot desire this Church to act what would appear to me, and I suppose to them, to be so inconsistent a Part, as to recommend me to the Sister Churches as a Minister of Christ, while at the same time they condemn me, as being so erroneous in some of the fundamental Doctrines of the Christian Faith, that they can no longer receive me as their Minister. It is therefore my Request, that you would call in the Advice of the Sister Churches upon this Occasion. I am intirely willing that you should invite as many as you think proper. I am ready to join with you herein. I will not object to any Individuals that you may chuse to consult. I do not request that any Part of the
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Business of the propos'd Council should be to advise, Whether my Pastoral Relation to you should continue, or not? For since it ap- pears to be your Desire that I should be dismissed, it is my choice to take a Dismission. And therefore, on the Condition above mention'd, I do now consent that my Pastoral Labors among you, and my Salary for the same, should cease from this Day. . . . "
The Church having heard the above, it was Voted that a Committee consisting of Mr. Cushing, Deacon Jeffries, Deacon Phillips, Deacon Mason, Mr. Wm Whitwell, Mr. Inches and Mr. Scollay, take the same into Consideration and make report on Wednesday Evening February 8th, that being the time to which the meeting was adjourn'd.
We print only about one half of Mr. Bacon's letter, because of its length, but we have endeavored to select such parts of it as will clearly and fairly present his side of the controversy. His position was a very trying one; and we cannot withhold our sympathy from him, or our recognition of his dignified, frank, and straightforward behavior in the circumstances in which he was placed. At the same time, we can see that his usefulness in the Old South Church and Congregation, and prob- ably in the town also, had come to an end. We suspect that underneath the multiplicity of words which passed between him and his parishioners upon subtle definitions and distinctions in theology, there lay a primal difficulty which aggravated if it did not produce all the differences which appeared on the surface, namely, incompatibility. Mr. Bacon had been trained and or- dained in the Presbyterian Church ; and although he honestly thought, no doubt, that he could come to New England, and settle down as a Congregational minister, yet it is evident that he failed, as Mr. Blair had failed before him, to enter heartily and thoroughly into the spirit and traditions of Massachusetts Congregationalism. Whether Mr. Cumming had altogether suc- ceeded, under similar conditions, we think is an open question.1
1 It is rather strange that Dr. Increase Mather, in his Seasonable Testimony, when speaking of the release of a pastor from the solemn charge of a congrega- tion, dwells almost entirely upon the reasons which may lead a pastor to de- sire a change, and hardly at all upon the reasons which a church may have for wishing to dismiss its pastor. He says, quoting from Thirty Cases : "A Pastor settled in the Service of a People, is to be so sensible of his Designation by the
Spirit and Providence of the Lord Jesus Christ for that Service, and of the Ac- count that he must give unto God about his Behaviour in it, that his Removal must not be rashly attempted, but with much Consideration, Consultation, Sup- plication, and Sincere Desire to follow the Conduct of Heaven in it." He says, further : " If a Minister be upon a Re- moval from his Flock, especially when there are no sufficient Causes Evident for it, and the Flock earnestly Propound
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169
MR. BACON'S DISMISSION.
Feby. 8th 1775.
The Church then met according to adjournment. Mr. Hunt open'd the Meeting with Prayer : after which the Question was put whether the Church chose to be by themselves? Voted, in the Affirmative, upon which Mr. Bacon withdrew.
After mature Deliberation upon the Report of the Committee chosen by the Church on Ist February Instant to take into Consideration the Observations Mr. Bacon had made on their Proceedings at their Meet- ing on January 25th 1775, it was
Voted, Ist. that the church will at present waive making any Re- marks upon said observations, and refer what they have to offer upon this Head untill a Council of sister churches are convened, before whom the Difference between us may be laid.
2dly. Voted, that this church notwithstanding all Mr. Bacon has offered in the observations before said, are still of opinion that he has preached, and held forth Doctrines and sentiments we esteem to be Erroneous, and which are diverse from and contradictory to the Doc- trines and Sentiments held forth in the Confession of Faith owned and Consented to by the Elders and Messengers of the Churches assembled at Boston, May 12 1680, which Confession of Faith he ex- hibited to this Church, previous to his Settlement, as agreable to his Sentiments, which appears by the Records of the Church August 26 1771. And therefore
3dly, Voted, that this Church do now comply with Mr. Bacon's Proposal, and Dismiss him from his Pastoral Relation to this Church, and he is dismissed accordingly, and in pursuance of his Request we do further agree that all matters of Difference between Mr. Bacon and this Church be laid open before a Council of Sister Churches, and their Judgment taken ; not whether his Pastoral Relation to this Church shall be continued or not, for that we look upon as now settled and determined, but more especially whether Mr. Bacon is that Er- roneous Person this Church have judged him to be, and has preached Doctrines and Sentiments diverse from, and contradictory to, the Doctrines held forth in the Confession of Faith before mentioned, and consequently to the Scriptures of Truth, to which we apprehend the said Confession is strictly agreeable.
4ly, Voted, that this Church is now ready to join with the Rev'd Mr. Bacon in inviting a Number of Sister Churches for the purpose before mention'd.
Voted, that the Council to be convened consist of Six Pastors, with their Delegate or Delegates.
Voted, That the Churches to be sent to on this Occasion, be as
and Request, that the thing may be laid before a Council of the Neighbour- Churches, but he refuse it; it may be
feared that it is an Hour of Temptation with him, and that his Way is not Right before the Lord."
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
follows, vizt. The first Church of Christ in Boston, under the pastoral care of the Rev'd Doctor Chauncy. The Second Church in Braintree, under the pastoral care of the Rev'd Mr. Weld. The Church in Stoughton, under the pastoral care of the Rev'd Mr. Dunbar. The first Church in Dedham, under the pastoral care of the Rev'd Mr. Haven. The Second Church in Andover, under the pastoral care of the Rev'd Mr. French. The Church at Chelsea, Connecticut, under the pastoral care of the Rev'd Mr. Judson.
Voted, that the time for calling the proposed Council be on the 8th Day of March next, and that they be desired to meet on Wednesday Morning of the same day at ten o'Clock at the Parsonage House where Mr. Bacon now resides.
Voted, that Mr. Hunt and Mr. Bacon be desir'd to send Letters missive to the several Pastors and Churches above mention'd.
Voted, that a Committee consisting of Mr. Cushing, Deacon Jeffries, Deacon Phillips, Deacon Mason, Mr. William Whitwell, Mr. Inches and Mr. Scollay be desir'd to prepare all necessary papers to be laid before the propos'd Council, and to act in Behalf of this Church during their session.
Voted, that Major Dawes, Mr. Jeremiah Belknap, Mr. Joseph Belknap, Mr. Lucas and Mr. Torey be a committee to make suitable provision for the Council.
Voted, that this meeting be adjourn'd to this Evening three Weeks.1
Wednesday Evening March I.
The Church then met according to Adjournment. Mr. Hunt open'd the Meeting with Prayer. It appearing since the time of the last Meeting that the Rev'd Doctor Chauncy of Boston, the Rev'd Mr. French of Andover, and the Church in Dedham had for certain rea- sons excused themselves from attending the proposed Council, it was Voted at this, and two other Meetings, on two successive Lords days, that the Church of Christ at Southborough under the pastoral care of the Rev'd Mr. Stone, the Church at Rowley under the pastoral
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