Hypocrisy Unmasked, Observations
Certaine Obſervations collected out of both their LETTERS.
I. Their reproachfull and reviling Speeches of the Government and Magiſtrates of the Maſsachuſets.
1. THey ſay our Magiſtrates did lay their Wiſdome proſtrate,Pag. 9. in ſending Letters to them, which they ſcornfully call an irregular Note.
2 That they bare them cauſleſſe enmity, the proofe whereof every occaſion brings forth.
3 They ſlily call them the ſeed of the ancient mother; i. of the enmity of the Devill.
4 That they know it is the name of Chriſt call'd upon them, againſt which our Magiſtrates doe ſtrive.
5 That they goe about to hide their ſin, as Adam, bearing the world in hand, that they deſire not to contend, but to redreſſe ſomething in point of Civill peace.
6 That they ſtand on tip-toe to ſtretch themſelves beyond their bounds, to ſeek occaſion againſt them.
7 That thoſe who accuſe them, are accuſers of the Brethren, Satan being a lyer, and the father of it; which thing our Magiſtrates cannot know though they be told of it.
8 That this act of theirs to treat about their land,Pag. 10. is a mappe of their ſpirituall eſtate.
9 That they delight daily to eate of the forbidden fruit (which they call mans wiſdome) out of which our Churches and Common-wealth is formed) to gaine conformity with their maker.
10 They ſcorn at their purity and godlineſſe, telling them that Cole and Arnold their diſſembling ſubjects, are full of the ſpirit of their purity.
11 They doe not ſay plainly that our Magiſtrates are dogs, but compare them to dogs in reſuming their vomit into its former concoction, by receiving Cole and Arnold under our juriſdiction.
12 That the whole ſtructure and edifice among us (i. the Churches and Common-wealth) is raiſed up in the ſpirit of an hireling, and that by ſubmiſſion to the Word of God in faſting, feaſtſting, retiredneſſe for ſtudy, contributing, treaſuring (i. for Church uſes in ſeverall Churches) they doe nothing elſe but bring forth fruit unto death.
13 That farther then the Lord Jeſus agrees with riches, honour and eaſe, our Magiſtrates minde him not, nay, renounce, and reject him.
14 That they plainely crucifie Chriſt,Pag. 11. and put him to an open ſhame, which the Apoſtle, Hebr. 6. applies to the worſt of men, who commit the unpardonable ſin, and for whom men are not to pray.
15 That our Magiſtrates are as farre from yeelding ſubjection to Chriſt,Pag. 12. as Cole and Arnold from being honourable and loyall ſubjects, whom they call the ſhame of Religion, the diſturbance and diſquiet of the place, diſſembling ſubjects, pag. 10. as alſo deboiſt, rude, inhumane Nabals, il-bred, apoſtatiſed perſons, and fellonious, page 23. with many ſuch like ſpeeches.
16 That the things of Gods kingdome are infinitely beyond the reach of their ſpirit, nor can they heare the lively Oracle, and therefore are dumb in telling Juſtice.
17 That the Magiſtrates are Jewes according to the fleſh, and ſtout maintainers of the man of Sin.
18 That they know our Magiſtrates eyes are dazled with envy,Pag. 13. and their ears open to lyes.
19 That they judge them before their cauſe be heard.Pag. 15.
20 That in inviting them to their Courts for their equal-ballanced Juſtice (as they ſcornfully call it) they thereby ſtrike at Chriſt their life.
21 That our Magiſtrates are like Herod, Pag. 16.whom God ſmote with wormes, for ſeeking by an out-reaching and circumventing policy to ſubdue Tyrus and Sidon, and like Pontius Pilate, and the people who out of the Judgement hall are all for mercy, but in it nothing but crucifie him, crucifie him, bee their accuſations, and witneſſe never ſo falſe, ſo (ſay they) in your dealings with men in way of the Jewiſh brotherhood, your law is all for mercy, to redreſſe, reforme, for preſervation of ſoule and body, doe but enter into the Common-hall, then if witneſſes bee but brought in, and oath taken though never ſo untrue, your Conſciences are purged by law, and your power muſt have tribute paid it, ſo far as to brand mens names with infamy, and deprive women and children of things neceſſary.
22 That the profeſſed clemency an… mercy of their law, is as much as in them lyes, to ſend both ſoule and body downe to Sheol (i. the grave and hell) for ever, without redreſſe and all hope of recovery.
23 That their houre and power of darkneſſe is knowne, what it is either to have mens perſons in admiration becauſe of advantage, or elſe to ſeek all occaſions againſt them, with all manner of reproach and ignominie.
24 That their wayes are wicked,Pag. 17. and to bee abhorred, becauſe in their profeſſed courſe the two witneſſes are ſlaine by them, and put to death; and that all their glory is to keep their corpſe unburied; and theſe two witneſſes are the life and death of the Lord Jeſus.
25 That the light appearing among them,Pag. 18. is nothing but the light of Balaam, ſo that in ſeeing, they ſee not, but communicate onelyonly in the light of that Beaſt who put the witneſſes to death.
26 They tell our Magiſtrates, that they never come amongſt them, but they ſee themſelves in a regiment of groſſe and palpable darkneſſe, and diſcern you to ſcrabble on the wall for the door of Lots houſe.
27 That they know not what a true witneſſe is.Pag. 19.
28 That the whole Word of God is a parable to them,Pag. 22, 23. as their converſation in all points daily declare it.
29 That they will not come neare our Magiſtrates, untill they know they beare another minde from their neighbours, whom they call robbers, groſſe diſſembling hypocrites, who doe nothing but goe about to eſtabliſh ſuch wayes as may maintaine their owne vic…ous luſts, whoſe laws are pretended and deviſed, and whoſe practiſes (they ſay) they renounce as diabolicall.
30 Yee blind guides (ſay they to our Magiſtrates) as your fathers have ever done,Pag. 24. ſo do you.
31 You ſet up Segnirim (i. as themſelves interpret) feare and horrour,Pag. 25. or the devill, by, and for the which you hope to bee ſaved.
32 That their carriage towards them,Pag. 26. is farre worſe then that of the Indians, whom themſelves cry out of to bee thieves and robbers; pag. 32.
33 That they are deſpiſers; Behold (ſay they) yee deſpiſers, the vanity and abominations of all your baptiſmes.
34 Yee think (ſay they) that the croſſe of Chriſt is nothing but bowing down the back to every burden, and cringing and crouching to the luſt of every man.
35 They call the generall Court,Pag. 28. the great Idol Generall, whoſe pretended equity in diſtributing Juſtice is a meer device of man according to the ſleights of Satan.
36 They tell the Court, that out of the kingdome of darkneſſe and the devill, they had writ another Note to adde to their former pride and folly.
37 For taking Pumham and Sachanonoco (Indian Sachims) under their protection; they tell the Court they might have done well to have proved themſelves Chriſtians before they had mixt themſelves with the heathen; but this was too hard for them to doe.
38 They adviſe the Court (in ſcorn) to keep the Indian with them,Pag. 29. where he and they might perform that worthy work of diſtributing Juſtice.
39 They tell the Court that they live by bloud.
40 They tell the Court, they renounce the kingdom of darkneſs, and the devill, wherein the Court delights to truſt.
41 They call the Court, O ye generation of Vipers.
42 They tell the Court,Pag. 30, 31. they are not a cup fit for their appetite, but a cup of trembling either to make them vomit up their owne eternall ſhame, or elſe to make them burſt aſunder with their fellow confeſſor Judas Iſcariot.
43 That the Court is either blind or audacious in deſiring them to come for their parcells of Juſtice, and that they diſdain to come to them.
44 They profeſſe they cannot ſufficiently vilifie the promiſe of the Court, that they ſhall come down to them and return in ſafety; which they call a verball and perfunctory offer.
45 They tell the Court, that if their luſts had not prevailed over them, they might thinke they had better employment then to trot to Maſſachuſets as their factors, and ordinary hackneys doe.
46 They tell the Court that their lawes and proceedings withPag. 32. the ſoules and bodies of men, is nothing elſe but a continued act of accuſing and excuſing (like the horſe in the mill) which (ſay they) you doe by circumſtances and conjectures, as alſo your fathers have done before you, the Diviners and Necromancers of this world, who are gone to their owne place, and have their reward.
47 They accuſe our Magiſtrates for maintaining Indians in their lying,Pag. 33. ſabbath-breaking, groſſe whoredomes, ſtealing, &c.
48 That they are hypocrites,Pag. 34. having eyes and ſee not, eares and hear not, mouths and ſpeak not.
Now had theſe men returned a rationall anſwer, it might have been meet perhaps by a few marginall Notes to have returned ſome ſhort Reply; but both their …etters being fraught with little elſe then meer raylings, and reproachfull language, it may be ſufficient thus to preſent them in one view together, that ſo the wiſe and prudent may take a taſte of their ſpirits, and learne from what fire it is that their tongues are thus highly inflamed. If our Courts and Magiſtrates had been in any thing to blame, what a faire and eaſie way had it been to have firſt convinced them, before they had thus bitterly reviled them; but thus to cut and ſhave, and caſt all this filth in their faces without proof or reaſon, argues a bold and inſolent ſpirit f…tted to make combuſtions and confuſions in the place where they live. If indeed the Magiſtrates had given them any ſore provocations of returning ill language, there might have been ſome excuſe, but alaſſe, all the cauſe that can bee given of moſt of this ill language, is nothing but writing friendly unto them, to ſend ſome from themſelves to clear up the differences between them and the Indians, and to ſhew their juſt title to the land they poſſeſſed: if they had kept this flood within their owne bankes, or been but moderate in revilings, it might have been winkt at; but to fly out into ſuch extremity on ſo ſmall provocation againſt their betters, ſo as to call them Idolls, blind-guides, deſpiſers, generation of vipers, ſuch as crucifie Chriſt, men that ſerve their owne luſts, hypocrites, the ſeed of the Devill, Necromancers, Judaſſes, men that live by bloud, robbers and thieves, men without mercy, among whom Juſtice is dumbe, delighting in the kingdome of darkneſſe and the devill, like Herod and Pilate in adminiſtring Juſtice, whoſe eyes are dazled with envie, and eares open to lies, ſtout maintainers of the man of Sin, whoſe wayes are wicked▪ and to bee abhorred; worſe then Indians, like dogs, &c. This language ſpeakes loud to what Countrey they belong, and of what race they come.
II. Their reviling Language not onelyonly againſt the Magiſtrates and Government here in particular, but alſo againſt Magiſtracy it ſelf, and all Civill power.
IF any ſhall ſay for them (as themſelves now for their owne advantage doe) that this ill language is directed onelyonly againſt our particular Government and Magiſtrates, but not againſt all Civill power it ſelf, the contrary may appear (notwithſtanding their dark language, under which ſometimes they ſeek to conceale it) in theſe particulars.
"1 They expreſly affirm that the Office to miniſter Juſtice,Pag. 16. belongs onelyonly to the Lord: and that therefore (from their inſtance of Herod) men make themſelves Gods, (which themſelve… interpret to be onelyonly from the God of this world, and to be in flat oppoſition againſt God, pag. 26.) by ruling over the bodies and eſtates of men; and that the people receiving Herod to Government, & crying out that this was the ordinance of God, and not of man, that he was immediately ſmitten of God for it: As alſo they tell us, p. 26. that to ſet up men to Judge of good and evil, for which all m…n are ſet up in that kinde; that this is re-acting that ancient ſpirit of the Serpent, If yee eate, yee ſhall bee as Gods."
Now this ſtrkes at all Magiſtracy, for if the office of miniſtring juſtice and righteouſneſſe belongs to God onelyonly, then not unto any man, for that is to make Gods of men; and if to judge betweene good and evill bee to act over againe the ancient ſpirit of the Serpent, then 'tis not onelyonly unlawfull, but diabolicall, to make Judges of what is right and wrong, good or evill by any man.
If it bee objected, is it poſſible that any men ſhould bee ſo groſly blind and wicked, as to aboliſh all miniſtration of Juſtice and righteouſneſſe?
Anſw. 1. Theſe men ſeeme to acknowledge ſome way of miniſtring Juſtice, but the myſterie lies in that word Office, they would have no man ſet up in the Office of Magiſtracy, diſtinguiſhed from other men, but would have ſuch a power common to the B…ethren, ſo that a man may judge as a brother, but not as an Officer, and therefore they ſlily juſtifie him, who called one of our chiefe Magiſtrates in the open face of the Court, Brother, and condemne all our Magiſtrates, becauſe every man doth not ſit there to judge as a Brother, pag. 16. and their reaſon ſeems to bee drawne from this, becauſe that to bee a Brother, and conſequently a …olicire with "Chriſt, is a higher ſphere then to bee a Civill Officer, as their owne words intimate, pag. 16. Now the rule is evident à quatenus ad omne, that if miniſtration of Juſtice and judgement belongs to no officer, but to a man as a Brother, then to every Brother, and if to every Brother, whether rich or poore, ignor…nt or learned, then every Chriſtian in a Common-wealth muſt bee King, and Judge, and Sherif…e, and Captaine, and Parliament man, and Ruler, and that not onelyonly in New-England, but in Old, and not onelyonly in Old, but in all the Chriſtian world; downe with all Officers from their Rule, and ſet up every Brother for to Rule, which the godly-wiſe may eaſily diſcerne to bee the eſtabliſhment of all con…uſion, and the ſetting up of Anarchy worſe then the greateſt Tyranny.
2. Although theſe may beare the world in hand that they allow miniſtration of Juſtice and righteouſneſſe by men as Brethren, yet ſome Cakes of theſe mens dough have been ſo farre leavened and ſowred againſt all Civill power, as that in our Publike Courts, being demanded how murderers, theeves, and adulterers ſhould bee puniſhed if there ſhould bee no Civill power coercive, they openly and roundly anſwered before many witneſſes, that ſuch perſons muſt be left to the judgment of God, both which not long after God himſelf ſate Judge upon, being ſuddenly and barbarouſly ſlaine by the bloody Indians in the Dutch plantation.
Pag. 18, 19."Firſt, they exclaime againſt us for chooſing men that are honourable, learned, wiſe, experienced, and of good report, or elſe they may not rule among us, and this, they ſay, is of man, and by man, and putting the ſecond witneſſe to death, viz. the dea…h or weakneſſe of Chriſt, or in plaine Engliſh, 'tis a killing of Chriſt.
Now however the application is made unto our Civill State, yet it manifeſtly ſtrikes at all Civill States in the world, who ſhall chooſe any Officers for rule and government, and adminiſtring of Juſtice, although they bee never ſo honourable, learned, wiſe, experienced, and of good report, and conſequently moſt fit for government; and that in ſo chuſing them they doe put Chriſt himſelf to death. So that theſe men ſtill harp on that ſtring to have every man judge as a Brother, whether honourable or not honourable, whether wiſe or fooliſh, whether of good report or evill report, otherwiſe Chriſts weakneſſe is ſlaine.
Pag. 22.3. "They affirme that they who can create, make void, and remove offices and officers at their pleaſure, are of that evill one, (i. the devill) and not of Jeſus Chriſt, but of Shedim that waſter and deſtroyer of mankind for ever. Their proofe is from that monſtrous interpretation of Yea, yea, and Nay, nay, and they inſtance not onelyonly in Church-officers, but in Common-wealth-officers, whether Rulers or Captaines. Their words are theſe, "viz. Hee with whom it is yea, I am a Ruler, but it was nay when I was none at all, renounceth the ſpirit of him that rules in righteouſneſſe, profeſſing the ſpirit of him that is Prince of the power of the aire, who is working now ſo effectually in the children of diſobedience; ſo alſo hee with whom it is yea, I am captaine, or chief-ſlaughter-man, but it was nay, time was that I was none at all, renounceth the victory and ſlaughter made by the Captaine and High-prieſt of our profeſſion, profeſſing himſelfe to bee a ſuperfluous Giant made in the hoſt of the Philiſtims, to defie the hoſt of the living God.
By which ſpeeches '…is evident that they doe not onelyonly oppoſe Civill officers choſen amongſt us here, but all ſuch as are choſen Rulers, Captaines, and Officers at any time, in any place, and were not ſo before; and ſuch they ſay are of the Devill the deſtroyer of man.
4. "They ſay men limit,Pag. 18. and ſo deſtroy the holy one of Iſrael, whoſe life is infinite, and without circumſcription and containment (as they call it) if men acknowledge that Chriſt rules on earth onelyonly by his Deputies, Litvtenants, and Vicegerents, (i. by perſons inveſted with Civill authority and office, for ſo they are called by Orthodox Divines) and therefore they ſay that his putting Chriſt to death, when onelyonly wiſe, and honourable, and learned, and experienced, and men of good report, are choſen to rule, becauſe they would have the Power to rule common to all Chriſtians, but as for the office of rule to bee peculiar to none, and therefore Pag. 24. they tell us that none ſhall ſee Chriſt come into his kingdome with comfort, untill the authority and power of man appeares to be as the building of Babel, and the name and authority of God onelyonly to bee that wherein the bleſſing conſiſts; meaning that 'tis Babyloniſh building which God miſliked, and confounded, for any man in office to rule and governe, becauſe this is to limit the power and life of Chriſt (which is in every brother as well as in any officer) and ſo to kill the life of Chriſt; ſo that if any of them ſay that although they diſtaſte officers, as Kings and others by election, yet not ſuch as are ſo by hereditary ſucceſſion, they are but words to ſute their owne ends for a time, and to delude others, for if it bee limiting the holy One of Iſrael, a circumſcribing and ſo deſtroying the life of Chriſt which is infinite, for to make him rule by his Deputies and Vicegerents on earth, then not onelyonly Kings and Princes, whether by election or no, but all other civill officers muſt bee abandoned, becauſe the life and power of Chriſt is limited in ſucceſſive as well as in elective Princes, in inferiour as well as in ſuperiour governours, who are Chriſts Deputies, and Vicegerents, and therefore called Rom. 13. 4. the Miniſters of God either for good or terrour.
Pag. 28.5. "They call our generall Court the Idoll generall, which is nothing elſe but a device of man by the ſleight of Sathan to ſubject and make ſlaves of that ſpecies or kinde which God hath honored with his owne Image, and they do not onelyonly ſpeake thus of our Courts as Idols, but they cry out woe unto the world becauſe of the Idols thereof, for Idols …uſt needes bee ſet up, but woe be unto them by whom they are e…ected, and their reaſon reacheth to all civill power, (for ſay they) a man may be as well a ſlave to his belly, and make that his god, as be a vaſſall to his owne ſpecies, or kinde, or to any thing that man can bring forth even in his beſt perfection.
There are other evidences of their corrupt minde herein from other paſſages in their letters which they ſpeake under more obſcure cloude… and allegories, but theſe may bee a ſufficient witneſſe againſt them before men and angels, that they abandon all civill authority, although for to ſerve their owne turnes of others or their owne luſts, they ſay they do not: the Apoſtle Jude long ſince, tels us of ſuch perſons expreſly who deſpiſe Dominion and ſpeake evill of Dignities, 1. They doe not only deſpiſe theſe or thoſe particular perſons or ſtates that are inveſted with Dominion; but they deſpiſe Dominion it ſelfe and Dignities themſelves, and would have all that power abandoned, whom he calleth v: 8. filthy dreamers, defiling the fleſh, murmurers and complainers walking after their owne luſts, their mouthes ſpeaking great ſwelling words, v. 16. And that it may yet more fully appeare that theſe men doe abandon all civill authority, (although this ſecret they will not impart unto all, but rather profeſſe the contrary) there is extant to bee ſhewen if need were, the writings betweene a prudent man in this Country, and one of the chiefe, and moſt underſtanding of this peculiar fellowſhip (as they ſtile themſelves) wherein hee doth ſtoutly maintaine theſe three aſſertions, 1. That there are no Ordinances. 2. That there are no relations neither in the Common-wealth betweene rulers and ſubjects, nor in the Church between officers and brethren, nor in the families betweene husband and wife, maſter and ſervant, father and ſonne. 3. That there are no inherent graces in Chriſtians. By which principles the world may ſee what theſe men goe about, viz. "as much as in them lies to bring in a diſorder and confuſion in all ſtates and families, and to open the ſluce to all violence, injuſtice, and wickedneſſe, by not only abandoning, but reproaching and revilingall civill rule and authority upon earth, which they therefore ſcornefully call a meere device of man, Idols, to be of the Devill, the deſtroyer of mankinde, and to bee a crucifying of Chriſt in his life and death, and all this when honourable, wiſe, learned, experienced, well reported perſons are choſen and inveſted with Civill power, whom therefore they would not have maintained, and to whom it is an unlawfull to adminiſter any oath for the ending of civill differences, as to luſt after a woman to commit adultery, Pag. 20.
III. Their blaſphemous ſpeeches againſt the holy things of God.
Pag. 26.1. AGainſt the Churches, they call them deviſed platformes Pag. 26. "and that the wiſedome of men is the whole accompliſhment (or that which gives the whole being) of Churches and Common-wealth. Pag. 10."
Pag. 11.2. "Againſt the calling of Miniſters, they ſay, that to make their calling mediate and not immediate, is to make a nullity of Chriſt, and to crucifie Chriſt, and to put him to an open ſhame, and that ſuch Miniſters are Magicians, Pag. 34.
Now this reflects upon all the Ordinances and ordinary Officers and Miniſters of Chriſt, that either are or have beene in the Church at any time, for although the offices bee immediately from Chriſt, yet their call to exerciſe this office hath beene ever accounted mediate.
Pag. 36.3. "Againſt the word of God, they call the Sermons of Gods Miniſters tales, or lies and falſhoods, now had they thus ſpoken upon proofe againſt any particular Sermons, or perſons, the accuſed might have ſpoken for themſelves, but indifferently to revile all Sermons as tales or forgeries, the doctrine generally taught here amongſt us, being no other then that which Paul preached at Epheſus for three yeares ſpace and upwards, viz. repentance towards God, and faith towards the Lord Jeſus, Act. 20. being alſo no other then what agrees generally with the harmony of confeſſions of all reformed Churches: to call theſe tales is a word which the Lord Jeſus will certainely remember, unleſſe they repent; the Sermons of the Apoſtles of Chriſt, as well as the doctrine of all reformed Churches, being reproached hereby.
Pag. 26.4. Againſt the Sacraments: as for baptiſme they doe not onelyonly make the baptizing of Infants as abominable as the croſſe, but all our baptiſmes, "behold (ſay they) the vanity and abomination of all your baptiſmes, and they doe not meane all thoſe baptiſmes which are in uſe amongſt us, but in any Churches of the world at this day; for they acknowledge no other baptiſme then that which is ſpirituall, and hence they ſay, "that when ever you ſee the baptiſme of Chriſt truly in uſe according to the word of God, you doe as truly ſee that party partaking and communicating with the croſſe and ſufferings of Chriſt, for theſe are coaparant, now communicating in Chriſts ſufferings in their meaning is onelyonly ſpirituall, and ſo is therefore all baptiſmes. 2. As for the Lords ſupper ſcarce a greater heape of blaſphemies in fewer words can come from the mouth of man againſt that bleſſed Ordinance, wherein Chriſt is ſo manifeſtly and ſweetly preſent, "for they call it your diſht up dainties, turning the juice of a ſillie grape that periſheth in the uſe of it, into the bloud of the Lord Jeſus, by the cunning skill of your Magicians, which doth make mad and drunke ſo many in the world.
5. Againſt repentance and humiliation for ſinne,Pag. 26. they ſpeake ſomewhat obſcurely,Ex 1. pag. but they that know them may ſonne underſtand their meaning,They ſay our of the forbidden fruite i. e. mans wiſdom, our Churches and Commonwealth is formed. 2. That the whole edifice amongſt us is raiſed up in the ſpirit of an hireling. 3. That by ſubmiſſion to the word of God in faſting, feaſting, retiredneſſe for ſtudy, contributing, treaſuring, i. e. for Church uſes ſo much in ſeverall Churches, they doe nothing but bring forth fruite unto death. which if it be this, that in a way of compunction and ſorrow for ſinne, a Chriſtian is not to ſeeke for conſolation and comfort from Chriſt, and to affirme that this is to make the ſonne of God Belial and Segnirim, the Devill himſelfe, (as they interpret it) then tis moſt groſſe blaſphemy againſt not onelyonly the preaching, but practiſe of repentance and godly ſorrow, for which the Apoſtle rejoiced to ſee in the Corinthians, ch. 7 v. 9. 10. and which James and Peter command and commend, James 4. v. 9. 10. 1 Peter 5. v. 6. and which way not ſo much Moſes in the law but Chriſt in the Goſpell hath ſanctified to finde pardon of ſinne 1 John 1. 9.
6. Againſt Chriſt Jeſus himſelfe: "they condemne our doctrine for affirming that Jeſus Chriſt actually dyed and ſuffered onelyonly in the dayes of Herod, and Pontius Pilate, when hee hanged on the Croſſe, and that hee was crucified in truth and ſubſtance onelyonly when hee appeared borne of the Virgin Mary: and for this doctrine wee are condemned as Wiſards and Necromancers.
Now what is this but to overthrow not onelyonly the being of Chriſt in the fleſh, making him no other then ſuch an one as actually ſuffered from the begining of the world, and ſhall doe to the end of it, but alſo overthrowing all faith and hope of ſalvation in that Meſſiah who was incarnate in the dayes of Herod and Pilate, and in his death and ſufferings, and that one perfect offering, then once for all Heb. 10. 14.Pag. 11. The reader may therefore be pleaſed to take notice that being asked in open Court what was that Chriſt who was borne of the Virgin and ſuffered under Pilate? one of them anſwered that hee was a ſemblance, picture, or a ſhadow of what was and is done "actually and ſubſtantially in Chriſtians; and hence the meaning of the words may bee gathered Pag. 11. which otherwiſe the wiſe reader may thinke to bee non-ſence. viz. "that they are Wiſards and Necromancers who raiſe a ſhadow without a ſubſtance (viz. to make Chriſt to bee ſlaine in types ſince the world began) or who raiſe the ſubſtance of him who dwels in light without a ſhadow, (making no more of Chriſt but a ſemblance and ſhadow, as themſelves call it) for further explication of which they affirmed in open Court that as the Image of God in Adam was Chriſt, ("for God they ſaid had but one Image) ſo the leſſe of this Image by man was the death of Chriſt, and therefore 'tis no wonder if they deny Chriſt to dye actually onelyonly when crucified under Pontius Pilate becauſe man ſinned actually (which they make to be Chriſts death) long before; meane while the reader may take notice with a holy aſtoniſhment and horrour of the heavy curſe of God in blinding theſe bold men with ſuch a palpable and groſſe ſpirit of deluſion and mad phrenſies, who will make mans ſinne and fall, which is the cauſe of perdition of men, to be the cauſe of the Salvation of man, for ſo Chriſts death is which they blaſphemouſly make mans ſinne to bee.
For further proofe that they make little uſe of Chriſt and his death, then as hath been ſaid, their owne interpretation of the ſlaying of the two witneſſes, Pag. 17. 18. ſeemeth to confirme, for they make theſe two witneſſes the life and the death of Chriſt in men, the life of Chriſt they call his ſtrength, and the death of Chriſt they call his we…kneſſe, viz. as it is, and appeares in weake, fooliſh, ignorant, unexperienced, and ill-reported of men, and therefore they blame us for killing of Chriſts death (for it ſeemes it is ſuch a death as may bee killed) in that wee chuſe honourable, wiſe, learned men, and of good report to place of rule, excluding others.
Now ſome of theſe blaſphemies might have beene the better borne if they had let Chriſt and his death alone, and his word alone, but to call the holy word and Sermons of Salvation tales, the Sacrament an abomination, madding and making drunke the world, to call the Miniſters of Chriſt who diſpenſe Word and Sacraments, Necromancers and Magicians, and they who hold and beleive him to bee the Meſſiah and Chriſt who ſuffered under Pilate, Wiſards, and all this in coole bloud, in the open face of the Court, obſtinately refuſing to alter a title of what they had writ, let the world judge if ever Antichriſt that beaſt ſpoken of Rev. 13. 5, 6. did ever ſpeake greater blaſphemies againſt God, his name, and tabernacle, and whether ſuch men deſerve to live, that live thus to blaſpheme; may not ſuch civill ſtates that tolerate ſuch, feare that ſentence of God againſt them as was pronounced againſt Ahab for letting blaſphemous Benhadab eſcape with his life, thy life for his life? however mens charity may enlarge it ſel…e this way, yet let wiſedome preſerve us and make the wiſe hearted wa…y of ſuch impoſtors, who want not their wiles to ſay and unſay, as may beſt ſute their advantage, for they can hold forth at ſome time and to ſome perſons, wholeſome and orthodox truths and beare them in hand that this is all that they hold, but they have depths of abomination to give to drinke when they ſee their ſeaſons, in ſuch golden cups; they have hidden ſecrets, which their young Proſelytes ſhall not preſently ſee, much leſſe others; for ſo they tell us Pag. 17. "that tis not their purpoſe to open to every one the houſe of their treaſures, the ſilver and gold, and ſpices, and precious ointment, nor the houſe of their armour, becauſe they may take them all as execrable and put them to a prophane uſe, nor can every ſpirit comprehend the breadth of the land of Emanuel, (as they call it Pag. 12.) nor know the Cherubims of glory, nor the voice of the oracle from the Mercy-ſeate: and indeed their uncouth, tumorous and ſwelling words (as Jude cals them Jude 16.) like ſwellings, and tumours of the fleſh, are the undoubted ſignes of a ſecret and ſeducing humour, whereby they are fit to deceive the ſimple and infect the ſtrong, if men bee not watchfull.
The Publiſher to the Reader.
THE reaſon wherefore nothing is anſwered to the great charge in his voluminous Poſtſcript, is becauſe it hath beene anſwered, already by a former treatiſe printed: but more eſpecially becauſe many of the friends, children and kindred of the dead are in good eſteeme with us, whom I am loath to grieve.
But ſince by courſe thou art next to caſt thine eye Gentle Reader upon the ſumme of a Preſentment which the Court at Road Iland received from their Grand Jewry being preſent when Samuel Gorton had ſo much abuſed their Government in the face of the Country, yea in open Court, their owne eyes and eares bearing witneſſe thereunto, they I ſay preſented theſe abuſes to the Court, as ſuch which they conceived ought not to bee borne without ruine to their Government, and therefore beſought the bench to thinke of ſome one puniſhment for examples ſake as well as otherwiſe to bee inflicted on the Delinquent.
And therefore that thou maiſt ſee the occaſion thereof, take notice that an ancient woman having a Cow going in the field where Samuel Gorton had ſome land. This woman fetching out her Cow, Gortons ſervant maid fell violently upon the woman beating and notoriouſly abuſing her by tearing her haire about her, whereupon the old woman complaining to the Deputy Governour of the place, hee ſendeth for the maid, and upon hearing the cauſe, bound her over to the Court. The time being come and the Court ſet, Gorton appeares himſelfe in the defence of his maid, and would not ſuffer his maid to appeare or make anſwer, but ſaid expreſly ſhe ſhould not appeare, and that if they had any thing againſt her they ſhould proceed with him. And though hee was lovingly diſſwaded by ſome of the Bench not to engage himſelfe but let his maid appeare, yet hee refuſed: but when hee could not bee prevailed with, the action was called and witneſſes produced, ſworne, and examined: which being done, hee moved for another witneſſe to bee called, which hee perſwaded himſelfe and the Bench was an honeſt woman and would ſpeake the truth. Now ſhee being ſworne, ſaid, Mr. Gorton, I can ſpeake nothing will helpe your maid. And indeed her whole teſtimony was againſt her and for the old womans cauſe, whereupon hee openly ſaid, Take heed thou wicked woman, the earth doth not open and ſwallow thee up. And then hee demanded of the Court if hee ſhould have equity and juſtice in his cauſe or no? To which was anſwered, if he had either plea or evidence to produce in his maids cauſe it ſhould be heard. Then hee nominated one Weekes who could ſay ſomething to it. Weekes was called and required to take his oath before hee ſpake; at which Gorton and Weekes both of them jeered and laughed and told the Court they were skilled in Idols, and that was one, and ſtood ſtoutly a long time to make it good. Hereupon ſome of the Court put him in mind how they had forewarned him of ſuch carriages fearing he would fall into ſome extreames. At length the Governour gathering up the ſumme of what was witneſſed, commends it to the Jewry. At which time Gorton ſaid, the Court had perverted Juſtice and wreſted the witneſſes, with very many high and reproachfull termes; and in the midſt of his violence throwing his hands about, hee touched the Deputy Governour with his handkerchiefe buttons about his eares (who it ſeemes ſate at a Table with his backe towards him) whereupon the Deputy ſaid, what will you fall about my eares? To which Gorton anſwered I know not whether you have any eares or no? and if you have, I know not where they ſtand; but I will not touch them with a paire of Tongues. The Governour often calling upon the Jewry to attend the Cauſe, was as often interrupted by him. Whereupon many of their Freemen being preſent, deſired the Court they would not ſuffer ſuch inſolencies, profeſſing they were troubled the Court had borne with them ſo long. For which in briefe, hee was committed, but when the Governour bade the Marſhall take him away; hee bade take away Coddington, which was their Governours name: a thing I thought meet to explaine, leſt thou ſhouldſt not underſtand it by the Heads of the Preſentment here following, abuſing all and every particular of the Magiſtrates with opprobrious terms. But note when hee was committed upon his mutinous and ſeditious ſpeeches, Weekes, Holden, &c. his abettors, ſtopped the way with ſuch inſolency, as the Governour was forced to riſe from the Bench, to helpe forward the Command with his perſon, in clearing the way, put Weekes in the ſtocks, and was forced to command a guard of armed men to preſerve themſelves and the peace of the place: And this they did becauſe of ſome fore-going jealouſies; and now taking occaſion to ſearch the houſes of that party that adhered to him, they found many of their peeces laden with bullet: and by meanes hereof they were forced to continue their guard, whilſt upon their baniſhment they were forced from the Iſland.
And however it were enough for a Book alone to relate all the particulars of his inſolent carriage, yet take notice onelyonly of two or three particulars: 1 When hee was cenſured to bee whipt and baniſhed, he appealed to England; they asked to whom? Hee ſaid with a loud voice, To King Charles. They told him, hee ſhould firſt have his puniſhment, and then afterwards hee might complain. To which hee replyed, take notice I appeale to King Charles, Calo, or Selah; the party who was preſent told mee hee could not tell which, but that word was ſpoken with an extraordinary high and loud voice.
A ſecond thing to be obſerved, was, that after hee had been ſo deſervedly whipt, ſome of his faction ſaid, Now Chriſt Jeſus had ſuffered.
And thirdly, although the weather was very cold, the Governour going away after execution of Juſtice upon him, yet he ran a good way after the Governour, drawing a chaine after one of his legs, the upper part of his body being ſtill naked, and told him, He had but lent him this, and hee ſhould ſurely have it again. All this I had from a man of very good repute, who then lived with them, and was an eye and eare witneſſe to all theſe proceedings.
In the next place take notice good Reader, that when hee went from hence well whipt, as before, and entred upon his baniſhment, the place hee went to (in a ſharpe ſeaſon) was a Town called Providence, where Mr. Roger Williams, & divers others lived, who in regard of the ſeaſon, entertained them with much humane curteſie, but the Gortonians anſwered all like Aeſops ſnake, as thou maiſt read by the ſeverall Letters of the chief Inhabitants of that place, by a notorious faction there alſo by them raiſed, to the great diſtraction and amazement of the Inhabitants, as appeareth by their dolefull complaints in their own Letters, a true Copy whereof I preſent unto thee.
The ſum of the Preſentment of Samuel Gorton at Portſmouth in Roade-Iſland, by the Grand Jury.
FIrſt, that Samuel Gorton certaine dayes before his appearance at this Court, ſaid, the Government was ſuch as was not to bee ſubjected unto, foraſmuch as it had not a true derivation, becauſe it was altered from what it firſt was.
2 That Samuel Gorton contumeliouſly reproached the Magiſtrates calling them Juſt Aſſes.
3 That the ſaid Gorton reproachfully called the Judges, or ſome of the Juſtices on the Bench (corrupt Judges) in open Court.
4 That the ſaid Gorton queſtioned the Court for making him to waite on them two dayes formerly, and that now hee would know whether hee ſhould bee tryed in an hoſtile way, or by Law, or in ſobriety.
5 The ſaid Gorton alledged in open Court, that hee looked at the Magiſtrates as Lawyers, and called Mr. Eaſton, Lawyer Eaſton.
6 The ſaid Gorton charged the Deputy Governour to bee an Abetter of a Riot, Aſſault, or Battery, and profeſſed that he would not touch him, no not with a paire of tongues: Moreover he ſaid, I know not whether thou haſt any eares, or no: as alſo, I think thou knoweſt not where thy ears ſtand, and charged him to be a man unfit to make a Warrant.
7 The ſaid Gorton charged the Bench for wreſting witneſſe, in this expreſſion, I profeſſe you wreſt witneſſe.
8 The ſaid Gorton called a Freeman in open Court (ſaucy Boy, and Jack-an-Apes;) and ſaid, the woman that was upon her oath, would not ſpeake againſt her mother, although ſhe were damned where ſhe ſtood.
9 The ſaid Gorton affirmed that Mr. Eaſton behaved himſelfe not like a Judge, and that himſelf was charged either baſely or falſly.
10 The ſaid Gorton ſaid to the Bench, Ye intrude Oaths, and goe about to catch me.
11 The ſaid Gorton being reproved for his miſcarriage, held up his hand, and with extremity of ſpeech ſhooke his hand at them, inſomuch that the Freemen preſent ſaid, Hee threatens the Court.
12 The ſaid Gorton charged the Court with acting the ſecond part of Plymouth Magiſtrates, who, as hee ſaid, condemned him in the Chimney corner, ere they heard him ſpeak.
13 The ſaid Gorton in open Court did profeſſe to maintaine the quarrell of another being his Maid-ſervant.
14 The ſaid Gorton being commanded to priſon, imperiouſly reſiſted the authority, and made open Proclamation, ſaying, take away Coddington, and carry him to priſon; the Governour ſaid again, all you that owne the King, take away Gorton and carry him to priſon; Gorton replyed, all you that own the King, take away Coddington, and carry him to priſon.
William Dere Secretary.
Mr. Roger VVilliams his Letter unto Mr. VVinthrop, concerning Samuel Gorton.
Providence 8. 1ſt. 1640.
MAſter Gorton having foully abuſed high and low at Aquidnick, is now bewitching and bemadding poore Providence, both with his uncleane and foule cenſures of all the Miniſters of this Country, (for which my ſelf have in Chriſts name withſtood him) and alſo denying all viſible and externall Ordinances in depth of Familiſme, againſt which I have a little diſputed and written, and ſhall (the moſt High aſſi…ting) to death: As Paul ſaid of Aſia, I of Providence (almoſt) All ſuck in his poyſon, as at firſt they did at Aquednick. Some few and my ſelfe withſtand his Inhabitation, and Towne-priviledges, without confeſſion and reformation of his uncivill and inhumane practiſes at Portſmouth: Yet the tyde is too ſtrong againſt us, and I feare (if the framer of Hearts help… not) it will force mee to little Patience, a little Iſle next to your Prudence. Jehovah himſelfe bee pleaſed to bee a Sanctuary to all whoſe hearts are perfect with him; In him I deſire unfainedly to be
Your Worſhips true and affectionate Roger Williams.
Providence this 17. of November, Anno 1641. To the Honoured Governour of Maſsachuſett, together with the Worſhipfull Aſsiſtants, and our loving Neighbours there.
VVEe the Inhabitants of the Town aboveſaid, having faire occaſions, counted it meet and neceſſary to give you true intelligence of the inſolent and riotous carriages of Samuel Gorton and his company, which came from the Iſland of Aquednick; which continue ſtill as ſojourners amongſt us; together with John Greene, and Francis Weſton, two which have this long time ſtood in oppoſition againſt us, and againſt the faireſt and moſt juſt and honeſt ways of proceedings in order and Government, that wee could rightly and truly uſe, for the peaceable preſervation and quiet ſubſiſtence of our ſelves and families, or any that ſhould have faire occaſion to goe out or come in amongſt us. Alſo ſix or ſeven of our Townſmen which were in peaceable Covenants with us, which now by their declamations doe cut themſelves off from us, and jointly under their hands have openly proclaimed, to take party with the afore-named Companies, and ſo intend for ought wee can gather, to have no manner of honeſt order, or government either over them or amongſt them, as their writings, words, and actions doe moſt plainly ſhew. It would bee tedious to relate the numberleſſe number of their upbraiding taunts, aſſaults, and threats, and violent kinde of carriage daily practiſed againſt all that either with care or counſell ſeek to prevent or withſtand their lewd licentious courſes. Yet in briefe to commit ſome few of them to your moderate Judgements, leſt wee our ſelves ſhould bee deemed ſome way blinded in the occurrences of things, here is a true Copy of their Writing incloſed, which Francis Weſton gave us the 13. of this preſent MonethMonth, they having alſo ſet up a Copy of the ſame on a tree in the ſtreet, in ſtead of ſatisfaction for fifteene pounds, which by way of arbitration of eight men orderly choſen, and all cauſes and reaſons that could bee found, daily and truly examined, and conſidered jointly together, when hee the ſaid Francis Weſton was found liable to pay, or make ſatisfaction in Cattle or Commodities, but on the 15. of this preſent monethmonth, when wee went orderly, openly, and in a warrantable way to attach ſome of the ſaid Francis Weſtons Cattle, to drive them to the Pound, to make him, if it were poſſible, to make ſatisfaction: which Samuel Gorton and his company getting notice of, came and quarrelled with us in the ſtreet, and made a tumultuons Hubbub; and although for our parts wee had before-hand moſt principally armed our ſelves with patience, peaceably to ſuffer as much injury, as could poſſibly be… born, to avoid all ſhedding of blood, yet ſome few drops of blood were ſhed on either ſide: And after the tumult was partly appeaſed, and that we went on orderly into the Corne-field, to drive the ſaid Cattle, the ſaid Francis Weſton came furiouſly running with a flayle in his hand, and cryed out, Helpe Sirs, helpe ſirs, they are going to ſteale my cattle, and ſo continued crying till Randall Holden, John Greene, and ſome others came running and made a great outcry, and hollowing and crying, Theeves, theeves, ſtealing cattle, ſtealing cattle, and ſo the whole number of their deſperate company came riotouſly running, and ſo with much ſtriving in driving, hurried away the cattle, and then preſumptuouſly anſwered, they had made a reſcue, and that ſuch ſhould bee their practiſe if any men at any time, in any caſe attach any thing that is theirs. And fully to relate the leaſt part of their ſuch like words and actions, the time and paper would ſcarce bee profitably ſpent, neither need wee to adviſe your diſcretions what is likely to bee the ſad events of theſe diſorders, if their bloody currents bee not either ſtopped, or turned ſome other way. For it is plaine to us, that if men ſhould continue to reſiſt all manner of order, and orderly anſwering one of another in different caſes, they will ſuddenly practiſe, not onelyonly cunningly to detaine things one from another, but, openly in publike, juſtly or unjuſtly, according to their own wills diſorderly take what they can come by; firſt pleading neceſſity, or to maintaine wife and family; but afterwards boldly to maintain licentious luſt, like ſavage brute beaſts, they will put no manner of difference between houſes, goods, lands, wives, lives, blood, nor any thing will bee precious in their eyes: If it may therefore pleaſe you of gentle curteſie, and for the preſervation of humanity and mankinde, to conſider our condition, and lend us a neighbour-like helping hand, and ſend us ſuch aſſiſtance (our neceſſity urging us to bee troubleſome unto you) to helpe us to bring them to ſatisfaction, and eaſe us of our burden of them, at your diſcretions; wee ſhall evermore owne it as a deed of great charity, and take it very thankfully, and diligently labour in the beſt meaſure wee can, and conſtantly practiſe to requite your loving kindneſſe, if you ſhould have occaſion to command us, or any of us in any lawfull deſigne: And if it ſhall pleaſe you to ſend us any ſpeedy anſwer, we ſhall take it very kindly, and bee ready and willing to ſatisfie the Meſſengers, and ever remaine
Your loving Neighbours, and reſpective Friends
Joſhuah Winſor
Benedict Arnold
William Mean
William Hawkings
Robert Weſt
William Field
William Harris
William Wickenden
William Reinolds
Thomas Harris
Tho. Hopkins mark
Hugh Bennit
William Carpenter.
Providence the 25. of the 3. month, 1641. To the reſt of the five Men appointed to manage the affaires of our Towne aforeſaid, Theſe are further to give you to underſtand; VIZ. That
I Doe not onelyonly approve of what my neighbours before me have written and directed their Reaſons to a ſerious conſideration with us, concerning Samuel Gorton and his Company: but this much I ſay alſo, that it is evident and may eaſily bee proved, that the ſaid Samuel Gorton nor his Company are not fit perſons to bee received in, and made members of ſuch a body, in ſo weake a ſtate as our Town is in at preſent.
My Reaſons are, Viz.
Firſt, Samuel Gorton having ſhewed himſelfe a railing and turbulent perſon, not onelyonly in and againſt thoſe ſtates of Government from whence hee came, as is to bee proved; but alſo here in this Towne ſince hee have ſojourned here; Witneſſe his proud challenge, and his upbraiding accuſations in his vilifying and opprobrious terms of, and againſt one of our Combination moſt wrathfully and ſhameleſly reviling him, and diſturbing of him, and medling with him, who was imployed and buſied in other private occaſions, having no juſt cauſe ſo to revile and abuſe him, ſaying alſo to him (and that of another ſtate) in a baſe manner, they were like ſwine that held out their Noſe to ſuck his blood, and that now hee and the reſt of his Company would goe and wallow in it alſo; which are Indeed words unſufferable; and alſo deſpitefully calling him Boy, as though hee would have challenged the field of him, in ſuch an inhumane behaviour as becomes not a man that ſhould bee thought to be fit by any reaſonable men to be received into ſuch a poor weak ſtate as we are in at preſent.
Secondly, another of his Company, one who is much in eſteem with him, who openly in a ſcornfull and deriding manner, ſeeing one of the five men that was choſen by the Towne, and betruſted in the Towne affaires, comming towards him in the ſtreet, hee asked of one that ſtood by him, who that was; the other anſwered him, it was one of the five men appointed for managing of our Towne affaires, or the like: Yea, ſaid hee, Hee lookes like one of the five, which words import not onelyonly a ſcorning and deriding of his perſon of whom then hee ſpake, but alſo a deſpiſing and ſcorning of our Civill State, as it were trampling it under foot, as they had done by other States before they came hither, who were of greater ſtrength then wee are; for which cauſe I cannot ſee ſuch perſons to bee fit to bee received into ſuch a State as our Towne is.
Thirdly, I cannot finde theſe men to bee reaſonable men in their ſuite unto the Towne, to be received in as Townſmen, ſeeing they have already had a plaine denyall of their requeſt, and that by the conſent of the major part of the Towne, or very neare, &c. and are yet unanſwerable; and alſo that they ſeeing that their comming to our Towne, hath brought the Towne into a hurry, almoſt the one halfe againſt the other, in which eſtate no Towne or City can well ſtand or ſubſiſt; which declareth plainly unto us, that their intent is not good, but that their …bode ſo long here amongſt us, is in hope to get the victory over one part of the Town, but ſpecially of thoſe that laid the firſt foundation of the place, and bought it even almoſt with the loſſe of their lives, and their whole eſtates, and afterwards to trample them under their feet, as ſome of their words hold forth, or elſe to drive them out into the ſame condition, to ſeek out a new Providence, and to buy it with the like hardneſſe as they firſt bought this place; theſe, and many other like reaſons that may be ſhewed, declare that they are not fit perſons to be received into our meane and weake State.
Fourthly, and ſeeing hee who is ſo well knowne to bee the ring-leader unto the breach of peace, that have been ſo notoriouſly evill to bee a trouble of Civill States where hee hath lived, that are of farre greater force then wee are of, ſpecially that State who have their Commiſſion and Authority from the Higher Powers; what may wee then expect if he could get himſelf in with, and amongſt ſo many as wee ſee are daily ready to tread us under their feet, and his, whom he cals friends, &c. Surely, firſt a breach of our civill peace, and next a ruine of all ſuch as are not of his ſide, as their daily practiſe doth declare; Ergo, they are not fit perſons to be received into our Towne, &c.
Object. If it bee objected, as ſome have blaſphemouſly ſaid, that wee are perſecutors, and doe perſecute the Saints, in not receiving of them into our Towne-fellowſhip, &c.
Anſw. To this I anſwer, there cannot bee proved the leaſt ſhew of any perſecution of thoſe perſons, either by us, or by any other amongſt us to our knowledge. For 1 they have quiet abode amongſt us, none moleſting or troubling of them, nor any thing they have. 2 It cannot bee proved but by their owne relation, the which hath been diſproved; that they were ſent out from thoſe places from whence they came for Religion, neither are they medled with here for any ſuch matter, but rather that they themſelves in their bravery are more ready to meddle with others. 3 They themſelves and others of their followers, have rather been troublers and perſecutors of the Saints of God that lived here before they came, and doe but waite their opportunity to make themſelves manifeſt in that they intend; Ergo, it cannot bee truly ſaid of any, that any perſecution is offered by us unto them, if it could poſſibly be ſaid of them that they are Saints.
Obj. But if it be further objected, that we doe not give them the liberty of men, neither doe wee afford them the bowells of mercy, to give them the meanes of livelihood amongſt us, as ſome have ſaid.
Anſw. To this I ſay; 1 there is no State but in the firſt place will ſeeke to preſerve its owne ſafety and peace. 2 Wee cannot give land to any perſon by vertue of our combination, except wee firſt receive them into our ſtate of combination, the which wee cannot doe with them for our owne and others peace-ſake, &c. 3 Whereas their neceſſity have been ſo much pleaded, it is not knowne that ever they ſought to finde out a place where they might accommodate themſelves, and live by themſelves, with their friends, and ſuch as will follow after them, where they may uſe their liberty to live without order or controule, and not to trouble us, that have taken the ſame courſe as wee have done for our ſafety and peace, which they doe not approve nor like of, but rather like beaſts in the ſhape of men to doe what they ſhall thinke fit in their owne eyes, and will not bee governed by any State. And ſeeing they doe but here linger out the time in hope to get the day to make up their pennyworths in advantage upon us, we have juſt cauſe to heare the complaints of ſo many of our Neighbors that live in the Town orderly amongſt us, and have brought in their complaints, with many reaſons againſt them, and not to admit them, but anſwer them as unfit perſons to bee received into our meane State, &c.
Now if theſe Reaſons and much more which have been truly ſaid of them, doe not ſatisfie you, and the reſt of our neighbours, but that they muſt be received into our Towne-ſtate, even unto our utter overthrow, &c. then according to the order agreed upon by the Towne, I doe firſt offer my houſe and land within the liberty of the Towne unto the Towne to buy it of mee, or elſe I may, and ſhall take liberty to ſell it to whom I may for mine advantage, &c.
William Arnold.