The Massachusetts spy, or, Thomas's Boston journal. [volume] (Boston [Mass.]) 1772-1775, 1773-09-02
To my gaad [riend Mr.. Y.

l0MJ XVVu 'es''~ 49,
Aso.au,seA.saeHOEVER engages in a
TS public difpu,e, whether
@sExT1 o. with a ysung man or an old
M " Ms% one, no doubt, fhould have
NSSkR (omething of more impor-
.NS4NIfYSAS tancc in view, than merely
10 fpurS on he fsgc, or amufe his hearers
with a fourth of words. What your pIin-
cipal dcGen was, in placing" certain claim,
ant of high powers and PreIogat"es' and
gentleman Vsavab!s as well as IsdTnsa,
wbo(c praife is in the churches both OF Old
and New England, in" very "confp'cuous
oppotiton," is not for me to fay charity
would lead me to fuppoie your deiign
was good but was extremely iorry 10 oo-
ferve what pcalure the reading Of thoic CO.
Luuns afforded SOME among us, who arc In
no danger of paying that fupeittitious re-
toce to the expounders Of ear religion which
the benishted Pagans on the COATS OF Ma
Iabar pay the BRAKEMAN.
I, is fo!emn truth, which ! believe no
ferrous people will deny, that there never
has been time, lincc the eGablilhment OF
-:aianity in the land, when, in propoTtI-
=" TO the number Of inhabltauEs. there was
polpel Anu mere never has been time
when the principles of infdsiiy were in 70
great danger of fpreading Coniequently,
there never was 70 great number among
us, as there now is,willing TO take every poi
fible advantage, of whatever can be faid to
render the clergy dpieabk.
would by no means, Sir, admit fufpi
cion, that by any of the pieces with which
YOU have favouted the public, you INTENDED
the leaf injury to that order of men but
you know when the fraiLtifS or imprEdtnefS
Of iudividaOlt are held up to the view of
the world in the RrSng1F colours, the whole
Bsdy mutt expect in fame mature to fuffsr !:
Not that | with to have the guilty faved
from puni(hment, or delinquents icreened
from the centuries they deferve.
Companions you know, fir, are odious,
and what method could you have taken to
render {" ysHzg A1r. Adams" more odious to
the public, than by reprefentlng him as
claiming psrCfrs and byvegativfs, whichMr.
fswgo0d that vensrabk old diyapIf, difcIaimed
with adherence, as abfoluteIy inconfaent
with the honour of CHRISTIANITY And
whatever difggaee fuch an oppCftion Of Mr..
ADAms's fentimenIs to thole of Mr.. Tow
GOOD, may be fuppoled TO caR upon the Ter
us, falls with equal weight on all who think
with Mr.. Adams, that the faithful miniffers
of the New Tcitament, are appointed by their
divine matter, to be rnlsr5 as well as teachers
and that they may, on (ams seegJfsns, with
hold their content to the votes of the church,
But my good friend, have we any reafon to
fuppsfe Mr. Towgood would have expreiled
himieIfin the manner be did, if the PASTORS
he referred to, had been ferrous and cody
men Of the peop.e's own chu6ng Suppofe
3 ome NsuUmarkd brG j01ky ihould obtain
ordination, and be TENT to exercife (piyifE0l
antbsrity over I'll who are called Gi0enfeTJ
in ibis TOWN, ihould we fuppoie ourlelves
under any kind It obligations to fubmit to
him as cur gaias or our G0Vernsr ! Nor was
the parifh iefened TO by MIR. TowcooD,
bound by any principles of reafon or religi.
on, to regard the Nobleman's bEatfnan as
their Spiritual DIRECTOR.
Bss Iuch pattors as are impofed upon tht
people without their confeD', we are no
/. troubled with, and iincerely pray we never
nay be. Our Pastnrs are ct our cw0 ehoof