USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Shawmut: or, The settlement of Boston by the Puritan pilgrims > Part 3
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" The congregation being much divided
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about the elder, both parties repaired to the governor for assistance, &c., whereupon he went to Watertown with the deputy governor and Mr. Nowell, and the congregation being assembled, the governor told them, that being come to settle peace, &c., they might proceed in three distinct respects :- 1. As the magis- trates, their assistance being desired. 2. As members of a neighboring congregation. 3. Upon the answer which we received of our letter, which did no way satisfy us. But the pastor, Mr. Phillips, desired us to set with them as members of a neighboring congregation only, whereto the governor, &c., consented. 'Then the one side, which had first complained, were noticed to exhibit their grievances; which they did, to this effect :- That they could com- municate with their elder, being guilty of er- rors, both in judgment and conversation. After much debate of these things, at length they were reconciled, and agreed to seek God in a day of humiliation, and so to have a solemn
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writing, each party promising to reform what has been amiss, &c .; and the pastor gave thanks to God, and the assembly broke up."
Rev. John Cotton was an extraordinary man. He was born in England, December 4, 1585, and received his education in the University of Cambridge, where he was honored by being elected fellow of Emanuel College. He after- wards became head lecturer, dean and catechist in the same college. In his twenty-eighth year he was elected pastor of the church at Boston, Lincolnshire, England ; and he entered upon his duties with a heart burning with zeal for the salvation of souls. Being called in his turn to deliver a sermon at St. Mary's, Cambridge, he prepared himself to preach a plain, practical sermon, designed rather to awaken the con- science, than to gratify the taste. His distinc- tion as a scholar, had excited the expectation of a more than ordinary literary feast in his discourse. But the officers and members of the University listened to his earnest and point-
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ed address without any of that " humming " by which they usually expressed their applause, but with a disappointment which they took no pains to conccal. He had, however, the satis- faction to learn afterwards, that the distin- guished Dr. Preston, who came to hear a learn- ed harangue, rather than a gospel sermon, was awakened by the solemn truths he heard, and induced to seek a personal evidence of salva- tion. On one occasion a woman, alarmed by the eternal consequences of her crimes, came forward and confessed the murder of her hus- band, of which she had been guilty some years before, notwithstanding her confession exposed her to the dreadful penalty of being burnt alive.
He was on some points a non-conformist, but he was protected from persecution by the affec- tions and reverence of his people, won by his zeal, faithfulness and talents. He did not long, however, enjoy this immunity. A profligate man, who had been punished for his crimes by some magistrates belonging to his parish, gave
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information against them to the officers of high Commission Court, that they did not kneel in service, nor observe certain other usages of religion established by law. He was told it was necessary that the pastor's name should be included in the complaint ; and though he had no particular ill will to Mr. Cotton, he was willing to sacrifice him to his revenge upon the magistrates. His friend the Earl Dorset inter- posed his influence in his behalf, but in vain ; he could not prevent his being summoned be- fore the Court, and wrote to him to fly the country, saying, that if he had been guilty of adultery or murder, he might be pardoned, but there was no forgiveness for puritanism. He took this friendly counsel, and in a disguised dress and name, he turned towards the coast, with a view to take ship for Holland. After- wards he changed his route, and went to Lon- don, where some eminent ministers sought an interview with him, to persuade him to submit his own judgment, in matters of ceremony, to
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the established ritual ; but his conscience for- bade him. Here he received a letter from Mr. Winthrop, inviting him to America. He ac- cepted the invitation as a call of Providence, and arrived at Boston, September 4, 1633. His arrival was hailed by all the people with joy, for his fame had already spread throughout the settlement, He received various invitations from the surrounding villages to settle with them, but being advised by the governor and the ministers of the colony, he concluded to abide in Boston, and was ordained to the office of teacher in the first church. As colleague to the excellent Mr. Wilson, he entered upon his official duties with characteristic ardor. The order of the church was revived and improved ; a task by no means easy in a community edu- cated in the usages of the Church of England, and composed of incongruous elements, some being more, and some less inclined to eccle- siastical restrictions and rules. In this labor, he prepared a treatise, entitled, the Keys of the
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Kingdom of Heaven, which was published in 1644, and was long a standard among the churches.
The private habits of the people needed cor- rection, in some respects, and he extended his influence through the government, and by pub- lic discourse, to accomplish this object. Once he preached a sermon at Salem on the use of the veil, and so convinced the ladies that the Scripture did not require it, in countries where custom did not make it a sign of modesty, that not one of them appeared in the congregation in the afternoon with a veil, and the custom was abandoned !
His preaching was immediately instrumental of the conversion of souls, as we learn from Mr. Winthrop's journal, at the date of Decem- ber 4, 1634. "It pleased the Lord to give special testimony of his presence in the church of Boston, after Mr. Cotton was called to office there. More were converted and added to that church, than to all the other churches in the
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bay, (or rather, lake, for so it was principally termed, the bay being that part of the sea be- tween the two capes, Cape Cod and Cape Ann.) Divers profane and notorious evil persons came and confessed their sins, and were comfortably received into the bosom of the church."
His ardent temper betrayed him into an in- discretion ,in relation to the religious move- ments of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson. For at first he seemed to encourage her and her followers in their theological notions, and received their applause as the only properly instructed divine in the country ; and yet after they found them- selves in trouble with the government and the church, he explained away his points of sup- posed agreement with them. This course gave dissatisfaction to all parties, and has cast a shade over his fair fame. A disciple of Mrs. Hutchinson showed his disapprobation by send- ing him a pound of candles, with the message that the candles were sent because it was thought he needed more light. Mr. Cotton
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mildly replied by begging that they would grant him an interest in their prayers.
In the arrangements of his household affairs, Mr. Cotton was precise. His custom was to have family worship twice a day ; in the morn- ing, the service consisted of prayer, reading the Scriptures, with comments thereon, and prayer again. In the evening, the service was more simple. He was exceedingly felicitous in ex- plaining the sacred text. A gentleman of high standing, who came forty miles to see him while in England, declared, that his ordinary expositions in his family, were as valuable as other ministers' public preaching. He was twice married, and his wives were both distin- guished for their devotional spirit. His first wife, who died before he came to America, was peculiarly eminent for piety. From the first, his acquaintance with her contributed to elevate his own mind to heavenly things; and he often mentioned that it was upon the day of their marriage, that he received his first satisfactory
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assurance of acceptance with God, saying, " God made this a day of double marriage to me." He had three sons and three daughters, and lived to see two of his sons settled in the ministry.
In his profession, Mr. Cotton held the high- est rank among the ministers of New England, the brightest star in the rising constellation of the western hemisphere. He was a great stu- dent, spending daily twelve hours in his study. He could converse in Hebrew, and write Latin with elegance. His sermons he prepared with great care, though he often spoke without pre- meditation. His style was plain, but earnest, enlightened, and adapted to every capacity. His stature was rather below middling, his countenance florid, his eye keen and expressive, his voice and whole mien striking and digni- fied. His gravity was such, that ungodly, men felt the reproof of his presence. The tavern- keeper in Derby, England, his native place, used to say that he was not able to swear when
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that man was under his roof. In doctrine he was a Calvinist, and he often said to his friends, he always liked to sweeten his mouth with a piece of Calvin before he went to sleep.
In the fall of 1652, he took a violent cold, while crossing the ferry to preach to the stu- dents at Cambridge, which brought on an in- flammation of the lungs, attended with asthma. He had a presentiment of his approaching end, and after a day of private devotion, left his study for the last time, remarking to his wife, " I shall go into that room no more." While laying in expectation of death, he was visited by multitudes of every station in life. His worthy colleague, while conversing with him, expressed a hope that God would bless his aged servant in the closing up of his life. He re- plied, with a joyful look, "God has done it already, brother." Feeling his end had come, he desired to be left to himself, that he might fix his mind upon the great change that awaited him ; and so lying in silence a few hours, he
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closed his eyes, and yielded up his breath, in the sixty-seventh year of his age.
His death spread a gloom over the whole country. He was buried in the Chapel bury- ing-ground, by the side of Winthrop and John- son, being followed to the grave by a most numerous concourse of people. His house stood on the site of the Swedenborgian Chapel, in Tremont street.
The first pastor, Rev. Mr. Wilson, survived his colleague fifteen years, and died at the advanced age of seventy-nine. He was the son of Dr. Wilson, a prebend of St. Paul, and was educated at Cambridge. He first entered the sacred ministry as pastor of a church in Sudbury, England, but was not long in his living before he was convicted of non-conformity, and si- lenced. His attention was early turned to the colonization of America by the Puritans. In a dream he saw a little temple rising out of the ground, which by degrees increased to one of very high and large dimensions, and he inter-
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preted it as predicting the prosperity of Christ's kingdom in the western hemisphere. He felt himself called by Providence to emigrate to New England. His wife, at first, was unwil- ling to accompany him, but after he had visited the country, and sent her an account of the prospects, and came back after her, she con- sented to share his destiny in the new world. Cotton Mather relates that Mr. Dod, a relation of Mrs. Wilson, sent her a present, not long after her arrival, consisting of a brass counter, a silver crown, and a gold jacobus, directing the messenger to give her first the brass coun- ter, and if she did not receive it pleasantly, to withhold the rest; but if she did, to give her the silver crown, and next after that the gold jacobus, with the assurance that such would be the dispensations of God with her. And the event justified the riddle. Far different from his wife was the faith of Mr. Wilson. Under all the changes of his lot, he relied steadfastly and cheerfully on the Divine Provi-
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dence. Returning one day from an excursion into the country, he was met by one, who told him that his house had taken fire and burnt down. " Blessed be God," exclaimed he, " He has burnt this house, because he intends to give me a better." His moral courage was equal to his faith. From the first he never shrunk from reproving sin, especially when committed in his presence. While employed as chaplain in the house of Lady Scudamore, he observed that the gentry who visited her house on Sunday, amused themselves at table by talking about the exploits of their hawks and hounds at hunting. He reproved them, and a gentleman thanked him for the correc- tion, and for that time the conversation was changed ; but the next Sunday the same dis- course was resumed. Whereupon Mr. Wilson remarked, that " the hawks they talked about were the birds which picked up the seed of the word after the hearing of it." The husband of Lady Scudamore was offended at his free-
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dom, and she hinted to him that an apology was necessary. He told her that so long as he was employed as a minister in her house, he should do his duty. His firmness prevailed, and similar conversation was afterwards avoid- ed in his presence.
His style of preaching was neither brilliant nor learned, but it was judicious, sound, and animated by'an affectionate zeal. It was cal- culated to make the hearer think of himself and his sins, and to lead him to Christ. In doctrine he was orthodox, according to the theology of the times. He had no taste for novelties in religion, and was slow to change any opinion or usage he had adopted. In his declining years, he lamented the errors that were spreading among the churches, and feared that the faith of the first pilgrims would finally vanish from the land.
Benevolence was the brighest jewel in his diadem of virtues. His heart was an overflow- ing fountain of kindly affections, and his hand
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was ever ready to relieve the afflicted. His hospitality was unbounded. Mr. Wood, the witty cobbler, in imitation of his forte for wri- ting anagrams, gave the following on his name, "I pray come in, you are heartily welcome." It is the property of love to beget love ; and there was scarcely a person in the colony who did not cherish for him decided esteem. On an occasion of general muster of the military, a person remarked to him, good humoredly, "Sir, I will tell you a great thing; here is a mighty body of people, and there are not seven of them all but what love Mr. Wilson." "Sir," said Mr. Wilson, " I will tell you as good a thing as that ; here is a mighty body of people, and there is not so much as one of them all but Mr. Wilson loves him."
It is not wonderful that such a man enjoyed communion with God, and often felt his soul overpowered with the glorious prospect of the future. His last sermon was preached at Rox- bury, from one of the Psalms of David, at the
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close of which he said, " Were these the last words I should ever speak, I would say, Halle- lujah, hallelujah, praise ye the Lord." In his death the people mourned the loss of a faithful shepherd, who had identified himself with his flock in all their eventful fortunes.
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CHAPTER VII.
THE CIVIL POLITY. ROGER WILLIAMS. PORTRAITURES OF THE GOVERNOR AND DEPUTY GOVERNOR.
BOSTON was the seat of government for the colony of Massachusetts. The government as it was settled in a short time, was vested in a governor, deputy governor, board of assistants, and deputies from each town. At first they sat together, but afterwards formed two houses, one having a negative upon the doings of the other. No man was entitled to vote at an election who was not a member of the church. The Scrip- tures of the Old and New Testaments were regarded as the basis of legislation. The gov- ernment, therefore, like that which Moses estab- lished in Canaan, was a sort of exclusive reli- gious Republic, in which every man who was willing to subscribe to the divine covenant, had an equal privilege. It was necessary, however,
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that he should understand the Christian system as they did, and conform to the same ordi- nances. At first, this constitution was not op- pressive, for almost every man was a member of the church ; but it afterwards wrought evil in the colony. This exclusiveness, however, has been too severely censured, as if it admitted of no apology. Having fled to this wilderness to enjoy unmolested their religious faith and worship, the pilgrims were jealous of their privileges, and feared to open the door of civil freedom too wide, lest by the gradual emigra- tion of a majority holding different views, they might again be oppressed. Such was their fear, that they would suffer no one to take up his residence among them without the consent of the magistrate. Every man was required to attend church regularly, and by express statute they prohibited every form of religion but their own. " The order of the churches and the commonwealth," writes Mr. Cotton with char- acteristic ardor, " is now so settled by common
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consent, that it brings to mind the new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteous- ness." But time soon demonstrated how much was yet wanting to make this system perfect. " While the state," says the eloquent historian of the United States, " was cementing, by. the closest bonds, the energy of its faith with its form of government, there appeared in the meri- dian, one of those clear minds which sometimes bless the world by the power of seeing much truth in purest light, and reducing the just conclusion of their principles to a bright and consistent practice.
" In February of the first year of the colony, but a few months after the arrival of Winthrop, and before either Cotton or Hooker had em- barked for New England, there arrived at Nan- tasket, (now called Hull,) after a stormy pas- sage of sixty-six days, 'a young minister, godly and zealous, having many precious gifts.' It was Roger Williams. He was but little more than twenty years of age, but his mind
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had already matured a doctrine which secures him an immortality of fame, as its application has given religious peace to the world. He was a puritan, and a fugitive from English per- secution ; but his wrongs had not clouded his accurate understanding. In the capacious re- cesses of his mind, he had revolved the nature of intolerance, and he, and he alone, had ar- rived at the just principle which is its sole effectual remedy. He announced his discovery under the simple proposition of the sanctity of conscience. The civil magistrate should re- strain crime, but never control opinion ; should punish guilt, but never violate the freedom of the soul. The doctrine contained in itself an entire reformation of theological jurisprudence. It would blot from the statute book the fallacy of non-conformity ; would quench the fires that persecution has so long kept burning; would repeal every law compelling attendance on public worship; would abolish tithes, and all forced contribution to the maintenance of reli-
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gion ; would give a general protection to every form of religious faith, and would never suffer the authority of the civil government to be enlisted against the mosque of the Mussulman, or the altar of the fire-worshipper ; against the Jewish synagogue, or the Romish cathedral."
This glowing description presents only the bright side of the picture; if the lofty principle of unqualified toleration was in advance of his age, and therefore not appreciated, it was con- nected with other sentiments which appear absura .o us. Such as, it was wrong "for a magistrate to tender an oath to an unregenerate man, for he would thereby have communion with a wicked man in the worship of God, and cause him to take the name of God in vain ;" and " that it was not lawful for an unregene- rate man to pray, or for a good man to join in family prayer with those he judged unregene- rate ;" and " that after meals we should not return thanks ;" and that the patent of Charles I. was of no validity, forasmuch as he had no
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right to cede territory belonging to the abo- rigines.
These and other extravagant doctrines held by him were urged in a rigid and uncharitable spirit. He required the church at Salem, of which he was pastor, to refuse communion with the Boston church, because they did not pro- claim their repentance for their former con- nection with the English establishment; and when the Salem church did not consent to such an act of bigotry, he withdrew with a party, and held a separate meeting. It is said he refused to live with his wife, because she would not fol- low him in forsaking the church. His influence was great in Salem, and numbers of the military refused to march under the colors of England, because they had on them the cross, which he denounced as a popish sign !
These doctrines and movements disturbed the whole colony. They were in direct oppo- sition to the system of government and the habits of society. In the end, a great fire was
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kindled, and Roger Williams was banished from Massachusetts. He fled, in the dead of winter, to the Indians, who received him hospitably, as a friend to their race. In the spring he sought and found an abiding place at the head of Nar- raganset bay. The place he called Providence, in token of the Divine protection granted him ; and here he founded the capital of the state of Rhode Island. But his great principle could not be exiled, and it now forms the basis of our religious liberty. Before better views obtained in the progress of civilization, the Episcopalians and the Baptists were persecuted, the followers of Anne Hutchinson and herself were op- pressed, and worst of all, the Quakers were hung in three instances, because they were ob- stinate, and when banished, would not leave the place.
The government of the affairs of the town was committed to ten selectmen, then called towns-men, of whom the first on record was Mr. Winthrop. A more interesting character
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than Winthrop is scarcely to be found in American history. Some of my readers have often seen his portrait in the state house. He was tall and well formed, his visage long, a high forehead, with dark blue eyes, and dark hair, worn in the form of a wig. His counte- nance beamed benevolence and wisdom. Made a justice of the peace in his native town in England at the early age of eighteen, he grew up in the exercise and art of government. His prudence, patience, courage and energy made him the successful pilot of the ship of state in the unchartered waters into which she was launched. He was not a democrat. "The best part of a community," said he, "is always the least ; and of this least part the wiser is always the less." He was liberal in his natural disposition, and it was with reluctance that he yielded to the reigning spirit of intolerance in religion. Having been applied to in his last illness to sign an order for the banishment of a minister, he refused, saying, he had done too
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much of that already. In private life he was frugal and temperate, hospitable and exceed- ingly generous to the poor. One hard winter complaint was made to him that a person fre- quently stole wood from his pile. "Does he," said Mr. Winthrop; "send him to me, and I will take a course with him that will cure him of stealing." The man appeared, trembling under the terrors of the law. "Friend," said the governor, "it is a cold winter, and I doubt you are but poorly provided with wood. You are welcome to supply yourself at my pile until the winter is over."
His religion shone out through all his life, and gave a higher lustre to his character. He was zealous for truth and righteousness. Often would he bear witness to the minister in the congregation ; and frequently he visited the neighboring towns to prophesy, as it was called, that is, discourse religiously. His character was admired, not only throughout New Eng- land, but in the mother country, and at the
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court. Charles I. remarked of him, that it was a pity that such a worthy gentleman should be no better accommodated than with the hard- ships of America.
A wonderful control of his own passions was a proof of the grace of God in him, and associates him in the mind with that other great model of virtue which will forever adorn our country. On a certain occasion, one of the officers of the colony wrote him a " sharp letter," complaining of his official acts. He handed it back to the messenger, after he had read it, remarking, that he " was not willing to keep such a letter of provocation by him." Not long afterwards, while the colony was suffering from scarcity of food, the same gentleman sent to buy some of his cattle. The governor sent them to him, begging that he " would receive them as a token of his good will." The gen- tleman wrote back, " Sir, your overcoming of yourself, hath overcome me."
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