C THE ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND; COMPRISING NOT ONLY RELIGIOUS, BUT ALSO MORAL, AND OTHER RELATIONS. BY JOSEPH B. FELT. "Learn from the events already taken place, for that is the best learning." CYRUS IN XENOPHON. But whether New England may live any where or no, it must live in our history," VOL. II. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY THE CONGREGATIONAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, AND BY THE CONGREGATIONAL BOARD OF PUBLICATION. 1862. From the Library of Rev. H. W FOOTH BR 530 ·F32 1855 V1 2 Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1862, by JOSEPH B. FELT, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the District of Massachusetts. ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY. CHAPTER I. MASSACHUSETTS. Imprisonment of the King. -Reply to Apollonius.-Way of - - --- - - -- - - - - - - --- Controversy. Eliot's - - rule. Samuel Stone. - Sachems opposed to Christianity. - Thomas James. -Emigration. - Departure of Henry Whitfield. MASSACHUSETTS. DIVINELY enabled still to hold the lease of life with the weak hand of mortality, we resume the course of our historical plan and purpose. 1648. The period before, and at the commencement of this year, was full of events, which indicated results of no ordinary character, as to the prominent concerns of New England. The king, who endeavored to raise his broken sceptre and wield it over this and the other portions of his domain, was retained a prisoner at the Isle of Wight, by order of Parliament. Having rejected,* on the last December 24th, their four requisitions, that he allow the war against him to be just; that he abolish Episcopacy; that he give up the control of the militia, and that he leave his friends to their mercy, he was the object of great displeasure with the Commons. These voted that they would send no more addresses to him, and would proceed to settle the government of the kingdom independently of his direction. On the 17th of January, the Lords consented to their position, and his Majesty was kept a close prisoner. With prospects before them, which arose from such an extraordinary relation between the chief branches of national authority, Massachusetts and the adjoining colonies were in a condition of anxious suspense, not knowing but that the besom of Revolution might sweep over their heritage, and destroy its best privileges and possessions. February 1. A prefatory letter to Shepard's First Principles of the Oracles of God, by questions and answers, and, also, another such letter to his Select Cases Resolved, are dated in London by William Adderley. 16. Thomas Goodwin, Philip Nye, and Sidrach Simpson, of the same metropolis, write an introduction for Norton's Reply to Apollonius, prepared in 1645. Respecting it, they say: “It is a child, small indeed in size, but strenuous and manly in power." In the former part of this year, Cotton's "Way of Congregational Churches Cleared," is published. Some of its leading thoughts are as follow. On the remark of Baylie, that the teachings of Robinson at Leyden were the seed of Independency in Old and New England, Cotton rejoins, that its origin was coeval with the Gospel. The Jesuits of Lisbon and others, at the Western Salmon's Chronology, vol. i. p. 144. NOTE.-On 10th of January, Richard Mather acknowledges the reception of ninety theological books from John Johnson and William Parks, of Roxbury. Such works were valuable. Few of them are seen in our day. Islands, have told our merchants and mariners, that " they look at our plantations as dangerous supplanters of the Catholic cause." Baylie had said, on the statement of Lechford, that there were so many restrictions on both sexes, who offer themselves for the church, "that three parts of the people of the country continue out of the church, so that in a short time most of the people will remain unbaptized." Cotton observed that Lechford was not admitted here to church-fellowship, because he held that "the Antichrist of the book of Revelation was not yet come; that Apostolic function was not yet ceased, but that there still ought to be such, who should, by their transcendent authority, govern all churches; he was not kept out of our churches for maintaining the authority of Bishops; for we have in our churches some wellrespected brethren, who do indifferently allow either Episcopal, or Presbyterial, or Congregational Government." To this is added, "It is not true that three parts of the country remain out of the church." The influence of our Congregationalism has the subsequent description. "Thousands in England have been awakened to consider church discipline; have, by letters, conferred with us about it, and been so far enlightened as to desire an utter subversion of Episcopacy and Conformity; yea, and the honourable houses of Parliament, the Lord hath been pleased to help them so far to consider of our sufferings and the cause thereof, as to conclude a necessity of reformation of Ecclesiastical State." During the current year, Good News from New England is printed in London. It is very different from another book, of the same title, by Winslow. It notices Dunster, President of the College, as "being an able proficient in the tongues, very studious to promote learning." It adds, "Witness the young audients, both here and gone to England, hopeful instruments in the hands of the Lord, for future times." It contains valuable statistics* of ministers and their salaries. March 5. Informed of "the great distractions and perils of (The figures signify pounds sterling.) Salem, Hugh Peters, in England, Edward Norris, 60; Charlestown, Zechariah Symmes, 90; Thomas Allen, 60; Boston, John Cotton, 90; John Wilson, 60; Roxbury, Thomas Weld, in England, 80; Dorchester, Richard Mather, 70; Watertown, John Knowles, 80; Lynn, Samuel Whiting, 45; Thomas Cobbet, 45; Ipswich, Nathaniel Rogers, 70; John Norton, 70; Hingham, Peter Hobart, 60; Weymouth, Thomas Thacher, 50; Rowley, Ezekiel Rogers, 80; Samuel Mather, 30; Cambridge, Thomas Shepard, 70; Dedham, John Allin, 50; Concord, Edward Bulkley, 70; Salisbury, William Worcester; 45; Newbury, Thomas Parker, 40, James Noyes, 60; Hampton, Timothy Dalton, 40; Sudbury, Edmund Brown, 40; Braintree, Henry Flint, 30, William Thompson, 30; Dover, Daniel Maud, 40; Gloucester, Richard Blinman, 40; Woburn, Thomas Carter, 60; Reading, Henry Green, 30; Wenham, John Fisk, 20; Haverhill, John Ward; Andover, John Woodbridge; further, Smith of Manchester, Matthews of Hull, Norcross of Exeter, St. Batolie, [Stephen Batchelor,] of Strawberry Bank, Knight of New Meadows, who had gone to England. า |