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

56 HISTORY OP NORTHAMPTON. [1728.
enant, tliougli tliey gave no evidence of regeneration ?
The general belief, supported by tlie combined testimony of
all who have written upon the subject, is that such was his
practice. Yet he " preached earnestly and powerfully upon
the necessity of regeneration and a holy life in order to
salvation." ^ It should be borne in mind that the half-way
covenant was adopted for the purpose of admitting persons
far enough into the church to allow the baptism of their
children, with the hope that when once entered and brought
under religious influences, they would grow in grace, and
come within the fold. It was simply in furtherance of this
purpose, that the church in Northampton put its candidates
" into a state of education," requiring them "publicly to
take hold of the covenant of the Lord as a grace bestowing
covenant."
Mr. Stoddard's idea seems to have been but
Mr. Stoddard's Pecuiiar
System a auotlier stcp in tliis systcm of religious culious
Education. turc. He claimed that " the Lord's Supper
is instituted to be a means of regeneration,"
and so to be employed as an incentive towards the adoption
of a religious life. The church doors were not even par-
tially opened to any who were not willing to publicly acknowledge
their belief in the tenets of salvation, by " owning
the covenant," and " subjecting themselves to the teachings
& government of Jesus Christ in this church & engaging
according to their place and power to promote the
welfare of it." By this means they formed a connection
with the church sufficient to admit themselves and their
children to the rite of baptism. To emphasize and accelerate
this process of education was the design and purport
of " Stoddardeanism." Mr. Stoddard complained of having^
been misunderstood and misrepresented. He did not believe
nor did he argue that the rite in itself had any saving
efficacy.^ Admission to the Lord's Table was not in his
view the only qualification for salvation. But whatever
may have been the opinion of the pastor, the church had
1 Rev. J. p. Thompson, Bib. Sacra, vol. 18, p. 819.
3 " As Mr. Stoddard explained his view it was not that nou-believers of whatever
grade should use the Lord's Supper as a saving ordinance, but that those whom he
regarded as nominally in church connection by bapti.sm, though timid and unsatisfied
as to their spiritual state should use this ordinance as a means of grace."—Bib.
Sac, vol. 18, p. 819.