The works of the Rev. William Thom, late minister ... - waughfamily.ca

LETTERS, TRACTS, l^fC.38 I'which,much as a fmgle exprcITion in itjexcept by o«e individualperfon, whofe particular notions and viev/s Ihave not been able to learn exadtly : But it is in proof,that the inhabitants of Clutha v/ho had heard thefpeeches, fo far from being diiTatisiied, clid highly anduniverfaliy commend them ; fo that it was believedthat thefe commendations helped on the criminal procefs,juft as the commendations given to the fermonI mentioned before itirred up the envy and animofityof the warm theologians againfl the author of ittogether with the grief which fome of themfelt at his being advanced, made them violent and furiousin a procefs of herefy before the ecclefiailicalcourts.Chap. 9. There were only two fpeeches upon fomeexpreilions of which the learned profefTors foundedtheir criminal indid;ment. Ong of thefe fpeeches wasin the very parliament of Oceana, and the other in anumerous club called the general fociety. In the oneof thefe affemblies feven or eight of the learned profefTorswere in the mean time prefent ; in both ofthem,- befides fludents, there were prefent a greatnumber of the nobility, the beil educated inhabitantsand enlightened merchants of Clutha : And in orderto throw light upon the fubfequent part of this memorablehiitory, it is proper to remark here, that inneitherof the fpeeches was this unfortunate i^udentinterrupted, no perfon called him to order, no profeffor,no citizen of Clutha fhowed the flightell difapprobation-of any of thofe expreffions which afterwardskindled fuch a pious fury in the fouls of theprofefTors, were made ufe of as tlie fubjecl: of a cri-Jiilnai indiftment, and brought the young man intofo fmart and long diitrels : And to this day it is myfteriousand altogether unaccountable, that expreiTionswhich appeared no v/ay fhccking when they were uttered,fhould appear fo at fo great a dift^v^ice of timewhen they were recollecl:ed.Cha;l>, 10. The prevailing party of Clutha coUega