USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Scituate > History of Scituate, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to 1831 > Part 8
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waiting God's providence which we pray may be for his glory and our good, and commend you to the grace of Christ. "Yours in all Christian service
"WILLIAM VASSALL."
" Sir, I entreat you to excuse me to your worthy pastor* and Mr Elliot, that I did not write in particular to them, for paper is so scanty, that this is all that I have for the present."
To Mr COTTON.
" Scituate, April 6, 1644.
" Rev. Sir. All due respects to yourself and your worthy pastor. I have herewith sent you, by the appointment of the Church, an answer to the letter of Mr Chauncy to Mr Elliot's Church. You may also be pleased to understand, that since I last spake with you, there hath been a day appointed for the meeting of the Elders in Plymouth Patent, at Mr Partridge's house in Duckesbury, which is lately past; at which meeting some of us did attend to present to the Elders the relation of our Church state, and desire their counsel : but it so fell out that no Elders came thither but Mr Chauncy and Mr Bulkley : and when we saw that there came no more, we sent it to Mr Partridge and Mr Bulkley, and did intreat them to show it to Mr Chauncy and desire him to make his objections against it, if he had any : and also to consider it well themselves, and be pleased to shew us their minds therin : and they shewed it to Mr Chauncy, and they tell us that Mr Chauncy did not deny or except against the truth of the relation, nor yet greatly against the manner of our Church state, but seemed to have some personal offence. To which we answer, that 'we are ready to give due satisfaction, according to the rule of Christ. And for themselves, they say, they do not deny that we are a true Church, but yet they desire to hear the minds of other Churches.
"Now Sir, the case so stands with us, that we are about to procure a member of the Church of Duckesbury to be a pastor to us : his name is Mr Witherell, who sometime lived at Charlestown and Cambridge : he is a teacher of Grammar by profession, a man of good report here and elsewhere, and it may be he is known to yourselves, (whose advice herin we
* Mr Wilson was Pastor and Mr Cotton Teacher in the first Church in Boston.
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also do entreat) : but for want of approbation, it may be that their Church may refuse to part with him; and he is for the present unsettled, and he must presently be settled in some way, as God shall direct him. If therefore you shall be pleased to lend your helping hand in advising them and us, we shall remain ever thankful to you : and saving further troubling you at this tyme, I commend you and our business to Christ the Lord, the head and director of the Church, and remain
" Yours in all Christian service
"WILLIAM VASSALL."
A RELATION, &c.
" To the Elders and Churches of Christ both in Plymouth Patent and the Bay.
" The Church of Christ in Scituate, distinct from that of which Mr Chauncy is Pastor, sendeth greeting in our Lord Jesus Christ.
" Rev. and beloved, &c.
"It is an argument of great weight with us, that in all things we should 'approve our ways before the Lord ;' and knowing that there have been some doubts and scruples raised concerning our Church state amongst some of the Churches, we are desirous to present unto your view a brief recital of the same, in humility and sincerity, craving your judgments con- cerning our Church state, whether you judge it to be according to the rules of Christ or not, that you may consent to give us the right hand of fellowship as we now stand, if we be in the right way, or otherwise that you would be pleased by the direction of God's word, to help us to be settled in the right order of the Churches of Christ.
"In former tymes, many of us, with Mr Lothrop our Pastor were in Covenant together; and that state is not questioned. The greater parte, with the Pastor, departed and live at Barn- stable. Before their departure, the Church assembled of purpose that they might provide to leave the remaining parte in a Church state. The Pastor propounded to those that stood up, whether they resolve to become a Church or not. Certain of the brethren answer that they desire so to do. The Pastor then desires them to show themselves, who they be that desire it, who declare themselves, and they were about eight men. Then he propounds to the Church, whether they judge these brethren meet to be left as a Church by themselves, and the
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Church answers in the affirmative. Then the Pastor replies to the brethren that desire to be a Church, that they must covenant to walk together in the ways of God, according to his revealed will; to this they answered that they would so do; and one of them answered, 'for aught I know in the same ways that we now do.' So that the Church was well satisfied, and agreed to declare in publick on the Lord's day 'that these were separated and become a Church.' And so when the day came, the Pastor began to declare the same, and then one of the brethren that had before agreed, upon his own mind, and without consent of the rest, desired to have the Pastor forbear for the present. It seems that he had taken some conceit, that those that were to remove would not remove : so that after this it was thought fitting to set a day apart to seek God, partly to clear up his doubts, and partly to know God's mind concerning Mr Blackwood, whom we had some thoughts to procure to be an officer for us. So we sent for him and he came to us and kept the day; and after the exercises performed, then every one being asked about his mind to proceed, there was a full consent manifested by all that were present : and this was soon after published on the Lord's day by the Pastor, who required those brethren 'to walk together in all the ways of God,' and they all consented. After this, both the Church that departed, and all other Churches that knew us, held communion with us as they had occasion, and to us as a Church was Mr Chauncy dismissed by the Church at Plymouth, and by this Church was he ordained a Pastor. And this is that Church state that Mr Chauncy now questions, and hath publickly disclaimed (having said in publick that the Church could not stand thereby) and finds another, that is to say, from the time that he was admitted a member to us, being a day set apart for a fast upon other occasions. But it seems, that on that day, they did also renew our Church Covenant as we then stood a Church: and himself confessed, when he disclaimed our Church state, 'that they did not intend to make a Church by renewing Covenant ;' for said he 'we thought ourselves to be a Church :' and he said 'however there was a Covenant and that was sufficient, and to that Church state we will stand,' and presently ad- mitted diverse of our members over again, because they were not present at their renewing Covenant that he speaks of when he was received a member of our Church. Till this tyme we stood together as a Church. But after this they sent us word that we were not parte of their Church, and except we would renew our Covenant with them again, they would not accept
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us to the seals with them. And this is the ground of their Church without us.
"Then we, seeing that they had cast off their Church state that we stood in together, conclude that we remain the Church which we were but a part of before the other part had fallen off from us. . We resolved not to wrong ourselves, nor yet the Church of Barnstable that left us here a Church, so much as to disclaim our true Church state, for so uncertain a Church state as they that had forsaken us had, and desired us to stand by with them. And therefore we met together and called many witnesses unto us, both members of other Churches and others, and renewed our Covenant, and did 'further covenant (for avoiding all doubts and scruples that have arisen or might arise) that we, as a Church of Christ would walk in all the ways of God that are or shall be revealed to us by his word to be his ways, so farre as the Lord should be pleased to enable us.' And this is the Church state that we stand by without them. And if you shall find it to be according to the rules of Christ, we entreat you to manifest the same to us, and give us the right hand of fellowship, but if otherwise, we entreat you to shew us our mistake, and to direct us by God's word what we ought to do, to be settled in the right order of the Churches of Christ : and we shall bless God for your help, and be thankful to you for your brotherly love and pains for us, desiring the Lord to manifest his mind to us, that we may do his will."
The above relation having been sent to the elders in both Colonies, received formal answers, near the close of 1643. The answer of the elders in the Bay we have not been able to recover ; we learn however from Mr Vassall's letters, and from the proceedings of the Church afterward, that it was of a differ- ent tenor from that of the elders of Plymouth Patent, in some respects.
Answer of the Elders of Plymouth Patent to a Relation, &c.
"From what we have heard alledged and proved, we consent -
"1. That the brethren that were left at Scituate by the Church that went to Barnstable, were left in a Church state.
" 2. That Mr Vassall was really dismissed by the Church that went to Barnstable, to the Church that was left at Scituate.
"3. Therefore we judge that the message sent to Mr Vassall and the rest, to signify the denial of them from communion with them, cannot be excused.
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"4. We do further judge, that the aforesd members, who, upon the message sent to them, did gather themselves into a new body, was irregular, 1, because done without seeking con- sent of the Church whereof they were members: 2, because done without consulting with other Churches: 3, because done without solemn humiliation.
"5. We do desire that both parties would seek mutual recon- ciliation and reunion, by all due means : but if reunion cannot be obtained, we see not how the foresaid members can pro- ceed to be a distinct body, without the consent of the Church whereof they are members. And we also earnestly desire, that after their mutual conviction of miscarriage, the Church should grant them, upon their request, an orderly dismission."
To Rev. JOHN ELLIOT," Roxbury.
"Scituate, April 6, 1644.
" Worthy Sir.
" All due respects to you premised, &c. Be pleased, I pray, to take notice of our condition, and lend us your helping hand to advise us in our business. You may be pleased to remember that at my last being with you, we had some little speech about Mr Witherell's being invited to us to be an officer, either Pastor or Teacher, and you did give a good report of him : and that I informed you, that he made such doubts of his fitness for the place, that I feared he would not embrace our offer. But since which time, we perceive that God has given him more freedome of spirit for the work; our desire therefore is, that you would be pleased to advise with the Elders of Boston, and some others, as you shall see fitting, and help us by your godly counsel, that both he and we, and the Church of Duckesbury, of which he is a member, may receive such light from God's word by your means, that in our progress, God may have the glory, and his people satisfaction and com- fort. As for our Church state, Mr Cotton hath the relation therof, and also an answer to Mr Chauncy his letter, and further relation of what hath since been done at Duckesbury : and if I thought that you did desire the relation of our Church state, and the answer to Mr Chauncy his letter, for your own particular use, or the satisfaction of the Church, I should send them to you : but I desire the rather to forbear awhile, till I
* This was the famous " Apostle Elliot," so called, on account of his success in establishing a Church amongst the Indians at Nonantum, now Natick, about 1646. He was pastor of Roxbury from 1632 to 1690.
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see whether Mr Chauncy will reply or not : though I think he will not, for I cannot see to what purpose it should be, seeing we have written nothing but what is evidently to be proved : and our case so stands with Mr Witherell, that he must suddenly resolve on his course, having no means to live upon at Duxbu- ry. Now that I be not tedious to you, I shall cease to trouble you any farther at present, commending you to the Lord, beseeching him to direct you and us, so to order our counsel and proceedings, that himself may have the glory, and his people comfort, and ourselves peace and increase of grace. "I remain yours in all Christian service
"WILLIAM VASSALL."
To the Rev. RALPHE PARTRIDGE, Duxbury.
" Scituate, May 1, 1644.
" Worthy and Rev. Sir.
" After many thanks for your love and desire to clear up the differences with Mr Chauncy and ourselves, you may be pleased to remember, that at our last being with you, you returned us answer from Mr Chauncy (after a sight of our Church state) that he was desirous to refer the differences amongst us to the Elders of Plymouth; with which we have acquainted the Church, and their answer is this.
"That they desire to refer the Church state to the Elders and others, and to give satisfaction to all Churches : and also will not refuse any hearing at Plymouth as he desired : but for personal offences, they must proceed according to rule, first in private, and if we cannot satisfie him, to require the Church to deal with the offender, and if the Church do not see him satis- fied, then the Church will be ready and willing to show their proceedings before the Elders, and the reasons of their not being satisfactory to him; and this they desire that you would be pleased to return him for our answer.
" Now wheras you know that we desire to enjoy Mr With- erell to be an officer unto us, if God shall be so pleased, we desire that the Church of Duckesbury would be freely willing to consent to us, and for that purpose that you would shew them the Relation of our Church state, and we shall be ready to approve the same for truth; but we intreat them not to hinder our proceedings, without shewing us the cause of offence, that it may be removed by us.
"I commend you to the grace of God in Christ Jesus, and remain
Yours in all Christian love and service
" WILLIAM VASSALL."
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A Reply to "the Answer of the Elders of Plymouth Patent to a Relation, &c."
"N. B. Entered on the Church Records without the preamble.
" At your meeting at Plymouth you judged our act irregular in gathering our Church: 1, for want of the consent of the Church of which we were: 2, for want of consulting with others : 3, for want of a day of solemn humiliation.
"We further wish that you would shew us what rule of God's word we have broken, for want of asking their consent, that denied us to be of their Church, and denied the Church state that we stood in together with them : or to shew us how we were bound to them during their pleasure : or that we may not leave the Church for their bringing in a Pastor that in con- science we think not fitting. And is it not a sufficient discharge to consent that we should not have their Pastor to be our Pastor, and that we may join any other Church, and they will hold communion with us? We entreat you to prove by the word of God our irregularity. 2. We do not see that it is essential for members of a Church to consult with other Churches, when they renew their covenant, to establish them a Church, when they had been fitting church members before : we desire you to prove by God's word, our irregularity. 3. We see not that solemn fasting is essential to renewing a covenant ; therefore we desire you to prove from God's word, our irregularity in that point. We desire, in point of irregularity, whether you mean the irregularity to be such that it annihilates our Church state; if so, we pray you prove that by God's word : or whether you mean some rule amongst you that we know not of: if so we are willing to give you such reasonable satisfaction as is meet."
Letter to Rev. JOHN RAYNER,* Plymouth.
" Scituate, August 28, 1644. " Worthy Sir,
"You know what trouble hath arisen amongst us, about your expression of your opinions at Plymouth, about our re- maining members of Mr Chauncy's Church. You gave three reasons for what you said, all which did not give satisfaction either to ourselves or to others. Neither did that letter of
* Mr Rayner was pastor of Plymouth from 1635 to 1655, when he removed to Dover.
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yours give Mr Chauncy any cause to do as he hath done, but his prejudice is since more manifest, by his complaint to gov- ernment that he is in fear of his life for me: this, you all and all that know me, will conceive to arise from passion and not from any just cause for fear. Because we deny his authority over us, and justify ourselves in forming a Church after we were cast off, he breaks forth into passion against me, and accuseth me that he is in fear of his life. We have offered them to confer in private, or to dispute it before the Governor, Mr Hubart* on our part and any two that they will bring on their part, but nothing will be accepted. Consider now I pray if it is meet for us to come into Mr Chauncy's company, or to have any dispute with him in any way, or to be under his authority. Passion and prejudice are no fit Governors. Messengers from Mr Chauncy's Church inform me, that there is a meeting at Marshfield, and that their Church would meet us there, and reason on our business. If they will appoint a man to dispute before you, I will lay all aside to attend the business, provided that their Pastor be absent, for it is not reasonable that I should meet where he is, seeing he complains that he is in fear of his life for me.
" Thus commending you to the grace of Christ, I rest "Yours in all Christian love
" WILLIAM VASSALL."
To the Rev. RALPHE PARTRIDGE, Duxbury. " Scituate, April 9, 1645.
" Worthy Sir. My love and my wife's to you and yours. I read your letter dated 8th Apr. 1645, wherein you intimate that some advise us to forbear our work in hand, and that they say that they have many weighty reasons for it. And do you think us such dupes that we cannot discern thereby, that there is a plot of Mr Chauncy in it, and of those that adhere to him? Shall we never be at rest, nor suffered to worship God accord- ing to our consciences? Is it a small persecution to keep us and ours in a state of heathen? And how is it that the perse- cuted have become persecutors? The Lord judge between them and us. For my part, I hope I shall never give over all lawful means to enjoy God's ordinances : and if through perse- cution, we be debarred in New England, we must wait till the Lord remedy it here, or we can return to the land of our
* Without doubt, Rev. Peter Hobart, first pastor of Ilingham.
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nativity again. But I admire that you are so soon taken in this plot, as to advise us to forbear God's worship. What evil are we about, that we should be advised to forbear? Is it not lawful and commendable to seek God's favour by fasting and prayer? And is it not lawful for God's people to renew a covenant of obedience to him in his ways? Sure I am that our greatest enemies cannot charge us that we are going about any evil. The Lord direct us, that we sin not against him, nor fear the faces of our persecutors. As for their weighty reasons, when we shall see them, we shall desire the Lord to show us the weight of them, and if there be none, I desire that we may not be troubled with them. In the mean tyme we must not mock God; seeing we have appointed a day for his worship we must perform it, and we conceive it is sinful to dissuade us from it. Thus commending you to the grace of Christ, I remain
" Yours heartily in all good service " WILLIAM VASSALL."
Before finishing this letter I read the Elders letter, wherein the plot of Mr Chauncy is discovered. I have answered their letter to Mr Bulkley, which you may see.
To the Rev. EDWARD BULKLEY,* Marshfield.
" Scituate, April 9, 1645. " Rev. and worthy Sir.
" I have received your letter of April 8, 1645, and take notice that you would have us defer our meeting till the Elders in the Bay may come hither, and that our members (as I understand it) may be catechised concerning their work of grace ; and that myself may give you satisfaction concerning my judgment in Church matters. I answer, that we were not advised to any such thing by the Elders at their meeting :- further, that the Elders in the Bay did not wish to be present at our renewing Covenant, and agree that we are in a Church state. The scruple at the meeting was not what we were nor what we held in judgment. At Mr Hatherly's house, I gave them for myself as much satisfaction as they desired.
" If I differ from you in judgment, I shall be thankful to any of you to show me the light; and if any of our members be
* Mr Bulkley was a minister at Marshfield from 1642 to 1658, at which date he removed to Concord, and was successor to his father in 1659. John Bulkley, a son of Mr Edward, died in Marshfield 1658.
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accused by any as not fitting matter for a Church, we are ready to hear any complaint in a Church way according to godliness. But our work is to manifest our Church Covenant, and to renew our Covenant according to advice and counsel. The day is appointed, and I conceive the Church is not likely to alter it; if therefore any be pleased to take notice thereof, they may be satisfied that we are in a Church state; and then if any officers can reprove us of unsoundness, we shall be ready to hear them according to God's word. But sure I am that it cannot be an offence to any, that we seek God's favour by fasting and prayer and to declare and renew our covenant : and therefore I intreat you to rest satisfied in what we are about : and I intreat you to signify to Mr Partridge and Mr Rayner what my answer is, as soon as you can.
" Thus commending you to the grace of Christ I remain
" Yours in all Christian service.
FAC SIMILE.
i Gaffa 1
" To the Churches of Christ in Duckesbury and Marshfield .* " Scituate, August 19, 1645. "Grace mercy and peace be multiplied, &c. " Beloved Brethren.
"You may be pleased to understand, that by the gracious assistance of God, we purpose on this day fortnight, being tuesday the 2d day of Sept. to hold a solemn fast: and then we purpose to call our beloved brother Mr Witherell to the office of Pastor of our Church. If it please you to send any of your brethren to us to be witnesses of our proceedings, and help us by their prayers in that work, their presence shall be acceptable to us.
"Our meeting is intended at the house of our brother William Hatch.
" WILLIAM VASSALL, in the name and
WILLIAM HATCH, by the appointment of the Church."
* Mr Richard Blinman from Wales arrived at Boston 1642, (says Winthrop 11. 64), and went to Green's Harbour. He was the first officiating minister at that place - called Rexham by Mr Blinman and his people : but when it 11
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Mr Vassall and his friends went steadily but deliberately forward in their objects and designs, following the advice of the Elders in the Bay, over whom Mr Chauncy seemed to have much less influence than over the elders of Plymouth patent. Early in 1645, it began to be foreseen that Mr With- erell had resolved to yield to the importunities of the Church at Scituate, and to a sense of his own duty, even in the face of the opposition of the Elders of Plymouth, and the resolution of the Church of Duxbury not to dismiss him and recommend him to the Church which desired him for a pastor, and as a last effort to defeat these proceedings, several Churches were induced to interpose their advice, as it would seem unasked by Mr Witherell and his friends. We copy one or two messages of this kind from our records.
" A message to Mr VASSALL from the Church of Plymouth. By JOHN COOK.
" Plymouth, April 14, 1645.
"The Church of Plymouth is of the same mind together with the Elders which sent unto you, hoping in charity that you will desist upon it, from your present and intended proceedings ; but in case you should go on notwithstanding the advice given, the Church of Plymouth shall question com- munion with you."
The "calling to office," that is, the ordination of Mr With- erell, took place September 2, 1645. It was unquestionably performed by the laying on of the hands of the ruling elders of his own Church, and perhaps other church members. Mr Witherell had been received by the Church as a member, without any doubt, notwithstanding the Church of Duxbury, as it would seem by Mr Chauncy's influence, refused to dismiss him. This was a case which was not provided for, we believe, in any of the practical rules of Church order, previous to that time, but a case which might happen often again. A member of a Church being oppressed in that manner, certainly ought to find some remedy for his case ; And it is more than proba- ble that this very case was one principal cause of that clause in the platform providing for such cases. The synod that formed
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