SECT. I.

Such were the leaders in the honourable enter1630. prise of founding a religious colony. With others of similar religious and political opinions, they had for some time belonged to an association in London, called "The governour and governour and company of Massachusetts Bay." On leaving England, they brought with them the patent, or charter, of the plantation. The members of this company were distinguished, among the settlers of the American wilderness, for piety, wealth, talents, and liberality. In principle indeed they were puritans; but they never seceded from the episcopal church, until they left their country.

17 June.

8 July.

23 Aug.

The Arabella, the vessel, in which they crossed the Atlantick, anchored in Massachusetts Bay, on the 17 June, 1630. After exploring Mystick river, they came ashore at Charlestown, on the first of July, with a view to a permanent residence.

8 July, a thanksgiving was observed in the several plantations, and on the 23 August, the first court of assistants was holden on board the Arabella.

The first question agitated was, How shall the ministers be maintained? It was agreed, that Mr. Phillips, minister of the Watertown plantation, should have 30l. a year, and Mr. Wilson 201., until his wife, whom he had left in England, should come over, when he was to have the Sir R. Saltonstall undertook to see, that the agreement should be fulfilled in regard to

1

Mr. Phillips, and governour Winthrop assumed SECT. I. the same care for the salary of Mr. Wilson.

As soon, as a few civil arrangements had been made, it was determined, that a church should be regularly imbodied.

1630.

On the 27 August therefore a fast was ap- 27 Aug. pointed, a covenant formed and subscribed, Mr. Wilson was chosen teacher, Mr. Nowell an elder, and Mr. Gager and Mr. Aspinwall deacons. These gentlemen were severally confirmed in office by the imposition of hands and by prayer. It was however universally understood, that the ceremony, as it respected Mr. Wilson, did not imply a renunciation of the ministry, which he received in England.

The following is the form of covenant, which was subscribed by the members.

"In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in obedience to his holy will and divine ordinance,

"We, whose names are here underwritten, being by his most wise and good providence brought together into this part of America, in the Bay of Massachusetts, and desirous to unite into one congregation or church, under the Lord Jesus Christ, our head, in such sort, as becometh all those, whom he hath redeemed, and sanctified to himself, do hereby solemnly and religiously, as in his most holy presence, promise and bind ourselves to walk in all our ways according to the rule of the gospel, and in all sincere conformity to his holy ordinances, and in mutual love and

SECT. 1. respect to each other so near, as God shall give

1630.

1631.

us grace."

Probably sixty-four men and half as many women immediately signed this religious obligation.

The first meeting-place of the congregation was in the umbrage of a large tree. Whether they had better accommodations, during their continuance at Charlestown, and of how many weeks or months exactly that continuance was, it is perhaps impossible to say. It is certain, that the settlers had scarcely rested, before they perceived, that the south side of the Charles was preferable to the north, both for commerce and situation. Of course they began to remove to the peninsula. At first those, who had thus removed, went back to worship at Charlestown on the Lord's days. In a little time, publick worship was celebrated alternately on each side of the river. At length the First Church took its station altogether in Trimontane, which was soon called Boston, after a place of the same name in Lincolnshire, England, where some of the emigrants were born, and whence they expected Mr. Cotton, a congregational minister of superlative worth,

Early in 1631, Mr. Wilson made a visit to England. On the morning of the 29 March,he had an affectionate meeting, at the governour's, with a number of the brethren, where he commended them in prayer to God, and exhorted them to steadfastness in faith, purity, and brotherly love. He recommended to them the strict observance

1631.

of religious rites, during his absence; and, as SECT. I. governour Winthrop, deputy-governour Dudley, and elder Nowell, in his opinion, were best qualified to lead the devotions and supply the instructions of the congregation, so he in a manner consecrated them to the temporary execution of pastoral duties. He sailed from Salem, 1 April, and arrived in London, the 29th of the same month. But his place was soon after supplied by Rev. Mr. Eliot.

Although the founders of Massachusetts and of our church forsook their native country with the express design of enjoying perfect liberty of conscience; and, although doubtless it was the original intention to preserve ecclesiastical affairs distinct from those of the state, yet these interests became immediately blended.

The church at Salem had called Mr. Roger Williams to the office of teacher. It had been said of this man, that he refused communion with the church in Boston, because its members would not make a publick declaration of their repentance for having continued their connexion with the episcopal church, whilst they remained in England. He had also taught, that the magistrate ought not to punish breaches of the sabbath, nor any offence against those laws of God, which relate solely to his worship. Alarmed at this degree of liberality, the magistrates immediately signified to Mr. Endicott their dissatisfaction with the proceedings of the Salem church; and even notified to Mr. Williams himself their pleasure,

SECT. I. that he would not suffer the union to be consum1631. mated, until their permission should be known.

In the exercise of the same power, derived partly from their civil capacity, and partly from their standing in the church, the governour, deputy-governour, and elder went to Watertown to inquire into an opinion maintained in that church, that the church of Rome was right. After the matter was debated before numbers of both congregations, the opinion of the Watertown elder, whose name was Brown, with the general approbation, was condemned as erroneous.

The difficulty did not here terminate. Elder Brown persisted in his errour. The Court was applied to, interfered, and wrote to the First Church to consider the propriety of his continuance in office. The Church answered, that if the Court would prove the allegations, she would silence the offender. At length, Messieurs Winthrop, Dudley, and Nowell repaired to Watertown, where the congregation was divided on the subject in question. The governour said, "We have come to you, as peacemakers. You may choose, whether we shall enter upon the investigation of the controversy in the character of magistrates, as members of a neighbouring congregation, or as referees, not satisfied with the notice, you have taken of our previous advice." Mr. Phillips, the pastor, desired them to act as members of a neighbouring congregation only. On this condition a hearing was had, in which both