XXII. positions, and all expositions of Scripture pretending CHAPTER to deduce any doctrines or positions contrary to the doctrines laid down in these composures, we are of opinion, are wrong and erroneous; - and that every President, Fellow, Professor of Divinity, or Tutor in said College shall, before he enter upon the execution of his office, publicly consent to the said Catechism and Confession of Faith, as containing a just summary of the Christian religion, and renounce all doctrines and principles contrary thereto, and shall pass through such examination, as the Corporation shall think proper, in order to their being fully satisfied that he should do it truly, and without any evasion or equivocation."* These measures for perpetuating Calvinism in the land, were highly approved by all of that faith; and an accession of students to Yale Colleget about this time, greater than at Harvard, was regarded as an omen of the advantages to be derived from a close adherence to Calvinistic doctrines. * Ibid., p. 62. + See Appendix, No. IV. CHAPTER the Episco CHAPTER XXIII. Effects of the Controversies in the Congregational Church. - Policy and Increase of the Episcopal Church. Alarm of the Congregationalists. Death of Dr. Colman. His Merit and Professional Rank. No Funeral Discourse published on his Death. - His Life by Turell. His Character. His Friendship with Thomas Hollis. His Services to the College. Connexion between the College and the Inhabitants of the First Parish of Cambridge, for Public Worship. A new Congregational Church built. - Death and Character of Henry Flynt and of Edward Wigglesworth. DURING the theological disputes, which ensued upon the first visit of Whitefield to New England, the Episcopal clergy kept aloof, and many individuals, wearied with sectarian controversies, sought a quiet Increase of refuge from them in the Episcopal communion. The pal Church. principal rectors of that church were stipendiaries of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts; and it was the standing injunction of the Society to its missionaries, " to avoid controversy, and to make the fundamental doctrines of Christianity, and the duties of a sober, righteous, and godly life, as resulting from such doctrines, the chief subjects of their sermons."* Although Dr. Cutler, who, as rector of King's Chapel, stood at the head of the Episcopal clergy of Massachusetts, early controverted Whitefield's opinions on "forms of worship," "regenera * Humphrey's History of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, p. 70. Edit. 1730. tion," "instantaneous conversion," "the salvation of infants dying after baptism," and "the falling away from grace," he did not publicly enter into the contests which divided the Congregational clergy. But he was a keen observer of them; and the representations he transmitted to the Episcopal hierarchy in England, of the confusions, disturbances, and divisions, which were the fruits of the labors of Whitefield and his followers, are graphic and severe. He consoles himself with the fact, that they have resulted in "the growth of the (Episcopal) Church in many places, and its reputation universally; and it suffers no otherwise than as religion does, and that is sadly enough." + CHAPTER XXIII. Causes of this in crease, as stated by Secker. The circumstances which concurred to cause the growth of Episcopacy about the time of Whitefield's first visit to New England, are thus stated by Secker, Archbishop afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury, in his answer to Dr. Mayhew. "A further augmentation of the Church of England was occasioned by the wild enthusiasm that prevailed in several of the New England churches, even before Mr. Whitefield came among them, but was mightily increased by him and the strolling teachers that followed him; as did likewise their extending spiritual censures to mere trifles; with their endless contentions and confusions on the settling of ministers and on various occurrences besides. All which things disgusted and wearied out many of their people, and induced them to seek a peaceable refuge in our communion." * Whitefield's Seventh Journal, p. 24. Edit. 1741. † See Literary Anecdotes of the Eighteenth Century, by John Nichols. Vol. II. pp. 545-547. An Answer to Dr. Mayhew's Observations on the Charter and VOL. II. 10 CHAPTER the Episcopalians. The policy of the Episcopal clergy was adapted to take advantage of these discontents. Instead of the close or restricted communion of all the Congregational churches, the Episcopal church opened the door wide, and made entrance to their communion easy. All the approved methods of proselytism were resorted to by its missionaries, and some which, in the opinion of the Congregational clergy, were more worldly than evangelical. The government and friends of Harvard College were aware, that the design of the members of the Policy of Episcopal church to obtain an official influence in the concerns of that institution was only postponed, and not defeated, by the rejection of the claims of Dr. Cutler and Mr. Myles.* A few years afterwards, when the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, established a mission, and set up a church in Cambridge," about half a quarter of a mile from the College," it was regarded as one among other evidences of "a formal design to carry on a spiritual siege of our churches, with the hope, that they will one day submit to a spiritual sovereign." To this charge Archbishop Secker replies, that "several members of the Church of England send their children to Harvard College, and such a place of worship as their parents approve, may be reasonably provided for them, without any design of proselyting others. There is indeed a College in New England, where students have been Conduct of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts. p. 19. London Edit. 1764. * See Vol. I. p. 376. † Mayhew's Observations on the Charter and Conduct of the Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, pp. 56, 67. Edit. 1763. XXIII. forbidden to attend Episcopal service, and a young CHAPTER man has been fined for going to hear his own father, an Episcopal minister, preach. But, in Harvard College, it seems, a better spirit prevails; and it is more likely to flourish, both for that moderation and the new church built near it."* the Congre The increase of the Episcopal church was publicly Policy of attributed, by the Congregationalists, to the influence gationalists. and pecuniary patronage of the English crown and hierarchy; but they clearly perceived, that their own controversies were among the efficient causes of its growth. The project of introducing an ecclesiastical establishment into North America, with an order of Bishops, on the model of the Church of England, was revived, after the treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, in the British cabinet; and the fears of all divisions of the Congregational clergy were intensely excited by the impending danger to the religious establishment of their ancestors. To a desire to avoid occasions of controversy among themselves may be attributed the general silence with which Mayhew's undisguised attacks on the doctrines of Calvin were received by their advocates. More than fifteen years elapsed before one of the clergy of that sect appeared in the field against him. † They beheld, with complacency * Answer to Dr. Mayhew's Observations, &c., p. 13. †“I marvel, that none of our divines, of indisputable ability for such an undertaking, have attempted to vindicate the truth against him. But, since none have attempted it against the Doctor, I think it my duty to appear in defence of my country's system of Christianity." See an Essay to defend some of the most important Principles of the Protestant Reformed System of Christianity, &c. against the Aspersions of Jonathan Mayhew, D. D. By John Cleaveland, Pastor of a Church in Ipswich. Boston, 1763. |