History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 114

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 114

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The tribunal before which he stood was made up of sturdy, honest Puritans. They were farmers, mechan- ics, wood-choppers and captains of military compa- nies,-good men and true, doubtless, all of them. But they could not understand the fine theological distinctions and exegetical subtleties of the Oxford divine. Only fourteen years before, the whole Col- ony had been thrown into the wildest excitement and panic by the Antinomian teachings of Ann Hutchinson, which were judged to be subversive of good morals and of all civil law and order, as well as of the divine law and Christian faith. The deputies and magistrates were suspicious that Mr. Mathews was another Antinomian, or something worse. In reality, he was far removed from Antinomianism, al- though, beyond question, he did believe in the indc- pendence of the local church, and that a Christian minister is responsible for his religious beliefs and teachings to no authority save that of the church of which he is a minister, and that of Christ, the only

1 Records of Massachusetts, vol. iv, part i, p. 21.

2 Frotbiogham's "History of Charlestowo," p. 122.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Head of the Church. Apparently it was this belief, his rare scholarship not always wisely exhibited, his fond- ness for using unusual words and expressions in at- tempting to make plain what he regarded as important theological distinctions, that aroused suspicions and occasioned all his troubles. In his theological belief he appears to have been a strict Calvinist. There is no evidence that he was a spiritualist, or a transcendental- ist, in the ordinary sense of those terms. But his mind worked analytically, and he was in the habit of pre- senting his analysis of scriptural doctrine in his ser- mons. For example, one charge made against him was that of teaching, that the saints have a larger va- riety of righteousnesses than Christ Himself has. His reply was :

" When I said that saints have more variety of righteousnesses than Christ hath, it was in the explica- tion of the word in Isaiah, 15: 24, which in the origi- nal is in the plural number, righteousnesses. 'Surely in the Lord have I righteousnesses and strength ; ' not that they have more variety of righteousnesses than HIe hath to give; because they have from Him, besides inherent righteousness and moral righteousness, im- putative righteousness also, which He needed not for himself."

This statement, in which he discriminated between the different kinds of righteousness, may have seem- ed to the plain men of the Court to be dark sayings, " unsafe and inconvenient expressions," but there was nothing in them that was inconsistent with the strictest Calvinism ; and this was evidently the judg- ment of his own people, among whom was Joseph Hill, one of the ablest, most intelligent and orthodox men in the Colony. Mr. Mathews' rhetorical and some- what startling method of presenting this discrimina- tion was doubtless what alarmed the brave captains and other deputies in the General Court.

Another charge made against the Malden minister was that of teaching that no sin should be reproved save the sin of unbelief, and that no virtue should be enjoined save that of faith. This charge was grounded upon a fact-namely, the teaching, by Mr. Mathews, that all sins are included in that unbelief which the gospel so severely condemns ; and that all virtues are included in that faith which the gospel so earnestly enjoins. But this teaching is by no means equivalent to saying that there are no sins to be reproved ex- eept unbelief; or that there are no virtues or duties to be enjoined except faith. Consequently Mr. Mathews replied :

" I do believe and profess that all sins, of all per- sons, both under the law and under the gospel, are to be reproved both in unbelievers and others. And if any words, at any time, in any place, among any per- sons, have fallen from my lips or pen, which in the judgment of any seem to sound otherwise, I do not own them as my judgment." (Hutchinson papers.)

This answer was doubtless honestly given ; and if so, it is difficult to see why it was not satisfactory.

All that is recorded of Mr. Mathews goes to show that he was a highly cultivated man for the times in which he lived. That he was most devout and spirit- ually-minded, there can be no question. That he was thoroughly evangelical in his faith, of a pure and pa- tient spirit, perfectly frank and guileless, and unusu- ally faithful and zealous in all the work of the Christian ministry, is almost equally certain. He presented to the Court carefully prepared and able- perhaps too able-answers to all the charges prefer- red against him. Then came a written testimony, signed by nine members of his church in Malden, atfirming that in his answers to the Court he had stat- ed, upon the points in question, for substance what he had delivered in his sermons,-nine brethren thus testifying for him against two Malden men testifying in opposition to him. Moreover, there is still extant a deposition, in favor of the pastor, signed by five of the leading brethren of his church, dated May 16th and certified by a magistrate on the 17th, in which they affirm that the answers "our Reverend Pastor, Mr. Marmaduke Mathews, hath given unto the Court " "are the substance of what was publicly delivered by him, and are the truth and nothing but the truth." But all was in vain. The church, as well as its pas- tor, was under suspicion, and the testimony in his favor-though it so greatly preponderated in both character and quantity the testimony against him- availed nothing. The tribunal would not acquit him.

On the contrary, " the Court declared" that the ac- cused minister had " formerly and latterly given of- fence to magistrates and elders, and many brethren, in some unsafe, if not unsound, expressions in his public teaching ;" that he had " not yet given satis- faction to those magistrates and elders who were ap- pointed to receive satisfaction from him ; " that since that time he had " delivered in his public ministry other unsafe and offensive expressions," on account of which "magistrates, ministers and churches " had been moved " to write to the church of Malden to ad- vise them not to proceed to his ordination,"-that "yet, contrary to all advice and the rule of God's word, as also the peace of the churches, the church of Malden hath proceeded to the ordination of Mr. Mathews."

The Court, therefore, "taking into consideration the premises and the dangerous consequences and effects that may follow such proceedings," ordered that the offences "touching doctrinal points " should first be duly considered by a Committee of Magistrates and Deputies. This committee consisted of "Mr. Simon Bradstreet, Mr. Samuel Simonds, Captain Wil- liam Hawthorne, Captain Edward Johnson, Mr. John Glover, Captain Eleazer Lusher, Captain Daniel Gookin, Mr. Richard Brown and Captain Humphrey Atherton." These five captains and four untitled citizens were to examine a scholarly minister, a graduate of Oxford, and decide the question of the soundness or unsoundness of his theology. They

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were to meet on the 11th of June following, at the Ship Tavern, Boston ; and it was thoughtfully pro- vided that, "in case of difficulty," the committee could call in some of the " Reverend Elders " to give " help and advice." They were required to make re- turn to the Court at its next session. The church of Malden, for the offence of ordaining Mr. Mathews without the approbation of magistrates and churches, was ordered to make answer at the next session of the Court. It was also ordered that Mr. Mathews, for " suffering himself to be ordained, contrary to the rules of God's word," " to the offence of the Magis- trates, Reverend Elders and some churches, should give satisfaction to the Court at its present session by an humble acknowledging of his sin for so proceed- ing." But iu case he refused to do this, he was "to pay the sum of £10 within one month." Fifteen deputies dissented from this judgment. The whole number was forty-one.

Mr. Mathews failed to appear before the Court to make humble acknowledgment of his " sin" in suffer- ing himself to be ordained the pastor of the church in Malden. Consequently the marshal was ordered " to levy " on his goods " the sum of £10 as his fine." The marshal, in attempting to execute this order could find no goods in the possession of the minister, except a library, and in due time he so reported to the Court. This latter, consequently, at its next session, ordered that the execution of the judgment of £10 against Mr. Mathews "shall be respited till other goods appear besides books."

Mr. Mathews was popular with his people; and his church, being indignant with Mr. Lynde, one of its members, for having given testimony against the pas- tor before the Court, proposed to subject him to se- vere discipline for his offence. The Court of Assist- ants, hearing of this, addressed to the church a letter, dated March 4, 1651, which is significant as indicat- ing the relation of the magistrates, or of "The Coun- sell," as they called themselves, to individual churches. The letter is as follows :

"Christian Friends and Brethren :

" We, being credibly informed of some purpose of yours to proceed further to censure Thomas Lynde for the testimony he gave in Court against Mr. Mathews, and that to excommunication, and knowing onr- selves with what tenderness and cantion he gave his aforesnid testi- mony, and what disturbance your proceeding may probably occasion, both in the churches and civil government ; we thought it no less than our duty, in a case of this concerument, yet without any intention or desire in the least to infringe the liberty the Lord Jesus Christ hath purchased for his churches, to desire you to take counsell and advice of three or four of your next neighbouring churches in the case aforesaid, before you pro- ceed to further censure ;- it being also Thomas Lynd's earnest request. as we are informed ; so that if the case shall appear clear to others, ny it may seem to do to you, you may then proceed with more peace and com- fort, and be more fully convinced, if then he should continue obstinate. But in case it should appear otherwise to other churches than it dolb to yon, the rule of God's word may be further attended therain, for the preservation of true love and peace, which we desire you will jointly endeavour to promote with ourselves. So we rest your loving friends. " By order of the Counsell, " EDWARD RAWSON, Secretary." (Mass. " Hist. Coll.," vol. iil., second serieB. )

In the mean time the committee of nine captains

and yeomen, appointed by the Court to investigate the theology of Mr. Mathews, proceeded to discharge their duty. A detailed narrative of the proceedings in that investigation, on June 11, 1651, at the Ship Tavern, Boston, would be of exceeding interest. But no such narrative has been preserved. There is ex- tant, however, a characteristic letter which Mr. Mathews addressed to that committee. The date of the letter-June 13, 1651-indicates that it was writ- ten after he had appeared before the committee, and had passed the ordeal of his examination. He wrote thus :

"To ye Honored Committee of ye Generall Court, appointed to examine some doctrinall points delivered att Hull and since yt time at Mal- den by M. M., Honored of God and of his people :

" Having given you an account of my sence und of my faith in ye conclusions weh were Rccused before you, I thought good to Bequaint yon, yt, if any among you (or others) should count that faitb a fansie, and that sence to he non-Bence, I desire yt God may forgive them : I doe, conceaving yt Buch doe not yet so well know what they doe, Ba they shall know hereafter.

"Yet, in case yt this should reach any satisfaction, to such as are (yett) unsatisfied with my expressions, for to know that I do acknow]- edge yt there be Bundrie defects in sundrie points yt 1 have delivered, I due hereby agoifie yt through merry I cannot but see and also in- gennously confess yt sotue of my sayings are not safe nor sound in the Buperlative degree: to wit: they are not most safe; nor yett eyther Round or safe in a comparative degree ; for I easily yenkl yt not onely wiser men probably would, but also I myself posiblie munght, have made out X's mynd (Christ's mind) and my owne menning in termes more sound and more safe than I have done, had I not been too much wanting both to his sacred majesty, whose unworthy'messenger I was, aud also to my hearers, and to myself, for wch I desire to be humbled, and of wch I desire to be healed by ye author of both. As I dor not doubt but yt conscientious and charitable hearted Christians (whose property and practise it is to put uppon doubtfull positions not ye worst construction hnt ye hest) will discern, as I doe, yt there is a degree of soundness in what I do owne, though but n positive dugree.

" However, it is and il trust) ever shall be, my care to be more circun spect than I have hitherto beeu in avoyding all appearances yt way for ye time to come, yt sve I may ye better approve myself through ye graco of Christ and ye glory of God, such a workinn as need not be ashamed. In ye interim I remayno amoogst his unworthy servants ye most un- worthy, and

" Your accused and condemned fellow-creature to commend in ye things of Christ,

" MAMMADI KE MATHEWES. ". Boston, this 13th of ye 4 month, 1631."

(Frothingliam's " History of Charlestown," pp. 124, 125.)

The committee's report is dated June 17, 1651, and reads thus :

"Upon serions consideration of the charges brought in against Mr. Mathews, together with the answers to them by himself given, as also upon conference with himself concerning the amme, we, the Committee, yet remain much unsatisfied, finding several particulars weak, unsafe and unsound, and not retructed by him, some whereof are contained in this paper, with Iny last deliberate answer thereunto.

"SIMON BROADSTREET, " WILLIAM HAWTHORNE, " RICHARD BROWN,

"JOHN GLOVER, " ELRAZER LESHER, "HUMPHREY ATHERTON."

Three other members of the committee did not sign this report. One of the three, however (Samurl Symonds), notified the Court that he was not present at the examination of Mr. Mathews ; but having per- used his writings, he fully assented to the report of the committee.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

The Court in its autumnal session resumed its con- sideration of the case of Mr. Mathews and that of his church. In response to summons, the pastor and three members of the church in Malden-Mr. Joseph Hills, Edward Carrington and John Wayte-appeared before " the whole Court," Oct. 24, 1651. Mr. Math- ews' case was taken up first. The Court had not received much light from its committee respecting the theology of the pastor. Moreover, the idea seems at last to have dawned upon the magistrates and deputies that the churches and ministers were better fitted to deal with theological questions than a com- mittee of soldiers and citizens. Accordingly, as Mr. Mathews had not given satisfaction through "their Committee or otherwise," the Court declared "that, although the civil and church powers may proceed concerning offenders in their several ways, without interfering one with another, yet, in this case, upon consideration, they judge it doth stand with wisdom to have the churches to act before themselves." Ac- cordingly, it is decided that the church of Malden shall speedily deal with Mr. Matthews. And if he "doth acknowledge his errors and unsafe expressions, and give satisfaction under his hand," and the magis- trates are informed of it within six weeks, "the mat- ter at present may so rest." Otherwise the secretary of the Court "shall give notice to the churches of Cambridge, Charlestown, Lynn and Reading"-not excluding other churches-"to send messengers " to constitute a council, which shall give advice to the church in Malden, and also shall decide the questions at issue respecting the theological beliefs of Mr. Mathews.

The Court next considered the offence of the church in ordaining Mr. Mathews without the approbation of the magistrates and other churches, The three breth- ren present, under the lead of Joseph Hills, himself an able lawyer, and at that time a member of the Gene- ral Court, defended their church with great ability. They presented a written argument. Mr. Frothing- ham speaks of it as a " manly and well-prepared doc- ument," and adds :

" It argnes, first, that the offensive expressions delivered at Malden were not so much before ordina- tion as after; and 'for the business of Hull,' Mr. Mathews had undergone his punishment, and 'stood clear in law :' second, that in case they had 'swerved from any rule of Christ,' they should have been pro- ceeded with 'in a church way,' for they 'both owned and honoured church communions :' third, that they had invited two churches, before ordination, to pur- sue this course, and were ready to reply to any charges of ' sin ' they had committed : fourth, they begged the Court to consider what passed between them and the magistrates, and 'that no return was made only by Mr. Nowell:' fifth, that it was with grief of heart they seemed 'to wave or undervalue' the advice of any magistrate or church, but, considering the liberty of the churches, allowed by law, to choose their own

officers, and apprehending him (Mr. Mathews) to be both pious, able and orthodox, as the law provides, we proceeded.' The gist of the document, however, is contained in the last specifications-a part of which reads as follows :

"' Our plea is, that we know no law of Christ or the country, that binds any church of Christ not to ordain their own officers without advice from magis- trates and churches. We freely acknowledge our- selves engaged to any that in love offered any advice unto us, but we conceive a church is not bound to such advice farther than God commends it to their understanding and conscience. And if a church act contrary to such advice, we see not how, or by what rule, they are bound to take offence against a church of Christ in that respect, namely, for not attending that advice, or that a chureli of Christ so doing should be concluded offenders in any conrt of justice, and so plead that our laws allow every church free liberty of all the ordinances of God according to the rule of the Scripture ; and in particular free liberty of selection and ordination of all their officers, from time to time, provided they be pious, able and orthodox. And that no injunction shall be put upon any church offi- cer or member, in point of doctrine or discipline, whether for substance or circumstance, besides the In- stitntes of the Lord.'" (" History of Charlestown," p. 127.)

But under all this able and seemingly conclusive reasoning iu defence of the church, the Court remained unconvinced. The church, thus arraigned and de- fended, was condemned as guilty of a gross offence in ordaining its own minister. It has been suggested that the Court grounded its action upon a statute of 1641, which empowered the civil authority to forbid any church to be gathered without approbation of magistrates and other churches, and also " to see that the peace, ordinances and rules of Christ are observed in every church." (Felt's " Ecclesiastical History," vol. ii. p. 53.) But was there, in this case, any breach of the statute ? The Court might also have defended its right to deal with the church at Malden, if there was occasion for it, by appealing to the Cambridge platform ; for that platform, while allowing each church to choose and ordain its own officers, also de- clares, that, " It is the duty of the magistrate to take care of matters of religion, and to improve his civil authority for the observing of the duties commanded in the first, as well as for observing the duties com- manded in the second tahle;" and to restrain and punish certain sins, among which are "heresy " and " venting corrupt and pernicious opinions that destroy the foundation." Bnt admitting that the magistrates were legally in possession of this right, was there, in this instance, any occasion for the exercise of it?

The sentence against the church reads thus:

"The Court orders, that the members of the Church of Malden chall be fined for their offenees the sum of fifty pounds, which shall not extend to any person that hath given this Court satisfaction, and that con-

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sented not to Mr. Mathews' ordination. And it is further ordered, that the said fifty pounds shall be levied by execution on the estates of Mr. Joseph Hills, Edward Carrington and John Wayte, who are hereby em- powered to make proportion of the said sum on the rest of the members of the church, except before excepted."

There seems to have been preserved no complete list of the theological errors charged against Mr. Mathews. Statements of some of these charges, how- ever, with Mr. Mathews' answer, are extant. Two of them, with the answers given, have been noticed. There is not space to present more; but it seems well- nigh inexplicable that such answers as he gave were not satisfactory-at least to the more intelligent of the reverend elders of the churches-and that they did not interpose iu his behalf.

Mr. Mathews, convinced at last that he could not make himself understood, and that he must be labor- ing under some real iuability to set forth clearly, and with proper and safe expressions, the truths of God's Word, on the 28th of October, 1651, sent to the Court the following confession :

" To the Honourable Court :

" Marmaduke Matthews humbly sheweth, --

"That through mercy I am in some measure sensible of my great insnf- ficiency to declare the counsel of God nuto his people (as I ought to do), and how (through the darkness and ignorance that is in me) I am very apt to let fall some expressions that are weak and inconvenient ; and I do acknowledge that in several of those expressions referred to in the examination of the Honoured Committee I might (had the Lord seen it so good) have expressed and delivered myself in terms more free from exception ; and it is my desire (the Lord strengthening me), as much as in me lieth, to avoid all appearances of evil therein for time to come, as in all other respects whatsoever ; which, that I may do, I humbly de- sire your hearty prayers to God for me, and, in special, that I may take heed to the ministry connnitted to me, that I may fulfil it to the praise of God and profit of his people.

" Your humble servant in any service of Christ, " MARMADUKE MATHEWS."

The same day, October 28th, thirty-six women of Malden, several of them wives of the leading men in the church, honored their pastor, and gained for their own names a glorious immortality, by sending to the court the following petition :

" To ths Hon'd Court :

"The petition of many inhabitants of Mulden and Charlestown, or Mistick side, humbly sheweth : That the Almighty God, in great mercy to our souls, as we trust, hath, after many prayers, endeavors and long waiting, brought Mr. Mathews among us and put him into the work of the ministry ; by whose pions life and labors the Lord hath afforded us many saving convictions, directions, reproofs and consolations ; and whose continuance in the service of Christ, if it were the good pleasure of God, we much desire ; end it is our humble request to this honored Court that you would be pleased to pass by some personal and perticular failinge (which may, as we humbly conceive, be for your glory, and do grief of heart to you in time to come), and to peruut him to employ those talents God has furnished hit withal. So shall we, your humble peti- tioners, and many others, be bound to pray, &c.

" Joan Sargeant. Joan Sprague.

Thankslord Shepperd.

Fra. Cooke.

Jane Learned.

Eliz. Kuoher.

Bridget Dexter.

Lydia Greenland.

Marget Pemerton. Han. Whittamore.

Sarah Hills. An. Bibble.

Eliz, Green.

Eliz. Greene.

Mary Rust.

Wid. Blancher.

Eliz. Grover.

Eliz. Addams.

Uan. Barret.

Sarah Bucko&m.

Eliz. Mirrable,

Saralı Osbourn. An. Ilett. Mary Pratt. Eliz. Green. Joan Chadwicke. Marget Green.

Helen Luddington.

Susan Wilkinson. Joanaa Call. Rachell Attwood. Marge Welding. Rebec. Hills."

If any persons now living can trace their descent from any one of those nohle matrons, they may well be prond of their lineage.

On the 3Ist of October Joseph Hills, in behalf of his brethren, made further representation :

" In this they set forth the great pains they bad taken to procure a minister-having applied to not less than nine ' orthodox, approved men ' -before they had any thought of Mr. Mathews, They also urged that the written objections to him, sent by certain ' honored magistrates,' did not come in the form of official acts, but merely as advice, which the church felt at liberty to accept or not, as they pleased." (Dr. Mc- Clure.)

But no argument, pleading or petition was of any avail ; the Court was inexorable. The only response made to the pathetic petition of the thirty-six women, and the repeated pleadings of Joseph Hills, himself a deputy and a member of the church for which he pleaded, was the stern judgment of the Court, that the young church should be burdened and disgraced by a fine of fifty pounds.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 114

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278