contrary to the Faith of these churches,--That for a man to be in
charity with them we conceive that it is impossible that he should be in
Charity with professed New England Churches. It therefore appears to us
that it would be no better than mockery for him to pretend to stand as
Pastor to one of these churches." To this Mr. Harrington first replies
by the pointed question: "Is not Liberty of Conscience and ye right of
judging for themselves in the matters of Religion, one grand professed
Principle in ye New England Churches; and one Corner Stone in their
Foundation?" He then explicitly states his abhorrence of "the
anti-Christian tenets of Popery," adding: "However on the other hand
they receive all the articles of the Athanasian Creed--and of
consequence in their present Constitution they have some Gold, Silver,
and precious stones as well as much wood, hay, and stubble." He
characterizes the accusation in this pithy paragraph: "Too much Charity
is the Charge here brought against me,--would to God I had still more of
it in ye most important sense. Instead of a Disqualification, it would
be a most enviable accomplishment in ye Pastor of a Protestant New
England Church." A sharp _argumentum ad hominem_, for the benefit of the
ultra-radical accuser closes this division of his defence. "But, Mr.
Moderator, if my charity toward some Roman Catholicks disqualified me
for a Protestant Minister, what, what must we think of ye honorable
Congress attending Mass in a Body in ye Roman Catholic Chappel at
Philadelphia? Must it not be equal mockery in them to pretend to
represent and act for the United Protestant States?" ...

The third charge was that he had declared himself and one of the
brethren to "be a major part of the Church." This, like the first
charge, was a revival of an old personal grievance within the church,
rehabilitated to give cumulative force to the political complaints. The
accusation is summarily disposed of; the accused condemning the