474 LIVES OF THE PURITANS. Mr. Wheelwright changed his religious sentiments, and appears to have become too much tinged with antinomianisrn. Never were any communities, it is said, in more alarming danger than the churches of Massachusets about this time ; and seldom have any measures, to allay a public frenzy, been more successful than those now adopted. The cause of these evils was as singular as the effects were alarming. Mrs. Hutchinson, a member of the church at Boston, a woman of ready wit and a bold spirit, had adopted two remark- able opinions That the person of the HolyGhostdwells in those who are justified.-Q. That sanctification is no evidence of justification. From these two sentiments spread numerous branches : as, that our union with the Holy Ghost is such, that we are dead to every spiritual action, having no gifts nor graces more than hypocrites, nor sanctification, but the Holy Ghost himself, &c. Mr. Wheelwright, who was her brother, joined with her." The news of these things soon spread abroad ; and the ministers who attended the general court in October, 1636, made it an oliject of their attention to converse with Mr. Wheelwright and others, who had adopted these opinions, when they appeared to discover an accommodating spirit. , Soon after, certainofthe members ofthe church at Boston,who adopted the new opinions, publicly moved that Mr: Wheel- wright should becalled to be their teacher. This fanned the flame of opposition. The new opinions still rapidly spread- ing, the general court, in December, called together the ministers of the churches to advise with them respecting the existing divisions. As their passions grew warmer by con- stant disputation, they became more sanguine in their belief, bold in their expressions, and multiplied in their novelties. On public occasions it was now said, that the Holy Ghost dwelt in believers, as he is in heaven; that a man is justified, before he believes ; that the letter Of scripture holds forth nothing but a covenant of works ; that the covenant of grace was the spirit of the scripture, winch was known only to believers ; and that the ground of all religion was an assurance by immediate revelation. These, and many other things, being so complete a jumble Of nonsense andimpiety, as appears almost too tedious to be read, were accounted of the very first importance ; and all the congregation of Boston, except four or five, espoused most of these new opinions. At the next election it was agreed to put off all lectures for threeweeks, that they might bring these dissentious to an issue. Previous to this, ageneral
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