USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > Records of the First Church at Dorchester, in New England, 1636-1734 > Part 5
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
lation, by m' pearson of long Island, & Goodman ffordgier [Folger] of Martins Vinyard : & m' Eliats owne sone : & be- cause ye time would not p'mit for ye other two Indians to make ther relation at that time, therefore ye relation weh they had made ye day before unto m' pearson in privat it was de- clared by m' pearson : & many questions put to ye Indians in point of knowledg to ye great rejoising of ye hearers & soe it was left in ye Closs of ye day to ye Counsell of ye messen- gers of ye churches what was next to be done
[43] The 3 of ye (5) 59
This day letters were read in ye Curch from ye ginerall Court at Quenectecot, & from ye Church at Hartford ye sub- stance wherof was yt ye church of dorchester would send M' Mather wth other Elders of other Churches to meet at hartford uppon ye 19 of ye 6 month next for to heer & give Counsell about ye dissiding of ye differences in y Church & ye desenting p'ty : ye matter was taken into Consideration untill another time
The 10 of ye (15) 59 a letter is read and agreed on by ye church for to be sent to ye place above mentioned for to excus yª Churches not sending of M' Mather according to ther request, in regard of yª diffeculty of ye Jorney unto his adged body wth intemations yt if they should appoint ye place of meeting to some wheer in ye bay, ye Church would afford them any help they Could
The 14th of ye (6) 59 Motion was made from severall of ye elders of ye bay unto ye Church of Dorchester whether it weer not meete yt those nine Churches to whom ye Church at Hartford. had formerly sent should not vollentarely by ther messengers appoint a Councell to be assembled some wheer in ye bay for ye hearing of those differences weh weere in that Church & notice to be given unto both p'tys if they would come unto it being looked at as ye last remedy yt would be off'ed for ye healling therof : ye Church Consented & made choys of M' Mather o' Teacher
The 23 (8) 59 Mr Mather (who was ye Churches messenger for y' bussynes of Hartford) did make a retorne . of that Messadge by publeshing in wrighting ye determination & sentance of ye Councell, & the loveing & Comfortable acceptance therof in both p'tys wth ther readynes to acc- knowledg & make Confession of ye faillings of each to ye other. for wch we ought to give god ye praise : ye expences of
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
this meetting was discharged by those severall churches who sent ther messengers it Amounted unto Ili 88 7ª for each man
[44]
The 9e (8) 59 Was Mahalaleel Munings dismissed unto ye New Church at Boston : he dyed ye 27 of ye (12) 59 being drowned in ye mill Creeke at Boston in ye night
The 13th (9) 59 it was declared unto ye Church & Com- mended unto them from ye generall Court for to have a pub- lique day of thanksgiveing to be observed by all the Churches wthin this Jurisdiction : in humble and thankfull acknowledg- ing the mercy of god to New england Viz in the Continua- tion of o' peace & for ye gracious retorne of o' prayers put up unto him in ye wett spring by giveing us a seassonable seedtime & harvest ; & for gods giveing his people a Joynt Consent for to wthstand & suppress ye blaspheamers of his truth & gosple & other p'ticulers then mentioned & ye day appointed is to be the 8th day of ye (10) 59
The 5 of ye (12) 59 it was p'possed by o' Teacher unto ye Church from some of ye elders hearabouts whether it weer not Convenient yt the Churches (as many of them as Could) should Joyntly set apart a day of humilliation on ye behalf of o' native Cuntry they being at this time in such an un- settled way of government being wthout p'tector & without parlament only ye power remaining in ye army & they alsoe being devided : whether (I say) god doe not call us to doe some thing more than ordinary for them in earnest prayer to god for them : ye day p'possed is the 22 of this Instant : to ye wch this church did Joyntly consent
The 19th of ye (12) 59 was Jeremi Haaws ye servant of Mr patten and Thomas Lake ye servant & kinsman of o' Brother Tho : Lake called forth publiquely & reproved for mis-behav- ing in ye assembly in ye
[45]
former p't of this day it being ye saboth before ye day of humiliation for Ingland, it being shewed to us this day y reformation of sinnes is requiered in those y' come to humble ther soulls before ye lord :
The 25 of ye (1) 1660
The day above said was report made by M' Mather unto the Congregation, of a sad accident yt was fallen out at Hart- ford, namly of a yong man named Abraham Warner, about
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
ye adge of 20 years (who being left of god & prevailled wth by satan) drowned himself in ye watter, leaveing behind him in his brothers pocket a writting to his father wherein he doe advis his father to look to ye ways & walkings of his Brother.
M' Mather uppon this occasion gave an exortation first unto Children to take heed of refusing instruction from ther parents & not to pleass themselves wth this that they weer ye Children of godly parents as it seems this yong man was And 2 alsoe unto parents to looke to ye ways & walkings of ther Children & ffamelys aleaging ye example of Elly &c :
The 13 (3) 1650
This day M' Mather after the evening exercise desiered to speake a word or two unto ye Church the substance therof was this viz
first he desiered ye Church & ye members of it to take notice : that (as it was a whill since Concluded namly yt ye Children of such as are members of the Church are to be lookt at as members alsoe, though as it they have not been receaved to ye lords supper) soe both himselfe & ye other elders doe still look at them
[46]
soe to be & therfore not to be thought by any yt it is for- gotten or their minds Changed but doe look at such Children whose parents on or both who are in Covenant wth ye Church y ther Children are members alsoe :
2 Secondly his exortation was unto the breatheren & sisters of the Church that they would mind it & make Con- science of p'forming yt duty of watchfulnes & exortation or Consolation or rep'hention unto such Children according as ther adge & Capassety did requier or would admite off
3 Thirdly his exortation was unto such Children of ye Church that they would son look at themselves as to expect ye benifite & p'veledge of Church watchfulnes & that they would soe Carry themselves as such as must give an account in casse of defect according as ther adge or Capassety would p'mitt
after he had ended his spech then both ye rulling elders stood up first thone & then ye other & seconded what M' Mather had said: & said y' it was ther mind alsoe & that they did not dissent from any thing y' o' teacher had at this time spol-en.
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
The 10th of ye (4) 60
This day it was commended to o' Church amongst ye others of this Jurisdiction from the ginerall Court of a pub- like day of Humilliation to be keept by all ye Congregations in this Collony in ye behalfe of o' Native Cuntry ye great fears of troubles breaking forth ther & ye destractions y' are amongst them as also in regard of o' selves for the rissing gineration the day to be keept is the 21 of this instant
[47]
June on weh day M' pelletiah Glover preached in the fore- noon out of the I Zackery 3
& M' Mather in ye afternoon out of the 21 Ezekell 27
The 15 of ye (5) 60 at ye motion of ye Church of Tanton by ther letter ther was Chosen M' Mather & M' Withington (as messengers of this church) for to goe to Tanton to- gether wth ye messengers of ye Church of Boston & Way- mouth for to heer ye difference yt is between them & M' Street & to help them by ther Counsell & advise : ye day of meeting to be ye 25 of this Instant
Alsoe ye day above said ye Church was put in mind (by ye elders) of ther slacknes in coming to ye Contribution & dis- charging ther nots to ye Deakons
The 29 (5) 60 M' Mather & M' Withington who wecr y" Churches messengers to Tanton retorned theire messadge namly y ye offences beetween both p'tys weer heard and dis- cussed a comfortable essew obtained through ye blessing of god : and thanks was retorned unto this Church for sending help unto them
The 26 (6) 60
Rogger Sumner was this day dismissed from this church y* he might wth other Christians at Langchester Joyue to- gether for ye begining of a Church ther :
The 9 (7) 60
This day after the evening exersis ye Church being desired to stay M' Mather made report to ye Church of ye greate desier of the wife of James Minot to have her Children bap- tized though as yet
[48]
they neither she nor her husband weer Judged mee; to Come to ye lords table ; to web end they had both of them p'mised m' Mather y' they would publikly owne and take hold of ther fathers Covenant
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
To this divers of ye Church shewed their Consent but some weer unsatisfied & therfore it was defered untell ye next lords day being
16 (7) 60 the 16 of this instant ; but yet ye same breatheren weer unsatisfied & deferred until
30 (7) : 60 a fortnight after & then ye question was more fully discoursed but not concluded
7 (8) 60 The 7th of ye 8th Mº 1660 after ye exercis Elder withington stood up before ye Assembly was dismised & said that some breatheren had been wth them that weeke & told them y' they ap'hended m' Mathers Arguments for baptizing of such children formerly spoken off was not it [yet] answered & therfore desired y' it might be now spoken unto at this time: on of ye arguments being thus framed
Arguments for ye baptizing of such Children whos parents are not yet admited to full communion at ye lords table but yet are Judged members & have taken hold of ther fathers Covenant
They y' weer once members of ye Church & weer never Cut off ; they remaine members still : and soe it is wth thos parents who doe desier baptizme for ther Children they weer once members when they weer infants, else they should not have been baptized, and they weer never cut off, for if they be cut off it must be either by death, or excommunica- tion, or if ye Church doe sease to be a Church, then a mem- ber surviving cannot remaine to be a member because the Church is extinct & is not in being: And some doe add this that they may loos ther
[49]
membership by apostasy & wilfull rending themselves off from ye Church but none of thes have cut off thes from being members weh doe desier baptizme for ther Children, and therfore being members they should have baptisme for ther Children to be a seal unto ye Covenant
Another Argument
If such parents weer members of ye Church in ye old tes- tament, & ther Children weer cercomsised then such parents are members of ye Church in ye new testament & ther Chil- dren should be baptized
Another Argument
If ye Church in ye old & new testament, for essence & substance be ye same, & if all ye alterations be for ye bet-
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
ter, then it remaines as have ben said but ye Church then & now is for kind the same ye gentells are fellow ayers of ye same body & they are grafted upon ye same olive :
And for alterations ther are many but still for ye better as in heb : 7 & 8 Chapters a better Covenant as for instance then they must be Cercomsised wch was both shamefull & painefull, but baptisme is neither.
againe cercomsission was only on ye malls, but baptisme is for women alsoe
they weer limetted to ye 8th day but wth us any day
And soe for ye passover it was but once a year but o' lords supper is very often : againe ye pasover was upon a p'size day but we are not tyed to that :
they had many shaddows & tips & burdens, but thes are removed my yoke is essy saith christ :
ther shaddows weer dark & obscure but now ye vaille is removed.
then it was to on people only but now to all nations
then all must goe to Jerusalem but now on Congregation have supremasy of Jurisdiction wthin it selfe : so y all is for ye better
[50]
but if then they may be cercomsized but now must not be baptized then it is for ye worse
Thes things & such like weer discursed that evening ye 7 of ye 8 Mº : 60 : but nothing fully concluded : though thes arguments unto some weer not answered to ther ap'hention : & some weer still unsatisfied :
The 4th of ye (9) 60 was old M™ Glover & Habbukkock her Sonne dismissed unto ye old Church at Boston, as alsoe Nathaniell Walls and Susan his wife weer dismissed at ye same time to ye same Church
The 9th of ye (10) 60 M' Mather made a motion to ye Church and Congregation of keeping a day of humilliation on ye behalfe of of selves & o' native Cuntry viz to repent of o' sinne weh may p'voke ye lord to take a way or to deny us those libertys & p'veledges wch we have injoyed thes many years in Church & Common wealth And for o' native Cuntry the king being retorned againe in pease w"hout ye effusion of blod : for wch peace of theirs as we have cause to bless god for it, soe we should pray y ther peace may be continued & yt ye hurtfull sword may not be awakened againe if it be his will : Alsoe we should pray on ye behalf of thos that are in place of rull & government ther in y' land yt ye lord would
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
rull & sway ther harts yt they may favour ye Cause of Christ & p'mote ye gosple : the day thought upon was the next lect- uer day weh is ye IIth of this instant to ye weh ye Church & asemby consented by ther silence
The former p't of ye day M' Mather did pray & preach out of ye I Tim 2: 1 : 2:
The latter p't of ye day spent by m' Eliot out of ye 3 of Job 25
[51]
The first of ye (11) 60 ther was also a fast keept at Rocksbery on their lectuer day :
The 6 of ye (11) 60 M' Holway was dismissed from this Church for to Joyn unto the old Church at Boston :
The 20 (11) 60 after the evening exercis motion was made unto ye Church that they would meet together upon the sixt day next wch would be ye 25 of this instant to consider something about contribution ; at wch meeting after many agetations it was agreed by a vote that each Communicant should in a months time bring unto the deacons a peck of wheat for bread & wine: And for weekly contribution motion was then made y' M' Mather would take occasion to preach uppon that subject which accordingly he did upon the 3 of ye (12) 60 from I Cor 16 I
The 27 (11) 60 prudence Clap (who marryed wth Simon peck) was dismissed unto the Church of Hingham
The 3 (12) 60 Aron way and his wife & William Ireland weer dismissed unto ye new Church at Boston
The 10 (12) 60 M' Mather acquainted the Church & Con- gregation y ye elders had latly a meeting to Consider of something y they thought god called us unto in thes times & ther conclussion was yt they would p'pose it to ther sev- erall congregations whether it weer not meet to keep a sollemne day of humilliation unto ye lord in all the Churches heer abouts the grounds of it weer such as thes viz
[52]
ffirst ye ginerall sickneses y+ have been latly amongst us & yet are in some places 2 to intreat ye lord for ye Contin- uance of o' peace & libertys in Church & Common wealth and yt thos addresses which have been latly made by ye ginerall Court unto the higher powers in Ingland that they may find acceptance : the day mentioned was the last 4th day of this instant wch would be ye 27th day of ye month it was consented unto by o' Congregation
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
M' Mather exercized both p'ts of the day out of ye 14 Jer 7: 8:9:
Hester ye daughter of Tho : Wiswall who maryed wth Cap- tin Johnsons sonne was this 24 (1) 6} dismissed to Joyn unto ye Church of Woo-burne
The 28 (2) 61
The day above said was dismissed M' Eliazer Mather William Clark Henery Cunlife & Henery Woodward for to Joyne wth sume other for the gathering of a Church at Northampton
The 9 (4) 61 was deakon Edward Clap & M' peletiah Glover now at Springfield & Tho Tilstone chosen as mes- sengers of ye church to goe to Northampton to ye gathering of ye Church ther wch is to be don upon ye 18th of this instant
The 23 of ye (4) 61 the messengers of ye Church web weer sent unto Northampton made report of what was ther done namly that upon ye day appointed ther was a Church gath- ered in that place & that M' Eliazer Mather was then or- dained pastor to that Church the same day
[53] The 30th (4) 61
The day above said a paper was read wch Came from ye ginerall Court wherin they did commend unto ye Churches a day of Sollemne thanksgiveing to be kept to god for mercys receaved from him Viz answer of prayers upon or late addresse or petition made unto ye King, his graciouse acceptance & favourable answer : alsoe for ye continuance of o' libertys in Church & Commonwealth, The seasonablenes of ye spring : ffreedome from such contagious & mortall sick- nesses wch we have sometimes had : And the continuance of ye lives of such as are anchient & godly both in church & Commonwealth : ye day apointed is ye 10th of ye (5) 61
Mr Mather exercised both p'ts of ye day from ye 50 psalm 14:
The I (7) 61
The day abovesaid was dismissed thes p'sons : Viz : Sarah ye wife of William Clark : Elizabeth ye wif of Hen : Wood- ward & Susana ye wife of Hen Cunlife : for to Joyne to ye Church at Northampton
The 13 of ye (8) 61 Mª pellatiah Glover was dismissed unto the Church at Springfeild they intending shortly to Call & ordaine him to be officer ther
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
The 17 (9) 61
The day abovesaid it was agreed unto in ye Church y' letters should be sent to ye breatheren & sisters at Boston & soe els wher for to advise them to Joyne to ye Churches wher they did inhabit or to shew ther Reasons to ye Contrary
The same day also it was p'posed in ye Church (from ye elders being lately meet together) whether god did not call us to fast & pray in ye behalfe of o' selves in regard of ye sicknesses y' had been among
[54]
us of late & ye fears of the looseing o' libertys in Church & Common wealth : and in regard of o' Native cuntry to pray y ye blessing of god may be upon them & that supsti- tion & popery & pphannes may not two fare abound in that land; ye day intended is ye 4th day of ye tenth Mº to this ye Church Consented
Mr Mather preached & prayed the former p't of ye day : from 63 Esai 18 and M' Increas Mather ye other p't of ye day from 122 psa 6
The 22 of ye (10) 61
The day abovesaid it was declared unto ye Church & Congregation yt ye ginerall Court did call upon ye severall Churches of this Jurisdiction for to set apart a day to fast & pray both in regard of ye many sins yt weer found in ye Cuntry and likwis in ye behalf of o' native Cuntry : ye day appointed is ye 2 of ye (11) 61
M' Mather did exercis both p'ts of ye day in prayer & preaching from ye I of ye Lament : 7 Jerusalem remembered in ye days of her affliction all her pleasant things weh once she injoyed &c
The 23 (12) 61 notice was given to ye Church y' ye gin- erall Court did requier all the Churches in this Jurisdiction for to send of ther elders or messengers unto Boston upon ye II of ye (1) 62 for a Senod to be held, to Consider of some questions, relateing to Church order Viz: first What is ye subject of baptisme : of Consosiation of Churches, wth maner how : for wch Mr Mather & Mr Increase his sonne was Chosen
[55] The 25 (3) 62
The day abovesaid notice was given yt ye ginerall Court did call upon all ye Churches for to fast & pray in ye behalfe
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
of this Cuntry because of gods hand goeing out in an un- usuall maner in regard of sicknesses & disseases & mor- tallety more than formerly & ye great drowth over ye Cuntry Mr. Broadstreet ) as alsoe in regard of thos that went to England Mr. Norton Sfor to negociate on ye behalfe of ye Cuntry that god would bless them in that worke ye day apointed is ye 5 day of ye 4 Mº being ye 5 day of ye weeke
Mr Mather did pray & preach the former part of ye day from ye 2 Cron 7 13 14 v : & M' Tory ye latter p't of ye day
The 10 (6) 62
The day abovesaid the Church and Congregation together did unanimously agree & vote that the elders & some of ye breatheren should give Mr William Stoughton an invitation for to bestow his labours in preaching ye word amongst us in a Constant way: & the next saboth being ye 17 Instant they returned ther answer of his loveing acceptation of ther message for to take it into consideration & at ye same time M Stoughton himselfe did manifest his willingness to ye motion p'sented to him
The 28 (7) 62
The day above said Mr Mather (who was on of ye Churches messengers sent unto the senod) did give a breife account of what was ther concluded on : Viz : that after the theird meeting of ye messengers the first being in ye first month the 2ª in ye 4th month & the 3ª in ye (7) Moneth the Senod had agreed upon thos two questions p'pounded & Mr Mather did at that time read over the heads of thos things then
[56]
Concluded on & soe dismissed the assembly :
The 26 (8) 62
The day abovesaid notice was given that the ginerall Court did call uppon the Churches for to keep a publique day of thanksgiveing to god for thes Reassons: Viz for give- ing unto us such a portion of ye fruts of ye earth in o' late harvest notwithstanding the greate drouth y' we had this Summer : 2 ye saffe & speedy retorne of o' publique messen- gers from England : 3 the libertys of ye gospell wch we doe yet inJoy : the day appointed is ye 5 of November being ye 4th day of ye weeke
M' Mather preached ye fore p't of ye day from ye 30 Esai 20 21
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
M' Stoughton ye latter p't of ye day from ye 147 psa : 10 II
Ther was alsoe at ye same time notice given y' the ginerall Court did alsoe thinke it meet to Call uppon ye Churches to keepe a publike day of humiliation for thes Causes Viz : first the sad & low Condition of the Churches of god abroad in other p'ts 2 ye prvalency of Ante Christ 3 some publicke rebuke of god p'vedence towards this Cuntry : the day appointed is to be the 3 day of Desem : being ye 4th day of ye weeke
Mr Mather preached ye fore p't of ye day from psal : 25 : 22 Mr Stoughton ye latter pt of ye day from I pett 4 17
Mr Increas Mather & his wife weer boath of them dis- missed upon ye 12 (2) 63 to Joyne to the new Church at Boston
The same time Mr. Mather did give notice to ye Church that uppon ye second day of ye week before
[57]
being ye day after Mr Norton dyed the elders met together & at that meeting they concluded to acquaint the severall Churches in this Jurisdiction that they thought god called us to humble o' soulls by fasting & prayer p'tly for that god by his p'vedences had shortened us of ye fruts of the earth by reason of ye drouth ye last sommer & the cold & unseas- sonable approaching of ye spring at p'sent : and alsoe that god would Continue o' peace both Sivell & ecclesiasticall & to p'vent ye fears & rumors of trouble ye next Court of elec- tion : and alsoe for ye rising gineration : and for ye people of god in Ingland & those p'ts : ye day thought on was the 22 of ye (2) 63 being ye 4th day of ye week : unto wch motion ye Church consented
Mr Mather preached the fore p't of ye day from the 122 psa 6: pray for ye peace of Jerusalem &c
Mr Stoughton preached the later p't from 14 Jer 8 9
The 2 of ye (6) 63
The day abovesaid after the evening exersiz ther was p'sented & read a leatter wch Came from severall of ye majes- trats directed to severall of ye minesters mett latly at boston wherin they made a motion unto them & by them to be communicated unto thes six ajacent Towns Viz boston Rocksbery Dorchester, Charlstowne, Cambridg & water- towne: whether it weer not meete yt ther should be more
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
than ordinary seeking to god by fasting & prayer in the be- halfe of ye people of god & the Churches abroad in other p'ts of ye world & to y' end did p'pos whether it weer not best for to turne the lectures of thes severall towns into days of
[58]
humilliation as the like was done about ye begining of the trouble in England about the year 42 & 43 and that it should begin wth ye Church at Dorchester on our lectuer wch is in Cours to be uppon ye 18th of this Instant to this ye Church & Congregation did agree theerunto
Mr Mather did pray & preach the former p't of ye day from I : Tim 2 : 1 : 2 & Mr Stoughton ye latter p't of ye day from ye 9 Zack 1I vers
ye next weeke ye fast was keept at Charls towne on ye 28 (6) 63
ye next week at Cambridg ye 2 (7) 63
ye next week at Rocksbery ye 8 (7) 63
ye next week at ye new Church at Boston ye 18 (7) 63
y nex weeke at Watertowne ye 23 (7) 63
ye next weeke at Boston ye old Church the 2 of ye 8 Mº 63
ye next weeke at Deadham ye (7th) day of ye 8 Mº 63
ye next weeke at Brantry ye 14 (8) 63
The 22 (9) 1663
The day above said M' Mather informed ye Church y ye Elders meeting together at Boston ye last weeke they thought good to put ye severall Churches heer about in mind of keep- ing a day of sollemne thankgiveing unto god as for other mercys vouchsafed to us soe in speciall for his mercy to this Cuntry in ye Continuance of peace & libertys wthout restraint both in Church & Civell government the day thought on to be ye 2 of ye (10) being the fowerth day of ye weeke: Also they thought good that the sollemne days of humilliation should be Continued in thes Churches heer abouts after ye day of thanksgiveing is over to all this the Church & Con. gregation did assent
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