when shee came to visit them from Matth. 24. 29. and alluding to Hebr. 12. 26 27. briefly this doctrine there delivered should make the doctrine of the Apostles and the Churches in their times to bee 〈◊〉 darknessâ— That the Ministery of the Apostles was and should be removel c. which I desire the Reader to turne to but bee assured through Gods mercy by meanes of the late Bishop of Canterburies persecutions of the godly here wee are so excellently furnished with shining Lights of the Gospel as no such blasphemous trash as this could bee there delivered and so many able hearers as if it should have been delivered by any the Lord with-drawing his presence from him it would have been forthwith excepted against and published to the world But I am confident if such a thing were there heard it was either from one of their owne company or disciples made by them And therefore I will passe by the answer also as not concerning any difference between him and us and so the rest of his writings to that end and could wish that Nâ—rcissus-like hee were not so much in love with his owne shadow lest it prove his ruine there needing no other matter against him then his owne words and writings to render him odious to the State here as well as to New-England from whence he came AND now that I have finished what I conceive necessary concerning Mr. Gortons scandalous and slanderous Bookes let me briefly answer some objections that I often meet withall against the Country of New-England The first that I meet with is concerning the rise and foundation of our New-England Plantations It being alledged though upon a great mistake by a late Writer that division or disagreement in the Church of Leyden was the occasion nay cause of the first Plantation in New-England for saith the Author or to this effect when they could no longer agree together the one part went to New-England and began the Plantation at Plymouth which he makes the mother as it were of the rest of the Churches as if the foundation of our New-England Plantations had been laid upon division or separation then which nothing is more untrue For I perswade my selfe never people upon earth lived more lovingly together and parted more sweetly then wee the Church at Leyden did not rashly in a distracted humour but upon joynt and serious deliberation often seeking the minde of God by fastiâ—g and prayer whose gracious presence we not onely found with us but his blessing upon us from that time to this instant to the indignation of our adversaries the admiration of strangers and the exceeding consolation of our selves to see such effects of our prayers and teares before our pilgrimage here bee ended And therefore briefly take notice of the true cause of it 'T is true that that poor persecuted flock of Christ by the malice and power of the late Hieraâ—chy were 〈◊〉 Lâ—yden in Holland there to beare witnesse in their 〈◊〉 to the Kingly Office of Christ Jesus in his Church and there lived together ten yeares under the United States with much peace and liberty But our Reverend Pastor Mr. Iohn Robinson of late memory and our grave Elder Mr. William Brewster now both at rest with the Lord considering sidering amongst many other inconveniences how hard the Country was where we lived how many spent their estate in it and were forced to return for England how grievous to live from under the protection of the State of England how like wee were to lose our language and our name of English how little good wee did or were like to do to the Dutch in reforming the Sabbath how unable there to give such education to our children as wee our selves had received c. They I say our of their Christian care of the flock of Christ committed to them conceived if Godwould bee pleased to discover some place unto us though in America and give us so much favour with the King and State of England as to have their protection there where wee might enjoy the like liberty and where the Lord favouring our endeavours by his blessing wee might exemplarily shew our tender Country-men by our example no lesse burthened then our selves where they might live and comfortably subâ—â—iet and enjoy the like liberties with us being freed from Antichristian bondage keep their names and Nation and not onely bee a meanes to enlarge the Dominions of our State but the Church of Christ also if the Lord have a people amongst the Natives whither hee should bring us c. Hereby in their grave Wisdomes they thought wee might more glorifie God doe more good to our Countrey better provide for our posterity and live to be more refreshed by our labours theâ— ever wee could doe in Holland where we were Now these their private thoughts upon mature deliberation they imparted to the Brethren of the Congregation which after much private discussion came to publike agitation till at the length the Lord was solemnly sought in the Congregation by fasting and prayer to direct us who moving our hearts more and more to the worke wee sent some of good abilities over into England to see what favour or acceptance such a thing might finde with the King These also found God going along with them and got Sir Edwin Sands a religious Gentleman then living to stirre in it who procured Sir Robert Nawnton then principall Secretary of State to King Iames of famous memory to move his Majesty by a private motion to give way to such a people who could not so comfortably live under the Government of another State to enjoy their liberty of Conscience under his gracious protection in America where they would endeavour the advancement of his Majesties Dominions and the enlargement of the Gospel by all due meanes This his Majesty said was a good and honest motion and asking what prosits might arise in the part wee intended for our eye was upon the most Northern parts of Virginia 't was answered Fishing To which hee replyed with his ordinary asseveration So God have my Soule 't is an honest Trade 't was the Aposties owne calling c. But afterwards he told Sir Robert Naâ—â—ton who took all occasions to further it that we should confer with the Bishops of Canterbury and London c. Whereupon wee were advised to persist upon his first approbation and not to entangle our selves with them which caused our Agents to repair to the Virginia Company wâ—o in their Court demanded our ends of going which being related they said the thing was of God and granted a large Patent and one of them lent us 300 l. gratis for three yeares which was repaid Our Agents returning wee further sought the Lord by a publique and solemn Fast for his gracious guidance And hereupon wee came to this resolution that it was best for one part of the Church to goe at first and the other to slay viz. the youngest and strongest part to goe
Secondly they that went should freely offer themselves Thirdly if the major part went the Pastor to goe with them if not the Elder onely Fourthly if the Lord should srowne upon our proceedings then those that went to returne and the Brethren that remained still there to assist and bee helpfull to them but if God should bee pleased to favour them that went then they also should endeavour to helpe over such as were poore and ancient and willing to come these things being agreed the major part stayed and the Pastor with them for the present but all intended except a very few who had rather wee would have stayed to follow after The minor part with Mr. Brewsâ—er their Elder resolved to enter upon this great work but take notice the difference of number was not great And when the Ship was ready to carry us away the Brethren that stayed having againe solemnly sought the Lord with us and for us and we further engaging our selves mutually as before they I say that stayed at Leyden feasted us that were to goe at our Pastors house being large where wee refreshed our selves after our teares with singing of Psalmes making joyfull melody in our hearts as well as with the voice there being many of the Congregation very expert in Musick and indeed it was the sweetest melody that ever mine eares heard After this they accompanyed us to Delphs Haven where wee were to imbarque and there feasted us againe and after prayer performed by our Pastor where a â—â—ood of teares was poured out they accompanyed us to the Ship but were not able to speake one to another for the abundance of sorrow to part but wee onely going aboard the Ship lying to the Key and ready to set sayle the winde being faire wee gave them a vâ—lley of small shot and three peeces of Ordinance and so lifting up our hands to each other and our hearts for each other to the Lord our God we departed and found his presence with us in the midst of our manifold straits hee carryed us thorow And if any doubt this relation the Dutch as I heare at Delphs Haven preserve the memory of it to this day and will inform them But falling with Cape Cod which is in New-England and standing to the Southward for the place wee intended wee met with many dangers and the Mariners put back into the Harbouâ— of the Cape which was the 11. of November 1620 where considering Winter was come the Seas dangerous the season cold the winds high and being well furnished for a Plantation we entered upon discovery and setled at Plymouth where God being pleased to preserve and enable us wee that went were at a Thousand pounds charge in sending for our Brethren that were behinde and in providing there for them till they could reape a crop of their owne labours And so good Reader I have given thee a true and faithfull account though very briefe of our proceedings wherein thou seest how a late Writer and those that informed himâ— have wronged our enterprise And truly what I have written is far short of what it was omitting for brevity sake many circumstances as the large offerâ— the Dutch offered us either to have removed into Zealand and there lived with them or if we would go on such adventures to goe under them to Hudsons River where they have since a great plantation c. and how they would freely have transported us and furnished every family with cattle c. Also the English Merchants that joyned with us in this expedition whom wee since bought out which is fitter for an History then an answer to such an Objection I trust will be accomplished in good time By all which the Reader may see there was no breach between us that went and the brethren that stayed but such love as indeed is seldome found on earth And for the many plantations that come â—ver to us upon notice of Gods blessing upon us whereas 't is falsly said they tooke Plimouth for their president as fast as they came 'T is true I conâ—esse that some of the chiefe of them advised with us comming over to be freed from the burthen some ceremonies then imposed in England how they should doe to fall upon a right platforme of worship and desired to that end since God had honoured us to lay the foundation of a Common-weale and to settle a Church in it 〈◊〉 shew them whereupon our practice was grounded and if they found upon due search it was built upon the Word they should be willing to take up what was of God We accordingly shewed them the Primitive practice for our warrant taken out of the Acts of the Apostles and the Epistles written to the severall Churches by the said Apostles together with the Commandements of Christ the Lord in the Gospell and other our warrants for every particular wee did from the booke of God Which being by them well weighed and considered they also entred into Covenant with God and one with another to walke in all his wayes revealed or as they should bee made knowne unto them and to worship him according to his will revealed in his written word onely c. So that here also thou maist see they set not the Church at Plimouth before them for example but the Primitive Churches were and are their and our mutuall patternes and examples which are onely worthy to be â—ollowed having the blessed Apostles amongst them which were sent immediately by Christ himselfe and enabled and guided by the unerring Spirit of God And truly this is a patternesit to bâ—e followed of all that feare God and no man or men to bee followed further then they follow Christ and them Having thus briefly shewed that the foundation of our New-England Plantations was not laid upon Schisme division or Separation but upon love peace and holinesse yea such love and mutuall care of the Church of Leyden for the spreading of the Gospel the welfare of each other and their posterities to succeeding generations as is seldome found on earth And having shewed also that the Primitive Churches are the onely pattern which the Churches of Christ in New-England have in their eye not following Luther Calvin Knoxe Aiâ—worth Robinson Amies or any other further then they follow Christ and his Apostles I am earnestly requested to cleare up another grosse mistake which caused many and still doth to judge the harder of New-England and the Churches there because say they The Church of Plymouth which went first from Leyden were Schismaticks Bromnists rigid Separatists c. having Mr. Robinson for their Pastor who-made and to the last prosessed separation from other the Churches of Christ c. And the rest of the Churches in New-England holding communion with that Church are to bee reputed such as they are For anâ—were to this aspersion First he that knew Mr. Robinson either by his Doctâ—ine daily taught or hath read his Apology published not long before his death or
practise at Leyden viz. that one Samuel Terry was received from the French Church there into communion with us also the wife of Francis Cooke being a Walloone holds communion with the Church at Plymouth as she came from the French to this day be vertue of communion of Churches There is also one Philip Delanoy born of French parents came to us from Lâ—yden to New-Plymouth who comming to age of discerning demanded also communion with us proving himself to be come of such parents as were in ful communion with the French Churches was here upon admitted by the Church of Plymouth and after upon his removal of habitation to Dâ—xburrow where M. Ralph Partridge is Pastor of the Church and upon Letters of recommendation from the Church at Plymouth hee was also admitted into fellowship with the Church at Duxburrow being six miles distant from Plymouth and so I dare say if his occasions lead him may from Church to church throughout New-England For the truth is the Dutch and French Churches either of them being a people distinct from the world and gathered into an holy communion and not Nationall Churches nay so far from it as I verily beleeve the sixth person is not of the Church the difference is so small if moderately pondered between them and us as we dare not for the world deny communion with them And for the Church of Scotland however wee have had least occasion offered to hold communion with them yet thus much I can and doe affirme that a godly Divine comming over to Leyden in Holland where a Booke was printed 〈◊〉 1619 as I take it shewing the nullity of Perth Assembled whom we judged to bee the Author of it and hidden in Holland for a season to avoid the rage of those evill times whose name I have forgotten This man being very conversant with our Pastor Mr. Robinson and using to come to hear him on the Sabbath after Sermon-ended the Church being to partake in the Lords Supper this Minister stood up and desired hee might without offence stay and see the manner of his administration â—and our participation in that Ordinance To which our Pastor answered in these very words or to this effect Reverend Sir you may not onely stay to behold us but parâ—k with us if you please for wee acknowledge the Churches of Scotland to be the Churches of Christ c. The Minister also replyed to this purpose if not also in the same words That for his part hee could comfortable partake with the Church and willingly would but that it is possible some of his brethren of Scotland might take offence at his act which he desired to avoid in regard of the opinion the English Churches which they held communion withall had of us However he rendered thanks to Mr. Robinson and desired in that respect to be onely a spectator of us These things I was earnestly requested to publish to the world by some of thè godly Presbyterian party who apprehend the world to bee ignorant of our proceedings conceiving in charity that if they had been knowne some late Writers and Preacher would never have written and spoke of us as they did and still doe as they have occasion But what they ignorantly judge write or speak of us I trust the Lord in mercy wil passe by In the next place for the wholsome counsell Mr. Robinson gavâ— that part of the Church whereof he was pastor at their departure from him to begin the great worke of Plantation in New-England amongst other wholsome Instructions and Exhortations hee used these expressions or to the same purpose We are now ere long to part asunder and the Lord knoweth whether ever he should live to see our faces again but whether the Lord had appointed it or not he charged us before God and his blessed Angels to follow him no further then he followed Christ And if God should reveal any thing to us by any other instrument of his to be as ready to receive it as ever we were to receive any truth by his Ministery For he was very confident the Lord had more truth and light yet to breake forth out of his holy Word He took occasion also miserably to bewaile the state and condition of the Reformed Churches who were come to a period in Religion and would goe no further then the instruments of their Reformation As for example the Lutherans they could not be drawne to goe beyond what Luther saw for whatever part of Gods will he had further imparted and revealed to Calvin they will rather die them embrace it And so also saith he you see the Calvinists they stick where he left them A misery much to bee lamented For though they were precious shining lights in their times yet God had not revealed his whole will to them And were they now living saith hee they would bee as ready and willing to embrace further light as that they had received Here also he put us in mind of our Church-Covenant at least that part of it whereby wee promise and covenant with God and one with another to receive whatsoever light or truth shall be made known to us from his written Word but withall exhorted us to take heed what we received for truth and well to examine and compare and weigh it with other Scriptures of truth before we received it For saith he It is not possible the Christian world should come so lâ—tely cut of suâ—h thick Antichristian darknesse and that full perfection of knowledge should breake forth at once Another thing hee commended to us was that wee should use all meanes to avoid and shake off the name of Brownist being a meer nick-name and brand to make Religion odious and the professors of it to the Christian world and to that end said hee I should be glad if some godly Minister would goe over with you or come to you before my comming For said hee there will bee no difference between the unconformable Ministers and you when they come to the practise of the Ordinances out of the Kingdome And so advised us by all meanes to endeavour to close with the godly party of the Kingdome of England and rather to study union then division viz. how neare we might possibly without sin close with them then in the least measure to affect division or separation from them And be not loath to take another Pastor or Teacher saith hee for that flock that hath two shepheards is not indangered but secured by it Many other things there were of great and weighty consequence which he commended to us but these things I thought good to relate at the request of some well-willers to the peace and good agreement of the godly so distracted at present about the settling of Church-government in the Kingdom of England that so both sides may truly see what this poor despised Church of Christ now at New-Plymouth in New-England but formerly at Leyden in Holland was and is how far they were
but actually and substantially onely at the Comming of Christ in the flesh therefore deale plainely with those that depend upon you for instruction as your Ancestours in the papacie have don and proclaime a place of purgatorie provided for them in the meane without which your Doctrine hath no foundation For if you raise up a shaddow without a substance and the substance of him that dwelleth in light without a shaddow you play the part of Wisards or Necromancers not the part of true Naturalists in the things of the Kingdome of god So that as farre as these men are from beinge honourable and loyall subjects so farre are you from being voluntaries in the Day of Gods power and from yeelding subjection unto the Beauties of holiness Such also is your professed Rule and Government in the things that concern the Kingdom of our God they are infinitly beyond and out of the Reach of that Spirit which is gone out amongst you the Capacity wherof can no wayes comprehend the breadth of the land of Emanuel nor enâ—reth it within the Vale Therefore it cannot know those Cherubims of glory neither can it hâ—re the voice of that lively Oracle speaking onely from off the covering Mercy-seate and not elsewhere to be heard We speake not but what wee know these things are out of its Jurisdiction Therfore dumb in telling Justice nor speakes it any of that Righteousnesse and glory comprysed in another circuit then ever you were yet made Lords of Long therfore may you boast of your Jurisdiction before ever you attaine unto a Iurisprudentia in these things In that you tell us wee offer you wrong by a pretended purchase you are as much mistaken in the purchase as in the wrong For it is right that we are about to do neither is our purchase a pretence but precedentiall not onely in this Civill respect but may also admonish all men to take heed how they depend upon false and self-seeking interpreters when both themselves and they that have the vision are ignorant of the Contract and Covenant of God Thence it is that you teach that the spouse of Christ upon Contract with her Lord may conceive the seed of immortalitie and bring forth fruit unto God when as yet the day of mariage that great Feastivitie and solemnization of the Consolations of God is not yet comne witnesse your prorogation thereof if not to the Descension of Christ from heaven unto the earth to Raigne certaine years yet to the Calling of the Jewes whom yee your selves are according to the flesh and to the destruction of that Man of sinn whom yee so stoutly maintain What is this but to proclaime unto all the world that Audacious spirit of whoredoms professing Conception and bringing forth before the Nuptiall day In that you conclude your Clyents Right to arise out of foure years possession wee have no such order if you meane the Right of Conquest onely held in that tenure the true owners were never yet subdued for that is the right they expect to injoy by you for some of them committed part of their supposed right unto us professing it was that they might have help to injoy the rest But when they saw wee would not be Abetters unto them without much lesse contrary unto Covenant then they flye unto you for help Their possession beeing a meere intrusion as all the Natives know and ever exclaymed against them for the same And so may our Countrymen also whose eyes are not dazled with envie and eares open to Lyes as we know yours are else you had heard both sydes speake before you had Judged But wee profess right held according to no such interest but upon the ground of Covenant onely knowne in its nature In the parties 'twixt whom it is plight In the possesser and the possessed with the nature of all fruit arising from their accord and concurrencie together with their Distinct Harmonicall Reciprocall and Joint properties and operations of them both Such is the tenure wee hould and maintain before men and Angels and oppose it against man and Divell Not in taking up unto our selves certaine offices and officers which wee can teach children to bee and to perform and from thence presently to conclude the possession of the Kingdome Crying out our peace offerings are upon us this Day we have payd our vowes But when that Dark cloud descended upon the Tabernacle becomes the light and glory of all Israell there being nothing acknowledged amongst them but what ariseth out thence then and then only are the orders as also the men of Israell derivâ—d from the true fountaine which no tongue can confess but it is salvation and then not else is the heritage of our Lord in possession yea even the wayless wilderness knowes how to afford them an habitation which had its being before the hills and mountaines were borne which men begin to flye unto for refuge to hide them from the presence of the Lamb this is a possession which no man can intrude himselfe into it is onely Covenanted withim thorow an inlightned eye and boared eare which man performeth not nor can it be received from him For wee know that Cloud of thick darknesse that hides and covers the whole frame and fabrick of the work of God to be the cleâ—ring and evidencing of every point and particular therof yea to us It is even that cloud of witness which testifies unto us they like workes to appeare when ever the world hath occasion to make use of us Never doth it shine but in the night never is it dark to Israel but in the day but in the one and the other the only glory and sastie of all the tribes but how you know not nor can you with all your libraries give the interpretation thereof but have lost it in the wilderness and accordingly have made the whole way and will of our Lord the ouldnesse of the letter both to your selves and to all that have an eare to lissen unto you Thence it is that the day of Lord is a day of Darkness and Gloominess unto you but of Joy and gladness unto us yea it lifts up our head onely and then is our salvation neere For wee know the worthies of David doubled about the bed of Solomon which expell all feare in the night handling the sword with sucess making the adversaries nothing but meat to feede upon so that the tyme of your feares is the time of our Courage and Conquest for when you feare errour schisme Rents and Confusions in Church and â—late then do wee know the Messenger of the Covenant the Lord whom Wee seek is speeding his passage into his holy temple For who under the terrors of your spirit may abide his Coming hee being like a refiners fire and Fullers sope In that you invite us unto your Courts to fetch your equall ballanced justice upon this ground that you are becomne one with our adversaries and that both in what they have and what
men these wee say are the two witnesses if you can receive it and what a dishonour is it to trade so much by meanes of witnesses and yet not know what a true witnesse is which if you did you durst not attempt the things you doe whereby you cast reproach upon all the world in that you professe your selves a choice people pickt out of it and yet goe on in such practices as you doe maintaining them as your onely glory Our Lord gives you in charge not to sweare at all but it is your dignity to bring men to your seates of Justice with nothing but oathes in their mouthes why doe you not ballance the scriptures in this point viz. It hath beene said of old Thou shalt not committ adultery but I say unto you hee that looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her in his heart already so also it hath beene sayd of old Thou shalt not forsweare thy self but I say unto you sweare not at all so that if it be adulterie to looke to lust it is also forswearing a mans self to sweare at all if the one be adultery the other is perjury if one be admitted in some cases the other also so that in preaching the toleration nay the duty of an oath you preach the toleration yea the duty of adulterie it self So that our Lord plainly evinceth unto all mens consciences not onely the guilt but the folly and madnesse of the oath of man shewing how farre it is either from investing into place or demonstrating Causes so that hee that concludeth upon honour and power received from the oath of man or upon knowledge and bouldness to judge in a cause from that testimony without the which he could not have it is as vaine in his thoughts as if hee should herupon conclude I have now altered the frame of heaven which is no less stable then the throne of the great God or demolished the earth which is as firme as his foot-stoole for ever or made a fraction in the orders of Ierusalem that choice and peculiar City of the great King whose institutions no mortall breath can intrench upon or to professe his authority and skill to be such whereby he can make a haire of his head blacke or white cause his age to wax old as doth a garment or renew it with the Eagle at his pleasure hereby doth man in this point of swearing professe his folly to bee such that hee is become not onely-vaine in his imaginations but unto that pride and usurpation therein as to intrude himselfe into the prerogative royall of his Maker So that however you boast of the Ordinances of God yet he tels you there is no more then yea yea and nay nay in them for what is once nay is ever nay in the Ordination of Christ and what is once yea is ever yea with him and according to his account however man reckoneth whose account shall be called over againe what is once curse is ever the curse and what is once the principality and power of Christ is ever the principality and power of Christ as that which is once the principality and power of Darkenesse is ever the same what hands soever it cometh into for manifestation measure your kingdome whether it bee eternall and your Jurisdiction whether it bee illimited for he hath given him the heathen for his inheritance the utmost parts of the earth for his possession and a kingdome of lesse extent hee professeth not nor can hee approve or acknowledge any that doe no more then light can approve of darkenesse or the Lord Iehovah of the Lord Baâ—l Bee wise therefore and bethinke your selves while it is called to day harden not your hearts as though you would make your selves Meriba nothing but strife and contention against the Lord rather kisse the sonne if it bee possible lest his wrath bee kindled and you perish from the way for ever O blessed onely they that hope in him So that hee which professeth on this wife it is yea I am a pastour but it was nay at such a time I was none hee renounceth that spirit of the true pastour yet onely feeder of Israel professing onely that spirit that pusheth the weake with the horne and pudleth with his feet the waters where the flocke of God should drinke Hee with whom it is yea I am a Ruler but it was nay when I was none at all renounceth that spirit of him that rules in righteousnesse professing the spirit of him that rules according to the god of this world that Prince of the power of the Aire who is now working so effectually in the children of disobedience So also hee with whom it is yea I am a Captaine or chiefe slaughter-man but it was nay time was I was none at all renounceth that victorie and slaughter made by the Captaine and High-priest of our profession who as hee is a Lambe slaine from the beginning his victory and slaughter must bee of the same antiquity professing himselfe to bee a chiefe slaughter-man or superâ—â—uous Giant made in that hoast of the Philistims standing in readinesse to come out to defie the hoast of the living God yea it is evident that whatsoever is more then yea yea and nay nay not settlingeach upon its Base whereon it standeth for ever without controule but can remove create or make void offices and officers at their pleasure is of that evill or not of Jesus the salvation of his people but of Shedim that waster and destroyer of mankinde for ever know therefore that it is the oath of God which confirmes and makes good his Covenant and promise unto a thousand generations and it is the oath of man which is the bond and obligation of that league and agreement made with death and hell for ever bee yee assured it is not the tabernacle of witnes which you have amongst you brought in by Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles but it is Siccuth your King or the tabernacle of Molâ—ck the starre of your God Remphan figures which you have made unto your selves which you have taken up and are bearing so stoutly upon your shoulders Now to tell you what an oath according to God is that the scriptures are delivered upon no other ground or termes of certainty where ever they are divolged is a thing out of your jurisdiction you cannot discerne or judge of it therefore according to our word above wee leave it as a parable unto you as all the holy word of our God is as your conversation in all points as in this daily declareth In a word when wee have to doe in your jurisdiction we know what it is to submit to the wise dispensations of our God when you have to doe amongst us in the liberties hee hath given unto us wee doubt not but you shall finde him judge amongst us beyond and above any cause or thing you can propose unto us And let that suffice you and
the price of a wife and safetie of his owne life adjoyned carryed a Minister along with them of the same rise and breeding together with your owne to adde unto the blood so savagely and causelesly spilt with a company of such as you take pleasure to protect for they are all of one spirit if they have not hands in the same act we say their death is causelesse for wee have heard them affirm that shee would never heave up a hand no nor move a tongue against any that persecuted or troubled them but onely indeavour to save themselves by flight not perceiving the nature and end of persecution neither of that antichristian opposition and tyrannie the issue whereof declares it self in this soâ— and lamentable Note good Reader that I had order to publish these two Letters of his as well literatim as verbatim but because their Orthography was so bad as it would scarce have been understood I left it to bee corrected by the Printer but no word to be changed And the reason of the word here left out is because it was worne out and so soyled in the originall as wee could not read it and thought good rather to leave it a blanck then to put in a word of our own that was not theirs In the next place I present thee here with certaine Observations collected out of both their Letters by a godly and reverend Divine whereby the Reader may the better understand them and indeed try the spirits of these men whether they be of God or no. Now these his Observations are ranked into three Heads Viz. First their reproachfull and reviling speeches of the Government and Magistrates of the Massachusets which in Gortons Booke hee pretends so much to honour because their Government is derived from the State of England and therefore I desire thee to take the better notice of it The second Head of his Observations directs thee to their reviling language not onely against that particular Government and the Magistrates of it but against Magistracy it selfe and all Civill power And in his third Head thou art directed to take notice of their blasphemous speeches against the holy things of God All which because they are of great concernment I beseech the Reader to take a little paines to compare them with Mr. Gortons and his Companies Letters Certaine Observations collected out of both their LETTERS I. Their reproachfull and reviling Speeches of the Government and Magistrates of the Massachusets 1. THey say our Magistrates did lay their Wisdome prostrate in sending Letters to them which they scornfully call an irregular Note 2. That they bare them causlesse enmity the proofe whereof every occasion brings forth 3. They flily call them the seed of the ancient mother i. of the enmity of the Devill 4. That they know it is the name of Christ call'd upon them against which our Magistrates doe strive 5 That they goe about to hide their sin as Adam bearing the world in hand that they desire not to contend but to redresse something in point of Civill peace 6 That they stand on tip-toe to stretch themselves beyond their bounds to seek occasion against them 7 That those who accuse them are accusers of the Brethren Satan being a lyer and the father of it which thing our Magistrates cannot know though they be told of it 8 That this act of theirs to treat about their land is a mappe of their spirituall estate 9 That they delight daily to eate of the forbidden fruit which they call mans wisdome out of which our Churches and Common-wealth is formed to gaine conformity with their maker 10 They scorn at their purity and godlinesse telling them that Cole and Arnold their dissembling subjects are full of the spirit of their purity 11 They doe not say plainly that our Magistrates are dogs but compare them to dogs in resuming their vomit into its former concoction by receiving Cole and Arnold under our jurisdiction 12 That the whole structure and edifice among us i. the Churches and Common-wealth is raised up in the spirit of an hireling and that by submission to the Word of God in fasting feast-sting retirednesse for study contributing treasuring i. for Church uses in severall Churches they doe nothing else but bring forth fruit unto death 13 That farther then the Lord Jesus agrees with riches honour and ease our Magistrates minde him not nay renounce and reject him 14 That they plainely crucifie Christ and put him to an open shame which the Apostle Hebr. 6. applies to the worst of men who commit the unpardonable sin and for whom men are not to pray 15 That our Magistrates are as farre from yeelding subjection to Christ as Cole and Arnold from being honourable and loyall-subjects whom they call the shame of Religion the disturbance and disquiet of the place dissembling subjects Pag. 10. as also deboist rude inhumane Nabals il-bred apostatised persons and fellonious Page 23. with many such like speeches 16 That the things of Gods kingdome are infinitely beyond the reach of their spirit nor can they heare the lively Oracle and therefore are dumb in telling Justice 17 That the Magistrates are Jewes according to the flesh and stout maintainers of the man of Sin 18 That they know our Magistrates eyes are dazled with envy and their ears open to lyes 19 That they judge them before their cause be heard 20 That in inviting them to their Courts for their equal-ballanced Justice as they scornfully call it they thereby strike at Christ their life 21 That our Magistrates are like Herod whom God smote with wormes for seeking by an out-reaching and circumventing policy to subdue Tyrus and Sidon and like Pontius Pilate and the people who out of the Judgement hall are all for mercy but in it nothing but crucifie him bee their accusations and witnesses never so false so say they in your dealings with men in way of the Jewish brotherhood your law is all for mercy to redresse reforme for preservation of soule and body doe but enter into the Common-hall then if witnesses bee but brought in and oath taken though never so untrue your Consciences are purged by law and your power must have tribute paid it so far as to brand mens names with infamy and deprive women and children of things necessary 22 That the professed clemency and mercy of their law is as much as in them lyes to send both soule and body downe to Sheol i. the grave and hell for ever without redresse and all hope of recovery 23 That their houre and power of darknesse is knowne what it is either to have mens persons in admiration because of advantage or else to seek all occasions against them with all manner of reproach and ignominie 24 That their wayes are wicked and to bee abhorred because in their professed course the two witnesses are slaine by them and put to death and that all their glory is to keep
but all other civill officers must bee abandoned because the life and power of Christ is limited in successive as well as in elective Princes in inferiour as well as in superiour governours who are Christs Deputies and Vicegerents and therefore called Rom. 13. 4. the Ministers of God either for good or terrour 5. They call our generall Court the Idoll generall which is nothing else but a device of man by the sleight of Sathan to subject and make slaves of that species or kinde which God hath honored with his owne Image and they do not onely speake thus of our Courts as Idols but they cry out woe unto the world because of the Idols thereof for Idols must needes bee set up but woe be unto them by whom they are erected and their reason reacheth to all civill power for say they a man may be as well a slave to his belly and make that his god as be a vassall to his owne species or kinde or to any thing that man can bring forth even in his best perfection There are other evidences of their corrupt minde herein from other passages in their letters which they speake under more obscure cloudes and allegories but these may bee a sufficient witnesse against them before men and angels that they abandon all civill authority although for to serve their owne turnes of others or their owne lusts they say they do not the Apostle Iude long since tels us of such persons expresly who despise Dominion and speake evill of Dignities 1. They doe not only despise these or those particular persons or states that are invested with Dominion but they despise Dominion it selfe and Dignities themselves and would have all that power abandoned whom he calleth v. 8. filthy dreamers defiling the flesh murmurers and complainers walking after their owne lusts their mouthes speaking great swelling words v. 16. And that it may yet more fully appeare that these men doe abandon all civill authority although this secret they will not impart unto all but rather professe the contrary there is extant to bee shewen if need were the writings betweene a prudent man in this Country and one of the chiefe and most understanding of this peculiar fellowship as they stile themselves wherein hee doth stoutly maintaine these three assertions 1. That there are no Ordinances 2. That there are no relations neither in the Common-wealth betweene rulers and subjects nor in the Church between officers and brethren nor in the families betweene husband and wife master and servant father and sonne 3. That there are no inherent graces in Christians By which principles the world may see what these men goe about viz. as much as in them lies to bring in a disorder and confusion in all states and families and to open the sluce to all violence injustice and wickednesse by not only abandoning but reproaching and revilingall civill rule and authority upon earth which they therefore scornefully call a meere device of man Idols to be of the Devill the destroyer of mankinde and to bee a crucifying of Christ in his life and death and all this when honourable wise learned experienced well reported persons are chosen and invested with Civill power whom therefore they would not have maintained and to whom it is as unlawfull to administer any oath for the ending of civill differences as to lust after a woman to commit adultery Pag. 20. III. Their blasphemous speeches against the holy things of God 1. AGainst the Churches they call them devised platformes Pag. 26. and that the wisedome of men is the whole accomplishment or that which gives the whole being of Churches and Common-wealth Pag. 10. 2. Against the calling of Ministers they say that to make their calling mediate and not immediate is to make a nullity of Christ and to crucifie Christ and to put him to an open shame and that such Ministers are Magicians Pag. 34. Now this reflects upon all the Oâ—dinances and ordinary Officers and Ministers of Christ that either are or have beene in the Church at any time for although the offices bee immediately from Christ yet their call to exercise this office hath beene ever accounted mediate 3. Against the word of God they call the Sermons of Godâ— Ministers tales or lies and falshoods now had they thus spoken upon proofe against any particular Sermons or persons the accused might have spoken for themselves but indifferently to revile all Sermons as tales or forgeries the doctrine generally taught here amongst us being no other then that which Paul preached at Ephesus for three yeares space and upwards viz repentance towards God and faith towards the Lord Jesus Act. 20. being also no other then what agrees generally with the harmony of confessions of all reformed Churches to call these tales is a word which the Lord Jesus will certainely remember unlesse they repent the Sermons of the Apostles of Christ as well as the doctrine of all reformed Churches being reproached hereby 4. Against the Sacraments as for baptisme they doe not onely make the baptizing of Infants as abominable as the crosse but all our baptismes behold say they the vanity and abomination of all your baptismes and they doe not meane all those baptismes which are in use amongst us but in any Churches of the world at this day for they acknowledge no other baptisme then that which is spirituall and hence they say that when ever you see the baptisme of Christ truly in use according to the word of God you doe as truly see that party partaking and communicating with the crosse and sufferings of Christ for these are coaparant now communicating in Christs sufferings in their meaning is onely spirituall and so is therefore all baptismes 2. As for the Lords supper scarce a greater heape of blasphemies in fewer words can come from the mouth of man against that blessed Ordinance wherein Christ is so manifestly and sweetly present for they call it your disht up dainties turning the juice of a sillie grape that perisheth in the use ofit into the bloud of the Lord Jesus by the cunning skill of your Magicians which doth make mad and drunke so many in the world 5. Against repentance and humiliation for sinne they speake somewhat obscurely but they that know them may soone understand their meaning which if it be this that in a way of compunction and sorrow for sinne a Christian is not to seeke for consolation and comfort from Christ and to affirme that this is to make the sonne of God Belial and Segniriâ— the Devill himselfe as they interpret it then t is most grosse blasphemy against not onely the preaching but practise of repentance and godly sorrow for which the Apostle rejoiced to see in the Corinthians ch 7 v. 9. 10. and which Iames and Peter command and commend Iames 4 v. 9. 10. 1 Peter 5. v 6. and which way not so much Moses in the law but Christ in the Gospell hath
themselves with their friends and such as will follow after them where they may use their liberty to live without order or controule and not to trouble us that have taken the same course as wee have done for our safety and peace which they doe not approve nor like of but rather like beasts in the shape of men to doe what they shall thinke fit in their owne eyes and will not bee governed by any State And seeing they doe but here linger out the time in hope to get the day to make up their penny-worths in advantage upon us we have just cause to heare the complaints of so many of our Neighbors that live in the Town orderly amongst us and have brought in their complaints with many reasons against them and not to admit them but answer them as unfit persons to bee received into our meane State c. Now if these Reasons and much more which have been truly said of them doe not satisfie you and the rest of our neighbours but that they must be received into our Towne-state even unto our utter overthrow c. then according to the order agreed upon by the Towne I doe first offer my house and land within the liberty of the Towne unto the Towne to buy it of mee or else I may and shall take liberty to sell it to whom I may for mine advantage c. William Arnold A PARTICVLAR ANSWER TO THE Manifold Slanders and abominable Falsehoods contained in a Book called Simplicities defence against Seven-headed Policy Wherein Samuel Gorton is proved a disturber of Civill Societies desperately dangerous to his Country-men the English in New-Engl and notoriously slanderous in what he hath Printed of them WHEN first I entertained the desires of the Countrey to come over to answer the complaints of Samuel Gorton c. and to render a reason of the just and righteous proceedings of the Countrey of New-Engl in the severall parts of it against him being a common disturber of the peace of all Societies where hee came witnes New-Plymouth 2 Roade-Island 3 Providence and lastly the Massachusets being the most eminent I little thought then to have appeared in print but comming into England and finding a Booke written by Mr. Gorton called Simpliâ—ities defence against Seven-headed policy or A true complaint of a peaceable people being part of the English in New-Engl made unto the State of Old-England against cruell persecutors united in Church-Government in those parts I then conceived my selfe bound in duty to take off the many grosse and publike scandalls held forth therein to the great amazement of many tender consciences in the Kingdom who are not acquainted with his proud and turbulent carriage nor see the Lion under his Lambe-skinne coate of simplicity and peace The Lord knowes how unwilling I was personally to engage and I trust hee will also guide mee in answering his booke as I shall bee farre from bitternesse t is true time was when his person was precious in mine eies and therefore I hope and desire onely to make a righteous and just defence to the many unworthy things by him boldly ignorantly proudly and falsly published to the great dishonour of God in wronging and scandalizing his Churches which the Lord Jesus Christ will not leave unpunished I know the world is full of controversies and t is my great griefe to see my dear native Country so engaged in them especially one godly person against another 'T is my present comfort I come not to accuse any but to defend New-England against the injurious complaints of Samuel Gorton c. but as it comes to passe oftentimes that men wound others unavoidably in defending their persons from the violent assaults of such as draw upon them which otherwise they would never have done so if Mr. Gorton receive any such hurt which is unavoidable hee becomes an accessary thereunto by forcing mee to defend the Country without which I should bee unfaithfull I know the world is too full of bookes of this kinde and therefore however I am unfitted of many things I have and could procure at home would well become a relation of the late and present state of New England yet I shall now onely with as great brevity as may bee give answer to such injurious complaints as hee maketh of us And however his Title Preface and every leafe of his booke may bee justly found fault with I shall clearely answer to matters of fact such as hee chargeth the severall Governments withall so as any indifferent Reader may easily discerne how grosly wee are abused and how just and righteous censures were against him for disturbing the civill peace of all societies where hee came in such a manner as no Government could possibly beare and for the blasphemies for which hee was proceeded against at Massachusets they fell in occasionally by his owne meanes without any circumstance leading thereunto And first whereas hee accuseth us in the first page of his booke to goe over to suppresse hereticks 'T is well knowne we went thither for no such end laid downe by us but to enjoy those liberties the Lord Jesus Christ had left unto his Church to avoid the Episcopall tyranny and the heavy burthens they imposed to which sufferings the kingdome by this ever to bee honoured Parliament have and doe beare witnesse to as religious and just And that wee might also hold forth that truth and ancient way of God wherein wee walke which Mr. Gorton cals heresie Next in the same Pag. hee chargeth us with affection of Titles c. To which I answer either we must live without Government or if wee have Governours wee must give them wee call such Titles as are sutable to their offices and places they beare in Church and Common-wealth as Governours and Assistants Pastors Teachers Rulers Deacons c. these are our highest Titles we give In his second pag. hee chargeth the Massachusets to unite with other Colenies to the end they might bathe themselves in bloud and feed themselves fat with the lives of their brethren c. This is a notorious slander 'T is true that the Massachusets new Plimouth Coneâ—â—â—â—ut and New-haven I meane the severall Colonies there entred into a civill combination and are called by the name of the Vnited Colonies and this was occasioned by a generall conspiracy of the Indians against the body of the English there seated together with the distracted condition of England from whom we could expect no helpe at that time But Mr. Gortan and his company fell at that time into more then ordinary familiarity with the Nanohigganset Indians who were the principal contrivers of the Villany who where they could not draw others to them by forâ—e or flattery they did it by large gifts c. as I could prove by many testimonies of the Indians many hundred miles asunder from each other in which designe had not the finger of God in much mercy prevented I had beene the
to an house of his owne out of the limits of the English and there killed him where was an English man or two by to prevent their accustomed cruelties in cutting off not onely the head and hands of their prisoners when they are dead and make bracelets of the â—ore-joints of their fingers c. but to torture them whilst living with most inhumane cruelties After this the Nanohiggansets would warre upon him in revenge of his death wee forbade them and at our next meeting of Commissioners to consult about the Weale publike of the United Colonies in regard the Nanohiggansets pleaded they had taken a ransome for his life and his life also which the other denyed Wee sent for Vncus and sent to the great Sachims of Nanohigganset to come also or appeare by Commissioners but they sent foure Commissioners with full authority to treate where we found neither ransome nor colour of ransome in the least measure And so a truce was agreed on if Vncus brake it we were then freed from our engagement to defend him any further for they desired no more And if the Nanohiggansets broke it then it should be lawfull for us the United Colonies to take part with him c. But the truth is though before they had so neare neighbours of the English as Gorton c. and till Myantonimo's Government as they were the most in number and most peaceable of all the Indians yet now they were changed as if they had not been the people and had their Tutors Secretaries and promptors to suggest their greatnesse and our weaknesse to them as his Book witnesseth in such manner as I am confident if the Gortonians for I take the phrase from his owne Book here never hearing it before bee suffered to live so neare them it will bee our ruine or these Indians which we desire not in short time I thought good to insert this Narration thus briefly that the Reader might understand the ground of his many charges calling God to witnesse I know not the least falshood related in it but many things for brevities sake omitted worthy a history but I am now about an answer not an history and therefore thus briefe But to return In pag. 47. see how he scoffes at the Sabbath as if there were no other ground for our religious observation of it then Mr. Cottons judgement And in pag. 48. hee is full of many scoffs as if hee and his Gortonians would not nor did shoot at all when as I have oath to prove they shot also at the other but the truth is I heard some say that their powder was so dampe and moist as they could not without great difficulty discharge a peece which I well beleeve might bee the reason they shot no more then they did In pag. 49. hee chargeth Captaine Cooke with breach of Articles And yet I have it attested upon oath that there were none agreed on onely they desired they might not goe bound which was easily assented to they behaving themselves quietly And for their cattle I never heard the number to be so great by farre but asking the Governour of the Massachusets about them hee professed they did not amount to halfe their charges And if any aske by what authority they went out of their own Government to do such an act Know that his former seditious and turbulent carriage in all parts where he came as Plymouth Roade-Island a place of greatest liberty Providence that place which relieved him in that his so great extremity and his so desperate close with so dangerous and potent enemies and at such a time of Conspiracy by the same Indians together with the wrongs done to the Indians and English under the protection of that Government of the Massachusets who complained and desired reliefe together with his notoriouâ— contempt of all Civill Government as well as that particular and his blasphemies against God needlesly manifested in his proud letters to them one whereof hee hath printed and the other I have herewith published for him All these considered you shall see hereby cause enough why they proceeded against him as a common enemy of the Countrey And as such an one the said Commissioners being then met together at Massachusets by course for the Weale of the whole upon just complaint ordered and thought meet that the Government of the Massachusets should call them to accompt and proceed with them so farre as stood with righteousnesse and justice And by their declaration thou maist easily see they went no further for they refusing safe conduct to come to answer to the matters against them forced them upon this charge needlesly which they made them beare part of as before So that here 's cause enough besides blasphemy for their proceeding with them I suppose In pag. 51. he chargeth New-Engl Ministers to pray in the streets but take notice I have been there these 26 yeares and better but never heard of such a practise till I now reade it in his Book In pag. 52. he saith the Governour to satisfie the people said we were apprehended for divers grosse opinions c. Answ. You may see in the last Section but one there was cause enough And yet for Opinions let mee tell you that you held That that Image of God after which man was created was Christ and that when Adam fell Christ was slaine c. And as for your opinion concerning Churches Mr. Williams by way of sad complaint told me you denyed any true Churches of Christ to be in the world also Baptisme it selfe and the Lords Supper Sabbath Magistracy as it was an ordinance used amongst Christians And for the Lords Supper that it is but a spell the Ministers Necromancers and the Communicants drunke with the juice of the grape c. And for this last passage here mentioned the Reader shall have it at large in a second Letter sent by him and his companions to the Government of the Massachusets concealed by himself in his Book though he pretendeth to have printed all c. In pag. 53. as he abuseth others so Mr. Cotton and Mr. Ward in affirming that Mr. Ward put himselfe into a passion and stirred up Carder to recant c. as being no discredit to him because Mr. Cotton ordinarily preached that publiquely once a yeare which the next yeare he recants c. But Mr. Ward being in Towne a man well knowne and reputed I shewed him the Booke and hee gave mee thanks and returned this answer to it verbatim Samuel Gorton having made mee a Margent note in the 53 page of his Booke I hold my self called to make this answer to it I cannot call to minde that ever I knew or spake with such a man as Richard Carder nor that ever I had any speech with any prisoner at a window nor should I need it in New-England where there is liberty enough given for conference with prisoners in more free and convenient places This I remember that one
knew the practise of that Church of Christ under his government or was acquainted with the wholsome counsell he gave that part of the Church which went for New-England at their departure and afterward might easily resolve the doubt and take off the aspersion For his Doctrine â— living three yeares under his Ministery before we began the worke of Plantation in New-England It was alwayes against separation from any the Churches of Christ professing and holding communion both with the French and Dutch Churches yea tendering it to the Scots also as I shall make appeare more particularly anon Ever holding forth how wary persons ought to bee in separating from a Church and that till Christ the Lord departed wholly from it man ought not to leave it onely to beare witnesse against the corruption that was in it But if any object he separated from the Church of England and wrote largely against it I acknowledge hee wrote largely against it but yet let me tell you hee allowed hearing the godly Ministers preach and pray in the publick Assamblies yea hee allowed private communion not onely with them but all that were faithfull in Christ Jesus in the Kingdome and else where upon all occasions yea honored them for the power of godlinesse above all other the professors of Religion in the world nay I may truly say his spirit cleaved unto them being so well acquainted with the integrity of their hearts and care to walke blamelesse in their lives which was no small motive to him to perswade us to remove from Holland where wee might probably not onely continue English but have and maintain such sweet communion with the godly of that Nation as through Gods great mercy we enjoy this day 'T is true I confesse he was more rigid in his course and way at first then towards his latter end for his study was peace and union so far as might agree with faith and a good conscience and for schiâ—â—â— and division there was nothing in the world more hatefull to him But for the government of the Church of England as it was in the Episcopall way the Liturgy and stinted prayers of the Church then yea the constitution of it as Nationall and so consequently the corrupt communion of the unworthy with the worthy receivers of the Lords Supper these things were never approved of him but witnessed against to his death and are by the Câ—urch over which he was to this day And if the Lord would be pleased to stir up the hearts of those in whom under him the power of Reformation lies to reform that abuse that a distinction might once be put between the precious and the vile particular Churches might be gathered by the powerfull preaching of the Word those onely admitted into communion whose hearts the Lord perswades to submit unto the Iron rod of the Gospel O how sweet then would the communion of the Churches be How thorow the Reformation How easie would the differences be reconciled between the Presbyterian and Independent way How would the God of peace which commandeth love and good agreement smile upon this Nation How would the subtle underminers of it be disappointed and the faithfull provoked to sing songs of praise and thanksgiving Nay how would the God of order be glorified in such orderly walking of the Saints And as they have fought together for the liberties of the Kingdome Eccleâ—iasticall and Civill so may they joyn together in the preservation of them which otherwise 't is to be â—eared will not long continue and in the praises of our God who hath been so good to his poore distressed ones whom he hath delivered and whom he will deliver out of all their troubles But I have made too great a digression and must return In the next place I should speak of Mr. Robinsons Apology wherein he maketh a briefe defence against many adversaries c. But because it is both in Latine and English of small price and easie to bee had I shall for beare to write of it and onely refer the Reader to it for the differences between his congregation and other the Reformed Churches The next thing I would have the Reader take notice of is that however the church of Leyden differed in some particulars yet made no Schisme or separation from the Reformed Churches but held communion with them occasionally For we ever placed a large difference between those that grounded their practise upon the Word of God tho differing from us in the exposition or understanding of it and those that hated such Reformers and Reformation and went on in Antichristian opposition to it and persecution of it as the late Lord Bishops did who would not in deed and truth whatever their pretences were that Christ should rule over them But as they often stretched out their hands against the saints so God hath withered the Arm of their power thrown them down from their high lofty seaâ—s and slain the chiefe of their persons as well as the Hierarchy that he might become an example to all those that rise against God in his Sabbath in the preaching of his Word in his Saints in the purity of his Ordinances And I heartily desire that others may heare and feare withall As for the Dutch it was usuall for our Members that understood the language and lived in or occasionally came over to London to communicate with them as one Iohn Ienny a Brewer long did his wife and family c. and without any offence to the Church So also for any that had occasion to travel into any other part of the Netherlands they daily did the like And our Pastor Mr. Robinson in the time when Arminianisme prevailed so much at the request of the most Orthodox Divines as Poliander Festus Homlius c. disputed daily against Episcopius in the Academy at Leyden and others the grand champions of that error and had as good respect amongst them as any of their own Divines Insomuch as when God took him away from them and us by death the University and Ministers of the City accompanied him to his grave with all their accustomed solemnities bewayling the great losse that not onely that particular Church had whereof he was Pastor but some of the chief of them sadly affirmed that all the Churches of Christ sustained a losse by the death of that worthy Instrument of the Gospel I could instance also divers of their members that understood the English tongue and betook themselves to the communion of our Church went with us to New-England as Godbert Godbertson c. Yea at this very instant another called Moses Symonson because a child of one that was in communion with the Duâ—ch Church at Leyden is admitted into Church-fellowship at Plymouth in New-England and his children also to Baptism as wel as our own and other Dâ—etch also in communion at Salem c. And for the French Churches thâ—â— we held and do hold communion with them take notice of our
and still are from separation from the Churches of Christ especially those that are Reformed 'T is true we professe and desire to practise a separation from the world the works of the world which are works of the flesh such as the Apostle speaketh of Ephes. 5. 19 20 21. 1 Cor. 6. 9 10 11. and Ephes. 2. 11 12. And as the Churches of Christ are all Saints by calling so wedesire to see the grace of God shining forth at least seemingly leaving secret things to God in all we admit into church fellowship with us to keep off such as openly wallow in the mire of their sins that neither the holy things of God nor the communion of the Saints may be leavened or polluted thereby And if any joyning to us formerly either when we lived at Leyden in Holland or since we came to New-England have with the manifestation of their faith and profession of holiness held forth therewith separation from the Church of England I have divers times both in the one place and the other heard either Mr. Robinson our Pastor or Mr. Brewster our Elder stop them forthwith shewing them that wee required no such things at their hands but only to hold â—orth faith in Christ Jesus holinesse in the feare of God and submission to every Ordinance and appointment of God leaving the Church of England to themselves and to the Lord before whom they should stand or fall and to whom wee ought to pray to reforme what was amisse amongst them Now this Reformation we have lived to see performed and brought about by the mighty power of God this day in a good measure and I hope the Lord Jesus will perfect his work of Reformation till all be according to the good pleasure of his will By all which I desire the Reader to take notice of our former and present practise notwithstanding all the injurious and scandalous taunting reports are passed on us And if these things will not satisfie but wee must still suffer reproach and others for our sakes because they and wee thus walke our practise being for ought wee know wholly grounded on the written Word without any addition or humane invention knowne to us taking our patterne from the Primitive Churches as they were regulated by the blessed Apostles in their owne dayes who were taught and instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ and had the unerring and all-knowing Spirit of God to bring to their remembrance the things they had heard I say if wee must still suffer such reproach notwithstanding our charity towards them who will notbe in charity with us Gods will be done The next aspersion cast upon us is that we will not suffer any that differ from us never so little to reside or cohabite with us no nor the Presbyterian Government which differeth so little from us To which I answer our practise witnesseth the contrary For 't is well knowne that Mr. Parker and Mr. Noyce who are Ministers of the Church at Nâ—wberry are in that way and so knowne so farre as a single Congregation can bee exercised in it yet never had the least molestation or disturbance and have and finde as good respect from Magistrates and people as other Elders in the Congregationall or Primitive way 'T is knowne also that Mr. Hubbard the Minister at Hengam hath declared himselfe for that way nay which is more then ever I heard of the other two hee refuseth to baptize no children that are tendred to him although this liberty stands not upon a Presbyterian bottome and yet the Civill State never molested him for it onely comming to a Synod held in the Country the last yeare which the Magistrates called requesting the Churches to send their Elders and such other as might bee able to hold forth the light of-God from his written word in case of some doubts which did arise in the Country I say hee comming the last sitting of the Assembly which was adjourned to the eighth of Iune next was in all meeknesse and love requested to bee present and hold forth his light hee went by in baptizing all that were brought to him hereby waving the practise of the Churches which he promising to take into consideration they rested in his answer So also 't is wel known that before these unhappy troubles arose in England and Scotland there were divers Gentlemen of Scotland that groaned under the heavy pressaries of those times wrote to New-England to know whether they might freely be suffered to exercise their Presbyteriall government amongst us And it was answered affimatively they might and they sending over a Gentleman to take a view of some fit place A River called Meromeck neare Ipswich and Newberry aforesaid was shewed their Agent which he well liked and where wee have since four townes settled and more may bee for ought I know so that there they might have had a compleate Presbytery and whither they intended to have come but meeting with manifold crosses being halfe Seas thorow they gave over their intendments and as I have heard these were many of the Gentlemen that first fell upon the late Covenant in Scotland by all which will easily appeare how wee are here wronged by many and the harder measure as wee heare imposed upon our brethren for our sakes nay pretending our example of their president And last of all not long before I came away certaine discontented persons in open Court of the Massachusets demanding that liberty it was freely and as openly tendred to them shewing their former practices by mee mentioned but willed not to expect that wee should provide them Ministers c. for the same but getting such themselves they might exercise the Presbyterian Government at their libertie walking peaceably towards us as wee trusted we should doe towards them So that if our brethren here shall bee restrained they walking peaceably the example must not be taken from us but arise 〈◊〉 some other principle But it will not bee objected though you deale thus with the Presbyterian way yet you have a severe law against Anaâ—aptists yea one was whipt at Massachusets for his Religion and your law banisheth them Answ. 'T is true the Massachusets Governement have such a law as to banish but not to whip in that kinde And certaine men desiring some mitigation of it It was answered in my hearing 'T is true we have a severe law but wee never did or will execute the rigour of it upon any and have men living amongst us nay some in our Churches of that judgement and as long as they carry themselves peaceably as hitherto they doe wee will leave them to God our selves having performed the duty of brethren to them And whereas there was one whipt amongst us 't is true wee knew his judgement what it was but had hee not carried himselfe so contemptuously towards the Authority God hath betrusted us with in an high exemplary measure wee had never so censured him and therefore he may thank himself