God of heaven only knows; but whether the Lord hath ap pointed that or not, I charge you before God and his blessed angels, that you follow me no further, than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If God reveal any thing to you by any other instruments of his, be as ready to receive it, as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry; for I am verily persuaded, I am very confident, that the Lord has yet more truth to break forth from his holy word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will at present go no further than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw. Whatever part of his will our good God has revealed to Calvin, they will rather die than embrace. And the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented, for though they were burning and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God; were they now living, they would be as willing to embrace further light, as that which they first received. I beseech you, remember it is an article of your church covenant, "That you be ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the written word of God." Such was the mutual love and respect between this wor thy man and his flock, that it was hard to judge whether he delighted more in having such a people, or they in having such a pastor. Beside his singular abilities in divine things, he was discreet in civil affairs, and assisted his people in their temporal as well as spiritual concerns. None were so odious to him as the selfish, "those who were close and cleaving to themselves, and retired from the common good." Those who were stiff and rigid in small affairs; those, who inveighed against the faults of others, but were careless of their own conduct, were odious in his view, His people es teemed and revered him while living, but more after his death; when they felt the want of his counsel and assistance. Not only his own flock, but the people of Leyden held him in high esteem. They gave him the use of one of their churches, in the chancel of which he was buried. The whole city and university regarded him as a great and good man: his death they sincerely lamented, and honored his funeral with their presence. CHAP. VI. A larger patent obtained; difficulties between the company in England and the planters; persecution of the Puritans; sports on the Lord's day established; Cromwell and others contemplate a removal to America; Massachusetts purchased; settled; charter obtained; its contents; first church formed at Salem; addition of 1500 to the colony; Indian conspiracy; scarcity; mortality; a number discouraged, return to England. IN 1629, when the plantation consisted of about 300 souls, a patent of a larger extent, than the one which Pierce had obtained and relinquished, was solicited by Isaac Allerton, and taken out in the name of "William Bradford, his heirs, associates, and assigns."* This patent confirmed their title, as far as the crown of England could confirm it, to a tract of land, bounded on the east and south by the Atlantic ocean, and by lines drawn west from the rivulet of Connohasset, and north from the river of Narraganset, which lines meet in a point, comprehending all the country * Hazard. then called Pokanokit. To this tract they supposed they had a prior title from the depopulation of a great part of it by a pestilence, from the gift of Massasoit, his voluntary subjection to the crown of England, and the protection they gave him. In a declaration published by them in 1636, they asserted their "lawful right in respect of vacancy, donation, and purchase of the natives," which, together with their patent from the crown, through the council of NewEngland, formed "the warrantable foundation of their government, of making laws, and disposing of lands." In the same patent was granted a large tract bordering on the river Kennebec, where they had carried on a traffic with the natives for furs, as they did also at Connecticut river, which was not equally beneficial, because the Dutch were their rivals.† The fur trade was found to be much more advantageous than the fishery. The company in England, with which they were connected, did not supply them in plenty. Losses were sustained by sea; the returns did not answer their expectations; they were discouraged, threw many reflections on the planters, and finally refused them any further supplies; but still demanded the debt, and would not permit them to connect themselves in trade with any other persons. The planters complained to the council of New-England, but obtained no redress. And after the expiration of seven years, (1628) for which the contract was made, eight of the principal persons in the colony, with four of their friends in London, became bound for the balance; and from that time took the whole trade into their own hands. These were obliged to take up money at an exorbitant interest, and to go deeply into trade at Kennebec, Penobscot, and Connecticut; by which means, and their own great industry and economy, they * Hazard. Hutchinson and Prince. were enabled to discharge the debt, and pay for the transportation of thirty-five families of their friends from Leyden, who arrived in 1629.* The persecution of the Puritans in England, under archbishop Laud, now raged with unrelenting severity; and while it caused the destruction of thousands in England, proved to be a principle of life and vigor to the infant colonies in New-England. Among other expedients for vexing the Puritans, who were now composed both of the dissenters from the established church, and the opposers of despotic monarchy, "a system of sports and recreations on the Lord's day, which had been originated in the last reign, was revived and established by the king. This measure was directly calculated to obviate the objections of the Roman Catholics to the suppression of feasts and revels, to conciliate their favour; and to wound the feelings of the Puritans, and embarrass their clergy; as they were remarkable for a strict attention to the fourth commandment, still so decently observed by their descendants. The magistrates had found these sports, which consisted of dancing, leaping, vaulting, and various other games, to be introductory of profanation, and attempted to suppress them; but so great was the zeal of the court to root out Puritanism, that the representations of the magistrates were overruled, and the order, establishing the book of sports, was directed to be read in every parish. This was a net to entangle the clergy, and many fost their livings, for conscientiously refusing to read the order. In short, it became evident, in the star chamber language of the carl of Dorset, that to be guilty of drunkenness, uncleanness, or any less fault, might be pardonable; but that the sin of Puritanism and non-conformity was without forgiveness."+ Though the current of popular opinion, at that time, was directly opposite to superstition; though it was with difficulty, that many rites and ceremonies rendered venerable by long custom, and sanctified by the practice of the first reformers, could be retained in public worship; yet so violent and rash was archbishop Laud, that he chose this time to introduce new rites and ceremonies. This gave the English church a strong resemblance to the church of Rome, which the English in general, and the Puritans in particular, viewed with detestation and horror. They supposed the design was to throw them back into the darkness and delusions of Popery. The court of Rome expected the same result, and repeatedly offered Laud a cardinal's hat.* Is it strange, that the indignation of the public should be roused; that their measures of redress should be bold, persevering, and successful? In this situation of affairs, several men of eminence, who were the friends and protectors of the Puritans, entertained a design of settling in New-England, should they fail in establishing liberty and the reformation of religion in their own country. They solicited and obtained grants in NewEngland, and were at great pains in settling them. Among these patentees, were the lords Brook, Say, and Seal, the Pelhams, the Hampdens, and the Pyms; names which af terwards appeared with great eclat. Sir Matthew Boynton, Sir William Constable, Sir Arthur Haslerig, and Oliver Cromwell, were actually on the point of embarking for New-England; when archbishop Laud, unwilling that so many objects of his hatred should be removed beyond his reach, applied for, and obtained, an order from the court to put a stop to these emigrations. While some had fled to foreign countries, others were not so fortunate as to obtain * Hume. |