USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Windsor > The history and genealogies of ancient Windsor, Connecticut, Vol. I > Part 66
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" A true Copy.
Test. ELFAZUR KIMBERLY. Ser's."
The people of Mr. Edwards's charge were thus incorporated into an ecclesiastical society, henceforth known as the Second Church and Society in Windsor.
Accordingly, at their first subsequent meeting. - John Stoughton, Sgt. James Porter, Samuel Tudor, Corporal John Ellsworth, were chosen a committee to order the affairs of the society. John Stoughton was chosen clerk "to record the votes and make rates." Joseph Skinner and John Rockwell were chosen collectors.
December 15, 1702. Voted, " that every man and all the teams shall spend one day to ent and cart wood for Mr. Edwards, and if that doth not provide wood enough for one year, then that the Committee now chosen shall have power to call out the men and teams another day."
In 1706 we find the following item among the expenses of the Society :
1 Rebecca Drake, who died in 1790, at the age of 100 years and 8 months, distinctly remembered when Mr. Edwards was ordained.
55x
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
" To Lieut. Willis for sweeping the Meeting-house, £1: 64."
In those carlier days even a lieutenant did not disdain to be a " doorkeeper in the house of the Lord." He performed this office until about 1723.
Second Meeting-House.
"At a meeting of the Society on the East side [ of] Connecticut River, in Windsor, December 28, 1410.
" Deacon Drake was chosen Moderator for this meeting.
" Voted at this meeting that the place where the meeting-house shall be set up shall be determined by a major vote.
" Voted by this Society that they would build a meeting-house.
" Voted that the new meeting-house shall be set up in this place where the present meeting house now standeth, or within a few rods of said house.
" Voted also that the new meeting-house shall be built 40 feet square, and of a suit- able height."
fapt. Thomas Stoughton, Lt. Nathaniel Loomis, Sgt. Henry Wol- cott, Sgt. John Ellsworth, Sgt. Samuel Bancroft, were also appointed a Building Committee with discretionary power.
1711, Sept. Mr. Edwards, chaplain of an expedition against the French in Canada, falling sick, the Governor and Council sent two men. with four horses, to AAlbany to bring him home. Col. Rec., 270.
May 22, 1713, " voted the roof of the new meeting-house shall be as this is."
Also, voted. to raise a rate of £100, " to be paid by January next," for building said meeting-honse.
And one year after ( May, 1714) it was voted " that this old meeting- house should be put into the Committee's hands to dispose of." This. with an accompanying vote to raise a rate of €100 on the next list for " finishing " the new meeting-house, chronicles the completion of the latter. See, also, note on page 44 of Windsor Formes.
Its erection, however, had not been unaccompanied with difficulties and vexations; for who ever heard of a New England meeting-house being built that did not call out some expression of dissatisfaction, or some manifestation of ill temper ? In this instance, the cause of the trouble was that most prolific of all causes-the location of the new house. The records of the Society merely mention a trouble which had arisen from " Henry & Simon Wolcott & others," which necessitated the calling of a council. The matter is more fully explained by a petition preserved in the State Archives. This petition, dated October 5, 1718. is made by 57 families living south and 37 families living north of the meeting-house, who, after stating that the present or old house stood "near the midst," between Martha Osborn's house on the north, and John Morton's house on the south, 83 miles and 60 poles apart, go on
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559
THE LOCATION OF A NEW MEETING-HOUSE.
to affirm that the travel of the south families is about double that of the people on the north. They, therefore, urgently pray that the new meeting-house may be more equally located.' In Oct., 1713. the General Court, in reply to the petition of the inhabitants of the east side that it would consider and determine where they shall set the new meeting- house among them, " ordered, that the new meeting-house agreed to he set up by the petitioners on the east side of the river in Windsor, be set up on or near the place where the present old meeting-house now stands." Their request was evidently reasonable, and the number and eminent respectability of those who urged it secured the respectful consideration of the assembly, who called a conneil to compose the dif- ference.
This council, consisting of Joseph Taleott, Timo. Woodbridge, and Thos. Buckingham, met on the 15th of May following ( 1714), and their decision supported the previous action of the Society, viz .: 1st, that the new meeting-house should be placed according to their own votes and the act of the assembly : 2d. that the dissenting brethren be quiet and Christian-like ; 3d, that they reserve the liberty, " when God in His providence shall put them into a capacity for it in a lawful and orderly way," to make a distinct society.
Thus thrown back npon their own resources. the South-enders, as we may call them. seem to have made a vigorous and honorable attempt to hold their ground, as appears from the following document :
" We, the subscribers (being Inhabitants on the East side of the Great Riuer in Windsor), having sitt up a frame and intending to cover the same that it may Be in a Readynes (if providence shal open a door to our Being a Society) for us for a meeting house. And as yet not Being formed into a sosiety and thereby under disadvantage in Respect of gatering mony to Defray the charge of conering s4 house Being wiling and desireouse that the mony to defray the charge of couering s4 should be Leued upon Every man according to his Rateable Estate upon List this present year have therefor Bound our selves and By these presents do Bind our selves and successors to pay or cause to be paid unto Cor. Nath" fitch, Jeams Loomis, Thomas Skinner and Robert Stedman jun' al of Windsor aforest who were chosen and apointed by us the above
1 Signatures to the above :
Joseph Fitch, Sr., John Elmor, Sr.,
Robert Stedman.
Nath'l Fitch,
Benj. Loomis,
Eil. Elmor.
Benj. Colt,
Joseph Newberry, lohn Wolcott,
Samuel Fitch,
Sinn'l Evans,
Joseph Stedman.
Samuel Long.
Nath't Porter, Jas. Loomis, Joseph Porter. Sanı'l Elmor,
Sam'l Burnham. John Morton,
Henry Wolcott,
Noah Loomis,
Roger Wolcott,
Jeremiah Diggins,
Jabez Coll.
William Wolcott.
Jolm Wood. Sr.,
Mary Morton,
Joseph Phelps.
Thos. Loomis, Thomas Skinner,
Hezekiah Loomis.
Jeremiah Diggins, Ir .. Joseph Colt, Simon Wolcott,
llezekialı Porter,
560
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
mentioned parties to be a committe to have the ouresight of that afair, the ful and just sum that by computation shal be found to Be our proportion according to our Estate as it is upon List this present year to the true and faithful performance of the above written premises we the above mentioned parties have bound our selves and successors as witnes our hands this 25th day of January If.
" Signed in presence of us
John Stedman
Simoon Woolcot
Samuel Elmor
Moses Loomies, jun
Nathencal Fitch
Samuel Stedman
llezekiah Porter
Benjamin Loomus
Henary Woleot Daniel]
Jabez Coult
Thomas Lomus
Joseph Porter
Samuel Fitch
Jams Loomys
Joseph Coult
Jn" Wolcot
John Wood
!
hezekiah Lomys
Samuell Burnham
Robert Stedman, iun John Morton
Thomous Digines
Joseph Elmer
Noah Loomis
Jaromia Digens
Beniamin Coult,
Sarh Jong
Thomous Skinner
Nathanil Porter.1
Jeremiah Digins Jr
An amusing evidence of the intensity of the excitement to which this controversy had given rise is presented in the following verbatim et literatim copy of some " Verses made by Jubez Colt [of East, now South Windsor], when they raised the Meeting-House on the East Side of the Great River, at the Lower End," which we found in Timothy Loomis's old common-place book. In the same book we find that " the meeting- house (on y" South end) of ye east side of Great River was raised March 22d, 1714."
Behold all you that do pass by Which at us scorne and jeare Be pleased now to turne aside and our defence to heare
Yon do account that we Rebel And Siseems [ schisms] we do make Thus are we in the talker's mouths and of us they do spake.
As if that some new sectary we did intend to bring we never had the least intent to practise such a thing.
Thus Ruben, Gad. Menassa's tribe they were reproacht likewise but yet the altar which they built was not for sacrifice.
Nor neither do we build this house. false worship to erect Yet grievionsly, without a cause on us they do reflect.
But if you have a mind to know or heare the reasons why we undertake to build this house I'll tell yr presently.
One reason why we build this house I openly declare to offer praises, Sacrifice and for a house of prayer.
The Lord of host [s] now grant for us with upright hand and mind we in the same may worship him with hearts that are unfained.
1 Original S. W. Ch. Max.
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561
MEETING-HOUSE POETRY.
And let our priest with righteousness as with a robe be clad His holy truth for to unfold to make our soles full glad
One other reason yet there is the which I will unfokl how many of us suffer much both by the heat and cold.
It is almost four milds which some of us do go upon God's holy Sabbath day in times of frost and snow.
Two milds we find in Iloly writ Sabbath daie's journies bee
O wherefore then are we compelled for to go more than three [?]
By reason of the length of way Our burden it is great through stormy wind which we do go both in the rain and snow.
now let us all with one accord in unity and love by lifting up of heart and mind Seeking to God above
That he would cast off our reproach and eke exalt our horne
and with His gracious presence then Our Meeting house adorn.
Attempt to Divide the Parish.
Still unsatisfied, the people residing in the south part of the town petitioned the Assembly ( May 12, 1715) for liberty to set up a separate society.' This petition, signed by forty-one persons, was promptly negatived by the assembly. And finally the matter was again referred to the former council, who reaffirmed their previous decision, supporting the vote of the society and the assembly.
Finding both the assembly and council unyielding, the dissenting brethren had no alternative but submission, and at the next society meeting, on December 26, 1716. it was " voted that Roger Woleott, Esq .. Capt. Stoughton, and Ens. Burnham should . dignity the seats' in the meeting-house." ?
In August 30, 1717, the Society voted Mr. Edwards £100, which " shall be paid Mr. Edwards, whether he does stay with us, or go away from ns."
Meeting-House Improvements.
December, 1718, the Society vote records that, " if there be money left that was raised for the building the meeting-house, the committee shall be empowered to build pews over the gallery stairs."
December 8, 1719, it was voted " that the present committee shall demand what money there is due the Society, and lay it out to buy a cushion and a hour-glass : and make two horse-blocks, one on the north end of the meeting-house, and the other on the south; and build two pews, one over the south stairs, and the other over the north stairs, if the money will hold out. Voted. if there be money enough together, then to make caps over the doors."
1 State Archives, Eccl., ii. 237.
2 State Archives, ii. 237. VOL. 1 -71.
562
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Probably the money failed " to hold out," as the " caps " were reseinded at a subsequent meeting. Our fathers were careful not to ineur any undue amount of indebtedness in the matter of church erce- tion : a point worthy of notice by some " church building committees " of the present day.
1720 - From the Thos. Stoughton Mss. we glean the following List of Rates of the East Windsor people :
The sum total of each man's List (annexed to his name) of the Poles and Rateable Estate, on the East Side of Connectient River, in Windsor, Anno dom. 1720, as followeth :
John Andreson,
61
05
.Job Ellsworth .Junt's heirs, 1×
00
Abiel Abbot.
41
00)
Thomas Ellsworth, 143
13
Jeremiah Bissell.
45
10
John Elmor, Sen". 23
00
Joseph Baker,
82
John Elmor, JunT.
24
00
Ephraim Bancraft, S.,
43
10
Sam" Evens. 4-4
00
Ephraim Bancraft, Jun',
27
(0)
Joseph Elmor,
48
63
18
Nath" Bissell, -
38
05
Nathanael Fitch.
33
05
Samnel Bancraft,
95
00
Samuel Fitch,
18
00
Thomas Bissell, Sen".
57
15
Samuel Grant, -
26
10
Cornelious Birge,
31
00
Mathew Grant, -
180
10
John Bartlett's heirs.
23
00
Daniel Grant,
20
19
Jonath" Bissell. 41
00
Daniel Garret's heirs,
21
00
Nath" Bancraft.
21
00
Samuel Gibbs, .
30
00
Thom' Bissell, Junt,
10
00
Thom® Grant,
19
04
Jonathan Bliss, -
48
10
Daniel Gillet,
28
00
Ebenez' Bissell,
47
11
John Gaylord's heirs,
81
19
Sam" Bissell,
30
18
John Grant,
41
00
Isaac Bissell.
74
11
Grace Grant.
56 08 8d
Benjamin Colt. -
60
04
John Huntington,
:1
10
Ruth Colt.
15
13
Joseph Loomis, Sen',
49
01
Edward Chapman's heirs,
06
00
Wid" Mary Loomis, -
05
05
Jabez Colt, 40
00
Joseph Loomis, Jun',
50
16
Mr. Simon Chapman, Sen',
07
10
Nath" Loomis, -
74
18
Joseph Drake, Sen', -
83
10
Noah Loomis, -
42
11
Jeremiah Drake.
34
05
John Loomis,
25
10
Jeremiah Diggens, Sen',
49
1×
Hez. Loomis, 83
15
Benjamin Drake,
19
00
Zechariah Long,
41
05
Isaac Davis,
30
00)
Mooses Loomis, Jun'. 26
00
Jonathan Day.
26
08
Thomas Loomis,
99
10
Jeremiah Diggens, Jun',
39
12
James Loomis,
103
10
Lieut. John Ellsworths' heirs,
198
10
Mooses Loomis, Sen', 68
05
Amos Elmor,
21
00
Joshua Loomis,
46
00
Caleb Khuor,
23
00
Benjamin Loomis,
15
Benj" Ellsworth.
24
00
Samuel Moore, -
70
0G
Edward Elmor.
90
01 Jacob Munsell, -
18
00
Samuel Ellsworth, -
24
00
John Morton, -
24
04
Benjamin Egeleston, Sen'.
1]
03
Ebenezer Moore,
-
27
00
lob Ellsworth, Sen'.
90 06 Samuel Morton,
15
00
1
--- - . . .
10
John Bancraft, .
115
10
Samuel Elmor, -
David Bissell,
00
Benjamin Egelston, Jun', 37
8.
563
RE-SEATING OF THE MEETING-HOUSE.
£ 8.
C 8.
John Moore, Jun',
-
Ebenez' Styles, -
23 00
John Moore, Sen',
99
09
Thomas Stoughton, Jun'. 30
00
Ruth Nubery,
Thomas Sadd, 54 11
James Naughton,
21 00
Joseph Skinner,
75
14
Joseph Newbery,
71 05 Joseph Stedman,
62
The Heirs of Benjamin New- bery. Derst,
25
05
John Smith,
83
10
Samuel Oshorn, Jun',
+1 00
John Styles, Sen",
40
10
Isaac Osborn, -
28
00
Richard Smith,
49
10
Samuel Osborn, sen',
31
00
William Stoughton, -
68
15
Jacob Osborn. -
44
10
Richard Skinner,
52
11
Joseph Phelps, -
18
00
Samuel Tudor's heirs, 67
06
John Phelps,
41
10
John Taylor's heirs. - 97
02
Joseph Porter,
98
05
Ammi Trumble. 39
00
Samuel Pinney,
50 10
Jacob Wills,
20) 00
Job Phelps,
24
00
Henry Wolcutt. 103
16
Jonathan Pasco.
21
William Woleutt, 81
09
James Pasco.
Ebenez' Warner,
15
00
Mrs. Hannah Porter of Hadley,
06
13
Samuel West, - 18 (0)
Nathana" Porter,
40
07
Lt. Joshua Wills' heirs,
32
05
JIez. Porter,
91
Simon Wolentt. Jun', 21
00
Samuel Rockwell Heirs.
15 18
Christopher Woleutt's heirs 21
00
Joseph Rockwell, Sen',
107
02
Ebenez' Watson.
10
Josiah Rockwell,
12
00
Roger Woleutt, Esq ..
115
06
John Rockwell.
47
Simon Woleutt. 124
02
Capt. Thomas Stoughton.
155
00
Jedidiah Watson,
00
Jaroh Strong,
79
15 John Wood,
36
00
Noah Spark,
07 19
Feb. 18, 1722-23. The meeting-house was re-seated by a committee chosen by the Society, viz .:
1. In the first per mert the pulpit
Edward elmer
Sammel tudor
Roger Wolcott es'
decon Job Drake
Thomas Stoughton
Srg' Thomas elsworth
Mr. Simeon wolcott
Srg' Jared bissell
Lieut nathaniel koumnis
Cap' Job elsworth
Serg' Joseph rockwell
Thomas Jomis
Mr. John wolcott
Serg' Joseph porter
Mr. mathew grant
widdow elsworth
3. The next per djøgning
widdow osband
2. The most par ajoyning. Thomas bissell Serg' James porter
hezakiah porter
Mr. William wolcott
Lieut. henry wolcott
Mrs. grace grant
mr. William Stoughton
Jedadiah watson
deacon rockwell
mnr. Joseph newbery
1 From Windsor Faraux, p. 100.
09
John Strong, -
46
15
John Osborn,
00
Mary Stedman, -
03
10
02
Benjamin Osborn,
21
10
Thomas Skinner,
15
Jolin Woleutt, - 81
00
Joseph Rockwell, Jun'.
The first out. Joseph lomis benjamin egleston John Taylor hozakiah lomis
chenezor watson mirs, abigail willis Serg' Samuel more
Serg' John Strong Mr. John More Len' Samuel bancroft 1 - The por by the great dane mr. John bartlett Sergi Joseph phelps
00
564
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
Sergi Jacob Strong Joseph bacon John Smith
Samuel elmer
Lieut. Charles wolcott
moses lomis
6. The second sent deacon Skiner Joseph Drake Samuel osbond John osbond
Sergt robert Stedman
James wolcott
Ebenezer Stiles
nonh Sparks Job phelps
Enoch lomis
Samuel morton
Samuel fitch
Timothy demming
Thomas Sad
Jeremiah drake
abial abit John morton John grant
Thomas grant
John wood
Samuel grant
Joseph rockwell Jr
Nathanil grant
daniel grant
John burrowes nathaniel Taylor
John more Simon wolcott cristovor wolcott
daniel gillet
daniel Stoughton
Zachariah Jong
moses Jomis Jr
william Elmer
Thomas Elmer
ammy trumble
Samuel grant daniel grant
John rockwell
Richard Skinner
John Stiles
Jaues lomis
Ensg" Nathaniel bissell
Corp" Richard Smith
cornelius birg aumus Elmer
Thomas grant
March 27, 1724. There being a general dissatisfaction with the seating of the meeting-house, it was ordered to be rescated, and the rules adopted by vote were ;
1st. That shall be 1 head to a man, and age, and estate, &c., to take it from the building of the meeting-honse until now.
2d. That the men shall sit on the men's side, and the women on the women's side, and it shall be counted disorder to do otherwise.
Bd. That the seaters shall fill up all the seats with young persons, viz .: where the married [folks ] are not seated.
-
--
Jacob oshond
beniamen elsworth Job elsworth
daniel elsworth Samnel burnham lr
The third seat John lomis Nathaniel porter Jonathan bissell 1 !. The north per in the galery
hezakinh parsons Ebenezer warner
Joseph Stedmon John phelps widdow ruth Coult
Jeremyah Digins Lieut. Isaac bissell Ensg" Joseph lomis Jeremiah bissell Thomas Skinner widdow hannah gaylord Phrane bancroft
10. The front side galery. Joshnah lomis beniamen lomis
13. The forth Sont beniaemen coult Jabiz coult Samul gibs Thomas bissell Jur
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The fore front galery Corp' Samuel pinney Jonathan blis Sergt Samuel osbond Serg& John Elsworth Thomas Stoughton widdow newberry John anderson Ephraem bancroft Jr Joseph Elmer Jeremiah digins widdow mary lomis corp" nathaniel fich
5. The per adjoining y 3
1.4. The fifth allt Ebenezer Taylor.
15. in the middle per in the galery abial abit Joseph rockwell Jur
11. The middle pero in the galery Caleb Elmer
Jacob osbond John more
Thomas Stoughton
Josiah rockwell Ebenezor bissell
1
Jacob muncel
565
CHURCH TROUBLES, 1735-17-41.
Singing.
May 22, 1727. " Voted. That for the future the rule of Singing in this Society shall be according to the rule of singing now brought in, and taught among us by Mr. Beall."
Renewed Attempt at Division.
In May, 1729, an attempt was again made to divide ( East) Wind- sor into two distinct societies, Ellington people desiring to form a sepa- rate parish, but the movement was promptly negatived by a vote of 60 against 19. It would seem, however, that its adherents were augment- ing in numbers, for on a similar motion made at the society's annual meeting, two years later ( 1730-31), they formed a minority of 31 against 66. In April following, the south end people petitioned the assembly for a new society.' In this document they state that the present " society is built almost wholly on one street, and is ten miles long." But the as- sembly would not sanction them: whereupon with a degree of persever- ance which does them honor, they petitioned at the October session of 1732, for winter privileges (i. e., that they might employ a minister dur- ing the months of December, January, February, and March), and for an abatement of one-third of their rates to Mr. Edwards.
" We are forced," say they, " to travel from our own dwellings unto ye meeting-house, & there endure ye extreme cold, & oftentimes with wet clothes, fasting from morning until night, and then travel from ye meeting-house, unto our own dwellings, which by reason of yo difference of se way, & ye coldness of ye weather, is so great a hardship that but few of us are able to endure. So that many of ye aged men, women & children are utterly debarred from attending on ye public worship a great part of ye cold season, &c."
Again the influence of the society prevailed, and again were the courageous south-enders defeated.
Here we will leave them for a while, contending against the preju- dices of their neighbors, and the old-fogy conservatism of the assembly.
Troubles in the Church, 1735-1741.
The even course of the Second Church was now seriously disturbed by a sharp and protracted contest between the pastor and his people on certain points of church government and discipline. The somewhat re- markable character of this dispute, as well as the importance of the prin- ciples involved, claim for it a more than passing notice at our hands. It is necessary to take a brief retrospective glance at the state of the
State Archives. This petition signed (and probably drawn up) by Lt. David Bis- sell, Clerk.
566
HISTORY OF ANCIENT WINDSOR.
churches in Connecticut, in which this difficulty first had its origin. Pre- vious to 1708. the congregational had been the only mode of worship in the colony. Presbyterianism and Episcopalianism, however, had com- meneed their inroads upon the established opinions of the people. Against them the Congregational Churches had no general plan of church-fellowship or discipline to oppose. The Cambridge Platform, which for sixty years had been their rule, made no provision either for any association of ministers or consociation of churches. It was true that such associations of the clergy had. at an early date. been estab- lished in particular counties or neighborhoods -which had been pro- ductive of much good : yet they were purely voluntary and lacked the efficiency which a more general plan of union would have secured. 1 the absence of such a plan, many abuses had erept into the churches. One of the chief of these was an utter lack of any regular system of ex- amination of candidates for the ministry, and of their proper introdue- tion to that office. The deplorable looseness which prevailed in this matter was a source of reproach and evil to the cause of religion.
" Besides." says Trumbull. " it was generally conceded that the state of the churches was lamentable, with respect to their general order. government, and discipline. That for the want of a more general and energetic government, many churches ran into confusion : that councils were not sufficient to relieve the aggrieved and restore peace. As there was no general rule for the calling of conneils, council was called against council, and opposite results were given upon the same cases, to the reproach of couneils and the wounding of religion."
A very general desire was felt, therefore, among the clergy and the laity of New England, for some nearer union between the churches. In Connecticut, both legislative and clerical influence favored the associa- tion of ministers and the consociation of churches : and the synod of 1662 had distinctly approved of the latter. "The heads of agreement drawn up and assented to, by the united ministers in England, called presbyterian and congregational, in 1692, had made their appearance on this side of the Atlantic : and in general, were highly approved."
Such was the state of things, when in May, 1708, the Assembly of Connecticut, being . sensible of the defects of the discipline of the churches of this government, arising from the want of a more explicit asserting of the rules given for that end in the holy scriptures," passed an act, requiring the ministers and churches of each county to meet and prepare drafts of an ecclesiastical constitution, which drafts were to be compared together at a subsequent general meeting at Saybrook. Ac- cordingly, the delegates of the several councils met at Saybrook, Sept. 9, 1708, and having duly considered the drafts submitted to then,
1
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567
CHURCH TROUBLES, 1735-1711.
drew therefrom a constitution, which was presented to, and approved by the assembly at its session in October following.
Concerning this platform of discipline, now generally known as the Saybrook Platform, Trumbull makes the following remarks :
" Though the council were unanimous in passing the platform of discipline, yet they were not all of one opinion. Some were for high consociational goverment, in their sentiments nearly presbyterian ; oth- ers were much more moderate and rather verging on independency : but exceedingly desirons of keeping the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, they exercised great Christian condescension and amicableness towards each other.
" As it was stipulated that the heads of agreement should be observed through the colony. this was an important means of reconciling mem- hers to the constitution, as these did not carry points so far as the arti- eles of discipline. These did not make the judgments of councils deci- sive, in all cases, but only maintained that particular churches ought to have a reverential regard to their judgment, and not to dissent from it without apparent regards from the word of God. Neither did these give the elders a negative in councils over the churches : and in some other instances they gave more latitude than the articles of discipline. These, therefore, served to reconcile such elders and churches as were not for a rigid consociational government, and to gain their consent. Somewhat different constructions were put npon the constitution. Those who were for a high consociational government, construed it rigidly according to the articles of discipline, and others by the heads of agreement; or, at least, they were for softening down the more rigid articles, by constru- ing them agreeably to those heads of union."
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