The New Hampshire Gazette And Historical Chronicle

Dicam si potero, male verum examinat omnis
Corruptus judex.
Hor. Sat. 2. lib. 2.

THE Jesuitical Insinuations inserted in the
last Thursdays Boston-News-Letter--
"That it was not known any of Mr. Sandiman's
Hearers were so weak or wicked as to become
Proselites to his Tenets,"-- sufficiently informs the Public from what Quarter those unmanly and unchristian Epithets come-- That
Gentleman was fully apprized of the Reception
his masterly Performances would have in the
World -- and as they bore hard upon many,
who are ever tenacious of their bigotted Way
of Thinking, it was never imagined they
would please their Taste : but by what Authority any Man should arrogate to himself the
Assurance of characterizing another both weak
and wicked, who should adopt Mr. Sandiman's
Principles, after a free, dispassionate, and impartial Inquiry after the Truth, I am at a loss to
know :-- Such arrogant Presumption of prejudicating, denotes the Author influenced either
by Prejudice or Ignorance, and in both cases impertinent--He would at once subvert and undermine
the indubitable Right of private Judgment, by
a Condescension implicitly to believe the Doctrines of reputed good Men, without ever examining whether it was not possible for them to
be in an Error in some particular Point:--That
this has been the Case even with that good
and learned Christian Mr. Harvey, may be seen
in his Life, and that too respecting Mr. Sandiman and his Writings, of which he says, "Some
Things are excellent, written with Spirit,
and in a Strain truly Evangelical" = And
further, says he "In some Things I stand
corrected by him, I kiss the Rod; and far
from being displeased, am thankful for his
Admonitions." -Here's an Instance of
Retraction truly worthy that amiable Gentleman, who, neither prejudiced by Education, or
Self-opinionated with his former Assertions, laid
himself open to Conviction, "stood corrected,
and kiss'd the Rod"-. -If Men are arbitrarily to bestow their Epithets, adieu to Law,
Liberty and Conscience-- such a Flood of them
would soon follow as would deluge every Order of Society ; -in some Things they may be
indulged, when confined within the Bounds of
Decency and good Breeding, but in positive
Assertions they are really dangerous, especially
when applied to a Man's Character or Religion.
Any one may at first Sight perceive who is the
most weak, not to say wicked, he who exposes
his Writings to public Test, or he that cannot
confute them -:- If Mr. Sandiman is a wicked;
weak Man, I should be glad to have him exposed in a public Manner, and his Errors detected.
Lest other weak Minds may imbibe his Principles; and as he is now on the Spot, and I
suppose him strong enough at least for this Author, I think it the Duty of those who avowedly claim a Jurisdiction over the Souls of Men,
instead of privately prejudicing People against
Mr. Sandiman's Doctrines, they should openly
shew him and them his Errors, and I'll be
bound, from his genuine Character, he will,
in his Turn, stand corrected, and kiss the Rod.--
It is not my Design to justify Mr. Sandiman :
All I aim at, is to wrest from the Hands of this
Author his usurped Privilege of bestowing uncharitable Epithets upon others, when by a
second Reflection he may possibly be convinced
they will with more Propriety suit himself.

Homini imperito nunquam quicquam injustius,
Qui nisi quod ipse facit, nihil rectum putat.

Ter. in Adelph.