USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Plymouth church records, 1620-1859 > Part 14
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Whereas very many of our Subjects and of our late fathers of beloued Memory our Sou" Lord James Late King of England by means of Lycence Royall; not onely with desire of Inlarging the Teretoryes of our Empire but Cheiffly out of a Pious and Religious affection and desire of pro- pagateing the Gospell of our Lord Jesus Christ with Industry and ex- pences haue Caused to be planted Larger Collonies of the English Nation in diuers p'tes of the ' World altogether vnmanured and void of In- habitants or Occupied of the barborus people that haue noe knowlidge of diuine Worshipp; wee being willing to provide a Remedy for the
1 Here several words are crossed out.
* "Chancellor" is intended.
' Here "English" is crossed out.
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tranquillitie and quietnes of those people and being very Confident of youer faith and wisdom Justice and prouident Sercomspection haue Constituted you the aforsaid Archbishop of Canterbery Lord Keeper of the [45] of the Great seale of England the Arch Bishop of York &:1 And any fiue or more of you our Comissioners; and to you and any fiue or more of you, wee doe Giue and Comitt power for the Gou ment and safety of the said Collonies drawne or which out of the English Nation into these p'tes heerafter shalbe drawne To make lawes Constitutions and ordinances p'taining either to the publick State of these Collonies or the private proffitt of them; and Concerning the Lands Goods debts and succession in those p'tes and how they shall demean them selues towards fforraigne Princes or theire people or how they shall beare them selues towards vs and our subjects as well in any fforraige prtes what- soeuer, or on the seas in those p'tes or in theire Returne sayleing home; or which may p'taine to the Clargey Gou ment or to the Cure of soules amongst the people there liueing and exercyseing trade In those p'tes; by designeing out Congreuent p'tions ariseing in tithes oblations and other things there according to youer sound descretions in politicall and Ciuell Causes; And by haueing the advice of two or three bishopps for the Cettleing makeing and ordering of the busines for the designing of Nessesary Eclesiasticall and Clargye portions which you shall Cause to be Called and taken to you; and to make prouisions against the violation of those lawes Constitutions and ordinances by Imposing penalies and mults Imprisonment if there be Cause, and the quallitie of the offence doe Require it; by deprivation of member or life to be Inflicted, with power alsoe; (our Assent being had) to Remoue and dis- place the Gou nors or Rulers of those Collonies for Causes which to you shall seem law full; and others in theire stead to Constitute; and to Require an acount of theire Rule & Gou ment and whom you shall find Culpable; either by deprivation from theire place or by Imposition of a mult vpon the Goods of them in those p'tes to be leuied; or Banishment from those prouinces in which they haue bin Gou": or otherwise to Casheir according to the qvantitie of the offence and to Constitute Judges and Majestrates Polliticall and Ciuill for Ciuill Causes; and vnder the power and forme which to you fiue or more of you shall seeme expedient; and Judges & Majestrates and dignities to Causes eclesiasticall; and vnder the power and forme which to you fiue or more of you with the Bishopps: Vizgerents prouided by the bishopp of Canterbery for the time being shall seem expedient; and to ordain Courts Pretorian and tribuniall as
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well Eclesiasticall as Ciuill; [46]1 as Ciuill, of Judgments to determine of the forme and manor of proceeding in the same and of appealling from them in matters and Causes as well Criminall as Ciuill p"sonall Reall and mixed; and to theire seates of Justice what may be equall and well ordered; and what Crimes faults or excesses of Contracts or In- juries ought to belonge to the Eclesiasticall Court; and what to the Ciuill Court and seat of of Justice,
Prouided Neuertheles that the lawes ordinances and Constitutions of this kind shall not be putt in execution before our Assent be had ther- vnto in writing vnder our signett signed att least and this Assent being had and the same publickly proclaimed in the prouinces in which they are to be executed; Wee will and Comand that those lawes ordinances and Constitutions more fully to obtaine strength and be observed and shalbe Inviolable of all men whom they shall Concerne;
Notwithstanding it shalbe for you or any fiue or more of you as afore said " altho those Lawes & Constitutions shalbe proclaimed * with our Royall order to Change Revoak and abrogate them and other New ones in forme aforesaid from time to time frame and make as aforesaid and to New euills arising or New dangers to apply New Remedies, as is fiting soe often as to you it shall seeme expedient; furthermore you shall understand that wee haue Constituted you and euery fiue or more or you the aforesaid Arch Bishop of Canterbery Thomas Lord Couentry' keeper of the Great seale of England Richard Bishop of Yorke Richard Earle of Portland Henery Earle of Manchester Thomas Earle of Arun- dell & Surry Edward earle of dorcett, ffrancis Lord Cottington Sir Thomas Edwards Knight Sir henery Vane Knight Sir ffrancis Windebank Knight our Comissioners to heare and determine according to youer sound des- cretions all manor of Complaints either against those Collonies or theire Rulers or Gou"" att the Instance of the p'tyes greiued or att theire ac- cusation brought Concerning Injuries from hence or from thence between them and theire members to be moued and to Call the paties before you; and to the p"ties or to theire procurators from hence or from thence being heard and full Complements of Justice to bee exhibited; Giueing vnto you or any fiue or more of you power that if you shall find any of the Collonies aforsaid or any of the Cheife Rulers vpon the Jurisdictions of others by vnjust posession or vsurpation, or one against another make- ing ' Greiuance or In Rebellion against vs or withdrawing from our
1 Here "Ecclesiaticall" is crossed out.
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* Here the words "shalbe proclaimed" are crossed out.
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alligience or our Comaundements Not obeying, Consultation first with vs in that Case had; To Cause those Collonies or the Rulers of them for the Causes aforesaid; or for other Just Causes either to Returne to Eng- land or to Comaund them to other places designed; euen as according to youer sound descretions it shall seeme to stand with equitie and Justice or Nessesitie; Morouer wee doe Giue vnto you or any fiue or more of you power and especiall Comaund ouer all the Charters Letters Pattents and Rescripts Royall of the Regions Prouinces Ilands or lands in fforraign p'tes Graunted for Raiseing Collonies to Cause them to be brought before you and the same being Received if any thinge; Surruptitious or vnduely haue bine obtained or that by the same privilidges Liberties and prerogatiues hurtfull to vs or to our Crowne or to fforraigne Princes haue bine prejudicially suffered or Graunted; The same being better Made knowne vnto you fiue or more of you; To Comaund them accord- ing to the Lawes and Customes of England to be Revoked; and to doe such other thinges which to the proffitt and safe Gard of the aforsaid Collonies; and of our subjects Resedent in the same shalbe Nessesarie, And ther fore wee doe Comaund you that about the p"mises att dayes and times which for these thinges you shall Make provision That you be dilligent in Attendance as it becometh you Giueing in preceipt alsoe [47] Alsoe and fermly Injoyning wee doe Giue Comaund to all and singular Cheiff Rulers of Prouinces 1 into which the Collonies aforsaid haue bine drawne and Concerning the Collonies them selues and Con- cerning others that haue bin Interested therin that they Giue attendance vpon you; and be observant and obeidient vnto youer warrants in those affaires as often as and euen as in our Name they shalbe Required att theire prill; In Testimony wherof wee haue Caused these our letters be made Pattent; Witnes our seale Att Westminster the 28th day of Aprill Anno Dom 1634
By writt from the privy seale; WILLIS
In Anno 1635 M: Edward Winslow went for England; and being occationed to Answare som Complaints made against the Country att the Councell bord more Cheifley Concerning theire Naighbors in the Bay then themselues heer the which hee did to Good effect and further procecuting such things 2 as might tend to the Good of the whole as well them selues as others, about wronges and Incroach- ments that the french and other Strangers had made; hee prefered
1 The word "Prouinces" is written above another word, crossed out.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
his petition respecting the premises to the Right honorable the Lords Comissioners for the Plantations in America; the Contents whereof I willingly omitt heerwith to Insert as being not soe suitable to our present purpose; but rather to take Notice of such p'ticulars as were occationed thereby prtenent to our prsent worke
In order whervnto the Reader may take Notice that the Petition M. Winslow prefered respecting the p"mises; was accepted with most of theire lordshipps and hee was heard Sundry times by them; and appointed further to attend 1 for an Answare from them es- pecially haueing vpon Conference with them; Proposed a way how the p'ticulars hee petitioned for, might be effected without any Charge or trouble to the State &c
But this Crossed both Sir ffardinandoe Gorges and Capt. Masons and the Archbishopp of Canterberrys ends by them aimed att:2 for Sir ffardinandoe Gorges by the Archbishopps fauor, was to haue bin sent ouer Generall Gou" into the Country and to haue had meanes from the State for that end and was now vpon dispatch and Conclu- sion of the busines; and the Archbishopps Purpose by this means and some hee should Imploy for that Purpose to be furnished with ePiscopall power to disturbe the peace of the Churches heer in New England, and to ouerthrow theire proceedings and further Grouth which was the thinge hee Aimed att; But it soe fell out by Gods Prouidence, That altho hee in the end Crosed this Petition from take- ing any further effect in this Kind; yett by this as a Cheiffe Meanes the plott and whole busines &c Sir fardinandoe fell to the Ground and Came to Nothing; when M' Winslow should have had his suite Graunted (as Indeed upon the Point it was) and should have bine Confeirmed the Archbisshop put a stopp vpon it; and m' Winslow thinking to Gett it freed went to the board againe But the Bishop Sir ffardinandoe and Capt. Mason had as it seems procured (Morton of whom mensioned is Made before, and his Abusiue Carriage) To Complaine To whose Complaints M' Winslow Made answare to the Good Satisfaccion of the Auditers: viz Lords foremensioned whoe Checked the said Morton and rebuked him sharply; and alsoe * blamed Sir fardinandoe Gorges and Mason for Countenanceing
1 Here "further" is crossed out.
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WINSLOW'S REPLIES TO THOMAS MORTON'S ACCUSATIONS
him; But the bishop had a further end and vse of his Presence for of this Morton called hee Now began to question M' Winslow of Many things 1 as of Teaching in the Church Publickely of which Morton Acused and Gave evidence that hee had seen and heard him to doe it; 2
Morton see more in New Englands Memoriall
To which M' Winslow Answared That somtime wanting a min- nester hee did & exercise his Gift to healp the edification of his bretheren when they wanted better meanes [48] which was not offtens,
Then about Marriage which hee alsoe Confessed that haueing bine Called to place of Majestracy hee had sometimes married some, and further told thire Lordshipps, that Marriage was a Ciuill ordi- nance And hee found noe wher in the word of God, that it was tyed to minnestry, againe they were Nessesitated soe to doe; haueing for & longe time together att first noe minnester; besides; it was noe new thinge for hee had bin soe married himselfe in holland, by the Majes- trate in theire Statehouse but in the end to be short, for these and such like thinges the Bishope by vehement Importunitie procured theire Lordshipps Consent to his Comittment; soe hee was Comit- ted to the ffleet and lay there 17 weekes (or thereabouts) before hee Could Gett a Releasment and this is the end of this Petition and this busines; onely the other designe was alsoe frustrated heerby with other things Concurring which was noe small blessinge to the Churches and people of God in New England,
In Annº: 1637
There arived one Samull Gorton att Boston and Came to Plym- Concerning outh and vpon his first Comeing thether gaue hopes that hee would Gorton Bee New Englands have proued a vsefull Instrument but soon after discouered himselfe to be a proud and pestilent seducer and deeply leauened with Blas- 142/3. folio 108 pemous and familisticall opinions, and obserueing that some of his speritt were alreddy in the Country hee takes his oppertunity to sow some such seed att Plymouth wherby some were seduced in special one John Weekes and his wife whoe in some short time be- came very Atheists' and were Cast out of the Church for theire abominable opinions; by which said damnable opinions seurall young
1 Written above a word crossed out.
' Here the words "to which m"" are crossed out.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
folkes1 belonging to the Church had like to have been Carryed asside into the pathes of darknes, from Plymouth hee went to Rhod Island & his accomplices some of them, with him whoe were some of them Cast out for the said oppinions; wherof the Reader may haue a full Intelligence, as in the margeant you are directed
John p. 37' Cooke
In some time (as I take it) after the aboue Named busines about Gorton; by Reason or occation of the before mensioned deuision and decention of the Church of Barnstable2 one of the Church of Plym- mouth whoe was formerly a deacon therof; fell into the error of Anabaptistry 4 and falling in with some of those that Carried on that Scismaticall deuison; att length was Called in question by the Church; and Continewing in his obstanacye and seqvestration from the Church Comunion att times of sollemne worshipp was alsoe Cast out of the Church and soe Remaineth vntill this day;
This John Cooke although a Shallow man became a Cause of trouble. and decension in our Church and Gaue Just occation of theire Casting of him out; soe that Sollomon words proued true in him that one Sinner destroyeth much Good 5
Not very longe after this, one Samuell hickes a member of the Church " began to be vnsetled about seuerall of the ordinances of Jesus Christ; and questioned seuerall of them about baptising of Infants singing of Psalmes and seurall other p'ticulars; which occa- tioned the Calling of the Church together; and being destitute of any in Minnesteriall office they 7 were Nessesitated to appoint seuerall of the ableest of the 8 bretheren to Cleare vp the truth against the said qveryes; which Implyed opposition to the truth, and although as in the prouerbe it is ezier for a Child yea a foole to Cast Stones into a well then for a wise man to Gett them out; " In which Respect it had ben better to haue qvelled and stiffled such questions Rather;
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1 The words "young folkes" are underscored ..
" The words "Church of Barnstable" are perhaps underscored.
" The reference is to p. [37] of the text, or pp. 72-73 of this volume.
" Here a word, perhaps "and," is crossed out.
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" The words "a member of the Church" are written above a word, crossed out.
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FOURTEEN QUERIES PROPOUNDED BY SAMUEL HICKS
then to haue disputed them; 1 It being a Maxeme amonge logitians, that hee that denyes (and by like Reason) questions his principles is not worthy to be Reasoned with all, (as 2 this unsettled man did) yett this occationed some good, for hereby the ' orthodox were put upon more strict enquiry " into such grounds as the Lord in his holy word afords vs, for defence of his Sacred truthes and holy appoint- ments, which I hope became proffitable in Rooting and Grounding them therin and although Notwithstanding there may appeer some weaknes in those answares that were made; yett the Lord was pleased to blesse them for the silenceing of such Cauills as did 5 about those times arise from him and others; and to a more firmer establishment of 6 many I hope in the present truth, and hopeing that some future Benifitt may Redound vnto' surviueing Sainsts; if Noe otherwise yett that by the weaknes which Abler Christians may deserue in the prusall of those Answares they may be prouoked to Contribute theire healp as oppertunitie may present to more full and satisfactory Answares and therfore as followeth [49] haueing lately Received a Paper from our brother Samuell hickes Contain- ing severall qveryes to the Number of 7 14 in which hee Reqvireth a p'ticulare text of Scripture by vs to be produced for our practice wee haue Indeauored through the healp and Assistance of God, to Give our Grounds taken out of the Scriptures of truth Respecting the thinges by him mensioned as followeth
1 Youer first Concerning Aposteles if you meane by Apostles such Apostles as the 12 Apostles of the lambe wee affeirme that there is Noe Ground to expect any such for these Reasons following
1 Because those apostles of Christ were Called Imediately by the Lord Jesus and the name Given by him as appeers Luke the Sixt: 13; which by the way take Notice that it is presumption for any to assume that title; or for any to Call any soe but such as Christ hath soe Named; That such were Imediately Called will appeer by these Scriptures following 1 Gall: 1 mat : 10th: 2: mark 3:14:
1 Here a word is crossed out.
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2 Reason taken from theire worke which was as Respecting other p'ticulars soe to beare witnes to the Resurrection of Christ Actes 1: 22: as Christ appointed them actes 1: 8: and yee shalbe witnesses vnto mee both in Jurusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and vnto the vtmost prtes of the earth; which agreeth with Actes 10: 39 and 40 41: 42; him God Raised vp the third day; and shewed him openly not to all the people but vnto witnesses Chosen before of God euen to vs whoe did eate and drinke with him after hee arose &c compare heer- with 1 Cor: 9: 1: and 15:18:
3 Reason because they were Infallibly Assisted in declaring the mind of Christ soe as they Could not ere; and whatsoeuer they wrote or spake in the said p'ticulars were the Comaundements of the Lord Jesus Mathew 28: 20 1 Cor 11: 23 and 14 Chap: 37 and whoseuer shall bringe any other Godpell hee shall Acursed Galla: 1: 8: God alsoe bearing them wittnesses both with signes and wonders and Gifts of the holy speritt heb: 2:4: And as Concerning the 4th to the ephesians and the 12 &c though wee say that the Apostles are seased in theire pīsons yett not in theire doctrines; To be short wee Conceaue of 1 That text thus that all the 2 Minnestryes are fruites of Christs assention; and doe still Continew for the prfecting of the saints Pastours and Teachers being p'te of that Minnestry in the Church hath and doth still Injoy all the minnestryes Christ hath appointed for it which suiteth with ' Jude the 1 the faith once delivered to the saints and Jude 17: the p'mises duely Considered there is Noe Nessesitie to expect any such for the foundation of the Christian Church is laid alreddy by the m' Builders 1 Cor: 3: 10: 11: heb: 6:1:
Qu' 2 What forme of " Couenant the people of God made when they owned the truth in the primetiue times
Answar That the Churches in the New Testament were Con- stitued by Couenant appeers in that the p mitiue Christians walked in holy fellowship together with Admonition and exclusion as occa-
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SINGING OF PSALMS IS WORSHIPPING OF GOD
tion Required which Nessesarily presuposeth a Couenant according to actes the 1 second ' 42: Acts the 9:26:
2 how can two walk together except they be Agreed Amos 3:3:
3 The destinction of Churches soe as the Church of Corenth was not the Church of ephesus and soe of the Rest; and the members of one Church were Not the Members of another Collo:4:12: Rom. 16:1: and vnto this agree that which wee haue Ps. 50:2: 2 Cron: 15:12:
Query 3 Whether ' singing of Psalmes in a booke be a worshiping of God in speritt and truth seeing the Apostle saith singing in the speritt praying in the speritt 1 Cor:14:15
Answare Wee Answare that it is a Worshiping of God in speritt and truth Rightly to singe Psalmes: viz: Scripture Psalmes;
1 Because the Matter of them is Sperituall appointed to be sunge as being Indited by the speritt of God and Named Psalmes himes and sperituall songes Ephe 5:19 Collo:3:16: [60]
2 for the manor Respecting the Internall affection It is with Grace in our harts making mellodie to the Lord in our harts Ephe: 5:19: Collos: third 16:
3 It is sperituall worshipp because it is Comaunded of God 2 Cron: 29:30:
4 Query if I may worshipp God in sperit & truth singing out a booke why may I Not worship God in praying out of a booke
Answ: 1 by the way take Notice that wee Conceiue it to be a Great Contempt Cast upon the Scriptures of Truth to parraleel singing of Psalmes which are a p'te of the holy Scriptures Indited by the holy Speritt of God with Invented formes of prayers printed in bookes made by wee know not 4 whoe
2. The proportion of this youer Consequence or Inference hold not; of praying and singing Respecting the externall action; for in prayer wee speake to God but in singing wee speake 5 to 6 ourselues and one another by Admonishing our selues and one another Collosi 3:16:
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
If to singe be to pray; then euery one that singeth prayeth which Can not be respecting the externall acte of one 1 or the other; for if one should be asked whoe cometh from a Congregation in 2 Sperituall exercise what are they about; if hee should Answare they are pray- ing, when they are singing would hee & not be Judged by all to speake falsely; wee say respecting the externall acte onely; and soe by like Reason to say " they are singing when they are praying; which were not soe Rediculus if to singe were to pray as the objecters; Asertion seemeth to Infer;
3 The proportion holds not; in Respect of the externall actions of singing and praying because the Psalmes all of them are matter of Instruction; yee many of them " are not in the Least delivered prayer wise as Psalms 78:49: 45: and Many others;
5 qvery about Singing wherein a Scripture is Required to proue a mixed Multitude singing doe worship God in speritt and truth seeing that it is said that the prayers of the wicked are abomination to the Lord;
Answ: Wee say that that the Churches of Christ" are Intire in theire worshipp, and actes of Sperituall 7 worshipe may be prformed in A mixed Multitude Exod 15: 1: Comp with exedo 12: 38: and exodu: 14: last: 1 Cor: 14: 23: 24: 25; And wee know not that the prsence of any such as you Name doth or Can defile the worship of God more in singing than in saying Amen to the prayer of the faithfull; or any other p'te of sperituall worship such as are prophane are noe more prohibited from prforming actes of worshipp, by that Scripture you alledge then to Give ouer theire lawfull Callings because the plowing of the wicked is sin;
2 Wee find in the holy Scriptures an Insightment vnto all to singe praises to God as Psalmes 100:1: and 117, and wher God Insights wee see Noe Reason to prohibite; Besides wee doe not qvestian but that many of those that are. Not in Actuall Comunion in Church
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