and thus became, and have ever after continued one gov

ernment.

Thus we have seen how God overrules all events, even the most adverse, to promote the great designs of his providence, and the best good of his people. The calculation of King Charles II. in giving that absurd patent to the Duke of York, (his brother,) was expressly for the purpose of introducing such a system of government, as would subvert the free charters of New-England, and prevent the introduction of any others of the like, and to introduce the Papal religion, upon the ruins of the Puritan Church in America.

When the Duke of York came to the throne of England, upon the death of his brother, we have a full confirmation of this fact, by the despotic attempts he made to establish Popery upon the ruins of the Protestant Church in England. But the people, both in England and America, were true to themselves, and God smiled upon their efforts; King William and Queen Mary, were called by the people to the throne of England; James fled to France, Andross was imprisoned; and the Church in England and America was free. [See Volume I. Causes that promoted the settlement of America.] This rod of tyranny doubtless was designed to shew the people of America, a sample of that despotism that awaited them at the commencement of the revolution, and prompted them to unite in resisting the tyrant at the threshold of that usurpation; led them to sieze the bull by the horns, and proclaim and maintain their independence.

CHAPTER IX.

PENNSYLVANIA.

INTRODUCTORY SKETCH OF THE CAUSES THAT LED TO AND PROMOTED THE SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA.

In the first volume of this work, containing the history of New-England, the rise and progress of the Puritan Church, her sufferings and persecutions in England, and her removal by the pilgrims to the wilds of New-England, have been fully noticed, together with the rise and progress of the same Puritan Church, in driving out the heathen, and in planting this modern Canaan of God in the wilderness of the west. In tracing the rise and progress of the colonies south of the Hudson, from the year 1610, down to the commencement of the 18th century, not one solitary instance has yet appeared, where the religion of the gospel has formed an essential feature in the rise and progress of either of their governments. Whatever features of religion may have appeared, they have been either collateral, or accidental, and therefore form no part of their colonial characters. The history of Pennsylvania, whose chronological order in the course of our history now claims particular notice, like the colonies of New England, had its origin in a religious persecution, and fixed its basis upon a religious establishment. Although this establishment was not a part of the Puritan Church; but a sect who had suffered severe and cruel persecutions in England, and even in America, amongst the Puritans of New-England; yet it was an establishment founded upon the broad basis of the gospel of peace, and embraced its fundamental principle of love to God, and benevolence to men. The purity of the gospel, the simplicity of the gospel, and the power of the gospel, became the leading points of faith with VOL. II.

15

that people, who followed their leader from the persecutions of the English Church, and planted the colony of Pennsylvania in the wilds of America. With most men the names of things stand as explicatives of their qualities, worth, and value; and the name of Quaker, which distinguished this religious sect, carried with it in England, and even brought with it into the wilds of America, a degree of reproach, which in some measure continues to this day; but in sketching the rise and progress of this colony, it is my design to trace the character of this religion, in its powerful influence, and happy effects, in promoting the rise and progress of one of the happiest and most prosperous colonies in the whole American confederacy; and thereby wipe off, as far as possible, that reproach, which men have attached to its name, by unfolding its merits, in promoting the prosperity of the colony of Pennsylvania, by its fixed and steady principles of peace on earth and good will to

men.

"William Penn, the great legislator of the Quakers in Pennsylvania, had the success of a conqueror, in establishing and defending his colony, among savage tribes, without ever drawing the sword; the goodness of the most benevolent rulers, in treating his subjects as his own children; and the tenderness of a universal father, who opened his arms to all mankind, without distinction of sect or party. In his republic it was not the religious creed; but personal merit, that entitled every member of society to the protection, and emoluments of the state."

Essay on Toleration.

The part that William Penn was called to act, as one of the trustees of Edward Billinge, in adjusting his estate in West-Jersey, has been noticed; this gave him not only an acquaintance with this colony, but led to the knowledge

which he afterwards acquired of Pennsylvania, and to his final possession and settlement of that colony. The mo tives that induced William Penn to enter upon the settlement of the colony which bears his name, ed by his historian, Robert Proud.

are thus

express

66 They were the best and most exalted that could occupy the human mind; to render men as free and happy as the nature of their existence and circumstances could pos sibly bear, in their civil capacity and in ther religious state; to restore to them those lost rights and privileges, with which God and nature had originally blessed the human race. This in part he effected; and by those means which Providence, in the following manner, put into his hands, he so far brought to pass as both to excite the admiration of strangers, and to fix in posterity that love and honor for his memory, which the length of future time will rarely ever be able to efface."

The distinguished services of admiral Penn, had brought him into favour at court; which favour descended to his son William Penn, although a Quaker, and enabled him to obtain, by way of compensation for a large sum of money due to his father from the government, that district of country in America, now known by the name of Pennsylvania. William Penn was made and constituted full and absolute proprietor of all this tract of land and province, with full powers of government over the same, by a charter bearing date Westminster, the fourth day of March,

1681.

The true reasons that moved his majesty to make this grant, are fully expressed in the following preamble.

"The charter of Charles II. &c. unto William Penn, proprietary and governor of the province of Pennsylvania.

"Charles by the grace of God, king of England, Scot land, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. to all to whom these presents shall come-Greeting

"Whereas our trusty and beloved subject, William Penn, Esq. son and heir to Sir William Penn, deceased, (out of a commendable desire to enlarge our British empire, and promote such useful commodities, as may be of benefit to us and our dominions, as also to reduce the savage natives, by just and gentle manners, to the love of civil society and the Christian Religion,) hath humbly besought leave of us to transport an ample colony into a certain country, hereafter described, in the parts of America not yet cultivated and planted; and hath likewise so humbly besought our Royal Majesty to give, grant, and confirm, all the said country, with certain privileges and jurisdictions, requisite for the good government and safety of the said country and colony, to him and his heirs forever.

"Therefore know ye, &c. having regard to the memory and merits of his late father, in divers services, particularly to his conduct, courage, and discretion, under our dearest brother James, Duke of York, in that signal battle and victory, fought and obtained against the Dutch fleet commanded by the Hon. Van Opdam, in the year 1665, &c. do give and grant unto the said William Penn, his heirs and assigns, all that tract or part of land in America, with the islands thereunto pertaining, as the same is bounded on the east by Delaware River, from twelve miles distance, northwards of New-Castle Town, unto the three-and-fortieth degree of north latitude, if the said river doth extend so far north; but if the said river doth not extend so far north, then by the said river as far as it doth extend, and from the head of said river, the eastern bounds are to extend, and be determined by a meridian line, from the head of said river to the 43d degree of north latitude. The said lands to extend westward five degrees in longitude, to be