subjects of them, would be likely to run into ex- SEC. XV. travagance." Dr.C. replies, "The pretence, that 1743. they are new and extraordinary, will not do. The true account to be given of the prevalent mistakes is not their newness; but a notorious errour, as to the way and manner of judging in this matter." President E. still urged, that, "under lively impressions of the Spirit's influence, persons would be likely to speak and act with great earnestness and vigour," &c. Dr. C. answers, "Occasional excesses and weakness are to be overlooked; but the wonder is, how an extraordinary discovery of the greatness and excellency of God, the importance of eternal things, the preciousness of souls, and the danger of their perishing, should make men vain and conceited, full of themselves, and apt to throw contempt upon others." President Edwards remarks, "It is no wonder, if we have some irregularities, because Satan exerts himself now more powerfully, than ever." Dr. C. concedes readily, "that Satan has had a great hand in fomenting these disorders, and therefore thinks, that, instead of contriving excuses for them, they and their author ought to be resisted more courageously." Having prepared the way, in the first part of his work, by stating distinctly, what things were of a bad and dangerous tendency, and proving, that they were so, our author proceeds, in the conclusion, to call upon christians in general, and christian ministers in particular, for their industrious aid in the suppression of these disorders. AA SEC. XV. 1743. 1744. He exhorts them not to be deterred by idle fears, nor reproaches, nor any sort of injurious treatment, from correcting as far, as may be in their power, what ought to be corrected, and avoiding what ought to be avoided. Whatever may be the theological sentiments of the reader of this book, he will acknowledge, if he be a man of discernment, that it develops strong powers of reasoning, and an intimate acquaintance with the religious condition of the country, at the time of its publication. Of course it had a most extensive circulation; it is in the library of almost every american divine; and, even now, perused with pleasure and improvement by all the lovers of rational religion. In 1744, Dr. Chauncy published a sermon, which he delivered at the installation of Mr. Thomas Frink, on 1 Tim. iv. 16. "Take heed unto thyself and to thy doctrine; and continue in them; for, in doing this, thou shalt save both thyself and them, that hear thee." Without any exordium, he comes directly upon the subject, and first describes the duty of ministers to take heed to themselves and their doctrine; and, secondly, enforces the powerful motive, suggested by the text. His great object is to be useful; and, that he may be useful, he takes care to be intelligible. With all his zeal against falsehood, he proposes truth in an unobtrusive manner, and endeavours to expose the errours of fanaticks, without injuring their feelings. In the same year, he preached the convention sermon before the congregational ministers of Massachusetts. In this masterly performance, he In the same year, the Dr. addressed a letter to Rev. George Whitfield, publickly calling on him to defend his conduct, or confess his faults. In 1745, he addressed a second letter to the same person. I have never seen either of these performances; but it is thought, that the exertions of Dr. C. in opposing the fanaticism, excited by Mr.W, and others, were serviceable to the cause of rational religion. In the last mentioned year also, he gave to the publick a sermon, which he preached, on a day of thanksgiving, appointed in grateful and pious commemoration of the reduction of Cape Breton. Another sermon, this year, he published on the death of Mr. Cornelius Thayer, one of the deacons of his church. So he took for his subject the character of Cornelius, and for his text, the notice taken of him in Acts x. 1, 2. It is a plain, SEC. XV. 1744. 1745. 1745. SEC. XV. sensible discourse, written with no art and little effort, yet instructive and consolatory. In describing the character of Cornelius, the Dr. says, "What he gave away in alms to the poor was his own, not the property of his creditors. He did not defraud one man, that he might exercise charity towards another; much less did he think of atoning for his injustice by being bountiful to the necessitous." On 6 February, 1746, the Dr. preached the 1746. thursday lecture, and prepared a discourse on the existing rebellion, in favour of the pretender, which was soon afterwards published. It contains an historical account of that event, and is enriched with valuable notes. After discussing the passage of scripture, selected as the text, he applies the subject to the political event, which had created a strong sensation through every part of the kingdom. He first takes notice of the design, formed against the king and the nation, then represents it, as altogether nefarious, in its natural tendency and moral aspects, and lastly encourages his hearers to hope, that so wicked a plot will be frustrated by a God of order and righteousness. Throughout the discourse, the author shows himself to be a true patriot as well, as a good christian; and that he had carefully attended to both the politicks and the religion of his country. 1747. In 1747, Dr. C. preached the election sermon, His text is 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. In this, as in every discourse, our author comes almost immediately to the main object, which he has in view. He never fatigues his hearer with a tedious introduc 1747. tion, which, for any connexion it holds with the SEC. XV. subject, might as well have been omitted, as delivered; but usually prefaces the statement of his design with a few pertinent and luminous remarks. The plan of this discourse is to show, I. "There is a certain order among mankind, according to which, some are intrusted with power to rule over others. II. Those, who rule over others, must be just, ruling in the fear of God." The former of these heads he speedily and properly despatches. Under the latter, he distinctly notices the various instances, which demand the interposition of an equitable ruler. They must be just in their private capacity, just in the use of their power, in the laws,by which they govern, in the execution of those laws, in the payment of debts due from the publick, in maintaining the liberties and privileges of the subject, in defending the state, and preserving its peace and safety, and, finally, in promoting the general welfare and prosperity of a people. In dilating on that topick, in which the Dr. said, that rulers ought to be just "in maintaining the liberties and privileges of the subject," he takes occasion to plead the cause of his professional brethren, who had suffered severely, through the fluctuations of the medium. He then enforces upon rulers the duty of equity, upon a principle of piety, and exhibits the certainty, uniformity, and excellence of that principle, in a very striking point of light. The whole is closed with addresses to both rulers and people, on the subject of righteousness between man and man, in such pungent language, as |