The Jews Now in America, Part 3 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. To the English here, and first in behalfe of the Planters there.
THey should have our hearts and love for many seasons, How many felicities did they forsake, both of the right hand, and of the left, in respect of estate, friends, and the comfort of their owne native soile? It was said by the Prophet, Weepe for him that goeth ou…, for hee shall returne no more to see his owne Countrey, Jer. 22. 20. besides, that dulcis amor patriae, how many hazards did they runne into by dangerous and tedious sea-voyages? they were exposed to divers certaine inconveniences, not only in regard of externalls, change of aire, diet, &c. but change of men especially, having little security, because they were in daily dread of Indian trechery, which might then fall upon them, when they supposed it most remote; they have also left more roome at home, of which wee were wont to have more need than company, which encreased so fast, that wee were ready to extrude one another; and by them we have more strength abroad, because transplanted colonies aClapmar arcan. Reip. p. 52.be domestique fortifications, though they have been invented sometimes, and used to abate popular undertakings, but I meane it in the Roman interpretation, the Nations where they fix, are reduced by degrees to their fashions, lawes, and commands: yet some have unnaturally followed those our Countrey men with reproaches, accounting them so base, as not worthy to be set with the dogs of their flocke, as one to them applyed that of Job 30. 1.
To the Westerne Plantation indeed, at first men of meane condition generally resorted, but soon after people of better ranke followed; divers of good families, and competent estates went into Virginia, and setled in some Islands thereabouts, but because those of New-England pretended more to Religion than the rest, they are more loaden with uncivill language, but most injuriously; for the transplanting Novangles were many of them severally eminent, some of noble extract, divers Gentlemen descended from good Families; their first Charter mentions three Knights, among other40 Caroli. men of worth; and it seemes their example, or somewhat else was like to prevaile with many others of no meane condition, so that eleven of the then Privy Counsell directed their letters in December, one thousand six hundred thirty foure, to the Warden of the Cinque ports, taking notice that severall persons went over with their families, and whole estates, forbidding subsidy men, or of the value of subsidy men to be imbarqued without speciall licence and attestation of their taking the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, submission also to the Orders and discipline of the Church of England: And three yeeres after, viz. one thousand six hundred thirty seven, a proclamation issued from the King to the same purpose, and in the same words.
Others instead of affections and hearts, sling darts after them, and say, they are gone out from us indeed, but they were not of us, 1 Joh. 2. 19. neither liking our doctrine nor governement. Yet surely they differ not at all from us in Religion, witnesse our owne confession and their profession; and for the first, our learned men have continually acknowledged the Puritans to consent with them in Doctrinalls, Archbishop Sands bSerm. p. 81, 82▪ &c.in his Sermon before Queene Elizabeth more than once asserteth this, We have here saith he, to praise our God, that in publique doctrine touching the substance of religion wee all agree in one truth, the greater pitty it is we should so much dissent in matters of small importance, in rites and circumstanees; the Puritanicall errors did not at all oppose any part of our Religion, but it continued most sound even to the dying day of that most renowned Princess, saith he that cRogers pref. p. 19.analysed our thirty nine Articles, and so printed them by authority; and King Iames dPref. Basil. Dor.averreth the like of his Scottish Puritans, We all God be thanked agree in the grounds, and after his reception of this Crowne, hee calls eParlia. spe. Anno. 1603.the English Puritan a Sect rather than a Religion; and in his Declaration against Vorstius fHis workes. p. 358., hee joyneth his Churches of great Britaine with those of France and Germany, opposing them all against Vorstius, Bertius, and the Arminians; Notwithstanding the Disciplinarian quarrell saith gRes. ad Apol. p. 28.Bishop Andrewes, we have the same …aith, the Cardinall is deceived, or deceiveth, in using the word Puritans, as if they had another Religion differing from that publiquely professed, and this hath been the unanimous asseveration of English Bishops, and other learned Divines, as were easie abundantly to declare. But themselves have spared us that labour, by their constant acknowledgement thereof; Mr. Rogers hRogers passim.in his forecited Analysis, produceth their owne writings to this purpose, and what one of them can be named that refused subscription to those 39 Articles in reference to matters of Doctrine; Mr. Browne tis thought, went as farre astray as any here, yet I have seen his owne iM. S.hand declaring at that time his allowance of all those Synodicall Articles; and left any should imagine the Novangles differing from us in dogmaticall truths, besides many, very many printed bookes testifying their concurrence with us herein, beside divers private Letters, that subscribed by the Governour and principall assistants sufficiently manifests their judgement and affection, wherein they desire to be accounted our brethren, and implore our prayers; adding, howsoever our charity may have met with some discouragements through the misreport of our intentions, or through disaffection, or indiscretion of some among us, for wee dreame not of perfection in this world, yet would you be pleased to take notice of the principall and body of this Company, as those that are not ashamed to call the Church of England our deare Mother, and cannot part from her without teares in our eyes, but shall ever acknowledge that such part and hope as we have obtained in the common salvation, we received it in her bosome, and sucked it from her breasts, &c.
From South-Hampton.
Iohn Winthrop▪ Governour.
Rich: S…ltonstall.
Tho: Dudly, &c.