Christians as knew him to conceive well of his condition neither is there any cause to doubt but time may bring on in others as well as it did in him that which wee expect upon a sodaine in vaine REPLY But some conceive the Inhabitants of New-England to be Chams posterity and consequently shut out from grace by Noahs curse till the conversion of the Iewes be past at least ANSVVER How doe they appeare to be Chams posterity whose sonnes by the agreement of Writers tooke up their dwellings together in Canaan Palestina and the parts adjoyning in Arabia Egypt Mauritania Lybia and other bordering parts of Africke and consequently for any footsteps of their descents appearing unto us might bee as farre from peopling the West Indies as any other part of the posteritie of Noahs sonnes Neither doe mens conjectures agree for wee have no certainties to build on whence these Countries of the parts of America towards New-England might most probably be peopled But admit the Inhabitants to be Chams posteritie doth not the Prophet Esay foretell the conversion of Chams posterity in Egypt performed in the Primitive times all histories witnessing that the Egyptians had amongst them a Church of eminent note governed by divers Bishops under the Patharen of Alexandria And who knowes not the numerous Churches of Africke wherein were above 160 Bishops in St. Austins time governing sundry Nations all of them of Chams posteritie But what testimonie of Scripture or ground of reason from Scripture layes such a fearefull curse upon all Chams posteritie Noahs curse reacheth but to one branch to Canaan and as Interpreters conceive with especiall relation to the extirpation of that part of his issue which inhabited Iudea by the children of Israel It is too much boldnesse then to curse where God hath not cursed and shut out those from the meanes of grace whom God hath not excluded OBIECTION 3. But admit the English might be thought fit to plant a Colony in New-England yet this time is unfit in this troubled condition of the Church it were more convenient for men to keepe close together than to scatter abroad that so they might be the more able to resist the common enemie This withdrawing of our selves in time of so great hazard betrayes weaknesse of heart and proclaimes our despaire of the cause of Religion which the godly entertaine with sad hearts and the Iesuites with smiling countenances ANSVVER It is reported that when Annshal lay before Rome it discouraged him much in his hopes of taking the Citty that at the same instant there marched out of the Citty at contrary gates under their colours an Armie of souldiers towards the sea to be shipped sent over for a supply into Spaine for it argued the Romans feared him not that durst spare a supplie of men to a Countrie so farre distant when the enemie lay at the gates And it seemes to argue courage rather than feare when in the weakest condition of the Church men testifie their hope and expectation of the enlargement of that Kingdome of Christ which wicked men and his enemies glorie that they have as good as conquered and subdued I conceive those that engage themselves in this adventure are not so void of Religion as to conceive the scourge of God cannot reach them in New-England or of reason as to thinke New-England safer than olde But they scatter and withdraw themselves in a time of neede Suppose the State were in such needed as is pretended in this objection yet in such a popular Land such a number as is employed in this worke is not very considerable for I thinke no man conceives a thousand or two thousand men are of any great weight to sway the ballance when so many great stones lie in the skales Againe that wherein they seeme to be most usefull to us is their prayers which according to their profession and promise they will performe in absence as if they were present with us And if any other way their service be required as they holde themselves bound so will they at all times doe their uttermost for the discharge of their dutie to this their native Country And lastly by that time all the particulars of this Treatise are wel weighed it will be found that their employment there for the present is not inconvenient and for the future may prove beneficiall to this State OBIECTION 4. It may be passing over of two thousand or three thousand persons will be of no great moment and so many might be spared but some mens examples drawing on others and there being no stint or limits set unto mens itching humours after this new worke we know not where to expect any end and what consequents may follow the issuing out of great multitudes especially on a sodaine it is easie to conjecture ANSVVER If that should be a true and reall feare and not a pretence I should much wonder that any man should have so little insight into the disposition of his owne Country-men Howsoever some men are content to remove from their dwellings and to leave their beloved Countrie and friends let no man conceive we shall finde over-many of that humour We are knowne too well to the world to love the smoake of our owne chimneyes so well that hopes of great advantages are not likely to draw many of us from home And that evidently appeares by the different habits and affections of the mindes of men unto this voyage Some pittie the exposing of their friends or such unto whom for the report of their honestie and religion they wish well unto so many dangers and inconveniences others and the most part scoffe at their folly a third sort murmure and grudge that they are abandoned and forsaken by them and good men dispute the warrant of their undertaking this worke and will not be convinced It may be private interests may prevaile with some One brother may draw over another a sonne the father and perhaps some man his inward acquaintance but let no man feare the over-hasty removall of multitudes of any of estate or abilitie As for the poorer sort it is true many of them that want meanes to maintaine them at home would be glad to passe over into New-England to finde a better condition there but by what meanes will they be transported or provided of necessaries for so chargeable a journey and without such provisions they will be found very unwelcome to such as are alreadie planted there Besides it cannot be doubted but the State will be so watchfull as not to suffer any prejudice unto it selfe if the numbers of those that leave her should increase too fast If the State should be slacke even those that now allow the passing over of some good and usefull men when the number is growen to an indifferent proportion will of themselves be carefull to restraine the rest as farre as their counsell and advice can prevaile The truth is when some 800 or 1000 families are seated there
the Colonie will be best filled up with youthes and girles which must be continually drawne over to supply the roomes of men-servants and maid-servants which will marry away daily and leave their Masters destitute But it may be justly admired what the cause should be that men of contrary mindes should so strangely concurre in the jealousies and dislikes of this worke neither opposing any of the former Colonies whereof the least I meane Virginia Barmudas and St. Christophers drew away two for one of those which are yet passed over to New-England unlesse it be that the best workes finde commonly worst entertainment amongst men OBIECTION 5. It is objected by some that religion indeede and the colour thereof is the cloake of this work but under it is secretly harboured faction and separation from the Church Men of ill affected mindes they conceive unwilling to joyne any longer with our assemblies meane to draw themselves apart and to unite into a body of their owne and to make that place a nursery of faction and rebellion disclaiming and renouncing our Church as a limbe of Antichrist ANSVVER A man might justly hope that the letter sub I conceive we doe and ought to put a great difference betweene Separation and Non-conformity the first we judge as evill in it selfe so that whosoever shall denie us to be a Church either of our owne men or strangers of another Nation we cannot be are it but other Churches that conforme not to our orders and ceremonies we dislike not onely we suffer it not in our owne not that we adjudge the disusing of ceremonies simply evill but onely evill in our owne men because wee conceive it is joyned with some contempt of our authority and may tend to a rent in the Church But yet neither can this imputation be charged justly on our New-England Colonie If the men were well scanned I conceive it may be with good assurance maintained that at least three parts of foure of the men there planted are able to justifie themselves to have lived in a constant course of conformity unto our Church government and orders Yea but they are weary of them now and goe over with an intention to cast them off Intentions are secret who can discover them but what have they done to manifest such an intention What intelligence have they held one with another to such purpose There passed away about 140 persons out of the western parts from Plimmouth of which I conceive there were not sixe knowne either by face or fame to any of the rest What subscription or solemne agreement haue they made before hand to binde themselves unto such a resolution If that were forborne for feare of discovery yet it concerned those who had such an intention to be well assured of a Governour that might effectually further their purposes Mr. 10. Winthrop whom they have all chosen and that not the multitude but all the men of best account amongst them is sufficiently knowne in the place where he long lived a publicke person and consequently of the more observation to have been every way regular and conformable in the whole course of his practise Yea but they have taken Ministers with them that are knowne to be unconformable and they are the men that will sway in the orders of the Church Neither all nor the greatest part of the Ministers are unconformable But how shall they prevent it What Minister among us well seated in a good living or in faire expectance of one will be content to leave a certaine maintenance to expose himselfe to the manifold hazards of so long a journey to rest upon the providence of God when all is done for provision for himselfe and his family Pardon them if they take such Ministers as they may have rather than none at all Hath any conformable Minister of worth and fit for that employment tendred his service whom they have rejected No man can affirme they have taken such out of choise rather than necessity unlesse it be manifested where they have refused others whom they might have had But there are some unconformable men amongst them yea and men of worse condition too And if there were no drunkards nor covetous persons nor vicious any way it would and might justly move all the world to admiration But there is great oddes betweene peaceable men who out of tendernesse of heart forbeare the use of some ceremonies of the Church whom this State in some things thinkes fit to winke at and it may be would doc more if it were assured of their temper and men of fiery and turbulent spirits that walke in a crosse way out of distemper of minde Now suppose some of those men that knowing the disposition of their owne mindes how unable they are to bring their hearts to answer the course of our Churches practise in all things consider that their contrary practise gives distaste to government and occasions some disturbance unto the Churches peace upon that ground withdraw themselves for quietnesse sake Would not such dispositions be cherished with great tendernesse And surely as farre as guesse by circumstances may leade us we have more cause to thinke that they are so minded than otherwise because this will certainely be the consequent of their going out from amongst us which they cannot but foresee and if they had meant otherwise their way had beene to remaine in the midst of us as thornes in our eyes and prickes in our sides and not to depart from us seeing wee know it is the remaining of the thorne in the midst of the flesh which torments the plucking it out and casting it away breedes ease and quietnesse I should be very unwilling to hide any thing I thinke might be fit to discover the uttermost of the intentions of our Planters in their voyage to New-England and therefore shall make bold to manifest not onely what I know but what I guesse concerning their purpose As it were absurd to conceive they have all one minde so were it more ridiculous to imagine they have all one scope Necessitie may presse some Noveltie draw on others hopes of gaine in time to come may prevaile with a third sort but that the most and most sincere and godly part have the advancement of the Gospil for their maine scope I am cōfident That of them some may entertaine hope and expectation of enjoying greater libertie there than here in the use of some orders and Ceremonies of our Church it seemes very probable Nay more then that it is not improbable that partly for their sakes and partly for respect to some Germans that are gone ouer with them and more that intend to follow after euen those which otherwise would not much desire innovation of themselves yet for the maintaining of peace and unitie the onely 〈◊〉 of a weake unsetled body will be wonne to consent to some variation from the formes customes of our Church Nay I see not how we can expect from them a
the inlargement of his kingdome as a blind zeale fomented by the art and subtiltie of Satan may thrust on Priests and Iesuites and their partisans to engage their persons and estates for the advancing of the Devils Kingdome Or if in the Worlds infancy men out of an ambitious humour or at present for private advantages and expectation of gaine thrust themselves out from their owne dwellings into parts farre remote from their native soyle why should not we conceive that if they doe this for a corruptible crowne that the desire and expectation of an incorruptible the reward of such as deny themselves for the service of God and his Church may as strongly allure such as by patient cōtinuance in well-doing seeke immortalitie life And yet the favourable conceits that men entertaine of such as follow in all their actions the wayes of their private gaine and the jealousies that they are apt to entertaine of such as pretend onely the advancement of the Gospell manifestly argue that the generall opinion of the world is that some may be true to themselves and the advancement of their owne private estates but hardly any to God and his Church I should be very unwilling to thinke they cherish this suspition upon that ground that moved that sensuall Emperour to beleeve that no man was cleane or chaste in any part of his body because himselfe was defiled and uncleane in all This is then the first favour that is desired of such as consider this action to beleeve that it is neither impossible nor unlikely that these mens intentions are truely and really such as they pretend and not collours and cloakes for secret dangerous purposes which they closely harbour in their breasts especially when all apparant circumstances concurre to justifie the contrary The next request that is presented to all indifrerent minded men is that they would be pleased to set before their eyes that which hath beene alreadie mentioned that as there followed the children of Israel a mixt multitude out of Egypt so it is probable there may doe these men out of England and that of divers tempers some perhaps men of hot and fiery spirits making change and innovation their scope may conceive that when they see that for the desire and care of preserving unitie and love and taking away occasions of offence to tender consciences some changes and alterations are yeelded unto they have gained what they expect and may as fondly triumph in their supposed Victory as if they had overthrowne all order and discipline as they doe absurdly mistake the grounds and ends which the course of Government proposeth and aymeth at and thereupon in their Relations to their friends represent things not as they are really done and intended but as they apprehend them in their fantasies Others there will be that prooving refractary to Government expecting all libertie in an unsetled body and finding the restraint of Authority contrary to expectation in their discontented humours meeting with no other way of revenge may be ready to blemish the Government with such scandalous reports as their malicious spirits can devise and utter Now although some say that malice is a good informer notwithstanding no wise or good man admits it for a fit Iudge if therefore men will be pleased to forbeare the over-hastie beliefe of such reports as shall be sent over or given out either by men of foolish and weake mindes or distempered humors untill they receive more assured satisfaction from such as understand and are acquainted with the grounds and secret passages of the affayres of Government they shall keepe their owne hearts upon the even-ballance of a right judgement and provide for the innocency of those upon whom they passe their censure If by these meanes jealousies and suspitions may be prevented I make no question but the relations which this Worke hath both to the State and Church will upon mature advise so farre prevaile with all well-minded men as to move them not onely to affoord their prayers for the prosperous successe of this new planted Colony that from small and contemptible beginnings it may grow to a setled and well formed Church but with all their best furtherance Consilio auxilio re by advise friends and purses Which howsoever the principalls of this worke out of their modestie crave not yet the necessary burdens which so weightie an undertaking chargeth them withall will certainely inforce them to need whatsoever men judge to the contrary Neither is or will the burden be intolerable to this State A common stocke of ten thousand pound may be sufficient to support the weight of generall charges of transporting and maintaining Ministers Schoole-Masters Commanders for Warres and erecting of such buildings as will be needfull for publique use for the present and for time to come it cannot be questioned but the Colony it selfe having once taken roote when mens labours beginne to yeeld them any fruit will be found sufficient to beare her own burden Alas what were it for a Marchant or a Gentleman of reasonable estate to disburse twentie-fiue pound or fiftie pound for the propagating of the Gospell who casts away in one yeare much more upon superfluities in apparell dyet buildings c and let men seriously weigh and consider with themselves whether a worke of so great importance so neerely concerning Gods honour and the service of the Church calling upon them as Lazarus upon Dives for some of the wast of their superfluous expences if they lend a deafe eare to the motion will not assuredly plead strongly against them at the barre of Christs judgementfeate at the last day Nay what a scorne would it be to the Religion we professe that we should refuse to purchase the propagation of it at so easie a rate when the Popish partie charge themselves with such excessiue expences for the advancement of idolatry and superstition It s true it will be valued at a low rate that the Colony is able to returne you againe by way of recompence perhaps the enjoying of such immunities and priviledges as his Majestie hath beene pleased to grant unto them and an hundred or two hundred acres of Land to every man that shall disburse twentie-fiue pound and so for more proportionablie for the raising of the common Stocke yet their posteritie if not themselves may have cause in time to come to acknowledge it a good purchase that was made at so low a rate but if they lend looking for nothing againe wee know the promise Luk. 6. 35. he is no looser that hath made God his debter FINIS 1. That Colonies have their warrant from God 1. Argument from Gods Commandement 2. Argument from Gods gift of the earth to men 3. Argument from the Law of marriage 4. Argument from the benefit that comes to mens outward estates 5. Argument is from the furthering of godlinesse and honesty 6. Argument from the aduancement of Gods glory 7. Argument from the abilities wherewith God furnisheth men for this worke 3. Reason from the miraculous opening of the passage to these parts of the world 4. Reason from the nearnesse of the Jewes conversion 2. Argument from the opportunity of the Sea 3. Argument from our owne practice alreadie 4. Argument from our fitnes to the maine end of Colonies the planting of true Religion 1. Argument or occasion trade into the countrey 2. The fitnesse of the countrey for our health and maintenance 3. Argument from the emptinesle of the Land 4. Argument from the usefulnesse of that Colony to this State 1. In our fishing voyages 5. Argument the benefit of such a Colony to the Natives 1. Obiection from experience of the ill successe of Colonies Your reward shall be great and you shall be the childrē of the Highest Luk. 6. 35.