A Vindication of the ministers of Boston, from the abuses & scandals, lately cast upon them, in diverse printed papers. By some of their people. ; [Two lines from Matthew]

A Vindication of the ministers of Boston, from the abuses & scandals, lately cast upon them, in diverse printed papers. By some of their people. ; [Two lines from Matthew]

Table of contents

Title page

A Vindication, &c.

[Page]

A Vindication, &c.

§ 1. THE Sacred Oracles, of our Blessed SAVIOUR, ev'ry where charge us, to treat the Ministers of Religion with a becoming Esteem & Veneration. The APOSTLE, beseeches us to know them, that labour among us, and are over us, in the Lord, and admonish us, and esteem them very highly for their Works sake. Nor is this inculcated upon us, as a Duty only; but recommended to us, as our Interest. And the reverse is, a sure Method to bring the Blessed Truths, which they deliver, into Contempt and Ridicule; and banish all serious Religion out of the World. A finish'd Stratagem of the Devil! To this purpose one of our very Reverend DIVINES well expresses himself! ‘As a corrupt, ignorant & vicious Clergy, is one of the darkest & most comprehensive Infelicities, under which the Rulers of the darkness of this World, hold it putrifying, yea, the grand cause of all the Corruption, in which Mankind lye generally languishing and perishing: And it is not for nothing, that when the Kingdom of our GOD comes on, this must be one Introduction or Concomitant of it; Thus says the Lord God, behold I am against the Shepherds, and I will cause them to cease from feeding the Flocks, for I will deliver[Page]my Flock from their mouth. So the Reverse of this, is, a set of Good Men inspired with an holy Zeal to do good, who like Angels, flying thro' the midst of Heaven, Preach nothing but the Everlasting Gospel, with the true Spirit of it unto them who dwell upon the Earth: Certainly such Men are the Stars whom GOD calls by their Names, they shine as Lights in the World, in their benign Influences; the Blessings of the People that enjoy them are wonderful! are wonderful!’

§ 2. BOSTON may boast of almost an unparalel'd Happiness in their MINISTERS; some of us, have travel'd to other, and diverse parts of the World; and we sincerely prosess, we never saw the Place that excelled BOSTON in this respect. GOD has indulged to this People a very Candid, Learned and Religious set of Men, who in all things unbiassedly consult the good of their respective Flocks; nor do they intermeddle with other Men's Affairs more than what is proper to their Function. 'Tis this endears them unto us, and makes us rejoyce in them; and offer our thanks to GOD for the Gifts and Graces that shine so visibly in them. And we thought our Neighbours were all sensible of the invaluable Blessings of GOD to us, in this Regard: But to our Astonishment, we see some in this Place so daringly Frofane, as to Libel and Lampoon these holy Servants of our Blessed JESUS; and others so foolishly fond of their Invectives, as to countenance and promote them; and this, among sober Persons, and Members of our Churches.

[Page]§ 3. OF late, there has been Published, (it may be spoken to our dishonour) several detracting and scandalous Pamphlets, tending to render the MINISTRY Vain and Ridiculous. In these, this Sacred Order of Men has been Strangely represented, and horribly animaverted upon. Many things have been charged on them, of which they been intirely Innocent, and many things that it is their Glory they have spoke them, have been most maliciously perverted and equivocated. And now, who should the Authors of these be, but STRANGERS OF ABJECTS, which inhances their Folly, and makes their Impudence the more brazen and flagitious. Above all, we wonder at a Weekly Paper, which has been, and is now, Published, either designedly, to affront our Ministers, and render them Odious; or else, it has hitherto, wretchedly deviated from it's ultimate Intent, and been notoriously prostituted to that Hellish Servitude. We know no Nation under the Sun, that has so openly and assiduously insulted the MINISTERS of their GOD; and been so strenuous, in their Endeavours, to make them despicable and detestable to their People, as the Authors of this scandalous Libel.

§ 4. THAT the World may see this Representation is just, we will recite a few Passages (as a Specimen) from their Writings, passing over the many indirect and scandalous Glances at them. In the Writings of John Williams (Tobacconist) ‘The Ministers have generally revolted from the good old way, and have set up a way that their Fathers know not of, neither entered it into their hearts, to allude unto Jr. 5.23. They are revolted [Page]and gone. Again, Defective in morals, — The causes of Divisions. — People are afraid the Ministers do affect to Rule over them, in Temporals, as the Pope of Rome does Temporally as well as Spiritually rule and determine things —.’

In the Learned Taliacotius, ‘The Infatuations in this Country seem always to have proceeded from some of those who call themselves the Sons of Levi. They are represented as Men of WICKED DESIRES — and impious, ignorant & brasenfaced. Prob Fides! Oh Impiety! Oh Brass! In the Reflections on the Town Meeting, Aug. 11. 1721. It is thought by three parts of this Town that its better they were a-foot with a good pair of Shoes on their Feet, and a Staff in their hands.— Incendiaries of Strife & Division. In the Courant, No. 23. Most of the Ministers are for it & that induces me to think, it is from the Devil. No. 25. The Instruments of mischief & trouble both in Church & State, from the Witchcraft to Inoculation —. Formerly there were many grave & wise Ministers, but now there are few. ***’ But 'tis needless and endless to quote, the Passages are so notorious and numerous.

§ 5. THESE Reflections upon and Abuses of this Sacred Order of Men, are sufficient, to make the most professed Libertine blush. Who is there that can see all this, the MINISTERS, by whom they expect to be brought home to CHRIST, thus audaciously insulted, thus vilely trampled upon, and impiously buffoon'd, by the profane Sons of Corah, and tamely & silently bear it. 'Tis this amazes, & alarms us, and we think it a Duty indispensibly [Page]incumbent upon us, more thoroughly to enquire into the Characters of our MINISTERS, whether they are worthy of these Barbarous Reflections, yea or no? We cannot answer the neglect of this; if we should, our Consciences would one Day, as a Flaming Witness flush our Guilt in our Faces. We are their People, and hope by their precious Ministry to be brought home to GOD, & Everlasting Life; and therefore we are bound to appear in their Just Vindication; and rescue our Children, and our Neighbours from the deadly Poison, which these Children of the Old Serpent would infuse into them. And here first, We cannot but admire the Moderation, and consummate Patience of our PASTORS, amidst these outragious and provoking Abuses & Scandals. They shine with an Unshaken Constancy, and still go on to Minister in those very parts of their Office, that ten Thousand difficulties have conspired to obstruct them in. Their Discharge of their Publick Ministry is too well known, to need a Report of ours, and their Prayers & Sermons proclaim them, to be Workmen that need not be ashamed. Their Printed Labours are incontestable Testimonies of their Abilities; and speak an excellent Spirit breathing in them. Their nine Lectures upon Early Piety, Preached in so remarkable a Time, that it plainly shou [...]d, GOD was with them: These (if nothing else) recommend them to the Love & Esteem of all good People; and we do not wonder to see the Devil so earnest in his revenges upon them. Their Pastoral Visits are wisely, painfully & faithfully manag'd; and if we enquire into their more private Conversation, we find them shining Instances, of the most refined [Page]Virtue & Religion. They are always ready to do Good, and Rejoice in all Opportunities for it. Never are they addressed by any in Affliction, but they administer Comfort, and the Afflicted find the Bowels of a Father in them; and their Liberalities are also truly extraordinary. We never enjoy their Company, but their Savoury & Entertaining Discourse evidently discovers an Internal Source of Goodness in them; and the Blame centers upon ourselves, if we grow not better & wiser by it. Some of them have great names in distant Lands; and foreign Countries have a great Veneration for them. But to conclude their Praises, they are more precious than the fine gold; than the golden wedge of Ophir.

§ 6. BUT now, what is there can justify the virulent and unwearied Endeavours of these Wicked Men to make them Odious? The only pretext they have is, That the MINISTERS have intermedled with Civil Affairs, and gone out of their Line; and the only Instance they can give of this, (for the others are only groundless Surmises, or open Calumnies) is this, When the Small-Pox was first breaking into the Town, and every one foresaw and feared a dreadful Mortality; these good Men were apprised of a safe Method, which they by the ordinary Blessing of GOD, hoped might be an Instrument of saving many Lives. This Method came to them with very authentic Recommendations; nor was ever, any Remedy attended with a more uninterrupted, & remarkable Success than this. This they communicated to the PHYSICIANS; urging them, (not to put it into practice, as the News-Letter declares, but) to meet together, [Page]and consult how far, or whether at all, it might be practis'd; and desiring they would proceed with mutual Assistances, each to t'other, as GOD should direct them. And to do some justice by the way to that eminent Person, the Learned Dr. COTTON MATHER, Fellow of the Royal Society (who to his honour) was the principal Instrument, in promoving this Method among us: (and who now disdains to draw his generous Pen for his own Vindication, against the many foolish Pamphlets that are pointed at him; and who changes not his Temper for all their inviduous Calumnies;) we will here transcribe the Words with which he concludes his Address to the Physicians; Dated, June 6. 1721. ‘I will only say, (writes the DOCTOR) that inasmuch as the Practice of suffering and preventing the Small-Pox, in the way of Inoculation has never yet, (as far as I have heard) been introduced into our Nation; where there are so many that would give great Sums, to have their Lives insur'd, from the dangers of this dreadful Distemper, nor has ever any one in all America ever yet, made the tryal of it (tho' we have several Africans among us, as I now find, who tryed it in their own Country) I cannot but move it be WARILY proceeded in. I durst not yet engage, that the Success of the tryal here will be the same, as has hitherto been in the other Hemisphere. But I am very confident, no person would miscarry in it, but what must most certainly have miscarried upon taking it the Common way. And I would humbly advise, that it be never made, but under the management, of a Skilful Physician, who will wisely prepare [Page]the Body for it before he performs the Operation. Gentleman, My request is, that you would meet for a Consultation upon this Occasion, and to deliberate upon it, that whoever first begins this practise, (if you approve that it should be begun at all) may have the concurrence of his worthy Brethren to fortify him in it —.’

Thus the Doctor.

WE appeal to the whole World, whether this Gentleman went out of his line, or did any thing, but what became a Minister, a Christian, or a Gentleman, in his address. And this is all the blame, they do with any Colour charge upon him, & which has given Life to so many monstrous, and bitter Invectives against him. But to return from this Excursion. The Physicians never met, nor consulted about this Method, according to the desires of the MINISTERS, till one of them began the Experiment upon his Family. He had just reason to apprehend them in danger of being Infected the Common way: and here, I cannot omit to observe the happy juncture of Affairs that united, to render this his Attempt Innocent & Blameless The worthy TOWNSMEN had taken the Guards off the Infected houses, and in effect proclaim'd the Infection so prevalent, that 'twould be in vain, to strive to suppress it. By this act the Nurses were commissioned, to air themselves, who had been stifled, for a considerable Time, by a close Confinement with the Sick: Liberty was declared to them to walk the Streets; and now as the necessities of the Sick urged, these Infected persons might go to our Doctors upon any occasion; and any heedless or head-strong Neighbours run in to visit their contagious [Page] Friends; which must necessarily render their Families very obnoxtious to the distemper. This clearly evinces the eminency of the danger his Family was in; and in a great measure vindicates his procedure. But notwithstanding, a mighty Storm was raised, & a saucy Libel published, which among other things demanded an answer to a Case of Conscience. Six MINISTERS of BOSTON undertook to give a proper answer to the Demand, wherein they did some justice to the Gentleman that that Paper had unjustly reproached. After this, the MINISTERS were silent for several Months, till at length the constant Success of the Experiment encouraged Some of them to publish their Sentiments on this subject, especially what related to the case of Conscience. And here, we think it very strange & rediculous, to see the Satyrists play the Divine, and deny that it falls under the Cognizance of our MINISTERS, when so many People pretend CONSCIENCE in the matter. This is to boast of their own Divinity, as if they were the only proper judges of what is the part of a Divine, and to Counterpoint their own Skill and Judgment to that of our famous Professors. But we will not ask who go out of their line now? This is a full History of the crimes charged on the Ministers, wherein they have gone out of their line: That is to say, When they saw their People dying about them, and their dearest Friends they had, Gasping for their Breath, they did not cast off all bowels of compassion, and be content that no further tryal should be made of a Method, that they apprehended would deliver them from their danger.

[Page]§ 7. WE will not on this occasion enquire, how far our Practitioners & late Libellers have gone out of their line. But this we remark, that if any Person, of any Profession, had been apprised of a safe Method to preserve his Neighbour's Life, in a Time of common danger, and had not communicated it to him, he had approved himself to be of a very un-natural, and un-christian Temper. And our MINISTERS especially, who are Sluring Patterns of Charity, would have appear'd with a distinguisht Blackness, had they neglected this good Office to the Flocks intrusted with them. How very unjust and wicked then are the Obloquies and Outrages which have been for this Cause heaped upon them. The famous Mr. Thomas Thacher was not reviled, for going out of his line, when he Published a Sheet of Directions, relating to the Small Pox, Forty three Years since. And several eminent MINISTERS in the Country, have practised Physick, and several do so at this Day, and we could never hear them revil'd for going out of their line: And possibly, there are among the MINISTERS of BOSTON, such as the best Physicians in the Land, need not be ashamed to advice withal.

§ 8. AFTER all, We have often heard that Maxim, That a Power to do Good not only gives a right, to the doing of it, but makes the doing it a Duty. And we humbly conceive, if it were more regarded, the World would many ways reap the Benefit of it. And to us it is very evident, that he that sees his Neighbour exposed to any great danger, and can relieve him; not only has a Right, but should look on it as his Duty, to do so.

[Page]§ 9. Now this being all the Crime, that is with any Shadow of Reason charged upon our Ministers, we cannot but look upon it, as the greatest inhumanity and blacken ingratitude to treat them in such a manner as they have been. We ought rather to value & esteem them; love and thank them, for their Goodness; and bless GOD for making them the Instruments of so much Good to us, and to our Families. We are sure the great Success of the Practice, which they hoped so well of, has caused many among us to wish, that instead of such base Methods, as have been taken to oppose it, a regular management of it had been agreed upon; and some are of Opinion, that our Ministers may say to their wasted People, what the Apostle did upon the Shipwreck, Sirs, You should have hearkned unto me, and not have gained this Harm and Loss.

§ 10. BUT we will not enter into the Controversy, what we observe is, that according to this way of treating the Ministers, which is now in Fashion, it will come to this; If in a Time of common Distress, they with great Modesty offer their Opinion for the Common good, they shall be censured, for going out of their line. If on a Day of Publick Thanksgiving, they mention Publick Mercies, as those of a good Government, &c. or if they rebuke the growing Sins of the Times, and put any notorious Transgressors in mind of the awful Threatnings, pronounced in the Holy Writings against them; it shall be deem'd going out of their line; yea, their Warning of the wicked shall be ridiculously called, a Cursing of them. [Page]If this impious & Satanic Custom prevail, we shall involve our selves into a thousand pernicious Evils. Our Children will imbibe the Poison, and perish like the Children of Bethel; and our Elder People will pine away in their Iniquities. Our Reprovers and Prophets being Silenced, Iniquity and every Abomination will break in among us, and bear down like an irresistable Torrent, all Virtue, and Religion before it. And what is mostly to be deprecated, all manner of Spiritual Plagues will follow this our degeneracy; and the Town grow ripe for a Wrath unto the Uttermost. We read, They mocked the Messengers of GOD, and misused his Prophets, until the Wrath of the Lord arose against his People, and there was no Remedy. In what a deplorable Condition should we be, if Heaven should pronounce this direful fate upon us; or, if the intolerable invectives read among us, against our Holy Ministers, should provoke GOD to deprive us of these Invaluable Blessings, and punish us with a Clergy, that should be Salt without Savour, and Clouds without Rain, as we have seen in other Places.

§ 11. IN the mean time, we commiserate the deplorable State of those, who signalize themselves by their Malice & Mischief against these faithful Servants of GOD. We have seen a Conspicuous blast from Heaven attending such, and GOD has so remarkably revenged the Iniquity, that none but such as are given over to a penal hardness of heart, can hide their Fear and Trembling. And when we consider, the meekness of our Ministers under these Abuses, imitating their Glorious [Page] Master, who remained as dumb under the Shearers. We cannot but the more deprecate the fearful condition of these Revilers, and earnestly call upon our dear Freinds and Neighbours, to depart from the Tents of these Wicked Men, least they perish with them. And we encourage our selves, that all our virtuous Neighbours will unite, to discourage these Wicked Libels. But whether this will be taken well by them, or no, sure we are, it will be acceptable to our Blessed Saviour, who is greatly offended at them who wrong His faithful Servants, and calls from Heaven, Why persecute ye me?

§ 12. However, Our Beloved Pastors, We beseech you not to be in the least discouraged in your faithful Services; We, who hope, to be part of your Crown at the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, earnestly intreat you to go on very chearfully & couragiously in the Service of your great Master. You have many Cordial & Sincere Freinds among us, who love and esteem you the more, and Pray & Plead the more with Heaven for you, because of these Cruel Enemies, And we doubt not, but that Our Blessed Saviour (whose you are, and whom you serve) will still honour you to do great Service for Him, and rescue your Opportunities to do good, from the malicious and wicked Attempts of your Adversaries; and at length, appear to your Joy and their unspeakable Shame & Confusion.

To close all, By what we have said, We suppose that we shall be accounted, (by some) [Page] Busy Inoculators, and would have none to write on the Subject, but such as approve the Practice; but we would not be so misrepresented, but would have every one (if he sees cause) that has Leisure and Capacity to instruct his Neighbours, to improve his Talent, provided he does not stuff his Composures with scandalous Reflections, such as we have, and every Christian and Gentleman will declare against. We are of opinion, that Persons may differ in their Sentiments about this Practice, without declaring themselves Open Enemies to one another, and neglecting Christian and Civil Conversation; and may notwithstanding, Unite in all those things which tend to promote the Common Good. We may with more reason be angry, that two Persons do not Look alike, than that they do not in all things Think just alike. We are of opinion, that in such Cases as these, Every Person ought to Act according to his own Light; and we should not Unchristianly Censure and Condemn one another for the Use or Neglect of it, but preserve a due Esteem and Veneration for each other, and perform all Christian and Neighbourly offices notwithstanding; which, that we of this Place may do, we shall not be wanting in our hearty Endeavours, and sincere Addresses to the Throne of Grace —. To which every Friend of the Publick will add his AMEN.

[...] Boston, January 30th, 1721-2.

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A Vindication OF THE Ministers of Boston, FROM THE Abuses & Scandals, lately cast upon them, IN Diverse Printed Papers.

By Some of their PEOPLE

Matth. XXV.40.

— Ye have done it unto me.

BOSTON in New-England: Printed by B. Green, for Samuel Gerrish, at his Shop near the Brick Meeting-house in Corn-Hill. 1722.

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Title statement

A Vindication of the ministers of Boston, from the abuses & scandals, lately cast upon them, in diverse printed papers. By some of their people. ; [Two lines from Matthew]

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Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

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Ann Arbor, MI :

Date

2008-09.

ID [DLPS]

N02017

ID [TCP]

N02017

ID [STC]

Evans 2396

ID [NOTIS]

APY2590

ID [IMAGE-SET]

2396

ID [EVANS-CITATION]

99029671

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Early American Imprints, 1639-1800 ; no. 2396.

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(Evans-TCP ; no. N02017)

Transcribed from: (Readex Archive of Americana ; Early American Imprints, series I ; image set 2396)

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Source

— A Vindication of the ministers of Boston, from the abuses & scandals, lately cast upon them, in diverse printed papers. By some of their people. ; [Two lines from Matthew], Mather, Cotton, 1663-1728..

Extent

[2], 14 p. ; 18 cm. (8vo)

Printed by B. Green, for Samuel Gerrish, at his shop near the Brick Meeting House in Corn-Hill.,. Boston in New-England: :: 1722.. (In defence of those ministers advocating the practice of inoculation for smallpox.) ("The compiler of the work is not known, but [Cotton] Mather's contributions have been definitely proved."--Holmes.)

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