History of Northampton, Massachusetts, from its settlement in 1654;

204 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1749.
1746. he published a pamphlet entitled a '"Treatise on the
Religious Affections." Few of his people perused this
work, and it was not till three years after, when he made
known his sentiments to the standing committee of the
church, that the parish began to realize the position he had
assumed. The year previous, however, Mr. Edwards arbitrarily
refused to admit a certain person to the church,
unless he made a profession of faith in accordance with the
new views of the pastor. Though willing to subscribe to
the profession prepared by the pastor, the young man declined
to accept it as a passport to church-membership.^
This apparently abrupt change of sentiment and procedure
on the part of Mr. Edwards, caused considerable excitement.
At that time "all the churches in the county, except
two, and all the clergy, except three, approved of the
lax mode of admission." ^ Still venerating the memory of
their former pastor, who had led them for so many years,
the people were unwilling to accept the new doctrine.
When Mr. Edwards announced his change of views to the
church committee he proposed to them to preach on the
subject. But this, while the public mind was in such a
ferment, they decidedly opposed, suggesting that instead
he should give his reasons in print. Accordingly he '
' ap-
plied himself with all dilligence to i)repare something for
the press." ^
And Publishes his Ii^ the meantime a young woman presenting
"^'^^^herself
for admission to the church, was
-O'equired by Mr. Edwards to make a public
profession. This she consented to do if the church author-
ities approved. The church committee, however, refused
to admit her on those conditions by a vote of three to fif-
;teen. In April, 1749, Mr. Edwards proposed, ''if the
church desires it," to resign his ministrj^ He coupled his
offer, however, with a proviso that everybody should have
an opportunity to read his book, and that in the council of
dismissal no one should be allowed to vote who had not
either read his treatise, or listened to what he had to say in
1 Dwif;ht\s Life of Edward?, p. 314.
2 lb. p. 3or.
3 lb. p. 31. 'J,