THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA GIFT OF Lenfis F. Lengfeld Mr. DISCOURSES O N RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. Religious Liberty an invaluable Ble/mg: ILLUSTRATED in TW.Q DISCOURSES ? Preached at Roxbury Dec?* 3. 1767- Being the Day of general THANKSGIVING, By AMOS ADAMS, A. M. Paftor of the firft Church in Roxbury. Ffal. xliv. 1,2. We have beard with our Ears* O God y our Fathers have told us, what Work Thou didft In their Days^in the Times of old \ how Thou did ft drive out the Heathen with thy Hand^ and planteft, them 5 how Thou, didjl afflitt the People^ and caft them out. Exod. xv. 2. -My Fathers God and I will exalt B O S T JST: N, Printed by KNEE LAND, and ADAMS, in for THOMAS LEYERET.XJ in Corn-H^ll. 176^* Religious Liberty an invalu able Bleffing. r D I S C O U R S E I. H G A L A T I A N S V. i. StoJ /*/? therefore in ths Liberty -wherewith Chrift hath made us free^ and le not entanghd again with the Yoke of 'Bondage. ' Yoke of bondage, which the Apbflle "M^S fp sa ^ s f i tae tex *> was tne ri^s | (j|j) and ceremonies of the mofaic law. 'M'$) Many, in that day, pretended to em- _^ll brace the chriftian faith, but, at the fame time, taught and praftifed circumcifion aiid obedience to the law of Mofes. This the Apoflle confidered as an abridgment of chriftian liberty, an:l an unreafonahle impofuion, efp^cially, on the Gentile converts. This the 1\ potties called a yoke wbicb neither our fathers nor we were able to bear ; and in this epiftle, it is called a being in bondage, under the elements of this world. 'The principal of this ? and of fome other of St. Paul's, epiftles, 6 Religious Liberty epjftles, iJ to vindicate the liberty of believers from th'e obligation of the mofaic law, and to fhow, that by. embracing the law, they do virtually renounce Chrift and fall from the doctrines of grace. Hav- ing thus vindicated the liberty of chriftians from legal impofitions, he, in the text, fervently exhorts them to ftand faft in the liberty wherewith Chrift hath made them free, and be not entangled again with (be yoke of bondage. In difcourfing on thefe words, I fhall, I. SHEW, that chriftianity is a fy ft em of the moft perfect and valuable religious liberty. II. NEVERTHELESS, chriftia|)s have fomettmes had this liberty abridged, land have groaned under the unfcriptural: impositions of men. III. I SHALL take a brief view of the religious liberty , which God, in his good providence, hath granted and is continuing to the chur- ches, in this land. IV. SHOW, that it is highly incumbent on us to underftand, and praife God, for our reli- gious priviledges , and to ftand faft in the liberty, wherewith Chrift hath made us free. AND while I am difcourfing to you, on this fub- ject, I mall not think, that I have altogether mif- took the defign of this anniverfary day^ on which, our religious priviledges ought to be one principal article of our joy and thankfgiving. I. CHRISTIANITY is a fyftem of the moft perfect and valuable religious liberty. Whoever will be at the pains to confider the genius and fpirit of* chriftianity^ an Invaluable BleJJlng. *y chriftianity, as laid down by Chrift and hifc'Apbftles, will find, that it is, on every account, a fytterri of the moil perfect liberty. NOT that it relaxes our obligations to perfect and univerfal holinefs ; or is, in any fenfe, friendly to licentioufnefs : The law of God, in its fpiritual meaning, is not fet afide, nor toleration^ in any fingle inftance, given for fenfual indulgence. The Apoftles ever difavowed fuch a doctrine : preach- ing, that we are not without Jaw to God, but nuder the law to Jefus Chrift. They called on chriftians ; for brethren^ ye have been called unto liberty ; only afe not liberty for an occafion to the flejh, but by love fcrve one another* BUT yet the gofpel breaths the fpirit of religious liberty liberty from the guilt of fin, and the con- demnation of the law. Liberty from the dominion of fin, the flavery of fatan.- Liberty from the ele- ments of the jewifh law, and liberty from the im- pofitions of men , conceding to every man, that fundamental right of nature, to examine and judge for himfelf, in matters of religion -, and to worfhip God, according to the dictates of confcience, and the institutions of the head of the church, without the impojitions of mankind. Thcfe are glorious liberties of the /ons of God. OUR Saviour early intimated, that his was to to be a kingdom of reft and liberty ? that is, at Jeaft> one thing implied in that gracious invitation, Mat. XI. 28. Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and 1 will give you reft. And a- gain, Joh. VIII. 36. If the Son, therefore, /ball make you free, yeJJoall be free indeed. Before Pilate Our Lord declared, John XVIII, 36, My kingdom is 8 Religious Liberty is not of this world. Mat. XX. 25. Te know : ibe 'princes of the Gentiles excrcife dominion ever them but it Jh all not be fo among you : But wbcfo- ever will be grtat among you, let him be your minifter j and whofcever will be chief among ycu'Jet him be yctir fervant. The Apodles, though divinely infpired, did not pretend to be the lords ofimens fait-h , they recommended careful .enquiry, and defired no means of propagating the chriftian dodtrine and worfhip, among Jews or Gentiles, but, by me.n : .fefta- lion of the Irutb^ and giving miraculous witncfs to the fame. They cqndantly .called on men to at- tend the evidences of truths of fuch unalterable confequence , not, fays an infpired Apottle., that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy. They called on men to extrcife their own judgment '; and, in points of controverfys, gave this advice, Rom. XIV. 5. Let every man bs fully perfwaded in his own mind. Chriilians are dri&ly forbidden judging and condemning one a- nother, ver. 4.: Who art then that judgeft another marts fervant ? fd his cwn mailer he flandeth cr falleth. Ver. 10, But why do ft thou judge thy bro- ther, or fet at nought thy brother ? For we f/oall all Jland, at the judgment-Jeat of Jefus Chrijt. The ^Apoftles knew that chriftianity, in its fads, docl- rines, forms of worfhip and difcipline, could not fuffer, by the freed and fulled enquiry. Although they were fully perfwaded of its truth and excel- lency, yet they defired no one to be followers of them, but, fo far as they gave evidence, that chri- ftianity was from heaven. In fhort, the Apoftle James I. 25. exactly defcribes the nature of the gofpel, and the fpirit it univerfally breaths, when he calls it, the law of liberty, and tells us we Jhall bt judged by the law of liberty. II. an invaluable Blejfingl, *$ II. ALTHOUGH religious liberty be fuch an un-' alienable right of nature, and fo fully maintained in the gofpel of Chrift, yet there have been fre- quent attempts to deprive chriftians of this liberty* Heathens and chriftians, Jews and Gentiles have united, in violating the rights of confcience -, im- pofing, either the worfhip of falfe gods, or elfe the doctrines and injunctions /of men. refpe&ing the worfhip of the true God. . , THE firft enemies to Chrift, and the liberties of his kingdom, were the unbelieving Jews. As they, all along, fet themfilves againft Chrift, and crucifyed the Lord of glory, fo, when the gofpel was preached, and chriftianity began to fpread, after our Lord's afcenfion ; especially, when the word was preached to the Gentiles, and they re- ceived into the church, without circumcifion, thej? aroufed, and exerted themfelves to oppofe the doctrines oY the Apoftles. Wherever thefe came^ preaching, the gofpel, thofe infidels ftired up the people to perfecute and deftroy them. ; Almoft, if not quite, all the oppofition, which the Apoftles met with, proceeded from the malice and zeal of the Jews (tiring up the heathen to perfecute the followers of Jefys. The Roman government feems to have been lefs zealous, in the perfecution of the chriftians, than thefe biggoted Jews. Many, who did, in a fenfe, embrace chriftianity, were yet ex- treamly fond of retaining the jewifh rites, and could not be content without impofing them on the confciences of the Gentile converts. Often does Sr. Paul warn chriftians of judaizing teachers ; much does he fay to eftablifti them in their liberty. In Gal. II. 4he fpeaks of falfe brethren^ unawares brought in, who came in privily to fpy out our liber ty, which we have in Gbrift Jefus, that they might bring M into bondage, ;B Ib Religious Liberty WHEN chriftianity fpread, and became an ob- ject of general atteritibn, it alarmed the zeal of the Htatben world, and they became the fuccefibrs of the Jews in perfecuting the church of God. The Pagans were ilrongly poiTefied in favour of their national religion , of their gods and lacrifices ; temples and altars ; their feftivals and facred mi- fiiftrations, which, they found, the chriftian religion was defigned to overthrow. They were jealous of thi? woHhip of the gods ; and though they did not refufe to admit the faviour of the world into the number of the gods, yet, when they faw the crr'iftians abandoning the pagan gods and their worfhip, they were enraged. When they faw men convinced by the light of truth, and confciemioufly turning from dumb idols, to Jerve the living God, and wait for his f on Jrom heaven^ the aid of the civil majeftrate was implored, to extirpate fo dangerous an herefy. The Roman Emperors, at lead many b'F them, became the furious perfecutors of the dif- cipleg -the harmlefs followers of the lowly Jefus ; until tht reign of Cvnftantine, the firft chriftian Emperor, by whorh, chriflianity received a civil eftablifhmenr, in the beginning of the fourth cen- tury. Before this time, thdtifands of holy Martyrs had fealed the teftimony of Jefus with their blood. Bin fo far were thefe violent and unreafonable per- fecutions, of quiet and good fubjecls, who defired only to live in all good confcierice, towards God and n1an> from rooting out the chriftian religion, that they ferved but to propagate it the more ; multitudes feeing the patience and conftancy of the Martyrs, under the crueleft fufTerings, em- braced the religion, for which they dyed Thefe violent perfecutions, doubtlefs, awakned thoulands to examine into a religion, that had fo many to 0# invaluable BleJJing. *r $ye for it ; and it hath, from that time, been a pommon faying, that tbe Mood of the Martyrs was (he feed of tbe ihurcb. UNDER Conft anting the empire became chriftian. Paganifm was abolifhed by imperial E4i$s % an$ phriftianity became the national, the eftablimed re- ligion of the Roman empire. The chriftian em- peror^ heaped many honours and priviledges orji the evangelic miniftry -, dignity and wealth be- came the temptations to ecclefiaftical functions, The purity of the chriftian miniftry was loft ; the f;mplicity of chriftian manners was fadly corrupted, an awful example was It ft, to teach us, how little^ temporal power can do to advance r&z/chriftianity ; yea, i might fay, how contrary the dignities and riches of this world are to |he fimplicity of the gofpel. NOTHING is more natural to us than adefire to, impofe our own judgment on our fellow men ; we earneftly wi(h to bring all men to a conformity to our own judgments and manners. Ibis is an in- ttance of the natural pride of our hearts. ?"/> was the fcource of pagan perfecution, and this prin- ciple produced infinite mifchiefs in' the chriftian world Pride, working in the hearts of profeflbrs would not long fuffer the church to be quiet, in the free enjoy [pen t of the rights of confcience. As chnftians could not, in every thing, think alike, frequent attempts were made to propagate the opinions of men, concerning faith and worlhip, by the decrees of councils, and fyncds i\\zfeculat arm was foon called in, and employed, to enforce the decrees of councils , and they, who could not fub- icribe to forms, of human invention, were perie- cl, excommunicated, and driven into banifli- B 2 Religious Liberty ment and death. Thus, in a few ages, we find councils againft councils, fathers ao;ainft fatheisf' fe<5ts of chnftians embittered againft each other, and mutually persecuting one another, as they could "engage the majeftrate on* their fide: All iides in their turns commenced perfccutors , no- hing Teems to have been lefs underdood than mu- tual forbearance, and the liberty of private judg- ment, in matters of religion. I do but hint at what is fully known, to iuqh 2s are acquainted \vith Gcclc/l&fyical hiftory, IT is peed lefs to point out the fleps, by whlch s the bifhops of Rome made their way to the papal power. '- The Apoftle tells us, 2 Thcfl II. 7. that, in his time, . ... Very of this iniquity 'dotb already work. ' It then, had its beginning, in the pride : love of 'pre-eminence, which were, then, dif- cernable in Tome chriftians. The afpiring views of the 'roman bifhops, i ; ;s of emperors, and the fplendor of their jfse -, R<:::\ for ages, having been the capiro! of the world, all confpired to ad- vance the power ot the ronian pontiffs ^ until, at length, the bifnop of Fronts was declared end ac- knowledget 1 bijkop of the church, the lucceffor of -:, i eter, rind the. Vicar of Chrid, on earth/ For many hundreds of years, the popes were, generally, acknowledged. head of the churchy kings ^hd' potentates fumbitted to tht-ir juiiiclidti- on, and held thf-ir kingdoms, as gifrs of the rc'.nc.r fee. They decided -controvcrfies ; formed articles of faith, ; appointed rites and ceremonies in the worfliip. of God ; to all which a blind and abfolute obedience was required , they granted indulgen- ces, pardoned fins, and opened and fhut Ifce gates pf heaven^ at thrir pleafure j exactly fulfilling that; prophetic an Invaluable "Blejjing. 13 prophetic character of antichrift, 2 ThefT. II. 4. fo that he, asGid,Jttte!b in the temple oj "God, /hewing bim- felfi that be isGod. Thus the liberties of the church were given up to the popes of Rome ; all the rights of conlcience were trodcn under foot. DURING this grand papal apodacy, chriftians, not content w'kh the firnplicity of gtjfpel worihip and diicipline, were continually adding their own inventions to the worfhip of God. Tranfuhftanti- ation, the worfhip of images, relics, faints and an* gels, and all the fuperftitions of popery made their way into the church : Rome chriilian refembled Rome pagan \ and the chnftian refembled the pa- gan temples ; an awful example to what lengths men will go, when they leave the pattern, which Chritl and his Apoftles have left us, and pretend to decorate the worfhip of God, with their own in- ventions ! Thus the worfhip of God was rilled with idolatry, the temples of God became the tem- ples of idols : the fcriptures were little under- flood ; the fenflefs decrees of popes and councils were received, with blind fubmillion, as the rules of faith and worfliip. THESE were dark ages ; a cloud of ignorance overlpread the church : fuperftition and idolatry well nigh extinguimed the pufe and noble religion of Jefus. The teachers of the people were igno- rant and immoral : real learning was in a great meafure banifhed out'of the church of God, and the people proportionably funk into ignorance and fuperilition, NOT that God left bimfelf without witnefs, in theie times of ignorance. All along, there were foi-ne, who faw the corruption of the church, and abhorred 14 Religious Liberty abhorred the fuperftitions and idolatrys of the times. So long ago as the twelfth century the Waldenfes and Albigenjes^ * in France and savoy , openly declared againft the abufes of the church or Rome ; they boldly preached, that the pope is not head of the church, denyed the real corporal prefence of Chrilt, in the Eucharift, the worlVlp- ing of faints and images, and feperated thtmfelves from the rowifh communion. Thefe glorious wit- neffes of God's truth became martyrs, in the caufe of reforma ion. The papal bulls railed the zeal of Chriftendom, to extirpate this unhappy people : all manner of barbarities and cruelties were pract- iied upon them, and multitudes perilled in the glorious caufe. However, their doctrines could not be fuppreffed , the dreadful perfecution, they fuffered, fpread their opinions, through molt parts of Europe : Thoufands had their eyes opened, 10 fee the errors of popery ; and then were fown the feeds, which, afterward, fprung up, and, at length, produced the glorious reformation. GOD, whofe ways are unfearcbable, and bis jut.?- menfs p aft finding out, is greatly to be adored, ior raiting up fuch a number of great and learned men, in the fifteenth and Jixieenth centurys. The fall of the eaftern empire, and the e* tendon of ihe turki/h dominion into Europe, was the revival of learning in the weft. Tis too great a work to tell you, by what means and inftruments, the refer ma- tisn opened and advanced. 'It mud i office ro fay, learning revived j by the indefatigable labours of divers learned and worthy Divines, the people were enlightened to difcern the errors of popery ; they were taught that the pc-pe was antickrift ; en- See Perrin's Hift. of ihc Waldcafes. an invaluable Rlejfing. 15 quiry and private judgment were promoted, fove- reign princes were perfwaded to abandon the ro- milh church, and patronize the caufe of reforma T lion a glorious reformation was accomplifhedj and a deadly wound was given to papal power. IN the fourteenth century, about 130 years be- fore the reformation of Lutber, flourifhed that flout and valiant champion of the truth, John Wi.ckUjfe\ by whom, the feeds of the reformation feem to have been fown in England, While profeffor of divi- nity at Oxford, he boldly publifhed againft tran- fubftantiation, the infallibility of the pope, the pre-eminence of the church of Rome ; teaching that the new teftament is a perfect rule of faith and manners, and ought to be read, by the peo- ple : and further maintained mofl of the points, by which the Puritans were afterward diftinguifhed ; asj that there are but two orders in the miniftryj viz. Pre/bytersvv Bifhops and Deacons 5 that all hu- man traditions are ufelefs $ that myftical and fig- nificant ceremonies, in the worfliip of God, are unlawful ; and that, to refirain men to a prefcribed form of prayer, is contrary to the liberty granted them by God*. This WicUifft was a wonderful man, for the times in which he lived. He was the 1 firft, that tranflated the new teftament intoEngtiJb ; he wrote near 200 volumes ; and fuch was the kind providence of God, that, though his doclrines were condemned at Rome^ and afterwards condemned, in a convocation at London, himfelf deprived of his profejfor/bip, his writings ordered to be burnt, and himfelf * Vid. AWs Hift. of the Puritans. And if tKe reader would fee the principles of Wicklffij he will find them, in the learned Mr, Piercis vindication of the diffcn- tetsj p. 4.5, 46, I Ci Religious Liberty himfelf imprifbntd, yet, he followed his minif and in an advanced age, quietly departed this life, 1384. His bones, with his work?, were, however, ordered to be'burnt, by the council of Cotiftance^ forty one years after his deaih : But his doctrines re- mained, the number of his diiciples increafed, which gave occafion to fevere' laws againft heretics, his followers were vexed with a moft greivous and cruel perfecution, and fome hundreds of them were put to death, before the grand reformation. KING Henry VIII, from the oppofition he met with, in accompluliing the divorce of Queen Ka-. therine^ began and carried into execution a nati- onal fepe ration from the church of Rome. He re- nounced the jurifdi&ion of the pope , afTumed the ecclefiaftical Supremacy to himfelf, declared him- felf^ an:! head of the church of England, next and immediately under Chrift ; and, confe- quently, he ailbmed to himfelf all jurifdiction over the Clergy, with the whole 'power of reforming errors and herefies, in doclri-ne and worfhip ; he fupprefied the monaflcries and religious houfes, took away all authority of the pope, over the church of EnglGxd, and eftablifhed that feperatiori from Rome t which continues to this day. , HENRY, in his younger life, was an obedient fon of the papacy, and, for writing againft Luther^ received, from his holinefs^ the title of defender of ike faith : And dill he was a papiil, in the main, and perfecuted papifts and proteftants, who did not fully comply -with his own injunctions. Under him fuffered holy Lambert^ who was executed in Smitbfield) in a barbarous manner ; crying out, in the flames, none but Cbrifl^ none but Chrift. Never- thelefs there were, in this reign, divers pious and learned an invaluable B faffing, iy i / i learned men, who longed for a real reformation among whom was archbifhop Cranmer, who took this opportunity to attempt a reformation in doct- rine and worfhip. Books were printed^ the bible again tranflated, and fet up to be read in churches. But, by means of the rigid temper of the King^ who would have nothing taught or maintained con- trary to his own infirudlions, the reformation made but little progrefs in this reign. The moft that the church legally, obtained was, that the King was acknowledged head of the church, inftead of the pope, and the fole right of reformation was veiled in the crown \ royal proclamations had the force of laws* and the firbjedt was obliged, Under fevere penalties, to believe, profefs and obey according thereunto as if the King had a right to judge for the whole nation, and impofe upon themwhafe religion he pleafes> without their confent ! DURING, the reign of Edward VI, who was a remarkably pious and learned prince, but dyed irt the 1 6th year of his age, the reformation went ori gloriouQy, under the direction of Cranmer* and o- ther great and excellent reformers. The popifh Jaws againft heretics were repealed, by acl: of Par- liament, and new ones enabled in favour of the reformation. Images were taken out of the chu- ches, and the rites and ceremonies of popery abo- li(hed the facrament was ordered in both kinds private maiTes were put down out of the romari Mtffals of Sarum, Tork, Hereford, Bangor and Lin* coin, was compofed the morning and evening fer- vice, almoft in the fame form it (lands at prefent,' only there w"as no confeffion or abfolution 5 * from C the * Vid. Neal's Hift. of the Pudtatis, Vol. i, 4.to, p, 36. W ho adds it would have obviated many obje^ions, i 1 8 Religious Liberty the fame materials they compofed theL/tay, differ- ing, in but one article, from that, which is now ufed the mafs-books were called in the altars changed into communion tables the doctrinal articles of the church of England were formed, being 42 in number^ but fince reduced to 39. The common prayer-book was, a fecond time, cor- rected, and eftabhfhed by act of Parliament. This was a great and glorious work ! Although, it muft be confeiTed, they were miflaken in ufmg feveri- ties , and even Cranmer expofed himfelf to cenfure, by promoting or confenting to fome executions. But yet, they were great and good men ; valiant in the caufe of truth, and made as quick advances, in restoring religion to its primitive fimplicity, as the circumllances of the times would admit. Thefe reformers, 'tis evident, would have gone farther, and did not defign this as the lad ftandard of reformation'; they left it under their hands, c * that they had gone as far as they could, in re- " forming the church, confidering the times they " lived in, and hoped that they that came after " them would, as they might, do more." * And the King himfelf lamented, that u he could not reftore the primitive difcipline, according to his heart's defire." f KING Edward was fucceeded by Queen Mary* a biggoted papiit ; the work of reformation ftop- ed, in an inftant, a dark cloud hung over the glo- rious " the committee had thrown-.afide the mafs book entire- r-6ut he found himfdf miftakea. an invaluable Blejfing. 21 DURING almoft the whole reign of Queen Eliza- fatb, who died in 1602, the profecution of the non- conformifts was carried on, with vigour. Subfcrip* tions were required, not only to the doftrines and worfhip eftablifhed by law, but to rules impofed, by meer ecclefiaftical authority : Oaths were adminiftred ex officio ; the edge of the laws made againft the papifts, was turned againft the eonfcientious Puri- tans. Multitudes of pious, godly minifters were in- formed againft, purfued, arraigned, fufpended from their minifterial funftions, turned out of their liv- ings : and all, not for damnable errors in doctrine ; not for immorality of life, but for a eonfcientious fcrupling to conform to impofitions, of human au- thority. u A fourth part of all the preachers, in " England, were under fufpenlion, at a time, when, " not one beneficed clergyman in fix was capable of < c compofing a fermon.' * It would tire your pa- tience, and too deeply affect your hearts to relate the many inftances of cruel fufferings, in thofe days, under the lafh of epijcopal power. NOT that there were wanting thoufands, who e- fteemed and pitied them. We are particularly told, that, when the minifters were filenced, their people earneftly beged for their reftoration -, many of the nobility and gmtry received them into their families, as chaplains, and tutors to their children, not meerly out of compafliop, but from a fenfe of their real worth. ** For they'were men of undiffembled piety. " aad devotion, mighty in the fcriptures, zealous for " the proteftant religion, of exemplary lives, and far c removed from the liberties and fafhonable vices of ** the times, and indefatigably induftrious in inftrufl- *' ing thofe committed to their care. Here they J* were covered from their oppreffors, they preached ^in 5 Vid. Neal's preface to his fiiftory, pag. 8, 22 Religious Liberty * 6 in the family, and catechized the children, which, * 6 without all queftion, had a confiderable influence " on the next generation." Divers of the nobles and gentry, petitioned on behalf of the unhappy fuffe.rers : But crys and intreaties were to no pur- pofe, thefe perfecting meafures were purfued, by two hard-hearted prelates, * under the encourage- ment of a proud and unreafonabk fovereign, thro 9 the greateft part of this reign. afcended the throne,it was ex- pected that he would put an end to thefe perfecuting meafures. His education in the church of Scotland, the high regard he had expreflfed for her worfhip and difcipline, his fubfcribing the folemn league and cove- nant, and the interceflion which he made in the for- mer reign for the relief of the fufferers, raifed the hopes of the n^nconformifts, that they fhould fee better times. But they foon found themfelves mif- taken. It was not long before he publiftied a pro- clamation to enforce uniformity ; countenanced and encouraged the perfecution of the puritans -, and in thefecend year, after his coming into England, three hundred minifters were, either filer ced, or deprived of their benefices ; excommunicated, cad into prifon, or forced to leave their country and go into banifh- ment. " A more grievous perfecution of the ortho- . dox faith" (fays Mr, Calderwood) " is not to be met with in hiftory, in any prince's reign." THE violent proceedings of the bifhops, in the latter end of the lad reign, drove great numbers of nonconformifts into Haliand,- where, by leave of the States they erected churches, after their own mode ; ibme of thefe were the people, who tranfplanted them- felves into tbi* country In 1604 the high abufe of church * A. B. Parker and Wbitgift. an Invaluable Blejfing* 23 church power obliged many other learned mmttiers* and their followers, to leave the kingdom, and fettle mMollandt where englifli churches were erected, after the prtfbyterian mode. But the greateft number of thofe who left their country were the people called Browmfts,who were rigid feperatifts from the church. Mr. Robinfon, a paftor of one of thefe churches at Ley den, firft (truck out the congregational form of church government, and part of his church in 1620, tranfported themfelves and their form of govern- ment to this land. IT was a mod arTecYiortate parting thefe adventur- ers, about 120 in number, took of their minifter and the remainder of their friends, in Holland^ when they embarked for this new world. With tender affecti- on^, their worthy paftor on his knees, with fervent prayer,committed them to the blefTing and protection of heaven. They arrived at Plymouth in the begin-" ning of winter fad was their condition, when they arrived in this \howling wildernefs, Winter imme- diately cams upon them ; they had no accommoda- tion for their entertainment, and inekpreffible were the hard mips they underwent. A fad mortality raged among them, occafioned by the fatigues of a long voyage, the feverity of winter, and the want of neceffaries. The country was covered with woods, their little cottages were not fufficient to, keep them warm ; they had neither fkilful phyfician, nor in- deed wholefome food ; fo that, within two or three months, half their company found their graves. However, the furvivors, as the fpring came on, be- ing encouraged by the recovery of their health, and by fupplys fent from their friends at home, profectf- ted their arduous undertaking, " and laid the foun 1 - ' 6 dation of one of the nobleft fettlements in America, ^ which* 24 Religious Liberty " which, from that time, has proved an Afylum for " the proteftant nonconjormiji^ under all their op- " prefiions." * IT is ne'edlefs to hint to you the character of King Cbarles I, whofe arbitrary meafures bro't his head to the block His prime minifter wMf&ilfiam Land, firft bifhop of London, and afterwards A. B< of Canterbury. He was the advifer of mo ft arbitrary meafures, and a furious and cruel perfecutor of the Puritans. Soon after his advancement, he proceeded againft the non- cwformijh with great feverity. One or other of the puritan minifters was, every week, fufpended or deprived* and their families driven co diftrefs : there was no liberty of confcience, nor any profpect of relief , the clouds gathered thicker over their heads* and threatned a dreadful ftorm. This put our fa- tbers ,on projecting a fettlement in this Province, where they might be delivered from the hand of op- prefTion, and enjoy the liberty of- their conferences. They arrived firft at tal'-m in 1629, and afterwards* (viz. iri 1630.) iri much greater numbers in this neighbourhood, and laid the foundation of thefe flourishing churches , in which libtrty of confcience hath, blefied be God, been enjoyed thefe 137 years. WNEN our fathers left their native country, they did not mean to excommunicate the eftabli/bedchurch. They called its members their reverend fathers and brethren, and fervently afked their prayers for them- feives , promifing to remember them " when" (fay they) " we fhall be in our poor cottages in the wil- 45 dernefs, overfhadowed with the fpirit of fupplica- * A particular account of the firft adventurers to Ply- mouth) with the characters of feveral of their leading men, the reader will find in Lieut. Gov. Hutchinfons appendix to his hiftory pf the an invaluable BleJJing. " ' - j" tion, through the manifold necefTuies, and tribulations " which may not altogether unexpeciedly,nor we hope " unprofitably, befall usl" But they found their conferences oppreflfcd, and the worfhip of God .bur- dened with unfcriptural ceremonies. For want ^pf conformity to human >mpofitions, they founJ theni- felves fo hunted and perplexed that they had no reft. Therefore they quietly withdrew themfelves into this land, where was granted i\\tm fret liber ty^of conscience to worjhip God in thdr own way ; where th and his' royal matter the King, the abolifhing of epifcopacy, and the eftablifhment of a- nother form of church government, under the pro T tection of Oliver Cromwel. \ UPON the reftoration of Charles H, epifcopacy was reftored alfo. The terms of conformity were carried Ijigher than before the civil war, "^conformity was required under the penalty of being deprived of their livings. On. tfie black Bartholomew-day 1662, abouc iooo were obliged in confcience to relinquish their, livings and miniftry in the church , " an example " hardlv to be paralleled in the chriltian world. It; V railed a grievous cry over the nation ; for here w?re " many men much valued (fays bifhop Burnett) and V diltingjiflied by their abilities and zeal, now caft out " ignominioufly, reduced to great poverty, and pro- " voked by moft fpiteful language." Mr. L^icalls i hem " worthy, learned, pious, orthodox divines. A nobler fee of minifters there never were in any na- rjpn. Sad were the calamities of far the greater pare of thefe unhappy fufferers, who, with their families, might have periftied, had it not been for the chanties of the people., to irjultitudes of whom, they were ex- D 2 ceeding * Vid. Afoz/'s Hift. of the Puritans vol. i. p. 622, and vol. 2. p. 739. f Vid. Neal) vol. j. p. 54.6. t Neat, vol. 2. p. 628. Neal y vaL z. p, ULeligious ILlberty _ dear. " Many hundreds of them" (fays Mr. jftaxtir) *' with their wives and children, had neither *\ houfe nor bread - 9 the people they left were not able < c to relieve them, 'nor durlt they if they had been *; able, ' becaufe it would have been called a main- * c % - penance of fchifm or f action. ** Miuifters, of gravity and years were rallied in the pulpits, expofed in the play bo up. and infulted by ignorant mob. And, as if all thefe fufferings were not enough, a fevere aft was rnsde, by which all nonconformijl minifters, who would not by a, certain day fwear, "not at any time toendea- c * vour any alteration of government, either in church *' or ftate, mould not, unlefs in pafTmg the road, come " or be within five miles of any city, town corporate, * c or borough, that fends burgefles to Parliament -, or cc v ithin five, miles of any parifh, town, or place, wherein they ha\ T e, fmce the act of oblivion, been* <( \ parfon, vicar or lecturer, &c. or where they have cc preached in any conventicle, on any pretence what- c * ever/ 5 , under fever - penalties. Thus were they cut off from the ailiftance of their friends, and expofed to the lam of a barbarous law, which was, in abun- dance of inftancesj hihmianl} executed. YOUR patience will not hold out, while I trace the perfecution of the nomonformifa through the remain- ing part of Charles'* reign. In confequence of cruel acts, great numbers of pious minifters 'and people were laid in prifons, among thieves and common malefact- ors, where they fufrVrcd the greateft hard&ips and indignities \ n, ir. the reign only of Ch fines II. By fevere ** penalties inflicted on them, for affembling to wor- whilejie lived. The defigns formed againft their liberties in the latter end of Queen Anne's reign, -f- were happily fruftrated, bjr the acceflion of George I j and, fince the dominion of the royal houfe of Hanover., the toleration hath been religiouQy maintained. IT is frequently faid the times are grown better, the principles of religious liberty, and the rights of private judgment are better understood, and a full toleration is, generally, agreed to be beft , to be fure the wanton exercife of prtlatical power hath, for fome years been reftrained. BlefTed be God that, on this account, we live * Vid. Dlfcenting gentleman s anfwer to Mr. White^ p, 77. and Neat, vol. 2. p. 759. t I mean the aft againft occafional conformity, which was formed with defign to cramp the toloraiion^ and keep un- dtr.the^Jfentefs : And the aft U prevent the growth of fchifm, in which the education of children is taken out of the hands of noHconformi/ts, a nd entrufted only with fuch as are full and iniire confofmijls ; and if any fchool- mafter or tutor fhould be willingly prefent at any con- venticle of dijfinters for religious worjhip y he was to fuffer three months imprifonment, and be difq ua ]5fi ec j f rorn teaching a fchool for the future. This i a ft a & was to take place, on the very day that the ^ een ^ ; but King Gttergt) being fenfible thefe hardfhips were bro't on the dffinters, for their fteady adherr nce to t ^ Q p ro . tejiani fucceffion, in the houfe of Hanov er , procured the repeal, of thefe afti, in the fifth yeair O f his reign, I 3

j when the times will permit I an invaluable Bkjjlng. j,i as a degree 6f legal impofition -, it is, at leaft, depriv- ing a great number of le^al fubjecls, of the common; priviledges of britr/Jj fubjedts, for ading up to their own cpnfciences. And, for what, do they deferve this hardfhip ? Have they not ever been fteady to the government, as eftablifhed at the revolution ? Have they not ablility and will to ferve the publick ?. Have they not a natural claim to the priviledges of Englifhmen ? When, therefore, they are, by law, ex- cluded from all places of honour and truft, unlefsi upon fuch conditions as they cannot in confcience comply with, what is this, but a ftriping them of the priviledges of fociety, and keeping them, to a certain degree*, in a (late of oppreffion and perfecution ? IT is not without pain at heart, that I review the fufferings of the conicientious nonconformifts through: a long courfe of years. Some of the bed men many of the beft chriftianshundreds of the beft minifters, that ever were in the nation, have felt the rigors of perfecution for confcience fake. They endured filenc- ing, fines, imprifonments, and lingering deaths. Who can read, without a bleeding heart, the unrelenting cruelties of Parker, Whitgift, Bancroft and Laud 9 . un- der whom, hundreds of godly minifters, were either loaded with fines or mut up in filthy jails, or obliged to fly their countries. What miftaken zeal was it that ejefted 2000 minifters in one day, excellent pious divines, whofe writings will be highly efteemed, as long as there is real piety in the nation ? Abandoned to poverty and death -, inhumanly banifhed from the places of their miniftry, leaft triofe, who had tafted the fweet of their labours, mould afford them any relief ? May God forgive this miftaken teal, -and leC not the fin be found charged upon them in the great day. MY Brethren, I fay not thefe things to raife your tinchriftian refentmentj but to enlarge your gratitude; 32 Religious Liberty that you live in a better age, and in a land of liberty* Thoufands in former days, doubdefs, abhorred thofe perfecuting meafures, and thoufknds of their fucceffors, in the church, abhor them in the prefent day. Mucli of the blame was owing to the times^ as well as the men. Liberty of confcience, the rights of private judgment, and the abiurdity of advancing the king- dom of Chrift., by penal laws, were not To well under- ftood, among any denominations of chriftians, as they have bztnfmce. It feems to have been, through the fpecial interpofition of heaven, that our fathers ob- tained, from the Crown, a grant of this country, with fuch # full liberty of confcience \ and what a kind pro- vidence i it, which, through all the changes and re- volutions of our mother country, in the 130 years pad, hath fuffered no durable change in our religious liberties. Here we dwell in a land of light, a region of liberty : We worfhip God according to the order of his fancluary ; a happinefs, that thoufands of the bcft men have not enjoyed. THESE things, to men wholly indifferent to religi- on, and flrangers to ferious imprefllons, may ieem to be trifles. One way of worfhip is to them as good as another, any or none may be, to them, alike -, but to men who are ferioufly concerned to fecure the divine acceptance, and enjoy the word and ordinances in gof- pel fimplicity, religious liberty is one of the mod pre- cious jewels on earth. The rights of confcience are facred ; and what is there worth enjoying here, if we are deprived of the free enjoyment of the word, ordi- nances, and worfhip of God, in conformity to our own confciences ? Let it become ah article in your daily thankfgivings ; let this be a principal fubjeft of, our unfeigned praife on this anniverfary and joyful day. Happy is the people that is in fuch a cafe, yea happy is that people whofe GOD is the LORD. DISCOURSE <*::so _ ^. . , after Chrift, but was, cenfequently, brought in* in the depths of popery ^ THEY alfo fcruplecl * conformity to certain rites and ceremonies which were enjoyned by the rubric k^ o.r the royal authority : And would not be defpenfed wiih, in compliance with tender confciences. As, TtiEjign of the crofs in baftijin, which is no pare of the inftitution in fcnpture, and of whole ufe ; in baptifrn, there is; no exprefs mention made, until the 5th century \ and had been abufed to fuperfti tioti by the church of Rome.- They alfo difallowed of the fraptifm, by midwives , and of the runner of churching women, -which they thought look'd toa jpuch \[\z&jewijh purification. THEY alfo excepted to the u r e of god-fathers and god-mothers^ to fhe exclufion of parents, from being fu re ties for the education of their own children. To giving biatbsntfo names and the anfwcr given & tbe name of the child. They like wife difapprov- fully expofrd in a book intituled The confefffmal. Said to be written by a dignified clergy- man, of the church of England. It i an abfurd, I had alinoft faid, an impious reprefentation, that Chriil and his apoitles fettled no determinate form of' worship ^.:d djfciplinf an invaluable- Bkjpng. %$ idifclaim, and enjoy a liberty from all civil and etcle- fiajiical authority in matters of faith and worfhip. Chriir, and Chnft alone, we acknowledge and ful>- mit to, as Jole head, king, and lawgiver, in his church ; as alone having authority, by himfelf, and by his infpired Apoftles, to give us articles of faith; and to ihltitute rites and forms of worfhip and dif- cipline, in the church which is the houfe of the liv- ing God. We here kfTert, maintain, and enjoy the 'liberty of judging and acting for ourfelves, in mat- ters of religion ; God alone being the Lord of con- fcience, and his people accountable to him alone a their only fovereign; Thefe churches are founded on the natural right of private judgment j they are voluntary focieties of the faithful, for the worfhip bf God, in the manner, that they find prefcribed in God's word ; without the lead impofitions of hu- man authority, temporal or fpi ritual. Liberty is the fundamental principle of our eftablifhmcnt ; we are accountable to none burChfift. This liberty, blefled be God, we have fully enjoyed, from the beginning. Jt is a darling priviledge, which we cannot be too unwilling to give up. While we retain thi$Iifortyl we hold the door faft fhut againft fpiritual tyranny and impofitions on confcience. Indeed our churches,; on important oceafidns, afk advice and diredtion of their brethren, but even here all authority & coercive power is wifely guarded againft-~-to their own ma- iler every church, and every chriftidn, flandeth or falleth. Chrift alone is head of the church 5 to his injunctions we pay an implicit obedience, but from every other fpiritual jUrifdiclion, whether in popes, in difcipline in the church, but left thefe things to the civil magiftrate ; as if Chrift left his church a weak and help- lefs infant, to be nurfed, and formed by human authority : which feems to be the fenfe of a late ejjay on e wrote in anfwer to the Cwfe/ianali 40 Religious Liberty in kings, in parliaments, fynods or councils, we claim and adt&ally enjoy a total exemption : Oh blefied priviledge ! WE enjoy a liberty from the power of unfcriptural officers and minifters, in the church of God ; we have but two orders of the miniftry, elders or/aftors, or prejl'yttrs or bi/hcps^ or overfeers, (for, ; by all thde names, are the ordinary minifters of Chrift called, in the new teftament, from the feveral views of the na- ture of their office ) and deacons. As for arch and di- ccefan ^\^\Q^^arcb- deacons ^deans ^chancellors and other officers , we, after the example of the proteftant churches abroad, reckon them quite unfcriptural, and ufelefs, and a vaft and needlefs charge to the people of God ; a yake of bondage, that neither we nor our fathers were able to bear we fee no eccle- fiaftical tribunals ere&ed among us : This we take to be an invaluable liberty , may God enable us tq Hand faft in this liberty^ that this yoke of bondage may iiever be impoftd upon us ! ANOTHER of our ecclefiaftical priviledges, is the liberty .of choofmg cur own minifters. This is a right founded in reafon, in fcripture, and the undoubted^ pra6lice of the church, in the primitive ages. When an apoille was to be chofen, the whole number of difcij^es were applied to, who appointed two as can- didates for the office. The church was likewile directed to loofc out among them fevcn men for deacons. The primitive bimops, or paftors, were undoubtedly elefted by the fufFrages of the churches, to which they miniftered. This liberty is yet pre- ferved in theie churches,and is oneof the beft means of preierving a pious and painful, laborious and hea- venly miniftry 5 and of making a religious people. Our minifters are never impofed upon us by royal ( Authority, by bilhops or lay patrons. We call to tlie 1 * ' "' t- . . an invaluable BkJJing* miniftry-men that, we know, are approved of God ; furnifhed with gifts and graces for this work'. Nor can it be fuppofed that the people, who have f6 much regard for chriftianity as to defire a miniftry 'at #//, will become ever fo corrupt, as to prefer vici- bus and immoral men to take the care of their fouls', This is a liberty of ineflimable worth. Again, ,*.&; THE ordination of our minifters by the laying oa pf the hands of the prefby tery, ,or ordinary pallors of the church, is another part of the liberty wherewith Chrift hath made us free. And if any fhould, orj this accpunr, reproach us,, with the want of a regular and valid adminidration of the word and ordinances^ ,they would do well to confider, that . the minifters of almoft all the foreign .proteftant churches receive no other than prejlyterian ordination- The illuftri- ous proteftant churches of Scotland^ France, Holland^ Switzerland^ Gernia/iy, Poland, Hungary and Den* mark, have haB only this ordination. They who bbjecl a want of valid adminiftrations to us, on that account, would, therefore, do well to remember> that thereby, they do virtually excommunicate, al- hioft all the foreign churches in the world, except the church of Rome^ that mother of harlots and abo^ minatiom of the earth. * . Befides, f F * " . . ..4 ; . The Danijh church is at this time governed by bijhopsl> *' but they look on epifcopacy as only an human inftitu- were ordained by Bugenbagius^ a meer prefbyter "fee the dijjenting gentleman s anfwer, p. 84. It is inconteftably evident, that the firft reformers in land held the identity of fcripture prefbyters and bifhops ; and looked on epifcopacy in England only, as a meer civil appointment. Dr. Bancroft, in a fermon in 1588, frft niaintined, that the bifhops of England were a diftin6t or- aer frbm^r/^, and had fuperiority over them jure divino, and ^2- Religious Liberty WHEN our minifters are ordained, and take upon them the overfight of the Hock of Chrift, they do not fpend their time at a diftance j in fecular em- ployments, in the courts of princes, in parliaments, or in foreign embaflys \ but they conftantly refide. among the flock > and, as far as their circurnftances permit", they give themfelves to reading, to medi- tation an'd prayer ; preach the word, viiit the fick, comfort the fofrowful, and diligently employ them- felves in thbfe holy miniftrations, which may edify and comfort the people of their charge. We have no example of a non-refident minifter, or of feveral ecclefiaftical livings given to one man, to enrich him, while he is living at eafe : A practice loudly complained of by the bed men, and fcrupled by the bed minifters at home, and doubtlefs an awful hindrance to the falvation of fouls. THE difcipline and cenfures of our church are not in the hands of hi/hops^ or lay chancellors^ or other Officers, and the admonitions and cenfures of the thurch adminiflred by them ; but every church, according and directly fromGod. ** This was new and ftrange doct- 44 rinetothe churchmen of thefe times. It had been always *' faid, that the fnperibrity of the order of bifliops, above * e prefbyters had been a politic human appointment, for the *' more orderly government of the church, begun about *' the gd or 4-th century ; but Bancroft was one of the firft, *' who, by the arch-bifhop's direction, advanced it into c< a diVide right." His fermon gave great offence ; but this doctrine was afterward promoted by Laud^ and o- thers, as fixing the cpifcopacy on the fureft foundation. However, it is doubtful, whether there has been in Eng- land, to this day.; properly any public exprefs affertion of the divine right of prelacy, either by parliament or convo- cation. Can any fuch thing be found in the 39 articles, > ? 1 ' .'; , ' ' ?"- .'., IT feems to be an infelicity; infe|DeraBle froth our prefent imperfect ftate, that wife and good. men can- not always think alike. This is doubtlefs permitted^ that there may be place for the exercife of mutual candour and forbearance : It is an unhappinefs than God's children deeply lament -, hereby their longing Hefires iirc led forth after that land of light &.lpycj| G Mere 50 Religious Liberty where the mifls of ignorance and miftake will be done away ; where they (hall be of one mind, and unitedly worfhip the Father, in that houfe not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. In the mean time, it is greatly to be wifhed, that good men of all de- nominations, might rightly confider the infirmity of the prefcnt life, love as brethren, living in the exer- cife of candour and forgivenefs. Whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the fame nth, let us mind the fame thing. But this notwithstanding, we may know and efteem our priviledges ; we may hold them faft as one of the richeft gifts of God : Oh ! liberty of conference ; \.\\t purity of God's worfhip and ordinances, is one of the greateft blefllngs on earth. PARENTS, aged perfons, and perfons of fuperior understanding, mould be particularly careful to re- commend our facred liberties.- It might be of great fervice, to tell your children of the great defign of our fathers coming over the wide atlantic^-\hz diffi- culties which brought them from their native land the hardiliips they underwent in fettling this howling wilclernefs the patience with which they endured them, while they had reft and freedom In the wor- fhip of God- with the Excellency of our worfhip and difcipline, and its agreement with the word of God. OUR young people alfo mould learn to know our liberty. The pure worfhip of God, for which your fathers gave up their native land abandoned the land of their fathers fepulchresventured over a tempeftuous ocean^ expended their fubftance fet- tled themfelves amid ft lavages and wild beafts, and maintained dreadful wars with the natives the pure worftiip and gofpel liberty^ for which our fathers did thefe things, doth, at hafl, deferve a ferious regard. Should we, or any fucceeding age, defpife our liberty^ fa 6# invaluable Bkjjlng. fo dearly bought, what do we, but trample upon our fathers duft, and difturb the afhes of our godly an- ceftors, whotpurchafed this land for us at fo great: expence ? Surely, the religious liberty^ and gofpel prder, which they purchased for us, at fo dear a price, deferves ourferious refpect, and is not, vainly and incon/ideratelytQ be given away. THESE churches, from the beginning, have been furnifhed with as able and ufeful minift^rs, as any churches in the world j. and fuch> I hope in God, they are fupplied with at this day. It will therefore be one means of retaining out? liberties, to encou- rage their hearts & ftrengthen their hands. While they labour in the word and doctrine, it is the wik clom of the churches to efteem them highly in love, and to make their circumftances eafy unto them. Under the prefent; ecclejtafticalconftitution, your mi-, ciders have aot the profpects of rich benefices ; of amaffing riches \ of fumptuous tables and tfately equipage ^ our ftations are not places of eafe and profit -, but of labour and diligence. We leek not the great things of this world ; we gladly renounce all hopes of thefe temporal emoluments, that our miniftry may be ufeful to your fouls, and your /;- .herty may be preferved. All we expect,_ all we de- fire for ourfelves, and families, is a decent fupport, a freedom to attend the duties of our office, and the means of making fuch provifioa for our families, as our neighbours, in common, are able to do, in fe- cular life. It would be cruel hard to deny this, and more we do not expect nor defire. Some other e- fiafylifhment might make us rich and independent,, but we defire no other, we feek no-other ; we feek not yours, but you ; you find none more foliicitous, tp.preferye your facred priviledges than yoyr mini- Q. 2 >& J3 Religious Liberty fters, who alone could form expectations from 2^ Change. Gratitude 'and love will then engage the people of tins land, to comfort their minifters hearts'^ to afford them ' a "relpedful iubfiftence -, to place them out of circumftanccs of diftrefs, that they may tfnake full proof of their miniftry - 3 fave their ow;a fouls, and them, that hear them. MAY I be allowed., with all humility to add ;- that it highly becomes our 'civil rultrs^ efpecially the repreientativcs of this people, to watch over our fa-* ired^ as well as our civiriibsrtits. Far be it from me to defire that the civil arm fhould be (Iretched ouc to pqnifH heretics *, human decrees are not the rneahs to propagate the religion of Jefus : For this, we defire t>ut the weapons' of light 'and truth, the Avord 6f the fpiric, and the liberry of free enquiry. But yet'the majeftrate is to be the' minifter of Goii for gbed - 3 by 1 upholding mankind in the'ir chriftiah liberty ;'' by defending chriftians from exterior vid- lehce, by fupporting/t^Wj and colleges for training up bur ybuth for the work of the miniflry ; and by- giving due encouragement for men of ability to un- dertake the facred' employment. We' wifh never to find authority inverted in men, unfriendly to the facrM liberties of their country ; that would dil> courage a ierious miniitry, or would meanly facrk fice our lacred rights for any temporal advantage^ to themfclves. * " * May I be permitted to add ; It was an evidence of the noble and liberal' fpirit of our fathers, not only that they fo early founded, zfeminary of learning, for the educauo^i of youth foj the rninlftr/ ; bu{ alfo that; they, by a law, obliged every town to keep a grammar fchool. This hath proved of excellent fervire, nnt only for fitting chiH- <^ren for the college^ with very 'little expence, by which, an invaluable BleJJlng. 53 STAND faft, may brethren, (land fad in your fa- fcred liberties : Uriderftand your freedom ; honour your noble anceftors, keep dole to- Ch rift, and pre- ferve his inftitutions in their purity : Be difcreec^ and (leady in the eAercile of your liberty. Brethren* be per/eft, be of good tcmfori\ be of one wind* five in > and the>God of love and peace Jh all be with you. OUR liberties, both civil anc} facred, are truly our own ; they are what our fathers dearly bought ; they defcend to us as z patrimony purchafed at their expence. They were driven by fpiritual tyranny from the land of their fathers fepulchres. Encou- raged by the Royal Grant of full liberty, of confci- ence, at a vail: expence they tranfplanted themielves and families over the extended ocean, t.hey fut>dued the wildernefs, built them houfes, planned them: or- chards, defended th'emfelves againft the favages, and widely extended the Britifh dominions, at their <^;tf expence, without any charge to the cduntry,from which they came. They for more than an hundred years, defended their own fettlements, and waged defenfive wars with the barbarous Indians, in which, nor for fake us. AMEN, tf^\ *^ Kin g of grace, arife, JLX-