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TOPIC: Edwards, Jonathan - Personal Writings (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 21a
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CHAPTER XXI.
VOTE OF THANKS OF COMMISSIONERS--SERMON AT NEWARK--MEASURES OF THE
ENEMIES OF THE MISSION DEFEATED--LETTER TO MR. OLIVER--FREEDOM OF THE
WILL--LETTER TO MR. ERSKINE--DEPOSITION OF MR. GILLESPIE--LETTER TO
DO--LETTER TO MR. M'CULLOCH--REPORT OF INDIAN AGENT--REPLY OF MR.
EDWARDS--FURTHER DEFEAT OF THE ENEMIES OF THE MISSION.
On the 29th of June, the secretary of the commissioners in Boston
forwarded, by their direction, to Mr. Edwards and Mr. Hawley, an
official expression of the approbation, entertained by that board, of
the firmness and integrity manifested by them, in their conduct
relative to the Stockbridge mission [52] . The commissioners knew of
the attempt made, to shake their own confidence, and that of the
public, in their agents in that mission; and doubtless intended, by
this prompt and unequivocal act of justice, at once to sustain the
hearts of these gentlemen, under their severe trials, and to make it
manifest to all men, that, notwithstanding that attempt, they
continued to repose in them an undiminished confidence. In his reply,
bearing date Aug. 27, 1752, Mr. Edwards, after returning his thanks to
those gentlemen, for this very decisive expression of their favourable
opinion, made to their secretary his regular report of the state of
the mission.
After observing, that the people of the town, both English and
Indians, notwithstanding repeated and vigorous efforts to break up
their union, and, particularly, to excite a disaffection in them
towards their ministers, were all happily united in opinion and
affection, except one individual and his family; he mentions the
alliance of the resident trustee with his family, which took place
soon after the arrival at Stockbridge of his nephew from Connecticut.
The latter gentleman soon called on Mr. Edwards, and, after alluding
to the fact, that he was opposed to the appointment of his cousin, as
superintendent of the female boarding-school, insisted, as a member of
the society in London, and of the board of commissioners, on knowing
his reasons, and, at the same time, offered to be the instrument of
settling the differences subsisting at Stockbridge. Mr. Edwards,
preferring to answer this demand by letter, declined to make a
representation of the case before him, but offered to join with him,
in an earnest representation to the board of commissioners, that they
would appoint a committee, to come on the spot, to inquire into the
existing difficulties; on the ground, that it was more proper to have
such a committee, as judges or mediators, than an individual, who was
very nearly related to the family chiefly interested in these
contentions; and proposed, that the commissioners, by their committee,
should be desired to look into the management of the affairs at
Stockbridge, from the beginning, by all the living inhabitants and
residents of the town, who had had any hand in them, in any respect;
declaring himself ready to open himself with freedom before such a
committee.--His correspondent, in reply, declined this proposal,
reasserted his right to know the objections to the proposed teacher of
the boarding-school, and intimated the regret which be should feel, if
obliged to inform the society in London of the existing state of
things at Stockbridge.--Mr. Edwards, in his answer, insisted anew on
his former proposal, of referring the case to the commissioners,
declared himself not satisfied, that his correspondent, acting singly,
had authority to demand the reasons of his judgment, as to the teacher
of the female school, whatever the society in London, or their
commissioners in Boston, acting as a body, might have; and concluded,
by referring himself again to the commissioners, who were his
constituents, and who had, a little before, informed him, that they
looked upon their agents as accountable to them only.
The arrival of this gentleman, and the assurances be gave them or his
influence with the society in London, revived for a time the drooping
courage of his friends, particularly of the resident trustee, and of
the agent of Mr. Hollis, who had, just before that event, resolved on
removing from Stockbridge.--Having thus alluded to the mischievous
consequences growing out of this unhappy state of things, Mr. Edwards
proceeds,--"Thus things go on, in a state of confusion, of which those
at a distance can scarcely have any idea. In the mean time, the affair
of the Six Nations is languishing to death. The affair of the Mohawks
is, I fear, past recovery, and in a manner dead. They seem to be
discouraged, are most of them gone, and I do not expect will come up
again; unless it be to get presents, and satisfy their hunger, in the
present time of great scarcity in their own country. They have
apparently very much given up the idea of coming hither for
instruction. The Onohquaugas have not been here so long, to be
discouraged by our management. But if things go on in this manner, it
may be expected that they will be discouraged also. The management of
things has a great while been in wrong hands. They ought to be
conducted exclusively by the commissioners, who have had the care of
Stockbridge affairs; but here are others, who seem to aim to engross
all to themselves, to be indefatigably active in prosecuting their
particular designs, and impatient of every thing that stands in their
way.
Very much depends on the appointment or a teacher of the female
school. If that affair is settled to their minds, their influence here
is well established. They are sensible that affairs depend very much
on this simple point, and therefore this is the point they drive at
with all their might. The wisdom of the commissioners will easily
discover, that this is the juncture, in which the foundation is to be
laid of the future state of things in Stockbridge; of their prosperity
or adversity; and perhaps with no opportunity of future redress. I
look upon myself as called upon to speak somewhat freely at such a
juncture; and therefore I hope my so doing will be candidly
interpreted by the commissioners. I do not think that our affairs will
ever prosper, if they must be under the bands of the resident trustee
and his friends."
In the month of September, Mr. Edwards went into New Jersey, and, on
the 28th of that month, preached a sermon from James ii. 19. before
the synod at Newark, entitled, "True Grace distinguished from the
Experience of Devils," which was published at their request. It is a
clear, condensed, and powerful exhibition of the differences between
real religion and its counterfeits, and will be found eminently
useful, as a criterion of Christian character.
In the unhappy controversy, between Mr. Woodbridge and his opponent,
perhaps no one circumstance had been more mortifying to the latter, or
had had a more direct tendency to defeat all ins measures, than the
fact, that the white inhabitants of the town, (his own immediate
family connexions excepted,) as well as the Indians of both nations,
were, to a man, opposed to himself, and friendly to his antagonist.
This rendered his daily life uncomfortable; it discouraged every
attempt to forward his plans at the public meetings of the town; and
when any point in controversy was to be decided, or any measure
attempted, at Boston, he found that Mr. Woodbridge had a host of
substantial witnesses on the spot, who gave in their testimony without
fear. In this way, hitherto, every important design had been
frustrated.
The winter, that was approaching, was regarded by both parties as a
most important and interesting period; during which, in all
probability, the affairs of the mission, and of the town, would be
brought to a crisis. Those opposed to Mr. Woodbridge, were not
ignorant, that, if Mr. Edwards were continued as the missionary at
Stockbridge, such was his influence at Boston, and his general weight
of character, there was too much probability, that Mr. Woodbridge
would be continued the school-master of the Housatonnucks, and Mr.
Hawley of the Iroquois. In that case, there was but little chance of
the female school being placed in the desired hands; if that faded,
the stewardship of all the schools would fail; and then the whole
system of measures, apparently so happily conceived, would be
defeated. But if Mr. Edwards could be removed from Stockbridge, the
removal of Mr. Woodbridge would be attended with less difficulty; that
of Mr. Hawley, a young man, would follow of course, which would make
way for the son of the resident trustee: these changes would almost
necessarily insure the female school, as well as the stewardship and
agency, in the family; and then the other objects in view could
scarcely fail to be accomplished. As so much depended on the fact,
whether Mr. Edwards was continued at Stockbridge, or not; there seemed
to be held out, to minds capable of being influenced by them, very
strong inducements to make one vigorous effort to effect his removal.
This was accordingly resolved on, and, by some of the persons
concerned, incautiously proclaimed.
One of the steps taken to accomplish this so desired object, is
mentioned in the following letter. Whether it was one of the measures
concerted, or was the self-suggested plan of the individual, who
attempted to execute it, does not certainly appear. Could he have
succeeded, could the English inhabitants of the town have been
changed, and a new set of inhabitants have been introduced, all of
them his adherents; no event probably would have so much furthered the
objects in view. The almost utter impossibility of its success,
connected with its total and immediate discomfiture, rendered the
attempt supremely ridiculous, and covered the individual making it,
and his party, with confusion.
"To Andrew Oliver, Esquire.
Stock bridge, Oct. 1752.
sir,
Since my letter of Aug. 27, various things have occurred among us, of
which it may not be improper to inform you. It seems as though there
was a resolution, in the people on the hill, to carry their schemes
into effect, though the earth should be removed for it. The opponent
of Mr. Woodbridge has lately made a vigorous and vehement attempt,
suddenly to change the English inhabitants of the town, by buying out,
at once, the old inhabitants in general. To thus end, he arose very
early in the morning, and went out before day, and called some of them
out of their beds, offering to buy their farms. In this manner, he
went from one to another, until he had been to almost all the
inhabitants in that forenoon; offering very high prices, and cash in
hand; vehemently pressing that the bargain should be immediately
closed, and the writings drawn, and the affair completed, without
delay; urging it most pressingly on each one. One of the inhabitants
completed and finished the affair with him. Some others came to a
verbal agreement, on conditions. But, notwithstanding the great and
extraordinary vigour, with which this matter was carried on, yet the
design was discovered, before it could be completed, and so
disappointed; and then his friends, and he himself too, were glad to
lay this conduct to distraction.
A scheme is plainly laid, entirely to thrust Mr. Hawley out of the
schools; let his friends and constituents do what they will to prevent
it. The resident trustee has told Mr. Hawley, that it is the design of
Mr. Hollis's former school-master, to set up a distinct independent
school, under another teacher, whom he shall provide to keep the
school on Mr. Hollis's behalf, and that he intends to take up all boys
who come, to board them and clothe them well, better than heretofore.
Probably he presumes, that the clothing and presents that will be
offered, will tempt them all to subject themselves to himself, rather
than to Mr. Hawley.
I have lately been a journey to Newark, in New Jersey, where I saw Mr.
Hazzard, a merchant in New York, who told me that he, the last June,
received and answered two bills from him, drawn on Mr. Hollis, of £80
sterling apiece. By this, it appears, that he has drawn full pay from
Mr. Hollis, for the two years past, as much as he had in the preceding
years, without clothing the boys in the least, imposing on Mr. Hollis,
in an almost unprecedented manner, considering the greatness of the
injury, the plainness of the case, and the obstinacy with which he has
proceeded to such a step, after this part of the country had been, so
long a time, so full of objections to his being here at Mr. Hollis's
expense, without being engaged in the business to which Mr. Hollis
appointed him, and for which he agreed to send him his money. In the
beginning of the year before last, he professedly threw up Mr.
Hollis's school, and dismissed all his boys, supposing that Mr. Hollis
was dead; it having been long since he heard any thing from him. In
what he did afterwards, in teaching the Mohawks, he did not pretend to
proceed on Mr. Hollis's plan, or with any expectation of any pay from
him. And he never pretended to take up any boys on Mr. Hollis's
account, till about a year afterwards, viz. The last autumn after he
had received a letter from Mr. Hollis; and it is but little he has
done since. The charge he has been at, in clothing the boys, is but a
trifle. He has never really kept any school at all, though sometimes
he has pretended to teach some children to read, in a most confused
manner. But, through a great part of the last year, he has not done
even that. He has been absent, at least one third of the year, and the
greater part of the time that he has been here, he has not had so much
as the shadow of a school, nor been in any business whatsoever.
I some time ago wrote a letter to Mr. Hollis, giving him some account
of the state of his affairs here, accompanied with letters from some
of the inhabitants of Stockbridge. I desired Mr. Prince to show those
letters to some of the commissioners.
One of the trustees has lately been here, but staid only two or three
days. While he was here, there was little else but altercation, and
warm contest, between his colleague and him, concerning the mode of
managing affairs, and concerning the female school. And he is gone
away entirely discouraged, with a resolution to have no more to do
with the affairs of Stockbridge, which, he says, are blown up already.
If it be not altogether so, yet I think it is high time the honourable
commissioners had full information of the state of things among us. We
have long waited for an opportunity to send, but none has presented.
Mr. Hawley meets with many things to discourage him; his circumstances
here are very difficult and precarious; he greatly needs the advice of
the commissioners; he has a strong inclination to see the
commissioners himself, and to confer with them, freely and fully,
about the affairs in which he is concerned, and it appears to me
necessary that he should do this, both for the public interest, and on
his own account. He is kept out of business, and probably very good
business, in which he might settle elsewhere, and I do not wonder that
he is uneasy, and thinks it necessary to talk with the commissioners.
We have had thoughts of his staying, until Mr. Woodbridge went to the
general court, the necessity of whose going appears more and more
apparent; but the court being prorogued, and we not knowing for how
long a time and the important matters of intelligence to the
commissioners, and to Mr. Hollis, having been so long delayed for want
of opportunity, which so much require their speedy notice; our
calamities also continuing, and growing worse and worse; and it being
now a time, wherein most of the Mohawks are gone, and so a time in
which Mr. Hawley can be absent, with far less inconvenience than some
time hence, when many of the Mohawks are expected down, in consequence
of the want of provisions in their own country; and considering that
probably the commissioners might have a more free opportunity to hear
and consider Mr. Hawley's representations now, than in the time of the
sitting of the court, and likewise, that it might be some convenience
to the commissioners, to have notice of the state of our affairs, so
as to ripen their thoughts with regard to them, before the sitting of
the court;--I say, considering these things, it was thought advisable
for Mr. Hawley not to delay his journey. That the Most High would give
wisdom, and counsel, and success to the commissioners, in their
consultations on our affairs, and direct and aid those who are here
employed, in so important a service, is the humble and earnest prayer
of
Their most obedient servant,
jonathan edwards
From these scenes of unsuccessful intrigue, and disappointed avarice,
all notice of which, could the life of Mr. Edwards, as a missionary at
Stockbridge, have been fairly exhibited without thus detailing them,
would have been most gladly dispensed with; the reader will turn with
pleasure, even for a short interval, to communications prompted by
friendship, and relating to the more general interests of the church.
Some years before this, through the kindness of Mr. Erskine, he had
received the writings of some of the more considerable Arminian
writers, particularly of Dr. Taylor of Norwich, and Dr. Turnbull;
which, with of Dr. Whitby and those of Chubb and Tindal, already in
his possession, furnished him with the means of examining their whole
system. This examination he commenced, in form, a considerable time
before he left Northampton; and in the summer of 1747, as we have
already seen, he announced, in his first letter to Mr. Erskine, the
general plan of a Discourse on the Freedom of the Will, and Moral
Agency. This subject drew his attention, even while he was a member of
college; and, from an investigation of the nature of Power, to which
he was led by reading the article, in the Essay on the Human
Understanding, relating to that subject, he derived the all-important
principle, that men, in a proper sense, may be said to have power to
abstain from sin, and to repent, to do good works, and to live holily;
because it depends on their will.--After Mr. Edwards had thus
announced his plan, his attention was necessarily diverted from its
execution, during his residence in Northampton, by the controversy
respecting the Qualifications for Communion, his Treatise on that
subject, and the many perplexities and embarrassments, which
terminated in his dismission. His removal from Northampton, the
establishment of his family at Stockbridge, the Answer to Mr. Williams
and his ordinary duties as minister and missionary, and the unhappy
controversy subsisting respecting the mission, engrossed his whole
time, until July, 1752. In August following, he entered upon the work,
and pursued it a short time; but the violence of that controversy, and
the attempts of the party hostile to Mr. Woodbridge, to force him from
Stockbridge, compelled him to intermit his labours. Some of these
circumstances are alluded to, in the following letter to Mr. Erskine,
in which the reader will also find some interesting details, relative
to the Dutch church, and to the state of religion in New Jersey.
Stockbridge, November 23, N. S. 1752.
rev. and dear brother,
In August last I wrote to you, and sent away the letter, (with letters
to some of my other correspondents,) to Boston, to be conveyed to
Scotland. Therein I acknowledged the receipt of two letters from you,
one of July 17,1751: another of Feb. 11,1752; with the pamphlets, put
with the last letter, and now acknowledge the receipt of another
letter from you of May 14, 1752; and the pamphlets you sent with the
last. The letter I received the latter end of September: the pamphlets
I did not receive till very lately: they were forgotten by Mr. Prince.
The Treatise against Fanaticism I shall have no benefit from, because
I am not acquainted with the French language. What the Jewish convert
has published of his conversion, &c is very agreeable. And I now
heartily thank you for this letter and packet. I am very glad to see
what you write concerning the state of religion in the Netherlands.
But I believe there is more of a mixture of what is bad with the good,
that appears in that land, than Mr. Kennedy, and many other ministers
there, are aware of, and that they will find, that the consequences of
their not carefully and critically distinguishing between the good and
bad, and guarding with the utmost caution and diligence against the
latter, will prove worse than they now conceive of. By your account,
it is now exactly with Mr. Kennedy, as it was with many pious
ministers in America, in the time of the great religious moving here.
They looked upon critical inquiries, into the difference between true
grace and its counterfeits, or at least a being very busy in such
inquiries, and spending time in them, to be impertinent and
unseasonable; tending rather to damp the work of the Spirit of God,
than promote it; diverting their own minds, and the minds of others,
as they supposed, from that to which God, at such an extraordinary
time, did loudly call them more especially to attend. The cry was, O,
there is no danger, if we are but lively in religion, and full of
God's Spirit, and live by faith, of being misled! If we do but follow
God, there is no danger if being led wrong! 'Tis the cold, carnal and
lifeless, that are most likely to be blind, and walk in darkness. Let
us press forward, and not stay and hinder, the good work, by standing
and spending time in these criticisms and carnal reasoning! &c. &c.
This was the language of many, till they ran on deep into the
wilderness, and were taught by the briers and thorns of the
wilderness. However, `tis no wonder that divines in Europe will not
lay very much weight on the admonitions they receive from so obscure a
part of the world. Other parts of the church of God must be taught as
we have been; and when they see and feel, then they will believe. Not
that I apprehend there is in any measure so much enthusiasm and
disorder, mixed with the work in Holland, as was in many parts of
America, in the time of the last revival of religion here. But yet I
believe the work must be more pure, and the people more thoroughly
guarded from his wiles, who beguiled Eve through his subtlety, and who
corrupts the minds of zealous people from the simplicity that is in
Christ, before the work goes on to a general conquest, and is
maintained in its power and glory for a great length of time. But God
will have his own way --`Who, being his counsellor, hath taught Him?'
We must expect confusion and uproar, before we have that abundance of
peace and truth, which the Scriptures speak of: many must run to and
fro, and knowledge will be increased.
The Dutch ministers in America, whom you mention, whom I have
acquaintance with, are some of the younger ministers, and such as were
born in America, though several of them have had part of their
education in Holland. I have not acquaintance enough with them, to
know their sentiments, particularly, about those corrupt mixtures
above mentioned, and the care which is to be used in guarding against
them. However, `tis not very likely, if some of them should write to
their brethren in Holland, that their letters would have more
influence upon them than letters from you, and some others of the
ministers of Scotland. Nevertheless, there is a prospect, that there
will in time be very happy effects of the growing acquaintance and
union, there is between a very considerable number of very hopeful and
pious Dutch ministers, in the province of New York and New Jersey, and
many English and Scotch ministers in America. The number of well
disposed Dutch ministers in these provinces, has of late remarkably
increased; so that I think when they meet together in their Coetus,
they make the major part. Some of the elder ministers seem to be of
quite contrary sentiment and disposition, not appearing friendly, as
the others, to what they esteem the power of religion, nor approving
of awakening, searching, strict, and experimental preaching; which has
occasioned various contests among them. However, the stricter sort
being the prevailing part, are like to carry the day.
The Dutch churches in these provinces have hitherto been so dependent
on the Classis in Holland, that, whenever any among them have been
educated for the ministry, and any churches have been desirous of
their administrations, they could not receive their orders on this
side of the water, but have been obliged to go to Holland for
ordination; which has been a great encumbrance, that has attended the
settlement of ministers among them, and has undoubtedly been one
occasion of such multitudes of the Dutch being wholly without
ministers. Application was made not long since, through the influence
of the forementioned serious young ministers, (as I take it,) by the
Coetus here, to the Classis in Holland, for their consent, that they
might unite themselves to the Presbyterian synod of New York, which
now consists of English and Scotch. But the success of their
application was prevented, by a letter written by one of the elder
ministers, remonstrating against it, very falsely representing the New
York synod, as no proper Presbyterian synod, but rather a company of
independents. On which, the Classis of Holland advised them, by no
means, to unite themselves with that synod.
The last September I went a journey into New Jersey, and had
opportunity, in my journey, of seeing some of these young ministers,
and conversing with them on the subject They seem resolved, by some
means or other, to disengage themselves and their churches from the
forementioned great encumbrance, of being obliged to cross the ocean
for the ordination of every minister. I was much gratified, during the
little opportunity I had, to observe the agreeable disposition of
these ministers.
There were, also, many other things I had opportunity to observe in
those parts, which were very agreeable. I was there, at the time of
the public commencement in the college, and the time of the meeting of
the trustees of the college, the time of the meeting of the
correspondents of the society for propagating Christian knowledge, and
the time of the meeting of the New York synod; so that I had
opportunity to converse with ministers from Long Island, New York, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia The college is in flourishing
circumstances; increases apace; and is happily regulated. The trustees
seem engaged to their utmost to promote learning, virtue, and true
religion, in it; and none more so than Governor Belcher; who is the
president of the trustees, and was at the commencement, and at the
trustees' meeting. But they very much want further supplies, for the
convenient support of the college. I had considerable opportunity to
converse with Governor Belcher, and was several times at his house at
Elizabeth-town. He labours under many of the infirmities of age, but
savours much of a spirit of religion, and seems very desirous of doing
all the good he can, while he lives. The New York synod is in
flourishing circumstances: much more so than the Philadelphia synod.
They have the greatest body of ministers now, and increase much faster
than the other. They are in higher credit with the people in almost
all parts, and are chiefly sought to for supplies by distant
congregations.
With respect to the proceedings of the correspondents, they have
dismissed Mr. Horton from his mission on Long-Island, and he is about
to settle in a congregation in New Jersey. He was dismissed by reason
of his very much failing of employment: many of the clans of Indians,
he used to preach to, having dwindled away, by death or dispersion,
and there being but little prospect of success among others that
remain, and some being so situated, that they may conveniently be
taken care of by other ministers. The correspondents have it in their
view to employ the money, by which he used to be supported, to support
a mission among the Six Nations; after they have found a suitable
person to undertake the business of such a mission, and he is fitted
for it by learning the language. They used endeavours to obtain a
suitable person for the business, in New Jersey; but, meeting with no
success, they voted to empower Mr. Bellamy, Mr. Hopkins of Sheffield,
and myself; to procure a suitable person, if we can find such an one,
in New England, for the present, to come and live at Stockbridge, to
be here learning the Mohawk language with Mr. Hawley, our
school-master for the Mohawk; to fit him for the mission. Persons
proper to be employed, and such as may be obtained, are very scarce;
and `tis doubtful whether we shall be able to obtain one.
There is a very dark cloud, that at present attends the affair,
relating to the Indians at Stockbridge, occasioned very much by one of
the agents of the province, (who lives at Stockbridge,) pursuing
measures very contrary to the measures of the commissioners of the
society in London. The opposition is maintained, not with a small
degree of stiffness and resolution; and the contest is become so great
that it has brought things into very great confusion. This gentleman
is a man of some role; and his wife's relations earnestly engage with
him, and many of them are persons of considerable figure in the
country. The commissioners all very much dislike his conduct. This
contest occasions no misunderstandings among the people in
Stockbridge, in general: all, excepting those nearly related to the
family, both English and Indians, are happily united to me and my
family. It would be very tedious for me to write, and for you to read,
all the particulars of this uncomfortable affair. The commissioners
are exerting themselves to relieve us of this calamity; and it is
probable they will be successful.
I thank you for the account you give of some valuable books published:
I desire you would continue to favour me in this manner. I began the
last August to write a little on the Arminian controversy, but was
soon broke off: and such have been my extraordinary avocations and
hinderances, that I have not had time to set pen to paper about this
matter since. But I hope that God, in his providence, will favour me
with opportunity to prosecute the design. And I desire your prayers,
that God would assist me in it, and in all the work I am called to,
and enable me to conduct my life to his glory and acceptance, under
all difficulties and trials.
My wife joins with me in most hearty and affectionate salutation to
you, and Mrs. Erskine.
I am, dear Sir,
Your affectionate and obliged
Brother and servant.
jonathan edwards."
"P. S. I propose with this, to send you Mr. Hobart's second address to
the members of the episcopal church in New England, and my answer to
Mr. Williams, which I would desire you to give your neighbours, my
correspondents, opportunity to read, if they desire it."
The correspondence of Mr. Edwards and the Rev. Thomas Gillespie of
Carnock, in Scotland, has already interested the attention of the
reader. This gentleman was born in 1708, pursued his theological
studies under Dr. Doddridge, and was ordained and settled in the
parish of Carnock, in 1741. He was a faithful and indefatigable
minister.--"I never (says Dr. Erskine, who was several months his
stated hearer at Carnock, and often heard his occasional efforts in
other places) sat under a minister better calculated to awaken the
thoughtless and secure, to caution convinced sinners against what
would stifle their convictions and prevent their issuing in
conversion, and to point out the differences between vital
Christianity and specious, counterfeit appearances of it."--His
popularity and usefulness were very great, not only in his own parish,
but in Edinburgh and the west of Scotland. In 1752 an event occurred,
which forms an era in the ecclesiastical history of that country. The
Rev. Andrew Richardson of Broughton was presented to the charge of the
town of Inverkeithing, by the lay patron of the parish--the individual
who had that living in his gift.--The inhabitants refused to receive
him as their minister. The case was appealed from court to court,
until the General Assembly, in May, 1752, directed the presbytery of
Dunfermline to admit Mr. R. to the charge of Inverkeithing, and
appointed Mr. Gillespie to preside on the occasion. Mr. Gillespie, and
several others in the presbytery, had conscientious scruples on the
subject of lay patronage, and fully believed that no one, on the
principles of the gospel, could have any right to place a clergyman
over a parish but the people themselves [53] . He therefore, and those
who thought with him, declined obedience to the mandate: and while
they were subjected to various ecclesiastical censures, he was deposed
from the ministry, and removed from the parish of Carnock. When called
to the bar to receive his sentence, he replied," Moderator, I receive
this sentence of the General Assembly with reverence and awe. But I
rejoice that it is given to me, on the behalf of Christ, not only to
believe on his name, but to suffer for his sake"
For about a year he preached to his people out of doors, hoping that
the sentence would be reversed; at the close of which, a church having
been purchased for him in Dunfermline, a short distance from Carnock,
he preached there, as an independent, about six years, unconnected
with any associate in the ministry. In 1758 he united with the Rev.
Thomas Boston, Jr., and formed a new establishment, called, The
Presbytery of Relief; to which some dissenting ministers of England
soon acceded. The congregations at present connected with them, and
known, as an ecclesiastical body, by the name of the relief, are 65 in
number, are found in all the principal towns, and many of the country
parishes, of Scotland, and are computed to consist of towards 60,000
individuals [54] . They provide ministers for the inhabitants of those
parishes, which do not submit to ministers introduced by lay
patronage; and readily admit to ministerial and church communion,
evangelical ministers of the church of Scotland, and of the church of
England.
The correspondents of Mr. Edwards had forwarded to him various
publications relative to the deposition of Mr. Gillespie; and the
views which he formed with regard to it, as expressed in the following
letter, while they must, at the time, have been consoling and
supporting to the excellent man to whom they were sent, will also
probably harmonize with those of every reader of these pages.
"To the Rev. Thomas Gillespie, Carnock.
Stockbridge, Nov. 24, 1752.
rev. and dear brother,
In letters and pamphlets lately forwarded to me, by some of my
correspondents in Scotland, I have received the affecting and
surprising account of your deposition, for not assisting in the
settlement of Mr. Richardson, at Inverkeithing. The circumstances of
which affair seem to be such, as abundantly manifest your cause to be
good; at the same time that they plainly show the persecuting spirit
with which you have been proceeded against. It is strange, that a
protestant church should condemn and depose one of her ministers, for
conscientiously declining to act in a forced settlement of a minister,
over a congregation that have not chosen him as their pastor, but are
utterly averse to his administrations, at least as to a stated
attendance upon them. It is to be wondered at, that such a church, at
this time of day, after the cause of liberty in matters of conscience
has been so abundantly defended, should arrogate to herself such a
kind of authority over the consciences of both ministers and people,
and use it in such a manner, by such severity, to establish that,
which is not only contrary to the liberty of Christians, wherewith
Christ has made them free; but so directly contrary to her own
professed principles, acts, and resolutions, entered on public record
The several steps of this proceeding, and some singular measures
taken, and the hastiness and vehemence of the proceeding, are such, as
savour very strongly of the very spirit of persecution, and must be
greatly to the dishonour of the church of Scotland; and are such, as
will naturally engage the friends of God's people, abroad in the
world, in your favour, as suffering very injuriously. It is wonderful,
that a church, which has itself suffered so much by persecution,
should be guilty of so much persecution. This proceeding gives reason
to suspect, that the church of Scotland, which was once so famous, is
not what it once was. It appears probable to me, at this distance,
that there is something else at the bottom, besides a zeal to uphold
the authority of the church. Perhaps many of the clergy of the church
of Scotland have their minds secretly infected with those lax
principles of the new divinity, and have imbibed the liberal
doctrines, as they are accounted, which are so much in vogue at the
present day, and so contrary to the strict, mysterious; spiritual,
soul-humbling principles of our forefathers. I have observed, that
these modern fashionable opinions, however called noble and liberal,
are commonly attended, not only with a haughty contempt, but an inward
malignant bitterness of heart, towards all the zealous professors and
defenders of the contrary spiritual principles, that do so nearly
concern the vitals of religion, and the power of experimental
godliness. This, be sure, has been the case in this land. I have known
many gentlemen, (especially in the ministry,) tainted with these
liberal principles; who, though none seem to be such warm advocates as
they, for liberty and freedom of thought, or condemn a narrow and
persecuting spirit so much as they; yet, in the course of things, have
made it manifest, that they themselves had no small share of a
persecuting spirit. They were, indeed, against any body's restraining
their liberties, and pretending to control them in their thinking and
professing as they please; and that is what they mean, truly, when
they plead for liberty. But they have that inward enmity of spirit
towards those others mentioned, that, if they see an opportunity to
persecute them under some good cloak, and with some false pretext,
they will eagerly embrace it, and proceed with great severity and
vehemence. Thus far, perhaps, if the truth were known, it would
appear, that some of your most strenuous persecutors hate you much
more for something else, than they do for your not obeying the orders
of the general assembly. I do not pretend to know how the case is. I
only speak from what I have seen and found, here in America, in cases
somewhat similar. However, it is beyond doubt, that this proceeding
will stand on the records of future time, for the lasting reproach of
your persecutors; and your conduct, for which you have suffered, will
be to your lasting honour in the church of God. And what is much more,
that, which has been condemned in you by man, and for which you have
suffered from him, is doubtless approved by God, and I trust you will
have a glorious reward from him. For the cause you suffer in, is the
cause of God; and if God be for us, who can be against us? If he
justifies, what need we care who condemns? Not only is the mercy of
God, dear brother, manifested, in its being granted you to suffer for
his sake, but his mercy is to be taken notice of, in many of the
circumstances of this suffering. Particularly, that he has excited so
many to appear for you: that you had the major part of the presbytery,
which you belong to, with you in the affair, though God has honoured
you above all the rest, in calling you to suffer for his name: that
the major part of the commission of the General Assembly did in effect
approve of the conduct of the presbytery, judging it no censurable
fault: that no greater part of the Assembly had a hand in your
deposition: that so many of God's, people have, on this occasion, very
boldly appeared to befriend you, as suffering in a righteous cause,
openly condemning the conduct of your most bitter prosecutors, and
testifying an abhorrence of their conduct: and that many have
appeared, liberally to contribute to your outward support; so that, by
what I understand, you are likely to be no loser in that respect; by
which, your enemies will, perhaps, be entirely disappointed. And,
above all, that you have been enabled, through the whole of this
affair, to conduct yourself with so much Christian meekness, decency,
humility, proper deference to authority, and composure and fortitude
of mind; which is an evident token that God will appear for you, and
also, that he will appear against your enemies. When I received your
kind letter, soon after my dismission from Northampton, so full of
expressions of sympathy towards me under what I suffered, I little
thought of your being brought so soon under sufferings so similar.
But, seeing God has so ordered it in his providence, my prayer and
hope is, that he would abundantly reward your sympathy in my case.
'Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.'
As to myself, I still meet with difficulties in my new station, which
arrive partly from private views (as it is to be feared) of some
particular persons of some note and distinction, who are concerned
with the affair of the Mohawks here, and partly from the same spirit
and the same persons, and others nearly related to them, who fomented
the contention with me at Northampton. However, all the people, both
Indians and English, except the very few of the above-mentioned
connexion, are firmly united to me: and the commissioners in Boston,
who are my constituents, and from whom I have my support, are
altogether on my side; and are endeavouring to the utmost to remove
the difficulties that attend our affairs, by which the cause of
religion here, especially among the Mohawks, suffers much more than I
do, or am like to do, in my personal and temporal interests. These
difficulties which have arisen, have, indeed, almost brought the
Mohawk affair to ruin, which the last year was attended with so
glorious a prospect It would be very tedious to relate the particulars
of this unhappy affair. I think that God, by these sufferings, calls
me to expect no other than to meet with difficulties and trials while
in this world. And what am I better than my fathers, that I should
expect to fare better in the world, than the generality of Christ's
followers in all past generations. May all our trials be for our
justification, and our being more and more meet for our Master's use,
and prepared to enter into the joy of our Lord, in a world where all
tears shall be wiped from the eyes of God's people. Let us, dear Sir,
earnestly pray one for another, that it may be thus with us; and that,
however we may be called to labour and to suffer, we may see peace on
God's Israel, and hereafter eternally glory and triumph with his
inheritance. God has of late mercifully preserved my wife and youngest
daughter, in time of very sore and dangerous sickness, and restored
them again. My eldest daughter has also been sick, and is restored in
a considerable degree.
The Northampton people remain in sorrowful circumstances, destitute of
a settled minister, and without any prospect of a settlement; having
met with many disappointments. But all don't as yet seem to be
effectual, to bring them to a suitable temper of mind. I much desire
to hear from you, and to be informed of your present circumstances.
I am, dear Sir,
Your affectionate brother in the gospel,
brother in the gospel,
jonathan edwards."
With the preceding letter was sent the following to Mr. M'Culloch.
"Stockbridge, Nov 24, 1752.
rev. and dear sir,
I thank you for your letter of March 3, 1752, which I received this
fall. I thank you for your friendly and instructive observations, on
God's dealings with me and my family. Though God's dispensations
towards me, have been attended with some distinguishing trials, yet
the end of the Lord has been very gracious. He has ever manifested
himself very pitiful and of tender mercy, in the midst of difficulties
we have met with, in merciful circumstances with which they have been
attended, and also in the event of them. Our circumstances, here at
Stockbridge, are in many respects comfortable. We here live in peace
and friendship, with the generality of the people. But we are not
without our difficulties and troubles here. The Indian affair, which
the last year was attended with so pleasing and glorious a prospect,
has since been unspeakably embarrassed, through the particular schemes
of certain individuals, who are opposed, in their counsels and
measures, to the commissioners of the Society in London, and are, to
their utmost, striving to accomplish their designs in opposition to
them; and in this great contest I am looked on as a person not a
little obnoxious. They belong to a family of some note, who vigorously
abetted and set forward my opposers at Northampton, and were a chief
occasion of my removal from that town; to whom my settlement at
Stockbridge was very grievous; who now take occasion to exert
themselves to the utmost to weaken my interest and influence: and I
have all reason to think, would, if it were possible, undermine me,
and procure my removal far hence. Many endeavours have been used to
disaffect my people towards me, but all in vain. They are all firmly
united to me, excepting the forementioned family. Endeavours have been
used, also, to disaffect some of the commissioners; but wholly in
vain. They seem to have their eyes very wide open, as to their
particular designs and schemes, and the true spring of their
opposition. We hope for an end of this lamentable contest before long.
But its effects hitherto have been very sorrowful, especially with
regard to the Mohawks. Some other things have happened, which have
much prejudiced the cause of religion among the Indians; and among
other things, the discovery of the famous Tartarian root, described in
Chambers's dictionary, called Ginseng, which was found in our woods
the last summer, and is since found in the woods in many of these
western parts of New England, and in the country of the Six Nations.
The traders in Albany have been eager to purchase all that they could,
of this root, to send to England; where they make great profit by it.
This has occasioned our Indians of all sorts, young and old, to spend
abundance of time in wandering about the woods, and sometimes to a
great distance, in the neglect of public worship, and of their
husbandry; and also in going much to Albany, to sell their roots,
(which proves worse to them than their going into the woods,) where
they are always much in the way of temptation and drunkenness;
especially when they have money in their pockets. The consequence has
been that many of them have laid out their money, which they have got
for their roots of Ginseng, for rum; wherewith they have intoxicated
themselves.
God has been very gracious to my family of late, when some of them
have been visited with sore sickness. My wife has lately been very
dangerously sick, so as to be brought to the very brink of the grave.
She had very little expectation of life, but seemed to be assisted to
an unweaned resignation to the Divine will, and an unshaken peace and
joy in God, in the expectation of a speedy departure. But God was
pleased to preserve her, and mercifully to restore her to a pretty
good state of health. My youngest daughter also, who has been a very
infirm child, was brought nigh unto death by a sore fit of sickness,
and is now also restored to her former state. My daughter Parsons, my
eldest daughter, who with her husband has removed from Northampton,
and dwells in Stockbridge, has also very lately been very sick, but is
in a considerable measure restored. My daughter Esther's marriage with
President Burr, of Newark, seems to be very much to the satisfaction
of ministers and people in those parts, and also of our friends in
Boston, and other parts of New England.
As to the state of religion in America, I have but little to write
that is comfortable; but there seems to be better appearances in some
other colonies than in New England. When I was lately in New Jersey,
in the time of the synod there, I was informed of some small movings
and revivals in some places on Long-Island and New Jersey. I there had
the comfort of a short interview with Mr. Davies of Virginia, and was
much pleased with him and his conversation. He appears to be a man of
very solid understanding, discreet in his behaviour, and polished and
gentlemanly in his manners, as well as fervent and zealous in
religion. He gave an account of the probability of the settlement of a
Mr. Todd, a young man of good learning and of a pious disposition, in
a part of Virginia near to him. Mr. Davies represented before the
synod, the great necessities of the people in the back parts of
Virginia, where multitudes were remarkably awakened and reformed
several years ago, and ever since have been thirsting after the
ordinances of God. The people are chiefly from Ireland, of Scotch
extraction. The synod appointed two men to go down and preach among
these people; viz. Mr. Henry, a Scotchman, who has lately taken a
degree at New Jersey college, and Mr. Greenman, the young man who was
educated at the charge of Mr. David Brainerd.
The people of Northampton are in sorrowful circumstances, are still
destitute of a minister, and have met with a long series of
disappointments in their attempts for a resettlement of the ministry
among them. My opposers have had warm contentions among themselves, Of
late, they have been wholly destitute of anybody to preach steadily
among them. They sometimes meet to read and pray among themselves, and
at other times set travellers or transient persons to preach, that are
hardly fit to be employed.
My wife joins with me in most respectful salutations to you and yours.
Desiring your prayers, that God would be with us in all our wanderings
through the wilderness of this world,
I am, dear Sir,
Your most affectionate brother,
In the labours of the gospel,
jonathan edwards."