13.08.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

1"28.] REV. SOLOMON STODDARD. 59<br />

and some time afterwards, while adm<strong>in</strong>ister<strong>in</strong>g the Lord's<br />

Supper, he suddenly had such "a new and wonderful reve-<br />

lation <strong>of</strong> the gosi)el scheme," that he was scarcely able to<br />

complete the service. ^<br />

Proposes to Estab- About tliis time lie advocated the establishlish<br />

a National<br />

jj^eut <strong>of</strong> a "National Church." He contended<br />

that <strong>in</strong>dividual churches should be<br />

accountable to some controll<strong>in</strong>g authority, else " every particular<br />

Congregation is absolute and <strong>in</strong>dependant, and not<br />

responsable to any higher Power. " The proposition, however,<br />

did not meet with general acceptance, and no attempt<br />

was made to carry out the suggestion. ^<br />

Takes Part <strong>in</strong> the In the fall <strong>of</strong> 1679, a Syuod <strong>of</strong> the churches,<br />

Reform<strong>in</strong>g Synod, called the "Reform<strong>in</strong>g Synod," was convened<br />

at Boston by order <strong>of</strong> the General<br />

Court. 3 Mr. Stoddard was a member <strong>of</strong> it and took a<br />

prom<strong>in</strong>ent part <strong>in</strong> <strong>its</strong> deliberations. No published report<br />

<strong>of</strong> the proceed<strong>in</strong>gs <strong>of</strong> this body was ever made, and the<br />

Journal <strong>of</strong> Peter Thacher* seems to be the only record <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>its</strong> transactions at present available. Its results were<br />

pr<strong>in</strong>ted by order <strong>of</strong> the General Court, but not <strong>its</strong> proceed<strong>in</strong>gs.<br />

An episode <strong>in</strong> the debate <strong>in</strong> which Mr. Stoddard<br />

prom<strong>in</strong>ently figured is thus related by Mr. Thacher : —<br />

" After Lecture y^ s<strong>in</strong>s <strong>of</strong> oppression was <strong>in</strong> debate & soe m' Whel-<br />

lock declares y' yer was a cry <strong>of</strong> <strong>in</strong>justice <strong>in</strong> y* magistrates & m<strong>in</strong>isters<br />

were not rated [taxed] w"^ Occasioned a very warme discourse. M""<br />

stodder charged y Deputy [Whellock] with say<strong>in</strong>g what was not true<br />

& y Deputy Govern'' told him he deserved to be laid by y' heals &c.<br />

after we brokeup y Deputy asked forgivenesse <strong>of</strong> him & told him hee<br />

freely forgave him. but uv Stodder was high.<br />

" 19 Sept. '79. ¥* Deputy owned his be<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> to great a heat & desired<br />

y Lord to forgive &c : & m' Stodder did someth<strong>in</strong>g tho' very little<br />

by a Deputy."<br />

1 New Englander, 188J. vol. 43, pp. 6'34, 625.<br />

2 Dexter's Congregationalism, p. 510.<br />

3 Its duty was "the reuisall <strong>of</strong> the platforme <strong>of</strong> diseipljne agreed vpon by the<br />

churches, 1647, and what else may appeare necessary for the prevent<strong>in</strong>g schishmes,<br />

haeresies, prophaness, & the establishment <strong>of</strong> the churches <strong>in</strong> one faith & order <strong>of</strong><br />

the gospell.'"— Records <strong>of</strong> <strong>Massachusetts</strong>, vol. 5, p. 215.<br />

4 The entire Journal is published <strong>in</strong> Walker's Creeds and Platforms <strong>of</strong> Congrega-<br />

tionalism, pp. 417-419.<br />

,

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!