USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 11
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it Being a lecture day Elder Pen appointed the Church to meet after the lecture when met Elder Pen declared it was to remove scandalous reports raised against the Church 17:
about Mr. Davenports dismission and the concealed letter.
Mr. Davenport made an offer that the concealed letter might be read, his son was sent home for it but returned saying he could not find it, Mr. Davenport replyed though the Church had not heard it, yet above 40 of the Brethren were advised with all who thought it not fit to be read in the Church, it concerned not the Church but related to himself, having in it many mistakes, and injurious expressions which he did beleive were not from the Church but from Mr. Streets misguiding of them to consent thereunto and was to be attributed unto him, and he said further it was done on no marvell if New Haven Church upon Mr. Davenports letter wrote such a letter which ex- tracted is called Mr. Davenports [dismission]. purpose to put the matter to a period in this church, but as it concerned himself he had answered it, declaring his resolution never to returne unto New haven againe though he had not accepted office here at Boston.
The Elder then read the letter of dismission soe called as it came rom New haven (which was not read to the Church be- ore) Elder Pen and Mr. Ja : Allens extract being read 17: (4) 69.
1.
82
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
instead of it, they cleared all the Brethren of the Church from having any hand in it and also Mr. Davenport from any guilt therein (but this was afterward acknowledged by Mr. Allen before sundry Elders 1 at Mr. H V house that in soe doing he had told a falshood) for Mr. Davenport knew the matter and consented unto it, as will appeare by his owne publique declaration insuing : Elder Pen said that what evill was in it, he must take it upon himself, and the Teacher Mr. Daven- port replyed that he wondered what the Elder should meane by soe saying, for he saw no appearance of evill in it. Sundry Brethren shewd their dislike of it as viz : Cap : Clarke, Mr. Hutchison, Mr. Stod- dard, others saying they were sorely troubled that the name of God was dishonoured ; Major Generall Leverit said there was
Major Leverits speech in the . a reall injury in it to this Church to the Church of New
Church. haven and to the neighbour Churches, who sent their messengers to give the right hand of fellowship, further saying he knew not what self ends they might have who did it, forgitting Davids prayer, let soundnes and integrity preserve mee and that he who beleiveth maketh not hast, and that god needed none of our sinfull shifts to preserve his owne honour ; insomuch as Mr. Davenport much pressed for a vote of the Church whither they looked at his dismission valid otherwise his office relation had no foundation, and he would not be accompted their Pastour if he were not soe indeed nothing was valid, sundry saying if the whole letter had bin read instead of the extract, it had satisfyed them as to his dismission, goodman Search pleaded it might not be too much pressed, for Jacob got the blessing let the extract and letter be compared fol : 16: 17. 18. and Mr. Davenports definition of, for- gery will be found in the extract. in a wrong way. Mr. Davenport said it savoured of much ignorance and malice for any to think that this ex- tract was a forgery, (which was to make a writing con- trary to the intent of the author,) this onely left out some superfluities and such things as did not properly belong to it, nor ought to have bin put to it, and indeed he, looked at his dismission to be in their leaving him to give his owne answer, and they resting in what was done, saying the will of the Lord be done, Mr. Davenport concluded with prayer, wherein he much excused Mr. Allen and Elder Pen who had done what they did in the integrity of their hearts, and much complained to God of others, who had searched for haltings, with more eagernes than Laban did Jacobs stuff for his Idolls.
The Elders labouring to convince Mr. James Allen of his iniquity in dealing deceitfully about the letter from New haven, 24.
in saying Mr. Davenport was innoc[ent] about that matter, he acknowledged that Mr. Davenport knew the matter, asmuch as himself and his unckle, and that he had sinned in soe saying, this con-
1 [The word " elders " is erased in the later at the house of Mr. Hezekiah MS. The meeting was held a week Usher.]
83
MR. DAVENPORT'S NARRATIVE.
fession was made before Mr. John Allen, Mr. Danforth of Roxbury, Mr. Increase Math[er] and Mr. Stoughton.1
The Church had a meeting pretending to satisfy those who re- mayned unsatisfyd about the former two letters, at this 29: meeting they put forth all the sisters, not suffering them to be present, as if their consciences were not to be considered in satisfaction,
Mr. Davenports narrative was read as followeth.
when my dismission from the Church of new haven was sent to the Church of Boston inclosed in my letter from my Brother Street sealed up to the Ruling Elder I did not open it, Mr. Davenports narrative read but when the Elder came to mee with Brother Allen I de- in the Church. liverd it before him to the ruling Elder sealed as it was, he opened it and read it in my hearing, whereby both they and I perceived that the preface to the dismission was altogither superfluous, yet such as might cause difference, they took the letter away with them to con- sider farther of it, accordingly when the substance of the dismission was extracted out of the original they brought it unto mee the last day of the week when my thoughts were otherwise exercised, my Brother Allen read what was written, and what he wrote seemed to us to be the true dismission, agreing with the originall signed by Mr. Street in the name and with the consent of the Church of New haven, it was allso said that no wrong would be done to that Church nor unto this, if the extract were read publiquely, the superfluities in the originall being left out, but that some dishonour to the Church of New haven and disturbance to this Church would thereby be prevented, I looked not at myself fit to give advice in this Case it being my owne Concernment but left it [to] them both to 29: (4) 69. satisfy their Judgment, for I was at that time neither member nor Elder of this Church whereof Brother Allen was member but no Elder, Brother Pen was the onely ruling Elder nor did I add nor diminish or alter anything that was written in the Extract, nor came it to my thoughts what was best to be done, whence I neither disswaded from reading the extract nor perswaded to the reading of the Originall script in publique, leaving events to God, nor had I any hand in con- triving framing or penning the Extract as both our reverend Elders have already testifyed to the Church and whereas some would prove that I had a further hand in it, because my son wrote the extract which was read by the Church this is not a Cogent or sufficient prof thereof, for it was at their motion and desire, that my son wrote not the originall but Mr. Allens extract, which when my son had done, it was still in their power and liberty to make what use of it, they pleased or to have made no use of it, if their mindes had bin altered.
My hope is that as God hath made hereby discoverie of the spirits of many soe that he will issue the whole in giving repentance, unto
1 [See ante, p. 36, note.]
84
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
some for their harsh and wrong censures and reproaches, and in vindi- cation of his owne honour, and the name of his servants who did what is done to good ends and in true simplicity and faithfullnes according to their present light in the sight of God.1
This being read to the Church and the question being put about the cause of reproches spread abroad [the towne?] the vote passed in the Affirmative and the Lords supper appointed to be celebrated next Lords day, the other two Elders made their confession by word of mouth more largly as being more concerned in what was done, soe then Brethren departed well satisfyed. and Then Mr. Thatcher came into question, and was after some discourse voted cleare of all of- fences, and at liberty to come to the Lords supper.
4 : (5).
The Lords supper was celebrated, Mr. Allen offered something towards the satisfaction of the sisters, who had bin ex- cluded last Church meeting, who appealed to God, that what he did was in the integrity of his heart but because there was appearance of evill, and Gods name had bin dishonoured and his ways scandalised he desired it might be recovered, and for his owne honour no matter if it lay in the dirt. Elder Pen consented to his speech : Mr. Davenport then replyed, that those who raysed the re- ports were the offendors, and not the Elders who had done no evill, nor had given any just cause of scandall.
15:
The testimony of many of the Ministers of the gospell in Massa- chusets Collony in New England against the scandall given by the present Elders of the first Church of Christ in Boston, by their fraudulent dealing about the letters sent from the Church in New Haven to the Church of Boston : 15 : (5) 1669.2
We being justly offended at the great and publique scandall of un- faithfullnes and falshood committed by the 3 Reverend Elders of the first Church in Boston to the great dishonour of God, the scandall of our profession the reproch of New England and of the Elders in par- ticular, desiring to be found mourners in Syon for the same, and not perceiving as yet any suteable repentance for it, least we ourselves and the Churches in the Countrey should be involved in the guilt thereof,
1 [In Mr. Davenport's words, when vindicating his own honor, - who did what is done unto good ends -we find an explanation, as we think, of the ex- traordinary proceedings in connection with the New Haven letter of October 12, 1668. He and his friends made the fatal mistake of deviating from the strict line of rectitude for the sake of "the good cause." How often has a similar mistake been made since, in times of re- ligious controversy ! Mr. Leverett's re- mark may well be pondered by every
generation of religious controversialists, that God needs none of our sinful shifts to preserve his own honor.]
2 [The Mass. Hist. Society has in its possession a partial copy of this letter, made at the time it was sent or received, the last third and the signatures being wanting. Comparing the letter as it ap- pears in the Narrative with this partial copy, we have found the deviations very slight, and we have made no changes except to correct two or three obvious inaccuracies.|
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85
THE TESTIMONY OF MANY MINISTERS.
if no full and open testimony be given against it, beyond any that we have yet heard of, out of conscience towards God, being awed by that word, neither be partakers of other men sins, keep thyself pure I Tym : 5. 22 and that Eph : 5: II. have no fellowship with the un- fruitfull workes of darkenes, but rather reprove them and considering how the Lords name is blasphemed. allso in love and faithfullnes to our Brethren, that we may not suffer sin upon them Lev : 15: (5) 1669 19: 17 : and as watchmen to foresee the Evill and give warning, doe therefore declare and testify as follo[ws]
I. That mr. Davenport as a gift of Christ for the work of the min- istry Eph : 4: II : 12 : was set by the Lord Jesus christ, a Pastor in the Church of Christ at New haven I Cor: 12: 28: and therefore such was the right of that Church in their Pastor that neither Mr. Davenport could remove himselfe from them, nor the Church of Bos- ton regularly call him to office with them without some rule of Christ directing the Church to Consent there unto, this is a confessed truth by mr. Davenport himselfe in his printed Apologie 1 page 109. where speaking of his Church in Coleman Street in London being about to withdraw from them into Holland the Church (saith he) I confes might have required me to stay with them by virtue of that rule, Say unto Archippus take heed to thy Ministry which thou hast received in the Lord that thou fullfil it, If they had soe done I purposed to yeild whatever had become of me, Yea I confess the churches right to be such in their Pastor, that being withdrawen if they had sent for me to return to my function promising to sticke by me where in law- fully they might I hold myselfe bound to have returned; Allso the right of New haven in him their Pastor as owned by his sollem ap- peale to God, in publique prayer where in he professed to this effect, that he desired onely to know the will of God as to his staying here at Boston or returning to New haven, and wayted for the manifesta- tion of the Lords will by the returne of Messengers which were then gone to New haven for his dismission, likewise the right of New haven in Mr. Davenport hath bin confessed by the Church of Boston, who notwithstanding any other dark or doubtfull pleas applyed themselves by Messengers and letters to obteine the consent of New haven in the dismission of Mr. Davenport unto them, expressing themselves in a certaine writing that without his dismission they would not proceed.
2ly : The translation of a Pastour from one Church to another being a momentous and solemne act of kingly Government of Christ in his Church, Acts : 13 : 1 : 2 : 3 : as it calleth for serious Councill to find out the mind of God, soe it requireth great faithfullnes in the stewards of God that s[tand] between two such Churches : I Cor :
1 [Mr. Davenport published his with the controversies in which he was Apologeticall Reply in 1636, during his engaged there on questions of baptism residence in Holland, and in connection
and church government.]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
4 : 2 : and that in serving the Lord in such part of his instituted wor- ship, it be done in sincerity and in truth Josh : 24: 14: 15.
3ly hence it clearely followeth, that for these Elders in this case to with hold any letters, or any part of them wherein the Consent or dis- sent of the Church of New haven is made knowne, is an act of great unfaithfullnes and neglect of sincerity and truth, and of dangerous consequence as,
I : To the great wrong of New haven in their just interest.
2. To the deluding the Church of Boston in their proceedings in soe weighty a matter.
3. to raise scruples in mens mindes, whither a Person soe called be inde[ed] their Pastor and his administration be the Ordinance of God.1
4ly : after the concealment of one letter from New haven that spake their mindes fully, to transcribe also but part of another letter, soe much as may seeme to serve their turne, leaving out about two parts of three, to superscribe this, to subscribe it, set a seale upon it and to date it, and to indeavour to imitate the hand of another in subscrib- ing his name, and thus to produce it as if it were the same letter that was sent from New haven to the Church of Boston, calling it Mr. Davenports dismission, this cannot be lesse than great unfaithfullnes falshood if not forgery. If Doeg concealing part of the truth is charged with a deceitfull tongue : Psal : 52 : 4: If Ananias conceal- ing part of the price of the truth is said to lye unto God, how much more to conceale soe much of the truth in soe weighty a Case and of soe great consequence : And therefore we must beare witnes against this practise as contrary to the scripture, the light of nature, to the lawes of all Civill governments even in all civill commerce, and ther- fore much more in the things of God, who is soe jealous in the matters of his worship, and before Jesus Christ who is the Amen the true and faithfull witnes, It is also destructive to the Communion of Churches by letters, for Churches cannot understand the meaning one of another, where there is such corrupting of letters, and therfore this is a great and scandalous sin :
5ly. to pretend a dismission of Mr. Davenport from a small part of a letter, whereas the other part left out doth argue the contrary, wherein the Church of New haven gives reasons why in conscience they could not give the dismission desired, this is a practise con- demned in the scripture I : Thess : 4: 6: let no man defraud or goe beyond his Brother in any matter : Phill : 4: 8 : finally whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, what- soever things are of good report &c. 2 : Cor: 7 : 2 : receive us, we
1 [In the copy of the Mass. Hist. So- ciety (see ante, p. 84, note), the sentence "To the deceiving neighbour churches
called to approve such proceedings at the ordination " follows the words "Or- dinance of God."]
87
THE TESTIMONY OF THE MINISTERS.
have wronged no man, we have corrupted no man, we have defrauded no man : 2 Cor : 13 : 8 : we can doe nothing against the truth but for the truth. Ma : 7: 12 : therefore all things whatsoever you would that men should doe unto you, doe soe even unto them, had the Elder of New haven dealt soe with the letters sent from the Church of Boston, we suppose those Elders would have deeply condemned him.
6ly That all the 3 : Elders of the Church are jointly guilty of these evills and sins, even Mr. Davenport himself, who doth most justify the fact and himself as having no hand in the writing : Its evident, The matter of fact in concealing one letter wholly, and framing an abstract out of another and reading it to the Church as the whole this is confessed of all three : as for Mr. Davenport it concerned him most to see matters carryed clearely, because he could not in con- science joine to the Church of Boston, nor take office without the consent of the Church of New haven, and therfore not withstanding the deceit, renders him guilty of it, besides he confesseth that he knew of the letter from New haven and of the abstract out of it, as hath bin acknowledged allso by the other two Elders, allso he called it his dismission, joyned in membership and office upon that very ground, having thereby his dismission from New haven, and was highly offended with one of the deacons for questioning the clearenes of it, and therfore cannot be excused from being alike guilty with the other Elders.
Thus far we have in all plainnes given our testimony against thes[e] deceitfull and false wayes with all due abhorrency against them Psal : 119: 128 : desiring with bleeding hearts and faces full of shame to humble our soules before the Lord, who hath justly left these Elders unto soe great a scandall: and humbly doe beseech the God of all grace, to raise up our Brethren that are falne by a suteable manifes- tation of their repentance, to the recovering of the name of God which suffers by it: And the good Lord in mercy through the blood of Christ pardon, and impute it not to any of us nor to the Country : we desire allso to looke upon our Brethren with all due compassion and to reflect upon ourselves with trembling hearts, least we allso fall being compassed with infirmities, and subject to manifold temptations. Subscribed by.
JOHN ALLIN JOHN SHERMAN TH : COBBET
JOHN HIGGINSON SAM : PHILLIPS ZACH : SYMMES
JOHN WARD
THO : SHEPHEARD JOHN BROCK
JOHN WILLSON
INC : MATHER
EDW : BUCKLEY
EDM : BROWNE
SAM : TORRY
SAM : WHITING Jun
SAM : WHITING Sen
JOHN HALE 1
Superscribed
To the Rev. Elders of the first Church of Boston.
1 [“ Seventeen ministers bore a public three elders of the first Church in Boston, viz. against Mr. Davenport for leaving
testimony against the proceedings of the
88
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Upon the 5th of the 6th moneth there was appointed a ffast, the day before the fast, the Elders of severall Churches sent to the Elders of the first Church of Boston the testimony fore recited togither with the letter ensuing.
Reverend and Beloved Brethren &c.
Wee looking upon ourselves as the Lords watchmen, under the ey and observation of God and man, what zeale we have for gods glory, what love to our Brethren and feare least we allso should fall, and your- selves knowing that there are diverse Brethren that have in faithfull- nes declared unto you some of those evills, which are justly offensive to your Brethren. It is an amazing thought unto many to think that you should be found and left soe insensible thereof, which hath occa- sioned us (especially considering there is intended a day of humiliation among you on the morrow) to present unto you this our inclosed testi- mony against such evills, whereby we desire and hope the Lord will help you to see conviction in the matter, and no ill spirit in the man- ner towards God or yourselves, If the Lord please to bring you soe as to recover the honour of Gods name, that is blasphemed by your meanes (as we heart[ily] pray) then we have our end, if not (which God forbid) we shall be forced to consult with God and one with another, what the Lord shall require further of us, thus desiring the
his church at New Haven, contrary to his professed principles, and against all of them for communicating parcels only of letters from the church of New Haven to the church in Boston, by which arti- fice the church was deceived, and made to believe the church of New Haven con- sented to his dismission, when, if the whole had been read, it would have ap- peared they did not. This testimony was sent to the elders the day before a public fast. An answer was given, in which the elders deny that the letters concealed would have been evidence of the refusal of the church of New Haven to consent to Mr. Davenport's leaving them and settling at Boston; the church was only unwilling to make his dismission their immediate act. Neither the church of New Haven nor the elders of the church of Boston can be wholly justified. There does not seem to have been that fairness and simplicity in their proceedings which the gospel requires."- Hutchinson's His- tory of Mass., vol. i. p. 248.
We see no reason for the implied cen- sure of the New Haven church in this last sentence. We fail to see in its part of the correspondence before us, any want of fairness or straight-forward dealing. Dr. Benjamin Trumbull says of Mr. Davenport's removal to Bos- ton : -
" He had been about thirty years min- ister at New Haven, had been greatly esteemed and beloved by his flock. This circumstance, with his advanced period of life, made his removal very remark- able. His church and people were ex- ceedingly unwilling that he should leave them, and it seems, never formally gave their consent. The affair, on the whole, was unhappy. It occasioned a separation from the first church in Boston ; and the church and congregation at New Haven for many years remained in an uncom- fortable state, unable to unite in the choice of any person to take the pastoral charge of them." - Complete History of Connecticut, vol. i. p. 484.]
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89
MR. DAVENPORT REFUSES TO CONFER.
Lord to pardon, and heale those evills and all sharp contentions among us we rest
Your Loving Brethren
SAM: WHITING Senr. JOHN HIGGINSON
JOHN WARD THO : COBBET
ED: BROWNE ED. BUCKLEY
SAM : PHILLIPS THO : SHEPHEARD
SAM : WHITING Junr.
JOHN HALE
INCREASE MATHER
By the letter above appeareth what private meanes had bin used for their conviction but uneffectuall, Mr. Davenport refused conference with some of them and would not admit them into his presence.
9 773M
WAPPING
DOCK.
FORE ST.
MIDDLEGATE ST.
MILL
STREET WAY.
HILL.
...
1.
2
FERRYWAY.
BOW ST.
FIAULSTERS OR GARDEN L.
5.
4
4
CROOKED
LANE.
BAB
JENNER ST.
MASON ST.
CHARLES RIVER
OLD CHARLESTOWN.1
1 This plan of old Charlestown, drawn by Mr. George Lamb, is intended to mark the site of the house (Mr. Willoughby's) in which the third Council met, and of the meeting-house in which the public services of recognition were held, when the Old South Church was formed. I shows (sufficiently for our purpose) the site of the "Great House," which was first occupied by Governor Winthrop and. several of the patentees, and afterward, until the meeting-house (2) was built,
was used for public worship. 3 is Mr. Willoughby's mansion house, and 4 and 4 show his land. The Waverly House stands on one of these lots, on the corner of what is now Jenner Street. 5 is where Joseph Hills lived.
Fore Street is now Main Street. The Ferry Way is Charles River Avenue. The Street Way is Harvard Street. Mid- dlegate Street is Prescott Street. Maul- sters Lane is Arrow Street, and Garden Lane is Washington Street.
....
CHAPTER II.
1669-1671.
THE DISPUTE BECOMES A POLITICAL QUESTION.
TOHN HULL, in his diary, narrates briefly and graphically the proceedings recorded in the closing pages of our first chapter : -
1669 6th 2d Sundry ministers met at Charltown, to advise whether they ought not to apply themselves to the church, and ac- quaint them that they were grieved and offended at their refusal to dismiss their brethren, and move at their desire, and endeavor to cen- sure them. That day was a great deal of rain.
13th 2d The elders of fifteen churches convened at the request of the dissenting brethren, and sat a council in Boston.
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