Another Orthodox Patriot Preacher

Rev. John Lathrop

John Lathrop was born in 1740, graduated from Princeton in 1763, and was Pastor of the Second Church of Boston. This preacher was a prolific writer throughout his life. Unitarians wish to claim him as their own, but his words portray a different result. He was an early Calvinist. Here is some evidence supporting Lathrop's Calvinism:

To mention that you hear that the Convention of Ministers in the Province have actually voted to lay aside all creeds and confessions. I wish there was not too much occasion for such a report. They did not actually vote to lay aside creeds and confessions. They have been pretty generally laid aside; and the motion was to revive them, and that candidates should be examined and introduced in the manner they are in Connecticut. This was urged by Dr. Sewall and Mr. Pemberton; it was also opposed by others; but, the forenoon being spent, a vote was desired whether the matter should be considered again after dinner, and passed quite full that it should not..You mention my being fixed in the midst of a crooked, fkc. generation. I assure you, it is a matter of wonder with me that the clergy are not farther from the character of Gospel ministers; and I apprehend, if some reform is not come into a few genrations, if salaries being small should not prevent it, the pulpits will frequently be filled not only with Arminians, but professed Arians, Socinians, and even Deists themselves.

--January 20th, 1769

Only God can be perfect, unless he became what he denounced--an arian, or idolator, believing Christ divine, yet having a different nature than the father. Unitarians did not believe Christ was perfect:

Jesus Christ also, with the perfect feelings of a perfect man, loved his country..

--A Discourse Delivered Appointed by the President.. April 13, 1815

No hint of arminianism in the below quote:

I can but think good Van Mastrich is right in his sentiments about Regeneration — it is a subject of great importance: I wish to understand it well, and constantly to feel that Divine power which alone is sufficient to produce the change, operating on my heart.

--Boston, 1 August, 1771.

Lathrop used orthodox Christian terms and quoted biblical verses clearly promoting Original Sin and Christ's Deity. Since when did unitarians believe God indwelt Christ?

While discoursing on the blessings of peace, our thoughts, as it is highly proper, will be first turned to the gospel, where we have a view of the foundation, which the mercy of God prepared for peace between heaven and earth ; peace between the Sovereign of the universe and his revolted subjects...Christ is our peace :—He came and preached peace to those who were afar off."—Thus wrote the Apostle Paul: "All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; to wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ's stead be reconciled to God [2 Cor 5:19]...Let us endeavour, therefore, to do good unto all. And finally, may we unite with the general assembly and church of the Most High, in offering praise and thanksgiving to God, our heavenly Father, and to his son Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer. [bold face mine]

--A Discourse Delivered in Boston on the Day of Public Thanksgiving in the State of Massachusetts Nov 21, 1811.

Below is a first hand account of orthodoxy:

I never saw him after this, but when I became associated in the ministry with his relative, the Rev. Dr. Lathrop, [Calvinist] of West Springfield, I often heard him speak of him in terms of affectionate regard, and he was never willing to admit that he had departed much, if at all, from the accredited standard of orthodoxy.

--FROM THE REV. CHARLES LOWELL, D. D.
Cambridge, February 28, 1853