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

224 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1750.
solemn and awful transaction considered in all its circum-
stances.'' ^
Compromise nn - Had
the council been full the result would
possible. have been a tie. Both pastors and delegates
had decided upon their course beforehand,
and each voted in accordance with the views of the party
by whom he was selected. The position of affairs in the
church—the bitter uncharitableness which prevailed on
one side, and the unyielding stubbornness on the otherprecluded
any attempt at compromise, and the council had
none to propose. The doors of the church so far as the
admission of members was concerned, had been closed for
some time, and apparently could not be opened unless one
party or the other yielded unconditionally, or were forced
to submit to a decree of the council. The people of Northampton,
whether with or without sufficient cause, had lost
confidence in their pastor. Taught by the emotional
preaching of that day, which permitted feeling to usurp
the place of reason, they sought to compass their ends
despite all opposition. The two parties which had since its
settlement, embittered the social and political life of the
town, united by means of the great awakening under Mr.
Edwards, now made common cause against the man whose
influence had brought about this unity. So thoroughly
had this spirit of contention amo7ig themselves been subdued,
that one argument against allowing the pastor to
preach on the issue, was the fear that it might " make parties
in town."
1 In the foregoing narrative of the dismissal of Rev. Jonathan Edwards from the
church in Northampton, the Jovirnal of Mr. Edwards as quoted in Dwight's Life of
that eminent Divine has been followed. The church records are mute concerning the
whole matter. So little appears there during the pastorate of Mr. Edwards, that it
has been suggested that they have been tampered with, and all information relating
to that controversy abstracted. But there is little or no evidence to justify such an
insinuation. It was uot then customary to make full records of any public meetings,
and it is not to be supposed that church records would be an exception. The
church records previous to the pastorate of Mr. Edwards, are very imperfect. They
contain a list of church memlters, but scarce anything relative to its business trans-
actions. While it is to be regretted that more minute reports were not preserved, it
is yet fortunate that Mr. Edwards' Journal remains to supply the deficiency. The
records of the precinct nieetings during this time, are all carried out in the usual
brief and unsatisfactory manner, and from them Mr. Edwards must have obtained
his facts concerning parish action.