Thus, in these very seasonable and apposite Sayings, Mr. STODDARD, tho' dead, yet speaketh: And here (to apply them to my own Case,) he tells me, that I am not at all blameable, for not taking his Principles on Trust; That notwithstanding the high Character justly belonging to him, I ought not to look on his Principles as Oracles, as tho' he could not miss it, as well as NATHAN himself in his Conjecture about building the House of God; Nay, surely that I am, even to be commended, for examining his Practice, and judging for myself; That it would ill become me, to do otherwise; That this would be no Manifestation of Humility, but rather show a Baseness of Spirit; That if I be not capable to judge for my self in these Matters, I am by no Means fit to open the Mysteries of the Gospel; That if I should believe his Principles, because he advanced them, I should be guilty of making him an Idol.—Also he tells his and my Flock, with all others, that it ill becomes them, so to indulge their Ease, as to neglect examining of received Principles and Practices; and that it's fit, Mistakes in any Particulars be rejected: That if in some Things I differ in my Judgment from him, it would be very unreasonable, on this Account to make a great Noise, as tho' I were bringing in Innovations, and departing from the old Way; That I may see Cause to alter some Practices of my Grandfather & Predecessor, without despising Him, without priding my self in my Wisdom, without Apostasy, without despising the Advantages God has given me, without Inclination to Superstition, and without making Disturbance in the Church of God; In short, that 'tis beyond him, to find out wherein the Iniquity of my so doing lies; and that there is no Reason why it should be turned as a Reproach upon me. ⟨p. iii⟩Thus, I think, he sufficiently vindicates my Conduct in the present Case, and warns all with whom I am concerned, not to be at all displeased with me, or to find the least Fault with me, merely because I examine for my self, have a Judgment of my own, and am for practising in some Particulars different from him, how positive soever he was that his Judgment & Practice were right. 'Tis reasonably hoped & expected, that they who have a great Regard to his Judgment, will impartially regard his Judgment, & hearken to his Admonition in these Things.
Thus, in these very seasonable and apposite Sayings, Mr. STODDARD, tho' dead, yet speaketh: And here (to apply them to my own Case,) he tells me, that I am not at all blameable, for not taking his Principles on Trust; That notwithstanding the high Character justly belonging to him, I ought not to look on his Principles as Oracles, as tho' he could not miss it, as well as NATHAN himself in his Conjecture about building the House of God; Nay, surely that I am, even to be commended, for examining his Practice, and judging for myself; That it would ill become me, to do otherwise; That this would be no Manifestation of Humility, but rather shew a Baseness of Spirit; That if I ben't capable to judge for my self in these Matters, I am by no Means fit to open the Mysteries of the Gospel; That if I should believe his Principles, because he advanc'd them, I should be guilty of making him an Idol.—Also he tells his and my Flock, with all others, that it ill becomes them, so to indulge their Ease, as to neglect examining of received Principles and Practices; and that it's fit, Mistakes in any Particulars be rejected: That if in some Things I differ in my Judgment from him, it would be very unreasonable, on this Account to make a great Noise, as tho' I were bringing in Innovations, and departing from the old Way; That I may see Cause to alter some Practices of my Grandfather & Predecessor, without despising Him, without priding my self in my Wisdom, without Apostacy, without despising the Advantages God has given me, without Inclination to Superstition, and without making Disturbance in the Church of God; In short, that 'tis beyond him, to find out wherein the Iniquity of my so doing lies; and that there is no Reason why it should be turned as a Reproach upon me. ⟨p. iii⟩Thus, I think, he sufficiently vindicates my Conduct in the present Case, and warns all with whom I am concerned, not to be at all displeased with me, or to find the least Fault with me, meerly because I examine for my self, have a Judgment of my own, and am for practising in some Particulars different from him, how positive soever he was that his Judgment & Practice were right. 'Tis reasonably hoped & expected, that they who have a great Regard to his Judgment, will impartially regard his Judgment, & hearken to his Admonition in these Things.
