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

1740.] CONTROVKRSY WITH REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 215
he slioiild be allowed to go out of the county for members
of the final council. He claimed that the clergy in the]
county were nearly all opposed to him, and would not
therefore be impartial judges; and that his people had
never given him a fair hearing, either in public or private, i
Declaring his right to preach his principles, he contended'
that if he did so the people were obliged to hear him, and
requested the council to decide that point in his favor. !
Many of the accusations against him he answered com-
pletely, arguing that he had not been treated fairly, attributing
it to the fact that his people or the leading men
among them, had from the first determined that he must
be dismissed.
Contention of the No rccord is to be fouud of the arguments
Church unre- advanced by the agents of the church.
Only from an occasional allusion to them
in the remarks of
port be obtaiued.
Mr. Edwards, can an idea of their pur-
After auother lengthy argument in favor of
offers to ResiKu jijg position, Mr. Edwards made a second
Conditionally. ,... -i n> , i , ,
conditional otter to resign his pastorate.
Mr. Edwards again
He proposed that the people should listen to his declaration
of principles, defer all further action upon the matter tilli
spring, when the traveling would be more comfortable,'
not agitating the question in the meantime. Then if they
desire a council of churches to settle the controversy, allowing
him to choose some members of it from other counties,
and the council should be able to " find out no way for a
composition or accommodation,"' lie would resign, provided
the precinct would free him from rates.
Decision and Ad- Tlic couucil decided that there should be a
journmentofthe restoration of the sacrament: that pastor
and people should converse freely about the
points in controversy, but that there should be no public
proceedings relative to them. An opinion was also expressed
that the opposition of the church committee to Mr.
Edwards' preaching upon his principles was one probable
occasion of the uneasiness and dissatisfaction which pre-
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