seldom that any advance was made afterward beyond the improvements of the first reformers. He observed, that Noah's ark might as easily be removed from Ararat, as people persuaded to proceed beyond the first remove of their leaders. This coincides with a remark of the celebrated Robinson. "The Calvinists," says he, "stick just where that great man left them."

Very soon after, in 1637, Mr. Davenport, with several eminent christians and their families, came over to NewEngland. "Among these were Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hopkins, two merchants of London, men of fair estates, and of great esteem for religion and wisdom in outward affairs."* When they arrived, they found the colony of Massachusetts agitated with the wickedness and absurdities of antinomian and enthusiastic opinions, the influence of a "bold" woman having shaken the pillars of the government, and threatened the existence of the churches. She held public assemblies at her house, and expounded the scriptures to them.*

Mr. Davenport arrived just before the synod met at Cambridge to consider the errors of the day. His influence there was very happy; at the close he declared the result, and preached a sermon from Phil. iii. 15, in which he "shewed the occasion of differences among christians, and with much wisdom and sound argument, persuaded to unity."*

In March, Mr. Davenport, Mr. Predden, and a brother of Mr. Eaton, all ministers of the gospel, sailed for Quinipioke, and with them many families removed from Massachusetts to settle there, having conceived a high opinion of the soil, and expecting to escape the power of a general governor, whom they feared would soon be sent. The

* Gov. Winthrop.

people of Massachusetts parted very reluctantly with these valuable brethren. Charlestown made them large offers to induce them to settle there. Newbury generously offered them their whole town; the legislature offered them any place they should choose, which had not already been granted.*

At his new plantation, afterward called New Haven, Mr. Davenport endeavoured to establish a civil and religious order more strictly according to the word of God, than he had seen exhibited in any other part of the world. He was an original genius, and the plan he adopted was his own: if success be any evidence of merit, he certainly has high claims to the veneration and gratitude of nations. There the famous church of New Haven, says his biographer, and also the neighbouring towns, enjoyed his ministry, his discipline, his government, and his universal direction for many years.†

The holiness, the watchfulness, the usefulness of his ministry, are worthy of remembrance among all those, who would have before them an example of ministerial excellence. His attention and influence extended to all the churches. He was a man of devotion, and it was a saying of his, that ejaculatory prayer was like arrows in the hands of the mighty; happy is the man who hath his quiver full of them. He was scrupulously careful in admitting persons to church communion. Church purity was one of the great objects of his life. He was persuaded there are many rules in the word of God, by which it may be judged, who are saints, and by which those, who admit others to gospel ordinances, are to be guided so as to separate between the precious and the vile.

This is no more than every sect, and indeed all individuals, claim for themselves. The only difference is, they do not all fix on the same standard for admission to their communion, but all have their limits, beyond which they do not, and will not, pass to receive members to their communion.

He thought too much caution could not be used, where some persons think very little is necessary. His own words are:. "The officers and brethren of the church are but men, who judge by the outward appearance; therefore their judgment is fallible, and hath been deceived, as in the reception of Annanias, Saphira, and Simon Magus. Their duty is to proceed, as far as men may by rule, with due moderation and gentleness to try those who offer themselves for fellowship, whether they be believers or not. When they have done all, hypocrites will creep in." He was remarkable for diligence in his studies; this was noticed by the Indians, who used to call him the big study man.

Mr. Davenport continued at New Haven till 1667, when, such was his vigour, though in his 69th year, such his fame in the churches, that he was invited to Boston to succeed a Cotton, a Norton, and a Wilson. He continued in his new situation only till March 15th, 1670, when by an apoplexy, he was called from his labours in the 72d year of his age.

The following account of this plantation is from one of our early writers.* "The government of New Haven, although the younger sister of the four, yet she is as beautiful as any of this brood of travellers, and most mirding the end of her coming hither, to keep close to the rule of Christ both in doctrine and discipline; and it were to be wished her elder sister would follow her example to nurture up all her children accordingly."

Wonderworking Providence.

CHAP. XI.

History of Connecticut continued; Character of Rev. Mr. Thomas Hooker.

THE first settlers in New Haven had all things common; all purchases were made in the name and for the use of the whole plantation, and the lands were apportioned to each family, according to their number and original stock.

At their first election, in October, 1639, Mr. Theophilus Eaton was chosen governor for the first year. Their elections, by agreement, were to be annual, and the word of God their only rule in conducting the affairs of government in the plantation.

The confederation of the New-England colonies, formed and entered into by the four principal colonies of Massachusetts, Plymouth, Connecticut, and New Haven in 1643, continued in force till the time of Sir Edmund Andros, 1686, and were of great utility, both for defence against the abo riginals, and for harmonizing the public councils in church and state. At the time of this confederation the colonies of Connecticut and New Haven consisted of only three towns each.

The general court of New Haven this year established it as a fundamental article, that none be admitted as free burgesses but church members, and that none but such should vote at elections. They also ordained, that each town choose from among themselves judges who were professors of religion, to be a court, to have cognizance of all civil actions not exceeding twenty pounds; and of criminal cases where the punishment was, sitting in the stocks, whipping, and fining not exceeding five pounds. There was liberty of appeal from this court to the court of magistrates. The

court of magistrates consisted of all the magistrates through out the colony, who were to meet twice a year at New Haven, for the trial of all capital causes. Six made a

quorum.

The general court was to consist of the governor, deputy governor, magistrates, and two representatives from each town. The annual election of officers was at that time established, and has ever since continued.

The unsettled state of the colony had prevented their es tablishing a code of laws. To supply this defect, the gen eral court ordered "that the judicial laws of God, as they were delivered to Moses, and as they are a fence to the moral, being neither typical nor ceremonial, nor having any reference to Canaan, shall be accounted of moral equity, and generally bind all offenders, and be a rule to all the courts in this jurisdiction, in their proceedings against offenders, until they be branched out into particulars here after."

About this time a war broke out between the Mohegan and Narraganset Indians. A personal quarrel between Onkus, sachem of Mohegan, and Sequesson, sachem of Connecticut, was the foundation of the war.*

In consideration of the success and increase of the New. England colonies, and that they had been of no charge to the nation, and in prospect of their being in future very serviceable, the English parliament, March 10, 1643, granted them an exemption from all customs, subsidies and other duties, until further order.

In 1644, the Connecticut adventurers purchased of Mr. Fenwick, agent for lord Say and Seal, and lord Brook, their. right to the colony of Connecticut, for £1600.

In 1647, died Mr. Thomas Hooker, a pillar of Connecticut colony, and a great light of the churches in this western

* Winthrop,