The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-13

scriptures; and great many other chi-
meras aud faneies, which, says he, un-
der the pretence of exalting the free
grace of god. destroyed the practical
part of religion, and opened door TO
all sorts Of RIGHTEOUSNESS
Meals Hist. c. S. p. l66.
l shall not enter into the merits ofthe
cause, there is neither time nor occasion
for it, only, must observe how each
side ascribed to the others consequen-
ces they imagined followed from their
opinions, which they did not see or own
And particularly the people who came
here, had things laid to their charge
which they utterly denied, and detested
equally with their antagonists. So harsh.
ly did their adversaries Judge of them,
as even to involve in their opinions, or
the consequences Of them, denial of
the resurrection Of the dead and the life
everlasting, which totally subverts and
destroys christianity, and all religion at
once, which necessarily implies future
state; when yet the whole debate sup
posed the truth of christianity, and the
certainty of future state; and the main
question was about the method in which
they might best obtain an assurance of
their interest in, and their title TO, the
inheritance of the saints-in light. The
very first of the eighty errors, to be tried
in the synod, doth, as ! remember,
charge the denial of the Immortality of
the soul, as a CONSCIENCE of the opinion
that the faculties of the soul are passive
or quiesent in the work of conversion
and regeneration: when yet the synod
themselves unanimously believed partic-
ular election, and irresistible grace.
The question was, by what evidence
must man proceed in taking to himself
the comforts of his justification ? The
bigger part of the country laid the first
and main stress of our comfortable ev-
idence on our sanctifcation; but the o.
pinionists, says DIR, Mather, were for a
mother sor. Of evidence as their chief, viz
the spirit of God by powerful! applica-
,ion Oft promise, begetting in us and re-
vcaling to US powerful assurance of our
being justified Mag. B.. p, IA.
Now ms the Doctor adds (even on this
way of stating the question, or express
ing the sentiments of those called opln-
ionists, which they would be far from
acquiesc eing in, as expressing their full
aud true opinion) )-'The truth might ca
silly have united both these opinions
But as he goes on,--They carried the
matter on to a very perilous door, o.
pened to many errors and evils, yea to
threaten the peaceable order in govern
men,.' But they deny and disclaim the
consequences fixed on them, and justify
their own opinion and conduct, and
charge the other party with as fatal and
mischievous consequences, and con-
duct arbitrary and oppressive.
Besides the differences about those
Joints for which these people were
charged with antinomianism, what was
called familism was perhaps not little
offensive. Nay their differences in o.
pinion were worked up to almost state
quarrel at. the last, as arminianism had
been in Holland, and episcopacy was
in acknowledgements, and as the refor-
nation still is all over Europe The
public affairs of town and colony were
affected by these contentious, and the
governor and assistants put in aud out,
as the one or the o:her side prevailed
The whole people unhappily run into
factions and parties in such manner as
if contention and every evil work, had
not been evidences incontestablc, that
the wisdom from which they proceeded
could not be from above. But so it is,
where men differ about Religion, their
contentious are usually the most sharp,
and carried on with the most raucorous
heat and animosity even though they
differ about the smallest matters, or
~ hen ns vas the case here they differ