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

60 HISTORY OF NORTHAMPTON. [1728.
The System Dis- Mr. Stoddavd secms to have been greatly
cussed. exercised by this affair, and was not easily
appeased. As was the custom in the plain-
spoken debates of that time, there was undoubtedly an interchange
of sharp words, all the more bitter because of
the earnestness of the disputants. On the same day the
''Half way Covenant" was partially discussed. Thacher
thus refers to it under the above date : —
" Ys day y> discussed y*' remedyes and debated at y" end of each Par-
aoraph y" was much debate about Persons being admitted to full
;
communion & M'' Stodder y« minister offered to dispute against it &
brought one argument. M'' Mather was respondent M'' Oaks Modrat%
but after some time y'' rest of his argumts were deferred & at present
it was eased."
Mr. Stoddard's Ver- The opposltiou of Mr. Stoddard was to
sion of the Debate. the report of the Committee, and not to
the proposition to allow unregenerate per-
sons to come to the communion table. His OAvn version of
this affair is annexed —
:
"The words of the Sjmod are these—It is requisite that Persons be
not admitted unto Communion in the Lord's Supper without making a
Personal & Public Profession of their Faith and Repentance. I shall
give the world an Account how the matter was acted. Some of the
Elders in the Synod had drawn up a Conclusion. That persons should
make a Relation of the work of God's Spirit upon their hearts, in order
to coming into full Communion. Some others of the Elders objected
against it. and after some discourse it was agreed to have a dispute on
that qiiestion. Whether those Professors of Religion as are of good
Conversation, are not to be admitted to full Communion, provided they
are able to Examine themselves, and discern the Lord's body. Mr.
[Increase] Mather, held the negative ; I labored to make good the
Affirmative ;
the result was That they blotted out that clause of Mak-
ing a Relation of the work of God's Spirit, and put in the room of it.
and so I
The Making a Profession of their Faith and Repentance :
Voted with the Rest, and am of the same judgment still." i
According to Mr. Thacher, the discussion was evidently
cut short. The Synod was unwilling to enter upon an interminable
debate upon a question that had not been propounded
for its deliberation.
1 Mr. Stoddard's Appeal to the Learned.