USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The history of the First Baptist church of Boston (1665-1899) > Part 10
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CHAPTER VIII
JOHN RUSSELL'S NARRATIVE.
VIII
THE Congregational churches kept a general fast in September, 1679, and on the roth of that month they called together their Synod, which met in Bos- ton. This was called the Reforming Synod, and Dr. Increase Mather was the recognized leader in it. They came together to discuss two questions : First, What are the evils that have provoked -the Lord to bring his judgments on New England ? Secondly, What is to be done in the way of reforming these evils ?
As may easily be guessed, they had not gotten far in the consideration of these questions when Baptists were found to be among the chief evils. They said :
Men have set up their thresholds by God's thresholds, and their post by his post. Quakers are false worshippers ; and such Anabaptists as have risen up among us, in opposition to the churches of the Lord Jesus, receiving into their society those that have been for scandal delivered unto Satan ; yea, and improving those as administrators of holy things, who have been (as doth appear) justly under church censure, do no better than set up an altar against the Lord's altar. Wherefore it must needs be pro- voking to God, if these things be not duly and fully testified against by every one in their several capacities.
The General Court officially approved of the findings of this Synod against the Baptists, and urged "a care- ful and diligent reformation of all those provoking evils .. . that so the anger and displeasure of God, many ways manifested, might be averted." This
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manifesto, together with many false and injurious charges made against them by Dr. Increase Mather in the March preceding, in a pamphlet entitled " The Divine Right of Infant Baptism," led Pastor Jolin Russell, in behalf of the church, to write a plain state- ment of the history of the church from the beginning. It is a lucid, honest, and truthful vindication of the Boston Baptists without evidence of partisan spirit.
It was published in London, March 20, 1680. The preface was written and signed by the most eminent Baptist ministers in London. The calm and dispas- sionate temper of this reply and statement is a fine illustration of that equable spirit with which the church endured through all those early years the false statements and reproaches of its adversaries. The contrast between it and the pamphleteering replies to it, as, for example, Samuel Willard's " Ne Sutor Ultra Crepidam," or Increase Mather's preface, will arrest the attention of any reader. It is free from vitupera- tion, denunciation, and epithet hurling.
This Narrative has become exceedingly rare. There are but two copies in this country of which I can get any trace, and I have been able to locate but one of these. Since it is the first piece of Baptist literature of distinctly American origin, it seems to have a unique right to be reprinted, and an original right to be printed in a history of this First Church of Boston, of which it is vindicatory. Through the kindness of Prof. H. C. Vedder and Dr. H. G. Weston, of the Crozer Theological Seminary, which possesses a copy, I am able to give it entire.
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A BRIEF
NARRATIVE
of some
Considerable Passages Concerning the First Gath- ering and further Progress of a Church of Christ, in Gospel Order,
in
BOSTON ...... IN NEW ...... ENGLAND.
Commonly (though falsely) called by the Name of
ANABAPTISTS:
For clearing their innocency from the Scandalous things laid to their charge.
Set forth by JOHN RUSSEL, an Officer of the said Church, with consent of the whole.
Dated in Boston, 20th, 3d Month, 1680.
LONDON, Printed by J. D. in the Year, 1680.
CHRISTIAN READER.
We leave the ensuing Apology to speak and plead for itself in your own Conscience, the causes of its coming in this Method to your View. The Candor and Ingenuity that ought to be in Men, much more that Grace and Commiseration that possesseth the Hearts of good men, will persuade to a patient hear-
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ing and impartial weighing of that Just Defence that is therein made. If any demand why we concern ourselves so much as to prefix this short Epistle in the behalf of those so remote from us ; our answer is, That one and the self same Spirit who is in all sincere Christians, conjoyning them as living members into one Body, worketh also in them like passions either as to joy in prosperity, or grief in trouble, whether internal or external ; And the very notice and Com- munication of each others State removes all distance of place, promotes Sympathy, and tends to make their State mutually present with each other. More- over, the Authors of this Apology have declared their perfect agreement with us both in matters of Faith and Worship, as set down in our late Confession. As for our Brethren of the Congregational Way in Old ENGLAND, both their Principles and Practices, do equally plead for our Liberties as for their own ; And it seems most strange that such of the same way in New-England, yea even such (a generation not yet extinct, or the very next successors of them) who chose rather (with liberal estates) to depart from their native Soil into a Wilderness, than be under the imposition and lash of those who upon Religious pretences took delight to smite their Fellow-Servants; should exercise towards others the like severity that themselves with so great hazard and hardship fought to avoid; Especially considering that it is against their Brethren, who avowedly profess and appeal to the same rule with themselves for their guidance in, and decision of all matters relating to the Worship of God, and the ordering of their whole Conversation. And that the present Molestation given to them is meerly for a supposed error in one point relating to the right subject of Baptismn, which hath been much controverted amongst Learned, Judicious, Holy and good Men at many seasons ever since the Reforma- tion. Upon such occasions, for one Protestant Con-
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gregation to persecute another (where there is no pretence to an infallibility in the decision of all Controversies) seems much more unreasonable than all the Cruelties of the Romish Church towards them that depart from their Superstitions; And certainly if prejudices were removed ; and opportunities of Power not abused, but so far improved that the Golden Rule of our Saviour (ALL THINGS WHICH YOU WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO UNTO YOU, SO DO YE UNTO THEM) were duly at- tended unto and rightly applied in the present case minore moderation, yea even compassion would be exercised towards these our Christian Friends by such as now give thein trouble: And we heartily pray, that the Honourable Governors in New-England will have that regard to all the Congregational Churches here, as to remit such proceedings, which tend to confirm and justify those who seek to over- throw all their Assemblies, and that they will not, by persisting in any rigorous Course against these their Brethren in the Faith of our Lord Jesus, strengthen the hands of such who have already published, that their proceedings with them of the Congregational way here in this kind, are justified by the process of their Brethren against other dissenters in NEW- ENGLAND. This subject is so large and the plea it affords so rational, that we can hardly keep within the short limits appointed to this Epistle; But we will add no more, save our hearty Prayers for the Peace of them that in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus, both their Lord and ours; And shall ever be,
Yours in all Christian respect and Service to our Power.
WILL : KIFFEN. HANSERD KNOLLES.
DANIEL DYKE. JOHN HARRIS.
WILL : COLLINS. NEH : Cox.
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A brief Narrative of some Considerable Passages, concerning the first gathering, and further progress, of a Church of Christ, in Gospel Order, in Boston in NEW ENGLAND, for clearing their innocency from the Scandalous things laid to their charge.
It pleased God to move the Hearts of some of his dear and precious Servants in this Wilderness, whom he had by his good Word and Spirit taught, and in- structed in the Way and Order of the Gospel, to agree together to enter into Fellowship as a particular body, or Church, engaging one to another in a solemn Cov- enant, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to walk in fellowship and communion together, in the prac- tice of all the Holy Appointments of Christ, which he had, or should further make known unto them. And thus they became a visible Church of Christ, Walk- ing in the Practice, and performance of the holy Or- dinances of Christ, according to Divine Institution. The persons who began (this so good a work for God), were, Thomas Gold, Thomas Osburne, Edward Drinker, John George, Richard Goodal, William Turner, Robert Lambert : the three last named, were persons whom God (by his Providence some time be- fore) brought out of Old England, who had walked with the Baptized Churches there; as namely Richard Goodal, was of a church in London, of which Mr. Kiffen is an Officer; and William Turner, and Robert Lambert, were of a church in Dartmouth, of which one Mr. Stead was Officer.
No sooner were these Servants of Christ entered upon this work of the Lord, but they met with great troubles and afflictions, as has always befallen those whom the Lord hath been pleased to single out from others to bear witness to his Truth; Much Scandal and reproach hath been cast on them, their troubles, and temptations followed, one upon the neck of an- other, like the waves of the sea; but these precious
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Servants of the Lord having in some good measure counted the Cost before hand, were not moved for any of these things, but were cheerfully carried on by the good hand of the Lord upon them, through all the Afflictions, and Reproaches they met with ; And are the most of thein now at rest with the Lord, having served the will of God in their Generation.
And now we who survive, considering the many and grevious Scandals that have been by rugged Spirits cast upon these Beginners in the Church of Christ, that are renewed, and augmented from time to time upon us, both by speaking, and writing; And that on purpose to render us odious, and make the World to think that we are a people not fit to live; as indeed we were not, if we were as vile as we are rendered to be. But the Lord, to whom we do botli desire, and endeavour to approve ourselves in sincer- ity will one day clear our Innocency, as the light at noon-day. Considering what is premised, we think ourselves concerned and obliged, for the sake of Christ, and his truth that we do profess and bear wit- ness to, to give some brief account of things, for the clearing ourselves of those heinous things laid to our charge. As to the manifold Sufferings we have un- dergone in our Persons, Estates and Liberties, we shall not give a particular account at this time; only this in general, That soon after our first beginning, some of us were oft-times brought before Councils, and Courts, threatened, fined, our estates taken away, imprisoned, and banished ; but notwithstanding it hath pleased the Lord still to uphold us, in the midst of all these sore troubles, that instead of being weak- ened and diminished, we have been further strength- ened, and increased. Thus wonderful doth the Lord appear from time to time to assist poor, weak Instru- ments in doing and suffering what he calls them to do for his Name's Sake. Now as touching what we have suffered, and still do suffer in our names, by reason
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of those scandalous things laid to our charge, which are as followeth ; Schismatical, Scandalous Persons, Disorderly Disturbers of the Peace; Underminers of the Churches, Neglecters of the Public Worship of God on the Lord's Days, Idolaters, Enemies to Civil Government, &c. To these we shall give some brief Reply.
CHARGE I.
That we are a Schismatical Company, who have rent ourselves from the Churches of Christ, and do receive into our society such who have, through dis- content, disorderly left the Churches with whom they have walked.
Ans. To which we answer, That this is a mistake in those that so charge us. For,
First, As to the first Beginners, who are before named, tliree of them, viz. Richard Goodal, William Turner, and Robert Lambert were persons who had walked in the same way and order, in the Churches in Old England, who were by the Providence of God, brought into this Land, and had letters of Recom- mendation from the Churches to whom they did be- long.
2. Two of the other four ; viz. Edward Drinker and John George, were persons that were never joined to any Church before, who were Persons of good repute, for their sober and honest conversations.
3. The other two ; Viz. Thomas Gold, and Thomas Osburne, had walked for some years together in fel- lowship with a Church, in the Congregational Way, as it is called, and were reputed by all that knew them, to be very Godly inen, Men of Holy and blame- less Conversations, until such time as they came to question the Baptizing of Infants, not seeing any light for it from the Word of God, and that Baptismn should be administered to visible professing Believers ; Whereupon, Tho. Gold did withold his children from
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Baptismn, (as it is called,) and also did manifest his dissent from the Church in this practice, at such times when they did sprinkle their Children, by sit- ting down : both which was greatly offensive to the Church. For which cause the Church dealt with hin, and he remaining unconvinced, they proceed to lay him under Admonition, and wholly denied him Communion with them ; Whereas he could then have freely held Communion with thein; if they would have borne with his dissentings in that one particular of Infant Baptism. And under this Admonition lie continued 7 or 8 Years, living without the enjoyment of the Ordinances of Christ; about which time our Church was gathered. And likewise Thomas Os- burne, for his not seeing light for the Baptizing of Infants, dissenting from it ; and as also his withdraw- ing communion from the Church, being dissatisfied with that rugged frame of Spirit in them towards those that differed from them; as also because lie could not enjoy all the Ordinances of Christ with thein ; for which cause the Church dealt with him, and laid him under Admonition. So that they did not rend from the Church so as to become guilty of Schism, but were shut out by them, from Communion with them, and that for no other cause, than hath been already expressed.
4. As to our receiving into our Society such who have disorderly rent themselves from the Church, we answer ; That there have bin since the beginning of this Church, about 4 or 5 persons that have left the Churches they had walked with, joyned themselves unto us, the most of thein being Persons of good re -. pute for Godliness, both before, and since, that could never be justly charged with anything of a Scandalous Nature. The grounds of their leaving or withdrawing themselves from the Churches of whom they were, are chiefly these two :
I. Their not seeing light for the Baptizing of In-
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fants, as also being convinced, that themselves were Unbaptized ; And that it was their duty to seek to enjoy it, the which they could not obtaine in those Churches ; neither would these Churches admit them to hold Communion with them, if they did obtain it elsewhere, and were contented to remain with them ; for this hath bin tried.
2. Their dissatisfaction in respect of that bitterness of Spirit in them, to those that in these respects did differ from them, and therefore could not with free- dom of Spirit continue with them. And further, for the most part of them, they did not come off, before they had used means to obtain free leave, and liberty from the Churches to which they did belong ; but all means used not being successful to obtain it, then they took it. So that it appears that it was not for any sinful Distemper of Discontent, or because they were weary of the Yoke of Christ, or that they would be more at Liberty from under the Discipline and Gov- ernment of Christ, but out of tenderness of Conscience, because of some things practised, which they could not see light for ; As also because they could not in- joy all the Ordinances of Christ with them ; and that they might injoy all the Ordinances of Christ with more purity, and worship him inore according to Gospel-institution. Now whether this be to be ac- counted Schism, we leave to the judgment of sober Christians.
CHARGE 2.
That we are Scandalous persons, and that in these three respects; (1) That the foundation was laid with excommunicate Persons. (2) In that we called such to Administer the holy things of God among us, who were justly for Scandal cast out of the other Churches. · And (3) for receiving such into our Society.
Ans. This is a gross mistake; for first, as to those who were the first beginners of this Church, who were
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seven in number, all of them Men of good repute for Godliness among their Neighbours, but two of them were excommunicate Persons, viz. Thomas Gold, and Thomas Osburne, of whom there hatlı been some ac- count given, in pag. 4. And concerning whom we shall give some further account. These Persons as aforesaid, being (by the Church to whom they did be- long) laid under Admonition, and wholly shut out from Communion with them in the Ordinances of Christ ; and one of them, namely, Thomas Gold, hav- ing so remained for 7 or 8 years; in which space of time he was brought before seven or eight Courts, and in some of them to be tryed in order to Banishment, And for no other crime, then witholding his Childe from being sprinkled; who, after so long waiting, could have no help in the case, but was like so to continue all his days, without the injoyment of the Ordinances of Christ. And further, being convinced that it was his duty himself to be Baptized according to the Institution of Christ, and there being a compe- tent number of them thus-inclined, and agreed in their principles ; (viz. the Persons named in pag. I.) They took it into their consideration to gather themselves into a Church-state, that so they might be in the practice and enjoyment of all the precious Ordinances and Appointments of Christ, according to the will of their Lord and Master; which they did undertake, after many consultations about it, and many Solemn seekings of the Lord for direction in so great an Un- dertaking. Upon which proceeding of theirs, so soon as known, the Church with which Thomas Gold and Thomas Osburn had formerly walked, sent for them, to deal further with them ; who at first thought not to have gone, being now not of them ; but on further consideration, and being sent for (the second time) they determined to go to thein, and give them a hear- ing, but told the Messengers that were sent to them, - that they could not come on that day they required,
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because it was the day they had appointed to break Bread, but they would come the next day, if the Lord did permit them : but Notwithstanding, they not coming on the day that they required them (though they could not, for the reason before mentioned) the Officer of the Church proceeds to cast them unto Satan, grounding his proceeding on that in Mat. 18. Not hearing the Church; but their crime was no otlier than what hath bin already declared. So that from hence, two things are to be observed, (1) That their Excommunication by the Church, with whom they had formerly walked, was some considerable time after they had been gathered into Church-Society, which was a long time after they had been denyed Communion with them, especially one of them, (namely) Thomas Gold. (2) That this Excommuni- cation was not for any Scandalous sin, committed, and persisted in by them; which if it had, then their Excommunication had been just ; (Unless a Diligent endeavour to injoy Christ in the way of liis Ordi- nances, according to Divine Institution, be a Scan- dalous evil :) But because they did not hear the Church. And this not hearing the Church, was no other than not coming, when the Church sent for them, i. e. on that day they required them : though their answer was, not that they would not come, but that they could not come on that day, but did promise that they would come. Now whether this Excom- munication were just, We leave it to the judgment of all sober, unbyassed Christians.
2. The second thing to which we are rendered Scandalous, is for calling to office, such who had bin for Scandal justly delivered unto Satan. To which we answer, that there was never but one that was called to Office among us, who had any such censure passed on him, viz. Thomas Gold, concerning whom you have had a true account given. In whose Excom- munication there appeared no just objection against
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his being called to office, he being also a man who was in some good measure fitted, and qualified with the gifts and Graces of the Spirit of God, for such a Work ; and indeed proved an Eminent Instrument in the hand of the Lord, for the carrying on this work of God in its low and weak beginnings, when exposed to great sufferings.
The third thing for which we are rendered Scan- dalous, is, the receiving into our Society those, who for moral Evils have bin justly cast out of the Churches.
Ans. To which we answer, That since the first gathering of this Church, which was on the 28th of the 3d Mon. 1665. there have bin added about sixty Persons or more, of which number, there have bin but two, that were cast out of other Churches, viz. Thomas Foster, and John Farnum, concerning whom we shall give some brief account. (1) As for Thomas Foster, the ground and cause for which the Church to . whom he did belong, did first deal with him, was only lıis dissenting from them in Infants-Baptism : he not seeing any light from the Word of God for it, did show his Dissent, in departing the Meetings when that was perform'd ; for until this time he was in re- pute among them for a very Godly man, and is so to
this day among the generality of people to whom he is known ; and we doubt not but that he is so still in the Consciences of those who have proceeded against him, who indeed is an aged, grave, sober Christian. But the Church dealing with him for the crime above mentioned, and not being able to convince him from the Word of God, but that he still held his judgment in that matter, they proceeded to lay him under Admonition, and wholly debarr'd him Communion with them ; until such time as he should repent, and reform ; (though he then could, and would have gladly held communion with them, if they would have borne with him in that one particular) but lying under this
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Admonition for some time, and seeing no hope of reconciliation, unless lie would act against his own Conscience, And also being further convinced, that it was hiis duty to be Baptized, (according to both the precept and example of our Lord Jesus Christ,) he applyed himself to us, by whom he was Baptized, and received into fellowship. Which being some time after taken notice of, the Church to which he did be- long, did proceed, from their Admonition to Excom- munication, and delivered him unto Satan, rendering the matter, or cause, for which they dealt with him, from first to last, to be the breach of 4 of the inoral Precepts ; viz. the 2. 3. 4. and 5. but had not anything to lay to his charge, from first to last, but what hatlı been before delivered, excepting any thing of infirm- ity that might appear in him, in the managing of this difference, by which any advantage might be taken.
I. From whence we observe these two things, (1) that the grounds of the Churches proceeding against him from first to last was not for any Scandalous or moral Evils, but for matter of conscience in things wherein he did differ from them.
2. That this Excommunication was some consider- able time after his being received into fellowship with us, and was not under the sentence of Excommunica- tion when we received him. Now whether the re- ceiving of this Person into fellowship be matter of Scandal, We leave to the Consideration of the wise and Sober Christian.
In the next place come's in Consideration the case of Jolin Farnum, who was under the sentence of Ex- communication when he was received by us into fellowship, and he is all that ever we did receive, that stood in such a capacity.
Now concerning this man, whilest he did walk in fellowship with the Church by whom he was Excom- municated, he was in repute among them for a very
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Godly Man, and was deputed by them to be a Deacon. But when he came to dissent from the Church in the Baptizing of Infants, then they became disaffected towards him, and he being also dissatisfied with his own Baptism that he had in his Infancy, and looking on himself Unbaptized, and being also dissatisfied with the rugged Spirit, that did so much appear in the Church towards those that did in these things differ from them, he did then withdraw from Com- munion with them, and did often frequent our Meet- ing, which was one thing for which the Church did proceed in dealing with him; unto which were gath- ered divers other things, and laid to his charge, which had a face of Scandal on them, as they were taken, and construed : But his unchristian carriage towards them, in the time of their dealing with him, was con- siderable, and therefore in the receiving of this man into fellowship, We must acknowledge that there was a defect, but yet not a wilful defect, however it may be rendered by our Opponents. Was there ever any Church so perfect in all their Actions (especially in their first and weak beginnings) as to be free from all defect, and not to have done anything that they might see cause afterwards to judge it had been better left undone ?
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