mm .V .' . /^/ ^•r ff^-.w^"'* 1 . ' . i ■-■€ jiy- . ji; ^2l. ■T'-lW^Mjw^H.'TPP' |H • .1^ Presented Ag;teiv Coll. c PRINCETON, N. J. adelphia, Pa. by Mr. Samuel Agnew of Phil n Baptism, No. \ k. \ #1^./,^. ,.. m.,- :^^ <.**.>-";\.;lt A I S T O O F NEW-ENGLAND, With particular JFleference to the tJbnorninatiou of Chriflians called P T I S T C O N "T A The firll principles and fettle- V mcRts of the Country ; I The rife and increafe of the j Eaptift Churches therein ; j T^zintruCionofjIrbitaTyPD-wer '■ under the cloak of li^iligion ; j I N I N G The ChiiftianTeftiiirfcnies of ths Baptifts and others a- g?.inft the fame, with their Suftcrings under it, from thu B^i^iningtotheprefcnif" ime- Colledled from moft authentic Records znd Writings, both Ancient ?,nd INJodcrn, By I saAc dackus^ Paftor of the firft Baptill Ghurth in V!iaiebo'o-ac;ii. V Q L. I. inquire I pray the:, of the formsr A^e, and prepare llyfclfio iks JEARCu e.f their Fathers, Job 8, 8. Katto know what carne to pafs jeforc you were born, is always to remain a X^hild. '^ Cicero. BO S T O In" : P^ I N T E D B Y E D W A R D DRAPER, a/ h i s Prixtir^- - Oj^Vf I N Nsrubury-S/reef, AMD S O LO KY_ P H I L L 1 1' FKEEMAN, i:m Um'sn-Strcst, 1777. I S T O R Y has been fo often wriltcri z^nd improved, cither for party purpofes, or meer amufement, that fome ferious perfbns have been ready to treat it as a thing foreign from re.>» iigion, and of little fervice to mankind. Yet the * fame perfbns will readily own, that nothing teaches like experience : and what is true hiftory l)ut the experience of thofe who have gone before us ? o£ which peril ips none have been more remarkable, lince the att'drs of Canaan, than thofe of this coun- try. And as tiie prefent contcils about liberty and governmeat are very great, they call loudly for all the ii^lit tiiereia that C^n be gained from cvery> quarter. M'Ti. Rollin in his ancient ]\iftory fays, " T/jff •powers thdt be are ordained of God \ but neither every ufe that is made of this power, nor every means for the attainment of it, are from God, though every power be of him. And when we fee thcfc governments degenerating, fomecimes to violence,, fadions, defpotic fway and tyranny, 'tis wholly to the pailions of mankind that we muft afcribe thofe irregularities which are direclly oppofite to the primative inftitution of flates ; and which a supk- H.I0R WISDOM afterwards reduces to order, always making them contribute to the execution of nis- deiigas, full of equity and juftice. 'J his fccne highly deferves our attention and admiration. It is with a view of m^aking the reader attentive to this objefl:, that I think it incumban.t on me to add to the account of facts and events what regards the F R E F A G E. tiic manners andcuftoms of nations; bccaiifc tlicfe. {liew their geniics and character, which we may c?A]y ill ibmc meafurc. the foul of hiflory," Now it may well bc! fiippofe.d, that men who z.i'6 ftrivmg for more power over others than be- Ibrigs to thfcni, •will not iior cannot, fet either their own or their opponants geniies and cha> raclef in their juft light. " And if it fhould be. ionndj that near all, th^ hiftories of this country which are miicli known, have been written by pcrfdiis who thought themiclves invcfted with pdvVfer trt ac^ as lawgivers and iudgcs for their neighbours^ under the name eitiier of orthodoxy, of o.f iiiimediate power froni heaven, the inference \vill be Tt^dng, that our affairs have never been fet iii fo clearliglit as they ought to be ; and if' this is not indeed the cafe I am greatly miftaken, of which the following 'account will enable the ircider tb judge for liimfelf. ' Tiiz ^T^rdvA obicclion that I -yzive heard a^ainfl this dcfign i!>j"that we ought not to rake u^ . i.^ afiies bf oiir g-ood fi!.thers,nor to relicarfe thole •....d cdtitrc.Ycrfies, which v/ill tend to • increaic our prefeiit diiTiciilties. ' Eut'what is meant by tr.is oblcctidn c Ta revcd fccretn, or to repeat matters \hat have been, well fettled, betvveen pcr&ns or parties is forbidden, "and its afleds are very perni- cious H^iit whst is that to a hiitory of public facts, :,ind in ^examination of the principles ann conduct, bothbf p!pprc4rdr5,^''and pf the 'oppreiicd ? ' Mei/ who are ilill fond, of ai'bitary pov er may iriakc the above objeclion ^ but a learned and ia- ■gcndu5 p.cdcbapti'it that iclt' tlie cHccts of Inch ];;owcr, lately laid, '^.'.The prefbyteri;ins. I confefs ji))rnre'Jy copied too 'ACirly the cpilcopali:.r.F. The., genuine principles of univerfal andimpartial liberty V\cre V' '■ :'.^. underilood by any ; iind ail parties V " ' ^ were 'ISi^r^, •f^^t?l*. .?■:/%. PREFACE. Vv!ere too much involved in the guilt of intoUerance gnd pcifccution. The diffentcrs in our times freely acknowledge this, and condemn the narrow prin- ci>' cs of many of their prcdeccfiors ; having not; objection to tranfmitting down to poilcrity, in their true colours, the acls of opprfHion and in- toUerance of which all feels have been guilty. Not indeed, as is fometinies done, with a view of en- cpuraging fuch conduct in one party by the ex- ample of others ; but of expofmg it alike in all, and preventing it wholly, if polTible, in time to come."*' This is the great dcfign of the enfuing work ; and which feeriis cffentially nccell^iry to that end. For as every one is orthodox to himielf, they who have oppreficd others, have always denied it. After our baptift fathers in Boflon, h3,d been greatly injured for 1 5 years, they publiihed a vindication of vheir character; but as to their other fuflcrings con- tented themfclves with, laying, ^'= Some of us v/cr^ often-times brought before councils and courts, threatened, fined,our eftates taken away,imprifoneti and bmiflicd ;" a noted minifter called their vindi- cation, 'Sl fallacious narrative, and faid, **^ Errors lie in generals, a particular account might have been more fiitisfying." f Here therefore are a great number of particulars with good vouches to lupport them; T^hich fliew that opprefilon on religious accounts was not of the firft principles of New-England, but was an intruder that came ia afterward. When I was requefted by f^veral gentlemen of note and others, to undertake this work, two, ^reat objections prefentcd themfclves to my mind i^gainftit ; nam.cly, my great unfitnefs for it, and the diiliculty of obtaining the neceifary materials/ But their importunity prevailed agalnlt tlie. firft, and divine providence has removed, the other, b^ conveying * Furn mux's letter to Blackftone. p. 74., PREFACE. Conveying into my hands a variety of authentic' materials, much beyond what I conceived could have now been obtained in the world. Many of them I have tai-ien from the ancient records ot the colonies of Plymouth, Mall'achufetts, Provi(^ence and Rhode-Iiiand, as well as the records of the united colonies : thouirhl reoret the want of bet- ter acquaintance with the two latterjbefore the lirli two hundred pages of our hiiiory were printed off. Many other records have alio been lervice- able ; and I would now retunr my public thanks to the feveral gentlemen who are keepers of them, for the candid and kind treatment they have fliewn on this oc'calion. A great variety of other manufcripts have been fervicable to me, wjiereof Mr. Hubbard's hiftory, and extracts from gover- nor Winthrop's journal arc not the Icaft. It is to be noted, that only the word Hubbard in the fol- lowing quotations refers to that tnllory, in dif- tinction from another valuable collection, of which take the following account. Mr. Sanuiel Hub- bard came over to Salem in 1633, in his youth ; joined to Watertown church in 1635 ; but went the fame year up to Windfor, where he foon married a church-member that removed from Dorchefter, and they fettled atWeathcrsfield ; till in May 1639 they removed to Springfield, and he was one of the five men who iirii joined in found- inp'that church. It was conftituted under Con- necticut government, but falling afterward into the Mali'achufetts, he removed in i 647 to Fair- field. Though he fays, " God having enlighten- ed both, but moftly my wife, into his holy ordi- nance of baptizing only viiible believers ; and be- ing zealous for it, (he was moiUy flruck at, and anfwcrcd twice, publicly, where 1 was alio laid to be as bad as Cje, and threatened with, impriio.n- ment P H E F A C £. . mcnt to Hartford goal, if we did not renounce it or remove. Tiiat icripture came into our minds, if they perfecutcyou in one place, flee to another.*' Whereupon they removed to Newport, andjoiri- cd to elder Clarke's church there on Nov. 3. 164^, where they lived to old age ; from whence he re- peatedly vifited his fufiering brethren at Boilon, and had an exteniivc correipondance both in Europe and America j and he copied Icveral hundred of his own and others letters into a book, which I am now favoured with ; containing.* fund of intelligence, from 1641 to 1688. Ihe writings and papers alfo of our ciders, Holmesi, Comer, Callander and others have been ufeful ia this^.delign. i hough, for want of room 1 have been forced to leave a great many valuable arti- cles out of this volume, and to give but a iketcli of things in latter times. However I propofe by divine leave to preferve and digcft them in the beil manner 1 can, for the ufe of thefe who may come after us ; and fhould be glad to obtain ac- counts of the rife, progrefs and prefent itate o£ all our churches, for the fame end. Im the foilawing work, Flymouth RegiRer in« tends an account of their church from its beginlng, wrote by our county regifler, and annexed to Mr, R ■)bbin''s ordination fermon 1760. Thehiftoryof Providence means what was publifiied of that na- ture in their Gazette in 1765. Perhaps the red of my authorities are fuiliciencly defcribed. So great a part of this hillory is given in the words of otiiers, that continued marks of quotation would have beeii tedious ; therefore many paffages only begin and end therewith. In' the excellent letter you have ul P'^G^ 390 — 3955 I jhave marked the words which were neceflarily fupplied to compleat the fenfe; but though 1 have as ilricUy kept to the true fenfe in P Pv E F A C E. ill my quotations as in that, yet I have not thought It necellary to continue fuch marks in all. In the dates ^ v/here our fathers began thcyearvvithMarcn, i have cither plainly noted it, or elfe have begun the year with January, only have let the old Itiie fl:and,till it was altered here by law. Of the ?nonies, Mr. Prince fays they reckoned tvcre fterl. till 16401 in 1652 when they fn-ft toincd filver here il. of it was 15s. fterl. and fo it continued to J690, when they began to make paper moncy,w;hich gradually depreciated from 6s. to 45s for a Spanilli miiitd dollar. In j 750 oiir currancy was brought back to what it w?.s a hundred years before, and that is our lavvful money ever iince. A daili — in g; (quotation figniiies the omifiion of fomthing tkcre for bervitics fake ; i3ctvvixt figures, it is to extend the reference irom one number to the other. Whoever conliders the diiliculty of compilinp» fuch a v/ork with cxacfnefk, together with the con- fufion of the prefent times, and the authors dif- tance from tile prefs, wjll not be fevcre upon hini for every imperfection they may difcovcr therein ; tho' he has named liis principle vouchers, on pu^i- pofe to have his performance thoroughly ex- amined, and every material rnilfak^ corrected j Sincerity and impartiallity are allowed to be the teoft elfential rules of hlilory : how far they ap- pear in this the reader v/ill judge. Only the aii- thcr muft fay, that he has acred under 2 fiill be- lief, that wkii \t'hat meafurc we mete, it fhall he meafured to us again ; fo that we cannot injure others in any cafe, without therein v/ronging our own fouls. And to imprefs this great truth upon tvery mind, is the aim and earneft defire of theij: humble fervant, ,,.;,,, , ISAAC BACKUP, H 1 s x/^o^We^- '" fttc. APBiaa, NEW-EN (^S^^^a^' With particular Reference to the. Peo- ple called Baptifts, CHAP. I. The SentuTients and Character of the firft Planters of this Country, with their Proceedings down to the Year 1634. ^O obtain clear and jnft ideas of the affairs of the Baptifts in New-England, it feems neceflary for us to look back to its firft fettlement, and carefully to examine what were the fentiments and charafter of the origi- nal planters. Thofe that began the firft colony were called Separatifts, becaufe of their withdraw, from the national church of England ; and diff'er- ent parties have accufed them with rigidnefs there- in ; but ingenuous minds will not choole to be turned off with hard names, without knowing what is meanc by theniy therefore let us hear thofe fathejs tell their B own 2 HISTORf OF THE BAPTISTS own ftory. They feparated from the national church near the beginning of the laft century, and formed focieties for worlliip by themfelves -, til!, after fuffering much from the ruling party in their native country, they left ic, and fojourned about twelve years in Holland, and then removed to this hnd. About the time of their fleeing into Holland, Mr. llichard Bernard, an Epifcopal miniftcr in Notting- hamfliire, out of which many of thofe fathers re- moved, publifhed a book againft them, which he called The S.'-paratifi's Schifm, unto which jMr. John Robinlbn, the paftor of the church which afterward began the fettlement of New-England, publifhed an anfwer in i6ro, intituled, A Jujlification of Se- paration from the Church of England. _ As 1 am fa- voured with this performance, containing 476 pages in quarto, 1 fhall from thence give the reader his own words upon the mod material points of their controverfy, and the rather, becaufe the writings of that eminent father of our country are very little known at this day among us. Mr. Bernard began his book with fome things which he called Chriflian Counfels of Peace, to which Mr. Robinfon anfwers, that, " As God is the God of peace, fo are not they God's children which defirc it not j yea, even in the midft of their contentions. But as all vices ufe to cloath thern- felves wiih the habits of virtues, that under their li- veries they may get countenance, and find the more free paffage in the world, fo efpecially in the church all tyranny and confufion do prefent themfelves un- der this colour, taking up the politic pretenceof peace, as a weapon of mere advantage, wherewith the ftronger and greater party ufeth to beat the weaker. The Fapifts prefs the Proteftants with the peace [i6io0 IN NEW-ENGLAND. 3 peace of the church, and for the rent they have made in it, condemn them beyond the hearhenifh foldiers, which forbore to divide Chrill's garments; as deeply do the bifliops charge. the minifters refuf- ing conformity andfubfcription*, and both of them us. But the godly wife mufl not be affrighted either from feeking or embracing the truth with fuch bugs as thefe are, but feeing the wijdom which is from above J is firjl piire^ then peaceable^ he mud make it a great part of his Chriftian wifdom to difcern be- twixt godly and gracious peace, and that which is cither pretended for advantage, or miftaken by er- ror, and fo labour to hold peace in purity. Let it then be manifefted unto us, that the communion which the church of England hath with all the wick- ed in the land, without leparation, is a pure com- munion -, that their fervice book, devifed and pre- fcribed in fo many words and letters, to be read over and over with all the appurtenances, is a pure worfhip ; that their government by national provin- cial and diocefan bifliops, according to their canons, is a pure government, and then let us be blamed if we hold not peace with them in word and deed ; otherwife, though they fpeak unto us never fo oft, both by mefTengers and mouth of peace, and again of peace, as Jehoram did to Jehu, yet mud we anfvver them in effed as Jehu did Jehoram, what peace, whilil the whoredoms of the mother of fornications, the Jezebel of Rome, do remain in fo great number amongft them ? And I doubt not but Mr. Bernard, and a thoufand more minifters in the land (were they fecure of the ma- giftrate's fword, and might they go on with good B 2 licence) * The main of thofe who afterward fettled the Maflachufett* colony were of this fort ; they refufed full conformity to the na- tional church, and yet condemned an entire feparation from it,. ,V HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST'S licence) would wholly fhake off their canonical obe- dience to their ordinances, and negled their cita- tions and cenfures, and refufe to fue in their courts, for all the peace df the church which they com- mend to us for fo facred a thing. Could they but obtain licence from the magiftrate to ufe the liber- ties which they are perfuaded Chrift hath given them, they would foon fhake off the prelates yoke, and draw no longer under the fame in fpiritual communion with all the prophane in the land, buc would break thofe bonds of iniquity, as eafily as "Sampfon did the cords wherewith Dalilah tyed him, and give good reafons alfo from the word of God for their fo doing." p. 13, 14. Whoever reads and well obferves the liiflory of the Maffachufetts colony, I believe, will find that thofe remarks were neither enthufiaflical nor cen- forious, but that they difcover great knowledge, and a good judgment both inhuman and djvine con- cernments. Mr. Robinfon proceeds and fays, .*' Thefe things I thought good to commend to the reader, that he may be the more cautious of this and the like colourable pretences, wifhing him alfo well to remember, that peace in difobcdience is that old theme of the falfe propkets, whereby they flattered 'the mighty, and deceived the fimple, Jer! vi. 14, and viii. 1 1. — In the church of England we do ac- knowledge many excellent truths of doftrine, which wc alfo teach without commixture of error, many chriftian ordinances which we alfo pra6lifed being purged from the pollution of antichrift, and for the godly perfons in it (could we pofllbly feparate them from the prophane) we would gladly embrace them with both arms ; but being taught by the apollle, fpeaking but of one wicked perfon, and of one 'Jewifli ordinance, that a Utile leaven leaveneth the •oihols- [i6i6.] IN NEW-ENt5LAND. 5 'uohole lump J i Cor. v. 6, Gal. v. 2 — 9, we cannot be ignorant how four the Englifh aflemblies mlifl: needs be : Neither may we juftly be blamed though we dare not dip in their meal, left we be foured by their leaven." p. 15, 16. And to Mr. B. who counfcls that wefhould bear with lighter faults for a iime, till Jit occafion he offered to have them amended^ he replies, " i. No fin is light in itfelf, but being continued in and countenanced, deftroyeth the fin- ner. Matt. v. 19. 2. It is the property of a pro- phane and hardened heart evermore to extenuate and leflen fins. 3. Though the bearing and forbearing, not only of fmall but even of great fins alfo, muft be for a time, yet it muft be but for a time, and that is whilft reformation be orderly fought and pro- cured. Lev. xix. 17. But what time hath wrought in the church of England, all men fee growing daily, by the juil judgment of God, from evil to worfe, and being never aforetime fo impatient either ©f reformation or other good as at this day. 4. A man muft fo bear evil, as he be no v/ay acceffory unto it, by forbearing any means appointed by Chriftfor the amending it." p. 16. " I SEE not upon what occafion the author fhould fliuffle into this controverfy, which is merely eccle- fiaftical, fuch confiderations as he doth concerning tiie frame and alteration of civil Jlates, except he would either infinuate againft us, that we went about to alter the civil fi:ate of the kingdom ; or, at leaft, that the alteration of the ftate ecclefiaftical, muft needs draw with it the alteration of the civil ftate •, with which note the prelates have a long time bleared the eyes of the magiftrates, but how deceitfully, hath been fufficientiy manifefied, ihd ofier made further to manifcft the fame by folemn difputation. And the truth is, that all ftates and policies 6 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS policies which are of God, whether monarchical, ariftocratical or democratical, or how mixed foever, are capable of ChrilVs government. Neither doth the nature of the ftate, but the corruption of the pcrfons, hinder the fame in one or other, — And where Mr. Bernard further advifeth, rather to offend many private perfons than one lawful magiltrate, I ' doubt not he gives no worfe counfel than he himfelf follows, who (except I be much deceived in him) had rather offend half the private perfons in the dio- cefe, than one archbifhop, though he be an unlaw- ful magiftrate. But let us remember our care be not to offend the Lord, and if with the offence of a private perfon, though never fo bafe, be joined tht offence of the Lord, better offend all, both lawful and unlawful magiftrates, in the world, than fuch a link one^ Matt, xviii. 6." p. 17, 18. Another piece of counfel given by Mr. B. is, Ufe the prefent good which thou mayeji enjoy to the ut- ftioji ; and an experienced good^ before thou doji trouble thyfelf to feek for a fuppofed better good^ untried^ 'which thou evjoyeji not. To this Mr. R. fays, " Wc may not Hint or circumfcribe either our knowledge, faith, or obedience, within flraiter bounds than the whole revealed will of God, in the knowledge and obedience whereof we muft daily inereafe and edify ourfelves ; much lefs muft we fuffer ourfelves to be Itripped of any liberty which Chrift our lord hath purchafed for us, and given us to ufe for our good. Gal, V. I. A-"d h^re, as I take it, comes in the cafe of many hundreds in the church of England, who what good they may enjoy (that is fafely enjoy, or without any great bodily danger) that they ufe very fully. Where the ways of Chrift lie open for them, by the authority of men, and where. tbey may v/Alk fafely with good leave, there they walk very [i6io0 iM NEW-ENGLAND. 7 very uprightly, and that a round pace •, but when the commandments of Chrift are as it were hedged vip with thorns, by mens prohibitions, there they foully fiep af:de, and pitch their tents by the flocks ef his fellows^ Cant. i. 6." p. 23. Again Mr. B. fays, Never prefiime to reform others , before thou haji well ordered thyfelf. To v/hich Mr. Robin- fon anfwers, " True zeal it is certain ever begins ac home, and gives more liberty unto other men than it dares affjme unto itfelf ; and there is nothing more true, and neceflary to be confidercd, than that every man ovsght to order himfelf in his own fleps firft. That is good and the beft, but not all •, for if by God's commandment we ought to bring back our tnemrfs ox or afs that ftrayeth, how much more to bring into order our brother's foul and body, wan- dering in by-paths ?" p. 24. Mr. Bernard went on to lay down a number of things, which he fuppofed would render it very unlikely that a feparation from them could be right, before he came to the merits of the caufe ; as i. ^he novelty thereof differing from all the befi reformed churches in Chrijlendom. To which Mr. Robinfon replies, " It is no novelty to hear men plead cuftom, when they want truth. So the heathen philofopher reproached Paul as a bringer of new do^lrine, Adc. xvii. 19. So do the Papifts difcountenance the doc- trine and profeflion of the church of England -, yea even at this day, very many of the people in the land call Popery the old law, and the profeilion there made the new law. But for our parts, as we believe, by tlie word of God, that the things we teach are not new, but old truths renewed ; fo arc we no lefs perfuaded, that the church conftitution, in which we arc fet, is call in the apoftolical and primitive mould, and not one day nor hour younger, ia § HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS in the nature and form of it, than the firft church of the new teftament." p. 40. 2. For that it agree- eth fo much zvith the ancient Schifmatics, condemned in former ages by holy and karnedmen, Anfwer, *' Caa our way both be a novelty, and yet agree fo well with ancient Schifmatics ? Contraries cannot be both true, but may both be falfe, as thefe are." p. 42. Mr. Robinfon tells us, that another article which Mr. B. alledged agiinfl: them is, ^hat we have not the approbation of any of the reformed churches for our cpurfe. Anfwer, " This is the fame in fubftance with the iirft, and that which followcth in the next place the fame with them both ; and Mr. B. by fo ordinarily prefling us with human teftimonies, fhews himfelf to be very barren of divine authority. Nature teacheth every creature, in all danger, to fly firft and ofteneft to the chief inftruments either of offence or defence, wherein it trufteth, as the bull to his horn, the boar to his tufk, and the bird unto her wing \ right fo this man lhe.ws wherein his llrength lies, and wherein he trufts moft, by fo fre- quent and ufual (haking the horn, and whetting the tull<:, of mortal man's authority againft us. But for the reformed churches the truth is, they neither do imagine, nor will eafily be brought to believe, that the frame of the church of England ftands as it doth. The approbation which they give, is in re- fpeft of fuch general truths of doftrine, as wherein we alfo, for the moft part, acknowledge you j which notwithftanding you deny in a great rneafurc in the particulars and practice. But touching the ga- thering and governing of the church, which are the main heads controverted betwixt you and us ; thejr give you not fo much as the left hand of fellov/Ihip, but do, on the contrary, turn their [i6io,] m NEW-iENGLAND. ^ their backs upon you." p. 46, 47*, Thus much of" the learned abroad j in the next place Mr. Ber- nard draws us to the learned at home, from whofe diilike of us he takes his fifth likelihood, which he thus frameth : 'The condemnation of this way by our divineSi both living and dead^ againft v&hom^ either for \^odlinefs of life or truth of do£lrine^ otherwije than for being their cppofitesy they can take no exception''', To which Mr. Robinfon anfwers, *' No marvel : We may not admiuof parties forjudges : How is it poflible we Ihould be approved of them in the things wherein we witnels againft them ? And if this argument be good and likely, then is it likely that neither the Rcformifts have the truth in the church of England, nor the prelates -, for there are many of thofe both godly and learned, which in * ** The ways of the church of England, wherein we forfake lier, do diredlly and ex Siametro crofs and thwart the ways of the reformed churches, in thefe three main heads : ** I. The reformed churches aregathered of a free people^ join- ed together Ijy voluntary profeffion, without cbmpulfieh ef humaA laws. On the contrary, the church of England confills of a people forced together violently by the laws of rtfien into their provincial, diocefan aiid pariftiisnal churches (as their houfcs Hand) be they never fo unwilling or unfit. *' 2. The reformed churches do renounce the EBiniftry of the church of England, as fhe doth theirs ; not admitting of any by virtue of it to charge of foals, as they fpeak, where, on the contrary, all the niafs-priefts made in Queen Mary's days, which would fay their book-fervice in Englifh, were contihued minifters by the fame drdination which they received from Po- pijh prelates. "■ 3. The goviernment by Archbilhops, Lord Bifliops atid their fubftituteis, in the church' of England, is abhorred and dif- claimed in the reformed churches as antichriftijin ; as is, on the contrary, the Pre/byterian government, in ufe there, by the church of England refufed, Vi.s Jnabaptijiical and feditious." p. 52. Here v/e may fee how the very name of Atiabaptift was ui-d as a weapon to fight againft reformation in Mr. Robinfon's day, anu the pradtic? is ftill followed by many, C their lo HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS their differences do oppofe, and that very vehe-» mently, the one the other. Now, as for my own- part, I do willingly acknowledge the learning and godlinefs of moft of the perlbns named by Mr. B. and honor the memory of fome of them ; lo neither do I think them fo learned, but they might err, nor fo godly, but in their error they might rcr proach the truth they faw not. I do confefs to the glory of God, and mine own Iliame, that a long lime before I entered this way, I took fome tafte of the truth in it by fome treatifes publifhed in ]uftiiication of it, which were fweet as honey unto my mouth ; and the principal thing which for the time quenched all further appetite in me, was the over-valuation which I made of the learning and holinefs of thefe and the like perfons, bluihing in myfeif to have a thought of prel^mg one hair- breadth before them in this thing, behind whomi I knew myfeif to come fo many miles in all other things-, yea and even of late times, when I had entered into a more ferious confideration of theie things, and, according to the meafure of grace re- ceived, fearched the Icriptures, whether they were fo or no, and by fcarching found much light and truth, yet was the fame lo dimmed and overcloud- ed with the contradi(Siions of thefe men, and others of the like note, that had not the truth been in my heart as a burning fire fhut up in my bones, Jer. XX. 9, I had never broken thole bonds of flefh and blood, but had fulTcred the light of God to have been put out in my unthankful heart, by other mens darknefs. " Every man (lands bound to give this re- ve^ynce to the graces of God in other men, that in his differences with them he be not fuddenly nor cafily perfuadcd, but that being jealous of his own heartj [i5io.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. ix heart, he undertake the examination of things, and fo proceed with fear and trembling, and having tried all things, keep that which is good, i Thef* V. 21 i fo fliall he neither wrong the graces of God in himfelf, nor in others. But on the other fide, for a man fo far to fuffer his thoughts to be con- jured into the circle of any man or mens judgment, as either to fear to try what is offered to the contra- ry, in the balance of the fanduary, or finding it to bear weight, to fear to give fentence on the Lord's fide, yea though it be againft the mighty, this is to honor men above God, and to advance a throne above the throne of Chrift, who is Lord and King for ever. And to fpeak that in this cafe, which by doleful experience I myfelf have found, many of the mod forward profefTors in the kingdom are well nigh as fuperftitioufly addicted to the deter- minations of their guides and teachers, as the ig- norant Papifts unto theirs ; accounting it not only needlefs curiofity, but even intolerable arrogancy, to call in queftion the things received from them by tradition. But how much better, were it for all men to lay afide thefe and the like prejudices, that fo they might underftand the things which concern their peace, and feeing with their own eyes, mighc live by their own faith ^ " And for thefe famous men named by Mr. B.' (with whofe oppofitions, as with Zedekiah's horns of iron, he would pufh us here and every where) as we bear their reproofs with patience, and acknow- ledge their worrh without envy or detra(5lion, fo do we know they were but men, and through hu- man frailty might be abufed as well, or rather as ill, to fupport antichriil in a meafure, as others before them have been, though godly and learned as they^ I; will not be denied but the fathers, as they are C 2 called. '%i HISTORY OF THE BAPTiSTa called, Ignatius, Irenseus, Tertullian, Cyprian^ Ambrofe, Jcrom, Auftin, and the reft, were both godly and learned, yet no man, if he have but even faluted them, can be ignorant what way, though unwittingly, they made for the advancement of an^ tichrift which followed after them, and if they, not- withftanding their learning and godlinefs, thus ufhered hini~ into the world, why might not others, and that more likely, though learned and , godly as the former, help to bear up his train ? Efpecially confidering rhat as his rifmg was not, fo neither could his fall be perfcdted at once. And for us, what do we more or otherwife, for the moft part, than walk in thofe ways into which divers of the perfons by Mr.'B. named have direfled us by the word of God, in manifefting tinto us by the light thereof what the miniftry, government, vvor- Jliip, and fellowfhip of the gofpel ought to be * ? j^Ve then being taught, and believing that the word of * For proof of this, Mr. Robinfon, in another place, cites a ijumber of pafTages written ; he fays, ** By fuch men as I dare fay Mr. B. reckons amongft the painful and confcionable mini- jfters : Their words are thefe : '^ The names and eifiees ©f Archbifliops, Archdeacons, Lord ifeifliops, &c. are, together with their gevernment, drawn out of the Pope's {hop, antichriftian, and contrary to the fcriptures. Parfons, vicars, parinj-priefts, ftipendiaries, &e. be birds of the iame feather." zd Admo. to the Parliament. " There is no true vifible church of Chrift, but a particular congregation only.'* *' The vilible church of Chrift, vvherefoever it be, hath the p»wer of binding and looftng annexed unto it, as pui- faviour Chrift teacheth, Matt. 18." Difcowry of Dr, Ban- troji^s Slander f, *' AmongR us the holy myftcries of God are, ' prophancd^ [i6id.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 13 of God is a light and lanthorn, not only to our (yes^ but to our feci and paths^ as the Plalmift fpeaketh, Plal. cxix. 105, cannot poflibly con- ceive how we lliould juftly be blamed by thelc men for obferving the ordinances which themfelves not only acknowledged, but contended for, as appoint- ed by Chrift: to be kept inviolable till his appear- ing, as fome of them have exprcfly teftified. " To conclude, let not the chriftian reader caft our perfons, and the perfons of our oppofites, whe- ther thefe or others, in the balance together ; but rather our caule and reafons, with their oppofitions and the grounds of them, and fo with fteady hand, and impartial eye, poize caufe with caufe, that fa the truth of God may not be prejudiced by mens ferfons^ nor held in r^JpeEi of them." p. 48 — 58. By thefe free and plain declarations the reader may be able to judge, whether the reproach of rigidnefs properly belongs to Mr. Robinlon, or to his accufers and perfecutors •, .yet becaufe he would not ilay in the church of England, when he was convinced of its being wrong fo to do, Mr. Bernard accufes him and his brethren of either denyiiig their converfion xh^vty orelfe of accounting it a/s^ one. To which Mr. R. anfwers, *' For ourperfonal con- verfion in the church of England, we deny it not, but do, and always have done, judge and profefs it true there; and fo was Luther's converfion true in the church of Rome, elfe could not his feparation fro m prophaned, tke Gentiles enter into the t:mp'e of God, the holy things are indifferently communicated with the clean and un- clean." Plain Declaration. *' Now, fays Mr. Robinfon, let the reader judge whether thefe men in thus writing have not opeHcd the dcor untO us, by Y.-lucli themfelves eir.crno!;." p. 75, 76. 14 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS from Rome have been of faith, or accepted of God." p. 6g. And now for particuhr fcntiments about church affairs •, Mr. Robinfon's opponent had faid, The word is the conjiitution of the church. To which he replies, " His meaning is orfliould be, that the word is the ordinary means for colledling and con- llituting the church of God. 1 grant it: But how ponfidered ? Not the word in mens bibles alone, for then all the heretics in the world were true churches \ nor yet the word preached fimply, for Paul preached the word to the fcoffing Athenians, and to the blafphemous Jews, yet I think he will not fay that either the one or the other were churches truly conilituted. How then ? The word publifhed, underftood, believed and obeyed, out- wardly at the leaft, as the fpiritual fword or axe, hewing the ftones in the rock, and the trees in the foreft, and preparin^^ them to be the Lord's fpiritual houfe. And thus much the .very places produced by Mr. B. do evidently declare. " Matt, xxviii. 19, which is thefirft place, fhews, that fuch as by preaching of the word were made (lijcipks^ for fo much the word im.porteth, were to be gathered into the church and baptized. Mark xvi. 15, fhews the fame, efpecially if you add verfe 16, infering that men by preaching muft believe, ^nd fo believe, as they have the promifc oi fahation. 2 Cor. v. 19, and xi. Z-, prove that the word of reconciliation and miniftry of the gofpel, believed and obeyed to the forgivenefs of fms, and to the preparation and fan(5lification of the church of Chrift, is the means of gathering and building up the fame, A(fls ii. 14, 37, 38, 41, and xvi. 32 — 34, are of the lame nature, and do prove that lundry of the Jews at Jerufalem, by Peter's preaching, and that the gaoler'^ [i6ib.] IN NEW -EN GLAND. 15 gaoler's houlhold at Philippi, by Paul's preaching, were brought to repentance, and faith in Chritt, and fo added to the church ; but what will be the eonclufion of all thefe premifes ? The propofitiori is this : " The true apoftolic churches having a true conftitutlon, were gathered and conftituted of fuch men and women as by the preaching of the gofpel were made difciples, had faith and repentance wrought in them, to the obtaining of the forgivcnefs of fins, and promife of life eternal, and to fanflifica- tion and obedience." p. 89, 90. Of baptifm Mr. Robinfon fays, " The proper ends and ufes of baptifm are to initiate the parties baptized into the church of Chrift, and to confe- crate them to his fervi-. e, and fo to ferve for badges of chriftianity, by which it is diftinguifhed from all other profeffions, Matt, xxviii. 19, i Cor. xii. 13.'* p. 26. " The facramcnt of baptifm is to be ad- miniftered by Chrift's appointment, and the apoftles example, only to fuch as are, externally, and fo far as men can judge, taught and made difciples •, do receive the word gladly, A(fts ii. 41 ; believe and fo profefs, A6ts viii. have received the holy ghoft, Ads X. 47, and to their feed. Ads ii. 39, i Cor. vii. 14." p. 92. " Baptifm adminiftered to any others is fo far from invefling them with any faintfhip in that eftate, that it makes guilty both the giver and receiver of facrilcge, and is the taking of God's name in vain." p. 1 10. Of the Lord^s [upper he fays, " The apoftle teach- cth, I Cor. X. 16, th.it the bread and wine in the fupper are the communion of the body and blood of Chrift, that is, efFcdual pledges of our conjundioa and incorporation with Chrift, and one v/ith ano- ther : And in ver. 17, that all which eat of one bread or one loaf, are one myllical body. This place alone. te HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS alone, if Mr. B. and his fellow minifters would ferioufly confider, and fet themfelves faithfully to obferve, they would rather offer their own bodies to be torn in pieces by wild beafts, than the holy myfceries of Chrift's body to be prophaned as they are." p. 92. Of the keys^ Matt. :. ture. Now it foUoweth, that . whatfoever perform hath received the fame precious faith with Peter, as all the faithful have, 2 Pet. I. i, thatpeffon hath a part in this gift of Chrift, Whofoever doth confefs^ publifti, manifeft or make known Jefus to be the Chrift, the fon of the living God, and Saviour of the world, that perfon opens heaven's gates, loofeth Niin, and partakes with Peter in. the ufe of the keys 5 and hereupon it follov/cth neceffarily, that one faith- ;ful man, yea, or woman either, miy as truly and . effeftually loole and bind, both in heaven and e^rth, / as all the minifters in the worlcj." p. 149, 150. ! " But here I know ,the lordly clergy, like the bulls of Bafhan; will roar loud upon me, as fpeaking things intolerably derogatory to the dignity of priefi- hood -, and it may be fome others alfo, cither through ignorance or fuperflition, will take offence at thii fpeech, as confounding all things ; buti'iere is nofuch caufe of exception. For howfoever the keys be one gnd the fame in nature and efficacy, in what faithful man or mens hands foevcr, as not depending either uponthe numberor excellencyof any perfons, but up- on Chrift alone ; yet is it ever to be remembered, that thcsOrdcr and manner of ufing them is very diftercnr. " The keys in doftrine may be turned as well Upon them which are without the church, as upori them which are within, and their fins eith&r loofed or bound. Matt, xxviii. 19 ; but in difcialinenot fo, • but only upon them which are within, i Cor. -v. 12, 13. Again, the apoftles by their office had . P . thefe 18 HlStOUr OF THE BAPTISTS thefe keys to ufe in all churches, yea, in all nations upon earth : Ordinary elders for their particular flocks, A(ft. xiv. 23, and xx. 28. Laftly, there is an ufe of the keys publicly to be had, and an ufe pri- vately -, an ufe of them by one perfon feverally, and an ufe of them by the whole church jointly, and together ; ap ufe of them minifterially, or in office, and an ufe of them out of office : But the power .of the gofpel, which is the keys, is (till one and the fame, notwithftanding the diverfe manner of ufing it." p. 151. *' If the keys of the kingdom of heaven be ap- propriated unto the officers, then can there be no for- givenefs of fins, nor falvation, without officers ; for there is no entrance into heaven but by the door. "Without the key the door cannot be opened : So then belike, if either there be no officers in the church (as it may eafily come to pafs in fome extreme plague or perfecution) and muft needs be in the churches of Chrift in our days, either in their firft planting, or firtl calling out of Babylon ; for Antichriit's niafs- priefthood is not ellentially Chriil's true miniftry, or if the officers take away the key of knowledge^ as the Scribes and Pharifces did, and will neither enter themjehes nor fuffer them that ivould -, then muft the mjferable multitude be content to be ffiut out and perifh eternally, for ought is known to the contrary. To admoniffi the officers of their fin, were againji common fenfe^ that the father fhoidd be ftibjeB to his children^ the work domineer over the woi kman^ the Jccdfman he ordered by the corn^ and to excommunicate and call new, were intolerable ufurpation of the keys i this power is given to the chief officers only, p. Q4, 95, and to feparate from them is as intole- rable, p. 88 *. Miferable were the Lord's people, if * Thefs are quotations from Bernard. [i6io.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 19 if thefe things were fo ; but the truth is, they are miferable guides that fo teach. " They which may forgive fins and finners, fave fouls, gain and turn men unto the Lord, to them are the keys of the kingdom given, by which they open the door unto fuch as they thus torgive, gain and fave : But all thefe things, fuch as are not minillers'may do, as thefe fcriptures, which I intreat the godly reader to confider, do moft clearly ma- nifeft, Matt, xviii. 15. 2 Cor. v. 7 — 10. Ad. viii. 1,4. with xi. 19-— 21. Jam. v. 19, 20. i Pet. iii. i. Jude xxii. 23. Erroneous, therefore, and derogatory is it to the nature of the gofpel, and free donation of Chrilf, thus to impropriate and engrofs the keys, which lie common to all chriftians in their place and order." p. 152, 153. Concerning crdination Mr. Robinfon obfervcs,' " That the officers of the church are the Jewants of the church •, and their office a fervice of the Lord, and of bis churchy Matt. x. 25, 26, 27. 2 Cor. iv. 5. Rom. XV. 31. Whereupon it foUoweth seceffarily, that what power the officers have, tiie body of the church hath firft." p. 411. ** To thefe things I add, that what power any of the Pope's clergy re- ceive from him, the fame he takes from them, and deprives them of, where they withdraw their obe- dience, or feparate from that church. For our better proceeding, I will firft confider what ordina- tion is •, and fecondly how far the brethren m;'y go by the fcriptures, and the neceffary confcquences drawn from them, in this and the like cafes, in the fit ft planting of churches, or in redu ing of them into order, in or after fome general confufion. The prelates, and thofe which level by their line, highly advance ordination far above the adminiftration of the word, facrament and prayer 5 making it, and D 2 the ^q pi§TOHlC OF THE BAPTJST^ %hQ power of excommunication, the two inqommu- jilcabls prerogatives of a Bifliop above an ordinary ^inifter. But furely herein thefe chief miniftera do not fucceed the chief minifters, the apoftles, except a^ darknefs fucceeds light, and Antichrill's confufion Chrift's order. Y^here the apoilles were lent out by Chnfti there was no mention of ordina- tion J their charge was, go teach all nathns^ and hap- size them y and that the apoilles accounted preach- ing ihpu principal work, and after it baptifm and prayer, the fcfiptus^es manifeft, A(5l. vi. 4, ; Cor." '^ Op.Di^fATioK doth depend upon the people*? lawful eledion, as an efFecl upon the caufe, by virtue of which ^t is juftiy' adminirtied, and may be thus- ^efcrih.ed, or confidered of. us i as the admiHionof or putting into pofTeffion a perfon lawfully eledled ^nto a trueofHceof rxiiniftry.— The right unto their pffice they have by eleftion, the poffeflion by ordi- nation, with the cererpony of impoiition of hands. The apollle, Peter, advertifing the difciples cr bre- thren, that one (fitted as there noted) was in the jfoom of Judas to be made a witnefs, with the eleven apoftlesj, of the refurredion of Chrift, when two. were ^y the.m prefented^ did with the reft prefent Xhtm. two and none other to the Lord^ that he, by the xmmediacc direction of the lot, might fl;ie\y whether 9f them two he had chofen, AOi, i.— In like man- lier th$ t-imlve. being to inftitute the office of dea- conry in the church zt Jerufalero.i called the multi- tude qf the dtfcipJes together, and informed them what manner of perfons they were to choofe j which ^hoice being rnade by the brethren accordingly, and. they fo chofen prefented to the apoftles, they forth- with ordained them, by virtue of the eleftion- made fay the brethren. To thefe add, that the apoilles, ■*: ■■ ■ ■■ ■ '^ Vm\ [i^io.] IN NEW-EN GLAND. q^t Paul and Barnabas (being thereunto called by the holy ghoil) did pafs from church to church, and from place to place, and in every church where they cams -did ordain them elders by the people's, e'/^^/cw, fignified by iht'ii: Ufiing tip of hands, as the word is, and as the ufe was in popular ckiftions, throughout thole countries, A6t. xiii. 2, and xiv. i>3. — The judgment and plea, (when they deal with us) of the moit forward men in the land, in this cafe, I may not omit i which is, that they renounce and difclaim their ordination by the prelates, and hold their miniilry by the people's acceptation. Now if the acceptation of a mixt company, under the prelates government (as is the bell parifii affen> |)ly in the kingdom) v;hereof the greated part have ^v the revealed will of God no right to the cove- nant, miniftry, or oiher holy things, be fufRcient to |nake a minifter, then m.uch more the acceptation of the people with us, being all of them jointly, and every one of them leverally, by the mere y of God, capable of the Lord's ordinances*. I acLnow- "■■''' ledge * Mr. Robin fan gives us a number of the Proteftant's teftimo- nies upon this point, of which take the following : *' Call, i, 8, If any teaeh another gofpel, Irt him be " anathema. Only the a{|embly_ whers the true doflrine found- " eth is the ehurch : Jn it is the miniftry of the gofpel : In k '' a.x& the ]!itY% Oi the kingdom of heaven. Wherefore in that *:' very afTembly there is the right of calling and ordaining the ^* minifters of the gofpelj, becaufe v/e muft fly the enemies 0^ *.' the gofpel, ^s anathema. And befideu, if w(e fhould defirc *' of them the cetiemony of ordination, they would not give ir, . " except we would bindourfelves to renounce the true doftrine, *' and otHa? wicked bonds would they cafk upon «s. It is the " coafaiion of order, to feek. fhepherds from the wolves. This " hath ever been the right of the true churchy to choofe and *' call Quc gf biCV own aiTembly fit ntiniiters of the gofpel." Philip Melanfton, *' In the planting of charches anew, when men are wanting, ^' whicU (Uottldpreach the gofpel, a wcmaamav perforwi that at the «' iirllj 21 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS icdge that where there are already lawful officers in a church, by and to which others are called, there the former, upon that eleflion, are to ordain and appoint the latter. The officers, beii.^ the mi- nifters of the church, are to execute the determina- tions of the church under the Lord— -Ordination is properly the execution of eledion.'* p. 413 — 15. " The apoftle Paul writes to the churches of Galatia to rejedl, as accurfed^ fuch minifters whomfo- ever as fliould preach otherwife than they had al- ready received: And the fa^ne apoftle writes to the church of Colofife, to admoniffi Archippus to take heed to his miniftry. So John alfo, to the church of Ephefus, commendeth it for examining^ and fo con- lequently iov fdencing^ fuch as pretended ihemfelves apollles,and were not : As alfo to the church of Thi- at) ra, reproving for fuffering unfilenced the falfe prophetefs Jezebel. Now as thefe things did firft ^nd principally concern the officers, who were in thefe and all other things of the fame nature to go before and govern the people ; fo are the people al- fo in their places interefled in the fame bufinefs gnd charge : Neither could the officers fin (if they ^ould have been corrupt or negligent; difcharge the people. ** firft; but fo as when flie hath taught any company, that fome ** one man of the faithful be ordained, which may afterwards ** niinifterthe facraments, teach, and do the paftor's duty faith- «* fully." Peter Martyr. •' Tilenus being demanded of the £'«r/ o/^iflT/z//, from whom ** Calvin had his calling ? anfwered, From ihe church of Gene- " %'a, and from Farrell, his predecefTor ; who alfo had his from *' the people of Geneva ; who had right and auchority to infti- *' tute and depofe minifters: Which thing he alfo confirms by •* Cyprian, Epift. xiv." p. 421, 422. Thefe were the fentimcnts of thofe who knew how they came out of Rome, and upon what grounds the Proteftant churches were formed ; but how differently arc things reprefented by afpiring men at this day ? [i6io.] m NEW'-ENGLAND. fi| people of their duty in the things which concerned thenii but they were bound notwiihftanding to fee the commandments of the apofties, and of the Lord Jefus by them, executed accordingly. And if the people be in cafes, and when their cfiicers fail, thus lolemnly to examine, admonifli, filence, and fupprefs their teachers, being faulty ard un- jfound ; then are they alfo by proportion, where officers fail, to eledt, appoint, let up and over them- felves fuch fit perfons as the Lord affordeth them, for their furtherance of faith and falvation.'* p. 417,418. Against this doflrine many objeftions have been raifed ; the chief of which are about the peo- ple's inftability, and its tendency to confufion. In anfwer to which, Mr. Robinfon reminds his oppo- nant, that though his ignorant people had readily changed their religion v/ith their ir*rince, even back to Popery in Mary's days ; yet, *' The prelates and prielts were as unliable as the reft, yea their ringleaders. But, fays he, for experience in this our popularity, as you term it, I tell you, that if ever 1 faw the beauty of Sion, and the glory of the Lord filling his tabernacle, it hath been in the ma- nifeftation of the divers graces of God in the church, in that heavcRly harmony, and comely order, where- in by the grace of God we are fet and walk ; where- in, if your eyes had but fccn the brethren's fobcr and modeft carriage one towards another, their humble and willing fubmifiion unto their guides iri the Lord, their tender cf?mpafilon towards the weak, their fervent zeal againft fcandalous offenders, and their long-fuffering towards all, you would, I am perfuaded, change your mind, and be compelled to take up your parable^ and bh^fs where vou pur- pofed to curfe.'^ p. 212. '"' For mine own parr, knowing mine own inftrmities, and that I am. fubjctH: to i4 HisTOi^t' OF THE Baptist^' to fin, yea and to t'rowardnefs in fin, as much as the brethren are ; if by mir.c office 1 Ihould be deprived of the remedy which they enjoy, that bleffed ordi- nance of the churches cenlures, I Ihould think mine ofii« e accurfed, and myfelf by it, as fruftrating and (dirappointing me of that main end for which the fervahts of Lhritt ought to join thcmfelves unto the church of Chrill, furnilhed with his power for th^ir reformation. As, on the CQntrary, God is my record, how, in the very writing of thefe things, my fou! is filled with fpiritual joy, that I am under this eafy yoke ofChrift, the cenfures of the church, and how much i am comforted in this confideration, againft my vile and corrupt nature, which, notwithflanding^ I am perfuaded the Lord will never fo far fuffer to rebel, as that it (hall not be tamed and fubdued by this Itrong hand of God, without .ivhich it might €very day and hour fo hazard my falvation. That doftrine which advanceth an inferior and meaner ftate in the church, above that which is fuperior and the chief, that is unfound, and indeed ferving in a degree for the exa/icikon of that man of fin above alt that IS called Gad. But the dodrine of fetting the elders without and above the judgments and cenlures of the church, doth advance an inferior above a fuperior. The point I thus manifeft : . *' Th£ order of kings is the higheft order or ^ftate in the church. But the order of /^/«/j is the order (j1 kings ^ and we are kings as we are faints, not as we are officers. K^ the Lord Jeiiis did prove againft the Scribes and Pharifees, that the temple was greater than the gold, becaufe it fan^flified the gold, and that the altar was greater than the offer- ing, becaufe it fand:ificd the clfering, fo' by propor- tion the condition of a faint, which fanftifieth the Condition of an oBicer, is more excellent than it is. . To Ijeio.) m NEW-ENGLANt). £| To our faintfliip, and as we have faith,, is pronrjifed the forgiyencfs of fins, the favour of Cod, and life 'tternal, but not to our office, or in refped of ic. The eftate of a fainc is moft Happy and bleiTed, though the pferlon never fo much as come near an office i but on the contrary, an officer, if He be not ahb and first a faint, is a moft wretched and slcj curfed creature." p. 216, 217. The reader will not wonder that thofe who were for national churches, and unconverted miniflers, difcovered a ftrong preiudice agalnfb fuch writings as thefe j but how well do they agree with the apoftles do(ftrinc ? i Cor. xii. 3(, ahd xiii. i- — 3^ Gal. i. Of REFORMATiONi Mr. koblnfon fays to his op/ ponent, *' You fpeak much of the reformation of your church after Popery. There was indeed a great reformation of things in J^our church, but very little of the church, to fpeak truly and propetly. The people arc the church ; and to m.ake a reform- ed church, there muft be firil a reformed people i and fo they fhould have been with you, by tlic precjch- ing of repentance from dead works, and faith in Chrifi i that the people, as the Lord ihould have vouchfafcd grace, being firlt fitted for, and made capable of„ the facraments, and other ordinances, might after- wards have communicated iri the pure ufc of them ^ for want of which, inilead of a pure ufe, there hath been, and is ac this day, a moft prophane abufe of them, to the g^cat diilionor of Chriil and his gofpelj and to the hardening of thoufands in their impeni- tcncy. Othtvs alfo endeavouring yet a further re- formation, have fued and do ftic to Kings, and Q^^ecns, and Parliaments, for the rooting out of the prelacy, and with it, of fuch other evil fruits as grow from that bitter root ; and on tlie contrary, to F have 26 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS have the mlniftry, government and difcipline of Chrift fetover the pariflics as they ftand •, the firft ftuit of which reformation, if it were obtained, would be the prophanation of the more of God's ordinances upon fuch, as to whom they appertained f^pot •, and fo the further provocation of his Majefty ^vinto anger againft all fuch as fo pradlifed, or con- fented thereunto. Is it not flrange that men, in the reforming of a church, fliould almoft, or altogether, ^forget the'church, which is the people, or that they fiiould labour to crown Chrift a King over a peo- 'ple, whofe prophet he hath not firft been ? Or to fet him to rule' by his laws and officers, over the profeiTcd fubjef^s of Anrichrift and the devil ! Is it poffible that ever they fhould fubmit to the difci- pline of Chrift, which have not firft been prepared, , in feme meafure, by his holy dodrine, and taught v;ith meeknefs to ftoop unto h'is yoke ?" p. 300, 301. A MAIN plea for' fuch confufion, both then and now, was and is drawn from the parable of the /jr^5 : But, fays Mr. Robinfon, "Since the Lord Jefus, v/ho beft knew his own meaning, calls the Jleld the zvorld, and makes the harvejl^ which is the end of the field, the end cf the worlds and not of the church, why Diould we admit of any other interpre- tation ? Neither is it like that Chrift would in the expounding of one parable fpeak another, as he ihouldiiave done, if, in calling the field the world, he had meant the church. As God then in the beginning made man good, and placed him in the field of the world, there to grow, where by the envy of the ferpent he was foon corrupted, fo ever fince hath the feed of the ferpent, ftirred up by their father the devil, fnarled at the heal of the woman's feed, and like n'oifonie tares vexed and peftered the [i6io.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 27 the good and holy feed -, which though the children of God both fee and feel to their pain, yet muft they' not therefore, forgetting what fpifit they dfe (f^ prefently call foi-^re from heaven^ nor i^revtni ih^ Lord's Tiand, but wait his leifure, either for the converting of thefe tares into wheat, which in many is daily feen, and then how great pity had it been they (hould (0 untimely have been plucked up ? Or for their final perdition in the day of the Lord, whtin the church fliall be no more offended by them. And that the Lord Jefus no way fpeaks of the toleration of prophane perfons in the .church, doth appear by thefe reafons: "I. Because he doth not contradict himfelf, by forbidding the ufc of the keys in one place, which in another he hath turned upon impenitent offenders, Matt, x^iii. 2. In the excommunication of finners apparently obflinate, with due circumfpeftion, and in the fpirit of wifdom, meeknefs, and long-fufFer- ing, with fuch other general chriftian virtues, as with which all our fpecial facrifices ought to be fea- foned, what danger can there be of any fuch difor- der, as the plucking up of the wheat with the tares, which the hufbandman feareth ? 3. The Lord Jefus fpeaks of the utter ruinating and deftru<5lion of the tares — the plucking them up ly the rcots ;— But ex- communication rightly adminiftred is not for the ruin and deftrudlion of any, but for the falvatio'n of the party thereby humbled, i Cor. v. 5.— The Lord's field is fownonly Wnhgocd Jeed — his churcli faints beloved of God, all and every one of them, though by the malice of Satan, and negligence of fuch as fhould keep this field, vineyard and houfe of God, adulterated feed, and abominable perfons, may be foifted in, yea and fuffered alfo." p. 119, 120. ." I deny not but, as it hath been faidofold, ^ E 2 there -^n HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS there arc msLpyJheep 'without^ and many vjolves"i&ith^ in ; many of the vifiblc ohurch which are hot o£ the invifible church, and many of the invifiblechurcK •which never come into the vifible church : But this, fay I, is not according to the" revealed will of God in his word \ but byixlen's default and fin. It is Tfhe-ir fin of ignorance, or infirmity, which, being o% t'^e invifibl? ghurch, do not, if poflibly they can, join themfelves unto the vifible church, there to partake in the vifible ordinances. It is their fin of hypocrify and prefumption, which not being of the invifible church, do iadjoin themfelves to the vifible church, ^here to prophane the Lord'« covenant and ordinances, tio which they have no right. For how can they, being wicked and unholy, challenge th^ Lord to be their God, that is, all happinefs and goodnefs unto them, which is one part of the cove- nant V or profefs themfelves to be his people, whica is another part, when the devil and their lufts is their God ?'* p. 313, 314. Pf tht Diference beHveen Civil and EcckfmJlicalGo^ vernmenL ""' ** I. Civil officers are called in the word of God ■primes^ beads^ captains^ judges^ niagiJirateSy nobles^ lordSi kings ^ them in authority^ principalities and pcivers^ yea in their r^fpect Gods ; and according to their jhames fo are their offices : But oil the contrary, ecclcfiaflical officers are not capable of thefe, or the like titles, which can neither be given without flattery unto them, nor received by them without jirrogancy : Neither is their office ^n office of lord- iliip, fovereignty or authority, but of labour and ftrvice^ ^nd fo they, the labourers z^^di fervants of the «hvjrch, as of God, 2 Cor. iv. 5, i Tim. lii. X. " 2. Magistrates may publifh and execute th^ir x)wn laws in their own n;^mes, Ezra i. i, fifc. '• ■• ■ ■ : \ . A ■ - Efthes' [ifiio.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 29 Efthcr viii. 8, Matt. xx. 25. But miniders are only interpreters of the laws of God, and muft look for no further refped at the hands of any to the things, they fpeak, than as tbcy manifeft the fame to be the ammandmcnts of the Lord^ i Cor, xiv. 37. *' 3. Civil adminiftrations, and their forms of government, may be and oft times are altered, for the avoiding of inconveniences, according to the circumftanccs of time, place and perfons, Lxod. Kviii. 13, &c. But the church is a kingdom which (aivioi he Jhaken^ Heb. xii, 28, wherein may be no innovation in office, or form of adminiftracionjfroni i;hat which Chrift hgth left, for a^y inconveniency whatfoevcr. " 4. Civil, msgiftrates have authority by their offices to judge offenders, upon whom alfothey may- execute bodily vengeance, ufing their people as their iervants and minifters for the fame purpole j but jn the church the officers are the minifters of the people, whole fervice the people ia to ufe for the ;sdminiitring of the judgme/its of the church, and of God firft, againfl: the obftinate, which is the utmoCb execution the church can perform. « — But here it will be demanded of me, if tiie elders be not fet over ^he church for her guidance and government ? Yes certainly, as the phyfician is fet over the body, for his fkil! >and faithfulnefs, to minifter unto it, to •whom tne patient, though. his lord and mafter, is to fub.mit J, the lawyer over his caufe, to attead unto it ; the fteward over his family, even his wife and children, to make provifion for them : Yea," the watchman over the whole city, for the fafe keeping thereof. Such, and none other, is the eider's or ^ifhop's government." p. 135 — 137. But, fays Mr. Robinfon, "What fway authority hat!;5^ !jt) ^he churcLof En§la.adj appeareth in the l- ' ' ' laws 5© HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS laws of the land, which make the government of the church alterable at the magiftrate's plealure ; and fo the clergy, in their fubmifllon to King Henry VIII. do derive, as they pretend, their ecclcfiaftical jurifdidtion from him^ and fo execute ir. Indeed many of the late Bifhops and their proftors, feeing how monftrous the miniftration is of divine things, by an human authority and calling ; and growing bold upon the prefent difpofition of the magiitrate, have difclaimed that former title, and do profeflcdly hold their ecclefiaftical power and jurifdi(5tion de jure divinoj and fo conlequently by God's word unalterable : Of whom I would demand this one queftion: " What if the King fhould difchargc and expel the prefent ecclefiaftical government, and plant in- ftead of it the prefbytery or elderfhip, would they fubmit unto the government of the elders, yea or no ? If yea, then were they traitors to the Lord Jefus, fubmitting to a government overthrowing his go- vernment, as doth the Prefbyterian government that which is Epifcopal : If no, then how could they free themfelves from fuch imputations of difloyalty to Princes, and difturbance of ftates, as wherewith they load us and others oppofing them ? But to the queftion itfelf : " As the kingdom of Chrift is itoi of this world, but fpiritual, and he -^«- fpiritual King, John xviii. 36, fo fnuft the government of this fpiritual kingdom under this fpiritual King needs be fpiritual, and all the laws of it. And as Chrift Jefus hath, by the merits of his priefthood, redeemed as well the body as the foul, i Cor. vi. 20 ; fo is he alfo by the fceptre of his kingdom to rule and reign over both : Unto which chriftian magi- ftrates, as well as meaner perfons, ought to fubmic themfelves, and the more chriftian they are, the more [i6io,] IN NEW. ENGLAND. 31 more meekly to take the yoke of Chrift upon them, and the greater authority they have, the more effec- tually to advance his fceptre over thcmfelves and their pjrople, by all good means. Neither can there be any rcafon given why the merits of faints may not as well be mingled with the merits of Chrifl:, 'for the faving of the church, as the laws of men with his Jaws, for the ruling and guiding of it. He is as abfolute and entire a King as he is a pricft, and his .people muft be as careful to preferve the dignity of the one, as to enjoy the benefit of the other." p. 38. Of Minijlers Maintenance, Mr. Bernard charged his opponents v/ith error, in holding that miniflers ought not to live of tithes^ but of the people's voluntary contribution t, and fays, 7'his is againjl the wifdom of God^ who allowed a Jet- tied maintenance under the law •, and there is Jtothing againjl it in thigoj-pel. But in reply Mr. Robinfon fays, '* As the Lord appointed under the law a fet- tled maintenance by tithes and offerings, fo did he a fettled land of Canaan, which was holy, and a facrament ; fo did he alfo appoint that the Levitts be maintained there, Jkould have no part nor inherit- ance with the reji of the Ifraelites their brethren^ And hath God's wifdom fo appointed now .^^ If it had, I fear many would not reft in it, fo wife arc they for their bellies. And where you add, that there is nothing in the gofpel againfl this ordinance in the law, the author to the Hebrews nvght have taught you, that the law is aboliflied by the gofpel, in the fenfe we fpeak of; and the old teflament by the new, in refpc(5l of ordinances, whereof this was one. If it be faid that tithes were in ufe and given by Abraham to Melchizcdech, priefl of the moft high God, before the law or old tePiament was given by *2 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS byMofes, Ianfwer,that fo was circumcifion'miniftred and facrifices offered before Mofes 5 which notwith- flanding v/ere parts of the old teflament, and affumcd by Mofes into the body of it, and fo are abolifhed by the new. To conclude this point, fince tithes and offerings were appurtenances unto the priefthood, and that ihe prirfibood, both of Melchizedech and Levi) are abolifhed in Chrifl, as the fliadow in the fubflance j and that the Lord bath ordained thai they which preach the go/pel^ Jhould live of the gofpel ; v/e willingly leave unto you both your pricftly or- der and maintenance, contenting ourfelves with the people's voluntary contribution, whether it be lefs or. more, as the bleiling of God upon our labour, the fruit of our miniftry, and declaration of thdr love and duty." p. 439^ 440. In all thefc paflages which begin and end wirh rparks of quotation, I have recited Mr. Robinfon's own exprefiions, without knowingly adding a fingle word. The fpelling I have brought to the prefent times, but the language is entirely h\s •, and it may be queflioned whether any talked a purer one in that day or not, if there does in thisi About the time of his publilhing this book, and fomc following years, *' many came to his church at Leyden from " divers parts of England^ fo that they grew a, *' great congregation j even fo as to have three hun- ** dred communicants*." And as the Arminian controverfy caufed great troubles in Holland, and efpecialjy at Leyden, their two divinity profcflbrs being divided, Epifcopius appearing for^ and Po" Jydore againll the Arminian tenets j Mr. Roblnfon, though he preached thrice a vireek, and went through much other labour, yet went conflantly to hear them both, whereby he got well grounded in the conrroverfyi * Prince's Chrono1o?y--'P]vmootkRepiil5r, fcontroverfy, fo that when Epifcoplus, about the year 1613, fet forth fnndry Arminian thefes at Ley- den, which ne would defend againft all oppofers, Polydore infifted upon Mr. Robinfon''s engaging againft him, telling him, that " Such was the abi- lity and expertnefs of the adverfary, that the truth is in danger to fuffer, if he would not help them 5 is fo importunate as at length he yields ; and when the day comes, he fo defends the truth, and foils the oppofer, as he put him to an apparent itottflus in this great and public audience. The fame he does a fe- cond and a third time, upon the like occafions, which as it caufes many to give praife to God that the truth had fo famous a viftory •, fo it procures Mr. Robinfon much refpe<5t and honor from thofe learned men and others*." Several attempts were made to pknt New-Eng-' land from worldly motives, but they all proved abortive. In 1607 an hundred men were fent over to Sagadahock, with furniture to lay the founda- tion of a great ftate, and all lived through the win- ter but their prefident ; yet the next year, ** The '^^ whole colony breaks upy and returns to England, " and brands the country as over cold and not hahi- ** talk by ottr nation^ and the adventurers give over ^' their defign-f." Other fruitlefs attempts were made for a while, and then were given over. " Sir *' Ferdinando Gorges and Captain Mafon fpenc " twenty thoufand pounds each, in attempts for " fettlement, and each of them thought it advifeable " to give over their defigns, and fit down with the *' lofs. Whether Britain would have had any colo- ** nies in America at this day, if religion had not " been the grand inducement, is doubtful J." F The ^- Princess Chronology, p. '6, 38. f Ibid. p. zi— 2;. \ Malvachufsm Hiilory, vsl. i, p. ■?. 34, pilSTORY OF THE BAPTrsrS The people whofe religious fentiments are dc-^ fcribed above, after long confideration, many earncfl requefts to heaven for direftion and help, and well confulting matters with Englifh friends, at laft de- termined to Gome over to this wildernefs -, and divine providence made them the honored inftruments of laying the foundation of this now flourifhing coun- try. In December, 1617, Mr. Robinfon and Elder Brcwfter wrote to the Council for Virginia, who then had the management of thefe affairs, wherein they fay, " For your encouragement wc will not 'forbear to mention thele inducements, i. We verily believe and truft the Lord is with us ; to whom and whofe fervice we have given ourfelves in many trials, and that he will gracioufly profper our en- deavours according to the fimplicity of our hearts. 2. We are well weaned from the delicate milk of our mother country, and inured to the diffi- culties of a ftrange land. 3. The people are, for the body of them, induftrious and frugal, we think we may fafely fay, as any company of people in the world. 4. We are knit together as a body, in a moft ftrift and facred bond and covenant of the Lord ; of the violation whereof we make great confcience, and by virtue whereof we hold our- felves ftrifUy tied to all care of each other's good, and of the whole. 5. It is not with us as with other m«n ; whom fmall things can difcourage, or fmall difcouragcments caufc to wilh ourfelves at home again *." Herein they were not miftaken, as will foon ap- pear •, for though contentions among the faid Coun- cil, and other things, obftrufled their proceeding till 1620, and they could not then obtain any royal promife of liberty of confcience in this country, only * Prince, p. 51, 52, [i620.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 35 only that the King would connive at them, and not moletlthem if they carried it peaceably, *' Yet, caft- *' ing themfelves on the care of providence, they *' refolve to venture." But as they could not obtain flipping and provifion enough to carry half their company the firit year, Mr. Robinfon was obliged to tarry in Holland with the larger parr, while Mr. William Brewller, their ruling elder, came over with the other. Moft of their brethren c^me with them from Leyden to Delph-Haven, where they fpenc the night in friendly, entertaining and chridian con- verfe. And July 22, the wind being fair, they go aboard, their friends attending them, when '* Mr. '* Robinfon falling down on his knees, and they all " with him, he with watry cheeks commends them •* with moft fervent prayer to God ; and then with " mutual embraces, and many tears, they take their •* leaves, and with aprofperous gale come toSoLuh- *' ampton," in England. July 27, 1620, Mr. Ro- binfon wrote a letter, which was received and read to the company at that place*-, which I think wor- thy of a place here. The letter is as follows : , " Loving chrijiian Friends^ " I DO heartily and In the Lord falute you, as be- ing thofe with whom I am prefent in my bcil affec- tions, and moft earneft longing after you, though I be conftrained for a while to be bodily abfent from you : I fay conftrained j God knowing how willing- ly,, and much rather than otherwife, 1 would have born my part with you in the firft brunt, were I not by.ftrong neceflity held back for the prefent. Make account of me in the mean time as a man divided in myfelf, with great pain (and as natural bonds [^z qfide) having my better part with you •, and although I doubt not, but in your godly wifdoms you both F 2 forefee • Prince, p. 70, 71, U HISTOkY dF THE BAPTISTS forefee and refolve upon that which conceriieth yoo^ prefent flate And (;!ondicion, both feverally and ^ jointly, yet have I thought it but my duty ro add fome further fpur of provocation unto them who run already, if not becaufe you heed it, yet bccaufe I owe it in love and duty. " AN^a firft, as we are daily to renew our repent- ince with our God, efpecially for our fins known, and generally^for our unknown trefpafles -, fo doth the Lord call us in z fingular manner, upon ocean fions of fuch difHcuhy and danger as lieth upon you, to both a narrow fearch and careful reformation in liis fight, left he calling to remembrance our fins forgotten by us, or unrepented of, take advantage againft us, and in judgment leave us to be fwallovv- ed up in one d^iger or other ; whereas, on thb- tohtrary, fin being taken away by earneft repent- ance, and the pardon' thereof from the Lord fealed Ajp to a man's confciencc by his fpirit, great fhall be his fecurity and peace in all dangers, fweet his com- forts in all diftrefTes, with happy deliverance from all evil, whether in life or death, Now next after this heavenly peace with God and our own con- fciences, we are carefully to proviide for peace with ;all men, what in us lieth, efpecially with oUr affociates •, and for that, watchfulnefs muft be had, that we neither at all ourfclves do give, no, nor ea- fily take offence being given by others. PF'o he to the- K^jorld for offences^ for although it be necelTary, con- iidering the malice of Satan and man's corruption, that offsnces come^ yet '^^o unio tke mar:, or ^oman either, l^y whom the offence ccmeiby faith Chrift, Matt. :xviii. '/. And if offences in the unfeafonable ufe of things, in themfelves indifferent, be more to be feared than death itfelf, as the apoftle teacheth, t Cor.i:?. 15, how much siore in things {imply evil, in [i620.] IN NEW -EN GLAND. 37 )n which neither the honor of God nor iove of man is thought worthy to be regarded ? Neither yet i-5 it fufficient that we keep ourleives, by the grace <>£ God, froni giving offences, except >^'ithal we bt armed againft the taking of them, when they ar^ ■given by others •, for how i'mperfeft and lame is th« v^ork of grace in that perfon, who wants charity to tover a'-tnuUHude of cffentes? as the fcfipture fpeaks. Neither are yon to be exhorted ro this grace only cpon the common grounds of chnftiasity, which ai^, that perfons ready to take offence, either wane xharity to cover o(fences, or duly to weigh human ^frailti«s=i or, lafcly, are grofs though clofe hypo- crites, asChrifl our Lord teacheth, Matt. vii. 1 — 3 % as indeed, in my own experience, few or none have lieen found which fooner give offence, than luch as cafily take it ; neither have they ever proved loun-d ^^nd profitable members in focicties, who have now- rifhed this touchy humour. But befides thefe^ ihere are divers motives provoking you above others ta great care and confcience this way, as firft, there ^re many of you ftrangers to the perfons, fo to the infirmitiesof one another, ^nd fo ftand in need of more watchfuJnefs this way, lell whcnTuch things fall out in men and women as you expefted nor> v*you be inordinately affefted with them, -which-duth require at your hands much wifdom and charity for tht covering and preventing of incident offences that -way. And hftly, your intended courfe of civil trommunity will minifter continual occafion of of- fence*, 'and will be 'as fuel for that fire, except you •■diHgehtly' watch it' with brotherly forbearance. And if taking offence caufelefsly or eafily at men's doings be • for feveral yeaTS their affairs were managed in one cofti'- "Won "Ifbek, but t"hey af tcrNjf afd' feun'd the v/ay of 4iftin£l pr6j)ii> tyto be much better. 38 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS be (o carefully to be avoided ; how much more heed is to be taken that we take not offence at God him- felf ? Which yet we certainly do, fo oft as we do murmur at his providences in our crofles, or bear impatiently fuch affliftions wherewith he is pleafed to vifit us. Store up therefore patience againft the evil day ; without which we take offence at the Lord himfelf inhisjuft works. A fourth thing there is carefully to be provided for, viz. that wich your common employments, you join common af- feftions, truly bent upon the general good, avoid- ing as a deadly plague of your both common and fpecial comforts, all retircdnefs of mind for proper advantage ; and all fingularly affefted every manner of way, let every man reprefs in himfelf, and the whole body in each perfon, as fo many rebels againft the common good, all private refpsols of men's f elves, not forting with the general convenience. And as men are careful not to have a new houfefhaken with any violence, before it be well fettled, and the parts firmly knit •, fo be you, I befeech you my brethren, much more careful that the houfe of God, which you are and are to be, be fhaken with unneccffary no- velties, or other oppofitions, at the firft fctthng thereof. " Lastly, whereas you are to become a body politic, ufing amongft yourfelves civil government, and are not furniflied with fpecial eminency above the reft, to be chofen by you into office ot govern- ment, let your wifdom and godlinefs appear, not on- ly in choofmg fuch perfons as do entirely love, and will promote the common good -, but alfo in yield- ing unto them all due honor and obedience in their lawful adminiftrations, not beholding in them the ordinarinefs of their perfons, but God's ordinance for your ^ood ; not being like the fooliih multitude, ' . ' who li6io.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 39 who more honor the gay coat, than either the virtu- ous mind of the man, or the glorious ordinance of the Lord •, but you know better things, and that th« image of the Lord's power and authority, which the magillrate beareth, is honorable, in how mean per- fon loever i and this dwty you may the more wil- lingly, and ought the more confcionably to perform, becaufe you are, at lead for the prefent, to have them for your ordinary governors, which yourfelves fhaU make choice of for that work. Sundry other things of importance 1 could put you in mind of, and ofthofe before mentioned, in more words -, buc I will not fo far wrong your godly minds, as to think you heedlefs of thefc things, there being alfo divers amongfl: you fo well able both to admonidi themfelves and others of what concerncth them. Thefe few things therefore, and the fame in few words, I do earneftly commend to your care and confcience, joining therein with my daily inceflanc prayers unto the Lord, that he who has made the heavens and the earth, and fea, and all ri- vers of water, and whofe providence is over all his works, efpecially over all his dear children for good, would fo guide and guard you in your ways, as in- wardly by his lj)irit., fo outwardly by the hand of his power, as that both you, and we alfo for and with you, may have after matter of praifing his name all the days of your and our lives. Fare you well in him in whom you truft, and in whom I reft, an un- feigned well-wifher to your happy fuccefs in this hopeful voyage, Jouu Robinson*." This excellent letter properly defcribes the fenti- ments, temper and rules of condud: of the chief founders of New- England -, and may the fame be duly regarded to their lateftpofterity ! , By " Morton, p. y—io. !^^ HtStORt CF THE BAPTlStS By Dutch intrigues and other's ill conduft thcj^ \yere hindered long, and at laft forced to come with only one fhip inftead of two, which failed from Plymouth, in England, on September 6, and arriv- ed in Cape-Cod harbour November ii, and at the place which they named Plymouth, in December, 1620. And now compare this company with that of Sa- gadahock. That company, who came upon worldly clefigns, had an hundred men •, this religious fociety confifted of but one hundred and one fouls, men, women, and children -, the one arrived at the place (jefigned for fettlement in Auguft, the other not till winter had fet in t The worldly company only buried their prefident, and all returned the next year to their native country again ; where- as this religious people, in about five months time, buried their governor and full half their number^ ^nd yet with fortitude and patience they kept theif ftation ; yea, though they were afterwards deferted and abufed by fome who had engaged to help them. We cannot now form an adequate idea of what thofc pious planters endured, to prepare the way for what we at this day enjoy. In the year 1623 they fay, *' By the time our corn is planted, our vidluals *' are fpent *, not knowing at night where to have ^^ a bit in the morning, and have neither bread •' nor corn for three or four months together -, ^* yet bear our wants with chearfulnefs, and reft on *' providencj'*." It pleafed God further to try their faith, by fend- ing a great drought ard heat from the third week in May till the middle of July, which caufed their corn to wither as if it were trtdy dead-, and a fhip that they bad long cxpe©e. The root of a compul^ve uniformity was planted 'at a General GouTC in Boilon, M^y i8, 1631, when it was " ordered and agreed, that for the time to *^ corhe, no man fhall be admitted to the freedom " of this B&dy fdUtic^ but fuch as are members of " fome of the churches within the limit* of the ** f^me*." This teft in after times had fuch in- fluence, that he who " did not conform, was de- *' prived of more civil privileges than a Non-con- ** formift is deprived of by the tell in England. *' Both the one and the other muft have occafioned *' rriuch formality and hypocrify. The myfteries *' of our holy religion have been proftituted to mers *' fccukr views and advantages -f," It in any mftances this people caVried their zeal ^d a greater feverity than Epiicopalians have ofteii done, let it be remembered, that the latter hold a power in their church to decree rites and ceremonies^ and fo confequcntly a power to abate or alter the fame as occafion fuits \ but the fathers of the Maf- faehufetts h(^ld the fcriptures to be their unalterable rule, and having formed a plan which thty thought was truly fcripturai. Captain johnfon in 1651 faid, "To ** them It feems unrearonable,ahd to favour too much *' of hypocrify, that any people Ihouldpray unto the '* Lord for the fpeedy accomplifhment of his word *' in the overthrow of Antichrift, and in the mean " time become a, patron to finful opinions and " damnable errors that oppofe the truths of Chrift, '^' admit it be but in the bare permifTion of them J.'* ' Hence it ilppears, that it was this erroneous notion * Prince's Annals, p. 28, 29. f MaiTadiufetts Hiftory, vol. T, p. 431. \ johnfon's Hiftory, p. 206. H cf ^o HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS of iifmg carnal weapons againft what they looked upon falfe opinions, that ought to bear the blame and reproach of thofe perfecutionSj and not their particular religious denomination, nor any of their zeal to promote religion by gofpel means and me- thods. That they were not aware how iinfcripturally they had confounded church and ftate together^ appears from many fa(5ts. They were fo much concerned to keep them diftind, that in 1632 the church of Bofton wrote to the elders and brethren of the churches of Plymouth, Salem, &c. for their advice in three queftions -, i. Whether one perfon might be a civil magillrate and a ruling elder at the jame time ? 2. If not, then which fhould they lay down ? 3. Whether there might be divers paftors in the fame church ? The firit was agreed by all negatively •, the other two doubtful*. In confe- quence of which Mr. Nowel refigned his office of ruling elder, to which he had been ordained in the church, to hold thole of a magiftrate and fecretary in the ftate. Hubbard. On the other hand, Mr, John Doan, having been formerly chofen to the office of deacon in the church of Plymouth, at his and the church's requeft, he was freed from the office of affiilant in the commonwealth f. Again our late Governor fays, *' 1 fuppofe there had been no inftance of a marriage lawfully cele- brated by a layman in England, when they left it. 1 believe there was no inftance of marriage by a clergyman after they arrived, during their charter; but it was always done by a magiftrate, or by per- fons fpecially appointed for that purpofe. It is difficult to aflign a reafon for fo fudden a change J.'* 1 hap- • Prince's Annals, p, 64 f Ibid, p, 92, J MalTachiifetts Hidory, vol. i, p. i ;)<].. [i6s3'l IN NEW-ENGLAND. 51 I happened to obferve a pafTage in Mr. Robinfon \yhich I fuppofe gives us the true reafon of that great change. Mr. Bernard had charged the Sepa- ratifts with an error, which he laid they had given neither reafon nor fcripture for, in holding thafe minijiars may not celebrate marriage^ nor bury the dead.. To which Mr. Robinfon anfvvers, " In our third petition to the King, and the- *' fourth branch of the fixth propofition, there " are almoft twenty feveral fcriptures, and " nine diftinft reafons grounded upon them, to " prove, that the celebration of marriage, and bu- ** rial of the dead, are not ecckfufiical aftions, apper- *' taining to the minijiry^ but civiU and fo to be *' performed. The apoftle teftifieth that i\\Q fcrip- '* /«r^j, being divinely infpired,do mzkt perfe^, and " /«/6' furnijhed^ the man of God, or minifter, ta ** every good work of his calling. Now I fuppofe " Mr. B. will not be fo ill adviled, as to go about " to prove that the celebration of marriage, and " burial of the dead, are duties prefcribed by the " Lord Jefus to be done in the pafl:or*s office, or ** that the fcriptures lay this furniture upon the *' man of God for the proper works of his office* " They are then other fpiritual lords than the Lord ** Chrift, that prefcribe thefe duties to be done by *' their men, furnilhed by other fcriptures than tho ** divine fcriptures, the Bifhop*s fcriptures, their *' canons and conftitutions ; whereby they are ** furnilhed indeed with ring, fervice-book, and " other prieftly implements for the bufinefs*.'' This I fuppofe accounts for that change in our father's cQndu(ft then f though it is likely we are agreed in general now, that as it was an error of ♦ Juftificauon of Separation, p. 438, H 2 Popery p^ HISXOIIY Of THE BAFTlSl^a^ Popery to call marriage a facrament, and to limit its adminiftration to the clergy ; fo on the other hand that it was a miftak-e in thofe fathers to think that the civil ftate migKt not as well appoint mini- sters to celebrate marriages as any other perfons. Th£se and many other things prove that thpfe fathers were earneftly concerned to frame their con- iftitution both in church and ftat-e by divine rule •, and as all allow that nothing teaches like experi- ence, furely they whp arc enabled well to improve the experience of paft age^j mull find it eafier now to difcover the -mift^kes of that day, thwiit was for them to do it then. Even in 1:63.7, when a num- \icr of P-uritan minifters in England, and the famoua Mr. Dod among them, wrote to the minifters here, that it was reported that they had embraced certain lievv opinions, fuch as '-' that a ftinted form of prayer and fet liturgy is unlawful. That tlie cliilr (^ren of godly and approved chriftians are not to be baptized, until their parents be fet members of fom^ particular congregation. That th€ parents them- selves, though of approved piety, are not to be re- ceived to the Lord's (upper until they be admitted fet members," &c. Mr. Hooker exprelTed his fear^s of troublefomc work about anfwering of them*i though, they may appear eafy to the prefcnt gene^ jation. ^ IV^aflach^fetts Hlftory, vol , i , p. 8 1, C H A F. [1^34-} IN NEWrENGI^AND. 5^ CHAP. II. Mx. Roger Williams's Sentinients and his Banifhment, with other Affairs of theMaffachufettSjfrom 1 6 34 to 1644. f MR. Hubbard tells us, th^t "Febrvwy 5, i%i„ *' arrived Mr. William Peirfe ^c N^ntaflie,t.& *' wich him came one M^r. R^Dger Williams, of gOQi^ ^' account in England for ?. godly and 5seaIo,u? *' preacher ; — •.he had been fome years en^ployed <^' in the miniftry in England*,'* iVccordiiigly 1. find Mr. Williams reminding Mr. Cotton of conv^r- fation he had, with him. and. Mr. Hpoker, while they were riding together, *-' to and from Sempringr. " hafn-f." From whence it appear^ that NJt. Williams was acquainted with thofe two famous men, in our n^other country, and the .fabje^ of that converfation fKews that he could not then c^ftiv- form to the national church fo far as they did. Mr. Hubbard feys, *' Immediately after his.^jc-- rival he was called by the church of Salem to join with Mr. Skelton ; but the Governor and Council Ipcing informed thereof, wrote to Mr. Endicot, to defire they w6tild forbear any further proceeding therein, till the faid Council had conferred farther- about it. J, Becaufe he refufed to join with the congregation [i. e. church] of Bofton, becaufe they would not make a public declaration of their r-e- |)fiiicance, for holding communion with tlie church of * It appears by his own account that he was then in ,thc 3<:d y^ar of his age. t Reply CO Cotton o^j,t|jc;BlQ64ylT«pet, p. 12.. ^4 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS of England while they lived there. 2. Becaufe Ii^ declared ic as his opinion, that the civil magiftrate might not puniih any breach of the firft table j. "whereupon they for the prefent forbore proceeding •with him, which occafioned his being called t,Q Plymouth " where. Governor Bradford fays, "He was freely entertained, according to our poor ability, and exercifcd his gifts among us ; and after fome time was admitted a member of the church, and Ms teaching well approved j for the benefit whereof I f^ill blefs God, and am thankful to him even for his fliarpeft admonitions and reproofs, fo far as they agreed with truth*." As the two points which were fo offenfive to the rulers at Bofton, were the founciation caufe of their after-proceedings againfl: Mr, Williams, and nearly afFe6t the hiftory of our country to this day, they demand our clofe attention. The Governor and Company of the MafTachufetts colony held commu- nion with the national church, and refle<5led upoa their brethren who feparated from her, while in their native ifland, and on their departure from it, they from on board their chief fhip wrote to thofg who were left behind, April 7, 1 630, in thefe wordsf : Reverend Fathers and Brethren^ *' Howsoever your charity may have met with " fome occafion oi difcouragement, through the *^ mifreprefentation of our intentions •, — yet we de- *' fire you would be pleafed to take notice ot the *' principles and body of our company, as thofe " who efteem it our honor to call the church of ** England, from whence we rife, our dear mother^ y and cannot part from our native country, where " fhe • Prince, p. 4S. f Which were printed in London a few days afcer. rieal's Hiftoryof New- England, vol. i, p. 147. [1^340 ^N NEW-ENGLAND. 5^ ** fhe fpecially refideth, without much fadnefs of ** heart, and many tears in our eyes -, ever acknow- ^' ledging that fuch hope and part as we liave *' obtained in the common falvation, we have re- " ceived in her bofom, and fucked it from her breads : " We leave it not therefore, as loathing that milk " wherewith we were nourifhed there, but blefling " God for the parentage and education, as members ** oi the fame hody, fhall always rejoice in her good. Joseph Winthrop, Governor". Charles Fines, George Philips, Richard Saltonstall, Isaac Johnson, Thomas Dudley, William Coddington," &c.* Now as lEpifcopalians, down to this day, try to improve this addrefs, as an evidence that New- England was firll planted by members of their church (though the foregoing hiftory Ihews that it was not lb) we may fafely conclude that the ruling party in the nation did not negleft the advantage hereby given to ftrengthen themfelves then in their "way, which was fo corrupt^ that when the Arch- biftiop of Canterbury a little after commenced a profccution againft Mr. Cotton, the Karl of Dorfet interceded for him, till he found matters were got to fuch a pafs that he fent Mr. Cotton word, " That " if he had been guilty of drwikennefs or unckannefiy *' or any fuch lejfdr faulty he could have obtained ** his pardon ; but inafmuch as he had been guilty " of Nonconformity and Puritanifm, the crime was " unpardonable •, and therefore, faid he, you muft " fly for your fafety f .'* And can we wonder that Mr. * Maflachufetts Hiftory, vol. J, p. 487—489. t Magnalia, b. 3, p. 13. p HISTORY OF tm BA^TlStS Mr. Williams, who CitAt cvtf ihicye^t^^tet the afarefaid a'ddrefs waS" made, fhould nQt Irfdline to jdifi in ^limvfhip vrirh the ailthors of* it, without fome honeil r(*tra(f{:ion ! Yet he tVas not fo rigid but that he did hold ocdafioHal communion at the Lord's tablt in the church of Plymouth, with Governor Winthl'op, and his minifter j Mt. Wilfoh, of Bdfbn, 0(?tob-er 18, 1632^.'* Mr. Williams pi'eiached At Plynlouth between two and three years,^ and then difcerning in a lead- ing part of the church a difagreement with Ibme of his fentiments, ai^d being invited to Salem, he re- quefted a difftiilTion there, and though a number v/ere unwilling for it, yet elder Brewfter prevailed with the church to grant his re4ueft, fearing, he faid, " That he would run the famecourfe of rigid fepa- fatiOn arid Anahaptijlr^^ which Mr. John Smith at Amftefdam had done*. Such as did adhere to him were alfo difmiffed, and removed with him, or not long after him;, to Salehif :" The court again v;rotc to Salem againft Mr. Wiiliims, but could not pre- vent his being called to office there ; and we are told that, ** in one year's time he filled that place with ** principles of rigid reparation, and tending to Ana- '*' haptiJmX •" ^01* which they afterwards banilhed tilm ; though as it was a confufed piece of work for them thus to deal with him, (0 their hiftorians have given the world a very confufed account about it. Morton, Hubbard, Dn Cotton Mather, and others* have § Prince's Annals, p. 70. * Mr. Smith's church fepT'rited from ttie church of England with Mr. Robinfdn's, and removed a Ihtlc before him into Hol- land. After Mr Smith's death a number of his church return- ed, and promoted the Baptift's caufe in London. Crofby's Hiftory, vol. I, p. 26?. t Morton, p 86, 87. % Morton— Hubbard* i:i634-} i^ NEW- ENGLAND. 5J have let his baniihment in 1634, yet all agree that he was not ordained till after Mr. Skclton's death, which was in Augull that year; and they tell us o£ a twelvemonth's labour with him and his church af- ter his ordination, before his baniflimentj neither do they give us a better account of the true caufes of that fentence, than they do of the date of it. I have taken much pains to colleft as exaft an account of this affair as poflible, and have fucceeded be- yond my expedation. The dates I find to be as follow : Governor Winthrop and his Council firft v/rote to Saleiil againft Mr. Williams, April 12, 1631*, which occafioned his going to Plymouth. His firft child was born there the firft week in Auguft, 1633-f-, and Mr. Cotton, who arrived at Bofton the fourth of September foUov/ing, fays he had removed into the Bay before his arrival J. Mr. Skeiton died Auguft 2, i634§, and we fhall find proof enough that' Mr. Wiliianis was hot banifhed till above a year afterward ; fo that inftead of fuch hafty pro- ceedings at Salem as his opponents would reprefent, he preached there more than a year before he was Ordainedj and as long after it. As to the caufes of his fentence, Mr. Morton has given us five articles, Mr. Hubbard fix •, Mr. Wil- liams has reduced them to four, but Mr. Cotton is hot willing to let them ftand as he ftated them, but tells us that, " two things there were, which *' (to my beft obfervation and remembrance) caufed *' the fentence of his banifhmcnt •, and two others *' fell in that haltened it. " I. His violent and tumultuous carriage againfl *' the patent. * Prince, p. 26. f Providence Records. t Tenet walhed, part 2d, p. 4. § Marnalia, b. 3, p. 76. I »* Br ^8 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS " By the patent it is, that we received allowance '* from the King to depart his kingdom, and to carry '* our goods wjth us, without offence to his officers, *' and without paying cuftom to himfelf. By the pa- *' tent, certain feledl men, as magiftratesand freemen, " have power to make laws, and the magiftrates to *' execute juftice andjudgmentamongft the people, ** according to fuch laws. By the patent we jiave •' power to trtdfuch a government of the church *, as " is moft agreeable to the word, to the eftate of *' the people, and to the gaining of natives, in God's " time, firft to civility, and then tochriftianity. *' This patent Mr. Williams publicly and ve- '* hemently preached againft, as containing matter *' of falfhood, and injuftice: Falihood, in making *' the King the firft chriftian Prince who had dif- *' covered thefe parts •, and injuftice, in giving the *' country to his Englilh fubjetfls which belonged *' to the native Indians -f." Let it be here noted, that we have no proof that Mr. Williams ever preached or objected againft the whole patent, or charter, without diftindtion, much lefs not againft that part of it which confti- tuted them a civil government. His own account of this matter informs us, that the fin of the patents which lay fo heavy on his mind was, that therein *' chriftian Kings (fo called) are inverted with a ** right, by virtue of their chrifiianity, to take and *' give away the lands and countries of other men," And he tells us that this evil fo deeply affiiofed his fouU that, " before his troubles and banifliment, he " drew up a letter, not without the approbation of " fome of the chief of New-England, then tender *' alfo upon this point before God, direcfled unto *' the King himfelf, humbly acknowledging the " evil f This eUttfc « not trutfi. | Tenctwaflied, p. 27* [1634.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 59 ** evil of THAT PART of the patent which refpcfls *' the donation of lands ^ &c.*" What grounds Mr. Williams and others had for this concern will plainly appear by what follows ; for in the faid patent from Charles the firft, he re- cites that which was given by his father, King James the firll, dated November 3, 1620, -wherein he " gave and granted unto the Council eftablifhed! " at Plymouth, in the county of Devon, all that ** part of America lying and being in breadth from " 40 degrees of northerly latitude from the '* equinoxial line to 48 degrees of the faid northerly •* latitude inclufively, and in length of and within *' all the breadth aforefaid throughout the main *' land from fea to fea, together alfo with all the " firm lands, foils, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, ** waters, fifliing, mines and minerals — jurifdic- ♦* tions, privileges, franchifes, and preheminences, " both within the faid trgdl of land upon the main, •* and alfo within the iflands and leas adjoining. **^ Provided always, that the faid iflands, or any of " the premifes by the faid letters patent intended ** and meant to be granted, were not then aftually " poflfefled or inhabited by any other cbrijiian *** Prince or ftate — To have and to hold, pofTels '* and enjoy, all and fingular the aforefaid continent " lands, and every part and parcel thereof, unto ** the faid Council, and their heirs and affigns for ** ever — To be holden of our faid moft dear and •' royal father, his heirs and fucceflbrs, as of his ** MANOR of Eaft-Greenwich, in the county of ** Kent.** Then King Charles went on to name the MafTachufetts Company, and to defcribe the limits of their colony through the main lands of America, and granted it to them in the fame manner, • Reply to Cottoaon the Bloody Tenet, p. 276, 277, * la ^^ ta io HISTORY 0* THE BAPTISTS "f' to be hoJden of us, our heirs and fucceffors, Ai ^" of OUR manor of Eaft-Grcenwich*," &c. ■ Can any man claim a fuller property in any land in the world, than here was affumcd over this vaft tra<5t of America ! And though the mei\ who had taken this patent banifhed Mr. Williams put of it, yet before we have done we may fee this very principle which he abhorred turned back into their own bofoms, and made ufe of by a tyran- jiical party to give them a fevere fcourging, after their patent was vacated. The other foundation caufe of Mr. Wiliiatns's jbanifhment Mr. Cotton gives in thefe words : " 2. The magiRrates, and other members of thie V General Court, upon intelligence of fome Epifco- *' pal and malignant pradlices againft the country, *' made an order of Court to take trial of the fide- V lity of the people, not by impofing upoa them, *' but by offering to them, an oath of fidelity ; that ^* in cafe any fhould refufe to take it, they mighc »' not betruft them with place of public chirg'd ^' and command, Tf'^'s oath when it came abroad *' he vehemently withftood, and diffuaded fundry <' fror^ it, partly becaufe it was, as he faid, Chrrft*s *^ prerogative to have his office eftablifhed by oath j 5' partly becaufe an oath was, part of God's worfhipj y a,nd God's worfhip was not to be put upon car- ** nal perfons, as he conceived many of the people <' to be. So the Court was forced to defift fron^ y that proceeding-f-."" This cafe thus ftatcd carries a fad face with it, but one acquainted with the hiflory of the coun- try would be ready to doubt whether it was truly ftated or not-, for every freeman had taken an oath oi * MafTachufetts Hiftory, vol. 3, p. I— ;|, + Tfc"-^ vi;^lhedj p. 28, 25, [16^4] i^ NEW-ENGLAND. 6i of fidelity to the government before thattime^ and if there was no intent of impojiff^ but only of offering this new oath» could they not find men enough for officers that would take it? Indeed when I come td find how the truth of this matter was, by the colo- ny records, and to think that Mr. Cotton hadthent iit his door when he wrote, I am the mod fhocked about him by this publication of his againft Mr, "Wiiltams, of any thing I ever met with cOnc-erning him. Upon the colony records, when the Gene- ral AlTembly met at Bolton, May 14-i 1634, I find thefe words, viz. " It was agreed and ordered^ that the formef oatii of freemen fhall be revoked, fo far as it is difibnant from the oath of freemen here underwritten, and that thofe that received the former oath fhall ftand bound no further thereby to any intent or purpbfe than this new oath tyes thofe that take the fame." The Oath of a Freeman. *' I A. B. beiqg by God's providencJe ah inhabi- tant and freemkn within thejurifdidion of this com- jmonweal, do freely acknowledge niyfelf to be fub- je6t to the government thereof, and therefore do here fwear, by the great and dreadful name of the ever-living God, that I will be true and faithful to 'the fame, and will accordingly yield affiftance and fupport tliereunto with my perfon and eftate as in equity I am bound,, and I will alfo truly endeavour .to maintain and preferve all the liberties and pri- vileges thereof, fubmitting myfelf to the wholefome laws and orders made and eftablifiicd by the fame. And further^ that I will not plot nor pra6life any evil againft it, nor confent to any that fhall fo do, but will truly difcover and reveal the fame to lawful authority now here eftabliflied, for the fpeedy pre- Y?nting thereof. Moreover I do folemnly bind my- • - . ^^^^ 62 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS felf in the fight of God, that when I (hall be called to give my voice, touching any fuch matter of this (late, wherein freemen are to deal, I will give my vote and fufFrage, as I (hall judge in mine own confcience may beft conduce and tervd to the public weal of the body, without refpeft of perfons ©r favour of any man ; lb help me God in the Lord Jefus Chrift." This oath was framed and taken before they pro- ceeded to elecHiion at the time abovefaid. When trhe A(rembly met again at Newtown, now Cam- bridge, March 4, 1635, they enacted, " that every man of or above the age of fixteen years, who hath been or (hall berefident within this jurifdidion, by the fpace of fix months (as well fervants as others) and not infranchifed, (hall take the oath of refidents, before the Governor, Deputy-Governor, or two of the next A(nftants, who (hall have power to convent him for that purpofe, and upon his refulal to bind him over to the next Court of Aflillants, and lipon his refufal the fecond time, to be punilhed at he difcretion of the Court. " It is ordered, that the freeman's oath (hall be given to every man of or above the age of fixteea years, the claufe for election of magiftrates only excepted *." Now let the candid reader judge, I. Who was the beft friend to charter-rights ? The Ma(rachufetts Company were limited, in three di(Ferent paffages of their patent, not to make any laws contrary to the laws of England ; yet one pro- feded defign of this new oath, was to guard again(t Epifcopal praflices, to e(fe(5t which they left out the claufe in their former oath, which bound them to fubmit to *' all fuch laws, orders, fentences and *' decrees, • MaiTachufctts Records. [1655.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 63 ** decrees, as Ihould be lawfully made and publifh- " ed by them •>" and inftcad of it obliged men to fwear to fubmit " to the whokfome laws and or- *' ders made and eftablilhed by the fame." And though Mr. Cotton afferts that they did not impofe but only offer this new oath, yet the colony records are exprefs, thac every man who rcfided within thcijf jurifdi^tion fix months, fervants as well as others, muft fwear to obey all their wholefome laws and orders, or be puniihed at their difcretion ; yea, and alfo fwear to reveal any plot that ihey fhould know of againft fuch government, *' to lawful authority *' now here ejlahlijhed :" That is, not to complain to any but themfelves. 2. FROM^Wtience came the power that prefumed to abfolvc fkemfclves and others from their each, to keep to aafs lawfully made, and to fubftitutc the ■word wholefome in the room of it ? Let the learned Cotton Mather anfwer the queftion. Say:? he, *' the reforming churches, fiyjng from Rome, car- *' ricd fome of them more, lome of them lefs, all " of them fomething, of Rome with them-, efpc- " cially in that fpirit of impofJicn and perfecuticn^ *' which has too much cleaved unto them all *.'* That fpirit of impofition and perfecution ran fo high in England at the time we are upon, that King Charles the£rft gave a commilFion, April 28, 1634, to Archbilhop Laud, and ten courtiers more §, fome of then.1 known Papilts, committing to any five of them " power of protefticn and government, as *' well over the Englilli colonies already planted, " as * Hisfon Dr. Samuel Mather's Apology for the Churches of New-England, Appendix, p. 149. § Lord Coventry, the Archbifiiop of York, the Earls of Portland, Manchefter, Arundel, and Dorfet, Lord Cottington, Sir Thomas Edmunds, and the Secretaries Cook and Winde- bank. $>^ HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS' ".as over all fuch other colonies, which by any g{ !' our people of England hereafter ihall be dc- " diiced into any other like parts whaifoever, and ** power to make laws^ ordinances and conftitutionsj *' concerning either the ftate public of the faid ,^*. colonies, or utility of private perfons and their ** lands, goods, debts and fuccefilon, within the " precincls of the fame, and for ordering and di- .*' rc6ting of them, in their demeanors towards fo- *' reign Princes and their people, and likev/ifd *' towards us and our fubjefts, as well within any ^' foreign parts whatfoever beyond the feas, as du- *' ringtlieir voyages, or upon the feas, to and front " the fame. And for relief and fupport of the f' clergy, and the rule and cure of the fouls of our *' people living in thofe parc5^ and for configning *' of convenient maintenance unto them by tythes^ *' oblations and other profits accruing, according " ti/ your good di/cretion, with the advice of tw43 " or three of our Bifhaps, whom you fhali think '' fit to call unto your confultations, touching the " diftribution of fuch maintenance unto the clergy^ " and all other matters ecclcfiafticalj and to inflifl *' punifhment on all offenders or violators of con- " ftitutions and ordinances, either by imprifonments *' or other reftraints, or by lofs of life or membsrsi "' according as the quality of the offence (hall rc- *' quire ; with power alfo, our royal alTcflt being firft *' had and obtained, to remove all Governors and *' Prefidents of the faid colonies^ upon juft caufc " appearing, from their feveral places, and to ap- *' point others in their (lead — and power alfo to ** ordain temporal judges and civil magiftrates to *' determine civil caufes, with fuch powers, in fuch *' a form, as to you or any five of you fhall feem ** expedient j ^nd alfo to ordain judges, magifl rates " and ** and officers for and cbncerning courts ecde-^ ** fiaftical, with luch power and fuch a formi as tb ** you or any five or more of yon, with the advice •* of the Bifhops fuffragan to the Archbifhop of *' Canterbury for the time being, fhall be held meet.' •* Giving, moreover, and granting tojou, that if ie *' fhall appear, that if any officer or Governor of the ** fold colonies fliall linjuftly wrong one another,' *' or fhall not fupprefs all rebels to USj ot" fuch aa " fhall not obey our commands, that then it fhall ** be lawful, upon advice with ourfelf firfl: had^ " for the caufes aforcfaidi or upon any other jufb ** realbn, to remand and caufe the offender to return *' into England, or into any other place, according ** as in your good difcreliojfS you fliall think juft ** .and neceffary. And we do furtherhiore give ** unto yoUi or any five or more of yoli, letters ** patent and other writings whatfoevfer, of us of' " of our royal predecefTors granted^ for or Concern- *' ing the planting of any colonies, in any countries^' *■' provinces, iflands or territories whatfoever beyond *' the feas ; and if upon view thereof, the fame fhall *' appear to youj or any five or more of you, tc* " have been furrcptitioufly and unduly obtained^ ** or that any privileges or libetties therein granted " be hurtful to us, our crown or prerogative royalj " or to any foreign Princes, to caufe the fame to be *' revoked, and to do all other things;, which fliall " be necefTary for the whokfome government and " prote6lion of the faid colonies^ and our p'eoplfi *' therein abiding*." Thus the words difcretion and ivhotefome were brought in to violate charters and all public faith, and to fee up tyranny over the colonies -, but Mr. Edward Winflow beinc; fent over ascnt for the * MaffiichHfetts Hiftory, vol. i , p. 502—1^06, K. cotintrys 66 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS country, by his indefatigable endeavours, and the influence of fome great men, prevented the taking place of this arbitrary commiflion •, upon which Laud turned his refentment againfl him, and got him imprifoned feventeen weeks in the Fleet prifon, in London, for having fometimes taught publicly in the church of Plymouth, and for marrying peo- ple, which Laud called " aflliming the minilterial " office*." Had the Maflachufetts fathers only taken lawful and prudent methods to guard againft fuch Epif- copal and malignant praftices as thefe, they would have been juftified, and applauded by pofterity ; but now we mourn to think that they brought fo much of the fame diitemper into this country with them as they did. The fame court that pafled the aft to oblige all to take the above oath, or be punifhed at their dif- cretion, alfo pafled the following, viz. " This court doth intreat of the brethren and elders of every church within this jurifdiat a letter and meflenger was fent from Plymouth to let him know there was not J^ooM for him in that place, becaufe witrhin their* patent. Ihhis a lamentation^ and Jhcdl be fvr a la- mentation ! Mr. Williams*s own teftimony, upon a particular occafion at Providence twenty- Ave years after, I think deferves notice here. Says he, *' I TE3TIFV and declare in the holy prefence^f God, that when at my firft coming into thefe parts 1 obtained the lands of Secunk of Ofamaquin, the then chief Sachem on that fide, the Governor of Plymouth, Mr. Window, wrote to me, in the name of their government, their claim of Secunk to be in their jurifdi6lion, as alfo their advice to remove but over the river unto this fide, where now by God's merciful providence we are, and then I fhould be out [i6s6.] m NEW-ENGLAND. ^3 out of their claim, and be as free as themfelves, and loving neighbours together*. After I had obtained this place, now called Providence, of Canonicus and Myantinomy, the chief Nanhigganfet Sachems de- ceafed, Ofamaquin (the Sachem aforefaid, alfo de- ceafed) laid his claim to this place alfo. This forced me to repair to the Nanhigganfet Sachems aforefaid, who declared, that Ofamaquin was their fubjc(ft, and had folemnly, himfelf in perfon, with ten men. fubjeded himfelf and his lands unto them at the Nanhigganfet, only now he feemed to revolt from his loyalty, under the fhelter of the Englifh at Ply- mouth-f-. This I declared from the Nanhigganfec Sachems to Ofamaquin, who without any ftick ac- knowledged to be true, that he had fo fubjeded c^ the Nanhigganfet Sachems had affirmed ; but with- al he affirmed that he was not fubdued by war, which, himfelf and his father had maintained againft the Nanhigganfets ; but God, faid he, fubdued us by a plague, which fwept away my people, and forced me to yield. This convicftion and confeffion of his^ together with gratuities to himfelf, brethren and followers, made him often profefs, that he was pleafed that I fhould here be his neighbour, and the rather becaufe he and I had been great friends at Plymouth ; and alfo becaufe his and my friends at Plymouth advifed him to be at peace and friend- fhip with me -, and he hoped that our children after us would be good friends together. And whereas * Thk by the way Ihews a great difference between the temper t)f Plymouth and Maffachafetts rulers, and which we A /hall yet fee more of. The chief Sachem's names are very dif- ferently fpelt in the different writings I have met with. t This perfeftly agrees with the account we have of Mafaffoit or Ofamaquin's league he made with Plymouth people the fprip.g after their iirft coming, and of the Narraganfet's threat* niags on that account. Pri/rce^s Chronclo^, p. 102, 1 16. L there 74 HISTORY of jhe BAPTISTS there hath been often fpeech of Providence falling in Plymouth jurifdiftion by virtue of Ofamaquin's claim i I add unto the teftimonies abovefafd, that the Governor, Mr. Bradford deceafed, and other of their magiflrates, declared unto me, both by confer- ence and Ariting, that they and their government were fatisfied, and rcfolvcd never to moleft Pro- vidence, nor to claim beyond Secunk, but to continue loving friends and neighbours •'(among the barbarians) together. This is the true fum and fubftance of many paflages between our coun- trymen of Plymouth andOfamaquin, and me. Roger Willij^msV* The above date of Mr. Williams's removal is confirmed by Mr. Window's being then Governor of PFymouth j for 1636 was the oi.ly year that he fuftained that office between'1633 and 1644: And as ic appeared by Plymouth records that he en- tered on his government the firft ©f March that year, we may coftcludc that Mr. Williams fled to Secunk in the depth ^of winter, and removed with a few friends over the river in the fpring-f. And here let us admire the wifdom that governs the world. " As Jofeph was fold by his envious bre- thren, with intent to get him out of their way, yet divine providence over-ruled this cruel a6lion quice othervvire than they intended, and made it the means of their future prefervation •, fo the harfh treatment and * Copied from the original. In his own hand writing, dated *' Proyidense, 13, 10, !66i^" (focallcd.) f It is faid that he, with Thomas Angell, a hired fervant, and fome others, went over in a canoe, and were faluted- by the Indians near the lower ferry, by the word nxihatcbeere ? 1. c. how do yoa do" ? which gave name to a field, which Mr. Williams f(^ld many years after, and in the deed fays he fatisfied the owner for it, and planted it, " at my firft coming with mine own hands." They went round till they got to a pleafant ipring above the^reat bridge, where they landed j and near to which^^both he and Angell lived to old age. [1636.] IN NEW-'EN GLAND. ^s and cruel exile of Mr. Williams feem defigncd by his brethren for the fame- evil end, but was, by the goodneffi of the fame over-ruling hand, turned to the moft beneficent purpofes J." Just at this jundure the Pequods, a pov/erful Indian tribe, who lived upon the lands where are now the towns of Groton and Stonington, v/ere forming plots againft the Englifli colonies, even the very year that thofe of Connecticut and Providence began, and when Bofton was but fix years old ; and as a veflel was fent by the government from thence, under the command of John Oldham, to trade with the natives at Block-Ifland, about fourteen Indians boarded the vefiel, and murdered him ; but as John Gallop happened to come upon them, in his return from Connefticut river, they leaped into the fea, where fome were drowned, and others reached the fhore. The firft news of this fad cyent that they received was from Mr. Williams's pen, by two In- dians who went with Oldham, and one from Co- nanicus, a Narraganfct Sachem, who arrived at Boflon July 26, 1636. Governor Vane wrote back to Mr. Williams, to let the Narraganfets know that they cxpe(?led them to fend home two boys who were with Oldham, and to take revenge upon' the ifianders. Four days after the boys came home with one of Miantinomy's men, with another letter from Mr. Williams, informing that faid Sachem had caufed the Sachem of Niantick to fend to Block-Ifland for them, and that he had near a hun- dred fathom of peag^ and much other goods of Oldl^m's, which fhould be referved for them, and that three of the feven Indians who were drowned were Sachems*. Auguft 26 came a third letter from Mr. Williams, and Governor Windirop fays, J Hiftory of Providence. * Hubbard. . K 2 *' In j6 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS *' In thefe Indian troubles Mr. Williams was af- *' fiduous to influence the Narraganfets in favour *' of the Engliih, and to keep them from joining .** with the Pequods*.'* Sept. '* Canonicus fent word of fome Engliih ** whom the Pequods had killed at Say brook, and Mr. ** Williams wrote that the Pequods and Narragan- ** fcts were at truce, and that Minatonomoh told ^' him that the Pequods had laboured to perfuade ** them that the Englifh were minded to deftroy ** all the Indians. Whereupon we fent for Mino- ** tonomoh to come to us." Accordingly he and two of Canonicus's fons and another Sachem, and near twenty of their men whom they call Sannups, came to Bofton Oftober 21, where the Governor called together all the magiftrates and minifters : And next day a firm league was figned between them. ** But becaufe they could not make them *' well underftand the articles, they told them they *' would fend a copy of them to Mr. Williams, who *< could belt interpret the fame to them. So after *' dinner they took leave-f." What would the Maflachufetts have now done, if Mr. Williams had been fent to England, as they intended the winter before ! Let us now review their religious ftate. In Oc- tober, i^^r^^ arrived Mr. Thomas Shepard and Hugh Peters, two minifters, who were much improved afterward ; alfo Mr. afterward Sir Hen- ry Vane, the latter of whom was admitted a rnember of Bofton church November i y. At the General Affcmbly held March 3, 1636, "Order- ed, that all perlons are to take notice that this Court doth not, nor will hereafter, approve of any fuch • Hubbard's jQurnal. f Wiflthrop.*— Hubbaril, II Wir.ihrop, [1636.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 77 fuch companies of men, as fhall henceforth join in any pretended way of church fellowfhip, without they Ihall firfl acquaint the magiftrates and the ciders ot the greater part of the churches in this jurildidion with their intentions, and have their approbation herein. And further it is ordered, that no pedon being a member of any church which Ihall hereafter be gathered without the approbation of the magiftrates and the greater part of the faid churches, Ihall be admitted to the freedom of this commonwealth*.'* At the cledion at Bofton, May 25, Mr. Vane was chofcn Governor, and Mr. Winthrop Deputy- Governor; and a (landing Council was formed of three men ; " The reafon was, for that it was fhcw- *' ed from the word of God, &c. that the principal " magiftrates ought to be for life." Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Dudley were chofen for life, and Governor Vane to be their Prefidenff. The next year Mr. Er.dicot was chofcn for life in Vane'^ room. This Council • Maffachufetts Records. f Winchrop's Jaurnal. Mr. Cotton wrote this year to Lord Say and Seal^ and fays, " God hath fo framed the ftate of *' church goverr.menc and ordinances, that they may be com- " patible to any commonweahh, though never fo' much difor- •* dered in its frame. But yet when a commonwealth hath ** liberty to mould its own frame, I conceive the fcripture hath *' given fu'l dircdion for the right ordering of the fame, and •• that in fuch fort us may bell maintain the euexia [well being} •• of the church. Mr Hooker doth often quote a faying out cf *'JWr. arrvvi'ght; that no man falhioneth his houfe to his ** hi; agings, but his hangings to his houfe. It is better that ** nfuu»ns. — Purity preferved in the fhurch, will pre- " ii:T\e w^li oruered liberty in the people, and both of them ♦' ellabliih well balanced authority in the magiftrates." Maf- fich ji'ettb Hiiicry, vol. I. p 497, 500. His great miftake hef«- in Will looii appear. yg HISTORY of the BAPTISTS Council foon fouftd work to do, one Article of which here follows. I'd the Cmjiahk of Salem. ** Whereas we are credibly informed that divers pcrforis (both men and women) within your town, they accounted it as bad as necromancy in minifters of Chrift te perform it.'* Johnf6>t''s Hijlory^ p. 67 — 99. t Winthfdp— Hubbard. X Gorton's Glafs fer New-Eagland, p. \q^ 20 ; who fays, in Ais, Wheelwright " bore teftimony to the light ;" and the words ab«v« he fays he tranfcribed out of Mr. Wheelwright's manufcript. M xtl Si HISTOR.Y OF THE BAPTISTS red from court to court till fall, when he was banifh- cd. Contention arole to a great height. Stephen Greenfmith, for laying " that all the minifters ex- cept A.B C. did teach a covenant of works, was cenfured to acknowledge his fault in every church, and fined 40 1.*'* At the General Court, May 17, 1637, after a hot difpute they proceeded to eleftion, when Mr. Vane and his friends were left out§-, and a law was made, ** that no town or perfon fhall receive any llranger reforting hither with intent to refide in this jurifdidion, nor iliall allow any lot or habi- tation to any above three weeks, except fuch per- ions (hall have allowance under fomc one of thecoun- cil, or of two other of the magiflrates their hands, uponvpain that every town that fliall give or fell any lot or habitation to any fuch not fo allowed (hall forfeit 100 1. for every offence; and every perfon receiving any fuch* for longer time than is here cxprefled, or than fhall be allowed in fome fpecial cafe — Ihall forfeit for every offence 40 1. and for every month after fuch perfon fhall there continue 2ol.t" Mr. Cotton was for a while fo much dilTatisfied with this law, that he had thoughts of removing out of that jufifdiftion J. Governor Winthrop wrote a defence of it, in which he does not deny but that a principal defign of that law was to keep away per- fons of Mr. Wheelwright's opinions, and fays, " If ** we find his opinions fuch as will caufe divifions, *' and make people look at their magiflrates, mi- " nifters, and brethren, as enemies to Chrift, an- " tichrifls, dec. were it not fm and unfaithfulnefs ." in * winthrop. § He failed for England the 3d of Auguft following, f Maflachufetts Records. X Maflachufetts HiHory, vol. i , p. 63. [1637] IN NEW-ENGLAND. b^ " in us, to receive more of their opinions, which " we already find the evil fruit of? Nay, why do '' not thofe who now complain join with us in keep- *' ing out fuch, as^well as formerly they did in ex- ** pelling Mr. Williams for the like, though lefs " dangerous ?" Where this change of their judg- " ments fliould arife I leave to themfelvcs to " examine*." Ah ! kfs dangerous, fur* enough 1 for Mr. Williams was banifhcd for holding that the magiftrates fword ought not to be brought in to decide religious controverlies j but Wheel- wright would have turned that fword again fl; the rulers, minifters and people, that he judged to be under a covenant of works, and fo enemies to grace. Mr. Wheclv/right was brother in-law to Mrs." Anne Hutchinfon, who had been a principal inftru- ment of the divifion in the country about grace and works. We are told that fhe brought thefe two errors out of England with her, viz. *' i. That the per- " fon of the Holy Ghoft dwells in ajiiftified perfon. •' 2. That no fandliiication can help to evidence our " juftificationf." A fynod of minifters and mcf- fcngers from all parts of the country met at New- town, the 30th of Auguft, and fpent three weeks in debates upon thefe controverfies, and drew up and condemned fourfcore errors. The General Court adjourned to attend on their debates, and after their rcfult was figned by all the fettled minifters except Mr. Cotton, who alfo appeared to incline toward the majority ; they met Sept. 26, when " Mr. Whcel- " Wright appearing, was difmiffed ihitil he Ihould ,*' be fcnt for by the court or courts which fhall • Maffachufctts Hlftoryi vol. 3, p. 71. t Wiiishrop's Journal, L 2 ** fucceed. 84 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS <' fucceed. This prefent court is difiblved, nntil a ,<* new one be called, and to be kept at Newtown*.'* Here opens fomething that I never heard of till I found it upon the colony records, It was cuftomr liry to eleft their deputies twice a year, namely, in the fpring and fall ; but to choofe them twice in one fall was an unprecedented aft, of which I believe no parallel can be found from the foundation of the country to this day. It feems that a major vote of thofe deputies, to execute the decrees of the late iynod, could not be obtained, therefore the houfc was diiTolved, and a new one convened on Novem- bcr 2, 1637 J to whom a remonflrance againft thofc forrrjer proceedings was prefented, figned by above iijcty men •, of whom William Afpinwall, who drew it, and John Coggfhall were members of the Aflem- "bly J but for which they were now excluded, and an grder was fent for Bofton to choofe two other de- puties, Alfo, " John Oliver, juftifying the fedi^ tious libel called a remonftrance or petition, was ^^ifchargcd from being a deputy in this court-f.'* ,The court then proceeded to pafs the following fentences, ♦ MaflXchufetts Records, f Maflachufetts Records — WInthrop. The remaining mem- "bars of the AfTembly were Governor Winthiop, DeputyGo- vernor Dudley, John Endicot, John Humfrey, Richard Belling- ham, Roger Harlakenden, Ifrael Stoughton, Simon Bradftreet, ^nd Increafe Nqwel, Afllltante, and 31 deputies. The houfe that was diilblved in September had 26 deputies, of whom but; 3 I were in this new houfe, Mr. Atherton Hough was one who "WAS left 9m, though he was a aagillrate two years before. John «no/j ; but I cannot join '* with you, becaufe I would not be under t\\Q Lord Brethren.''* Magnalia He went and fettled fix miles fouth of Mr. Wiliianns, near what is now called Whipple's Bridge, in Cumberland ; where he lived to old age, and ufed at times Jo preach at Provi- dence, and ocher places adjacent, and left behind him the cha- racter of a godly and pious man, though his family is extlnft. He planted an orchard near where he lived, which we are told is the firft that ever bore fruit in Rhode-Iiland colony ; and 140 year: aftW; many of the trees continued to be thrifty j;n4 fruitful* $6 HISTORY OF THE BAPTIST^ cd with their pofterity, and hereupon was baniflied ; and the mean while was committed to Mr. Jofeph Weld, until the court Ihall difpofe of her." Captain Underhill, and two fcrjeants, were jput from office and disfranchifed, one of the ferjeants being alfo fined 40 1. the other 20 1. Four men more were disfranchifed for having their hands to faid petition, one of whom was William Dyer, af- terward the firft fecretary of Rhode-Ifland colony. Ten men retraced their figning that remonftrance, and were forgiven. Then upon the 20th of No- vember the court pafTcd the following fentence : ". Whereas the opinions and revelations of Mr. Wheelwright and Mrs. Hutchinfon have feduced and led into dangerous errors many of the people of New-England, infomuch as there is juft caufe of fufpicion that they, as others in Germany in former times, may upon fame revelation make fudden irruption upon thofe that differ from them in judg- ment j for prevention whereof it is ordered that ail thofe whofe names are underwritten (upon warning given at their dwelling-houfes) before the 30th day of this month of November, deliver in at Mr. Keayne's houfe, at Bofton, all fuch guns, piftols, fwords, powder, fliot and march, as they fhall be owners of, or have in their cuftody, upon pain of lol. for every default to be made thereof-, which arms are to be kept by Mr. Keayne till this court Ihall take further order therein. Alfo it is ordered, upon like penalty of 10 1. that no man who is to ren- der his arms by this order, fhall buy or borrow any guns.fwords, piftols, pov/der,fhot or match, until this court fhall take further order therein." Seventy- fix men are named as being difarmed by this fen- tence, only if any of them would acknowledge anci not juflify faid petition before two magiftrates, they fliould [1637.] i^ NEW-ENGLAND. 87 Ihould then be free from it §. Of thefc men 58 be- longed to Bofton, 5 to Roxbury, 2 to Charleitown, 6 to Salem, 2 tolpfwich, and 3 to Newbury, of whom Richard Dummer, of Newbury, had been aa AlTiftant, and Mr. Hutchinfon, Underhil), Afpin- wall, Cogglhall and Oliver, of Bofton, Robert Moulton, of Salem, and others, had been deputies. Directly upon the foregoing aft the Afiembly added the following, viz. " The court being kn- fible of great diforders growing in this common- wealth, through the contempts which have been of late put upon the civil authority, and intending to provide remedy for the fame in time, doth order and decree, that whofoevcr fhall hereafter openly or willingly defame any court of juftice, or the fentence or proceedings of the fame, or any of the magiftrates or other judges of any fuch court, in refped of any aft or fentence therein paffed, and being thereof lawfully convi6led in any general court or courts of Afliftants, (hall be punifhed for the fame, by fine, imprifonment or banifhment, as the quality and meafure of the offence fhall deferve. — Provided al- ways, that feeing the befl judges may err through ignorance or mifmformation— -it is not the intent of this court to reftrain the free ufe of the way of God, by petition," &c. A COMPLAINT being made at the fame time that fomc minifters were not well maintained, the cdurt fcnt out a requcft, " That the feveral churches will " fpeedily enquire hcreinto, and if need be t© con- " fer together about it, and fend fome to- advife " with this court at the next fefTion thereof, that *' fome order may be taken according to the rule of " the ^ MafTachufettt Records. Tt appears that the court hai mu;h dif&:uhf afterward with Keayne abcut ihefc armn. 88 HISTORY OF TME BAPTISTS •' the gofpel*." The efFecls of thefe proceedings we fhall Ibon fee \ though by the way it is proper to ^ obferve, that as Mr. Williams had been inflrumen- tal of procuring the Narraganfets help againft the Pequods, the feveral colonies fent oyt their forces againft thenij and Governor Winthrop fays, May 24, *' By letters from Mr. Williams we were no- tified, thatCapti Mafon was gone to Saybrook with 80 Englifli and 100 Indians/' &c. fo that he waS conftantly engaged for their good ^ the army was fuccefsful, the Pequods were fubdued, and I find a propofal of a day of thankfgiving for the foldiers return, at the General Court, Auguft i. But at the fame time they fay *' Mr. John Greene, of New-Providence, having fpoken againft the magi- ftrates contemptuoufly, ftands bound over in lod marks to appear at the next quarter court." AC that court he was fined 20I. and committed till it was paid •, though upon a fubmiflive petition to the General Court, Sept. 26, he was releafedf. Hs with others had reforted to Mr. Williams's planta- tion, to which there was a great addition the next fpring, as well as « new one begun at Rhode-Iftand, of which take. the following account: Mr. John Clarke, a learned phyficiatl, who I find was admitted a freeman at Bofton May 6, 3635, as his brother Jofeph had been the March before, feeing how things were turned at the court in November, 1637, he made a propofal to his friends, i6r peace fake ^ ^iud to enjoy the freedom of their confciences^ to remove out of that iurifdi(5l:ion. The motion was accepted, and he (being then a gentleman in his 29th year) was requefted with fome others to look out for a place ; they did fo, and • MafTachufetts Records, t Ibid. [1638.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 89 Bind by reafon of the heat of the preceding fummer, they ftrft went northerly into that v/hich is now the province of New-Hamp(hire ; but the coldnefs of the following winter made them incline to turn the other way. " So having fought the Lord for dire(flion, they agreed that while their vefiel was pafling about Cape-Cod they would crofs over by- land, having Long-Ifland and Delaware bay in their eye, for the place of their refidence. At Providence Mr. Williams lovingly (entertained them, and being confulted about their dcfign, readily prefented two places before them ; Sowams, now called Barringcon, and Aquecneck, now Rhode- Ifland. They being determined to go out of the other jurifdibert Cole, John Greene,. John Throckmorton, William Harris, William Carpenter, Thomas Ol- ney, Francis Wefton, Richard Waterman, Ezekiel Holliman, and fiich others as the major part of us Ihall admit into the fame fellowfhip of vote with ■us : As alfo I do freely make and pafs over equal . right and power of enjoying and difpofing of the lands and grounds reaching from the aforefaid rivers unto the great river Pautuxett, with the grafs and meadows thereupon, which was fo lately given and granted by the aforefaid fachems to me ; witnefs my hand, Roger Williams*.'* Those (fo called)." The aiFair of procuring the charter we ihall hear more of anon. • Fro'videnet Records. It feems the firft deed of this tenure was loft, therefore this was drawn as exaftly as could be remembered in 1666. Of the above men, OIney, Wefton, Weftcoat, Water- man and Holliman, did not depart the MafTachufetts colony till April 1638. Majfachufitts Records. They, with Throckmorton, casne from Salem. MaJJachufetts Hijiory,\o\. I, p. 42 1, and uiordi aforefaid. Wefton haU been a deputy in court. [1638.] iM NEW-ENGLAND. 93 Those who were thus received figned the fol- lowing covenant, viz. " We wliofe names are here underwritten being " defirous to inhabit in the town of Providence, do " promife to fubmit ourfelves in aflive or pafnve ** obedience to all fuch orders or agreeoients as " Ihall be made for public good of the body in an *' orderly way, by the major confent of the pre- " fent inhabitants, mafters of families, incorporated '" together into a townfhip, and fuch others whom " they fhall admit unto the fame, only in crcH " things." By the records, compared with a more ample and full deed of Mr. Williams's to the town, executed December 20, 1661, which is entered there, it ap- pears that he generoufly gave the aforefaid twelve men their intereft in the town freely, and the thirty pounds were paid by the next who were admitted, at the rate of thirty fhillings a man, the names of vvhonl were Chad Brown, William Field, Thomas Harn?, William Wickenden, Robert Williams, Richard Scott, William Renolds, John Field, John Warner, Thomas Angell, Benedict Arnold, Jofhua Winfor, Thomas Hopkins, Francis Weeks,'* &c*. In the laft mentioned deed, after referring to the former ones, and exprcfling that the fachcms deed was two years after his firft purchafe, he more fully explains the nature and motives of thofe tranfa(5tions. Says he, *' notwithftanding I had the frequent promife " of * Of thefe I find Williams (brother to Mr. Roger) among tVie Maffachufetts freemen, but no more of their names upon thofe records. Perhaps mod of them might have newly arrived; for Governor Winthrop aflures us that not lefs than 3000 arrived this year in 20 ihips ; and Mr. Hubbard tells us that thofe who inclined to the Baptift's principles went ,to Providence ; others went to Newport. Seven of the firft twelve, with Angel], I fup- pofc began the fettlcmcnt with Mr. Williams in 1636. 54 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS " of Miantinomu, my kind friend, that it fhould " not be land that I fhould want about thofe bounds '* mencibntrd, provided that I fatisfied the Indians " there iniiabiting, I having made covenant of " peaceable neighbourhood with all the fachcms " ^ni naeivcs round about us, and having, in a " {tn^ii oi God's, merciful providence unto me in my *' dijlrefi, called the place Providence, I delired " it might be for a Jhdter for perfons dijlrfffed for •* confcience •, / then confider.ing the condition of divers •' of my countrymen^ I communicated my faid pur- *• chafe unto my loving friends John Throckmorton, *' and others, who then defued to take fhelter •' here with me. And whereas by God's merciful *' afiiilance I was the procurer of the purchafe, ^* not by monies nor payment, the natives being " fo fhy and jealous that monies could not do it, *' out by that language, acquaintance and favour •' with the natives, and other advantages which it ** pleafed God to give me ; and alfo bore the ** charges and venture of all the gratuities which *' I gave to the great fachems, and other fachems ** and natives round about us, and lay engaged for ^' a loving and peaceable neighbourhood wi'h them, ** to my great charge and travel j it was therefore <* thought fit that I (h^uld receive fome confidera- ** tion and gratuity." Thus, after mentioning the faid thirty pounds, and faying, ^* this fum I *• received -, and in love to my friends, and with *< refpeEl to a town and place of fuccour for the di- ** fireffed as nforefaid, I do acknov^'legc this faid fum •' and payment a full fatisfa<5tiofi ;" he went on ia full and ftrong terms to confirm thofe lands tp faid inhabitants ; referving no more to himfelf and his heirs than an equal lliare with the reft j his wife alfo figning the deed. 'I TIWST [i63».] IN NEW-ENGLAND. gs I Trust the reader will cifcule the lt.)y;tH. oF thiis account, when he tonfidcrs that thele weiC the foun- dations of a now flour ifhing colony-, which wa's h\d upon fuch principles as no other civil goveriinietvt ever had been, as we know of, fitl^c Aniichnli'S firft appearance ; " and Roger WfLL'iAMs juftly " claims the honor of havii^g been the firft logiilitor •' in the word, in its latter ages, th t tuliy. and ef- *' fedlually provided for and eftabliih Lamentable cafe indeed ! that no inhabitant oi that infant plantation, who were not able to fend out fhipping themfelves, *^^ght go into the colony, where many of the neccffarie'- as well as comforts of life were only to be obtained by them ; bat they muft either be expofed to diffembic, or to fufFer impri- fonment, if not worfe ; for how could they honertiy declare that {iie MalTachulitHs did not «fnrp a power over men^s eonfde aces ! 96 HISTORY OF the BAPTISTS .breach of covenant, or reftraining liberty of con- fcicnce, Hiall be withheld from the liberty of voting till he fh all declare the contrary/' It appears from Mr. Hubbard, that the way in which ht rcftrained that liberty was, in not letting his wife go to Mr. Williams's meeting fo often as ihe was called for, Verin foon removed to Barbados, and left his in- tereft in Providence in fuch a Itate as has caufed much trouble fince. We will now turn to the affairs of Khode-IQand people, who on March 7, 1638, figned the follow- ing inllrument : " We whofe names are under- writ- ten do fwear folemnly, in the prefence of Jehovah, to incorporate ourfelves into a body politic, and as he fhall help us, will fubmit our perfons, lives and eftates, unto our Lord Jefus Chrift, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and to all thofe moft perftd: and abfolute laws of his, given us in his ho- ly word of truth, to be ^ided and judged thereby. Thomas Savage^ JVill am Coddingtoriy William Dyre^ Jo>-n Clarke, IVilli'^-m Freeberney William Hutchinfortt Philip Sherman, John Coggjhall, John IValkery PFilliam Afpinwally Richard Carder, Samuel Wilbore^ William Bauljiojie, John Porter, Edward HutchinfoUi fen. Edward Huichinfon, jun. Henry Bull, John Sanford\\:\ Randal Holden^ This II Colony Rit»rJi, Of thefe WilHsra Hutchinron died on the ifland ; tbe other Hutchinfons, Afpinwall and Savage, went back, got reconciled, and were promoted in the MaflachHrett* colonf afterward. Near all the others were confiderablf pro- moted afterward in Rh' df Ifland colony, and havi pofleritf liill remainiog ihrrein. All but two of the above nineteen mev fvere difarmed by the femence of November 20, 1637. and f?hicli two were Ms^ieuri Coddington and Holdcfi. And Mef- £eura [1638.] iM NEW-ENGLAND. 97 This was doubtlefs in their view a better plan than any of the others had laid, as they were to be governed by the perfeft laws of Chrift. But the qucftion is, how a civil polity could be fo governed, when he never created any fuch ftate under the gof- pel ? As much as they had been againft the legal covenant, yet they now went back to the firfl: order of government after Ifrael came into Canaan, and to imitate it chofe Mr. Coddington their judge, and Mr. Nicholas Eafton, J. Coggfhall, and William Brcnton, elders to afTift him. This form continu- ed, till on March 12, 1640, they altered it, and chofe Mr. Coddington Governor, Mr. Brenton Deputy-Governor, and Meflieurs Eafton, Cogg- fhall, William Hutchinfon, and John Porter, AlTift- ants, Robert JefFerics Treafurcr, and William Dyre Secretary j which form continued till they re- ceived a charter. fieurs Coddington, Cogglhall, Baulflon, E. Hutchinfon, Wil* bore. Porter, Bull, Sherman, Freeborn and Carder, were all excluded or driven out of the Maffachufetts colony by an aft of their Aflembly, on March iz, 1638, in thefe words, viz. •* Whereas you have defired and obtained licence 10 remove yourfelves and your families out of this jurifdiftion, and for that information hath been given to the court, that your intent is only to wiciidraw yourfelves for a feafoh, that you may avoid the cenfure of the court, for Tome things that may be ob» je6led againft you j the c®urt doth therefore fignify unto yoa that you may depart according to the licence given you, fo as your families be removed before the next General Court. But if your families be not fo removed, then you arc to appear at the next court, to abide the further order of the court herein." Mr. Nicholas Eafton, of Newbury, who went to Newport, and Mef- fieurs Francis Wcllon, Richard Waterman, Thomas Olney, and Stukely Wellcoat, of Salem, who went to Providence, were alfo included in this fentence. Bcfide thefe there were William Lytherland, Robert Hardin-g, John Briggs, George Bardcn, John Odlin, Richard Wayte, and others that were difarmedat Bofton, who removed into this colony, and have lift a rcJpedtfal i-omembrance therein. ' O Bur ^8 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS But before we proceed further upon their affairs, it may be proper to oblcrve, that the Affcmbly, who met at Boiton, September 6, 1638, made the two following laws. 1. " Whereas it is found by fad experience, that divers perfons, who have been juftly caft out of fame of the churches, do profanely contemn the fame facred and dreadful ordinance, by prefenting themfelves over-boldly in other affemblies, and fpeaking lightly of their cenfu.- 3, to the great of- fence and grief of God's people, and encourage- ment of evil-minded perfons to contemn the faid ordinance -, it is therefore ordered, that whofoever fliall ftand excommunicated for the fpace of fix months, without labouring what in him or her licth to be reftored, fuch perfon Ihall be pfelented to the Court of Afiiftants, and there proceeded with by fine, imprifonment, banilhmcnt, or further, for the good behaviour, as their contempt and obftinacy upon full hearing fhall deferve." 2. " The court taking into confideration the nccelTity of an equal contribution to all common charges in towns, and obferving that the chief occa- fion of the defeat herein arifeth hence, that many who are not freemen, nor members of any church, do take advantage thereby to withdraw their help, in fuch voluntary contributions as are in ufe -, it is therefore hereby declared, that every inhabitant in any town is liable to contribute to all charges both in church and commonwealth whereof he doth or may receive benefit ; and withal it is alfo ordered, that every fuch inhabitant who fhall not voluntarily contribute proportionably to his ability with other freemen of the fame towoi, to all common cnarges, as well for upholding the ordinances in the churches at otherwifc, (hali be compelled thereto by afTefT- ment [iSsZ.'] IN NEW. ENGLAND. 99 nnent and diftrefs, to be levied by the conftable or other officer of the town, as in other cafes f." Here, my dear countrymen, let us make a little Jiaufe. Not long fince, in the prefence of a num- ber of gentlemen, mention was made of the former perfecutions in New- England, upon which one of their legiflators arofe and faid, " it is monflrous cru- elty and injuftice, thus to rake up the afhes of our good fathers, and to reproach their children there- with, when we never think of thole tranfadiions with- out grief and abhorrence !" If fo, why are thofe deeds imitated by our prefent rulers ? And why do the people love to have it fo ? Certainly the lupport of good order and government in the church is of greater importance than minifters maintenance; and to vindicate the methods then taken to fupport the former of thefe, Mr. Cotton brought that plain text, thou jhalt furely kill him^ becauje he hath fought to thruji thee away fnm the Lord thy God ; and, faid he^ " this reafon is of moral, that is, of univerfal *' and perpetual equity [1." But I never heard any man fay fo of that other text, thou Jhalt give it me nozv^ and if not, I will take it by force, which is the molt like the pracftice of many in this generation of any thing that I could ever find in our bible. Go- vernor Winthrop informs us, that the next May after the above laws were pafTed, Mr. Cotton, in preaching from Heb. viii. 8, taught *' that when '* magiftrates are forced to proceed for the main- '* tenance of minifters, &c. then the churches are •' in a declining ftate. Here he fhewcd that the " minifters maintenance fhould be by voluntary con- " tribution" But the law to impower their execu- tive court to punifk excommunicates, for difregard- ing the churches authority, was repealed the next O 2 fall, t MaiTachufetts Records. 1! Bloody Tenet waflied, p. 67. 'loo HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS fall, while that to maintain minifters by afieiTment and diftrefs was continued in full force •, and their pradice upon it in Watertown moved Nathaniel Brifcoe to write a book againft it, the confequencc of which was, that he was brought before the quar- ter court at Boflon, March 7, 1643, ^"^ fined ten founds ; and " John Stowers, for reading of divers ** offenfive pafTagcs (before company) out of a " bock, againft the officers and church of Water- *' town, and for making difturbance there, was ** fined forty Ihillings." This fcverity brought Brifcoe to a public acknowledgment, and then his fine was remitted to forty fhiilings, " and that to be ** taken §." The minifters thus left it to the (ecular arm to convince him, and faid, " his arguments *' were not worth the anfwering ; for he that fhall *' deny the exerting of the civil power, to provide •' for the comfortable fubfiftence of them that preach *' the gofpel, fufie potitis erudiendus, quam argumento^ *' as they fay of them that are wont, negare principia, ** let him that is taught communicate to him that teach" •' eth in all good things f ; that is, he that fhall deny fuch an exertion of power, is rather to be taught by a cudgel than argument^ as they fay of them who are wont to deny firji principles. But let us take heed that we arc not impofed upon, by a confounding of two things together, which are as diftinft in their nature as light and darknefs are, namely duty itfelf, and the right way of enforcing of it. The duty of off^ering daily or continual thankfgivings to our great creator, and of a liberal communication to Chrift*s minifters and members, are both czWed facrijices to Cody in Heb. xiii. and why do our rulers negled to cnforee the daily exercife of family worfhip, by the fame 4 Manachufctts Records. f Hubbard-^MaffaghufcUJ Hiilory, vol. i, p. 427* [1638.] IN NEW-ENGLAND, joi fame fword as they do minifters maintenance ? Is not God's honor of greater concernment than men's livings are ! A college was founded thi& year in Newtown, which for that reafon was called Cam- bridge •, and the importance of receiving learning at that or like places, to qualify men for the miniftry, has been much infilled upon ever fmce ; and thofe who have not been educated at fuch places have commonly been called laymen. And among the many refieftions that have been caft upon them, one is, that they often beg the queftion in argument. But who are guilty of this mean fort of conduft now ? The queftion between us is not, whether it be the duty of thofe who are taught to communicate unto their teachers or not ; but it is, whether that duty ought to be enforced by the fword, or only by in- ftruftion, perfuafion and good example ? And what have learned minifters ever done towards proving their fide of the queftion better than begging ! The great events of this year have taken up con- fiderable room, yet I muft requeft a place for a few articles more, that will afFeft the following part of our kiftory J, On t Mr. Hanfard KRolIyi etme over in the fpriag of this yeir, who was ordained by theBifhop of Peterborough Jun^zp, 1629; but he fayi, *< about the year 1636 I wat profecuted in the high CommifTton court, by virtue of a warrant, wherewith I was ap« prehended in Boflon (in Lincoln/hire) and kept a prifooer is the man's houfe who (erved the warrant upon me : Bat God helped me to convince him, and he was fo greatly terrified in his confcience, that he fet open his doors, and let roc go away; but before I went, I tarried fo long ia Loadon, wailing for « pa/Tage, that when I went aboard I had but juft fix brafi farthing* left, and sio filver nor gold, only my wife had five p«uads that I knew not of, which (he gave me when we came there. By th« way my little child died with convulfion fits, our beer and water itanki gur bi&et wju moulded asd rott9i>, tni our checfe al^"* fa 102 HISTORY or the BAPTISTS On June 5 Uncas, the fachem of the Mohegan Indians, " having entertained lome of the Pequods, came to the Governor at Bofton with a prcfent, and was much dejedted becaufe at firft it was not accepted -, but afterward, the Governor and Coun- cil being fatisfied about his innocency, they accept- ed it ; whereupon he promifed to lubmit to the or- ders of the Englifh, both touching the Pequods he had received, and as concerning the differences be- tween the Narraganfets and himlelf ; and confirmed all with this compliment-, laying his hand upon his heart, fo that we fufFered much hardfttip, being twelve weeks in our pafTige ; but God was gracious to us, and led us fafe ih'ovgli the great deeps ; ard ere ne went on {he re came one ard enquir- ed /or me, and told me a friead that «va» gone from Bofloa to Rhode-Ifland had left me hii houfe to fojourn in, and to which we went, and two families more with us, who went fuddanly to iheir friends and other relations in the coantrj ; and I beieg ve- 17 poor, was neceffitated to wcrk daily with my hoe, for the fpace of almoil three viecks. The magiftrates were told by the niniftcri that I was an Antia ^miaa, and defued they would nat fuffer me to abid^^ in (heir pateii. Bi)t ithin the time limited by their law in that cafe, two ftrangers coming to Boflon from Fifcataqua, hearing o( me by mere ace dent, got me to go with ihem tJ that plantation, and preach there, where I remained about four year*, and thca being fent for back tu England, bjr my aged father, I returned witb my wite at d one child, about three years old, and {he great with another. We came fafe to London on the 24th of December, 164.1 in which year the maf- facre in Ireland brcke forch, ai d t e nez' Tear wars brake forth in England, between King and Parliament." Acteunt ef bit eivm lifi. He embraced the Baptitl principles, gathered a church of that perfrtafjrin in London, a^-d ufcd feldom to have lefs than a thoufand auditors. He baptized Mr. Hecry JciTey, an emineot xniniiler in thst city, and others ; fuffered much for religioa, continued p?{lor of 'hat church till he died in London, Septem- ber 19, 1 69 1, aged 93« Crojhj. And though he wai reproached ji& an Antinomiaa, yet l^r, Mather fays he had " a rcfpcdful •< chara^erin the churches of this wilderaef*-" MagnaliOt b. 3, p. 7. After his return to Ergland, '< he fufFercd deeply in 1.1^ ** caufe of nonconformity, beirg uaiverfally efteemed and bdov- i' ed by all hii brethren." ^ca/, vqI* i^ p. 216. [163S.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 103 heart, he faid, this heart is not mincy but yours ; / isjid never believe any Indian againjl^ the Englijh any more -, and lb he continued ever atter. — tineas was alive and well in the year 1680*. Mr. Cotton had entertained a favourable opinion of Mrs. Hutchinfon, and when (lie was upon exa- mination before the court that banilhed her, he was afkcd what he thought of her revelation concerning her deliverance ? He replied, " if fhe doth look for for deliverance from the hand of God by his provi- dence, and the revelation be in a word, or according to a word, I cannot deny it." Upon which Mr. En- dicot faid, " you give me fatisfadlion." " No, no, (faid Mr. Dudley) he gives me none at all — You weary me, and do not fatisfy me." Mr. Nowcl. faid, " I think it is a devililh dclufion." And Go- vernor Winthrop faid, " of all the revelations that ever I heard of, I never heard the like ground laid as is for this. The enthufiafts and Anabaptijis had never the like." Mr. Dudley added, " I never faw fuch revelations as thefc among Anabaptijis^ therefore am forry that Mr. Cotton fhould ftand to juftify hcrj" and he and others of the court would have brought him upon trial alio, but the Governor pre- vented it -{-. i After a year's confidcration, Mr. Cotton, at a pi^blicfaft, December 13, 1638, " did confefs and i bewail, • WinthroP'—'HuhharJ. Mr. Hubbard dates his coming i« July, but I follow the Governor who adted in the affair. Un- cas's head quarters w^re about eight miles above the mcuth of New-London river, on the weft fide of it ; and though they, as well as other Indians, are greatly diminilhed, yet a confiderable fcody of that tribe remain there to this day. In 1741 a remark* »ble work of God was wrought among them ; a church of Chriftian Indians was afterward gathered, and continaeS there, manf of whom give great evidence of true pietjr. Mr. Samfcn Occum is of that tribe. t Maflachufetts Hiftorj, vol. 2,p. 514, 515. i©4 iilSTORY OF the BAPTISTS bewail, as the churches, fo his own fecurity and crc-* dulity, whereupon fo many and dangerous errois had gotte-n up, and fpread in the churches, and went over all the particulars, and Ihewed how he came to be deceived ; the errors being formed, in words, fo near the truth he had preached, and the falihood of the maintainers of them was fuch, as they ufuaily would deny to him what they had de- livered to others. He acknowledged that fuch as had been feducers of others (inftancing in fome of thofe of Rhode-Ifland, though he named them not) had been juftly banifiied •, yet he faid fuch as only had been mifled, and others who had done any thing out of a mifguidcd confcience (not being grofly evil) Ihould be born withal, and firft referred to the church, and if that could not heal them, they Ihould rather be imprifonedor fined than banilhed, it being likely that no other church would receive them.— If he were not convinced, yet he was perfuadeid to an amicable compliance with the other minifters, by a ftudious abftaining on his part from all expreflions that were like to be ofFenfive -, for although it was thought he did ftill retain his own fenfe, and enjoy his own apprehenfion, In all or moft of the things then controverted (as is manifcft by fome expref* fions of his in a trcatife of the new covenant, fince publifhed by Mr. Thomas Allen, of Norwich) yet was there an healing of the breach that had been between him and the reft of the elders, and a putting a ftop to the courfe of errors in the country for the future. By that means did that reverend and worthy minifter of the gofpel recover his former fplendor throughout the country of New^England J.'* This % Winthrtp'-HuhbarJ. Roger Harlakcnden, one of the ma- giftrajfs^ died av Cambridge, Novcwber 17, ;his >«»r, Winthrot, Neir [i6^9-] iN NEW-ENGLANt). lo^ This year, upon an occurrence. Governor Win- chrop wrote to Mr. Clarke at Aquetneck, and (tiled him, " a phyfician and a preacher to tliolc of thac' " ifland." We are now come to an event which has mado much noifc in the world, I mtan Mr. Williams's baptifm. The reader may remember that he was charged with advancing principles at Plymouth that tended to Anabaprifm, and that he filled Salem therewith ; and could he have found an agreeable adminiftrator, it is not likely that he would have negle<5led the putting of this principle into praifticc fo long as he did. Ac length, being in fuch a ftate of exile in a heathen land, it is probable he conclud- ed that the cafe about baptifm, which Mr. Robinlon recites, was applicable to tl.cirs, which is in thele words : " Zanchy, upon the fifth to theEphefians, treat- ** ing of baptifm, propounds a quedion of a Turk ** coming to the knowledge of Chrift, and to faith, ** by reading the new-teftament, and withal teaching ** his family, and converting it and others to Chrift -, ** and being in a country whence lie cannot eafily ** come to Chriftian churches, whether he may ** baptize them, whom he hath converted to Chriit,- *' he himfelf being unbaptizcd ? He anlwers, I ** doubt not of it but that he may, and withal pro- ** vide, that he himfelf be baptized of one of thtt *' three converted by him. The reaion he gives ** is, becaufe he is a miniftcr of the word extraordi- ** narily ftirrcd up of Chnit : And fo as fuch a Near tbe fame time a church was gathered at Exeter, on Pifca- taqua river, and foon after Mr. Wheelwright, at his and their rcquelt, was difmiifed with others to it, fr«m the church of Bofton, and beca^ne their miniftcr. Hubiard. Thefe fadts help to diftovcr the fpirrt of thofe timesi, 1"* " minifter io6 HISTORY of tke BAPTISTS ** miniftcr may, with the confent of that fmall " church, appoint one of the communicanti, and •' provide that he be baptized by him*.'* Mr. Williams took fuch a method, with only this difference, that one of the community was firft ap- pointed to baptize him, and then he baptized the reft ; for Mr. Hubbard, fays he, " was baptized by •* one Holliman, then Mr. Williams rebaptized him, *' and fome ten more." With this Governor Win- throp agrees, and fets the date of it in March, 16^9. The Governor called Holliman a poor man, and Hubbard ftiles him a mean fellow ; but after the year 1650 I find him more than once a deputy from the town of Warwick in their General Court. The above gentlemen reprefent that Mrs. Hutchinfon*! fifter, the wife of one Scott, ftirred Mr. Williams up to this a(5bion ; though afterward Mr. Hubbard does not pretend to certainty as to that, and fays it wai difficult for one to give an exadt account ef their religious affairs in that colony, that did not live among them i and it is certain that he and the Go- vernor were both miflaken in calling " thofe of Providence all Anahaptijis" For it appears from under Mr. Williams's own hand, fcventeen years after, that Arnold and Carpenter, two of the firfl twelve, were not fuch J; neither have I met with any proof that Gorton, Wcfton or Waterman, who went to Warwick, were ever of that denomi- nation f. Before • Rob!nfofi*s tnfwer toBernird, p. 422. J Maflachufctts Hiflory, vol, 3, p. 277. t This Baptift church at Providence appearj to be the fecond di(lin£l fociety of that denomination in all the Briiiih erfipire. There had been many of them intermixed with other focieties from their firft coming out of Popery, but their firft diftiaum, and obtained a deed of it, figned by Mian- tinomu, Pomham, and others, on Jan. 12, 1643. John Greene had received a deed of an ifland, neck of land and meadoWj called OcupaflTutuxet-covCj dated Odober i, 1642, figned by Miantinorpu and SocononcoJ. The General Court at Bofton, May 10, 1643, appointed Mr. Athcrton and Tomlyns, with Wil- liam -f Hubbard— Maflachnfetts Records. X Gorton's Defence — Callender— Calony Records. , The .144 fathom of peag it is faid was computed at ^ol. 165. fterling. MalTachHfetts Miftory, vol. i/p. 118, ti543J ^N NEW-ENGLAND, Hf iiam Arnold to fpeak with Mr. Greene, Warnef') and their company. On June 22, through Benedid Arnold's influence and affidance, Pumham, Sachfiii of Shawomet, and Sacanocho, Sachem of Pawtuxer^' figned at Bofton a fubmiffion of their peribns and lands to that government j and Arnold was allowed 4I. for his pains §. Governor Winthrop tells us -that they had 2 or 300 men linder them. Thd plea for this aftion wa"?, that Gorton's company and Miantinomu had opprelTcd thefc Sachems, and wrong- ed them of their lands. Fumham faid he was forced to fign the deed, but v/ould take none of the pay. The Governor, with another magiftrate, wrote rd Shawomet people about it j and alfo to Miantino- mu, and he came down and met faid Sachems ac Bofton, where they were forced to confefs that they had lometimes fent him prefents, and had aided him in his wars againft the Pequods ; yet they and Ar-i nold would have it, that they were as free Sachems as he waSj becaufe their people paid tribute to them. So the court received them (as is before noted) tinder their protedion; We are told that be- fore this, Gorton and his company had fent a writing of four flieets, " full of reproaches againll thd " magiftrates, minillcrs and churches, and (luffed *' likewife with abfurJ familillial ftuff, and wherciii ** they juftified the purchafc of the Sachems lands, " and profefTed to maintain it to thedeatli*." Miantiiiomu Rad already fcen Uncas^ a warlike Sachem to the weft of him, putting himfelfand his people under the protedlion of the Englifli ; and § MafaclJufetti Rrccrds. The colonies 6f MafHichuTetts, Ply- mouch, Connefticat and Kew- Haven, by their commifTionei-s, figned articles of csnfcderarion togeiher for mutual aJuflance and defence on ^iay 19, 1643, from whence tliey were cali';4 th^ u'.iitcd colonics, ** Haisbard, R H 1122 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS he was accufcd of hiring a young Pcquod to murder tJncas, but he brought the young man with him, who told the court that Uncas cut his own arm witha flint, and then charged him to report that Mian- tinomu had hired him to murder him. But upon private examination, the court were perfuaded ihie young man was guilty, and advifed Miantinomu to fend him to Uncas j but inftead of doing it, he cut off his head by the way, as he returned home*. What followed till his own death, we hsLve recorded by Governor Winthrop, in a more diftincft and clear light than has ever been publifhed, I lliall tliercforc give it to the reader in his own words. Auguft. *' Onkus being provoked by Sequaflion, a Sachem of Connedllcut (who would not be perfuad- ed by the magiftrates there to a reconciliation) made war upon him, and flew divers of his men, and burnt up his wigwams •, whereupon Msantinomu, bein.g his kinfman, took offence againft Onkus, and went with near one thoufand men, and let upon Onkus before he could be provided for defence; for he had not then with him above three or four hundred men. But it pleafed God to give Onkus the vidory, after he had killed about thirty of the Narragan- fets, and wounded many more : And among thcle, two of Canonicus's fons and a brother of Mian- tinomu, who fied •, for having on a coat of mail ■\-^ he was eafily overtaken, which two of his captains perceiving, they laid hold of him and carried him to Onkus, hoping thereby to procure their own par- don. But fo foon as they came to Onkus he flew them prefently ; and Miantinomu (landing mute, he demanded of him, v^^hy he would not fpeak ? If you had taken me (faith he) I would have befought you • Johnfon, p. 182— 1S4. f JohnfaB calls it a Corjlj^ and both he and Habbard fav he had « of Gortoa. - I [1645.] IN NEW -ENGL AND. 125 you for my life, &c. The news of Miantinomu'* captivity coming to, Providence, Gorton and his company wrote a letter to Onkus, willing him to ckJiver their friend Miantinomu, and thrcatned hini with the power- of the Engliih if he refufed. Upon this Onkus carries Miantinomu to Hartford to take advice of the magiftrates there -, and, at Miantino- mu's earned entreaty, he left him with them, yet as a prifoner. They kept him under guard, but uled him very courteoully. So he continued till the commif- fioners of the united colonies met at Bofton f, who taking into ferious confideration what was fafeft and hell to be done, were all of opinion that it would not be lafe to fet him .at liberty -, neither had we fufficient ground for us to put him to death. In this difficulty we called in five of the iiToft judicious clders(itbeingin the time of the general alTembly of the elders) and propounding the cafe to them, they all agreed that he ought to be put to death. Upon this' concurrence we enjoined fecrefy upon ourfelves and them, left if it fhould com.e to the notice of the Narraganfets, they might attempt fomcwhac againft Hartford for this reafon, or might fet upon the commiffioncrs, &c. upon their return, to take fome of them to redeem him (as Miantinomu him- felf had told Mr. Haynes had been in confutation amongft them) and agreed that upon the return of the commifiTioners to Hartford, they Ihould fend for Onkus, and tell him our determination, that Mian- tinomu fhould be delivered to him again, and he fhould put him to death to foon as he came within his own jurifdidlion, and that the Engliili fhould go along with him to fee the execution. And if any Indians fhould invade him for it, we v/ould fend men to defend him. If Onkus fhould refufe to do it, R 7. then f In September. JU HISTORY 01 THE BAPTISTS then Miantinomu fliould be fent in a pinnace to Bollon, there to be kept until further confidcratioti. *' Th^ reafons of this proceeding with him were thefe : i. It was now clearly difcovcred to us that there was a general coiifpiracy among the Indians to cut off the Engliili, and that Miantinomu was the head and contriver of it. z. He was of a turbulent* and proud fpirir, and would never be at reft. 3. Al- though he had promifed i;s in the open court to fend the Pequod to Onkus, who had fliot him in the arm, with intent to have killed him (which was by the procureavent of Miantinomu, as did probably sppear) y.et in his way homeward he killed him. 4. He beat one of Pumham's men, and took away bi:i wampam» and then^bid him go and complain to the MalTachufetts. According to this agreement the ctHrnmiOTioners, at their return to Connefticut, fent for Qr.kus, and acquainted him herewith, who. readily undertook cKe execution j and taking Mian- tin" "mil along with him, in the way between Hart- ford and Wiridfor (where Onkus hath fome mea d^vcU) Onkus's brother following after Miantinomu, c.Jave hi* head with an hatehet, fome EngliOi being, pjefent, And that the Indians might know that th^ Englirti did approve of it, they fent 12 or 14. iiiufqueteers home with Onkus to abide a time with. i\imi for his defence, if need Ihould be J." Alas I when good men get into an evil path, where will it; carry them ? The next news we hear. is as, f' feek the utter (ubverfion of Antichrifl*." This plain account of the reafons and motives they afled upon, takes off the edge in fome meafure of Gorton's keen fatire upon them, which he wrote from Warwick, Sept. i6, 1656, to the fir ft Quakers that were imprifoned in BoftoR, faying, " I marvel * what manner of God your adverfaries truft in, who •' is fo fearful of being infected with error, or how ** they think they fliall efcape the voiles and power ** of the devil, when the arm of flefh fails tliem, ** whereby they feek to defend themfclves for the •* prcfent j fure they think their God will be grown ** to more power and care over them, in and after " death, or elfe they will be loth to pafs through it." Which * J«iftf«a'$ Hiilory, p. 187, 230. [1644] ^^ NEW. ENGLAND. 151 ^ "Which remark is cutting indeed, if we leave out any confideration of duty in the cafe •, but if that be brought in, then it is prefumption, and not faith, to exped protCL^ion and fupport from God in a way of difregard of the means of his appointment. Hence, the error of fnppofing that God has appoint- ed the ufe of fccular force in religious affairs, ought to bear all the blame and fcandalof thofe cruel pro- ceedings ; and inftead of venting our relentment againfl: our dead fathers, le; thefe things roufe the living to repentance and reformation. Thofe fathers could find warrant enough in the old teflament for the ufe of force againlT: idolaters and blafphcmers -, but the ufe of force to colled the pricfts fupport was plainly cenfured in thofe times. With what f^ce then can thofe who profefs to be u,nder the law of liberty^ forcibly take a farthing from any to maintain profelTed minifters of him who has faid, freely ye have received, freely give ', and who commanded his difciples to /hah off, and therefore not to carry away, {o much as the duji of a city or houfe that would not receive them ! It is likely that the reader would want to know what Gorton's fentiments really were, which were fo ofFcnfivc. To this I anfwer, that he evidently was a man of fmart capacity, and of confiderable learning, and when he pleaied could exprefs his ideas as plainly as any man ; but he ufed fuch a myftical method in handling the fcriptures, and in fpeaking about religion, that people are not agreed to this day in what his real fentiments were. It is fo common for parties to mifreprefent the opinions of their opponents, that little regard is paid by many to what the MafTachufetts have faid againft him. I will therefore give a tafte of what he publifhed to the world, not in a way of controvcrfy, but nx S z fricncti^^? ^133 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS friendly correfpondence with the aforcfaid prifoncrs at Bolton, He firft wrote a letter to them of the date 1 have given \ to which they returned an an-* fwer i then he made a reply, Oftober 6, 1^56, v;herein he gives various remarks upon the fenti- ITients exprelTed in their letter, and fays, "In us a child is born, in us a fon is given §, <* but the government is upon his fhoulder, and he *' is called wonderful Counfellor, the mighty God, ** the everlafting Father^ the Prince of Peace : So ,■« that wherever this lowly and m.eek Spirit is, there ** is alfo the fpiric of the Lion of the tribe otjudah^ «< and the Lord thereby Ihall roar out of ^ion, and <* utter his voice from Jerufalem, and the heaveni *' and the earth fnall Ihake,' but the Lord is the •* l^pe of his people, and the ftrength of the chil- ** dren of Ifracl. True lowlinefs of fpirit, and the «* lofcieft mind that ever wa.s, are never feparatcd ; ** for thefe twain are made one fo as never to be" ** feparated, no more than a child (in point of all <^ human abilities) and the Ancient of Days Ihall i- ^* for as we receive the kingdom of heaven as a ** little child, fo we are never otherwife in the fame *' refpet^t, which we know, no wifdom human, • <" fcrpentine, or upon principles proper to a crea- ^.* ture, can ever yield unto, or find out; and thcre- ^* fore we are fools unto the world, being bereaved <"^ of all tlieir principles.^ in regard of any exercife ** of them according to their proper intent in any <* of our defignS'-^^And therefore as brute beafts *'' are unto them, fo are they to us in the things of ** CJod." Again he fays, " we conclude that the <* wifdomof God, though become fooliflinefs, unto 5? the world, yet doth it contain fufikicncy.of powey § Obferve tlie word of truth faySj tmt^ a/, ba|{ikis p«rjj|j*^ [1644] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 13^ *' in-argumcnt to over- top any councils fynod, fy- " nedrim or afifembly, compofed by human art and " learning. — For as it is in that way of the devil, " to propofc his temptations from the letter of the " fcripturcs, to fubdue Chrift thereby ; fo is there " fufficiency oi fpirit and wifdom, in the true inter- *^' prctation thereof, to confound and bring them " (in the party propofing them) to nought. A " Chriftian is llill faying, \tt there be light, and it *' is fo ; he fhall ever divide the light from the " darkncfs, and the waters that are above the firma- " ment from the waters that are below the out- " fpread firmament. In a word, he is for ever to " form all things out of that ancient chaos of God ^' and man being made one." Once more he fays, ^' if I witnefs to the Son, word, light, life, law, or " peace of God, I muft witnefs unto the being of *.' fuch a thing, that fuch a thing is, as alfo to the "^' manner of its being, how it comes to be fuch a " thing, together with its neceflary and proper ** operations, which muft inevitably accompany ** fuch a manner of being, with the comprehenfions *' and extenfions of fuch operations and motion, or *' elfe I am not that faithful and true witnefs, the *' heginning of the creation of God^ or that head and *' tfiafterpiece of his workf." Thefe extrads from his own writings, may give the reader fome idea of his way of handling the fcripturcs. Our Saviour vanquished the tempter by appealing to what was written^ and fhewing thereby that Satan perverted the text he pretended to quote ; but the lofty mind of this writer foared fo inuch above that method, as to fay of the world o{ mankind, " as brute beafts are unto them, fo arc " they t Thefe letters are aanexed to a book he pabliflied in 1656, 5.272—394. 134 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS ** they to us in the things of God." Well there- fore might Mr. Williams fay, " I am no more of Mafter Gorton's religion than of Mafter Cotton's ; and yet if Mafter Cotton complain of their obJUnacy jn their way, I cannot but impute it to his bloody tC' net and praftice, which ordinarily gives ftrength, vigour, Ipirit and refolution to the moft erroneous, when fuch unrighteous and moft uncbrijlian proceed- ings arc exerciled againft them-f." Bcfides their dif- ference about golpel dodrines, they evidently differed in the following points of practice. 1. Mr. Williams u fed great plainnefs of Jpeecb^ fo that his meaning was obvious to common under- jftandings •, but Mr. Gorton's writings are not fo. 2. Mr. Williams openly ftood for what he believed «o be the truth, in the face of the greateft danger ; but when Mr. Gorton faw himfelf greatly expofed in Bofton, he explained their myftical writings in fuch a manner, that Governor Winthrop faid, *' he could agree with him in his anfwer, though not in their writings *." 3. Mr. Williams fet a no^ fole example of overcoming evil with good ; but Mr. Gorton was fadly cnfnared in rendering; evil for evil, and railing for rafling. Though after he had been to England, and obtained liberty to return to and enjoy the lands they had purchafed, he and fun- dry of his fuffering companions became very ufcful members ©f civil focicty. But as corruption is ever the moft dangerous when covered with a religious mafl^:, it is of great importance for us all to learn to diftinguifli between that and true religion. Paul faid to the contending Corinthians, are ye not carnal and walk as men ? The fame query may be made concerning thofe <:ontentions betwixt Gorton and his opponents. Th« f Reply to Cotton, p. 123. • Gort«n'i Defence, fi644-] 5N NEW-ENGLAND. 1.3^ The Maflachufetts profclTed a high regard to their charter, when they baniflied Mr. Williams ; buc that gave them no right to any land or govern- ment, further than three miles fouth of their bay, and of every part of Charles river -, and that line croflcs the great poft road near landlord Maxcy's, in Attleborough, from whence to Pawtuxet river is 19 miles, and Shawomet is ftill further fouthvyard •, yet we are plainly told tha^t Arnold and his compa- ny were received "partly to draw in the reft, either " under themfelves or Plymouth.** Hubbard. And when Gorton and his friends were got out of Arnold's reach, two petty fachems were taken in to found a claim upon, though it w^s known that Miantinomu was fo much above them, that he fold Provi- dence and Pawtuxet over their heads fome years before, in which was contained the bed title that Arnold*s company had to their lands. What work then did they make, in firft enticing fubjecls.to re- volt from their prince, and then in killing him be- caufe he was uneafy about it ! Had they not been blinded with fuch a aeal as thedifciples had, when they were for having fire to come down and con- fume the Samaritans, furely they wo«ld not have violated the rules of juftice and equity as they did. They tried afterwards to vindicate their condufl by the claim of Plymouth to that land, and upon an aft of the commidioners.of the united colonies con- cerning it *. But Plymouth patent extended na farther weftward than Narraganfct river, and the utmoft limits of Pocanokit or Sawamfet, that is Ofa- maquin or Mafaffoit's territories -f ; and we have be- fore heard how they fell fhort of the lands in que- , fVion^ Further the commifTioners pleaded, that Miantinomu engaged by treaty, not to begin war witb • MaiTachufetts Hiftory, vol. i,p. 122." f fiiacc's Chronology, p. 197. ^ i^6' HISTORY OF THE BAt»f ISTS with Uncas without firft appealing to the Englifli, yet had broken that agreement §. But a very cre- dible writer of their own informs us, that Mianti- nomu firft fent his complaint to Hartford againft Uncas i and when they refufcd to nlcddlc in Sequaf- fion*s quarrel, he would know whether they would be offended if he (hould make war upon Uncas ? And that they left him to take his courfc-}-, fo that their cafe in truth was, like that of other invaders of their neighbour's riglits ; they were in danger of being awfully requited, by a man fo fenfible Rnd powerful as Miantinomu, if he was hot taken out of the way. This evil is greatly to be la- mented^ and Ihould ever ftand as a folemn warn- ing to us all, to beware of taking one ftep in- to any courfe of injuftice, deceit, or cruelly j for it will fu rely prove bitternefs in the latter end. Had Gorton been duly aware ©f this, he would not have armed Miantinomu againft Uncas, for no better reafon, that wc know of, than becaufe he- being a warlike prince, ftood in the way of his forra- ing an Indian party fufBcicnt to withftand or over- come the Mafiachufetts ; which proceeding, toge- ther with his irritating writings againft their rulers 6nd minifters, were the evident cauie of things be- ing carried to the dreadful extremity they were. Mr. Williams ever bore as plain and full teftimon)- againft their perfcciuing any man for matter^ of confcience, as Gorton could ; and had a much greater inftuence over the Indians than he ever had j yet he was fo far from trying to raife a heathen par-^ ty againft Ghriftians, to correft them for injuries done to hin'ifelf, that he exerted himfelf with great affiduity to prevent any thing of that nature; by which § Maaachufdtts Hiftory, ?©1, 3, p. I4«. [t6440 IN NEW-ENGLAND. 1^7 Which he undoubtedl/ was the greatefl: inftrumenc of f«ving New-England of any one man that lived in th^t day, and for which his msmery is and will ht-blejfed. Among the reafoners of our world, fome will not allow, that men are influenced in all their volun- tary adlions by previous caufes and motives, while others incline fo much to infidel'ty as to reprefenr, that the very notion of religion, or of perfons think- ing that the Deity loves them better than others, tends to make them hate and treat thofe ill who, as they fuppofe, are not thus beloved. But as n-o- thing teaches like experience, let the experience .of thofe favhers be confidered, and the light which fafls give in the cafe be regarded, beyond all the fuppofitions or wrangles of difputants. Is it not evident, that thofe feveral contending parties were influenced in all their bad adions by the fame prin- ciples of ambition, avarice, deceit, and refentment, that other men are ?. And is it not as>vident, that thofe actions which were good and praife-wor- thy, flowed from a hearty belief of revealed 'religion, efpecially of free falvation by Chriil Jefus ? At pre- •fent we will take a view of the head men of the three parties of Bofton, Warwick and Providence. Governor Winthrop was in fuch efteem in his na- tive country, as to be made ajuftice of peace at the age of eighteen, had an eflate of i^x or ftvGn hun- dred pounds fl;erling per annum 5 yet fold it, and fpent the main of it in promoting a religious fettie- ment in this wildernefs •, where for all his vaH: la- bour and pains, ifj fettling and managing the go-" vernment, he for fome years had no ftated falary, and never had more than one hundred pounds a year •, was feveral times very ungratefully treated by his own people j and what could carry him T through 1^8 HISTORY OF TKE BAPTISTS through all this, with chearfulncfs to the end, but ihe pt)wer of religion * ? Gorton, * What hi» religious feivtiments, were, tlie reader may form fome juJgmanfe by the following extrat^s. In ihe lirll part of his adminiitrations as Governor, he faid, " in the infancy of plantations, juilice fbould be adminiftred with more lenity than in a (e:cled llate ; becaafe people are more apt then to tranfgrefs j partly out of ignorance of new laws and orders, partly out of ©ppreilion of bufinefs and other Ibaits. But when fonie leading and learned men took offence at his condudl in this matter, ancf upon a conference, gave it as their opinion, that a ftrifter dif- cipline was to be ufed in the beginning of a plantation thaa after its being with more age eflablillicd and confirmed, the Governor being readier to fee his own errors than other n'len's, profefTed, his purpofe to endeavour their fatisfaftion with lefs ieuity in his adminiihartions." From whence we may guefa at the caufe of the feverities we have been treating of. His expences were great, and for two years he had no fettled fcilary, yet the divine precept againft taking bribes, had fuch influence upon his mind, that whert he was the third time chofcir G^.)vernor, May 8, 1632, he told the people publicly, " that he had received gratuities from divers towns, vv'hich he received with mucl< comfort and content ; he had alfo received many kindneiles from particular peribns, which he could not refufe, lellhe ihould be accounted uucourteouj, &c. but- he profefTed he received chern with a trembling heart, in regard to God's rule, and the conlcioufnefs of his own infirmiry,, and therefore dcfired that hereafter they would not take it ill if he fliould refuie pre- fents from particular perfons, except the afliltance of forae fpecial friends. To which no anfwer was made j but he is told after, that many good people were much grieved at it, for that b: never had any aUovjance toivani the charge cf his place.'* Aher he had aflied in banifhing Mr. Wheelwright and others, many of their friends in Bofton church, whereof fiC was a member, were earne.l with the elders to have the church call him forth, as an olFender, for palling thatfentence ; which he underttanding» took occaiiOfi CO make a public fpeech to them upon it, in whicri ht faid, '*• As for nayfelf, I did nothing in the caufes of any of tfte hnthren, but by advice of the tlders of the church. Moreover, in the oath which I have taken thera is this claule, in all caufes •vthereiH you are to give your 'vote, you Jhuii do as in your judgment, mnd ionfcienct J9U Jhall fti to bejujl^ and fr tkt public ^oud. . And i ?4n [1644] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 139 Gorton, as we have feen, had a notion that the child was born in him and his followers, who had tht government upon his Jfjoulders^ and he concurred T 2 witk 7 ant fatjaficd it 5* moft fjr the glory of God, and the pobHc gocf', that there be fuch a Atnience paHed ; yea, thofe brsihrea srs fo divided fro«i the reft of ;he country in their opinion* aed praflices, that it cannot ftand with \.\\e public peace f®"- them lo contir,oe 'eop]r, frcm whence the diAempert have rifen that have laidf prevailed upon the body of this people. The queftions that ibave troubled the country have been about the autbtrity of the inagiilracy, and the Itbtrty of the people, Jt ia ;oh who have (alied m unto thi} oj^ije ; but being thus caited, we have oar authority from God ; it is the ordinance of God, and it hath' the image of God (lamped opon it ; aod the contempt of it ^as been viedicated by God by terribk examples of his vea- gegace. I iB:reai you to confider, that when you choofe m»gi« ilratcf, you take from amorg yourfelvei mi» /uhjia lo like p<'Jft9n» viith j9urf$l'vii. If you fi'e our ir.6rmiiiess refiedl on yotr own, snd yoo !«iH not be fo f^vere cenfureri of curs. Wc count him s good fervaitt who break} not his cvverant. The covenant ^eiween w; and you is :he naih yru h4ve tak'n of us, which it '■o «Ki» j.ui,rli, you muO run the ha7ard of that ; and if ther* ^e f,y er.er, rot in the iv/V/, but in \ht Jktil, it beccmea you to bear it. Nor would I have yru to miltake in the point cf your v*^» lihr/y. There it a liberty of corrupt nature, which ia ^Se^ed bu h by men ar-d beads, to do what ihey lift; and tbia ](t>c7ty is inconOdeot with a-thorit^, impatient of a!l reftraiotS. by this \ibi I ty /umsts tmrtts dftirierti :■ It is the g a-id enemy of truth v»d peace, and a.} the ordinances of God are bent againft it. Bu: there is a civil, a moral, a foeieral libeFts which is thq[ l^oper end snd objfft of authari^y ; it is a liberty for that onljf vybich is juO 3«d gocd ; for this liberty you are to ftand with ihc hazard of your very live; ; and whatf^ever c/oiTes ir, is nolt authority^ but a didemper thereof. This liberty ti maiotained in a wav cf fubieftion to authority ; ard ibe auihortiy fet over y09, will in all adminiRrations for your good be qJetlv fub« fitted unto, hy all but fuch as have a difpofiHoR to Jiait »jj[tht^ ^}t\ And lofe ihsii true libci^» bjr tUir sn>.sraiuting at the. ■ ' ' hOftOSr [1644.] IN NEW-ENGLAND; 141 vour to raife what force he could againft them, even from among the barbarians ; and alfo to treac them with fuch a temper as he did from time to time. Even (o late as the year 1676, the very lit- tle of the book he then publifhed fhews the fpirit of it, which is exadly in thefe words, viz. *' A " glafs for New-England, in whic-h they may fee " themfelves and fpirits, and if not too late, re- " pent and turn from cheir abominable ways and " curfed «ontrivances. By S. G." And as the Quakers were about that time accufcd by authority ot fetting up their pofl: by God*s pofts, he fays, " I hope none will be fo blind and ignorant as to ** fee their polls or threfliolds to the devil's poll, ** and the profeflbrs of New-England's pofts, viz, *' their whipping-poft or gallows-pofts ; no nor ** yet join their thrtlhold to their gaol-threfholds, " nor their bridewcll-threfhold, over which and in " which profeflbrs and talkers •f God and Chrift " do and have haaled over lambs and followers of " Chrift, and'^n which they crop their ears, and *' out of which they bring them in their wills and " madnefsy and banilh, whip and hang them in their " blind zeal." p. 17, 18. And he annexes to faid book a letter to Governor Bellingham, dat- ed from Bofton prifon June 15, 1667, wrote by John Tyfo, a Quaker, who fpeaks of it as a great error in Dr. Increafe Mather to fay, *' there was *' nothing IN him that he hoped to be faved by, ^- and that there was none cleanfed from all _^n on « this honor and power of authority." Magnolia, hi 2, p. 9— iji . Frintt*J Annah, p. 60. O ! had it Bot beeo for the miftaken notion of uiieg fccula* force ID religious affaire, how glorioofl/ would this and olher I^ew>£{:glan4 faih^ri have Ihiaed ! / 142 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS '"* this fide the grave." p. 25- Gorton likewife, fpeaking of Wheelwright's being firlt called before t-he General Court for his fermon, at their fcfllon in March, 1637, tells us that Mr. Cotton then faid, *' broiher Wheelwright's do6brine was according to ** God, m the point controverted, and wholly and al- *' togethrr j and nothing did I hear alledged againfc " the doctrine proved by the word of God. — Bur, *' (fays G.) that which is moft to be lamented, is ** that thofe which once had a gocd tejlimcny in their *' hearts and mouths for God, and his light and Jpi- *' ritual appearance ; and they not being faithful ** arrd conltant to that vv'hich is made manifeft and " commitNd to them, it lias even happened to tliem *' according to the faying of the Lord God, by the ** mouth ot his prophet, that in the day in which a ** righteous man turns f rem his righte'ufnefs, and doth *' wickedly, 'all the right eoiifnefs that he hath done *^* fjall be forgotten^ and in the Jin which he hath Jin- '* tied he JJmU furely die the death." p. 6, 7. Now is it not evident, that the MafTachufetts were moved by the fame unreafonable principle of grafp- ing at pow^r and gain, that belonged not to them, in their dealings with Gorton^ as operates in other men, thou*^h it went under a cloak of religion ? And is it not as evident that he was moved with felf-conceit, and carnal wit and refentment, in his •carriage towards them, notwithftanding all his talk of the child's being born in him, and of a creating power " for ever to form ail things out of that an- ** cient chans of God and man being made one !'* And neither of thefc things can hurt the truth and excellency of the Christian RELTCI0^7, anymore than the ielf confidence, rafhnefs and difilmulation of Peter did on the one hand, or the blafphemy of J^y menus and Alexander on the other. And though fome [i644-] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 143 fome would have it, that Mr. Williams, after his banilhmcnt, left revealed religion, and took to th« exercilc of reafon and humanity, in diftinclion from in, yet his own tcdiniiony is exceeding clear to the contriiry. In his addreis to the Quakers 27 years after his banifkment he fays, " The truth is, from my childhood, now above " threefcore years, the Father of lights and mercies •' touched my foul with a love to himfeif, to his *' ofi'y begotten^ the true Lord Jesus, to his hcly " SCRIPTURES, &c. his infinite wjidom hath given " me to fee the city, court and country, the fchooh " and univerfities of my native country, to converfe *' with fome Turks, Jews, Papifts, and all forL*^ of " Protcftants, and by books to know the affairs *' and religions of all countries. My conclufion is, '* that, he of good chesr^ thy Jin s are forgiven ihcc^ " Matt. ix. is one of the joyfuleft founds tha: " ever came to poor fmful ears. Plow to ob- " tain this found from the mouth of the me- •' diator that fpoke it, is the greateft difpute bs-. " tween the Proteflanrs and the bloody whore of *' Rome : This is alio the great point between the *' true Proteftants and yourfelves •, asalfo, in orde? *' to thi'^, about what man is now by nature, and *' what the true Lord Jefos is'*.'* And upon their ufe of thofe words fpoken to the faints, the manifellation of the fpirit is given to every man to profit < iihai, and other like exprelTions, which rhey would apply to mankind in general, he fays, " fhe Papifts catch hold upon a letter ; this is *' my body '^ yau asfimply as do the Generaiifls " catch hold upon the letter, «//, every man^ &c. '* whereas the fc ope and connexion in all writings, *' and in all matters in the world, is rationally to be " minded • Dedicaiaonofh.is book againft the Quakers, 1673. 144 HISTORY of the BAPTliSTS " minded. The fenfe and meaning is, in all fpeecJi " and writing, the very fpeech and writing iifelf. *' The words all and every one^ in cur owri and •' other tongues, are often ufed figuratively. It is '* fo all the fcripture over, and thrice in one verfe, •* Col. i. 28, where rcafon cannot imagine that ** Paul did literally and individually adrnonifh- «< every man, teach every man, and prefent every •' man that comes into the world perfe^ in Chriji •* Jefus., which could not, cannot polTibly be true, " without another {ttn^c and expofition than the ** words ///^T^/Zy holdout*.'* And when they demanded the reafon why he condemned them for not holding to the external uic of baptifm and the fupper, while he did not live in the pradlicc thereof hi mfelf.? He anfwered, "that " it was one thing to be in arms againft the King *' of kingSj and the vifible* adminiftration of his '* kingdom, and to turn off all to notions of an JI^Hpiavifiblc kingdom, officers and worfliip, as the •* Quaker^ did j and another thing, among fo many " pretenders to be the true church, to be in doubt' ** unto which to affociate himfelf. After all my *' fearch and examinations, I faid, I do profefs to «* believe, that fome come nearer to the firft churches *' and injlitutions of Chrift than others ; as in many •* refpefts, fo in that gallant, heavenly and funda- •' mental principle, of .the true matter of aChiiftian " fociety, viz. aElual believers, tfiie difcipks and con- *' verts, and living Jl ones, fuch as can give fome ac- *' count how the grace of God hath appeared to *' them, and wrought that heavenly change in them, ** I profefled that if my foul could find reft in join- " ing unto any of the churches profefling Chrift now ** extant, I would readily and gladly do it, yea, .*' unto • Ibid. p. 8,9. [1644] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 145 " unto themfelves whom I now oppofed. But not ** finding reft, they knew there is a time of purity " and primitive fincerity ; there is a time of trani- ** grefljon and apoftacy^ and there is a time of the " coming out of the Babylonian and iJi^ildernefs apo- '-^ Jiacy*r Thefe extrafts may afiifl: the reader in forming a true judgment of the motives upon which thofe feveral noted men afted in thole difficult times, which alfo may be ufeful now to teach us all, v/hiC to avoid and what to purfuc •■, the importance of which I hope will fufficiently apologize for the length of this account, and alfo jnake the reader willing to take an article or two more before we conclude this chapter. The church at Plymouth was fo unwilling to part with '• a man of fueh eminence" as Mr. Chauncy, that they conceded, in cafe he would fettle witli them, that he (hould ad according to his perfuafion, which was that *' baptifm ought cw/y to be by dip- *' P^'^Z 0^ p^'^^S^^i t^^ whole body under water*' with, fuch as dcfired ir, either for themfelves oi5' infants, provided he ceuld without offence fuffer their other minifter, Mr. Regncr, to pradife in the other way, with thofe who dcfired it; " but he did not lee *' light to comply -f-." From thence he was called to office in the church at Scituate, where we arc told that he " perfevered in his opinion of dipping " in baptifntj and pradifcd accordingly, firft upon " two of his own children, which being in very *' cold weather, one of them fwooned away -, — ano- ** thcr, having a child about three years old, fear- ** cd it would be frighted (as others had been, and ** one caught hold of Mr. Chauncy, and had near U " pulled ♦ Ibid p. 6^, 66. t Plymouili Regiflcr, p. 5, 6. X4^ HISTORY OF THi BAPTISTS " pulled him into the water) fhe brought her child *' to Bofton (with letters teftimonial from Mr. '* Chauncy) and had it baptized here.'* This laft aftion was in July, 164-2 ; and not long after, " the jady Moody, a wife and amiable religious " woman, being taken with the error of denying ** baptifm to infants, was dealt withal by many of ** the elders and others, and admonilhed by the •* church of Salem (whereof fhe was) perfilling *' ftill, and to avoid further trouble, Ihe removed •* to th6 Dutch, againft the advice of her friends. *' Many others infefted with Anabaptilm, &c. re- ** moved thither alfo. She was after excommuni- " cated*." ^ Here as well as elfcwhcre appears the honefly and ingenuity of this greac man, in Hating fads plainly, when they make dirtdlly againft his own perfuafion. Thofe' who deny infant baptifm have been reproach- ed from age to age with the name of Anabaptifts, under which have been couched fuch dreadful ideas, that even to this day we fee the very name ufed as an arg #nent in various controverfies ; fo that if a difputant can tell his opponent, he in that point agrees with the Anabaptilts, it is thought that there- in he muft be in an error; but our honorable author gives, without a covering, the good charafters and virtues of that father and that mother in our Ifrael, at the fame time that he defcribes plainly what he difliked in them ; leaving fair grounds for others to judge upon, without being biafled with any old flo- ries'of German madneft. By this it appears that the grand difficulty in the way^of burying in btnptifm^ is their admitting of fubjeds to it who have not the faith or difcrecion«v/hich is ncceEary for fueh an ac- . (ion. Thoagh [1644O iw NEW-ENGLAND. 147 Though Mr. Williams had done fuch great fcr- viccs tor his Englilh neighbours in the late wars, ^yet he was not permitted to pafs through their coafts, but was forced to repair to the Dutch to gee a palTagc to his native country j yea, it mull r-jceds be fo, becaufe the blellings of a peace-maker were to cp'me upon him, among the Dutch as well as Englifhf. When Mt. Williams arrived in England, he found the country involved in the dreadful calamities and horrors of a war between the King and Parliament j but the Parliament having the command oF the fleet, did by an ordinance of November 2, 1643, ap- U 2 \^ ^ poinc f As a d?fiir£l tfcoonl ef this sfFoir has n«t been puhliihed Smong u», I ihall give it a place here. When the cotnini^ioners of ihe urjtcd cc'oiiies mei in Septf^mber, 16^.3, ther were is- formed of a Dutch ihi^ that had arrived in HudJon'i tiver, which broug'ii 4000 poards of pcwc'er, arid 700 piece}, (o trtde with the r.aive:; bu; the Dutch Governor, having notice thereof, pruden'l> corfifcaied them to the ufe of the company ; thereby depriving their enemies of arm^, whereby they might ihem/tlves have b>;eii deftroyed. and f irnifhing ihemfelvcs ar.d friendi with weapons for t'^eir fdfety ; for at this time the lodiao* had Aercd Vfar viiih the D«(cb, and i( it had n*)! been for the alTiltAoce of the Engiifh, they might have been all cut ofF. The occafiota of the war was this : Ad Tdian beirg drui k, had flain an old. Dutchman ; the Dutch required the murderer, but he could not be hid. The people called off^n upon the Governor 10 iak» revenge, but he dill put it off, becaufe he though; it r.otjuA, or notfafe. It fell out in that time, that theMaquafnr Mohawks, either upon their ovvn quarrel or (as the report *ai) being fet on by the Dutch, came fudden'jr upon the Indians near the D ;tch, and killed about 30 of them ; the reft fled for fheher to ih^ Dutch. Oae Marine, a Dutch captair, hearing of it, wejtt to the Governor and obtained a commifTi n to kill a many as be could of ihem; and accordingly went with a rompany of armed men, and fet upon them, when they feared no fuch ("hing trom the Dutch, and killed 70 or 80 men, women and childrea. Upon this the Indians burnt divert of their farm houfes, and their cattle in thcro ; acd flew all ibey could meet i^ith, 10 iht num.* b«r 148 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS point commifTioners to manage the affairs of the iflands and other plantations ; from whom, by the kind alTiftancc of Sir Henry Vane, who was one of them, Mr. Williams obtained a charter, including the lands *' bordering northward and northcaft on ♦* the patent of the MaiTachufctts, eail and foutheaft *' on Plymouth patent, fouth on the ocean, and on " the weft and northweft by the Indians called " Narraganfets ; the whole tract extending about " twenty-ftve miles, unto the Pcquod river and " country ; faer of 30 or mote, of men, women ac^ childrent and purfued kard upon the Dutch, even home to their fort Aurana (Albany) that they vyere forced tu call in the English (• their aid, and enicrtaiited Captain U; afTaultrd the hoafe of the lady Moodv, who rot l^ng before moved from Salem cpon the account of Anabaptij'm ; ht% fRS was ds''ended by /orty men that gaibeted to her boufc, which ihey affaultcd divers timet. Bat the Long>Ifland Indians, •• by the mediation of Mr. Williams (who wa* then there t« •« take til ip fur England) v/ere pnt'tfied, Hh6 psoit rt-(ja6lijl>/d <* between ihe Dutch ai^d them. But ftill upon the main, they '* ici upon the Dutch with an implatablefur<|i, ktiling all (hey ** could oome by, bumirg their hourei, and dcftroying their f ' cattle, without ary renilance ; fn as the Governor and ffch at *< efcaped b«ock ihemfelves to their for: at M^nhatos [New- *• York] and there lived open their rstslc. But many' of the " Ir d ani being deftroyed by Capiaia Underbill aod bit fol- ** lowrrs, at laft they began 10 be weary of the fpr rt, and confie* *' fcfadisd t* tctini ef pcjice." Wttttlntpr-Unkb^rd' [1644] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 149 ♦* country ; to be known by the naniic of The *' Incorporation of Frovidence Plantations, *' in the Narraganset-Bay, in New-England. " Together with full pov/er and authority to rule '' themfelves, and fuch others as (hall hereafter in- '' habit within any part of the faid trad of land, by " fuch form of civil government, as by voluntary *' confent of all, or the greater part of them, they *' fhall find moft fuitable to their eftate and condi- '* tion.— Provided the civil government of the faid ** plantations be conformable to the laws of Eng- *' land, lo far as the nature and conftitution of the •* place will admit." This charter was figned March 14, 1644, by Robert Warwick, Philip Pembroke, Say and Seal, Philip Wharton, Arthur Haflerig, Cornelius Hol- land, Henry Vane, Samuel Vaflel, John Rolle, Miles Corbet, and William Spurftow*. CHAP. III. From 1644 to i^S'j containing the firft Law that was made in New- England againft the Baptifts, and a Variety of other Events. THE firft Baptill: church in Newport we. arc told was formed and fet in order about this year, under the miniftry of Mr. John Clark ; which is the firft ohwrch of any denomination on Rhodc- Ifland that has continued by fucceflion, and the fecond in the colony f. Alfo in the Maflachurctts wc * See faid charter in the Hiftory of Providence, f The £rft certain date in their church records is taken from a manufeript of Mr. Samuel Hubbard in 1648, which fay« the church tso HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS . we arc told that " Anabaptifts increafed and fpread " in the country J." U'^on which they framed and pafled the following a thai: which i did by writing, might I without ©^«ce exprefs m/ true intent and meaning more fully to this effeft, that notwrih- standing my failings (for which i crave pardon.) yet I cannoc with a goodconfcience condemn myfelf for fuch capital crimes, dangerous revelations and grofs errors, as have been charged upon me. Thi concurrence of which, as I take it, make up the fub- ilance of all my fufferings; I do not fee but in fo mixt a cauff^, f am bound to ufe, may it be permitted, my juft defence, fo fai* as J apprehend myfelf to be innocent, and to make mv confef-* uon where I am convinced of any dclinqcncy,' otherwife I ihall fcemingly and in appearance fall under guilt of many heinous ofFenccs, for which my confcience doih acquit me. if I feem to fnake fuit to the court for relaxation to be granted as an adt of mercjr upon my fole confeCioft, I ir.uit offend my^-^cnfcience ; if by i|4 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS Yet without waiting for his perfonal appearance, they at the General Court in Bolton, May 29, 1644, palled the following adl, viz. *' It is ordered that Mr. Wheelwright (upon a *' particular, Iblemn, and ferious acknowledgment ** and confcflTion, by letters, of his evil carriages, and *' of the court's jultice upon him for them) hath " his banilhment taken ©ff, and is received as a ** member of this commonwealth*." Mr. Williams returned with the charter he had procured to Bofton, the 17th of September follow- ing-]-, and brought the enluing letter with him. To the right worfhipful the Governor and AlTiftants, and the reft: of our worthy friends in the planta- tion of MaiTachufetts-Bay. Our much honored friends ^ ** TAKING notice fome of us of long time of Mr. Roger Williams's good affeftions and con- fcien^e, and of his fufferings by our common enemy and opprefTors of God's people the prelates, as alio of his great indrpftry and travels in his printed Indian labours "hj an tftof judice, upon mj apology and lawfal defence, I fear I Ihat! here offend your WotiliipN I leave all things to your wife and holy conGderaiioni hoping you will pardon my fimplicity and plainaeri, which" I am forced unto by the power of an over-ruling sonfcience. I reft yosr Wordiip'i ia the Lord, J. Wheblwricht." WtlU (!) I, 1643. Wintbrep — Hubbard. Nofe, their way wss to begin the year wiih March 2;, fo that according to our reckoning this wai JMarch I, 1644. • At the fame time they pafled a fentenee, that «* Richard Waterman, being found erroneoui, heretical and obftinate, it was ordered that he (hould be detained prifoner till the quarter court in the feven^W month, unlcfs five of the magidrates find caufe to fend him away, which if they do, it is ordered, he ^all not re; turn within thii jurifdiftion upon fain cf Jiath.** Mafaihufttts Rt(trdf, t Wiathrop,' [1644] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 155 iabours in your parts (the like whereof we have HOC feen extant from any part of America) ^jid m which refpcd it hath pleafed both Houfes of Par- liament to grant unto him and friends with him a free and ablblute charter of civil government for thofe parts of his abode, and withal forrowfuliy refenting that amongft good men (our friends) driven to the ends of the world, exercifed with the trials of a wildernefs. and who mutually give good teftimony each of the other (as we obferve you do of him, and he abundantly of you*) there fhould be fuch a diftance-, wc thought it fit upon divers confiderations to profefs our great defires of both your utmoft endeavours of nearer clofing and of ready expreffing thofe good afFedions (which wc perceive you bear each to other) in effedual per« formance of all friendly oiSccs. The rather be- caufe of thofe bad neighbours you are likely to find too too near you in Virginia, and the unfriendly vifits from the weft of England and from Irclanda That howfocver it may plcafe the Moft High to jQjakc our foundations, yet the report of your X 2 peaceable * Mr. William! confiimed hii profeiSon oflovt (9 them bf hie practice, in coolftantljp doing them all ths g9od in hit power» both in this coantrjr and at the British courto where aKo his great friend, Sir Henry Vane, this year fhewed a truly ChriSiaa ipirit of forgivcncfs towatds the MaRashufeCts; for when opon s certain a^air *' a heavy complaint wtt made sgainft thegoyern* ** men t, and they were threatened with the lofs of their privi- *' leges, Sir Henry Vane tlood their friend, and by hii great la- ** teretl with the Parliament, appeafcd their refentment, and '* laid the ftorm which wes gathering and hung ever them."* Majacbu/ttts Hi/lory, vol. j, p. 66. Mr. WilHam»'i printed Ind.an labourt referred to, which ha£ con Qdcrable influence in prrcunng their charter, were three years before the famouo Mr. Elliot begaa to preach to the Indiaag a£ H>'> and upon impenitency after admonition, to caft thenpi into the world, the proper place of fuch kinds of hearers and profefTors." W. p. ^y. Mr. Cotton adds, *' is it not a main branch of their covenant with God, that as God giveth him- felfto be a God to them, and to their feed, fo they ftiould give up themrelves and their feed to be his people ? Befides hath not God given paftors and teachers, as well for the gathering together of the faints, as for the edification of the body of Chrift ? And hath he not given the church, and the gofpel preached in the church, to lie like leaven in three pecks of meal till all be leavened ?" C. p. 44. Mr. Williams fays, " 1 anfwer, the proper work of paftors and teachers is to feed the flieep in the flock, and not the herds of wild beafts in the world. And although it is the duty of parents to bring up their children in the nurture and fear of the Lord ; yet what if thofe children refufe to frequent the af- fembliesof the church, and what if thole three forts of ground or hearers will not come within the bounds of the paftors and teachers feeding i hath not the Lord Jefus appointed other officers in Eph. iv. for the gathering of the faints, that is, fending out of the church of Chrift apoftlcs or meflengers, to preach Chrift to the three forts of bad ground, to labour to turn them into good ground ? But alas ! to falve up this, the civil fword is commonly run for, \.oferce all forts of ground to come to church, inftead of fending forth the heavenly fowers accord- ing to the ordinance of Chrift.'* W. p. 38. Another argument Mr. Cotton draws from the fervants wondering to fee the tares, which would not have been ftrange in the highway, C. p. 45, In reply to which Mr. "Williams fays, " let the highway, ftony and thorny ground, be confidered Y t ill 164 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS in their fevcral qualities of prophanenefs, (loutncrs, and worldlinefs, and all the fons of men throughout the world naturally arc fuch -, and it is no wonder, nor would the fervants of Chrift be fo troubled, as to dcfire their plucking upoutof theworld. Butagain confiderall thefe forts of men as profefiing the name and anointing of Chrifl Jefus, in afalfe, counterfeit antichrifiian way, and then it may well be wonder- ed whence fuch monflrous Chnftians or anointed ones arole ; and God's people may cafiiy be tempt- ed rather to defrre their rooting cut of the world, than the rooting out of any fuch forts of ground or men, profeltjng any ether religion, jcwifh, Maho- metan or Pagan. — A traitor is worfe than a profef- fed fox." W. p. 58, S9' Again, while Mr. Cotton pleaded for the exer- tions of the civil power againll heretics and anti- chrillians, he fays, "no ordinance or law of God, nor juft law of man, commandeth the rooting out of liypocrites, either by civil or church cenfure, though the church be bound tp endeavour as much as in them lieth to heal their hypocrify." C. p. 47. To this Mr. Williams anfwers, " hypocrify difcovered in the/rw// of it, is not to be let alone in the church orftate-, for^ndth^r the church of Chrifl nor civil flate can long continue fafe, if hypocrites or trai- tors (under what pretence foever) be ptrniittcd to break for lb in bliem, without due puniihment and rooting out ; this hypocrify being efpecially the great (in againll which Chrifl fo frequently and fo vehemently inveighed, and againfl: which he de- nounced the foreft plagues and judgments." W. p. 62. He then proceeded to plead, that the civil ftate fhould only punifh civil offences. Upon which Mr. Cotton aflcs, "what if their worfhip and con- fcienccs incite them to civil offences V* C. p. ^o. Mr. [1644] I^^ NEW-ENGLAND. 1S5 Mr. Williams fays, " I anrwer, the confcicnce of the civil magiftrate muft incite him to civil punifli- ment -, as a Lord Mayor of London once anfwercd that he was born to be a judge, to a thief that pleaded he was born to be a thief. If the con- Icience of the worfhippers of the beaft incite them to prejudice prince or Oatc, although thefe confcicnces be net as the confcience of the thief, commonly con- vinced of the evil of his fadl, but pcrfuadcd of the lawfulnefs of their aftions ; yet fo far as the civil Itate is endamaged or endangered, I fay the fword of God in the hand of civil authority is ftrong enough to defend itfelf, either by imprifoning or difarming, or other wholefome means, while yet their con- fcicnces ought to be permitted in what is merely point of worfhip, as prayer and other fervices and adminifVrations. Againft any civil mifchief the ci- vil (late is ftrongly gaarded. Againft the fpiritual mifchief, the church or city of Chrift is guarded with heavenly armies, wherein there hang a thou- fand bucklers, and moft mighty weapons. Cant, iv. 2 Cor. X." W. p. 66, 67. But as he ftill plead- ed that the civil fword was never appointed by Chrift for an antidote or remedy in fpiritual evils and dangers •, Mr. Cotton denies it, and fays, " it is evident the civil fword was appointed for remedy in this cafe, Deut. xiii. and appointed it was by that angel of God's prefence, whom God promifed to fend with his people. Exod. xxxiii. 2, 3. And that angel was Chrift, whom they tempted in the wilderncfs. i Cor. x. 9. Therefore it cannot tru- ly be faid, that the Lord Jefus never appointed the civil fword for a remedy in fuch a cafe : Fct he did exprcfly appoint it in the old tcftament; nor did he ever abrogate it in the new. The reafon of the J^w (which is the life of the law) is of eternal force and i66 HISTORY or the BAPTISTS and equity in all ages. Thou Jh»lt furely kill him, hecau/e he hath fought to thruji thee away from the Lord thy God', this reafon js moral, that is, of uni* vcrfal and perpetual equity to put to death any apotlate reducing idolator, or heretic §." C. p. 66, 6^. In reply Mr. Williams fays, " how grievous is this language of mafter Cotton ! Mofes in the old teftament was Chrift's fcrvant, yet being but a fer- vant, difpenfed his power by carnal rites and cere- monies, laws, rewards and punifhments, in that hoi/ nation^ and that one land of Canaan. But when Je- fus the Son and Lord himfelf was come, to bring the truth, life and fubftance, of all thofe fhadows \ to break down the partition-wail between Jew and Gentile, and eftablilh the Chriftian worfhip and kingdom in all nations of the world, m.after Cotton will never prove, from any of the books and infti- tutions of the new teftament, that unto thofe fpiri- tual remedies appointed by Chrift againft fpritual maladies, he added the help of the carnal fword. If it appear, as evidently it doth, that Jefus, the antitype of the kings of Ifrael, wears his (word in his mouth, being a (harp and two-edged fword, then the anfwer is as clear as the fun, that fcatters the" clouds and darknefs of the night. Befides, mafter Cotton needs not fly to the pofe*s argument for chil- dren baptifm^ to wit, to fay Chrift never abrogated Deut. xiii. therefore, &c for Mr. Cotton knows the profeftion of the Lord Jefus, John xviii. that his kingdom was not earthly^ and therefore his fword cannot be earthly. Mr. Cotton knows that Jefus commanded a fword to be put up, when it was drawn in the caufc of Chrift, and added a dreadful threatning, § Does not this and fuch like fcntcnces make tke tenet ta appear yet more hloody ! ['6+*.] w NEW-ENGLAND. 167 threatning, that all that take the fworH r,h„ ■ .u carnal f„ord in h,s caufej ftall pMy^^ '^%', waXtrbteTLTJltrcht th"'^-- T''^-' ftrate-s work was confinedtlh Iceptrof trf condtable; his main argument thSr waV th t" Rom xui. fpeaks t!>e moft fully of that n.hf J „f- any place i« the ne^ teftament/and there ttdfr courle ,s confined to the duties includlr! in / - »..X^..«. Mr. Cotton g"ntri s premi/^b : not his conclufion, and favs " thnnilTk k to magiftrates, and love to all' men h^^ ■''?'°P horted to honor their minifter. InJ , ."J ""' He exhorted to honor thnr„l,,r fir ". """^ f»llow,- that therefore m inffters "h .elth"'"^ with matters of religion in he th,,? '"^ '° '''' the family ?" C. p f 6 ' °' P"'"'' '« yieM ob!^lenrL""'"ri'- " '^P'^P^^'^^^ bound to Lte rsr 1^? "'' '^"8' '° <='"" "fficers of the "ate, thnhians are much more bound to vielH „K. preferverstd refor,^,t; oTthTcht ""^^"'"■'' ;-> flate. Which d,ffera3°Lth^;;'«'retr' ; ^':be?.^W:rH7,5'^--hoftheea'r;hi;, notfoi;- of°noTptIni;::r"' ''/""Sh his book, to his rcicnce,but-!:;r.tr^-^-Si:^-r:cr fcienccs i58 HtSTORToF the BAPTISTS fciences after conviSiion. One great article of Mi". Williams's fentence of banilhment was, his writing letters againft the rulers and churches before any convi^ion. And Mr. Cotton fays of miniiters and ch4jrches, " none of us had any further influence, than by private and public conv'Mit7i ot himfelf, and of the demerit of his way." C. 2d part, p. 12. And when one of the magillrates was going to the court that banilhcd Mr. Williams, and afked Mr. Cotton what he thought of it .'' his anfwcr was, ** I pity the man, and have interceded for him, whilft there was any hope of doing good i but now he having refufed to hear both his own church and us, and having rejected us all, as no churches of Chrtfl:, before any cenvi^fion^ we have now no more to fay in his behalf, nor hope to pre- vail for him.'* C. p. 39. This notion of not punilhing any in matters of religion, till they had firft convinced their con- fciences, runs through Mr. Cotton's whole book, as thofe who have it may fee in the quotations below j] ; ,and he tries to fupport it by Tit. iii. 1 1, which re- fers entirely to ecclefiaftical, and not to civil govern- ment •, and there not to every error, but only to grofs herefy, which was to be judged of by thofe who were well acquainted with Ipiritual things. But, faid Mr. Williams, " Every lawful magiftrate, whether fuccecding or cledcd, is not only the minifter of God, but the miniftcr or fervant of the people alfo (what people or nation foever they be, all the world over) and that minifter or magiftratc goes beyond his commiflion, ■who intermeddles with that which cannot be givca him in commiiTion from the people, unlefs mafter Cotton It Page 3, 26, 189; fecondparr, p. 12, 17, 32, 37—39. [i644.1 IN NEW-ENGLAND. 1^9 Cotton can prove that all the people and inhabitants of all nations in the world have Jpritual power^ Chrift's power, naturally, fLindainentaly and ori- ginally rcfiding in them, to rule Chrill*s rp:)ufe the church, and to give fpiritual power to their officers to excrGife their fpiritual liws and commarrds-j- j otherwife it is but profaning the holy name of the Moft High. It is but Mattering of magifirates, it is but the accurfed trufting to an ^r;;2 of flefi^ toper- fuade rulers of the earth that they are Kings of the \{x2,z\ or church of Cody who wrere in their infbitu- tions and government immediaiely from Gcd^ the rulers of his holy chuch and people. Nor a few of his oppofires will fay, and that aloud, that he and they v/cre or might have been convinced^ whatever he or they themfelves thought. The truth is, the carnal fword is commonly the judge of the conviflioa or obftinacy of all fuppofed heretics*. Hence the faithful winelfes of Chrift, Cranmer, Ridley, Lati-?. mer, had not a word to fay in che difputations ac Oxford : Hence the Nonconformifts were cried ouc as obftinate men, abundantly convinced by the writ- ings of Whitgifc and others-, and f> in the confer- ence before King James at Hampton Court." W. p. 96, 192. Z Mr. + Thofe who are called Lords fpirtual in England have no power, fincS the pope excommuuicated them, bat what they derive from the ci-vii Jiat'. * Dr. Ov^en wrote a piece upon toleration foon after Mr. Cotton's book waspubliihed in London, and upon this point he fays, " he chat holds the truth may be confuted, but a man cannot be convinced but by the truth. That a man fliould be faid to be convinced of a trurh, and yet that truth not fhine ia upon his underltanding, to the expeilin? of the contrary error, to me is ftrange. To be convinced is to be overpowered by the ^evidence of that, which before a man kne^v not. I once ksew a fcholar iavited to a difpuce with aboiher man, about foaieJhing a>o HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS Mr. Williams in difcLifTing his opponent's argu- ments obferved, that his opponent had taken many charges and exhortations which Chrift gave to his .minillers, and direded them to the civil magiftrate. But Mr. Cotton fays, " the falihood of the difcuf- for in this charge is palpable and notorious." Yet fifty pages forward in the fame dikourfe Mr. Cot- toh fays, '* the good that is brought to Princes and iubje<5ls by the due puniilimentof aportate feJucers, idolaters and blafphemers, is manifold. Firft, it putteth away evil from the people, and cutteth off a gangrene, which v\ould fpread to further ungod- linefs. Deut. xiii. 5, 2 Tim. ii. 16, 17, 18. Secondly, it driveth away wolves from worrying and fcattering the flieep of Chrilt. Falfe teachers be wolves. Matt. vi. 15, -Ad. xx. 29." C. p. ^'8, 13?. This is a clear proof that great men can- not go itrait in a crooked path. Mr. Williams had argued that Mr. Cotton's doc- trine tended to the fecting up of a Spanifh inquifi- tion in all parts of the world, and to fruftrate the great defiga of our Saviour's coming. He denies ir,'and accufes Mr. WUliams of rather promoting the fomething in controverfy in religion ; in his owfi, and In the Judginenc of all the by-il:ai-ider§, the oppofing- pcrfon was utterly confuted : And yet the fcholar, within a few months, was t5 pUnts which are not his, he may gracioufly fandify. and canfe to flourifh what his right hand will own, this is the humble and unfeigned dcfire and cry 5t the throne of grace^ of your lo long delpifed out- cafl, Roger Williams." W. dedication, p. 26, 27. Thus I have laid before the reader fomc of the moft material points of that controverfy in their own words, that he may fee what thofc principles were which New-England writers have often reproached, underthename of rigid feparation and Anabaptifm -, and alfo how the ruling party, with all their boaft of orthodoxy, could confound Jewifli types with Chrift's injlittitions^ in order to keep up Psedobaptifm, and tlie ufe of fecular force in religious affairs ; and could y?/>^r^/(? from the common rights of humani- ty good Chriftians, and fome of their own bcft friends, only for teftifying againfl fuch cchfufion! " At a General Court, March, 1645, two peti- tions were preferred, one for fufpending (if not abolifhing) a law made againft Anabaptifts the for- pieryear ; the other was for eafing a law of like na- ture made in Mrs. Hutchinlbn's time, forbidding the entertaining of "any ftrangers, without licence of two magiitrates ; which was not eadly obtained in thofedays. Some at this time were much afraid of the increafe of Anabaptifm. This was the reafon why the greater part prevailed for the ftridl obfer- vation of the aforefaid laws, although paradventure a little moderation as to fome cafes might have done very well, if not betcer. Many books coming out of England in the year 1645, fome in defence of Anabaptifm and other errors, and for liberty of con- fcicnce, as a flielter for a general toleration of all opinions, &c. others in maintenance of Prefbyte- rian government (agreed upon by the aflembly of divines at Weftminfter) againft the Congregational way 174 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS vray which was pradifed in New- England ; the mi- niftcrs of the fhurches through all the United Colo- nies agreed upon a meeting at Cambridge, where they conferred their councils, and examined the writ- ings which fome of them had prepared, in anfwer to the faid books; which being agreed upon and per- fecled,werc fentover into England to be printed, viz. Mr. Hooker's Survey, in anfwer to Mr. Rutherford ^ Mr. Mather, Mr. Alien and Mr. Shepard, about the fame fubjed*,'* &c. Our friends in London, hearing of the law made at Bofton laft year to banifti Baptifts, and the learn- ed Mr. John Tombes having written an examina- tion of Mr. Stephen Marflial's fermon upon infant baptifm, dedicated to the Weftminiler ajffembly, Mr. Tombes was moved to fend a copy of his exa- mination to the rriiniftcrs of New-England, and wrote an epiftle with it to them, dated from the Temple in London, May 25, 1645 i hoping there- by to put them upon a mere exact ftudy of that controverfy, and to allay their vehemency againft the Baptifts §. But the Weftminfter aflembly were more ready to learn feverity from this country, than thefe were to learn lenity from any ; for the Inde- pendents on December 4, 1645, prcfented a requcft to that Prefbyterian afiembly, ** that they might not *' be forced to communicate as members in thofe " parifhes where they dwell ; but may have liberty *' to have congregations of fuch perlons who give *' good tellimonies of their godlinefs, and yet out " of tendernefs of confcience cannot conmuinicatc " in their parifhes " but the aflembly returned a flat denial, and faid, " this opened a gap fcr ?L\\fe^s • Hubbard. § Crofby^s hiflory, vol. i, p. |2i, 122. [1645.] IN NEW- EN GLAND. ly^ *' to challenge fuch a liberty as their due -, and that *' this libetcy was denied by the churches of New* *' England, and we have as juft ground to deny it as' " they l|." Sir Henry Vane alfo, when his interefl: in Parlia* ment was very great, wrote to Governor Winchrop in the following terois. Honored Sir, ** I received yours by your Ton, and v/as unwilling to let him return without telling you as muchi The exerciie and troubles which Qod is plcafed to lay upon thefe kingdoms, and the inhabitant? in them, teaches us patience and forbearance one with another in fome meafure, though there be difference in our opinions, which makes me hope that, from the experience here, it may alfo be derived to youi felves, left while the Congregational way amongit you is in its freedom and is backed with power, in teach its oppugners here to extirpate it and root it out, from its own principles and practice. * I fliall need fay no more, knov/ing'your fon can acquaint you particu- larly with our affairs. Sir, I am your affcftionace friend, and fervant in Chrift, II. Van£*." yu?:e 10, 1645. Had not the notion of fecuring religion to their pofterity, by infant baptifm a.nd the magiilrates power, ftrongly prepofTeired their minds, how coirld they have refifted all thefe motives to lenity as they did ? That they were under a very Itrong bias may be feen in three pieces which were wrote this year againft the Baptifts. One of them was by Mr. Cot- ton, who was fo much afraid of having both fides of the argument examined, that he gives us fieither the names of the authors he wrote againft nor II Crofl^y's hiftory, vol. j, p. 185, 186. • Mftirachufctts Hillory, vol. 3, p. 137, i;5 HISTORY of the fiAPTlSTS nor the titles of their works *, only he owns them to befuch as did not " deny magiftrates. norppcdefti- nation, nor original fin ; nor maintain free will in convcrfion, nor apolUcy from grace; buc only deny the lawful ule of baptifm of children, bccaufe it wantcth a word of commandment and example from the fcripture." And he fays, '* I am bound in Chriftian love to believe, that they who yield fo far, do it out of confcicnce, as fol- lowing herein the example of the apoflle, who profefled hlmfelf, and his followers, we can do no- ' thing againjl the truth, but for the truth. But yet ' I believe withal, that it is not out of love to the ' truth that Satan yielded fo much to the truth, but ' rather out of another ground, and for a worfe ' end. He knoweth the times that how, by the good ' and ftrong hand of God, they are fet upon puri- ' ty and reformation. And now to plead againft ' the baptil-m of children upon any of thofe Armi- ' nian and poplfli grounds, which be fo grofly un- '^ gracious as thofe above named, iiaran knoweth ' and feeth they would utterly be rejeded J. He ' choofeth therefore rather to play imall game, as » they fay, than tolofeall. He now pleadeth no other ' argument in thefe ftirring times of reformation ' than may be urged from a main principle of pu- ' rity and reformation, viz. that no duty of God's ' worpif, nor any ordinance of religion^ is to he aami- ' niftcrcd in the church, but fuch as hath juji 'ujarrant ' from the word of Gcd. And by urging this argu- ' ment againfl; the baptifm of children, Satan tranf- * formeth himfelf into an angel of light; and the ' fpifit of error and frofanenefs into a minifter of ' truth and righteoufnefs. And fo he hopeth to " prevail J Here is an acknowledgment, that the Baptiftsof that da^ did aot hold the errors charged upoa them ia the aforesaid law. li^4$'i i^ NEW-ENGLAND. lyf *' prevail, either With thofe men who do believ^ *' the lawful and holy ufe of children's bapiilm to *' renounce that principle, and fo to renounce alfo *' all reformation brought in by it: Or elfe, if ihey " (tick to that principle, then to renounce the bap- " tifmof children-, and fb the reformation begum *' will neither fpread far, nor continue long. For " if godly parents do' withdraw their children |rotn " the covenant, and from the feal of the covenant, " they do make void (as much as in them lieth) the " covenant both to ihemfclves, and to their children ; " and then will the Lord cut ofFfuch fouls from his *' people, Gen. xvii. 14. And fo the reformation, *' begun with a bleffing, will end in a curfe, and ** in a cutting feparation either of parents or of chil- *' dren, or both, from the Lord and his people §." About the fame time a miniiler at Lynn wrote a volume againft various Baptift authors •, bUt before he came to any of their arguments he laid, *' ever *' fince*that word of old, / will put enmity betwixt *' thee and the woman^ atid betwixt thy feed nnd her '* feed, Satan hath had a fpecial fpite at the ktd " of the church : Witnefs that a6c of Cain, who ** was therein of that evil one, in killing his brodier " Abel : Whence alfo that prcjed of Satan, all the *' ways that may be, to lay foundations of corrUpt- *' ing, and in time ruining the feed of the church *' by unequal marriages, &c. G'^n. vi. i^ 2, ?>Jeh. " xiii. 23, 24. Whence alfo that ad. of his, in ** ftirring up his inftruments to derids little Ifaac. *' Whence alfo that faranical pratltice of feeking to *' cut them off by Pharoah, Exod. i. by Edomitcs, *'* Ffalm cxxxvii. by Babylonians, Jer. \t. Syv\* " ans, Dan. viii. Herod^ Matt. ii. &c. or if they A a " bi § Cotton's Grounds and Endsof Cliildren's Iiapurni> printed «H7> P- 3.4- ' V 178 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS *" be not cut off in fuch fort, yet to ftir up perfor>s *' under pretence of religion, to devote them unto " the very devil, Jer. vii. 31, &c. Ezek. xvi, " 20, &c. or if they live, yet to perfuadc to *' their detainment under an Egyptian ejiate^ and " exdufion from any church care or privilege.-— " Who fecth not how Satan doth feck by fuch " fuggeftions to undermine the fuccefFion of the "* true religion, and of true vifible churches, '* which have ufed to be continued in and by the " church feed ? And what is Satan's fetch, to bring *' this about, but the old trick, to create (as I may '* fay) fcruples in the hearts of God's people, " knowing well that it is a taking wile firft to be- •* mift through fuch legerdemain the eyes of the *' mind, and then to fpoil tiiem of truth. It took '•^ with our grandmother Eve, and was the inlet of •' all errqr and evil. Hath Gcd faidit? v/as the *' old ferpentine infinuation to blind and buzzle, *^' and fo corrupt firft the judgment in point of war- ** rant of ih;s or that practice. — How many pre- " cidus profeffors, to outward view at leaft, did at " firft entertain fome fcruples about the external " intereft of church members children in the co- " venant, and initiatory leal of it, v/hich now pe- ** remptorily .ceoiure the fame as antichriftian and *' human invention*.? Let my advice be grateful to " thee thus far, >. hriftian reader, to take heed of " unneccflary difcourfts and difputes with fatanical " fuggeftions, under' what promifing and plaufible *' pretences foever they come, — It is not the firft age " or time, that fatanical fuggeftions, thus it is writ- " ten, and thus faith the Lord, hatk been pro- «* pounded |{." The II Mr. Thomas Cobbet's FirJication of the Covenant and Church E^atf ef Ghii^rfif of Ciufih Me/rtkr/, printed in Londen, 1648, i- preface. Ii645'] i^ NEW-ENGLAND. 179 The c^ueftion has often been adced in our day, what do you think of our good fathers who held to infant baptifm ? How did they get along? Here, you have an anfwer in their own words •, and the famous Dr. Thomas Goodwin urtiered thel'e per- formances into the world with a recommendatory preface to each of them •, and the lentiments and temper of them have evidently been handed down by tradition ever fince. But I appeal to the coh- fcience of every reader, whether he can find three' worle things on earth, in the management of contro- verfy, than firft to fecretly take the point difputed for truth without any proof ; then fecondly blend- ing that error with known truths, to make artful addrefles to the affections and paflions of the audi- ence, to prejudice their mi;\ds, before they hear s, word that the refpondent has to fay. And thirdly, if the refpondent rcfufes to yield to fuch inanage- menr, thea to call in the fecular arm to compleac the argument. And were not thefe the methods that were then taken to fupport Pxdobaptifm .^ The Proteftants way of defending their caufe agavnft the Papifts was, *' if that ye will prove that your ce-^ ** remonies proceed from faith, and do pleafe God, " ye mud prove that God in exprefs v/ords hath. *' commanded them, or elfe fhall yoQ never prove *' that they proceed from faith, nor yet that the^ '* pleale God*." But when this argument was urged againft infant baptifm. Cotton without any. proof afTerrs that " Satan transformedi himfelf into ** an angel of light." And the whole of the above recited addrefifes to men and women's paffions, are evidently founded upon the fuppofitionj that infant A a 2 baptifm preface, p. 7— g. Mr, Tombs fays Mr. Cotton wrcte to him, that the piece he fent them was delivered to Mr. Cobbetto ailfwsc. .• linox's Hiftoryof che Rsformation, p. 104. ;8o HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS baprifm is as ii faliibly required by God, as ab- l^aming from the forbidden fiuit was, or Abraham circumcifing his children ; and having taken the; very point which is difpured for trurh, without any evidence, they blended th^c with many known fafts recorded in IcriptLire, and thereupon rank the op- pofers of,th..c point with the old ferpent the devil and Satan, a'.'d with his initruments Cain, Fharoah, 1 lerod, and other iTiurderers ; yea with luch as facri- ficed ilviir children to devils! And thishiftory con- tains abundant evidence oi their adding the ma- gi 0 rate's fword to all theie hard words, which were tiled in their prefaces betoie they came to any of the Baptill's arguments. When Mr. Cotton came to them, the firftof them is, that in Chrift's commiflion to his minifters, he ordered them firft to icach or make difcipleSy and then to baptize them ;, and he fays two arguments offer themleives for his way from hence. •' " r. Such as be difciples, they are to baptized ; *' but the children of the faithful, they are difci- ** pies ; therefore childr«n of the faithful, they are ^* tf) be baptized.** And to fupport this afiVrtion ** he turns to Ifaiah iiv. 13, all thy children Jh all ♦' he taught tifGodi-^nd fays he, " if they be taught " of God, t'scn are they difcijiles •, for that is the " rreaning of the-Word. Difciples are taught or ** learnt of God*." This is true, and our Lord quotes this text to ffiew how the fsithcr draws fouls to h mfelf^ and fays"^ upon it, " every man^ there- " fore that hath beard, and hsth learned of the fa- •^ ther, Cometh unto me," John yi. 45. Can we dtfire a more exad and certain definition of the Wor4 • Cotton's Grounds and Ends, p. c,, 6i % Note, Clirilt fxicws that the word (hiUrin in (hat ^exti ^eaiis poUerity ; men that are faught. [i645] iN NEW-ENGLAND. iBi word difciple than we have here ? And let con- ~ fcicnc^ Ipeak before him who will judge us all ; do you who pra6lifein this difputed way, believe wheij you bring your infants to be fprinkled that they have heard and learned of the father, lo as to coine unto Chrijl ? And do you bring them becaufe they be taught of God ? If they are not, they are not difcipks according to the known meaning of the word, Mr. Cotton frames his fecond argument from Exod. xii. 4-8, where God required every profelytc to have all his malts circumcifed, before he could come to the pafTover ; upon wh'ch Cotton fays, *' if " then our Lord's fupper come in the room of the *' pafTover, and our baptilm in the room of circum- *' cifion, like as he that had not circumcifed his " males, was accounted as one uncircumcifed him- •' felf, and fo to be debarred from the paflbver, fp ** he who hath not baptifed his children, is account- " ed of God as not baptized himfelf, and fo to be " debarred from the Lord's fupper. If therefore *' you forbid baptifm to children, you evacuate the " baptifm of their parents, anti ib make the coni- " mandment of God, and, the commiflion to the ^* apoftles, and the baptifna of believers, of none « effeaf." Thefc are the two main arguments for infant bap- tifm to tlvis day ; and they both hang upon the lit- tle word IF, which I think is a very fmall pin torelt the weight of whole provinces and kingdoms upon : If infant-s are difciples by virtue of their parents profefilon, then are they to be baptized ; and // our baptifm comes in the place of the circumcifion of Jevvifii ptofelyccs, then we cannot lawfully omit bringing our infants thereto. But what // this fnp- pofuion f Ibid. p. Mi ir2 HISTORY or the BAPTISTS pofuion fhould prove to be as contrary to truih as darkncfs is to Jight, will men petfitt in thar way ftill ? Abraham had no warrant to circumcile any buz fuch as were either born in his houle or bought with his money. i'he firfl: order that v. as given for bringing in others by houjholds was in the day that Ifniel came out of Egypt. Now as we make no pretence of being Abraham's natural podenty, nor oi' being bought wich Jewifh money, the argument all turns upon a fur;pc)fal that Gentile believers ought to bring their houfholds with them to baptifm, as the faid profeiytes did theirs to circumcifion. But I know not how words can exprefs the contrary' more plainly than God himlelf has done in this cafe ; for he fays, his new cov-enant is not according to that he made with Ifrael on faid day, Heb. viii. 8 — II. Upon this men often aflcrt that the ordi- nances differ, while the fubje^s are the fame : But the text aiTures us exprefly, that the m;un difference is in the fubjefts ; that the fubjcfts of the new cove- nant all know God from the le^/t to xh^ greateji. When this is mentioned, they would then turn it to the difference betwixt the outward adminiflration and jnward efficacy of the covenant; but that cannot be here intended,' becauie that diftindion wa^ a? real in Abraham's time as it is now, as the ap-iflie (hews in Rom. iv. ii, which text is often brought for a proof that the covenant is the fame now as with Abraham. If does prove that the internal efHcacy of divine inftiiutioi.s was the fame upon believers then as now -, only their faith was fixed on a future Mefilah, ours on one already come. The difference then betwixt the two covenants we are fpeaktng of, is not internal, but external. By divine inllitution awhole family and a v/hole natitm were then taken into covenant ; no'N nouc sliq added to the churcK [1645.] IN NEW- EN GLAND. ilg ky thd Lord but believers who flaall he favsd. Ads ii. 41,47. Frofcirors who bacj not this charader y^trc falfe brethren unawares brought in. Gal. ii. 4. 7 heir being in was owing to mens imperfe.dion, and not to God's inftitution ; yet becaufe the Baptifts refufcd to yield to a pradice they viewed to be not only without, but diredlly againft divine inftitution, they were abufed in .the manner above dcfcribed j and Mr. Cobbet concludes his dilcourfe with a few inferences, in wivich he lays, '* fee the '* danger and deteltablenefs of Anabaptiftical te- " nets, giving God and Chrift (in pare) the Ire, *' vailing the glory of his preventing grace of cove- nant. Numb. xi. i8. — Condemning the judg- ment and praiflice of former churches, Je s and Gentiles — Whence that p-cfbdne trick of ibme to turn their back upon the churches [when they fprinkled infants] as if all their perfons and prayers, and fcllowihip, were unclean : Whence the *' tbiingof it antichrillian, &c. What is this but to " /'/.'/5>/J;c'W(? rhe name and tahernacie and faints of " God ? Kev. xiii.'* T^us the Baptifts were ac- cufed by thofe noted authors, ot {^ rophanenefs and blaf^vheaiy, only for their manifefting by word and gefture their diHent from ii fant fprinkiing. Mr. Naduniel Ward, of Iplwich (the Indian name of which was Agawam) who, with Mr. Cot- ton, had often been improved by the Court in com- pofmg their law-oook, publifhed a trad this year under a fanciful title, which contains the following addrcflcs to the Anabaptifts. " i. To entreat them *' to Gonfider, what an high pitch of boldnefs it is, ** for a man to cut a principal ordinance out of the " kingdom of God ; if it be but to make a difloca- *' tion, which lb far difgoods the ordinance, I fear ** it altogether unhallows it. To tranfplace or *• tranflimc iH HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS " tranflirs^e a ftated infl-itutlon of Jefus Chrift, with-' " out his ciiredion, I think is to dt-ftroy it []. 2; " What acruelty it is, todive/lchildicn of that only *' external privilege which their heavenly father " hath bequeathed thenn, to intcrefl: them viCibly, " in himlelt", his fon, his fpirit, his covenant of " pea-ce, and the tender bofon^ of their careful '* mother the church. 3. What an inhumanity it " is, to deprive parents of that comfort they may " take from the baptifm of their infants dying in " their childhood. 4. How unfeafonably and un- " kindly it is, to interturbe the (late and church " with their Amahkitl/h cnfets, when they are in " their extreme pangs of travel with their lives ? *' 5. To take a thorough /ievv of thofe who have *' perambled this by-path ; being fometimes in the "■ crowds of foreign ivederdropers^ i, e. Anabaptifts, •* and prying into their inward frames with the befl: *' eyes I had", I could but obferve thofe difguiled " guiles in the generality of them. i. A flat for- *' mality of fpirit, without fait or favour in the fpi- *' ritualities of Chrift; as if their religion had bc- " gun and ended in their opinion. 2. A (hallow *' flighting of fuqh as di(rent from them, appear- *' ing too often in their faces, fpeeches and car- " riages. 3. A feeble yet peremptory obftinacy : ** Seldom are any of them reclaimed*." By thefe extrafts the reader may fee the temper and language of Fsedobaptifts in that day j and how much 11 How eafily mat this reafoning be retorted ? Chrift's infti- tution, and the apollles adminiftrations of baptifm, were expref* ly to fuch as believed, gladly received the word, and rtiould be faved ; and thofe who profefled fuch a faith, went into the wa-s ter, and were buried in baptifm ; and according to this writer's doctrine, how dees it dcllroy the ordinance to change it ixiia fprinkling of infants ? * Simple Cobler of Agawam, p» iC, 17. Huhiard [1646.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 185 much of the fame Kas there been in later times; ? Of charging US with cruelty, becaufe we hold that nd. a(fts of men can intcreit children in the grace of God, before they arc taught and believe his truths and becaule we dare not place our hopes of infants fajvation vion the doings of miniiters and churches, inilead of the fovereign mercy of God in Jefus Chrift, unto whom we would commit them by be- lieving prayer, and if they live^ would ufe all gof- pel methods for.their conv?rIiop, and obedJcnce to all his commands ? How much alfo have we fecn of their afluming God's prerogative^ in judging the hearts of fuch as yield nor to their arguments ? As all the foregoing means were incfFc:diMl, fome of ihe minifters prefented a bill to the General Court this year, for the calling a fynod to fettle thefe and other ecckfiaftical affairs. *' The man;!- ftrates pafled the bill, but fome of the depuMts iqueftioned the power of the Courts to require their churches to lend their meffirngers to fuch a conven- tion, as not being fa.isfied that any fuch power was jgiven by Chrift to the civil magiflrates over the thurches irt fuch cares." Thiscdul'ed a debate, the iponclufion of which was* that the enfuing fynod Ihould be convened by way of niotion On!y to the churches, and not in words of command §. The Oirdcr of it began thus : " . *' Boftoji, i^th^d Months i6^G._ *' The right form of church government and di&' cipline being agreed^ part of the krngdom of Chrift upon earth, therefore the eftablilliing and fettlif g tliereof by the joint and public agreement and con- fcnt of churcheSj and by^the fanction of civil autho- rity, miift needs greatly*canduce to the honor and glory of our J^ord Jdus Chrifti and to the fettling B k and iU HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS and fafety of church and cammonwealth, where fnch a duty is diligently attended and performed.'* Upon which they fent out their motion for faid i'y nod ; to enforce which they fay, " that for wane oi the thing here fpoken of, ibme dijfferences of opi- nion and praftice of one church from another do already appear amongft us-, and others (if noc timely prevented) are like fpeedily to enfue, and this not only in lefler things, but even in points of no fmall confequence and very material •, to in- ftance in no more but thofe about baptifm, and th« perfons to be received thereto, in which one parti- cular the apprchenfions of many perfons in the country are known not a little to differ; for where- as in mofl churches the minifters do baptize the children if the grandfather or grandmother be fet members, though the immediate parents be not, and others, though for avoiding of difference of neighbour churches they do noc yet actually fo pradife, yet they do much incline thereto. And many perfons living in this country who have been members of the congregations in England, but are not found fit to be rsceived at the Lord's table here, there be notwithftanding conliderable perfons in thefe churches who do think that children of thefe aUo, upon fome conditions and terms, may and ought to be baptized : Likewifc on the other fide, there be fome among us who do think that whate- ver be the Rate of the parents, baptifm ought not to be difpenfed to any infants whatfoever ; whicfi "Various apprehenfions beiRg feconded v/ith prad:ices according thereto, as in part they already are, and are like to be more, mufl: needs, if noc timely re- medied, beget fuch differences as will be difpleafing to the Lord, and offenfive to others, and danger- ■oww teen to put out the eye of faith, reafon and fenfe, at once. To which Mr. Cotton anfwers, " the cafes of religion wherein tvg *' alU-Tv civil magiftrates to be judges, arc fo fundamental and f * palpable, that no magiftrate ftudious of religion in the fear of 5' God, bat if he have any fpiritual difcerning, he cannot but ** judge of fuch grofs corruptions as unfufferable in religion.— *' Bat for fuch magiftrates as are merely natural and Pagan, ** though Chriftians be bound to fubjeifl themfelvcs to them with •' patieice ; yet fuch magiltrates ought to forbear the cxercife " of cheir power, either in procetling or punilhing matters of *' religion, iiil they have learned fo much knowledge of the *' tru;h, as may enable therp to oifcern of things that differ." Tevet^aped,^ jci, 102. In reply to which Mr. William* fays, " O the raiferable allowance which matter Cotton hath " brought the Kings and governors of the world unto ! IVt al^ *' loiu them ^0 judge in Juch fundament aL, &c.— The magiftrate f muft wait at their gates for their poor alh'wance : They ihall ** ^W^/, and they fhall nox. judge ; thev ^all judge that which. ** is grofs and palpable, enough to hora the people in Jlaveryy *' and Xoforci them to facrifice to the prieji's b^lly ; but the more **■ fublime and nicer tnyjienes ihey muft nor judge or touch, but *' attend upon the tables of t\\t priejis infallibility." Williams's '* Reply, p. 152 " If Chriit Jefus have left fuch po\yer with " the civil rulers of the world, for the eftablilhing, governing, *' and reforming his church, what is become of his care and "■ love, wifdem and faichfulncfs, fmce in all ages fmce h€ left " the earth, for the general, he hath left her deftitute of fuch f* qualified princes and governors, and in the courfe of his *' provid^snce furnifhed her with fuch, whom he knew would be " as fit as lAioivts to protect aud feed his fheef and people !" p- 202. lip HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS g«age, but it never intended thereby to reftrain the lynod in the manner of their proceeding; nor to hinder them, bwt that they might firft acquaint the churches with their conclufions, and have their af- fent to them, before they did prefent them to the Court. *' This matter was tv/o Lord's-days in agitation ■with the church in Bofton, before they could be brought to any comfortable concluGon ; but on a ie-<5lur€ day intervening, Mr. Norton, teacher of the church at Ipfwich, was procured to fupply the place at Bofton, where was a great audience ; and the fob^ecQ: then handled was, Mofes and Aaron kiffing each other in the mount of God. — On the next Lord's-day, after much debate in Bofton church, it \vas agreed by the vote of the major part, that the elders and three of the brethren fliould be lent to the fynod J/* This account from one of their noted minifters, may give us confiderable light about the aftings of that day. He informs us that the fynod did not meet till near winter, when after afeffion of fourteen 4ays, they adjourned to June iS, 1647-, and that fummer proving fickly §, they v/ere forced to ad- journ again. But on Auguft 16, 1648, they met, and com pleated the Cambridge platform ; the laft article of which fays, " if any church, one or more, fhall grow fchifmatical, rending itfelf from the communion of other churches, or Ihall walk incorrigibly or obftinately in any corrupt i(vay of their own, contrary to the rule of the ■uord -, in fuch cafe the magiftrate is to puc ifofth his coercive power, as the mattei* fhall require.** Which principle the Baptifts and others felt X Hubbard. S The celebrated Mr. Hooker, rainifter of flartford, died July 7, 1647. [i04^.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. ipt felt the cruel' effdfbs of for mawy years affer. A claufe was alio inferted at the end oi their tenth chapter, that no church afl can be confummatcd without the confent of both elders and brethren ; which infiplicitiy gives minifters a power to negative the churches adts, and which many in later times hjye contended for^ though that vv-ould give thcin fuch a lordly jxDwer over the church, as chief judges in the ftate are not allowed to have in the executive courts of our nation. But as to bapiifm, tliough the order for calling the fynod aflerted that mod minifters b>o baptize the grandchildren of church members, yet that affertion was fo far from truth, that thofe who " laboured much to have this prin- '* ciple declared and aflerted in the platform," could not effecfl it becaufc of " many worthy men §." Mr. Hooker had publifhed his teftimony, wherein as he aflerted, " that children as children have no right to bapcifm, fo that it belongs not to any predeceflcrs cither nearer or farther oft removed from the nexc parents to give right of this privilege to their chil- dren f:"' Mr. Thomas Shepard, paflor of the church where this fynod met, had alio publicly afk- ed what members every particular vifible church ought to confift of? and anfwered, that *' Chrift be- *' ing the head of every particular church, and it his •' body, hence none are to be members of the " church but fuch as are members of Chrifl: by ** faith." And though he obferves that hypocrites d© fometimes creep iu^ yet he fays, *' if they could '* have been known to be fuch, they ought to be " kept out ; and when they are known they areor- *' derly tobecaftout*." And there was ftill more re- gard paid to this firft principle of the New- England churdics, § Magnalk, b. iv. p. 176. t Siirvey of Church Difcipline, part 3, p. 13. • Fixft Principles of the Oracles ef God, p. 25, 26. 19?. HISTORY or the BAPTIStS churches, than could confill with the admifllon of pcrfons to bring their children to baptifm, who were *' not found fie" for the other ordinance. It may be proper now to take a further view of the affairs of Mr. Gorton and his company. Upon their being releafed and banilhed, as I have related, they went to Rhode-Ifland, and from thence over to Narraganfet, where, on April 19, 1644, they procured a deed from the fachems, whereby they re- iigned thcmfejves, people, lands, rights, inheri- tances and poffcflions, over unto the protection and government of king Charles j and appointed Sa- muel Gorton, and others their agents, to carry the fame to him. This was figncd by Paflicus, Canau- nicus and Maxan, and'witnefled by two Indians and three Englifh. The lofs of their great fachem Mi- antinomu lay very heavy upon their fpirits. Hub- bard fays he " was a very goodly perfonage, of tall *' ftature, fubtile and cunning in his contrive- " ments." In May came a letter to the rulers at Bodon, figned by Canaunicus, *' though y/ritten by fome of Gorton's company, to this effcdl, that they purpofed to make war upon Uncas, in revenge of the death of Miantinomu and others of their peo- ple, and marvelled that the Englifh Ihould be againft it; and that they had put thcmfelvcs under the government and proteftion of the King of Eng- land, and fo 'tvere become their fellow fubjedts, and therefore if any difference fhould fall between them, it ought to be referred to him ; profeffing withal their vvillingners to continue all friendly correfpon- dence with them. The General Court received another letter from Gorton and his company, to the like effc6t. ** Jone 23, news came that the Nar- raganlcts had killed fix of Uncas's men and five women, and had fcnt two hands and a foot to Pum- ham. [1646.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 191 ham, to engage him to join with them, but he chofe to Fwcep to the MaflTachuietts *. Contentions incrcaled fo much the next year that an extraordinary meeting of the Commiflioners of the United Cf)!onieswasc..l- ledat Boflon, on July 28, 1645, when they fent tl.ree mefTengers to the' Narraganfets, who on their retura brought a letter from Mr. Williams to theCommif- fioners, afluring them that " war would preiently break forth, and that the Narraganfet lachems had lately concluded a neutrality with Providence,; and the towns on Aquedneck ifland." Upon which they determined to raife an army of 300 men, in the following proportion, viz. 190 out of the Mafla- Chufetts, 40 out of Plymouth, 40 out of Conn':<5li- cut, and 30 out of New-PIaven colonies. For- ty were raifcl immediately, and fent away under the CO nmand of Lieutenant Humphry Atherton, to proted Uncas, till Capt. Mdfon fhould meet him there with the weftern forces, who were then to pro- teed to me^t the remainder of the forces from the eaftward, in Narraganfer, under the command of Edward Gibbons, Mjjor General. After which Go- vernor Winthrop informe^d the Commiirioners^ *' that fmce Miantinomu's death the Narraganfet fa- chems by meflengers fent himaprtfenr, ejt^;ieffing their defire to keep peace with the Erglifh, butde- firingtc^make war with Uncas for ih--'ir fachem*s d.-a h." 1 heprefentwas aboUu tie value of 1 5 [Oiin 's in wampum, but hcrefufed to receive it upon thofe terms. The Commiflloners concluded to take the prefent into their hands, and thereupon ft-nt Cap- tain Harding and Mr. Wilbore to thofe fachtms, Vho were to take Benedict Arnold with them, and inform them that their prefent v/as returned and noc accepted, unlefs they would be at peace with Uncas C C 89 f WLnihrop— Hubbard 194 HISTORY OF the BAPTISTS as well as the Englifli ; but if faid fachcms would come with them to Bofton, they fhoiild have liberty fafely to come and return without molellation, to treat of peace, though deputies in their ftead would not now do. The meflengers returning brought back the prefent, and informed the Commiflioners that " tliey found not Benedid Arnold at Providence, " and heard that he durft not adventure himfelf " again amongft the Narraganfet Indians without a " fufRcient guard. They alfo undcrftood that Mr. " Williams, fent for by the Narraganfet fachems, *' was going thither, wherefore they acquainted him *' with their melTage, fhewed him their inftruftions, *' and made ufe of him as an interpreter." Fie prevailed with PafHcus and others to go to Bofton, and move'd the meflengers to write and acquaint Captain Mafon of the profpe<5l there was of peace ; which laft article the Commiflioners cenfured them for, as going beyond their inftruftions. The Eng- lifli demanded 2000 fathoms of wampum to pay the cofl;s of this expedition, and for other damages ; which the Indians were compelled to yield to, and to give hoftages till it was paid ; and fo articles of peace were drawn up and figned between them. After which the Commiflioners drew up a for- mal declaration, to jufl:ify their proceedings in faid ■warf. The Indians were far from being eafy under thefe tilings i and in Auguft, 1648, about 1000 Indians from various parts were colle<5led in Connedicut, with 300 guns among them ; and it was reported that they were hired by the Narraganfets to fight with Uncas. The magiftratcs of Hartford fent three horfemeri + Records of the United Colonics. MaffacluifcUs Hiftory, tol. 3,p. 138— 145. [i64(S.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 195 h'orfemen to enquire what they defigned, and to Jet them know that if they made war with him the Englifli muft defend him, upon which they difpcrf- , ed. When the Commiffioners met at Piimouth the next month, they ordered four men to befent to the Narraganfets, '* with inftrudlions how to treat with them, both concerning their hiring other In- dians to war upon Uncas, and alfo about the tri^ bute of wampum that was behind. Captain Ather- ton and Captain Prichard undertook thefervice, and going to Mr. Williams, they procured the fachems to be fent for"; but they, hearing that many hnrfe- mcn were come to take them, fliifted for them- fclves : Paflicus fled to Rhode-Ifland ; but foon af- ter they were, by Mr. Williams's means, delivered of their fears, and came to the meflengers as they were defired, and denied their hiring the Mohawks to war againil Uncas, though they owned that they had fent them a prefent §. Gorton, Holden and Greene, went to England to carry the Narraganfet's furrendry of ihemfelvea and lands, as weil as their own complaints, to the King-, but found him not able to help either him- felf or them. However, they publilhed. their cafe and a narrative of their luflerings, in 164.5^ under the title of Simplicity'* s Defence agaivft feven-headed Policy. They alfo applied themielves to the Com- miffioners that the Parliament had appointed over the affairs of the plantations, and at length obtained from them the following letter to the authority ia the Maffachufetts colony, viz. " We being efpecially intruded, by both houfes of Parliament, with ordering the affairs and govern- ment of the Englilh plantations in America, have C c 2 fome § Canaunicus died a verv old man, on Tune 4, 1648. Hub- ifg6 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS fame months fince rece'ived a complaint from Mr," G Majefty. We have coniidered that they be Englilh, that the forcing of them to find oiu new places of refidence will be very chargeable, difficult and un- certain, and therefore, upon the whole matter, do pray and require you to permit and fufFer the peti- tioners, and all the late inhabitants of Narraganfet Bay, with their families, and luch as fhall hereaf-- ter join with them, freely and quietly to live and plant upon the Shawomet, and fuch ether part of the faid trad of land, Vj^ithin the bounds mentioned in our faid charter, on which they have formerly planted and lived, without extending your juriidic- tion to any part thereof, or otherwife diiquieting them in their confciences or civil peace, or inter- rupting them in their poffefiions, until iuch time as we (hall have received your anlwcr to their clatn in point of title, and you Ihali thereupon have received our further order thcrem. And in cafe any others, Jincethc petitioners addrefs to England, have taken poflfefilon of any part of the lands heretofore enjoyed by the petitioners, or any their afibciates, you arc to caufe them that are newly poflelfed as aforefaid to be removed, that this order may be fully performed. And, till our further order, neither the petitioners are to enlarge their plantations, nor are any others to be fuffered to intrude upon any part of the Narra- gaiifet Bay ; and if they Ihall be found hereafter to abufe this favour, by any a6t tending to difturb your rights, we fhall exprefs a due fenle thereof, fo as to teftify our care of your honorable prore(5li( n and encouragement. In order to the effc<5ting of this refolution we do alfo require, that you fuffcr the (aid Mr* Gorton, Mr. Holden, Mr, Greene, and their 19S HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS their company, with their goods and ncceflaries, to pafs through any part of that territory which is under your jurifdiftion, toward the faid tract of land, with- out moleftation, they demeaning themfelves civilly, any former fentence of cxpulfion otherwifc notwiih- flanding. We ihall only add, that to thefe orders of ours we fhall expeft a conformity, not only from yourfelvcs, but from all other governments and plantations in New-England whom it may concern. And fo commending you to God's gracious protec- tion, we reft your loving friends. " From the Governor in Chief, loving Admiral, and Commiflioners for foreign plantations, fitting at Wcftminfter, 1 5 May, 1 646. *' To our loving friends the Governor, Deputy- Governor and AfllPcants of the MafTachufetts plan- tations, in New- England. Warwick^ Governor and Admiral, Norihumberlandt John Holland., Nottingham^ H. Vane*^'' ^c. With this order and refolution Mr. Gorton and his friends returned to Bofton, where they were in motion to apprehend them, till upon fliewing the ftate's order they were permitted to return to Shawo- met, which, in honor to their friend the Admiral, they called Warwick. Sundry of them lived there to old age, and were confidera'oly improved in the government of the colony. As there was no particular form of government, nor appoinrment of officers in their charter, it took a length of time to fettle upon a method that was agreeable to the majority of the inhabitants. Their lirft General AfTembly met at Portfmouth on May 19, 1647, when Mr. John Cogglliall was chofen Prefident, Mr. Roger Williams Afiiftant for Provi- dence, Mr. John Sanford for Portfmouth, Mr. William • Providence Recordi, [1647] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 199 William Coddingdon for Newport, and Mr. Randal Holden for Warwick. Mr. William Dyre was chofen recorder. They agreed upon a body of laws, chiefly taken from the laws of England, wixh the addition of a few fuited to their particular cir- cumftances. They alfo ordered, *' ijiat forafmuch *' as Mr. Roger Williams hath taken great pains, " and expended much time, in obtaining the charter " for this province, of our noble Lords and Gover- " nors, be it enabled and eftabliflied, that in regard •' to his fo great trouble, charges and good endea- " vours, we do freely give and grant unto the faid *' Mr. Roger Williams an hundred pounds, to be *' levied out of the three towns, viz. fifcy pounds " out of Newport, thirty pounds out of Fortf- *' mouth, twenty pounds out of Providence-, which " rate is to be levied and paid in by the laft of No- *' vember." The form of government which they came int® was thus to eleft a Prefident and four AfTiftants an- nually, who had the executive power, were judges in the courts of law, and kept the peace. An Al^ fembly of fix CommifTioners, or Reprefentatives fromisach town, made laws and ordered their general affairs ; but their laws muft be fent to every town, to be deliberately confidered in their town meetings, from whence the clerk was to fend an account of their votes to the general recorder §, and if the majority of the towns approved the law, it was con- firmed, if not, it was difannuUed. The AfTembly chofc yearly a general recorder and general ferjeant ; which are only other names for a fecretary and fheriff. In each town fix perfons were yearly chofen, who were called the town-council, who had the powers of a Court § In May, 1660, they enaftcd that the return of their votes to the recorder mud be made in three months. 200 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS Court of Probate, of granting licences to inn-keep- ers and retailers, and rhe care of the poor. Ptrfons of almoft all fciuiments and tempers had reforted to this new colony, and various conten- tions and parties had appeared, which were not eafi- ly compoled and reconciled ; but toward the ob- taining of fuch a cefirable end, the following cove- nant was drawn and figned at Providence, viz. *' confidering the great mercy afforded unto us, in this liberty thus to meet together, being denied to many of our countrymen in mod parts, efpccially in our ppor native country, now deploring their diflreficd condition in moft lad and bloody calamities : That ingratitude and dilacknowledgments for fa/ours re- ceived, arejufl: caufes for the deprivation of themj together with home divifions and home confpiracies,- the ruination of familieSj towns and countries : Moreover, thf* many plots and prefent endeavours at home and abroad, not only to difturb our peace and liberties, but utterly to root i^p both root and branch of this our being -, fhat government held forth through love, union and order, although by few in number and mean in condition, yet (by experience) hath withftood and overcome mighty cppdiers ; and above all, the feveral unexpected deliverances of this poor plantation, by that mighty providence who is ftill able to deliver us, through love, union and order : Therefore being fenfible of thele great and weighty premifes, and now met to- gether to confult about our peace and libertyi whereby our families and pofterity may ftill enjoy thefe favours ; and that we may publicly declare unto ai the free difcharge of allour confcienees and duties, whereby it may appear upon record that we jre not wilfully oppofite, nor carelefs and {ef]ie- lefs, ar,d thereby the means of our own and otherj [1646.] tiT KEW-ENGLAND/ aot turn and deftrudion j and efpecially in teftimony of our fidclicy and cordial afFedion unto one dmocher here prefent, that fo there may be a current placable proceeding, wedofaichf-ullyand unanimoufly, by this our fubfcription, promiie unto each other to keep Unto thefe cnfuing particulars. Fird, that the foundation in love may appear among Us, what caufes of difference have heretofore been givenj cither by wrord or mifbchaviour, in public or private, • concerning particular or general affairs, by any q£ us here preicnt, not to mention or repeat them in the aflfembly, but thar love jflijii cover the multi- tude of them in the grave of oblivion. Secondlyj that union may proceed from love, we 60 proraife to keep conltant unto thofe fevei-al en-ragements made by us, both unto our town and colony, and that to the uttermoft of our powers and abilities to maintain our lawful rights and privileges, and to uphold the government of this plantation. Alf<4 that love may appear in union, we defire to aban- don all cauflefs fears and jealoufies of one iinotheri fcif-feeking and ftriving one againll another, only aiming at the general and particular peace and uniort of this town and colony. Laftiy, for our more or- derly proceeding in this affembly, whereby love and union may appear in order, if in owr confultations differences injudgment fhall arife, then moderately in order, through argumentation, to agitaie the fame ; canfiJering the cauie how far it may be hurt- ful, or conducing unto our union, peace and liber- ty, and accordingly acl, not fiher the will or perlbn of any, but unto the juftice and righteoufnefs of the caufe. Again, if fuch caufe fliall be prefented V/herein fuch difficulties fluall appear, that evident arguments cannot be given for prefent fat:isfaf all or the greater part of them, end all, and ^(:t x\it wtiole into an unanimous pofture and order, and iec 2o6 HISTORY OF the BAPTISTS let them fee a cenfure upon any that fliall oppofe their fent'cnce. One log, without your gentle help, I cannot ftir ; it is this : How fhall the minds of the towns be known ? How Ihali the perfons chofen be called ? Time and place appointed in any expedi- tion ? For Hiyfelf I can thankfully embrace the help of Mr. Coddington or Mr. Clarke, joined or apart, but how many are there who will attend (as Gur diftempers are) to neither ? It is, gentlemen, in the power of the body to require the help of any of her members, and both King and Parliament plead, that in extraordinary cafes they have been forced to extraordinary ways for common iafety. Let me be friendly conftrued, if (for expedition) i am bold to be too too forward in this fervice, and to fay, that if within twenty days of the date hereof, you pleafe to fend to my houfe, at Providence, the name of him whom you pleafe to nominate, at your de- fire I w-'ill acquaint all the perfons chofen with place and time, UBto which in your name I fliall ckfire their meeting withrn ten days, or thereabouts, after the receipt of your letter. I am your mourn- ful and unvivorthy Roger Williams*." Thi$ addrels had fuch cffed, that Mr. Wil- liams was received to a6l as Prefident of the colony, till their eieflion at Warwick, May 22, 1649, vJien Mr. John Smith was chofen Prefident, and Thoiyas Olney, John Sanford, John Clarke, and Samuel Gorton, Affiftants -, Philip Sherman, recorder J Richard Knight, ferjeant, and John Clarke, treafurcr. Mr. Williams was chofen " to take ** a view of tlie records delivered into the Court by ** Mr. William Dyre," And they made a law that if a Prefident fliould be elcded, and fliould refufe to fcrve, he fhould be fined ten pounds j and if an Affiftant * Providence Records. [1651.] IN NEV/ -EN GLAND. 207 Afliftant refufed, five pounds. Alio " ordered that a melTenger be fenc to Pumham and the other la- chem, to require them to come to this Court; and that letters be fent to Benedifl Arnold and his father, and the red of Pawtuxer, about their lubjeding to this colony." Mr. Dyrc again prefented his com- plaints againft Mr. Coddington, but they were de- ferred. At the AfTcmbly at Newport, May 23, 1650, a frefli order was fent to the towns, to colledt and pay what they owed to Mr. Williams for the char- ter, within twenty days. William Arnold and William Carpenter, inftead of fubmitting to the government of their own colony, went again and entered complaints againft fome of their neighbours CO the Malfachufetts rulers, and they fent a citation to them to come and anfwer the fame in their courts, dated from Bofton, June 20, 1650, figned by Ed- ward Rawfon, fecretary f. Such obfauftors of good government were they who have made a great: noife in the world about the diforders of Rhode- Ifland colony I In 1651, Mr. Coddington caufed a terrible difficulty among them, as will be feen in its place, though another affair muft be attended to iirfl:. CHAP. IV. An Account of Mr. Clarke and Mr, Holmes, and of their Sufferings at Bofton in 1651. IT has already been feen that Mr. John Clarke was a principal indrumentin procuring Rhode-Ifiand for a people who were j erfccuted elfewhere, and that he t Providence Record*. fo8 HISTOUt OF THE BAPTISTS he was the firfl religious minifter on the ifland, and fcrviccable alfo in their civil governmenc ; yet ail this did not -prevent his being nnofl abufively treated this year in Bofton, with two other members of his church. The bcft accoufit of Mr. Obadiah Holmes that I have fcen, is in a manufcript which he left to his children, that a gentleman of his pofterity has fa- voured me with ; an extradb of which I will give in his own words. Says he, *' First, I mull remember my honored parents, ^ho were faithful in their generation, and of good report among men, and brought up their children tenderly and honorably. Three fons they brought up at the univerfity in Oxford ; but the moft of their care was to inform and inftruft them in the fear of the Lord *, and to that end gave them much good counfel, carrying them often before the Lord by earned prayer ; but I, the moft rebellious of all, did neither hearken to counfel nor any inftruftion, for from a child 1 minded nothing but folly and va* nity, and as years did grow on, and wifdom fhould have taken place, then the wifdom I had was wife to do evil, but to do well had no knowIedge.-^As days and ftrength incr&afed, even fo did my tranfgref- fions, fo that I became hardened in fin, not only to be drawn into it by others, but was as forward to draw others into evil as my fellows— being come to that height of wickednefs that I did think it belt when I could do the moft wickednefs, and began to think that it was but afoolifh thing to talk of God, that ihould bring man to judgment — Continu- ing in fuch a courfe for four or five years, and then began to bethink what counfel my dear parents had given me, many a time vcith tears and prayers ', my rebellion to my honored parents then looked me in open [x65i.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. ^09 open face, and my dearrhother being fick, it Rruck to me my diibbedientafts, which forced me to con- ffAs the lame to her. Atter this i began to go to hsar the word preached, but every Yvord was againil me, and left me without hope of mercy ; and lome- times pafTing over a field called the Twenty Acres, ftood ftill and laid, oh ! that I might iie in hell buc fo many years as here aregrafs! Ic would have an end.— Xhat word was ev«r before mc, the wicked Jhali be turned to heU— where the 'worm dieth noi^ ^c. And yet at this time Satan tells me, it is bed to put fuch thoughts out of mind, aiid take pleafarc v/hile thou art here, and return to thy former merry companions and friends ; which I did for a time j but the worm in the confcience did ftiU gnaw. I went to hear the mofl- noted men I could, but found itftiil againil me •, yet often heard them lay, I mulfc repent and be humbled, and mult pray, and thea ihbuld find mercy ; but mull confefs fins and forfake them ; which brought me to a reiolution, in the molt public way or com*pany I could find, ever fd to do ; and had done it through ignorance, had not R friend advifed me to the contrary, and that upoa good grounds. Buc he alio pu: me upon prayer and hearing. I then fell to prayer and duties, but found no reft or quiet in my foul 5 for then Satan let fly at me, and told me, it was too late to return^ for there was no hope for me. I anfwer-ed hirn, andl did inllance fcveral of my wicked companions God had fhown mercy unto a little before. He an- fwered, remember thou fcorned, mocked and derided them 5 yea faying the devil v/as in them, they were all mad, and become fools -, and withal he told me X had read and heard that there was a fin that hever could be forgiven, the which fin I had ccmmitted- With this affauh he fooled sne a long time ; evea 2CO HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS my life was a burden to me. Oh ! the knives, ropes, trees, coal-pits, can witnefs the many cfcapes of them, as one in a moft undone, defperate condi- tion, as one appointed to eternal deftru^ion. Th^ perplexity of mind brought me to great weaknefs ia body, and yet for eafe and comfort I turned over every (lone, hearkened to all my acquaintance and friends, as to leave off my old ways, and all my old companions, which I bad done before ; but all this while I never confidered fm according to the true nature of it, as being loathfome to the Lord, but as it brought judgment upon me ; yet was 1 fearful to fm, and began to love to read the fcrip- tures, and frequent prayer and other duties, and. took delight among profeffors that were of the ftridlcft fort, eafily feeing the grofs evil and danger of the formal minifters and profefTors, and fo that conformity v/as only fupcrftinon and a name : Yet for all that 1 had no reft in my foul, though I was in a manner as ftrift as any. As I was enlarged in ibrrow for fin, deep in humiliation, enlarged in prayer, or filled with tears, my comfort came in and encreafed ; but as I failed in them, fo my for- rovvs renewed -, and when I looked over my beft performances found them full of fm. Oh ! then the fears, doubts and queftioning of my own eftatc 1 I judged it was all done in hypocrify, which fin my ibul did then abhor. In this fad and doubtful dare 1 continued very long, yea many yeai's. And al- though I could ipeak comfortably to others, yet had often much difquiet within my foul -, my comforts were according to my enlargements. Not long af- ter this there Vvas in me a great love to the Lord j but alas 1 I was deceived by my own heart, and the minifters who told me there muft be fuch and fuch ajove to him., as to keep to him in duty, and to par: [i6si.] ■ iN^ NEW-ENGLAND, m part with all foi-him, but they left me fhort of urt- derftanding him as I flicJiuId, and my felfifh heart was willing to love him or part with all for him, yea my dear honored father, brethren and friends, houfe and lands, and my own native country, for time, and to avoid thofe popifli relics of the bifliops, and that filthy rabble, and to fcparatc from them, and all thofe that nnention them •, and was fully known in my own country, and adventur- ed the danger of the feas to come to New- England, where I tried all things in feveral churches, and for a time thought I had made a good choice or change : But in truth it little differed from former times, and my fpirit was like a wave toffed up and down, as not yet come to dig fo deep as I fliould, or to confi- der the only ground of a well-grounded hope, which God at lafl brought me to confider, which is, his own love to poor lofi aan, which firji was in his cmn fecret council and purpofe before man waSy and revealed /# man in his time ; and that there is no pre- parative neceffary to obtain Chrift, nor any thing to deferve that love, or to merit tlie fame. And no- thing could ftay or fatisfy my foul till I came to con- fider why, when and upon whom he laid fm and tranfgreflion, namely, on the Lord, and on him alone. And looking at me when a rebel, an enemy, yea dead \n fin and trefpafifes, yea in my blood, he then faid, live, through the blood of Chrift be cleanfed, and in him be loved, for his own love to poor man, and that the eledion may obtain it, for he knows who are his ; but his good will is manifefted before they have done either good or evil, fo that neither good forefeen fhall prevail, nor evil original or adual Qiall hinder, but that free grace may have its free courfe j but manifeftcd when he givcth faith to feelieve the promife of the Father in giving a full E e 3 ' difcharge 312 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS' difcharge to the foul, by taking full fatisfaflion from his only Son, who became fin for us, who knew no fin, that v/e niight be made the righteoufnefs of God through him ; and fo remiflion and free par- don is granted forth, tl^v^t whofoever believes ia him Ihiill not perllh, but have everlafting life ; and all thole thatfo come to him he will no ways caft away. And when God had given me to fee in any ineafure this love of his, then and not till then could I give over working for life, and to live in ■working. But at laft he caufed me to fay, that from life I mud work, and then all my former turnings and returnings muft come to nought, yea al! my rigliteoufnefs as filthy rags, and to account all as dung, fo I might obtain Chrift •, or rather thac I might be accepted by him, and fo removed me from the covenant of works to the covenant of grace,, even that new covenant of life alone by him- I'elf, who paid fodear a price, as to lay down his own blood to wafh, cleanfe and purify the foul, and to redeeni both foul and body to fcrve the Lord ; and that is now the life I live by faith in the Son of God ; and this faith caufes works of faith, or ra- ther fruits that flow from that root, fo that now love hath conftrained me to yield myfelf to live to him, as to a king to rule me by his holy*l£ws and com- rnandments, and as to an only prophet to teach and tnftrufl me, both to know and to do his holy wiU, and as my only chief prieft to offer a facritice for nie, which he did even for all, whereby my poor imperfeft prayers and all other fervices became ac- cepted of the Father ; and this love, (lied abroad in. my heart, wrought in me a reftlefs defire to know his will, that I might fhew forth the praifes and glory of hinij that had called me by his grace." ^ '■ A? [i(55i.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. ^13 As the fentiments of the ancient Baptifls in this country have been grofly mifreprefented, and as Mr. Holmes was no Imali fufferer in ihat caule, I thought it expedient to let the reader thus far hear him fpeak for hiinlelf, or tell his own ex- perience and ideas about the nature of true reli'^ gion. When he firft can:ie to this land he joined with thechuch in Salem, with whom he walked fix or fcven years, and then about the year 1645 was difmified to the Congregational church in Seaconck (Rehoboth) newly lectkd there, under the miniflry of Mr. Samuel Newman; and he continued in that relation about four years, till an unrighteous a<5t, as he judged, of the minifter and part of th^ church, for which they would not give fatisfaflion, caufed Mr. Holmes and feveral more to withdraw, and fet up a meeting by themklves, and being con- vinced that the Baptift's way was right, a number of them were baptiied, I fuppofe by the aforefaicl Mr. Clarke, for they joined to his church. After this Mr. Newman pronounced a fentence of ex- "communication againft Mr. Holmes, upon which he and two more were prefented to the General Court at Plymouth, June 4, 1650, where they met with four petitions againft them, one from their own town with thirty-five hands to it, one from the church at Taunton, one from all the miniflers but two in Plymouth colony, and a fourth from the Court at Bofton, under their fecretaries hand, urg- ing Plymouth rulers to fupprefs them fpeedily -f. Here we may obferve the great difference be- tween our Plymouth fathers, and theMaiTachufetts. With all thefe ftimulations to feverity, the Court of Plymouth only charged them, to defifl from their practice, f. Clarke's Narrative, p. 18, 25, Plymouth Records. %X4. HISTORY OF tHfe BAPTISTS ptAdlct^ which others had taken fuch offence at, undone of them yielding thereto, the others, viz. Obadiah Holmes and Jofeph Tory, were bound liver to the next October Court, but were not fo illuch as bound to their good behaviour, nor any Other fureties required, only they were bound " one "' for another in the fum of ten pounds a piece," for their appearance at faid Court. " At a General Court holdcn at New-Plymouth the fecond of Odober, 1650, before William Brad- ford, gentleman. Governor, Thomas Prince, Wil- liam Collyare, Gapt. Miles Stand:(h, Timothy Hc- therly, William Thomas, John Allen, gentlemen, Afllftants, [and a Houfe of Deputies.] Prefentment by the Grand Inqueft. . O<5lober 2cond, 1650. *' Wee whofe names are hecr underwritten, being the grand inquefi:, doe prefent to this Court John Hazell, Mr. Edward Smith and his wife, Obadiah Holmes, Jofeph Tory and his wife, and the wife of James Man, William Deuellandhis wife, of the towne of Rehoboth, for the continuing of a meet- ing uppon the Lord's-day from houfe to houfe, con- trary to the order of this Court, enabled June 12, 1650. Thomas Roejnson, HENRYToMsoN,"&:c.tothenumberof 14 f. This is an exad copy of their prefentment, but no fentencc appears upon record againft them. How different is this from the actings of Boflon Court the next year*! For on July 19, 1651, Mcf- ficurs i" Plymouth Records. • Mr. Hazel wrote to his coufin Hubbard, of Newport, June a^,, 1651, that they were then threatened with a fine of IDS. a (iay for every perfon who fet up any other meeting, and that ^heir abfsnce from .the town meeting -the day before ihould l!rove [1651.] m NEW-ENGLAND. ai^ fieurs Clarke, Holmes and Crand^l, " being the- reprelentatives of the church in Newport, upon the requeft of William Witter, of Lynn, arrived there, he being a brother in the church, who, by reafci^ of his advanced age, could not undertake io great a journey as to vifit the church §.'* He lived about two miles out of town, and the next being the Lord's-day, they concluded to fpend it in religious worlhip at his houfc ; and Mr. Clarke fays, *^ finding by fad experience, that the hour of temptatiorA fpoken of v,?as coming upon all the world (in a mora eminent way) to try them that are upon the earth, I fell upon the confideration of that promife, made to thofe that keep the word of his patience, which prefent thoughts, while in confcience toward God, and good will unto his faints, I was imparting t© my companions in the houfe where I lodged, and to four or five ftrangers that came in unexpeded after 1 had begun, opening and proving what is meant by the hour of temptatios, what by the word of his patience, and their keeping it, and how he that hath the key of David (being the promifer) will keep thofe that keep the word of his patience from the hour of temptation : While I fay 1 was yet fpeaking, there comes into the houfe where we were two conftablcs, who, with their clamorous tongues, made an interruption in my difcourle, and more uncivilly difturbed us than the purfuivants of ehe old Eiiglilli bilhops were vYont to do, telling us that prove Goftly. Samuel Huhhard's manufcript . Mr. Hazel died foon afcer, near Bofton ; the reft of them moved to NeH-poj t, where I find that Edward Smith, Jofeph Torry, James Man and William Deuall, were admitted freemen JMay 17, 165V Smith was afterward a magiftrate, and Torry raany years fe- cretary of the colony, as well as a teacher in Mr. Ciarke'a church, in which Mr. Holmes alfo minifter«d for niany years. S Newport church papers. si6 HISTORY OF the BAPTISTS that they were come with authority from the magi- ilrate to apprehend us. I then defired to fee th^ authority by which they thus proceeded, whcreupori they plucked forth their warrant, and one of them with a trennibhng hand (as conTcious he might have: been better employed) read it to us j the iubftance whereof was as foUoweth r ^'' BT 'virtue hereof , ycu are required to go to t'he houfe of William Witter^ and fo to fearcb from houfe to hcufei for -certain erroneous perfons^ being Jlr angers, and them to apprehend ^ andinfafe cujiodyto keep, and to-incrrcw morning by eight o'clock to bring before me^ Robert Bridges.'* " When he had read the warrant, I told them, friends, there fhali not be, I truft, the lead appear- ance of a refifting of that authority by which yoii come unto us j yet I tell you, that by virtue hereof you are not fo ftriflly tyed, but if you pleaie you may fuffer us to make an end of what we have be- gun, fo may you be witnefles either to or againft the faith and order vvhich we hold. To which they an- fwered they could not ; then faid we, notwithftand- ing the warrant, or any thing therein contained, you inay. — They apprehended us, and carried us away to the ale-houfe or ordinary, where at dinner one of them faid unto us, gentlemen, if you be free I will carry you to the meeting \ to whom it was re- plied, friend, had we been free thereunto we had prevented all this, neverthelcfs we are in thy handy and if thou wilt carry us to the meeting, thither will we go J to which he anfwered, then will I carry you ;o the meeting •, to this we replied, if thou forcefl" us unto youraffembly, then fhall we be conflrained to declare ourfeives, that we cannot liold commu- nion with them. The conftable anfwered, that is nothing , to me } I have not power to command you to [i6st.] IN NEW-ENGLAND.- 217 to rpeak when you come there, or to be filent. To this I again replied, fincc we have heard the word of falvacion by Jefus Chrill, we have been taught, as thofe thaz j^rjl trujted in Cbrijl, to be obedient unto him both byword and deed j wherefore if viC be forced to your meeting, we Ihall declare our diffent from yoH both by word and gefture. After all this, when he had confulted with the man of the houfe, he told us he would carry us to the meeting ; fo to their meeting we were brought, while they were at their prayers, and uncovered ; and at my firli flep- ihg over the threlhold I unveiled myfelf, civily fa- luted them, and turned into the feat I was appoint- ed to, put on my hat again, and fat down, opened my book, and fell to reading. Mr. Bridges being troubled, commanded the conftable to pluck off our hats, which he did, and where he laid mine there I let it lie, until their prayers, finging and preaching was over ; after this I ftood up, and ut- tered myfelf in thefe words following : I defire as a ftranger to propcfe a few things to this congrega- tion, hoping in the propofal thereof I fhall com- mend myfelf to your confciences, to be guided, by that wifdom that is from above, which being pure is alfo peaceabl'e, gentle, and eafy to be entreated ; and therewith made a flop, expelling if the Prince of peace had been amongthem,! fhould have had a fuitable anfwer of peace from them. — Their paftor •anfvvered, we will have no objedlions ifgainft what is delivered. To which! anfwered, I am not about at prefent to make objedions againft what is deli- vered, but as by my gefture at my coming into your aflembl}', 1 declared my difient from yon, fo jeaft that fhould prove ofFenfive unto fome wiiom I •would not offend, I would now by word of mouth decjare the groands, which are thefe : Firfc, from 228 HISTORY Of THE BAPTISTS %ht confideration we are ftrangers each toother, and ib Itrangers to each other's inward (landing with re- fpeft to God, and fo cannot conj in and z6t in faith, and what is not of faith is fin. And in the fecond place, I could not judge that you are gatherr cd together, and walk according to the vilible or- der of our Lord ; which when 1 had declared, Mr. Bridges told me, I had done, and fpokp that for which I mult anfwcr, and fo commanded filence. When their meeting was done, the officers carried vs again to the ordinary, where being watched over that night, as thieves and robbers, we were the next morning carrFed before Mr. Bridges, who made our mittiiiuis, and km us to the prifon atBollon f; the words of the mittimus arc thefe : To t^e Keeper cf the Prifon at Bojlon. *' By virtue hereof you are required to take in- to your cuftody from the con liable of Lynn, or his Deputy, the bodies of John Clarke, Obadiah Irlolmes and John Crandal, and them to keep un- til the next county Court to be held at Bollon, that they may then and there anfwer to fuch complaints as may be alledged againft them ; for being taken by aconftableata private meeting atLynn, upon the Lord's-day, exercifmg among themfelvcs, to whom divers of the town repaired, and joined with them, and that in the time of the public exercife of the worfiiip of God •, as alfo for ofFenfively difturbing the peace of the congregition, at their coming into the public meeting in the time of prayer in the af- ternoon, nnd for faying and manifefting that the church in Lynn was not conflituted according to the order of our Lord, and for fuch other things as fliall be alledged againft tfiem, concerning their leduc- ing t It appears that fomehow they were permitted to icfct ?gain on Monday, and were fen; to prifon «n Tuefday, [i65z.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. ii^ ing and drawing others after their erroneous judg- ments and pratflices, ana for fufpicioa of having their hands in re-baptizing of one or more among us, as alfo for negleding or refufing to put in fufficienc fecuricy for their appearance at the faid Court. Hereof fail not at your peril. 22, 5, 51. Robert Bridges §." Om July 31, Mr. Clarke was brought before the Court, and fined twenty pounds, or to be Well whipt*, and the crimes he was charged with, befide what is above mentioned, were, that he met again the nexc day after his contempt, as they call it, of their pub- lic worfhip, "at the houfe of Wictersi and in con^ " tempt of authority, being th-en in the cuilody of *' the law, did tliere adminifber the l^cramcnt of ** the Lord's fupper to one excommunicated per- ** fon, to another under admonition, and to a third ** that was an inhabitant of Lynn, and not in fel- " lowfnip with any church, and yet upon anfwer iri '* open Court did affirm, that he never rc-baptized ** ^ny^'* &c. * And, fays Mr. Clarke, " none were able to turn to the law of God or nian by which we were condemned. At length the Governor ftepped Up, and told us we had denied infants baptifm, and being fomewhat tranfported^ told me^ I had delerv- ied death, and faid he would not have fuch tralH brought into their jurifdiclion ; moreover he faid.i *' you go up and dov/n^ and fecfetly infinuate into *' thofe that axe weak, but you cannot maintain it *' before our minifters; j^pu may try and difpute *' with them.*' To this I had niuch to replyi buc he commanded the gaoler to take. us away. So the next morning, having Id fair an opportunity, I made a motion to the Court in thefe words following : Ff2 Ta § Clarke's Narrative, p. i — .( . • Weal's Hiltory of Nev-EjigiJind^ vdi 1, p; jrf; izo HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS ^0 the honorable Court ajjembkd at Bojlon. " Whereas it pledied this honored Court yefter- day to condemn the faith and order which 1 hold and pradife ; and after you had palicd your fen- tcnce upon nic for it, were plealed to exprefs, I could not maintain the fame againft your miniiler?., and thereupon publicly proffered me a difpute with them : Be pleafed by tbefe fcvr lines to under- fland, I readily accept it, and therefore defire yovi would appoint the time when, and the perfon with whom, in that public place v/here I was condemned, I might with freedom, and without moleftation of the civil power, difpute that point publicly, where I doubt not by the flrength of Chrift to make it good out of his lad will and teflamenr, unto which no- thing is to be added, nor from vthich nothing is to be diminifhfd. Thus dcfiting the Father of lights to fhine forth, and by his power :o expel the dark* nef?, I remain your weil-wifher, From the prilon, this (, 6, 51. John Clarke. ** This motion, if granted, I defire might be fubfcribed by their Secretary's hand, as an a6l of the fame Court by which we were condemned §." Tkis was prefented, and after much ado, one of the magiftratcs informed Mr. Clarke, that a difpu- tation was granted to be the next week, but on Ivlonday their minillers came together and made no fmall [lir about the matter, and near theclofe of the day the maglftrates fent for Mr. Clarke into their chamber, and queried with him about this mat- ter, and demanded of him whether he would difpute upon the things contained in his fen- icnce, and maintain his pradice, " for faid they, *' the Court fentenced you not for your judg' •' ment: and confcience, but for matter of ht\ *« and § Clarke's Narrative, p. 7. [x65i.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 'zzt " and prholc ', and oiU of the congregation at all rimes, \ipon all occafions, and in all places, as far as the jurifdidlion of his Lord extends, may, yea ought to walk as a child of light, juftifying wifdom with his ways-, and reproving folly, with the unfruitful works thereof, provided all this be Ihown out of a good converfaticn, as James fpeaks with meeknefs of wil- dom. 4. *^ 1 TESTtFV that no fach believer or fervant c^f Chrift Jefus hath liberty, much lefs authority, from his Lord, to fmite his fellow fervant, nor yet with outward force, of arm of flefh, to conRrain, or rellrain his Confciencc, no nor yet his outward man for confcience fake, or worfnip of his God, where injury is not offered to t^ie perfon, name or eflate of others, every man being fuch as ihall appear before ihe judgment feat of ChriO:, and mufl: give an ac- count ot hisnfelf to God, and therefore ought to be fully perfuaded in his own mind for what he Vindertakes, becaufe he that doubteth i-s damned if fie eat, and fo a'lfo if he aft, becaufe he doth not eat t-T aft in faith, and what is nor of taith is fin *.'* \Vk£n Mr. Cla-rke had thus freely given them his teflimcny, inftead of openly and fairly meeting him as they had talked of, to vindicate their proceedmgs, ihe ne^xt news that he hears from them is this : To the Keeper -cf the Prifon. *' Bv virtue hereof you are to releafe and ^ct at li*- berty t^e body of Mr. John Clarke, and this fliall be your dilchargefor fo doing. Given under my liand the nth cf the 6ch month, 1651. William Hibbins§." Great expeftations had been raifed in the coun- try of hearing thefe points difputed, and Mr. Clarke knowing * Narrative, p. 9, 10. % Narriti^ufy p. lo. Four ycars afcer Hibbins's wife v.at ivi-nneiil few a witch» '^ [1651.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 225 knowing well how they would try to turn all the bUme upon him, immediately drew up the follow- ing addrefs. '■'' Whereas through the indu'gency of tender hearted friends, without my confenc, and contrary to my judgment, the fentence and condemnation of the Court at Bofton (as is reported) have been ful- ly fatisfied on my behalf, and thereupon a warrant hath been procured, by which I am lecluded the place of my imprifonment, by reafon whereof I fee no other call for prefent but to my habitation, and to thofe near relations which God hath given me there ; yet left the caufe fhould hereby fufier, which I profels is Chrift's, I would hereby fignify, that if yet it fhail pleafe the honored magiilrates, or Gene- ral Court of this colony, to grant my former requeft under their Secretary's hand, I fhall chearfully em- brace it, and upon your motion fnaii, through the help of God, come from the ifland to attend it, and hereunto I have fubfcribed my name, nth 6, 51. John Clarice." This was the next morning feat to the magiftrates, who were met at the commencement at Cam-bridge, upon which it was noifed abroad that the motion was granted, and that Mr. Cotton was to be the man, and fays Mr. Clarke, " bcft of all approved *' of by myfeiffor that fame purpofe, he being the *' inventor and fupporter of that way in thefe pans *' wherein they walk." But a little before their lecture the next Thurfday he received the roilow- ing paper : Mr. John Clarh^ " We conceive you have mifreprefented the Qo- vernor's fpeech, in faying you were challenged to dif- pute with fome of our elders, whereas it was plainr ly cxprefled, that if you would confer with any of G g thenij tf2^ HISTORY or the B A P T I ST 3 them, they were able to faclsfy you, neither were you able to maintain your pradice to them by the word of God, all which we intended for your infor- mation and conviction privately ; neither were you enjoined to \vhat you were then counfelled unto •, nevertheleis if you are forward to difpute, and tha-t you v;ill move it yourfelf to the Court, or n'lagi- flrates about Bofton, we fliall cake order to appoint one who will be ready to anlwer your motion, you keeping dole to the queftions to be propounded by yourfelf, and a moderator fliall be appoinicd alfo to attend upon that fervice ; and whereas you defire you might be free in your difpute, keeping clofe to . the points to be difputed on^ without incurring damage by the civil juftice, obferving what hath been before written, it is granted j the day may be agreed, if you yield the premifes. loHN Endicott, Governor, Thomas Dudley, Dep. Governor, Richard Bellingham, William Hibbins, Increase Nowel." iith-f of the 6th, 1651. •' My anfwer followeth fuperfcribed. To the honored Governor of the Maffachufettg, and the reft of that honorable Society, thefe pvt- fent. JVorthy Senators^ *' I received a writing, fubfcribed with five of youfiiands, by way of anfwer to a twice repeated motion of mine before you, which was grounded as I conceive fufficiently upon the Governor's words in open Court, which writing of yours doth no way anfv/er my expeflation, nor yet that motion which I made j and whereas (waving that grounded mo- tion) t tt fcsras this fhould be the 12th, Xi€5i.] m NEW-'ENGLAN'D. 2-27 tion) you are pleafed to intimate, that if I were forv/ard to difpute, and would move ic myfelf to the Court, or magiftrates about Boflon, you would appoint one to anfwer my motion, &c. be pleafed to underhand, that although 1 am not backward to maintain the faith and order of my Lord, the King of faints, for which I have been fentenced, yet am I not in luch a way fo forward to difpute, or move therein, left: inconvenience fliould thereby arife ; I fnall rather once more repeat my former motion^ which if itfhall pleafe the honored General.Court Co accept, and under their fecretany's hand fhall grant a free difpute, without moleftation or interruption, I fhall be well fatisfied therewith -, that what is paft- I fhall forget, and upon your motion fliall attenq it; thus dcfiring the father of mercies not to lay that evil to your charge, I remain your well -wifher, John Clarke -f.'* From Prifon this 14, 6, gi. I HAVE tranfcribed the whole of thefe letters with great care, to give the reader a fair opportunity to judge for himfelf, whether thofe rulers and mi- Piifters were not afraid of the light, though they pretended the contrary -, for they knev/ that they had then laws in force to punifli any man who (liould difpute againfl; infant baptifm, as well as other of their ways, and what they now fent was no a6t of Court, but onlya writing from fome of their rulers met at cemmencement j and Mr. Clarke fays, it v.'as in Mr. Cotton's hand writing, by which theylhrould fain have flopped Mr. Clarke's m.outh, or elfe have drawn him again under the lafh of their lav/s. This he fays gave ground for others to conclude, " that •■^ the utmofl: they can fay for themfelves, and to *' flop the mouth of I>im that is contrary miaded» G g 2 ** Jles f Narra4ive, .P- 11 — IJ" 228 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS " lies in the fword and power of the magiflrate, *^' which, although it be a good ordinance of God " in this prefent evil world to reftrain the oppref- " for, and to let the opprefTed go free, and fo ap- " proved and owned by Chrift and all true Chri- *' (tians, in cafe of v/rong and wicked lewdnefs — yet " was it never appointed by Chriil: (to v^hom all " power, not only in earth, but alfo in heaven, is '* committed, and by whom all earthly powers are to *' be judged -, 1 fay it was never appointed by " Chrifl;) to inform and redlify the miads and con- *' Iciences of men in the worfliip of God, in' that " great myflery of godiinels, and in thofe myftical " matters concerning the kingdom of Chrift, that *•* being a matter that only belongs to the holy fpiric *V of promife, and to the fword of that fpirir, " which is the word (not of man, but) of God, *' to effefl, much^ lefs to conform their outward " man contrary to their minds and confciences in " the worfhip of God'; and therefore that fword *' and power ought to take heed how they med- " die herein, lell they attempt to take the place *' and enter upon the throne and kingdom of ':' Christ §." Mr. Crandal, who was fined five pounds, only for being with the others, was releafed upon promile of appearing at their next Court (though they did nor let him know when it was, till it was over, and thfy exafted the fine of the keeper) and he wilhi Mr. Clarke returned home. Mr. Holmes was kept in prifon till their Court met in the beginning of September, and then, after their public ledlure in Jjofton, the fenterxre of Court was executed upon him; a particular account of which we hav« v/ritten •yvich his own hand, as follows : {^ Untq f '''"■■"■rative, p. i;, 14. [1651.] IN NEW-EN GLAND. 22<^ *• U.VTO the well beloved brethren, John Spiif- bury, William Kiffen, and the rell that in Londoa iland faft in the faith, and continue to walk fted- faftly in that order of the gofpel which wa3 once delivered unto the faints by Jelus Chrift : Obadiah Holmes, an unworthy witnefs that Jefus is the Lord, and of late a prifoner for Jefus fake at Bollon, fendeth greeting. Decrly Beloved and longed after ^ '* My heart's defire is to hear from you, and to hear that you grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, and that your love to him, and one unto another, as he hath givea commandment, aboundeth, would be the very joy and great rejoicing of my foul and fpirir. Had I not l^een prevented by my beloved brethren of Provi- dence, who have wrote unto you, wherein you have my mind at Urge ; and alfo by our beloved brother Clarke, of Rhode-lfland, who may, if God permit, fee you, and fpeak with you m.outh to mouth, I hsd here declared myfelf in chat matter, but now I for- bear-, and becaufe I have an experimental know- ledge in myfelf, that in members of the fame body, v^hile it (lands in union with tl^e head, there is a fympathizing fpirit, which pafTcth through, and alfc remaineth in each particular, fo that o.ne member can neither mourn nor rejoice, but all the memberi. are ready to mourn and rejoice with it ; I fhal! th." rather impart unto you fome dealings which 'J have had therein from thefons of men, and the graeiou; f'jpporcs which I have had from the Son of God, my Lord and yours, that fo like members you might rejoice with me, and might be encouraged, by th( fame experiment of his tender m.ercies, to fearnonr of thofe things which you fhall fuffer for Jefu fake. It pleufedvthe Father of lights., after a lor^; continuance 2SO HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS continuance of mine in death and darknefs, to cau-fe life and immortality to be brought to light in my foul, andaifoto caule me to fee that this life was by the death of his Sun, in that hour and power of darknefs procured, which wrought in my heart a r-edlefs define to know what the Lord, who had (o dearly bought me, would have me to do, and find- ing that it was his laft will (to which none is to add, snd from which none is to detrad) that they which 33ad faith in hi5 death for life, ihould yield up them- fclves to hold forth a lively confimilitude or likenefs unto his death, burial and refurredlion, by that ordi- nance of baptifm, I readily yielded ther£to, being by love conftrained to follow the Lamb (that takes away the fins of the world) whitherfoever he goes. i had no fooner feparated from their afiemblies, and from communion with them in their v/orlhip of God, and thus vifibly put on Chrift, being refolved alone to attend upon him, and to fubmit to his will, but immediately the adverfary call out a flood againft i]s, and ftirred up the fpirits of men to prefent my- fclf and two more to Plymouth Court, where we met with four petitions againft: our whole company to take fome fpeedy courfc to iupprefs us ; one from our own plantation, xAih ^§ hands to it ; one from the church, as they call it, at Taunton.; one from all the miniilers in our colony, except two, if I mif- fake not, and one from the Court at Bofton, in tlie Maffachufetts, under their Secretary's hand -, where- upon the Court ftraitly chargeth us to defift, and neither to ofdain ofBcers, nor to baptize, nor to break bread together, nor yet to meet upon the iirft day of the week ; and having received thefe ftrait charges, one of the three difcovers the fandj foundation upon which he flood, who, when th r ^od came and the wind blew, fell, yet it pleafec thf [1651.] IN NEY/-ENGLAND. 2^3 the Father of mercies (to whom be the praife) to givT: lis ftrength to (land, and to tell ihe-m ic was better tQ obey God than man ; and luch was the grace of our God to us-ward, that though v/c were had from Court to Court, yet were we firmly refolved tQ keep clofc to the rule, and to obey the voice of our Lord, come what v/ill come. '^ Not long after thefe troubles I came upon occa- fion of bufinefs into the colony of the Maffachuletts, with two other brethren, as brother Clarke being one of the two can inform you, where we three were apprehended, carried to Bofton, and fo to th<; Court, and were all fentenced ; what they laid to my charge, you may here read in my lentence -f-, upon the •• t The fenteme pf Qiadlah Holmes, cf Seaconk, the 3 1/ cf th: ^th m. 165I. " Forafmuch as you Obadiah Holmes, being come into this jurifditlion about the 2 1 oftheijm- did meet at one Williaiti Witter's houfe, at Lynn, and did here privately (and at other times, being an excommunicate perfoa, did taJie upon you to preach and baptize) upon the Lord's day, or other days, and being taken then by the conftable, and coming afterward to tire affembly at Lynn, did, in difrefpeft to the ordinance cf God and his worftiip, keep on your hac, the paftor being in prayer, infomuch that you ivould not give reverence in vailing your hat, till it was forced offyour head, to the difturbance of the contTe- gation, and profeffing againft the inltitution of the church, as not being according to the gofpel of Jefus Ghrift ; and that you the faid Obadiah Holmes did upon the day following meet again at the faid V/iliiam Wkter's, in contempt to authority, you being then in the cuflody of the law, and did there receive the facrament, being excommunicate, and that you did bap- tize fuch as were baptized before, and thereby did necefTarily deny the baptifm chat was before adminiftered to be baptifm, the churches no churches, jmd alfo other ordinances, and miniRerS;. as if all were a nullity ; and alfo did deny the lawfulnefs of baptizing of infants ; and all this tends to the difhcnor of God, the defpifing the ordinances of God amongusy the peace of the chtirclres, aud feducing thefubjefls of this commonweaUh from ihe 2^2 HISTORY OF THE BAPTJSTS the pronouncing of which, as I went from the bar, I exprefied myfelf in thefe words : I blefs God, I am counted worthy to fiiffer for the name of Jefus. "Whereepon John Wilfon (their paftor, as they call him) ftruck me before the judgment feat, and curf- cd me, faying, the curfe of God or Jcfus go with thee § •, fo we were carried to the prifon, where not long after I was deprived of my two loving friends, at whofe departure the adverfary ftept in, took-liold of my fpirit, and troubled me for the fpace of an hour, and then the Lord came in, and fweetly re- lieved mcj-'caufing to look to himfelf, fo was 1 ftay- ed, and refrelhed in the thoughts of my God ; and although during the time of my imprifonnsent the tempter was bufy, yet it pleafed God fo to ftand at my right hand, that the motions were but fudden, and fo vanifhed away ; and although there were that would have paid the money if 1 would ac- cept it, yet I durft not accept of deliverance in fuch a way, and therefore my anfwer to them was, that although I would acknowledge their love to a cup of cold water, yet could I not thank them for their money, if they fhould pay it. So the Court drew near, and the night before I fhould fuffer according to my fentence, it pleafed God I relied and flept quietly j in the morning my riicrnds the truth of the gofpel of Jefus Chrift, asd perverting the ftrait wr.ys of the Lord, the Court doth fire you 30 pounds, to be paid,, or fufficient fureties that the faid fum Ihall be paid by the iirft day of the next Court of Affiftants, or elfeto be well whipt^ »nd that you fhall remain in prifon till it be paid, or fecurity given in for it. By the Cfiurt, Increase Novvell." § "Mr. Wilfon is reprcferited by hii cotcmporaries as one of " the moft humble, pious and benevolent men of the age." Majf&ihufetts Hiftorj, voX. 1, p. 258. But when that darling point, infant fprinkling, was in danger, fee how it makes she moft beia£:voknt ad hke cruel porfecucors ! [i<$5i0 i}^ NEW-ENGLAND. 233 friends come to vifit me, defiring me to take the rc» frefhment of wine, and other comforts ; but my refo- lution was not to drink wine, nof (Irong drin,-; that day until my punifhment was over: and the reafoii was, leil in cafe I had more flrength, courage and boldnefs than ordinarily cuuld be expelled, the world fhould either fay he is drunk wiih new wine, or elfe that the comforc and ftrengih ot the creature hath car- ried him through; but my courfe was this : I defiicd brother John Hazel to bear my friend' company, and I betook myfelf to my chamber, where I might com- tnunicate with my God, commit m3fell to him, and beg (Irength from him. I had no fooner fequeflred myfelf, and come into mychamber, but Satan lets fly at me, faying, Reraem er thyfelf, thy birth, breeding, and friends, thy wife, children, name and credit : but as this was fudden, fo there came in fjveQxly from the Lord as fudden an anfwer, 'Tis for my Lord, I muit not deny him before the fons of men (for that were to fet mep above him) but rather loofe all, yea wife, children, and mine own life alfo. To this the temp- ter replies. Oh but that is the queftion, is it for him ^ and for him alone ? is it not rather for thy own, or fome other's fake ? thou haft fo profeffed and pratil- ed, and now art loth to deny it ; is not pride and felf in the bottom ? Surely this temptation wa^ ll:rt)ng, and thereupon I made dilligent fearch after the raauer, as formerly I had done, and after a v/hile there was evca as it had been a voice from heaven ia my very ibul, bearing witnefs with my confcience, that it was not for any man's cafe or fake in this world, that fo I h-'d profefTed and pra£^ifed, but for my Lord's cafe an^' fake,and for him alone ; whereupon my fpirit was much rcfrefhv ; as alfo in the confideraiion of thefe thrc-e fcriptures, which fpeak on this wife, ff'^/.w jhall lay (Xny thing to tht charge of^ Coas eie^ ? A^ibou-yh I 234 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS •walk through the valley and JJmdow of death I uifl fear no evil, thy rod and thy jlaff they /hall coT>ifort me. And he that continueth to the end, the famt fhall he faved. But then came In the confideration of the weak- nefs of the flefli to bear the (Irokes of a whip, though the fpint was willing, and thereupon I was caufed to pray earneftly unto the Lord, that he would be pleaf- ed lo oive me a fpirit of courage and boldnefs, a tongue to (peak for him, and ftrength of body to fuf- fer for his fake, and not to fhrink or yield to the ftrokcs, or ftied tears, left the adverfaries of the truth Jhould thereupon blafpheme and be hardened, and the weak and Jeeblc-hearted difcouraged, an-^ for this I fought the Lord earneflly ; at length he fatisfied my fpirit to give up, as my foul fo my body to him, and quietly to leave the whole difpofing of the matter to him; and fo I addrelTed myfelf in as comely a man- ner as I coijld, having luch a Lord and Mafter to ferve in this bufmefs. And when I heard the voice of my keeper come for me, even chearfulnefs did coTiC upon me, and taking my teftament in my hand, 1 went a long with him to the place of execution, and after common falutation there ftood. There ftood by alfo one of the magiftrates, by name Increafe Nowel, who for a while kept filent, and fpoke not a word, and fo did I, expecting the governor's prefence, but he came not. But after a while Mr. Nowel bade the executioner do his office ; then I defired to fpeak a fc\^ words, but Mr. Nowel anfwered, it is rot now a time to fpeak. Whereupon I look leave, a»d faid, men, brethren, fathers and countrymen, I befeech you give me leave to fpeak a few words, and the rather becaufe here are many fpeftators to fee me puniflied, and I am to feal with my blood, if God give ftrength, that which 1 hold and pra6tice ki refer- ees [1651.] IN NEW.EN GLAND. 235 ence to the word of God, and the teftimony of Jefus : that which I have to fay in brief is this. Although I confcfs 1 am no difputant, yet lecing I am to feal what I hol.i with my blood, I am ready 10 defend it by the word, and to difpute that poi i with any that fliaU come forth to withftand it. Mr. Nowel an- fwered me, now was no time to difpute. Then faid I, fhen I defire to give an account of the faith and order I hold, aid this J defired three times, bur in €omes Mr. Flint, and faith to the executioner, Fellow , do thine office, for this fellow would but make a long fpeech to delude the people."^ So 1 being refolved to ipcak, told the people ; that which I am to fuffer ior is the word of God, and tcflimony of Jefus Chrifi:. No, faith Mr. Nowel, it is for j^ou error, a :d going about to feducc the people. To which I replied, not for error, for in sill the time of my imprifon- ment. wherein I WiS left alone (my brethren being gone) which of all your minilters in all thar rin^e came to convince me of an error; and when upon thr gover- nor's words a motion was made for a puN ic difpure, and upon fair terms ^o often renewed and dcfired by hundreds, what was the reafon it was not granted ? Mr. Nowel told me, it was hib* fault that went awsy, and would not difpure ; but this the writings will clear at large. Still Mr. Flint calls to the man to do his office : io before, and in the time of his pulling off my cloaths I cont nued fpeaking, telling them, that I had fo learned, that for all Bolton 1 would not give my body into their hands thus to be bruKed up- on another account, yet upon this I would not give the hundredth part of a ■)• wampum peaque to free it out of their hands, and that I made as much con fcience of • Thomas Flint wa* chofen one of their magiftretc* In 1643. + A nuampgm piams^ ii ti f fixih part ©f a penny with us. '2^6 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS of unbuttoning one button, as I did of paying the jT 50 in reference thereunto. I told them nnoreover, the Lord having manilefted his love towards me, in giving me repenrance towards God and faith in Jefus Chrilt, and fo to be baptized in water by a meflcngei pf Jefas into the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, wherein I have fellowfiiip with him in his deaths, bv'iai and refurreclion, I am now come to be baptized in affiiclions by your hands, that fo 1 may have fur- ther fellowniip with my Lord, and am not afhamed of his fuffnings, for by his ftripes am I healed. •' Ant,' as the ma'i began to lay the ftrokcs upon iny back, I f^id to the people, though my flefh fhouid fail, and my fpirii ihould fail, yet my God would no^ fail. So it plea fed the Lord to come in, and fo to jill my heart and ton^ne as a vcffe! full, and with an audible voice I broke forth, praying unto the Lord Slot to lay this fin to their charg'^'; and telling the peo- ple, that now I found he did not fail me, and there- lore now I fhonid truft him forever who failed me not ; for in truth, as rhe flrokes fell upon we, I had iuch a fpiritual manifeftation of God's prefence. as the like thereof I never had nor felt, nor can with flefhly tongue cxprefs; nd the outward pain was fo removed ^rom mc, that indeed 1 am not able to declare it to you, it was fo eafy to me, that I could well bear it, yea and in a manner felt it not. although it was griev- ous, as the fpeftators faid, the man 'Vriking with all his ftrength (yea fpitting in his hand three times, as many affiriaed) with a three-corded whip, giving me there- with thirty ftrokes. When he had loofed me from the port, havino. joyfulnels in my heart, and cheerful- nefs in my countenance, as the fpc£>ators oblerved, I told the*magiflrates, you have f^ruck me as with rofes ; and faid moreover, although the Lord hath made it eafy to nr.e, yet I pray God ii may not be laid to yo«r charge- ' ' " A.fter [I ^5^3 ^N NEW-EN GLAND. 23? *' After this many came to me rejoicing to fee the power of the Lord manifefted in weak flefii ; but finful flefli takes occafion hereby to bring others in trouble, informs the magiftrates hereof, and fo two more are apprehended as for contempt of authority ; their names were John Hazel and John Spur, who came indeed and '^id fiiake me by the hand, but did ufe no words of contempt or reproach unto any ; no man can prove that the firft fpoke any thing, and for the (econd, he only faid thus, blcfled be the Lord ; yet thefe two for taking me by the hand, and thus faying after 1 had received my punifliment, were fentenced to pay 40 (liillings, or to be whipt. Both were refolved againft paying their fine ; neverthelefs after one or two days iRiprifonment, one paid John 3put*s fine, and he was releafed ; and after fix or fevrn days imprifonmeu of brother Hazel, even the day whi n he fliould h-ve fuffered, another paid his, and fo he efcapcd, a; d the next day went to vifit a friend about fix mii( > from Boflon, where the fame day he fell (ick, an^^ within ten days ended his life. When 1 was come to the prifon, it pleafcd God to flir up the heart of an old acquaintance of mine, who with much tendcrnels, like the good Samaritan, poured oil 'Pto my wounds, and plaiitered my fores ',^ but there was pi-efent information given what was done, and inquiry made who was the furgeon, and it was commonly reported he fliould be fcnt for, but what was done I yet know nor. Now thus it hath pleafed the Father of mercies fo 10 difpofe of the matter, that my * In a manufcript of governor Jofeph Jencbs's, wrote near 50 y*ars ago, he fays, " Mr. Holmes was whipt thirty ftripes, 6n4 in fuch an unmerciful manner, that in many days, if not feme .weeks, he could take no reft but as he lay upon his knees and elbows, not being abltto fufferany part of his body to touck th« bed whereon he lay. But Mr. Clarke being a fcholar bred, a friead of his, paid hif fine."- 458 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS my bonds and imprifbnments, have been no hindrance) to the Gofpel, for before my return, fome fubmitted 10 the Lord, and were baptized, and divers were put upon the way of inquiry. And now being advifed to make my efcape by night, becaufe it was reported that there were warrants forth for me, I departed ; and the next day after, while I was on my journey, . the conftable came to fearch at the houfe where I lodged; fo I efcaped their hands, and was by the good hand of my heavenly Father brought home again to my near relations, my wife and eight children. The brethren of our town, and Providence having taken pains to meet me four miles in the woods where we rejoiced together in the Lord. Thus have I givers you as briefly as I can, a true relation of things ; wherefore my brethren rejoice with me in the Lord, and give glory to him, for he is worthy, to whom be praife forevermore ; to whom I commit you, and put up my earneft prayers for you, that by my late expe- rience who have trufted in God, and have nor been de- ceived, you may truft in him perfeflly. Wherefore my deai-ly beloved brethren, truft in the Lord, and you fliali not be afliamed nor confounded ; fo I alfo reft, Tour^s in the bond ef charity, Obaf)iah Holmes."* Thus I have given the reader his own leilimony, without adding or diminifhing a (ingle word, that all who undertland may judge \ for the fcriptures afTure us, that the ear irieth words, as the mouth tajleth meat. You have heard from Mr. Holmes, that two men were put to trouble for the refpcft they fhewed to him after his fufferings. Mr.Clarke fays, it was re~ pprted that warrants were fent forth to the number of 13, but that '• fome through fear were fain to hide *' themfelves Clarke's narratirp, p. 16-^2^ [i55i.] i>i NEW-EN GLAND. 239 " themfelves, and being fl rangers, to haften away, or " to change their habit.*' John Spur, one of their church members, and who was taken, gives us the following leftimony. Saiih he, *' Mr. Cotton in his fermon immediately before the Court gave their fentence againlt Mr. Clarke, Obadiah Holmes, and John Crandal, affirmed, that denying infant baptifm would overthrow all, and this was a capital offence ; and therefore they were foul-mur* therers. When therefore the governor, Mr. John Endicot, came into the Court to pafs fentence againfl them, he faid thus, you deferve to die, bjt this we agreed upon, that Mr. Clarke fhall pay ^- 20 fine, and Obadiah Holmes^. 30 fine, and John Crandal ^, 5 and to remain in prifon until their fines be either paid or fecurity givrn for them, or elfe they arc all of them to be well whipped. When Obadiah Holmes was brought forth to receive his fentence, he defired of the magiflratcs, that he might hold forth the ground of his prad^ice ; but they refufed to let him fpeakj and commanded the whipper to do his office ; then the whipper began to pull off his cloaths, upon which Obadiah Holmes faid, Lord lay not this fin unto their charge ; and fo the whipper began to lay on with h'e\v f .c;i contempt ofaufliority. l)cpoi'"gd she sthoftiie ^thmonih, 1651, before the v'oiirt. ' I.-r. :-5£ Nowi'i,. f Narratife p. 26—"'!, I find that John Ha/.e! was sdmitted a frecTOam at Bofion, March 0, k'v"'. and jijhn .^r':'' ^^"^'•' ' '. 1039. M?.lT, rev'^i^^^i- 2^2 HISTORY ©F THE BAPTISTS and infirm in body, had travelled near fiftymilcs,partly indeed on other biifmefs, but chiefly o vifit his be- loved brother in prifon ; and how he was treated there he has given us an account, written and fubfcribed with h's ovT;n hand as follows. " A relation of my bein^ brought before the ma- o^iflrates the 6th of the "jth months i 651. I going from place to place, to buy and tnke up commodities for my ufe, was attached or arrefted by the n-iarfhal, by virtue of a warrant from the Court, to appear in the Court, and there to anfwer for a high mifdemcanor committed by me, and coming into the Court (which was then privately kept in the chamber) they alked me drvers queftions, among which this wa» one. Whether I did think that Obadiah Holmes did well or not, in coming among them to baptize, and adminifter the f?crament ? laying this to my charge, that I was one with hun, and of the fame judgment, ami, Whether 1 did think he did well or no, in his fo carrying himfelt ? To which I anfwered, I had here nothing to do with that which another man did, but I was here to anfwer for what I myfelf had committed againll their law. Then faid they, you have offended our law, and have contemned authoiity, for you took him by the hand, and did countenance him in his fin, fo f)on as he was gone from the pofl. To which 1 faid, If I have broken any law of the place, by what I then did, I am willing to fubmic unto punilbmenr. Tea, faid the governor, you took him by the hand, did you not ? and fpake to him, what faid you ? did you not fay fo and fo ? blelTed be God, &c. To which I faid, I fiiall refer myfelf unto the teflimonies that may or can be brought againil mc. Well, faid the governor, we fiiall find teltimony enough againfl you ; take him to you, keeper, and we v.'ili call you ferch in publiek, for what we do with you we will proceed [i6;i.] IS NEW-ENGLANG. 24^ proceed in publick with you, and Co I went to prifon. This was the fum and fnbRance of the firft time I was called before them. The next day being thz laft day of the week, and the lad day of their Conn, i was in expeftation all the forenoon to be called forth, but was not ; fo after dini";er, when (as appeareth) the Court was rifen, and fbme of the magiflrates de- parted, I was *ent for again into the chamber, where was the governor with three others, /cii. Mr. Bel- lingham, Mr. Hibbens, and Mr. Encre^fe No a el. As fooa as I was come into the room, the governor read my fentence, which was, that I mufl pay 40/.' or be well whipt, and fo immediately he departed, and when he was gone (for I could not have time before) 1 anfwered, that I defired the privilege of an Englilli fubjeft, which was to be tried by the country, to wit. a jury, and to be made to appear (if they can) to be a tranfgreflbr by a law. 1 o which they faid, 1 had contemned authority, and they had a law to punifti fuch, and laid they, you did iliew your contempt cf authority in that you did take fuch a perfon by the hand, as foon as he was from the poft. To which I anfwered, I could not do that which I did in con- tempt to authority, feeing he had fatisfied the law 10 the full, and was departed froni the place of fuffering ,; and in the next place, what I did, I did unto him as my friend ; and further f. faid, if I had taken him by the hand fb foon as he was ioofcd from the poR, and had led him out of ihe town, I fliou'd not have brokcii any law either of God or man. To this they f/.id, that there was a law in nil Courts of juflice, both in Old-England and oiher countries, to punifli conternrc of authority, and fo had they fuch a law a^mong themfelvcs. To which I faid. that in Old-England, and in other places, they had fuch fi law 1 denied not, but tha-t law alfo was both ena^cd and publifhed b:> 3^4 HISTORY CF THE BAPTISTS hi^r what hvv have I brc'-^en in taking my friend by ihc hand, when he was free, and had fatisficd the law ? To this they replied, that he had not fatisfied the keeper. To this I anfwer'ed, that he had talked with ll\c keeper, apd there was fomc agrecii-jent betweer^ ihcin, ;\nd fo in that feiiife alfonpt under rh? law, but iree. Then faid they, It you would have fliewed k-ndnefi unto your friend, yow might, have forborn in that place, and ctonc it more privately. To which J anf^ered, I knew not biu that place was ?s free as 'another, he having fatisfied the law. The teftimony liiat was given hy Mr. Cole was this, " I faw Johfi Hazel t;;ke Obadjah Hchnes by the hand, bi,u wha^ be fjid I gannac tell.'* This is the fubdance of all ttte proceedings pnti! the Ufl d^jy at night, and ther^ tbey [aid I (l:iQold be whipt, \>ui faid fome of their oHicers, the whippcr cannot be found. Then they commanded that they (l.ould be ready by the fecpncl tiay morning, and then 1 did expert to be called forth; nut neither that dgy, nor the third, nor fourth, was J taiiedi bjt am as 1 underftand ref rved unto the fifth ,i.,V, tQ b'e more publick in the viev/ of the world j :'.nd when the fifth day came, as 1 had many before, •'o alfo then, that v/ould have paid the fine, if I would rire my confetXff which I denied to dq, ^nd fo fet j^yfeU by the power of Ghrift to fufFer what (houlu !>c inilictcd upon me ; bat when noon came I was ii')k1 I /lioiild not fafi.er whipping, yet not having a, .iiicharge, I did not lock tO be freed until the keeper 5 old me, I might go about my bufinefs. Then I de-. i.panded a dii'chirge (meaning under the magiflratcs. jtiands) fo he b:id me go, he wovjd difcharge me. ** The iivoker, I vyas enjoined by the Court to have, "vvcre tcr4 with a, three-corded \vhip ; the very fame, pumbci 1 under Hand, that the worft malef^iflors'tliat vv'^^;e 'here 'oup.^rnfd had, of wbich feme were guilty [i 65I.J-" IN N E W-E N G L A N D. 245^ £>r comnaon whoredom, other of forcing a little child, and one Indian for coining of money. Thus far have you c relation according to my beft remembrance from the firft 10 the lad of ail the paHages concerning this matter ; by mc John Hazel, written with mine own hand in Bofloii pt ifon, the j ^th day of the 7th month, 1651. " ^ pefifcr'ip. Since I wrote, I underQand thcr® ]s report that I was willing to pay my fine, and that the magiltrates would not accept of it without I were willing. Gentle reader, be plcafed to iinderftand that this IS faif*"., for it was without my confcnt or ap= probation ; and further iinderfiand, that the fine was t-jken by them, n-pon the profer of xMr. Bendal fop John Spur, it was willingly accepted by the magifirates, ?ind approved of, although John Spur did to their faces contradi^ it, and oppofe it ; therefore, good readerj believe not fuch reports. Byrne, John Hazel."* Thus far w(? have attended to thofe lufTerers own tertimony, the laft of whom wrote the poilcript of his relation on his death-bed, and how much the abufive Treatment he met with was the eaiife of his death, God only knows. Let lis now hear what others had to fay 5ibout them, Mr. Ciarke went to England in No~ vember 1651, and the next year printed the narrative irom whence we have taken ihefe accounts ; upori which Sir Richard Saltonftall, one of the MafTachu- J'etts firfl: mag^'hate?, then in oui- mother country,, wrote to Mr. Coiios and VVilfon, of Bofton, in thit manner. " REVERrND and dear friead;, whom I unfeign- ed ly love and refpe<^, * Nanati'vt, p. z(j.— 'i,2. liert note, that Mr. Neal miflakc? iarepir renting that it v/a^ ih their way by the magiftrates fword, and yet own at the fame tim.e that they dici not know but they were compelling them into errors. When I firft came into the parilJi where I now dwell, as ihey \^ere without a minifler, their committee re- ^prf ilive fchemes fi:? f»r • JohftfonV hiilory, p. i©;;. 252 hist:ory of the baptists far now as they did then: yet, as to fuch as fllll hold that they hare a right to ule fecular force to fupport vvorfhip, 1 think the chief difference between ihcni and their fathers in 1651, lies in thefe two points : Then ihcy gave the church the whole power of c\c6i' ing and fettling miniflers ; now the world is empower- ed to controul the church in her choice ; then they obliged men to hear, as well as fupport their good minifters ; now men may hear whom they pleafe, if they will but let the pafi^ minifter have their money ; but, if that is refufcd, men ure as liable toimprifbnmcnt cr coR6fcation of* goodi now as then ; and whether the compelling of a man to pay for that which is no ' benefit to him, be not an action more void of the very appearance of judice, than die compelling of men to hear what the compellers efteemed good preaching was, is freely refered to every rcadcr*s confcience : as it alfo is, whether the real error in both cafes does not lie in blending divine and human laws together, rather ihan in any miftake about applying of them then, more than now. .... 2. We have abundant reafon to think that Mr. Clarke's narrative of their fentiments and fufferings, is a true and juli one ; for he publifiied it in. 1 652, and it greatly concerned the MalTachufeits colony to con- Aue ihe fame if they could, and they did not want for men of ability and inclination to vindicate them- felves iii that refpe6>, if they hgd found matter to work upon.' But Captain Johnfon who publifhed his hiftory of thatcalony in i6(;^, is filent about this re- markable affair. Mr. John Leverctt their agent at the Britifli Court, wrote to governor Endicot about it ; but he in a letter of June 29, i ^57, fays, " I cannot fftr the prefent anfwer your expc£lation touching Rhode-lAand/ and Clarke and holmes."* Mr. '' Morton [1651.] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 25'^ Morton printed hi? New-England memorial in 166^^ in which he endeavours to vindicate the country againft many other complaints, but lesives this narrative un- touched. Mr. Hubbard wrote a large hiftory of the country in 1 680, yet touches not this affair u-nlefs in an obfcure hint which confutes nothing. Dr. Cotton Mather publiflied his folio hidory of New-England in 1702, but paflTes over thefe fuffcrings in filence ; yea, and fo does governor Hutchinfon, though his hiftory is the moft impartial upon religious difputes of any that has been written in this country, yet he fays, '* The firft profecution I find upon record of any of the people called anabaptifls was in the year, 1 66^*^* Indeed in his third volume, which is a colle£lion of ancient papers, are a few references to thefe fufferers, which 1 have now made nfe of, but inf^ead of con- futing, they confirm Mr. Clarke's narrative. Mr. Neal who wrote in London 1720. has from that nar- rative given a brief account of their fuffciings, and has done them the moft honour of any pcdobaptifl author I ever favv ; though he has made fcveral mif- takcs about them. t 3. By * Maff. hift. vol. I. p. 226. t As in vol. I. p. 298 he fays, ** Mr. Newman admonlfhed Holmes of his offence ; buc finding- him obltinace, and not will- ing to give an account of his conduft to the church, he excom- m"jnicated him ;" for which he gives no other proof than Mr. Clarke's narrative, and that informs us, p. 24, that the firft oc- cafion of Mr. Holmes's feparation was, " That feven of the brethren ftiould pafs an aft of admonition upon a brother, with- out theconfent of the reft, we (fays Mr. Holmes) being 23 in number, who might all in one hour's fpace, if in health, have come together ; fo when I heard of it I went to Mr. Newman, and told him of the evil which he and the other fix had done ; he told mc they were the church reprefentative, and if four of them had done it, it had been a church aft. When this comes to the congregation, with much ado, he got five more tohimfelf, (End then they were twelve and we eleven, then they owned themfeives 2Si HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS g. Bt all that appears, thofc bapilft fatl-iers were found in the faith and much acquainted with experi- mental and praflica) religion. All that was proved againft them may be fummed up in their noble lefti- mony,that there is, " None to or with Chrilt the Lord^ by way of commanding and ordering with refpeft to the worfiiip of God : that baptifm or dipping in M'ater is one of his commandments, and that a vifibl*^ be!: *er or difciple of Chrift is the only pcrfon that is to e baptized ; that every fuch believer, may in point of liWerty, yea, ought in point of duty to improve that talent his Lord hath given him with mceknefs of wil- dom ; and that no fuch believer hath any liberty, much Icfs authority from his Lord, to fmite his icl- jow-fervant, nor yet with outward force to reftrain his confcience, nor outward man for confcicncc fake, where injury is not offered to the perfon, name or cftate of others." This is the fum of all the prin- ciples for which they fuffered fuch cruel things, tho' their oppofites have conftantly accufed them of others. The aflembly of the MafTachufeits begin their law igainft the baptifts in 1644, ^^^^ laying, " That fince the firft arifing of the anabaptifls about i oc years fince, they have been the incendiaries of the common- wealths, themfelves to be the church, and began to deal with me for fay- ing, they had abufed the church, and had took from them their power ; whereupon I told them I fhould renounce them, till either they faw their fin, or I further light." A ter which a rumber more drew off and fet up a meeting by themfelves, and there was public notice of the day when they were to be baptized, and many witneffesof thetranfaftion.yet fays he, "not one man er woman of Mr. Newman's company ever come to deal with me for evil either in judgment or praftice till a long time after." Now i« it juft to charge Mr. Holmes with obftinacy, only for hi* refufing to fiibmit to the other party after this ? Again Mr. Neal, p. 302, charges Mr. Clarke, with ftanding upon a fuHMilio againft Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and yet but one in Eflence. 3. I believe that as God made the world, fo by his word made he man in his own image without fin, and gave him a moft excel- lent place and being, giving him commandment what he fhould do, andwhat he fbould forbear ; but through the mallice of Satan working with his wife was deceived ; for Ihe did cat, and gave her huijband aisd he did eat, which was the firft cauf^of the curfc to liS^i.-] IN NEW-EMGL\Na 257 iheie arFiirs. 1 he governor hnvintr occaGon (as they otren had) to write to Mr. Williams a, out the' peace L 1 to him, and reached to all his pofterity, by which cams death natural, and death eternal. 4 I believe in thi^ interini ot time the Lord manifefled his great love in that woid, the feed of the woman Ihall break the head of the fcrpent, but enmity was betwcea the two feeds. 5. I believe that at and after time the Lord was wor- fhiped by facrifices, though darkly held forth to us. 6. I believe after that God in his own time chofe a people to himfelf, And gave them his laws and .taiut^s ia a fp^cial manner, though he had always his ciioi'en ones in every geusration. , 7. I believe wich this people he made a choice cove- nant to be their God, and they to be his peop'e : which, covenant theybiake though he wa? a fath;'rto ti^: m, and was grieved for them, and yet did not only give them his laws, but fcnt his prophets early and Ure.but th-.-y wanld not hear ; and in fulnefs of time Tent his only Son : buc as t'ley had abul'ed his prophets, fo they killed his only, Son. 8. I believe God in his Son made a new covenant, a fure and everlafting covenant, not like that he made with Ifiael, of which Mofes that faithful fervant was mediator, but a covenant of grace and peace throu^^h his o dy Son, that whofjever believed in him fhould not periih, but have everlafting life. 9. I believe that all thofe that are in this covenant o£ grace.'ihall never fall away nor periih, but fliall have life in the prince of life, the Lora Jel'us Chrift 10. I believe no man can come tn the Son but they that are drawn by the Father to the Son', and they that come, hp in no wife will caft away, i f . £ believe he came to call finners ta repentance, for the whole need him not, but they that are iick. 12. I believe that by the ihedding ot his precious blood is my reden^ption, and not mine only bjt all that are or (hxil bs fared. 13. I believe that as he ^^B HISTORY 0? TH£ BAPTISTS of theEnglifh and Indians,** ana bnvmg at the en- trance ot his letter Lid " Were 1 as free in my (p'ri^ as lie was God fo was he man, for he did not take the na- ture o^aig Is buv the n.itureof .Abraham 14. Ibili ve God hath laid the iniquity of all his elt£l: and called ones upon tim, 15 I Vlic;ve the Father is fuDy fitisficd, and the debr Is truly pnid to tlvc utmoft »aithii>:^. am' rhe poor finntr is q^i:it, and let free from all fin p;ifl- pi e- i'ent anil fo come f6. F b^lkve the holy fcriptures Ti^hich tiftify of Chrift in dak Windows and types, ?nj to the fcriptnrt?. and appeared to many 18 1 beiieve he afcended to his Father jnd littcth at his right hard, having made r qtieft for his ly. I bciieve t' at the Fa- thers commandment and his declaration- of him is to be obferved, when the Father uttttt d rhat voice laying this is my beloved Son in -whom I am tu II pleaftd hear ye him —^ 10 I bilicve there is no lalvation but by him alone \ no Other name under heaven by which man can be Hived. 2r. I believe he is *ent unto the wt rid, and to be publiih- ed to ali men ; but (bme. ye many rrjecl the counfel of God ag;\inft theralclvea. 2i I belicvf n^ne have power to rhoofe falvation, •■r to believe i» Chrift for hfe ; 'its only the gift of God. 23. I believe although God can brir>g men to Chrrfi, and caufe theni to believe in him for 3ife, yet he hath appointed an ordinary way to efFest that great work of faith, which i« by means o^ fending a mi- xiiArv into the world, to pub'ifh rtpeniance to the firj^ner, and filvaiion, and thai by Jcfus Chiift ; and they that :»re fiithfu' fhall fave their own fouls and fomc that hear nhcm 24. I belif^ve that they that are fent of God are not t"> deliver a mifiion of their o'^n. brain, but as it is in the fc ipture of truth, for holy men wrote as they \/ere infpired by the holv Mpii it 25. I believe the precious gifts of the Spirit s teaching wcfe procured by Chrifts af. fentioa ;|S formerly I have been to vvrite unto you, you IhouU have received anachcr nunner of la.utatioa ihan fention and given to men for bcge'ting of fouls to the truth, and xov eitabiiihnient and conlolatioH of thole that aie turned to the Lord , for none ihali pluck them out of his Father's hand 26. 1 be.ieve no ixinn is to rufli in- to th. inmiftry without a fpccial cali fiom God even as ^olpei niin:fUis hid of old, which was the call of the holy .Spirit, with foiue talent 01 talents to declare the counicl of God to poor linners, declaring the g'-ace of God through Jelus Chiirt, evfn to thofe that aie yet in the powe. ot iatan : yea, to b ing glad tidings bv and from the Lord Jsj'us Chri(t. 27. I believe this miniltry is to go torrh, and he that hath received grace with a t dent or taiencs, as he hath received ivet^y. of the J^ord, fo he is freely to give, looking foi nofhing again but the promiie of.thc Loid. 28 1 believe none is to go forth but by comniiin^>n and carefully to oblerve the fame according as Ch»ill gave it forth without adding or dimiuifhing j ■firft to preach Chrift, tl.at is to make difciples. and thta to baptisr: rhtm, but not to baptize them before they be- lieve ; aud ihcn to teach them what Chritt comm;;nd, d them For as the Father had 'lis order in ihe former dif* peri ati jn, fo hath the Son. In former times the L >id ip.ike in divers wa^s and manners, bu' now hath he ip;..kv.n by his Son 29. I believe hat as God p -pued a iiegetting miuift y, even io do;h he alfo piepair a feeding mi dlhy in the church wheie a called people ont of the tvorld. by tht wod and Spirit of 'he Lord, aflcmbling of rhemfelve.' tf)gerher in aho'y broiheihood, co' linuing in the apoftles do£lri e, fcHowfhip, breaking bread, and prayer. 30 I b'^!ivVc fuch a church ought to wait for the holy Spirit of promife. on whom it may fall and to "^ choofe oac amung themfeives fiihtr paftor, teacher or el- ders to rule, or deacons to fervt: the table, that other? my give themfc'ves to the wo^d and prayer and to keep :h m clofe to the Lord, and their tollowfhJp clea' and ^eftinct, not to have fellowfliip with the unfruitful works ?.f darknefs, but rather to rcprorc ihcm, 31., I beiicv!^ the i;5o HISTORY OF THE BAPT ISTS than now, vvirh a 'good confcience I can exprefs ; b'jwever God knovvcth who are his, and whut he is the church of ChriO, or this company gathered, are bound to wait on the Lord for the hipirit to heip ihcm, and have liberty, and are under duty, tliat thry may pro- phefy on^ by one. 32-1 bchtve that the true baptifm of the gofpel, is a vif^ble belicwt with his own conjtnt to be bapt'z.d in common water, by dying or as it wrc diowoinp,, to hold forth death, buii.d and rei'urrection, by a mclietiger of Jclus, i:uo the name of the F/^ther, Son and ho y (pnit. 33. I believe the promiie of «he Father conccrnuig the return of Ilr;iel and Judah, and the com* jng ot the L rd to raile upihL- dead in Chrift, and to change them that ai e ahve, that they may reign with him a thoufand ye.^-s, according to the fcripiure. 34. I be- lieve the rclurre£tJon of the wicked to receive their juft judgment, go ye ciirfed tothe devil ,^.nd his angels fot ever. 3:^. I believe as eternal judgment to the wicked, fu J be- lieve the glorious declaration oi the Lord facing, come y« blefTed of my Father, enter into the joy of your Lord, which joy, eye hath notleen, ear hath not heard, neither can it enter into tl^e heait of man to conceive the glory that God hath i reparcd for them thvit love and wait for hisappcarance v wjjkerefore come Lord Jefiis, come quickly. ' " For this fafth and proUfllun iflaud, and jiave fe. ltd the fame With my blood in Bollon, in New-England, and hope through tlie ilreng.th of my Lord, fliall be enabled to witncfs the fame to death, although I am a poor un- worthy creatuie, and hnve nothing to plead or fly unto but to grace, grace j and have nothing to iti\ on but only the mercy, the free mercy of God in and thiough Jcfus Chrift my Lord and fiivi..;ur ; to whom be honor, glory and praii'e forever and rvcr, Amen, 'ihus have | given ybu an humble and true account of, my ffanding, aild of my dear wife's {landing in our faith and order, tkat you may conllJe^' the fame, comparingi^v/hat is wi icten by the hbiy fcriptures. which arc our rule towards God and man-; .commlttnig this ;aid you to the wifdom nn4 counfel of God. Your's in all love to feifvc continually having you, ia our pravcis 5 farcvewcll. *' This [i%0 IN NEW. ENGLAND. nCt is pleafed to hide from finful man in this life, fiiall in that great day be manifelted to all." Mr. Wil- lia.Tis reteringto the fufflrings <.'f Mr. Clarke and Mr. Holmes (ays, " Sir, at the reading of this line, the i])cech of that wife woman of '1 ekoa unto David come frclh unto my thoughts ; Speaks not the Kmg this thing as one that is guilty ? for will my honored and beloved friend not know me for fear of being difowned by his conlcience.'* Shall the goodneis and integrity of hi- confcience to God caufe him to for- get me ? Doth he quiet his mind with this (God. knoweth who are his P God hides from finful man j God will reveal before aU .'*) Oh how comes it then that I have heard io often, heard fo lately, and heard fb much, that he thai fpeaks fo tenderly for his own, hath yet fo little refpccl, mercy or pity to the like con- fciencious perfuafions of other men ! are all the thou- fands of millions of millions of confciences at home and abroad, fuel only for a prifon, for a whip,- for a flake, for a gallows ! are no confciences to breath the air, but fnch as fuit and fample his !. may not the Mofl High be pleafed to hide from his iS well as from the eyes of his fellow-fervants, fel- low-mankind, fellow-Englifli ? Who canfliut when be will oren ? and who can open, when he that hath the key of David will fhut ?— **Obj MICTION. But what makes this to here- tics, blafphemers, feducers, to them that fin againfi: their confcience (as Mr. Cotton faith) after convic- tion .'* Firlt, I anfwer, he was a tyrant that pur an innocent man into a bear's-fldn, aad ^o caufed him as a ** This for Mr. John Angher, and my brother Robert Holmes, and my brother- in law, and fifters, with M;(ry Nonly, and to them that love and fear the Lord. For Robert Holmes in theparifhofManchefter — JLancafhiie." Obsdiah Holniei^s manufcri^tf 1675. 96i HISTORY OF T»E BAPTISTS a wild bcaft to be baited to death. Secondly, This is the common cry ot haunters or pcr{tcuioTi>, heretus^ blafphemers. Sec. and why, bat tor crulling the | er- jfecutors conf'ciences (it may be but their lUj^Jtrftuionb) whether Turkiih, popifli, protcuani, &c. 1 his is jhe outcry of the pope and pre'aics, and of the "JScocch prefbyter'ans, who would fire ..11 the wor;d, lo be avenged on he (e^l-irijn heretics, the blaf- phemdus heretics, the (uducing heretics, &c. had it not pleafed the God of heaven who bounds ihe infolenc rage of the furious ocean, to raife up a Iccond Cromwel, to fhy the fuiy of the oppre(K)r, whether Engliili. Scottilh, popilh, prefbyterian, independaat, SiC. ** Let it not bp offenfire in your eyes, that I fin* gle our a point, a caufe of o>y bantJJjment, wherein I grciitly fear one or two fad evils have betallen your foul and confcience. The point is that ol the civil tnagijlratsT dealing in matters ^f confcience and rC' Ugton, as alfo of perfecuting any tor any matter mere- ly ^/V//Wur/ and religious. Ihe two evils intimated are the(e : Firft, I fear you cannot after fo much light, and fo much profeflion to t^ie contrary (^noc only to myfclTolten in private,"^ but) before many witncffes ; I fay, I fear you cannot fay and a^t lb, much, againft lo niaay ftveral confciences, former and latter, but wit » great checks, great threatr.ing? and inward throws of confcience. Secondly, If you fhali thank God., that it is npi fo with you, but that ]fou do what confcience bids you in God*s prclencc, tipon God*s warrant, I muR then be humbly faithful \o tell you, that I fear your underprizmg of holy light, hath put out the candle, and the eye of con- ference in thefe particulars, and that delufions, (trong del ufions, * Governor Endicot was once a member cf Sale^ sfeurch, under Mr, Wiiiiam's miaiftry. ti 6^1.3 t^ NEW-EN GLAND. «% tlulnfions, and that fro'n God (by fatan's fubiUty) harh feized upon your very fours belief, becaule you prized not, loved not the perfecuted Son ol" God in his defpifed truths and (crvants — 1 defire to f^v it tremhl'ngly and mournful ly, 1 know nor which way he will pleafe to raifc his glory, only I know my duty my corifcience and lijy love all which int »tcc me lo knock, to call, to cry at thf gate of heavtn, and at your's, and to prefent you with triis loving though loud and faithful noift , and found of a few grounds of deeper exaininaiion of boih our fouU and confciences„ Uprightly and impartially at the holy and dreadful tribunal of him that is appointed the judge of all the living and thr dead. '* Pi ,'ieafcd tht,n (honoured f-r) to remember that the thiMg which wr Ciii confcience is oF fuch a na« ture elp<'c ally in Engliflhmen, as once a pope of Kome at the fuffering of an Englilhman in Rome himfelf oblerved that although it be groundlefs, falfe an i deluded, ye^ it is not by any arguments of torments eafily removed, I fpeak not of the ftreatn of the multitude .of all nations, which have their ebbings and fliowings in rel'gion(as the longcli (word, sn 1 (hongcn arm oj flclh carries it*) bur I fpeak of confcience, a perfuafion fixed in the mind and heart of a man, which inforceth him to judge (as Paul faid of ♦ The oUowing words are remarkable, viz. ** It is maic by lea. ned ^nd j.u(iicious writes, one of the undoubtcii r'gUrs of r verignty to determine what religion (Kali be r blickiy or ifcffcd and exercifed within their d ^minions. v\ iiy cU< I.' vTf in N.^w-England thar p-ofefs the doer- rjfie of Caivia, ycr pradife the difcipline of them ca'Kd in : pendent, or congtegaiior\al churches, but becaur- the anthority of th* cou- try is pcrfnaded. th^t is m ft asree- able >c the mind of G.^d ' Ms Hubbard'^ ekitioa iei'* Bi.oa at Cofton, May 3, 1676, p 3$. 5^4 HISTORY OF tKE BAPTISTS ofhimfelf a perrecnror)and to do fo and Co with refpe^l to God, his worlhip, &c. This con(cience is fi)und in all mankind, more or Icfs. — To this piirpofe lee me freely without offence remember you (a^ 1 did Mr. Clarke, newly come np irom his (ufferings amongfl you) I (ay, remember yon of che itory 1 did him, of William Hartly in queen {iliz^bcth her days, who receiving ihe fentence of hanging — fpakc con- fidently (as afterward lie luifered) what teli ^vou me of hanging, if I had ten thoufanJ millions of lives , J would f'p'nd them all for the faith of Rome. Sir, I am far from glancing th.e leatt counienance on ihs confciences of papifls — all that lobfervc is, that bold- refs and confidence, zeal and refolution, as it is com- mendable in a kind when it ferioufiy relpetffs a deity, fo alfo, the greatefl confidence bach fomctimcs need of the greatefl fcarch and examination. — Wife men life to enquire, what motives, what occallons, win: fnares, what temptations were there which moved, al- lured, &c. — Surely fir, the baits, the temptations, the fnares hid to catch you were not few nor common. — It is nofmall offer, the choice and applaufea.) 1 rule over fo many towns, fo many holy, fo many wife, in fuch a holy way as you believe you are in — I Cannot but fear and lament, fhac fome of thefe and oth'ers have been too flrong and potent with you. — Sir, 1 muft be humbly bold to fay, it is impoffible for any man or men to mainiaih their Chriit by the (word, and to worfhip a true Chrift ! to fight againff all confciences oppofite to theirs, and not to fight againl't God in fome of them, and to hunt after the precious life of the true Lord Jefus Chriff. Oh remember whether your principles and confciences, mufl in time and opportunity force you 1 — yourfelf and others have faid it, by your princip'cs fuch whom you count here- tics, blafphcmcrs, feduccrs, ouoht to be put lo death. Yoii ri6j-i.3 IN NEW.EMC?LA!ID. ±6^ luu viannot be faithful to your principles and con- fcienccs, if you fatisfy iheni with biu imprifoiiing, lining, whipping antl bariiHiing the heretics, and by faying that baniihing is a kind of death, as fone chict* with you formerly fuid in my cafe. — I end with aa^ hii.nble cry to the father of aiercies, that you may take David's counfel, and iiiently commune witli yoar own heart upon your bed. rotlcft upon your owa fpirit, ,and behevG him chat (aid to his oyer-zcalous difciples, you kno-w ^not what fpirit you arc of. That: no ilcep may feize your eyes, nor ilumber upon your eye-iids, i^ntil your ferious thoughts have calmly, and unchangubly, through help from Chrifl, fi.-red, hrit on a msderatim towards the fpirit and coafcieaces of all mankind, merely differing fro n, or oppoilng; yours with only religious and fpiritual oppofition.— Sc^condly, a deep and cordial refolution to (earch, to lillen, to pray, to fafl, and more fearfully, more: tracmblingly to encjuire what the holy plcafure, and the holy mylteries of the MOST HOLY are; K , •whom I humbly defire to \iCyyour poor fallow fe/vantp unfcignsdiy, refpedive, and faithful. RoGEK. .Williams."* How ^happy had it been for New-England, and for governor Endicot in particut^V, if they had then regarded this faithful admonition of their old friend I tut difregarding of it, Mr. Williams's words a i'cvi years after were fully verified, when, undcf gover- wax Endicoi's adminiflration, the blood of the cjuakers Vv-3S (hcd, which has left an indellible ftuin upon their cUaraciers, and " luliied the glory of ihcir former fuiTerings from the bilhops ; for now it appeared that ihe New-England ^i^r/7a«j- were no betiec friends to M \\\ ilbcrry * Appendix of his reply to Cotton, \6^i, p. 393 '^^ 313. l\h. CouQu dkd the 23d of Deccioibcv i^xi yeae. z66 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS liberty o^cnnfciencc than rbeir nckerfafics, nnd jhat the queition between ihci^ wa<5 nor, whether one party of chriftians Oiould have power ro opprefs ano* ther, but A-ho lliojld have ihai power r'*^ CHAP. V. A variety of events, from 165 1 to 1664* ARF.VIEW of 1 65 1, prefents before ns firch a dark clouci znd threatning gloom, upon ihe ciufe of bel-evcrs baptifm, and true fibcrry of con- Iclence, as mvii\ affc£^ every heart that is not cxtreao^ly ©bJurate. The fi lends of that caufe had been io cruelly treated in Europe, that a niirnber of them fit d )nro Asncrica, where a perfccuting temper ioUowcd :hem, and expelled them out of. the Miinachufetta colony ; but God gave ihem favor in the eyes of the heathen, Jroni whom they obtained a grant of lands, to bet^in the f,rl\ civil izovcrncnent upon that ctrer allo^ved equally liberty oi conscience fince our Saviour died for U5. Wiih grent h.iZard snd cxpenc^; ]M . Wiilm.m'? had procured a ehnrtcr for that purpof^, Wliich they had enjoyed about fevcn years, when alas ! "Mr. Coddin-^ton, who hud the deed^ and records of thfe ifbids in his own hand^^r ^'Cfit to Fngland, and procured froTTfc the courvcd of (tare a com million, dnred \p'u g. i6f 1, C\,{ncA by J Hradfhaw, conltf!- tutinc hiiTT g;ovcrn<)r of thi* diunds, to rule them witli a> council' o* fi< incn, nomiflrned by the people and appiovod by himfclf ;> wiiicli Iplit this litrle colony jhro '•'A'o- , art.?, and ^'r. Clurke and lis brctJiren were to fubmit to' a governor that they h|d no hnnd in NeaiVtlftory o£ N. £. vol. I* p- jza chuling, [1651.1 IS KEW-EN GLAND, l6^ cliufing, and their cOares lay at his mercy This melancholy news arrived juii about the lime thit he and hii breihrcn had been fo cruelly handled in the Maffachufeus, only for vifiiing and v/orlhiping with an aged brother there. At the fame time, a party both o\ Englifii Jl|id favages were fupported m the heart of Mr. WilliAfiis's part of the colony, in oppofiriun to all the good orders that he endeavored to ellablilli among them. And what could they now do ! where could they go for relief ! banillicd from their mother kingdom, and from neighbouring colonies, who were exerting all their power to divide and conquer them ; and a man of the greatefl: worldly note among them, (cemed as if he was like to do it eircflually.^ Capt. Johnfon at that time faid, " familiils, fcek- ers, antlnomians, and anahaptifts, are (o ill armed, ihat they think it hciX flecping in a whole fkin, fear-, ing that if the day of buttle once t^o on, they i; ail fall a * Near the, fame tim? the court at Boften impofed large ^v.c upon the church in MaK!en, for calling a luaa to beiheio minifleV, withouuhe approbation of the rulers and other minifters j and as they had before a law againft gaihering churches v/it!\out their confent, their afltinbly now made another whciein tht'y enaclc-d, '* That no niinifter thould be called unto oflke in' any of the chiu"- ches, without the approbation of iomif of the magillrates, as well as the neighbouring churches ; on which giound. in the year 1653, the court would not allow the nonU church in Bofton to call Mr. Powell a well jjiirted thougli illetirate peiibn to th^ft.ited office cf a pubic teacher or minifler ; wherefore x\\t psoplf' contented thcmtelves with his being called to the place ofa jiilin.i> elder. — -And whereas the plantations of New-England had never as yet been acquainted, v/ith the way of paying liihcs for the I'up- port of the minillry, it was now left to the p<^wer of the county courts tliroughout the whole jin-ifdiction,to make fpfficient provifion for the rni'.inre nance of the UiU.ift! yi-A. ^c ref^>edive town? of iia (,olc;ny.'"' i?68 HISTORY of thi- BAPTISTS fall among antichiins armies ; ibercfnre rhey cry out like citw.irds, if you wiil let me t.lone, I will let you. silone ; hut affurccliy the Lord ChriR hath fnid, he^ that is not loith us, is o^nivfl us ; there is no room m his army for ioleratoyiJisP\ . Hat! this been true, how could Mr. Williains. and Mr. ClarjTISTS taken, and if the fame was not con^ plied witb^ ♦' that real damages duly proved, be levied by ie* gal force, thoiii^h with as much modcratior\' and teDderncfti as the calc will permit." * 1 his was the treatment that was Cicwn to Warwick ; and hear- ing of what Mr. Coddington had done, they join- ed with Providence in lending: Mr. Williams to England. ^Viiiia:n Arnold hired a mefienger le- crctjy to cany a letter to Boiion, to apprize their rulers of it, | but they were notified of it in a bet- ter wav : For at a nieetinc o^ the commirnoners of the united colonies at New-Haven, September 4, 1 65 1, they received the following letter, viz. *' May it pleafe this honored comrnictee to take knowledge, that we the inhabitants of Shawomet alias AVarwick, having imdergonc divers opprcfli- ons and wrongs, amounting to great damage iince we firlf poHellcd this' place ; being forced thereby to feck to that honorable ilatc of Old-Kngland for relief, which did inevicably draw great charge up- on us, to the further irtipairing of our eftates ; and finding favor for redrcis, were willing to wave for that time (in regard tt> the great troubles and employment that then lay on that ftate) all other Iciler wrongs \vc then underwent, io that we might be replaced in and upon this our purchafed pofief- lion, and enjoy it peaceably for time to come, with- out difturbantc or molellation by thofe irom whom we had formerly iufiered. But fince our gracious grant from the honorable parliament, in replace- ing of us in this place, we have been and daily are prelTed with intoleiabic grivences, to the eatingmp of our labours, and waiiling of our eftates mak- ing our lives^ together with our wives and chil- 5 drenj * Rscordi of the Vniitd Colonies. I Maffachuff.ts hiftory, vol. 3. P?ge ;37— :^5^. [*!65t1 tN NEW-iNGLANt). lyi drsa, bitter and iincoiTifortable ; inromuch, that gro.iniig under oar burthens," we are cdnftrained to make our addrefs to the honorable parliament and rtate, once again, to nmake our jufl complaint againft our cau fiefs moleftors, who by themfelves and their agents, are the only caufe of this our re- uttering of our diftreffed condition. May it plealb therefore this lionored alFembly, to take notice of this our lolemn intelligence (given unto you as the moll public author) fed fociety appertain- ing unto, and inftitutcd in the united colonics, wjictm our coinplaints do concern) "^that we are riow prepanng ourfelves with all convenient fpced for Old-England, to make our grievances knowtt again to the Hate, which fall upon us by rcafon^ that the order of parliament concerning us hath not been obferved, nor the enjoyment of our grant- ed privileges permitted to us, that wc are *; it were bought and fold from> one patent and jurifdicliori to another. In that we have been prohibited and charged to acquit this place iince the order of par- liament ffiven out and known to the contrarv. in that we have had warrants fent us, to fummoii lis to the Mailachuretts court, and oflicers employed amongft us for that purpofe. In .that th.Q\c bar* berous Indians about us, with evil minded Englilhi^ mixed among us, under pretence of fomc former perfonal fubjccli(m to the government of the IJk'IaC fachufetts countenacing of them, ceafe not to kill our cattle, offer violence to our familes, vilefy au- thoricy of parliament vouchfafcd to us, juftifying their practices with many menaces and threatn- ings, as being under the proteciiion of the Mafia- chufettSr In that we have lx:cn retrained this feven or eight years part of con}mo% commerce in the country, and that only for masters of confci- encev \^i HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS ence. In that our e(l:ites formerly taken from us regain yet unrclh^rcdj with thcie aduitions there- unto. Thcfe and tlie like arc the grounds of 'qur complaints, with oiirfeiiousdciire that you would be plcafed to take notice of them, as our folcmri intelligence given hereof, that as yoiuielves lliall think ir.eet, you may give further fealonable intel- ligence to your levera'l colonics whom it may con- cern; fo that their agent or agents may have fca- fonable iiillructions to make anfwer, and we here- by (Iiall acquit oin'felves, that we ofi'er not to pro- ceed in thfc our complaints, without giving due and fealbnable notice thereof. By me John Ga EENF.jy^;;. Clerk* III behalf of the tozvn of V/nrivick. Warwick, the lirll of September 1651. This brought matters to a clofc trial amon'^ them and the commiflioncrs for the MafiachnfetuPi (who were IN'Ir. Simon Bradilrect, and Mr. WiHiain Hathorne, Efq'rs,) made a long dcc'aration, how Plymouth gave up their right in that land to them In 1 643 ; which was approved of by iill the com- miflioners, who advi'cd them to proceed againd Gorton and his company ; and had lilcntly allcnt- ed to what they- had done from time to time fmcc ; and tliat wlien in 16.1Q tliey were advifed to return thofe lands back to Plymouth, their court lent two deputies to the aflembly at Plymouth, with orders to offer, to " refign and fubmit the laid lands, and . pcrfons reliding thereon to the government of Ply- jnouth ; they only promifing to do equal juificc both to iMi-^'iOi and Indians there, according to our engage»nents ; but the government of Ply- mouth cholc^.t) or to ratify the aforefaid rcfign- mf-nt of their coijimilHoners." After wliich they had ^' out of their o\^ treafurv allov/ed' a hfrge [t65i] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 273 gratuity of coril totlie Indians under their govern*, mcnt their, to keep them alive, the cattle of Gor-. ton's company having 4eitroyed moit of thdrs, r.ather than force to compel them, till all oiher means and ways of prudence for iffuing thcic ajid the like diiferences were ufed.** And cioied wicli afking what aid the other jurifdiclibns would afFor4 them, for the righting their injured and opprefied people, and bringing dehnquents to condign puni/h^ W(?/j/f'TheConnecticut and New-Haven co«imi(Ii.on«. crsanfwered, by owning that they had their advice in 1643,10 proceed ag^iinflGorton's company, and that when Plymouth commilfioners yidded up their right to the Maffachufetts, the others, benig neither concerned^ nor underjianding where the right lay,faw no caujl' to dijjent, &c. The comraiilioners for Plymouth (who were Mr. John Brown, and Mr. Timothy Ilatherley) declared that what wa$5 done by the ccmnuihoners for their colony in 1643, in refigning of laid lauds to the MafTachufetts, wa^; not at all in their power, neither could the MafTa- chufetts receive any fuch refignation without injur- ing the third and lixth articles of their confedera- tion ; what right the authority of the Malfachu- fetts had to fend for Samuel Gorton and company, *' inhabiting fo far out of their jurifdicfion they underlland not.'^ And as to what the governor of Plymouth and forae others did in 1650, abouC ratifying that former refignation of Warwick to the Maffachufetts, they faid they had " protefted againft it in the court of Plymouth, as being di- tecfly contrary to the order of the honorable com- mittee of the parliament of England, and contrary to the articles of confederations with the reft of the colonies. And whereas we are infokiied, that the CO art of thp Maffachufetts hg.ys lately fent ou£ N u ieveral 274 HISTORY OF THE BATTISTS fcveral warrants to feveral perfons inhabiting War- wick and Pawtiixet, and have made I'eizurc upon lome of their cilatvis, we do hereby proteft againit fiich proceedings iF any thei'e be " * The Maffa- ^hufetts were fo unwilling to have thefc things L\id before the parhament, that they pr.t Mr. Williams to great dijlrejfes only for attempting to take his paflage tlirough their colony. The town oi Newport ligned an engageinent and rcqliea: to Mr. Clarke m thefe worcs, " We whofe names arc here underwritten,! beirg refolv- cd to make our addrefs unto the parliament of JEngland, in point of our lands and liberties, do earncllly defirc thofe fix men ihat were laftchofen, the council of the town of Newport, and Inch as they {hall confult with, to improve their bell abili- ties for tlie mana^ino: thereof -• We alio do ea'-neft:- Jy requeft Mr. John Clarke to do- his utmoft endea- vors in folliciting oui' caulein England : And U'c do hereby engage ourfelves to the utmoft of our eftates to alltu them, being refolved in the mean time peaceably to yield atl due fubjeclion iinto the picfent power let over us. Witnefs our hands the 15th of Ocfobcr, m the yeai? of our Lord God, 1 65 1. — He failed for England the next month. Mr. * Recorif of the United Culcniet. ■\ This was ilgrc i by John Eafton, James Barker, John Cran- fton, Robi-rt Craw, John Sheldon, Siinuel Hubbard, John AHtn, Henry Bull, Kdward Thurfton, NaibHniel Weft, William Dj're, William Lytherland, Rich<(rd Knight, Thomas Chrke, Thoims Dungan, &c. to the number of iixty-tive, who with the fix c^ii'i" fellor? were almbft all the free inhabitants of Newport, as Mr. Chrks fa id afterward to their general aliembly. Fortv-one of th's trliabitants of Portfmouth figned a like requeft. [ Copied from the original papers noru before ine.'\ Man}* of the' above men were afterwards noted rulers In that colony ; and Mr, Dungan was- a member of iMr.Clarkc'schurch, till [1^50 IN NE W.ENGLAND. 275 Mr.. Coddington having gotten the command of the ilTaods, Providence and Vvarwick, each chole ii,%. deputies, who met at Providence Nov. 4. and unauimouily concluded to fiand embodied and incorporated as before, by virtue of their charter, and as preiident Eafton had given place to Mr. Coddington ; they chofe another in his room., and made lc\'-eral lavvs, one of whicli was to prohibit any from purchahng lands of the Indians, without the afl'cmbiies approbation, ,on pcnaltv of foricit* ing the fame to the colony. When thofe two a- gents arrived inEn^land, they united in a petition to t'le council ot Uate, who on April 8th, 1632, refei'ed the lame to the committee for foieign af- fairs. The court of election at Warwick, Ma 18, n^ade a law to 1 brbid the Dutch who were not in- habitants aniong them, from trading with the In- dians in this colony, upon penalty of forfeiting both goods and veflel to the colony if they did : and the preiident v» as ordered to give the govern- or of Manh:ito's notice of it* When their afitm- bJy met again in the fall at Providence, they wrotq- the fojlowing letter to Mr. Williams, viz, " Honored Sir, " WE may not r>egled any opportiTPaty to fa- lute you in this your abfence,\md have not a little caufe to blefs God, who hath pleafed to felecl yon to fuch a purpofe, as we doubt not but will con- duce to the peace and fafety of us all, as to make you once more an inftrument to impart and difclofe our caufe unto thofe noble and gra^'C fenators our honorable protectors, in whofe eyes God hath given you tlU about the year 16S4 ; when he went to Pennfylvania, and be- came the firft baptift miniftcr in that colony, where he left * numerous pofterity. Edward's h'Jiory of the Laitifl't in th^V ^i^ K I aj O R t of' Tilt BAPTISTS you honor (as we iinderftand) beyond onr hopes, ^tid moved the hearts of the vife to ftir on your' feehalf ; we give you hearty tihaaks for your care and diligence, to watch all opportunities to pro- mote our peace, for we perceive your pvuden and COmprehenfive mind ftireth every ftone to prefent It to the builders, to make firm the fabrick utito us about wliich you arc employed, laboring- to un- weave Inch irregular deviles wrought by others amongft us, as have formerly cioatlu:d us v^ith fo fad events, as the fubjedion ot iome r.mong us, both Kngliih and Indian to other jurifcii-clioii.'r, as aUb to prevent fucJi near approach of our neigh- bours upon our borders on tlie Narraganiet fide, wjiich might much annoy us, v.'ith your endeavors to furnifh us with fuch ammunition as tr look a foreign enemy in the face, being that tlie ciuel be- gin to icir in thefe weilern parts, and to unite in one again, fiich as of late have had feeming iepara- tion in loilie refpecls, to encourage and ilrengthen our week and infeebkd body to perform its work in thefe foreign parts, to the. honor of fuch as take care, have been and are fo tender of our good, tliongh we be unworthy to be had in rcmember- ance .by peribns of lo noble places, indued with parts of lb excellent and honorable and abun- clafitly beneficial ufe» " .: iR, give us leave to intimate thus muchj that we humbly conceive (fo far as we are able to un- derfland) that if it be the plcafure of our protectors to renew our charter for the re-efiablifhing of our government, that it might tend mUch to the weigh- ing of men?, minds, and fubjecling of perfons who have been re6'aclory,to yield thenifelves over as un- f:o a fettled government, if it might be the pleafurc ibi that hoxiurable iUte^ -to invell:, appoint and ini- "■■"'"'■■• ■'■*'" '•■ ■' • now?t [1652] IN NEW-ENGLAKD. 277 power ypnrfelf to come over as governor of tliis ' colony for the fpace of one year, and fo the govern- ment to be honorably put upon this place, which mig«it feem to add weight forever hereafter in the conttant and fucccflive derivation of the fame. Wc only prefent it to your deliberate thoughts and con- fideration, with our hearty defires that your time of Itay there for the effectual perfe<5ling and finiih- ing of your fo weighty affairs may not feem tedi- ous, nor be any difcouragement uqto you ; rather than you fhall fuffer for lofs of time here, or ex- pence there, we are refolycd to ffretch forth our hands at your return beyond our ftrength for your fupply. — fYour loving bed-fellow is in health, and prefents her endeared affection, fo are all your fa- mily.— —Mr. Sayles alfo and his, with the rell of your friends throughout the colony, who yvifh and delire earneftly to lee your face. " Sir we are yours, leaving you untQ the Lord, Vi'e heartily take leave. *' From the general affembly of this colony of Providence-Plantations, affembled in the town of Providence the 28th of October 1652 " John Greene, General recorder."* On the 2d of Oclober, the council of ftate gave an order and wrote letters to vacate Mr. Cpdding- ton's commilHon, and to confirm their former cha- racter ; which were fent over by William Dyre. And about the 1 6th of Febmary 1653, he brought a letter to Providence, ligned by Meffrs. Sanford Baulfton, Porter and William Jefferies, requefting the two towns on the main to appoint a time to meet thofe on the ifland, to hear and a<5f upon the Hates letters. Providence met upon the affair, and enquired why thofe letters were not brought te thcoij * Providence Recoroj. «.78 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS t^ein, feeing they had continued to aft upon the charter, atter the ifland was parted fron) them ? Dyre told them that the two a^tntshad united in Uidr petition, and that as it appeared to hiui t*.at the ifland was the major part ot tiic colony, thercr fore they ii.. J the grcateil intercft in the letters, and he had leit them there, Prelident Smith. William Kieldj and fome others joined with Dyre, and fhove to'perlwade them to '' account themfelves a dif- ordered conrufed rout, as he acknowledged the iilanders were, and to account all crficers order >; of court, laws and cafes depending as nali, ana to CQmc to a popular meeting to lay a new founda- tion of government for the colony.*' This they could not conient to. but each town choie lix comr miffioners ulio met at t^awtuxet on February 25th, and fent four mefl'cngers to the ifland for thoie let- ters or a copy of them ; and that if the Hates orders were for them all to unite again, then to agree up- on a meeting for that purpofe. Dyre Iceing no other way to carry his own lei.cmc. aiTumcd the power to liimfelf to call the whole colony to- gether by the following inftrument. ^' Loving friends and neighbours, thcfe are to iignify unto you, that it hath pleafed the right honorable, the council of if ate, authoriied hy the fupreme authority of the common- wealth of Eng- land, to betruft niyfelf with letters and orders cm- . cerning this colony, and the welfare thereof ; be pleafed therefore to underftand, that upon Tucf- day come feven night, at Portfmouth on Rhode- lHand, at Mr. Baulfton's houfe, 1 fhall be there (God willing) ready to attend the connuunication of the truft committed to my charge, unto all luch free inhabitants as fliall there make their perfonal apjpearar^e. Given under my hand this prelent 6tl\ [-1653] i>f NEW-ENGLAND. c;^ 6th day of tlie week, being the i8th of February 1652. William Dyre," A COPT of this he fent to each town, and maliy of the freemen met on the iaid March ift. but in- ftead or' throwing ail up, tiiev ordered, '' That ail oflicer.? who were m place wl>eo Mr; Coddington's commiilion obitructed, ihould Itand in their places, to act According to their loriner conimiilions,upon the iiland ; and the reil in the colony according as they hid been annually cholen, until a new elec- tion according to former order." The commilil- oners met again at Pawtuxet on March yth, to re- ceive the anCwer of their mefiengers from theifland, who reported what was done, but that they couid not obtain fo much as a copy of thofe letters from England. Upon which they fent again therefor, ani alfo a propofal of joining with the towns oa the ifland in the next election, if they would agree to it in their former method, and give them ten days notice. By fome means fuch notice was not given, therefore the two towns on the main met at Providence, May 17th, i6:;3, and eleded their of- ficers. An aflembly met at the fame time on the iiland, and chofe Mr. Sanford their prefident, and ibme freemen coming from the main, they ehofc an ailillant for each town in the colony. And they- fent Mr. James Barker, and Mr. Richard Knight to Mr. Coddington, to demand the ftatute book, and book of records. And as it was then a time of war betwixt England and Holland, and a mention was made of it in the letters which con- firmed their charter, Dyre thought to make his ad- vantage thereby, and procured commiiTions for himielf, Capt. Undcrhill, and Edward Hull, to act againil the Dutch in America ; and fome cannon with twenty men were feat ta the EngiilK on ths -tSo HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS. caft- end of Long-Ifland, to enable them to act againil the Dutch v/ho lay to the weft ward of them. 1 his alarmed Providence colony, who met again in June, and a third time at VV arwick, oit Auguft 13th, when they anfweied a letter from tlie Maliachufetts, and remonitrated againft being drawn into a war with the Dutch ; and wrote to Ivlr. Williams an account of Dyre's conducl, ind cf their being urged to give up their forme r actings as null ; but fay they, " being Ibll in the fame order you left us, and obferving two great evils that fuch a courfe would bring upon us. Firlt, the irazard of involving in all the diibrdcrs and blood- Ihed which hive been committed on Hhode-lfland fince their fcparation from us.'* Secondly, the invading and fi-uftratingof jullicein divers weighty caules then orderly depending in our courts, in fome of which caufes Mr. Smith, prelident, William Field, Src. were deeply concerned ;'* therefore they could not yield to fuch a motion. * Before wc proceed further upon their affairs, feme tranfaftions in the Maiiachufetts call for our attention. * CalknJer— Colony records. To give 2 clear idea of their difficulties I would infcrt ti^c following things. " The 24th of the firft raonih called March, in the year (fo commonly called) 1637-8 Memorandum, that we Canonius and Miantinomo, the two chief f^chemi of the Narrsgnnfct, by vir- tue of our general command of this bay, as alfo the particular fubjeiftinEof the dead fachem of Aquedneck and Kituckamuckqutt themfclves and lands unto us, have fold to Mr. Coddingion and his friends united unto him, the great ifland of Aquedneck, lay- ing hence caftward itl this bay, as alfo the marlh or grafs upon Quinunnuqut, and the refl: of the iflands in this bay (excepting Chibachuwefa [Prudence] formerly fold to Mr. VVinthrop, the now governor 6f the Maifuchufetts, and Mr. Williams of Provi- dence) alfo the grnfs upon the rivers and bounds about Kitacfca- muckqut, snd from thence to Paupufquatch, for the full payment «f forty fsthoajs of white tcads, to be cquiJly d;vid;d betwe«;i • " C5 i ti653] IN NEW-ENGLAND. tSfc attention. Their minifters have often tried to per* fuade people, that ignorance of the original lan- guages that our bible was wrote injis the caufe why any embrace the baptifts principles. How well this agrees with their rear of a fair difpute with the learned Mr, Clarke the reader will judge, and what follows may afford further light. O o Capt. us ; in witnefs whereof we have here fubfcrlbecJ. Item, that by giving, by Miantonomo's hands, ten coats and tweaty hoes to the prefent inhabitants, they (hall remove themfelves from off thd ' llland before next winter* Witnefs our hands. In prefence of. The mark f of Canon icus. The mark X of Yotuefli, The mark % of Miantinomo.'* Roger Williams, Randal Holden, The mark t c^f AfTotemuit* The mark || of Mihammoh* Canonicus his fon. *' Memorandum, that Ofemaq|uin freely confent that Mr-Wit* liam Coddington, and his friends united .unto him, Ihall makiS ufe of any grafs or trees on the main land o/i Pawakafick fide^ and all my men, to the faid Mr. Coddington, and Englifti, his friends united to him, having received of Mr. Coddington fivfi fathoms of wampum, as gratuity for himfelf and the reft. \7Vt c 5 J^oger Williams, The mark X of Ofamaquin.'* ^''"^'^'^ Randal Holden. DatecFthe fixth of the fifth month* 1638. Thefe deeds with ^ number of receipts from thelndian,^, are upoil the colony records which Mr. Coddington had in his power when he obtained a commiilion to be their governor without the peoples confent; and when they contended hotly with him, it feems thag he fled to Bofton, where they fent after him, and prevailed witli him to fign an engagement on April 14th, 1652, in the prefencei bf Robert Knight and George Manning, to deliver up faid deeds and records to fuch men as the majority of the purchafers and free-* men (hould appoint to receive them, and to claim no more xa himfelf than an equal (hire with the other purchafers. And the* above record fhews that he had thofe deeds in his hands till May„ 1653. The main inftance of blood-Jhed above rcfcred to, was ot a principle inhabitant of Newport, who was charged with a capi- tal crime before a town-meeting, and was condemned by them> and carried forth and Ihot to death in their prefeace, Hiftsr^ of Providenct, ^ 122 HISTORY 0^ tHE BAt^TIStS^ Capt. Johnfon, fpc^cing of the firft prcfidcnt of Harvard College, fays, " He Vvas fitted from th*^ Lord for tlie work, SiV.d, by thofe who have Iki.ll that way, reported to be an able proficient both in the Hebrew, Greek and Latin languages, an or- thodox preacher of the truths of Chrilt, and very powerful thro' his blefling to move the affections.*' * Mr. HuW^ard fpeakrng C>f Mr. Dunftar's being made prelid'^nt in 1640 fays, " "Dnder whom, that which was before but at bed /chola illujlra, grew to the ftature and perfection of a college, and fiouriOi- cd in the profcltion of all liberal fci,ences for many years." And Mr. Friijce, upon the New-England pfalm-book fays, " for a further improvement it was com nittedtothcRev.Mr. HcnryDu-nilar, pre- fident of Harvard College ; one of the greatell maf- ters of the oriental languages <■ that hath been known in thefe ends cf the earth.** + This eminent man was brought fo far this yeai^' that, " he not only forebore to prefcnt an infant of his own unto buptifm, but alio thought him- felf under fome obligation to bear his teftimony in- fome I'ermons, agai'nit the adminiftratrcn of baptiim- to any hifant luhatfosver.''^ His brethrciiff were 16 ^vehement and violent againft him therefor, as to de- iire him toccafe preaching there, and procured his temoval both from hi>s oilice ami from his livins: in- o the town : | and Mr. Jonathan Mitchel, their mi. niftcr at Cambridge, wrote December 24.th, 1653^ *' That after I came from him, I had a ftiange ex« perience ; I found hurrying and prelTmg luggef- tiORS * Johnfon, page j6B, f Prince's preface to his own verfion of the pfalms. § Governor Dudly died, July 31ft, 1653, with thefe li.nes ia fjis pocket, viz. " Let men cf G'lJ. in courts cfytd churches ixatck 'J O'er fuck ai do a lOLfiRAtjoN hatch.'[ [i553] IN NEW.ENGLAND. 2S3 tions agalnft pee do- 1 apt if m, and injecled Icruples and tho*ts whither the oriier wajfiitf^iighc not be right, and infant baptina an invention oj men^ and whether i might with good conipence bap.ize chJdren, and the Hke. A.nd thele tiiougnts were aarted in with. Ibme imprellion, and left a ilrange contuhon and iickiinefs upon my fpirit. Yet methought, it was not hard to dii'cern that they were from the EVIL ONE. Firft, becaufe they were rather nijeclcd, hurrying fuggeftions, than any deliberate tho'ts, . or bringing any light witii them. Secondly, be- caufe they were umeafonahk ; interrupting me ia my ftudy for the fabbath, and putting my fpirit into confufion, fo as T had much ado, to do ought in my fermon. It was not now a time to ftudy that matter ; but when in the former part of the week, I had given myfelf to that ftudy, the mose 1 ftudied it, the more clear and rational light I faw for peedo-baptifm, but now thefe fuggeftions hur- ried me into fcruples. It was a check to my ioYTCitv felf -confidence^ and it made mt fearful to go needlefsly to Mr. D. fur metlibught I found a ve- Bura and poifon, in his inlinuations and difcourfes againft peeda-baptifni. I refohoed alfo on Mr. H ooker's. principle, that 1 would have an argument, able to remove a mountain, before I would recede from, or appear againft a truth or praclice received a- mong the faithful.'* * S^ijery^ How did he know but that his hurry and darknefs was caufed by the oppplition of his heart, and the inieclions of the devil againft the truth ? Can any thing be more unreafonable than his conclufion drawn from the time of his fcruples ? The fact was juft this ; in his own ftudy he tho't he faw a light for infant baptiim, but when \\^ caui^Q ]^ Michel's lifsypsgc 67 — 7Q1 ^84 HISTORY or the BAPTISTS came to converfe with a gentleman who knew more than he did, it raifcd icruplcs in his mind a- bout that practice. But where was the modefty of a youth not thirty years old, when he accufed one of the moll venerable fathers of that age, of having vcimm and pcifon in his difcourfes, only be- caufe his own felf-ccnjidence was fliocked thereby ! Sure I am that if any baptili: rainiftcr had told fuch a flory, and that it made him fearful of going near a learned gentleman, whofc arguments had bro't him to fcruple whether he had not been educated in a wrong' way, but tljat he was refohed to havd an argument able to wcrk miracles before he would leave it, the other party v/oiild tlien have had fuch grounds, to charge the baptift wiih iv'dfuhiefs and Qhflinacy upon, as they never yet had. RiGEDNEss is a word that both epifcopalians and prefbyterians have often cad upon our Ply* mouth fathers. Yet the Mailachufetts now dif- , covered fo much more of that temper than they, that Mr. Dunilar on October 24, 1654, rcfigned his office among them, and removed and fpent his remaining days at ^.cituatc, in Plymouth colony «r ^nd it feems remarkable that Mr. ChaiksCliauncy, ■who, though he allowed believers to bring their in- ' fants, yet held that baptifm was dipping ; was on the 27th of November following, made prefident -^f Harvard College in Mr. Dunftar's room. * Mr. Chauncy was born in Hartfordfhire in 1589 : was educated in the untverfity of Cambridge ; " was in- comparably well fkilled in all the learned lariguages^, efpecialiy in the oriental, and eminently in the He- brew ; in obtaining whereof, his converfation with a Jew for the fpace of a year, was no little advan- ^ge.'* He was fuccefslul in the miniftry at Ware ia * Magnalb;, book iv. page 12S, [1653] IN NE W.ENGLAND, 285 in England, till being perfecuted, and f.aving fuf- fered much from Laud's party, he came to our Plymouth, in 1638 ; in which place he preached about two years, and then, as he has been noted, ]ie removed and fettled at Scituate, where, upon his taking the charge of that flock, he preached from that text, Wifdom hath fent forth her maidens ! but reflecting in his difcourfe upon fome compli- ences with the High comqriiflion court that he had been guilty in his own country, he with tears faid, " Alas, chriftians I am no maiden ! my foul hath been defiled with falfe worfliip 1 how wonder- ous is the free grace of the Lord Jefus Chrift, that I fliould ftiil be employed among the maidens of vfifdom !'* upon an invitation from his old peo- ple at Ware, he now came to Bofton, with a de- iign of returning to them, when the overfeers of the college, " by their vehement importunity pre- vailed with him to accept the government of that fociety." * Where we will leave him, til' we fhall have further occafion to mention his telUmony a- gainft degeneracy in our land. Mr. Williams had many enemies and difficul- ties to encounter with, in pleading for the rights of his colony, but was wonderfully fupported and car- ried through them all ; of which iome account is given in the following letter. From Sir henry Vane's at 7 April ift. ^'^ (fo Belleau in Lincolnlhire. 3 called.) " My dear and loving friends and neigbours of Providence and Warwick ; our noble friend Sir Henry Vane, having the navy of England ir.ouly depending on his care, and going down to the navy at Portfmouth, I was invited by them both to ac- company his lady to Lincolnfiiire, where I fhall yet ftay * IL:^. page 134—136,^ ^85 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS, flay as I* fear until the fliip is gone ; I muft ther^. fore pray your pardon that by the poll 1 lend thi^ to London. I hope it may have pleaied the moft high Lord of fca and land to bring Capt. Ch-ril-n's fhip and dear Mr. Dyre unto you, and with him the councils letters, which anfwer the petition Sir Hen- ry Vajne and myfelf drew up, and the council by Sir Henry's mediation granted us, for the confir- mation of the charter, until the determinatk)n of the controverfy. Thio determination you may J)leafe to underftz^nd is hindered by two main ob- Iructions. The liril: is the mighty war with the Dutch, which makes England and Holland and the imations tremble : This hath made the parUament lit Sir Henry Vane and two or three more as com- miflioners to manage the war, which they have^ done with much engaging the name of God with them, who hath appeared in helping fii.ty of ours againft almoft three-hundred of their men of war, and perchance to the fink;ng and taking about one- hundred of theirs, and but one of ours which was jfunk by our own men. Qur fecpnd obilruclion is the oppofition of pur adverfaries. Sir Arther Hafel- rig and Colonel Fenwicke, who hath n[^arried his daughter, Mr. Winflow and Mr. Hopkins, both in. great place ; * and all the friends they can make iiv the parliament and council, and all the priefls both prefbyterian and independant ; fo that we Hand as. two armies ready to engage, obferving the motions and poftures each of other, and yet fliy each of other. Under God the fheet anchor of our fhip. is Sir Henry, who will do as the eye of God leads him, and he faithfully piomifcd me that he would pbferve the motion of our New-England bufinefs, ^'hile I ilayed fome ten weeks with his lady ia Lincolnfliirc. 2 Winfiojv died ia the Wcft-Iadic* in 1655, [t6531 in NEW-ENGLAN£). ^§; Lincolnlhire. Befide here is great thoughts and preparation for a new parliament ; fome of our friends are apt to think another parliament will more fiivor us and our caufe than this has done. You may pieafe to put my condition into your fouls cafes ; remember, I am a father and an huf- band ; I have longed earneftly to return with the lail fhip,and with thefe,yet I have not been willing to withdraw my fhoulders from the burthen leaft it . pinch othei-s, and may fall heavy upon all ; except you are pkafed to give to me a difcharge. If you conceive it necefTary for me ftlU to attend this fer- Tice, pray you conlider if it be not convenient that my poof wife be incouraged to come over to me, and to wait together on the good pleafure of God for th€ end of this matter. You know my many tveights hanging on me ; how my own place flands, and how many reafons 1 have to caufe me tamake; hafte, yet ; would not lofe their eftates, peace and liberty, by leaving hallily. I write to my dear wife, my great delire of her coming while I flay ; yet left it to the freedom of her fpirit, becaufe o£^ the many dangers ; truly at prefent the feas are flangerous, but not comparably fo much nor likely to be, becaufe of the late great defeat of the Dutch, and their prefent fending to us offers of peace. My dear friends although it pleafed God himfelf, by many favors to incourage me, yet pieafe you to remember, that no man can ftay here as I do, leaving a prefent emphn'ment there, without much felf-deniil, \^hich I btHeech God for moie, ahd for you alfo, that no private refpecls or gains or quarrels may caufe you to neglecl the public and common lafety, peace and liberties. I befeech the blefTed God to keep frcfli in your thoughts what be hatk done for Providence-Plantations. My 2S8 HISTORY OP the BAPTISTS My dear rcfpecls to yourfclves, wives and chil-* dren ; 1 bcfeech the eternal God to be leen amongO: you : So prays your moll faitliful and affec- tionate friend and fei-vant. Roger Williams." P. S. My love to all my Indian friends. As men of all tempers and fentiments had re- forted to that colony, and there had been from various quarters fuch interruptions of a regular ad- miniftration of government as have been mention- ed, it is not to be wondered at if many diforders appeared among them, of which enemies to their liberties did not fail to make all the advantage they could Mr. Williams attended upon the difficult And important affairs of his agency another year, and then leaving the caufe there with Mr. Clarke and other friends, he came over to take care of things here ; and brought with him the follow- ing epitUe, viz. Loving and chnjl. an friends^ 1 COULD not refule this bearer, Mr. Roger Wil- liams, my kind triend and ancient acquaintance, to be accompanied with thefe i^v^ lines from my- felt to you, upon his return to Providence colony ; though perhaps my private and retired condition, which the Lord of his mercy hath broiight me in- to, mighi: have argued ffrongly enough for my lilcnce ; but indeed foiDcthing I hold myfelf bound to fay to you, out of the chriilian love I bear you, and for his fake whofc name is called upon by you and engaged on your behalf. How is it that there are fuch divilions aniongft you ? Such headinefs, tumults, diforders^ injufticc r The noife echoes into the ears of all, as well fiiends as enemies, by every return of fhiips from thofe parts. Is not the fear and awe of God amongft you to reftrain ? Is not the love of Chrifl in you to fill you with earning bowels tif>54T 11^ NEW-ENGLAND. 289 bowels one towards another, and conftrain you not: to live to yourfelvcs but to him that died for you, yea, and is rifen again ? Are there no wife men. ' amongft you ? No pubhc felf-denyingfpirits,that at leaft upon grounds of common fa fety, equity and pr J-, dence can iind out fome way or means of union and rfeieonciliation for you amongft, yourfeives, before you become a prey to common enemies ? Efpecially iince this Hate, by the lad letter from the council of flate, give you your freedom, as fuppofing a*. - better u('Z would Iiave been made of it than there hath been. Surely when kind and limple remedies are applied and are ineffeclual, it fpeaks loud and broadly, the high and dangerous diftempers of fucht a body, as if the wounds were incurable. But I hope better things from yoU, though I thus fpeak,» and fhould be apt to think, that by commillioners agreed on and appointed on all parts, and on be- liaif of all intereiis, in a general meeting, fuch a union and common fatisfaftion might arife, as through God's blefling might put a Hop to your growing breaches and diftraclions, filence your e- nemies, encourage your friends, honor the name o£ God which of lace hath been much blafphemed by feafon of you ; and in particular refrefh and revive the fad heart ot him who mourns over your pre- i fent evils, as being your affectionate friend, to ferve you in the Lord. H. Vane." * Belleau^ the Sth of February, 1653-4. With this Mr. Williams returned co Providence; but at firft met with fuch treatment as caufed him to addrefs the town in the folio wins: manner. " Well beloved friends and neighbcAirs^ " I AM like a man in a great fog ; I know nol^ well how to ftcar. I fear to run upon the rocks P p at * Copied from ihc origiaal Tetter/ 29<5 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS at home, having had trials abroad. I fear to run quit-e backward (as men in a mill do) and undo all that I have been a long time undcnug myfeU to do, viz. to keep up the name^of a people, a free people, not infiaNcd to the bondages and iron yokes of" the great (both foul and body) opprellions of the Englilh and barbarians about us ; nor to the divilions and diforders vi'ithin ourfelves. Since I fet the firil ftep of any Englifh foot into thefe wild parts, and have maintained a chargable and haz- ardous correfpondance with the barbarians, and ipent alnioll: five years time with the ilate of Eng- land^ to keep oft the rage of the Englifh againfl us, what have l reaped of the root of being the ftep- ing flonc to fo many families and towns about us, but grief, and forrow, and bittcrnefs ! 1 have been charged with f(»lly for that freedom and liberty which 1 have abvvays flood for ; 1 fay liberty and equallity both in land and government. 1 have been blamed for parting with Moofliawlick, and "afterward Pawtuxet (wiiicli were mine own, as trul as any man's coat upon his back) without re- fcrving to myfeif a foot of land, or an inch of voice in any matter, more than to my fervani;s and ftrangers- It hath been told me that I labored for a licentious and contentious people ; that; I have foolifhly parted with town and colony- advantages, by which I might have prefervcd both town and colony in as go(xI order as any in the country about us. 1 his and ten times more I have ;been ccnfured for, and at this prefent am called a .'traitor by one party, againft tlie ffate of England, for not miuntaining the charter and the colony ; and (it is faid) that I am as good as banifhed by youridves, and that both fides wiflied that I might never have landed, that the fire o£ contention might [i554] IN NEW-ENGLAND. $91 might have had no flop in burning. Indeed the words have been fo fharp between myfelf arid lome lately, that at laft I v/as forced to fay. They might well filence all complaints ii I once began to com- plain, who was unfortunately fetched and diawn from my employment, and fcnt to fo vail diftunca from my family to do your work of a high and" coftly nature, for fo many days, and weeks, and months togetlier, and there left to flarve, or Ileal, or beg, or borrov/. But blefled be God who gave me favor to borrow one while, and to work another,and thereby to pay ) our debts there,and to come over with your credit and honor, as an agent from you, who had in your name grappled with the agents and friends of all your enemies round about you. I am told that your oppoiites thought on me, and provided (as I may lay) a fpunge to wipe off your fcores and debts in England, but that it was obftrucled by yourfelves, who rather mcchtated on means and new agents to be fent over to crofs what Mr. Clarke and I obtained. But gentlemen, blefled be God who faileth not, and bleffed be his name for his wonderful Pro- vidences by which alone this tov/n and colo- ny, and that grand caufe of truth amd free- dom OF CONSCIENCE hath been uphei ; to this day. And bielTed be his name v/ho hath again quenched fo much of our fires hitherto, and hath brought your names, and his own name thus far out ot thedirt of fcorn, reproach, occ. I find among yourfelves and your oppofites that of Solomon true, that the contentions of brethren (fome that Jately were fo) are the bars of a caftle, and not ealily broken ; and I have heard fome of both fides y.ealoufly talking of undoing themfelves by a trial in Fnciapd. Truly friends'"! cannot but fear yo'^ igi HISTORY of the BAPTISTS loft a fair wind lately, when this town was fent to for its deputies, and you were not picafed to give an overture unto the reft of the inhabitants about it ; yea, and when yourfelves thought that 1 invit- ed you to fome conference tending to reconcilia- tion, before the town fhould acf in fo fundamen- tal a bufmefs, you were pleafed to foreftal that, fo that being full of grief, fhaaie and aftonifliment j yea, and tear that all that is now done (efpecialjy in our town of Providence) is but provoking the fpirits of men to fury of dcipa ration. 1 pray your leave to pray you to remember (that which 1 late- ly told your oppofites) On/y by pride comet h conten* tion. If there be humility on the one fide, yet there is pride on the other, and certamly the eternal God will engage ,'.gamll the proud ; I therefore pray you to examine, as I have done them, your pro- ceedings in this firft particular. Secondly, Love covereth a multitude of lins. Surely your charges and complaints each againfl other have not hid nor covered any thing, as we ufe to cover the na^ kednefs of thofe we love. If you will now profeii not to have disfranchifed humanity and love, but that (as David in another caie) you will facriiice to the common peace, and common iafety; and coni mon credit, that which may be faid to coft you fom- thing, I pray your loving leave to tell you that if I were in your fouls cafe, I woiSld fend unto yom- oppolites fuch a line as this. r-" Neighbours, at the conflant rcquefl, and upon the conftant medi- ation which our neighbour Roger Williams, fince his arrival, hath ufed to us, both ior paciHcation and accommodation of our fad difl'erv nces, and alfo up- on the late endeavors in all the other towns for aq union, we are perfwaded to remove our obftruc- tiori, viz. that ppcr pf contention between us, and to [1654] IM NEW-ENGLAND. 493 to deliver it into the hands of our aforefaid neigh- bour, and to obliterate that order which that paper did occaiion : This removed, you may be pieai'ed to meet with, and debate fredy, and vote in all mat-, ters with us as if fuch grievances had not been a«< mongft us. Secondly, If yet ought remain griev- ous which we ourfeives by free debate and confer- ence cannot compofe, we offer to be judged and penfured by four men, which out of any part of the colony you ftiall choofe two, and we the other.**. Gentlemen, 1 only add, that I crave your lov- ing pardon to your bold but true friend, Roger Williams." This addrefs had the defired effed ; and when the town came together, and Mr Williams had a full hearing of the cafe, he,in the name of the town, drew an anfwer to Sir Henry Vane's letter, on Au- gufi: 27th, 1654, which now remains on record ia iiis own hand writing as follows : ''SIR, " Although we are agrieved at your late re- th-ement from the helm of public affairs, yet we rejoice to reap the fweet fruits of your reft in your pious and loving lines, moil feafonably fent unto us. Thus the iun when he retires his brightnefs from the world, yet from under the very clouds wc perceive his prefence,and enjoy fome light and heat, and fweet refrefhings. Sir, your letters were di- rededto allandeveiy particular town of this Provi- dence colony. Surely Sir, among the many pro- vidences of the moil High, toward this town of Providence, and this Providence colony, we can- not but fee apparantly his gracious hand, provid- ing your honorable felf for fo noble and true a friend to an out-caft and defpifed people. From the hrll bcgining of thb Providence colony, (oc- calioned 194 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS cafioned by the baniihment of feme in this place from the MalTachufctts) we lay ever iince to this very day, we liave reaped the Iweet fruits or your conftant loving kindnefs and favor towaids us,. Oh Sir ! whence then is it that you have bent your bow, and ihot your fharp and bitter arrows now againft us ? Whence is it that you charge us with diviiions, diforders, Szc. ? Sir, we huinbly pray your gentle acceptance of our two (old anfwer. *' fiv^ST, we have been greatly diilurbed and diftra6led by the ambition and covetoufneis of lomc amongft ourfelves. Sir we were in complcat or-^ der untill Mr. Coddington (wanting that public felfdenylng fpirit which you commend to us in your letter) procured, by moft untrue information, a monopoly of part of the colony, viz. Rhode- Ifland to himfelf, and fo occafioned our general difturbance and dlftraclions. Secondly, Mr. Dyrc,, ■with no lefs w^ant of a public ipirit, being ruined by party contentions with ]\lr. Coddington, and bein^ bctrufted to brins^ from Eno^land the letters of the council of flate for our re-unitings, he hopes for a recruit to himfelf by other men's goods; and (contrary to the Hates intentions and expreflions) plungeth himfelf and fome others, in molt unnccef- lary and unrighteous plundering, both of Duch and French, and Knglifli alfo, to our great grief, who protellcd againll fuch abufe of our power from England ; and tlie end of it is to the fbamo and reproach of himfelf, and the very Englini name, as all thefe parts do wimefs.** " Sir, our fecond anlwer is (that \vc may not lay all the load upon oilfk- mens backs) that pofli- bly a fwect cup hath rendered many of us wantou and too active ; for we have long drunk of the cup of as great liberties as any people that vv-e caa hear t;i554] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 195 hear of under the whole heaven. We have not oiry been long free (together with all New-Eng* land) from the iron yoke of wolviili bifhops, and their popifh ceremonies (agalnft whofe cruel op- preflions God raifed up your noble fpirit in parlia- ment)* but we have fitten quiet and dry, from the ftream:', of blood fpilt by that war in our native cc^in- try. We have not felt the new chains of thepref- byterian tyrants, nor in this colony, have we been confumed with the over-zealous fire of the (fo cal- led) godly chriilian magiftrates. Sir, we have not known what an excife means ; we have almoU forgot what tythes are, yea, or taxes either, to dhurch or common wealth. We could name other fpecial privileges, ingredients of our fweet cup, which your great wifdom knows to be very pow- erful! Texcept more than ordinary watchfulnefs) to render the bed of men wanton and forgetful. But bleffcd be your love, and your loving heart and hand, awakening any of our Ueepy fpirits by your fweet alarm ; and bleflfed be your noble family, root and branch, and all your pious and prudent engagements and retirements. We hope you fliall no more complain of the fadning of your loving heart, by the men of Providence town or Providence colony, but that when we are gone, and rotten, our pofterity and children afcer us fhali read in our town records, your pious and favora- ble letters and loving kindnefs to us, and this our anfwer, and real endeavour after-peace and righ- teoufnefs ; and to be found Sir, your moil obliged, and * When thofe cruel opprefTorsltad regained their power in 1662, fo as to ejeft 2000 proteftant teachers out of their places, they wreaked their vengeance on this noble man, fo as to have bim publicly beheaded : but he died in an heroic maaner. ■«96 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS ■and moil humble fervants, the town of Providence, if}. Providence colony in New-England, Gregory Dexter, rown-Clcrk." ' They chole commiflioners, who met with thofe ■from the other towns on Auguli 31 ; when ^thev aoreed that the affairs that had been tranfacted by authority in each town lliouldremain till further orders ; and that for the future tlicir government fliould be managed according to their charter ; and that an aflembly of fix commiflioners from each town, fhould tranfacl the bulinefs of making laws, and trying their general atiairs, and they ordered, " That Mr. Ezekiei Holiman, and Mr. John Greene, jun*r, are to view the general laws of the colony, and to reprclent them to the next court of commiflioners.'* And they appointed a general election at Warwick on Sept. 12.* At that elcr^. that' ' 304 HISTORY OF the BAPTISTS that a full agreement and conclufion is made be- tween us, by our worthy friends, Mr, Haulfton, >jr. Gorton, Mr. John Smith of" Warwick, Mr. John Greene, jim. of Warwick, and Mr. John Jtailon ; and in witnefs whereof we fabfcribe our Jiands, and dc/ir^ this to be recorded, this pre- fent 14th of March, 1655, 1656. "William Coddington, In the prefence of William Dyre." •Roger Williams, prciident, John Roome, I3enedicT: Arnold, John Greene, jun. And Harris now turned, and cried up govern- ment and maoiftrates as much as he had cried them down before. * And being deiirous to make tho- rough work of it, Mr. Williams wrote again to the MafTachufetts governor, and was encouraged by him to come to their alfembly at Bofton, which he did, with an addrefs, dated May i 2th, wherein he fays, " Honored Sirs, our firft requeft was and is, for your favorable conHderation of tlie long and la- mentable condition of the town of Warwick,which hath been thus. They are fo dangeroully and fo vexatioufly intermmgled v ith the barbarians, that I have lor.g admired the wonderful power of God in reflraining and preventing very great fires, of' .mutual {laughters, bica]:ing forth between them. Your -uirdc.aujknow the inhuman inlultations of thelc wild creatures, and } ou may be pleafedalio to imagine, that they have not been fpareing of your name as the patron of all their wickcdnels againffc our Englifhmen, womejj and children, and cattle, to the yearly damage of 60, 80 and lool. The re- medy * V.hcde-IJland Colony records. ■■■Willi ami againft' the Quakers, p^ge ii — 20. •^' • » liese"] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 30^ medy, under God is only your plcafure that Pum^ ham (hall come to an agreement with the town or colony, and that lome convenient way and time b« fet for their removal. And that your wiidoms may fee jull grounds for fuch your willingnefs, be pleafcd to be informed of a reality of a folemn co- venant between this town of Warwick and Pum- ham, unto svhich, notwithftanding he pleads his being drawn to it by the awe of his fuperior fachem.s, yet I humbly offer that what v/as done was according to the law and tenor of the natives -( I take it) in all New-England and America, viz- that the inferior fachems and fubjecls Ihall plant and remove at the plcafure of the highell and fapreme fachems, and I humbly conceive that it plealeth the moft Uigh and only wife to make ufe of fuch a bond of authority over them, without which they could not long fubhft in hura^an focijs- tieSjin this v/ild condition wherein they are. Pleafe you not to be infenfable of the ilipery and danger- ous condition of this their intermingled co-habita- tion. I am humbly Confident, chat all theEnglifh towns and plantations in all New-England put to- gether, fuffer not fuch moleftation from the natives as this OF*e town and people. -. — ^Be pleafed to re- view this copy from the lord admiral [See p. 197.] that this Englifh town lof Warwick ihould proceed, and that if any of yours were there planted, they fliould by your authority be removed. And if the Englidi, whole removes are .difiicult and x:harge- able, hov/ much more thefe wild ones, who remove with little more trouble and damage than thewildi ^cafts of the wilderncfs ?-*^This fmal! neck, wherCf on they keep and mingle fields with the EngWhi js a very den of wickednefs, wljere they not only pi ac'ticc the horrid barbacHins Qf ,9]! kinds of whor^p 2o6 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS doms, idolatiics and conjurations, but living with- out ,ill cxercifc oi^ actual aatUodty,and getting {lore or liquors (to our giief ) there is a conliucnce and rendezvous of all the wildeil and moft licentious natives and pra<^iccs oi the whole country.'* He then proceeded to inculcate his other former re- quells, which now had their efl'ect* * The journal of governor Winthrop fhews, that before they received Fumham and his t'ellows under their prat cclion, the court made them p.romiie to keep the fabbath, and to oblerve other religious niles ; but this account manifeft; the pernici us evil of in- vadinw athers rii^ht^ under the malk of religion ; and they were awhiily requited therefotr. Belide, the manifold troubles tliat it coit the Maflachuietts before, in P.hilip's war ; t'aey not only " lull more of their fubllance as well as inhalitauts than both Plymouth and Conaeclicut colonies together." | But Pumliam and his family had la gi eat a hand, tiierein, tliac the difpatching of a grandlbn of his is mentioned among the heroic explo.it^ of Claptaia I)eniibn, nine months after that war began ; andPuiTiham himtelf was. "accounted the moft war- like and btilfoldier of allthcNarraganfet iachems ;'* and he was io bloody and harburous, through the War, that when he was killed a few days before i ..Hip, with n about fifteen ©r twenty miles of Bofton, he, after he could not Hand, " catching hold of an Engliihman, tliat by accident came near him, had done him a milchicf, if he had not been pt x'ciitly rckued.'* J !No fooner had Mr. Williams obtained fuch a fet- tlcnciit of old controverlles ii\ the country, but new ^ Ma^achufetts hJl^ory, vol 3. paf^e 278 — 283. t Maliachwfctts Kii'.o.-y, vol 3. page 493. X H»bbird'» hiftar^ of th«tt war^ page 68—- iocs* Ci557] li* NEW-EN GLAND. 307 3i and tliercby as well as by what is in* page i4[5 142, we may learn tha^ he held with them iibout inward power, perfecrion in this life, and falling frortl grace deceived ; but v/hen he came tq be acquainted with them, he did not concur with them about thee and thon, and the names of months and days, nor in the more important arti- cles of" refuPaiP- the oath of allieg-ance to civil sfo- vernment, and a dcfenuve war. After his return from England, his character as a member of civil focicty, and as a ruler, ftands unimpeachcd in their records. And as Fox in his book in folio had faid, " The fcriptures are the words of God, but Chrift is the Word of God //; ^cobo??! they end And it is not blafphemy [as an author faid it was] to fay the Toul if. -part of God, for it comes out of him, and re- joiccth in him :" which John Stubs tried to defend- againft Mr. WilUams, from thofe words, Gcd breath- ed inlo man the breath of lift: ; Gorton, deiiring li- berty to Ipeak, faid, " If it be affirmed that God can be divided, and that man was a part of God, the Godhead was deftroyed, and the foul of man, 'It is in the margin, the breath of li'ves, whiclij Stubs acknowledged.*' * On September 2d, 1656, the affembly at Bofton, wrote to the commiili oners of the united colonies, a:id faid, " Having heaid fomctme Cnce, that cur neighbor colony of Plymouth, our beloved bre- thren in a great part feem to be wanting to them- ^ives, in a due acknowledgment and encourage- % Williami \^72/ page 144, 14;, [^1658] IN NEW-ENGLANt). 3*f mcnt to the minlftry of the gofpel, fo as many pi- ous minifters (how juftly we know not) have de- ferted their flations, callings and relations ; our delire is, that fome fuch courie may be taken, as that a pious orthodox miniltry may be reflated a- mong tliem, that fo the flood of errors and princi- ples of anarchy, may be prevented. Here have arrived amongft us feveral prefons,profeilLing them- felves Quakers, fit inilruments to propagate the kingdom of Satan : for the fecuring of ourfelves, and our neighbors from fuch pefts we have im-' prifoned them till they be difpatched away to the place ft-om v»'hence they came — we hope that fome general rules may be commended to each general court, to prevent the coming amongft us, from foreign places fuch notorious heretics as quakers, ranters, &c. Ti-in, commiffionefs having cotlfidered the pre- mifes, cannot but acknowledge the godly care and zeal of the gentlemen of the MaiTachufetts, to up- hold and maintain thofe profeffed ends of coming into thefe parts, and of combination of the united colonies, which if not attended in particulars afore- faid will be rendei'-ed wholly fruftrate, our pro- fefiion miferably fcandciized, ourfelves become a reproach in the eyes of thofe that cannot v.-ithoufc admiration behold our fudden defeclion from our iirft principles." From whence they went on to inculcate -what the MaiTachufetts had propofed. *' Though the MalTachufett rulers knew not whe- ther thofe minifters had deferted their ftations juil- iy or not, yet they had approved of the fettlernent of Mr. Jolm Mayo in Bollon, Mr. Edward Bulk- ley :it Concord, IVIr. John Reyncr at Dover Twho preached y MafTd-.nufejis hiUcr;'. vol. 3, pag« zS^-^zh^, %\b tllStOtlY OF THE BAPTISTS preached in Bofton, the winter after he left Ply* mouth) Mr. Richard B!ii:nian. at Cape- Ann, &Ck all of whom were miiiifters in Plymouth colony> •when the colonies confederated together in 16431 We leain alio t.at Mr John Norton arrived at Ply- mouth in 1635, where he preached the toUowirg winter, and Mr. Smith their pahor rcfigned his place to him, " and the cnurch ufed him \\ii:h ail ■k'dpect, and large offers, yet he left them — ,iilec;g- ing that Ins fpnit could not trnit^ za'ith bim.'* * He went and fettled 'ut Ipfwich, but after Mr. Cotton's death removed and took iiis place in BoHon, where fee with his colleague had not a little hand 'mfpLrit' ing up others to the atjove defcribed mcaiures* .Another vigorous hand in the fame woik wasMr* Cobbet, who arrived at Boffon in 1637, wxote againll the baptifts \\\ 1645, '^^''^'^ miniiter at Lynn,, when they fufl'ered there in 1651, but upon t"he death of Mr. Nathaniel Rogers took his place at Ipfwich, where the town on Feb. 25, this year voted to give him an lool. to buy or build him a houfe, and taxed all the inJrabitrmts to pay it* This being a new thing with them, feveral pcrfons would not comply with the fchem^ : Therefore dettrefs was made upon them in 1657. Snmuel Symonds, Efq; dcfccnded trom an ancient and Jionorable family in hfiex in England, was theft one of th€ Maflachufetts magiftiates, and at laft died their deputy go\einor. Before him George Ciddings profecuted Edward Brown, for leizing iiis pewter forfaid tax : '1 he juftice gave the plantif damage ;;nd cofls, for which judgment he rendered Ihefe reafons ; " I underitand this to be about a fundamental law r— Such a law as that God and Bature has given to a people j fo that it is in this truft f Wimiircp— livbbard. [1C58] IN NEW-ENGLAND, 31X truft of their governors in higheft phce and others, to preserve, but not in their power to taive away, from them. Of this fort are thefe, viz. i. Eleclioi^ of the fapreme governors. 2. That every fubjec^ fli.ill and may enjoy what he hath a civil right unto, fo as it canuot be taken from Rim, by way of gift or loan, tro the ufe or to be made the right or property of another man, without his own free confent. 3. That fuch laws, (though called liberties) yet more properly may be called rights, and in this fenfc this may be added, as a third funda-.- mental law, viz. That no cuftom or precedent ought to prevail in any moral cafe, that may ap« pear to be finful in refpec"? of the breach of any Jaw of piety againft the firft table, or of righteouf- nefs again It the fecond.-— 1 Ihall add — -that it is againft a fundamental law in natiire, to be com- pelled to pay that which others do give ; for then no man hath any certainty, or right to what he; hath ; if it be in the pov/er of others by pretence. of authority or without, to give it away (when in their prudence they conceive it to be for the benefit of the owner) without his own confent. — *- The parliament m,ay tax, and that juftly, the whole country to give a reward to qne man for fprric fervice, for they are betrufted fo to do. The; reafon is, it is levied upon the whole country, ivitb their confent J and for the immediate benefit of the ivhoh. But if they (hould do it between perfons (though they fliould do it by powerjand the perfon arranged hath no remedy in this world) yet it would be accounted tyranny. Is it not to take from Peter and give unto Paul ?" Then after mentioning the law for minifters faleries in page 98, he fays, " yet the law was framed fo, as fuch churches as chofe to go in a voluntary way of weekly contribution, ^i^' HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS might fo contixTiue,as fome churches in the country- do to this day.*' After an appeal to the county douFt, the queftion, with the reaibns each party had ihr and againll: it, was puc to the general court, wiiether the town vote tor giving the laid icol. bound the inhabitants, fo that any of them who were unwilling, might be compelled to pay it, or not ? On Oclober iOth, 1657, the deputies rclblv- cd it in the negative, wliich was non-concurred by the council ; and influence enough was made the next day to bring a majority of the houl'e round to thecorapeliing iide. * Neither could they be content Vy'ith ufing com* pultion thcmfelvcSj but the commiffioncrs ot the u- nited colonies, wrote to that of Providence, Sept. 25^ 1656, to try to draw them into their meafures to- wards the CXiakers. To this the ailembly at Portf- mouth gave an anfwer, on March 13th, 1657, wherein they ("ay, ^" Whereas freedom of (iiiferent confciences to be protected from inforcements was the principal grouniil of our charter, both with rev fpecl to our humble fuit for it, as alfo to the true intent of the honorable and renowned parliament of England, in granting of the fame to us, which freedom we ftiil prize, as the greatefl happinefs that men * Morffachifctts hiircry, vol. 3. page 287-— 308. So la 0:"t>jbcr l6$8, the majority of ihc houfe were agdinft the law, to banilTi Quakers on pain of death ; but the council, with the help cf feme minifters, at laft prevailed to carry it, by the majority of only one vote ; which, when deacon Wozel [or Wifwalj un- (Sjcrftood he wept, and though illnefs caufcd his abfccnce, yet had police been given him, he faid, " if he had not been able to go, fce would have crept upon his hands and knees, rather than it ftould have been." Thus thofe oppreffions were c<^rried on by a few men, agiinft the fenfe of the beft part of the community. Endicot, Bellingham, Biadftreet and Denilbn, with the minifters they fu tinder, wcne as guilty in this refpeCt as any. Bij7iop\ Jiiew- England Judged, Ma^ffachufcils hiftsry^ voL I. p. X9i». ti658] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 315 men can poITefs in this world, therefore we fliall for the prefcrvation of our civil peace and order, the more efpecially take notice that thofe people, and any others that are here, or fhall come among us, be impartially required, and to our utmofl, con- llrained to perform ail civil duties reouifite. — And in cafe they refufc it, we refolve to make ufe of the iirft opportunity to inform our agent.^ refiding in England," &c. They clofe with thankful acknow- ledgements of the commillloners care they had^ expreffed for the peace and v^elfare of the whole country, and faying, " we reft yours, mofl affec- tionately, defirous of your honorable welfare. John San ford, C/tvi of Affembly.'** This did not content thofe commillioners ; btit they wrote again the next fall, to which governor Arnold, and his court rctarned an anfwer, October 13th, which has been publiilied. * And the con- tention growing more terrible the year after, the allembly at Warwick, Kov. 5th, 1658, appointed Mr. OIney, Mr. Gortor: and Mr. Crandal, whojiad luffered from them at Bofton, with Mr. Trip, ta draw a letter to their agent in England, which is as follows : " Worthy Sir, and tru/iy friend, Mr. Clarke, ' " We have found, not only your ability and dil- iigencc, but alio your love and care to be fuch con- cerning the welfare and profperity of this colony, iince you have been intruded with the more pub- lic aft'airs thereof, furpafling the no fmali benefit which we had of your prefence here at home, that- we in all ftraits and incumbrances, are cmboldned to repair unto you, for further and continued care, counfel and help, finding that your folid and chril* tian demeanor hath gotten ro finall iatereft in tho S s heaxt* * Majfachufetti hi^ory, vsl, I. page 52$.^ ^z^x 314 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS hearts of our fiiperiors, thofc noble and wortliy fcnators, with whom you had to do in our behalf^ as ic hath conftantly appeared in our iiddrefl'es mad« unto them, we have by good and comfortable proofs found, having plentiful experience thereof. The lall: year we had laden you with much em- ploymentjwhich we were then put upon by reafon <.;f fomc too refractory among ourfclves, wherein we appealed unto you far advice, for the more public manifeftation of it, vi^ith rcfpec"l to our fu- periors ; but our intelligence fell ihort in that great lofs of the Hiip, which we concluded here to be caft away. We have now a new occafion given us by an old fpirit, v*^ith refpect to the colonies round about us, who feem to be offended with us becaufc a fort of people, called by the name of (fakers, who arQ come amongft us, who have raifed up divers whc? at prefent fccm to be of thtir fpirit, where- at the colonies about U3 feem to be offended with us, be- ing the faid people have their liberty with us, arc entertained in our houfes, or any of our affem.blies ; and for the prefent we have found no juft caufe tQ charge them with the breach of the civil peace ; only they arc conftantly going forth amongil thena about us, and vex and trouble them about their religion and fpiritiial ftatc, though they return witk many a foul fear in their'bodies for th-* fame. * And the offence our neighbors take again ft us, i? becaufc we take not fome courfe againft the faid people, cither to expel them from amongft us, or take fucii courfes againft thena as themlelves do^ who ' * Many weri* whipt, fomc were bf-anded, and Holder, Crpe- land and Roufe, thicc fingle young mem, h td c..ch his righi car <;ut oif in the prifon at Uofton, the lolh of September iLis JcajF* Grfve'f cbri dement of Bijhop, pa^c 64, 91, 9*. [1658] ti? NEW-ENGLAND. 315 who are in fear leaft their religion iliould be cor* fupted by them. Concerning which difpleafare that they leeni to take, it was expreiFed to us in a /"olemji letter, written by the commiffioners of the united colonies at their fitting, as though they would either bring us in to act according to thdr fcantling,or elfe take fome courfe to do us a greater difpleafure. A copy of which letter we have herewith fent unto you, wherein you may perceive iiov/ they cxprefs themfelves ; as alfo we have lierewith fent our prefent anfwer unto them, to give you what light we may in the matter. There h one claufe in the letter which plainly implies a threat, though courtly exprelfed as their manner is ;* which we gather to be this, that themfelves (as we conftrue it) have been much awed in point of continued fubjection to the ftate of England, left in cafe they fhould decline, England might prohibit all trade with them, both in point of exportation and importation of any commodities, which were an hoft fulliciently prevalent to fubdue New-Eng- land, not being able to fubfift : even fo they feein to threaten ns, by cutting us oft from all commerce atid trade with them, and thereby to difable lu of any comfortable fubiiftance, being that the con- vourfe of fliiping, and all other fores of commcdi- lies are univerfally converfant among themfelves ;, as alfo knowing that ourfeives arc not in a capacity J-O fend out fliiping of ourfeives, which in great meafure is occalioned by their oppreffing of us, as yourfelf well knows :'as in many other refpecls f© '11 this for one, that we cannot have any thing from them, for the fupply of our neceifities,* but in eficch ihey make the price, both of our commodities and their own. Alfo, becaufe we have no Englifli coin, bat (Mjly that which palTeth among thefe barbarians, J i6 HrSTORY OF THE BAPTISTS nnd fach commodities as arc raifed by the labor of our hands, as corn, catdc, tobacco, &c. to make payment in, which they will have at their own rates, or elie not deal with us ) whereby, tho* they gain extraordinarily by us, yet for the fafc- giiard of their religion, they may feem to neglcft themfelves in that refpecl ; for Wbat -will not men do for tfmrGodf Sir, this is our earn eft andprciTmij jcqueft unto you in this matter, that as you may perceive by our anfwcr unto the united colonies, we liy as our refuge in all civil refpecls to his highneft and honorable council, as not being fubjecl to any other in matters of our civil ftate, fo may it pkale you to have an eye and ear open, in calc our r*dverfaries fuould fpeak, to undermine us in our privileges granted unto us, and plead our caufe ia liich fort, as that we may not be compelled to ex- crcifc any civil power over nien's confciences, f» Jong as human orders in point of civility are not corrupted and violated, v^'hich our neighbors about us do frequently praclife, whereof many of us have abfolute experience, andjudgeitto be no iefs than a point of absolute cruelty. John Sanford, ClerJ^ of Jfflmbly.*^ * The * As Oliver Cromwel died Sept. 3, l^cS, and hl« Ton Richard V'3s chofen protector .in his ftead, their allembly of May 17, 1659, fent an addrefs to b.im, wherein they i''^y, " May itpleaie your higbnefs to know, that this poor colony of Providence plintaiions, mcftly confift* of a birth and breeding of tlie provi- dence of the Moft High, we being an out cnft j-eople, formerly from our mother nation in ihc bifiiops days, and llnce from the Ncw-I'lnglilh over-zealous colonies ; otir whole frame being like 'into the prcfent 'fr-^me and conftitution of our de^rert mothei- J'Lr;^land ; bearing with the fever al judgments and confciences enr.n of other in all the towns of our colony, which our neighbor colonies do not, which is the only caufe of their gre^t otTcflce ••>2^'.»iit US- — Sir, wc dare not interrupt your bigh iirairs with the [16533 IN NEW-ENGLAND. 517 - The commiffioners of the colonies who met at BoitoQ, September 3, 1658, and continued their meeting to the 23d, clofed their acls with fayingj " Whereas there is an accurCed and pernicioi.o fcc^ of heretics, lately rifen up in the world, who are commonly called Quakers, who take upon therii to be irrv'ed^iately lent of God, and infalUaOly aflilled,who do fpeak and write blaiphemous things, difpifmg government, and the order of God in church and common-wealth ; fpeaking e\il of dignities, reproaching and reviling magiftrateSj^ and the minifters of the gofpel, feeking to tarnr the people from the faith, and to gain profelytcs to their pernicious ways : And whereas the feveral jurifdiclions have made divers laws to prohibit their coming amongft them ; [but they refuhng, to obey them, and ftill making difturbancej it is therefore propounded, and ferioufly commended to the feveral general courts — to make a law, that, all Quakers formerly convicted and punifhed as fuch, iliall (if they return again) be imprifoned, and forthwith baniihed or expelled out of the faid jurifdiclion, under pain of death. '''^ Ali the eight commilTioners figncd this advice, only the governor of Connecticut iaid, " Looking at the laft as a query and not an acl, 1 fubfcribe, John Winthrop." * Such a law was made at Bodon the next month, but the like was not done in any of the other co- lonics. At Plymouth they had prevailed for two }Tars tV.c particulars of our w'ila'err)er5 condition, only ht^ your eye of favor to be c^ft upon ovr faithful -Jgent, Mr. John Clarke, and unto what humble addrcfles he fb-ill at any time prcfcnt your Highnefs with in our behalf." Cclony rctords. . * Records fif.the United Colanies. The Other coir.miflioners were Endioot and Bradftreet, of MafTachufetts ; IVince and Winllon-, of Plymouth. ; Taliot, of Cor.ne£licut ; and Nr, which is a disjunctive, and makes every branch become a law. So now, if any neglect, or will not come to the public meet- ings, ten fhillings for every defect. —And thefe TLX'^sn altering this law lall March, yet left it dated, June 6th, 1651, [See page 2143 and ih it ftands as the act of a general court ; they to be the authors ei' it feven years before it v/as in being ; and fo yourfelves have your part and fliare in it, if the records lie not. But what may be the rcafon that they fliould not by another law, made and dated by that courts as well effed what was intended, as hy altering a word, and io the whole [ciiie of the taw ; and leave this their act, by the date of it, charged on another courts account ? Surely, the chief initruments in the bulinefs, being privy to aa act of parliament/^/- liberty, fliould too openly have acted repugnant to a law of England j but if they can do the thing, and leave it on a court, as mak- ing it iix years before the acft of parliament, there can be no danger in this. -If we can but keep the people ignorant of their liberties and privileges, then v/e have liberty to act in our own wills what we pleafe. Through mercy we have yet among us wortliy Mr. Dun star, whom the tord hath made boldly to bear tcftimony againfl the Jfirit of perfeciition,'" * For * Thc(e things Capt. Cudworth wrote to Mr. Brown, then la Englaad/who let biihop publilh them, page 1(3^ — 176. Mor- tCB, [1658] IN NEW-ENGLAND. y.i For the above things thofc two magiftratesj Hathcrly and Cadwoi th were left out or ail their oiHces, in June, this year. At the fame time it 13 meet that pollcrity fliould knov/ how thofe CHia- kcrs behaved under their fuffei ings. Humphery Norton, one of their teachers and authors, was lent out of Plynumth colony in 1657, for being an cx- travagant perfon ; which charge, fays Biihop, could not be proved. On election day June ift, 1058, hq and John Roufc came again to Plymouth, and were taken up and whipt, ISiorton twenty-three lafhes,' and Roufe fifteen, which Bifhop fays, ** 1 hey re- ceived for no other thing but for coming into that colony in *the luill of God.** * Though the records inform us, that when they were brought before the aflembly June 3d, Norton " faid unto the go-*, vernor fundry times, Tbou I'leji ! and faid unto him, Thomas, thou art a 7naHcioi(s man. Sec. And that for thefe things, and for refufing the oath of allegiance to any civil government, they were then whipt, and for officers fees were impiifoned till the tenth, ■when they were releafed, and went to Rhode-Ifland, where on the i6th, Norton wrote a letter to Mr, Alden, one of their magilrrates, and another to the governor, with an anfwer to Chriftopher Winter's depohtion agaiiift them, all whicli the court or-^ dered to be recorded. The beginning and en4 of that to the governor, I took from thence with my own haijd, which is in the wprds and letter* following : T t Thomas ton, fays Mr. Dunftar, " was ufeful and helping in defending th^ truth againll Q^aakers ; and that he fell alkep in the Lord, iu 16^9." After Mr. Brown returned from England, he aod Cudr worth were called to account for this letter, but were not punifiir fd. Cud worth was reftored to the magiftracy in 1674, auij d'i-^i l.hsif deputy governor, in 16S1. Piyvrjtttli records. * Ik f'^-EaglanU judged, page X63— 17^, 322 HISTOUY OF THE BAPTISTS " Thomas Prince, thow who haft bent thy hart to worke wickednes, and with thy tongue haft thou fet forth deceite ; thou imagineft mif- chicf upon thy bed, and hatchcft thy hatred in thy cecrett chamber j the ftrength of darknes is over thee, and a mallicloufe mouth iiaft thow opened againft God and his anointed, and with thy tongue and lipps haft thow uttered perverfe things ; thow haft llaundered the innocent by raih'ng, lying and falfe accufations, and with thy barboroule hart haft thow caufed theire bloud to bee flied. Thow haft through all thefe things broke and tranfgrcied the laws and waies of God, and equitie is not be- fore thy eyes. The curfe caufles cannot come upon thee, nor the vengance of God unjuftly can- not fetch thee up ; thow makeft thylelf merry with thy cecrett mallice. — The day of thy wailing will bee like unto that of a woman that muithers tlie fruite of her wombe ; the anguifh and painc that will enter upon thy reignes will be like knaw- ing worms lodging betwixt thy hart and liver : When thefe t.iings come upon thee, and thy backe bowed downe with pain, in that day and houre thow flialt know to thy griefe, that prophetts of the Lord God wee are, and the Go dot vengance is our God. Humphery Norton. " I HAVi'. fent thee heer inclofed a reply to C. Winter's depolition, alfoe I have fent already a true relationofparteof thy proceedings towards London, with a coppy of the fines laid on, and levied of the people of God, with a coppy of thy late laws. Superfcribed, For the goverjier of Flymouth patient^ this ivHb care and fpeedy After this prophecy ^Ir. Prince continued go- vernor of that colony near fourteen years, and then died ia peace (for ought we know.) His fon was SI fi659] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 325 a jullice of peace in his day, and his giandfon was a learned and pious minifter at Bofton, whole writ- ings have furnifhed many valuable materials for our hillory. It ought alfo to be known, that in reading the works of wifdom and knowledge^ and esi- alting that which is low — theQuakers meant to have civil as well as eccieliaftical government managed by the above defcribed power. For in thofe times George Fox pubiilhed a large book in folio, in the i7och page of which he faid, " The magiftrate of Chrift, the help government for him, he is in the light and power of Chrijl ; and he is to fubjed all UU" der the power of Chrijl^ into his light, eife he is not a faithful magiftrate : and his laws here are not agre- able, and anfwerable according to that of God in every man ; when men ad: contrary to it, tliey do evil : fo he is a terror to evil-doers, difcerneth the precious and the juft from the vile ; and this is a praife to them that do well." And when Mr. Wil- liams mentioned thi^ paffage, as one proof, that their fpirit tended to arbitrary government, and fiery perfecution, they faid upon it, "Is there one word of perfecution here ? Or can Roger Williams tliink himfelf a chriftian, and look upon it to be perfecution, for Chrift's magiftrates by Chrift's light and power, tofubjed all under the power of Chrift, and to bring all into this light of Chrift ! Or can he think fuch an one an unfaithful magiftrate ? Or are thofe laws,and the execution of them perfecu- tion,that aie agreable and anfwerable to that of God in every man f Thefe are George Fox's wordsw Such magiftrates, fuch laws, fuch power, and light, and fubjeStion, is G. F. for, and no other." *" This opens the plain caufe why they militated f© hard *^'illiaais, page 207. Fox's aafwcr, page 229, 230. $24 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS hard againft other magiftrates and government, as in the lame»table inftances following : Our Lord dircclcd his dilciples to depart from any houl'e or city, that they ihould travel into, ^vhen they refulcd to leceive them ; and when •the Gadarcnes bcfovigJit him to depart out of their coafts, he did io ; and we have no account cf his forceing him/eJF upon them agliin ; but the Quakers took another courfe. Three of them v/ho were baniihcd, on pain of death, yet returned again to Bolton, and were condemntd to die; and Wilham Kobinlon gave in a paper to the court, which contains the following reaion for liis conduct therein, viz. ''On the 8th day of the 8th month, 1659^ in tlie after part of the day. in tra- velling betwixt Newport in Rhode-Iiland, and Daniel Gould's houfe, witli rny dear brotlier Chrif- topher Holder, the "^'ord of the Lord came cxprefs- Jy to me, which did fill me immediately with hfe Rnd power,, and heavenly love, by which he con- Icrained nic, and commanded me to pafs to the town of Boilon, my life to lay down in his will, for the accomplillxing of his fervice, tlijt lie had there to perform at the day appointed. To which heavenly voice I prefently yielded obedience, not queflioning the Lord how he would bring the thing to pa'-rt.— For the Lord had faid unto me, My foul fball reji in ever Lijlnig fence ^ and my life foa It enter into reji^ for being onEDiENT to the God of my iif^-'*'' MarmadukeStevenfon, gavein another pa- per, informing the court, how he heard a z-oice as he w'as plowing in Yoikfliire, faying, / heve trdaiii" td thee a prophet unto the v.ations ; and after he came to Rhodedfland, he fliys, " Tlie word of the Lord camt' un'jo me faying. Go ^to Lofton, with thy brother ^i^Viiiiain Robinfon'— — This is given forth to [t659] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 325 to be upon record, that all people may know, who licar it, that we came not in our cwn ivllly but in the will of God.*'' * This was their way of following what they called the light ; and the cleareft account of what they meant thereby, that I have feen, is contained in the following fentences directed to Mr. Williams, viz. *' Thou wronged the Quakers in faying, they confefs their light to be confciencc : In this thou perverteft their words, and thou wouldefl; have it lb ; for George Fox's words are, The light ivhich you call confcience, ivhich is the light of Chrili, as you may fee all along in his book. Thou haft read our books with an evil eve, or elfe thou miGcht- eft fee how often we mention, that Chrift hath bought us with a price, which is his blood ; and how that ail died in Adam, and how that Chrift died for aJl, that they that live, might live to him ; and that all might beheve in him, who died for thera ; and if they do not, they are condem:ed •with the light ^ ivhich they Jljould believe in. Chrift Ughteth every man that copieth into the worlds f with life in him^ the luord^ and faith, He is the light of the world, and faith. Believe ii the light ^ that ye 7nay be- come children of light, and he that believeth is faved^ and' he that doth not is condemned. And the con- demnation is the light that is come into the world ; whicli light., is faving to them that believe in it, and condemning to them, that do not believe in it, but hate itjwhofe deeds be evil, John 3."]: In :\\\ wliich there is a manifeft confounding of grace and works, law and gofpel, which the infpired writers took gi'eat pains to keep diftincf. And fince Chrift himfelf fays, •f- vviiltams, fays he, believes tax, in his book in^folio, rt- peats thefc words nenr or quite a thovifand time^. Pafe i85. I i'"9x againft Williams, fecond part. Page 4— 6-— lo. 3i6 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS fiiys, " God fcnt not his Son into the world to condemn the world \ but that the world through HTM might be faved. Think not that I will auufe you to the Father ; there is one tliat accufetb you, even Mofes, in whom ye trust." John 3. 17. and 5. 45 J was not the zeal of thefe men like that we read of in Rom. i o. 2 — 4 ? Did they not troft in the law inftead of the gofpel ? As to the per/on of the Saviour, Mr. Williams fays, " Fox in all his book cannot endure to henr of the word human, as being a new name, and never heard of in fcrip- ture, 1 faid in public, many words truly and pro- perly Englifh, are com.mendab^y ufed that are not in fcripture, in Englifli. The w ord human comes from the Latin humanus, lignifying pertaining, or belonging to man : So a human foul or body is fuch as all m.ankind have. Hence 1 told them, that the word anthropinos peiraf?ms, i Cpr. 10. might have been turned human, but is truly turned, no temptation but fuch as is common to man. G. Fox knows, that if Chriftjefus be granted to have had fuch a foul and body as is himian, or common to man, down falls their monftrous idol of a Chrift, called light within." To v^'hich Fox anfwers, " For thee and the pricfts to give fuch names to Chrift, our Lord and Saviour, which the fcriptures do noc give, and yet fay the fcriptures are the rule, that is abominable. And there is no fuch v/ord in i Cor. 10. that callcth Chrift*s body and foul human ; and whether isChrift*s body celellial or terreftial,or which glory doth he bear? — i Cor. 15.1 4. G.F. doth grant, ^nd all the Quakers, that Chrift was made like unto, usj fin excepted, and had a body and loul, or elfe how could he fuffer ? And is rifen, ik^fame that dscenat' (J is afcended, as the apoftle faith." * And I have fcca * Willlasos, page 5 1, Fox, psge 45, [1659] IN NEW-EN GLAND. 327 feen other of their writings which hold exprefsly, that Chrift brought the fame body from heaven, that he carried thither again. But they reckoned it abominabk for Mr. WilHams to ufe a word con- cerning our Saviour's humanity, that is, not in our tranflation, while he at the fame time approved of the reading as it is ; yet when Hebrews i. 3. was brought in thofe times to prove the perfenallity of the Trinity, the Quakers faid, " That isfafly tranf- latedy for in the Greek it is not perfon but fub* Jiance."** * And faid Mr. Samuel Hubbard, " They turn the holy fcriptures into allegories, all unlefs, fome which they wreft to their own deftrudion,as the apoftle Peter faith ?" They exprefsly held to a power of direction with- in them, fuperior to the fcriptures, which carried them into ,':<5lions that light from thence, or from reafon could not juftify ; and their only way, was to appeal to an inward motion or voice. As for inftance, George Bifliop fpeaks of Deborah Wilfon, as a *' modeft woman, of retired life, and fober con- verfation ; and that bearing a great burthen for the hardnefs and cruelty of the people, fhe went through the town of Salem naked, as a7^«, which Ihe having in part porformed, was laid hold of, and bound over to appear a't the next court of Salem, where the wicked rulers fentenced her to be whipt.** Lydia Wardwel, a married woman of Hampton, went in the fame manner into the meeting-houfe in Newbury, in time of public worihip ; for which fhe met with the like treatment. Mr. Williams rcfered theQuakersto thefe inftancesthat their own author had publifhed ; and told them they never could perfuade fouls not bewitched, that the holy ipirit would move them to do fo : to which they anfwer * Bifhop, page 362, 3^8 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS anfwer thus. ""We do believe thee, in that dark, periecuting, bloody fpi> it, that thou and the New- En '^1 and pricils aie ic\vitcbed in, you cannot be- lieve that you are n.ked from God and his cloth- ing, an^5 blind : and therefore hath the Lord in hh power moiled fome of his fons and daughters to go naked ; yea, and they did tell them in Oliv£R*s days, and the long parliaments, that God would ilrip thcni of their church-profefTiou, and of their power, as naked as they were. And fo they were trtle prophets and prophcteffes to the nation, as many lober men have confefi'cd hnce ; thoiigh tliou and the old perfecuting priefts in New-England re- main in your blindnel's and nakednefs. — As thou didft in the difputc, fo now, thou makeft ^ great ado with our men and woman going naked : we told them then, we owned no fuch pradice in any, unlefs they were called unto it by the Lord. — li^e begineth again to upbraid us with our men and women's going naked, as if it were a thing com- monly allowed among us in //^t/V w/V/j, without the motion of God^'* * As an impartial hiftorian I thought it duty thus to ftate t^ele plain faces and fentimcnts on both £de^<^ for upon Dr. Mather's faying, y6'//ic'g June ift, 1660 ; twelve days after the court of Ply- mouth repfaled one or more of the fharpefl law's they had made againft that people. Charles Uie fecond had been reflored to the crov/n of Jtiigl-id, •n May 29, which Plymouth cou'd have no k'.t w« U u leer., * Magaaliaj book 7. p. 22. Whiting's anfwer,, p. 11—29. :^:^o HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS ledge of then. After the news of it arrived, go- vernor Endicot and his court wrote to him, Dec. loth, when tliey laid, " Our liberty to walk in the f;uth of the gospel, witli all good cotifcience, wa.s the caufe of our tranfporting ourfclvcs, with our wives, iittjip ones, and our fubftance, from that pleafant land over the atlantic ocean, into this vail \rildernefs, choofmg rather the pure fcripture wor- fhip with a good confcience, in this remote M'ilder- nefs among the heathen, than the pleafures of Eng- land with TlibmilTion to the then fo difpoTcd and io far prevailing hierarchy, which we could not do Vv'ithout an evil confcience. Concerning the Ouakers, open and capital blafphcmers, open fedu- ccrs from the glorious Trinicy, our Lord Jefus Chrift, the bleifed gofpel, and from the holy fcrip- ture as the rule of life, open enemies to the govern^ meat itfelf as eilabliffied in the hands of any but iiien of their own principles. — " I'he magiftrate at , l.aft, in confcience both to God and man, judged liimfelf called for the defence of all, to keep the pallage with the, point of the fv\'ord held towards tlicm ; tliis could do no harm to him that would be warned thereby, their wittingly rufhing them- I'ch-es thereupon was their own acl, we with hu- mility conceive a crime bringing their blood upon their own head." * In like manner they proceeded and hanged Wil- liam Leddra, March 14th, 1661 ; but their friends in h'.ngland procured an exprefs from White-Hall, of Sept. 9th, v/hich was brought over by Samuel Shattock, of Salem, requiring thefe rij^Jers to for- bare fuch things for the future^ and to fend fuch ^ Quakers as appeared to them fo obnoxious, over to'^be tried in England. Soon after the receipt of which !» Hubbafd—Maffachufetts liiftory. vol, 3. p. 326, 3x7. Ci66i] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 33P, which Mr. Norton andMr.Bradftreet,\vcre fcnt ovec as ao-ents, by whom governor Endicot and his court wrote to theEarl of Manchefter, " to bei'eech his ma- jefty to tender them in relpccl oflhofe peftclcnt he- retics the Quakers,who have lately obtained his ma- jefty's letter, requiring us to forbare their punifli- ments ; in obfervance whereof we have fulpended execution of our laws againft them,refpecling death or corporal punifliments ; but this indulgance they abufe to infoiency and fedudion of our people, and unlefs his majefty flrengthen our hands in the ap- plication of ibme fuitable remedy to i'upprefs thefe and others, ill affected to our tranquility, this hope- ful plantation is likely in all probability to be de- flroyed.'* They had before faid,that allowing lucli to have liberty here, would be " fo contrary to our confciences to permit, and no Icfs oppreflion of us than the deftroyingboth us and ours by thefword."* How juftly then did Mr. Williams call the ufe of force in ftich affairs. The bloody tenet ! We will now return to the affairs of baptifm : Mr. Hubbard upon the year 1656, fays, '' Baptifra unto this time had been adminiftred unto thofe children only, whofe immediate parents were admit- ted into full communion in the churches where they lived : but now the coyntry came to be increafed, and fundry families were found, that had children born in them, whofe immediate parents liad never attempted to join to any of the churches to which they belonged, and yet were very much unfatisfied that they could not obtain baptifm for their children ; the caufe occafioned many debates between the minifters of the country." Connedicut took the lead therein, and fcnt a draught of qucffions about: it 5 lidid. page 331— 36€, . 332 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS it to the rulers of the MaiTachufetts, requefting th.it the abitd minitters ot both colonies might be called together, to anlwcr the lame. Such an af- fembly was therefore called by authority at Bollon, Juae 4th, 1657, and fat til) the 19th. Their an- fwers to 21 queftions were afterwards print- ed in London, under the title of A difpidation con- cerning church meml'en, and their children- Therein they concluded, that the children of profcfling pa- rents, '* are by means of their parents covenant- ing, in covenant aifo, and n; embers of the church by divine inllitution. i. Becaufe they are in that co- venant for fubitance which was made with Abra- ha.n. Gen, 17. 7. compaied with Deut. 29. 12. &:c. 1. Becaufe fuch children are, by Chrift affirmed to have a place and portion in the kingdom of hea- ven. 3. Klfe no children could be baptized, bap- tiUn baling a church ordinance, and a leal of the covenant of j^race.' And alfo, that " it is the du- ty of infants, who confederate in their parents, when grown. up to years of difcretion, though net yet Jit for the Lord\ [upper ^ to own the covenant they made with their parents, by entering thereinto in their own perfons ; and it is the duty of tlie church to call upon them for the performance thereof ; and if, being called upon, they Ihall refufe the perfor- mance of this great duty, or otherwife continue fcandalous, they are liable to be cenfured for the fame by the church. And in cafe they underftand the grounds of religion, are not fcandalous, and ioleninly own the covenant in (heir own perfons, wherein they give up both themfelves and" their children unto the Lord, and delirc baptifm for them, we (with due reverence to any godly learn- ed tliat may diffent) fee not fufficient caufe to de- ny baptifm unto their children." As [i662] IN NEW. ENGLAND. " 333 " As this difputation had its firft rife in Con- necticut, fo was there much difference and con- tention raifed at Hartford, between Mr. Samuel Stone, their teacher, and the reft of the church, occafioned at the firft on fome fuch account ; inlb- much that fundry members of that church, having rent themfelves off, removed to another place higher up the river, where they fettled, and ga- thered a diftind church in that way of Schifm, as the reft of the churches accounted. This unhap- py difference over fpread the whole colony of Con- necticut, with fuch a monftrous enchantment upon the minds of chriftian brethren that in all the towns round about, the people generally made themfelves parties to one fide or the other of the quarrel. — A world of fin was doubtlefs 9onimitted, even by pi- ous men on this occafion. It came at laft to an open breach, which could not be healed, or made up among themfelves, which put them upon a neceflity of calling a con- vention of themeflengers of fundry churches in the MalTachufetts, who met at Bofton, in 1^9, and made a reconciliation between them — The pradice of church-care, about the children of our churches, met with fuch oppolition ascould not be encoun- tered with any thing Icfs than a fynod, or elders and mcffcngers from all the churches of the Maf- fachufetts colony. Accordingly the general court, having the necemty of the matter laid before thera at their fecond fcf]ion,in the year i66i,ifiliedoiit their defire and order for the convening of fuch a fynod at Bofton in the fpring." After long labor tht majority of them approved of the above pro- pofition, and obtained the concurrance of the ge- neral court thereto, on October 8th, 1662. * IVIr. Mitchci, ^ Hubbard— Magnah'a, B, 3. p. ii- > :"" -^^ B. 5. p. 63, 64. 334 HISTORY of the BAPTIST S • Mitchel, who was the chief draughtfman, of that relult, laid, " We make account that if we keep baptiini within the non-exconimunicabJe, and the Lord's fupper within the compafs of thoie that have (unto charity) fome what of the power of goodlinefs^ or grace in exerciff, we fiiall be near about the right middls-'way of cliurch-reformation. " * And it has been called the half-ioay covenant ever fmce ; tho' this barcing of matters in religion has done more mifchief in this land, as well as elfewherCj than tongae can exprcfs. Mr. iileazcr Mather, the firft minifter of North- ampton, wiote on July 4, thio year, to Devenport, and faidconccrningthis fynod, " There was fcarce any of tlic congregational principles,but what were lyen at by fome or other of the affembly ; as rela- tions of the work of grace, power of voting of the fraternity in adniiflion,*' &c. f Prciident Chauncey publiflied his teftimuny againft this new Ichcme ; and fo did Mr. Devenport ; to the laft of which Mr. Increafe Mather wrote a preface, containing a di- ftind apology for thofe who difTcnted from it. Mr. John Allen of Dedham anfwered Mr. Chauncey, and Mr. Richard Mather the otlier, while Mr. Mitchel was employed to anfwer his fons preface. Young Mr. Mather in that preface lays, " I he fy- nod acknowledged, that there ought be to truey^z'- ing faith in the parent, or elfe the child ought not to be bapti?:ed. We intreated and urged again and again, that this, which themfelves acknowledged was a principle of truth; might be ^di down for a conclulion, and then we fhould all agree. But thofe reverend perfons would not confent to this." No 5 and Mr. Mitchel was fo far from doing it in his * His life, p. 76, 80. t Mair. hilt. vol. 1. p. 224. Ii66z'] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 335 his anf A er, that he tells of diftinguifliing between faith in its hopeful beginning, and faith in fpecial exercife ; initial faith and exercifed faith, and fays, " All reformed churches, unanimouily grant the child's right unto baptifm, by its being born within the 'uifible church. Bcfides, what have infants more than meer memberjhip to give them right unto baptifm ? We know of no llronger argu- ment for infant baptiim than this, that church viemhers are to fe baptized.*'* * To which I would fay, that the Jewifh church indeed was lirll con- ftituted of the houfhold of Abraham, and all his offspring were born in the church, of whom the fon of the bond woman was the iirfl that was cir- cumcifed ; but the chriftian church is conftituted of the houlhold of God, the children of the free %uo- man, in difHnclion from thofe who were born after the /lefhy though from Abraham's body. Ephefians 2. Gal. 4. Mr Mitchel, by his reafonihgs drew Mr. L Mather over to that fide ; after which he acled many cruel things againll the baptifts for near zo years, till the fame meafures were meeted to him again, fo as very fenfable to convince him of his error therein. Mr. Hubbard fays, " >ome think; Mr. "Devenport's book hath overthrown the pro- portions of the fynod, according to their own principles." Mr. Devenport was a while in HoL land, before he came here, where he teftified againft their promifuous baptifms , and he faid, " VV hen a reformation of the church has been brought about in any part of the world, it hasrare- ly been afterwards carried on any one ftep further than theyfr/? reformers did fucceed in Xhoxv firfi en-* deavors. He obferved, that as ealily might the ark; have ' f Magnalia, book 5, page 77 — 79, 33<5 HISTORY or the BAPTISTS^ have been removed from the mountains of Ararat, where it lirli grounded, as a people get any ground in reform alion, after and beyond the firll remove of the reformers. And this obfervation quick- ened him to embark in a delign of reformation, wherein he might have opportunity to drive things in the^^ ^/_y, as near to the precept and pattern of fcripture as they could be driven." * We (hall prefcntly fee other minifters promoting a fepara- tion from him for thefe attempts. ' On the 8th of May, this year, the aflembly at Boflon wrote to that of Rhode-Illand and laid, " Our afFc6lion to peace and a fair correfpondance, puts us upon a condefcention far beneath our own reafon, and the juftice of our caufe, once more to tranfm.it this our lalt letter to you, concerning the unjuft moleftation and intrulion of fome of your inhabitants, upon the undoubted rights of this jurifdiclion, and the inhabitants thereof, in their grants and poffeillons in the Pequot and Narragan- fet country, upon pretence of authority from your court, and purchafe from Indians, but producing no deed, record, order or commiiTion for warrant- ing the fame ;* wherein, as we conceive, they acl directly againft reafon, righteoufnefs, precedent, grants from England, clear conqueft, purchafe and poffeflion. It is not unknow to yourfelves what means have been ufcd from time to time, both by the commifiioHers of the United Colonies, and by the governor and magiftrates, general court and council of this jurifdiccion,' by their fevcral letters, to defire you to caufe your people to defift fuch proceedings, and extend your authority for fupprefling injullicc ; but to this day have received j)o fatisfac^ory or particular anfwer in the prcmi- fes ; * Msgnalia, book 3. page 53. [i662] IN NEW-ENGLAND; 337 fes ; which h:is given lis grounds to fuppofe,. that at kaft you indulge therri in their proceedingsi You may heixby have notice, that two of your people, namely, Tobias Sanders, and Robert Bar-* dick, behig k:)ng finee taken on the place^ and fe- cured by us to aufwer their treipafs, we have Jnow called them before the cbiirtj and find no- thing from them to juttiiy their proceedings ; therefore the court hath hncd theni 40I. for their off^jnce, arid towards lati-^taclion for the chatges expended in carrying tiiem before authority^ and that they ftand committed till the fine be fatisfied, and fecurity given to the fecretary to the Value of lool. for their peaceable demeanour to* ward all the inhabitants of this jiirifdiction for the future. And we hereby fignify, untd ydii, that tinlefs you command off your inhabitants tliac yet continue their poiTeilion at Sotherton and Pate- ikomfcut before thfe lail of June next, yoii may (expect we fliall not continue to ncgled the , relief and prdteclion of Our people there molefled j and Hiall account it our duty to fecure all fuch perions and eihites of yours"as fhall be found within our jurlfdiction, until jufi: damages be tatisiled. But this we heartily and earneflly defire may be avoid- ed, by your priident care arid juftice, arid that jpeace and good agreement may for the future be preferved between us/'* , ., This reminds me of Mr. Locke's fayirig, " That dominion is fou7idedi?i grace^i's, an affcrtion \vj which thofe who maintain it do plainly lav claim to the poffejjtonof all things ; for they are not ft) wanting to themfelves as not to believe, or at lead aS not to* profefs themfelves to be the truly pious and faith-. lul." f Becaufe Mr. Williams teftified againi^ W w that • J^ode-ldand rccordsa -[ On tolleration, ptgc 6 i < -.-,8 TITSTORt Or THE BAPTISTS jj that pnwerwhcn he firft came to Bofton, the court wrote to Salem agiiinft him ; whereupon he did not ftny to contend with tliem, bij^ peacably with- drew to Plymouth, where hh teaching was well approved as lon^ as IMr. Bradford was governor. But when Mr. Winflow came into that oihce^ V'ho with the Maliachufetts was airainft a full to- ieration in. religious matters, * JMr.WiJIiams peace- ably retired to Salem, and took the charge of that iffick ; but for the churches receiving him without the rcJcrs leave, they took away Ibme of their T^JbiFeffiuns. till they would ^ive up Mr. WilHams ;. ■and, for his faithfu; admouitions to them on that account, they expe-led him^outof their juriidic- ^ion ;but whocan cell how far that extends r When le.,came firil into thi- country all the Indiims Irom *!Bo-ton and Plymouth- Bays to Faucatuck river "were tributaries to the chief fachems of TNarragan- fat ; and from thence to Hudlbn's river, and. over all Long Ifiand Safiieus had extended his power, 'even over 16 fachems. f The Pequot, being thus 'powerful, inade war upon the Narrvioanfets, w^ha, jn April 1632, had a number of their tributaries- 'Out of Plymouth and Maflachufett colonies to aiTift "them againil him ; yet iSailxcus prevailed, aud ex- tended I his territories ten miles eaft of Pauca- t'-3ck river. About the fame time Natuwannute, a facliem of the country about v/hcre Hartford BOW Hands, watli a number of his men, " were driven out from thence by the potency of the Pe- quots,"^ and cani»i to our fathers at Plyraouthy aad requcllcd them to go up and trade there, tho*' *' their * Maffjchnfe'-rs hiftory, vol- 3- p.^pe 1^4. f Connedicut .:. 341 a fmall part of the wampum paid, and all the reft due, iiovv to pretend tears is a vain and ofFenfivc excufe** * This ihews that themselves did not rieglccl the rule they prefcribed to their general in tnat expedition, viz. " You are to ufe your befi endeavours to gain the enemies canoes, or utterly to dettroy them, and herein you may make good u{> ot" the Indians our confederates, as you may do upon other occafions, having due regard to the honor of God, who is both our fword and ftiield, and to the dijiance which is to be obfcryed betwixt chrijiians and barbarians, as well in war as ii^ other negociations."f Sixteen months before that covenant wa? made, Pafficus and other heads of their tribes, had by an ample deed refigned oyer and fubmitted al( thofe lands to the fupreme authority in England, ^nd Mr. WiUiams hai procured a charter thereof from thence, extending unto the Pequot river and country, page 148, 192. The Mailiachufetts re- cords, upon granting Fifher's illand to Mr. Win^ throp, p. 1 15 fay it lies againft tlie mouth of Pe-. quoc river. What right of jurifdiclion then had thofe colonies ea(t of that river ? and what right had PaOicusto engage any of thofe lands to them, which he had fubmilted to another authority fp long before ? By repeated endeavors the com-* millioncrs had got all the wampum that was pro- iuifed infaid covenant but 30S fathom, before they met at Hartford on Sept. 5, 1650 ; and then cap- tain Atherton was fent, with twenty armed men, to demand the remainder, with orders to fcize their goods if the Indians refufed to pay it ; ancj if refiifance fliould be made fo as any life was loft, that ' * Records of the United Colonics. ^ Mailachufctts hiflory, vol. 3. psge 151* 543. HISTORY OF the BAPTISTS' that a fpecial meeting of the comiUioncrs fhoulcj then be called to m;ike war upon them for it. He accordini^Iy went, and placed his inea round I'af- ijcus's tent, and going into it, feized the tachem by the hair of his head, and threatened to Ihoot Iiim, if any refittauce was made, 'lids terrihed thcax ib much, that tlie wampum, was prefentiy piiid; On July -15, 165 1 , at the delire of the Nar- ragaufet iuchems, Mr. WilHams wrote to the go-» vernor at Bofton, an account of iundry complaints they had againft Lhicas ; which letter was laid be-, fore the commillioners when they met at JNew- Haven, the 4th of September fol'.Aving j but tho' XJncas was prefent yet they aclcd nothing upon it, tecauie the Narraganfets had not ient any of their; men to fupoort the charge. At the lame time a tribute of 3 1 2 fathom of wampum was paid by XJncas, Ninceroft and others, on account of the Pequots they had among them; and upon laying of it down they demanded, "Why this tribute was required, how long it Ihould continue, and* whether the children to be born hereafter were to pay it ? AH which being confidered, the commiffion, evi by Thomas Stanton, anfvvered, that the tiibute by agreement hath been due yearly from the Pe- quots iince anno i6'^8, for fundry murders with- out provocation committed by them upon feverai of the Enghih at feverai times, as they tound op- portunity ; refuhng either ta deliver up the mur- derers or to do juftice upon them ; fo drawing oa a war upon thcmielves, to the great charge :\r.d in- convenience of the hngliih : v.'hich war, througl^ the ffood l\:uid vf our God, illucd iirfl in a con- Queil over that treacherous and bloody people, ana after by agreement (to fpave as much as might be. even fuch guilty tlgod) i^ a ikiali tribute, to bq. gaid. fi562] IN NEW-ENGL AND. 343 |:ikl indifferent proportions, by, and for theirm^Ies, According to their different .ages yearly ; but hath n(jt hitherto been iatisfted, though demanded. Wherefore, though twelve years tribute v/ere due before the year 1650, and though the agreement was for a yearly tribute tO be paid by them .knd theirs, fo long as they continue in this part of the country ; yet the commiiTianers, fomething to cafe their fpirits, a.nd to engage them to an inoffenhvc and peacablc carriage, declared that the payment of this tribute fhail be limited to ten years, this laft year to be reckoned the firft ; after which, unlefs thev draw trouble unto themfeives, they fliali be free." * Such an uneaflnefs rtmono^. the Narra?' onfctt, and Mr. Ed- ward Draper, " imiiiediately after they had kept a day to fe.k the Lord, that lie would fend labor- err, into the dark corners of the laud.'* Tlicfe tra- wliei'a w-jrc well received, and weric foon fcnt back h.zo their own^ccuntry again, and were inftru* mei^.tal of gathering; a baptiil church at the time a- b'Vv? mentioned ; and whicli, by rv blelting upon t;H:tr labor?, iucreafcd by the clofc pf tlie next voir fo iiFLy-fivc mcrabers, In 165J, forty more ^(jjncd t(i ic ; forty-fcvcn in 16525 ^''^d by the end \>f Tdv,>o, two hundred s^nd hxtyrtlfrvc perfons had jiii'-cJ to that church, v.'hoftj names all now ft and ill a neat book of records which they kept ; which contain a diftlnd account of the means and methods they took to promote vital and pradical religion a- mong the feveral branches of their fociety ; as alfo letters of correfpondence to and from their bre- thren in various parts of England and Ireland. But here another fcene opens. The prcfbyterians had been as much againft e- qual religious liberty as the epifcopalian'?, and ma- jiifcftcd as great bitternefs againft thofe who broke their pov/er in the long parliament ; and thefe two parties joined in reftoring the fecond Charles to the throije, who came in with plaufable promifcs 552 MISTORY OF THE BAPtiSt Si of indulgence to tender confcicnces ; and great ptifiS were taken to accommodate matters between them^ without any good eiFecl. The epifcopalians hav* ing got the power into their hands, determined W crafiialltliatoppofcd it. Among the reft they wreak- ed their vengance on Sir Henry Vane, v/hom they beheaded in Au2:uft 1 662." His indifcretion and mfolence (la) s a great author) as well on his trial as his execution, have been extrearhly aggravated 5 but it is eafy to feej it was only to lave the king's honor, who having politivly promifed a p?;rdon ta all except the king's judges, could not avoid grant- ing a pardon to Vanej without Violating his pro^- iiiile." And when Varie's friertds perliiaded him to make fome fubmiflion in order to fave his lifcy he faid, " If the king does not tlftdk himfelf rhors" concerned for his honor and word, than I do fot my life, I am Very wilhng they fliould take it. ISIay, I declare that I value my life lefs in a good Caufe, than the king can do his promife." * A prefbytetian author who writes very bitterly aga:i!ft' him, yet owns that, " the two things in vhich he had moft fuccefs, and fpake moft plainly, were his earneft plea for iiniverfal liberty of confcicnce, and a-; gainft the magiftrates intermeddling with religior?,- and his teaching his followers to revile the rnmJ- ftry, calling them ordinarily black coafs^ p^'i^J^h ^^itf other names which favoured of reproach." And he fays, " No man could die with greater appear- ance of a gallant refolution, and fearlcflhefs than he did, though before fuppofed a timcrous mart ; in- fomuch, t'lat the manner of his death procured him' more applaufe than all the actions of his life." -j- On the 24th of that month,^ called St. Bartholcf^ mew's- • Rapin, vol. 2. page 631. t Cahniy's abridgment, page 99, lot, [1663] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 353 mew's day, and act of parliament took place, which ejected all teachers, both of churches and fchools, out of their places, who would not declare their aifent or confenc to all the forms and ceremonies of the church of England. About 2000 were turned out by it ; and the method the church party took to procure this act, was fecredy to fomciit diltur- bances and tumults in different parts of England, and then to perfuade the parliament that the pref- byterians did it, and that no peace could be hid with them till diffenters were all turned out of pUce- And among thoic fo ejected was our Mr. Miles. ""^ Upon which he and fome of his friends came over to our country, and brought their church records with them. And at Mr. Butterworth's houfe in Rehoboth, in 1663, John Miles, elder, James Brown, Nicholas Tanner, Jofeph Carpenter, Joha Butterworth, Eldad Kingfley, and Benjamin Alby^ joined in a folemn covenant together. This church was then in Plymouth colony, con-' ccrning whom Dr. Mather fays, " there being ma- ny go'od men among thofc — I do not know that they have been ferfecuted with any harder means, than thofe of kind conferences to reclaim them.*'-{- I fuppofe it was fo for fome ye^rs, and that becaufc Mr. Newman, who perfecuted Mr. Holmes, died this year ; but four years after I find it thus re- corded, viz. " At the court holden at Plymouth the 2d of July, 1667, before Thomas Prince, go- .' vernor, John Alden, Joliah Winllow, 1 liomas Southworth, William Bradford, Thomas Hinck- ley, Nathaniel Bacon, and John Freeman, r^fH'- tants— Mr. Miles, and Mr. Brown, for their bi each df order, in fetting up of a public meeting with- Y y out * Ibid. p. 17S — 181. and vol. 2, p. 731, t iMaguaiia, iiook 1, p., 14. 354 HISTORY of tKe fiAPTlSTS? out the knowledge and approbation of the cotirf^ to the diflurbance of the peace of the pU.Gc, aFc iined each of them 5I and Mr. Tanner the fum of il. and we judge that then' continuance at Ileho- both, being very prejudicial to the peace of that church and that town, may not be allowed ; and do therefore order all perfons concerned therein, wholly to defiftfrom the faid meeting in that place or towndiip, within this month. Yet in cafe they fliriU remove their meeting imtofome other place, where they may not prejudice any other church, and fliall give us any reaionable fatisfaclion refpec- ting their principles, we know not but they may be permitted by this government fo to do." And it was no longer than the 30th of October follow- ing, before the court made them an ample grant of Wannamoifet which they called Swanz^y. Ir then included what is now Warren and Barring- ton, and the diftricl of Shawomet, as well as the prefent town of Swanzey. * There they made a 3"egular fettlement, which has contmued to this day. The families alfo of Luther, Cole, Cowen, Whca-^ ton, Martin, Barnes, Thurber, Bozworth, Mafon, Child and others, which are numerous in thofe parts, fprang from the early planters of that town and church. There firft meeting-houfe was built a little weft of Kelly*s-ferry, againft Warren, but Mr. Miles fettled the weft lide of the great bridge which ftill bears his name. C H A P. * Plymouth records. — N'ote,tht* town was named onMaichif?, 1667-8, w'hea by miftake the firft grant is dated, in Swanzey town records ; but the above 1 touis from ihe euifrt iccmdt at Plyrnouch. [1665] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 355 CHAP. VI. An account of the coiiftitution of the iirfl baptift church in Bofton, in 1665, and of their fulFerings down to 1675. M R. Hubbard fays, " As fome were ftudying; how baptifm might be enlarged and extend- ed to the feed of the faithful in their feveral gene- rations, there were others as ftudious to deprive all iinaduit children thereof, and to reflrain the privi- lege only to adult believers." And Ur. Mather, after confefling that very odious and unjuft things had been publifhed againft anabaptifts ever lince Luther's time, fays, " Infant baptifm hath been fcrupled by multitudes in our day> who have been in orher points moft worthy chriftians, and as holy, ^hatchful, fruitful and heavenly people as perhaps any in the world. Some few of thefe people have been among the planters of New-Englandy>-ow the heginning^ and have been welcome to the commu- nion of our churches, referving their particular o- pinion unto themfelves At lad fbme of our churches ufed, it may be, a little too much cogency towards the brethren, who would weakly turn their backs when infants were brought forth to be baptized." * Twenty years before Mr. Cobbet had •ailed their fo doings a pophane trick : And what their • Magnolia , Book 7. p. 27. Seth Sweetfer, who came •ver to Cnarlcftown in 1638, fioai Tring in Hardfordfhire, was one of thofe early baptifls, I find by the records that he was re- ceived a free man that year. His fon Benjamin was long a ufe- ful member of the baptift church in Bofton, and he has left a nu- merous pofterity, cne of whom has been School-Maftsr and Tgwa-Clerk in Charkftowo for fundry years puft. 25^ HISTORY of the BAPTISTS th°ir dealings were, which are here covered under the obfcure term cogency, will preiently befeen. It was luch that a number drew off and met by themiclves in Charleitown, till on May 28th, 3665, Thomas Gould, Thomas Ofburne, Edward Drinker, and John George, were baptized, and jointed with Richard Gocdall, William Turner, R-obert Lambert, Mary Goodall, and Mary Newel, *' in a folemn covenant, in the name of the Lord Jefus Chrift, to walk in fellowlhip and com- munion together, in the practice of all the holy appointments of Chrift, which he had, or fhould further make known to them." Goodall came recommended from Mr. Kiflen's church in London ; Turner and Lambert from, Mr. Stead's church in Dartmouth, having been regular walk- ers in the baptift order before they came to this country. Gould and Ofburne feparated from the church in Chiilefiown ; Drinker and George had lived many years in this country, but had not join- ed to any of their churches. * 1'h e king's commiflioners being here, caufed the court not to lay hold of thefe people fo foon as o- therwife they might have done. But in Auguft a note was entered in Roxbury church records, and pubiifhed in an Almanack, which has been com- Tnunicated to me in thefe words, " The anabaptifts gathered themfelves into a church, prophelied one by one, and fome one among them adminiftered tke Lord s-fupper after he was regularly excommu- nicated by the church at Charleftown, they alfo fet up a lecture at Drinker's houfe once a fortnight." As great noife was made about their receiving ex- communicate members and oflicers, it is proper to give that matter a diftincl confideration here. Dr. Mather tells of this church being formed, " not on- * Their church records— RufTeli's narratirc, p. i, z, * [1665] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 357 ly with a manifeft violation of the laws in the com- mon-wealth, relating to che orderly manner of ga- thering a church, but alfo with a manifold provo- cation unto the reft of our churches, by admitting into their own fociety fuch^as our churches had excommunicated for moral fcandah^ yea, and em- ploying fuch perfons to be adminiftrators of the twp facraments among them.'* * They would thus reprefent as the' that church had many fuch members and officers, whereas in fifteen years, among fourfcorc baptift members,they have not named but four excommunicate ptrfons, and but one of them an officer, viz. Thomas Gould, who with Thomas Ofburne were of the firft mem- bers ; and as the impartial reader would be willing to hear both fides upon it, 1 will gi\'^e him their flory in their own words. Mr. Samuel Willard of Bofton, who wrote a- gainftthis church,faysofThomasGould," 1 Though he was firft called to an account about withold- ing his child from baptifm, yet that was not the reafon of his being admonifhed, nor becauie he could not be convinced of error ; nor yet did the church proceed to admonition, till fuch time as he (not only fpake contemptuoufly and ineligi- oully of the emptinefs and nullity of that ordi- nance, but alfo) ufed unbecoming geftures in tJic time of adminiftration, of which (being afked ti\ i reafon) he (before the congregation) ackriov^- ledged they were to caft difrcfpecl upon it : -t - then neither till after much patience. 2 At h'<» .firft admonition he was not fententially fulpe-d-- ed, but only defired, for preventing of the ofTe-": : of fome, to abftain from coming to the oth:r fii- cramert. 3 Upon this» Thomas" Gould took up a trade * Magnalia, Book 7. p. 27, 358 HISTORY OF the BAPTISTS trade of abfentinsj himfelf from the meetings of the church to worfhip God on the fabbath, which jnade a new offence. 4 The church in much ten- dernefs waited upo:t hjm, and proceeded not to excommunication, but tried with admonition up- on admonition, and that by the fpace ot fevcn or eight years : nor was he excommunicated, till (having left his own) he joined to another fociety, without the churches leave, or once afking it : and now alfo being twice fent for by the church, he djfclaimed their authority over him. 5 Tho- inasGould did not leave the church atCharlellown on the account of the anabaptiils nev/ church (as is pretended) but had many years before renounc- ed his fubmifHoR to that church. 6 He did (while under admonition) neglect public worlhip, and gather a private meeting on the fabbath to his houfc. 7 He did wickedly flight the admonition of the church, declaring that they had by it, dif* charged him of all relation to them. *' For Thomas Ofburne ; the churches pro- ceedings with him were with the hke patience as to Thomas Gould : only it is to be obferved, that Iiis firfl offence was this ; whereas it is one thing which church-members engage to upon admiflion to walk with the church in conllant attendance upon public worfhip, he (without notifying any offence) did withdraw and feparate, frecjuenting tAofefchifmatic meetings atGould's on the fabbath ; this was the offence, nor did he when firft dealt with pretend any diflike of infant baptifm, but that the church gave no liberty to private brethren to prophefie, that they limited the miniflry to learned men, and that he did not find his own fpi- rit free to come ; though afterwards he fpake both of that, and of their feverity to the Quakers, though that [1663] IK NEW.ENGLAND. ^s^ that church meddled not with them, but to preach againll their errors. In this practice he contuma* cioully perfifted many years, denying himlelf to be Ibbjec't to that church, or bound to affemble with them, flighting many admonitions ; and af- terwards (with Thomas Gould) went off to, and be- came a worthy pillar of an anabaptift church/'f This is the pedobabtilVs ftory ; Mr. Gould has given us his in the words following. " It having been along time a fcnipk to me a- bout infant baptifm, God was pleafed at laft to make it clear to me by the rule of the gofpel, that children were not capable nor iit fubjeds for fuch an ordinance, becaufe Chrift gave this commifTion to his apoftU s, lirft to preach, to make them dis- ciples, and then to baptize them, which infants were not capable of; fo that 1 durft not bring forih my child to be partaker of it ; fo looking that my child had no right to it, which was in the year 1655 when the Lord ^^ras pleafed to give me a child •, I (laid fome fpace of time and faid nothing to fee what the church would do with me. On a third day of the week when there was a meetinrj at my houfe, to keep a day of thankfgiving to God for his mercy Ihown to my wife, ar that time one coming to the meeting, brought a note from the elders of the church to this eftect, that they de- fired me to come down on the morrow to the el- ders houfe, and to fend word again what time of that day I would come, and they would flay at home for me ; and if I could not come that day to fend them word. I looking on the writ- finihrcf, anfw:r to Rvjfdl, p. 13. 14- Nf^^^' Richard Ruirdl.fays one of thf ir magi Urates, was h msrnbir ofChaiUfto^va tfliurch, and did not he ad agaiaft the Quakers i 36o HISTORY of the BAPTISTS ing with many friends with me, I told them I had promil'ed to go another way on the morrow. Mailer Dunftan* being prefent defired me to fend them word, that I could not come on the morrow, bnt that I would come any other time that they would appoint me ; and fo I fent word back by the fame meffenger. The fifth day, meeting with elder Green I told him how it was ; he told me it was well, and that they would appoint ano- ther day when he had fpoken with the paftor, and then they would fend me word. This lay a- bout two months, before I heard any more from them. On a fii ft day in the afternoon one told me I muft flop for the church would fpeak with me. They called me out, and mafler Sims told the church, that this brother did withhold his child from baptifm, and that they had fent unto him to come down on fuch a day to fpeak with them, and if he could not come on that day to fet a day when he would beat home, but he refufmgtocome, would appoint jio time, when we writ to him to take his own time, and fend us word. " I RE PL 7 ED, That there was no fuch word in the lettc]', for m e to appoint the day ; l)ut what time that day I fhould come. iMr. Sims ftood up and told me, I aid lie, for they fent to me to ap- point the day. I replied again that there was no iuch thing in the letter. He replied again, that they did not fet down a time, and not a day, therefore he told me it was a lie, and that they would leave my judgement, and deal with me for a lie ; and told the "^churcli that he and the elder agreed to write, that if I could not come that day, to appoint the time when I could come, and that he read it, after the elder writ it, and the elder aiilrmcd • 1 fuppofe Mr. Henry Dunftar> [r6653 in NEWrEN gland, 361 afHrmed it was fo, but I ftill replied, there \Vas nq inch thing in the letter, and thought I could pro^ ducc the letter. They bid rpe let them fee the letter, or they woi^ld proceed againft me for a lie. BrotherThomas Wilder, fitting before me, flood up and told thein, that it wa;? fo in the letter as I faid, for he read it when it came to me. But they anfwered, it was not fo, and bid hini prgduce the letter, or they would proceed with nae. He faid, I think I can produce the letter, and forthwith, took it out of his pocket, which I wondered at ^ and I delired hinj to give It to Mr. R.uffell to read,^ and fo he did, and he read it very fliithfully, and it was juft as I had faid, that I n)u{|: fend thenii word what time of that d^y i would come downr fo that their mouths were Hoped, and mafter Sims put it off, and faid he was miilaken, for he thought he had read it otherwife ; but t:he elder fayed, thii$ is nothing, let us proceed with hini for hi."? judg- ment. Now let any man judge what a fair begin-r ning this was, and if yqu wait a while yqu may fee as fair an pndlng. They called rnc forth tc^ know why I would not bring my child to bap- tifm. But before I fpeak to thjt, pbferve the pro- vidence of God in the carriage of this letter^ Brother Wilder was with iis when their letter come to my houfe, and after Mr. Duniian had read it, he gave it to b^Qther Wilder, and he put it into his pocket, and it lay there eight pr pine week's, till that day, I \yas called forth, going a. good fpace from his houfe, finding it too cold tQ go in the clothes he had on, rcturne4 arain an4 j)ut on another pair of breeches Nvhich were wa'rmr er, and when he had fo donc^ put his hand intQ his pocket to fee if he had any paper tp write v/ith^ md there f©und that letter, and put it in agair^. 362 HISJORY OF TKE BAPTISTS and went to meeting, yet not knowing what would be done that day concerning me. God had fo ap- pointed it, to ftop their iirece proceedings againft ine for a lie, whicii they fought to take me in. Then afking mc why 1 did not bring my child to baptifm, my anfwer was, I did not fee any rule of Clirift for it, for that ordinance belongs to fuch as can make profeflion of their faith, as the fcripture doth plainly hold forth. — I'hey anfwered me, that was ment of grown perfons and not of chil- dren : but that which was moft allcdged by them was, that children were capable of circumciCon in the time of the law, and therefore as capable ia the time of the gofpel of baptifm ; and alked mc why children were not to be baptized in the time of the gofpel, as well as children were circumcifed in thz time of the law ? My anfwer was, God gave a {tvict command in the law for the circumcifion of children ; but we have no command in the gof- pel, nor example, for the baptizing of children. Many other things were fpoken, then a meeting was appointed by the church the next week at Mr Ruffel's. " BsiNG met at Mr. Ruffers houfe, Mr. Sims took a writing out of his pocket wherein he had drawn up many arguments for infants baptifm, and told the church that I mull anfwer thofe ar- guments, which I fuppofe he had drawn from {omt author ; and told me I muft keep to thofe arguments. My anfv/er was, I thought the church had met together to anfwer my fcruples, and to fatisfy my confcience by a rule of God, and not for me to anfwer his waiting. He faid he had drawn it up for the help of his memory, and de- fired we might go on. Then I requefted three tllungs of theia. ill That they iliculd not maks fi665] IN NEW-EN GLAND. 3^3 me offender for a word. 2d. They fliould not drive me fafter than I was able to go. 3d. That if any prefent (hould fee caufe to clear up any- thing that is Ipoken by me, tiicy might have their liberty without offence ; becaule here are many of you that have then- liberty to fpeak againft me if you fee caufe. But it was denied, and Mr. Sim's waspleafedto reply,thathc was able to deal with me himfelf, and that I know it. So wefpent four or five hours fpeaking to many things to and again ; but fo hot both fides that we quickly forgot and went from the arguments that were written. At lafc ©ne of the company flood up and faid, I will give you one plain place of fcripture where children were baptized. I told him that would put an end to the controverfy. That place in the fecond of the Acls 39th, 40th verfes. After he had read' the fcripture, Mr, Sims told me thac promife belonged to infants, for the fcripture laith, The promife is to ou and your children, and to all that ate afar off; and fie faid no more : to which I replied, Evenfo raany -as the Ijord our God Jhall call. Mr.. Sims replied, that I fpoke blafphemoufly in adding to the fcrip- turcs. I faid, pray do not comdemn me, for if I am deceived, my eyes deceive mc. He replied again,' 1 added to the fcripture which was blafphe- fny. I looking into my bible read the words again, and faid it was fo. He replied the fame words the third time before the church. Pvir.RufTell ftood up and told him it was fo as 1 had read it. Ay,it may be fo in your bible, faith Mr.Sims. Mr. RufiTcIl anf- wxred, yea in yours too if you will look into it> Tiicn he faid he was miflaken, for he thought on. another place; fo after many other words v/e broke ^p for that time. ** At another meeting the church required me f I ^^4 falSTOIlY or the feAt»TISTJ$ to bring oiit my child to baptifm. I trtld them I duilt not eld it, for I did not fee any tule, for it in the \vord of God. I'Jicy brought matly places of fcripturc in the old aiid hew teftinient, as circum- tiiion arid the proniile to Abraham, and that chil- dren were holy, and they were difciplcs. But I told thcrii that 111! thefe plates rnade nothing for infants baptifrtl Thcil rtood up W. D. in the thuixh and laid, Put him in the court ! Fut him in the court ! Biit Mr. !5ims anfv\'ered, I pray forbear fuch words ; but it proved Ib^ for prefehtly after they jpbt nie in the coiirt, and put nie in fevcn or eight C(3urts,\vliiirt they looked upOn me to be a member bf tlicir church; The elder prelled the church to lay nlfe under admonition, which the cliurch was back* ward to do. Afterwards 1 went out at the fprink- Jing of childferl which was ^ great trouble to fome honefl hearts, and they told nie of it. But I told them I could not ftay,forI lookt upon it is no ordinance of Chrifti They told me thit now I had made knpwn my judgment I might ftay, for they know 1-did not jom \Vith them. So I flayed and fat down iri mv feat when they were at prayer and admlniftrint^ the put by the ordinances of Chrift in the church ; for the rule of Chirft is ftrft to deal with men in the firft and in the fecond place, and then in the third place before the church ; but the firft time that ever they dealt with me, they called me be- fore the whole church. Many meetings we had about this thing, whether T was a member or not, but could come to no conclulion ; for I ftill af- firmed tliat their aclin^l;s rendered me no member* Then Mr. Sims told the church that 1 was jpe for excommunication, and was very earneft for it; but the church would not confent- 1 hen I de- fired that we might fend to other churches for their help to hear the thing betwixt us ; but rnaf- ter Sims made me this anfwer. We are a church of Chrift ourfelves. and you fhall know that we have power to deal with ycui ourfelves. Then faia Ml. RufTell, We have not gone the right way to gain this our brother, for we have dealt too harfaly wirh him. V>nt Hiill ma ''^■' Sims prefTed ths church to excommuoicate me. Mr. RulTeU faid 368 HISTOHY OF the BAPTISTS faid. There were greater errors in the church in the apoftles time and yci they did not fo deal with them. Mr. Sims afked liim what they were I He faid, How /ay foms of you thai there is no rejiir- r^dion of the dead? Mr. Sims was troubled and faid, I wonder you -^vi]l bring this place <:ii fcrip- tijrc to encourage him in liis error I Mr. Sims was earneft for another admonition ; then flood up Solomon Phips and faid, you may clap one ad" monition on him upon another, but to v/hat end^ for he was admonifhed about fev^en years ago ? Mr. Sims faid, Brother! do you make- fuch a lightj matter of admonition, to fay, Clap them one upon another i doth not the apolHe fay, After the firfi and fecond admozaidon r'yect an heretick \ there^ fore there might be a fecond admonition. ]t was anfwercd, it was a hard matter to prove a man an heretic, for evtry error doth not make a man ^ heretic. Mr. Sims faid, it was not fevrn years ago., nor above three fmce I was admonitlicd, and that was for fchifm. A brother replied and faid, it was feven years flnc^ 1 was aduionilhed. On that there wasfome difference in the church what I was admoriflicd for, Mr. Sims then pulled a bit of paper out of his pocket and foid,. This is that he was admonifhed for, and that was but. thre« years iince. Brother Phips afkcd him when thafi paper was writ, for lie never heard of that admoni^ tioix before ? He anfwereid, he let it down for his ewn memory ; then, he read it-,, that it was fos fchifm., and rending from the church. I told hira I did not rend from the church, but the church put. me away from them, and. that was four years before tliis. Then there w?.s much aggitatioa when the admonition was given, and what.it wa^ for ? And this was all the church records tha$ cwld liUs'] IN NEW-ENGLAND* 3^^ vrould be found, which was about feveii years after, the admonition was given ; fo after many words? we broke up, which was the lail time wc met to* 2;ether. Now let any man judge of the church records that were drawn up againft me, and read at the difpute in Bofton, which contained three or four fheets of paper; read by Mr. Shepard, * and drawn up by him, a Uttle while before the difpute, who was not an eye nor ear witnefs to the chur-* chcs adings, not above half the time. " Now after this, confidering with myfe''f what; the Lord would have me to do ; not likely to joii> with any of the churches of New-England ^^y more, and (o to be without the ordinances o£ Chrift ; in the mean time God fent out of Old England who were baptills ; we confulting toge- ther what to do. fought the Lord to direcf us, and taking eounfel of other fiiends who dwelt among us, who were able and godly, they gave u$ eounfel to congregate ourfelves together; audio we did, being nine of us, to walk in the order of the gc?fpel according to the rale of Chrift, yefc , knowing that is was a breach of the laM^ of this country ; that we had not the approbation of jnagiftrates and minifters, for that we fuffered the penalty of that law, when we were called before them. After we had been called into one or twQ courts, the church imdcrltandipg that we wer« gathered into church order, thpy {^nt three mef- . fcngers from the church to me, telling n)e th? ' church re, tired me to come before them the next; Lord's-day. I replved. The church had nothing to do with me, for they had put me from theni eight years before. They replied, that they had aothing to do with that, but were fent by tlij^ A a a chur<;h f_ SsatoMr. ThowjiJ Shepard, focoiarly 4)£C*ai>:i dp with mc, therefore I would not come without the churches confent ; then they departed. The next iveek they fent three melTengers more, who, came to my houfe and told me that the church had fent them to require me to come to the church the ncxl Lord's- day after. I told them tJrat the church had nothing to do to require me to come, who had put me from them eight ycarj^, and the church I now walked with would not let me come. They told me again that if I did not come, the church tvould proceed againft me the next Lord's-day. I told them that I could not come for we Were to break bread the next Lord's-day. They told mc they would return my anfwer to the church. One of them afked if 1 would come the next Lord's- day after ? But another prefently faid, We have np^^ fuch order fiom the church ; fo they departed. The laft day of that week three loving friends com- ing to me of their own account, one of them was pleafcd to fay to me. Brother Gould, though you look upon it as unjuft for theuj to call you out, yet there be many that are godly among them that will apt;ized4 are IJaints by calling, and lit matter for X^ifible' church. This was complained of as exclud- ing all from a vilible faint-lhip but baptized perlbns, •which we fball hereafter fee they had no thought tfft But their grand crime lay in not obtving the JruiiRg party in their religious affairs* Th£ court of alTillants charged them to dclift from what they called their Ichii'matical practice j and becau(e they would not, the general court that m..et Ocl. ii, convented Gould^ Turner, OiburnejDrinkcr andGeorge beforethem, to whom thcfe baptifts eJihibited the iameconfellion as they liiid to the court ofairiftants,whic]i was clofed with ikying, " If any take this to be herefyj then do ue with the apolUo confcfs^ that after the way uliicli they call herefy, v.'e Svorlhip God the Fa- ther of our Lord Jelus Chrift, believing all thingi that ftre written ia the law and the prophets and ^poitles." Which the court called a *' contemn* ing the atithority and laws here ef^abliilied, for tlie maintenace of godlincis and honeily, as well i3 continuing in the prophanation of God's holy ordinances ; (and faid) This court taking ths ^^'emii'es into their I'ciious confideration, do judge meet to dt'dare, that the faid Gcuju and compa- liy, are no orderly church afiembly, and that they ftand juftly convicted of high prelunipiion againii the Lord and his holy appointment, as alio. the peace of this goveinment, againfl wfiicli this court ioUi account themfelves bound toG.od. Jiis truth an.il . ^ .His [1665] IN NEW-EN GL AN B. 373 his chiirches here planted, to bear their teftimoBT, :\Tid do therefore fcntence the laid 'I'homas Gould, \Viiliam Turner, Thomas Oiburne, Kdward Drinker and John George, fuch of them as arc freemen, to be dii'sfranchicdp and all otthem,upoii conviclion before anv one mariihatc or court, of tiieir further proceeding herein, to be commit- ted, to prifon until the general court fhall take farther order with them. Zechariah Rhodes, be- ing in court when they were proceeding againll 'J homas Gould and company, and faying in court, y/.>e court has not to do in matters of religion : he was commicted ; being fent for he acknowledged hij fault, declaring he was forry he had given them offence. The cOwirc judged meet to- difchargc liim, the governor giving him an admonition for liis faid oflence." * Cam any man believe that thefe were itieafuref to promote either ^odlinefs or honefiy^ in Rhodes, or in any Oxie clfe ? rather did not the court take Jehovah*^ name in vain in this acl ! The foremen- tioned excufc, made by Dr. Mather, for this feverity, viz. their joining , in church fellowlhip without the approbation of other miniifers and their rulers, fa)\s Mr. Ncal, *' condemns all the diffenting congregations that have been gathered in England, fincc the act of uniformicy in the year 1662 — Let the reader judge, who had molt rcafon to complain \ the New-Enghmd churches, who would neither fuifer the baptiils to live quiet- ly in their communion, nor feperatc peacably from It ? or thefe unhappyperfons who were treated fo unkindly for following the light of their con- fciences.'* I Xzt. bccaufe they ilill followed ihat • light • Maff^chufc;;'* records. Khodes wai'ahaptift, buthad been of Arno4.l's party jitPaiauxct. Mailachufett'shiftory.vol.3 ,p. 277, tN'jal'a b;ttory of Ncw-iuglaad, v»l, i. P. 304., 2©5. 374 HISTORY 0? Tiifi BAPTISTS iight, they were prcfented to the county court at Cambridge, April 17, 1666, " for ablenting theinfelves from the public worflilp.'* And when they aflerted chat they did fteadily attend fuch worlhip, the forgoing act 6f the aficmbly was pro- duced to prove th;it it was not ii> a lawful way ; and Gould, Oiburne and George, were each of them fined foar pounds therefor and ordertd to bind thcmielves in a bund of twenty pounds apiece, for their appearance at the next court of aflif. tants ; and retufiDg fo to do were commitccd to prifon. * When the court of aiBflants came, they gave fentance that they fiiould pay their iine» and court charges ; and when the aflembly fat on Sept. 1 1, they ordered, that if they would pay the fame, they ftiould be fet at Uberty ; but added thity " the order of court of Oclober 1665, refcr- sng to the faid fchifmatical affembly, ihall be, and hereby is declared to ftatid in full force." f Thus they went on from time to time, till the court of jafliftants at Boflon, March 3, who adjourned t6 ^ay I, 1668, paffed the follo\^Hng acl, a copy of which I find among their church papers, exa,(Sll7 in thefe words, viz. " Thomas Gould plaintiff, oft appeal from the judgement of the laft county court atCnarleflown* After the courts judgement reafonfs of appeal, and evidences in the cufe produced were read, com* xnitted to the jury, and remain on files with the records of this court. The jury brought in their %'erdicl, they found for the plaintiff, reverfion of tht former judgement. Tlie court not accepting this verdicl, commended it to the jury's further confideration, and fcnt tlicm out again. And afe the adjournment, on the further confideration, they * Maff. hiit. vol. 3, p. 400^ 401, f MafT. Records [iS6«] IM NEW-ENGLAND. 375 they brought in a fpeclal verdicl, 1, c If the intent of this law, that the appallent is accufed of the breach of, be that the prefentment of the grand jury, without their certain knowledge, pr other evidence, or the perfon fo complained of is icjally convicted of the breachof the law, tlicreby he not making it appear he had done his duty j then they confirm'd the judgement of the former court at Charleftown, but if otherv^'ife they acquit the ap- pellant. The court, on a due conlideration of this fpecial verdicl;, do confirm the judgement of the county court at Charleftown. i his judgment was.declared, and on the plaintiff's refulai to pay; the fine impofed, was committed to prifon.*' On the 7th of this March, they alio faid, « The governor and council, accounting themfelvc$ bound by the law of God, and of this common* wealth, to proted the churches of Chrift her(^ planted, from the intrufion thereby made upoR their peace in the w^ys of godlincfs, yet being willing by all chriftian candor to endeavour tho reducing of the faid perfons from the error of theip way, and their return to the Lord and the corq* munion of his people from whence they are fallen, do judge meet to grant unto Thomas Gould, Joha Farnum, Thomas Olburne and company, yet fm> ther an opportunity of a full and free debate, o£ their grounds for their pracljce j and for th^t en4 this court doth nominate and requeft the Rev. Mr. John Allen, Mr. Thomns Cobbet, Mr. John Hig^infon, Mr. Samuel Danforth, Mr. Jonathan Mitchel, and Mr Thomas Shepard, to aiTemble with the governor and magiftrates upon the 14th liay of the next month, in the meeting-houfe at Boflcm, at nine in the morning ; before whom, f r ib many of them, with any other the Revc* 3V ^t . r 1 When the afreLibly melat EgPOn in May foU lowing, they proceeded to the ne::t argument, and fid,-" Whereas -the council in Ma.xh latl •did for 'their further conviclipn-, appoint a meet- ."ncr'^f divers ciders, and reqi.^ired the [^^^ r^^'rl^"^ to\ttend ttve {kid meeting. Which was he.d m poU tonivith a great concourfe of people— 1 i>r3 ftourC^ bein^ fcnfible of th^ir duty to Cod and thj coyn. ' try, and being defu-oiis thaf, their pr.ocecd^r^js 11^ this o-reat caufe might be ckar and regular, do orde? that the faid G^uld and company be requir- ed to appear before this court, on the feventh in{lant,ac eight in the morning, that th-t ^oin-J n^ay underftand from themfelv.-, xvhethpt upoa the means ufed, Or other confederations, they h^^^ altered their former declared refclution^ and ar$i ^)villin9 to dcAft from their former oflftiuvc prac^ tice, that accordingly ^ mete efe^ual remedy hiay be applied to fo dangerous a malady. A? the tiiuc they made the^r appearance and atte^ Ebb ^^^ » Hk lit., p. 69. 10, 72, The difput« w»h4d bpr> :hf Wii% 9mA i^th •( Aoiiii. 37S HISTOliV OF THE BAPTISTS the court had Jieai J what they had to fliy for tbemiclvcsy proceeded. Whcrea<> Thomas Gould, William Turner, and John Farnum, Senior, ob- ftinate and turbulent anabaptifts, have fbme time fince combiaed themlclves wit}^ others in a pre- tended cluirch elbte, without the knowledge and approbation of the authority here eltabiiflied, to th"; great grief and offenccofthegodly orthodox ; the faid perfons did in open court, affert their former practice to have been according to the mind of God, that nothlnv that they had heard a^vinced them to the contrary ; which practice, being alfo otherwife circumflanced with making infant bap- tiim a naiiity, and thereby 'making us all to he unbaptizcd perfons, and lb conftquently no regu- lar churches, miniftry or ordinances ; as abb re- nouncing ail our churches, as being {o bad and cor- rupt that they are not fit to be held communion with ; denying to fubmit to the government of Chrift in the church, aiid entertaining of thofe wlio are under church cenfure, thereby matcing the difcipUnc of Chrift to be of none effect, and manifeftly tending to the diilurbance and de- frruclion of thefe churches — opening the door for all forts of abominations to come in am.ong us, to the difturbancc not only of ecckriaftical enjoy- ments, but aUo contempt of .pjiir civii order, and the authority here elfabliflied — which duty to God and tlie country doth oblige us to prevent, bv uHnp- the moll companionate eilectual means to attain t)ie fame ; all which conhdering, toge- ther with the danger of diffeminating their errois, and encourageing prcfumpcuous irregularities by their example, fliould they continue in this juril- diction. ; this court do judge it ncceifary that they be rcmovtvi to fome other part of this coun^ try [i658] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 2>79 try, or elfewhcre, and accordingly doth order, that the laid Thonrias Gould, William Turner and John Farnum, Senior, do before the 20th of July next remove themlelvcs out of thj-s jurifdiction, and that IF after the laid 20th of July cither of them be found in any part of this jurildiction, "without h'cence had from this court or tfce council, he or they fiiall be forthwith apprehended and committed to prifon by warrant from any magi- itrate, and there remain without bail or mainprile, until he or they fhail givelufficicnt fecuiity to the governor or any magiftrate, immediately to de- part the jurifdiction, ancP not to return as above- faid. And all conftables and other ofliccrs, are required to be faithful and diligent in the execu^ tion of this lentancc. And it is further ordered, that the keepers of all prifons whereto the, faid Thomas, or any of them Hull be committed, fhall pot permit any refort of companies of more.' than two at onetime to any of the faid perlbns. And our experience of their iiigh obilinate and pre- iumptuous carriage, doth engag;e us to prohibit them any further meet ng together, on the Lord's day, or other days, upon pretence of their churcH' elfaie, or for the adminiftration or exercJie of any pretended ccciefiaftical functions, or dirpcnfation. of the feals or preaching j wherein, if they ihall ■ be taken offending, they Ihall be imprilbned until the tenth of July next, and then left at their liber- ty within ten days to depart the jurifdidion upon penalty as aforefiiid. And whereas Thomas Gould is' committed to prifon in the county of Middlefcx, by the laO: court of aiFiftants, for non- payment of a j&ne impofed, tliis court jucigeth it meet, after the fcntance of this court is pablifhed' this day aJUrthe kclure to ihcm, that the faid (iould iha].\ jSd lilStORT 07 ritz BAPTISTS Aall fei difehargcd from imprifontncnt in Middle- fex as to his fine, thi^t Ip he may hav« timi: to pie-. Jiare tQi"ubn-il: to the ^judgment ot this co\irt." * This looked like a pov/efful %vay of arguing ; but the "baptifts were nqt convinced by it^ feithSr of its being duty to return into fellowfhip, ^ith thok Y^ho managed the argurpent, or to quit their fta^ions and enjoyments at their command. } find by the colony recor^Sj that John Farnuir^ \V2S Emitted a frcetnan of that colony May 13^ 1640 ; IhomaS Gould, June 2, 1641 ; in \^hic^ y^?s John George bpu«d himlelf to goyunor Winthrod.j t fuppofe to pay for his pailagc over to this cour.try\ And I have a copy i>efore me pFa V/arfant for the commitment of Turner an4 F;irnum to, Bollion Goal, dated July 30 this year, iigr.c4 by gcycrnor BelHugham, Eleazcr Lulher and EdvVard Tyng. Wheri the ailembly met agaih in the fil.ll, a petition \\'as prefented to then^ wherebfa copy fpimd among" their church papers, is beibrfc rne, in thefe words. " WjiERKAS by the cenfure of this honorable court ThoiDias Gouidj William Turi)cr and Johq Farnum, now lie in prifan deprived ot their libera iv, taken off from i;heir fallings, feparated fron; their wives and children, difabled to govern or tq f^rovide for their families, to. their great damage ;ii1d haftenlng ruin, ho\V. innocent ibcvcr ; befide the hazard of their own Uves, being aged and \veakiy npch, ^nd needing that fuccopr a prilbn Mil| iiot ajfTcird j the fcnfe pf this, their perfonal and. firnUy ilioll deplorable apd rjlHictcd c"o;5dition,hatl^ fidly anecled the hearts of many fpbcr a.nd ferious, ctj.riir.ian*!, and fudi aS neither approve of their- ividi^nienfc pr pr^clice.; cfpcciaHy runiidering thai the [i66a] IN NE W.ENGLAND. jg? the rr^en are reputed godly, and of a blamelefs con-? Ycifiitiou ; and tjie things for which they feem tq fuffer I'ccm not tq be moral, unqueftioned, fcanda- loiis evils, hut matters of religion and confcience j not ;n things fundamental, plain and clear, but (:ircurnftantial, mqre dark an4 donbtful, wherein the faints are wont to differ, and to forbear one another in love, that they be not expofed to fm, pr to fuft'er for confcience fakp. W^ therefore raqft hun-ihly befcech this honored courtj in their chriftian mercy and bowels of compafHon, to pity and relieve; thefe poor pr;fonsrs ; whofe fufferings (alfo being doubtful to m^ny, and fome of great worth among ourfelves, and' grievous to fundry of Qod's people at home and abroad, may crave a further confideration) whereby perceiving this court not likely to effect the end defired, but ra- ther to grieve the hearts of Gpd's people : Now your wifdom.s may be pleafed to think of fome better expedient, and ferioufly confider whethex' an indulgence, juftifiable by the werd of God, pleaded for and praclifed" by congregational ^hupches, may nqt, in this day of luflering to the people of God, be more effectual, fafe ^nd inof« lenfu'c than other ways^ which are always griev* pus, and feldom find fuccef^. We in all hun.ihty hope, hereby occafions of difference being removed, that love and communion among all faints, which our dying Lord fo weightily charged and earnefl- ly prayed for, will more ealily be preferved and praclifed, to the glory of God,' honor of the gof- pel, peace and welfare of all the churches, which this honored court being the liappy inffrumenta of effecting, will oblige your poor petitioners, a*? in duty bound, to pray for your happinefs both \n this life and in that to come, snd that your- authority ^tz HISTORY Of TH£ BAPTISTS authority may be long continued as an unparallcd blcfling to this commonwealth." We are infornited that Capt. Edward Hutchin- fon, Cdpt. Oliver, and many others iigned this petition i but the Court were fo far from granting it, that the crisi^ promoters of it were fined, and others cosHpeilcd to an acknowledgment of their fault in reGcciing upon the Court herein. We are aifo told, that the Hon. Francis^ Willoughby, who was their deputy Governor from 1605, till he died on April 4, 1671, " was a great oppo(cr of thefe perfecutions ag<»inft the bapciits.'' * Leveret and Symonds, his fucceflbrs in that offise, appear alfo to have been on that fide of the queiUon. The ruling- party printed their fcntance againft thofe baptiils, an anfwer to which I find amoQg their church papers, which is clofed with thefc words. *' This myhufband v/ould intreatof you, to take counlel of mafter Bennet, and if he and you jnd^e it mete, to lend it to England, and the printed fencance with it. It is delired that no man fee it but goodman Sweetfer, and that Jofiah write it fair and plain." I conclude the perfon herefpeaking is eider Gould's wife j and the moft material points of her anfwer are as follows : ' " FiasT, They call them obJli?':afs and turbuknt fina^apt'ijh. i. Idelh'c to know wherein their ob- ilinacy doth appeal* ? They defired the court to iliOvv them, from the rule of Chrift, of any point that they were out of the way of God ; andif tlie Lord was pleafed to (hew them wherein they were out, they would freely lay it down ; but th^ Clewed them no other rule than their own Jaw ; and fentanced them to be fined and impri- foaed; and this was all the rule they could give, which * M.iT. hift. vol, •^,ti-]t 269. [i668] iM NEW.ENGLxlND. 383 which did not convince them. 2. They fay they were turbulent : I defire th^m to prove wherein they were turbulent, when they did not difturb neither churches nor courts, neither by word nor by aaion j but deiired to Uve qujetly and peace- ably among them, and they cannot teil of any one thing that they dillurbed them in, but defired they might enjoy that liberty that Ciirift hath purchas- ed for the[n. They know not that they fpoke ary word that gave offence to the court, unlefs it ■was thofe few words, when mafler Bradftreet pro- nounced tliat fentance againft them, anli charged them no more to meet togetlier, whether on the Lord'sday oron the weekdays, /« their conventicles ; thofe words were returned by them, We ought to obey God rather than nun ; we cannot but do the things that we ha-v^ heard and learned. 3. As for anabapti/is^ they do not ov/n that name, except they will bepleafed to explain what they mean by it ; for they own tliem to be of the baptized. Again they lay, they co^nbined together in a pretended church eflafe. They need not have faid fo, un'efs they could have proved they fet up their church contrary to a rule of Chrift. Belide, they gave them in a writing wherein they gave a brief ac- count of their faith, where they declared what they owned to be a church of Chiifb, and the or- der of it according to the rule of the fcripturc, which neither the court nor the elders ever an- fwered to this day. They fay it was without th^ know!ed;^e or approbation of the authority here ejiahlij}j' ed a? the law required. Anfwer, i. If the apoftles had not fet up churches In their time, without the approbation of the authority and their priefts, there ha4 been few or no churches in their time. 2., Cljxift is Lord and Kins; of his church, and \ir, will ^ |§4 HISTOilY OF THE 6Ai*TlST5 \vill fet up his government therein, and hath giveti them ruJes from himfclf, how to fet it up and to r.irry it along according to his appointment, and hot to alk leave of the powers ot the word to fet Up his church 5 for Chrift's jurifdiclion is thic Ixateft jurifdiftion n the v.'orld. 3. They had alki ged leave, had they found a command of Chriflfor it, but finding no riile of Chrift they did notdb it* ** Again, they fay fome ^f Chemfcives were txcemmunicattd perfons: Firft, it is true what they fay, yet that fome W3.s but two that v^'erecafl butj and that after th.ey were gathered into this pre- tended church, as tliey call it, a good fpace of time. But confider for what it \Vas, and how it was? [Hear the foregoing account of Mr. Gould and Ofburne is confirmed. And of the day they were caft out flie fays,] Thd word was carried td tlie elder, that if they w'ete alive and well they Would come the next day, yet they were fo hot upon it that thev would not iay, but mafter Simsj when he was laying out the fins of thefe mcn^ before he had propounded it td the church, td know their mind, the church having no liberty td fpcak, he wound it up in his difcourfc, and de- livered tlicm up to fatan, to the amazment of the jpeople, that ever fjich ,au ordinance of Chrift fiiould be fo abufed, that many of the peoJ)le wctit out : and thefe were the excommtJnicated perfons^ 'I'hey faVjCT/iVr Iciig forhsarinc^ to ufe tht utrm/i meani ccn'vince and reduce them, intrtated the ajjj/iante of ts divers elder s> Anfwer I. It is true there were* feven elders appointed to difcourle with theni^j and tl:ere Were a few plowman and taylofs to come before : but how they -were ferved with i warrant to appear before thefe elders in his Majef- t*ys name ! 2. When they were met, there was 3 long long rpeech made by. one of them, of -v^'hat yjlo pciTo'S they weri. and how they acted again^ the churches and government here, and itoacl com deinncd by the court. The other dehring lif^rtv to fpeak, they would not fu3er them, but tij?4 them they Itood there as dcUn^uents, and ouciit not to have liberty to fpeak. llicu they^defutcj they might choofe ai moderator as well as they z they deaicd them. Two days were fpenc to liu.le purpofe — in the clofe, maftcr Jonathan Mitciicl pronounced that dreadful fentance ^gainft thcni in Deut, :scvii, 8. to the end of the i2thj and this. was the way they took to convince, them, and you may (cs what a good effect it had — r-Ther^ was nothing fpoken fi'oin the rule of Chrift, nei- ther from the court nor the eldert, but fuch fen'r tanccs as thefe, fineing, and Whipping, an. priibn-. ing, and baniliiing. and maftcr Mitchells fentance, and all thefe are not the weapon^ iof Cunft, but carnal weapons that never did coav-'c ^'-^y {jjut of the error of his ways. *^ Whebiea* they lay, %i}hjch firadue tiui^lng Jn^. fant buptifm a nullity^ &:c. 1 anfvvGr, ii: i^s good for 'every one to be furc that they are upon good ground whatfoever the pradiice of oiijers may feem to condemn— They lay, ten ling to thg diftur-, hance and deflrucilon of thefe cburcbes, ' For ai^fvyer, I. if eight or nine poor jiniibaptifts, as thf y f.aU them, tnould be the dejlrucljion of their churches, then let any feeing ip,an judge what their chijrchc;^ arc built upon j then wc nuay thijil* they are built Upon a faniy fcundtltion ; for the church of Chnd is built upan himfelf, and the gates c5 Hell ihall not prevail againll it. 2. If Viicy be *£lie churches of Chrift, and think they ihall be 9vci> tiirown by theia, it is from the weakttcfs oFtlidOf C c c i^iti^ 586 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS faith, looking more to an arm of flefh and powers of the world to uphold them, than to Chiift and his faithful promife. 3. If they fear they will be the deilrudion of their churches, now all the power of the country is for them and have an arm of flefli to help them, what will they do when all the powers of the country are againft them, as are againfl tlie other, as you fay yourfelves of them, that when they were in examination before the court, they profeffed themfelvcs refolved to adhere to the fame practice ; and now fuffer will- ingly for it. But for the men, what they are I fliall fay nothing, for the fixty-livc hands to the petition that ^yas put into the general Court, docs plainly declare to dieir beft difccrning, tkat they have been honeft and godly, and lived quietly and pcacably among them a good length of time. Again they fay, ^y 7//5"w^ the mojl compajfionate and effe6liml means to attain the fame. Anlwtr, i. The Lord keep every gracious foul from fuch com. paflionate means for the truth of the gofpel I 1. For what companionate means were ufed with them, let men fearing God judge ; for one of them was called from prifon when this fentance of banlfliment was read againfl: them ; and if any man defires to inform himfclf wherein their com- panion appears, let him read their printed fentance againft them, which was executed upon them ; for not moving themfelvcs, they fent the confta* able, and fetch them away to prifon on a public lecture day at Bofton, when the faid Thomas Gould, Wilham Turner and John Farnum, had been all there, and newly come home to their houles, and they remain in prifon to this day." How any that feared God, could be cnfnared and held in fuch a way of treating their fellow Servants \^t66s2 iH NEW-EN GLAND, 387 fervants, may doubtlefs appear unaccountable to many ;^ but a careful fcarch will help us to difcover the nature of this myftery. The cftabliihracnt of chriftian commonwealth, was the grand object that had been before thofc leaders for forty years, and it continued fo to their laft hours. Mr. Wil- fon, the firft minifter of Bofton, had been famed for a gift of prophecy, or foftteling future events ; and as his difiblution appeared near, a large num- ber of miniftei's came round him on May 16, 1667, and delired him t© declare unto them, what he conceived to be the fins among them that caufed the difpleafure of God againft the country, he told them he had longfeared the following fins as chief among others, which greatly provoked God, ,viz. " I Separation. 2. Anabaptilm. 3* Corahifm, "when people rife up as Corah, againft their mini- flers or elders, as if they took too much upon them, when indeed they do but rule for Chrift, and according to Chrift ; yet (faid he) it is no- thing for a. brother to ftand up, and oppofe with. out fcripture or reafon, the doctrine and word of the elder, faying t am not fatislied, &c. and hence, if he do not like the adminiftration, be it bsiptlfm or the like, he will turn his back upon God and his ordinance?, and go away. And for our ncglecfl of baptifing the children of the church, thofc that fome call gi-and-children, I think God i« provoked by it. 4. -Another fin I take to be the making light of, not fiihjecling to tht authority of fynods without which, the churches cannot long fijbfift. Andfo for the mairiftrates beino: Gallio like, cither not careing for thefe things , or clfe not ufingM^/r •power and authrlty for the riaintenanci of the truth, gofpel and ordinances of our Lord and Saviour Jefus Chrift, and for bearing through witncfs Jigainft the contrary ; fhould the Lord leave thijn hereuotev ^S8 HIStORY ci THE iSAPTIStS 1iLere''int6j lio^ mirerable a people fliould we be 1 f And at night heblcfTed them upon their parting] \Vitii great affection, and with tears, and all the |t! r)}n.eni wept '^ith him, and took their leave of ril'ii, e'f'ert as children of their father, \s ho having feleflbd them was about to die;'* And did lo tlie fhe ^th bf Ano^rifl follonincy, ♦ Thefe things af- fecred their n;iadj jn Uich a rhanner, that upon h\s ^hlirch's bbtaiinhg Mr, Devenport from New- B'lvea to fuereed hirn, who had piinted his tefti- ■iriioriy again ft the rt;i\ilt of the iate fynod about ih^ lia'.fway t-bVehaht, a minor part of the church dreAV off frbrti the reft, and in May 1669 other nitnift'^lrS afl]{tcd in fbnning thtm into a new chii^ck; in lopenjhparation- froiri the firlt church in Biflon, "U-hic^i fih'ifm conUnued about fourteen y'fearis, til] an epiicopal invader of their lights •'•drove thbih tfigether again; ^ Hetscc fe$ V'hat ar * fcMrniatical doctrine that is, of infahts chuicli- iiiemberlhip; and of uiing fccular foice in religious iffairsi Whafe divi/ions and contentions did \t T^i-odiib'e bdth in Coilhetliciit and th'e MafTachu- fetts \ Apd is it not evident that they proceeded from a (^nfouAding of the Jewi^ and Chnliian iihtirche^ together ? fot a right to memberfliip and tci bfficc, in the former, proceeded in a na- tural, in the latter, in a fpkitual line. The' gain- > , %i"g, * Morton, p. 195; T9S. . \ •f Ma-gnelt'a.^ b. J-; p S ;, 83. " There was a great riifcrence betwixt tlic oU church and the ffiembers of the atw church, alcKfe b p>ifiT>. ar.d their rrt era hers jpinirg in full corDmunion with cither church ; this wms fo high that there was imprifonir,g of parties, and great diftiirb.-nccs ; but now hearii g sf wy prcpofaJs for mini-ftersto btfenttfver, *hey arejoinijd togetltsr, jtbrut a fort-. ^?ij;nt ;;|fO', aa(] pray to Goi to confound 'he devices of ^11 wh<> )([Jift:u:h ibcir pCwce and liberties-" Randolph's litur to th< tt/^cp. 9/t'*itdcn,M-jyg, j63?.. ^laj. hift. vol. 3, P.-532. -Tfafti 3^C¥{ siiuith is Ik^ce cartel STAs e/i:^.J)>uii. [i668] IN NEW-EMGLAI^D. 389 jiliying of Korah was after an infalliable authority h^.d rixed the pricd-hood in the line of Aaron and his feed, wKo were types of Chriil and his faints ; but officers in dittincfion from the reit of the lively jhnes whereof his houfe is built, are never^cahed priefts in the new-teftament : yea, we have feen nnkinilters refentins: others eallinir of them by thut name, and yet they in the above inftance and down to this day, have applied the cafe of Korah to thofe who refiife />rfi(!-?zV^//i' to own them as fuch. And they have often told us of David's ern)r, in carrying the ark upon a new cart, inftead of the pricUs flioulders ; but that error is theirs, hot' ours ; and had they been as ready to immitate Daviil in reformation as they were in tranfgreflion what happy times might we haveiccn before now ? The oracles of God wci-e then Carried in the ark, but now hio church is the pillar and grounti of the truth, i Tim. 13, 15^1 * Peter. 2, 5 Upon Uzza's being flnick cead, David was turned tofcarch thedivine ri'lesj which taught him to reft the caufe o{ truth upon living Jhouldcrs^ inftead of an earthly machine drauu by bea;Vy force '. 1 Cor. 15, a. But when the nders of the Mairachufetts were moved by their miniTurs to exert fuch force againft the baptifts, though they faw the chief procurers of that fentance flruck d^^ad before the time came for its execution, iwxi, tiiany more of them about that time, yet tJifir pofterity have approved their fayings cvTn to t' •;; day.* I am well fcnfible that the diviwc jad... - ments * Mr. Henry Flint of F.r.jintree, and Mr. Samuel S' cpard of Rowhy, died about the time of their difpute v. ith the b.iptifx • n Bofton. Mr, MitcI'iCl, who was moft a{flivc in prccurinp the fentHnoe agsinft them, died July 9, aged 43, ?.nd IV)r. John l Uot Jua'r* Odobcr 13, 1668, «gcd j^.both \ii Cambridge, Mr, Jcha . * J 390 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS ments arc agrcat deep, and that love or hatred is not to be known merely by fuch outward events ; yet they ought to put us all upon fearching and trying our ways(asDavid did) by the revealed will of God ; which duty was excellently inculcated upon them at that time in a letter to Capt. Oliver ot Bofton, in the words following. My dear Brother, *' The ardent affecliorl and great honors that 1 have for New-England tranfport me, and 1 hope your churches fliall ever be to me as the gates of heaven. I have ever bpen warmed with the ap* prehenfion of the grace of God towards me in carrying me thither. I have always thought that of the congregational churches of N. E. in our days. But now it is othcrwifc, With joy as to ourfelvcs and grief as to you be it fp»kcn. l>Jow the grea- ter my love is to N. K. the more am I grieved at their failings. It is frequently faid here, that they are fwcrvcd a/ide towards prefbetery : if fo, the Lord reftore them all. But another fad thing that much effecls us is, to hear that you even in N. England perfecutc your brethren ; men found in the faith ; of holy life ; agreeing in worfliip and difcipline with you ; only differing in tlie point of hapti&fi. Dear brother, we here do love and ho- riorthcm, hold familiarity with them and take fweet council together ; they lie in the bofom of Chrift and therefore they ought to be laid in our bofoms. In a word, we freely admit them into churches ; few of our churches but many of our members are anabaptifts : 1 mean baptized again* This <^ohn JJeyncr of Dovtr, ?nd Mr. Richard Mather of Dorchefler both d.tcd in April, and Eleazer Mather of Northampton on July 24, 1669, aged 32. Mr. Sims, who had treated the baptifts fo ill, and Mr. John Allen of Dedham, one of the difputants a- gaia/l tiiera,botbdicd wilhin two years aftcr,as a'cU as aiarvjr otbersy [1669] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 351 This is love in England ; this is moderation ; this is a right new teftament fpirit. But do you now (as is abovclaid) bear with, yea, more than bear with, the Prelbyterians ? yea, and that the worft fort of them, viz. thole who are the corrupteft, rigedft ; whofe principles tend to corrupt tho churches ; turning the world Into the church, and the church into the world j and which doth no lefs than bring a people under meer ilavery. It is an iron yoke which neither we nor our congre- gational brethren in Scotland were ever able to bear. I have heard them utter thefe words in the pulpit, that it is no wrong to makf the indc- pendants fell all they have, and depart the land ; and many more things I might mention of that kind ; but this 1 hint only, to Ihew what caufe there is to withftand that wicked tyranny which was once fet up in poor mifcrable Scotland, whicli I verily believe was a great wrong and injury to the reformation, The generality of them here, even to this day, will not freely confent to onr enjoyment of our liberty ; though through mercy the bed and moft reformed ©f them do othcrwife. Ho*^ much more therefore would it concern dear N. E.to turn the edge againft [thofe^whojif not pre- "vented, will certainly corrupt andenflavCjUot only their own, but aJfo your churches ? Whereas anabaptifts are neither fpirited nor principled to injure nor hurt your government nor your liberties ; but rather thefe be a means to prefervc your churches from apoftacy, and provoke them to their primitive purity, as they were in the firft planting, in admiflion of members to receive none into your churches but vifible faints, and in rcflor- ing the intire jurifdl£lion of every congregation €9mplcat and undillurbed. We arc hearty and full •gg2 HISTOUY o? thk BAPTISTS full for our prefbytei'hh brethren's erjoyinq^ equal liberty with ourielves, oil that they had the fame fpirit towards us ! but oh how it grieves and affects us that New-iingland fhouU perfccute ! will you not give what you take ? is liberty of confciencc your due ? and is it not as due unto others that are found in the faith ? Read the pre- face to the declaration of the faith and order, own- ed and praclifed in the congregational churchei in England, p. 6, 7. Amongft many others Icrip- tures, thatiu the 14th of Romans much confirms me in liberty of confciencc thus ftated ; To hirn that efteerfts any thing unclean, to him it is un- clean, verle 13. Therefore though we approve of the baptifm of thcimmcdiatechildren of church members, andfofj their admilHon into the church when they evidence a real work of gi-ace j yet to []thofe1 that in confciencc believe the faid baptilin to be unclean it is unclean. Both that and mecr ruling elders, though 'we approve of them, yet our grounds arc meer interpretations of, and not any cxprefs fcripture. I cannot fay fo clearly of any thing elfe in our religion, neither as to faith or praclice Now muft We force our interpreta- tion, upon others Pope-like ! In verfe 5 of that chapter the fpirit of God S^ith, Let every oie be fully perjwadcd jn his own mind; therefore this being the exprefs will of God, who fliall make a contrary law, and fay, perfwadcd or not pcrfwad- ed you lliall do as we fay, and as we do ! and verfc 23, ivhat is not of faith isfn ; therefore there muft be a word for what we do, and we muft (cc and believe it, or elfe we fin if we do it. And Deiit. 12 and lall, as we muft not add, nor may we de- iniriiih : ,what is commanded we nuiO: do. All* »8rii ©f Matthew. And wliat piinciples isperfo- cutioii [16693 U NEW-Elb^ GLAND. 393 cutioii grounded upon ? Dominiationi 2nd inralli- biliry : this we teach is the truth. But arc we infallible, and have we the government ? God made none, no not the apoftles who could noS err, to be lords ever faith ; therefore what men* ftrous pride is this ! At this rate any perfwafioa geting uppermoit may command, and perlecute them that obey thenx not ; all non-conformifts inuft be ill-ufed. Oh wicked and monftrous principle I What ere you can plead for yourfelvcR again (I thofe that perfecute you, thofe whom ye pcrfecute may plead for themfclves againft yoUr Whatever they can fay againft the poor men,, your enemies Hiy againft you ; and ^ what I is tliat horrid principle crept into precious New- England, Who have felt what perfecution is, and- have alwixys pleaded for liberty of confcierxe ; Have not thofe run equal hazards with you for the enjoyment of their liberties ; and bow do you cad a reproach upon lis, that are congregational ia England, and furnifh our advcrfarics with wei- pons againft lis ? We Wuih and are nlled with fliime and confuflon of face, when we hear of thefe things. Bear brother ! we pray that Cod would open your eyes and perfwade the hearts of your magcftrates, that they may no more fiiife tbe'ir fellow ft: rvants., nor thus greatly injure us their bretheren ; and that they may not thus dif- honor the name oF God .andcaufe his people to bes reproached, nor the holy way of God (the con« gregational way) Mp be evil fpoken of. My r'eaf brother 'pardon ray plRinnefs and freedom, for the zeal of God's houfe conftralns mc. What caufe have wc to blefs God who gives us to find *' favour in the eyes of hiG JVIajefty 1 and to pray: God to continue him, and to requite it graciouHy to him in fpirxtual blelfmgj. Well, ftrivc I bcfeech. I) d 4 VOH 194 HISTORY OF THE Baptists you with God by prayers, and ufe all lawful ways ind mcariS, even to your greateft hazard, thai tliofc poor men may be fet free. For be afl'ured, this liberty of conrcience,as wc (late it, is the caufc of God ; and hereby you may be a means to di- vert the judgments of God from, falling upon dear New-England, for our Father in faithfulnefs S\'i\\ zQlict us if we repent not. Doth not the Very gofpelfay, ivhai incafure its mete to others jh all be meafwsdto us ? God is not unrighteous : what is more provoTting to him than the perfecuting oi liis faints ! Touch iM mine ancinted^ and do my pro* ■phets no harm \ did he not reprove kings for their fah f Thofe who have the uftclion the apoflle John fpeaks of, and the fpirit and gift of prophe- iies. With what marvellous ftrength did holy Mr. Burroughs urge that place againft ptrfecu- tion ? Pcrfecution is bad in wicked men, but it is mod abominable in good men, who have fuf* fered and pleaded for liberty of confcience them- felvcs. Difcountenance men that certainly err, but peffecute them not* I mean grols errors* Well) >ve are travelHng to our place of reft : with joy we look for new heavens and new earth. We iliall efe long be in the fulncfs of blifs, holy, harmlefs in the bofom of Chrift. Let us pray, the earth may be filled with the knowledge of the Lord, that they may not hurt nor deftroy in all liis holy mountain. The Loid grant we may by the next hear better thinQ;;s of the ravernment of New- England. My moft hearty love to your bro- ther, and to all our brethren. My refpe(5ls and fer- vice to my dear* coufm Leveret, and to Mr. Francis "Willoughby. The Lord make them inftrumental, for his glory, in helping to reform things among you. i fhail be glad to hear from you. I r«- Micmber [1669] IN NEW.E.N GLAND. 395 member our good old fwcet communion togeher, 'My dear brother, once again pardon me, for 1 am affe<5ted ! I fpcak for God, to vhofe grace I com- mit you all in New-England ; huaibly craving your pryers for us here, and remain, Your afleclionate brother. Robert Maxcall."* Finfbury near Moreficld, the 25th of March, 1669. Never did I fee the true nature of thefc con- troverfies better fated by any on that fide. Our apponcnts have no better grounds for accufing us of denying fcripture confequcnccs,than becauiewc refufe to yield to their interpretations, vhich ap- pear to us unfound. Neither are wc any more . ri^id than themfeives ; though becaufe they hold to two or three ways of baptizing, ♦while we be- lieve our Lord has inftitutcd but one bapt'ifm^ they accufc us with it, if we cannot act v/ith them as baptized perfons, who appears to us not to ho fuch- The plain qneftion is, wliither each one fliall be allovyed to 2.0: the full perfuajion of his cwn mindy according to God*s law, or v/h*other the ruUng party in the ftate fliali make that law void by their traditions f The learned and much efleem- ed Dr. Goodwin,. Dr. Owen, Mr. Nye, Mr. Caryl and nine other noted diflcnting minifters in Lon- don wrote to the Maflachufetts governor, upon thcfe things at the fame time, and laid, " We Ihall not here undertake to make any apology for the perfons, opinions and pra.(flices o£ thofe who are ccnfured among you. You know ©ur judgement and' practice to be contrary unto theirs, even as yours j wherein (God aftifting) wc fhall continue to the enct Neither Ihall ws \ rctura * S, Hubbard's collef^ion. 59^ HTSTORT or thk BAPTISTS return anyanfwer to the reafon of the Reverend icldcrs, for thejuitificutmn cf your proceedings, as fiot bemgwiihngto engage in the management of any he leali dillerencc v^ith perfons wl-fom xve io much love and honor in the Lord. But the lum of all which at picfcnt we Ihall offer to you *s, that though the court might apprehend, that tney nad gtotiods in general warrantinrr their procedure (in fuch cafes) in theM-ay wherein they liave proceeded ; yet thatthey have any rule- or command rendering their fo proceeding indifpcii. my neceflary, ^nder all cirie genc-^ [Tf^So] IV NHW-ENGLAND. 39; You have the advantage of tjuth and order; you hiive. the gifts and learning of an abicminiiliy to manage and defend them ; you have the care •and vigiiency of a very worthy magifiracy to countenance and protect them, and to preferve th J peace j and above all, you have a blefled Lord and ivlafter, who hath the keys of David, who openeth and no man fliutteth, living forever to tasic care of his own concernments among his faints j and affuredly you need not he difquiet- cd., through fome few perfons (though their owa infirmity and weakne^, or through tjicir ignor* ance, d.irknefs and prejudices) fhouid to their dif* advantage turn out of the way, in fome leller matters, into by-paths of their own. We only make it our Iiearty reqneft to you, that you would trull God with his truths and ways lb far, as to lufpend al! rigorous proceedings in corporal re« ftrain'-s i+r punifliments, on perfons that diifent from you, and practice the principles of their dif- fent without danger, or diitarbance to the civil peace ofthe place. Dated March 25, 1669." We may rcafonably conclude that this addrefs did Tiot reach Bofton till May or June, and Dr. Mather lays, " I cannot fay that this excellent let- ter hid immediately all the effect it fhouid have had." So that though he alio as that fome of thofc bap- tilts were " truly godly men," * yet it is likely that •ourt ; the keepcm of the prifon«, under whofe cuftody they nowr arc, ;rc ordered co permit ttem liberty for three days, to vifit thdr fawiliei, as Aio to apply thexnfclvcj to any that arsablcand onhjiox, for their further convincmcnt of their many irregula- rities in th«fc pradifes fot which they were fentanccd T thefaitf keepers taking the engagements of the fa id Gould and Turner, or other fuiBcient ciuiion, for their return again to prison »^ ^^^ find of the faid three days. By i/ic c uticil, EdwarJ Ra-afon ftcretarj.'[ * M^gwija, b. 7, p. 27, 28. 39? HISTORY Of TMi BAPTISTS that they were imprifoned a year or more, only for not banifliing themfelvs for their religion. Af- ter their reieafe, elder Gould went and li\'ed upon an Ifland in the harbour ; where thcy^itld their meeting for foQie years. But this could not make the ruling party eafy, as tke following letter to Mr. Clarke and his church at Newport plainly " Beloved brethreji andfijlers^ I mofl heartily ialute you all in our dear Lord, who is our alone Saviour in all our troubles, that we his poor mem-* l)ers are exercifed with for his name lake. And blclTed be God our father that has given us fuch a high pricft, that wa« touched with the feeling of our infirmities', which is no fmall comfort to the fouls of his poor fuffering ones ; the which through grace the Lord liath been pleafed to make us in fome mcafure pertakcrs of. And at this prcfent our dear brother William Turner, a pri- foncr for the Lord's caufe in Boflon, has fome good experience of, both of that which Paul de- lired, to be conformable to our Lord in his fufi'er- ings, and alfo of the promifes of our Lord, in the giving forth the comfort of his fpirit, to uphold us all, for that he is fenfible of the fuflcrings of his poor members, and is ready to give forth fupplies as are moit fuitable to luch a condition as he calls his to. Friends I fuppofe you have heard that both he and brother Gould were to be taken up ; but only brother Turner is yet taken and has been about a month in prifon. Warrants arc in two marfhal^s hands for brother Gould a?fo^ but he is not yet taken, becaufe he lives on Noddles-liland, and they wait to take him at town. The caufe why they are put in prifon is the old fentance of the general court in 68, bccaufc they would not remove [1670] IN N E W-E N G L A N D/ ,399 remove themfelvcs. There were fix maglHratcs hands to the warrant to take them up, viz. Mr. Bradftreet, major Dcnifon, Thomas Danforth, captain Gookin, major Willard and Mr. Pinchon. But all the deputies of the court voted their hber- ty, except one or two at moft, but the magiilrates carry againll all ; and becaufe fome others of the niagiftratcs were abfent, and fome that were there were Gallio like, ai one Mr. R. B. G. * But blefl- ed be the Lord who takes notice of what is done to his poor fervants, though men little regard. The town and country is very much troubled at our troubles ^ and efpecially the old church in Bofton, and their elders, both Mr. Oxonbrige and Mr. Allen have labored abundantly, 1 think as if it had been for their beft friends in the world.* Many more gentlemen and folid chriflians arc for our brothers deliverance ; but it cannot be had ; a very great trouble to the town ; and they had gotten iix maglftratcs hands for his deliverance, but could not get the governors hand to it. Some fay one end is, that they may prevent others com- ing * 1 fuppofe Richard Belllngham governor. Thui a few men »t the head of the government, by the clergy's help, carried on, their oppreiiions againft the minds of thofe worthy rulers, Wil- loughby, Symonds and Leveret ; a whole houfc of deputies, and the beft part of the whole comnnunity. "Thai magif- trites fliould thus fufPer thefe incendiaries, and difturberi of the public peace, might jaftly be wondered at, rf it did not ap- pear thas they have been invited by them unto a participation of the fpoil, and hRve therefore thought tit to tr;iJte ufe of their to- vetcoufntfs and pride, as a means whereby to incrcafe their own power. For who does not fee that theje g'ocd mtn zvs in- deed ™»re minlrtcM of the government, then miniftcrs of the gofpel." Lockt en tfleratioft, p. 71,^2. * Mr. Dcvenport died March 15, 1670, aged 77 ; and Mr, John Oxonbriige, who left England after the cruci Bartholomew aft in 1662, was fettled in his ilead, colUgue with Mr. J»aacf All«i, who cjuae from thence about the fame time. 4G5 H I S T O n Y Of THE B A P T 1 1 3 ing out of England ; therefore they would dif* courage them by dealing with us ; a fad thing if fo ; when God would have Moab be a refuge for his baniflied ones, and that fhriilians will not* But God will be a refuge for his, which is our comfort. We keep our meeting at Noddlcs-iiland every firft day, and the Lord is adding fome fouls to us flill,. and is enlightning fomc others ; the pricfts are much inraged. Tlie Lord has given us another elder, one John RulTell fenior, a graci- ous wife and holy man that lives at Woburn, where we have five brethren near that can meet with him ; and they meet together a firit days "when they cannot come to us, and 1 hear there arc fome more there looking that way vfith them. Thus dear friends I have given you an account of our troubles, that you may be directed in your prayers to our God for us ; as alfo of the good» nefs of God to us, and the proceedings of his good work in oar hands, both to our, and I doubt not to your joy and comfort. That God may be glorified in all, is our earncft defire find prayer, to Ood in all his difpcnfations to us. Brother Tur- jier's family is very weakly, and himfelf too. I fear he will not trouble them long ; only this is our comfort, we hear if he dies in prifon, they fay they will bury him. And thus my dearfirends^ 1 defire we may be remembered in your prayers to our heavenly father, who can do abundantly above what we can afk or think : ''O whom I commend you all, ar^d reft, your tiiefid and brother, Nov. 30, 1 670. Thi.3 occafiofled the followmg cpiftle to them, yh- " UuTt ];i67i] im NEW-EiSlGL AND. 40X " Usrro to the church of Jefiis Chrift, meeting bn Noddles -ifia id in New-Englaod ; grace, niercy and peace be mightily ihovrcrcd down upon you all. with fu'ch daily fappiies to ev?ry ore 0^ yj.i. according to your various conditions, ilrcvjjthniug the weak, and making 3'ou to prcfs iforwud wich lifo and ccuragious hearts, being Vail. : I. •''or the Lord and his holy truths, holding out to tac end in whrtt ye have received ; not 16 look, back, biit prefling forward to know more o£ his holy v/itl, like children deiiring the fincera milk of -the word, to g"ow up therein,— ^Samuel Hubbar.i. a very poor and unworthy one, yet by great grace found in my finful eftate, among thej naners in a (inful world, in a fmful age, sand by free grace called by a divine call or power, being flotable to refift it, butby grace iliewed that itwadr his will to call imners that were weary and heavy laden to come unto hini, making a gr?xious prO" mile, that they Ihould find reit to their fouls. Mat. 1 1. And by his grace hath made me will- ing, in my very weak meafure, co be g"oi;]g on iq. what he hath flic wed me : thou^rh I find a law in my members, contrary to God's \vo\j law, which js written in my heart, leading me captive both, in thoughts words and deeds, which is ^ great bur* den, and makes me go heavily, "i^wt bleill;.! be God n^y rock, who hath fliewed me that it is no$ fey my works, but by faith in our precious Re-* decmer, I am accepted with the Father. Not thereby taken off from ^endeavouring' to keep ali his holy commandments and ordinances, but with righteoijs Zacharias and Elizabeth, deiirous to ba found blamlefi when our Lord and King Jcfus fhall come, and by him enabled with joy to {aj^ T^is if m'j Lord, I have vjaited for hm > when ygi^ 402 HISTORY or the BAPTISTS with others fhall meet and ling the fong of Mofes and the Lamb, Ilakhijah to God moll High, &«. Dear and ptecious hearts, my love is fuch towards you, for what of God is in you, and what great grace hath appeared towards you, in bearing you up to fraud in this hour of temptation, that your feet arc not moved, and your arms are made flrong by the mighty God of Jacob ; yea, not only fo, but hath crowned your endeavours with ableflingf of imrreafe of fuch precious helps, as I hear you have, in which I rejoice, defiring gready of theLord that he would be flill with you to the end of your race, Dear friends, it was upon my heart to have: given you a vilit, w^hercby I might have been rc- frelhed by your mutual love, as I have been to fee your precious order in the gofpel ; but it has pleaf- cd our havenly Father to vilit rac and my deai" wife, by a fore ihoke in taking away our only fon Samuel ; * all v/e had ; a m.an grown (whofe we arc alfo.) But God of his graccs^hi^th born U5 lip, blefled be his name : by which I have been very much difappointed as in coming to you. fo in many other things, and am learning in every condition to be content ; a hard leflbn to learn I find. Dear brethren and fifters, what ani I poor worm, to inform you ! but to ftir up your pure? minds that you would be holding fail what you ha^^e received, thu,t you may not loofe your re- wards, for this is a declining day. But knoWthe reward is laid up in moft fure hands, for thofc who hold out to the end. 1 bcfecch you Dray widi all * He W2S in his 21ft year, a very proiwiting youth. Mr. Hubbard's daughter RutH^ m.rried to Ruber: Burdicki and E»- thld inarried to Jofcph Cliirkc jun'r, bavc It;ft a large pofterity Zi VYcfteriv-; and Rachel. m;irr!cd to Andrcvv Langvvorthy, K*ft 9 1 uge family in K-Mvport, and be hoped ihat all his ctiiJisn,4i;arfe with his Benjam.in, znd izy, all tbtjs things CKf^ Agninjl ms \ yet the. Lord turned ;t about for ^aod ^ arid he has proir.ifed that aU (hall work lOr good unta thofe that lovg and fear him ; and what he deprives us of in the creature, he is able to make \v) abundantly Wi himlelf. The good Lord grant it may be io with you !*«— Brother Turnei*. lias been near to death, but through nicr- iiy is revived, and To has our pauor Gould. TheLordi icnake lis truly thankful, and givelis hearts to im- ' |)rove them, and thofc liberties v/e yet enjoy that ■v^e knovv nofe how foon may b.e taken from us. The perfecnti ng Spirit begins to ftir again. Elder iRufTel and his Ton, and brother Fulter are pre- sented to t';.*! court that is to be this m.onth. We defire your prayers for us, that the Lord would keep lis, that we m:iy not diflipnor tkat worthy jnanl'^ we have made profeilion of, and that the Lord ^Vould ftill ftahd by us, and be feen amongil \:3, as he ha^ been in a wonderful manner in pre- fervirtg of us until this day. We Ihoul.d be glad Xo hear how it is with you, 'and delire if it be the "wiil of God, that love and peace may be contimi- fd betwixt you and the other fccicty ; although [1^70 ii» NEW-ENGLAND. 405 fovL may differ in fame things, yet that there may be endeavours to keep the unity of the fpirit in the bond ot peace, and 2s far as we have attained to walk by the fame ruk-. I fliall not trouble yoi^ any further, but commit: you to the guidance and jprotedion of the Alniighty, and remain your unr if^'orthy brother in the bcft relation. Benjajaim Sweetser.*' Charleftown, the f^rfl loth month 71. The ne-.t news from them is as follow. "I perceive you have heard as if our brother RufTel had died in prifon. Through grace he is yet in the land of the living, and out of prifon bonds j but is in a doubtful way as to recovery of his out- ward health ; but v/c ought to be quiet in the good v/ili and pleaiure of our God, who is only- wife. — Ireniain your loving brother, William Hamlit." Bofton, T4., of the 4th month, 1672. We will now look a httle back, and fee how their opprefTors got along. The breach in Bofton ^hurch afTecVed many ; and the governor appear- ed agaiall the new party, and in July 1669 called his council together, fearing he faid, " afuddcn tumult, fomc pcrfons attempting to fet up an ^diiice for public worfhlp, which was appfehended by authority to be detrimental to the public peace." Bat the majority of the council were for not hin- dering their proceeding On May 11, 1670, Mr, Dan forth of Roxbury, who was one of thofe that hid been called to the baptift difpute two years before, faid to tlie affembly in his election fermon, *' Is not the temper, (Complexion and countenance of the chnrche? ftrangely altered ! Doth not a care- lefs, remifs, flat, dry, cold, dead frame of fpirit grow upon us fccrctly, flrongly, prodigioufly t tlicy '4^5 HiSTpHY OF THE BAPTISTS t'.cy that ha%'C ordinances arc as though they had none ; thev thut hear the word as thoiig-h they heard ic not ^ and they that p^-ay as though they pvaycd not ; and they that receive facrainents as though they received tliem not ; and they that are exercUed in holy tilings, ufe them by the by as matters of caftona and ceremony. Pride, con- tcntlon, worldlinefs, coveteouihefs, luxury, drunk- ennefs and uncleannefs break i\\ hke a flood upon US ; and good men grovi^ co-.d in their love to God, and one another." *> Upon which the houfe of deputies appointed a conuuittec, to enquire in- to the prevailing evils that had procured the di- vine difpleafurc againfl the land ; and they report- ed thele among other caufes, via. " Decleniion from the prinrative foundation vt-ork,'irtnovation ill doclrine and woriliip, opinion and pradice ; an invafion of tht rights, liberties and privi- Iccres of chui'clies, an ufurpation of a lordly and prelatical power over Gou}iijl} the cutward breaches of the firjl table, or Ihall endeavour to fe- duce others to any of the errors andhercflcs above, mentioned ; every fuch pcirfon continuing obfti- nate therein after due means of conviction, fliali hcfentanced to banijhment.'* * 'Ihe reader may hfre obferve what advances they had made tince the year 1644, p. 150. Thp two articles which the baptiils own, are now fenced with a much more formidable catalogue * Mii. U\v-b©okprInt«d 1672. p. 58, 59, 4o8 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS iaf herefics and errors, than were then infertcd m their law againft them. 1 hough they flill fall far behind their mother, the church of England ; for the laft man that Ihe burnt for religion was % baptift, and in the warrant for his burning, the King fays, " Whereas the reverend father in God, Richard, bifhop of Coventry and Litchfield, hav- ing judicially proceeded in the examination, hear- ing and determining of a caufe of hereiie againft Edward Wightman, of the parifh of Bijrtoh upori Trent, in the dioceft of Coventry and Litchfield.j concerning the v/icked herefies of the Ebi/pnitcs, Ccrcnthians, Valentinians, Arrians, Macedonians^ of Simon Magus, of Manes, Manichees, of Photi* nuSy^nd^nabapti/ij, 'And of other hcrttieal, exe- crable and 7inhfard of opi?iio7is, by the inftinct of fatan, by him excogitated and holden,*' of \vhicli they went on to name fixtecn articles, many of them fo foolifh and inconliftant, that as the hiflo- rian obferves, he muft be an idiot or a madman ic> hold them all. But thret of them are in thefe words, viz. " 13 That the baptizing of infants is an abominable cuftom. 14, That there ought BOt in the church the ufe of the Lord's fupper to be celebrated in the elements of bread and wine ; and the ufe of baptifm to be celebrated in the ele- ment of water, AS they arc now praclifed in the church of England ; but the ufe of baptifm is to be?,dmini{lercd in water, only to converts of fuffici- cnt age and underftanding, converted from in- fidelity to the faith. 16. That chrifiiianity is not wholly profeffed and preached in the church oi England but only in part.'* For thefe things Mr. Wightman was biu-nt at Litchfi<;ld, April 1 1, i6ii, by a warrant from that King, Vho inth^ preface to our bible is compared to the rijin^juv^ *^ * Crolby'sluft. v^l. i,p. igj, aniappeadix, t- r, -, [1672] iM NEW-ENGLAND. 409 and whofe tyranny drove our fathers into New* England. The above clearly (hews that the church of England far exceeded her daughters in this land, both in the number of hard names they impoled upon thebaptiftsj and alfo in their degree of cruel- ty towards them ; though a lamentable imitation of thofe evils appear in this hiftory. And to in- force the forecited law among the ref^ the Mafla- chufetts placed the following m^:o in the title page of their lawbook ; ivhofoever refiHeth the ■power ^ refijieth the ordinance of God, and they that re' ftfi receive to themfehes damnation. But whether the afluming and exerting oifuch power in religi- ous affairs, be not the way to damnation, rather than the refiftance of it, deferves the ferious con- fideratioQ of all ? Some years ago, when the pref- byterians had the upper hand in England [See p. 174] Mr. Samuel Oates, a noted and fuccefeful baptift minifter, was imprifoned, put in irons and tried for his life as a murderer, at Chelmsford affize, only becaufe Ann Martin, a young woman that he had baptized, happened to die a few weeks after. But when his cafe came to be tried, her mother and others declared upon oath, " that fhe was in better health for feveral days after her bap- •tifm than flie had been for fome years before ; and was feen to walk abroad very comfortably," fo that he was acquitted. * Akd now when the epifcopalians had gotten the power again into their hands, Mr. Neal truly ob- fcrves, that the encniies to the baptills tried to ruin them, " by as unparalled a piece of villany as ever wa^ heard of. A phamphlet was publilhed in London in 1673, entitled, Mr, Baxter baptized F f f in ♦Ibiur beloved brethren anti (iilcrs, that obfcrve the feventh day fabbath with him. Ihe church of Chvift in or near Bofton fends greeting. Bre- thren, beloved of the Lord, we having had a view of the proceedings between yoarfelv^s and the church, cannot but be grieved to tee how bui'y the adverfary hath been, and how eaiily h« hath prc- I'ailed upon the cor; uptioiis of our nature, to make breaches and div/ihons among thoic v/hoiTi we dire not but jiidgc, arc united unto one hjsad, even Chrift Jefus. Aad aithougii we dare non judge your confciences in the obfcrvation of a day or days to the Lord, yet brethren, your judging them that have fa done, and we hope iiavc not: unadvifedly changed their minds, to be c^iluUcs^ feems to our underilandings to favour too much a cenforious fpirit. And we, as brethren, made pertakers of the fame grace of God tlu-ough tl.e inriueixc 412 HISTORY OF theBAPTITS influence of his holy fpirit, not being enlightened in the obfervation oi" the fcventh day as a labbath to the, Lord, fliall hujnbiy beltcch you all, to put on oowels of mercy,, and not be io llrait in ) our fpirits towards othei-s ; but conllder, the only wife God giveth to each foul what meafure of light and know^ledge he pleafeth ; and it is he mufl give wifdoni to improve that meafure of know- ledge fo given, or dfe we Ihall make a bad im- provement thereof. Mow brethren, we dare not juftify your adlion, nor the manner of the actions that have been between you and the church ; but Ihould have been glad, if it had been the good pleafure of the Lord, that you could have borne each with other in the matter of diiTcrence, and fo have left it for the Lord to reveal more light and knowledge to thofe tliat are yet in the dark. But may we not fay, we are ail in the dark, and fee and know but in part ? and the little part that any one knoweth, he is ready to conceive is the "will of God, and fo would have all to fee with his eyes, and underlland with his undcrftanding ; and cannot patiently wait on the Lord till he ihall make difcoveries of it to his brethren ; fo that our quick, narrow and impatient fpirits are the cauie of fo many breaches and divifions amongil the citizens of Sion at this day. By all which wc humbly defire the Lord may make you and us, and all the Lord's people, 'to fee the corruption of our natures that is yet unfubdued, that fo we may all with iincerity of foul, wait on him according to that meafure of light and knowledge that each of us have received from him. And now bre- thren, our delire is, if it may be the good pleafure of God, that this breach may be healed between you and the church. Our prayers fliall be to the Lord [1673] IN NEW.EN GLAND. 413 Lord for you, thai each one of you may be truly fenfible, wherein you have fo far departed from the law of brotherly love, as to be an occafion of grief one to another, and to the Ifrael of God, and have given an occafion to the enemies to fpeak re- proachfully of the ways of God ; not doubting but you w'll be willing to look back over all thole adions pall: in thefe differences, and if you find any thing contrary to the mind and will of God, be willing to own it both to God and his people. Wc OiciU leave you to h s care and guiding, who is able to comfort you in all your tribulations, and to etlablilh, ftrengthen and fettle you ; to whom we leave you, and remain your poor unworthy brethren, who Ihould rejoice in your profperity, both in fpirituals and temporals. By the apoint* ment of the church alTemblcd. Thomas Gould, "William TuKNER, : 'JopiN Williams." Church aflembled. Noddle's ifland. Sep. i, 1672. This fweet letter, ^Ir. Hubbard has prefcrved, and it caufed no alianation of mind, buc there re- mained a great nearnefs between them as long as they lived. I find him in a letter the next year to his brother Hamlit, " defiring the welfare of the whole Sion, and the brethren with you ; brother Fofter, brother Farlow, elder Ruffell and his fon ; yea to all the church, with thanks for their love to me and my wife.*' Mr.Hamlit wrote on June 19, 1673, that the baptifts were ftill per- fecuted for their withdrawing from the public meetings, and faid, ** Brother Trumbel*and bro- ther Ofbornc were fined laft court at Charlcilown twenty IhilUngs a piece j they have appealed to the 414 HISTORY or the BAPTISTS the court of afilftants." But Mr. Bellingham dy.. ing, and Mr. Leveret being- choien governor, and Mr. Symonds deputy governor ; things took ano- ther turn, fo that Mr. Hamlit wrote to his brother Hubbard on Jan. 9, 1674, and faid, ''Brother Drinker hath been very fick near unto death, but the Lord hath rellorcd him to health asfain. The church of the baptized do peacably enjoy their iibeity. Brother Ruilell, the elder and the youn- ger, have good renienibraiicc of you." And \vhile thofe governors lived, that church enjoyed the greateft hberty that ever they did under their jSrR charter. After governor Leveret's dcaih, I find Mr. Ruifell and his church, in an dppoiiit- ment of a day of thankfgiving, expreiTing' their fenfe of " the Lord's goodncls in prcftiMng our peace and iiOLfty beyond all expectation , God having removed him, who was ai. friend to us in the authority, iy reafon of which our oppolites have the greater advantage agaiiilt us, who have not been wanting to co their endeavour to fup- prefs us." We ihall foon find how that advan- tage was improved. We are informed by their j'cconis, that the next members that were added, after the firll conltitution of the church, were ifaac Hull, John Farnum, Jacob Barney, John Rulfell, junior, John Johnfon, George Farlow, Benjamin S'^'Veetfer, all before Ellis Cailcnder, who was received, Nov. 9, 166^. Mr. Hull was called alfi> to be an elder in the church in the time of their fufierinjj,^. The next on the lift are Jofijua Turner, Thomas Foifer, J'-^hn RuiTell, ft:;nior, (:if- terwardsj^ their p^ftor) William Hamlit, James landon, Thomas Skinner, John Williams, Philip Squii%, ^lary Gould, Sulanna J.ickfon, Mary GrvCalc^f, &c. iudcr Gould died OcL. 27, 167 «*, having [i5;5] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 41; Ii2ving been a man, " in lome good meafiirc fitted and qa.i {bed (^ikys elder RuiTeli) for luch a work; and proved an eminent inftrument in the Land of the Lord, for the carrying on tJiis good work of God in it3 low and weak beginnings ** And in- clading the other £rit conftitutors with him, fays, " Their trouble and temptations followed, one upon the neck of anotber, like the waves of the fea ; bat: Lhcfe precious fcrvants of the Lord, hav- ing it fome good meafure counted the coft before- hand, were not moved for any of thefe things, but were cheerfully carried on by the hand of the Lord upon them, through all the affiicflions and reproaches they met with ; and are the moft of them now at reft with the Lord, having ferved the will of God in their generation." * CHAP. VIL An account of Philip*s war, of the bap- tiiVs farther fafFerLigs, ^nd other events down to I 690. THE forgolnsg hiflory may give the reader fome idea, of the njture and caufeg of the contentions that long laboured in the country, between the n^^ivf i^ and the lingliili. Mr.Samuel Hubbard in the dole ot that wai*, wrote to a mi- niRer in England md f^id, " God has been long waitin-T svich pati-iTice, by fe era! figns and warn- ^ng^; thefe forty years as I can s\itncii» ; but wcia our turnings have not fo turned to the Lord as ougnt to be, and his dlfpleafure is broke forth in the country by the r.adves, who were forced there- * Hubbard — — Ruffcli's narrativ* ]68o, p. i,*. ^= '4i6 HISTORY OF TM£ BAPTISTS to, as fome of them faid (and in very deed I judge truly/') I find by their recDrds, that the commif- iioners of the united colonies, in September 166^, appointed Capt. George Denifon, Thomas Stanton and James Averell, to manage their affairs at Pau- catuck, to govern the Indians, and collect the tax impofed upon them on account of the Pequots ; and then fay, " They are alio hereby authorifed to acl and do, or caule to be done, w hat in their difcretion may beft conduce, to reduce them to civility and the knowledge of God, as well by caufing due punifhment to be inflicted on difor- derly perfons according to their demirits, as by encouraging fuch as fliall be fent to inftruft them by order of the commillioners, and by caufing them to attend thereunto.** And nothing has been more common with their party ever fince, than to reprefent the Rhode-Iflanders as an irre- ligious people : but I truft the forgoing facts fhe-vr that they were not all fo, to which I fhal] add, that Mr. S. Hubbard's daughter Ruth was con- verted and joined to Mr. Clarke's church in 1652, when {he was not 13 years old, and on Auguft 4, 166^, fhe wrote from Weflerly thus, " Most loving and dear father and mother, my duty with my hufband and children prefented unto you, with all my dear friends. — My longing defire is to hear from you, how your hearts arc borne up above thefe troubles which are come up- on us, and are coming as we fear ; for we have the rumours of war, and that almoft every day. Even now we have heard from your Ifland by fomc Indians who declared unto us, that the French have done fome mifchief upon the coafl, and we have heard that i2co Frenchmen have joined with the Mohawks, to clear the land both of [1675] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 417 of Englifh and Indians. But I truft in the Lordy if'fuchathingbcintendedjthkthewillnot fufferfuch il thing to be. MydefireandprayertoGodis^thatUe ■^vill be plcalcd to fulfil his promife to us,that is, that as in the world we ihall havctroubles,foinhim wc £hall have peace. The Lord of comfort, comfort your and our hearts, and give us peace in believing, and joy in the Holy Ghofl. Oh that the Lord would be pleafed to fill our hearts with his good fpirit, that we may be carried above all thefe things ! and that wc may remember his faying. When ye fee thefe things come topafsjift up your heads^ knowing that your redemption draws nigh. Then if thefe things be the certain iign of our Lord's re- turn, let us mind his command, that is, pray al- ways that ye may be counted ivorthy to efcape all thsfi- things^ and to Jiand before the fon of ftmn. Let us have boldnefs to come unto him in the new and living way, which he hath prepared for us. Through grace 1 find the Lord doth bear up the fpirits of his in this place, in fome comfortable meafure, to be looking above thefe things, the Lord incr^afc it more and more unto the day of his appearing, which I hope is at hand. Dear fa- ther and mother, the Lord hath been pleafed to give us here many fweet and comfortable days of refrefliing, which is great caufe of thankfulnefs, and my deiire is, that wc may highly prifc it, and you with us give the Lord the praife for this benefit. I pray rcmembei-my love to aH my dear fnends' with you in fcllowiliip. Sifter Sanders defires to be remembered to you all : fo doth, fiftcr Clarke. Your loving daughter to my poorer, Ruth JBurdick." Philip was fon to Ofamaquin and fucceedcd Una as the chief fachcm on the eaft fide of Narra- G g g ganfct '4i8 HISTORY or ths BAPTISTS ganfet Bay. He had this name given him by Plymouth court in 1660. Such rumours fprcad of his preparing for war, as brought governor prince, and two of his alllftants toTaunton, April 13, 1671, to meet three gentlemen from the Maf^ ■fechufetts, to examine into the matter. PhiHp ^cpt at a diftance, and feat to them to come to }iim at three mile river. * The governor fent again for him to come to them, but he refuied, till old Mr. Roger Williams and Mr. Brown, [1 fuppofc of Swanzcy] offered to remain there as iioilages -, by which means he was brought for- ward and prevailed with to deliver up about 70 guns he had got. and to ptromife future lideUty, which fm'pended the war' four years, f And then It was brought on in the following manner. John Safaman, an Indian that the Englifh had given .conllderable inftruclion to, both as to human learning and religious aflairs, being with Phihp at JTamafket, difcovered that he was preparing for %vxr, and informed the Englifh of it ; for which •he v/as murdered upon a pond at Afiiiwamfct, •both of which places are in Middleborough. Three Indians were apprehended for that murder, and were executed at Plymouth. Mr.. John Tracy of Norwich had married' Mrs. Mary Winfiow from Marflifield five years before, and returning front a villt there at this time, hap- pened to fall in among a party of Indians in arms,, waiting to hear whether theirfriendi would be ex- ecuted or not. They brought him to Philip, whom he fatisficd that he was only a traveller and upoa no * Which runs from Norton through the weft p9rt of Taunton, and falls iifto the great riifcr betwixt thit ton'ft and Dightoa. 4- Mi/r. hift. v«l, I, p. 278, 279, liSysl IN NEW-EN GLAND. 4^9 no ill defign, fo that he fent him away in peace. • But hearing foon after that thole Indians were exe« cuted, they broke out on June 24, 1675, and killed nine men in different parts of Swanzey, and fired upon one in Rchoboth ; which alarmed the councry, and in four days an army was collected there, and made Mr. Miles's houfe their head quarters. Philip foon left his ftation at Mo^nt Hope, now Briftol, and jetired to a great fwamp call of the great river. The Maflachufetts part of the army went into the Narraganfet country, ;ind brought thofc Indians to promife not to join, in the war, and then returned; and with the other forces, attacked Philip at the fwamp on July 1 8, but had little fucccfs therein. Soon after v/hich, Philip and many of his men repafTcd the river, and crofling Seaconk plain, made his way up to, the Ncpmuck Indians in Worccllcr county, who, had begun the war on July 1 4. These alarms caufcd Mr. Jofeph Tory and Mr. Hubbard to fend a boat which brought their friends from Weflerly to N:^\vport this month, who continued on the illand till the war was over. Soon after Philip had joined the Nepmucks, thcf violently aiTaultcd a fmall Englifli plantation at Brookficld, and as Capt. Hutchinfon \nth a com* pany went to relieve them on Auguft 2, they from an ambufh gave him a mortal wound. But Major Willard came two days after with 48 men, and flew many of the enemy, and delivered his friends. Upon which the enemy fleered further weftward, and on Sept. i, burnt moft of th.i; houfes in Deerfield, and killed 8 men the next day at Northfield ; and Capt. Beers going witU thirty -fix • Cilknder'i century fcrmoB; p- 73. Mr, Tiii«y wa» my,- ■aothtr's grand iihtjr. '420 H I S T O R Y OF THE B A P T I T S ^6 men to fetch off the inhabitants there, had a terrible fight with the enemy, wherein he and above half of his men fell. September i8, fundry teams went to bring off a large quantity of grain from Decrfield, and Capt. Lothrop went with about 80 men to guard thcra ; but not feeing any of the enemy, they on their return, got to picking grapes by Muddy-brook, when the enemy got a dreadful advantage of them. 1 have feen the ftone over the place where they tell me about 70 of them were buried in one grave. Prefently after an allault was made upon Springfield, where the mdniiter's houfe and library was burnt, with 31 houfes befide. But a large body of Indians making an onfct upon Hadly, Ocl. 19, and hav- ing killed one man, were fo bravely repulfed by the Englifii, that in their flight fomc of them were drowned in Connecticut river, and others who cfcaped retired into Narraganfct. In that country on a fmall tra(fl of upland within a great fwamp, feven miles weft from the fouth ferry that goei over from Newport, the Indians built and ftored the ftrongeft fort they ever had in this country. Therefore the colonies gathered an army of a thoufand men, under the command of governor "VVinllow, and after a fierce conflioL, took and deftroyed it on Dec 19. They fuppofed that a thoufand of the enemy were cut oif ; but it coft on our fide the lives of fix Captains, and 170, fomefaid 2 1 o men killed or wounded. They march- ed 16 or 18 miles from Major Smith's to that iight, and returned through a terrible fnow-ftorn the fame night. * Great • I have met with the original of a teflimony concerning that family, and that affair, which 1 will give a copy of here, and is «S follow*, Karragaafet [1575] If* NEW-EN GLAND. 4^1 Great ftores of corn were dcftroyed in that fortjwhich reduced the Indians to terrible didrefs, » But Narraganfct, 21 July, 1679, (utvulgn.J *' RogerWilh AMS ot providence in theNarrMganfcti^ay,?n New-England, being (by God's mcrcy^ the tirft begimjer of the mother town of Proviience, and af the Colony of Rhode-llland and Providence pLnutions, being no\v near to fouifcore years of age, yet (by God's mcrcy^ of found undcrftanding and inc- mo'-y ! do humbly and faithfully declare, that Mr. Richard Smith, feni'ir, who for his confcience toGod left fair poirelons in Gl cefterlhirc, and Hdvcnturcd, with his relations and cftatc to Ncw-E- gUnJ, and was a moft acceptable inhabitant, and a pri;ne leading nan inTauaton in PlymouthColony ; f t his con- fcic iCc fake, many di^crcnccs ariiing, he left Taunton and catpc to the Narraganfct country, where [byGod's mercy and the favour of the Nirriganfet fachcms) he broke the ice at his great charge and h- f^lf in ptrfon, his houfing, gooJ*, corn,prov-i^!on$ and cattle, for a garrifofi and fupply for the whole army of Ncw-En^laiid, un- der the command of the ever to be honored gcrtcral WipJbw, for the fcrvice cf his \Lje!ly's honor and country of Nevr- Kngland. 4 I do alfo humbly declare, that the faidCapt Richarji S.nith, jun'r,ought by all the rules of equity, juftice and gratitu^ie fto his >ionorcd father and himfelfj to iic fairly treaccJ with, confiiered, recruited, honored, and by his Majcfty's authority, confirmed and eftaUifhed in « pevjcefu! polFe.iion o^ his fathers and his own poffcinons in IhisP.gMi wildemefs, andN^rragan- fet country. Thcpremifes I humjly teftify, a-; aow leaving this country and this world. Rogkr WiLi.iAMs." It appears by governor Winthrop's journal that 1> mton was firt* pJj:ited in I'Sj.-, fo thtt Mr. S:»i|h came rhrre fnon afteri We s-c^ told that the rainfion houfe of the Updike ficiily in Narth Kingfloa itatJs where he begin aacong rh-^yarr.iganfcts. 422 HISTORY or the BAPTISTS But a thaw in January enabled them to get fonje fuiteaance out of the earth, upon which they burnt the dcferted Iioufes in Mendon, and on lA:b. 10, 1676, made an on Vet upon Lancafter, burnt their habitations, and killed or captivated 40 pcr- fons, one of whom was Mrs. Rowlandfon, wife to the minifter, who was then gone to Hofton to pro- cure help againft the enemy. The narrative fhc gave of her captivity has lately been re-printed, like mifchicfs weredone at Groton, Marlborough, Sudbury and Chelmsford j and on Feb. 2 1 the enemy wheeled round and came down upon Med- ficld, (twe*ity miles from Bo(lon) and burnt half their houfes, and ficw eighteen men, notwith* flanding two or three htmdred foldiers that they then had in the town. Feb. -{5 they did confidcr- able damage in Weymouth, ftill nearer to Bofton j and tlic like at Groton and Sudbury on March 10. The r 2th they cut off' two families in Clark*s gar- rifon at Plymouth ; and the next day burnt aU mofl: ftli Groton [in Middlefex] to the ground. HtR" I mnft open fomcthing that has been furprizingly concealed from this country. It his been the conftant prai^ice of all parties who arc fond of an ccclciiaftical eftabhlhment by human laws, to accufe the baptifts of difobedicnce to government, cfpccially in the point of a defenfivc war. This the reader may fee inferted in a law of the Mallachufetts, but three years before thii war bcg-an. Mr. Callendcr was then a member of the baptifl church in Bofton, and was continued a p;rcat blefiing to them for more than fifty years. The copy of Mr, RuficU's narrative that 1 am fa- voured with came out of his family, and in it is a Bianufcript note in the margin, againft Mr. Ruf- fcU's account of Mr. Turner, which fays, " In the beginning [1676] IN NEW-EN GLAND. 425 beginning of the war, William Turner gathered a company oi volunteers, but was denied a com- miflion and difcourr.ged, becaufc the chief of the company were anabaptifts. Afterwards when the war i^rew more gei.eral and diftructive, and the country in very gi eat diftrcfs, having divers tOAns burnt, and many men flain, then he was defired to accept a commilKon. He complained it was too late, his men on whom he could confide being fcattered ; however was moved to accept/* They made him Captain, and his brother Drinker Lieu- tenant of a company that marched up with others in the beginning of this month, tObrelicve the weftern towns, under Major Savage as chief com- mander ; and by them the Indians were repulfed and driven off from Northampton on March 14. The 17th they burnt all but one of the houfes in Warwick, moft of the inhabitants being gone to Rhode-lfland. On Lord*s day, March 26, Capt. Pierce being at Rchoboth,^with fifty Englilh foU diers, and twenty friend Indians, heard of a body of the enemy up Patucket river, and wrote to Capt. Andrew Edmunds of Providence, to meet him there with his company to attack them. He fcnt the letter by a perfon who was going over to Providence meeting, but who did not deliver it till their vi^orfliip was done at noon. As foon a» Capt. Edmunds had read the letter, he gave the bearer a fharp reprimand, for not delivering it before, and exprefled his fear of the confequence as it proved ; for Capt. Pierce engaging the ene- my alone, who were alfo more numerous than he expected, he was furrounded and cut off; with a.11 but 13 of his men, only one of whom was of the Englifh ; and it is faid he efcaped by a friend ^dian's turoiug aad runing after him with a wea- pon. 424 HISTORT or the BAPTISTS pon, as if he was an enemy, which others feeing did not perfue him. They tell us that another of thofe friends efcapcd in this manner v being perilled by an enemy, he took llielter behind a rock, where as each waited for an opportunity to fhoot the other, our friend gently railing his hat above the rock upon a flick, the enemy difcharg- ed his gun at it, on which the other fliot liim down and efcaped. It is reported, that Capt. Pierce and his men flew 140 of the enemy in the conflict. The people both of Marlborough and Springfield fuflcred conflderably the fame day. March 28,'^brty houfes were burnt in Rehoboth, and twenty-nine the next day at Providence, the people returning into garrifons. In the clerk's ofllce in that town is a paper, in which Mr. Williams faid, *' I pray the town, in the fcnfe of the late bloody practices of the natives to give leave to fo many as can agree with Wil- liam Field, to befliow ipme charge upon fortifying his houfe, for fecurity to women and children ; alio to give me leave and fo many as fliall agree, to put up fome defence on the hill, between the mill and the highway, for the like fafcty of the women and children ki that part of the town." To this eleven principal inhabitants fubfcribed, the highcfl: whereof was rwo pounds fix fliiliings, ex- cept Mr. Williams who fubfcribed ten pounds. Tradition fays, that when the Indians appeared on the high lands north of their great cove, Mr. Williams took his ftaff and walked over towards them, hoping likely to pacify them as he had often douc ; but when fome of their aged men faw him, they came out and met him, and told him that though thofe who had long known him would mot hurt him, ) ct their young men were {6 hu raged [1676] iM NEW-.ENOLAND. 42^ raged that it was not fafe for hi;n to venture among them ; upoa which he returned to the garrilbn. The houi'e where then' records were kept was plundered, and they thrown into the mill-pond, bat were recovered, though by thai: means lomc jrafTiges are not legible, and likely many arckies "were loft. In April Capt. George Dcnifon of Stonington, with a number of Englifh andMohegan Indians^^ performed two great exploits. They penetrated into the Narraganfet country, and flew foriy-four of the enemy at one time, and fixty-flx at ano- ther, without the lofs of a mm Though in the mean time the Maflachufetts met with a dreadful blow. Capt. Wadfworth and Lieut. Br-ittle.. bank, with above thirty men, were cut ofl'as they were going to reieve Sudbury, on April i8, Bridgcwater, which was planted in 1652, wasf now aflaulted by a great body of the enemy oa May 8, when twelve deferted hoafes were burnt, but there was never one oF their people killed irt that war ; neither can we learn that any Engiilh perfon who was born in that town, was ever flaitk by the fword for eighty years after. Major Sa- vage and moft of his men returning, he left Capt, Turner to command in that quarter. Hereupon, the enemy, tliinking themfelves more out of dan- ger, rcforted feven or eight hundred of them to to the great falls above Dcerticld, on the fifhing defign. Two captive lads made their efcape, and gave information of their fecurc ftite, whereupon. Capt. Turner and young Capt. Holioke of Spring- field, collected what force they could on a ^id 'en, being not much more than a hundre i and ^fty m«n* and went up filently in the night, tied th ir kurfcs at fodjie dillance, and a litdc before day ^ hk break, 425 HISTORY .ef ant BAPTISTS break, May i;, 1676, came unawares, upon th^ enemy, " fired amain into their very vvigwams, killing many upon the place, and frighting others with the fudden alarm of their guns, made tlieni run into the riv«r, where the fwiftnefs of the Hreani carrying them down a fleep fall, they ptrilhed in the water* ; fomc getting into canoe% lank or ovcrfet by the fiiooting of cur men ; others' creeping for fiielter, under the banks of the great river, were efpicd by our men and killed with their fwords. — Some of their prifoners after- wards owned that they loft above three hundred, fome whereof were principal men, faclicms and fomc of their bed fighting men that were left. — Nor did they feem ever to have recovered themfelvcs after this defeat, but their ruin immediately fol- lowed upon it." When our people firft fired upon them they cried out, Mohaivks ! but in the morn* ing difcovering their miftake, they rallied their* fcattcred men, and Capt. Turner being unwell, and fo " not able for want of bodily ftrength (no ways defective for want of Ikill or courage) to aflift or direct in making a retreat ; fome of the enemy fell, upon the guards that kept the horfes, others perfued them in the rear, fo as our men fuftalncil pretty much damage as they retired, minLag after their return thh ty-ei|s;ht of their men." One of whom was Capt. Turner, wh» was afterwards found and buried. * Dr. Stephen- Williams fays, " There were many remarkable* in this aOair (as related by Jonathan Wells, Kfq; who was prcfent) which are taken notice of by Mr. Hubbard, or Dr. Mather." f Mr. H-ubbard'« account was examined and approved by three gentleman * Huhhard's hiftory of chat war. p. S8, §4. - ■f.J^y^zr\ miniilcrs, and the old charge of denying magif- ^l^tracy was revived, they faid in anfwer thereto, lit. "Iris direcljy againlf our pi inciplcs, and con- trary to' what we ailcrted in a confeilion of our faith, that we gave into the court, as alfo to that confeilion of our faith lately fet forth by our bre- thren in Old-England, which contcffion we own in every particular,* 2. Our continual prayer to God for them, according to i Tim. ii. t, 2, will witnefs againft this charge. 3. Our conftantfub- jeclion and obedience to their laws, both aclivcly, as fojr as wc can with a good confciencc, and where wc could not actively, there have we been pailively obedient ; in fuffering what they inHicled •n us, v/ithout fe eking any revenge in the Icaft, 4. In paying all due demands whatfoever ; not being deflrous to withhold from Csefar at any time, any of his dues. 'In a v.'^ord, both our per-* fons and eftatcs arc always ready at command to be fcrviceable in the defence of the country ; yea and have been voluntarily offered on the high, places of the field, in the time of the country's greateft extremity. — Among whom was William, furner, whom they pleafed to make Captain o£. that company, who had been one of the greateft fufferers among us, for the profefTion of religion. He was a very worthy man for foldicry ; and Ed- ward Drinker, w!io had been anotiier fullerer, whom they pleafed to make Lieutenant j and by ^- the * The toafeflrion publKhed ia London, is 1677, aa^J rctif^d }t«S HISTORY 05 TtfB BAPTISTS the prefcnce of the Lord with them, they vrtffjt made inihuments of the prefei^vation of one town from the rage of the heathen, who violently broke into it> but they being there beat them out. And after that by Capt- Turner, who was then com- mander in chief, as an inftrument in the hand oF the Lord, ^vas the greateft blow Uruck to the Indians of any chey had received ; for after this they were broken and Jcattercd, fo that they were overcome and luddued with eafe. Here it is to be obfc.i Vv d that thofc who had fnfi'ered fo muffh from the country, and fcandalized as eneirues to the coiintry, and their privileges, fieely offering ^hein'avcs i:'. their f i vice have been (through t]ie Lord's prefence with them)-fome of the principal jrftrumcnts tofubaue the barbarous heathen, and to de'ivei the country from its greateft diftrefs ; "which may Hand as a witnefs of our fidelity to the government to the world's end. We have been vilified and greatly reproached, and are at this day, it being without anyjuft rcafon laid to us, that we are one chief caufc of all the judgments of God on the land. We do not excufe ourfelves, as not having a fliare or part in many of the fins that have provoked the Lord againft poor New- England ; neither have wc been freed from having part with others in thcgeneial calamities tliat God iiAth brought on this poor place. Yet it is ob- fcrvable how gracioufly the Lord hath dealt with lis ; that in the time of great mortallity by the fmall-pox, when fo many himdreds died, though many of us were vifited with that vifitation, yet not one of our fociety was removed by it ; but it was not for any thing in us, that the Lord fpared us, but for his names iake, that #he mouth of our adverfaries [1676] IM NEW-ENGLAND. 4«^ adverfaries might be filcnt," * But in anfwer t^ this Mr. Willard iaid, " I'he German anabaptlfls were enemies to civil government, we hop* thefe (though they have fliown tco much contempt of authority) arc not fo far goae. But for his fo gloriouily em- blazoning their fervice in the late wars, it is nei- ther to the puj pofe, nor of much moment. Thafe they did join againft the coihmon enemy is true. Swanzey (a place chiefly confidirg of anabaptifis, and where they had a chui ch) was the place where the enemy made the firft onfet.— BeHdes, any man would fight, rather than have his throat cut; it was not for religion, nor civil government, but for lives and eilates.r—Mor did the Indians re- ceive the greateft blow at that time ; nor is it the anabaptills tiue, but vain glory, to fet fuch an encomium upon their own deeds. — ^Wc have dif- miffed the charge, now comes a flrong argument of their orthodoxy, a witncfs from Heaven, viz. their happy prefervation in the time of the fmall- pox. Let it be remembered, that one of their pcrfwation died of it at Woborn, (where John Kuffell lived, and fhould have obfcrved it) and many of their children. But be it fo ; their fo- ciety is fmall, and fcattcrcd from Dan to Beerlhcba. And who knows, but God might fpare them in judgment, to harden them ? Thefe are too high things for us ; only when God comes to chaften his people, thofe that arc not chaftened, may aflc whether they arc not. baftards ?'* He had before faid, " As the honored magiftratcs here arc chriftians, fo have they judged ifr their duty to maintain the ways of Chrift, and ftrcngthen them by civil laivs, which hath not only been tkc prac- tice f JRufTtU'i narrative, p. 1 1> 12: >ii3^ HISTORY or thk BAPT 1ST S tice of reformers of old, but the conflant judge* ment of the church of Chriil: ever iince the apoilles. — On this principal our worthy rulcri have made laws againil many iccts and intruders, and annong the iclt the anabaptilis. 'I'hat in qiifeiling- tlie anabaptifts they do not opf ok the truth, but fupprcfs error, they arc fully perivvaded; and although they never pretended to a lordfhip over men's confcicnces, yet they account the out- ward man is fubjccl to them : and if they muft tarry till all men arc agreed about -^^hat is truth, before we oppofe crroj-, we fliall flay till there is no need of it.^' * According to this, we are not to imagine that thofc miniflers ever intended to lord it over ^ Thomas Gould's confcicnce, when they cenfured him for not Handing up, and looldng on when they fprinkled infants in the facred name, lie might have thought what he pleafed of it inwardly, if ke ' Avould but have honored tke?n before the people ; \ and though for refufmg fo to do, they excluded him from the ordinance of the fupper for fevcu years, and then for taking another method to cn^ joy it, they moved the rulers todii^franchize, fine, imprifon and. banifh him, yet all this was for error in liis ouHvard man, not in his cenjcience ! neither mufl it be fuppo:^ed, that^'^m glory had any influ*. cncc in the emblazoning of things on.their fide ; for all thefe things T«rere done by orthodox mini- fters, and chriftian rulers. But let the anabap- tilis offer themfelves ever fo willingly, and at a time when the main of the enemy were remote from their churches, both ofBofton and Swanzey; and let them do ever fo great public fervice, yet it muft not be thought that they were move^ ■•, thereto, -• Kc fuior, f. 23,24. [1676] IN NEW. ENGLAND. 43.1 thereto, cither by religion or loyalty. No, all proceeded either from love to the world, or cHc tear of having their throats cut by the Ii.diAns in Bofton, if they had not gone a hundred ndles icty the country to meet them 1 Which is Ipoken, not in contempt to any. man's perfon, but to cxpofc and detect t\\\t fjf -flitter y which fo often deceives mankind. The above is all the mention I ever faw, in any publicadon from that party, that flvcws the chief commander in the fall-fight to have Lien A bap'i'l. Moft of their hiflorics of that war mention his name, but not a word of his bc- . in^-the man who had before fuffered in the bap- tiils caufe. And left it fhould detect the llanders they ftili were calling upon our denorwination, they having gained his fon to their party, intireiy concealed this fad from his numerous pofterity, Tor though his grandfon, Capt. William Turner of Swanzey embraced our principals,which he con-*, tinned in after he removed to Newport, where he died in 1759, bequeathing, among other legacies in his will, his lands in Fall-town, adjoining to the place where his grandfather was flain ; yet ia June 1774, I was convcrfing with one of his daughters, together with her fon, William Tur- ner Millar, Efq; both members of the baptift church in Warren, and they told me, they had often heard of their anccftors exploits and death in Philip's war, but never a word bcrore of his being a baptift, or of his fafferings in that caufe. Neither have any of their hiftorians ever ventured to publifh a particular account of the baptift faf- fed ngS; as they have of the Quikers. For which 1 can ^ive no better reafon than, bccaufc they could hnd incroachment"? upon their rights in the latter to found a pki'uj^on, ii'hiq^i they could noc 43^ HISTORY or thr BAPTISTS in the former. And the author of the Magnalla plainly cxpreft his unwilUngnefs, that the records thereof Ihould be kept any where. Captain Benjamin Church of Duxbury near Plymouth, who had made fooae beginning at tiokonet, now Little-Compton, eafl of Rhode* fland, the year before the war, carried his family on that Ifland after it began, as a place in his opi- nion of greater fafety than Duxbury or Plymouth; and he was an active and fuccefsful commander through the war. As he knew that Philip had forced the Sokonct Indians into the war, contra- ry to the minds of the leading part of them, he againft his friends advice, went over in a canoe, and adventcred himfclf among them in June this year, and gained them over to our fide, by whofc help he took great numbers of the enemy from day to day, who had now loft all their courage. At length returning to vifit his wife,whofe anxious mind fainted to fee him again well ; he was im- mediately informed by Major Sanford and Capt. Golding, that one of Philip's men had fled from him (then at the foot of Mount- Hope) and was come over to the Ifland. Hereupon they all put fpurs to their horfes, and having heard the Indian's account, crofled the ferry in the night with a few men, and after Capt. Church had ftationed hi» ambufli, of the Rhodc-lfland gentlemen, beat up Philip's head- quarters, upon which he fet out to flee through a little fwamp, but after an Eng- lifli man had fnapt his gun at him without effect, Alderman, an Indian, tired a bullet through his heart on Auguft 12, 1676, a little before the break of day ; after which the war was foon brought to a clofc. This fummary of that bloody war I have care* fully [1676] IM NEW-ENGLAND. 433 fully collected from a great variety of hiftories and accounts. And upon the whole, it was faid^ that in this war were liai.n, twelve Captains and ?.l>jut lix hundred men. That about one thoii- fand, two hundred houfes were burnt, eight thou* fand head of cattle, and many thoufand bufliels if grain deftro^^d ; and alfo three thoufand Indians. The lofs to the Eiigliih colonies, was computed at ^150,000 fterhnv, and Capt. Tom, with ano- ther chief of the chrillian Indians at Natick, were taken and hanged at Boflon, for being active in- ftrumen'ts of thofc mifchiefs. * Though many others were faithful. Of thofe twelve Captains, Gallop, Seily and JMarfhali, (who v>'ere llain at the Narraganfct tort) were of Connecticut ; Hutch- infon, Beers, Lothrop, Devenport, Gardner, Johnfon, Wadfworth and Turner, v/ere of the Maffachufetts, and Peirce was of Scituate in Ply- mouth^colony ; from whence one baptill elder ot that name, and 'many members of the baptift churches or Swanzey, Rchoboth and either places have fprung. Om November 29, this year Mr. Samuel Hub- bard wrote to Mr. Edward Stennett, in England, f and after what is "recited in the beo^innino: of this Chapter, he further faid of the Indians, " They hare done much harm in our bordering towns, as Warv/ick, dellroyed by fires ; only mofc of the people are here and their goods, and fome of their cattle ; and the like at Fawtuxct and Provi- dence, though not altogether dellroyed, for a garrifon remaincth there to this day. And for the other iidc over afcaiall us on the main, whicli I i i once * • MaflT. hiftory, vcl. 3, p. 493, f Whofe fon and grnr.dfon, named Jofcph, and grcat^rand fon namzd Samuel, h^v .-1 fsn noted baptift muiiftcrs la Lciido*, ■« Svvo litiisi, doctor's o( diviniiy. 434 HISTOKY oi the BAPTISTS once was ours, and is I judge by charter, many are killed by the Indians, the reft came to us with what they could bring. Connecticut army, Plymouth and Bay armies being there, wafted very much ; when they left it, the Indians burnt qparall that was left. In Plymouth the wars be- gan, and are fore wafted ; the l^y loft very many men. Connecticut did moft fervice, and I have not heard of one town deftroyed or fired in that col-ony. In the beginning of thefe troubles of the wars. Lieutenant Jofeph Tory, elder of Mr. Clarke's church, having but one daughter living at Squamicot [Weftcrly] and his wife being there, he faid unto me, come let us fend a boat to Squa- micot, my all is there and part of yours. We lent a boatfo as his wife, his daughter, and fon-in-law, and all their children, and my two daughters and their children (one had eight, the other three, with an apprentice boy) all came, and brother John Crandal and his family ,with as many others as could pofHbly come. My fon Clarke came afterwards before winter, and my other daughter's hulbahd came in the fpring, and they all have been at my houfc to this day. Now dear brother, although we arc not deftroyed by the Indians, God hath vifited this land by taking away many by death ; and in this place, of all 1-brts. Of the old church, firft Mr. Jofeph Tory, then my dear brother John Crandal, then Mr. John Clarke, then V\^iliiam Weeden, a deacon, then John Salmon : a fad ftroke in very deed ; young men and maids to this day, I never knew or heard the like in New- Eng'and. Laft week four or five were buritd in this town — Brother Turner went to war, and God profpered him for a time, but he is now kill- ed by the Indians j the reft arc well and enjoy their [i«7^] IN N E W-E N G L A N D. 455 their liberty. Mr. Milci that was at Swanzey, is now with them. Brother Wiiliam Gibfon, who came from Old-England with brother Mumford, is now gone to New- London to viiit our brethren there." Mr. Mumford had been over to London, »nd he with Mr. Gibfon returned to Bofton, in October 1675 ; who afterward fucceedcd elder Hilcox in the paftoral office at Newport. The above account of the pr«fervation of Con- necticut, as well as the other articles expreffed arc juft, as far as t can learn. The Mohegan Indians, under Uncas, did the Englifli great fervicc in that war. I have fcen fcarce any account of any other damages in Swanzey and Rehoboth, bcfide what have been recited, except the Indians killing Capt, Willct's fon near the gari ifon inSwanzey this year. Middleborough and Dartmouth were butjull be- gun before the war, and when it came on, thfr Englifh and part of the Indians thereinjremoved to Plymouth and other pi aces of greater faiety; and the large body of natives near to and upon Cape-Cod, continued in amity with the En^lilh, as thofe on the Illands fouth of it alfo did ; and of the latter I have met with the following entertaining account. Thomas Mayhew, Efq; obtained agrant of Martha's- Vineyard, with the iflands adjacent, and began a fettlement at Edgarton on the eaft part of the Vineyard, in 1642, where he was their chief ruler, and his fon their minifter. In 1646, the fon began to preach to the Indians with iuccels 5 to promote which caufc his father told them, " That by order from the crown of England, he was to govern the Englifh who fhould inhabit thofe Iflands ; that his royal matter was in power far above any of the Indian anonarchs ; but that~ as he was great and powerful, fohc was a lover of juuicc i :4^6 HISTORY or tmi BAPTISTS juftice ; and that therefore be would in no mei- furc ifivade their juriiUidions, but on the contrary afiill them it need required ; that religion and government were di/tinh things, and their lachem* might rtriin their juil authority, though their fu bj eels \\ ere chriftians." AVid he piaclifcd ac- cording to his profeilion ; ** for he would not fuf« fer any to injure them, cither in their goods, land* or perfons. i hey always found a fatlier and pro* tedlor in him ; and he was fo far from introducc- ing any form of government amQ|)g them againjl their wi-Is, that he firft convinced them of the ad- vantage of it, and even brought them to defirc him to introduce and fettle it.*' This wife condudl and the goipel means that were ufed with them, produced iiich happy elTeclg, that a chriftian church Wis formed and organized an^ong tliem five years before this war. And now in the time of it, the government furni&ed thofc chriftian Indians with arm* and ammunition, and employed them todefcnd the lilanda againii the enemy. '* And fo faithful v/ere they,' that they not only refolutely rejected the ftrong follicications of the nativ^es on the neigh- bouring Main, but, in oblc^vance of the general orders given them, when any landed to follicit them, thi)ugh fome were nearly rel.ited by mar- raige, and others by blood, yet the Ifland Indians v^ould immediately bring them before the gover- nor to attend his pleafure-'* By the divine blelT- ing on thefc means, though the Indians there were twenty to one of thcEnglifli, yet through this ex- tenfive and bloody war, " Thefe lllands enjoyed a perfecl calm of peace ; and the people wrought and dwell fecure and quiet." * NiNEGRET * Pn'nct'i ef'pendix to Mayhtivs Indian inm'ert!, p. 293— • i^h. In »hat pcrfornwnoc lind that Mr« Petci FouJger wiH ■ "%' ■ . early Ii6y62 IN NEW. ENGLAND. 437 Ni'^EGRFT and his Nyantick fubjeds, who dwelt fro.n Fointjudith up to Weftcrly, on the ihore fouth of the Narraganiets, did not join in that war J and a conliderable number of their dcfcen- dants early emr>!ove4 *s a *• fchool-mafter among thofe Indians, and when y.'uiig Mr. Mivhew went for Enghnd, in 1967, Mr. Prince fivs, rficy had not onl^- feveral Indian teacher* on toe Ilhnd, Bmc ACo " an able, godly Engliftiaian named i^cter Foul- ger, employed in teiching the youth in reading, wrJtirg and the principles of religion by catcchiz'ng ; being well learned likewifc in the fcripturc, and C"p.jb'e of helping them in re?igi- ous matters." p. 291. I find by Mr. Simuel Hubbard, that M, Fo Jger became a baptift, and joined Mr. Clarke's church abou*^ the time of this war ; as Thomas Weft an Englifb man, an'l fjme ndiqns from thence did to Mr. Hifcox's church, in l68j). Ad VI . Foiilgf? piomoted the baptifi principles annong thr Indians. Though one of them named J-jpeth, who had beea his fchalar, and now was got t > be a noted tc;icher, reminded him th ur prcdidlion true for von you' ft!f are become one of thefc teachers, you Cau-i ined us ^gainft ; I am t -.« refore fully refalved to take your g'Jud c uMfel, and not believe you but wtll continue ftedfa'ft ia the truths wherein ', cu formerly inftruded me.** May hew, p, 49, fo However he found others not to be fo refolute, for by the time that their g >-• e-'n r M lyhew died, in >68i, the baprift princip'e.s had prev^iit-d con(i'*e-ably among them ; and by the year 1694, they had one b ^ptift church on the Vineyard among- the chriilian Indians, and anotJier on Nantucket. M.^Tjilia, b. 6, p 56 The firft Indian paftor over thofe bdptifts c<^ the Vi«.;yard, that I have feen any account of, was Siephen Tacka- niifon. He firft joined to a church of the other denomination, in Or :oi < hum re diflc cd in his appre- kcnlion-s about the fubjc(fi!> and* mode o bdp.if.r, and bUuicd fome of his btcjhren tur being loo utiCSantabh and cenforious towards them ; and he on other fibjccts, difcourfed lilcc a good chriftidi.— He fctrmednot to be at ail tcrrihed at ihc approaches of (ieath toivards him, of whicti he was very fenfiblc, but ap-» pearedto enjoy that peace in his foul which paiTtth underttand- icg." P. 4z ■ 44- The fe are the words of iVIr. Experience Mayhew, in his Indian converts, publifbcd in J72T. His wor- thy fon who fuccacds him in the miniftry among the Indians on the Iflatid, treated one of my brethren in the miniilery, vory friendly when he was over and preached among ihofe kapiifts, •ear three years ago. I had requefled my friend to collcdt fome account of thofe baptifts, and he applied to Mr. Mr^yhew for that purpofe ; who promifed he would get the btft intelligence he coufd concerning them, from an aged Aunt ol bii, who re- tained her mental powers remarkably and others. And he feni the fam« in the following letter, . •• Kkvkrend SiK, In compliance with ycur reqiieft I have got the beft informa- tion I could, with refpett to the oiiginuf antipcdobaptifts at Martha's- Vineyard. My aged Aunt informs me, that the firft baptift mininer among ihtln'diani on the ifiahd, that (he knew or heard ef, was one IfaaC Decamjjf, who came from the Main-land with bis family, and pieachtd and adminiliereJ the ordinances of baptifm and the Loid's-fupper, a number of years : (he is i«- ccrtain what year he came, but according to the befV of her memory the faid Dccamy died near lixty years agone : (he faitk further, that he was a man of a fober life and convcrfation. The next Indian minifler of this denomination, by the beft intel- ligence 1 can get, was Jonas Horfwct, who preached and sdmi- iiiftered the ordinances to a fmall focicty of baptifts at G?yhead» The next was Ephraim Abraham, originally of Chappaquidick, attheeaftend of the Ifland, who had the charge of the fucicty atGayheid, as alfo of one, which about this time was formed at faid Chappsquidick. The next ordained minifter wat. Samuel K'kenchew, whom I had a pcrfonal acquaintance with : he lived!;, at Cbappatjuidickj w;i3 eftccm&d by fucb as Jiqcw lim, to be » [1676] IK NEW-EN GLAND. 43^^ fince that Samuel Nilcs, both of their own nation ; and a confiderable number of them have given lafting cridince of their being pious chriftians. It may be proper to take lorae particular notice here of Mr. Clarke, who left as fpotlcfs a characler as any man I knew of, that ever acted in any pub- lic ftatioa in this country. * The MafTuchufett writer* nun of fenfc, and of i regular and ohriftian life and converfe- lion. There *C'e Tcveral atncr p.cachers an:i')ngthein, but not ordained ; exc« pi Sil is P.J, who is now livicg, and is an or- dained p^ftor of the bjpdit church at Giyhead, ardwhoalfo takes upon him the ctc of the fmall focicty of that denomina- tion yt Chippiquiiick ; preaching occ ifioT-illy and adniini. Bering the ordinaoees to them. He is the only Indian miniftcr of this denomination now upon this Ifland. This is the bcft information that can be obtained by youE friend and fellow- 1 ibourer in the work of the miniftcry. Zechariam May hew." Chilmark, 27 Auguft, 1774. * Tm is was dircdted to elder Hunt, who fays the faid Paul io- formed him, that he \va9 then 34 years old, was baptized in 17^8, ordsfned In 1763; that the church at Gayhcad had ij m;mb-'rs, and the other 16. * He was born Of^obcr 8, 1909 ; married Elizabeth, daagh- ter of John Harges, Efq; of Bedrordlhire. In a power of at- torney figne-i by them. May 12, |6';6, he Itiles himfclf Joha Glurkc, phyfician of Londor. It was for the recovery of a legacy of^ 20 per annum during her life, that was given her by her father out of the aiannor of Wreflingwoith Bedfordfliire. Where he had his education I know not ; but the following claufe in his will may give fome idea of his learning, viz. '' Item, unto my loving friend Richard Baily, 1 e'^c ana bequeath, my concordance and lexicon to it belonging, written by myftlf, being the fruit of fcvc-al years fivid ; my Hebrew Bibles, Bux- torff s and PalTors fixicon, CoUoi'* cunccrdi^ce, and all the reft of my b 'ok ." H. fi;ft .vite died at Newport without an Ur.jc, :::ii Feb- 1, ';j7I, he marrieJ Mrs. }\nc Fletcher, by whom Kc6 14, 1^72, rtc had a daughter born ; but the mother died the 191,101 April following, and the li.igl-.rcrMay 18, 1673, His thiri Aife Wf). ihc widow Sarah Davis, who furvived him, begay be without much trouble, you would pleafe to order the payment of it in cattle of that kind* 1 have been follicitcd, and have pror mifed my help abdut iron iVorks, when tlie matter is ripe j ear- tleftly defirous dvery way to further the good of ihe town of Pro- viderace, to which 1 ani fo ntuch engaged, and to ycurfelves th* loving inhabitants thereofi to whom 1 dctire to be your truly lo,y.T inga«d ever faithful RoGfek Wjlliams.'^ Vet ht f\cvir recQi^c^ all Lis pay for t^at firft chafter. An^ ifj6us;h the firft aflenibly that met after they received ihe fccondj, ^roted Mr. Clarte the reward that ha.K bceh mentioned, yer they A*'ere very backward about fulfilling their promlfe. Their gene- ral afiembliw frorti year to year, wrote to ftir up the towns thereto 5 tut at the afTcmbly of April t, 4671, an account was exhibiteid^ €x^rhin*d, ipprovcd and tttefted by gavernor Arnold ^pd three a'firtants, which is now extant under their .own hands, whereia it appears, that whert M . Clarke obtained faid charter, he haqt i-eeeived but £. zzx 3/* though th;; .charier with his time an^ piins, coftj^s 651. I'jf tod. an idol, .df which was then due to him, and whs ordered to be paid in proviCm pay.jtwo pounds fo» Oiie ; but he nev^er received acy of it io his life-time. JBy ^i» p jpers I find thit he niortgiged his eftatc io Newport, to Capj. Richard D*ans of London, the fame monrth that he procured J±ijc charter, and that it w« not taken up till Sept. 5, 1699, vhf.f file U& payment of ^^i 15/ was made K« Capt. I^cane'* h^ciri*. 44* tJISTORT OF THE BAPTISTS ful, than in finding out ways to get money, ana excufes to keep it ; but how few have parted with it for piibiic good, (o freely as Mr. Williams and Mr. Clarke did ? After Mr. Clarke's return, he Was improved in various public offices ; was elected deputy go- vernor three yearn fuccefiively, in two of which he aeceptcd the office ; but all the concern of the ilate did not prevail with hsmf, as it has done vith many, to iieglcdt the affairs of religion. His church records and other Writings prove, thd continuance of his pallor al f elation to the firft church in Newport, and his care and labours to uphold gofpel worfhip, and difciplinc therein. And the inflrumeiit by which he fettled his laft con-* eefns in this world, fhcws what his faith and hope werdj als ta thatt which is to conje 5 for therein he' fays, ^' Whcreis I John Clafke of NeS^poft, in the colony of Rhode-Ifland, andPrtrvidehce plantations in New-England, phyficiari, ami at ^hrs prefent^ through the abundant goodnefs and mercy of my God, tliough Weak in my body, yet found in m^' memory and undcfftanding, and beiiig fenfiblcf of the inconvenieric6s that may cnfue in calc I fhouM no't fet my houfe in order, before' this fpirit of mine be called by the Lord td remove out of this tabernacle, do therefore make and declsre this my laft will and teftament, in lilinncr foilo'win^ ; willing arid readily refignin^ up my foul unto nty merciful Ptcdeemer, through faith in whofe death I firmly hope and believe, td^ cfcape from that feeond hurting death, and through his refurredion arid life, to be glorified with hint in life ctcrn.tl. Arid iriy fpirit being returned out of this frail body, in which it hath converfcd for about fixty-fix years my will is, that it be decent* f 157^3 IN NEW.EN GLAND. 44$ Jy intered, without any vain oflentation, between my loving wives Elizabeth antl Jane, already dc- ceafed, in hopeful expciSlation, that the fame Re- deemer \yho hath laid down a price both for my foul and body, will raife it up at the laft day a fpiritual one, that they ipay together be hnging hallelujah unto him to all et(?rnity." * Oh ! what mifcrable * Copied from the original will, d^td April o, i6y6 ; £nd he quitKd our worlJ the iamc aay. As he left n. child, he gsvC jnmy legacies to his relncions and fritnds, b >th in that colony and the Maifachufetts. His b. other J^fcph Clarte waS early a mjnjber of the church ia Newport with him, and was often a m^gittrate of the Colony j whofc fon Jof:ph w..s alfo a mem- ber of that church, and then of the church m VVcfterly, where his pofterity are numerous and refpedable to this day. Elder Clarke, gave a particular Iqt of laad in Newport, to his brother's fon John, whole poflerity have alfo been refpeCtabl^ ampag the baptifts ever fince, one of whom i* Mr. Edward Clarke, now a. gofpel preacher near Providence. Then after giving a fmall lot in town to his church, and giving his v/ifc the ufe of hii houfe and farm, containing more than a 150 acres, of upland and naarChes, toge#\er with ten acres in a ptrt of Newport, called the neck, during her lire, he gave faidfarm andnecktohis friends, William Wccden, Philip S«iith and Richard Baily, and to their affigns, " qualihcd and chofcn in manner following forever ; that is to fay, that when it (ball happen that either of them three deoeafe, the two furviving (br^W mike choice of an underftanding l^erfon, fearing the Lord, to fucc-cd in the place of hiai fo de- eeafed ; and in cafe the two furviving differ in their choice of the perfon to fueceed in the room of him fu dcce^fcd, thn thcii the choice (ball b<: decidvd by lot ; which perfon fp chofen (hAl be the afTignecs of the faicJ pcrfcns abnvcmcrticncd, and (i.<.ll have eqiwl power to ad with them in ill matters relating to the difpofal of the profit or rent of the faid land and farm, from fcime to time ; and fo all perfons chofen asabovtfrfid to make good the- faid number of ^hrce, (h^U bt deemed and tsken tc be the alligns of the faid William VVceden, Phiiip S'.vAxh knd llich-id, 2aily, and none ©ther ; wi.icS faid perfons aud their a(f-gns, from time to time, chofcn -ind fucceeding as abo*'e f^.id, (hall b^ feJiedofthe faid farmafldlmd called the neck.tott^e uf^andufes. following forever ; that ii t;> fay faithfully and truly to diftribut« ^i difpiofe cf the lenl »nd profit of «iy ia'A farjc^ and land, fof 444 HiSTOnt o? TMi BAPTIST! triirerable things arc all eiartWy ple^furcs or glories, tvhen compared with itich a lite, and iuch a death ! J^Iark the pirfeSl man, and bshold the upright ; for the end of that man is psacs. It has often been obferved, that when one heavy affiiction comes upon a perfon or people, others Toon follow ; which pbfervation was rc- liiarktly veiefied this year. For befide thofe al- l^eady named, Mr. Mark Luker, an ancient mem- ber^ and a ruling elder qf Mr. Clarke's church, died the December after him,lcaving the charadcr of a very worthy walker. About ^^ relief of the pooti or hrJngtrig up ghildrcB unto learning, frofri time to time forever, according to fuch in^lructicns a* 2 iliall give izntt) thcni, bearing even date with thcfc prcft:its.'' V'hich inftruciions are in thefc words, viz. " That inthcdifpo- fal of thijvvhich theLord hath bcftpwed'on me, and I havenow bc- ifU^ed' ybti Witfci, and you and your fuccciforsi ihall have fpc- cial fcgard aj]d Gare> to provide for thofe that fear the Lord j Slid in all things/ and at alt titries, fo to difchargc the truft which J have repofed in you, as may be molt i"or the glory of the Mofi JHigh, and the good and benefit of thofe for whom it is by m* txprclily de%r.ed.- ^^^^ CtARi^E." tiiiJ eftatc was appraifed a^ ioScl. 12s. by James Earkerj Thomas Ward, and Philip Edcs, who made oath to the inven- toiy Msy 17, 1676. Said farm and neck they appraifcd at 530I, and its lat? annuel incocpc has been 220 doUars, as thefconorjible 3o^^^S Lyndon, iilfq; one of the alHgnSj informs me ; who fays ihe firft affigns being Mr. Clarke's intimate friends, were inform- ed Ivy him, that hia intent was to provide for religious as well as civil InfiruClion, though he didnot infert the word miniftry,lcfl the national clergy ftiould lay claim to it. The rt fore part o^ faid profits have been improved (6 naaintain religious teaching; in-ihat church ever iine^. Complaint wan made in I72i,thaf pre of thefc affigfts wa» unfaithful la hia truft, which caufcd the airtfmfely to take the cafe iri hand ; >vho at length made a law to impower the town-couftcil in each ^own to enquire bow all chari- table donations t}iercin weremanaged,andbyajury of twelve mi;i», upon oath, to a/Tefi damages upon delinquents ; to whom there- fore the alH^as absvefaid baVe anaaally bcca accountably ixti [?6773 iif NEW.ENGLANI>. 445 Apoyr the begining of 1677, came out Mr, Williams'^ account of his difputc with theC^iakers, upon which M. Cordington wrote over to his friend Fox and faid, *' Here is a lying fcandalous t>Qok pf Roger Wilhanis of Providence, printeti at Cainbridge in Ncw-Englaiid — I have known him about fifty years a meer weathercock, con- llant only in inconftancy : poor man ! that doth not know what fhould become of his foul, if this night it fhould be taken from him. He was for the priefts, and took up their principles to fight ^igainft the truth, and to gratify them and bad magiftrates, that licked up his vomit, and wrote the faid fcurrilous bpok ; and fp hath tranigrefl'ed for 2l piece of bread. And fo are all joined with the red dragon to pour out their flood againft the man- (hi/d. Into their fccrets let not ^y foul come , my honor be not thou united. Dear G. F, I may yet more prove what I have faid. One while he is a feparateft atNew-Plymouth, joining withtheni till they are weary of him (as from Morton'sme mo- rial in print doth appear ;) another time you may have him a teacher or a m^n^her of the church at Salena. O ! then a great deal of devotion is pleaded in women wearing of vails in their alTem- ulies, as if the power of godlinefs was in it ; and ^o have the crofs out of the colours ; lud then to be agjainft the King's pa»cnt and authority, and writeth a large book in quarto againft it. And another time he is hired for money, and gets a pa- tent from the long parliament, fo that it is not Jong, but he is off and on it again. Qne time for mens wearing caps, and nothatsfor covering their faces ; and again, hats and no caps ; one time for "Water baptifm, m.en and women muft be plunged |nto the water j and then throw it all do\^'n again 1, '44^ HISTORY oi the BAPTISTS . fo that Cotton (who in his day did know the pew.* isr of God to fahation) f2ici of him, that he was a hfirberdujhtr offmall que-^ions agahi/l th^ poiju^r. So they ought to have feared God and the King, that i» to punifti evil-doers ; and therefore not to meddle to their hurt, with him that is given ta change'^ iVnd goes on to fay he was credibly in- foraied that governor Leveret (iiid he would give 2oi and governor Wjnllow 5]. rather than that book fhould not be printed. Scott's letter whic}\ is mentioned in p. 108, was alfo wrote on this op- cafion, wherein after accufing Mr. Williams of afting contrary to his own principle of liberty of confcience, he fays, " Witnefs his prcfpnting of it to the court at Newport ; and when this woul4 not take eflecl, afterwards wlien the commiflioners were two of them at Providence, being in thp houfc of Thomas Oincy, fenior, Hoger \VilIiams propounded this queftion to them ; we have a people h?rc among us, who will not act in our government with us, what courfe fhall we take with them ? George Cartwright, one of the comr mifiloners, afked him what manner of perfons they were ? do they live quietly and peaceably amongft you ? This they cou^d not deny ; then he made this anfwer, if they can govprnthcmfelves, they have np need of your government ; at which they were filent. This» was told again by a women of the the houfc where the fpeech was fpoken, to ano- ther women, whom the complaint with the reft was made againft, who related it to me ; but they are both dead, and cannot bear witnef* with me, 10 what was fpoken there." * These letters being fent over with the book to Fox, he with John Burnyeat publiflied them, with f '^Qx, part fccond; p. 245, 2/^9» Ii6p^ iH NEW-lNGLANDi 44;' an anfwer to Williams, in 1678, whleh they in* titled, ^ New- England firebrand quenched. Fox's former bodk in tblio Williams fays was wrote again ft about fix fcore authors and papers, to which Edward Burroughs wrote a preface ; and feme tilings that they faid in the difpute, turned bis thoughts fo, as from thoie names he called his work, Georgt Fox digged out of hisBurroughs. Such titles were more common in that day than ours, but Ihave nothing to fay to juftify them,nor a great deal of the language! that was ufed ori both lides. What I am concerned with is fa6t and not dialecb. As Mr. Williams had occafion to vindicate many things in the writings ot Mr. Richard B ixter, Dr* John Owen, and others that Fox had written againft, whom Williams call pious and learned men ; he prefixed a particular addrefs to them, in which he fays, " As to matters in difference between your felves arid me, 1 have willingly omitted them as knowing that many able and honeft feamen iri their obfervations of the fun (one picture of Chrift Jefus) differ fometimes iri their reckirigs, though uprightly aiming at, artd bound for one port and harbour. I humbly^eg of you, i . That you will more and more earncftly, candidly and chriftianly ftudy the things that differ without refleding up- on credit, maintend7ice, liberty, and life itlelf re- membering who it was that faid, lie that loves his lifePoall lofe it. 2. Mor*e and more ftudy the pr<}- phefies and th^ figns of the times : you know when it was that five biihdps, twenty-two riiinifters, and almoft three hundred other precious believers in the true Lord Jcfiis, were facrificed in the flames, for his ever blcffed fake, againft that mon- ftrous man of fm and bloody whore of Roriie* Theft Foxians fancy is Uut Williams only concuiTcd with ; ,and governor Hutchinfon Ihcws, thajt Mr. Cottoa had Ipoken in favor of that mode of drefs in Eng- land ; but now he went to Sakm, and preached the people out of conceit of it. And among ail Mr. Williams's niimerous writings, I have not met \yith any thing about it ; no, nor about his hat or f ap though in the Maffachufett records, I find that the year before they baniilicd him, when Codding- ton was both a magiftrate and their trcafurer, they Tni:(^c zhw zgMnHjuper^uous and expgtiftv^fajhiom, ■wherdn they prohibited the making or wearing q( beaver hats upon penalty of forfeiting of thenj if they did. 3. As to the crofs in the military co- lours, which Hutchinfon allb names as a fullicicnt ground for the authority to take hold of Mr. Williams, it is certain from Winthrop Hubbard, and the colony records, tkat the afiembiy took hold of Endicot and not Williams for that acl, and put hin> out of all office for one year therefor ; and the Magnalia affures us, that the fcruplc about that Popifh fign prevailed in their colony, after Mr. Williams was gone out of it.* 4. Upon the affairs of the patent, Codcfington artfully flips in the word authority, willing with hi* friend Cotton, to have "IVilliams appear as a rebel againft the king. We leavn from governor Winthrop, that Mr. Williams firft wrote upon that fubjecl at Plymouth, and after he came to Salem, the court cnlled for ^ ^opy of it, which he granted them, and then nea? ♦ Book 7, p. I J, 45^- ?nSTORT or the BAPTISTS the clofe of 1633, they had hmi before thern ; but he gf.ve tiiem iuch fatisfaclipn about it, that they* diiiijlTed him ; yet they afterward brought in antj r£*-examined that niatter, as imi^ caufcot his banifli- ment.* 5. By the foregoing hillory, the reader may (cc with what grace the Quakers could ac- cui'e Mr. Williams, of bein^^ niercinary or hired for f^iCitiey, ia procuring their firfl charter. And I iind thit when h^ »vas fctting oft' upon his feci>nd agcnc- ' . ddington's commiliion re-f •wok-:a. x.c, ou oepi. 3, iv^^t, fold his trading houfe a'hci interell jii Narraganfet, for 5®!- to JMr. Richr ara Smith. \ His great crimp therefore, was his advancing fuch r^ueitions as he didj a.gainji the pew's ^r ; which in plain terms, was a power to frauie to themfelv^s a goffci and if Chnfl: without the crofs, A power to fufpend obedience to what they looke4 upon to be truth in England, and to compel others to their judgment, when they had got out of the prelates reach. Yea, a power to confirm and iup- port fuch Gorruptioiis by oatlis, both there and here. p. 71. Mn. Williams fays, ''cafes hnvc befallen my- fclf in the chancery in England, &c. of the lofs of gre^t fums, which I choie tu bear through th?:- Lord's help, rather than yield to {h^ formality (then and ilillin ufc) in God's woriliip, tliough 1 otlered to fwear in weighty cafes, by the name of God, as in the prcfence of God, and to atteft or call God towjtncfs ; and the judges told me they would reft in my teftimony, and way of fwearing, but they could not uifpenfc with me without ^n act of parliamcnt."J And in the face of all their re- proaches, \ arq bo^d in it, thatl know not of one Pcdobaptiit * Williams's reply to Cottoft, p. 277. i" Ne vporl Rccordu. J >Vgainft the Quakers^ aj'jpendix p. 59, 60, [1677] IN N E W-E N G L A N D. 4$% Pedobaptift or Quaker, that came to this country in that age, who acted fo confiftantly and iteadi* ly upon right principles about government an4 liberty, as Mr. Williams did ; neither do 1 thini-^ ihiz they had, or have any caule to glory over him as to religion. Though Mr. Cotton rep le-? Rented it as a meer^r^/^'/zCi^forhim toTellof ch;^icf| gDvernment, when he did not join fully with ai.y church that was theji extant, yet he replies and fays, " The iji/iitut'ion of any government and or- der is on? thing, and the adminijiration and exLji if,. iion, which may be interrupted and eclipfed, inar,o- taer. Jeremiah could not rightly have been ji-<^^^ ed a pretender, wheri he mourned lor, and ia* rnented the defolations of the temple, priefts, eW' ders, altar and facrifices ; and neither he n^.f Paniel, nor any of God's fervants, could, during the dcfolation and captivity, acknowledge either tcniple, altar or facrifice aright, extant upon tLe face of the earth,— Although the difcuffor be not fatisfied in the period of the tunesy and the manner of Chrifl's glorious appearing, yet \\\^fQul uprightly dsfires to fee and adore, and to be thankful to Jiiailer Cotton, yea to the leaft of the difciples of Chrift, for any coal or ^ark of true light, among' fo many falfe and pretended candles and canJiQ iiicks." * Now as no man was permitted by f-zra, to ofhciate as i priefl: at God's altar, but thofeuho would fnd their regifler of a lawful defccnt from Aaron, and the church had been through a more terrible captivity in myilical Babylon, between ciie apoflolic age and that we are upon, than the Jew* had in Chaldea ; how could a man,fo hon0 aN 1V!t, Williams was, receive any man to adminifter the pjdinance of the fupper to. hirp, who cou'd not ipro4u(^C * P.epir to Cotton, p, 195,, 107, 45$ HISTORY or the BAPTISTg produce a regijler of his fucccfllon from the apq* Ales ? p. 110. I know of no other confiilant way, to get" over this difnculty but this ; tliat as the Jawhil feed of Aaron were to govern in the Jewifh chiirch, fo are the fpiritual feed of Chriil to go- vern in his church, ipto which none ought to be jidmitted, without gofpel evidepce ot their being fuch ; anditfcerps that Mr. Williams had not at- tained to a clear lettlejnent in this point. But ir? iny opinion his greateil miftake, when he lirt^ fame to this country was, his blending the duties of natural and revealed religion too inuch toge- ther. The light of nature teaches the importance ■iofj'ceking to God for what we need, and oi praifing \i\n}. for what we receive"; which duties ought to \)t inculcated upon all men, as much as love tq God or our neighbours ; whi|e the revealed in- ftitutions of baptifm and the fupper, are tokens of fellowfliip with Chrift, and therefore cannot be pur duty to perform before we arg united U> him. Pfalms, 107, Ajfts 17, 27. Rom? ij^o? '^i- ^1^4 6. 3 — 5. ft Cor. 10, 16. But for a while, Mr. Williams feemed to limit thefc two kinds of duties fllike to the regenerate. It is alfo well known, that the divine ruler is perfect, but that thebeft of ^en in this ftate are imperfect, and how far we are to cxercife forbearance, and how not, has not i^een an eafy queflion to the moft cnlightnedfainta; yet Mr. Williams's grand crime in the view of both of thefe parties, was becaufe he would not yield to their power in this m-ittcr. And the paf- fage the Qiv^kers fq often appealed to, as an evi-. dencc of his being a bloody perfecutor, is as follows. An author had faid, the fakers f pint doth teach them to honor m man. Upon which Fox fai^,, -■ ^^ Tlut ' f.i677] IN NE W.ENGLAND. 4Si ■' That is a He ; for it teach eth thesi to jbave all men in efteemi and to honor all men In the Lord j v vet they are convinced by the kwai^ tranrgieflbrs' :f theyVcfpcd mens perfons as you do. In reply to which Mfv W. fays, '^ All men may fee how truly they honor kU in the Lord, and what Lord they rn.an, whem his firft >vord to his oppoilte is thai m'oft provoking term, /to iV "^// Mr. Cotton. And as to his pradice, we learn cxprellly that the ilritianGe Seott refers to at Newport, was that of i^arris's at the election, in i'555. And though \\t zxid i\Ir. Coddington fubmitted to Mr. tVilliam's {government the next year, (a few months beTore the Quakers arrived) yet after that they and others became fo fplritual a^ to refufe to a6l therciifi^ This it feems caufcd Mr. Williams to afk Mr. Carf- wright what they fhould'do with them, which iri their view was another proof of his perfeeuting dlfpofition. In 1665 their afTcmbly framed an en« ga ^^ment to the government, which they hoped thofe men would have taken, and fo have come in to acl with them aj^ain ; bat iu March i665 • • • they pleaded that they could not in confcience 60 it, and prevailed with the aflTembly to make a law^ to allow thoie who pleaded, that they could not in confcience take either that engagment, nor the pith of aliicgence in England, to make their fub^ miffioa- ♦ Williams, p. 19^, 2oo« £1677] 5^ N£W.EN GLAND. 457 ml/fion to the gov-ernrnent, either before the court or ujfore two magUlrates, ih, their owi\ words, in* ftead of any that others could frame for them. And no fooner was this point gained, than at thi ele.iiioa in May cniUing, they got in a Quiver deputy governor", and ttirec magillrates j two of the latter being Coddington and Harris. Har- ris was in the fame oflice in 1667, when on July 4, he procured an extraordinary meeting of the afTin'')!/, to try Mr. Fenner, (another magitlrate^ for a rout which M arris charged him with making; in i^rovidence on Jane 3. But the afTembly ac- quited Fenner, and fined Harris 50 1. and put him out of oilice, chooiing Stephen Arnold in his ftead.. The next fill he was Hned 1 os. for breach of peace, and bound to his q;ood behaviour. Yet he had influence enough in May 166 3, to get again into the m.igiftracy, kud in the fail to have his 50 1. remitted. He was likewife in the fame oiEce im 1669 ; and as Connecticut tlien revived their claim to the Narraganiet country, he eagerly turned to afUft them, hoping doubtlefs, to tharc largely therein, if they prevailed* It fecms that the agents who procured their charters, agreed that Tome perfons living near Mr. Smith's trading houfe in Narraganfet, fhouldhave liberty to choofe which government they would be under ; therefore from thence, and from the words of Connecticut charter, they fct out afrclh to grafp all that country to. therafelves. And for that end would come over from Stonington and knock Wefterly people down, and carry them off to goal, and perlilted long in thofe encroachments againft the remon^lrances of the authority of Rhodc-Iiland colony ; one of which they fent by Mr. John Crandal to Hartford, in May 1671. M m m Ihe 45« H I S T O R Y or THE 6 A P T I T 3 The aflembly at the fame time made choice of Mfi Clarke as their agent, to go again to England upoti the affair ; though softer repeated applitations to Connedicut court, fuch a profpecl appeared of having the matter fettled by treaty, that thev re vokcd that appointment the next year. But Harris, finding that the King's words in their charter had moft explJcitiy fixed Paucatuck liver a5s the bounds betwixt the two colonies, openly attacked the v?Jlidky of the charter, btcaufe there* in the King had granted full religiaus liberty^ net" ^itbjlanding the penai laivs hi tn 2tf7» [1677] w NEW-ENGLAND. 459 rccor4s, compared with Mr. Williams's account ; to which they rctura no better anfwer than to fay, " It is hke he doth belie W. H. as he liath. done ns ; a?id, for thy ftory and anger againft William Harris, he is o£ age and able enough to fpeak for hnnfelf." * Fox and other noted teachers of theirs were now come over, and gained many piolclytes ; upon which Mr. Williams went to a general meet- ing they had at Newport, and began to prefent to them I'ome confiderations concerning the tru^ Cnrift aui the taUe, the true fpirit and the faifc^ but fays, I was cut off in the midjl^ by the fudden prayer of one, and hnging of another, &:c. -whichi is afterward explained thus, viz. " I was ftopt by the fuddea prayiiig of the governor's wife, who alfo told mc of her afking hea^ hulband at home, (meaning Chrifl which 1 had toucht upon) I rofq and faid, if a man had fo allcdgcd, I would have knfwered him ; but I would not countenance the violation of God's order fo much in making a re- ply to' a woman in pub!ic. Hereupon J. Nicola itood up and faid, in Qhrijl Jffui neither male nor female. I was replying to him and to J. Burnyeat? fpeech concerning thcjr fpirit, but was flop: by Burnyeats fudden failing into prayer, and dilmif. ing the alTembly. I refolved, with God's help, to be patient and f/tv7, and fo ceafed, not feeing a willingnefs jn them for me to proceed ; which ex- perience made me not trouble G, Fox and the affemhly at Providence, but rather to make 21 fair and folemn oifer of a difputc aboutthefe matters. *'| To which they anfwer and fay, " So here thou may eft fce,it was thy fpirit that was cuth^ the fpiri; • Fox, p. 71, 229. J WilUipM, p. 2, 13.' 46o HISTORY or the BAPTISTS of God, that leaud them to pray and fing in ordiP ; and this thou calleil canfufwn \ and thui tho\i judg- eft of things, thou kjwjueji nct^ with thy doting fpirit. For the ^^ue Chrift wc know, v/ho is oi^ ihepherd ; aiid the falfe Ipirit or Chrift Is eafily favoured in tbbe^ wliich was cut off by the fpirit of pravcr, and the fpirit of finging, from ti-ie true Ipirit of Chrift/' * Thus each party call their own way ordtf\ but the ti'-der and decency which the infpired apoflle <5njoined upon the church of Corinth, concerned the behaviour of thsir ivomen^ as diftinguifhed from men ; their women who had huflands, in the plural number, who had each a diflinct pait to a:crb amm- ing a power to govern the fcripturcs. irf+ead of being governed by them, take the foliowing. The baptift churches in Wales, gathered by ouv Mr. Miles and others; publifhed a confiilion of their faith, wherein they adopted the \\oids of David in Pfalm. ^r,ij- To wliich Fox, in p. 214 of his former book' faid, *' l)avid doth not '!ay, . you -were conceivad Infm) but I. John was fan£tifi( d from the womb, and the fcriptures fpcak of chli- dren that are clean. And fo y(ni do not ipeak aj elders and mefierigers af true churches, or n\en dividing the word aright, but you are one againft another, though you are all agaiufl them you call QuaJkcrs • Fox, p. 17, " "7" [1677] IM NEW. ENGLAND. 461 Quikers, that be in the truth" In which pafTa^c fays Mr. Williams, he dilcovcrs ajlrong prefimptim that be never felt ivhat the woful ejlate of all mankind by nature is. * To which they reply and fay, *' Paul faith, I aui crucified with Chrift (mark I am) and Chrifl Uvcth in me : and the life that T live in the flcfh, is by the faith of the fon of God, Sec. i» not the faith vi^ory ? and thou falleft a raiU ingy and fpjaking of our conditioTu^ which thou art ignorant of, and thy own, and haft abufcd both the fcriptures and us.'* f . In July 1672, Mr, Williams drew up fourteen propolitions, and inclofed them in a letter to de- puty governor Cranfton, whom he flilcs, My kizid friend^ for him to deliver them to Fox or his friends ; in which Mr. Williams propofed a fair difpute upon thofe points with any of them, fcrcn proportions to be handled at Newport, and the other at Providence, on the days they fhould ap- point. By fome means the matter was delayed till Fox had failed for England ; after which John Stubs, John Burnyeat and William Edmundfon, engaged in the atfair, and with them Williams ]^eld the difpute atNewport, on the 9th, loth and 12th of Auguif, and at Providence the I7tli. When they began at Newport, he publickly de- clared his motives to be thefe. *' i. The vindicat- ing HIS moft holy name, which my foul faw trod- den in the dirt by f:itan cloa-thed in Samuel's man- tle, and the bright garment of a-n angel of light, which once he was, but pride deceived him. a. 1 had in my eye the vindicating this colony for re- ceiving fuch perfons whom others wa^ld not ; Ve fuffer for their fakes, and arc accounted their iibettors 7* Appendix, p. 66> 67. t Fox, fccoiid part, p. 13^, \i6% HISTORY oy the BAPTISTS abettors, that therefore together with the improv. fnent of cur libertkf which • the God of Heavefli^ and our Kmg's majefly h^ve graciouiiy given us, ;I might give 2 pul>iic tefamoji^ againll their opinions in fuch a way and cxercife, 1 judged it incumbent ppoi) my /pint and conJcUncs to do (in forne regards) •more than moll: in the colony. I may aJfo truly •fay, 3. That I had it in my cy?, th;it this excrcifineth in a dark place." f See 2 Gor.- 10, 1. Hrs la'ft propofition Was, that their fpirit tended^ ^0 arbitrary government and firery persecution 1^ upoa * William?, p. T37 ; AppcnJk,. p. j6r tFoi, p. 154. ^^4 MISTOJIY t)r THE BAPTISTS upon which he faid, " By an drhitrdry government I do not intend a ruling by force, for there could be no government in the world without ihtfujerd^ but arbitrary^, 1 faid came from arbitrium, which fignifies -unfl or pUafure : and fo my argnmcnt is, that perfons immediately fpeaking from God, it is impertinent and profane to clog and cumber them with laws, for the voice of God, the law of. laws, proceeds out of their mouth, than which there could be none more juft, wife or holy — I told them I muft crave their patience while I muft profcfs my fears, left the fpirit by which they were guided, might run them upon their own and others temporal dcflrudion. I told them I thought they had no fuch thing in their eye at prefcnt ; but if power of the fword came into their hands, it was cafy to imagine, that whom the fpirit^infaliable) decreed to death, pefant or piince if it were pofTiblc, he muft be executed." * To this they fay, '' Where there is no force there is no fear oijlavery, and fuch an arbitrary government no body was ever afraid of. — But Roger, doft thou not accufc the people called. Qriakcrs of hold* ing, that they are a>r.y cue 7tii ot February iollowing, jntormin^ them oi: a lumor he heard ot turning their governor out or his place., and of puling 2. (Quaker into it> and of feting Narraganlct, which they calicJ the King's piovuicc eft by iticif y and, 3~aid he, "• William Harris is gone for Old-England, difpicafed at our courts act, aud \^■iii not accept, though offered it is laid, to be Connecticut agent's attorney. God can have Ahithophcl's counfel to fall, and to hang hiiufelf.'* Poor man ! he was taken and carried into TiirUilh tlavcry, from ^vhence he never returned. Thus ended the con- trovcrfy with him, whofc firil title to any of thofe 3ands was a free gift from Mr, Williams. Two conhderations have moved mc to be much larger and* more particular upon thefe unhappy affairs, than j had any thoughts of at firil. One is, that hurrangues have often been made from pulpits, and in courts of juftice, from that time to ours, upon the great difordcrs of llhode-lfland colony, to prove that an eftablilhed rehgion by human laws is exceeding ncccffary in every go- vernment. I thought it duty, therefore to give the public a fair and lull ftate of thofe faifs, to enable [16773 IN NEW. ENGLAND. 4^9 enable them to judge rightcoufly concerning fuch addrdles. The other is, that I might plainly de- tect and cxpofe the pernicious nature, of imagin* ing that dominion is tounded in grace, or that re- ligon endows the fubjecls of it with a. right to ad as lawgivers and judges over others. In the af- I'cmbly that banilhed Mrs. Hutchinfon, in i C^y^ Mr. Coddington faid, *' I do not fee any clear witnefs againft her ; and you- know it is a rule of the court, that no man may be a judge and accu- fer too."* But where was that rule v/hcn he, in his letter to Fox, aded the part of an accufer, wit- Bcfs and judge againft Mr. Williams, even as to the inward ft ate of his foul ! with all their talk about light, Mr. Cotton formerly (p. 159) tnd the Quakers now, accufed Mr. Williams of counter- acting his own principles about liberty of confci- ence, only for examining and bringing to light the nature of their principles and behaviour j and the word of truth tells us what light that is, Mat. 6. 23. John 3. 19, 21. The Quakers have had 2 fame among many for honedy and liberty, and far be it from me to detracl in the Icaft from what has truly been among them of that nature ; and I readily grant that not only in thofe refpecfs, but alfo in their moderation in drefs, and Iblemnity in worfliip, (though not fmgularity) and hofpi- taiity to ftrangers they have merited h^gh com- mendation, and more fo for their zeal againfl the flavc-trade. Yet what a bo adage is it to be un- der fuch a power as their firft leaders afllimcd ? "VVhai: pope ever fpake more haughtily than to fay, *' He lives in a peaceable goveniment, but is in 2. reftlefs fpirit, grudgcth at the liberty of othrs, and cannot be content with his own/* only be caufc •MiT. bift.vol. 2, p. 5 1 5, 470 HIST ORY oy the B APTISTjS • €\ufc hefought in a peacejiblc way to difchargchis conj^ience^ by bearing a plain tcjlhmm agairiil what ■i:;Lc::red to him to be very. corrupt and dangc- And what fentence was ever more unjuft t..^::; tnat which is delivered in their martyrbook ? Crove teiis us the {nit p.'v.rl ot it was publifhed in 10615 the other in 1667, by that zealous fervant of ike . ordy George BijJ:op. He lived in the city of" ; nil 01; and heiiuided.his work, " New-Engiand judged, not by man's, but the i'pirit of the Lord." Ancl after his account of the whipping of Hum- phrey Norton and Deborah Wiliun, among the reft, he reads oH- his fentence thus — " Whether they will hear or forbear, they (hall know that his fropbeis 'h3.vc been amougll them. — So, fee where you are, and in what cafe, ye blood thirfty ene- mies of God ; ye men of Bofton, of Plymouth, pa- tent, and New-Kaven , ye rulers of bodom, and inhabitants orGomorrah, who arc hardned agziinft the hour of your vifitation ; whofe day is over ; who delight in blood, in the blood of the faints of the Moft High God, to whom blood will be given, for ye are worthy ; the Lord will come upon yc, you that put his day afar off, and fay, he delays his coming ; 1 iay, He will come upen you, in a day that ye think net of end in an hatir cfwhich ye arc 7iot aivare ; and iinll cut you afunder, and appoint yeu your portion with hypocrites anajimiers ; and ye Jhall he ciijl into the lake that burneth ivith fre and brim- Jlone, thereto be tor711c11tedtx.it h the devil and his an- gels, which is the fecond death. '^ And in 1703, in the margin againft this fentence, Grove faid, T^his 11- as fulfilled in the Indian ii:ars, iv herein many cf them were cut to pieces. * 'i\ow, if in Fox's view Mr. Williams difcovered a f iiiOaop, p. 206, 207, fi^;?] iw NEW-E.N-GL-AND. 4^1 a Jeviltjh/pinfy in telling the miniflers he wrote to. that perhaps fbmc ot them might live to fee the Pope and Mahomet caft into that lal-vC, what 2 /pint did this great writer of theirs difcovcr ? and what God did he worihip, if this fentcnce came immediately from him ! The evident reafon of their favourable opinioiv of Mr. Cotton above his col- iegae, was his countenancing the power^ by which Mrs. Hutchinfon declared that ilie fhould be deli* versd, and the court ruined with their pofterity." p. 103. A gentleman of that aflembly faid Ok; told him in London, that {he had never any great thing done about her, but it wz.?,.. revealed to her be* fare hand : to which fhe, before the court, replied, <* 1 fay the fame thing again."* And how was that revelation fulfilled? why Bi.Qiop fays, "fomc of your paten cs endeavoured to get Rhode-Iiland under fomc of your governments, which occafion- cd fomc to remove under the Dutch, where Anne Hutchinfon, and her Ton Francies, and W.Collin's her fou in-law, with others, were murdered by the Indians ; th« guilt and weight of whofe blood lies upon you, as done by you ; who were people of an hone/i life, and good behaviour, only differing from yo'u."f Sec p. 118. And the firft legiflator and captain that was flain in Philip's war was her fon Edward, who, as Bifhop tell's us, entered his pro- ted atBofton, in 1658, againft their making a law to baniih Quakers on pain of death. Neither can I learn that any man wbo had ever been an alllftant in either colony was then ilain by the Indians, except Mr. John Wickes, of Warwick who had been a fuffercr with Gorton ; he was then killed in a very advanced age. | Put all thcfe thiijtgs together * M:in'. hlft. vol. 2. p. JJO, t Jifhop.p. ,22 5,22#4 X. Citllaider, p. 93, 472 HISTOR? oy the BAPTISTS together and fhall we not hy with Solomon, Hhat IV huh is crooked canmt be made/lraight f Mr. Williams's zeal appeared to be directed, not againft the perfon of any man, but only againfl their errors. In the preface to his reply to Mr. Cotton he fays, " Since it pltafed God to lay a command upon rr.y confciencc, to come in as his poor witnefs in this great caufe, 1 rejoice that it plcafed him to appoint fo able and excellent an inftrument to bolt out the truth to the bran ; though I can humbly fay in God's holy prefcnce, it is my conftant hcavineft and foul's grief to dif- fer from any fearing God ; much more from Mr. Cotton, whom I have ever defired, and flill dti^rt highly to efteem, and dearly to refpecl, for fo great a portion of mercy and grace vouchfafcd unto him, and fo many truths of Chrift maintained by him. Therefore (notwithftanding fome of no common judgment and re.fpeft to him, have faid, he wrote his wafhings of the bloody tenet in blood againft Chrifl, and gall againfi me, yet) if upon fo ilippery and narrow a paitagc, 1 have flipt into any term of expreflion vmbefceming his perlon, or the caufe of the Moll High in hand, I humbly crave pardon of God, and Mr. Cotton alfo.'* And though he could not fay the like of the chief teachers among the Quakers, yet he faid, *' Many truly humble fouls may be captivated among them. — And many of the Quakers I love and honor.'* And he faid, "H* that ihall ponder the fathers polligamy, the beft kings of Judah fuffcr- ing the high places, David's flaying Uriah, Afia's imprifoning the prophet, Peter's rafh ufing the fword, the difciples calling for fire from Heaven, fliall fee caufe to reprove the Quakers for their rafix damning of others from whom they have lyfeied." li6J7l ^'^ NEW-ENGLAnD. 473 iiT.fFercd."* Bat when they came to anfwcr him; they were fo far from regarding this adinonition-> that where he fpakc of the matter of tlie chrifiian churches, viz. true converts (fee p. 144) and laid ia the mardn, " this was, and 1 hope is, the princi- ple of the New-EngH(h churches ;'* they fpent three pages full of capitals about their fuftcriugs, to prove that it could not be fo, and at iilr faid^ *' So it is clear, you that have dcllroycd mens lives, arc not of God, but the devil." f This was the temper of their teachers ; but of others the two Eafton's father and fon, Walter Clarke, and Henry Bull, v/ere all worthy governors of that denomination, and I find Mr. S. Hubbard cxprefT- ing a conlidcrable cfteeni alfo for Mr. Cbddingtoa after his death, in a letter to a friend. K either have I. fdund one reflection upon his per((->nin all Mr. Williams's writings, unlefs a plain recital of facts may be fo called. A NEW feci came oiit from ainong the Baptlfts about this time, who have caufed not a little ti-ou- ble to them.felves and others, of whom I have coK lecled the following brief account, chiefly front the letters prefervcd by Mr. Samuel Hubbard^ In the clqfe of the year 1674, the family of Mr» James Rogeri of New- London, called Mr.Crandal over from Weflerly, "Who preached among them, ind baptized his fons John and lames, and an In- dian named J*s tor working on the firlt day of the week. And when Mr. Hifcox and Mr. Hubbard viiited them again, and held worfhip with them two miles out of town on their fabbath Nov. 23, 1677, and Jofcph Rogers's wife had iiejit morning given them a fatisfying account of her experiences, John rnuft needs have them go up to town to baptize her there. Mf. Hubbard oppofed it, bat John carried the day ; and while Mr. Hifcox was preaching at town the conftable came and took him, and they all went before the magiftrate ; where alfo was the minilier, Mf. Bradftrect, who had much to fay, about the good way that their fathers hadfet up. Upon which Mr. Hubbard, obtaining leave to fpeak, laid, •* Yon are a young man, but 1 am an old planter of about forty years, a beginner of Connecticut, and have been perfecutcd for my confciencc from this co- lony, and I can afiui"? ycu, that the old beginners Wire [167S] IN NEW^ENGLAND. 475 were not for perfecutlon, but we had liberty at firft/* After farther difcourie the magillratc laid. Could you not do it. elfe ivhere f " A good anfwer/' fays Mr. Hubbard ; and fo they were releafcd and went to Samuel Rogers's houfe, where his brother John put himfclf forward, prayed, and then wort out to the water and baptized his filler ; upon which Mr. Hifcox was fcized again, as fuppofing he had done it, but John came before the m:iglf- traie, and was forward to make known his act therein ; fo the others were releafed and returned home. V Jonathan Rogers,' nad married Naomi Bur- dick, grand-daughter, to Mr. Hubbard, and on Mirch a, 1678, elder Hifcox baptized her at Wef- terly, together M'ith James Babcock, George I/imphere, and two others ; and on the 5th of May fouowing Jofeph Clarke wrote from thence to Jiis father Hubbard, that John and James Rogers with their father were in prifon j having previoufly ex- communicated Jonathan, chiefly bcscaufe he did not retain their judgment, of the unlawfulnefs of ufing medicines, nor accufe himfelf before authori- ty, for working on the firft day of the week.'.' Hereupon the church at Newport, fent meflbn- gers to New-London about this matter, who rCr ported on their return that, " a practice was dart- ed up, (out of confcic-nce) that becaufe the wodd^ yea, moil profefibrs, pray in their families morn- jngs and nights, and before meats and after, in a cullomary way, therefore to forbear prayer in their families or at meats publickly, except fome are lead forth upon fome fpecialoccafion ; faying, they find no comsnand in the word of God for it." About this time, elder Hifcox's church received letters from Dr, Chtunberlain, whereof one wa^ directed 476 HISTORY or thi BAPTISTS fdlrected to their church, he being of the fame iaith and order with them, the othei' was directed as follow?. '* Peter Chamberlain, fcnior, Doclcr of both univerlities, and firil and eldeil phyfician in ordinary to his m^ijeily's perfon, according to the world, but according to grace, a fervant of the word of God ; to the excellent and noble gover- nor of New-England ; grace, n^ercy, peace and truth, from God our father, and from our Lord Je^Qs Chriti: ; praying for you, that you" may abound in heavenly graces and temporal comforts. I Iiavc always had a Jovf^ to the intended purity^ and unlpolted doctrine of New-England ; lor Mr. Cocton was of the fame college and uniyerfity, of Emanuel in Cambridge, as I was, and io was Mr. Ilc'Oker and others with whom we were d)\ contemporary ; and 1 never knew them, but of a Jioly life ai.J converfation. I alfo knew Colonel Humfrey, lir Richard Saltonftall and Mr.Petcri, who wzt'Q of note among you, and iir Henry- Vane, who ;ill had fome ihare in the foundation, pf your government. But certainly the firft in- tentions were never to debar the truths of fcrip- ture, and liberty of confcience guided thereby ; but to fupprefb fin and idolatry, and prevent all the adulterieg of Rome, to whom *11 things are lavvful, efpecially lies ^ hipocrify, to promote their maft dam.nable doctrines, covetcous fuper- ftitions, and blafphemous fupremacy. It is great wifdom to fupprcfs fin, but not opprefs the hber^ ty of a good confcience ; and whilft men grant liberty cf confcience not to admit liberty of fi^^i. All magiftrates have not attained to this wifdom, fife England had been long fince freed from po- tJely and perjury. Whatfocver is againft the tesi ' ' cpnimandmec>.ti. [16783 IN NEW. ENGLAND, 477 CQipmandments is fin. Rom. 3, 20. i. John 3, 4, and he that fmneth in one point is guilty of all, becaul'e he that fpali^e one word of them fpake all, and he added no more. Jam. 2, 10, i i.Exo. 20, i, While Mofes and Solomon, caution men, fomuch againft adding to, or taking fromDeiit. 4, 2. Prov, 30,5,6, andfodoth the beloved apoftlc. Rev. 22, 18, 1 9 .what (h ill we fay of thofe that take away of thofe ten wurds, or thofe that make them void, and teach men fo ? Nay, they dare give the lie to Jehovah, and makejelus Chriil not only a brealcer of the law, bat the very author of fin in others, alfo caufing them to break tnem. Hath not the little horn played his part luftily in this, and worn out the faints of the Moft High, fo that they become little horn men alfo ! If you are pleafed to enquire mbout thefe things, and to require any iuflances or informations, be pleafed by your letters to com«; man«.l it from yaqr humble fervant in the Lor4 Jefus Chrift, -no j» •^ Peter Chamberlain." Ma/i "d) or thy Governor, Sep. i, 1677. Copi E s liereof were fent to thofe whom it wa,s directed to ; and the church fent a letter there- with to Connecticut, from whence this anfwer v/as returned. Hartfird, 8, 8, 78. "Frirnds of Newport on Khode-IIland, Wil- liam Hiicox, &c. yours of 9, 4, 78., was received the 7th inllant, with one enclofed from another Peter Chamberlain, fenior. The advice in both is readily complied withal and thankfully accept-, ed. To be minded of any parts of the fcriptures. pf truth is greatfully received, and were it not for a feducing devil, and a deceitful heart, they- woiild be a rule of life unto all tkat have fenfds, cxerciied 478 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS exercifed therein, and make due application there- of. What yourfclves, or that worthy gentleman intend, or who or v. hat he refers to, is not fo cafy to gucfs at. We have of late had to deal with Rogers and his of New- London, towards whom the authority have fhewn all condefccnuon imagina- ble to us ; that if they would forbear to otfend our confciences, we fhoald indulge them in their perfwafion, and give them no oftence in the fc- venth day, in worfliiping Godby tiiemfdves. We may doubt (if they were governors in our flcad) they would tell us, that their confciences \^ould not fu5er them to give us fo much liberty ; but that they muft bear v/ltr.efs to the truth, and beat down idolatry, as the old good kings did in fcrip- ture ; they judging fo of our Lord's day wor- fhiping. It may be that your counfel may be more taking with them, to make them forbear, than ours : w^hicki* all at prefcnt, with rcfpects. From yaw fiieyid and ferz-ant in ChriJL William Leete/' The church repeatedly fent and labored with tliem but to Httle cfiecl. Mr. Gibfon went and lived and preached a while among them at New- London ; but Mr. Hubbard wrote to their aged brother Thorton (who had removed from New- port to Providence) on Nov. 8, 1679, informing him of his late vifit to that people, when he found that old Mr. Rogers, had the wheel of a loaded cart M'ent over his leg a little below his knee, bruifiRg it much, and Irad been fo fix weeks, but now could move it : their judgment is not to ufe any means.'* And faid he, " pray remember my refpecls to Mr. Roger Williams ; I fhould be glad to hear of him and his wife ;" a great refpcd to whom was Ihewn ia all their letters as long as hfc lived. [1678] inNEW-EN GLAND. 479 lived. But on June 7, 1685, Mr. Hubbard WTOtc to Mr. Henry Reeve oF Jaiilaica, and informed him that mcfTengcra were then gone from thier church to New-London, " to declare againft two or more of them that were of us, who are dccUned to Quakerilhi, I might fay more; of whom be thou aware, for by their principles, they will tra- vel by land and lea to make difciplcs, yea, forry ones too. Their names are John and James Ro- gers, and one Donham." From this bcginni-ng proceeded a fc<5l: which has Continued to this day, who from their chief leader have been called Rogerenes. In their dialed, and many other things, they have been like the firil Quakers in this country ? though they have retained the external ufe of baptifm and the fuppcr, ind have been fingular in rcfufing the ufe ofmcans and medicines for their bodies. Their grcateft zeal has been difcovered going from meeting to meeting, and from town to town, as far as Nor- wich and Lebanon, (the one 14, the other 24 miles) to teftify againft hireling teachers, and againit keeping the firfl day of the week as a fabbath, which they call the idol-fabbath. And when the authority have taken them up and fined them therefor, and have fometimes whipt them for re- fufing to pay it, they have foon publifhed accounts of all fuch perfecutions, which has been the very means of keeping their fed alive. When the fmall- pox was very terrible in Boflon, in 1721, and great fear of it was difcovered in the country, Joha Rogers their founder, was confident he could go in where it was and not catch it ; and to prove his faith, went 100 miles to Bofton, but catched the diftemper, came home and died with it, and fcattertd it in his family : yet his fucceiTors ftiU kept 46 HiSTdHY or tiii BAPTlStS kept on in their way. So late down as 1763, fome of them repeatedly came and clapped fhingiei and pieces of boards together around the mecting-houfc in Norwich town, as well as delivered mcifages to the woriliippers, againft their keeping of theLord's day. But as the rulers had learned ib much wif- dom as only to remove them away from difturb- ing others without inilicling either fine, or corpo- ral punifliment upon them, they have ceafed from fuch things fince in a great mcafure, and as they never were a large focietyj therq is hope of a; true reformation among them. Befides thefe, there have been fome fabbatarian baptifts in that place from the beginning to the prefcnt time, though not a diftincl church- We muft now return to our baptiff fathers at Bofton. The liberty they had enjoyed, with a blefling upon the miniflry of Mr. Miles and others, had caufed fuch an increafc of members, that in February 1677, they agreed to divide into two churches ; but in January 167B, they revoked that act, and concluded to build them ameetrng-houfe, in Bofton, and to defer the affair of dividing, till they could obtain the fettlement of an able fuS- cient miniftry there. They firft nonnnatcd Mr. RuflcU for that end, and then talked of his going to Swanzey in Mr. Miles's room ; but in conclu- fion Mr. Miles returned to his old flock, and Mr, llufTell was ordained their poAacy I [1677] i» NEW-ENGLAND. 4S5 cdly ; for which the baptift now required him to pfFer f^tisf^aioa to that church, before they would commune with him again. This he foon ufter did. Mr. Willard owns that he offered a confeffion therefor both qrally and in writing ; but becaufe he refufed to return into their com- munion they judged it not to be fmcere. The baptifts fay that fomc who had been baptized among them had afterward been refufed com- inuaion by the other churches, when they had ^efired it. To which Mr. Willard fays, *' They know that Qur churches have received fome that were fcrupelous about infant baptilm, who were willing to carry inoffcnfively : that we have refuf€4 fuch as were re-baptized among thofe excoqmiu- nicate anabaptifts, is true hypothctically, viz. ex- cept they would acknowledge and repent of that ad ; becaufe ive judge it fcandalous." * Upon which I would only remark, that God hy%,He that doubteth is damned if he eat ; but the Maffachufctts were willing to admit pcrfons to eat vjith fcrupks^ but excommunicated fuch as put their full ferfua-. /ton about baptifm into praaice, apd judged thofe not to be fincerc, who would not repent of that ad. \ A letter at this cim« to their goyeraoj deferyes notice, which is as follows. >. Honored Sir, «« I HAVE often heard of your name by Col, Eycrs, whpfe firft wife's name was Bradftrcet } and the character I have of you, if you were her fon, relates you a wife and underftanding man. But your report gives you as though fome Lader-. dales counfel had poffeffcd you, which fet all Scot- land in an uproar. God ii wifcr than man ; more. iuft and righteoiis : his counfel mull Hand. Be-, • were f Ruffell, ^. 10. Willard, p. 22: ^86 HISTORY or the BAPTISTS were of fmiting your brethren, left the ecclefiaftj* cal power of England invade you. A pa-liument is near at hand, when juil grievances wiii be pre-> vioully refented ; I hope ihere iliall be none duv-^ jng your government, Sampfon pluci^'d Ji hopil^ on his he^d, and fell in it. , If 1 can fcrve you in ?iny honorabje "yvay, conimand your humble fervant, ' ^ ^ ' TETER ChaMBLRLAIN, JiisMiJJe/ly*s phjfician inordinary tohisB-oyalF^rJhn** September 2, 1679, Mr, Samuel Hijbbard fometime after fent a let- ter, with a copy of thjs to governor Lecte, tg check their imprifonjng the Rogers's at New- J^ondon, Notice being received by the b^ptifts in Bofton, of the king's letter in thgir f;avor, they met ag^in in their houfe ; but had noc fo done above four times before the court met, ;jnd iffucd a warrant to the conftable of Bofton, requiring liim, " in his Majefty's name, forthwith to fum- mons PhiHp Squire, Ihomas Skinner and Mr. JDrinker, to make their appe;arance before thp court of afliflants now fitting, having liberty to bring wich them thrte or four more of their friends, to give an account of their brejich of th« law ii^ eredfing a mceting-houfe, and that they appear at three of the clock tiiis inftant, 5th March 1689.** They appeared accordingly, and the court required a pofitive anfwer to the qucfti- on, whether they would engage, either for the whole fociety, or for themfelves in particular, to defift from meeting in faid houfe tiil the next ge- neral court ? They faid they vv ere not prepared to anfwer it, and defircd time to confult their bre^ tkren- This was then denied them, but upon re* Bev/ing; the rcqucll next morning, they were aU bwcdt . [1677] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 41 lowed fo much time as ffom Saturday till Mori* day. The church met on Monday, and prcfented the fallowing addrfefs, vi2:. ** To the honorable tht' governor aiid magi- ftrltes no"W afTcmbled at Bolton, at the court of afiiflarfts the %'h Ot March i6go, the |)etition and declaration of the foticty of people corhmonly known or dilHngnif?itd by the name of baptifts, refiding iri and about Bodoh, htimbly iliewetli. In priniurii, that whereas the Only wife Godj having by his providence led us into that order and way off the gotpel of gathering ihtO chtirch fellowftiip. We do hereby cOnfefs, that what we did was not out of oppolition to, or contempt of the churches of Chnft in New-England, but in a holy imitation meerly for the better enjoyment of thS liberty of our confciences^ the great motive to their removal at firft into this Wildefnefs. 1. ThaC the b\iildiag a eortvenient place for oiir public chilrch affembly, Was not thought of affronting" authority^ there being iio law in the country agairift any fuch practice at ths erecting of this houfe, and did therefore think as the apoflle faith,- wbere then is no laiv, there is no tranfgrejfion* The dictates of nature, or common prudenGc belonging to mankind, and the cx:imple or practice of^he Coilntfy throughout lead to the feeking of this convenience. %, There being a law made in May laft againft niecting in the place Built, we fub- mitted to the fame, until we fully underftood by tetters from fcVcral in Londiyn, that it was his majefty^s pleafare and cotnmand {{[\t common fuperfedus to' all corporition laws in the Englifh Cation, that have not the royal afTent *) that we fiiould * Their chaffcY v('^So^igrna]'y<^ef:gre-dforacorporatioi>in£ng- hnd, to be execute;! oftly by a deputation in thisGountry, as the iiing's fcbfcrvesia tkc icU«r rofcrei to Mali. hift. vol. 3. p. ^19, 483 HIStORT of the BAPTISTS iliould enjoy liberty of our meetings in the mari- iicr as other of his proteftant fubjcds ; and the general court at their laft meeting not having Voted a non- concurrence. 4. As therefore the two tribes and half did humbly and meekly vindicate themfclvesj upon the erecting of their altar, when challangcd for it by Elcazer, and the meffengeri of the ten tribes, fo do we hereby cdnfcfs in like manner, that We hive not defigned by this adt any contempt of authority^ nor any departing from the living Gpdj or churches of his vvorfliip, the Lord God of gods he knows it, Jofhua xxii, 22. Though it be our lotj with the apoftles, in the way that fome call hercfy fo to worlhip the God of our fathers. Your petitioners therefore, having tio defign agaiilft the peace of this place, but being ftill as ready as ever to hazard our lives foV the: defence of the people of God here, do humbly re- cjueft that this our profeiRon and declaration may find acceptance wich this honorable court, as that of the two tribes did with Eleazer^ and that wc may ftili, through yotir allowance and proteftion, enjoy the liberty of God's worfhip, in fuch place* as God hath afforded us, which will greatly o- bii^e your petitioners, as in duty bound, hmnblif to pray. Signed by us in the name and with the confeM of the church. ifaae Hul/^ John Ruffeil, Edward Drinker, Thomas Skinner,'* But inftead of having any ears to hear this loyal md chriflian addrcfs, their marffial was fent, and inding their gate locked, forced his way througk Mr.Squire's ground, aad nailed up their mecting< hottfe '■' [t686] IN NEW.ENGLANt). 48^ liouCe doors, putting a pi^& tlicreoh which faid, *' All perfons are to take notice, that by order of the court the doors of this hbufe ire fhut up, and that they arc inhibited to hold any meeting therein, or to open the doors thereof, without licenfc from authority, till the general court take further order, as they will anfwcr the contrary at Ihcir peril. ^ . Dated in Boftoh, 8th March* i68o, B^ order of the couficU, Edward RaWSoJt, fecVy." Thk Baptifts required a copy of the MarfKars ^^arrant, but he refufed it ; they then went to the fecretary for one, who plainly ^told theni, " he was not to let them hive ariyi" They iiiet the hext Lord'is-day in their yard, "ihd in the week enfuihg prepared a fhed therein for the pijrpofe ^ but when they . came together the fccond Lord's- day, they found the doors open ; and confidering fay they, " that the court had not dOn'e it legally, and that %^e were denied a copy of tht i:chltable& ;Order and Marfhal's warrant, We cbhcluded to go into our houfe, it being our own, having a civil right to it.'" And they met therein till the af^ icmbly fat, bcfdre whom they Were cdn vented oa May n. . When they gave in thiefc plea's, " i. The houfe was our own, t* It was built before the law v/as niade, therefore no trahfgreflioh, 3. The exprefs will and plcifurc df the king, that wc Ihould enjoy our liberty; After fome debate bf the matter (in which we met with 'fome hard. and reviling fpeeches from fome ofthem)we were difmiffed for that time. Next morning we* put Up 1 humble petition, (being blamed by fotne in the court that we had not done it before) that there might be a fufpenfion of any proceedings Q^q q agaijafi ^^o DISTORT Of THE BAPTISTS againft u?.** Tliefe accounts I have taken frcni their c'iiufch rccord:> and papers. On the colony records tinder May 19, 1 find it thus "wnttcn, vij. " After the court had heard their anfwcr and plea, peruicd, their petition and what cIiq was produced, the parties were called in, the courts ieritence in the name of the court was pubUflied to them ; that tlie court in anfwer to their petition judged ic nicet and ordered, that the petiiioncri be admonifhed by the prcfent honoied goveriior for their olFence, and fo granted them their peti- tion, fo far as to forgive them their offence pafT^ but fti'U prohibited tacm as afnciety of themfelves, or joined with others, to meet in that pubHc place they have built, or any public hotife except fucli as are allovved by lawful authority : and .accoi d- ingly the governor in open court gave them their admonition." Dr. Mather had publifhcd a piece the proceed- ing March, intitlcd The divine right of ivfafit bap' iijm, containing fome injurious rcfledions upon this people ; which, with others, were briefly an- fwered in Mr. RufTell's narrative, dated from Eof- ton, the 2cth of this month, with the canfent of thi whole churchy and fcnt to London, where Mcfl^'rs tVilliam Kiffens Daniel Dyke, William Collins, Hanferd KnoUys, John Harris and Nehcniiah Cox, noced baptill miniilcf, wrote a preface to it, in whicih they fay, " As for our brethren of the congregational wiy in Old-England, both their principles and praclice do equally plead for our liberties as for their own ; and it feems ftrangc that fuch of the fame way in New-England, yea, even fuch (a generation not yet cxtincl, or the very next fuccelfors of them) who with liberal ■si^ates chofe rsvthec to depart fj'am their native foliil ti6So] IK NEW-ENGLAKD. 451 foil into a wilderncfs, than be under the im* pofition and lafli of thofe, who upon religious pretences took deligjit to fmitc their fellow, lervancs, fhould excrcife towards others the like feverity that themfelvcs with fo great hazard and hardfhip fought to avoid ; efpecially conii* dering that it is againft their brethren, who a* vowcdly profcfs and appeal to the lame rule wi.th themfelvcs for their guidance in, and dccifion o£ all matters relating to the worfhip of Qod and the ordering of their whole convcrfation-^For onp proteftantcongregation to periecutc another,wherc there is no pretence to infallibility in the dcciiioa of all controverfies, feems much more unrcalona* ble than the cruelties of the church of Rome to- wards them that depart from their fuperflitions ; and if prejudices were removed and oppcrtunities o^ Poiver not abufed, bat the golden rule of our Saviour were duly attended unto and rightly ap- plied in the prefent cafe, certainly more modcra-r- tion, yea, even compallion would be exercifed to- wards thefe our chrilHan friends by fuch as novr give them trouble," They clofe with obfcrving That Dr. Stillingftrcet had already declared, in his Mi/chief of fiiparation, that their rigorous courfc- againft congregationalifls in England, was juftified by the procefs of the rulers here, againft diilenters from themfclves ; and pray that the governors of New-England would regard their brethren there, fo much as to remit thefc proceedings. What was faid in anfwer thereto, we fhall fee prefcntly, after I have obfcrvcd, that elder RufTcll was taken from his beloved flock by death, Dec- 21, 1680 : Upon which the church met the next day, and 3g) eed that their brother Callender, fhould be helpful in tarrying on theii' v/orfhip in llofton., on Lord's-. days 4.91 HISTORY ay th£ BAPTISTS days in the forenoon, ^nd brother Drinker in th^ afternoon, in th.e a,bi<^ncc of elder Hull. It is evident, that the gifts and graces of elder B-uiTcll weie not irnall ^ aiid his mv^liory is precious. HisL grand- daughter Brooks, jiiarried into Swanzey^ whofe fons, Job, '^- Huffcll, and John Mafon have- been, and the two latter ftill are ufeful gofpel preachers in the fecond Baptift church in that town ;, Alio. RIeff'rs Joleph, William and Jonathan Ruflelli Tio\y noted Uadtrs in Providence, are of his. pcllcrity. In 1 68 1, a minifter of the church in Bofton,^ which was formed in a. fchilmaticjl way, in 1 669,. pubUihed an anfwer to the Baptift 's narrative 5 and though it's author was dcceafed, yet he intitled it,^^ *^Ne Jlitor ultra crcpidam : for brief animadverfiong. iipon the New-England anabaptifts late fallacioui^ narrative ; wherein the notorious miftakes and; falfhoods by thenx publifhed, are detected ; by Samuel Wilhrd, &c.**" 'i'o which he adds, as a. inotto, Rom. 16, 17, 18. Dr. Increafe Mather,^ ■wrote a prefac-e to this work, wherein he fays, *' Many are of the mind, that it is not worth the while, to take notice of what is emitted, by niei\ fo obfcurc a.nd inconiiderable.-r-rit fcems to mcj, that the reverend author of the following animad^ veriions, hath fliewed niuch humility, in condc*. icen4ing to take perfoQs in hand, between whons; and hinifelf there is fuch an impar co?igreJfus.-r^As, ioT the brethren;, that have thought good to prefix; an ep.iftle to fuch a narrative, and therein dccjare,^^ that moleflatipn, is given and fevcrity is cxercifcdi towards antrpedobaptifts in Ncw-Englajid, meerly for a fuppoft;d erro^C ?tbout %h^ fubjcct of baptifnig controverted * Rider Job M«fon died, fince this hiflory was in the prc(Si, ?^ed8o.; fCcblerkceptovcurlaJ. Ci68i] m NEW-ENGLAND. 453 controverted amongft learned and holy mcB, they arc marvcloufly deceived in that their fup* polition. Proteftants ought not to pcrfecut^ ajiy, yet, that proteftants -may punilh proteftants ; and as the cafe may be circumftanced, a congregation of fuch as call themfelves proteftants, cannot ra- tioaally he denied. Thofe of the congregational way, fully concur with the old puritan non-con^* formifti, fuch as Cartwright, Rainold, Whitaker, Bains, Parker, iic. in whofc writings congrega- tional principles, about church government, are to bic fecn.* Now the old non-con formifts (notwith- {landing their fufFerings from thofe that took de^ light to fmitc their fellow fervants) did believe that diforders in whole congregations were liable to the civil magiftrates cenfure.*— Our famous Cotton was another Mofes, in refpecl of mceknefs ^ndl chriftian forbearance, ai to diffenters from his judgment in mattenof a lefler concernment, ye^ would he fometimes make a zealous proteftation, that if magiftrates in New-England fliould tolerate tranfgrcffors again ft the rules of g^odlinefs (as well as offences contrary to what the rules of honefty require) he beheved that God would not long^ tolerate them.^ WQuld intre^t the brethren that have * Thefe are the men refercd to in our p. 12, 1 j, who opened ^ door for Mr. Robinfon and his brethren, by which tkemfehet entered not. Their firft admonition t$ thsparliajnen^t, was prclented thereto by Mr. John Field and Mr. Wilcox ; for whioh they were committed to fs'ewgate prifon, on Od. 2, 1672. This caufed Mr. Thomas Cartwright, to right the fuond admonition to far', liament, quoted by Mr. Robinfon, and alfo to anfwer what Dr. Whitgift had written againii the hrft. And Mr. Neal Ciy*, in© rcafon why cr, '• That the nivf^ery of the King's power, li not lavyful to be difputcd ; for that is to wade into the weak- nefs of prin(ie's; rfnd to tiKc away the Myrtical reverence ibatf belongs to thofe who fit In «he tUXCNE of God — It is athcifm and blafphtmy l6 dif»s at Bollon, but the magiftrate repeatedly fnmmoned thofe people be- fore him who had been to' the baptiil me^tingSy and threatened them \vith a fine of five fhillings' for every fuch offence for the future. On Jan 23, he convcnted Humphrey Churchwood, a baptiEed iiicm'ber of Boflon church, before 1 im, where waa?^ the faid minifter, who after cafting thofe old iko' ies' tiporl him, faid, " Behold your great doclcr, Mr; Miles of Swanzey,for he ftow leaves his proftfiiori and is come aWay, and will not teach, h^s people' any more, becaufe h'e is like to perilh for v.ant, and his gathered church and people will not help him." Church vvood told thr m it was a great un- truth ; and dhc<5tly wrote to B.^ftoh upon it, which letter is r^oW before m'e. Several (jthcfs froni tlut place were baptized ioon after, but to 564 HISTORY or tnt. JSAPTI5TS hinder their proceedings, their general court took the matter in hand as follows, viz. *• William SciEVEN, appearing before this court, and being convicted of the contempt of" his majefty's authority, and rcfufing to fubmit him* felt to the ientence of the court, plohibiting his public preaching, and upon examination before the court, declaring his refolution Hill to perfifl therein, the court tendered him liberty to return home to his family, in cafe he would forbear fuch turbulent practices and amend for the future ; but he rcfufmg, the court fentanced him to give bond for his good behaviour, and to forbear fuch con- tentious behavioirr for the future, and the delin- quent to ftand committed until! the judgment of this court be fulfilled. Vera ccp'ia, tranfcribed, andicith the records covt' fared this 1 7 tb of Augujl^ 1682. per Edward Rishworth, recorder." To this is added a copy of the fame date by the fame hand, of an act of their executive court which fays, " This court having confidercd the ofTeniive fpceches of William Screven, viz. his rafli and inconfiderate words tending to hlafphe- my do adjudge the delinquent, for his offence to pay ten pounds into the trealury of the county or province. And further, the court doth forbid and difcharge the faid Screven, under any pre- tence, to keep any private exercife at his own houfe or elsewhere, upon the Lord/s-days, either in Kittery or any other place withm the limits of this province, and is for the future enjoined to obferve the public worfnlp of God in our public aifembhes upon the Lord's-days, according to the Jaws here eftabliflied in this province, upon fuch pci:*ilti«s as the iaw r«quix« upon fuch neglect of • the [i6Si] IH NEW-ENGLAND, 505 the premifes.'"' But hs was To far from yielding to fuch fentencCvS, that on 6c^t. 13, he with the rclt lent a- requeil to Boftou ihat elder Hull and others might vilit and form them into a church, which was granted, fo that a covenant was fo- lemnly iigned on Sept. z^, 1682, by Wiiliaiu Screven, elder, Humphrey Chlirchwood, deacon, Robert Williaais, John ivlorgcindy, Richard Cutt, Timothy Davis, Leonard Dyovv-n, Wihiam Adams, Humphrey Azell, and George Litten, and a num- l)er of liilersi A baptifl church was aUb formed this year frorti that of Boftonj at Newbury, by William and John Sayer, Benjamin Mode, Ed- \vard Woodman and others, t() whoni I find cider Hull and elder Emblen writing asJ a filler church, on March 25^ ^689 ; though hoW rhuch longer they continued a ditlin'cl church 1 do not nhd, Mr. Philip Edes", a nleniber bf the firft" Klptift church in Newport, died this y'e^r On March, i6> of whom Mr. Samiicl Hubbard fays in a letter to governor Lcete, '• This friend of yours and mine;» one in. office in Oliver's houle, was for liberty of confciencc ; a merchant, a preciour, man, of i holy life and eonverfition, beloVed of all forts o£ men, his death tnuch bewailed by all." Mr. Thonrias Dlcny, fenior, alfo died this year^ Hq Wis next to Mr. Williams in the paftoral otilce at Provideri'ce, and continued fo to his death, over that part of the church who were called five prin- cipal baptiits, in diftiriction frotii thofe who part- ed from their brethren aboiij: the yicair 16153, un^. der the leading of elder Wiekenden, Iidlding to* the laying on of bands lipori every church itieriiberi The greateft fault that I find Mr. Glney charged with is, that he was fdr extending the firil deed §f Providence Up to the head of the two great T t 6 rivers 5"^ HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS tivers it lay between, or at leaft as far as their charter rcacJietl, from the. words -without limits^ in p. ^ 90. In this he was oppofcd by our elders, Wickendcn and Dexter, the latter of whom in- forms us that Mr. \yilliams iaid, the only intent of the exprefiion was to prevent tlie Indians hurt- ing their ca.tle if they wandered far into the tvoods. Their writing,^ oil both fides are yet ex- tant in their town-clerks oiiiee. They tell meat Swanzey that elder Miles permitted Mr. Brown's Avife, who was not a baptiil, to commune with their church, till by elder Olney's influence flie ^vas difmilH^d to Mr. Angicr's church in Keho- both. It is very evident that Mr. OIney was 3 capable and very iifeful man, both in church and Hate for forty-four years after he left the Maffa- chuletts ; as his fori alfo was for many years; and hia pofterity arc refpeclable in that town and fiate to this day. Mr.- Holmes, of whom much has been faid, who wrote the account of himfclf in, 16-75, t^^at you have p. 208—212, ■i.c^C^, &c. and Tiicceeded Mr. Clarke in the palloral ofilcc at Newport, died there Oclober 15, 1^82, aged 76. 3^Ie has a large pofccrity bov/ remaining in New- England and New-Jerfey. The learned and pious Mr. MileB having return- ed to his flnck in Swanzey, fell aflcep in'jefus on •^'^^- 3-^ '^Sj 5 ^^d his memory is Hill precious amonglis. We are told that being once broughtf before the magiftrates he requeued a bible, and upon obtaining it he turned to thufe words, ^-e- fioiddfa-f^ JV'/jy j)er/ecufe ice httn^fedng the rsot of the nuitfcr is found m me. Job 19, 28. which having read he Cit down ; and the word had a good effcc't upon their minds, a:nd moved tlicm. to treat hini ^ith moderation if not kindnsfs. His fon wenii, back t;i683] IN NEW. ENGLAND. 507 back to England, and his grandfon Mr. Samuel Miles was an epiicopal nii.iiiter at our Bollon in 1724. Though Mr. Willard and the Magnalia from him, acculed the baptifts oi Botion, ot ie- pirating becaule they wanted to be tcaciiers, yet that was ib far from truth, that on June 27, 168 1 , they wrote to London for a miniltcr, giving this as one reafon for it that, " our miniiter is very aged and feeble, and often incapable of his mini- ileriai work ;" and as another motive they fay, *' We conceive there is a profpeft of good encou- Faginent for an able man to come over, in that there feems to be an apparanc and gcner,al apo^'^i acy among the churches who have profeflcd them- ielves congregational in this land ; whereby many have their eyes opened, by leeing the de- clention and confulion that is among chem." A kind anfwer hereto w^as^tured by eleven bap- till minders, which is before me. And now as fom.eiingular and curious things are generally expt cled from a new country, I fhall re* late the doling part of one of the greateii curiofities I have met with in modern hiftory ; the fum whereof is this. A large number of people fled out of the old world into this wildernels tor reli- gious liberty ; but had not been here long before fome put in high claims for power, under the name of orthodoxy ji^to whom others made fierce oppofition profeffedly from the light within ; and their clafliings wcrefo great that levcral lives were loft in the fray. This made a terrible noife on the other fide of the water. But as feif de^'ence is a natural principal, each party wrote volume after volume to clear themfelves from blame ; and they both confpired to caft a great part of it upon one ^^alar man, whom they caikd a weather- cock. jo$ HTSTOKY oy the BAPTISTS and a Wind-mil], Now let the curious find out iF they can, Fiilt, how men oF univerfity-learnmg, or of divine ialpiration, came to write great vo- ^ames agaiiiPt a v/md mil! and a weatlicr-cock ?- Secondly, how Tuch a ftrange creature came to be ^1 ovcr-:iutcti i\)v tiitm aU, and to cairy his point ggaliUt the arts of prieil-cratt, the intrigues of Ccrai t, ^h? flights of enthuleafm and tlie power of factions, fo as atter he had pulled down ruin upon, hinifelrand his friends, yet to be able, in themidfl ot ijeathen iavigc:-;, to erect the bcit toiT:i of civil. gnvernrp,ent that the world had ffcn in i6oo years? 1 hirdly, how he 4iid his ruined li-icnds can^ to. lie under th(>re reproaches for a hu.ncircd years, ^qd yet that their plan Ihoiild then be adopted by thirteen colonics, tp wiioni thefe difpifcd people CQUld afford Sen /VTORs of principal n^-tc, as well as CoMNf ANp,R,Rs by fca and land ? 'I'he excellency qf this fcene above thoTi^vhich m.iny arebe^ifch- ed with, confilfs in its Weing founded upon facf^ and not fii^ons ; being not the creature ol' dif- tempered brains, but pf aa unerring Pro., Vidence. ^ccoiiD^NG to Mr. Williams's own teftimony, (p. 14'^) his foul was renewed by divine grace •when he was not rnore than ten. or twelve years . p. n8o \ Tenet walhi^d, p. 31. pa HISTORY OF T^HE BAPTISTS thefe dircuflions were prepared for the public in London, his time W4b eaten up in attendance upon the icryice of the parHamcnt and city, for the fupply Of the poor of the city with wood, during the ftop of coal from Newcatile, and the mutinies qf the poqr for firting— thefe meditations were fitted for pubUc view in change of rooms and cor^ ners, yea, in a variety of ftrang-e houfes, fom-times iin the fields in the midit of travel j-- ^for which ^crvice, through the hurry of the times, and the •jiecefiity o^ his departure he loft his rccompence to this day-— Well, notwithftanding I'nalfer Cotton's l)it,ter cenfure, fome perfons of no contemptabl^ note nor intelligence, have by letters from Efig- |and, infornped the difcuiier, that by thele imager tf clouts it hath pleafed Qod to ftop no fmall leaks tf perf^cutlcn, that lately began to flow in upon diJI'entlng confciences^ and, among others, to mailer Cotton's own, and to the peace and quietnefs of the indepei-y^ants, which they have fo long, and fp wonderfully enjoyed."* See p. 155, 174, 175, 187, &c. ^ ^ Amd as to his later fcrvices, he was fo far from being nic-inly hired, as they {■A\6,.for apiece of bread, to wiite again 11 the quakqrs, that ^fter h^ had done it, he wrote thus to Newport. *' My dear friend Samuel Hubbard, to yourfelf and aged companion my loying refpccls in the Lord Jelus, who ought to he our hope of glory, begun in this life and enjoyed to all eternjty. I have herein returned your little, yet great, remembrance of the hand of the Lord to yourfelf and your fon late departed. I praife the Lord for your humble |;:ifiing'of his holy rod, and acknowledging his juft |ind righteous, together with his gracious an4 jiiereifui 5 j^eply toCottOH; p. 38. [16S3] inNEW-e:^ G L An D- sit tncrciful difpenfation to you. I rejoice alfo to read ■your heavenly deiires and endeavours, that yotir trials may be gain to your own ibuls, and thfc fouls Ot" the yol^th ot the place, and aH of us.- You arc not unwilling I judge that 1 deal plainly and friendly \tdth you — Alter all that I have lecn and tead and compared about the feVenth day (and I have earneftly and carefully read and weighed ail 1 could come at in Gods holyprefence.) I can- not b? removed from Calvin's mind, and indeed Paul's mind, Col. 2. that all thofe fabbaths ot feven darys were figures, types and Ihadows, and forerunners of the Son of God, and that the change is made from the reraembraue^ of the firft creation, and that (figurative) left on the feven th day, to the remembrance of the fccond creation on the firft, on which our Lord arofe conquerer frcra the dead- Accordingly 1 have read many, but fee no fatisfying anfvvcr to thofe three fcriptures chiefly Ads 20, i Cor. i6.' Rev. 1, in confcience: to which I make fome poor confcience to God as to the refl: day. — As for thoughts for England, I humbly hope the Lord hath hewed me to wiite a large narrative of all thofe four days agitation be- tween the quakcrs and myfelf : if it pleafe God I cannot get it printed in New-England, I have great thoughts and purpofes for old.-^Mine age^ iamenefs 2Lnd many other weaknefTes, and the dreadful hand of God at fea, calls for deep con- fideration. What God may pleafe to bring forth in the fpring his holy wiidom knows. If he pleafe to bring to an abfolute purpofe I will fend yotf word, and my dear friend Obediah Holmes, who fertt me a mefiage to the fame purpof::-. At prefent I pray falute rcfpecfivly Mr. John Clarke' and his brothers, Mr. Tory, Mr. Edes, Edward Soiith, 512 HISTORY OF THE BAPTISTS Sm'th, '^' iDiam Hifcox, Stephen Mumfofd and ociijr friends, whole [.leierval ion, of the iiiand, and thi> counTy, 1 humbly beg of (he fiithci oi iiier- i,ic^, ill whom I am yours Uhwoithy; R. W." I: the reiJcr revicH's Dr. Chambers iiin's firfl: letter, and is informed that he vl^ith his brethren he vvroce to, took the whole of the ten cunii niendnirits to be moral and immutable; and held thiv it uMs the little iiorn that cbatigedtbe time from the feventh to the lirft day : but that Mr. Olney SMd his church obferved to their brethren, thai Pdul I'pciks of 1 ^(^:bry tu'vc/J ivas dons aivay thatt Was tvrifidi and e i^uven 'jiftmes:^ 2 C'or. 2)-^ 7> com- pared vvith this letter, he will thtn have a plain idea of t s nature of thit eontroverfy on both jfides, a^ it was manaf^ed in that day; And to i^d on ; it is to be renumbered^ that fome pcrfons in different p.irts of that colony had fuch a conceit of liberty, as that ofiiccrs Qiould manage the go- vernment witl-ouf'-any reward fr(ui;l them ; by Which itieans Mr. Clarke received btlt part of his pay for orocui ing- thei'- cha? ter iis long ashe lived ; a,nd occalioned a icnionitrance from \\h executolrs to the affenribly upon it foon after his death. And a chiifc from Mr. Williams upon it. I have alreidy recited ; to which i uow add the follow- ing, in Align!]: 1678, he was appointed to allill: Mr. Daniel Abbot in fetting their towii records in order, the litter being then chofen their clerk. Three years after Mr. VVilliants wrote toi hiin thus. " My good friend, loving reiiicmbrarfbe to you. It hath pleafed the Moll: Iligli and 025 1 y wife, to ftii' up yoiir fpirit to be one of the chief- eft flakes in our poor hedge. I therefore, not be- ing well able to come to you, prei'cat you with a few tN NEVV-ENCLANT), 513 few thoughts about the great ftumbllnf; Wotk, to them that are uilling to itumble and tsoiibld themlclvcs our rites. James Matifon had one copy of me, and Ihomas Arnold ancthcr. 'I his 1 fend to yourreh^iad the town (tor it may bo I fliAil not be able to be at mectljag) i am grkvcci that you do fo much fervice for fo bad rtcoin- pence ; but I -am pcrfuaded you fhall iind can is to. fay, the Moft High' God ot r^compence, who Was Abraham^s great reward;, hatli paid me. Conftderdtions prefented, touching rares, ^' i Government and order in families, rowns.^ ^c. h the ordinance of the Mofl High, Ron- 13^ for the peace and good of mankind^ 2,. Six th.ingij gre written in the hearts of all mankind, yea, CAc-rii in Pagans* ifb. That there is a Deity. 2d. 'i hit fome aclions are naught. 3d. ThaC the Deity will ipunidi. 4th. That there is another life. 5th, That mafria'j:e IS honorable. 6th. That mankind cannot keep together withc.iut fome goveri.nicnt. 3 There is no Englifhman in his liiajefiy's don.i- nions. Of elfwhcre, who is not forced to- fu bin it? to,«;overnment. 4. There is not a man la tnc world, except robbers, pirates and rebels, but doth lubmit to government. 5. Even robber.'^, pivares and rebels themfelves. Cannot hold toq:ethcr bu6 by fome law among themfelves, and government. 6. Oae of thefe two grc?it laws in the vvorid ir.uft prevail, either that of judges and jUttices o£ peace in courts of peace, or the law of arms, ths fword and blood. 7. If it comes from the courts of trials in peace, to thp trhl ot the f\Vord an.d blood, the conquered is forced- to fcek law and, government. 8, Till matters come to a fettled government no man is ordinarily fure of liis houlc, goads, Iaad;s, cattle; wife, children or lif-e. g, li u ii liuiiGfi 5U HISTORY OT the BAPTISTS Hence is that ancient maxim, It is better to live under a tyrant in peace^ than under the /wordy or tvbeie every man is a tyrant- lo His majcfty fends governors to Barbados, Virginia, Sec. but to us lie iliews greater favor in our charter, to choofe whom we pieafc. 1 1. No charters are obtained without great fuit, favour or charges. Our firft coft an hundred pounds (though I never received it all) our fecond about a thoufand, Conneclicufc about fix thoufand. Sec. i2. No government is maintained without tribute, cuftom, rates, taxes, Ike. 15. Our charter excells all in Ncw-Kiiglai;d, GV in theworid^ as to th^f-ids cf men. 14. It pleaf- .cth God, Rom. ,13, to command tribute, cuttom and confequently rates, not only for fear, but for confcienee fak^. 15.' Our rates are theleaft by far of any colony in New-England 16. There is no man that hath a vote in town or colony, but he Jjath a ha?id in tnakeing the rates by hijnfelfcr his de- puties. 17. In our colony the general alTcmbly, governor, magiflrates, deputies, towns, town- clerks, raters, conftables, &c. have done their du- ties, the failing lies upon particular perfons. 18. It is but folly to rcfift, (one or more, and if one why not more ?) God hath ftirred up the fpirig of the governor, magiftrates and officers, driven to it by neccffity, to be unanlmoufly refolved to i£e the matter finiflied ; and it is the duty of eve- ry man to maintain, encoupage and (Irengthen the hand of authority. 19. Black clouds (fome years) have hung over Old and New-England iicads. God hath been wonderfully patient and long'-fuffering to us ; but who fees not changes and calamities hanging over us? 20. All men. lor that this blazing herauJd from heaven da* [1683] IN NEW.ENGLAND. 515 nounccth from the Pvloft High, wars, pcftllence, famiiics : is it not then our wifdom to make and keep peace with God and man ? OTour old unworthy fervant^ Roger Williams.*'* Providence i5thjan. 1680,1 (fo called) The lart: act that I have found upon record, performed by this eminent peacemaker, was on January 16, 1683, when he, with Mr. Carpenter, and the heirs or afftgns of the other eleven origi- nal propiietors, figned % full fettlcment of the long-continued controverfy aboutPawtu.xet lai-ds. On the loth of May following Mr. John 1 horton, wrote to Mr. Hubl3ard and laid, '- Dear brother, you gave me an account of the death of divers of our aocient friends ; fmcc that time the Lord hath arrcilcd by death our ancient and approved friend Mr. Roger Williams, with divers others here. The good Lord grant that we may be Itirred up, with the wife virgins, to be triming our lam.ps, and getting them full of the fphitual oil, and landing with wife Habbakuk upon our watch- towers till our appointed change." Thus lived and thus died the firft baptift minifter-in New- England, and the firft founder and fupporter of any truly free civil government upon earth, fines the rife of antichrift ; " and he was buried with all the folemnity the colony was able to fhew.'*-j- This was in the 84th year of his age, bcisg 52 years after his arrival in this country. born f * Thefc excellent obfervatJons are ftill extant in his own hsnd jvriting. The laft article refers to a remaikiible blazi g ftar that appeared in ihofe times. t Callendar, p. ^^. In 1 686 Mr. S. Hubbard wrote that Mr. Thornton, and Mr. Jofeph Clarke, were all that were tbfa living who were Uptis'^d in N. £. before him. S'lG HISTORY OF the BAPTISTS His wife, wliofc name was Mary, came \^^lth: l"iiiii irooi iLiighind ; tluir clii'tircn were i Ivlaiy,, born at Piy mouth the {irli week in Auguft 1633, •2. Fr(X'bo]a,at iSalcm in October 1635. 3. Pro* ,%'iucnct, born 2t th^: place he lo called in hepteni-' t)eT 46385 iaid t6 be the iirft Kngliiil male boFn t..cre- 4. JVUrcy, born July 15, 1640, 5. Danicl,^ Vroin Feb. 13, 1G42,. 6. Joieph, born in Dec. 1043. 'i he Uil of thefe, and a grandlbii of the ix-.nc name, wf:rc magiitratcs in that colony and loine ot great knowledge, compnte his prefcnt puacriiy dt near 2,000, Thomas Wardj Elq; wha Wis a baptilt before he came out of Cromwell's army, and was ,a very useful man in this goleny^ was anceilor to tv/o late governors, and to th© preicnt iccretaiy of it, in the male line, as Mr. V/i.ii;i..is WIS ill the fenuie ; one of them v/as the liijnorable SAMur.L, Warp, Ei'q; wlio died a n-.cm- bcr oi' the Conlineutai Congrels at Fliiladeiphia, on March 26, 177^, aged 52. 1 he family o' fiop- l^iMs in Providence, which has afforded an hono-?. 1 able member of that aCTembly, and two comnian* dcrs for the continental fleet, delcenc'vd in tlie ivt.ilc line frc^m iMr. Thomas Hopkins, who follow^ cJ isir Williams from Plymouth, and in the fe- jivi'e irom Mr. Wjckendcn, an eariy member, and long a teacher of the baptift chuuh there. 1. lie 3\oLt:d himiiy of Bkown, in Piovidepcc, ^pi^nrg- irom Mr, Ch^id BroM-n on the one fide, and' from ?^Ir. Williams on the other. And our gentra}:^, G R I. K N F. and A r n old, ff-i ang f re jn t\\ o of the Iwelve firll proprietors of tlioie lands, wlijch wei-e given for a pbice of refuge for luch as were d 1 s- TRESS''.D FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE F.L SE WH l" RE ; and i^v^.y that grear dtfign ntver be forgotton by us or •.uri! Som\:havc boui ready to nuke thofe religious * Coiiteji;ioi>» !?i6S3l i>r NEW-ENGLAND. ftf «K)ntentlons ard oppvcillons an argument againft all revealed religion, but it theyduly conhder the .. following things, comp:u-ed with the forgoing, perlvADs it niav alter their minds, lo guara a- gaiiill evil biilcs in our dealings, the great A u* ttu.R of our religion laid, Witb %vhat judgment ye iul e ^pa'd be judged ; and -with what meafun ye mete, it jhailoe me^jwed to you agahu And was not \i^ word veri&ed in the jollowmg inilances ? 1 The ruling party in the Ivialiachuictts, had nctonly raked up the real faults of the baptiiis, and cxDofed them in their worlt colours, but alio llande.ed them in_ many particulars. And, now Ed.vari Ruidoiph went eiglit voiages to England in nine years, and treated them in the fame man- ner at the Britiili court, on purpofc to get away thnr chirtcr,.* 2. ly i plea from the kings grant, in that chir:fr, they had cruelly oj^nrelled tl eir brethren and neighbours in, nrany mftances : now in 16S4 the charter was vacated by a decree .in chiuncery, without giving them opportunity to anfsvcr for themrdves ; " and thofe who were m condfedcracy with ^Sir Edmund Andios, for the enriching- themfelves on the fpoils of New Eng- land, did 2«wzaVthe property as well as liberty of the fubjecl: ; and gave out, that now Uiur char- ter w?.* gone all their lands were the king's ; that themfelves did reprefcnt the king, and therefore .men that would have any legal title to their lands muft take patents of them, (;n fuch terms as they fhould fee mete to impofe. What people tha!: hadthefpiritsofEngHOimen could endure this r"| -<. rheir charter never gave them any right to ^ eltablifh * M<(r htft Vol. T.r, 320 335,vo!. 3,p. 4So,490.^?- t R " j tion inN. E. j.iUiiitd, panted 165!; and jcprjutea- $it HIS TOUT OF THK BAPTISTS ofdert dott r^' "^. ^"'?'P ^y ^^^^^ ^ ^"^ ^'» oraer to do It they prclumed to leave the MorH /.y«/out of their oaths, p. 6i, 63 ; and Ipf" -ct gave au early ex.mpl^ of leizing their tiMmrs property ,n that illegal way. a|ainil the Sei^ry arguments of judge Symonds. Now the feale was turned, fo that an arbitary governor and counci inadc laws and impofed taxes upon all, without ^ny houfe of repreientatives ; and for rdufin. to carry an order or fueh a tax into execntion n Ipl^^Ich, Mr. John Wife a minifier who ipake iLa n in their town-meeting was imprlfoned, and de- fied the ben eh t of the Habus Corpus k ; ^nd when he upon his trial plead the Magna Charia 5ndIawsofY:ngland,hewas toJd bv'oneof he judges th^t " he nmft not thii^k the'jaws of En/ ^nd tollowed them to the ends of the earthl Mr. Wife, you have no more privilege left you than not to be lold f<.r flaves '' Th! honoS John AppIctocKfq; was treated in the fame man. ner ; and botn were put from office, fined col a piece, and ordered to gi?e bonds of loool. eaJh for their good behavior for one year. Four o- ther men of that town received like fentences, on- ly m lefs fums.* Was not thia a teaching by cud.e/ i^ead ofar^umtnt J p. , 00. 1 o jullify or excufe their makmg the aw againft the baptlUs in .644, Mr. Hubbard faid, - It were well if thofe who cannot comply with the religion of the ftate or place where they live, yet had fo much 7^^;2«,r. as Ilo^ tojuftle agamft, nor openSy prac^ii^e that that IS inconHftant therewith, as if they would bid a kind of dehance thereunto. Mofes would not do thatinEg)'pt, upon account of religious worfhip, that might feem a matter of aborainatioa to them • Ibid, p. 16^ [1684] iw NEWEN GLAND. 515^ who were lords of the place." And Dr. Mathet had lately faid, " If a conliderabie niuiibtT of an- tipcdobaptifts ftiould (as our fathers here did) ob^ tain liberty from the ftatc, to tranfport themfelves and families, into a waftc American wilderncfs, that fo they might be a peculiar people by them- felves ; praclifiiig all, and only the inftitutions o£ Chriit : it now pedobaptilts fhould come after them, and intrude tnemfelvejij^pon them — furely they would defire fuch perlons, either to walk orderly With them, or to return to the place from whence they came. Let them then do as they would bs done by."* Now John Palmer, one of Andres's council, to vindicate their conduct faid, ** It is Vk fundamental point, confented to by all chriftiaH nations, that the fh'ft difcovcrer of a country in* habited by infidels^ gives right and dominion o£ that country to the prince in whofc fervice the difcoverers were fent.'* But the MafTaohufetts fay, " we affirm that this fundamental point, as he calls it, is not a chrijlian, but an unchrijlian principle **f Yes, irhd it was as much fo when they banifhed Mr. Williams as it is now. 4. WecfeJ/infui.'" | And Dr. Incrcafe Mither took pains ;t6 pubiiih a difcourfe upon '' The unlawfulncfg of uhng common prayer ; and of fwcaring oj* the book." 6. Andros cirrieci his cpifcopai worjQiip into IVlr. Williard's m.eetin£--houre, after their ex* ercife was over, and threai'jned, '- To Hint u^ their doors if he was refufed, and to puuifli any man ^ho gave two pence towatds the fuf)port of nonconformid miniftcrs ; and th?.t pubHc worfhi^ in the congregational way,Lhould not b? tolerated.'* This felt lb to them, that wiien king Jamci fent .over his proclamation, of indulgence anJ liberty^ of confcience, "• Tae miniltors of Boilon propofed unto their congregations to keep a day of changf- giving, to blefs Go(J for what they enjoyed ; [[but the governor afllired them] that if they did, Ive "would clap a guard on their pe\fons and their churches too,'"* and fo prevented it. Hereupon they thought proper to fend Dr. Mather as their agent to Eng'and. He had accufed Randolph or jhis brother, of forging the aforelaid letter 10 ex- pofe him ; upon which Randolph prolecuted him for defamation : and though he was acquitted upon * His life p. 93, 94: t Magnalia, B. 7 p. S, iz, 15, [j688] ihNEW-ENGLAND. 521' upon trial, yet to prevent his going to England Haadolph dcligned by another writ to fcize, and clap him up in priion ; to avoid which, Dr. Mather efcaped out ot town in difguiie, and was carried on board a fliip in the night, April 7, 1688 ; and upon his ariival at London, he with others peti- tioned the king, *' That there might be Uberty of confcience in matters of religion,— and that all their meeting houfes may be left free to thtm, according to the intention of the builders thereof, but ttiis application met with no fuccefs *' * Do not thelc things verify the truth of thes chriftian reveration ? They brought Dr. Mather over to acknowlege, that the parable of the tares was a declaration of our Saviour's will for a toJera" t'lon ; and that, a good neighbour and a good fub- jecf has a claim to all his temporal enjoyments before he is a chriftian ; and he thought it very odd, that the man (hould lofe his claim, from hisj embracing of chriifianily, becaufc he does not happen to be a chriflian of the uppermoft party among the fubdivificns. For an uppermoil party ot chrifiians, to punilii men, in their temporal en- joymetits, becauie in fome religious opinions they diffent from them, or with an txclufion from the temporal enjoyments, which would juftly belong unto them, is a robbery''. -}■ And how were the baptiils treated after this ? Fhsir church at Bolfon had received cldei? John Emhlen from England, July 20, ]684. Mr. Kichard Dingley was received a meniber there thg ilime year, and foon after fuccccdcd Mr. Holme* in the pad oral oillce at Newport, whei^e he con* tinued about ten years, and then went to Carolina* W w w Mr. •Hiil'lfe, p. 103, — III Mair. hift. vol. l. p. 368, . tHisLife, p. >8, 5^, Ssa Ifai , 61, S4 522 HISTOKY OF THE BAPTISTS Mr.Samuel Luther fucceeded Mr.Miles atSwanzey, where he ,was ordained by our elders, Hull snd Emblen, on July 22, 1685, '^^■^ ^^^ ^^'^^ continued a great blcliing to them 32 years. But elder Emblen dying about 1699, that church remained in defiitute circumftances for fome years, and then chofe Mr. Callender in his room ; to whom the follouing letter was directed, the original cf which is now before me. ^j o- lod. im. 1714. As in the diHrcfTes of the winter* we did with the folernnities of humiliation, call upon our gracious God, fo, fince he has graciouily recovered fo many of our people, and fent in fuch feafonable provifions for our neceffities, it has been prcpolcd among the minifters of the town, that our good people may acknowledge thele favors of our pray- er-hearing Lord, with the folemnity of a tharkf- giving, iiT our fevcral congregations ; for which alfo we have had the encouragement of the go- vernment. The time we would propofe for iuch a fcrvice is Thurfday, the firft of April, if the churches have no obicclion asrainft it. And it was clefired that you might be feafonably apprifed of this propoial, becaufe w^c are Well aifurcd of the welcome, which a motion of fuch a nature will find with you, and thepcopje of God unto whom you ftand nearly related. Having thus diichargcd the duty in this matter incumbant on me, 1 take leave to fubfcribe, sir, ycur bnther andf^vanf, CoTTO.^j Mather." ^0 my worthy friend^ Mr. Ellis CalUnder, elder of a church of Chriji in Bojloji, His fon Eiifha had joined to that church the 10th of Auguft preceeding, and he gave him an education at Cambridge \ and Dr. Increafe Mather having [i688] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 523 having fignified his willingnefg for fuch a thing, the cilurch called him, his ion, and Mr. John Webb to aiuft in ordaining the laid Mr. Eliflia Caliender then paitor on May 21, 1718 ; and in the preface to that ordination Sermon, the old gentlemen fays, " It was a grateful {iirprifeto me, when fcveral of the brethren of the antipedo- bapdft perfijaiion came to me, defiring that I would give them the right-hand of fellowihip in ordaining one whom they had chofen to be their pallor. I did (as 1 believe it was my duiy) readily confent to what they propofed : confidering the young man to be ordained is ferious and pious, and of a candid fpirit, and has been educated in the college at Cambridge ; and that all of the bre- thren of that church with whom I have any ac- quaintance (1 hope the like concerning others of them) are in the judgment of rational charity god- ly perfons.'* Two of whom v/ere old elder Cal- lender and deacon Sweefter, who "were principal members when tlieir meeting-houfe was formerly nailed up. Dr. Cotton Mather preached the Ser- mon, which he intitled hood men united. And af- ter opening the nature and importance of fuch a union he fays, " It is very fadly true, that many ecclefiallical communities, wherein piety has its votaries, yet are guilty of this evil, that they im> pol'e terms of communion which many that have the fear of God, are by juil exceptions kept from complying withal. Now in this unhappy cafe what is to be done ? do this, let good men go as far as they can without fli in holding communion with one another. But- where finful terms are impofed, there let them make th..ir Hops ; there. 2.f6paration becomes a duty ; there the in"unc1ion ^f heaven upon them is, Be ye fcparatejaith thi: 514 HtSTOnY OP ITHE BAPTISTS Lord, and touch mt the unclean thing, and I tvill re- ciive you. The imprjers are i\\^ fchlfmot'ics.-^Vhc unity which beautifies the true people ot God. is calicJ the unity of the fpirit, Eph. 4, 3. The right bafis tor an union among us, is the linly Spirit in* dining us to gUniry God, with an obedience to his will revealed in his word ; and to glorify our Saviour with a dependance on him for all the blcllings of goodneis ; and to love our neighbour as ourfelves. I'hcre hai-e been m;u)y attempts to Unite people in fonAs and tcnns^ that are not the pure maxi ns of living untoGod ; and lo to build the to/^'er of Zion, on a foun^dation which is not the tr ed Jh'i'.e and. the precious, and fo not i\\c fu e foundation. There has hitherto been a blatl Jrom heaven upon all thofe attempts ; they have mif- carried, as being rather calculated for the tower of Babel. — We arefometimes feartul of paving the refpects which v/e really owe to a people q\ trveficty (Inch a people as we this day meet withal) ior- looth, Icll we conlirm them in what we take to be an error, or mifiead others into it ; 1 hope it is needlefs fear. — () you who cannot but own your- felves brethren to one another, and bound up in one bundle of life ; how is it poflibie for you to re- quire of one another fubmiilion to terms which yuL'i cannot but think, that men may be good men, and have the evident tokens of falvation upon them, without fubmitting to ! And the terms which you have fo pitched upon, how can you proceed fo far, as not only to with- draw your fellowfhip from the good m.en to whom thev do nt^t appear lo ncccflary, but alio inflicf un- eafycircLimfiances upon them, itfider the wretched notion oi ivboljomefz-erit'.es ! CUrfed the anger, for it is fierce ; and the v rath, for it is crutl I good for jBotliing but only to make diiijions in Jacob, and dif^erjlom [1689] IN NEW-ENGLAND. s^S difpc'fion-^ in Ifniel. Good men, alafs ! goodmen have* done luch ill things as thefe ; yea, few charches of the reformation have been Avlicjlly clear of thefe iniquities. New- England alfo has in f.ime former times done fometlung of tlii;- af- pecl, which would not now be fo well approved of; in which, if the brethren, in ivhofe huvfe we are now convened, met wicii any thing too imhrcther^ /v, they now with fatisfaclioh hear us exprefling our dillike of every thing that has looked hke fer- fecntion in the days that have pafled over us."* I THOUGHT it bell thus to coliecl: thefe pafTages into one view, which may remind us of the jLpotties words, Happy is he that condemneth not himfelf in that thing lOhich he alloweth. After the ^•acat^on of the Mairachufetts cliarti^r, Mr. Jofeph Dudiey was appointed prelident of the colony, till governor Andros arrived in December 1686, Vv'ho had all New-England and New- York in- cluded in his commiiiion. Pvando'ph brought a quo warranto againd Rhode-liland charter, June 2,2, 1686, upon which the freemen met, and gave their op'nion to the general aficmbly, and thea left the affair with them, who on June 29 conclud- ed not to (land fuit with his Majefiy, but fent a humble addrefs to him, " to continue their privi- leges according to charter." Andros's commiflioa wa^ publiihed among them the 1 2th of January following and he. with a few mandamous c^unfel- lers, tyrauifed over all thele colonies, till John Win flow brought a copy oi' J^irig William's pro- clamation to Boiion, and Andros impiifoi^ied him therefor; upon which the people arof'e April 18, 1689, and feized h'Ui and his council, and rcfuuied their former order of government ; which being heard ©fin Rhode-liland colony, their freemen met at Newport f Mather's feraioa atCallcnder'j ordiuaiion; p, iZ,zs>l\ i-^' 39» 5i5 HISTORY of the BAPTISTS Newport May r, and voted to refiime their char- ter, and to have their former rulers take theii: places again. They met again Feb. 20, 1690^ a id eiccled new rulers in the place offonie who declined ferving, and they with Coniieclicut have enjoyed tueir privileges to the prefent times. i SH .LL clofe this chapter with a liit of New- EngUnd rulers, and a icw remarks thereon. Ply- nijutii never had any charter but only from the council for New-En o-land that was eltabliihcd at Plymouth in Dovenlhire. Their form of govern- ment was fettled by voluntary agreement among themfeH'es. At firft they only chofe a governor ; the next year, one aflillant with him ; in 1624, they chofe five,, and in 1633, feven affiitants, and kept to that nuitibcr to the end of their colony. Mr. Bradford was always an alliftant when he was Hot goveinor, as long as he livfed : his fon was aflLlaatand tlien deputy governo, till the revolu- tion ; and he and fcveral of his pofterity ha\'e been counfellor*^. in this province ; and one of his defcendants is now deputy governor oi" the (late of Rhode-Iiland. in 1639, they began to have a houfe of dcpuries in their general court ; and about 1663, they agiecd that their eldefl alH- flant Qiould have the power of a deputy governor, to act in the governor's place "when he was abfcnt. This continued till 1680, when by reafon of Mr. Alden s age, though they continued him an aflillant, they began to choofe other deputy governors. A lift of Plymouth Governors, the years they ruled, and the tinie of their deaths. I John Carver, 1620, i657,3et. 69. died April 162.1. 1 3 Edward Winflow,i 633 CiWilliamBradford,i62i 2>^, 44, died May 8., ■33.35.37 39^—43.1 1655, ^t. 6 [. s45 — S7 dit^j IVIay 9, ' 4Tho;na3 Prince, 1634, 38 \ jTtSSo] IN NE\y-ENGLAND. 527 38,57 —-7 3 , died Mar. 29, 1673, let. 73. 5 Joliah Winllow, 1673, — 00, died Dec. iS, i68oDet. 52. 6 Thomas Hinckley, 1 68 r — '36, 89 — 92, died 1705, 3£t. 74. Deputy Governors. I William Collidr, 1662, 1 JohnAlden, 1666 — 80. 3 Ihomas Hinckley 1 680, 4 JamesCudworth, i68i he went their agent to England, anddiedthere the lame year. 5 William Bradford, 1682 — 86, 89 — 92. Assistants ; the years when firft chofcn, as far as I can find from their records. Ifaac Allerton, 1621. Edv/ard Winfiow, Miles Standilh, John Howland, John Alden, John Doane, Stephen Hopkins, William Gilfon, 1633 William Coiliar, 1634- Thomas Prince, 1635 Timothy Hatherly,i636 John Brown, John Jenny, John Atwood, Edmund Freeman, WilJiam Thomas, Thomas Willet, Tho's Southworth, James Ciidworth, Jofiah Winllow, William Bradford, Thomas Hinckley, James Bawn, John Freeman, Nathaniel Bacon, Ccnfi Soiithwci th, Daniel Smith, Barnabas Lothrop, John Thatcher, John Wailey, John Cufliing, 63^ 638 640 642 651 65a 656 ^57 65 '5 658 665 666 667 670 79 681 O82 684 690 Note, the Appendix to Morton miftakes in plac- ing the firft choice of Cud worth anci Brown, after 1670; and the Mag- Uanafets Smith too early* Maff^i chufetts Governors 1 IMatthew Cradock, 1628 2 John Winthrop, 1629, —34,37 — 40,42-— 445 46 — 49, died Mar. 26 1649, ^'^^ ^2- 3 Thomas Dudley 1931. 40, 45> 5o» ^''-.^ Y^^y 31, 1653, ^t. 77. 4 Joha 528 HISTORY OF the BAPTISTS 4 John Haines, 1635 5 Henry Vaae, 1636 died, 1662, xt <;o. 6 Richard Belling^ham. 1641, 54, 6^ — 7 2. died 1672, .Tt, 81. 7 John Endicot, 1644. 49o' I— 53> 55— ^5- died March 23, 1665. 8 John Leveret, 1673 — 78 died March 16, 1678, 9 Simon Bradilrcet, 1678 — 86,89 — 92,diedMar. »/, 1697, set, 94. Deputy Governors I Thomag Goff, 162^ a John Hunifrey, i62( 3 John Endicot, 1629 ^41—43,50,34. 4 Thomas Dudley, 163c — 34> 37 — 40,46— 4S: 5 Roger Ludlow, 1634 6 Richard Bcllingham. i«35, 40, 55—65. 7 John Winthrop, 1636, 44, 45- 8 Francis Willoughby, 1665—71. pjohn Leveret, 1 671 — 7 3. I o SamuelSymonds, 1 673 —77- I I Simon Bradilrcet, 1677,78. * Thcfc twelve were here In d!^^bef.^^c the year wiS aut, RevoL foo;i went backt 12 Thomas Danforth, 1678-^86, 89 — 92. Assistants, who camC to this country. Sir Richard SaltonilaH, Ifaac Juhnlbn. John Endicot. Increafe Nowel. William ValTel. William Pinchon. Edward Roilitcr. Roger Ludlow. Thomas Sharp. John Reve]. William Coddington. ■iimon Bradiireet. * John HumiVey, 1632 John"Winthrop,jun.i632 John Llaines, 1634 Atherton Hough, 1635 Richard Dummer, 1635 Rich. Bcllingham, 1636 Roger Harlakcndcn 1636 lli-acl Stoughton, 1637 Richard Saltonfi'all, 1637 Thomas Flint, 164X Samuel Symonds, 1643 Will Hibbeiis, i643 FJerbcrt Pelham, 1645 Robert Bridges 1647 Francis Willoughby i65« I homai W^iggan, 165* Edward Gibbons, 1654 John 1630, but Johnfrn and K^ti-ter SdUoaitail, Vaifcl, Sharp md X'l 690] IK NEW- EN CLAN D. 5?cj 1654 1659 foh:i Glover, Daniel Gookin, Pj.;ncl Dcnllbn^ Sim oil Wiihrd, H. Atii.erton, lliclura Rain^, Thomas Danfcrth, 1659 Wiliiaiii ilawthonij 1 662 Elc^izar Luilicr, iG6i John Levcret> , ^^^5 John Pincliciii', -1,66 s Edward Tyiig, i663 V/illiam Stoiightpa, 167 i I'hoiiia:-; Clai'ii, ' 167 ^ Joicph Dadlcy, N. SaltorJtill,' Hunifrey D^v^y Janica itQ.icii, Samacl NavvG-l, Peter Tillon, 1652 [ John Hull, J652 r-o 1676 161 // i6}g 1679 1 6 So i68o j68o 1 \.) •J 'S} 13. Gldney, j68o 1 hninas Savacre. 1680 ■Wiliiani Bi"own, v68o Samuel Appleton, 168 1 llDbcrt Pike, i6tj2 Daniel Fifhcr, 16S .; John Wood b lid giS, 1683 i'^uiha Cooke, ' ' 168.: Wiiiiain Johuic)!), 16S. John Havvtliorn, 1684 iLiidia llutchiiifon, 1684 • Ifaac AddinpLon, i68(> Jjhn Smith, lo'So Tiih,|R. charter appvjiatr ed 1 8 aiHilaiits, biii; ihcy had icarce ever clvoreii abVive half To many, tili by tiie King'5 order i.h<:y CAi)['2 the iui-l iiUilibei' iif 1680. "'■■' " John Ptlchaid::, i63i R H (■» D S, - Is L A KO Rubrs,- .RoG lkVV iLLiAMs, v-ar> tiu^y .th.c founder .oF.t;]?.t Colony^ and a principal ruler among ti.im. as >.e have fc'eii. tronk ihe beginning, 'iho'e \vh, i)egaijL upon the iilaad had a dihcrent rotioii ab.oa: g ). ; in- liieh.t irbm him at iirl-t:, ar.J as their covenant \-- 5, was printed fiom an impeikct C(^py, 1 ilj.tlL ;e ixifert it exactly from their records as Cadows f " VV£ whole names are iindei>\viitt;.;j do hei ^ fokmnly, in the prcfenceof jfcHj«yAH,i.'jCi>rpoAtt. Exod '.!,?, i ^ ourielves into a'body polkie, and asTiG ■i Chron. 11.5V ihall help, Will lubmit our pcrioi?^ 'v-s 2 Kings n 17 3 ^nd eitates, linto onr Ltnd ; v iChrift, the Kiug of kings, and Lord ci lOiCi^, . \ T -■ -.' ■>-(> 53« HISTORY CF THE BAPTISTS to all thofe perfccl and moft abfolute laws of his> ghea us in his holy word of truth, to be guided and judged tliereby." And they then appointed Mr. CoDDiN'G'JON as jiidge, and Mr. Aipinwalt fecret'y. to ruie them according to this covenant ; till on Jan 2, 1639, an aflcmbiy i>t" the freemen' iliid, '• By the coni^.nt of the body it is a^^reed, thatfach who- ihali be chofen to the place of i:,7^/Vr- Jhip^ they are to afiilt the judge in the execution ofjuftice and judgment, for the regulating and ordering of all offences and offenders, and for the drawing -vip and determining of all iuch rules and laws as fhall be according to God, which may conduce to the good and welfare of the common- weal y and to tliera is committed by the body the whole care and charge of alt the affairs thereof ; and that the judge together with the ciders, ihall rule and govern according to the s^cncral rules of the word of God, when they have no particular rule from God's word, by the body prclciibed as a direcfion unto thcni in the cafe: And further it is agreed and confented un,to, that the judge and ciders iliall be accountable unto the body once evpry quarter of the year, (whenas the body fhall be affembledl of all fuch cai'cs, aclions or rules which have paffcd through their hand^s, by them to be fcanned and weighed by the word of Chrift ; and if by the body or any of them, the Lord fliall be plcafed to difpenfe Hght to the contrary of what by the judge or elders hath been' determined formerly, that then and there it filall be repealed' as the aft of the body ; and if it he otherwife, that tiftn it (hall (land (till further light concerning it) for the prefent to be accoiding to God, and thr tender care if indulging fathcis. William Djre, clerk.*' TiSss? £[590] IN NEW-ENGLAND. 531 They then cliofe the elders named in p. 97, and went on as is there mentioned, till March 16, 1 64 1, when they disfranchifcd Carder, Holden, Shattoa and Potter, and. iulpcnded from voteing George Parks, John jiriggs, and Mr. Lenthal, who was gone tor England ; and then laid, " It is ordered by the authority of this preient court, that none be accounted a delinquent for dodirine, provided it be not diredly repugnant to the go- vernment and laws eftabliihed." And in September following they faid, " The law concerning liberty of confcience in point ol dofirine is perpetuated.'' After they received their charter, their rulers were as follows : FrefiJents or Grcernors John Coggihall, 1647.'; Roger Williams, 1648 54 — 57 •> ^i^^ ^^^3 ^^' 84. John Smith, 1649, 5^* Nicholas Eailon, 1650, 51, 72,73, died 1675. Gregory fexter, 1653 died jec. 91. Benedict Arnold, 1657, — 60,62 — 65, 69 — 72, 77,73,dicdjunei9, r678 William Brenton, 1660 — 62,66 — 69,diedi674 W^illiamCoddington, 1674 75,78, died Nov. 1, 1678, set 78'. Walter Clarke, 1676,86, 96, 97, died June 17 14. John Cranfton, 1678 —^3 Q, dicdMar. 12, i68q Pcleo; Sanford,i68o — Z% Wilham Coddington, 1683 — 85, died 1688, Hepry Bull, 1685, 90, John Eafton, 1 690 — 95 died 1705, 3et 85. Caleb Carr, ^^95 Samuel Cranflon, 16-^8 — - 1 7 2 7 , died April 26, 1727. Jofcph Jcncks, 1727—^ 3 2,diedJune 15, 1740, aged 84. Wm.Wantonji732 — 34^ John Wanton, 1734 — 41c Richard Ward, 1741 — 43 William Greene, 1743 — » --45»46, 48— 55»57« GideonWanton, 1745,47 Stephen ^Hopkins, 175^ —57^ 58—62, 64, 67 ^6c^. Simuci /■ 1 2 riTSTOHY OF THE E-ArTISTS.. thmud Ward, 1762— , RotftH:aziryndon, i:;?:^ J of e pli Wa n tf )n , 1 770- ■ 7 5 Nich. (boke, 1775 — 77". _ Djtru't-Y Governors. Y/illiani Brcnton, 1 66 : 7T 1666- : 69, 70. Jcfhn t'Jarke, 1669, 7^- John til anlton, 1672, ,;6 John SanFoid, W. CodJine^on Randal Hoiden. J.GnTYincr,.754;_56^64. Jonathan Nichols, 1755^, JuOj^h Wafiton, jiin;, 176^1, 67— .69. Eliih^i Brown, 1 7^5-^-67 NidiolasCooke, 1 769,7 5t naii-is.Scfnon, ty/o — 75 WiiiBradFord, 1 775 — 7 7 ASIS-TAN IS. ll.'Orj;er Williams, l6/;7 1^:47 ) 647 1C47 jeicniiiih Claike, 1048. Jojl;n Saiith, Tiitiip.as Oliicy, John Ciaike, 1O48 1 649, 16/19 i640. 165Q J 650 1650 . ^^53 John Ei^dp, 1.675; jiiiic:} Barker, 1678, 79. ^ V'a] Lei: CUr k e, 1 6 7 9— , Hrr, £701— ~ I 4. John Coo ill ;il!, i668, 90. J )haGic;enei69o--~i,7bi iSaniiicl Gor.ton iicnry Tew, 17 14, jWilhani Field, Jokphjencks, 1715 — 20, John roUcr, , 23—27. rj'ohq Wickcs^. ;foiiii Wanton, 1721-— „ jotin Sayies, ^ 2.3. 19-— 34. j biiikeiy Vvefcoatj 1653 jonaihan Nichols, 1727, i Ihunias Harris, »6£;4 ThdhTas Fr.y, 17 27-:—29. [ John Roomc, 1654- Geo, Haviird, 1734— -38. | i^encdicl; Arnold, i6<;4 .l>ailic!Ab!)ot,i738 — 40. VN/iiliani Batilfion, itqS • ichard Ward, 1740. ! Jch.n Coggihall, i6£;6 j^/iD. Greene, 1741 — 4'^. Ai thur Venner, i6;;7 :] 'Icph Vvhipple, 1743— U(ci)ard lew, 4^,46, 52 — 54. I J(69o]. IN NEW. EN GLAND. Walter, Todd, Xolin G;u'dner, rMward Smith, William Carpenter, John Drown, Sam'iel Wilbore, John Eafton, vV'ilh'am H.^rrLs, Richard Carcjn'rr, Benjamin Saiith, Pt^'ecf Sanford, M'ii'.iam Plcape, Stcrhen Arnold, John Cranfton, Thynias 01aey,jiin . Jofhiia Cogg^all, John Tripp, James Greene, joha Albro. Richard Smith, F"ancis Brialcy, Hmry Bi'own, AValter Clarke, Daniel Gould^ ]bb Almey, iienry Bull, Bcn'janiin Birtori, Kdvvard Tharfton, T'lornis Bardcn, William Codmin, Sam 1 Gorton jun. John Whi,-> pie, Thoiiiis Greene, Caleb Carr, Thomas Ward, W,n. CjJdIajton, 6.04 ' 665 665 665 665 665 656 666 bGG 666 667 667 .663 669 669 670 670 .67, .672 672 ■672 673 674 6; 4 ^■is 6y6 fijG 6yy 67S 679 675 680 J.^neph Jtncks, 1680 Of orge i^awton, i68a I-;icI;ard Arnold, i68t John Potter, 1685 Walter Newbury, j686- Benedicl: Arnold, 1690 Chriflo. Almey, 1690 CQiinefticut Governors. Edward Hopkins, i6-^S died in En^i^iand 1657; John Haines, George Wyilys, Ihomas Wells, John Wcbiler, J, Winthrop, \''6z — 76 diedif\pril3, 1676, ?et. 71 William Leete, Robert Treat, J. Vv'^inthrop died 1707 G. Saltonliall, 1707 — 24 J, Talcot, 17 2^^ — 41 died October 1741 Jona. Law, 1741 — 50 died 1750 R. Woolcot, 1750-54"- Tho. Fitch, 1754—66 Wm., Pitkin, i 769 — 69 ■ died 1766. Jtjna/rj luiibull 1 769— 77 N^'iu- Haven G(n^erno:'s. Theo. Eaton, 1637 — ^y di d 1657.. F. Newman, 1^57 — 60.: died 1660 Wm. Leete, iGGo—Cm . BTvIILF. 5^4 HISTORY •? the BAPTISTS Brief Remarks. I These facts may teach us vvlivit to think ot the exclamations that have often been made a- gainll a tree government, where each tVccman may have a voice in choohhg their chier rulers. Plymouth had this liberty in its full extent : hav- ing fuU power to lay the plan of their govern- ment as they plcafed, and to clsct whom they would into office. Each freeman in that colony had their equal vote in tlie annual choice of their governor ; and had not governor Bradibrd requelted theinfomeiimcs to elccl others into that ofiice, it is probable that in the whole 73 years of their continuance as a diftincf colony, they would never h:jve cli^nged it into any more hands than death obliged them to ; and in fact they never did but five times in all thofe years ; and New-Havea made no liich change vi-hile they I'tniained a dif- tinct government. And we have good evidence that even afergant in Plymouth militia was treat- ed with more honorable regards than captains have now been for thefe many years pall. la Connecticut where their governors have always been elected annually, by votes of the free- men fent in from every town in the colony, they have chofen but 16 men in 140 years,, and but ten in a hundred years, only two or three of whom were left out oi oihce till they died. And the Mafiachufetts chofe but eight governors in 6;^ years. But lince this fickle populaiity (aa fome call fuch government) was taken awav, and the power v/as veiled in a crowned head, to fij^ governors over us by a ftcady commiffion-, in which the people had no voice, the province in Si years Ir.is had a Fhips, Stoughton, Bellamontj Dudley, Tailor, Shute, Duinmcrj Burnet, BelcheXs , Shii-iey, [1690] IN NEW-EN GLAND. s^s Shirley, Phjps, Pownal, Bernard, Hiitchinfon, and Gage, for commanders in chief, wlio have each in their turns been invefted with power, to negative our councehors when elected, and to ne* gacive Liiiy and every ad that our aiTembly could ■ pafs. and to diir^)lve them when they pleal'ed. All thcfe in a fpace when Connedicut had but about hah fo many g;overnors, and in 34 years of the time R'l nic liland had but two And the evil eHcch atterward of a dt; predating currency, an^ir' of party inftaence in cicctiane . all need to bewi^e of at tlii^ day- Hence, 2 A.earn tb.a importai/i -e f)f viewing pcrfons andactionsir* their dylintt lights fo as not to confound good and evif, truth and Falf- hood together. God fays, only hy pride cometb con" fentirm ;. but loith tb^ ivell-ad'vlfcd is wifd m Piidc Caufed a cmtcntion about whajhoiild be great efl^ even among the apoflles. and made theni think of call- ing iox fire rom heaven to confume fuch as -would not receive them. And Dr. Owen well fays, " Gofpel conlHtutions, in the cafe of herefy or error, i^Qun- Hot to favour any courfe of violence, I mean of civil penalties. Fortold it is, that herehcs muft: OQ, I Cor. II, 19, but this for the maniftUiu.^ of thofe who are approved, not the deftroyintr o^ thofe chat are not. — Perhaps thufe who call for' the fword on earth, are as unacquainted witb t\\Av own fpirits, as thofe that called for fire frohv heaven, Luk. 1 1 . And" perhaps the parable of the tares gives in a pofltivc rule as to this whole buli- nefs."* Thefe fentiments were inculcated upon our I-^ymouth fatlkfrs before they came to thi^ country, fv,'e p. 26 — 32. And governor Bradford vt'as the o^vner of the book which contained thenn^ that 1 am now favoured with j and while he coa-- tini:.'ed * CoUa:tion of his trails, ^^}^l, p. 31^. %^6 HISTORY or the 15 A P Tt 5 TS stlmied governor Mr. Williams could be conifof- tabic -.It Piymoiitlij but when Rlr. Vvinilow canie into thato^lice ia 163?, he requeftcd a fabmMTiori to Salem. And the i'ccoad tiine Mr. Winilov-/ was gbv-ernor he vvroi'C to Mr. Williams to re- move out of that jiiiiliiliifcion, p* 72-, ;in J a law was made that year to foibid the' gathering of any church thLTcin without the rulers leave. Re and Mr. ColUar were tli-c commifiiorit'rs for Ply- mouth who Cii Sept. y, 1643, ilgned ^^^'^ articles rc ; and who tJien con* cured in lliC delivery of rvjiantinomo to Ur.cas to be fiain (though without toiture) and in 3.d"^'iling the Mafi'rchuictts to fend an arnicd iorce to War- wick. He was again a comnuiii»)ner;n their n.cet- ing at Hartford bept. j, 1,644, v/Jien they wrote to each colony, to enter upon a nietho.d of ratwg oil perfons by authprllj^ that ref iifed or ne;;lcdtd to give what the rulers judged to be their aiv-et pro* portion toward Ww/V^^-'i mSin'enante ; againfl wliich Mr. John B; own, the other Plymouth cciiimiilio- r.cf, entered his difl'ent. In Oclobcl' 16^:5, ^" "^ thin afTernbiy at Plymouth, Mr. Wir.i'i.Nv pro- pounded, •■' and after a who'e days azitation*' got fom.ething' of this nature allowed ana tnt<'ved iip- on theit wallii book : but when a full aifcmbiy met the next week Mr. Brown and other mciiiif^ trates, "'exdepted againft the entry ot that order, as pcrnicloiTs and ddh'uftive to the wea) of the g-overnmcnt, and tenclered a propofitioa, \.,which "Was like to Jink it. Hence it was their weaknefs, and not their flrength, that caufcd them to treat the baptifts fo cruelly. ' The extending of the gof- pel ordinance of baptifm to fubjects who are in a flate of nature ; the limitting the church of Chrill to human fchools for minifters, and compelling all to fupport fueh and only fuch, arc points \yhich had but a weak bottom to ftand upon in that day, when the power cf godliiiej} was fo well known in the country. • Chriiliaa bill. Toh i> p. 64. APPENDIX. APPENDIX* CONTAINING A BRIEF SUMMARY O F T H E ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS OF THIS COUNTRY, POWN TO THE PRESENT TIME. F OUR prineiples have, in different ages and countries, been propo;^ed to found govern«» inent upon,- viz. nature, grace, power and com* pad. James the firft took much pains to perl'uadc his people, tliat he was born to rule them ; evea fo that the privileges he was plcaied to allow th^m.^ wererariher favours from him, than original riglita in them. And his flattering courtiei s, perceivin.r his humor, gave him the title of facred inaje/lyy. which the kingdom was very little acquainted with before. His high claims occafioned perpetual' troubles to himlelf, and coil his fon hi? crown and the head that wor« it. And when facts are examined it appears, that Henry. VIl, from whonx came their hereditary title, liad as little right hy- birch to the crown of England, as any ma'.\ that had worn it in 500 years \ and lie made his way to it thro' blood and (laughter.* The Pope has been- the moft notable advocate for founding dominion in grace ; and by deceitful reafon'ings fiom the jcw-t ilh /;^;2(^-Tm//«^, he has ufurped the feat oi 'aiv^. who is HEAD OF ALL I' Rl N CIP A LLITY ^V\X>. POWER. Henry VIl i took ofl'ence at the. pope's condud, and rejecting his power aflumed it to himfeU" *ilapln, vol. 2; p. 160,161, « APPENDIX. himfelf ; and many others, not kilding the HEAtr, have rubjcfcled ibiils to flav'ilh ordinances^ after thg dodf'mcs and cummandihait: of nun. Qo\. 2. Crom- well was a notable actor upon the third piir^ciple, ■ivho having gotten the power into his hands, pleaded that he ought to uic it for the grid of ttlc nation : and his enemies acknowledge the ex- cellency of his taliants for gcvtrnmcnt, ir Lc had but obtained his power in a righteous way. But he dyisg Icit tre nation in great conluiion; to get relief ti om which they reltorcd the fccond Charles, with good words and fair fpeeclies; with- out fettling any fixed, and certain conditions with him. Soon after which, prieiici.i.'t was ufed to ftir up tumults in different parts of the country, and then to cry, i hi, church is in danger ! which moved the parliament to make laws to exclude all perfons from teaching cither in churches or fchools, who rcfufed an ali'ent and confcnt to tkeir 6rdi nances ofmen^ and alfo to declare it to be un- lawful to take up armr/ againft the king, upon any ^ret'nce whatfocver. And, as Dr. Calamy observes-, pafRve obedience and non-refihance, was the doc- trine that for 25 years made their pulpits ring and prclTes groani Yet no fooner was this doctrine turned againft the epifcopalians than behoki \ they called in the prince of Orange, with an armed force to dri've their king from his throne \ x^nd now the fourth principle is prefered, and a compact, containing a large bill of rights, is made v.ith "William before his coronation •, and he and his cjueen were brought, " folcmnly to promife and iwear to govern the people of the kingdom of England, and the dominions thereto belongings according to tlie flatutes in parliament agreed on, aad t)>e laws and cufloms of the fame j and to their f,690 A P P E N B I y. jf their power to caufelaw andjufticctobe executed ;in mercy, in ail their judganents." And enacled that this oat:i 'houid be taiccn by all their iuccef- fors in that v>iHce. Now tiic word of God plainly fliews, that this way ot mutual conipact or covenant, is the only rigMreous fiouadation ror civil government. For. when lirael mult needs have a king like the rei^ of the naaons, and he indulged thern in that re- •queft, yet neither S')ul nor David, who were a-- nointed by his iiumcdiatc direcUon, ever aiiumed the regal power over the people, buc by their freeconlent. And though the :ami;y of David had the cleared claim to hereditary iucceiilon,tLat any family on earth ever had, yet when ten of the twelve tribes revolted from hi.> grandton, be* caufc he retafed to comply with v.^hatthey eftecm- cd a reafonable propofa), and hs had collected aa army to bring them back by force, God warned him not to do it, and he obeyed him therein. Had thefepiain precedents been regarded in later times, what woes and miferies would they have pre- vented ! But the; hiftory of all ages and nations ilicws, that when men have got the power into their hands, they often ufe it to gratify their own lulls, and recur to nature, religion or the conlU- tution (as they think will beft ferve) to carry and yet cover their wretched dcligns j a lamentable proof of which is now before us. Dr. Mather, as a capable and faithful friend to his country, laboured unwcaricdlv to have the. rights and privileges of it rcllored and enlarged ; in order to which he prevailed Avith archbifliop Tillotfon to tell the king that, "' it would by n'^ means do well for him to take any of thofc privi- leges from the j^eo^le of Nevr-ELgland, whicl\ kipg % APPENDIX. kingChar^cs the fiift had granted them." And obtained a promii'e from bilhop Burnet that, " On the lirii oppcrtunity he would declare openly in the houfe oliords, that there was a greater sa- CREDNis;^ in the CHARTER of New-England, than in tiiofe of the corporations in England ; becaufe thofe \A'erc only acfs of grace, whereas the chartci: of New-EngLuid v\ms a contract between the k'ng and the 'irft patentees. Ihey promifed the ]vi- g to enlarge his dominions on their own charge*^, provided they and their poitcrity might enjoy iuch and fiici-> privileges ; they had periorm- cd tht'ir p<.rt, now for the king to deprive their poftciity of the privileges therein gianted -un'^o them- would carry a face of injiiftice in it.'* 1 his had fome effect upon the king's puind, and caufed ji fcruple whetiier he might /aufu/Iy take from us the privilege of choohng cur chief rulers or not. To this fome of his arbitary councellors faid, <' Wiiatever might be the merit of the caufe, in--^ afmuch as the charter of the Mafliichufetts flood vacated by a judgment againft it, it was in his- poivfr to put thein under what form of govern- jp.f'nt he iliould think beil for them."* This was fo flattering and plaufable that it took with Wil- liam, who had often heard of thcr perfccutions 3iere. and thought tliat by referving to himfdf a, power to negative all their acls, he fhould prevent the like for the future. Accordingly a new charter was drawn dated Ocf. 7, 1691 which included Plymouth colony, confiftiiig'of the counties of Plymouth, Barnfta- b!e and Brifiol ; the MalTachufett colony, which, contained the counties of Suffolk,Middlefcx,E{rex, Worcefter, Hamplhire and Berkfliire : the pro^ vinc€ 5 Mjithcrs life, p. 126, 127, i32.' [i69i] APPENDIX. $ virice of r^aine, viz, the counties of York and Cumberland ; and Sagadchock, which, with lands annexed in the county of Lincoln, extends toNova- Scotia. The iflands alfo fouth of Cape-Cod were included in this charter of The Province of the Maf' fachufett's-Biiy in New-England, which refcrved aa arbitary power in the crown, to appoint our go- vernor, lieutenant governor and fecrctary ; but thnt the people might choofe a houfs of reprcfcn- tatives annually, to meet upon the laft Wednef- day in May ; when they were to elect 28 coun- cellors, which was to be their legillature ; the council and houfe to have a negative on each o- thers acts, and after both were agreed therein, yet the governor, or in his abfence the lieutenant go- vernor, might negative any ad; they could pafs, and alfo negative the election of as many coun- cillors as he pleafed. Upon all times except elec- tion day, he could call, adjourn, prorogue or dif- folve the aflembly at pleafure. He had the fole power of appointing militar}'- officers ; and was to appoint all officers of the courts of juftice with the confent of the council ; other civil officers were elected by the two houfes, where he had his nega« live ; and no money could iiTue out of the treafury but by his warrant by the advice and confent of the coiincil. And after all, the king in council could, at any time within three years, difanmil any act or law that all three branches here could make. Now from whence came this arbitrary power in the crown of England over this country ? Their plea founded upon the vacation of the former con*' trad, would dilannul any contra<5t that could poffibly be made with any diftant people in thq world ; for, a complain»(;r. After recit- ing an old fayi^ig, that mlnijiers of the gof pel 'would have a poor time'' of it, if they ^I'fi feh on a fee contrt- bution of the pjople for their m;inttna7ic£, he fay^', *' The laws of the province having had the roy^il approbation to ratify themjthey are the kings laws* • Alilt. hift. vd!. 3. p. 8, 9. t MilT, hift. vpl. i- p. ig,- [1^90 A?PENDir, y By thefelaws it is €na(?led,that there fliali be apublio woiiliip of God in every pbntation ; that the per- fon elecled by the majority of the inhabitants to be fb, ihall be looked upon as the minitter of the place ; that the lalcry for him which they fliall agree upon, fhall be levied by a rate upon all the inhabitanrs. In confequence'of this, the minifter thus chofen by the people, is (not only Chiift's but alfj) in reaHity the King's minifter ; and the falcry for h'.m i-. railed in the King's name, and is thvi Kin?"*;, allowaiire unto hiu]. If the moft of the inhabitants in a plantation are cpilcopalians, they will have a niinidcr of their own perluafion ; and the dfffenlors^ if there be any in the place, mud pay their proportion of the tr*x for the fupport of this /egdi m'lmjler. In a few of the towns, a few of the people, in hope of being releafed from the tax for the legal minifter, fomctimcs profcfs them- felves cpifcopaIian5 ; but when they plead this for their exemption, their neighbours tell them, they know in their confciertces, they do fist as they ivou/cl be done unto. And if a governor go by his arbitary power to fupercced the execution of the law, and require the juftices and conftablcs to kave the epifcopalians out of the tax, the people wonder he is not aware, that he is all this while forbidding that the King fhould have his dues paid unto him ; and forbidding the King's minifter to receive what the King has given him. — Sometimes the quakcrs alfo have given fome occafion for uneafmefs ; but where quakerifm is troublefome, fome towns are fo wile as to involve the falery for the miniftry in a general rate for all town charges, and fo the cavils of thofe, who would elfe refufe to pay the rate for the miniftry, are obviated.'* * A * Mzi^ici'i Ratio difclplinat^. tg— 2*; f. APPENDIX. A FEW fa(fls may help to explain this, and to fiicw how much greater liberty of confciencc \vc have enjoyed iince the revolution than before. Before tliat memorable event, no man in the Maf- fachufctt colony was allowed a vote, in choofing either minifter or ruler, but members in lull com- munion in their churches. And the fkiil of know- ing, that thofe who dilTcntcd from their judgments fimied agmajl then oivn confciences, was then limilted to fuch good men ; but now, having forcy poundi worth of perfonal eftatej or a freehold worth forty fhiUings a year, intitles every inhabitant to a vote in all furh affairs, and to a power of judging that their neighbours fm againft the golden nf!e, it they v/ill not put into the mmihs of him whom the ma- jority has declared to be the legal 7h'm'ijler. And from that day to this, it is made a doubt among our lawyers and judges, whether a church of Chrift ht-Si foclety known in lato, fo as to be capable of holding a meeting-houfe or other eftates, with- out having other perlbns to be truftccs or guardians for them. And the honorable Edward Goddard, Efq; of Framingham, who had been a member, both of the lower and upper houfe in our Icgif- lature, defcribed this matter to the life, in a piece ke publiflicd in 1753, wherein he fays. Good confcie'nce men allow (they fiy) But muft be underftood. To fay as they fay themfelve* do fay, Or elfe it can't be good. For 36 years after the Mafiachufetts received their laft charter, they exerted all their po\Ter, both in theirjegiflatlve and executive courts,^vith every art that miniftcrs could help them to, m attempts to compel every tov>n to receive and fnp- port fuch minifters as they called orthodox. They made tw« attempts of this nature upon Swanzcy 5 sia4 A P P E N D r It. 9 *and in 1722, they added tlie fum of 172I. 115. to the province taxes upon DaiimouLh and livtrton, for lucli minifters, intending tiiat tliey ihou.d draw it out of the province ticifary. nnd for rcrafia;]j to afTcfs the lami:, Jjleph Anthony, John Siilijn, John Akin (quaker: ) and I Liiip labor (a baptiil rniniiter) fclect-men or tiiofe towns, were t'eized and confined in iirii»o' goal^ till the cafe was carried to England, and thc^c taxes were difaanulied by the king in council, and an exprefs order was fcnt over to rtleafc them*. And the lirit ad that was made in cur province, to exempt either biptifts or quakers from laxes to pedobiptift minifters was in 1728 ; w]:iicii fays, *' That from and after tne publication o: this acl, none of the perfons commonly called anab^ntifts, nor any of thofe called quakers, that arc or iliall be enrolled or ent(jred in their fevcral ioci;;ii.cs as members thereof, and wh'o alledge a fcrupie of con~ fcience as the reafon of their rcfufal to pay any part or proportion of fuch taxes, as are from time to time aiTefled for the fupport ot the npnllier or \minifters of the churches cftabUOieci by the laws of this province, in the town or place where they dwell, ihall have Uieir p.^lls taxed toward th^ lup- port of inch minifter or ininiiiers, nor ihiW iheir bodies be at ar>iy time taken in execution, to fatis* fy any fuch minii^erial rate or tax, affefled upoa their eftates or faculty. Provided, that fuch per* fon? do ufaal'y attend the meetings of their re- fpeclive focieties, afTembling upon the Lord's-day* for the worlhip of God, and that they live withiii ^ve 7m!es of the place of fuch meeting." Here wa may fee that tyrjinny is always the fame, G& y6 ferve the Lord ; only let yQur JJci^ks and your herds he Jiayed^ faid i^haraoh. Let their bodies be exempt, B ted. tm APPEND! t^ ted, but their cftates arid faculties be taxed faid the Mallachufetts, / loiil Jet you go, that ye mayfacri^ Jice to the Lord your God. i?i tht iviidcrnefs j only yoit ^fhall not go vvryfar au-a% laid Pharoah. Go but five miles, faid the Maliachuletts; Mr. I'homas Holiis of London, hid received fuch accounts of their catholic temper at Harvard-cbllege, confirm-' ed by the ordination of a pious youth in Bofton who was educated there, p. 523, that he became the grcateft bcnefaclor to that college that they ever had* And I have a. letter which he wrote to Mr. Ephraim Whcatoti, paftor of the firft church m Swanzey, dated March 23^ 1723, w^herein h«* fays, " you have heard, or may be informed by- Mr. Callenderj of my foundation in Harvard-col- lege, and the provifion I have made for baptif?; youth to be educated for the miniftry, and equal- ly regarded with pedobaptiftsi If you know any as may be duly qualified, inform me, and I ftiall be glad to recommend theJn for firft vacancy." But what heart could behave to fend any youths there, while a large nuriiber of his brethren, who, with himfelf, lived within the bounds of Rchcboth,wer© taxed from year to year to prefbytcriai: minifters r And after the above exem.pting acl was madcj they were told by their county court, that it did not take place that year. And for refufing to pay fuch taxes any longer, elder Wheatons fon, and 27 more of his people were feized on March 3, 1729, and confined in Briftol goal. '^And more or lefs of fuch things, which by their eminent fa<< thcrs are called tyranv.y and robbery^ p. 311, 52/, have been pra6lifcd to this day under the ma2c of religion. And my dear country-men, I mu ft here folemn- ty sail yew, to rtTkw the te;6t- \rhieh has oftea. beeii. A P P E K D I S; ^ ¥een caft upon us ; vi:?, Mark them ivho caufe di-^ vi/io?;s and offences , CQnttary to the docirine which yfi have learn$a, and avoid them : for they that arefiich^ Jfff've not our Lord Jejlis Chriji^ but their own belly ; ^nd by goed w^rds and fair fpeeches deceive tin hearts ofthejimple. The uppermoit parcy in every Hate have always been ready to apply this, word ta thofe who refufe a iubmiilion and conformity ta then; in religious matters* But tlie mark is fet upon them who cauj's divifiom^ not nictTly upon fuch ^s are divided. Joleph was Jeparcited fiom. his brethren, without his being the faulty caufe of it. Again the mark is put upon fuch as caufe diviiions contrary to Chriji's dociri?ie'., otlierwife he declares himfelf, that he came to. fehd diviiions upon earth, and even betv/ixt near relations. This matter is juftly iiatcd in p. 52,3 — 525. The in-, fpired apofUe commands us in the name of Chrift to withdraw from every brother that walketh diforder' ly :~^for we behaved not ourf elves difcrderly arnong you^ neither did we eat any mans jj.read Fea nought, yet this great diforder has long been praclifed xm.-' dtv good words and fair fpeechess A Pagan mini- iter who loved the wages of imrighteoufiefsoiice cudgell- ed Y^vi beaft molf cruelly for not carrying him for- ward againft a dr w>i fword^ whereby he would have been liain r and though the dumb afs^ [peaking •with mans voice, forbd the madnef of the prophet^ yet the above practice which never had any better fupport than tfcLe cudgel (p. 100.) is madley pcrfucd by many who call tbemfelvs chrijlians to this day. A convention of minifters publiflied li difcourfe among us live years ago, entitled Catholicijm ; or (^hrijiian charity ; wherein after faying niany ex-, cellent things about charity, they in p. 8, accul'e- 'i^ofe v^'ho fej^a.rated frgna. tlwr c.QoiUtutioa ia tt APPENDIX. 1744, of zeal, yea rather fury againft " giving and receiving minitlcrial ibpport ;" and witn a \^a>.tof *■' conliilancy and hontity," for noV coming into th-it prariice themfdves. And it is well known tliL.S; tail C::nfare is levelled againit me and many ot my b:ethr(:n. I readiiy confcfs that Heparatcd iuiii th-:ir vOnftittition about tl'C clofe of that year ; but pofitivt'ly deny that ever I appeared againft^/L/V/fj" A.'.i recehrng jninifteiial fnpport, and know noc tiiat any of niy orethren in the miniKry who Itpa- rarcd fr -in them ever did fo. Had they laid t\y-xi vvc we^'e zca'ous againft^T^A?'^ and forcing in fuch cafes, they ,-ould not have vvionged the truth, and their mighbours, as they have now cio;.e. i\\z conftitution that we feparated from, was fornied at Saybrook in i:'o8, which fays, ♦* ijiat the churches which are neighbouring to each other pc^/i con foci ate for mutual affoiding to eal^h other fucli ailift;ince, as may be requiiite, upon ALL OCCASIONS ECCLESIASTICAL." And their iirft proof to fupporttliis article isFfalm 122,3, — 5» which ipeaks of the thrones of judgment that were fet in Jcufalem for the hcufe cf David. A crafty ynlnifterial governor, fon to a Maflachufett magif- trate, prevailed with ConnecLicut kgiilature to approbate tliis platform the next year. Another Cambridge fcholiar was then minifter of Norwich, and war, icfolute to introduce the fchcme there. The law whereby it was approbated laid, *' Pro- vided, that nothing herein fhall be intended or conftrued to hinder any foclcty or church that is or fliallbe allowed by the laws of this government, from exercifing worfhip and difciplinc in their own way, according to tht.ir coniciences." \zt becaufe Richard Bulknel and Jofeph Backus Elq'rs repreientatives for Ngrwich (^with other lathers t/f A P P E N B I X. 13 the town) withdrew from the minifters party, ra- ther than come under that yoke, they laid them under church ceniure, and by that means pro- cured their expultion out of the next aflcmbly when they met. About the fame time Mr. Stod- ^ dard publicly advanced his fcheme of the Lords- fupper being a converting ordinance, p. 484, And tho with much labour Norwich got rid of faid mmiiler, and fettled another upon their former principles, yet before I left this latter minifter, he not only plainly difcovered his fondnefs for Say- br:)ok platform, but actually procured a vote of the church to receive members without fo much as a written account of any inward change ; and they practice fo to this day. A few months be- fore I feparated Mr. Elifha Williams, a former pre- •fident of Yale -college, publifhed a jcafonahle flea, for the rights of confcience^ wkcrein he fays, " The fountain and original of all civil power hfrom the feop:e, and is certainly inftituted for their fakes ; the great end of civil government, is the prefer- vation of their perfons, their liberties, and their property. A chrifiian is to receive his chriilianity FROM Christ alone ; for what is it which is neceflarily implied an4,fuppofed in the very notion of a CHRisTiA\ but this, that he is Tifolhiver and difc'ipk c/'cHR.iST ! As Chrifts officers have aurho- rity to teach men his mind in things pertaining to his kingdom ; fo they have no authority to teach men any thing but the mind and will of Chrift. It is a truth that fhines with a meridian bright- nefs, that whatever is not contained, in a corn- million, is out of it and excluded by it ; and the teaching HIS LAWS only being contained in the commlffion, what is not his law is out of it, and by that commifTion they arc excluded from teaching it, or forbid by it.'' BvT f% A 1^ P E N D I X. But what can be more contrary hereto thaa. for a civil legeflature to form typy town and pa«f fifli into ffligious/ocidies, 2ijid to force every inha- bitant therein either to fupporfe the ininiflcr which the qiajority have chofen, or elfi? to pay a yearly ^cknowiedgrnent to. that ufarped power over ^heir confciences ! And which isi as reai a breach of pubUc faith in pur charter, as ever it was for the Britifh court to, take from i^s the right of ^hoofing pnr own governors, and then to burn pur towns and cut our throats for natp.iyingthem^ as much money as, they demanded. 1 have the (^xpreis tcftimony of the ciders and brethren of fcvcateen of pur baptift churches, whometlafl year ^t Grafton, that they intircly agree with thc^ fentiments. and principles receited in our hiftory, p. 14— -32, excepting that of infant baptifm ; yet great numbers of them have been taxed to pedo'^' paptifts minifters fince that tinic, only becauic we refufc to pay any furtner ackno\fvledgment to the abnvcfaid ului ped power over our confcience?.. And ir.'ce it is abundantly evident that, our former fuffe»"ings would hav? been erea,ter irom the rul- ing party here than they wei'c, if ii had not been. for rellrainta; fiom the Britifh Gomt ; and a« it: is aUb certrin that attempts have been made from thence to prevent our uniting now with our coun- try againfl their invaiions, how can thofc who. ftill incline to opprefe us ever expc'^3^5* '7^7-^52 ij and then venture on further in that way if thcf" dare. It is to be noted, that a visry large number of our cOuntry-men of various denominations are for the equal liberty we fpeak of ; and 1 defire all to ad in the cafe by the rule Mr. Robinfon pre- fcribes p. 12, 13. and (hall eiofc with the word^ *S)fthe aforefaid Mr. Goddard, viz* In ancient ages, wheri the Eiiglifli realm And popifh zelots, placed at the helm To ftablilli that religion : tythes were fix'4 By cannon laws, with civil intermix'd. Which forrh'd the Englifll cdnftitution fd^ That after-ages can't the tythes forego : And hence diffenters are obliged there. To pay incumbantSi whom they never hear^ Which fome condemn, as a prelatic game^ Who y£t, by major vote would play the fam^ j And lorjO majority would claim the purfe For his incumbants ; than which nothing wcrffii Lordly diocefan, himfelf, can claim : So thefe two Lords do differ, but in name. One pleading EUglifh laws, for h-is fupport 5 The other feigning ads of Our own edurt ^ AUedging law, in a prevertcd fenfe To render charter grant, a raeer pretertce J And as if law and charter both intend To crufll one church, another to befriend : They'd make them mean, the fame that Phafok faid, Goferve the Lord, bid let icUrflbch he flafd. 3But if one church be tax'd, to ferve another^ N© matter whether^ done by this or t'other* ERRATA* PAGE 4, line 2, read ordinaries, /. 30, r. pradice. p. 1 8. L 3{,r. excommunicate them. P. 31,/. 9, r. as entire /. 23- r. Lcvites to. P. 44, /. 24, r. were. P, 53, / 4, for iVi:.fr /. 10, r. John. P. 62. /. 22, r. the. P. 81, marg. /. 13, r, 94 P. 85, m^rg. /. 1 i, r roith. P 8 ,^ /• 22, r. nineteen. P. 96, correal by P. 529 P. 98, line ult. r. a-, P« 107 /. 5. r. Thom-ts Olney and his wife. P. 1 10, /. 32, r. intc tht church. P. 145,/. 24, r. Reyncr. P. 147, marg. /. 17. r. Al-cc^S or. P. 159. L 8, r. before the. P. 163, /. 31, r. p. 58. P l6<;', /. 20, r. armories. P. 172,/. 10, r. peacably, /. 29, r. if his /. 3, r. ihefe. P. 180. /. 20, r. to be. P. 214, /. I3. r Aldcn. P. .^38 /. 17, r. give ail. P. 246, /; 6, r. join with. P. 247, / 4:-, fins, I. 9, r. he would. P. 273, /. 4. r to force or. P 274. icn.i g. I. 3, r, Robert Carr. P. 277, /. 27, r. charter. P 281, mai t. /. 12, r. that I, /. 14, r. fide, and do promife loving carriage of myfeif . P. 285 , /. 10, r. guilty of. P. 288, /. 3 >. r. noife whereof. P. 290, /. 24. r. or. P. 296 marg, /. 9, r. and Richard Townfend. P. 299, /. 16, r. dare not. P. 302, /, 13, r, afTcmblcri, /. 33, r. to this. P. 303, /- II, r. -with the reff of tht Providence plantations in the. P. 307. / 3. dele friends, /. ij.r. oncicfs with. P. 309, r. /.23.in the. P. 31 1, /. 30, r. wiongcd P.314, /.15:, r. ofa. p. 3 2 1, marg. /. 2, againft the. P. 323, /. 5, r. rfn^t'rrte the rocks. I. 14, dele not. P. 328, marg. r. p. 9, 28. P. 3 "4, L 13, r. Mr. P. 3.4.9, /. I, dele the. P. 3> i, /. 8, dele next. P. 353, /. I, r. an ad^, /. 4. r. and confent. P. 359, mag. /. 2.delefa)s. P. 360, /. 20, r. he would come and they. P. 369, /. i^-, r. fent fome. P. 370, /. 28, r. a fin. P. 37I,/. 25, dele and. P. 372, /.•8, r. a vifible. P. 37 j, bult, r. of the. P. 378./. 11, r- and that. P 384, /, 6, r. greateft, /. 28, r means to, /. 34, r. be'ore them. P. 387, /• 3, r. ofa, /. 28, f. and not.P. 389, Z. 19 r. 3, 15,, /. 24, r. I. Chron. P. 393, /. 13, r. you can f^y againft thofe. P. 397, /. II, r. through. P. 398, /. 27, r. as is moft. P. 4TI /, 34, r. much of. P. 41 3,/. 2 i , dele church afTetnbled. P. 421, Mirg. /. I?, r. thickcft. P. 424. /. 15, r. retiring. P. 426. /. i, r. May i3./. 34, r. are not. P. 427, /. 11, dele our before jfaith. P. 432, /. 28, r. of. P. 437, marg. 2. 1657. P. 439,'' mrirg. /. 17. r- 1609, /. 36, r. and he g^^'e. P. 444, marg. /. 6. dele aad.P. 445, A 2j. r.placed. P. 448, /. 23. r. they. P. 449, i. 19, r. could. P. 452, /. 12, r. is. /. 29, r. could. P. J4, /. 25, r. rule. P. 459, /. 215, r. parents. P. 463. /. 28, r.and wh^t, /, 32, r. 10,12, P. 468, /. 7. r. raarfh^l. P. 476, /. 8, r. governors. P, 477, /.30 from one. P. 479, /. 19, r. in going. P. 481, /. 8, r, built it, /. 2^. T. defed. P. 484, /. 20, r. wer»minifters. P. 487. /. tS, r. this remsval. P. 493, mirg. l. 5. 1. r. 1572, 6, r, write. P. 496, /. 6, r. accept. P. 497, /, 5, r, light. /. 7.r. any grounds, from the word ©f G»J» mmM. iiifffiiikiupiw. * -••: ;>