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opposer,"

Dr. C. was an acute and diligent observer of all their movements, and, through numerous and intelligent correspondents, in various parts, came at a perfect knowledge of their intentions, measures, and effects.

With the same design of resisting, if possible, the torrent of fanaticism, which was threatening to overwhelm the country, as that, with which he wrote and published his sermon on "enthusiasm," he published, in this year, an account of the french prophets, in a letter to a friend. Indeed he left no reputable means untried to convince the more intelligent part of the community, that religion consists not in a heated fancy, in a set of ardent phrases, in hearing a multitude of sermons, or merely saying many prayers, but in a pure heart and a beneficent life.

In accomplishing this purpose, the work, which cost him the greatest pains, which made the greatest clamour among the enthusiasts of the day, and which perhaps, at this time, is accounted one of the most powerful antidotes to theological empiricism, in the country, was his "Seasonable thoughts on the state of religion in Newengland, a treatise in five parts. I. Faithfully pointing out the things of a bad and dangerous tendency, in the late and present religious appearance in the land. I. Representing the obligations, which lie upon the pastors of these churches in particular, and upon all in general, to use their endeavours to suppress prevailing disorders; with the great clanger of a neglect in so

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important a matter. III. Opening in many in- SEC. XV. stances, wherein the discouragers of irregularities have been injuriously treated. IV. Shewing what ought to be corrected, or avoided, in testifying against the evil things of the present day. V. Directing our thoughts more positively to what may be judged the best expedients, to promote pure and undefiled religion in these times. With a preface, giving an account of the antinomians, familists, and libertines, who infected these churches, above an hundred years ago; very needful for these days; the like spirit and errours prevailing now, as did then. The whole being intended and calculated to serve the interest of Christ's kingdom."

The title page of this work, which is here carefully copied, sufficiently gives the character of its design. Mr. Whitfield, who visited this country, in 1740, had produced a strong sensation of a religious nature in the people on the seaboard, from Maine to Georgia. This distinguished and very popular man was followed, in his itinerating career, by Messrs. Tennent, Davenport, and others, who had all the zeal of their leader, without his talents, and all his assurance, without his address. The young european methodist had a most sonorous and commanding voice, and this, united with a ready utterance, and captivating attitudes, secured him a world of admirers. The minds of the people became highly excited. They were no longer satisfied with the cool and moderate strain of preaching, practised by the generality of the Newengland ministers. They had gotten a

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SEC. XV. taste for a loose, incoherent kind of sermons, which contained strong appeals to their imagination and senses. These they must have, and after them they would go. Had the itinerants, who followed, preceded Whitfield, probably the country might have remained quiet. But men, who were incapable of raising the tempest, were able, by means of dust and rubbish, to continue the troubled state of the atmosphere. All the country was agitated. A variety of disorders were the consequence. Some ministers indeed there were, who secretly and openly favoured these, what they called, revivals of religion, and zealously cooperated with Mr. Whitfield and his friends, invited them into their pulpits, and either published or wrote in their behalf. Among the clergy of this description were Messrs. Moodey of York, Emerson of Malden, and Bliss of Concord. The first was great-grandfather, the two last grandfathers of the writer of this tract, Many there were, who, though dissatisfied with the conduct of these itinerants, yet durst not openly condemn it. Their opposition was secret, for fear of the people. But others came forward manfully, in defence of what they deemed rational and true religion, and testified their disapprobation of the prevalent disorders of the day. At the head of this class was Dr. Chauncy; and the principal engine, he constructed for the purpose, was the work now under notice.

The story of the early spread of antinomianism in this country, with which he introduces the work, is interesting to every lover of american

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history as well, as to divines. He could hardly SEC. XV. have better described, with the aid of inspiration, the temper and conduct of modern enthusiasts, than he has described them, in the practice of the antinomians of his own days. Thoroughly understanding the temper of his opponents, he knew what, and how much, to concede to them. He was familiar with their pretences and devices, and frequently detected them in errours, where they felt themselves safe.

In p. 252, he gives a specimen of his power of sarcasm, which is nowise contemptible. It was urged by the friends of Mr. Whitfield, that "there is no good effect of the preaching of unconverted ministers." "If by unconverted ministers," says Dr. C. "be meant such, as have been guilty of the most filthy uncleanness, under the highest aggravations, the preaching of such has not been without good effect, even according to the mind of those, who make this objection. For, it is generally known of a famous preacher, horribly guilty in this kind, and proved to have been so, and deposed from the ministry on this account, that the effect of his preaching, in the extraordinaries of the present day, equalled, for a time, all that the most noted among our new preachers could pretend to. He so preached, as to be flocked after by multitudes of all sorts, and, so far as shrieking, and screaming, and falling down, and being in agonies of distress, or raptures of joy, are a sign of the good effect of preaching, he might compare with any for the evidences of it. But he was a converted minister

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SEC. XV. in the opinion of the people; and there have not been, it is true, these extraordinaries following the word preached by those, called unconverted, though they hope, notwithstanding, they have not laboured altogether in vain."

The first part of this work is that, which cost its author the most labour, and which left the deepest impression. It was to expose, in a strong light, the errour of many prevalent doctrines, and the falsehood of many round assertions, which were continually in the mouths of the fanatical tribe. To this end he made copious extracts from Baxter, Gurnall, Stillingfleet, and even Flavel; and, out of the mouths of these pious and orthodox divines, condemned their extravagant rantings and abominable censoriousness.

These rantings and censures and irregular preachings of the itinerants, and the swoonings and screams of their converts, were acknowledged, by the sober part of the christian community, to be imprudencies. But the Dr. superiour to hypocrisy, and fearless of the wrath of his adversaries, insisted on coming out and calling them by their right name, things of a bad and dangerous tendency."

It was alleged by the new converts of that day, and by their friends, that too much was expected of them. Dr. C. replied, that it was not expected, they would act like angels; but it was expected, they would act like rational beings.

President Edwards stated, that, "as the influences of the Spirit were new and extraordinary, so it was to be expected, that those, who were the