USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Plymouth church records, 1620-1859 > Part 6
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A Breife Eclesiasticall History of the Church of Christ Att Plymouth Ann. Domi 1680
Many of the leaves of the vellum-covered volume being badly worn, some years ago the volume was taken to pieces and the leaves (including the vellum cover) inserted in a new volume bound in leather. Where a leaf is written on one side only, it is sometimes pasted on a page of the new volume, but most of the leaves
" These words, in an unknown hand, are on an unnumbered page, at the top of which something is written in an unknown hand, but as the leaf is torn only the words "Children of the Church" can be made out. The words on this page are the only ones in Part i not written by Nathaniel Morton. The verso of the page is blank.
4
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
derstand That there is any thing prticularly extant concerning it and almost all the Members of the said Church: both Elders & others Being deceased by whom Intelligence of Matters in that behalf might be procured, I dare not charge the Reuerend Elders of that Church whoe are Gon to there Rest; with any Neglect on that behalf for when they were in holland they were Nessesitated to defend the Cause of Christ by writing against opposites of seuerall sortes; soe as such like Imployes Together with the Constant and faithfull dis- charge of the duties of their offices probably took vpp the Greatest p'te of theire time; And since the Church prted and a considerable prte therof came vnto this Goeing downe of the sun; It might be Neglected prtly on the account1 That diuers writings some wherof being put forth in print, did point att; and in a Great measure dis- criminate the affaires of the Church; forasmuch (as then) the smale comonwealth in our first begining att New Plymouth Consisted mostly of such as were members of the church which was first begun
are mounted. When this was done, Part v, which contains 17 leaves, was also included in the volume, though as its leaves are smaller and have no watermark Part v could not have been a portion of the original vellum-covered volume. Hence as now made up, Volume I contains 111 leaves in five parts, each sepa- rately paged.
Volume I, as now bound in leather, has printed on the back of the cover, which measures 12% inches in height by 89% inches in width, the words:
Plymouth First Church Records. And on the front cover are printed these words: Plymouth First Church Records. First Book
The Lord our God be with us as he was with our Fathers.
Part i is, with the exception of a few words on p. 3 of this volume (see page 3 note 2), wholly in the hand of Nathaniel Morton. It contains 41 leaves, or 82 pages, of which six are not numbered, while the remainder are numbered from [1] to [76]. Six pages are blank - p. [3], p. [60], and four unnumbered pages, one being the verso of p. [1] and another the verso of p. [76]: see p. 3 note 2, above, and pp. 6 note 1, 8 note 3, 10 note 2, 113 note 4, 141 note 2, below.
For descriptions of Parts ii-v, see pp. 142 note 1, 190 note 1, 224 note 1, 249 note 1, below.
1 Written above "accoun," crossed out.
Christian Reader
I have look all it on a full frombout on not to Comvill to writing the first 23040mys nos other yoywaffe of the chunk of Christ al Permonth in Kovo Eng Pan forfinner of bulary idon't comebring it and almost all los Members of the
was It phrey you go fontes with any Comment on that to half for when Hesy ner in holland frage were Itoffofit alot to cause of Christ by writing again For grafitos of central portal for at funk life Employees says they write the Constant and forthefull fischimage of PRO duties of their fine
meafrod difriminate the affairod of the CRIAR; foundmult at thing the male tom on italy
wife ad word members of the thinth in our first boyining alt forof Plymouth omfio molise of fruit
o in Layson in follow for about the fooo?
which word furt Boyun and afterwards romayou in Lay
your' and Continente and ranges on all hogymouth in Moro Coyemul a fraleigh whonghe. Domainefe entill this day; if any this word con on this time; by hoefer wor thy Loadout
for was front faille fuhr und sultans of that they did not wholly Meghalt frit mallor
should which was filite tas low cylands homeviale In which fornational)
in the willownos, But it was hesgot by two that wow auditions thatif wood Thankin frat Behalf. She Confiltration rules of gut mos on the
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Chrisham Roadon
I have look all it at a duly forumbort on mos to Commit to seriling for first 300 mg son ofeveryway offe of the chunk of Christ als Drymouth in New England, forfirst of
youwant it clave not have the Ringsted Calore of that Cause who are you to Him! Pole- with any layout on that to half for when Hisy nero in holland flere novo defound this Could of Christ by wanting again Forgrafitos of fourall portal for at furth file Imalageto Boysthey with the Constant an fonte full disthings of the duties of their Hit
in our for begining alt How to Bymouth confor motsp of fisk ad word mombout of the ffimed which word furt boyun and afterwards canyou in Layson in follow for about the front of his fun and Continone and bom amoff nentill this day; if any time was on on this trou by thefer wor thy London friske, the seame is palio to layer on these which fall the first von, of from Hellgate and
MUR row ( Rant Paille fahrt al quilantes us that they did not totally Maytout fit mallor Tut gart france it landet fol to gull anfingulf agon my fervilh to nie formilking in a more ofserially with befest to the Colonne, f what towork, which would fuites flow Orlando homoviale In which forational
willownot; But it was thedead By frathat won Judicious that wat is thatin frat Behalf Of Confitoration robert out
AUF
Oh wait ron and in the first fir that was to Dotuttiwall
at frugt many difficulties to attbereit la formal times and for thatand
Boas propy and mostap to the low foo finales formulavill to him and food bestellung in full befort might filly have bin nullified to fit moved; fint fin Proslul in and among festivalart of other fahrt;
Conta familial Crowe Pro Portion and assordante of this ( trak hours) The ad to read it out forfisherat &Protein for loving how will dofrom muth of the Good and Honeyand power of God who at all the first brought fais palik of the world out of the womb of Nothing halk brought to many formou Rundt of ( hrif one of the final daymings with Many of her to popule Confiden. With then mais off work with in la flexions aufal flor til
of Romaine Thymian ( Rundt
Desmouth in I Con Pancard Company 13th 16 80
Handwriting of Nathaniel Morto Engraved for The Colonial Society of Massachusets
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NATHANIEL MORTON'S PREFACE, 1680
and afterwards carryed on in Leyden in holland; for about the space of twelue yeers and Continewed and carryed on att Plymouth in New England; a smale p'te wherof Remaineth vntill this day; if any thing was don on this kind; by those worthy Leaders; I suppose; the blame is Rather to be layed on those which had the first view; of theire studdyes and had theire bookes and writings in Custody after theire decease; for I ame prswaded that such was theire faith- fulnes and prudence as that they did not wholly Neglect this matter some years since it pleased God to putt an Impulse vpon my speritt to doe somthing in a historicall way Concerning New England, more especially; with Respect to the Collonie off New Plymouth; which was Intitled New Englands Memoriall; 1 In which I occa- sionally I took Notice of Gods Great and Graciouss worke in erecting soe many Churches of Christ in this wildernes; But it was Judged by some that were Judicious that I was to sparing and short in that behalf; The Consideration wherof put mee on thoughts of Recol- lecting somthing more prticularly? Relateing to the Church of Plymouth but it pleased the Lord in holy wisdom soe to dispose that haueing accomplished my desires somtime after the finishing of this worke I was solliseted to lend it to a Reuerand frind att Boston where it was burned in the first fire that was soe destructiue att Boston in the yeer 1667.8) yett Notwithstanding I haue through the goodnes of God Crowded through many difficulties to atcheiue it the second time; and for that end did once againe Repaire to the studdy of my much honored Vncle William Bradfo[rd'] Esquire deceased for whose care and faithfulnes in such like Respects wee stand bound; as firstly and mostly to the Lord soe5 secondarily, to him and his whose labours in such Respect might fitly haue bin
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1 Printed at our Cambridge in 1669: see Publications of the Colonial Society of Massachusetts, xiv. 268-281, xviii. 15-26.
" Here "Related" is crossed out.
" This date, which is twice underscored, is doubtless an error for 1676, for it was in the fire of November 27, 1676, that Increase Mather (to whom Morton here refers) lost part of his library: see Mather's Diary under that date, 2 Pro- ceedings Massachusetts Historical Society, xiii. 373, 404.
' Words or letters blotted or torn away or undecipherable are enclosed within square brackets. Such words or letters are in many cases taken from Bradford's History of Plymouth Plantation (edition of 1912), and in some cases from Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers (1841).
" Here the word "secondly" is crossed out.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
published to the world; had they Not bin Involved in and amongst p'ticulars of other Nature;
Gentle Reader I humbly Craue thy Patience and acceptance of this smale treatice soe as to Read it ouer Consideratly wherin soe doeing thou wilt descern much of the Goodnes Mercye and power of God; whoe as att the first brought this fabrick of the world out of the womb of Nothing; hath brought soe many famous Churches of Christ out of soe smale beginings; with Many other vsefull Con- sidera[tions] that thou mayest meet with in the serious prusall therof; Soe leaueing thee and this smale work To the blessing of the onely wise God
I Remaine thyne in Christ Jesus
NATHANIELL MORTON;
Plymouth in New England January 13th 16801
[T]his was originally pened by m" Willam Brad- ford Gou" of New Plymouth.ª
[1]]
An Introduction to the Eclesiasticall history of the Church of Christ att Plymouth in New England as followeth;
It is well knowne to the Godly and Judicious how that euer since the first breakeing out of the light of the Gospell in our honorable Nation of England which was the first of Nations whom the lord Adorned therwith after that Grosse darknes of Popery which had Couered and ouerspred the Christian world, what warrs and opposi- tions euer since Satan hath Raised mainetained and Continewed against the Saints from time to time; in one sort or other; sometimes by bloody death and Crewell torments; otherwhiles Imprisonments banishments and other hard vsages as being loth his Kingdome should Goe downe, the truth prevaile, and the Churches of God Reuert to theire Ancient purety and Recouer theire primatiue order libertie and bewty; But when hee Could not prevaile, by these means
. 1 The date is underscored three times. This address is written on an un- numbered page, the verso of which is blank.
· " The heavy face figures within square brackets indicate the pagination of the original.
' Words written in the margin are sometimes, as in this instance, printed in the margin; sometimes printed in the text; and sometimes printed in the foot- notes.
7
THE MACHINATIONS OF SATAN AGAINST THE SAINTS
against the maine truthes of the Gospell but that they began to take Rooting in Many places being watered with the blood of the Martires; and blessed fromn heauen with a Graciouse Increase, hee then began to take him to his ancient Strattagems vsed of old against the first Christians; That when by the bloody and Barbarosenes of the heathen Emperours hee Could not stop and subvert the course of the Gospell; but that It speedily ouerspred with a wonderful Celeritie to the then best known prts of the world hee then began to sow errors herresies and wonderfull desentions amonst the pro- fessors themselues, working vpon theire prid and Ambition; with other Corrupt Passions Insident to all Mortall men: yee to the Saints themselues (in some Measure) by which woefull effects followed, as not onely bitter; Contensions and hartburnings Schismes1 with other horrible Confusions, but Satan took occasion and advantage thereby to ffoist in a Number of vile Serrimonies with many vnproffitable Canons and decrees which haue since bine as snares to many peacable poor soules euen to this day; soe as in the ancient times the prsecu- tions by the heathen and theire Emperours was not Greater then of the Christians one against another; The Arians and other theire accomplices against the orthodox and true Christians as wittnesseth Socrates in his 2cond book; saith hee) "was noe less then that of Mibr: 2 Cha 23 old practised towards the Christians when they were Compelled and drawne to Sacrefice to Idolls for many Indured sundry kinds of Torments oftens " Racking and dismembering of theire Joynts Confiscateing of theire Goods some bereaued of theire Natiue soyle others departed this life vnder the hands of the tormentor and some died in banishment and Neuer saw theire Country againe;" ?
The like Meathod Satan hath seemed to hold in these Latter times since the truth began to springe and spred after the Great defection made by Antichrist the Man of sin; for to lett pas the Many ex- amples in sundry Nations in seuerall places of the world and In- stance of our oune; when as the old serpent Could not prevaile by those fiery fflames and other his Crewell tragedies, which hee by his
" Here the words "and hart burnings" are crossed out.
" This word (now obsolete) is plain, but was printed "others" by Young in his Chronicles of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 8.
' Morton's quotation marks, usually placed in the margin, can not be printed in that fashion and are here transferred to the text.
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8 PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
Instruments put in 1 ure euery wher in the dayes of Queen Mary and before; hee then began another kind of warr and went more Closely to worke Not onely to oppuggen but euen to Ruinate and destroy the kingdom of Christ by more Cecrett and subtill meanes, by kindleing the flames of Contention and sowing the seeds of dis- cord and bitter enmitie amongst the professors and seeming Reformed themselues, for when hee Could not prevaile by the former meanes against the principall doctrines of faith; hee bent his force against the holy discipline and outward Regiment of the Kingdom of Christ by which those holy doctrines should be Conserved, and true Piety maintained amongst the Saints and people of God;
Actes & mon: pago 881ª Edition: 3:
Mr ffox Recordeth how that besides those worthy martires and · Confessors which were burned in Queen Maryes dayes and other- wise tormented, many both Studients and others filed out of the land to the Number of 800: and became seuerall Congregations att Wesell ffrankford Bassill Emden Markpurge Strausburough & Geneua &c:
Amongst whom especially those att ffrankford began a bitter warr of Contention and Persecution about the Cerrimonies and seruice book and other Popish and Antichristian [stuffe t]he Plague of England to this day, which are like [the] high places [in Israell,] which the prophetts Cryed out against and were the[ir ruine;]' [2] which the better p'te sought according to the puritie of the Gospell to Root out, and vtterly [to abandon] and the other prt vnder vailed pretences for theire .owne ends and " advancem[ents] sought as stifly to Continew maintaine and defend, as appereth by the discourse thereof published [in] print Anno: 1575 a book " that deserues better to be knowne and Considered then it is the one syde Labored to [have] the Right worshipp of God and discipline of Christ established in the Church according to the simplisitie of the Gospell without the mixture of mens Inventions, and to haue and to be Ruled by the Lawes of Gods word dispenced in those offices
" Here "vs" or "vse" is crossed out. The word employed by Bradford is "ure" (History, i. 6).
" This figure is uncertain.
" The verso of p. [1] is blank.
' Here "advantages" is crossed out.
" A Brieff Discours off the Troubles begonne at Franckford in Germany Anno Domini 1554, compiled by William Whittingham.
. Here something, perhaps "On side," is interlined and crossed out.
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9
CONTENTIONS ABOUT POPISH CEREMONIES, ETC.
and by those officers of Pastours and Teachers and Elders accord- ing to the Scriptures; The other partye though vnder many Coullers and pretences Indeauored to haue the episcopall dignitie, after the 1 Popish manor, with theire large power and Jurisdiction still Retained with all those Covrt Cannons, and Cerrimonies together, with all such liueings Revenewes and subbordinate officers with other such means as formerly upheld theire Antichristian2 Greatnes, and enabled them with Lordly and tiranus power to prsecute the poor servants of God, This Contension was soe Great as Neither the honor of God& the Comon p'secution nor the Mediation of M. Calvin and other worthyes of the Lord, in those places, Could pre- vaile with those thus Episcopally minded; but they proceaded by all meanes to disturbe the peace of this poor p"secuted Church soe farr as to Charge very vnjustly, and vngodlely (yett prelate Like) some of theire Cheiffe opposers with Rebellion and high Treason against the Emperour and other such Crimes;
And this Contension died not with Queen Mary nor was left be- yond the seas but att her death these people Returning into England vnder Gracious Queen Elizabeth many of them p'serued aspired to Bishopprickes and other promotions according to their aimes and desires. & Now' That Inveterate hatred against the holy discipline of Christ in his church hath Continewed to this day, In soemuch that for feare it should prevaile all plott and deuises haue bin vsed to keep it out Insenceing the Queen and State against it as dan- gerouse to the Comon wealth and that it was most Needfull for the foundamenta[l] points of Religion should be preaced in ' in those Ignorant and superstitious t[imes] and to win the weake and Ignorant, they might Retaine diuers harmles Ceremonies and though it were to be wished that diuers thinges were Reformed yett this was [not] a season for it; and many the like to stopp the mouthes of the More Godly; to bring them on to yeild to one Ceremony after an other, and one corruption after an other by the[se] " wyles beguilling some and Corrupting others vntill att length they began to p'secute al[l]
1 Here "Popp" is crossed out. " Here "way" is crossed out.
" Here the words "as neither the Comon p'secution" are crossed out.
' The words " & Now," which are interlined and perhaps crossed out, are ob- scure: they are not in Bradford's History (i. 9).
" Here the words "in those pites" are crossed out:
" Here "wyl" is crossed out.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
Euseb: lib: 6 Chap 42
the zealous professors in the land (altho they knew Little what this disipline mente) both by word and deed if they would not submitt to theire Ceremonies and become Slaues to them and theire popish trash which haue noe Ground in the word of God, but are Relicts of the man of sin; and the more the light of the Gospell Gre[w] the more they vrged theire subscribsions to these corruptions soe as notwithstanding] all theire former pretences and faire Coullers they whose eyes God had not Justly blinded might esily see whereto these thinges tended; and to Cast Contempt the more vpon the Cenceer servants of God they approbriously and Most Injuriously Gaue vnto and Imposed vpon them that Name of puritans, which is said the Nouatians out of Prid did assume and take vnto themselues, and lamentable it is to see the effects which haue followed; Religion hath bine disgraced: the Godly Greiued afflicted p'secuted and many excilled sundry haue lost theire liues in prisons and other wayes, on the other hand sin hath bin Countenanced Ignoranse prophanes and athiesme Increased the papests Incurraged to hope againe for a day;
page 421
This made that holy man m' Perkins1 Cry out in his exhortations vnto Repenten[ce] on Zepha 2 Religion saith hee, "hath bin amongst vs this 35 yeers But the more it is published the more it is Con- temned and Reproached of many &c Thus not proph[anes] nor wickednes but Religion it selfe is a byword a mocking stock and Matter of Reproach soe that in England att this day the man or woman that begins to profess Relig[ion] and to serue G[od must] Resolue with him selfe to sustaine M[ock]s and Injvries euen [as] though hee [lived amongst] the enimies of Religion" and [this com- mone] experience [hath confirmed, and made too apparente."] [4 ª]
But before I pass on I can not omitt an observation worthy to be noted which was observed by the author viz: m' William Bradford as followeth:
Saith hee, full litle did I think that the doune fall of the Bishopps with theire Courts Cannon and Ceremonies had bin soe near when I first began this writing which about the year 1630 and soe peeced att Leasvre time afterwards, or that I should haue liued to haue seen
1 William Perkins, Godly and learned Exposition of Christ's Sermon on the Mount, 1618.
. " Page [3] is blank.
11
WILLIAM BRADFORD'S ELEVATION OF SPIRIT
or heard of the same But it is the lords doeing and ought to be Marvelous in our eyes; euery Plant which mine heauenl[y] 1 father hath not planted saith our father shalbe Rooted vp: Mat: 15: 13: I haue Snared thee and thou art taken oh Babell (Bishops) and thou wast not aware; thou art found and alsoe caught because thou hast Striven against the Lord Jer: 50: 24: But will they needs strive against the truth against the servants of the lord; what and against the lord himself doe they provoake the lord to anger are they stronger than hee 1 Cor 10: 22: noe noe they haue mett with theire match; Behold I Come against the oh proud man saith the lord God of hostes for thy day is coming euen the time that I will visitt thee Jer: 50: 31: May not the people of God now say; and these poor people among the Rest; The lord hath brought forth our Rightous- nes come lett vs declare in Zion the work of the Lord our God Jer: 51: 10: lett all filesh be still before the Lord for hee is Raised vp out of his holy place Zach: 2: 13:'
This poor people may say (amonge the thousands of Israell) when the Lord brought againe the Captiuity of Zion wee were like them that dreame Psalm 126: 1 The Lord hath done Great thinges for vs whereof wee Rejoyce verse the third; They that sow in teares shall Reape in Joy; they went weeping and Carryed precious seed but they shall Return with Joy and bringe theire sheaues verse 5: 6:
Doe yee not Now see the fruits of youer labours oh all yee serv- ants of the Lord that haue suffered for his truth and haue bin faith- full witnesses of the same; and yee little handfull amongst the Rest the least amongst the thousands of Israell; you haue not had a seed time, but many of you haue seen a Joyfull haruest. should yee not then Rejoyce yee againe Rejoyce and sing hallelujah salua- tion and Glory and honor and power be to the Lord our God for true and Righteouse are his Judgments Reu: 19: 1:2.
But thou wilt aske what is the matter what is done; Why art thou a stranger [in] Israell that thou shouldest not know what is done; are not those Jebusites ouercome that haue vexed the people of Israell soe longe euen holding Jerusalem euen vntil Dauids Dayes
1 Here a word, apparently "father," is crossed out.
2 Morton has here written in the margin: "this eleuation of speritt was a considerable time after the first pening of thes writings but heer entred because of the suitablenes of the mater goeing before it;"
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
and bin as thornes in theire sydes soe many ages and Now bega[n] to scorne that not any Dauid should meddle with them; they begaine to fortify theire tower as that of the old babilonians; But those proud Anakims are Now throwne downe; and theire Glory layed in the dust, the tiranous Bishopps are ejected there Co[urts] desolued theire Canons fforceles theire service books Casheired theire Cerre- monies vseles [and] despised theire plotts for Popery prevented, and all theire superstitions dis[carded] and Returned to Roome from whence they Came; and the moniments of Idolletry [rooted] out of the land, and the proud and prophane supporters and Crewell de- fenders [of] these, as bloody Papists wicked Athiests and theire mallignant Consorts marue[lously] ouerthrowne, and are not these Great things, whoe Can deney it;
Annº Dom 1646
But whoe hath don it euen hee that siteth on the white horse whoe is called faithf[ul] and true and Judgeth and fighteth Righteously Reuelati 19: 11: whose Garments are diped in blood; and his Name was Called the word of God verse 13: for hee shall Rule them with a Rod of Iron for it is hee that treadeth the winepresse of the ffeircnes of the wrath of God Almighty, and hee hath vpon his Garment and vpon his thye a name written, the Kinge of Kinges and the lord of Lords, Hallelujah;
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