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

228 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. Ll'51.
tempt made about this time, or soon after, to resettle Mr.
Edwards over a new church in town, to be formed by his
personal friends and admirers. Whatever of truth there
may be in this statement, it is certain that Mr. Edwards
j3reached here after the passage of the vote. The last sermon
delivered by him in Northampton, was in the afternoon
of October 1.3th, 1751, from the text to be found in
Heb. 11 : 16. Rev. Jonathan Judd of Southampton occupied
the pulpit in the morning, and in his diary both facts
are recorded.
Mr. Edwards Called Mr. Edwards rccelved proposals from the
to stookbridge. cliurcli and congregation in Stockbridge
to become their pastor, in December, 1750.
About the same time he had an invitation from a London
Missionary Society to take charge of the Housatonnuck Indians,
who were located at Stockbridge and its immediate
vicinity. Accordingly he went in January to that place,
where he remained throughout the winter, and finally accepted
the call, removing to Stockbridge in the autumn of
1751.
Another Difficulty But he did uot leave Northampton without
in Northampton, q-^^q niore uupleasaut encounter with his old
parishioners. The friends of Mr. Edwards,
though small in numbers, were devoted to him, and were
anxious to retain him in Northampton. With this intent
they, together with "some who acted on neither side, but
after his dismission adhered to him," proposed to form
another church, and settle him as its pastor. When this
subject was first introduced is somewhat uncertain. Probably
it was in contemplation for some time, and came to a
head when he received the call to Stockbridge. Mr. Edwards
was satisfied that this would only perpetuate and
prolong the strife here, and did not favor the design.
Yielding at last to the importunity of his friends, he consented
to join them in seeking the advice of an ecclesiasti-
cal council.' This body met in Northampton, May 15^''.
1 "The opponents of Mr. Edwards imagiuius that the convening of this council
was part of a plan for reversing the proceedings of the former council and restoring
him to his old pastoral charge, were exceedingly excited, gave way to great violence
of feeling."— Miller's Life of Edwards, p. 132.