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of their number, and opposed to their principles, have done them more justice. Bishop Burnet, in his history of his time, says, "The Puritans gained credit as the bishops lost it. They put on the appearance of great sanctity and gravity, and took more pains in their parishes, than those who adhered to their bishops, often preaching against the vices of the court. Their labors and their sufferings raised their reputation, and rendered them very popular." Hume, who has ridiculed their principles, and spoken contemptuously of them in other respects, says, "So absolute was the authority of the crown, that the precious spark of liberty had been kindled, and was preserved by the Puritans alone ; and it was to this sect that the English owe the whole freedom of their constitution." Higher praise, and this too from an enemy to their religion, could hardly be bestowed on the Puritans. More of their true character and worth will be brought into view in the following chapters.

*

Hist. of Eng. vol. v. p. 134.

HISTORY

OF

NEW-ENGLAND.

CHAP. I.

The flight of the Puritans to Holland; their sufferings during their residence there; their character; their determination to remove, and their reasons for removal.

IN 1602, there was an extensive revival of religion in the counties of Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire in England, and the converts were numerous. They saw the vanity of their former superstitions; sought more evangelical instruction; and a purer church. A separation from the established church, as already noticed, was the conse quence. They resolved, "whatever it should cost them," to enjoy liberty of conscience. On account of their distance from each other, they formed themselves into two churches. Of one, Mr. JOHN SMITH, a man of "able gifts and a good preacher," became pastor; but these, adopting some errors in the Low Countries, became neglected, and their history is unknown. Of the other, the history of which will constitute a considerable part of the following pages, the Rev. RICHARD CLIFTON, a man " of grave deportment and a successful preacher," had the pastoral care. Many were hopefully converted under his ministrations. Mr. JOHN ROBINSON was a member of this church, and afterwards

their pastor Mr. WILLIAM BREWSTER was an elder and preacher.

After they separated from the establishment, on account of its retaining so much of Popery, and were organized

As the Papists are often mentioned in this work, the following epitome of their principles may be useful to the reader.

The Papists, of the age of which we are speaking, believed the Pope to be supreme head of the church, under Chris, and that his jurisdiction extended over all christians. They believed infallibility to be an attribute of their church, though they were not agreed whether it resided in the Pope, in a general council, or in both united. They believed that Jesus Christ instituted seven sacraments, baptism, confirmation, the eucharist, penance, extreme unction, orders, and matrimony. They believed in the doctrine of human merit, that men not only deserved the grace of God; but life and glory hereafter. The right of indulgences, they supposed left with the church by Jesus Christ. By this, they did not mean liberty to commit sin, nor pardon for sins to come; but released from temporal punishment, after pardon had been obtained by repentance and confession. They also believed in works of supererogation, or that a man may and did often perform more than duty or the command of God required; that in this way an immense stock of merit was procured, which the church might dispense of in indulgences to those who needed. The celibacy of the clergy, and the use of pictures and images in religious worship were articles of their creed; but they denied that these were worshipped. As the Protestant read a chapter or section to refresh his mind with certain truths or facts, so the Catholic, with a glance, instantly affected his heart. The council of Trent enjoined intercession to the saints reigning with Jesus Christ. These saints, they did not profess to worship; but addressed as mediators with God, as Moses interceded for Israel, and as saints now ask a daily remembrance in each other's prayers. They honored the relics of the saints, and pronounced a curse on all, who say, that mass ought to be celebrated only in the vulgar tongue. The traditions of the church, they supposed, supplied the defects of scripture, and had the same authority. They believed in a purgatory, where the souls of gracious persons were confined, who find relief in the prayers and alms of the faithful. In the mass, they maintained that propitiatory sacrifice is offered for the living and the dead and that in the eucharist was really present the body and blood, the soul and divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ.

churches, having covenanted "to walk in all the ways of God made known, or to be made known to them, according to their best endeavors," the spirit of persecution rose like a flood, with new fury. Beside the trial of cruel mockings, they were watched by officers, and were often imprisoned, or obliged to fly from their houses and means of subsist

ence.

In this deplorable situation, with "joint consent," they resolved to go into the Low Countries, "where they heard was freedom of religion for all men. Hard was their lot, to leave their dwellings, their lands, and relatives, to go they knew not whither, to obtain a living they knew not how. Having been employed only in agriculture, they were ig norant of the trades and business of the country, which they had selected as the place of their exile. Though persecuted, they were not dismayed; though distressed, their cour age did not forsake them. Still another affliction, more unreasonable, if possible, than any former one, stared them in the face. They could not stay in peace, nor were they allowed to depart. The strong arm of law barred every harbor and vessel against them. They could effect their escape only by secret means, or by bribing the mariners, and then were they often betrayed, their property seized, and themselves punished. The following facts will show their distressing and forlorn situation.

A large company, intending to embark at Boston, in Lincolnshire, hired a ship, agreed with the master to take them on board at a certain day, at an appointed place. They were punctual; he kept not the day, but finally came and received them on board in the night; then, having agreed beforehand with the searchers and other officers, he delivered the passengers and goods to them, who put them in boats, rifled and searched them "to their shirts," treating the women with indelicacy and rudeness, carried them back

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