the whole Church of God and themselves as I take it Besides many of the things are not infirmities but such as I am bound to protest against yet I acknowledge there are some wise men among them who would help to mend things if they were able and I hope will do their endeavours And I think that wiser men then they going into a wildernesse to set up another strange government differing from the setled government here might have falne into greater errors then they have done Neither have I the least aime to retard or hinder an happy and desired reformation of things amisse either in Church or Common-wealth but daily and earnestly pray to God Almighty the God of Wisdome and Counsell that he please so to direct his Royall Majesty and his wise and honourable Counsell the high Court of Parliament that they may fall upon so due and faire a moderation as may be for the glory of God and the peace and safety of his Royall Majesty and all his Majesties dominions and good Subjects Vale Clements Inne Jan. 17. 1641. Thomas Lechford A TABLE of the chiefe Heads of this DISCOURSE 1. THe Church-government and administrations in the Bay of the Mattachusets Page 2. 2. Their publique worship 16 3. Touching the government of the Common-wealth there 23 4. Certaine Propositions to the generall Court concerning recording of Civill Causes 29 5. A Paper of the Church her liberties 31 6. A Paper intended for the Worshipfull John Winthrop Esquire late Governour touching baptizing of those they terme without and propagation of the Gospel to the Infidel Natives 34 7. The Ministers and Magistrates their names 37 8. The state of the Countrey in the Bay and thereabouts 47 9. A relation concerning the Natives or Indians 49 10. Some late occurrences touching Episcopacie 53 11. Three Questions to the Elders of Boston and their Answers 55 12. A Paper of exceptions to their government 56 13. Forty quaeres about planting and governing of Churches and other experiments 58 14. An abstract of certaine Letters 68 15. The Conclusion 78 Plaine dealing OR NEWES FROM NEW-ENGLAND HAving been forth of my native Countrey almost for the space of foure yeeres last past and now through the goodnesse of Almighty God returned many of my friends desiring to know of me the manner of governments and state of things in the place from whence I came New England I thinke good to declare my knowledge in such things as briefly as I may I conceive and hope it may be profitable in these times of disquisition For the Church government and administrations in the Bay of the Mattachusets A Church is gathered there after this maner A convenient or competent number of Christians allowed by the generall Court to plant together at a day prefixed come together in publique manner in some fit place and there confesse their sins and professe their faith one unto another and being satisfied of one anothers faith repentance they solemlny enter into a Covenant with God and one an other which is called their Church Covenant and held by them to constitute a Church to this effect viz. To forsake the Devill and all his workes and the vanities of the sinfull world and all their former lusts and corruptions they have lived and walked in and to cleave unto and obey the Lord Jesus Christ as their onely King and Law-giver their onely Priest and Prophet and to walke together with that Church in the unity of the faith and brotherly love and to submit themselves one unto an other in all the ordinances of Christ to mutuall edification and comfort to watch over and support one another Whereby they are called the Chruch of such a place which before they say were no Church nor of any Church except the invisible After this they doe at the same time or some other all being together elect their own Officers as Pastor Teacher Elders Deacons if they have fit men enough to supply those places else as many of them as they can be provided of Then they set another day for the ordination of their said officers and appoint some of themselves to impose hands upon their officers which is done in a publique day of fasting and prayer Where there are Ministers or Elders before they impose their hands upon the new Officers But where there is none there some of their chiefest men two or three of good report amongst them though not of the Ministery doe by appointment of the said Church lay hands upon them And after the said ordination if there are any Elders of other Churches present as of late I have knowne divers have been present under the names of the Messengers of the Churches they give the new Officers the right hand of fellowship taking them by the right hand every one severally or else sometimes one forraine Elder in the name of all the rest gives the right hand of fellowship with a set speech unto them Notice is given in divers Churches or other places before-hand of the gathering of every Church divers weeks before and so also of every ordination And some Ministers or others as Messengers from other Churches are usually present at such gatherings of Churches and ordinations For sometimes Magistrates Captains Gentlemen and other meaner Brethren are made messengers of Churches for those and other purposes never having had imposition of hands And at planting of a Church or gathering as they tearme it one of the Church messengers of forraine Churches examines and tries the men to be moulded into a Church discerns their faith and repentance and their Covenant being before ready made written subscribed and here read and acknowledged hee decerns and pronounceth them to be a true Church of Christ and gives them the right hand of fellowship and all this in the name of Christ and of all the Church-messengers present and their Churches so did Master Weld at the founding of Weymouth Church or to this effect And the generall Court will not allow of any Church otherwise gathered Some Ministers have there heretofore as I have heard disclaimed the power of their Ministery received in England but others among them have not Generally for the most part they hold the Pastors and Teachers offices to be distinct the Teacher to minister a word of knowledg the Pastor a word of wisdome but some hold them all one as in the Church of Watertowne there are two Pastors neither will that Church send any messengers to any other Church-gathering or ordination When a man or woman commeth to joyne unto the Church so gathered he or shee commeth to the Elders in private at one of their houses or some other place appointed upon the weeke dayes and make knowne their desire to enter into Church-fellowship with that Church and then the ruling Elders or one of them require or aske him or her if he bee willing to make known unto them the worke of grace upon their soules
or how God hath beene dealing with them about their conversion which at Boston the man declareth usually standing the woman sitting And if they satisfie the Elders and the private assembly for divers of the Church both men and women meet there usually that they are true beleevers that they have beene wounded in their hearts for their originall sinne and actuall transgressions and can pitch upon some promise of free grace in the Scripture for the ground of their faith and that they finde their hearts drawne to beleeve in Christ Jesus for their justification and salvation and these in the ministerie of the Word reading or conference and that they know competently the summe of Christian faith And sometimes though they be not come to a full assurance of their good estate in Christ Then afterwards in covenient time in the publique assembly of the Church notice is given by one of the ruling Elders that such a man or woman by name desireth to enter into Church-fellowship with them and therefore if any know any thing or matter of offence against them for their unfitnesse to joyne with them such are required to bring notice thereof to the Elders else that any who know them or can say any thing for their fitnesse be ready to give testimony thereof when they shall be called forth before the whole Church If there be matter of offence it is first heard before the Elders and if the party satisfie them and the offended in private for private offences and promise to satisfie in publique for publique offences then upon another day one of the ruling Elders calleth forth the party by name in the publique assembly of the Church and before strangers and whomsoever present most commonly upon the Lords day after evening exercises and sometimes upon a week day when all the Church have notice to be present The party appearing in the midst of the Assembly or some convenient place the ruling Elder speaketh in this manner Brethren of this congregation this man or woman A. B. hath been heretofore propounded to you desiring to enter into Church-fellowship with us and we have not since that heard any thing from any of you to the contrary of the parties admittance but that we may goe on to receive him Therefore now if any of you know any thing against him why he may not be admitted you may yet speak Then after some silence he proceedeth Seeing no man speaketh to the contrary of his admission if any of you know any thing to speak for his receiving we desire you give testimony thereof to the Church as you were also formerly desired to be ready therewith and expresse your selves as briefly as you may and to as good hearing Whereupon sometimes men do speak to the contrary in case they have not heard of the propounding and so stay the party for that time also till this new offence be heard before the Elders so that sometimes there is a space of divers moneths between a parties first propounding and receiving and some are so bashfull as that they choose rather to goe without the Communion then undergoe such * publique confessions and tryals but that is held their fault But when none speaketh to the contrary then some one two or three or more of the Brethren speak their opinions of the party giving instances in some godlinesse and good conversation of his or some other recommendation is made and that they are willing if the Church thereto consent for their part to give him the right hand of fellowship Which done the Elder turneth his speech to the party to be admitted and requireth him or sometimes asketh him if he be willing to make knowne to the congregation the work of grace upon his soule and biddeth him as briefly and audibly to as good hearing as he can to doe the same Thereupon the party if it be a man speaketh himselfe but if it be a woman her confession made before the Elders in private is most usually in Boston Church read by the Pastor who registred the same At Salem the women speake themselves for the most part in the Church but of late it is said they doe this upon the week dayes there and nothing is done on Sunday but their entrance into Covenant The man in a solemne speech sometimes a quarter of an houre long shorter or longer declareth the work of grace in his soule to the same purpose as that before the Elders formerly mentioned Then the Elder requireth the party to make profession of his faith which also is done either by questions and answers if the party be weake or else in a solemne speech according to the summe and tenour of the Christian faith laid downe in the Scriptures defining faith and shewing how it is wrought by the Word and Spirit of God defining a Church to be a company of beleevers gathered out of the world by the Word preached and holy Spirit and knit together by an holy Covenant that there are in the Church remaining such and such officers and members as aforesaid That is to say Pastors and Teachers ruling Elders Deacons and Deaconesses or Widowes and such and such are their offices and duties in particular viz. the Pastor to exhort and besides to rule the Teacher to instruct in knowledge and likewise to rule the ruling Elder to assist Pastor and Teacher in ruling as the Levites were given to the Priests for helps and to see to whomsoever comming into or to goe forth of the Church by admonition or excommunication the Deacon to receive the contributions of the Church and faithfully to dispose the same the Deaconesses to shew mercie with chearfulnesse and to minister to the sick and poore brethren the members all to watch over and support one an other in brotherly love Notwithstanding there was a Sermon lately made by Master Cotton in October Anno 1640. upon 1 Cor. 11.19 touching heresies which was since commonly there called the Sermon of the twelve Articles wherein was declared that there are twelve Articles of Religion which maintained by any the Church may receive them and keepe fellowship with them but the ignorant of them after instruction and scandalous sins unrepented exclude from the fellowship of the Church The said Articles were to this effect First that there are three Persons in one God the Father the Sonne and the holy Spirit Secondly that this God made and governs all the World and that he is a rewarder of the good and punisher of the evill Thirdly that this God alone is to be worshiped Fourthly this worship of God is instituted in his written Word not the precepts of men Fiftly that from the fall of Adam we have not so worshiped God but have all sinned and deprived our selves of the reward promised and therefore are under the curse by nature Sixthly that we are by nature utterly unable to rescue our selves from this curse Seventhly that
PLAIN DEALING OR NEVVES FROM New-England Vivat Rex Angliae Carolus Vivat Anglia Vivantque eorum Amici omnes A short view of NEW-ENGLANDS present Government both Ecclesiasticall and Civil compared with the anciently-received and established Government of ENGLAND in some materiall points fit for the gravest consideration in these times By THOMAS LECHFORD of Clements Inne in the County of Middlesex Gent. Levis est dolor qui capere consilium potest Et clepere sese Magna non latitant mala Sen. LONDON Printed by W. E. and I. G. for Nath Butter at the signe of the pyde Bull neere S. Austins gate 1642. TO THE READER EVery man is to approve himselfe and answer to God for his actions his conscience leads him to and next to good men as much as in him lyeth I have thus presumed to enter into publique for these reasons First because it is well knowne unto many that heretofore I suffered imprisonment and a kind of banishment out of this good Land for some acts construed to oppose and as tending to subvert Episcopacie and the setled Ecclesiasticall government of England therefore now I desired to purge my self of so great a scandall and wherein I have offended to intreat all my Superiours and others to impute it rather to my ignorance for the time then any wilfull stubbornnesse Secondly seeing that since my comming home I find that multitudes are corrupted with an opinion of the unlawfulnesse of the Church-government by Diocesan Bishops which opinion I beleeve is the root of much mischiefe having now had experience of divers governments I see not how I could with faithfulnesse to God my King and Countrey be any longer silent especially considering some of these late troubles occasioned among other sins I fear much through this evill opinion Happy shall I be if any be made wiser by my harmes I wish all men to take heed how they shake hands with the Church of God upon any such heedlesse grounds as I almost had done Thirdly that I might though unworthy in a fit season acquaint the learned and pious Divines of England with these my slender observations quaeres and experiments to the end they may come the better prepared upon any publique occasion for the consideration of such matters and so at length those good things that are shaken among us may be established and truth confirmed It is enough for me being a Student or Practiser at Law faithfully to put a Case which will be this Whether the Episcopall Government by Provinciall and Diocesan Bishops in number about 26. in England being if not of absolute Divine authority yet nearest and most like thereunto and most anciently here embraced is still safest to be continued Or a Presbyterian government being as is humbly conceived but of humane authority bringing in a numerous company of above 40000. Presbyters to have chiefe rule in the keyes in England be fit to be newly set up here a thing whereof we have had no experience and which moderate wise men think to be lesse consonant to the Divine patterne and may prove more intolerable then the said Episcopacie Or an independent government of every congregationall Church ruling it selfe which introduceth not onely one absolute Bishop in every Parish but in effect so many men so many Bishops according to New-Englands rule which in England would be Anarchie confusion I would entreat those that stand for this last mentioned manner of government to be pleased to consider 1. That the very terme of leading or ruling in the Church attributed to Elders forbids it for if all are Rulers who shall be ruled 2. The maine acts of Rule consist of receiving into the Church by Baptisme or otherwise and ejection out of the Church by censure binding and loosing now these are committed to the Apostles and their successors and not to all the members of the Church 3. All have not power to baptize therefore not to receive into the Church nor to cast out of the Church My brethren be not many masters saith S. Iames 3.1 The words of the wise are as goads and as nayles fastened by the masters of assemblies which are given from one Shepheard Eccles. 12.11 And whereas some may say that this power of ruling is but ministerially in the Officers and initiatively conclusively and virtually in the people If so what power ordinarily have the people to contradict the ministeriall works and acts of their Officers Must the whole Church try all those whom their Ministers convert abroad suppose among Indians before they may baptize them How can all the Church examine and try such All have not power warrant leisure pleasure ability for and in such works nor can all speake Indian language Doubtlesse the acts of rule by the Officers is the rule of the whole Church and so to be taken ordinarily without contradiction else there would be no end of jangling And thus taken the whole Church of Corinth by S. Pauls command sc. by their Ministers were to put away that wicked person and deliver him up to Satan 1 Cor. 5.13 and restore him and forgive him 2 Cor. 2. and so all the doubt on that Text is neer I think resolved Now that the government at New-England seemeth to make so many Church-members so many Bishops will be plaine by this ensuing Discourse for you shall here find that the Churches in the Bay governe each by all their members unanimously or else by the major part wherein every one hath equall vote and superspection with their Ministers and that in their Covenant it is expressed to be the duty of all the members to watch over one another And in time their Churches will be more corrupted then now they are they cannot as there is reason to feare avoid it possibly How can any now deny this to be Anarchie and confusion Nay say some we will keep out those that have not true grace But how can they certainly discerne that true grace and what measure God requireth Besides by this course they will it is to be feared in stead of propagating the Gospel spread heathenisme in stead of gaining to the Church lose from the Church for when the major part are unbaptized as in twenty years undoubtedly they will be by such a course continued what is like to become of it but that either they may goe among their fellow-heathens the Indians or rise up against the Church and break forth into many grievous distempers among themselves which God and the King forbid I pray And that you courteous Reader may perceive I have from time to time dealt cordially in these things by declaring them impartially to my friends as I received light I shall adde in the last place certaine passages out Letters sent by me into England to that purpose and conclude And I doe not this God knoweth as delighting to lay open the infirmities of these well-affected men many of them my friends but that it is necessary at this time for
the poore of the Church and the Churches occasions without making account ordinarily But in Salem Church those onely that are of the Church offer in publique the rest are required to give to the Ministerie by collection at their houses At some other places they make a rate upon every man as well within as not of the Church residing with them towards the Churches occasions and others are beholding now and then to the generall Court to study wayes to enforce the maintenance of the Ministerie This done then followes admission of members or hearing matters of offence or other things sometimes till it be very late If they have time after this is sung a Psalme and then the Pastor concludeth with a Prayer and a blessing Upon the week dayes there are Lectures in divers townes and in Boston upon Thursdayes when Master Cotton teacheth out of the Revelation There are dayes of fasting thanksgiving and prayers upon a occasions but no b holy dayes except the Sunday In some Churches nothing is c read on the first day of the weeke or Lords day but a Psalme dictated before or after the Sermon as at Hingham there is no catechizing of children or others in any Church except in Concord Church in other places of those admitted in their receiving the reason given by some is because when people come to be admitted the Church hath tryall of their knowledge faith and repentance and they want a direct Scripture for Ministers catechizing As if Goe teach all Nations and Traine up a childe in the way he should goe did not reach to Ministers catechizings But God be thanked the generall Court was so wise in Iune last as to enjoyn or take some course for such catechizing as I am informed but know not the way laid down in particular how it should be done They call the dayes of the weeke beginning at the first second third forth fifth sixth and seventh which is Saturday the moneths begin at March by the names of the first second and so forth to the twelfth which is February because they would avoid all memory of heathenish and idols names And surely it is good to overthrow heathenisme by all good wayes and meanes But there hath not been any sent forth by any Church to learne the Natives language or to instruct them in the Religion First because they say they have not to do with them being without unlesse they come to heare and learn English Secondly some say out of Rev. 15. last it is not probable that anynation more can be converted til the calling of the Jews till the seven plagues finished none was able to enter into the Temple that is the Christian Church and the seventh Viall is not yet poured forth and God knowes when it will bee Thirdly because all Churches among them are equall and all Officers equall and so betweene many nothing is done that way They must all therefore equally beare the blame for indeede I humbly conceive that by their principles no Nation can or could ever be converted Therefore if so by their principles how can any Nation be governed They have nothing to excuse themselves in this point of not labouring with the Indians to instruct them but their want of a staple trade and other businesses taking them up And it is true this may excuse à tanto Of late some Churches are of opinion that any may be admitted to Church-fellowship that are not extremely ignorant or scandalous but this they are not very forward to practice except at Newberry Besides many good people scruple their Church Covenant so highly tearmed by the most of them a part of the * Covenant of grace and particularly one Master Martin for saying in argumentation that their Church Covenant was an humane invention and that they will not leave till it came to the swords point was fined ten pounds his cow taken and sold for the money A Minister standing upon his Ministery as of the Church of England and arguing against their Covenant and beeing elected by some of Weymouth to be their Minister was compelled to recant some words one that made the election got hands to the paper was fined 10. pounds and thereupon speaking a few crosse words 5. pound more and payed it downe presently Another of them for saying one of the Ministers of the Bay was a Brownist or had a Brownisticall head and for a supposed lie was whipt and all these by the generall or quarter civill Courts Touching the government of the Common-Weale there NOne may now be a Freeman of that Common-wealth being a Societie or Corporation named by the name of the Governour Deputy Governour and Assistants of the Societie of the Mattachusets Bay in New-England unlesse he be a Church member amongst them None have voice in elections of Governours Deputy and Assistants none are to be Magistrates Officers or Jurymen grand or petite but Freemen The Ministers give their votes in all elections of Magistrates Now the most of the persons at New-England are not admitted of their Church and therefore are not Freemen and when they come to be tryed there be it for life or limb name or estate or whatsoever they must bee tryed and judged too by those of the Church who are in a sort their adversaries how equall that hath been or may be some by experience doe know others may judge The manner of the elections is this At first the chiefe Governour and Magistrates were chosen in London by erection of hands by all the Free-men of this Society Since the transmitting of the Patent into New-England the election is not by voices nor erection of hands but by papers thus The generall Court-electory sitting where are present in the Church or meeting-house at Boston the old Governour Deputy and all the Magistrates and two Deputies or Burgesses for every towne or at least one all the Freemen are bidden to come in at one doore and bring their votes in paper for the new Governour and deliver them downe upon the table before the Court and so to passe forth at another doore Those that are absent send their votes by proxies All being delivered in the votes are counted and according to the major part the old Governour pronounceth that such an one is chosen Governour for the yeare ensuing Then the Freemen in like manner bring their votes for the Deputy Governour who being also chosen the Governour propoundeth the Assistants one after the other New Assistants are of late put in nomination by an order of general Court before-hand to be considered of If a Freeman give in a blanck that rejects the man named if the Freeman makes any mark with a pen upon the paper which he brings that elects the man named then the blancks and marked papers are numbred and according to the major part of either the man in nomination stands elected or rejected And so for all
the Assistants And after every new election which is by their Patent to be upon the last Wednesday in every Easter Terme the new Governour and Officers are all new sworn The Governour and Assistants choose the Secretary And all the Court consisting of Governour Deputy Assistants and Deputies of towns give their votes as well as the rest and the Ministers and Elders and all Church-officers have their votes also in all these elections of chiefe Magistrates Constables and all other inferiour Officers are sworn in the generall quarter or other Courts or before any Assistant Every Free-man when he is admitted takes a strict oath to be true to the Society or jurisdiction In which oath I doe not remember expressed that ordinary saving which is and ought to be in all oathes to other Lords Saving the faith and truth which I beare to our Soveraigne Lord the King though I hope it may be implyed There are two generall Courts one every halfe yeare wherein they make Lawes or Ordinances The Ministers advise in making of Laws especially Ecclesiasticall and are present in Courts and advise in some speciall causes criminall and in framing of Fundamentall Lawes But not many Fundamentall Lawes are yet established which when they doe they must by the words of their Charter make according to the Laws of England or not contrary thereunto Here they make taxes and levies There are besides foure quarter Courts for the whole Jurisdiction besides other petie Courts one every quarter at Boston Salem and Ipswich with their severall jurisdictions besides every towne almost hath a petie Court for small debts and trespasses under twenty shillings In the generall Court or great quarter Courts before the Civill Magistrates are tryed all actions and causes civill and criminall and also Ecclesiasticall especially touching non-members And they themselves say that in the generall and quarter Courts they have the power of Parliament Kings Bench Common Pleas Chancery High Commission and Star-chamber and all other Courts of England and in divers cases have exercised that power upon the Kings Subjects there as is not difficult to prove They have put to death banished fined men cut off mens eares whipt imprisoned men and 〈◊〉 these for Ecclesiasticall and Civill offences and without sufficient record In the lesser quarter Courts are tryed in some actions under ten pound in Boston under twenty and all criminall causes not touching life or member From the petie quarter Courts or other Court the parties may appeale to the great quarter Courts from thence to the generall Court from which there is no appeale they say Notwithstanding I presume their Patent doth reserve and provide for Appeales in some cases to the Kings Majesty The generall and great quarter Courts are kept in the Church meeting-house at Boston Twice a yeare in the said great quarter Courts held before the generall Courts are two grand Juries sworne for the Jurisdiction one for one Court and the other for the other and they are charged to enquire and present offences reduced by the Governour who gives the charge most an-end under the Heads of the ten Commandements And a draught of a body of fundamentall laws according to the judiciall Laws of the Jews hath been contrived by the Ministers and Magistrates and offered to the generall Court to be established and published to the people to be considered of and this since his Majesties command came to them to send over their Patent Among which Lawes that was one I excepted against as you may see in the paper following entituled Of the Church her liberties presented to the Governour and â—agistrates of the Bay 4. Martii 1639. Notwithstanding a by-law to that or the like effect hath been made and was held of force there when I came thence yet I confesse I have heard one of their wisest speak of an intention to repeale the same Law Matters of debt trespasse and upon the case and equity yea and of heresie also are tryed by a Jury Which although it may seeme to be indifferent and the Magistrates may judge what is Law and what is equall and some of the chief Ministers informe what is heresie yet the Jury may finde a generall verdict if they please and seldome is there any speciall verdict found by them with deliberate arguments made thereupon which breeds many inconveniences The parties are warned to challenge any Jury-man before he be sworn but because there is but one Jury in a Court for tryall of causes and all parties not present at their swearing the liberty of challenge is much hindred and some inconveniencies doe happen thereby Jurors are returned by the Marshall he was at first called the Bedle of the Societie Seldome is there any matter of record saving the verdict many times at randome taken and entred which is also called the judgment And for want of proceeding duly upon record the government is cleerely arbitrary according to the discretions of the Judges and Magistrates for the time being And humbly I appeale to his royall Majesty and his honourable and great Counsell whether or no the proceedings in such matters as come to be heard before Ecclesiasticall Judges be not fit to be upon Record and whether Registers Advocates and Procurators be not necessary to assist the poore and unlearned in their causes and that according to the warrant and intendment of holy Writ and of right reason I have knowne by experience and heard divers have suffered wrong by default of such in New-England I feare it is not a little degree of pride and dangerous improvidence to slight all former lawes of the Church or State cases of experience and precedents to go hammer out new according to severall exigencies upon pretence that the Word of God is sufficient to rule us It is true it is sufficient if well understood But take heede my brethren despise not learning nor the worthy Lawyers of either gown lest you repent too late The parties in all causes speake themselves for the most part and some of the Magistrates where they thinke cause requireth doe the part of Advocates without fee or reward Most matters are presently heard and ended the same Court the party defendant having foure dayes warning before but some causes come to be heard again and new suits grow upon the old Profane swearing drunkennesse and beggers are but rare in the compasse of this Patent through the circumspection of the Magistrates and the providence of God hitherto the poore there living by their labours and great wages proportionably better then the rich by their stocks which without exceeding great care quickly waste A Paper of certaine Propositions to the generall Court made upon request 8. Iunii 1639. 1. IT were good that all actions betweene parties were entred in the Court book by the Secretary before the Court sits 2. That every action be declared in writing and the defendants answer generall or speciall as the case shall require be put
in writing by a publique Notarie before the cause be heard 3. The Secretary to take the verdicts and make forth the judiciall Commands or Writs 4. The publique Notarie ro record all the proceedings in a fair book and to enter executions of commands done satisfactions acknowledged 5. The fees in all these to be no more then in an inferiour Court of Record in England and to be allowed by the generall Court or Court of Assistants The benefit hereof to the publique good 1. IT will give an easie and quick dispatch to all Causes For thereby the Court and Jury will quickly see the point in hand and accordingly give their verdict and judgement 2. The Court shall the better know constantly how to judge the same things and it is not possible that Judges should alwayes from time to time remember clearly or know to proceed certainly without a faithfull Record 3. The parties may hereby more surely and clearly obtaine their right for through ignorance and passion men may quickly wrong one another in their bare words without a Record 4. Hereby shall the Law of God and Justice be duly administred to the people according to more certaine and unchangeable rules so that they might know what is the Law and what right they may look for at the mouthes of all their Judges 5. Hereby the Subjects have a great part of their evidences and assurances for their proprieties both of lands and goods A Paper touching the Church her liberties delivered at Boston 4. Martii 1639. To the Right Worshipfull the Governour Deputy Governour Councellers and Assistants for this Iurisdiction WHereas you have been pleased to cause me to transcribe certain Breviats of Propositions delivered to the last generall Court for the establishing a body of Lawes as is intended for the glory of God and the wel-fare of this People and Country and published the same to the intent that any man may acquaint you or the Deputies for the next Court with what he conceives fit to be altered or added in or unto the said lawes I conceive it my duty to give you timely notice of some things of great moment about the same Lawes in discharge of my conscience which I shall as Amicus curiae pray you to present with all faithfulnesse as is proposed to the next generall Court by it and the reverend Elders to be further considered of as followeth 1. It is propounded to be one chiefe part of the charge or office of the Councell intended to take care that the conversion of the Natives be endeavoured 2. It is proposed as a liberty that a convenient * number of Orthodoxe Christians allowed to plant together in this Jurisdiction may gather themselves into a Church and elect and ordaine their Officers men fit for their places giving notice to seven of the next Churches one moneth before thereof and of their names and that they may exercise all the ordinances of God according to his Word and so they proceede according to the rule of God and shall not be hindered by any Civill power nor will this Court allow of any Church otherwise gathered This clause nor will the Court allow of any Church otherwise gathered doth as I conceive contradict the first proposition My reasons are these 1. If the conversion of the Natives must be endeavoured then some wise and godly men they should be of your gravest and best men must bee sent forth to teach them to know God 2. When such are sent they must bee either sent immediately by the Lord or mediately by his Churches 3. If the Churches send men they that are sent must be sent by imposition of hands of the Presbyterie Now when Churches are thus gathered or planted they are gathered by Ministers doing the works of Apostles and Euangelists which hath ever been and is the ordinary and regular way of gathering or planting Churches and not as is proposed a convenient number of Orthodoxe Christians gathering themselves into a Church and yet when such a Church is gathered by Church-messengers and Ministers this Court is advised not to allow the same which I conceive is to say The conversion of the Natives shall not be endeavoured orderly according to the rule of God Againe it would be considered that when men are sent forth whether they should not be sent forth two and by two at least as the Scriptures beare and for divers good reasons which lye not hid to your wisdomes That you would be pleased to shew unto the Elders these things to be considered and that they would well weigh whether or no those Ministers and Messengers sent by-Churches should not visit the Churches which they plant Other things there are wherein I think I could also to good purpose move somewhat to your Worships which lyes more directly in the way and calling I have been educated if I were required but this thing lying upon my conscience I could not well passe by Wherefore I shall request it may be considered 1. Whether it be not fit to leave out at least that contradictory clause viz. Nor will this Court allow of any Church otherwise gathered 2. Whether it be not better to let the liberty run thus in generall The holy Church of God shall enjoy all her just liberties A Paper intended for the honoured John Winthrop Esquire late Governour Boston Maii 2. 1640. IF you see a necessity of baptizing them without If an ingagement of Propagation of the truth to the Infidel Natives Then consider whether by the Kings leave some Churches may not be appointed to send their chiefe Pastors and other Ministers to doe such works Also with some kind of subjection or acknowledgement of authority of the Ministerie in England if it be but by way of advice which is cleare to me you may doe I make no doubt but in all things requisite for the state of the Country they will yeeld you all faire liberties Nay I am perswaded the Kings Majesty will not send any unexperienced Governour to afflict but make you Patentees againe or at least after the manner of other Plantations restoring not onely favour but other benefits whereof under God to us Englishmen he is the Fountaine The Kings Attorney did offer some of you this in my hearing I meane the renewall of your Patent Nay further if you would invent and devise what the King may doe for the Country you might obtaine The very conversion of these poore naked people which is very hopefull and much prepared for per accidens or Gods owne providence bringing good out of evill will rejoyce the hearts of all Christians in our deare native Countrey and here and of it selfe if there were no other desirable things here as blessed be God there are many would cause a continued confluence of more people then you can tell well where to bestow for the present The Fishing trade would be promoted with authority Hereby would you give the greater testimony to the cause of
Reformation Hereby will you under God and the King make Church-work and Common-wealth work indeed and examples to all Countryes You will enrich your Countries both in short time The Heathens in time I am perswaded will become zealous Christians then will they labour get cloathes and substance about them In vaine doe some think of civillizing them either by the sword or otherwise till withall the Word of God hath spoken to their hearts wherein I conceive great advice is to be taken For which purpose a Presse is necessary and may be obtained I hope so that wise men watch over it Consider how poorely your Schooles goe on you must depend upon England for help of learned men and Schollers bookes commodities infinite almost No doubt but the King this way will make your authority reach even to the Dutch Southward and to the French Northward New-England indeede without fraction A facile way taking out the core of malice The conversion and subduing of a Nation and so great a tract of ground is a work too weighty for subjects any much longer to labour under without Royall assistance as I apprehend I think in religious reason If any shall suggest that your Churches may send forth men of their own authority Consider if it may be done warrantably by the Word of God as peradventure it may be so Yet you will be in danger rebus sic stantibus of great imputations That you infringe Regall power And Ecclesiasticall Wheron adversaries will sure enough make fearfull worke And besides some reformations under favour have been too deep at least for others to follow They were also unexperienced of mission to convert Infidels Is Geneva without her faults or Holland Rotterdam Amsterdam without theirs what experience they of mission or ever had Now I beseeech you grave Sir doe you thinke it good honourable safe for us poore men here or for the Religion and Professors thereof in generall in the whole world that such as have the name of the most zealous should be the first example of almost utmost provocation to our owne Soveraigne For my part I disclaime Parker And encline to Hooker Iewel as to government Greatmen have great burthens therefore they have their counsels crosse and sometimes they use them both You heare enough on the other side Heare now this on this and the Lord guide your spirit Odere Reges dicta quae dici jubent These are the Ministers of the Bay AT Boston master Cotton Teacher master Wilson Pastor At Roxbury master Weld Pastor master Eliott Teacher At Dorchester master Mather Pastor or Teacher and Master Burgh out of office At Braintree Master Thomson Pastor Master Flint Teacher At Weymouth Master Newman Pastor Master Parker out of office At Hingham master Hubbard Pastor master Peck Teacher They refuse to baptize old Ottis grandchildren an ancient member of their own Church At Charlestowne Master Symms Pastor master Allen Teacher At Cambridge master Sheppard Pastor master Dunster School-master divers young Schollers are there under him to the number of almost twenty At Watertowne master Phillips Pastor master Knolls Pastor At Dedham another master Phillips out of office and master Allen Pastor or Teacher At Sudbury master Brown in office master Fordham out of office At Lynne master Whiting Pastor master Cobbet Teacher At Salem master Peter Pastor master Norris Teacher and his Sonne a Schoole-master At Ipswich master Rogers Pastor master Norton Teacher and master Nathaniel Ward and his sonne and one Master Knight out of employment At Rowley Master Ezek. Rogers Pastor Master Miller At Newberry Master Noyse Pastor Master Parker Teacher He is sonne of Master Robert Parker somtime of Wilton in the County of Wiltes deceased who in his life time writ that mis-learned and mistaken Book De Politeia Ecclesiastica At Salisbury Master Worster Pastor At Hampton Master Bachellor Pastor Master Dalton Teacher There are other School-masters which I know not in some of these townes The Magistrates in the Bay are these Master Bellingham the present Governour master Endecot the present Deputy Governour master Winthrop master Dudley master Humfrey master Saltonstall master Bradstreat master Stoughton master Winthrop junior master Nowell Assistants Master Nowell is also Secretarie Master Stephen Winthrop is Recorder whose office is to record all Judgments Mariages Births Deaths Wills and Testaments Bargaines and Sales Gifts Grants and Mortgages There is a Marshall who is as a Sheriffe or Bailiffe and his Deputy is the Gaoler and executioner Marriages are solemnized and done by the Magistrates and not by the Ministers * Probats of Testaments and granting of Letters of Administration are made and granted in the generall or great quarter Courts At Burials nothing is read nor any Funeral Sermon made but all the neighbourhood or a good company of them come together by tolling of the bell and carry the dead solemnly to his grave and there stand by him while he is buried The Ministers are most commonly present They are very diligent in traynings of their souldiers and military exercises and all except Magistrates and Ministers beare armes or pay for to bee excused or for speciall reasons are exempted by order of Court The Captains and Officers are such as are admitted of the Church But the people begin to complain they are ruled like slaves and in short time shall have their children for the most part remain unbaptized and so have little more priviledge then Heathens unlesse the discipline be amended and moderated It is feared that Elections cannot be safe there long either in Church or Common-wealth So that some melancholy men thinke it a great deale safer to be in the midst of troubles in a setled Common-wealth or in hope easily to be setled then in mutinies there so far off from succours At New Plymouth they have but one * Minister master Rayner yet master Chancey lives there and one master Smith both Ministers they are not in any office there master Chancey stands for dipping in baptisme onely necessary and some other things concerning which there hath been much dispute and master Chancey put to the worst by the opinion of the Churches advised withall Cohannet alias Taunton is in Plymouth Patent There is a Church gathered of late and some ten or twenty of the Church the rest excluded Master Hooke Pastor master Streate Teacher Master Hooke received ordination from the hands of one master Bishop a School-master and one Parker an Husbandman and then master Hooke joyned in ordaining master Streate One master Doughty a Minister opposed the gathering of the Church there alleadging that according to the Covenant of Abraham all mens children that were of baptized parents and so Abrahams children ought to be baptized and spake so in publique or to that effect which was held a disturbance and the Ministers spake to the Magistrate to order him The Magistrate commanded the Constable who dragged master Doughty out of the Assembly
people of God who now see the tops of things onely may safely condemne the foundations which we have not seen 36. Whether is there not a difference between bare speculation and knowledge joyned with sound experience and betweene the experience of Divines and people reforming from out of some deepe corruptions in Churches called Christian and the experience of those that have conversed in and about planting and building Churches where there was none before or among Heathens what is art many times without experience 37. Whether those Authors from Hierome to Arch-Bishop Adamson that alledge all Presbyters to be equall and should alwayes have equall power and authority had any great skill or will or experience in the propagation of Churches among heathens or barbarous Nations 38. If not whether their Testimony bee of that validity as is thought by some If they had whether they might not erre 39. Whether messengers sent by Churches or Ministers taking upon them to go to gather or plant Churches and to ordain or give the right hand of fellowship to Ministers in those Churches and to appease differences in Church affairs are not Episcopall acts 40. Is Episcopacie or a superintendencie necessary at New-England and is it not necessary in more populous places Are there not some nay many depths and u mysteries in Gods holy Word the Scriptures and certain Catholique interpretations which transgressed the faith is hurt Is it possible convenient or necessary for all men nay all Ministers to attain the knowledge of those mysteries or to have the like measure of knowledge faith mercifulnesse wisdome patience long suffering courage whereby to be enabled to rule in the Church of God whereto they are educated tryed chosen and ordained and do not the sacred rules and Laws of God of holy Church and of this Kingdome attribute much yea very much trust and confidence to the chief Pastors Leaders and Rulers the Fathers of the Church especially to the Bishops of the prime and Metropoliticall Churches by the assistance of and with and under the supreame Magistrate the chiefe the best cement of government though much be also in other members of the great body the Church to counsell maintaine and preserve the whole in the faith soundnesse peace and unity especially the chief leaders when need requireth Hence what government for Christians in chief but by pious learned Provinciall and Diocesan Bishops especialy in England and Ireland By the just examination of the whole those that are pious and learned may easily gather what good reasons I had and have to returne as now humbly I doe to the Church of England for whose peace purity and prosperity is the daily prayer of one of her most unworthy sons Clements Inne Novemb. 16. 1641. Thomas Lechford To a friend Sir HEre is a good Land and yeelding many good commodities especially fish and furs corne and other richer things if well followed and if that popular elections destroy us not It is a good Land I say that instructs us to repentance when we consider what a good Land we came from what good lawes and government we have left to make experiments of governing our selves here by new wayes wherein like young Physitians of necessity we must hurt and spoile one another a great while before we come to such a setled Common-wealth or Church-government as is in England I thank God now I understand by experience that there is no such government for English men or any Nation as a Monarchy nor for Christians as by a lawfull Ministerie under godly Diocesan Bishops deducing their station and calling from Christ and his Apostles in descent or succession a thing of greater consequence then ceremonies would to God I had known it sooner which while I have in my place stood for here these two years and not agreeing to this new discipline impossible to be executed or long continued what I have suffered many here can tell I am kept from the Sacrament and all place of preferment in the Common-wealth and forced to get my living by writing petty things which scarce finds me bread and therefore sometimes I look to planting of corne but have not yet here an house of my owne to put my head in or any stock going Whereupon I was determined to come back but by the over-entreaty of some friends I here think to stay a while longer hoping that the Lord will shortly give a good issue to things both in our native Country and Scotland and here as well as in all other his Majesties dominions I was very glad to see my Lord Bishop of Exeters Book it gave me much satisfaction If the people may make Ministers or any Ministers make others without an Apostolicall Bishop what confusion will there be If the whole Church or every congregation as our good men think have the power of the keyes how many Bishops then shall we have If every Parish or congregation be so free and independent as they terme it what unity can we expect Glad also was I to see Master Balls Book of the tryall of the grounds of Separation both which are newly come over and I hope will work much good among us here And whereas I was sometimes mis-led by those of opinion that Bishops and Presbyters all Ministers are of the same authority When I came to consider the necessary propagation of the truth and government of the Church by experimentall foot-steps here I quickly saw my error For besides if the congregations be not united under one Diocesan in fit compasse they are in a confusion notwithstanding all their classicall pretendments how can the Gospel be propagated to the Indians without an Apostolicall Bishop If any Church or people by the Kings leave send forth Ministers to teach and instruct the poore Indians in the Christian Religion they must have at least Apostolicall power to ordain Ministers or Elders in every congregation among them and when they have so done they have power of Visitation where they plant Nor can they without just cause be thrust out from government without great impiety and where they have planted that is their line or Diocese Thus I came to see that of necessity a Diocese and Bishop Diocesan is very neere if not altogether of Divine authority I am also of opinion that it were good for our Ministers to learne how to doe this work from some of our reverend Bishops in England for I feare our Ministers know not how to goe about it Whether must not some Ministers learne their language It is a copious language as I am informed and they have as many words to expresse one thing as we have And when they teach Indians to pray will they not teach them by a forme and how can Gods worship be maintained among ignorant persons without a forme I am firme of opinion that the best of us have been much beholding to the Word read and formes of Prayer From Boston in N.E. Iulii 28. 1640. This Gentleman
to whom I wrote kindly returned me a wise answer wherein is this passage TO speak in briefe I think now that New-England is a perfect model and sampler of the state of us here at this time for all is out of joynt both in Church and Common-wealth and when it will be better God knoweth To him we must pray for the amendment of it and that he will not lay on us the merits of our nationall and particular sinnes the true cause of all these evils Dated out of Somerset-shire Aprilis 27. 1641. To another thus IN a word or two we heare of great disturbances in our deare native Countrey I am heartily sorry c. I beseech you take my briefe opinion We here are quite out of the way of right government both in Church and Common-wealth as I verily think and as far as I can judge upon better consideration and some pains taken in searching after the bottome of some things Some electorie wayes tend to the overthrow of Kingdomes No such way for government of Englishmen as a Monarchie of Christians as by Diocesan Bishops in their line Better yeeld to many pressures in a Monarchie then for subjects to destroy and spoile one another If I were worthy to advise a word I should desire you to have a care and so all your friends you prejudice not your estate or posterity by too much opposing the Regall power For I verily beleeve the Kings Majesty hath in generall a good cause touching Episcopacie My reasons I could better deliver in presence if haply God give opportunity to see you or if you require it hereafter I will be ready to present my thoughts unto you All this as I shall answer before the Lord without any by-respects If you were here I presume you would see more then I can but I think you would be much of my mind From Boston in N. E. Septemb. 4. 1640. To another of no meane rank COmplaining of my sufferings and shewing the reasons desiring him to send for me that I might declare them to his person more effectually From Boston in N. E. March 1640. To another YOu knew my condition and employment and how ill it went with me in England by reason of the trouble of our friends and my own danger therby For my outward subsistence here at this time God knowes it is but meane some say it is my owne fault and that I stand in my owne light and you and others may so conceive but the God of heaven is my witnesse I have endeavoured in all things to keep a good conscience though sometimes I have failed I have endeavoured laying all by-respects aside to joyne with the Church here but cannot yet be satisfyed in divers particulars whereby I am kept from all place of employment or preferment as I have had overtures made unto me of if I would or could yeeld but hitherto I have not dared to doe it for good reasons best knowne to our heavenly Witnesse I must give you a taste They hold their Covenant constitutes their Church and that implyes we that come to joyne with them were not members of any true Church whence we came and that I dare not professe Againe here is required such confessions and professions both in private and publique both by men and women before they be admitted that three parts of the people of the Country remaine out of the Church so that in short time most of the people will remaine unbaptized if this course hold and is we feare of dangerous consequence a thing not tending to the propagation of the Gospel in peace Which though it have a colour of sanctimony and strictnesse whereby many well-affected or affectionate people but weak in sound experience and judgement are the rather drawn thereunto and they are in a manner necessitated to it to maintaine their election of Magistrates and Ministers in their owne way of popular or Aristocraticall government I dare not for my part yeeld unto neither in my own conscience nor for the credit of those persons with whom I have been educated and in whose causes I have been seen A Monarchy is the best government for Englishmen better to suffer some pressures under that kind of government then to spoile one another with popular elections Againe I cannot yeeld to Lay-Elders nor that Lay-men should impose hands upon any to the Ministerie nor that any Minister should renounce his calling to the Ministerie which he received in England as Antichristian It is a grosse error and palpable schisme then our Baptisme is not right and so there will be no end of separations Also I beleeve there cannot be a Church without a true Minister nor can any gather themselves together into a Church without a true Minister nor can they ordain their own Ministers ordinarily I meane what may be done in an extraorninary case pro prima vice is another question I hold there ought to be an Apostolicall Bishop by succession from Christ and his Apostles superiour in order or degree to his brethren which Bishop ought to ordain and rule with other Presbyters or alone but Presbyters cannot without him And if so be any thing in word or act passed from mee to the contrary hereof I do professe it was in my ignorance Their calling is of Divine authority or nearest thereunto else the Church of God could not have subsisted in any tolerable way of peace through all this by-past time of 1600. yeeres I feare they know not what they say that say the contrary let them come here they will quickly change their minde if they study the point and follow it home for besides the keeping of peace and unity and a pure and able learned Ministery how can the Gospell be propagated without some speciall Ministers having the power Apostolicall to goe forth to convert Indians or Pagans If a Pastor or Minister or Christian of any Church shall doe so what hath he to doe with Infidels as hee is a Pastor he is no Pastor to them Therefore if any are sent to convert and establish Churches among Infidels such as are sent are Apostolick messengers Bishops or Ministers to them and ought to be sent with fasting and Prayer and by imposition of hands of the Presbytery and having converted Infidels may plant Churches and ordain Ministers among them and afterwards visit them and is not this Episcopacie and their line wherein they have gone their Diocesse These things naturally flow from and are grounded in the Word or equity thereof and meere necessity Now if all Ministers should ordinarily have this authority to go forth to these works without mission what quarelling there would be for division of Lines or Dioceses let the experience of former ages tell yea of the Apostolique times wherein were not wanting those that quarelled with Saint Paul himselfe about his Line or rule 2 Cor. 10. Now unto this confusion tends the opinion that saith a Bishop and Presbyter is all one and equall