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

1749.] CONTROVERSY WITH REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS. 205
his own defence from the pulpit. No response was made to
this proposition. As Mr. Edwards seemed to depend so
fully upon the effect he had hoped to produce by the publication
and circulation of his book, the people, who had
already determined upon their course, were impatient that
it should appear, and the delay always attendant upon
printer's work, was actuallj^ used to discredit the pastor.
It was not that a majority were waiting to read the book,
for when it appeared in August, only about twenty copies
were distributed through the town, and very few of these
were carefully perused.
Mr. Edwards tries On the 15"' of Octobcr, uo further advance
to Ascertain the haviug been made in the settlement of the
Opinions of other t,v m nr t-it i i •• ,^ i
Clergymen by dlinCUlty, Mr. EdwardS, desiring the admeans
of a Day yice of souic of the neighboring ministers,
proposed that a day of fasting and prayer
should be observed. The church assenting, the pastor suggested
that the advice of those clergymen invited to assist
as, ing.
in the fast-day services, should be requested concerning the
admission of members. The church, however, after dis-
cussing the matter adjourned without action till after the
fast. Several persons desirous of joining the church had
signified their willingness to make a public confession, but
the committee were unwilling to admit them in that manner,
and it was concerning these pending requests that Mr.
Edwards desired the opinions of the neighboring clergy.
The fast was announced for Thursday, the 26"'.
Petition for a Pre-
To sucli a height had the excitement already
cinct Meeting. rcaclicd, that many persons were ready to
proceed to extreme measures at once. In
the church meeting a council "to bring matters to an
issue " had been advocated. This feeling manifested itself
without delay in a most unmistakable manner. The next
day, October 16"', a petition signed by eleven persons was
presented to the precinct officials, asking that a meeting be
held "as quick as may be," to consider the position of
affairs. In this document it was proposed
"that Mr. Edwards, by the Precinct, or by a committee which the
Precinct shall appoint, may be in a friendly and in a christian manner
treated with and entreated to recede or come back from his principles,