USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 6
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Mr. Emery, in the Ministry of Taunton (vol. i. p. 164), with the same fragment before him which was before Dr. Wisner when he wrote, has drawn from it the
following estimate, a very just one, as it seems to us, of the Rev. Mr. Street : -
" This fragmentary production of Street speaks volumes for him as a man of wis- dom and grace. He certainly showed himself the equal of his eminent col- league in prudence and forethought. The letter could not well breathe a better spirit. It reveals a man rid of that petty jealousy which cannot endure a rival, which covets not copartnership. The extreme reluctance of Street to part with his distinguished associate indi- cates an unfeigned attachment towards him, and no fear lest 'so considerable a Gideon as Mr. Davenport' (as Hooke was pleased to style him) should leave no room for one of the 'lesser lights ' to revolve."]
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FOUR CHURCHES ADVISED WITH.
their dissent thereunto, yet Mr. Davenport dec[la]red his acceptance of it said that which was the dissenters cheif reason of non comply- ance therein was his Crowne
The premises considered and the Church preparing in order to Mr. Davenports ordination and the dissenters desires being as far as they knew their own hearts that their motions might be becoming the gospell they wrote as followeth to foure neighbour Churches
Honourd, Reverend and Beloved
Our undoubted expectation of a speedy ordination in the Church, the remembrance of the Councills declaration, whose advice was that we should have our dismission before such ordination, togither with the consideration of what may be the sad consequence, if the said advice be not obtayned before their proceeding, occasion us to give you this trouble of sending your former Messengers if it may be, who are already soe far acquainted with our case as renders them we humbly conceive, most meet to further advise therein, that we may neither be discouraged in the work of God among us, nor oppressed by our Brethren, nor yet be left for want of advice to doe any thing that may have the least evill savour, to these that seriously and impartially consider both our present and former actions and con- ditions craving the help of your prayers. &c. The time in which we intreat your help is upon 23 : (9) at Captaine Davis house :
These letters were directed to the Churches of Christ at Roxbury : Dorchester Cambridge and Dedham.
On the day appointed these met and treated at Mr. Davenports house That as to the dissenters the Ordination might passe without publique opposition they obtayned a prom- 23: (9). ise of Mr. Davenport, Mr. Allin, and Elder Pen viz :
In order to healing of the present differences between the Church of Boston and sundry of their Brethren Refering to their Election of teaching officers (it is propounded) that the dissent of those Brethren being all ready manifest there in, they observing the advice given by the Messengers of the Churches ; not to make any further disturbance in the Churches proceeding, Their silence in the day of ordination shall not conclude them, as Coactors with the Church there in, and that mutuall love and amity should be maintained in walking together untill the minde of Christ may further appeare for direction, to any other way ; the 23 (9) mo. 68 this agreement above though it was not signed by mr. Davenport and the two other Gentlemen yet it was writ in their presence read unto them and by them faithfully promised that it should be made good to the dissenters and to that Ende a coppy of it left with them by the members of the late Councill.
Three Questions sent by : J : A : [the Rev. James Allen] to the dis- senters to have their answer
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
I Question In case any words, have unadvisedly fallen from any of you in publique or otherwise that are justly offencive, whether you have bin ready to tender regular satisfaction or are willing soe to doe.
Answer wherein any of us singly or all of us unitedly have given any offence publiquely or privately in the management of a Case soe labouring among us, we doe seriously professe ourselves ready as according to rule bound to acknowledge the same, as we have cause to reflect upon ourselves, and indeed to be ashamed before the Lord and his people, for what hath bin humane in our motions, and doe heartily beg pardon of the Lord and of the Church for the same.
2. Question whither may you not conceive to be most for peace and edification to submit to the election of the Reverend Mr. Davenport, in case the Church with at least one of the teaching officers will owne the Church seed, exercise Church watch and discipline to them accord- ing to the late Synod.
Answer To this was answered in the Negative.
3 : Question In case your dismission be yet thought requisite, to remove all jealousies, all of you would solemnly professe your cleav- ing to the present government of this Collony, and in gathering into another Church to be carefull in admitting into the Church or unto full Communion therein, such as may be sutable to the purity, peace, safety, and good of the Church and Commonwealth.
Answer I : That we doe all of us solemnly professe our faithfull owning of and fixed cleaving to the present Government of this Col- lony, and shall be ready upon all occasions to demonstrate it, if we have given cause to be suspected herein we are very sorry.
2 : That referring our gathering into another Church to be carefull in admitting &c. we declare in the name of all our Brethren that we intend no other than the word of god to be the rule of our motion therein, and as made knowne to us by the joint agreement of the Elders and messengers of Churches in the booke entitled the platforme of Church discipline and the result of the Synod 1662
Subscribed by severall Brethren.
4: (10).
Those proposals or quiries of the dissenting Brethren to the Reverend Elders
I Question. whither a Church which is lytigant, wherein a numerous partie (from conviction) of duty to god unto the Church and them- selves, and from conscience of sincere love unto any fundamentall of order in the administration of any ordinance dissenting from their Brethren in the Election and ordination of any person or persons unto Church office, and managing of their dissent without offence in a way of order unto peaceable issue on their parts by the Councill and advice of neighbour Churches wherein they are willing to acquiesce :
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FURTHER ADVICE SOUGHT.
we humbly inquire whither such a Church though affectionately and importunately sollicited thereunto by their dissenting Brethren, may without breach of Communion within itself or Communion with those Churches proceed unto such election or ordination.
2 Question whither such Brethren who have received any divine truth in the plain evidence and demonstration of it unto their con- sciences from the word of God, and have bin settled and established in the knowledge and beleif of that truth, by the sound doctrine of these able and faithfull Ministers whose ministry they have lived under, and that have had the truth delivered unto them in the forme of sound words according to analogy of faith cleared from all these Controversies which it hath laboured under by the contention of Brethren and commended unto them by publique and solomne decla- ration, as a present truth unto these Churches, and allso that doe find themselves obliged to professe and practise that truth, from an awfull apprehension of that great concernment of gods glory and the salva- tion of soules in the sincere profession and practise thereof we humbly inquire whither such Brethren may or can with peace of their owne consciences and safety of their owne soules, doe, or consent to the do- ing of any thing which doth tend to the hindrance of their profession or practise of that truth in that Church of which they are, and whither they are not bound in a way of peace and order to manifest their Contra dissent, and with love and meekness to contend for the truth.
3: Question whither such a part of the Brethren be not bound in duty unto the improvment of the intherest of liberty which Christ hath betrusted them with all, for the regular and orderly managing of the affaires of his Church or whither they may divest themselves of that liberty, by a voluntary and designed secession or silenc[e] or whither they may suffer themselves to be divested of that liberty by their Brethren by a seclusion from Communion with them in Church acts, or whither to desert the intherest of liberty be not unfaithfullnes and breach of Covenant.
4. Question whither a Church having secluded such Brethren from their meetings and transacted any weighty affaires of the Church for the most part without them, soe as that they doe not throughly un- derstand the ground of the Church proceedings therein.
We inquire whither such Brethren can Act in faith and in I668.
a way of order with the Church or whither the Church can require or desire such secluded Brethren to concurre with them in the issue of that proceeding whether the Church may regularly, orderly, and effec- tualy, call and elect an officer, or officers in the intirim of that suspen- sion, and in the absence of theire Brethren whither a parte, though a major parte of a Church may call an officer, secluding a great though a minor parte of the Church from their Communion therein.
5 Question Whether the Church hath power to hold any member
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
or members standing free and cleare from offence in their Communion, such member or members desiring their dismission in a way of order, either to some other church that is orthodox and walking orderly, or to the propogation of some other church according to rules of gospel order (espetially) when such dismission is by the Councill of other Churches offered, and by those Brethren accepted, as a regular expedient, to issue Controversyes in a way of love and peace, by an orderly improvement of christian liberty, in such a way of secession, or whither such restraint of inofensive members, be not a violence offered to their Christian liberty, and in consistent with the freedome of Church Communion, and repugnant to the peace and edification of the Church, whether any Instance can be given of such a Coercion and exercise of Church power towards in offensive Brethren
6 Question Whether any person can receive a divine call from a major parte of a church during the dissent of a minor parte, espetially himselfe being concerned as the subject of the dissention, And deeply Censured the dissentors, or whether the church circumstanced with such, and soe many difficulties may orderly proceed unto election and ordination.
Boston : 4 : 10 : 68 : given into the Elders of neighbor churches and 4: (10)68. signed by
Ro. WALKER in name of the dissenting Bretheren -
The Elders met at Boston at H V1 to consider of the foregoing queries presented to them in the name of the dissenters but no answer returned.
7:
The 9th of (10) being the day of ordination appointed by the Elder 9: on the saboth before he acquainted the Church with their purpose, after prayer and blessing was over and the people going out saying he had forgot to mention the desire of send- ing to other Churches for their messengers but no vote passed upon it, yet the Churches were sent unto, one if not two of the Churches had their letters before any mention was made to the Church of sending letters : The day of ordination being come ; the Elder passed the vote in the affirmative, and soe worded as it reached not the dissenters at all as will appeare, but were disinabled from expressing assent or dissent :
(1) vote Brethren this Church that have formerly chosen and called the Reverend Mr. Davenport, if you hold in the same mind and god keep you in the same mind to give Reverend Mr. Davenport the call to be a teaching officer, for to be a Pastor over you, manifest it by your usual signe : 2
1 [Hezekiah Usher's. This was in King Street, on the north side, opposite
2 [" 2ly. you in this congregation who are not of this Church if you have any the town house. The property had just exception why we should not proceed formerly belonged to the Rev. John Wilson.]
to the callin[g] Mr. Davinport to be a pastor to this Church you have your
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MR. DAVENPORT IS ORDAINED.
The vote reached onely those who had given Mr. Davenport a call and continued in the same mind that he should be a Pastor unto them, Mr. Davenport being desired to declare himself whither he accepted of this call, thus expressed himselfe
An outward call could not satisfy mee, if I had not an inward call, it hath bin the greatest exercise of my soule, next to the clearing of my good estate towards God in my effectual
calling, this call from New haven, and I have desired the
Mr. Davenports speech at the day of ordina- tion.
Lord to show mee his way, and not leave mee to any temptation, but lead mee in a plaine path because of my observers, and in this way I have waited for a long time, for sundry months at New haven, and sundry months here, and soe continued untill I received my dismis- sion from New haven, and joyned in membership here, and soe to office here: Now I look upon it as a call from the Church an authoritative call, I being a member with them, the former I looked on it as an Invitation, and still kept mine ey on Christ to cleare his will unto mee, which I confesse he hath now done to the full satisfaction of my conscience, I am soe ully satisfied in it, that I can plead it to god in Christ in prayer, in the time of any difficulty or danger what ever difficulty I may be in. Thou Lord knowest I did not make hast to be a Pastor over this people, but waited on thee to know thy mind, and I can plead this also to all the world, and am ready to publish to the world the grounds whereupon I see myselfe called by Christ to this service, I speak it the rather because of some uncomfortable speeches I have heard, that put mee upon a necessity to declare thus much &c.1
There was a church meeting called, the dissenters observed the same method that they had done the two former meetings January and signified to the Elder they would wait at Captaine I : (11) 68 [69]. Davis house unlesse the Church desired them to come in : when the Church had bin met about an houre they sent for the dissenters in, where when they came and were sit downe the Elder with great dis- pleasure demanded of them :
whither they did acknowledge them for a Church of Christ and whither their officers were true officers, and told Mr. Rawson he demanded the answer of him, who answered they did acknowledge them to be a Church of Christ and their officers to be true officers, and desired to walk in communion with them according to the advice of the Councill.
6 : Another Church meeting called the Elder proposed that the end liberty to declare it : the like votes passed for Mr. James Allin to be Teacher."
The above paragraph appears to be erased in the manuscript.]
dained. The dissenting brethren humbly, earnestly and frequently entreated for their dismission before the ordination, but could not obtain it; neither could 1 [John Hull writes Dec. 9, 1668 : - they, without much trouble, enjoy com- "Mr. Davenport and Mr. Allen or- munion at the table."]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
of it was to remove all offences, and that with unity of Spirit we might sit downe at the Lords table, Captaine Davis then humbly desired satisfaction of the Elder who had said the last meeting before a Seclusion great part of the Town, and some of the Countrey, that owned by 2 dissenters were not desired by the Church to with draw, witnesses. then Major Leverit and Deacon Trusdale testified that the dissen[ ] were not willing to goe out, and declared if there was any Church buysines to be done that concerned the whole body it con- cerned them to be present, though if the Church desired their absence whiles they considered of their petition for their dismission they did not looke at it as unreasonable, then Mr. Davenport acknowledged that the Church ought to have called the dissenters in before they pro- ceeded to any act relating to the calling of him to office. Deacon Trusdale complayned of [something] that was greivous to him spoken by James Everill in a former meeting, who said that if the dissenters were suffered to goe on, it would open a doore to all licentiousnes, whereas this partie viz : James Everill was he who publiquely declared formerly that if the Brethren would manifest themselves to be seekers of the peace of the Church, they should not obstruct the Churches proceedings, but quietly let them proceed, and fall themselves upon the practise of what they looked at themselves obliged to performe unto the children of the Church, the said deacon complained of a letter which he had heard was sent to the Church from the Church of New Haven but was not read to them Mr. Davenport answerd him, it was in the power of an Elder to forbeare to read a Churches letter, in case it was not for edification : he reflected upon the Church of New haven as having sent a letter full of mistakes, and such as did not concerne the Church of Boston to answer but himself and that he had answerd that, which letter is the concealed letter before mentioned, and was sent to our Church but not read unto them, and himself then being neither an officer nor member of our Church was pleased to censure the Church of New haven by his answer unto it this letter had it bin publique[ly] read had put an end to the question about Mr. Daven- ports call, being a call for him to returne unto his flock as may appear by said letter :
Offer was then made by the Elder and Mr. Davenport to the dis- senters if they had anything against any Brother if they would prove their charge they might.
The dissenters by the advice of the Councill being to bury all Janr 6 : (II). offences against them before the advice, and supposing it 1668. [69] bootlesse to speak of any greivances since by way of Com- plaint against such as were the onely Judges, told them they desired to let all passe, onely standing under the guard of the Councill they wayted for their dismission, and that they did desire to forgive forgit and bury all things in this late houre of temptation, that had bin
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CHARGES AGAINST THE DISSENTERS.
greivous to them and to Judge themselves before the Lord for their owne miscariages, and to come in true love to God, to his ordinances, and to their Brethren.
Then the Elder proposed if any of the Church had any thing to yurge upon the dissenters either by word of mouth or by writing they might proceed. Mr. Stoddard made this motion that the Church might humble themselves before god and renew their Covenant with God and one with another: Some of the dissenters told him that to come regularly to the Lords supper was to renew their Covenant with the Lord and one with another : Mr. Davenport looked over the Pulpit once or twice to Mr. Stoddard, and said, if there charge was drawn up in writing but not brought forth. were anything further by word or writing to be brought forth, let it be attended, then Mr. Stoddard replyed, he had three morall evills to charge upon two of the dissenters.
Mr. Thatcher then moved, that if any such thing were, that they would please to mention them, being of such a nature they ought to be removed.
Mr. A. Stoddard 1 would not presently mention either person or thing but because the dissenters had earnestly moved that they might walke in Communion he said if they were soe desirous of Communion he would say to them, as the Prophet Amos did, chapter 4. 4. 5 come to Bethell and transgress, goe up to Gilgall and multiply transgression, bring your sacrifice of thanksgiving and offer them with leaven :
At length out came his Charge, two morall Evills against Captaine Davis first he had said the church did not begin with God
Secondly that it was not the Church that wrote to New Haven. And one morall evill against John Hull for saying the church had wrested their liberty from them, all which he A. Stoddards charge of 3 morrall evills. said were transgressions, against the 9th Commandment.
The said dissenters desired to know whether this was onely mr. Stodders charge, or whether the church did make it their charge. But neither Elder or any Brother would make any answer though they begged it Sundry times. It seemed to the dissenters by the managing of matters that mr. Davenport, mr. Allen, [o]ther wise they would have testified against it and Sundry Breth- ren desired mr. Stodder to for- beare the [c]harge before [h]e had de- clar[ ] and mr. Pen, mr. Everill, Captain Clark mr. Cooke, and the hands of many of the Brethren were in this charge, as well as mr. Stodder ; - Captain Davis answerd, where as I am charged with two morall evills the one, that I should say that the church neither begun nor ended with God - he desired to know of that Brother whether that was his whole speech or parte of his speech - Answer was replied he could not tell
1 [Mr. Anthony Stoddard. He mar- ried as his fourth wife the widow of one of the dissenting brethren, Thomas Savage, who died in 1682. The Rev. Solomon Stoddard, of Northampton, and
Simeon Stoddard, an active member of the Old South in the next century, were his sons, and Deacon Charles Stoddard of the Old South was a descendant in the fifth generation.]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
whether it was the whole or not. - Captain Davis replyed if it, were not my whole speech, the speech was his owne and not mine, if that were my whole speech I desire you to prove it, and the rather because I am confident, no one in the Congregation 1668.
can or will say it was soe, It is true there was a time when the church was in a strife, and I did say upon that disorder that was among us, that I did feare we had not begun with god: at which time one of the brethren replyed, did we not begin with prayer ? I then answered my meaning was not, that the Elder had not begun with prayer, but apprehended we had not begun with the rule, that is not to begin with God, this was all that I said, and therefore the charge is unjust, for the second charge saying that the Church did not send to New Haven, that remaines yet sub judice : but my speaking at that time was lesse expedient, and better I had forborne, -but wherein I have given any offence to any in anything for matter or manner I am sorry.
We interrupt the Narrative at this point, to present a letter written by the Rev. Nicholas Street to a correspondent in Bos- ton, probably Increase Mather, which throws much light on the meaning and object of the letter from the New Haven church of October 12, 1668, suppressed by Mr. Davenport and his friends : -
Reverend Sir
Yours dated Nov. 17, 68 I received wherein you have ingaged me to you by the Intelligence I have from you of news from England as also how matters are in Boston, no other nor worse than I expected, and it will be a pity if the fire kindled there doth not spread further I am not without more sad apprehensions and fears than I am willing to express. As for the true sense of our Letter sent to the church of Boston the Letter itself doth shew, our intendment in it is Playnly expressed without the least obscurity. The letter doth not run in the ordinary form of dismissions, yet it is (and so we intended it) a dis- mission ad placitum Reverendi magistri Davenport et ecclesiæ Bostoni- ensis, if they should see it that way so to improve it we could not give such a dismission in form as was desired without wrong to Conscience, which is a tender thing, not being satisfyed either in Mr. Davenports call to the church of Boston or grounds of his moving from us, - that we were not satisfyed we have signifyed so much in our letter to Boston church, The reasons and grounds of our dissatisfaction we have not layd before them, - out of our honourable respects to mr Davenport but have in a pri- vate letter sent them to himself And though we saw it not our way to give him a dismission in form for the reason expressed, yet after sundry overtures between us and him, we finding his Spirit to be so strongly
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PRIVATE LETTER FROM MR. STREET.
even unalterably bent and bound in spirit for Boston, we thought it our way no further to struggle with him, but to leave him at his liberty to doe as God should guide him, resting our warrant from Acts 21. 14. when he would not be perswaded we ceased saying the will of the Lord be done. This first narrative I suppose may be sufficient to satisfy understanding ones (if unbiassed) and our actings and carriage in this busines. If any should asperse us on the one hand, that we have not given so fair and full and honourable a dismission as may be thought Mr Davenports desert might challenge at our hands you have our Answer we were not satisfyed in the motions in this matter, therefore could not without injury to conscience act in such a way or resign him up to the church of Boston by an immediate act of ours as we signifyed so much to the church by our letter from very first. Had we bin as clear at his leaving this church and joyning to Boston church as himself seemed to be, and had apprehended that his settling there in office would quiet and compose all matters in that church as some seemed to be of that mind, though our loss would have bin [incomparably] great, yet I think we should have denyed ourselves, and have given him as full and as honourable a dismission as our understandings could have reached to have framed.
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