MR. Williams asserts it to be my professed and declared Design, in writing the Book, which he has undertaken an Answer to, to oppose Mr. STODDARD. He has taken a great Liberty in this Matter. He charges Me with a declared Design of writing in Opposition to Mr. Stoddard, no less than nine or ten Times in his Book. And he don't content himself merely with saying, there are Passages in my Preface, or elsewhere, whence this may be inferred; but he says expressly, That I profess to be disputing against Mr. Stoddard's Doctrine. P. 14. d.—That I tell my Readers, I am disputing against Mr. Stoddard's Question. P. 37. d.—That I tell 'em so in my Preface, P. 107. d.—That I often declare ⟨p. 2⟩that I am opposing Mr. Stoddard's Opinion, P 132. d.— And on this Foundation he charges Me with blotting a great Deal of Paper, disserving the Cause of Truth by changing the Question, and putting it in such Terms as Mr. S. expressly disclaims, and then confuting it as Mr. S—d's Principle; unfair Treatment of Mr. S. P. 2. d. e.— surprisingly going off from Mr. S—d's Argument to cast an Odium upon it, treating Mr. S. and his Doctrine in such a Manner as to reproach Him and his Principles, tending to render them odious to the unthinking Multitude, and telling a manifest Untruth. P. 14. d. & 15. c. d. Whereas, I never once signified it to be the Thing I aimed at, to oppose Mr. Stoddard, or appear as his Antagonist. But the very Reverse was true; and meddling with Him, or what he had said, I studied to avoid, as much as the Circumstances of the Debate with my People would allow, who had been taught by Him, and who so greatly and continually alleged against Me the Things which He had said. Nor is there any Appearance in those Passages Mr. W. cites from my Preface, as tho' this was the Thing I sought or aimed at. Nay, one of those Passages which he produces to prove it, shows the contrary: as it shows, that its being so (as I supposed) that what I wrote was not consistent with, but opposite to what Mr. S. had maintained, was an unsought for and unpleasing Circumstance of that Publication. My Words are, 'Tis far from a pleasing Circumstance of this Publication, that 'tis against what my honoured Grandfather strenuously maintained, both from the Pulpit and the Press.
MR. Williams asserts it to be my profess'd and declared Design, in writing the Book, which he has undertaken an Answer to, to oppose Mr. STODDARD. He has taken a great Liberty in this Matter. He charges Me with a declared Design of writing in Opposition to Mr. Stoddard, no less than nine or ten Times in his Book. And he don't content himself meerly with saying, there are Passages in my Preface, or elsewhere, whence this may be infer'd; but he says expresly, That I profess to be disputing against Mr. Stoddard's Doctrine. P. 14. d.—That I tell my Readers, I am disputing against Mr. Stoddard's Question. P. 37. d.—That I tell 'em so in my Preface, P. 107. d.—That I often declare ⟨p. 2⟩that I am opposing Mr. Stoddard's Opinion, P 132. d.— And on this Foundation he charges Me with blotting a great Deal of Paper, disserving the Cause of Truth by changing the Question, and putting it in such Terms as Mr. S. expresly disclaims, and then confuting it as Mr. S—d's Principle; unfair Treatment of Mr. S. P. 2. d. e.— surprizingly going off from Mr. S—d's Argument to cast an Odium upon it, treating Mr. S. and his Doctrine in such a Manner as to reproach Him and his Principles, tending to render them odious to the unthinking Multitude, and telling a manifest Untruth. P. 14. d. & 15. c. d. Whereas, I never once signified it to be the Thing I aim'd at, to oppose Mr. Stoddard, or appear as his Antagonist. But the very Reverse was true; and meddling with Him, or what he had said, I studied to avoid, as much as the Circumstances of the Debate with my People would allow, who had been taught by Him, and who so greatly and continually alledged against Me the Things which He had said. Nor is there any Appearance in those Passages Mr. W. cites from my Preface, as tho' this was the Thing I sought or aim'd at. Nay, one of those Passages which he produces to prove it, shews the contrary: as it shews, that its being so (as I supposed) that what I wrote was not consistent with, but opposite to what Mr. S. had maintain'd, was an unsought for and unpleasing Circumstance of that Publication. My Words are, 'Tis far from a pleasing Circumstance of this Publication, that 'tis against what my honoured Grandfather strenuously maintain'd, both from the Pulpit and the Press.
