from scandal in their so doing, we cannot judge, all cir- Book II, cumstances considered, that their withdrawing from the worship and communion of the church, and continuance 1732. therein, was so gross and criminal, as to deserve their exclusion from the church of Christ: Yet we think that they had not justifying reasons for so doing, but were faulty and disorderly, and failed of a due compliance with that direction of the apostle, Hebrews x. 24, 25, Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is; and of suitable endeavours to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace: which we think it becomes them, as they would shew themselves persons studying peace, candidly to confess, according to a draft drawn for them by this council; which we hope the Rev. Mr. Ruggles and the church, in conformity to those gospel directions, Col. iii. 12, 13,-Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another: if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ hath forgiven you, so do ye: will accept, upon its being signed by those that live under the censure, and being brought to him by them, in order to its being publicly read in the congregation."*

This result laid a foundation for the restoration of the suspended members to the communion of the church, but it did not unite the parties. Proposals were made for calling and settling another minister with Mr. Ruggles, whom the minor party should choose, to preach half the time; but they could not be persuaded to unite in this, or any method which could be proposed.

The General Assembly, afterwards, sent two committecs of civilians to hear the parties, consider the state of the town, and report to the assembly. The last of which reported in favour of granting the petition of the minor part, or fourth society. They were of the opinion, that May, 1733. it would be for the peace of the town and the interest of religion. The assembly accepted the report, and made the people who had separated, a distinct ecclesiastical society, by the name of the fourth society in Guilford, with the same boundaries as those of the first parish.

Thus, after a contention of between four and five years, great irritations and alienations between brethren and neighbours, and a great expense of time and money be

* The minor party accepted the doings of the council, signed the confession which was drafted for them, and gave it to Mr. Ruggles, that it might be read.

Book II. fore courts, general assemblies, and councils, a final separation was made in the church and town.

1733.

This affords a solemn caution to churches and societies, Observa- and to ordaining councils, against settling ministers where tigns. there are large and respectable numbers in opposition, and forcing ministers upon them, by majorities. In ordinary cases, it is wholly unnecessary. Let proper condescension be used, and time given, churches and societies will unite and come to an harmonious settlement. If one person does not unite them, another may. The consequences of divisions, by the settlement of ministers against a large opposition, are exceedingly pernicious; it excites all manner of evil affections, destroys good neighbourhood, and, in a great measure, prevents the usefulness of the pastor, and the edification of both parties. It tends to confusion and every evil work. It is of great importance, that a minister should be a good preacher: this is his main and principal work, and the want of this, very much disqualifies him for the office. Mr. Ruggles was a scholar and a wise man; his morals were not impeachable; but he was a dull, unanimating preacher; had a great talent at hiding his real sentiments, never coming fully out, either as to doctrinal or experimental religion. These were, doubtless, the grounds of the separation. The same things were the principal grounds of the separations which afterwards took place in the county of New-Haven.

Character of the first

CHAPTER VIII.

General state of the churches in Connecticut and New-England. Revivals of religion in some few places, before the great and general revival in 1737, and 1738, and especially in 1740, and 1741. Some of the principal instruments of it. Great opposition to it by magistrates and ministers. Laws enacted against it. Principal opposers of the work of GOD at that time. Disorders attending it. Separations from the churches soon after. Spirit and character of those who separated from the ministers and churches at that time. Happy effects of the work in gene

ral.

A

S the first settlers of Connecticut and New-England, were a collection of people who left their country and and pleasant seats in Europe, and followed the Lord into this churches. then American wilderness, a land not sown, for the sake

planters

of religion, they formed churches, strict in doctrine, in dis- Book II. cipline and in practice. Great pains were taken by them to govern and educate their children religiously, that they might indeed be a generation for the Lord. They were sound in the faith, eminent for experimental religion, and of lives of strict and universal morality. A gentleman of eminent character, witnessed, that in seven years, which he had lived in New-England, he had never heard a profane oath, or seen a person drunk.* But as the good people who planted the country died, and the new generation came on, there was a sensible decline, as to the life and power of godliness. The generation which succeeded, were not in general so eminent and distinguished in their zeal, and strictness of morals, as their fathers. The third Declenand fourth generations became still more generally inat- sion in tentive to their spiritual concerns, and manifested a great- religion. er declension from the purity and zeal of their ancestors. Though the preaching of the gospel was not altogether without success, and though there was tolerable peace and order in the churches; yet there was too generally a great decay, as to the life and power of godliness. There was a general ease and security in sin. Abundant were the lamentations of pious ministers and good people, poured out before God, on this account. Many days of fasting and prayer were kept by the churches, to seek the special influences of the holy Spirit, in the awakening and sanctification of the people. But it did not please the SUPREME RULER, at that time, to give any special answer to their prayers. No general revival of religion was for many years experienced. Some few places were, nevertheless, visited in a very happy and extraordinary manner.

in North

In Northampton, in particular, there were repeated re- Revivals vivals, under the ministry of the Rev. Mr. Stoddard. The of religion first was about the year 1679; a second was in 1683. ampton. Another was about the year 1696; a fourth in 1712. In 1718, he had the happy experience of the fifth. These he termed his harvests. He was eminent and renowned, both for his gifts and graces, and his ministry was, from the beginning, blessed with uncommon success. The revivals, were, some of them, much more remarkable than others; but in each of them, and especially in those in 1683, in 1696, and in 1712, the greatest part of the young people in the town, appeared chiefly concerned for their salvation.†

In the year 1721, there was a very general and remark* Prince's Christian History.

Mr. Edwards' Narrative, p. 3, and Prince's Christian History.

Revival in the town of Windham, 1721.

BOOK II. able concern and enquiry among the people, in the town of Windham, what they should do to be saved. The town had been incorporated about twenty-nine years. The church had been formed about twenty-one.* The pastor was the Rev. Samuel Whiting. He was trained up for the ministry, principally under the instructions of the famous Mr. Fitch, of Norwich. He was eminent for gifts and grace a clear and powerful preacher of the doctrines of the reformation. His preaching at this time, was attended with such success, by the powerful influences of the divine Spirit, that in the short term of six months, eighty persons were admitted to full communion in the church. This was a great ingathering unto Christ indeed, as the inhabitants could not be numerous. It was probably nearly as much as one person to every family. This could be imputed to no extraordinary external cause, but to the secret operation of the spirit of God upon their hearts. The town was full of love, joy, thanksgiving and praise. A day of thanksgiving was appointed, to give thanks and praise unto him, who had done such great things for them. In this happy revival, persons of all ages, and some of whom there could have been little expectation, came together weeping, to seek the Lord their GOD, and to join themselves to him, in an everlasting covenant, never to be forgotten.

earthquake,

But while this place was so remarkably wet with the dew of heaven, the ground was dry all round it. Ministers and good people were mourning the spiritual drought which was upon them, that iniquity abounded, and that religion was sadly decaying throughout the land. After the great earthquake, the night after the Lord's day, Oct. Effects of 29th, 1727, when the Almighty arose, and so terribly the great shook the earth through this great continent, it is true that many were greatly alarmed, and that there was a greater resort to ministers and to the house of God than before, and greater numbers were added to the churches, yet in too many instances, it appeared to be rather the consequence of fear, than of genuine conviction, and a thorough change of heart. Ministers, in some places, took great pains to show the people the difference of being driven to the performance of duty, merely from fear, and the doing of it from love to God, his word and ordinances ; The town was incorporated in 1692. The church was gathered Dec. 10th, 1700.

Oct 29th, 1727.

+ President Clap's letter to the Rev. Mr. Prince, March 29th, 1729. See the Sermon, on the occasion, a few years since reprinted. His text was, "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord." I. Thess.

iii. 8.

and a thirsting for righteousness, for its own sake. But Book II. though it was to be hoped that some were savingly wrought upon, yet the serious impressions which seemed at first to 1734. be made, were too generally soon lost, and the goodness of many appeared like the morning cloud and early dew, which goeth away. God visited the country with other awful providences, such as sore sickness and great mortality, in some places, but no general reformation was effected.

About the year 1734, that dreadful disease called the Awful prothroat distemper broke out and spread in the country, vidences among children and youth. It was attended with a sud- disregardden and extraordinary mortality. In some towns almost ed, and all the children were swept away. In some instances, part more people de large families consisting of eight and nine children were and more made entirely desolate, The parents, in a short time, at- from God, tended them all to the grave, and had neither son, nor daughter left. The country was filled with mourners, and bitter affliction. But the people in general continued secure. The forms of religion were kept up, but there appeared but little of the power of it. Both the wise and foolish virgins seemed to slumber. Professors appeared too generally to become worldly and lukewarm. The young people becaine loose and vicious, family prayer and religion was greatly neglected, the sabbath was lamentably profaned: the intermissions were spent in worldly conversation. The young people made the evenings after the Lord's day, and after lectures, the times for their mirth and company keeping, Taverns were haunted, intemperance and other vices increased, and the spirit of GoD appeared to be awfully withdrawn.* It seems also to appear that many of the clergy, instead of clearly and powerfully preaching the doctrines of original sin, of regeneration, justification by faith alone, and the other peculiar doctrines of the gospel, contented themselves with preaching a cold, unprincipled and lifeless morality: for when these great doctrines were perspicuously, and powerfully. preached, and distinctions were made between the morality of Christians, originating in evangelical principles, faith and love, and the morality of heathens, they were offended, and became violent opposers.

religion be

gins.

In this state of general declension and security it pleas- The great ed GOD, in sovereign mercy, to begin an extraordinary revival of work of conviction and conversion, such as had never been experienced in New-England before. It began in several places in Massachusetts and Connecticut, as early as the * The Rev. Mr. Edwards' Narrative, and Prince's Christian History S