USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 5
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ED: RAWSON WM. DAWES
JAMES PEMBERTON
THO SAVAGE
THEOP : FFRARY
THEO : ATTKINSON
JOHN HULL
Jos : BELCHER
ED : RAINSFORD
JOSHUA SCOTTOW JOHN SANFORD PETER BRACKITT
PETER OLIVER JOHN ALLDEN
JOSEPH ROCKE
HEZ: USHER
THOMAS BRATTLE JOSEPH DAVIS
ROBR. WALKER
JOHN TAPPIN BEN : THIRSTON
JACOB ELLIOT
EDW : ALLINE
JOHN PEASE
JOS BELKNAP
SETH PERRY
BENJ GIBBS
WM. SALTER 1
This (10) 6th mo. a day being apointed by the Elder for the Church to meet in, And when met told the Church he had received a writing from the dissentors requesting their dismission which he would read, And when read sundry Brethren desired the dissenting Brethren might be absent, who answered if they desired their absence to con- sider of their motion they thought it reasonable, But if the Church had busines to transact that concerned all the Church they durst not absent themselves.
The Elder againe and againe declared to them Itt was the Churches Desire they would withdraw, which accordingly they did, when they were departed some of their wives continued in the Church : some of the Brethren spacke to the Elder, that they also should depart as well as their husbands, because as they desired - their owne dismission -
tures on this paper, although it is said that twenty-nine joined in the request to Elder Penn. William Davis was absent
1 [There are only twenty-eight signa- from the town at this time. We do not find the signature of Edward Alline or of John Pease on any other paper, or in the list of members.]
29
MR. DAVENPORT CALLED.
soe they desired their Relations might be dismist with them, where upon the sisters were desired by the Elder and ordered to with draw, which accordinly they did. when they were departed, jmmediately two of the Brethren were sent from the Church to mr. Davenport who suddenly returned, and mr. Davenport with them to the meeting house, where the Church was met, they gave mr. Davenport a call to office, and he gave account to them that, the writing of his letter, and coming to Boston was not upon any sudden motion, But there had severall letters passed in order there unto the yeare before, which the dissentors had not heard of, since this meeting where they were thus secluded, the Major parte mett at the Governors house, and agreed to send Messengers and letters to New Haven church, never 14 (6.) 1668.
acquainted the dissentors with the second meeting, ap-
ointed a fast and called before them Deacon Ransford, and Deacon Elliot dealing with them for their dissent after the[y] had transacted and finished their letters for New Haven &c:
The 19th of Aug : was apointed by the Church to be a fast, day to seeke Gods presents with their Messengers who were gone with letters from their Church to the Church of 19 (6) 1668.
New haven for mr. Davenports Dismission, which day accordinly was Celibrated by mr. Davenport who in his prayer publiquely com- plained to God of the sufferings which he here had met with and that being Gods servant as Elias was left alone, and also sollemly apealed to God that he depended upon the advice of the Church now sent unto, relating to the owning of his call to this church of Boston, upon returne of these Messengers it was by them declared, and genrally beleived to be true that the Church of New haven had not then sent any answer to the letter sent to them by this church, but suspended their answer concerning mr. Davenports dismission, untill they had received an answer from mr. Davenport to the letter which they had sent him, but this was untrue for they brought a letter along with them which was concealed from the Church, it never being publiquely read, though the Church had kept a sollem day as before to seeke the Lord about the same, and Mr. Davenport he told God depended upon its advice but instead thereof it was read (as the dissentors were informed) to aboute 22 of the Church which managed the whole as to a conclusion with mr. Davenport upon whose counsell he cast him selfe instead of the major parte of the Church, if this letter had bin read our trouble had bin over, for the Churches of New Havens answer was in the nega- tive and the publique profession of many of the active Brethren of the major parte of the Church and their promise was, that if the church of New Haven did give them one deniall, they would never send more ; but they did break this promise, in sevrall of these their meeting there was not the major parte of the church Body and their meetings were in a private house.
30
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
COPPY OF THE CONCEALED LETTER.
Honoured Reverend and Beloved the Church of Christ in Boston Grace mercy and peace be multiplyed in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Your letter by your Honoured Messengers hath bin read befor this
N. Haven Church, a passage in the beginning of it we make bold to Churches letter speak a little to, viz: (The benifit we have of these late which was con- cealed. monthes this sommer received by your resigning your Reverend Pastour our Mr. D : to the will of God for the more clear discovrie of his minde in our motion to you and him) Answer: We doe not know that we have soe done, either by word written or spoken, or by any act of ours towards him or you, but against it we pleaded at our last meeting we had with our Pastor, and were not driven from it, That it was his onely way to attend and judge of a call of God in and with the church, not to goe to Boston for a discovrie of Gods mind in this matter, - to this we hold and suppose ever shall, In our former letter to yourselves, we declared sufficiently our dissent from our Reverend Pastors apprehensions, about the maine ground of his pleah for his freedome from office, and likewise gave reasons why we could not consent to your call of him from us, therefore concluded, we could 1668. not resigne him up to your call of him from us, And therefore concluded we could not resigne him up to you by any imediate act of ours, we are still the same, we doe not to this day see light to give him up to you, by any volantary act of ours and therefore can doe nothing in order to the writing and sending such a dismission (which would be a voluntary act) as yourselves and our Reverend Pastor hath sent for, we are not ignorant of, that our re- fuseall may expose us to blame and censure with some, we can better beare that than God's displeasure by wronging of our consciences, we can truely say it is purely from principles of Conscience, that we are withheld from acting according to your desire, you may deeme it our weaknes, be it soe, weake consciences may not be pressed and urged too far: I Cor: 8: Rom: 14:
As for the last clause in our letter (but such is our tender respect unto him selfe that we have soe declared ourselves to him as that he is able to give you a more full answer not onely of his owne minde but of ours allsoe) this passage doth onely speake our Due respects unto our Reverend Pastor, and doth show our readines to yeild as far as we could to give him satisfaction, but no voluntarines in us, nor the least approbation of the motion in hand, yet we acknowledge this passage singly considered as separated from the rest, is capable of a strained interpretation of a vertuall dismission, But yet we thinke it had not bin Honourable to yourselves, and our Reverend Pastor for you to have proceeded upon, considering how fully we expressed our dissent from your motion, and to tell you the truth we know not any
.
3I
THE CONCEALED LETTER.
two first or last, that clearly expressed their consent in this matter, but all as one man have bin against it, and one thing more have we to say, If this passage had bin in it selfe improveable in the way and to the end that now is expressed, yet some passages between our Reverend Paster and ourselves (at a meeting before winter and after our letter to your Church is a sufficient prohibition to the improve- ment of it in any such way) doe make null, what ever may be looked at to be of any for[ce] to such an end in our concession. our Reverend Pastor was willing to know the minde of God in the Church, concern- ing his call to Boston he bing unsatisfied that the Chur[ch] had left it to himself, (a meeting was apointed and called to that end) sundry things were spoken by the Brethren against it, some expressed that if he left us the - the Church would be broken, this tooke with him, he answered that indeed is considerable, and here upon resolved to stay the winter, onely expressed his desire to make a journy at the spring, and to stay the 3 hot moneths in the summer for hi[s] wives health and settlement of his son, where unto the church freely consented - we generally toke it, that he intended onely a journy as before, and to the ends as befor[e] and we expressed in his hearing this our.sence of his words which he did not gaine say, we gave him then thankes for his willingnes to continue with us, and the Teacher was called upon to returne thankes to God for bowing our Pastors hearte to speake soe fully to the Churches satisfaction which he did, and soe concluded the meeting these passages are avouched and testified by very many and we suppose not one can gainsay, through streights of time we cannot inlarge : The Lord of the Harvest thrust forth faithfull labour- ers into your fields and guide you and all your motions in your weighty affaires, committing you to God and his grace, we crave your prayers a poore afflicted Company and rest
your Brethren in Christ and fellowship in the name and with the unanimous Consent of the Church.
New haven : 25. 6: 1668
N : S.
This letter being kept from the cognisance of the Church (yea con- siderable time it was before there was any owning of any such thing) when it leaked out it was acknowledged, but renderd full of mistakes and nonsense, and therefore not fit to be communicated to the Church, meanwhile an expresse was forthwith sent, with a letter from Mr Davenport to the Church of Newhaven, whose purport may be guessed by the next letter which they returne to the Church as will appeare in its place.
The dissentors went to the Elder for an answer to theire 1668 4: (7) request for dismission but could not, obtaine their desires. I : (8)
Att last upon the 9th of October the Elder called a church meet-
1
I
32
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
ing, the dissentors intreated him that they might have their answer for their dismission in writting, and that they might neither by their ab- sence give any occasion to judge them sullen, nor by their presence give offence, they appointed some to acquaint the Elder in case he should approve of it they would be at Cap- taine Davis house being next doore to meetinghouse 1 and
Elder Pen ap- proved of the motion saying they had better not come but wait. if the Church did desire their company they would come in, and if not they would there wait the Churches answere,2 accord- ingly they waited there the whole meeting time being near night.
Mr. Edw. Tyng, Elder Pen, Captaine Clark, Mr. Belcher and Mr. Everill came to them, and told them they were sent by the Church to give them this answer. That the Church did earnestly desire their reuniting, and allso that this was not a season for them to move for their dismission, nor the Church to consider of their motion, they being then (as the dissentors supposed by reason of N. haven letters) unlikely to proceed unto Ordination.
News came of Mr. Davenports dismission from Newhaven Church 22: (8) and upon the 25. October the Elder propounded him to 25. the Church for admission. the dissentors thought then they ought to urge againe for their dismission, and upon the 26. 27. 28. October went in severall Companies in the name of the whole, humbly desiring the Elder that they might obtaine their dismission, before he proceeded to Call Mr. Davenport forth for admission. Some of them allso told him they had just offence against Mr. Davenport for his publique charge upon them before the Countrey, in his prayer fore- mentioned, and desired it might be orderly removed before his admis- sion, the Elder promised the Deacons who were of the dissenting Brethren that he would not call Mr. Davenport to be admitted before I : (9). there was a meeting about it, but upon the next sabbath day some hearing, that the Elder did intend to call him forth, they went that noone unto him, and desired and besought him that the dissenters might be first dismissed, but what they said was not harkned unto, and Mr. Davenport was admitted a member of the Church of Boston upon his pretended letter of dismission, which then was read in the face of the Church but how this contrivance was brought about, and how much of the originall letter was concealed, there being onely an extract of it drawne up as much as might make up a pretended dismission but the substance of it being left out, and the extract how it spake against the intent of the letter sent by the Church
1 [According to the Book of Posses- sions, William Davis's first house and lot were on the south side of what is now State Street, part of the site occupied by the Merchants Exchange. In 1645, he bought of Valentine Hill a house and lot on the high street, having the meeting-
house on the north, and the prison garden on the west. The garden of Richard Trewsdale adjoined Mr. Davis's land on the north in the rear.]
2 [The words " which was acceptable to the Elder," following the word " an- swere," are erased in the MS.]
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33
THE ABBREVIATED LETTER.
of N : haven, the comparing of them both togither will demonstrate : and how the providence of God revealed this work of darknes the sequell will declare though it lay hid diverse moneths :
Coppy of the letter abbreviated and read to the Church of Boston by Elder Pen, drawne up by Mr. James Allin and Elder Pen, Mr. John Davenport senr knowing and approving of I : (9.) 1668.
the same, transcribed and subscribed by his son Mr. Jo : Davenport Junr and sealed by them, none of the Church knowing of this trans- action but these 4, untill Mr. Street came downe next summer by whome this mystery of iniquity then was revealed and made manifest.
Honourd, Reverend and Beloved
Grace mercy and peace be multiplyed through Jesus Christ our Lord. In answer to a letter from your Church subscribed by your Reverend Elder in the name and with the consent of the Brethren bearing date 28 : 7. 67, we made a returne as yourselves know :, and since both yourselves and Mr. Davenport have written to this Church for his dismission, such is our honorable respect to him, our love to peace, our desire of your supply, that we shall goe as far as we can safely in order to your and his satisfaction in this matter, if this will satisfy we are conten[t] to leave both yourselves and him, to make what improvement you see cause without any clog or impediment from us upon that Account, of the liberty mentioned, in order to his joyning to your Church and if he doth proceed with you in order to membership and taking office in your Church as he hath bin a faithfull Labourer in gods vineyard at N : haven for many yeares to the bringing home of many soules to god and building up of many others, soe it is and shall be our prayer to God to lengthen his life and tranquillity in Boston, to double his spirit upon him, assist him in his work and make him a blessed instrument of much good to yourselves and many others, the good Lord pardon on all hands what he hath seen amiss in these actings and motions, that no sinfull malignancy may obstruct or hinder god's blessing upon Churches or Church administrations, as himself and his son both desired, we doe dismisse unto your holy fellowship Mr. Jo: Davenport. Junr Mrs. Davenport Elder and younger, desiring you to receive them in the Lord as becometh Saints and imploring Almighty God for his blessing upon them from his holy ordinances in your Communion and walking with you, the God of all grace supply all your and our need according to his riches in glory through Jesus Christ, thus craving your prayers for us in our afflicted condition we take our leave and rest
Yours in the fellowship of the Gospell.
N : haven : 12 : (8) 68. N. STREET. In the name and with the consent of the Church of Christ at N : haven :
To the Reverend Elder of the Church of Boston Mr. JAMES PEN &C
1
1
a
d
1
1
e
34
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Mr. Streets name was written in this letter with another hand to counterfeit his handwriting : and the transcript was sealed :
Coppy of the Originall letter sent from New haven the words drawne with a line under them are the Extract read, the rest being the mind of the Church declaring against his dismission left out and concealed about 8 moneths as the sequell doth declare fol : 49 : 50.
Honourd Reverend and Beloved. Grace mercy and peace be multiplyed through our Lord Jesus Christ. In answer to a letter from your Church subscribed by your Reverend Elder in the name and with the consent of the Brethren bearing date 28 : 7: 67. we made a returne as yourselves know this letter con- cealed 8 months from the Church and not known untill 17. (4) 1669 as there appear- eth. fol : 49: 50. wherein we gave you to understand for reasons exprest that we could not approve of our Pastors grounds that had bin alledged for his removeall or the Church of Bos- ton call, therfore thus concluded. The premises con- sidered we see no cause or call of God to resigne our Reverend Pastor to yourselves or to the Church of Boston By an immediate act of ours, But such is our tender respect to himselfe, that we have soe declared ourselves, unto him as that he is 1668. able to give you a more full answer not onely of his own minde, butt of ours also in this waity matter as he shall see cause, to whome we refer you, upon which latter passage you have proceeded soe fare, as we understand by our Reverend Pastors letter that the Church of Boston hath not onely given him a call (as he doth express it in your own words) renewed and confirmed your call of mr. Daven- port to be a teaching officer to them and that was done unanimously and mr. Davenport fully accepted and soe the matter is made up : and since both yourselves and mr. Davenport have written to this Church for his dismission ; we suppose that should have proceeded : A man can not have the essentials (which are the Churches call, and the person called his acceptance there of) of a Church officer put upon him in your Church that is not first a member of your Church soe that your hands are tied up by your own act, It is not for us to dismiss to the Church of Boston one that is all ready called to be a teaching officer to your Church at Boston, and if the match is made up as you say, what need a dismission from us to helpe make him a member or officer in your church, but that which doth most strike with us is matter of conscience though yourselves and our Reverend Pastor are fully satisfied in these No evills toller- ated in the Coun- try by others, which this might prevent unlesse Church duty to its subjects be- fore reckoned namely the chil- dren of the Church. motions, yet the church of Newhaven is not soe, and though you judge it the best expedient for your releife and remedy of some evills growing in the countrey, as also we might doe the same, if we had nothing before our eyes but his accomplishments, and fitness for high service to God in his Church, But being soe much in the Darke about his way in leaving this Church and joyning to yours, but we are not without doubts and feares of some uncomfortable
35
THE SUPPRESSED LETTER
1139040
issue, there fore cannot clearly act in such a way as is expressed and desired, we are of the same mind as when we returned an answer to your first letter, thus expressing ourselves, we see no case, or call of God to resigne our Reverend Pastor to the Church of Boston by an imediate act of ours, therefore not by a formall dismission under our hands : It is our great greife and sore affliction that we can not doe for him (whome we soe highly esteem in love for his worke sake and profitable labours among us) what is desired without wronge to our Consciences, any thing that we have or are, besides our Consciences, we are ready to lay downe at his feet : yet such is our Honorable respect to him, our love to peace, our Desire of your supply we shall goe as fare as we safely can in order to your and his satisfaction in this matter ; having before us our warrant, Acts. 21: 14-when he would not be perswaded we ceased, saying the will of the Lord be done, There- fore to suppresse what we could say touching that passage in our first letter, whereof such hold have bin taken, and what we have said in our last letter to you of our Reverend Pastors making null the liberty be- fore granted, which we doubt not we are able clearly to demonstrate, yet if this will satisfy (but not otherwise) we are content to wave and bury in silence and leave both yourselves and him to make what improvement you see cause (with out any clogg or impediment from us upon that Account) of the liberty before mentioned in order to his joyning to your Church; and if he shall see it in his way soe to doe, following what light he hath from the word of God for his guidance, as we doubt not he will carefully attend, though ourselves are in the darke about these motions, yet we shall lay a law of silence upon our tongues, that in our mouthes may be no reproofes nor repro[a]chfull speeches upon this account, as judgeing ourselves rightly worthy of such a bereave- ment for our great unprofitablenes, onely we shall reserve liberty to defend ourselves against the tongues pens or speeches of any, by whome we may unjustly suffer in this matter ; if he doth proceed with you in order to membership and taking office in your Church As he hath bin a faithfull labourer in Gods vineyard at New haven for many yeares, to the bringing home of many soules to God and building up of maney others, soe it is and shall be our prayer to God to lengthen his life, and tranquility in Boston ; to double his spirit upon him, assist him in his worke, and make him a blessed instrument of much Good both to yourselves and many others. The good Lord pardon on all hands what he hath seen amisse in these actings, and motions that no sinfull malig- nancy may obstruct or hinder Gods blessing upon persons, churches or church administrations ; here in we have gone as far as God and Con- science doe permitt us ; we are come to the utmost bounds, and there shall stop we have forborne to say very much of what we could say, where by it may appeare to all men that we are for peace, and that we are not yea, and nay in anything, we pray you that Brotherly love may
e
le
S
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
continue, if matters issue beyond and better than our feares, it shall be no greife of heart to us, butt matter of rejoicing and of thanks- giving if there be a procedure in your church with mr. Davenport than as himselfe and his son have desired, we doe dismiss unto your holy fellowship mr. John Davenport Funr. mrs. Davenport both Elder and younger, desiring you to receive them in the Lord as as becometh saints, and imploring the all mighty God for his blessing upon them from his holy ordinances in their communion and walking with you : The God of all grace supply all your and our need, according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus thus craving your prayers for us in our afflicted condition we take our leave and rest yours in the ffellowship of the Gospel.
New haven the 12th : (8) mo 68 NICOLAS STREET
In the name and with the consent of the Church of Christ in New haven
To the Reverend Elder of the church of Boston, mr. James Pen to be communicated to the Church .1
A church metting was called, the dissentors acquainted the Elder they would attend the Church pleasure at Captaine Davis 9 (9) mo 68. house, where after they had bin some time me[t] they sent for the dissenters, the Elder proposed their motion for dismission to the church who instead of granting it, did desire them to become one with them and returne againe, yet proposed no one thing to them as a motion thereto, but their forgivenes of all past matters, the dis- senters professed their adherence to the advice of the Reverend Coun- cill, and did humbly intrea[t] them a dismission, the Church refused, professing they saw not light to concur with the Councill, and at the same time proceeded to give Mr. Davenport a full and authorative call, he being then one of them, the dissenting Brethren manifested
1 [It was a fragment of this letter which was before Dr. Wisner when he wrote the notes to his history (pp. 74,75). After copying it, he added : "Then follows, on the bottom of the page, these notes in another hand : ' The Elder labouring to convince, 24, 4, 69, Mr. James Allen [minister of the First Church] of his iniquity of dealing deceitfully about the letter from New Haven, and in saying Mr. Davenport was innocent in that matter, he acknowl- edged that Mr. D. knew the matter as much as he and his unckle, and that he had sinned in saying Mr. D. ... . '"
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