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CHAP. VIII.

Complaints against the Colonists---Character of Rev. Mr. Higginson----Ipswich settled----Representative Government---- Code of

Laws enacted.

THE colonists, in their zeal to preserve the unity and purity of the faith, had expelled from among them som whose principles and conduct they disapproved. These persons complain ed to the king of the wrongs they had suffered. Their com plaints were referred to the Privy Council for Colonies, January, 1632: but most of the charges being denied, and "to avoid discouragement to the adventurers, and in hopes that the colony, which then had a promising appearance, would prove beneficial to the kingdom," the complaint was dismissed.

On the 15th of March, 1630, died the Rev. Francis Higginson, first pastor of Salem church. He was educated at Emanuel College, Cambridge, in England, and had been pastor of a church in Leicester. His preaching was truly evangelical, his great object being to produce that change of heart, and holy rectitude of conduct, without which no man can see the kingdom of God. The effect was such as might be expected; a remakable revival of religion was the reward of hisa labours, and many were effectually turned from sin to holiness; but, likë many other good men, for his non-conformity, he was deprived of his pulpit. At this time the weight of his influence burst forth; the arm of ecclesiastical power could not obscure the lustre of his talents. Such was the pathos and enchanting persuasiveness of his eloquence, that the people could not be denied the pleasure of his instructions. "He was unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument." The people obtained liberty for him to preach a lecture on one part of the sabbath, and on the other to aid an aged clergyman, who needed his assistance. The people supported him by a free contribution; while it was safe all the conforming ministers in the town invited him into their pulpits. He preached to another congregation a mile out of town; thus did the field of his labours expand. But as it often happens in similar cases, while one part of the community was delighted and encouraged in their public and private religion, another part, feeling themselves rebuked and condemned, became more violent opposers and more cruel persecutors.

Mr. Higginson openly avowed his opinion, that ignorant and

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Character of Mr. Higginson.

immoral people ought not to be admitted to the table of the Lord. Accordingly, after preaching a sermon from this text, "Give not that which is holy to dogs," and being about to administer the sacrament, he saw a known swearer and drunkard before him, to whom he publicly said, he was not willing to give the Lord's supper to him, unless he professed his repentance to the satisfaction of the brethren, and desired him to withdraw." The man went out in a rage against Mr. Higginson, and with horror in his own conscience, he was immediately taken sick, and in a few days expired, crying out, "I am damned." Another profane person being offended with his wife, for attending Mr. Higginson's preaching, vowed revenge upon him. Accordingly, he resolved on a journey to London to complain to the high commission court against him. All things being made ready for his journey, and he mounting his horse, an insupportable pain of body seized him; his conscience was terrified; he was agitated with horror: and, being led into his house, he died in a few hours.

A number of respectable and wealthy merchants having obtained a charter of Charles the first, and being incorporated by the name of the governor and company of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, determined, in 1629, to send over some ships to begin a plantation. Hearing Mr. Higginson's situation, they sent two messengers to invite him to join their company, engaging to support him on the passage. These messengers, understanding that Mr. Higginson was in daily expectation of officers to carry him to London, determined to have a little sport. Accordingly, they went boldly to his door, and with loud knocks, cried "Where is Mr. Higginson we must speak with Mr. Higginson." His affrighted wife ran to his chamber, entreating him to conceal himself. He replied, No, I will go down and speak with them, and the will of the Lord be done." As they entered his hall with an assumed boldness, and roughness of address, they presented him some papers, saying, "Sir, we come from London; our business is to carry you to London, as you may see by these papers". thought so," exclaimed Mrs. Higginson. Indeed all the people in the room as well as she were confirmed in their opinion, that "these blades were pursuants." Mr. Higginson soon found himself invited to Massachusetts by the governor and company; he welcomed his guests, had a free conversation, and after taking proper time to ascertain his duty, resolved to cross the Atlantic. His farewell sermon was from Luke xxi. 20,

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21.

His Settlement at Salem:

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"When ye see Jerusalem encompassed with armies, &c. then flee to the mountains." Before a vast assembly he declared his persuasion that England would be chastised by war, and that Leicester would have more than an ordinary share of sufferings. Soon after, Leicester, being strongly fortified, received the wealth of the adjacent country. It was then besieged, taken by storm, given up to plunder and violence, and eleven hundred of the inhabitants were slain in the streets. He soon took his journey with his family to London, in order to embark for New England, when the streets, as he passed along, were filled with people, bidding him farewell, with prayers and cries for his welfare.

They sailed from the Isle of Wight, May, 1629, and when they came to the land's end, Mr. Higginson, calling up his children and other passengers to take their last sight of England, said, "Farewell, England, farewell the church of God in England, and all the christian friends there," concluding with a fervent prayer for the king, church, and state of England. The 24th of June, they arrived in Salem harbour. Mr. Skelton, who had been his companion in the voyage, united with him in forming a church, who immediately chose these two their spiritual teachers, and Mr. Houghton ruling elder. Happy were the people in their instructions, and the ample privileges they enjoyed; but this, as well as the other colonies, was doomed to suffer a dreadful mortality the first winter after their arrival; almost one hundred persons died at Salem, and two hundred at Boston, Charlestown, and the vicinity.

Mr. Higginson's doctrines were mild. His discipline was formed upon the manners of the people, and if severe to us, could not have been so to them; it was a guard upon morals. While others were dying around him the first winter, Mr. Higginson fell into a hectic. The last sermon he preached was from Matt. xi. 7. "What went ye out into the wilderness to see?" From which he reminded the people of their design to promote true religion in coming into this country. In his sickness he was visited by the principal people of the colony, and his funeral was attended with all possible solemnity. Mr. Higginson "was grave in his deportment, and pure in his morals. In person he was slender, not tall: not easily changed from his purposes, but not rash in declaring them. He held the hearts of his people, and his memory was dear to their posterity. The eagerness with which they embraced an opportunity to fix his son, thirty years afterwards, in the same

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church, and the renewal of his covenant, are full evidence of their sincere affections. He left a widow and eight children." His posterity are still among the most respectable people of the Commonwealth.

In March, 1633, J. Winthrop, a son of the governor, with twelve men, began a plantation at Agawam, which afterwards was called Ipswich. The next year a church was gathered, being the ninth in the colony. In April, the people being destitute of a minister, the governor travelled on foot from Boston to Ipswich, spent the sabbath with them, “ and exercised by way of prophecy." In 1634, the Rev. Nathaniel Ward came over from Eugland, and became their minister for about eleven years.

This year, August 4th, the general court gave the new town at Agawam the name of Ipswich, as a token of gratitude for the kindness the inhabitants received at Ipswich, in England, where they embarked for this country. A fortnight after, a day of thanksgiving was appointed "for the revival of the times." The following is the first description we have seen of this place. "Agawam is nine miles north from Salem; it is one of the most spacious places for a plantation, being near the sea; it aboundeth with fish, and fowls, and beasts, great meads and marshes, and plain ploughing grounds, many good rivers and harbours, and no rattle snakes; in a word, it is the best place but one, in my judgment, which is Merrimack." The next is more particular. "This town is situated on a fair and delightful river, whose first ride is about twenty five miles in the country. The first part of its course is through a swamp, which is a great harbour for bears. The peopling of this town is by men of good rank and quality, many of them having the yearly revenue of large lands in England. It is a very good haven, yet barred a little at the mouth of the river. Here are some merchants, but Boston, being the chief place of shipping, carries away all the trade; but they have very good Jand for husbandry, where rocks hinder not the course of the plough; the Lord hath increased them in corn and cattle, so that they sell great quantities of corn, and in the fall, feed the town of Boston with good beef. Many of their houses are handsome, with pleasant gardens and orchards. They consist of about one hundred and forty families. Their meetinghouse is a beautiful building, and commands a good prospect of the town. The church consists of about one hundred and sixty souls, being exact in their conversation." Such was,

Emigration prohibited.

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and such is, the respectable character of this people. They are strangers to those divisions and animosities which injure and distress many other places. Another respectable authority gives this character of Ipswich church. "Here is a renowned church, consisting mostly of such illuminated christians, that their pastors, in the exercises of their ministry, might consider them as judges, rather than disciples."

The spirit of persecution still raged in England. Many of the persecuted, less enterprising than their brethren who had already migrated to America, had been waiting with solicitude to know their situation and prospects. Satisfied on these points from the accounts they had received, great numbers embarked this year, 1633, for New England. So numerous, and of such character were these emigrants, that the king in council thought fit to issue the following order, February 21, 1633. "Whereas the board is given to understand of the frequent transportations of great numbers of his majesty's subjects out of this kingdom to the plantation of New England, among whom, divers persons known to be ill affected, discontented, not only with civil but ecclesiastical government here, are observed to resort thither, whereby such confusion and distraction is already grown there, especially in point of religion, as besides the ruin of the said plantation, cannot but highly tend both to the scandal of church and state here: and whereas it was informed in particular, that there are at the present divers ships in the river of Thames, ready to set sail thither, freighted with passengers and provisions: it is thought fit, and ordered that stay should be forthwith made of the said ships until further order from the board. And the several masters and freighters of the same should attend the 'board, on Wednesday next, in the afternoon, with a list of the passengers and provisions in each ship. And that Mr. Cradock, a chief adventurer in that plantation, now present before the board, should be required o cause the letters patent for the said plantation to be brought to this board,"

This order, however, in consequence of an able vindication of the conduct of the governor and colonists of New England, by such of the company as were present, did not put a stop to emigrations. In some of the summer months of this year, there arrived twelve or fourteen ships filled with passengers. Among the distinguished characters who came over about this time were Mr. Haynes, Sir Henry Vane, and the Rev. Messrs. Cotton, Hooker, and Stone. The first was afterwards

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