The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1772-11-19

good people of this province and continent
tina, | was born OF as reputable parents, ter
honefty, hofpita'ity and true pisty as any "
the county OF Ulaer, in the province OF New
York. where trua in Gods goodneis they
now live il the fame reputation. ! was
early educated in aienfe Of the importance OF
virtue and true religion, and before ] was
eight years Old became q very ferrous enqul-
rer of VIVA. fhcud do to be fayed. ] ne
doctrines of ab(olute eleeiion and reproba-
ton were at that time TRAINED up to then
utmolt extent in our country, and i was IN
| fitted upon, that unlefs iinner could md
himfef brought to an entire acquleicence IN
the will of God, provided Gods glory re-
CURED the eternal damnation OF that Inner,
he could have no Efficient evidence of his
being humbled in iuch manner as to be
| fit fubjeef for renewing grace. God knows
how much. prayed and laboured for fuch
temper of foul, and how heavily | walked
for fome years, from certain conicioufaei'
had not yet obtained, and might therefore
more probably have fallen among the many
coniigned to deilruetion, than the few whom
(overeign grace was pleaied to dittinguiih
from the croud. Doing, faRing and pray
ing were all abominatoD, while performed
by me, confeAedly natural man; and yet
,hefe very denominations were preiied upon
me as duties, for the neglect of which | mutt
expect Gods vengeance
n
However eaGly theGe doctrines may illde
down with the bulk Of mankind who enjoy
the happy capacity of feeling with other
men's eyes and judging by their underltand-
! ngs; IneyeI could reconcile thelc petition:
with the idea of an all wife and powerful
Being, folemnly fweasing to his people lha
he had no peafure in the death Of the iin-
ner, but had rather he fhould tnrn
and live. On this fide there was hope and
fome comfort, on the other nothing but the
blacknefs of darkness, mifery and dclpair
Hence in lome years became an ArminlaD,
| and then naturally purified the fame chain
lof thoughtwhich leads to my preient fyRem
the concife principles of which, are,
| 1T. To believe that God is, and the
rewarder of all thole that diligently ieek
him. ,s3 :s5n e
I'd. To do iufly, and to love mercy and
to wax humbly with our God.
The ffandard of juRice among US men
being, hef2
| rs ye woRid that Others EsHld do unto yoa
do "a als unto them tn like manner.
If thefe are faid to be the principles
of the chriitian religion, fay content; let
each act up to his principles, and delft from
vexing his neighbour with his injurious CEN
fures, rain judgments, hard and uncharta-
bic fpeeches, vain janglings about geneolo-
gies, debates about PauI, Cephas, Luther
and Calvin; and put on charity which is
the bond of peace, leaving bracelets zeslots
to conteft their modes of faith, while we en-
deavour to adorn the doctrine of God our
Saviour, with all long fufering and godly
iincerity. ae Ah
Knowing that the great Lord Of the uni
verfe fpoke me into being for other ends than
barely to ftalk about and defroy the fruits
of his bounty, Iron infancy endeavoured
to fit myielf for uiefulnels, and have made
as inceflant application to bu6nes as my ma
ture was capable Of enduring; and through
Gods blefing on my labours, amidif num-
berlefs difficulties and difaRers of various
kinds, have attained fuch portion of
knowledge in many things intereiling to
mankind, as will one day convince them
have aimed at nothing Ieis than being to
them an Improbable iervant: And infinitely
difant from the being, that in thought,
word or deed would do them an iniury.sas
Puriuant to this benevolent plan, svhns
my country was involved in a war withlCs
nads, notwi hianding lived on the border
Of Connecticut, in the heart of the country,
| and was by mV PROTECTION exennt finn, eve.