SECT. IX. notice was taken of the Reforming Synod, and of the measures, it recommended, for reviving the power and spirit of religion. 1679. 5 Aug. Some indeed questioned the sincerity of the leading men in the country, who were instrumental in convoking the synod. The gay and licentious court of Charles II. could hardly believe, that there were men of piety enough in Newengland, who would take the pains, which were there taken, to promote the practice of sound morality.* First Church also did not see the propriety of calling this synod. Yet its leading members could not be accused of being inimical to the interests of truth and religion. On 5 August, the following vote was passed by the church. "Voted, upon an order of the general court, to send elders and messengers to a synod to meet, the 24th day in September. Though we do not see light for the calling of a synod at this time; yet, there being one called, that what good there is or may be encouraged, and evil prevented, by our testimony, we are willing to send our messengers to it; though, whatever is there determined, we look upon and judge to be no farther binding to us, than the light of God's words is thereby cleared to our consciences."+ In this vote is manifest the spirit of liberty, which prevailed, in those days, and which now animates a large majority of the churches in this commonwealth. The members of First Church in particular were uniformly careful to guard the * Holmes. † First Church records, p. 39. freedom of the brethren against the encroach- SECT. IX. ments of the civil authority. This assertion will 1679. be further evident by the subsequent vote, which was passed on the same occasion. "Voted by this church, 5 Aug. upon an order and advice of the magistrates, that all the elders of this town might jointly carry on the 5th day lecture." "In answer to the motion of the honoured magistrates about the lecture; though, as an injunction, we cannot concur with it, but do humbly bear our witness against it, as apprehending it tending to the infringement of church liberty; yet, if the Lord incline the hearts of the other teaching officers of this town to accept the desire of our officers to give their assistance with those of this church, who shall be desired to carry on their fifth day lecture, we are willing to accept their help therein.”* Sixty-four persons were admitted to communion, in this decade of years, thirty-nine of whom were females. During the same period, seventy male and seventy-seven female children were baptized. By recurring to the controversy existing in the churches, consequent upon the installation of Mr. Davenport, it will be seen, that no harmony now subsisted between the First and Third Churches. Such a state of ecclesiastical alienation, obviously inimical to the cause of religion, was secretly lamented by the lovers of peace in both societies. It is to the honour of First R * First Church records, p. 40. 1684. 1682. SECT.IX. Church, to whichever party it properly apper1682. tained, that she was prior in her conciliatory overtures. The following extracts, which are copied exactly from her records, will show the formal, cautious, yet frank and generous manner, in which the reconciliation was begun and completed. "At a meeting of the First Church in Boston, Apr. 23, 1682." A motion to the South Church," Question. Whether you be willing, keeping the rule in its intireness, and not revoking your testimony thereto, with that rule of church order, which we have proposed assent unto, and is published, as the judgment of the churches of Newengland platform of discipline, Chapt. 13th throughout, to forgive and forget all offences, as respecting ourselves, that, we judge, have justly been taken at our dissenting brethren ? 'Supposing this pass in the Old Church. Question. Will it not be expedient, that it be lovingly presented to the dissenting brethren, and that society, by a meet person or persons, and that they be desired to signify by writing their approbation of that rule, and judging any deviation from it to be irregular, and, if the return be acceptable, that it will be recorded by both, in memory of an happy issue of that uncomfortable and long breach, and the beginning of our desired peace, which the Lord grant. Amen." "Voted in the affirmative together." "Letter from the Third Church in Boston in SECT. IX. return to the above motion." "Worshipful, reverend, and beloved." "As we cannot but with grief acknowledge the great evil, that there is in divisions from the sad experience, which we have had of the dangerous influence, which the distance betwixt you and us hath had in this land, so we desire heartily to acknowledge the goodness of God in according your hearts to look towards a pacification, and with thankfulness to adopt, at your hands, the kind tender of reconciliation made unto us, to the furthering whereof God forbid that we should wilfully put any obstruction; we rather desire to put all the hands we have to the accepting of it; as being sensible of the truth of what is intimated, 2 Sam. ii. 26. That "if the sword devour forever, it will be bitterness in the end." "As for the condition of accommodation, which hath been presented to us from yourselves by the worshipful Samuel Howell, esq. and the Reverend Mr. Allen, we are fully and freely ready to subscribe it. And, as we have publickly and particularly in the last synod acknowledged the platform of church discipline, which was agreed upon by the elders and messengers of the churches to be for the substance of it orthodox, so we do now in particular approve what we do believe the thirteenth chapter of that book throughout to be according to rule and the mind of God in his word, respecting the case therein treated of, and that any deviation therefrom is irregular, and 1682: 1682. SECT. IX. wherein any of our sinful infirmities have been grievous to all or any of your church, we ask forgiveness both of God and of yourselves; and desire daily to pray, "What we know not teach thou us, and if we have done amiss, we will do so no more." For ourselves we are heartily content, that all things, wherein we judge ourselves to have been aggrieved cease [and] be buried in oblivion." "The God of grace direct you to a good and happy issuing of the great affair, which you have so candidly begun, and cover all the failings of his people under the robe of Christ's righteousness, granting unto us all the blessings of the gospel of peace, and to yourselves the blessedness of peacemakers !" "So pray, worshipful, reverend, and beloved, your brethren in the lord Jesus Christ, To the Rev. Mr. James Allen, SAMUEL WILLARD, in the name and with the free and full vote of the brethren of the third gathered church in Boston. To be communicated to the church." "Letter from the First Church in Boston to the Third." "At a meeting of the First Church of Christ in Boston, May 7, 1682." "Honoured, worshipful, reverend, beloved in the Lord." "We have received your return by the worshipful Mr. John Hull, esquire, and the Reverend |