Ill News from New England, Discourse
A brief diſcourſe touching New England, as to the matter in hand, and to that part of it, ſci. Rode Iland, where my reſidence is, together with the occaſion of my going out with others from the Mathatuſets Bay, and the many providentiall occurrences that directed us thereto, and pitched us thereon.
As alſo the Contents of the whole Treatiſe.
NEw England is a name (as is generally known) that was, and ſtill is, call'd upon that place in reference to Old; yet not ſo much becauſe it is peopled, and planted from thence, for ſo are many other Plantations of the Engliſh in thoſe Weſtern parts; but becauſe it reſembles the ſame, as the daughter the mother. It reſembles it in the climate, in the times and ſeaſons of the year, in the fruits which the land naturally produceth, in the fouls, and the fiſh that are there in abundance. It reſembles it in their politicall affairs; for their governments, laws, Courts, Officers, are in a great meaſure the ſame, and ſo are the names of their towns, & Counties; and in point of good husbandry, that wch is raiſed and produced in New England, more ſubſtantiall, and whether it be for food or raiment it is the ſame with that which is here produced in Old. It is a place (in the largeſt acceptation) that contains in it all the Plantations of the Engliſh upon that coaſt of America that lie between the Dutch Plantation on the Weſt, and the French on the Eaſt, and extends it ſelf upon the Sea coaſt above one hundred leagues. In it is contained the four Colonies, which call themſelves the united Colonies. The Colony called by the name of the Province of Providence Plantations, lying on the South & South-Eaſt thereof, and two or three more lving on the Eaſter North-Eaſt, in Agamenticus, Saco, Caſco-Bay, & Pema juid, where is that treaſure of Maſts for Ships. The names of the united Colonies are theſe, in point of precedency firſt Mathatuſets, &c. but in point of antiquity firſt Plymouth, then the Mathatuſets, then Conectecot, and laſt Quinipiuck. The chief Towns of theſe Colonies, and ſeats of their Government are theſe, Boſton of the Mathatuſets, Plymouth of Plymouth, Hereford of Conectecot, and of Quinipiuck New-Haven.
Now as the name New England in the largeſt and trueſt acceptation extends to all the Plantations of the Engliſh between the French and the Dutch, ſo in a ſcanty and improper acceptance of the word (eſpecially when it makes for advantage) it is taken for theſe four united Colonies, by reaſon of the precedency they have of others, and for the ſame cauſe, and upon the point as well, it may be taken for the Mathatuſets and the Town of Boſton therein. When I ſpeak of New England, underſtand it of that part which hath got the precedency (by reaſon of ſhipping) and ſtart of the reſt, ſci. the Mathatuſets, as both in my Epiſtle and Narrative is plain to be ſeen, which I have here alſo inſerted for fear of miſtake.
In the Colony of Providence Plantations in point of antiquity the Town of Providence is chief, but in point of precedency Rode-Iland excels. This Iland lieth in the Narraganſet Bay, being 14 or 15 miles long, and in breadth between 4 and 5 miles at the broadeſt; It began to be planted by the Engliſh in the beginning of the year 39. and by this hand of providence. In the year 37 I left my native land, and in the ninth monethmonth of the ſame, I (through mercy) arived at Boston, I was no ſooner on ſhore, but there appeared to me differences among them touching the Covenants, and in point of evidencing a mans good eſtate, ſome preſt hard for the Covenant of works, and for ſanctification to be the firſt and chief evidence, others preſt as hard for the Covenant of grace that was eſtabliſhed upon better promiſes, and for the evidence of the Spirit, as that which is a more certain, conſtant, and ſatisfactory witneſs. I thought it not ſtrange to ſee men differ about matters of Heaven, for I expect no leſs upon Earth: But to ſee that they were not able ſo to bear each with other in their different underſtandings and conſciences, as in thoſe utmoſt parts of the World to live peaceably together, whereupon I moved the latter, for as much as the land was before us and wide enough, with the profer of Abraham to Lot, and for peace ſake, to turn aſide to the right hand, or to the left: The motion was readily accepted, and I was requeſted wth ſome others to ſeek out a place, which accordingly I was ready to do; and thereupon by reaſon of the ſuffocating heat of the Summer before, I went to the North to be ſomewhat cooler, but the Winter following proved ſo cold, that we were forced in the Spring to make towards the South; ſo having ſought the Lord for direction, we all agreed that while our veſſell was paſſing about alarge and dangerous Cape, we would croſs over by laad, having Long Iland and Delaware-Bay in our eie for the place of our reſidence; ſo to a town called Providence we came, which was begun by one M. Roger Williams (who for matter of conſcience had not long before been exiled from the former juriſdiction) by whom we were courteouſly and lovingly received, and with whom we adviſed about our deſign; he readily preſented two places before us in the ſame Naraganſets Bay, the one upon the main called Sow-wames, the other called then Acquedneck, now Rode-Iland; we enquired whether they would fall in any other Patent, for our reſolution was to go out of them all; he told us (to be brief) that the way to know that, was to have recourſe unto▪ Plymouth; ſo our Veſſell as yet not being come about, and we thus blockt up, the company determined to ſend to Plymonth, and pitcht upon two others together with my ſelf, requeſting alſo M. Williams to go to Plymouth to know how the caſe ſtood; ſo we did; and the Magiſtrates thereof very lovingly gave us a meeting; I then informed them of the cauſe of our coming unto them, and deſired them in a word of truth and faithfulneſs to inform us whether Sow-wames were within their Patent, for we were now on the wing, and were reſolved through the help of Chriſt, to get cleer of all, and be of our ſelves, and provided our way were cleer before us, it were all one for us to go further off, as to remain neer ac hand; their anſwer was, that Sow-wames was the garden of their Patent, and the flour in the garden then I told them we could not deſire it; but requeſted further in the like word of truth and faithfulneſs to be informed, whether they laid claim to the Ilands in the Naraganſet Bay, and that in particular called Acquedneck? they all with a cheerfull countenanre made us this anſwer, it was in their thoughts to have adviſed us thereto, and if the provident hand of God ſhould pitch us thereon they ſhould look upon us as free, and as loving neighbours and friends ſhould be aſſiſtant unto us upon the main, &c. So we humbly thanked them, and returned with that anſwer: So it pleaſed the Lord, by moving the hearts of the natives, even the chiefeſt thereof, to pitch us thereon, and by other occurrences of providence, which are too large here to relate: So that having bought them off to their full ſatisfaction, we have poſſeſſed the place ever ſince; and notwithſtanding the different underſtandings and conſciences amongſt us, without-interruption we agree to maintain civil Juſtice and judgement, neither are there ſuch outrages committed mongſt us as in other parts of the Country are frequently ſeen.
The Narrative declares
1. How thoſe three strangers were apprehended, impriſoned, ſentenced, and for what.
2. How the motion was made for a publique dispute, often repeated and promiſed, and yet diſapointed.
3. How two eſcaped, and the third was cruelly handled.
4. How two, for taking him but by the hand after his puniſhment, were apprehended, impriſoned, and ſentenced to pay forty ſhillings or be whipped.
In their Teſtimony laid down in four concluſions, is opened and proved
In the Firſt, 1. That Jeſus is the Christ, [i. e.] the Anointed Prieſt, Prophet, and King of Saints. 2. That Chriſt is alſo the Lord of his Church in point of ruling and ordering them with respect to the worſhip of God.
In the Second, 1. That Baptiſm is one of the commandments of Chriſt, and to continue till he come. 2. that viſible Believers are the proper ſub…ects thereof. 3. That they are as well to wait for the promiſe of the Spirit, as for the preſence of Christ.
In the Third, That every believer ought to improve his talent both in and out of the Congregation.
In the Fourth, That no ſervant of Jeſus hath any authority from him to force upon others either the faith or order of the Goſpel of Chriſt. Wherin are produced 8 arguments against perſecution for caſe of Conſcience.
A Faithfull and True Relation of the Proſecution of Obediah Holmes, John Crandall, and John Clarke, meerly for Conſcience towards God, by the principall Members of the Church, or Common-wealth of the Mathatuſets in New-England, which rules over that part of the World; whereby is ſhewn their diſcourteous Entertainment of Strangers, & how that Spirit by which they are led, would order the whole World, if either brought under them, or ſhould come in unto them: Drawn forth by the aforeſaid John Clarke, not ſo much to anſwer the Importunity of Friends, as to ſtop the mouthes, and ſlanderous reports of ſuch as are Enemies to the Croſs of Chriſt. Let him that readeth it conſider, which Church is moſt like the Church of Chriſt (that Prince of Peace, that meek and gentle Lamb, that came into this World to ſave Mens lives, not to deſtroy them,) the Perſecuted, or Perſecuting.
IT came to paſs that we three, by the good hand of our God, came into the Mathatuſets Bay upon the 16 day of the 5th MonethMonth, 51; and upon the 19th of the ſame, upon occaſion of buſineſſe, we came unto a Town in the ſame Bay called Lin, where we lodged at a Blind-mans houſe neer two miles out of the Town, by name William Witter, who being baptized into Chriſt waits, as we alſo doe, for the Kingdom of God, and the full conſolation of the Iſrael of God: VponUpon the 20th day, being the firſt day of the week, not having freedom in our Spirits for want of a clear Call from God to goe unto the Publike Aſſemblie to declare there what was the mind, and counſell of God concerning them, I judged it was a thing ſuitable to conſider what the counſell of God was concerning our ſelves; and finding by ſad experience, that the hour of temptation ſpoken of was coming upon all the World (in a more eminent way) to try them that are upon the Earth, I fell upon the conſideration of that Word of Promiſe, made to thoſe that keep the Word of his Patience, which preſent thoughts, while in Conſcience towards God, and good will unto his Saints, I was imparting to my Companions in the houſe where I lodged, and to 4, or 5 Strangers, that came in unexpected after I had begun, opening, and proving what is meant by the hour of Temptation, what by the Word of his patience, and their keeping it, and how he that hath the Key of David (being the Promiſer) will keep thoſe that keep the word of his Patience from the hour of Temptation; while I ſay I was yet ſpeaking, there comes into the houſe where we were, two Conſtables, who with their clamorous tongues made an interruption in my Diſcourſe, and more uncivilly diſturbed us, than the Purſivants of the old Engliſh Biſhops were wont to doe; telling us, that they were come with Authority from the Magiſtrate to apprehend us; I then deſired to ſee the Authority by which they th…s proceeded, whereupon they pluckt forth their Warrant, and one of them with a trembling band (as conſcious he might have been better imployed) read it to us; The ſubſtance whereof was as followeth.
BY virtue hereof, you are required to go to the houſe of William Witter, and ſo to ſearch from houſe to houſe, for certain erronious perſons, being Strangers, and them to apprehend, and in ſafe cuſtody to keep, and to morrow morning by eight of the Clock to bring before me,
Robert Bridges.
When he had read the Warrant, I told them, Friends, there ſhall not be (I truſt) the leaſt appearance of a reſiſting of that Authority by which you come unto us; yet I tell you, that by virtue hereof you are not ſo ſtrictly tyed, but if you pleaſe, you may ſuffer us to make an end of what we have begun, ſo may you be Witneſſes either to, or againſt the Faith, and Order which we hold; to which they anſwered▪ they could not; then ſaid we, notwithſtanding the Warrant, or any thing therein contained▪ you may; nevertheleſſe, if you are ſtreightned in reſpect of your underſtandings and conſciences in point of hearing, doe but withdraw your ſelves before the door, the timewill not be long; which when they refuſed, we told them, then here we are, let our Lord doe with us what he pleaſe: So (although there were that profered to be bound body and goods for our appearance before Mr. Bridges the next morning, according to the Warrant) they apprehended us, and carried us away to the Ale-houſe, or Ordinary; where after Dinner one of them ſaid unto us, Gentlemen, if you be free I will carry you to the Meeting; to whom was replyed, Friend, had we been free thereunto we had prevented all this; Nevertheleſſe, we are in thy hand, and if thou wilt carry us to the Meeting, thither will we goe; to which he anſwered, then will I carry you to the Meeting. To this we replyed, becauſe we perceive thou haſt not long been imployed in this thine Office, and that may follow hereupon which thou expecteſt not, we will inform thee, That if thou forceſt us unto your Aſſembly, then ſhall we be conſtrained to declare our ſelves, that we cannot hold Communion with them; the Conſtable anſwered, that is nothing to me, I have not power to command you to ſpeak, when you come there, or to be ſilent; to this I again replyed, (Friend) know a little further; Since we have heard the word or Salvation by Ieſus Chriſt, we have been taught as thoſe that firſt truſted in Chriſt, to be obedient unto him both by word and deed; wherfore if we be forc'd to your Meeting, we ſhal declare our diſſent from you both by word and geſture; after all this, when he had conſulted with the man of the houſe, he told us he would carry us to the Meeting, ſo to their Meeting were we brought, while they were at their prayers and uncovered; and at my firſt ſtepping over the threſhold I unveiled my ſelf, civilly ſaluted them, turned into the Seat I was appointed to, put on my hat again, and ſo ſat down, opened my Book, and fell to reading: hereupon Mr. Bridges being troubled, commanded the Conſtable to pluck off our hats, which he did, and where he laid mine, there I let it lye, untill their Prayer, Singing, and Preaching was over; After this I ſtood up, and uttered my ſelf in theſe words following; I deſire as a Stranger, if I may, to propoſe a few things to this Congregation, hoping in the propoſall thereof I ſhall commend my ſelf to your Conſciences to be guided by that wiſdom that is from above, which being pure, is alſo peaceable▪ gentle, and eaſie to be intreated, and therewith I made a ſtop, expecting, if the Prince of Peace had been among them, I ſhould have had a ſuitable anſwer of Peace from them; but no other voice I heard, but of their Paſtor, as he is call'd, and their Magiſtrate; Their Paſtor anſwered ſwered by way of Quaery, Whether I was a Member of a Church? &c. Before I could give an anſwer Mr. Bridges ſpake, ſaying, If the Congregation pleaſe to give you leave, well, if not, I ſhall require you ſilence, for, ſaid he, we will have no Objections made againſt what is delivered, &c. To which I anſwered, I am not about for preſent to make Objections againſt what is delivered, but as by my geſture at my coming into your Aſſembly I declared my diſſent from you, ſo leſt that ſhould prove offenſive unto ſome whom I would not offend, I would now by word of mouth declare the grounds, which are theſe; Firſt, from the conſideration we are Stangers each to other, and ſo Strangers to each others inward ſtanding with reſpect to God, and ſo cannot conjoyn and act in Faith, and what is not of Faith, is Sin: And in the ſecond place, I could not judge that you are gathered together, and walk according to the viſible order of our Lord; which when I had declared, Mr. Bridges told me I done and ſpoke that for which I muſt anſwer, and ſo commanded me ſilence: when their meeting was done, the Officers carryed us again to the Ordinary, where being watched over that night, as Theeves and Robbers, we were the next morning carried before Mr. Bridges, who made our Mittimus, and ſent us to the Priſon at Boſton; The words of the Mittimus are theſe. To the Keeper of the Priſon at Boſton.
BY virtue hereof you are required to take into your cuſtody from the Conſtable of Lin, or his Deputy, the Bodies of Iohn Clark.
Obediah Holmes, and Iohn Crandall, and them to keep, untill the next County Court to be held at Boſton, that they may then and there anſwer to ſuch complaints as may be alleged againſt them, for being taken by the Constable at a Private Meeting at Lin upon the Lords day, exerciſing among themſelves, to whom divers of the Town repaired, … with them, and that in the time of Publick exerciſe of the Worſhip of God; as alſo for offenſively diſturbing the peace of the Congregation at their coming into the Publique Meeting in the time of Prayer in the afternoon, and for ſaying and manifeſting that the Church of Lin was not conſtituted according to the order of our Lord, & for ſuch other things as ſhall be alleged againſt them, concerning their ſeducing and drawing aſide of others after their erroneous judgements and practices, and for ſuſpition of having their hands in the re-baptizing of one, or more among us, as alſo for neglecting or refuſing to give in ſufficient ſecurity for their appearance at the ſaid Court; hereof fail not at your perill, 22. 5. 51.
Rob. Bridges.
We being by virtue hereof committed to priſon, upon the the 5th. day ſevennight after were brought to our tryall; in the forenoon we were examined, in the afternoon, without producing either accuſer, witneſs, jury, law of God, or man, we were Sentenced; in our examination the Governour upbraided us with the name of Anabaptiſts; To whom I Anſwered, I diſown the name, I am neither an Anabaptiſt, nor a Pedobaptiſt, nor a Catabaptiſt; he told me in haſt I was all; I told him he could not prove us to be either of them; he ſaid, yes, you have Re-baptized; I denyed it ſaying, I have Baptized many, but I never Re-baptized any; then ſaid he, you deny the former Baptiſm, and make all our worſhip a nullity; I told him he ſaid it; moreover I ſaid unto them (for therefore do I conceive I was brought before them to be a teſtimony againſt them) If the Teſtimony which I hold forth be true, and according to the mind of God, which I undoubtedly affirm it is, then it concernes you to look to your ſtanding The like to this affirmed the other two; ſo after much diſcourſe we were committed again to priſon, and in the afternoon towards night, we were called forth again, and immediately after the Court was ſet, my Sentence was read, which was as followeth.