MASSACHUSETTS OR The first Planters of New-England, The End and Manner of their coming thither, and Abode there: In several EPISTLES
Boston in New-England, Printed by B. Green, and J. Allen. Sold by Richard Wilkins, at his Shop near the Old-Meeting-House. 1696.
THE HUMBLE Request Of His MAJESTIES Loyal Subjects, the Governour and the Company late gone for NEW-ENGLAND: To the rest of their Brethren, in and of the Church of ENGLAND. [...]or the obtaining of their Prayers, and the removal of suspicions and misconstructions of their Intentions.
THE general rumour of this solemn Enterprise, wherein our selves with others, through the providence of the Almighty, are ingaged, as it may spare us the labour of imparting our occasion [Page 2] unto you, so it gives us the more incouragement to strengthen our selves by the procurement of the prayers and blessings of the Lords faithful Servants: For which end we are bold to have recourse unto you, as those whom God hath placed nearest his throne of Mercy; which as it affords you the more opportunity, so it imposeth the greater bond upon you to intercede for his people in all their straits, we beseech you therefore by the Mercies of the LORD JESUS to consider us as your Brethren, standing in very great need of your help, and earnestly imploring it. And howsoever your Charity may have met with some occasion of discouragement through the misreport of our intentions, or through the disaffection, or indiscretion, of some of us, or rather amongst us: for we are not of those that dream of perfection in this World; yet we desire you would be pleased to take notice of the Principals, and Body of our Company, as those who esteem it our honour to call the Church of England, from whence we [...]ise, our dear Mother, and cannot part from our Native Country, where she specially resideth, without much sadness of heart, and many tears in our eyes, ever acknowledging that such hope and part as we have obtained in the common salvation, we have received in her bosome, and [...]uck [...] i [...] from her breasts: we leave it not therefore, [Page 3] as loathing that milk wherewith we were [...]ished there, but blessing God for the Parentage and Education, as members of the same body, shall always rejoyce in her good, and unfeignedly grieve for any sorrow that shall ever betide her, & while we have breath, syncerely desire and indeavour the continuance & abundance of her welfare, with the inlargement of her Bounds in the Kingdom of CHRIST JESUS.
Be pleased therefore Reverend FATHERS and BRETHREN, to help forward this work now in hand; which if it prosper, you shall be the more glorious: howsoever your judgment is with the LORD, and your reward with your God. It is an usual and laudable exercise of your charity, to commend to the prayers of your Congregations the necessities & straits of your private neighbours; Do the like for a Church springing out of your own bowels. We conceive much hope that this remembrance of us, if it be frequent and fervent, will be a most prosperous gale in ou [...] Sailes, and provide such a passage and welcome for us, from the GOD of the whole Earth, a [...] both we which shall find it, and your selves▪ with the rest of our friends, who shall hear of i [...], shall be much inlarged to bring in such daily returns of Thanksgivings, as the specialties of his Providence and Goodness may justly [Page 4] challenge at all our hands. You are not ignorant, that the Spirit of GOD stirred up the Apostle Paul to make continual mention of the Church of Philip [...] (which was a Colony from Rome) let the same Spirit, we beseech you, put you in mind, that are the Lords Remembrancers, to pray for us without ceasing (who are a weak Colony from your selves) making continual Request for us to GOD in all your prayers.
What we intreat of you that are the Ministers of GOD, that we also crave at the hands of all the rest of our Brethren, that they would at no time forget us in their private solicitations at the Throne of Grace. If any there be, who through want of clear intelligence of our course, or tenderness of affection towards us, cannot conceive so well of our way as we could desire, we would intreat such not to despise us, nor [...] desert us in their prayers and affections, but to consider rather, that they are so much the more bound to express the bowels of their compassion towards us, remembring always that both Nature and Grace, doth ever bind us [...]o relieve and rescue with our utmost and speediest power, such as are dear unto us, when we conceive them to be running uncomfortable hazards.
What goodness you shall extend to us in this or any other Christian kindness, we your Brethren [Page 5] in CHRIST JESUS shall labour to repay in what duty we are or shall be able to perform, promising so far as God shall enable us to give him no rest on your behalfs, wishing our heads and hearts may be as fountains of tears for your everlasting welfare, when we shall be in our poor Cottages in the Wilderness, over-shadowed with the spirit of supplication, through the manifold necessities and tribulations which may not altogether unexpectedly, nor, we hope, unprofitably befal us. And so commending you to the grace of GOD in CHRIST, we shall ever rest
- Jo. Winthrop. GOV.
- Charles Fines.
- George Phillips. &c.
- Rich. Saltonstall.
- Isaac Johnson.
- Tho. Dudley.
- William Coddington. &c.
TO THE Right HONOURABLE, My very good LADY, The Lady BRIDGET Countess of Lincoln.
YOUR Letters (which are not common nor cheap) following me hither into New-England, and bringing with them renewed Testimonies of the accustomed Favours you Honoured me [Page] with in the Old, have drawn from me this Narrative Retribution, which (in respect of your proper interest in some persons of great Note amongst us) was the thankfullest present I had to send over the Seas. Therefore I humbly intreat Your Honour this be Accepted as payment from him, who neither hath, nor is any more, Than
[Page 9] FOR the satisfaction of Your Honour, and some Friends, and for the use of such as shall hereafter intend to increase our Plantation in New England, I have in the throng of Domestick, and not altogether free from Publick Business, thought fit to commit to memory our present condition, and what hath be [...]allen us since our Arrival here; which I will do shortly, after my usual manner, and must do rudely, having yet no Table▪ nor other Room to Write in, then by the Fire-side upon my knee, in this sharp Winter; to which my Family must have leave to resort, though they break good manners, and make me many times forget what I would say, and say what I would not.
Concerning the English that are Planted here: I find that about the Year 1620. Certain English set out from L [...]yden in Holland, intending their Course for Ha [...]on's River.
These being much Weather beaten, and wearied with seeking the River, after a most tedious Voyage, Arrived at length in a small Bay, lying North-East from C [...]e C [...]d; where Landing about the Month of December, by the favour of a calm Winter, such as was never seen here since, begun to Build their Dwellings in that place, which now is called New-Plimouth: Where after much Sickness, [Page 10] Famine, Poverty and great Mortality, (through all which, God by an unwonted Providence carried them) they are now grown up to a People, Healthful, Wealthy, Politick and Religious; such things doth the Lord for those that wait for his Mercies. They of Plimouth came with Patents from King James, and have since obtained others, from our Soveraign, King Charles, having a Governour and Council of their own: There was about the same time, one Mr. Weston, an English Merchant, who sent divers men to Plant and Trade; who sate down by the River of [...], but these coming not for so good ends as those of Plymouth, sped not so well; for the most of them Dying and Languishing away, They who survived were rescued by those of Plymouth, out of the hands of [...], & his Indians, who oppressed those weak English, and intended to have destroyed them: And the Ply [...]otheans also, as is set down in a Tract, Written by Mr. Winslow of Plymouth: Also since, one Captain Wollaston with some Thirty with him, came near to the same place, and Built on an Hill, which he named Mount Wollaston; but being not supplied with renewed Provisions, they vanished away as the former did. Also divers Merchants of Bristol, and some other places, have yearly for these eight years, or thereabouts, sent Ships hither at [Page 11] the Fishing times, to Trade for Bever, where their Factors dishonestly for their gains, have furnished the Indians with Guns, Swords, Powder and Shot.
Touching the Plantation which we here have begun: it fell out thus. About the Year 1627. some Friends being together in Lincolnshire, fell into discourse about New England, and the Planting of the Gospel there; and after some deliberation, we imparted our reasons, by Letters and Messages, to some in London and the West Country; where it was likewise deliberately thought upon, and at length with often negotiation so ripened, that in the year 1628. we procured a Patent from His Majesty for our Planting between the Massachusetts Bay and Charles River on the South, and the River of Merrimack on the North, and three miles on either side of those Rivers and Bay; as also for the Government of those who did or should Inhabit within that Compass: And the same year we sent Mr. John Endicott, and some with him, to begin a Plantation; and to strengthen such [...] he should find there, which we sent thither from Dorchester, and some places adjoyning: from whom the same year receiving hopeful News: The next year, 1629. we sent divers Ships over, with about Three Hundred People, and some Cowes, Goats and Horses, [Page 12] many of which Arrived safely. These by their too large Commendations of the Country, and the Commodities thereof, invited us so strongly to go on, that Mr. Winthrop of Suffolk, (who was well known in his own Country, and well approved here, for his Piety, Liberality, Wisdom and Gravity) coming in to us, we came to such resolution, that in April, 1630 we set Sail from Old England with four good Ships. And in May following eight more followed; two having gone before in February and March, and two more following in June and August, besides another Set ou [...] by a private Merchant. These seventeen Ship Arrived all safe in New England, for the increase of the Plantation here this year 1630▪ but made a long, a troublesome and costly Voyage, being all Wind bound long in England and hindred with contrary Winds, after they set Sail, and so scartered with Mists and Tempests, that few of them Arrived together. Ou [...] four Ships which set out in April, Arrived here in June and July, where we found the Colony in a sad and unexpected condition, above Eighty of them being Dead the Winter before; and many of those alive, weak and sick; all the Corn and Bread amongst them all, hardly sufficient to feed them a fortnight: insomuch that the remainder of an Hundred and Eighty Servants we had the two years [Page 13] before sent over, coming to us for Victuals to sustain them, we found our selves wholly unable to feed them, by reason that the Provisions Shipped for them, were taken out of the Ship they were put in; and they who were trusted to Ship them in another, failed us, and le [...]t them behind; whereupon necessity enforced us to our extreme loss, to give them all Liberty; who had cost us about Sixteen or Twenty Pound a Person, furnishing and sending over. But bearing these things as we might, we began to consult of the Place of our Sitting down: For Salem where we Landed, pleased [...]s not. And to that purpose, some were sent to the Bay, to search up the Rivers for a convenient place; who upon their return, reported to have found a good place upon Mistick; but some other of us, seconding these, to approve or dislike of their judgment; we found a place liked us better, three Leagues up Charles River: And thereupon Unshipped our Goods into other Vessels, and with much Cost and Labour, brought them in July to Charlstown; but there receiving advertisements (by some of the late arrived Ships) from London and Amsterdam of some French Preparations against us (many of our people brought with us being sick of Fevers, and the Scurvy, and we thereby unable to carry up our Ordinance and Baggage so far) we were forced to change counsel, [Page 14] and for our present shelter to Plant dispersedly, some at Charlstown, which standeth on the North-side of the mouth of Charles River; some on the South-side thereof, which place we named Boston (as we intended to have done the place we first resolved on) some of us upon Mistick, which we named Meadford; some of us Westward on Charles River, four miles from Charlstown, which place we named Watertown; others of us two miles from Boston, in a place we named Roxbury others upon the River of Sawgus, between Salem and Charlstown: And the Western men four miles South from Boston, at a place w [...] named Dorchester. This Dispersion troubled some of us, but help it we could not, wanting ability to remove to any place fit to Build a Town upon; and the time too short to deliberate any longer, least the Winter should surprize us before we had Builded our Houses. The best counsel we could find out was to Build a Fort to retire to, in some convenient place, if any Enemy pressed us thereunto, after we should have fortifyed our selves against the injuries of wet and cold. So ceasing to consult further for that time, they who had Health to Labour, fell to Building, wherein many were interrupted with Sickness, and ma [...] Dyed weekly, yea, almost daily. Amongst whom were Mrs. Pinchon, Mrs. Coddington, [Page 15] Mrs. Phillips, and Mrs. Alcock, a Sister of Mr. Hookers. Insomuch that the Ships being now upon their Return, some for England, some for Ireland; there was as I take it not much less than an Hundred (some think many more) partly out of dislike of our Government, which restrained and punished their Excesses; and partly through fear of Famine, not seeing other means than by their Labour to feed themselves) which returned back again; and glad were we so to be rid of them. Others also afterwards hearing of men of their own Disposition, which were Planted at Pascataway, went from us to them; whereby though our Numbers were lessened, yet we accounted our selves nothing weakned by their Removal: Before the Departure of the Ships, we contracted with Mr. Peirce, Master of the Lyon of Bristol, to Return to us with all speed, with fresh supplies of Victuals, and gave him directions accordingly; with this Ship returned Mr. Revil, one of the five Undertakers here, for the joynt Stock of the Company; and Mr. Vassal, one of the Assistants, and his Family; and also Mr. Bright, a Minister sent hither the year before: The Ship being gone, Victuals wasting, and Mortality increasing, we held divers Fasts in our several Congregations, but the Lord would not yet be Deprecated; for about the beginning of September, Dyed [Page 16] Mr. Gager, a right Godly man, a skilful Chyrurgeon, and one of the Deacons of our Congregation. And Mr. Higginson, one of the Ministers of Salem, a zealous and a profitable Preacher; this of a Consumption, that of a Fever: And on the 30 th. of September, Dyed Mr. Johnson, another of the five Undertakers, (the Lady ARBELLA his Wi [...]e being Dead a Month before) This Gentleman was a prime man amongst us, having the best Estate of any; zealous for Religion, and the greatest furtherer of this Plantation; he made a most Godly End, Dying willingly, professing his Life better spent in promoting this Plantation, than it could have been any other way. He left to us a Loss greater then the most conceived. Within a month after, Dyed Mr. Rossiter, another of our Assistants, a Godly man, and of a good Estate, which still weakned us more: So that now there were left of the five Undertakers, but the Governour, Sir Richard Saltonstall, [...]d my self, and seven other of the Assistants. And of the People who came over with us, from the time of their Setting Sail from England, in April 1630. until December following, there Dyed by Estimation about Two Hundred at the least; so low hath the Lord brought us! Well, yet they who Survived were not discouraged, but bearing Gods Corrections with Humility, and trusting in His [Page 17] Mercies, and considering how after a lower ebb he had raised up our Neighbours at Plymouth, we began again in December to consult about a fit place to Build a Town upon; leaving all thoughts of a Fort, because upon any Invasion, we were necessarily to lose our Houses, when we should retire thereinto: So after divers Meetings at Boston, Roxbury and Watertown, on the Twenty Eighth of December, we grew to this resolution, to bind all the Assistants (Mr. Endicott, and Mr. Sharp excepted, which last purposeth to return by the next Ship into England) to Build Houses, at a place a mile East from Watertown, near Charles River, the next Spring, and to Winter there the next year; that so by our Examples, and by removing the Ordnance and Munition thither, all who were able, might be drawn thither, and such as shall come to us hereafter to their advantage, be compelled so to do; and so if God would, a Fortifyed Town might there grow up, the place fitting reasonably well thereto. I should before have mentioned how both the English and Indian Corn being at ten shillings a strike, and Bever being valued at six shillings a Pound; we made Laws to restrain the Selling of Corn to the Indians, and to leave the price of Bever at liberty, which was presently Sold for ten, and twenty Shillings a Pound. I should also have remembred, how [Page 18] the half of our Cowes, and almost all our Mares and Goates, sent us out of England, Dyed at Sea, in their Passage hither; and that those intended to be sent us out of Ireland, were not sent at all; all which, together with the loss of our six months Building occasioned by our intended Removal to a Town to be Fortifyed, weakned our Estates, especially the Estates of the Undertakers, who were Three or Four Thousand Pounds ingaged in the joynt stock, which was now not above so many Hundreds; yet many o [...] us laboured to bear it as comfortably as we could, remembring the end of our Coming hither, and knowing the power of God, who can support and raise us again; and useth to bring his Servants low, that the meek may be made glorious by Deliverance.
I have no leisure to Review and Insert things forgotten, but out of due time and order must set them down as they come to memory. About the end of October, this year 1630. I joyned with the Governour, and Mr. Maverick in sending out our Pinace to the Narragansetts, to Trade for Corn, to supply our wants; but after the Pinace had doubled Cape Cod, she put into the next Harbour she found, and there meeting with Indians, who shewed their willingness to Truck; she made her Voyage there, and brought us an Hundred [Page 19] Bushels of Corn, at about four shillings a Bushel, which helped us something. From the Coast where they Traded, they saw a very large Island, four Leagues to the East, which the Indians commended as a fruitful place, full of good Vines, and free from sharp Frosts, having one only Entrance into it▪ [...]y a Navigable River, Inhabited by a [...]ew Indians, which for a trifle would leave the Island, if the English would set them upon the Main; but the [...]ina [...]e having no direction for Discovery, returned without Sailing to it, which in two Hours they might have done: Upon [...] Coast they found store of Vines full of Grapes dead ripe, the Season being past; whither we purpose to send the next year sooner, to make some small quantity of Wine, i [...] God inable us; the Vines growing thin with us, and we not having yet any leisure to Plant Vineyards. But now having some leisure to discourse of the motives for other mens coming to this place, or their abstaining from i [...]; after my brief manner, I say this That if any come hither to Plant for Worldly Ends, that can live well at Home, he commits an Error, of which he will soon repent him: [...]ut i [...] for Spiritual, and that no particular [...] hinder his Removal, he may find [...]ere what may well content him: viz Materials to [...] [...]wel to Burn, Ground to Plant, S [...]s and Rivers to [Page 20] Fish in, a pure Air to Breath in, good Water to drink, till Wine or Beer can be made; which together with the Cowes, Hoggs and Goats brought hither already, may suffice for Food; as for Fowl and Venison, they are Dainties here as well as in England. For Cloaths and Bedding, they must bring them with them, till time and industry produce them here. In a word, we yet enjoy little to be envyed, but endure much to be pittied in the Sickness▪ and Mortality of our People: And I do the more willingly use this open and pl [...] dealing, least other men should fall short of their expectations, when they come hither, as we to our great prejudice did; by means of Letters sent us from hence into England; wherein honest men out of a desire to draw over others to them, wrote somewhat hyperbolically of many things here: If any Godly men out of Religious Ends will come over, to help us in the good Work we are about: I think they cannot dispose of themselves, nor of their Estates more to God's Glory, and the furtherance of their own Reckoning: But they must not be of the poorer sort yet, for divers years. For we have found by experience, that they have hindred, not furthered the Work: And for profane and debauched persons, their oversight in coming hither is wondred at, where they shall find nothing [Page 21] to content them. If there be any Endued with Grace, and furnished with means to feed themselves and theirs for eighteen months, and to Build and Plant, let them come into our Ma [...]edonia, and help us, and not spend themselves and their Estates in a less profitable Employment: for others, I conceive they are not yet fitted for this Business.
Touching the Discouragement which the Sickness and Mortality which every first year hath seized upon us, and those of Plymouth, as appeareth before, may give to such who have cast any thoughts this way (of which Mortality it may be said of us almost as of the Egyptians, that there is not an House where there is not one dead, and in some Houses many) the natural causes seem to be, the want of warm Lodging, and good Dyet, to which English men are habituated at home; and in the sudden increase of heat, which they endure that are Landed here in Summer; the salt meats at Sea having prepared their Bodies thereto; for those only these two last years dyed of Fevers, who Landed in June and July; as those of Plymouth, who Landed in Winter, dyed of the Scurvy; as did our poorer sort, whose Housing and Beding, kept them not sufficiently warm, nor their Dyet sufficiently in heart: other causes God may have, as our Faithful Minister, Mr. Wilson (lately [Page 22] handling that point) shewed unto us; which I forbear to mention, leaving this matter to the further Dispute of Physicians and Divines.
Wherefore to return, upon the Third of January, Dyed the Daughter of Mr. Sharp, a Godly Virgin, making a comfortable end, after a long sickness. The Plantation here received not the like loss of any Woman, since we came hither; and therefore she well deserves to be remembred in this Place.
Amongst those who Dyed about the end of this January, there was a Girl of Eleven Years Old, the Daughter of one John R [...]ggles, who in the time of her Sickness, expressed to the Minister, and those about her, so much Faith and Assurance of Salvation, as is rarely found in any of that Age; which I thought not unworthy here to commit to memory: and if any tax me for wasting paper with Recording these small matters; such may consider, that small things in the beginning of natural or politick Bodies, are as remarkable as greater, in Bodies full grown
Upon the fifth of February, Arrived here Mr. Pierce, with the Ship Lyon of Bristol, with supplies of Victuals from England; who had set forth from Bristol the first of December before. He had a Stormy Passage hither, and lost one of his Saylors not far from our Shore, who in a Tempest having helped to take in [Page 23] the Sprit Sail, lost his hold as he was coming down, and fell into the Sea; where, after long Swimming, he was Drowned, to the great dolour of those in the Ship, who beheld so lamentable a Spectacle, without being able to minister help to him, the Sea was so so high, and the Ship drove so fast before the Wind, though her Sails were taken down. By this Ship we understand of the Fight of three of our Ships, and two English Men of War coming out of the Straits, with Fourteen D [...] kirks, upon the Coast of England, as they Returned from us, in the end of the last Summer; who through Gods Goodness, with the loss of some thirteen or fourteen men, out of our three Ships; and I know not how many out of the two Men of War, got at length clear of them. The Charles, one of our three, a stout Ship, of 300 Tonn, being so torn, that she had not much of her le [...]t whole above water. By this Ship we also understand of the Death of many of those who went from us the last year to England, as likewise of the Mortality there; whereby we see there are Graves in other places as well as with us.
Amongst others who Dyed about this time, was Mr. Robert Welden, who in the time of his Sickness we had Chosen to be Captain of 100. Foot, but before he took possession of his place, he Dyed, the sixteenth of this February, [Page 24] and was Buried as a Souldier, with three Vollyes of Sho [...]t. Upon the Twenty Second of February we Held a General Day of Thanksgiving throughout the whole Colony, for the safe Arrival of the Ship which came last with our Provisions.
Upon the Eighth of March, from after it was fair day light, until about Eight of the Clock in the Forenoon, there flew over all the Towns in our Plantations, so many Flocks of Doves, each Flock containing many Thousands, and some so many, that they obscured the Light, that it passeth credit, if but the Truth should be written; and the thing was the more strange, because I scarce remember to have seen ten Doves since I came into the Country: They were all Turtles, as appeared by divers of them we killed Flying, somewhat bigger than those of Europe, and they flew from the North-east, to the South-west; but what it portends, I know not.
The Ship now waits but for Wind, which when it B [...]owes, there are ready to go Aboard therein for England, Sir Richard Saltonstall, Mr. Sharp, Mr. Coddington, and many others; the most whereof purpose to return to us again, if God will. In the mean time, we are lest a People poor and contemptible, yet such as Trust in God; and are contented with our condition, being well assured, that he will not [Page 25] fail us nor forsake us. I had almost forgotten to add this, That the Wheat we received by this last Ship, stands us in thirteen or fourteen shillings a strike, and the Pease about eleven shillings a strike, besides the Adventure, which is worth three or four shillings a strike; which is an higher price than I ever tasted Bread of before.
Thus Madam, I have as I can, told Your Honour, all our matters; knowing Your Wisdom can make good use thereof. If I Live not to perform the like Office of my Duty hereafter, likely it is, some other will do it better.
Before the departure of the Ship (which yet was Wind-bound) there came unto us Sagamore John, and one of his Subjects, requiring satisfaction for the Burning of two Wigwams, by some of the English; which Wiggwams were not Inhabited, but stood in a place convenient for their shelter, when upon occasion, they should Travel that way. By Examination we found that some English Fowlers, having retired into that which belonged to the Subject; and leaving a Fire therein carelesly which they had kindled to warm them, were the cause of Burning thereof. For that which was the Sagamores, we could find no certain proof how it was Fired: yet least he should think us not sedulous enough to find it out, and so should [Page 26] depart discontentedly from us; we gave both him and his Subject, satisfaction for them both.
The like accident of Fire also befel Mr. Sharp, and Mr. Colborn, upon the seventeenth of this March; both whose Houses (which were as good, and as well furnished as the most in the Plantation) were in two hours space Burned to the ground; together with much of their Houshold-stuff, Apparel, and other things; as also some Goods of others, who Sojourned with them in their Houses; God so pleasing to exercise us with Corrections of this kind, as he hath done with others. For the prevention whereof, in our New Town intended this Summer to be Builded; we have ordered that no man there shall Build his Chimney with Wood, nor cover his House with Thatch, which was readily assented unto; for that divers other Houses have been Burned since our Arrival.
Upon the Eighteenth Day of March, came one from Salem, and told us, that upon the Fifteenth thereof, there Dyed Mrs. Skelton, the Wife of the other Minister there. She was a Godly and an helpful Woman, she lived desired, and dyed lamented, and well deserves to be honourably remembred.
Upon the Twenty fifth of this March, one of Watertown having lost a Calf, and about ten of the Clock at night, hearing the Howling [Page 27] of some Wolves not far off, raised many of his Neighbours out of their Beds; that by Discharging their Muskets near about the place where he heard the Wolves, he might so put the Wolves to flight, and save his Calf: The Wind serving fit to carry the Report of the Muskets to Roxbury, three miles off, at such a time; the Inhabitants there took an Alarm, Beat up their Drum, Armed themselves, and sent in Post to us to Boston, to Raise us also: So in the morning, the Calf being found safe, the Wolves affrighted, and our danger past, we went merrily to Breakfast.
I thought to have ended before, but the stay of the Ship, and my desire to inform Your Honour of all I can, hath caused this Addition: And every one having warning to prepare for the Ships departure to morrow, I am now this Twenty Eighth of March, 1631. Sealing my Letters.
The PREFACE of the Reverend Mr. John Allin, of Dedham, and of Mr. Thomas Shepard of Cambridge in New-England, before their De [...]ence of the Answer made unto the Nine Questions.
IT was the Profession of the Lord Jesus before Pilate, when he questioned with him about his Kingdom, John 18. 37. That for this cause he was born and came into the world, to bear witness of the Truth. Many Truths about the Spiritual Kingdom of Christ hath he imparted to us; if therefore we be born into the world, or sent into this Wilderness to bear witness to his Truth, it is unto us reward sufficient, that we should be Witnesses thereunto, even to the Utmost parts of the Earth. We confess we have been too slow in this Service of Christ, not having to this day set forth an unanimous Confession of that Form of wholsome words which is Preached, received and professed in these Churches of the Lord Jesus; and which we are not unmindful of, though our distances, and other difficulties may delay the opportunity. But [Page 29] this in the mean time we profess in general, That (so far as we know) there is the same blefled Spirit of Truth breathing in the Ministry of the Country; the same Faith embraced and professed in the Churches, which is generally received as the Orthodox Doctrine of the Gospel, in the best reformed Churches, and particularly by our Godly Learned Brethren of England and Scotland. And though Errors have sprung up among us, and some are gone out from us, that we [...]ear were not of us, yet we have born witness against them, and by the blessing of God, by the breath of Christ in the mo [...]ths of his Servants they have been blasted. Neither do we understand that these Churches are accused of any Errors about the saving Truths of the Gospel, and therefore we thought our selves not so much called of God to such a Confession at present, as to clear up to the World those Truths we profess about the Kingdom and Government of Christ in his Churches; which is the great work of this age, and of this nick of time. And yet here also we fe [...]r that we have been too slack; for though it be said, We are the Volunteers, such as cry up this way, &c. and so it seems we are apprehended to be one cause of these present differences: yet if things be well weighed, we may seem rather to be far behind in the duty that lies upon us. Indeed [Page 30] some brief Answers sent over to some particular persons, to satisfie Brethren what our practise is, (with some brief touch of our reasons) rather than to [...]iscuss those points, have been printed by some without our knowledge, or assent, upon what grounds they best know. And some short Treatises by some Reverend Brethren have been published to declare their affectionate desires of the unanimous endeavours of all our dear Brethren, for a general and holy Reformation. But what hath been said or done▪ that either may justly offend the minds of the godly, provoke their spirits, disunite their affections, or hinder a godly Reformation? Yea, we have been too slow to clear our Doctrine and practise from the many objections, harsh interpretations, and manifold Crimin [...] [...] cast upon the same, wherein we fear our l [...]thness to intermeddle in these Controversies for fear o [...] making the breach wider amongst Brethren; and our desire rather to attend what light we might receive from others in these points, wherein we profess our selves seekers a [...]ter the Truth, have made us guilty of neglect in this our duty. But now we see our selves pressed hereto, by a necessity of justifying our waves against the many aspersions cast upon them, as well as against the reasons used against them. For we perceive by the first Letters of our Brethren, how the withdrawing [Page 31] drawing of Christians from the Liturgy was imputed to us, and by this Reply both in the Epistle and divers passages, we cannot but see what apprehensions are raised of us; yea, many are apt to think, that if we had said nothing, yet our very act in forsaking the Churches of God in our dear native Country, and the Cause of Christ there, together with the practise of these Churches, thought to be so different from the reformed Churches, have been, not only a great weakening to the hands of the Godly, (that have stood by the Cause of Christ) but also have caused great disturbance to the Reformation in hand: To which much might be said, but that we should exceed the bounds of an Epistle. Yet let us intreat all the Godly wise, to consider and look back upon the season of this great Enterprise, undertaken by us, and the manner of our proceedings in it, with the admirable workings of Gods Providence first and last about it; and we think (though we were silent) they may easily satisfie themselves, whether this was of God or men; a sinful neglect of the Cause of Christ, or a manifest attestation to the Truth, by open profession against Corruptions of Worship in use, and for the necessity of Reformation of the Church; and that confirmed by no small degree of Sufferings for the same. For was it not a time when [Page 32] Humane Worship and Inventions were grown to such an intolerable height, that the Consciences of Gods Saints and Servants, inlightened in the truth, could no longer bear them? was not the power of the tyranical Prelates so great, that like a strong Current, carried all down stream before it; whatever was from the Law, or otherwise set in their way? Did not the hearts of men generally fail them? Where was the people to be found that would cleave to their godly Ministers in their sufferings; but rather thought it their discretion, to provide for their own quiet and safety? Yea, when some freely in zeal of the Truth preached or professed against the corruptions of the times, old not some take offence at it, judge it rashness, and to be against all rules of discretion, who since are ready to censure us for deserting the Cause? Many then thought, it i [...] an e [...]il time, the prudent shall hold their peace, and might we not say, This is not our resting place? And what would men have us do in such a case? Must we study some distinctions to salve our Consciences in complying with so manifold corruptions in Gods Worship? or should we live without God's Ordinances, because we could not partake in the corrupt administration thereof? or content our selves to live without those Ordinances of Gods Worship and Communion of [Page 33] Saints, which he called us unto, and our Souls breathed after? or should we forsake the publick Assemblies, and joyn together in private separated Churches? how unsufferable it would then have been, the great offence that now is taken at it, is a full evidence. And if in Cities, or some such great Towns, that might have been done, yet how was it possible for so many scattered Christians all over the Countrey? It is true, we might have suffered, if we had sought it, we might easily have found the way to have filled the Prisons, and some had their share therein. But whether we were called thereunto, when a wide door was set open of liberty otherwise; and our witness to the Truth (through the malignant policy of those times) could not be open before the world, but rather smothered up in close prisons or some such wayes, together with our selves, we leave to be considered. We cannot see but the rule of Christ to his Apostles and Saints, and the practise of Gods Saints in all Ages, may allow us this liberty as well as others, to fly into the Wilderness from the face of the Dragon. But if it had been so, that the Godly Ministers and Christians that fled to New England, were the most timoorus and faint hearted of all their Brethren, that stayed behind, and that those Sufferings were nothing in comparison of their Brethrens [Page 34] (for why should any boast of sufferings?) yet who doth not know that the Spirit who gives various gifts, and all to profit withal, in such times doth single out every one to such work, as he in wisdom intends to call them unto? And whom the Lord will honour by suffering for his Cause, by imprisonment, &c. he gives them spirits suitable thereto: whom the Lord will reserve for other service, or imploy in other places, he inclines their hearts rather to fly, giving them an heart suitable to such a condition. It is a case of Conscience frequently put, and oft resolved by holy Bradford, Peter Martyr, Philpot, and others in Queen Maries bloody dayes, viz. Whether it was lawful to flee out of the Land? To which their answer was, that if God gave a spirit of courage and willingness to glorifie him by Sufferings, they should stay; but if they found not such a spirit, they might lawfully fly; yea, they advised them thereunto. Those Servants of Christ, though full of the spirit of glory, and of Christ to outface the greatest persecuters in profession of the Truth, unto the death; yet did not complain of the cowardize of such as fled, because they deserted them & the Cause; but rather advised divers so to do, and rejoyced when God gave liberty to their brethren to escape with their lives to the places of liberty, to serve the Lord according to his [Page 35] Word. Neither were those faithful Saints and Servants of God useless and unprofitable in the Church of God that fled from the bloody Prelates. The infinite and only wise God hath many works to do in the World, and he doth by his singular Providence give gifts to his Servants, and disposeth them to his Work as seemeth best to himself. If the Lord will have some to bear witness by imprisonments, dismembring, &c. we honour them therein; if he will have others instrumental to promote Reformation in England, we honour them, and rejoyce in their holy endeavours, praying for a blessing upon themselves and labours. And what if God will have his Church and the Kingdom of Christ go up also in these remote parts of the World, that his Name may be known to the Heathen, or whatsoever other end he hath, and to this end will send forth a company of weak hearted Christians, which dare not stay at home to suffer, why should we not let the Lord alone, & rejoyce that Christ is Preached howsoever, & wheresoever? And who can say that this work was not undertaken and carryed on with sincere and right ends, & in an holy serious manner, by the chief, and the body of such as undertook the same? The Lord knows whether the sincere desires of worshipping himself according to his will, of promoting and propagating the Gospel, was not in [Page 36] the hearts of very many in this Enterprise; & he that seeth in secret, and rewardeth openly, knows what prayers & tears have been poured out to God by many alone, and in dayes of Fasting and Prayer of Gods servants together, for his counsel, direction, assistance, blessing in this work: How many longings and pantings of heart have been in many after the Lord Jesus, to see his goings in his Sanctuary, as the one thing their Souls desired and requested of God, that they might dwell in his house for ever; the fruit of which prayers and desires this liberty of New England hath been taken to be, and thankfully received from God. Yea, how many serious consultations with one another, & with the faithful Ministers, and other eminent servants of Christ, have been taken about this work, is not unknown to some; which clears us from any rash heady rushing into this place, out of discontent, as many are ready to conceive. We will here say nothing of the persons whose hearts the Lord stirred up in this business; surely all were not rash, weak spirited, inconsiderate of what they left behind, or of what it was to go into a Wilderness. But if it were well known and considered, or if we were able to express and recount the singular workings of divine Providence, for the bringing on of this Work, to what it is come unto, it would stop the mouths of all that have not an [Page 37] heart to accuse and blaspheme the Goodness of God in his glorious Works. Whatever many may say or think, we believe after-times will admire and adore the Lord herein, when all his holy Ends, and the wayes he hath used to bring them about, shall appear. Look from one end of the heaven to another, whether the Lord hath assayed to do such a Work as this in any Nation, so to carry out a people of his own from so flourishing a State, to a wilderness so far distant, for such ends, and for such a Work: Yea, and in few years hath done for them, as he hath here done for his poor despised people. When we look back and consider what a strange poise of spirit the Lord hath laid upon many of our hearts, we cannot but wonder at our selves, that so many, and some so weak and tender, with such cheerfulness and constant resolutions against so many perswasions of friends, discouragements from the ill report of this Country, the straits, wants and [...]vals of Gods people in it, &c. yet should leave our accommodations & comforts, should forsake our dearest Relations, Parents, Brethren, Sisters, Christian friends, and Acquaintances; overlook all the dangers and difficulties of the vast Seas, the thought whereof was a terrour to many; and all this to go to a Wilderness, where we could forecast nothing but care and temptations; onely in hopes of enjoying Christ in [Page 38] his Ordinances, in the fellowship of his people. Was this from a stupid senslesness or desperate carelesness what became of us or ours? or want of natural affections to our dear Country, or nearest Relations? No surely. With what bowels of compassion to our dear Country; with what heart-breaking affections, to our dear Relations, and Christian friends many of us, at least, came away, the Lord is witness. What shall we say of the singular Providence of God bringing so many Shiploads of his people, through so many dangers, as upon Eagles wings, with so much safety from year to year? The fatherly care of our God in feeding and cloathing so many in a Wilderness, giving such healthfulness and great increase of posterity? What shall we say of the Work it self of the kingdom of Christ? and the form of a Common-wealth erected in a Wilderness, and in so few years brought to that state, that scarce the like can be seen in any of our English Colonies in the richest places of this America, after many more years standing? That the Lord hath carryed the spirits of so many of his people through all their toylsome labour, wants, difficulties, losses, &c. with such a measure of chearfulness and contentation? But above all we must acknowledge the singular pitty and mercies of our God, that hath done all this and [Page 39] much more for a people so unworthy, so sinful, that by murmurings of many, unfaithfulness in promises, oppressions, and other evils which are found among us, have so dishonoured his Majesty, exposed his work here to much scandal and obloquie, for which we have cause for ever to be ashamed, that the Lord should yet own us, and rather correct us in mercy, then cast us off in displeasure, and scatter us in this Wilderness, which gives us cause with Mich. 7. to say, Who is a God like our God, that pardoneth iniquities, and passeth by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage; even because [...] [...]igh [...]eth in mercy? Tho' we [...]e a people of many [...] [...]nesses & wants, yet we acknowledge [...] been to us a God of many mercies, in respect of that sweet peace which he hath taken away from so many Nations, yet continuing the same to us; in respect also of that liberty we have in Gods house, the blessed Ministry of the Word, the sweet unity and communion of Gods Churches and Ministers, increase & multiplication of Churches, Christian Government in the Common wealth, and many other mercies we enjoy; but especially the gracious presence of Christ to many of our Souls in all these. But we will not insist much upon this subject, being perswaded it is in the Consciences and Hearts of many of [Page 40] our dear Country-men to think that we should be an object of love and tenderness to that State and People, by whose Laws and unkind usages we were driven out into a Wilderness; rather then to be judged as desertors of our Brethren, and the Cause of Christ in hand: with-whom (excuse us if we now speak plainly) it had been far more easie unto many of us to have suffered, then to have adventured hither upon the Wilderness sorrows we expected to have met withal; though we must confess the Lord hath sweetned it beyond our thoughts, and utmost expectations of prudent men. &c. &c.
- JOHN ALLIN.
- THO. SHEPARD.
In Domini Nortoni Librum, ad Lectorem Praefatio Apologetica.
G RAVIS ea quidem Calumni [...] est, et [...]ndore spiritus Christiani indigna ad [...]edum, Fratres [...]ive e Belgio reduces, [...]ive in nova Anglia exulantes, Rerum Anglicarum ru [...]am praesentiscentes; t [...]nquam sor [...]ces e domo labante, [...]fugisse, [...]t s [...]luti quidem suae previde prospicerent; communis autem causae Reformationis patrocinium, per [...]ide desererent. Non sic [...]lim vitio vertehatur Eliae, qui prae metu Jezebelis, in desertum aufugiss▪ [...]ertur, I Reg 19. Nec piis illis Confessoribus, qui in Mariana tempestate, in [...]xteras [...] [...], cum per id [...] (si restitissent) restaret copia, a [...]plum, satis et luculentum Testimonium perhibendi Veritati; cum Disputatio [...]ibus publicis, tum Confessionibus: idque non solum coram frequenti Judicum consessu, ut rederentur in excusabiles; sed etiam coram universo p [...]puli circumstipantis [...] qui perspect a fratrum invicta fide & patientia, redderentur ipsi quoque const [...]nies in fide, invicti, inexpugnabiles. E [...] tamen discesserunt viri ist: boni, bona fratrum cum venia: Venia? imo & gratia: neque omnino vel ut desertores fratrum, vel ut proditores Causae, e [...] nomine male au diebant. At nobiscum nuperis hisce diebus, longe iniqui [...] actum fuisse, nemo est tam bardus, qui non intelligat, nemo [Page 42] ingenu [...]s rerum aestimator, qui non agnoscut. Si quispiam nostrum coram Trib [...]ali compareret, protinus affantur, He [...]s tu, num juramentum, quod ex officio tibi imponimus, capescere lubeat? Si capias, mille nocendi artes, et certa necessitas, & temetipsum, et fratres cum accusandi, tum prodendi in [...]nextr [...]abiles legulejorum malignantium labyrint [...] Sin juramentum recuses, apage illico ad c [...]rceres; [...]lla [...]mplius [...]stat Libertas, vel disputa [...]di, vel c [...]fitendi, sed tantum dura necessitas in perpetus squellidi et umbrosi carceris filentio con [...]bescendi. Quam igitur it a se res haberet, ut [...]bis [...]t in car [...]ere i [...]ter per [...]ndum, [...] s [...]l [...] vertendum, Christi duce, soli vertendi confilium inibamus, [...] fratribus. Fratres autem issi ques cons [...]i [...]isse [...] viri leves (invisa et cassa capita) sed viri Dei, tum [...], tum sancta prudentia spectatissimi. Illi autem pro [...] qua pollebant, saprentia, perpensis omnibus (qu [...] ad tam [...] negotium spectabant) rerum moment is, judic [...]nt, potuisse [...]s Testimonium a [...] plius longe et luculentius causae Christi praebere, partim libera pr [...]edicatione verbi, partim viva praxi Ecclesiasticae Discipli [...]ae, in caeteris Regionibus, quam Londini in arctis is [...]etrisque carceribus, ubi nec librorum, nec calamorum, nec amicorum, nec conscionum copia concederetur.
Juvet praeterea meminisse, consulnisse not etiam privatos quam plurimos vir [...]s, ecsque syneor [...]e pietatis [Page 43] prefess [...]ne conspicuos, qui in [...] i [...]is degebant, qu [...]rum nobis [...] impendebat, et qui ipsi maxime pendebant a ministeri [...] nostro. Et borum quide [...] pars, qui libertati conscienti [...], e [...] puritati cultus i [...]pensius studebant, tantoper [...] probar [...] con [...]ilii nostri de dis [...]essu r [...]tionent, ut ultro sese offerrent C [...]ites Iti [...]eris, etiam in Ultimas [...]his terr [...]rum eras, si Dominus via [...] aperuerit. Pars [...] altera, qui propendebant magis, licet n [...]n approbationi, tamen tol [...]ationi adinventionum h [...]rum, hi etiam consilium nostrum de discess [...] prob [...]nt, ut p [...]te cum nobis, tum paci Ecclesiae appri [...] pernecessorium: ta [...]tsi consultius se facturos a [...]arent, si libertatent pacemque [...], succumbendo oneri, sive subscriptionis (ut l [...]qu [...]ntur) sive conformit-tis, ipsi redi [...]erent. Sic bona cum venia, i [...]o et gratia, discessum est invicem, non sine multis utri [...]que gemitibus, suspiriis, [...]achrymis inter amplexandum, et valedicendum.
In istas aute [...] (bono cum Deo) cum appulimus oras, & sine [...]jusquam offensa l [...]ti f [...]uere [...]ur (pro summae Dei op. max. benignitate) ea conscientiarum libertate, et institutionum Christi puritate, quam a [...]imitus quaerebamus, haud ita multo post, ex praxi Ecclesiasti [...]ae politeias, quam hic ex [...]cere caepimus, hoc inprimis expert [...] sumus, posse Ecclesiasticam politeiam, cum politeia civil [...] optime consistere, et tanquam Hippocratis gemellos, et ridere simul, et s [...]mul flere. Atque hoc non [...] Testimonium viris prudentibus visum est, posse [...], quam pro [...] [Page 44] disciplinam, publica anthoritate stabiliri, tum sine n [...]ta Schismatis in Ecclesia, tum fine periculo Seditionis in Republica. Atque hinc etiam obstaculum aliud, quod subinde in publicis Regni Anglicani Comitiis, adversus pur [...]oris disciplinae zelotas objici solebat, facile amovebatur. Oggerebant siquid em viri, civili prudentia haud incelebres, fieri non posse, ut zelotae isti in unam Ecclesiasticae Politeias formam (ne si optio quidem daretur) communi inter se consensu, unquam conspirare velint. Objectaculum (inquam) hoc, experientia teste, ap [...]d nos, [...]lo negotio amotum est. Concordes etenim (pro eximiae Iesu Christi gratia) in unam [...]andemque Ecclesiastici Regiminis formam, sine vi, sine strepitu, sine tumultu, t [...]cito omnium consensu, extempl [...] coaluim [...]s.
Posteaquam autem Domini Iesu praestitutum tempus advenit, quo misereretur Z ionts, in Angli [...] vestra paritur ac nostra, et supremo ordinum Regni consessui visum est, summos Theologos, eruditione simul ac pietate insignes, ex utroque Regno convocare, ut communi consilio de Religione reformanda disquirerent, et verae Doctrinae (UPOTUPOSIN,) purum cultus divini exemplar, et sacram ecclesiastici regiminis formam, ex scripturarum fontibus adornarent: Nos etiam haud cunctandum rati, scripta quaedam nostra (de foedere ecclesiastico, de quaestionibus in Disciplina controversis, de clavibus Regni C [...]elorum, de praescriptarum precum (ANOMALIA) tenuia haec quidem omnia, et levidensia, sed tamen pro [Page 45] modulo nostro et pietatis erga patrtam, et studii erga veritatem, et debitae observantiae erga ecclesia [...] Anglicanas, certa pignora (ut olim vidua minutula sua) in aerarium Domini Iesu contulimus.
Cum autem haec qualiacunque fuerint videremus in controversiam rapi, etiam a fratribus eximia pietate, atque eruditione ornatissimis, non id quidem aegre aut indigne tulimus. Nam quinam, obsecro, nos sumus, viri incircumcisi labiis, incircumcisi corde, ut summos viros ad nostrum captum sapere sp [...]remus? Veruntamen quia veritas et instituta Domini Iesu sacrosancta sunt, neque patitur ipse vel unum (IOTA) aut apicem legis suae, nedum Evangelii Regnique Christi leges perire, ecce excitavit Dominus Iesus (qui et ipse est et lux et veritas) Presbyteros multos [...]nostris (stellas eas quidem splendidas in Ecclesiarum nostrarum candelabris) qui veritati laboranti suppetitas ferrent, et nebulas luci obduct as studiose dispellerent. Inter hos Agmen ducit Hookerus, qui non solum dominatur in conscionibus gratia spiritus sancti et virtute plenos, sed etiam (prout est vir solertis ingenii, alque accerrimi jud [...]oii) causam Ecclesiasticae disciplinae disputa vit acutissime, et pertractavit (quantum ego quidem judico) accuratissime. Davenportus, pro eo, quo pollet, Judicio, eruditione, et singulari orudentia, defensionem non sui tantum, sed disciplinae Christi adversus dominum Pagettu [...] instituit, justam, solidam, eruditam. Quinetiam, pro egregia ea, qua in grege Christi curando pollet vigilantia, us errantem gregis [Page 46] sui [...]viculam, quae in aridis Anabaptistarum p [...]e [...]s submersa fuerat, sublevaret, vivificam Christi sanguinis, spiritusque virtutem, ex perenni gratuiti foederis sonte scaturientem et in paedobaptismi fluentis largiter decurrentem, graphice delineavit.
Maderus, ut aetate, it [...] judicio, et industriae proximus, vir morum gravitate, et vi [...]ae integritate conspicu [...]s, potens in sermone Evangelii, et strenuus verita [...]is assertor, pr [...]ter ea quae superioribus anni [...] edidit, firma et inconcussa potestatis ecclesiasticae propugnacula, operam hoc anno tempestivam impendit, ut maculas et sordes, quas in faciem ecclesiarum nostrarum frarer bonus ille quidem, sed male feri [...] tus asper [...]it, abstergeret. Quin et illud insuper (aucteri [...] loco) [...]jecit viam ecclesiarum nostrarum, quam a viris magnis (eximia eruditione, & pietate clarissimis) exagitari, interturbari cernebat, disject is aggeribus, atque impedimentis amotis, divina spiritus sancti ope, solida, e [...] solita dexteritate complanavit. Sepharedus ( qui vernaculo Idiomate Shepardus) [...] cum Allinio fratre (fratrum dulce par) uti eximi [...] pictate florent ambo, et eruditione non med [...]i, atque etiam mysteriorum pietatis praedicatione (per Christi gratiam) efficaci admodum, it a egregiam navarunt operam in abstrusissimis disciplinae [...]odis faeliciter enodandis: et dum responsum parant, at que nunc etiam edunt Domino Baleo, non [...]lli quidem satisfactum eunt (qui satis jam aperte videt in beatifica Agni visione, introitus omnes atque exitus, for mas et lege [...] [...]stis Hierusalem) [Page 47] sed iis omnibus, qui per universan [...] Britanniam in ecclesiis Christi peregrinantur, et rei disciplinari [...] studiosius animum appulerunt. Verba horum fratrum uti suaviter spirant pietatem, veritatem, charitatem Christi: ita speramus fore (per Christi gratiam) ut multi qui a disciplina Christi alieniores erant, odore horum unguentorum Christi effusorum delibati atque delincti, ad amorem ejus & pellecti, & pertracti, eam avidius arripiant, atque amplexentur.
Proximus ab his (sed cum primis annumerandus) Nortonus hic est, quem in manibus habemus, vir et ingenii acumine, Judicii gravitate, morum su [...] vitate insignis, et (quod caput est) gratiae Christi cum solertissimus indagator, tum buccinator fidelissimus. Is fratrum rogatu (quemadmodum et reliqui) pe [...]sum hoc suum et suscepit (non sine modest [...] sui ab [...]egatione) et confecit non sine divina grati [...] affluentia. Placuit clarissimo viro, Domino Apollonio, quaestiones quam plurimas de Ecclesiastica disciplin [...] sicut ex nonnullorum heterogeneorum libr [...], sic inter alios Orthodoxos, ex sanctissimi Baynesii examine, ex placidissima pientissimaque Septemvirum Apologia, atque et [...]am ex nostrorum Nova-Anglorum scriptiunculis, quasi in fasciculum colligere, et percontari insuper a fratribus illis, num conclusiones istas, t [...]nquam suas agnos [...]erent. Candide hoc quidem ac pie, atque adeo prudenter factum, ne dum ipsorum dogmata convellere in animo haberet, qui [...] quam ipsis per imprudentiam affingeret, quod ipsi [Page 48] non ut suum agnoscerent. Hac perquisitione chariss [...]ni Fratris, nos quoque monits at que expergefacti, facile personsimus, causam non solum Septemvirorum Fratrum, sed et nostrum agi, nec nostrum solum, sed (quod multo maximum est) Domini nostri (pariter ac vestri) Iesu Christi. Visum est at que nobis, id muneris Domino Nortono serio commendare, ut non gravaretur sententiam nostram (simul ac Christi) super quaetionibus istis explicare, ne quid non nostrum, ut nostrum, nobis quoque (in praejudicium Causae Christi) affingeretur. Praestitit SUN THEO quod petiimus, in hac quam in manibus habes Diatribe: ubi dextre, dilucide, distincte, succincte, nervose denique pertractavit capit [...] singula, et ad mentem no [...]tram, si non omnia, saltem pleraque accommodatissime. Ingenue fateor (neque enim diffiteri debeo) nec meipsum, nec Fratres etiam (quos dixi) alies, idem pla [...]e omnes per omniae sentire, de praescriptarum precum omnimoda ANOMALIA, de statis Ministrorum stipendiis, de api [...]ibus quarundam notionum circa primum subjectum ecclesiasticae potestatis, et discrimen foederis gratiae et ecclesiae, et siqua sunt hujusmodi. Sed cum de rebus ipsis, rerumque praxi inter omnes satis constet, profecto a Deo ed [...]cti sumus, non solum placide ferre aliud de istis rerum apicibus sentientes, sed etiam medullitus amplexari Fratres in Christo dilectissimos, qui opus Domini operantur, sicut et nos.
Quod autem Latino Idiomate scripsit, consulto [...]d quidem factum est, ut et Domino Apollonio [...]ine [Page 49] Interprete innotesceret; et controversa capita transmarinis Ecclesiis, in examen venirent. Ve [...]ba authoris non tam diserta sunt quam fortia; ut qui controversias scriberet, non declamationes. Paulus ipse non affectavit sapientiam sermonis; sed sermonem sapientiae. Nemo despiciat sermones, utcunque incu [...]os, fratrum exulum, abjectorum, longe terra marique dissitorum, etiam ex eremo vociferantium; dummodo constiterit vere dici p [...]sse de hisce ftatribus (quod Josaphatus olim de Elisha dixerat in eremo Id [...]maeo peregrinanti) Verbum Domini cum ipsis esse. Narrat Johannes (dilectus ille a Christo discipulus) semetipsum in eremum asportatum fuisse, ut clarius perspiceret, non modo magnae meretricis judicium, s [...]d etiam castissimae Christi sponsae, Novae Jerusalem de Coelo descensum, Apoc. 17. 1, 3. & cap 21. 2.
Quod si quispiam hic [...]ggerat, Fratres h [...]sce omnes, omnium pessime de ecclesiis Christi mereri; ut qui praecipue (una cum Fratribus apologe [...]icis) Refermationem institutam retardare, et pro virili interturbare moliuntur: quippe si per ipsos non ste [...]iss [...]t, presbyteri reliqui omnes omnino per universam Angliam, in unam regiminis presbyterialis f [...]rmam conspirassent: Adeo ut fratres hii quos excusare cupis a crimine desertionis causae Reformationis; rever a non modo desertores, sed et proditores, et publicae p [...]cis hostes, jure merito male audient, ma [...]e plectentur.
Hem spiritum, partium studio plus nimio abreptum et occaecatum! Piget et pungit, dolet et angit, me [...]inisse, binas istas regiminis ecclesi [...]stici for [...]as tanta [Page 50] animorum contentione, tanta calamorum amarulentia peragi, et promoveri; acsi de summa Rei christianae, adversus infensissimos Christiani nominis hostes, certamen cerneretur. Siccine in Dominum Jesum ingratos nos esse deceat; ut confracto, per divitem Ipsius gratiam, jugo hierarchico, et amoto Philisteo adinventionum humanarum plaustro; cum par erat, omnes canticum Agni et Mosis, laetis et gratis animis vocibusque cantare; nos interea in mutuas discordias, et vasta animorum, et calamorum divortia (quasi dis-diapason) discinderemur? Tantaene animis coelestibus Irae? Nunquid aequum erat, duplam spiritus episcopalis portionem super capita fratrum com presbyterorum residere? Dispicite (per viscer [...] Domini Iesu, dispicite, obsecro, et obte [...]tor) quid illud est, de quo tantopere digladiamini? Regimen ecclesiasticum non Dominum est sed Ministerium. Digladientur reges terrae de dominijs suis, & de jurisdictionum suarum finibus, et latifundijs; at inter ministros Domi [...]i Jesu, maximus is est, qui minimus esse studet et servus omnium.
Deinde, dispicite rursus, quodnam illud sit TO MEGA CHASMA, quod mutu [...]m utrinque divertium, tanquam murum intergerinum interposuit? Vos regimen omne ecclesiasticum, penes presbyteros stabiltendum contenditi [...]: certe neque nos regimen proprie dictum (saltem quoad ordinarium ejus exercitium) alibi quam penes presbyteros, stabiliendum cupimus. In eo itaque convenimus ambo; in subject [...] regiminis ecclesiastici. Conveni [...]us etiam in regula [Page 51] regiminis; ut administrentur omnia, non juxta canones; sive papales, sive hierarchicos: sed juxta canonem sacrarum Scripturarum. Convenimus etiam in fine regiminis, ut omnia transigantur ad aedificationem ecclesiae; non ad pompam, aut luxum secularem. Synodos nos una vobiscum, cum opus fuerit, et suscipimus, et veneramur. Quantillum est quod restat, quod distat? Actus regiminis, quos vos a synodis peragi velletis; eos a synodis porrigi ecclesiis, et ab ecclesiis ex synodali DIORTHOSI peragi peteremus. Petimus et illud etiam (& quidem juxta mentem Christi, prout credimus) ut regimen omne ecclesiasticum administretur a presbyteris cujusque ecclesiae, in ecclesiae facie, nec inscia, nec invita ecclesia. Vos aliud quiddam vendicatis: sed videte et perpendite etiam atque etiam, an non satis tuto cautum fuerit, ne quid ecclesia detrimenti capia [...], si omnia a presbyteris ecclesiae, ecclesia conscia, et consentiente, peragantur; modo nihil arduum aut quod superet ecclesiae vires, nisi ex consilio vicinorum compresbyterorum transigatur? Mensam Domini Jesu, ausim di [...]ere, aeque vos ac nos, a prophanis ac immundis manibus tractari polluique, aegre laturos. Pie renuntiatum est in publico divini cultus directorio, Ignarum quem [...] am, aut scandalo aliquo inquinatum, indignum prorsus esse, qui ad mensam Domini appropinquet. Ac nisi potestas detur ecclesiae [...]ujusque presbyteris, de ignaris et immundis hijs [...]e judicium facere; caveri certe non potest, quin non modo caeci & claudi (quos non recipit aula Davidis) sed canes etjam [Page 52] et porci (quos odit anima Christi) ad menfa [...] Domini ingerant sese: qui nec corpus Domini discernunt, nisi ut per illud dejerent; nec sanguinem Domini e [...]ib [...]nt. nisi ut exinde animosius ad sanguin [...] sanctorum effundendum (tanquam invisorum rotundorum, ac rotantium capitum) prosilirent. Hujusmod [...] ad [...]ensam Domini convivas, nullus dubito, vobis p [...]riter ac n [...]bis, aeque ingratos esse & permolestos. Cum it aque in hisce rebus omnibus (quae quidem maximi momenti sunt) pulchre convenimus, quid, obsecro, impedit, quo minus non causae communis aut proditores, aut desertores: fed communis vob [...]s [...]m causae, et defensores, atque astipulatores (pro medul [...] nostro) adversus communis fidei atque eccles [...]ae hostes, habeamur? Certo [...]ertius est, si ex mur [...]is nostris dissensionibus, aditus per posticum pateat; sive pontificils, sive hierarchicis, ut rerum denuo p [...]tiantur, actum iri funditus (humanitus loquor) de utrisque nostrum; sive presbyteriis, sive ecclesiis propens [...]ves fuerimus. Tros, Tyriusve, illis nullo discrimine agetur. Sive presbyteriales cluitis, sive ecclesiastici, istis rerum dominis, ambo vos certe puritani estis; et prout PUR Graecis, et ITAN Wallis ignem significa [...]; sie to [...]i toti, quanti quanti estis, [...]anquam ignei Reipublicae, atque Ecclesiae incendiarii, extinguemini. Non tam multi abhinc anni retro fluxe [...]unt, quin recenti patrum memoria recordari liceat, Ridlejum pariter ac Hooperum, quanquam in causa disciplinae, alter ab altero plus nimio disjungeretur; tamen utrosque vivicomburio, a pontificiis [Page 53] rerum potiuntibus, extinctos esse. Verbum sapienti.
Verum enimvero, si fratres animum inducere non possunt, quin nos ut communis causae desertores, deserant: lic [...]at mihi quaeso (quod Judas olim a fratre Josepho petiit) et petere a vobis, et impetrare, ut loquar verbum in auribus vestris, neque ira vestra accendatur. Causa haec, quam a nobis deseri quiritamini; quatenus a nobis deseritur, non ea quidem vobis communis est cum pijssimis illis, ac sanctissimis Christi confessoribus, qui no [...]tra, et patrum memoria causam Reformationis tuebantur? Vestra non ea causa est, quam Heroes illi, amissione libertatis, confiscatione bonorum, incarceratione, exilio, sanguine denique cofignarunt? Quantam potestatem venerabilis Cartoretus ecclesiae cuique deferat, nemo nescit qui commentarium ejus in I Cor. 5. perlegerit. Quodnam primum subjectum ecclesiasticae potestatis Paraeus statuat, testatur tertium ejus volumen, acerrimo cum judicio, et summa eruditione continuatum. Quaenam ea ecclesia sit, quam sanctissimus Bainesius agnoscat, cui Christus ecclesiasticam omnem petestatem detulerit, patet ex examine. Quid gravissimus Amesius, nervorum et medallae theologiae satur, super ecclesiae institutae statu, forma, et potestate senserit; patet ex medulla. Atque hij quidem currus, atque equites Israelis, illarum cohortum primipili erant, qui causam Reformationis tuebantur; & nostra, et patrum aetate. Ab horum sive vestigijs, sive principijs, si novitatis studio cessimas: jure merito deferemur ut desertores. Quod si in via illorum [Page 54] ambulamus, nec ultra progredin [...]r (quod ad su [...] mam rei attinet) quam ab illorum lumine divinitus collustrati: certe non nos illi sumus, qui causam Reformationis deseruimus; sed illi potius (quos lubens nollem dicere) qui nos ut desertores deserunt, et de [...]e [...]tantur. Desinant itaque viri fratres, viros hosce Dei, qui scriptis editis, causam cum patribus communem, tueri satagunt, sugillare, a [...] vellicare, tanquam male de Ecclesia meritos, causae desertores, pacis publicae [...]r [...]atores.
Caeterum praeter h [...]s omnes, supersunt duo fratres reliqui, Covetus, & Eliotus; quorum hic justam contexuit historiam eorum qui apud nos, sub praetex [...] conscientiae, a civili magistratu, graviora quam par erat, passi perhibentur. Vir hic, uti gnavus est & impiger, fidelis in domo Dei servus, priscis moribus, antiqua fide; ita fidelem operam navavit in investiganda rerum istarum veritate; quas etiam fide historica in tabellas retu [...]it, et typis mandavit: ut intelligant aequi rerum aestimatores, ea quae passim feruntur de persecutionibus in Nova Anglia, conscientiae nomine perpessis (ut dicam verbo, et verbo quidem Apostolorum) nihil esse. Alter autem ille e fratribus, quem dixi, Covetus, cum persentisceret aliquot ex ovibus Christi sibi commissis, antipaedobaptismi laqueis atque dumetis irretita [...]; zelo Dei accensus (et zelo quidem secundum scientiam) imo et misericordia etiam Christi commotus erga errantes oviculas; libros quos potuit, ex anababtistarum penu congessit; rationum momenta (qualia fuerant) in [Page 55] lance Sanctuarii trutinavit; testimoniorum plaustr [...], quae ab illis congesta fuerant, sedulo perquisivit; et pro eo quo floret disputandi acumine, dijudicandi solertia; solida multa paucis complectendi dexteritate, atque indefess [...] labore, nihil pene intentatum reliquit, quod vel ad veritatem in hac causa illustrandam, vel ad errorum nebulas discutiendas, atque dispellendas conduceret.
Sed vellicat hic mibi aurem quispiam (praeserti [...] [...] [...]is quibuscum necessitudo [...] a [...]iqu [...] intercedit) [...] serio percontatur: Cum tot tantosque labores [...] [...] presbyteris tuis susceptos narras; qui prodierunt, [...] Debora loquitur, ad auxiliandum Jehovae, ad [...]ndum Jehovae (ut Junius vertit) inter for [...]; quid tibi interea faciendum restabat? Nunquid [...] sol [...]s restitabas inter sarcinas, vel inter sibil [...]s & bal [...]tus gregum? Tune cum Reubene, a fratrum consortio, prae magnis animi cogitationibus, divulsus es? Equidem non diffiteor, me etiam aliquid molitum esse, et, pro gratiae acceptae modulo, perfecisse etiam aliquatenus, a [...]que emisisse. Sed quicquid illud fuerit, haud dignum reor, quod inter exquisitos Fratrum labores, vel vominari quidem debeat. Scrip [...]erunt illi TOIS CHARIEISI; ego, prout necesse habui, TOIS POLLOIS. Gratiosus est Dominus, qui acceptare dignatur ad aedificationem Sanctuarii sui, non modo pur pur am et byssum; sed etiam pelles arietum, et melium; imo et pilos caprarum: Exod. 35. 23.
Pergat Dominus (pro gratuita sua, & divite [Page 56] Gratia) laboribus servorum suorum omnium, Sibi in obsequium, Ecclesiae in aedificationem, benedicere; Zionis sui misereri; Lives inter suos dirimere; V [...]ritatem, & pacem promovere; Fines Regni Christi, atque pomeria, dilatare; Antichristum spiritu Oris conficere; Viam denique sternere, ut Shem in textoria Japheti, quasi postliminio, revertatur; per Dominum nostrum Jesum Christum, in secula sempiterna benedictum. Amen.