Book Description

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1815 edition. Excerpt: ...his own people; but great numbers of strangers from the neighbouring towns attended them, so many as to make above half the congregation. This was in February and March, 1750. The calling of a decisive council to determine the matter of difference was now more particularly attended to on both sides. Mr. Edwards had before this insisted, from time to time, that they were by no means ripe for such a procedure; as they had not yet given him a fair hearing, whereby perhaps the need of such a council would be superseded. He observed, " That it was exceedingly unbecoming to manage religious affairs of the greatest importance in a ferment and tumult, which ought to be managed with great solemnity, deep humiliation, submission to the awful frowns of heaven, humble dependence on God, with fervent prayer and supplication to him: That therefore for them to go about such an affair as they did, would be greatly to the dishonour of God and religion: a way in which a people cannot expect a. blessing." Thus having used all means to bring them to a calm and charitable temper without effect, he consented that a decisive council should be called without any further delay. But a difficulty attended the choice of a council, which was for some time insuperable. It was agreed, that the members should be mutually elected, one half by the pastor, and the. other half by the church: but the people insisted upon it, that Mr. Edwards should be confined to the county in his choice. He thought this an unreasonable restraint upon him, as it was known that the ministers and churches in that county alrhost universally differed from him in the controversy. He indeed did not suppose that the business of the proposed council would be to determine whether his...