USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > The history of the First Baptist church of Boston (1665-1899) > Part 7
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To the honored General Court now sitting at boston the humble address of Will : Turner now prisoner at boston sheweth that whereas it hath pleased some of the honored maistrates to issue out A warrant for the apprehending of my body and committing mee to prison, and there to remayne according to A sentence of A general Court the 29th of April, 1668, youre poore prisoner doth therefore humbly beseech you to consider that by vertue of that sentence I have already suffered Above thirty weekes imprison- ment and that A whole winter season which was a greate prejudice to my health and distraction to my poore family & which I hope this honored (Court) will consider with the weaknes of my body and the extremity of lying in prison in A cold winter whitch may be to the utter ruine of my headles family : And withal to con- sider my readiness to serve this country to the uttermost of my ability in all civil things, the maine difference being only in faith and order of which God only can satisfie A poore soul. Thus hoping this honored Court will take it into their serious consider- ation and extend their mercy as becomes the servants of Christ, I
1 " Mass. Archives," Vol. X., p. 227.
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shall leave both my state and condition and honored Court to the wise disposing of the Almighty, remaining yours to serve you in all faithfulness to my power.
WILL : TURNER. 1
boston prison this 27th of 8mo 1670.
This petition was of no avail, for in December he is still found in prison. Baptist petitioners did not receive welcome or hearing at Court. The church was now meeting on Noddle's Island, and the ma- jority of its members were for a little time unmolested. They had no thought of abandoning Boston or of surrendering their purpose of establishing their church on its soil, but their assemblies for worship were less liable to be disturbed and broken up by officers of the Court when they met on Noddle's Island. Every Lord's Day, members from Boston, Charlestown, and Woburn might be seen rowing across the harbor to their chosen meeting-place, where they might remain unmolested during a quiet hour of devotion and worship.
1 " Mass. Archives," Vol. X., p. 228.
CHAPTER VI
THOMAS GOOLD. SUFFERINGS OF THE RUSSELLS. JOHN RUSSELL, JR., THE SECOND PASTOR. CATHOLIC SPIRIT OF THE CHURCH. BAXTER'S PAMPHLET. BE- NANUEL BOWERS.
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THE year 1670 was one of comparative quiet for the church. Their meetings were not watched by the officers of the Court with the same vigilance as when they were held in Charlestown. William Turner was, indeed, for some part of the year in Bos- ton jail. Probably the greatest anxiety of the church was in behalf of Pastor Goold, who was for some time near to death as a result of the hardships which he had endured. There is no record of his ordi- nation nor of his call to the headship of the church. He was probably called to be their pastor at their organization. It was he who administered the Lord's Supper and who took charge of their assemblies for worship. The brunt of persecution fell on him be- cause he was the leader. His name appears first in all constables' warrants and jury indictments of this early period. He was notably their foremost man and was singularly fitted by temperament and personal qualities for his arduous work. He had the simplicity of character which is characteristic of a strong man, and the serenity of temper which is the result of im- movable convictions and a balanced mind. He re- mained pastor for ten years, until his death, October 27, 1675. The following extract from a letter writ- ten by Benjamin Sweetser to the church in New- port in 1671 gives some details of the situation of the church :
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Brother Turner has been near to death, but through mercy is revived, and so has our pastor, Goold. The Lord make us truly thankful, and give us hearts to improve them, and those liberties we yet enjoy that we know not how soon may be taken from us. The persecuting spirit begins to stir again. Elder Russell and his son, and brother Foster, are presented to the Court that is to be this month. We desire your prayers for us, that the Lord would keep us, that we may not dishonor that worthy name we have made profession of, and that the Lord would still stand by us, and be seen amongst us, as he has been in a wonderful manner in preserving of us until this day. 1
In this year the authorities began to turn their attention toward the Baptists in Woburn and Billerica, and to attempt their suppression. As early as 1666, the Court had warned John Russell, Jr., John John- son, and others, for "turning their back on ye orde- nance of Baptisme."2 In 1667 and again in 1668, they were indicted and presented by the Grand Jury of Middlesex County.2 Again, in April, 1670, it re- ported to the Court :
Wee present Thomas Golde and hys wife, Thomas Osborne and hys wife, Benanuel Bowers and hys wife, and Steaphen Baker for non frequenting the publique ordinance upon the Sabbath Daye in Charlestowne.2 Wee present George Farlowe, Thomas Foster, William Hamlett, for that they frequently departe out of the meetinge howse when the ordinance of Baptisme is adminis- tered. (Bilerrakea.) 2
Also they present "John Johnson of Woburn, wife of Enoch Greenliefe of Malden, John Hoare of Con- cord."> 3 These were Baptists and attended the Bap- tist meeting in Boston. Hitherto the Court had not
1 Backus, " Hist.," Vol. I., p. 319.
2 " Middlesex Court, Original Papers." 3 " Woburn Town Records."
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brought women under indictment, but " the wife of Enoch Greenliefe of Malden " seems to have espe- cially excited their ire by her Baptist zeal. The most conspicuous persons indicted were the two Russells, father and son. Jolin Russell, Jr., had been baptized into this church prior to 1669, and John Russell, Sr., at some time soon after that date. The latter was a resident of Woburn as early as 1640. For several years consecutively he was chosen to fill the respon- sible office of "Sealer of Leather." He was select- man of the town in 1652-1656. In 1664 he was one of a committee appointed by the town to perform the difficult and delicate task of making an equitable distribution of the town lands among the proprietors. His fellow-townsmen thus recognized the fair and judicial qualities of his character. In 1664 he was chosen a deacon of the Congregational church in Woburn. About 1669 lie became an avowed Baptist, and united with this church. He continued to live in Woburn until his death, June 1, 1676. His will is dated May 27, 1676.1 "June 20, 1676. Adminis- tròn on ye estate of Jno. Russell, Sen", late of Oborne deced was granted unto his relict widow Elizab : Russell." 2 "John Russell the Anabaptist
dyed, 1. 4. '76." 3 In 1670 he is called Elder Russell, and it is known that he gathered around him a con- siderable group of brethren in Woburn and Billerica, and preached to them on the Lord's Day when it was inconvenient for thein to meet with the church in
1 " Woburn Town Records."
2 " Middlesex Court Record," Vol. III., p. 143.
3 " Record of Woburn Deaths," Vol. II., p. 35.
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Boston. At times also lie preached to the church it- self when Pastor Goold was unable to fill his office. He seems to have been a "teaching elder," but was never pastor of the church. He is called " a gracious, wise, and holy man," and was greatly beloved by his fellow-disciples. He was a patient, quiet, sagacious man, who bore his trials with an equable and Chris- tian temper. In April, 1671, he was ordered "by the Marshall to appear before the Court sitting in Cam- bridge." He appeared, but his answer was unsatis- factory, and he was formally presented by the Grand Jury, October 3, 1671 :
John Russell Senor for renowncing communion wth the church of Christ in Wooburne whereof he is A member : this declared by his frequent of late absenting himself from ye publick minis- try of ye word on ye L& Day in ye place where he dwells & when present, if infant baptisme administered then turning his back thereon : refusing to partake wth his bretheren there (viz, in Woo- burn) in ye L : Supp : joining himself to Another Society comonly called Anabaptistes : there taking office power as appeares by his (after their manner) casting out of John Johnson not long since A member of that Society. 1
John Russell, Jr., was also presented at the same time. These presentments hung over them until December 19, 1671, when :
John Russell Sen' appearing before the Court to answr the prsentm' of the grand jury for renouncing comunion with the church of Cht in that place, whereof he is a member, and this declared of late by his frequent absenting himselfe from the Publ : ministry of God's word on the Lords Dayes and turneing his back on the holy ordinance of baptisme and refuseing to par- take with the church in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper,
1 " Middlesex Court, Original Papers."
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joyneing himselfe to the schismattical assembly of the anabap- tists and taking office power among them. . . Hee the said Russell confessed the p'sentmt and the Court considering the nature of his Indictment and the form" endeavours legally used for his conviction and reformation, and yt by his obstinacy therein he hath made himselfe lyable to ye judgment and sensure of the Court of Assistants, do order that he give bond in ten pounds to appear at the next Court of Assistants, to answr the above prsentmt and that he stands comitted until this order be fulfilled. 1
He appeared in due time before the Court of As- sistants, and the sentence, as might be expected, was as follows :
Att A Court of Assistants held at Boston 5 March, 1673 John Russell of Woborne being bound over to this Court by the County Court last at Charls Towne to Answer for renouncing Communion wth the Church of Christ there : whereof he is a member & joyn- ing himselfe wth the schismatticall church of Anabaptists & taking office power amongst them & he appeared before the Court & ac- knowledged that after many shrinkings in his own spirit he did joyne himselfe wth those called Anabaptists and tho under the feare of his owne weakness being presst & overcome by them, did ac- cept of & become a teaching office to them & that he had exer- cised official power amongst them & the society or meeting of Anabaptists so much declared against by the Generall Court wherof Thomas Goold is a pretended officer and that he the sayd Russell refusing also to promise for after time to refrayne frequenting the aforesayd disallowed meetings, this Court hath therefore upon consideration of the sayd Russells pernitious practise & obstinate profession to persist therein have Adjudged him to be comitted to the prison at Cambridg there to remayne wthout bayle or mainprise till the Generall Court take further order therein, unless in the meantime he doe engage by solemne promise to some two of the magistracy to desist from his Irregular Scanalous practice & At- tend the publick worship of God on the Lords Dayes in the place
1 " Middlesex Court Record," Vol. III., p. 14.
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where he lives which he refusing to performe warrant Issued out for his comittment Accordingly.
EDWARD RAWSON, secretary. 1
His defection from the Standing Order naturally aroused great interest in Woburn, where he had been deacon and selectinan. He was a notable citizen, and consequently was pursued with greater rigor. He remained in the jail at Cambridge for several weeks, when he suffered a dangerous illness which he liad contracted there. It was widely reported that lie had died in the prison, but the following brief letter to the Newport Church gives the facts :
I perceive you have heard as if our brother Russell had died in prison. Through grace he is yet in the land of the living, and out of prison bonds, but is in a doubtful way as to recovery of his outward health : but we ought to be quiet in the good will and pleasure of our God, who is only wise. I remain your loving brother,
WILLIAM HAMLIT. 2
BOSTON 14 of the 4th month 1672 (O.S.)
After this dangerous illness he was released from jail upon bail, and in October, 1672, he sends this letter :
To the honoured generall Coart now assembled, your humble petitionour : whar as I being comited to prison at Cambrig by the honoured Coart of Assistance held at boston the 5. I.m 1672 (O.S.) there to remaine untill the generall Coart should take further order, in which time of my Imprisonment it pleased God to exercise me with great sikness and lamnes upon which I was released under baile, for the recovery of my health ; the which God of his marcy hath in some measure restoared, though not yet free
1 " Mass. Archives," Vol. X. 2 Backus, " Hist.," Vol. I., p. 320.
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from the remainders of that ilnes sustained by my Imprisonment, and questionable whether ever I shall. My humble request is that your honours would be pleased to take my case Into your serious consideration and to put an isue to it, but in case it be not your pleasure to free me from the sentence, my request is that your honours would bee pleased to free those men that ware bound for me, of there bond. And I shall remain at your pleasure, Your prisonour,
JOHN RUSSELL. 1
15. 8. 1672 (O.S.)
This request and petition were refused.
John Russell, Jr., was also a resident of Woburn, and, like his father, was for some time the official "Sealer of Leather" for the town. He may have been a cobbler, but there is no evidence whatever of it except the fact that he was a leather dealer, which would be very slight evidence indeed. He was a man 'of singular discretion and of a good education. His mother was the first wife of John Russell, Sr., both of whose wives were named Elizabeth. His father married the second Elizabeth in 1645. Jolin Russell, Jr., was probably born in England prior to 1640. He married Saralı Champney, of Woburn, in 1661. He united with the Baptists previous to 1669, but thie exact year is unknown. It was probably in 1667 or 1668. He continued to reside in Woburn until 1679, when he removed to Boston, where he died December 21, 1680. He was nominated "Teaching Elder " January 13, 1678, and was ordained pastor (the second pastor of the church) July 28, 1679, an office which he held a year and five months. His widow died in
1 " Mass. Archives," Vol. X., p. 227.
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Woburn, April 25, 1696,1 whither she removed after his death in Boston. He was a discreet, good, and useful man, and was very highly regarded by his brethren. When many false and vilifying charges against Baptists were being circulated in New Eng- land, and were also being carried to Old England, he wrote, as the representative of the church :
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, commonly (though falsely) called by the name of Anabaptists.
It was published in London in 1680. It was to this pamphlet that Mr. Samuel Willard, minister of the Old South Church, at the request of his brother ministers, wrote an ungenerous reply, taunting Rus- sell with having no university education and there- fore with being unfit to be a minister. This pamphlet was entitled, "Ne Sutor ultra Crepidam"2 (Cobbler, stick to your last). It is full of vituperation and un- sustained charges, and is a fine specimen of an un- christian style of attack and debate, which happily has long since passed away. It is in strange contrast with the gentle, unadorned, and straightforward state- ment of the pamphlet to which he replies. Mr. Hubbard also indulges in the same kind of reply :
One John Russell, a wedderdrop'd shoemaker . . . stitched up a small pamphlet . .. wherein he endeavors to clear the inno- cency of those commonly (though falsely he says) called Anabap- tists. Surely he was not well aware of the old adage, " Ne Sutor
1 " Record of Woburn Deaths."
2 In Boston Public Library. Prince Collection.
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ultra Crepraam," or else he would not have made such botching work.
Captain Hull's Diary speaks of the death of "John Russell (21 Dec. 1680), a preacher to the Anabaptists, after a pamphlet of his in excuse of y"selves, accus- ing ye chs hear of persecutions." All historians have fallen into the error of calling John Russell, Sr., tlie second pastor of this church. Even Backus, who is singularly accurate, makes this mistake. The Senior Russell was a teaching elder in 1670, and exercised his office sometimes in Boston and sometimes in Wo- burn, where he lived. He died in 1676, as the " Wo- burn Town Records " show.
In 1672 a revision of Massachusetts laws was made, and the doctrines of Baptists appear as "damnable lieresies " and " notorious impieties." It was declared and ordered by the Court, among other things :
That if any Christian within this jurisdiction shall go about to subvert and destroy the Christian faith and religion by broaching and maintaining any damnable heresies . . . viz, shall openly condemn or oppose the baptizing of infants, or shall purposely depart the congregation at the administration of that ordinance . . . every such person continuing obstinate therein, after due means of conviction, shall be sentenced to banishment.
In the meantime presentments were continually before the Court, whose vigilance did not relax and whose warnings and threats were freely dispensed. "June 18, 1672, George Farley, Thomas Foster & Wm Hamlet being p'sented for breach of ye Ecclesi- asticall lawes, they all confesse the p"sentint, were admonished & ordered to pay 44. 6d. apeece." !
1 " Middlesex Court, Original Papers."
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"June 17, 1673, Thomas Osbourne and Benanuel Bowers were fined 20 shillings and costs."1 These were all residents of Woburn.
In delightful contrast with this persistent severity was the spirit of this church as shown in the follow- ing official letter. There had arisen in the Newport Church some advocates of the observance of the seventh day as the Lord's Day, and the discussion had grown so sharp that a permanent division in the church was imminent, whereupon this letter was sent from "the church in or near Boston " to Newport to the brethren who were disposed to withdraw into a separate society :
To brother William Hiscox, and the rest of our beloved breth- ren and sisters that observe the Seventh Day Sabbath with him, the Church of Christ in or near Boston sends greeting : Brethren, Beloved of the Lord : We, having had a view of the proceedings between yourselves and the church, cannot but be grieved to see how busy the adversary hath been, and how easily he hath pre- vailed upon the corruptions of our nature, to make breaches and divisions among those whom, we dare not but judge, are united unto one head, even Christ Jesus. And although we dare not judge your consciences in the observation of a day or days to the Lord, yet, brethren, your judging them that have so done, and we hope have not unadvisedly changed their minds, to be apostates, seems to our understandings to savor too much of a censorious spirit. And we, as brethren, made partakers of the same grace of God through the influence of his Holy Spirit, not being en- lightened in the observation of the Seventh day as a sabbath to the Lord, shall humbly beseech you all to put on bowels of mercy, and not to be so strait in your spirits towards others ; but con- sider, the only wise God giveth to each soul what measure of light and knowledge he pleaseth ; and it is he must give wisdom to im- prove that measure of knowledge so given, or else we shall make a bad improvement thereof. Now, brethren, we dare not justify
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your action, nor the manner of the actions that have been be- tween you and the church : but should have been glad if it had been the good pleasure of the Lord that you could have borne each with other in the matter of difference, and so have left it for the Lord to reveal more light and knowledge to those that are yet in the dark. But may we not say we are all in the dark, and see and know but in part ? and the little part that any one knoweth, he is ready to conceive is the will of God, and so would have all to see with his eyes and to understand with his understanding ; and cannot patiently wait on the Lord till he shall make dis- coveries of it to his brethren ; so that our quick, narrow, and im- patient spirits are the cause of so many breaches and divisions amongst the citizens of Sion at this day. By all which we humbly desire the Lord may make you and us, and all the Lord's people, to see the corruption of our natures that is yet unsubdued, that so we may all with sincerity of soul wait on him according to that measure of light and knowledge that each of us has received from him. And now, brethren, our desire is, if it may be the good pleasure of God, that this breach may be healed between you and the church. Our prayers shall be to the Lord for you, that each of you may be truly sensible, wherein you have so far departed from the law of brotherly love as to be an occasion of grief one to another, and to the Israel of God, and have given an occasion to the enemies to speak reproachfully of the ways of God ; not doubting but you will be willing to look back over all those actions past in these differences, and if you find anything contrary to the mind and will of God, be willing to own it both to God and his people. We shall leave you to his love and guiding, who is able to comfort you in all your tribulations, and to establish, strengthen and settle you ; to whom we leave you, and remain your poor un- worthy brethren, who should rejoice in your prosperity, both in spirituals and temporals.
By the appointment of the church assembled,
NODDLES ISLAND, September 1, 1672.
THOMAS GOOLD, WILLIAM TURNER. JOHN WILLIAMS. 1
1 Backus, "Hist.," Vol. I., p. 325.
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This delightful letter, which was undoubtedly com- posed by Thomas Goold, exhibits his broad charity, his clear intelligence of the measures of Christian liberty, his fraternal attitude toward those who differed from him in views of the Scripture teaching, and breathes a large and true Christian life. That kindly spirit of tolerance which the church under its first pastor exhibited has been characteristic of this church from that day to this, and has been illustrated at many crises of its long history. At the close of 1672 Governor Bellingham died. He had been among the most severe and persistently hostile of all who were opposed to the Baptists. He would listen to no re- quest for leniency, either from themselves or from their friends. Such requests were usually the oc- casion for greater severities. He was succeeded by Governor Leverett, who was more tolerant of dissent, and whose views of religion were neither so narrow nor so sectarian. Under his administration open perse- cution ceased. The laws against Baptists were not enforced. After his death, the church, in appointing a day of thanksgiving, lament his departure and ex- press their sense of
The Lord's goodness in preserving our peace and liberty beyond all expectations : God having removed him, who was a friend to us in the authority, by reason of which our opposites have the greater advantage against us, who have not been wanting to do their endeavor to suppress us.
It was in this brief time of comparative freedom from coercion by the civil power, and when ecclesi- astical enemies were lamenting the relaxing of effort
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against dissenters, that some ingenious writer thought to keep alive the hostile feeling against Baptists "by as an unparalleled a piece of villany as ever was heard of." A pamphlet was published in London in 1673, entitled :
Mr. Baxter Baptiz'd in Bloud, or A Sad History of the unparalleled Cruelty of the Anabaptists in New England. Faithfully relating the Cruel, Barbarous, and Bloudy Murther of Mr. Baxter an Orthodox minister who was killed by the Anabap- tists and his Skin most cruelly flead off from his Body, with an Exact Account of all the Circumstances and Particularities of this barbarous Murther. Published by his Mournful Brother, Benja- min Baxter, living in Fen church street London.
This pamphlet was cried about the streets of Lon- don by hawkers, and was also sent to Boston. The author asks, "Dares any man affirm the Anabaptists to be Christians? For how can they be Christians who deny Christianity, deride Christ's Institution of Baptism, and scoffingly call it, Baby sprinkling, and in place thereof substitute their prophane Booby dip- ping ? " 1 "These wicked Sectarians deny this Sacra- ment and compel their adherents to renounce their Baptism, and to be dipt again in their prophane waters."2 The author represents his brother as hav- ing removed to New England, and circumstantially relates how he met the Anabaptists in a public dis- putation in Boston, and worsted them in the debate so grievously that they were greatly enraged. By way of revenge they sent four ruffians, whose faces were concealed by vizors, to his house, a little way out of the town, who seized his wife and three
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