PLAIN DEALING OR NEVVES FROM New-England Vivat Rex Angliae Carolus Vivat Anglia Vivantque eorum Amici omnes A short view of NEW-ENGLANDS present Government both Ecclesiasticall and Civil compared with the anciently-received and established Government of ENGLAND in some materiall points fit for the gravest consideration in these times By THOMAS LECHFORD of Clements Inne in the County of Middlesex Gent. Levis est dolor qui capere consilium potest Et clepere sese Magna non latitant mala Sen. LONDON Printed by W. E. and I. G. for Nath Butter at the signe of the pyde Bull neere S. Austins gate 1642. TO THE READER EVery man is to approve himselfe and answer to God for his actions his conscience leads him to and next to good men as much as in him lyeth I have thus presumed to enter into publique for these reasons First because it is well knowne unto many that heretofore I suffered imprisonment and a kind of banishment out of this good Land for some acts construed to oppose and as tending to subvert Episcopacie and the setled Ecclesiasticall government of England therefore now I desired to purge my self of so great a scandall and wherein I have offended to intreat all my Superiours and others to impute it rather to my ignorance for the time then any wilfull stubbornnesse Secondly seeing that since my comming home I find that multitudes are corrupted with an opinion of the unlawfulnesse of the Church-government by Diocesan Bishops which opinion I beleeve is the root of much mischiefe having now had experience of divers governments I see not how I could with faithfulnesse to God my King and Countrey be any longer silent especially considering some of these late troubles occasioned among other sins I fear much through this evill opinion Happy shall I be if any be made wiser by my harmes I wish all men to take heed how they shake hands with the Church of God upon any such heedlesse grounds as I almost had done Thirdly that I might though unworthy in a fit season acquaint the learned and pious Divines of England with these my slender observations quaeres and experiments to the end they may come the better prepared upon any publique occasion for the consideration of such matters and so at length those good things that are shaken among us may be established and truth confirmed It is enough for me being a Student or Practiser at Law faithfully to put a Case which will be this Whether the Episcopall Government by Provinciall and Diocesan Bishops in number about 26. in England being if not of absolute Divine authority yet nearest and most like thereunto and most anciently here embraced is still safest to be continued Or a Presbyterian government being as is humbly conceived but of humane authority bringing in a numerous company of above 40000. Presbyters to have chiefe rule in the keyes in England be fit to be newly set up here a thing whereof we have had no experience and which moderate wise men think to be lesse consonant to the Divine patterne and may prove more intolerable then the said Episcopacie Or an independent government of every congregationall Church ruling it selfe which introduceth not onely one absolute Bishop in every Parish but in effect so many men so many Bishops according to New-Englands rule which in England would be Anarchie confusion I would entreat those that stand for this last mentioned manner of government to be pleased to consider 1. That the very terme of leading or ruling in the Church attributed to Elders forbids it for if all are Rulers who shall be ruled 2. The maine acts of Rule consist of receiving into the Church by Baptisme or otherwise and ejection out of the Church by censure binding and loosing now these are committed to the Apostles and their successors and not to all the members of the Church 3. All have not power to baptize therefore not to receive into the Church nor to cast out of the Church My brethren be not many masters saith S. Iames 3.1 The words of the wise are as goads and as nayles fastened by the masters of assemblies which are given from one Shepheard Eccles. 12.11 And whereas some may say that this power of ruling is but ministerially in the Officers and initiatively conclusively and virtually in the people If so what power ordinarily have the people to contradict the ministeriall works and acts of their Officers Must the whole Church try all those whom their Ministers convert abroad suppose among Indians before they may baptize them How can all the Church examine and try such All have not power warrant leisure pleasure ability for and in such works nor can all speake Indian language Doubtlesse the acts of rule by the Officers is the rule of the whole Church and so to be taken ordinarily without contradiction else there would be no end of jangling And thus taken the whole Church of Corinth by S. Pauls command sc. by their Ministers were to put away that wicked person and deliver him up to Satan 1 Cor. 5.13 and restore him and forgive him 2 Cor. 2. and so all the doubt on that Text is neer I think resolved Now that the government at New-England seemeth to make so many Church-members so many Bishops will be plaine by this ensuing Discourse for you shall here find that the Churches in the Bay governe each by all their members unanimously or else by the major part wherein every one hath equall vote and superspection with their Ministers and that in their Covenant it is expressed to be the duty of all the members to watch over one another And in time their Churches will be more corrupted then now they are they cannot as there is reason to feare avoid it possibly How can any now deny this to be Anarchie and confusion Nay say some we will keep out those that have not true grace But how can they certainly discerne that true grace and what measure God requireth Besides by this course they will it is to be feared in stead of propagating the Gospel spread heathenisme in stead of gaining to the Church lose from the Church for when the major part are unbaptized as in twenty years undoubtedly they will be by such a course continued what is like to become of it but that either they may goe among their fellow-heathens the Indians or rise up against the Church and break forth into many grievous distempers among themselves which God and the King forbid I pray And that you courteous Reader may perceive I have from time to time dealt cordially in these things by declaring them impartially to my friends as I received light I shall adde in the last place certaine passages out Letters sent by me into England to that purpose and conclude And I doe not this God knoweth as delighting to lay open the infirmities of these well-affected men many of them my friends but that it is necessary at this time for
in writing by a publique Notarie before the cause be heard 3. The Secretary to take the verdicts and make forth the judiciall Commands or Writs 4. The publique Notarie ro record all the proceedings in a fair book and to enter executions of commands done satisfactions acknowledged 5. The fees in all these to be no more then in an inferiour Court of Record in England and to be allowed by the generall Court or Court of Assistants The benefit hereof to the publique good 1. IT will give an easie and quick dispatch to all Causes For thereby the Court and Jury will quickly see the point in hand and accordingly give their verdict and judgement 2. The Court shall the better know constantly how to judge the same things and it is not possible that Judges should alwayes from time to time remember clearly or know to proceed certainly without a faithfull Record 3. The parties may hereby more surely and clearly obtaine their right for through ignorance and passion men may quickly wrong one another in their bare words without a Record 4. Hereby shall the Law of God and Justice be duly administred to the people according to more certaine and unchangeable rules so that they might know what is the Law and what right they may look for at the mouthes of all their Judges 5. Hereby the Subjects have a great part of their evidences and assurances for their proprieties both of lands and goods A Paper touching the Church her liberties delivered at Boston 4. Martii 1639. To the Right Worshipfull the Governour Deputy Governour Councellers and Assistants for this Iurisdiction WHereas you have been pleased to cause me to transcribe certain Breviats of Propositions delivered to the last generall Court for the establishing a body of Lawes as is intended for the glory of God and the wel-fare of this People and Country and published the same to the intent that any man may acquaint you or the Deputies for the next Court with what he conceives fit to be altered or added in or unto the said lawes I conceive it my duty to give you timely notice of some things of great moment about the same Lawes in discharge of my conscience which I shall as Amicus curiae pray you to present with all faithfulnesse as is proposed to the next generall Court by it and the reverend Elders to be further considered of as followeth 1. It is propounded to be one chiefe part of the charge or office of the Councell intended to take care that the conversion of the Natives be endeavoured 2. It is proposed as a liberty that a convenient * number of Orthodoxe Christians allowed to plant together in this Jurisdiction may gather themselves into a Church and elect and ordaine their Officers men fit for their places giving notice to seven of the next Churches one moneth before thereof and of their names and that they may exercise all the ordinances of God according to his Word and so they proceede according to the rule of God and shall not be hindered by any Civill power nor will this Court allow of any Church otherwise gathered This clause nor will the Court allow of any Church otherwise gathered doth as I conceive contradict the first proposition My reasons are these 1. If the conversion of the Natives must be endeavoured then some wise and godly men they should be of your gravest and best men must bee sent forth to teach them to know God 2. When such are sent they must bee either sent immediately by the Lord or mediately by his Churches 3. If the Churches send men they that are sent must be sent by imposition of hands of the Presbyterie Now when Churches are thus gathered or planted they are gathered by Ministers doing the works of Apostles and Euangelists which hath ever been and is the ordinary and regular way of gathering or planting Churches and not as is proposed a convenient number of Orthodoxe Christians gathering themselves into a Church and yet when such a Church is gathered by Church-messengers and Ministers this Court is advised not to allow the same which I conceive is to say The conversion of the Natives shall not be endeavoured orderly according to the rule of God Againe it would be considered that when men are sent forth whether they should not be sent forth two and by two at least as the Scriptures beare and for divers good reasons which lye not hid to your wisdomes That you would be pleased to shew unto the Elders these things to be considered and that they would well weigh whether or no those Ministers and Messengers sent by-Churches should not visit the Churches which they plant Other things there are wherein I think I could also to good purpose move somewhat to your Worships which lyes more directly in the way and calling I have been educated if I were required but this thing lying upon my conscience I could not well passe by Wherefore I shall request it may be considered 1. Whether it be not fit to leave out at least that contradictory clause viz. Nor will this Court allow of any Church otherwise gathered 2. Whether it be not better to let the liberty run thus in generall The holy Church of God shall enjoy all her just liberties A Paper intended for the honoured John Winthrop Esquire late Governour Boston Maii 2. 1640. IF you see a necessity of baptizing them without If an ingagement of Propagation of the truth to the Infidel Natives Then consider whether by the Kings leave some Churches may not be appointed to send their chiefe Pastors and other Ministers to doe such works Also with some kind of subjection or acknowledgement of authority of the Ministerie in England if it be but by way of advice which is cleare to me you may doe I make no doubt but in all things requisite for the state of the Country they will yeeld you all faire liberties Nay I am perswaded the Kings Majesty will not send any unexperienced Governour to afflict but make you Patentees againe or at least after the manner of other Plantations restoring not onely favour but other benefits whereof under God to us Englishmen he is the Fountaine The Kings Attorney did offer some of you this in my hearing I meane the renewall of your Patent Nay further if you would invent and devise what the King may doe for the Country you might obtaine The very conversion of these poore naked people which is very hopefull and much prepared for per accidens or Gods owne providence bringing good out of evill will rejoyce the hearts of all Christians in our deare native Countrey and here and of it selfe if there were no other desirable things here as blessed be God there are many would cause a continued confluence of more people then you can tell well where to bestow for the present The Fishing trade would be promoted with authority Hereby would you give the greater testimony to the cause of
the Assistants And after every new election which is by their Patent to be upon the last Wednesday in every Easter Terme the new Governour and Officers are all new sworn The Governour and Assistants choose the Secretary And all the Court consisting of Governour Deputy Assistants and Deputies of towns give their votes as well as the rest and the Ministers and Elders and all Church-officers have their votes also in all these elections of chiefe Magistrates Constables and all other inferiour Officers are sworn in the generall quarter or other Courts or before any Assistant Every Free-man when he is admitted takes a strict oath to be true to the Society or jurisdiction In which oath I doe not remember expressed that ordinary saving which is and ought to be in all oathes to other Lords Saving the faith and truth which I beare to our Soveraigne Lord the King though I hope it may be implyed There are two generall Courts one every halfe yeare wherein they make Lawes or Ordinances The Ministers advise in making of Laws especially Ecclesiasticall and are present in Courts and advise in some speciall causes criminall and in framing of Fundamentall Lawes But not many Fundamentall Lawes are yet established which when they doe they must by the words of their Charter make according to the Laws of England or not contrary thereunto Here they make taxes and levies There are besides foure quarter Courts for the whole Jurisdiction besides other petie Courts one every quarter at Boston Salem and Ipswich with their severall jurisdictions besides every towne almost hath a petie Court for small debts and trespasses under twenty shillings In the generall Court or great quarter Courts before the Civill Magistrates are tryed all actions and causes civill and criminall and also Ecclesiasticall especially touching non-members And they themselves say that in the generall and quarter Courts they have the power of Parliament Kings Bench Common Pleas Chancery High Commission and Star-chamber and all other Courts of England and in divers cases have exercised that power upon the Kings Subjects there as is not difficult to prove They have put to death banished fined men cut off mens eares whipt imprisoned men and 〈◊〉 these for Ecclesiasticall and Civill offences and without sufficient record In the lesser quarter Courts are tryed in some actions under ten pound in Boston under twenty and all criminall causes not touching life or member From the petie quarter Courts or other Court the parties may appeale to the great quarter Courts from thence to the generall Court from which there is no appeale they say Notwithstanding I presume their Patent doth reserve and provide for Appeales in some cases to the Kings Majesty The generall and great quarter Courts are kept in the Church meeting-house at Boston Twice a yeare in the said great quarter Courts held before the generall Courts are two grand Juries sworne for the Jurisdiction one for one Court and the other for the other and they are charged to enquire and present offences reduced by the Governour who gives the charge most an-end under the Heads of the ten Commandements And a draught of a body of fundamentall laws according to the judiciall Laws of the Jews hath been contrived by the Ministers and Magistrates and offered to the generall Court to be established and published to the people to be considered of and this since his Majesties command came to them to send over their Patent Among which Lawes that was one I excepted against as you may see in the paper following entituled Of the Church her liberties presented to the Governour and â—agistrates of the Bay 4. Martii 1639. Notwithstanding a by-law to that or the like effect hath been made and was held of force there when I came thence yet I confesse I have heard one of their wisest speak of an intention to repeale the same Law Matters of debt trespasse and upon the case and equity yea and of heresie also are tryed by a Jury Which although it may seeme to be indifferent and the Magistrates may judge what is Law and what is equall and some of the chief Ministers informe what is heresie yet the Jury may finde a generall verdict if they please and seldome is there any speciall verdict found by them with deliberate arguments made thereupon which breeds many inconveniences The parties are warned to challenge any Jury-man before he be sworn but because there is but one Jury in a Court for tryall of causes and all parties not present at their swearing the liberty of challenge is much hindred and some inconveniencies doe happen thereby Jurors are returned by the Marshall he was at first called the Bedle of the Societie Seldome is there any matter of record saving the verdict many times at randome taken and entred which is also called the judgment And for want of proceeding duly upon record the government is cleerely arbitrary according to the discretions of the Judges and Magistrates for the time being And humbly I appeale to his royall Majesty and his honourable and great Counsell whether or no the proceedings in such matters as come to be heard before Ecclesiasticall Judges be not fit to be upon Record and whether Registers Advocates and Procurators be not necessary to assist the poore and unlearned in their causes and that according to the warrant and intendment of holy Writ and of right reason I have knowne by experience and heard divers have suffered wrong by default of such in New-England I feare it is not a little degree of pride and dangerous improvidence to slight all former lawes of the Church or State cases of experience and precedents to go hammer out new according to severall exigencies upon pretence that the Word of God is sufficient to rule us It is true it is sufficient if well understood But take heede my brethren despise not learning nor the worthy Lawyers of either gown lest you repent too late The parties in all causes speake themselves for the most part and some of the Magistrates where they thinke cause requireth doe the part of Advocates without fee or reward Most matters are presently heard and ended the same Court the party defendant having foure dayes warning before but some causes come to be heard again and new suits grow upon the old Profane swearing drunkennesse and beggers are but rare in the compasse of this Patent through the circumspection of the Magistrates and the providence of God hitherto the poore there living by their labours and great wages proportionably better then the rich by their stocks which without exceeding great care quickly waste A Paper of certaine Propositions to the generall Court made upon request 8. Iunii 1639. 1. IT were good that all actions betweene parties were entred in the Court book by the Secretary before the Court sits 2. That every action be declared in writing and the defendants answer generall or speciall as the case shall require be put
Reformation Hereby will you under God and the King make Church-work and Common-wealth work indeed and examples to all Countryes You will enrich your Countries both in short time The Heathens in time I am perswaded will become zealous Christians then will they labour get cloathes and substance about them In vaine doe some think of civillizing them either by the sword or otherwise till withall the Word of God hath spoken to their hearts wherein I conceive great advice is to be taken For which purpose a Presse is necessary and may be obtained I hope so that wise men watch over it Consider how poorely your Schooles goe on you must depend upon England for help of learned men and Schollers bookes commodities infinite almost No doubt but the King this way will make your authority reach even to the Dutch Southward and to the French Northward new-New-England indeede without fraction A facile way taking out the core of malice The conversion and subduing of a Nation and so great a tract of ground is a work too weighty for subjects any much longer to labour under without Royall assistance as I apprehend I think in religious reason If any shall suggest that your Churches may send forth men of their own authority Consider if it may be done warrantably by the Word of God as peradventure it may be so Yet you will be in danger rebus sic stantibus of great imputations That you infringe Regall power And Ecclesiasticall Wheron adversaries will sure enough make fearfull worke And besides some reformations under favour have been too deep at least for others to follow They were also unexperienced of mission to convert Infidels Is Geneva without her faults or Holland Rotterdam Amsterdam without theirs what experience they of mission or ever had Now I beseeech you grave Sir doe you thinke it good honourable safe for us poore men here or for the Religion and Professors thereof in generall in the whole world that such as have the name of the most zealous should be the first example of almost utmost provocation to our owne Soveraigne For my part I disclaime Parker And encline to Hooker Iewel as to government Greatmen have great burthens therefore they have their counsels crosse and sometimes they use them both You heare enough on the other side Heare now this on this and the Lord guide your spirit Odere Reges dicta quae dici jubent These are the Ministers of the Bay AT Boston master Cotton Teacher master Wilson Pastor At Roxbury master Weld Pastor master Eliott Teacher At Dorchester master Mather Pastor or Teacher and Master Burgh out of office At Braintree Master Thomson Pastor Master Flint Teacher At Weymouth Master Newman Pastor Master Parker out of office At Hingham master Hubbard Pastor master Peck Teacher They refuse to baptize old Ottis grandchildren an ancient member of their own Church At Charlestowne Master Symms Pastor master Allen Teacher At Cambridge master Sheppard Pastor master Dunster School-master divers young Schollers are there under him to the number of almost twenty At Watertowne master Phillips Pastor master Knolls Pastor At Dedham another master Phillips out of office and master Allen Pastor or Teacher At Sudbury master Brown in office master Fordham out of office At Lynne master Whiting Pastor master Cobbet Teacher At Salem master Peter Pastor master Norris Teacher and his Sonne a Schoole-master At Ipswich master Rogers Pastor master Norton Teacher and master Nathaniel Ward and his sonne and one Master Knight out of employment At Rowley Master Ezek. Rogers Pastor Master Miller At Newberry Master Noyse Pastor Master Parker Teacher He is sonne of Master Robert Parker somtime of Wilton in the County of Wiltes deceased who in his life time writ that mis-learned and mistaken Book De Politeia Ecclesiastica At Salisbury Master Worster Pastor At Hampton Master Bachellor Pastor Master Dalton Teacher There are other School-masters which I know not in some of these townes The Magistrates in the Bay are these Master Bellingham the present Governour master Endecot the present Deputy Governour master Winthrop master Dudley master Humfrey master Saltonstall master Bradstreat master Stoughton master Winthrop junior master Nowell Assistants Master Nowell is also Secretarie Master Stephen Winthrop is Recorder whose office is to record all Judgments Mariages Births Deaths Wills and Testaments Bargaines and Sales Gifts Grants and Mortgages There is a Marshall who is as a Sheriffe or Bailiffe and his Deputy is the Gaoler and executioner Marriages are solemnized and done by the Magistrates and not by the Ministers * Probats of Testaments and granting of Letters of Administration are made and granted in the generall or great quarter Courts At Burials nothing is read nor any Funeral Sermon made but all the neighbourhood or a good company of them come together by tolling of the bell and carry the dead solemnly to his grave and there stand by him while he is buried The Ministers are most commonly present They are very diligent in traynings of their souldiers and military exercises and all except Magistrates and Ministers beare armes or pay for to bee excused or for speciall reasons are exempted by order of Court The Captains and Officers are such as are admitted of the Church But the people begin to complain they are ruled like slaves and in short time shall have their children for the most part remain unbaptized and so have little more priviledge then Heathens unlesse the discipline be amended and moderated It is feared that Elections cannot be safe there long either in Church or Common-wealth So that some melancholy men thinke it a great deale safer to be in the midst of troubles in a setled Common-wealth or in hope easily to be setled then in mutinies there so far off from succours At New Plymouth they have but one * Minister master Rayner yet master Chancey lives there and one master Smith both Ministers they are not in any office there master Chancey stands for dipping in baptisme onely necessary and some other things concerning which there hath been much dispute and master Chancey put to the worst by the opinion of the Churches advised withall Cohannet alias Taunton is in Plymouth Patent There is a Church gathered of late and some ten or twenty of the Church the rest excluded Master Hooke Pastor master Streate Teacher Master Hooke received ordination from the hands of one master Bishop a School-master and one Parker an Husbandman and then master Hooke joyned in ordaining master Streate One master Doughty a Minister opposed the gathering of the Church there alleadging that according to the Covenant of Abraham all mens children that were of baptized parents and so Abrahams children ought to be baptized and spake so in publique or to that effect which was held a disturbance and the Ministers spake to the Magistrate to order him The Magistrate commanded the Constable who dragged master Doughty out of the Assembly
advise stil doe the same alway with subordination to the Evangelisticall leaders and fit Christian and Nationall Synods 21. If the Parson should not rule alone ordinarily why should the principall leaders rule ordinarily alone without the advise and assistance of a competent number of their Presbyters who may afford them counsell Did not the holy Apostles advise with the Elders a sometimes is it safe for them or the whole 22. But were there any Bishops superintendent over other Bishops or Presbyters in the first hundred years after Christs birth Did not Saint Iames write his Generall Epistle to the twelve Tribes which were then scattered abroad no doubt in many places and therein mention for Rulers onely b Elders and S. Peter write his generall Epistle and therein direct or command the c Elders not to over-rule the flock the Lords inheritance where was the Order of Bishops had not the Elders the rule might they not else have returned answer that the command concerned not them but a certaine Order of men called Bishops above us 23. Were not the Apostles and Euangelists then living d Bishops and superintendent overseers had they not the e care of all the Churches in their lines did not these holy Apostles S. Iames and S. Peter mention their owne names in their Epistles is it not plain that Peter had over-sight upon those to whom he wrote to see that they did not over-rule and take account of them if they did And did the Lord ordaine there should be such a superintendencie onely for an 80. years and not some equall correspondent superspection also in after-ages when those extraordinary men should cease If some had then the care of all the Churches should there not be some in after-times to have the care of some to a competent number of Churches in their fitting lines and as they are f able And though this Divine right be broken through the many grosse corruptions of successions and the like yet is it not equall to observe the first Institution as neere as may be as we say the equity of some Lawes and Statutes among us is sometimes to be observed though not in the Letter And why may not a chiefe Pastor be called a Bishop as well as an Elder or any other officer heretofore superior 24. If g Psalms and Hymnes and spirituall songs are to be sung in the Church and to sing melodiously and with good harmony is the gift of God and uncomely singing a kind of sin in the holy Assemblies why should not the chiefe leaders and rulers of the Church appoint some in their stead to take care of the singings of the Church and may not some be fitter to lead in singing then others and lest they may fall out of their tunes to jarring why may they not use the help of some musicall instruments and lest they should want able men this way why should they not take care that some children be trained up in Musique 25. Whether or no Christ did not allow of a h form of Prayer and a short one too will not the i strong allow the weak helps in Prayer are not the best Christians often distracted in long Prayers is it not easier for the strong to pray then for as strong men to hear Prayer well should those that are strong Proficients in grace not be satisfied without all their weak brethren come to the same pitch of high sanctification with themselves should they not rather k condescend to the weaker And although it be rare to tell of any actually converted by formes of Prayer and Scriptures read yet who can justly deny but that much good hath been is and may for ever be done by such things that way Sicut ultimus ictus quercum non caedit extrema arena clepsydram non exhaurit as the last stroak fells not the oake nor the last sand exhausts the houre-glasse 26. Whether may not a man l and his household a woman and her houshold a whole m City or Countrey a King and his people a whole Nation be baptized after they are competently instructed in the Religion of God 17. Is it certain that all that were baptized in n Cornelius his house in the o Gaolers house in Lydia's in p Samaria in q Corinth were such true beleevers as now good men require all those that joyne with them to be before they will receive them to the Communion of their Church Were not r hypocrites admitted baptized in the Primitive Church by the Apostles and Evangelists themselves being deceived by them Were not children circumcised in the old Testament and baptized all along in the times of the New so received into the bosome of the Church 28. Could or can ever any Nation probably be brought into the obedience of the Gospel poll by poll in such manner as is imagined by the leaders of separations 29. If it be possible let them make experience and try whether the Indians or any other Heathen people can be so converted before the Greek Kalends 30. Whether there be any direct Scripture for the peoples choice of their chiefe Pastour Can there ordinarily be a better election then when the supreame Magistrate who hath at most times the power of all the people and sometimes their counsell in a regular way joynes with a select and competent number and company of Presbyters in the same 31. Whether any that have not skill grace and learning to judge of the parties to be ordained whether they be fit and able to what they are to be ordained may s ordaine them 32. Whether or no to maintain a desired purity or perfection in the Magistracie by election of the people these good men of New-England are not forced to be too strict in receiving the brethren and to run a course tending to heathenisme 33. Whether have not popular elections of chiefe Magistrates beene and are they not very dangerous to States and Kingdomes Are there not some great mysteries of State and government Is it possible convenient or necessary for all men to attain to the knowledge of those mysteries or to have the like measure of knowledge faith mercifulnesse wisdome courage magnanimity patience Whence are Kings denominated but from their skill and knowledge to rule whereto they are even born and educated and by long experience and faithfull Counsellors enabled and the grace and blessing of God upon all Doe not the wise good ancient and renowned Laws of England attribute much yea very much trust and confidence to the King as to the head and supreame Governour though much be also in the rest of the great body heart and hands and feete to counsell maintain and preserve the whole but especially the Head 34. Hence what government for an Englishman but an hereditary successive King v the son of Nobles well counselled and assisted 35. Whether we the posterity of the Church and
people of God who now see the tops of things onely may safely condemne the foundations which we have not seen 36. Whether is there not a difference between bare speculation and knowledge joyned with sound experience and betweene the experience of Divines and people reforming from out of some deepe corruptions in Churches called Christian and the experience of those that have conversed in and about planting and building Churches where there was none before or among Heathens what is art many times without experience 37. Whether those Authors from Hierome to Arch-Bishop Adamson that alledge all Presbyters to be equall and should alwayes have equall power and authority had any great skill or will or experience in the propagation of Churches among heathens or barbarous Nations 38. If not whether their Testimony bee of that validity as is thought by some If they had whether they might not erre 39. Whether messengers sent by Churches or Ministers taking upon them to go to gather or plant Churches and to ordain or give the right hand of fellowship to Ministers in those Churches and to appease differences in Church affairs are not Episcopall acts 40. Is Episcopacie or a superintendencie necessary at New-England and is it not necessary in more populous places Are there not some nay many depths and u mysteries in Gods holy Word the Scriptures and certain Catholique interpretations which transgressed the faith is hurt Is it possible convenient or necessary for all men nay all Ministers to attain the knowledge of those mysteries or to have the like measure of knowledge faith mercifulnesse wisdome patience long suffering courage whereby to be enabled to rule in the Church of God whereto they are educated tryed chosen and ordained and do not the sacred rules and Laws of God of holy Church and of this Kingdome attribute much yea very much trust and confidence to the chief Pastors Leaders and Rulers the Fathers of the Church especially to the Bishops of the prime and Metropoliticall Churches by the assistance of and with and under the supreame Magistrate the chiefe the best cement of government though much be also in other members of the great body the Church to counsell maintaine and preserve the whole in the faith soundnesse peace and unity especially the chief leaders when need requireth Hence what government for Christians in chief but by pious learned Provinciall and Diocesan Bishops especialy in England and Ireland By the just examination of the whole those that are pious and learned may easily gather what good reasons I had and have to returne as now humbly I doe to the Church of England for whose peace purity and prosperity is the daily prayer of one of her most unworthy sons Clements Inne Novemb. 16. 1641. Thomas Lechford To a friend Sir HEre is a good Land and yeelding many good commodities especially fish and furs corne and other richer things if well followed and if that popular elections destroy us not It is a good Land I say that instructs us to repentance when we consider what a good Land we came from what good lawes and government we have left to make experiments of governing our selves here by new wayes wherein like young Physitians of necessity we must hurt and spoile one another a great while before we come to such a setled Common-wealth or Church-government as is in England I thank God now I understand by experience that there is no such government for English men or any Nation as a Monarchy nor for Christians as by a lawfull Ministerie under godly Diocesan Bishops deducing their station and calling from Christ and his Apostles in descent or succession a thing of greater consequence then ceremonies would to God I had known it sooner which while I have in my place stood for here these two years and not agreeing to this new discipline impossible to be executed or long continued what I have suffered many here can tell I am kept from the Sacrament and all place of preferment in the Common-wealth and forced to get my living by writing petty things which scarce finds me bread and therefore sometimes I look to planting of corne but have not yet here an house of my owne to put my head in or any stock going Whereupon I was determined to come back but by the over-entreaty of some friends I here think to stay a while longer hoping that the Lord will shortly give a good issue to things both in our native Country and Scotland and here as well as in all other his Majesties dominions I was very glad to see my Lord Bishop of Exeters Book it gave me much satisfaction If the people may make Ministers or any Ministers make others without an Apostolicall Bishop what confusion will there be If the whole Church or every congregation as our good men think have the power of the keyes how many Bishops then shall we have If every Parish or congregation be so free and independent as they terme it what unity can we expect Glad also was I to see Master Balls Book of the tryall of the grounds of Separation both which are newly come over and I hope will work much good among us here And whereas I was sometimes mis-led by those of opinion that Bishops and Presbyters all Ministers are of the same authority When I came to consider the necessary propagation of the truth and government of the Church by experimentall foot-steps here I quickly saw my error For besides if the congregations be not united under one Diocesan in fit compasse they are in a confusion notwithstanding all their classicall pretendments how can the Gospel be propagated to the Indians without an Apostolicall Bishop If any Church or people by the Kings leave send forth Ministers to teach and instruct the poore Indians in the Christian Religion they must have at least Apostolicall power to ordain Ministers or Elders in every congregation among them and when they have so done they have power of Visitation where they plant Nor can they without just cause be thrust out from government without great impiety and where they have planted that is their line or Diocese Thus I came to see that of necessity a Diocese and Bishop Diocesan is very neere if not altogether of Divine authority I am also of opinion that it were good for our Ministers to learne how to doe this work from some of our reverend Bishops in England for I feare our Ministers know not how to goe about it Whether must not some Ministers learne their language It is a copious language as I am informed and they have as many words to expresse one thing as we have And when they teach Indians to pray will they not teach them by a forme and how can Gods worship be maintained among ignorant persons without a forme I am firme of opinion that the best of us have been much beholding to the Word read and formes of Prayer From Boston in N.E. Iulii 28. 1640. This Gentleman