UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 AT LOS ANGELES
 
 publications of fl)e prince 
 
 JOHN CHECKLEY. 
 
 VOLUME I. 
 
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 Eftablifhed May 25th, 1858. 
 
 JOHN CHECKLEY; 
 
 OR THE 
 
 EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE 
 IN MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 
 
 Boston: 
 
 PRINTED FOR THE SOCIETY, 
 
 BY JOHN WILSON AND SON. 
 
 1897.
 
 TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY COPIES.
 
 JOHN CHECKLEY; 
 
 OR THE 
 
 EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE 
 
 IN 
 
 MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 
 
 INCLUDING 
 
 MR. CHECKLEY*S CONTROVERSIAL WRITINGS ; HIS LETTERS AND OTHER PAPERS ; 
 HIS PRESENTMENT ON THE CHARGE OF A LIBEL FOR PUBLISHING A BOOK ; 
 HIS SPEECH AT HIS TRIAL ; THE HON. JOHN READ'S PLEA IN ARREST 
 OF JUDGMENT; AND A BIBLIOGRAPHY OF THE GREAT CON- 
 TROVERSY ON EPISCOPACY BY THE MINISTERS OF 
 THE STANDING ORDER AND THE CLERGY 
 OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND. 
 
 I7I9-I774. 
 
 WITH HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 AND A 
 
 ME.MOIR 
 
 BY THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, D.D. 
 
 MEMBER OF THE MASSACHUSETTS HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THB ROYAL 
 HISTORICAL SOCIETY, ETC., ETC., ETC. 
 
 IN TWO VOLUMES. 
 VOL. I. 
 
 230St0tU 
 
 PUBLISHED BY THE PRINCE SOCIETY. 
 1897.
 
 Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1897, by 
 
 THB PRINCH SOCIETY, 
 In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
 
 PREFACE. 
 
 ]HE defign of this monograph is to fhow the evolu- 
 tion of religious tolerance in Maffaehufetts Bay, 
 efpecially in its relations to the Church of Eng- 
 land as illuflrated by the life and career of the Rev. John 
 Checkley. Other religious bodies, not of the Standing 
 Order, had paffed through the experience of conflicts, of 
 ftruggles, and of triumphs. From 1720 to 1742 Mr. Check- 
 ley was an aclive champion of the Church of England in 
 Maffaehufetts Bay, the conftant and untiring affertor of the 
 rights of its members under the law. Before this time 
 fevere and even cruel meafures had been employed to fup- 
 prefs thofe who differed from the Puritan Church. Whip- 
 ping, mutilation, banimment, and death had been meted 
 out to thofe who perfifled in holding and proclaiming a dif- 
 cordant faith. But this method had wholly difappeared in 
 1720. That filent, unfeen, myfterious power, which philofo- 
 phers call evolution and Chriflians call a Divine providence, 
 
 326377
 
 vi Preface. 
 
 had wrought a marvellous change. The moft pofitive, 
 ingrained Puritan of 1720 would doubtlefs have recoiled 
 with difmay and indignation at the terrific phyfical punifh- 
 ments inflicted by the fathers for the crime of holding a 
 differing faith. 
 
 But, neverthelefs, evolution had not yet achieved a com- 
 plete victory. Fines, imprifonment, and unjuft taxation, 
 taxation to build churches and to fupport a religion which 
 they did not believe, were flill inflicted with a rapacious hand. 
 Againft this intolerance, for more than twenty years, Mr. 
 Checkley ftruggled on, nothing daunted by fines, penalties, 
 and perfonal abufe, gaining one point after another, until at 
 length he faw the confummation of his wifhes in the enact- 
 ment of a general law, which, for the firft time fince the 
 planting ot the colony, placed the members of the Church 
 of England on an equal footing with the Standing Order. 
 Vide Vol. II. p. 20 1, and note 71. 
 
 In collecting the material for this work, largely gathered 
 out of original documents, I have received from fcholars, ftu- 
 dents of hiftory, officials and others, numerous courtefies for 
 which I defire to place upon record my hearty appreciation. 
 
 I am under obligations to the Bifhops of London, of Ox- 
 ford, and of Ely, for fearches obligingly made at my requeft 
 for information in the records of their feveral diocefes. 
 
 My thanks are efpecially due to Mr. C. F. Pafcoe of Lon- 
 don, who is in charge of the manufcripts and books of the
 
 Preface. vii 
 
 Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, 
 for valuable information and extracts from the Society's rec- 
 ords : to Mr. Lindfay Swift of Boflon, who, in cataloguing 
 the library of Prefident John Adams, difcovered the copies 
 of letters in the handwriting of Mr. Checkley, which are 
 printed in this work. Mr. Swift made a very exact and 
 beautiful copy, for the ufe of which I am under fpecial obli- 
 gations. I am likewife under great obligations to Mr. 
 Abner C. Goodell, Jr., of Salem, the learned editor of the 
 Province Laws, by whofe indifpenfable aid feveral intri- 
 cate hiflorical queftions have been folved, particularly the 
 official relations of the Hon. John Read at the trial of Mr. 
 Checkley; to John Noble, Efquire, Clerk of the Supreme 
 Judicial Court, for accefs to the Suffolk Court Files, and 
 extracts from the fame. 
 
 I am alfo indebted for fuggeftions and courtefies to Juflin 
 Winfor, LL.D., of the Library of Harvard Univerfity, 
 Samuel A. Green, LL.D., of the Library of the Maflachu- 
 fetts Hiflorical Society, Profeffor Franklin B. Dexter of the 
 Library of Yale Univerfity, Mr. John Ward Dean of the 
 New England Hiftoric Genealogical Society, Mr. John 
 Savary of the Library of Congrefs, Mr. William Kelby of 
 the Library of the New York Hiflorical Society, Mr. Albert 
 C. Bates of the Library of the Connecticut Hiflorical So- 
 ciety, Mr. C. B. Tillinghafl of the State Library of Maffa- 
 chufetts, Mr. William P. Upham of Salem, Mr. J. O. Auflin
 
 viii Preface. 
 
 of Providence, R. I., the Rev. Carlos Slafter of Dedham, 
 the Rev. C. A. L. Richards, D.D., Redor of St. John's 
 Church, Providence, R. I., the Rev. Samuel H. Webb, 
 Regiftrar of the Diocefe of Rhode Ifland, and the Rev. N. E. 
 Cornwall, Reclor of Chrift Church, Stratford, Connecticut 
 
 The co-operation of the defendants of Mr. Checkley has 
 rendered the genealogical feclion, the outline of the family 
 hiftory, fuller and more valuable than I had anticipated. 
 
 If the work now completed fhall prove, in any degree, to 
 be a contribution to the early hiftory of New England, or 
 render the tafk of the general hiftorian lefs difficult, and his 
 conclufions more accurate, the aim of the author will be 
 
 fully realized. 
 
 E. F. S. 
 
 BOSTON, 249 BERKELEY STREET, 
 January i, 1897.
 
 TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 PAGE 
 FRONTISPIECE HELIOTYPE OF OLD PARSONAGE . . . facing titlepage 
 
 PREFACE v viii 
 
 FACSIMILE OF MR. CHECKLEY'S HANDWRITING .... facing page \ 
 
 MEMOIR OF JOHN CHECKLEY 1-116 
 
 THE WILL OF THE REV. JOHN CHECKLEY 117-118 
 
 INVENTORY OF PERSONAL ESTATE 119-123 
 
 THE CHECKLEY FAMILY 124-139 
 
 CHOICE DIALOGUES 141-178 
 
 A MODEST PROOF 179-233 
 
 A TRUE PASTOR 234-247 
 
 THE OLD PARSONAGE 248-253 
 
 ACT OF INCORPORATION OF THE PRINCE SOCIETY 256 
 
 CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS OF THE PRINCE SOCIETY . . . 257-260 
 
 OFFICERS FROM ITS ORGANIZATION 261-262 
 
 OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY 263-269 
 
 PUBLICATIONS OF THE PRINCE SOCIETY 271-272 
 
 INDEX 273-288
 
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 FAC-SIMILE OF MR. CHECKLEY'S HAND-WRITING. 
 
 7*A rtter /* doting ttntttut of a letter to the Rev. Mr. Black, of King's Chapel, 
 Wettminster. -~ Vide vol. it. 191-92.
 
 MEMOIR. 
 
 HE career of the Rev. JOHN CHECKLEY flretched 
 over a period, after he entered upon his 
 manhood, of fomewhat more than half a cen- 
 tury. He was born in Bofton, of Englifh 
 parentage, in the year 1680, and died in Provi- 
 dence, Rhode Ifland, where he had been Rector of King's 
 Church, now St. John's, from 1739 to the day of his death, 
 the 1 5th of February, 1754. He was an only fon, and 
 had an only fifter, who died at the age of feventeen years. 
 The rudiments of his education were obtained in the Bofton 
 Latin School, under the tuition of the renowned Ezekiel 
 Cheever. He was fubfequently fent to England, where he 
 completed his education at the Univerfity of Oxford. We 
 find no evidence, however, of his matriculation, and his 
 ftudies were doubtlefs carried on under private inftruclors. 
 
 He afterward travelled extenfively on the Continent, 
 vifiting moft of the countries of Europe, where he collected 
 many interefting objects of virtu, fuch as valuable paintings, 
 rare books, and manufcripts. 1 
 
 At 
 
 1 In the records of the town of Bofton, 
 both municipal and church, we find no 
 
 VOL. I. I 
 
 entry which we can identify as referring 
 to John Checkley in his childhood or 
 
 early
 
 2 Memoir of 
 
 At what age he was fent to England, and in what year 
 he returned to Bofton, cannot be clearly determined. His 
 return, however, was fomewhat anterior to his marriage, and 
 was doubtlefs not far from 1710. 
 
 We may well fuppofe that his ftudies at Oxford be- 
 gan when he was not more than fifteen years of age, 
 and, if he returned in 1710, he was abroad, moftly in 
 England, not far from fifteen years. This period was 
 filled up with conflant and afliduous work. Endowed 
 with an unufual gift in the acquifition of languages, he 
 made himfelf in thefe years a ripe fcholar in Latin, Greek, 
 and Hebrew. 2 
 
 His intellectual powers were of a fuperior order. His 
 opinions were deliberately formed, were clear and well- 
 defined, and not often or eafily changed. He was fond 
 of argument, affluent in anecdote and learned allufions, 
 and his converfations were rich and glowing with humor, 
 here and there fparkling with corufcations of wit. He 
 was confequently the centre of attraction in literary 
 circles, although his fentiments were never moulded fo 
 
 much 
 
 early years. The fafts above dated are over, Dr. Eliot informs us that two 
 
 obtained from the brief notice, occupy- of Mr. Checkley's grandchildren were 
 
 ing lefs than two pages, in the Rev. Dr. then living. He doubtlefs was in cor- 
 
 Jonn Eliot's (ketches of eminent men refpondence with them. They could 
 
 and literary characters, publifhed in hardly fail to have fome knowledge of 
 
 1809, under the title of a " Biographi- their grandfather's hiftory, and, more- 
 
 cal Dictionary." The material of this over, may have had a family record, 
 
 work, he informs us, he was "many The facts ftated by Dr. Eliot may be 
 
 years in collecting." He began his affumed as truftworthy, and fubftantially 
 
 refearches probably within forty years correcl. 
 
 of Mr. Checkley's death. At that 2 Dr. Eliot fays, while abroad "he 
 
 time fome of his contemporaries were procured a valuable Hebrew Bible, ele- 
 
 ftill living, and the fources of informa- gantly written on vellum." Biograph- 
 
 tion were comparatively ample ; more- ical Dictionary, in loco.
 
 John Checkley. 3 
 
 much to pleafe the hearer, as to exprefs vigoroufly the 
 convictions of his own mind. 8 
 
 He is fpoken of by writers in the early part of the prefent 
 century as one of the wits of his time, as a very benevolent 
 and good man, who added learning to a lively wit and a 
 playful humor. His bon-mots, witticifms, and laughter- 
 provoking ftories were current for a whole generation after 
 his time. There exifted in Bofton a coterie of humorifls, of 
 which Mr. Checkley was the central figure. Among them 
 was Thomas Walter, a young man of brilliant promife, who 
 died at the age of twenty-eight years, the equal of Checkley in 
 cauftic humor, and more than his equal in perfonal invec- 
 tive, who left behind him feveral publications of fuperior 
 merit. 4 John Read was another, a fine converfationift, and 
 the profoundeft lawyer of his time in Maffachufetts Bay. 5 
 
 A 
 
 8 Of his learning, Dr. Eliot fays, "It Church, Bofton. The grandfather's 
 
 rendered him a companion for learned argument againft Epifcopacy did not 
 
 and curious men, all of whom were fond feem to deter the grandfon from taking 
 
 of the company of John Checkley." orders in the Church of England. 
 
 4 Thomas Walter was a fon of the 5 John Read was born in 1680, and 
 
 Rev. Nehemiah Walter, of Roxbury, and died February 14, 1749, N. S. He 
 
 was fettled as a colleague of his father, graduated at Harvard College in 1697; 
 
 His mother was a fifter of the renowned he entered the Congregational minif- 
 
 Dr. Cotton Mather. He publifhed fev- try, and officiated in feveral places, 
 
 eral fermons, and two controverfial laftly at Stratford, Connecticut, from 
 
 works mentioned in the fequel, vide about 1703 to 1706. Here, with a con- 
 
 pp. 34, 83 ; alfo a work on mufic, enti- siderable number of his parifhioners, 
 
 tied the Grounds and Rules of Mufick he decided that it was his duty to con- 
 
 Explained. Vide a eulogy on him by form to the Church of England, 
 
 the Rev. Dr. Charles Chauncy, in Col- In 1707 nineteen gentlemen in Strat- 
 
 lettions of Majfachufetts Hi/lorical So- ford petitioned the Venerable Society 
 
 aety, Vol. X. pp. 155-6. for a miffionary for that place, as may 
 
 It is an interefting fa<5l that the Rev. be feen by reference to Hawks and 
 
 Thomas Walter's grandfon was the Perry's Connecticut Church Docu- 
 
 Rev. William Walter, D.D., who was ments, Vol. I. p. 34. Mr. Read was 
 
 reftor of Trinity Church, Bofton, from an impreffive and eloquent preacher. 
 
 1764 to 1776, and, fubfequently to the He ferioufly contemplated entering into 
 
 American Revolution, rector of Chrift holy orders ; but many obftacles inter- 
 vened.
 
 Memoir of 
 
 A third was Mather Byles, whofe fparkling fayings have 
 a touch of immortality, and are frefh in our memories today. 6 
 And laft, but not leaft, Jofeph Green, diftinguifhed not only 
 for his wit and humor, but likewife for his extraordinary 
 fkill in readily cafting any ludicrous incident into poetic 
 
 meafure. 7 A 
 
 Among 
 
 vened, and he finally entered the law. 
 He became eminent, was Queen's attor- 
 ney for the Province of Connecticut for 
 feveral years, and held other important 
 offices and trufts in that province. He 
 began to do law-bufiness in Bofton as 
 early as 1720; but on December 12, 
 1722, he purchafed an eftate on Hanover 
 Street, where the hotel known as the 
 American Houfe now ftands, and came 
 to Bofton to refide. The next June after 
 he took up his refidence in Maffachu- 
 fetts Bay, he was elected Attorney-Gen- 
 eral, and to this office annually till 1727, 
 inclufive. It is neceffary here to ftate 
 that for the year 1724 he did not act, 
 as the formality of a nomination by the 
 Governor had been neglected. 
 
 The nomination of the Attorney- 
 General was the prerogative of the 
 Governor, and without it, according to 
 Englifh law, the office could not be 
 legally difcharged. He was a member 
 of the Houfe of Reprefentatives in 
 1738, and of the Governor's Council in 
 1741 and 1742. He was an active and 
 influential member of King's Chapel, 
 and a warden in 1735 an d 1736. He 
 acquired a wide influence, was an oracle 
 among the fages of Maffachufetts Bay, 
 and was accounted the ableft lawyer in 
 the Province. Vide Life of the Hon. 
 John Read, by George B. Reed, Bofton, 
 1879; Lives of Eminent Lawyers, 
 Statrfmen, and Men of Letters, by 
 Samuel L. Knapp, 1829 ; Hijlory of 
 the Epif copal Church in Connecticut, 
 by E. Edwards Beardfley. D.D., 1865, 
 Vol. I. pp. 21-22 ; Suffolk Court Rec- 
 
 ords, 1723 et fequentes; Council Rec- 
 ords of Majfachufetts Bay, 1723 et 
 fequentes ; Annals of Kings Cha6el, 
 Bofton, by the Rev. Henry Wilder 
 Foote, 1882 pajfim. 
 
 In the town records of Stratford, Con- 
 necticut, his name was fpelled " Reed ;" 
 but the Rev. Dr. Evan Evans, of Phila- 
 delphia, a contemporary, in a letter to 
 the Society for the Propagation of the 
 Gofpel, refers to him, and fpells his 
 name " Read," and he is otherwife iden- 
 tified as the fame who was afterward the 
 diftinguifhed lawyer of Bofton. Vide 
 Hawks and Perry" 1 s Church Documents 
 of Connecticut, Vol. I. p. 38 ; alfo MS. 
 Letter of the Rev. N. Ellfworth Corn- 
 wall, of Stratford, March 12, 1895. 
 
 6 Mather Byles was born in Bofton 
 in 1706, and died in Bofton in 1788; 
 graduated at Harvard College 1725. 
 He received the degree of Doctor of 
 Divinity from the Univerfity of Aber- 
 deen in 1765. He was the firft minifter 
 of the church in Hollis Street, from 
 which he was driven away on account 
 of his loyalty to the Britifn crown. 
 
 7 Jofeph Green was born in 1706, 
 graduated at Harvard College in 1726, 
 was a merchant, a loyalift, profcribed, 
 and banifhed ; died in England in 
 1780. He was appointed a Mandamus 
 Counfellor, but declined the honor. 
 Some humorous friend compofed the 
 following as a fuitable epitaph : 
 
 "Sifte Viator, here lies one, 
 Whofe life was whim, whofe foul was pun ; 
 And if you go too near his herfe, 
 He '11 joke you both in profe and verfe."
 
 John Checkley. 5 
 
 Among other fragments from Green's pen, he indited a 
 friendly lampoon upon Checkley, which is ftill extant, and 
 which we are tempted to reproduce. Mr. Checkley, in his belt 
 eftate, was not endowed with the grace of perfonal beauty, 
 and, after a ferious illnefs, the defects of nature were greatly 
 exaggerated. Several of the coterie to which we have 
 alluded accidentally met at his houfe, drawn thither to 
 exprefs their fympathy and to give him a cheering word. 
 They jeflingly propofed that he mould fit for his portrait to 
 Smibert, the diftinguifhed Englifh artifl, who was then in 
 Bofton, having arrived in the country in the fame fhip 
 which had brought to our mores the celebrated Dean 
 Berkeley, afterwards the Bifhop of Cloyne. Mr. Checkley 
 readily affented. It was then fuggefled, to render the gift 
 more attractive and complete, that Green mould prepare a 
 fuitable infcription to be placed under the portrait. He 
 accordingly inflantly threw off the following lines, greatly 
 to the merriment of Mr. Checkley and his friends : 
 
 " John, had thy ficknefs fnatch'd thee from our fight, 
 And fent thee to the realms of endlefs night, 
 Pofterity would then have never known 
 Thine eye, thy beard, thy cowl and fhaven crown. 
 But now redeemed by Smibert's fkilful hand, 
 Of immortality fecure you ftand. 
 When nature into ruin fhall be hurl'd, 
 And the laft conflagration burn the world, 
 This piece fhall then furvive the general evil, 
 For flames, we know, cannot confume the Devil." 
 
 During Mr. Checkley's long refidence in England both 
 the nation and the church paffed through ftirring and trying 
 
 fcenes.
 
 6 Memoir of 
 
 fcenes. A little before that time James II. had put forth 
 the utmoft ftrength of his royal prerogative and kingly office 
 to bring back the Roman religion, and eftablifh it once 
 more in both the Englifh Church and State. His efforts to 
 this end in the univerfities, in the courts of law, and in the 
 army, had all proved abortive When he had fo alienated 
 the people and forfeited their refped: that he deemed it 
 no longer perfonally fafe for him to remain in England, he 
 efcaped into the friendly domains of the King of France. 
 William and Mary were immediately placed upon the throne, 
 with little or no oppofition. The Englifh bimops had man- 
 fully refifted all the wily fchemes of the King to bring in the 
 Roman Church. They had borne with firmnefs and dignity 
 the humiliation of arrefl and imprifonment. 8 But now that 
 a new government had been eftablifhed, a delicate practical 
 queftion prefented itfelf to the bimops and clergy, and, in 
 facl, to every citizen holding office in the kingdom. The 
 new government required an oath of allegiance, and later, on 
 the death of King William, an oath of abjuration. At the 
 prefent day, thefe oaths, in fimilar circumftances, might 
 
 perhaps 
 
 8 King James II., in the year 1687, tance to publifh the Declaration. It 
 
 iffued his famous Declaration of Indul- was figned by Archbifhop Sancroft, 
 
 gence, and ordered the bimops to have Lioyd of St. Afaph, Turner of Ely, 
 
 it read in the churches. The object of Lake of Chichefter, Ken of Bath and 
 
 the King was plainly to open the way Wells, White of Peterborough, and 
 
 for the entrance and eftablifhment of Trelawney of Briftol. For this aft the 
 
 the Roman Church in England. The feven bifliops were imprifoned in the 
 
 Puritans were caught in the fnare, and Tower of London. The fympathies of 
 
 favored the Declaration. But the bifh- the whole nation were touched by this 
 
 ops, fourteen of them at leaft, refufed to wanton exhibition of injuftice. It was 
 
 read it as directed by the King. Only the beginning of the end of the King's 
 
 two or three were willing to accede to power. He foon after thought it pru- 
 
 the King's command. Seven of the dent to feek an afylum in France. The 
 
 bifhops refpeftfully prefented a peti- courfe of the bifhops faved England to 
 
 tion to the King fignifying their reluc- the Proteftant world.
 
 John Checkley. ^ 
 
 perhaps be taken without hefitation by any office-bearer in 
 the empire. But at that time the old doctrine of the divine 
 right of kings was entertained by the vaft majority of the 
 Britifh people. It had come down to them through many 
 generations. It had early been incorporated into the Jewifh 
 Theocracy. The pathetic tendernefs of David towards Saul, 
 as the Lord's anointed, had been tranfmitted and engrafted, 
 as a living principle, into the faith of the people. It had 
 been taught in the family, in the fchools, from the pulpit. 
 It had grown with their growth and flrengthened with their 
 ftrength. As the fruit of this teaching, eight of the Englifli 
 bifhops and four hundred of the clergy could not confcien- 
 tioufly take the new oath. They had folemnly fworn alle- 
 giance to James II. He had not abdicated the throne. He 
 was ftill living. They did not recognize the authority of the 
 convention Parliament in a matter of fo great importance 
 as this. While, therefore, they had little refpecl for the 
 character of James II., they believed him, neverthelefs, to 
 be their lawful fovereign, and therefore they could not 
 fwear allegiance to another. 
 
 In adhering to their confcientious belief they had every- 
 thing to lofe in a worldly point of view, and nothing what- 
 ever to gain. They deliberately exchanged the affurance of 
 comfort, eafe, and a generous competence, for a life of hope- 
 lefs poverty and the maintenance of a good confcience. 
 From their livings they were all ejected. The fympathy of 
 good men was naturally touched by their honefty, bravery, 
 and fidelity to their convictions. Mr. Checkley fhared this 
 fympathy, and doubtlefs expreffed it with too much freedom, 
 at lead for his own perfonal comfort, as will appear in the 
 fequel. This
 
 8 Memoir of 
 
 This temporary fchifm in the Church of England, growing 
 out of the ejection of fo many of its clergy, was the neceffary 
 occafion of a thorough ftudy and re-examination of many 
 prominent and practical theological and ecclefiaftical ques- 
 tions. The nonjurors, though ejected from their livings, 
 could not be prohibited from the exercife of the functions 
 of their miniflerial office. They had committed no crime, 
 they had violated no law of the Church, and confequently 
 the apoftolic and facred office with which they had been 
 inverted could not be taken away. The ejected bifhops 
 proceeded therefore, doubtlefs unwifely, to confecrate other 
 bifliops, and ordain to the lower orders of the miniftry. 
 
 It became neceffary, therefore, in defence of their pro- 
 ceedings, to mow that Epifcopacy was wholly independent 
 of all civil governments, that its vital functions could not 
 be touched, or affected by the arm of civil power, that it 
 was divine in its origin, apoftolical in its character, and fanc- 
 tioned by the hiftory of the Church, early and late. 
 
 Debates on this and other queflions were going on during 
 the years of Mr. Checkley's refidence in England. A vafl 
 number of books and pamphlets, controversial and didactic, 
 on kindred fubjects, were iffued from the prefs. 9 Under the 
 impulfe of his eager temperament and active mind, none of 
 thefe difcuffions could efcape his attention, He fathomed 
 many profound, difficult, and fubtle queflions. So far as we 
 can now determine, he arrived at his conclufions by the flow 
 procefs of an exacting logic, a wife, careful, confervative 
 prudence. He rejected numerous fpecious theories and 
 
 plaufible 
 
 9 Vide Hi/lory of the Nonjurors, by Thomas Lathbury, M.A., London, 1845, 
 PP- I53-303-
 
 Checkley. 9 
 
 plaufible notions, which were freely propagated at that 
 period, and in general accepted only thofe that have ever 
 fince been received by a large majority of the befl theolo- 
 gians of the Church of England. 
 
 His furvey of the theological works which occupied the 
 attention of fcholars at that period was thorough and compre- 
 henfive. He was familiar with the whole circle of publica- 
 tions by the prolific fchool of nonjurors. Among them was 
 the Rev. Dr. George Hickes, of inflexible integrity and pro- 
 found learning; Jeremy Collier, the accomplifhed and 
 exhauftive hiftorian of the Englifh Church ; Charles Leflie, 
 the fkilful and voluminous controverfialift, who ftruck hard 
 blows againft the Roman Church, and equally hard ones 
 againft Englifh diffenters; Robert Nelfon, whofe work on 
 the Feftivals and Fafts of the Church is ftill a text-book in 
 England and in America ; and the faintly Bifhop Ken, whofe 
 devout piety and refined Chriftian fentiment, as difplayed in 
 his lyrical compofitions, place him at once as the compeer of 
 the fweet finger George Herbert. 
 
 But there was one other clafs of divines, of a fomewhat 
 different character, who, on certain fubjects, were more 
 efpecially Mr. Checkley's preceptors. For example, Bifhop 
 Hoadly, in his argument on the reafonablenefs of con- 
 formity to the Church of England ; Dr. Potter, Archbifhop 
 of Canterbury, on Church Government ; His Grace, Arch- 
 bifhop Wake, in his edition of the Epiftles of Ignatius. On 
 thefe fubjecls, in which he was efpecially interefted, thefe 
 diftinguifhed fcholars were his teachers. " I am," he fays in 
 a private letter to a friend, " a difciple of thefe great men." 10 
 
 Thus 
 
 10 Vide Letter to Dr. Mar/hal, pojlea, Vol. II. p. 166. 
 
 VOL. I. 2
 
 io Memoir of 
 
 Thus equipped with ample ftores of theological learning, 
 with the addition and complement of a thorough knowledge 
 of Englifli literature, together with fine claffical attain- 
 ments and the enrichment and gracious influences of foreign 
 travel, Mr. Checkley returned to the home of his nativity in 
 the full ftrength and vigor of his early manhood, to enter 
 upon the ferious duties of an active, ufeful, but not alto- 
 gether unruffled and peaceful career. 
 
 But the Bofton as he found it in 1710, or thereabouts, was 
 not the Bofton of to-day. It was little more than a large, 
 compact, flouriiliing village. Although the metropolis of 
 New England, its population did not much exceed nine 
 thoufand. Its commercial interefts were fmall, and its inter- 
 courfe, beyond its own limits, was infrequent and flight. 
 A mail was defpatched to Maine, and likewife to Plymouth, 
 only once a week, and to Connecticut and New York not 
 oftener than twice a month. Within the precincts of the 
 town there were eight places of religious worfhip. The 
 members of the Church of England occupied a fmall 
 wooden ftructure, fituated on a part of the flte of the prefent 
 King's Chapel, on the corner of Tremont and School Streets. 
 A Baptift and a French Proteftant congregation had their 
 refpective places of worfhip, and the Friends, or Quakers, 
 had erected a houfe for their meetings in Brattle Street in 
 1697. It had recently been fold, and one was about this 
 time erected in Congrefs Street. Thefe religious bodies 
 were all fmall in numbers, and included few men of wealth 
 and perfonal influence in the town. The Governors of the 
 Province, and moft of the government attaches, were often, 
 but not uniformly, attendants at the King's Chapel, which 
 
 gave
 
 John Checkley. 1 1 
 
 gave to that parifli a certain official prominence and influ- 
 ence which did not belong to the others. But the religious 
 influence and wealth were largely included within the four 
 great parifhes of the Puritan Congregationalifls of Maffa- 
 chufetts Bay. 
 
 The Rev. Benjamin Wadfworth prefided over the Firft 
 Church, whofe houfe of worfhip, conftructed of wood, was 
 near the Old State Houfe, in Cornhill, now Wafhington 
 Street, on the fite at prefent occupied by the Rogers 
 Building. 
 
 The Second Church was in charge of Drs. Increafe and 
 Cotton Mather, father and fon, and their houfe of worfhip, 
 likewife of wood, was on North Square, their pariih com- 
 prehending the whole north part of the town. 
 
 The Third Church was in the care of the Rev. Ebenezer 
 Pemberton, whofe place of worfhip was an unpretending 
 wooden ftructure, neftling, as it were, at the very feet of the 
 Firft Church, and fubfequently giving place to the maffive 
 brick building, with its lofty fpire, now known as the Old 
 South, occupying the fite on the corner of Wafhington and 
 Milk Streets. 
 
 The Fourth Church was fituated on the lower part of 
 Brattle Street, and, like all the others, was conftrucled of 
 wood. Its minifter was the Rev. Dr. Benjamin Coleman. 
 
 This rare quartette, at the head of the old Puritan Church, 
 were men of extraordinary qualities, qualities which would 
 render them confpicuous in any age and in any country. 
 Added to their unufual natural abilities, they were endowed 
 with fuperior learning and a devout piety. In doctrine 
 they followed with exemplary ftriclnefs the precepts of their 
 
 fathers.
 
 12 Memoir of 
 
 fathers. The early New England divines adopted the theo- 
 logical deductions of Auguftine, moulded and organized into 
 a theological fyftem by John Calvin, and they tranfmitted 
 them through feveral generations with fingular fidelity, with- 
 out change, modification, or mitigation. They were honeft 
 and fincere in their beliefs, and equally bold and inflexible 
 in their exhibition. In the acceptance of thefe doctrines 
 New England was at that time almoft a unit. If there were 
 any diffentients they were few and feeble, and were foon 
 fwept away by the ftrong, fleady, and irrefiflible current of 
 an intolerant and narrow dogmatic teaching. 
 
 Such was the community, fuch the furroundings, in the 
 midft of which Mr. Checkley was to make his home on his 
 return to Boflon, not far from 1710. 
 
 Mr. Checkley was married by the Rev. Peter Thatcher 
 to Rebecca Miller, of Milton, on the 28th day of May, 1713. 
 Her father was Mr. Samuel Miller, a profperous innkeeper of 
 that town. 11 Her brother, the Rev. Ebenezer Miller, gradu- 
 ated at Harvard College in 1722, and fubfequently took 
 orders, and became the firft rector of Chrift Church, Quincy, 
 then a part of Braintree. He was honored by the Univer- 
 fity of Oxford with the degree of Mafter of Arts in 1727, 
 and that of Doctor of Divinity in 1747. 
 
 On the fecond day of December, 1717, Mr. Checkley pur- 
 chafed a houfe and land on the weft fide of Wafhington 
 Street, then Cornhill, over againft the weft end of the old State 
 Houfe, commonly called, at that time, the Town Houfe. 12 
 
 The 
 
 u The hiflorian of Milton fays his bed of the times." Its location was on 
 manfion was " three ftories high, (lately the fouthern flope of Milton Hill, 
 and ariftocratic. It was one of the ia A Town Houfe of wood was ere&ed 
 
 on
 
 John C keck ley. 13 
 
 The building was of brick, two ftories in height, and occu- 
 pied a part of the prefent fite of the Sears Building. While 
 the purchafe was on the above date, Mr. Checkley may 
 already have occupied it for fome time, as the owner, of 
 whom he purchafed it, was a refident of the city of New 
 York. Here he opened a variety flore, and named it the 
 " Crown and Blue-Gate." In this little fhop he fold books 
 and medicines, and fuch fmall articles of merchandife as 
 would command a ready fale in a thriving New England 
 village. About this fpot cluftered the life and activity of 
 young Bofton. In the Town Houfe, which was a State or 
 Province Houfe as well, directly acrofs the flreet, the Great 
 and General Court held its feffions and carried on its de- 
 bates; and there the Governor and his Council held their 
 frequent meetings; and in it the feveral Courts of Juftice 
 were often in seffion ; and near here were centred the book- 
 fellers, the flationers, and the dealers in fmall-wares of every 
 
 kind. T . ,. 
 
 Imagination 
 
 on this fpot in 1658, which was burned In Wafhington Street, from Court 
 
 in 1711, and a new building, of brick, Street to Rogers Building, occupying 
 
 ftill ftanding, and now known as the the ancient fite of the Firft Church, 
 
 "Old State Houfe," was creeled in there were in 1717 four eftates, which 
 
 1713. When Mr.Checkley made his pur- are now occupied by the Sears Building, 
 
 chafe of his houfe on the prefent file of The eflate on the corner of Wafhington 
 
 the Sears Building in 1717, the Town and Court Streets belonged to Benjamin 
 
 Houfe was new, having been built but Walker, and had a frontage of 24 feet. 
 
 four years. The fire of 1711 had de- The next was Mr. Checkley's, with a 
 
 ftroyed all the buildings on the weft frontage of igf feet; the third was 
 
 fide of the ftreet from Court Street to Samuel Phillips's, ftationer, i8| feet ; 
 
 School Street. Thefe ftruclures were and the fourth, Andrew Cunningham's, 
 
 all of wood. The new buildings, creeled glazier, i6f feet. Mr. Checkley's houfe 
 
 to replace thofe deftroyed, were of brick, was apparently about where the prefent 
 
 and were after the ftyle of the Corner entrance is to the Sears Building on 
 
 Bookftore, the only one of them now Wafhington Street. His lot extended 
 
 ftanding. This bears upon its wall the back 158$ feet, and was only 13! feet 
 
 date of 1712. It is occupied as a book- wide at its weftern extremity, 
 ftore by Meffrs. Damrell and Upham.
 
 14 Memoir of 
 
 Imagination eafily pi<5tures Mr. Checkley's bookflore as 
 the rendezvous of the fmall literary coterie to which we 
 have already referred. Here went on, for many years, lively 
 difcuflions of topics of local intereft; Englim politics and 
 Englifh fcandal ; the laft book printed in London ; the recent 
 fermon of Dr. Cotton Mather, perhaps on election, decrees, 
 foreknowledge, and predeftination ; the eloquence of young 
 Coleman in Brattle Street, whom the older divines were 
 tolerating with a qualified fellowfhip; the new Englim 
 church at the north end of the town, the arrival of its dif- 
 tinguilhed rector, the eloquent and learned Dr. Timothy 
 Cutler, who had carried difmay into the ranks of his friends 
 in Connecticut, by leaving the prefidency of Yale College 
 to take orders in the Church of England. 13 
 
 Mr. Checkley, the fenior in age of moft of thofe belong- 
 ing to the coterie who frequented his bookftore,/>rzw#.y inter 
 pares, always prefent and always the centre of intereft, 
 entertained his lifteners doubtlefs with graphic pictures of 
 his travels in Europe, with pathetic ftories of the fuffering 
 nonjurors, and if with lefs pathos, doubtlefs with greater 
 earneftnefs and profounder learning, he unfolded the doc- 
 trine of the hiftoric Epifcopate, tracing it back to the early 
 fathers, and pointing out its recognition in the New Tefta- 
 ment, afferting, with great pofitivenefs and vigor of language, 
 its apoftolic and divine origin and its exclufive character. 14 
 
 Thefe difcuflions have not been preferved, either in manu- 
 fcript or print, and they cannot therefore be reproduced in 
 
 the 
 
 M Vide Colleflions of the Maffachu- and Government fettled by Chrifl and 
 fetts Hiflorical Society, Vol. XIV. p. 297. his Apojtles in the Church, Bofton, 
 14 Vide A Modefl Proof of the Order 1723, pojlea, p. 179.
 
 John Checkley. 15 
 
 the vigorous language of Mr. Checkley, adorned and pointed 
 as they muft have been by his keen farcafms, his pithy 
 humor, and his cauftic wit. But they did not die away as 
 they were uttered within the walls of his little bookftore. 
 They were too ftartling and unufual not to reach a much 
 larger audience. They penetrated everywhere. They 
 were repeated in the drawing-room and in the family cir 
 cle. The minifters of the ftanding order heard of Mr. 
 Checkley's ftrange doctrines with gravity and alarm. A 
 belief in the apoftolic origin of Epifcopacy, and efpecially its 
 promulgation, was a menace to their order, and to the truth 
 of God as it had been handed down to them from their 
 fathers. They clearly regarded Mr. Gheckley as a difturber 
 of the peace, certainly of their peace, and if they could fup- 
 prefs and humiliate him, they charitably hoped it would be 
 ufeful to him, as they were fure it would be a relief and 
 benefit to themfelves. 
 
 It was not unnatural that the Puritan minifters of that 
 day and their followers mould feel both annoyed and 
 alarmed. New England was their inheritance and domain. 
 They had held it in full poffeffion for ninety years. They 
 had never allowed any interference with their prerogatives. 
 The Baptifts had been disfranchifed, imprifoned, banifhed. 15 
 The Quakers, fome of whofe firft-comers had been violent 
 and provoking, ufing the King's Englifh with freedom, were 
 whipped, imprifoned, mutilated, banifhed, and, for perfift- 
 
 ence 
 
 16 "Nitimurin vetitum was verified from further profecutions." Hiftory of 
 in this proceeding, as it ufually is in Majfachufetts, by Thomas Hutchinfon, 
 like cafes. Severity made converts, and 1795, Vol. I. p. 208. 
 then it was thought advifable to ceafe Since the completion of this Memoir 
 
 the
 
 1 6 Memoir of 
 
 ence in refiding in the Colony after fentence of banifhment, 
 fome of them had differed the penalty of death. 16 Never- 
 thelefs, neither the Baptifts nor the Quakers were wholly 
 fuppreffed, but ftill, under unequal privileges, maintained a 
 feeble exiflence. Carnal weapons were at length oftenfibly 
 laid afide. Clipping of ears, the lafli, and hanging were 
 no longer regarded as proper punifhments for the promul- 
 gation of religious opinions, however annoying and dam- 
 aging to their cherifhed faith ; flill the law had its remedy 
 in fines and imprifonments for thofe who too vigoroufly 
 affailed the Puritans, their doclrines, and their ufages, or 
 who forced them to difagreeable logical conclufions. 
 
 In Maffachufetts Bay the Puritan miniflers and magif- 
 trates had been from the beginning actively hoflile to the 
 Church of England, to its practices, its rites, its ceremonies, 
 and efpecially to its characleriftic doctrine of Epifcopacy. 
 They appear to have proceeded on the old Latin maxim, 
 11 Principiis obfta ; fero medicina paratur, cum mala per 
 longas convaluere moras." 
 
 As early as 1629, John and Samuel Browne, the one 
 a lawyer and the other a merchant, both members of the 
 
 Council, 
 
 the author has read The Emancipation iards and the New Englanders flattered 
 
 of Majfachufetts, by Brooks Adams, themfelves that they were doing God 
 
 and if the reader defines to fee the treat- fervice. 
 
 ment which the Baptifts received in de- The extraordinary ftatements of fome 
 
 tail, he will find it outlined very clearly, of the Puritan divines touching the 
 
 and with fufficient fulnefs, in that work, Quakers, and the fingular defence of 
 
 pp. 105-127. their treatment of the Quakers by the 
 
 16 A detailed and authentic account hiftorians, the Rev. Dr. H. M. Dexter, 
 
 of the treatment of the Quakers will be the Rev. Dr. George E. Ellis, and the 
 
 found in Hutchinfons Hijlory of Maf- Rev. Dr. John G. Palfrey, will be found 
 
 fachitfetts, Vol. I. 3d ed. pp. 180-189. in The Emancipation of Maffachufetts, 
 
 In cruelty it rivalled the Spanifli Inqui- by Brooks Adams, Bofton, 1887, pp. 
 
 fition, in which doubtlefs both the Span- 135-1 78.
 
 John Checkley. 17 
 
 Council, gentlemen of character and refpe<5tability, had the 
 ftrange fancy of defiring to worfhip God according to the 
 dictates of their own confciences, a privilege which the Puri- 
 tans were brave in demanding for themfelves, but were not 
 generous enough to accord to others. They accordingly 
 inflituted a fervice, in a private house in Salem, ufmg the 
 Book of Common Prayer. This proceeding was regarded as 
 feditious, and, with little ceremony, thefe gentlemen were 
 huflled out of the Colony, and fent back to England. 17 
 
 No Epifcopal parifh was organized, or fervice regularly 
 eftablifhed, in any part of New England until 1686. Nev- 
 erthelefs, in 1659, twenty-feven years before there was any 
 femblance of a Church of England fet up in the Colony, the 
 General Court of Maffachufetts Bay thought it expedient to 
 make the following law forbidding the obfervance of Chrift- 
 mas in any manner whatever : 
 
 " For pventing diforders arifing in feuerall places w^in this jurif- 
 diccon, by reafon of fome ftill obferving fuch ffeftiualls as were 
 fuperftitioufly kept in other countrys, to the great difhonnor of God 
 & offence of others, it is therefore ordered by this Court and the 
 authority thereof, that whofoeuer fhall be found obferving any 
 fuch day as Chriftmas or the like, either by forbearing of labor, or 
 feafting, or any other way, vpon any fuch accounts as aforefajd, euery 
 fuch perfon fo offending fhall pay for euery fuch offence fiue fhill- 
 ings, as a fine to the county." Vide Records of the Colony of 
 the Maffachufetts Bay, Vol. IV. Part I. p. 366. 
 
 It is impoffible to conceive that there was at that time, or 
 indeed at any time, a need for fuch a law. That the few 
 
 fcattered 
 
 17 Vide Hutchinforfs Hi/lory of Maffachufetts^ 3d ed., Bofton, 1795, Vol. I. 
 p. 19. 
 
 VOL. I. 3
 
 1 8 Memoir of 
 
 (battered Churchmen in Maffachufetts Bay were likely to in- 
 dulge in any unlawful conduct is highly improbable. If fuch 
 had been the cafe, diforders thus arifing could have been 
 eafily controlled by the ordinary police arrangements, which 
 were abundant and efficient in every part of the Colony. 
 Under thefe circumflances, the implication cannot be 
 avoided that the object of the law, in the minds of thofe 
 who made it, was not to prevent diforders of which there 
 was no danger, but rather to foreftall any of the Chriftian 
 obfervances which are wrought into the whole fyftem of 
 worfhip in the Church of England, but which the members of 
 the General Court regarded as the offspring of fuperftition, 
 and a difhonor to God. 
 
 The character of the law itfelf was cruel and exacting. 
 Under it no obfervance whatever of the birthday of Chrift 
 was lawful. The day could not be kept by the Churchman 
 in the mod private way. He could not refrain from his ordi- 
 nary occupations for this purpofe without the fear of arreft and 
 a fine. He might, indeed, call his family together on the 
 day before, and fay to them, " To-morrow is Chriflmas Day, 
 the birthday of Chrift, our Saviour. This great day of the 
 year is obferved all over the world with appropriate religious 
 fervices. You remember how pleafant it was to us when, 
 many years ago, we were in Old England : the merry bells 
 that called us to church ; the fpirit of love and gratitude 
 that filled the fermon of our good vicar; the joy that 
 beamed on every face ; the warm gratulations and kind wifhes 
 (howered upon us by our friends ; how we gladdened the 
 hearts of the poor, in our fmall way, by fending them fome 
 token, fome memorial of the bleffednefs that this good 
 
 Chriftmas
 
 Checkley. 19 
 
 Chriftmas commemorates. And we fhall none of us ever 
 forget how happy we all were when we gathered about our 
 fimple board, more plentiful and a little better than ufual, 
 that it might fitly reprefent the joy that filled our hearts. 
 We may hope that fome time this joy may come to us again. 
 We may even now blefs God for this gracious day, but, at 
 prefent, the law of thefe unhappy Puritans makes it a crime 
 by any act of ours to exprefs, on this day, the gratitude that 
 fills our hearts." 
 
 The law thus prohibiting the obfervance of Chriflmas was 
 paffed by the General Court of Maffachufetts Bay on the 
 nth day of May, 1659. As the Commonwealth of Eng- 
 land was at that time flill in exiftence, under the protecto- 
 rate of Richard Cromwell, it was naturally fuppofed that 
 there would be no objection made by the home government 
 to a law fo utterly at variance with the fpirit of the Englifh 
 conftitution. Had that form of government furvived, fuch, 
 doubtlefs, would have been the cafe. But two days after 
 the paffage of the obnoxious law, on the i3th of May, 1659, 
 Richard Cromwell refigned his office as Protector of Eng- 
 land. Charles II. foon after came to the throne. On the 
 28th of June, 1662, the King addreffed a letter to the Gov- 
 ernor and Company of Maffachufetts Bay, calling their 
 attention to feveral matters which required immediate 
 action. Among the reft was the following relating to the 
 freedom of worfhipping according to the form and ufages of 
 the Church of England : 
 
 " Since the principall end & foundation of that charter was & 
 is the freedome & liberty of confcience, wee doe hereby charge & 
 require that that freedome & liberty be duely admitted & allowed, fo 
 
 that
 
 2O Memoir of 
 
 that fuch as defire to vfe the Booke of Comon Prayer, & performe 
 their devotions in that manner as is eftablifhed here, be not debarred 
 the exercife thereof, or vndergoe any prejudice or dif ad vantage 
 thereby, they vfmg their liberty w^ out difturbanc to others, & that 
 all perfons of good & honeft Hues & conuerfations be admitted to the 
 cacrement of the Lords Supper, according to the Booke of Comon 
 Prajer, & their children to baptifme." Vide Records of the Governor 
 and Company of the Majfachufetts Bay, Vol. IV. Part II. p. 165. 
 
 After a long delay, the Governor and Company of Maffa- 
 chufetts Bay fent what purported to be a reply, which, how- 
 ever, contained no allufion to the cardinal paffages in the 
 King's communication to them. On being pufhed for a 
 definite reply to the demand of the King touching the ufe 
 of the Book of Common Prayer, they finally, on the i6th 
 of May, 1665, three years after their attention had been 
 called to the fubjecl by the King, gave the following as 
 their formal anfwer : 
 
 " Concerning the vse of the Comon Prayer Booke. 
 
 " Our humble addreffes to his Maj^ haue fully declared our majne 
 ends in our being voluntary exiles from our dear native country, 
 which wee had not chofen at fo deare a rate, could wee haue feene 
 the word of God, warranting us to performe our devotions in that 
 way, & to haue the fame fet vp here : wee conceive it is apparent 
 that it will disfturbe our peace in our prefent enjoyments." Vide 
 Records of the Governor and Company of the Majfachufetts Bay, 
 Vol. IV. Part II. p. 200. 
 
 This anfwer, fomewhat indirect, is neverthelefs plain in 
 its meaning. They obvioufly wifhed to be underflood that 
 the introduction of worfhip according to the Book of Com- 
 mon Prayer into the Colony would be difagreeable to them, 
 
 and
 
 John Checkley. 
 
 21 
 
 and beyond this they had nothing whatever to fay. Their 
 intentions they did not care to difclofe. The law which 
 they had paffed againft the obfervance of Chriftmas remained 
 on the Itatute-book more than twenty years, but was finally 
 repealed at the May feflion of the General Court in i68i. 18 
 
 The fixed hoflility to the Church of England in the Col- 
 ony of Maffachufetts Bay is alfo clearly indicated by various 
 flatements made in printed fermons and other publications, 
 which were freely and widely circulated among the people. 
 A few fentences or extracts, or the fimple title of fome of 
 thefe publications, will be all that will be neceffary to make 
 the truth of this ftatement apparent. 
 
 In 1650 a volume was publifhed in London, and circu- 
 lated in Boflon, entitled a " Treafure Fetched out of Rubbim," 
 
 confifling 
 
 18 The enactment of this law was 
 perhaps fuggefted by the aclion of the 
 Parliament of the Commonwealth of 
 England, under Cromwell, againft the 
 ufe of the Book of Common Prayer. 
 
 An ordinance was paffed on the 3d 
 of January, 1645, N. S., abolifhing the 
 ufe of the Book of Common Prayer, in 
 thefe words, viz. : " that the faid Book 
 of Common Prayer mail not remain, or 
 be from henceforth ufed, in any church, 
 chapel, or place of public worfhip, within 
 the kingdom of England or dominion 
 of Wales." No penalty was attached 
 to the violation of this law, nor was 
 the ufe of the book in private forbid- 
 den. They found, therefore, " little fruit 
 of this ordinance." Accordingly, fix 
 months later, on the 23d of Auguft, 
 1645, tne Parliament paffed a much 
 more ftringent law in the following 
 words, viz. : " And it is further hereby 
 ordained by the faid Lords and Com- 
 mons, that if any perfon or perfons 
 
 whatfoever mall at any time or times 
 hereafter ufe or caufe the aforefaid 
 Book of Common Prayer to be ufed in 
 any church, chapel, or public place of 
 worfhip, or in any private place or fam- 
 ily within the kingdom of England or 
 dominion of Wales or port or town of 
 Berwick, that then every fuch perfon fo 
 offending therein mall, for the firft 
 offence, forfeit and pay the fum of 
 five pounds of lawful Englifh money; 
 for the fecond offence, the fum of ten 
 pounds ; and for the third offence, 
 fhall fuffer one whole year's imprifon- 
 ment, without bail or mainprife." 
 
 This was called root and branch 
 legiflation. 
 
 Vide A DIRECTORY FOR the Pub- 
 like Worfhip of GOD, Throughout the 
 Three KINGDOMES OF England, 
 Scotland, and Ireland, Together with 
 an Ordinance of Parliament for the 
 taking away of the Book of COMMON 
 PRAYER ; &c. &c. London, 1644.
 
 22 Memoir of 
 
 confifting of three parts, two of which were written by the 
 Rev. John Cotton, the firft minifter of Bofton, the third was 
 by the Rev. Robert Nichols, in which he vigoroufly declaims 
 againft the ufe of the Surplice, the fign of the Crofs in bap- 
 tifm, and the practice of kneeling in the act of receiving 
 the Sacramental Bread and Wine. 
 
 In 1689 the Rev. Dr. Increafe Mather, one of the ablefl 
 of the early New England divines, and for fome years 
 Prefident of Harvard College, publifhed a volume entitled 
 " A Brief Difcourfe Concerning the unlawfulnefs of the 
 Common Prayer Worfhip, and of Laying the Hand on, and 
 Rifling the Booke in Swearing." 
 
 The following are fome of the prominent reafons alleged 
 for its unlawfulnefs : 
 
 " The cerimonies and worfhip prefcribed therein I find to be in 
 great meafure Popifh and heathenifh." 
 
 "Such things are enjoyned in the Common Prayer Booke as 
 (to my confcience) cannot bee Practifed without fin." 
 
 " There are fuperftitions both recommended and impofed in the 
 Liturgy." 
 
 " In this Age of Light, it would in mee, (and all others fo educated 
 and inftructed as I have been) appear to be a great Apoftacy, (hould 
 I in the leaft countenance or comply with the Common Prayer 
 worfhip." 
 
 An anfwer to this book was publifhed in London in 1693. 
 In the Preface the author refers to the humorous report, 
 which fome wag had apparently put in circulation, that 
 fundry deluded people of Bofton had broken into King's 
 Chapel to fearch for the images which they fuppofed were 
 worfhipped there!! 
 
 In
 
 Checkley. 23 
 
 In 1690 the annual fermon before the General Court, 
 commonly called the election fermon, was preached by the 
 Rev. Cotton Mather, D.D., the moft learned, and in fome 
 ways the moft diftinguifhed divine among the New England 
 minifters of that period. During the year previous, the 
 members of the Church of England had erected a houfe of 
 worfhip, called King's Chapel, which had been opened for 
 Divine Service on the $oth day of June, 1689. The per- 
 manent eftablifhment of the Church of England in the town 
 of Bofton was no longer an open queftion. It apparently 
 feemed wife and prudent to this great leader of ecclefiaftical 
 opinion, and watchman on the walls of the New England 
 Zion, to make known to the whole people of the Province, 
 through the members of the General Court, the dangers 
 which were impending over them, and the proper opinion 
 which they ought to entertain towards the doctrines and 
 ufages of the Church of England. The following two paf- 
 fages from this fermon of Dr. Cotton Mather will render this 
 fufficiently apparent: 
 
 " Let all mankind know, That we came into the Wildernefs, be- 
 caufe we would quietly worfhip God without that Epifcopacy, that 
 Common Prayer, and thofe unwarrantable Ceremonies, which the 
 Land of our Father's Sepulchres, has been defiled with ; we came, 
 becaufe we would have our Pofterity fettled under the pure and full 
 Difpenfations of the Gofpel, defended by the Rulers that Jhould be of 
 ourfelves, and Governors that Jhould proceed from the midjl of us." 
 
 " There is one thing more to be Done for us ; and I (hall pro- 
 pound it in words like thofe of the Prophet, Deliver thy felf, O New- 
 England, from every thing that may look like a Daughter of Babylon. 
 I have the confidence to tell you, That the Myjlical Babylon is juft 
 entering into that Vintage which will caufe horrible and fiery plagues 
 
 to
 
 24 Memoir of 
 
 to impend over the Heads of thofe that ftiall have the Superjlitions 
 of Popery polluting them. We cannot more confult our own Wel- 
 fare than by fuch an entire and open Departure from Rome as the 
 Holy God will fpeedily difpofe the European World unto. I dare 
 publifh it, as my Humble Conjecture and Perfwafion, That the lajl 
 Slaughter of 'the Lord 's Witnejfes is over ; and that we are got more 
 than two years Depth, 19 into thofe Earth quakes which will fhake yet, 
 until they \&\LZ Jhaken the Papal Empire to pieces, and fliaken out 
 the very Hearts of them, that fhall not come out of her. If therefore 
 we would be fafe, at fuch a Time, the beft thing to be Done is this, 
 Let us not fo much as Touch the Unclean Thing, or hide fo much as a 
 Rag or Pin of a Babylonifli Garment with us. For the Children of 
 this Countrey to maintain any part of the Romijh Worjhip, would 
 indeed be not only a wild Indifcretion, but alfo a vile Apojlacie ; and 
 thofe perfons are far from difcerning the Signs of the Times, who 
 think it worth the while for them now to forego that Great Anti- 
 papal Principle, Tliat no party of men whatever, calling themfelves, 
 The Church have any jujl Authority, to appoint any parts or means of 
 
 Divine 
 
 19 This is a reference to the revolu- extracts from Dr. Cotton Mather's fer- 
 
 tion in England in 1688, and to the mon, was not quite the fame as that de- 
 
 eftablimmentof William and Mary upon fcribed by the Rev. Francis Higginfon, 
 
 the throne of England. Dr. Mather the firfl minifter of Salem, who, calling 
 
 was quite ready to hazard a "conjee- his children and friends around him, 
 
 ture " and proclaim his " perfwafion " faid, as they took their laft view of old 
 
 that the Roman Church, the myftical England on leaving its fhores : 
 Babylon, was foon to fall to " pieces." 
 
 Claflifying with it the Church of Eng- "We will not fay as the Separatifts are 
 
 land, it would be a " wild indifcretion " wont to fa y. on leaving England, Farewell 
 
 and a " vile apoftacie " to have anything Babylon I Farewell Rome ! But we will 
 
 whatever to d^with the Church of En/ ^^f^gg^ SfS " 
 
 land. This method of creating preju- chriftian friends there , b We d(J not to 
 
 dices agamft the Church of England by New Eng ] and as Separatifts from the 
 
 coupling it with the Church of Rome Church of England, though we cannot but 
 
 was a common expedient at that time, feparate from the corruptions in it ; but we 
 
 and continued to be for a hundred and go to praclife the pofitive part of church 
 
 fifty years, but the practice has now reformation, and propagate the Gofpel in 
 
 pretty much fubfided. America." Vide Magnalia Chrijh Amcri- 
 
 The reader will obferve that the , b y Cotton Mather, Vol. I. p. 362. 
 
 Church of England, as piftured in thefe Hartford . e d- 55-
 
 Check ley. 25 
 
 Divine Worjhip, which the Lord Jefus Chrijl has not in the Sacred 
 Bible Injlituted. Let us keep the fecond Commandment, and our 
 God will JJiow Mercy to us, for more than one Generation. If we 
 cannot find that any Forms of Prayer were ufed in any part of the 
 Church until about Four Hundred years after Chrift; nor any made 
 for more than fome fmgle Province, until Six hundred years ; nor any 
 z'mpofed, until Eight hundred, when all manner of Abominations 
 were introduced ; furely it becomes Us to be particularly Averfe 
 unto/uc/t as may have fomewhat worfe than their Novelty, to create 
 our fufpicion of them ; and it becomes us much more to be Non Con- 
 formijls unto fuch other Church Rites therein advifed, as was not fo 
 much as conceived, until the Man of Sin was born. Could I fpeak 
 with a voice as loud as the Lajl Trumpet, I ihould not fear to tell 
 you, The God of our Fathers will blaft that Worldly Wifdom which 
 counts it a conveniency for us to Diffemble our Non Conformity to 
 whatever vain Worjhip, has nothing but the Tradition of men to 
 Warrant it." Vide a Difcourfe made unto the General Court at 
 the Election, May 28, 1690, pp. 31-52. 
 
 Of this blaft of Dr. Cotton Mather's fonorous trumpet it 
 may be juftly faid, it gave no uncertain found. 
 
 Of the prominent laymen among the New England 
 
 Puritans 
 
 20 This difcourfe, widely diffemi- Wheatley. It was firft publifhed in 
 
 nated, mud have had, as it was plainly 1714, and has palTed through a vaft 
 
 intended, a very powerful effect in deep- number of editions. The laft of which I 
 
 ening the prejudice againft the parifh have any knowledge appeared in Lon- 
 
 of King's Chapel, which had juft been don in 1862. Doubtlefs others have 
 
 eftablifhed in Bofton, as well as againft been iffued fince. Dr. Mather's hypo- 
 
 the Church of England generally. thetical form of ftatement was a fine 
 
 If the reader is curious to know how achievement of rhetoric. It offered a 
 
 early liturgical fervices, or precompofed method of producing an impreffion on 
 
 forms of prayer were ufed in Chriftian the minds of his hearers that no forms 
 
 worfhip, he will find an authentic and of prayer were ufed until about four 
 
 fatisfactory treatment of the fubject in hundred years after Chrift, while he 
 
 an introductory chapter in a work en- did not dare in confcience to fay di- 
 
 titled A Rational Illuftration of the rectly that none were ufed at a much 
 
 Book of Common Prayer, by Charles earlier period. 
 
 VOL. i. 4
 
 26 Memoir of 
 
 Puritans of the laft part of the feventeenth and the early part 
 of the eighteenth centuries, Samuel Sewall was among the 
 moft confpicuous. A graduate of Harvard College, a fupe- 
 rior claffical fcholar, he held tbe office of Chief Juflice of 
 the Supreme Court, and numerous inferior offices for many 
 years in the Province of Maffachufetts Bay. He was a man 
 of a comprehenfive and well-balanced mind, of the higheft 
 probity, of a clear and difcerning judgment, kind and benefi- 
 cent, exceedingly devout, and confcientioufly loyal to the 
 fpirit and letter of the teaching which he had received from 
 his early youth up to his riper manhood. In his Diary and 
 Letter-book we get many glimpfes of the deeply feated 
 prejudice and fixed feeling of hoftility and hatred which he 
 entertained againfl the Church of England, and which gov- 
 erned his conducl whenever he was called upon to acl with 
 reference to the doctrines and ufages of that church. 
 
 Thefe prejudices were common both to minifters and lay- 
 men throughout the whole domain of New England. We 
 are under great obligation to Judge Sewall for putting them 
 on record. They were the natural outcome and legitimate 
 fruit of their education, of the forces that furrounded them. 
 From thefe prejudices there was no efcape. The whole 
 New England people were held by them as in an iron grafp ; 
 they feemed to be under a fpell from which no earthly 
 power could fet them free. 
 
 The force of thefe prejudices will be apparent from a few 
 citations from the fources above mentioned. 
 
 When the fervices of the Church of England were firfl 
 introduced into Bofton, having no church edifice, the favor 
 was folicited of holding fervice in one of the Congregational 
 
 meeting-houfes.
 
 John Checkley. 27 
 
 meeting-houfes. Under the date of December 21, 1686, 
 Sewall makes the following entry : 
 
 " There is a Meeting at Mr. Allen's, 21 of the Minifters and four of 
 each Congregation, to confider what anfwer to giue to the Gover- 
 nour; and 'twas agreed that could not with a good confcienfe 
 confent that our Meeting-Houfes fhould be made ufe of for the 
 Common- Prayer Worlhip." Vide Sewall' s Diary, Vol. I. p. 162. 
 
 December 25, 1685. "Carts come to Town and Shops open as 
 is ufual. Some fomehow obferve the day ; but are vexed I believe 
 that the Body of the People profane it, and, bleffed be God, no 
 Authority yet to compell them to keep it." Sewalfs Diary t Vol. I. 
 p. 114. 
 
 December 31, 1685. Mr. Allen preaches. "Spoke againft 
 Obferving the 25 Inftant, called it Antichriftian Herifie : Spoke 
 againft the Name." SewaWs Diary, Vol. I. p. 115. 
 
 In 1688 the members of the Church of England defired to 
 purchafe a piece of land on which to place a church which 
 they were about to ere6l. They applied to Judge Sewall 
 for a lot at Cotton-Hill, which belonged to his family, and 
 of which he had charge. The reafons he gave for declining 
 to fell indicate his feeling towards the Church of England : 
 
 " March 28, 1688. Capt Davis fpake to me for Land to fet a 
 Church on. I told him could not, would not, put Mr Cotton's Land 
 to fuch an ufe, and befides 'twas entail'd. 22 After, Mr Randolph 23 
 
 faw 
 
 21 The Rev. James Allen, minifter of after whom the hill took its name. But 
 the firft Congregational Church of Bof- it now belonged to the eftate of John 
 ton from 1662 to his death in 1710. He Hull, the mint-mafter of Maflachufetts 
 was educated at the Univerfity of Ox- Bay. After his death a life-intereft in it 
 ford, and was fome time a Fellow of fell to his daughter Hannah, the wife of 
 New College. Judge Samuel Sewall, and, after her 
 
 22 The land defired was at Cotton death, it pafled by law to the three chil- 
 Hill, which was the eminence oppofite dren of Judge Sewall. 
 
 King's Chapel Burying Ground. It had M Edward Randolph. For fome ac- 
 once belonged to the Rev. John Cotton, count of him vide The Hi/lory of 
 
 Majfachufetts
 
 28 Memoir of 
 
 faw me, and had me to his House to fee the Landfcips of Oxford 
 Colledges and Halls. Left me with Mr Ratcliff, 24 who fpoke to me 
 for Land at Cotton-Hill for a Church which were going to build; I 
 told him I could not, firft becaufe I would not fet up that which the 
 People of N. E. came over to avoid ; 2? the Land was Entail'd. In 
 after difcourfe I mentioned chiefly the Crofs in Baptifm, and Holy 
 Dayes." Sewalfs Diary, Vol. I. p. 207. 
 
 December 25, 1697. " Snowy day. Shops are open, and Carts 
 and fleds come to Town with Wood and Fagots as formerly. . . . 
 I took occafion to dehort mine from Chriftmas-keeping, and charged 
 them to forbear. . . . Jofeph ^ tells me that though moft of the Boys 
 went to the Church yet he went not." SewalCs Diary, Vol. I. 
 p. 466. 
 
 January 4, 1698-9. " This day I fpake with Mr Newman about 
 his partaking with the French church on the 25 December 
 on account of its being Chriftmas-day, as they abufively call it. 
 He fboutly defended the Holy-Days and church of England." 
 SewaWs Diary, Vol. I. p. 491. 
 
 When Col. Samuel Shute was Governor of the Province 
 of Maffachufetts Bay he defired, in 1722, that the General 
 Court fhould adjourn, in order that he and others, who wifhed 
 to do fo, might obferve Chriftmas-day with appropriate fer- 
 vices. The following extracts from Sewall's Diary will mow 
 what care the Governor took to conciliate, and to fecure the 
 
 adjournment 
 
 Ma/achufetts by Thomas Hutchinfon, K The Rev. Jofeph Sewall, fon of 
 late Governor. A very large collection Judge Sewall, born Aug. 26, 1688, and 
 of Mr. Randolph's correfpondence has died June 27, 1769; graduated at Har- 
 been made by the Prince Society, which vard 1707. He was a minifter of the 
 will appear in a fubfequent publication. Old South Church, Bofton from 1713 to 
 24 The Rev. Robert Radcliff, the Rec- 1769. He received the degree of Doc- 
 tor of King's Chapel, and the firft fet- tor of Divinity from the Univerfity of 
 tied minifter of the Church of England Glafgow in 1731. His publications 
 in Maflachufetts Bay, who arrived in were moftly fermons, of which he left a 
 Bofton on the I5th dav of May, 1686. large number. 
 He returned to England in July, 1689.
 
 John Checkley. 29 
 
 adjournment with the willing concurrence of the Council, 
 and how fignally he failed: 
 
 Deer. 19, 1722. " His Excellency 26 took me afide to the Southeaft 
 Window of the Council Chamber, to fpeak to me about adjourning 
 the Gen 1 Court to Monday next becaufe of Chriftmas. I told his 
 Excellency I would confider of it. 
 
 Dec 1 20. I invited Dr Mather to Dine with me, not knowing that 
 he preach'd. After Diner I confultd with him about the Adjourn- 
 ment of the Court. We agreed, that 'twould be expedient to take a 
 vote of the Council and Reprefentatives for it. 
 
 Friday Dec r 21, p m. The Gov r took me to the window again 
 looking Eaftward, next Mrs Phillips's, and fpake to me again about 
 adjourning the Court to next Wednefday. I fpake againft it ; and 
 propounded that the Gov r would take a Vote for it ; that he would 
 hold the Balance even between the Church and us. His Excel- 
 lency went to the Board again, and faid much for this adjourning; 
 All kept Chriftmas but we ; I fuggefted K. James the firft to 
 Mr Dudley, how he boafted what a pure church he had ; and they 
 did not keep Yule nor Pafch. 
 
 Mr Dudley 27 afk'd if the Scots kept Chriftmas. His Excellency 
 protefted, he believed they did not. Gov r faid they adjourned for the 
 Comencement and Artillery. But then 'tis by Agreement. Col 
 Taylor 28 fpake fo loud and boifteroufly for Adjourning, that 'twas 
 
 hard 
 
 26 Col. Shute was a diftinguifhed offi- Dudleian Lectures, one of which was to 
 cer in the Englifh Army. He was Gov- be on the validity of the ordination of 
 ernor of the Province of Maffachufetts Congregational minifters. 
 Bay from 1716 to 1723. He was a 28 The Hon. William Tailor, an aclive 
 native of London, born in 1653, and and prominent member of King's 
 died April 15, 1742. Chapel, Lieut.-Governor of the Province 
 7 The Hon. Paul Dudley, a Coun- of Maflachufetts Bay in 1711; a Coun- 
 cillor from 1718 to 1736, except for the cillor from 1714 to 1729 ; was captain of 
 year 1 730, who was at this time one of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery 
 the judges of the Supreme Court. He Company in 1712; was colonel of a 
 afterwards became chief-juftice. He be- regiment raifed to take Port Royal. He 
 queathed to Harvard College too, to died in 1732. 
 eftablifh what is now known as the
 
 30 Memoir of 
 
 hard for any to put in a word; Col Townfend 29 feconded me, 
 and Col Partridge; becaufe this would prolong the Seffions. Mr. 
 Davenport 30 flood up and gave it as his opinion, that twould not be 
 Convenient for the Gov r to be prefent in Court that day ; and there- 
 fore was for Adjourning. But the Gov r is often abfent ; and yet the 
 Council and Reprefentatives go on. Now the Gov r has told us, that 
 he would go away for a week ; and then return'd and if he liked 
 what we had done, He would consent to it. Gov r mention'd how it 
 would apear to have Votes paff 'd on Dec r 25. But his Excellency 
 need not have been prefent nor fign'd any Bill that day. I faid 
 the Diffenters came a great way for their Liberties and now the 
 Church had theirs, yet they could not be contented, except they 
 might Tread all others down. Gov r faid he was of the Church 
 of England. I told Mr Belcher 31 of his Letter to me. He an- 
 fwer'd, He thought he had been a Diffenter then. Gov r hinted that 
 he muft be free on Monday becaufe of the Communion the next 
 day. 
 
 Satterday Dec r 22. about a quarter of an hour before 12. the 
 Gov r adjourn'd the Court to Wednefday morn. 10. a-clock, and fent 
 Mr Secretary into the Houfe of Deputies to do it there." Sewall's 
 Diary, Vol. III. p. 314-16. 
 
 It 
 
 39 Col. Penn Townfend, Chief Juftice her of the Council from 1722 to 1727, 
 
 of the Suffolk Superior Court, a repre- excepting for the years 1724 and 1725. 
 
 fentative for many years, speaker of the He was Governor of the Province of 
 
 Houfe, and a member of the Council. Mafiachufetts and of New Hamplhire 
 
 Born in 1651, and died in 1727. He from 1730 to 1741. He was fubfequently 
 
 was a wine-merchant, and prominent in Governor of New Jerfey. 
 
 the affairs of the town for many years. 82 In Sewall's Diary, Vol. II. pp. 
 
 The Hon. Addington Davenport. 394-5, the reader will find an incident 
 
 He held many public offices, and at this characlteriftic of Sewall's deep-feated 
 
 time was a judge of the Supreme Court, prejudice, and his hatred of the Church 
 
 which office he held from 1715 to his of England. Giles Dyer, a warden of 
 
 death, in 1736. He was the father of King's Chapel, and flieriff of the county, 
 
 the Rev. Dr. Addington Davenport, had died, and, according to the cuftom, 
 
 Reftor of Trinity Church. the dignitaries and officials attended his 
 
 The Hon. Jonathan Belcher, born funeral. It was in the chapel, and the 
 
 in 1682; died in 1757; graduated at Rev. Mr. Harris, the affiftant minifter, 
 
 Harvard College 1699. He was a mem- delivered a funeral difcourfe. Judge 
 
 Sewall
 
 John Checkley. 31 
 
 It would be eafy to cite numerous other ftatements in 
 early New England publications of the fame purport. But 
 thefe extracls are fufficient, I think, to indicate the ftrength 
 of the prejudice and the perfiftent and almoft virulent hoftil- 
 ity, which prevailed in Maffachufetts Bay againfl the Church 
 of England. Whether thefe prejudices and this hoftility 
 were well founded it is not neceffary to determine, or even 
 to difcufs. That they really exifled is all we need to know 
 for our prefent purpofes in this narrative. The fact of their 
 exiftence is abundantly verified. This hoftile feeling reached 
 all claffes and ranks of men. It was active, vigilant, and 
 ftrong. The miniflers in the pulpit breathed it out in their 
 prayers, and reiterated it in their public difcourfes. The 
 officials, from the Puritan governor to the obfcurefl fcribe, 
 ufed the influence of their place to intenfify it and diffufe it 
 among the people. In fome it was the hoftility of a fixed 
 principle, in others it was the hatred of an abnormal zeal. 
 In a few it was exercifed with the force and energy of both. 
 In all it was narrow and imperious. Outfpoken oppofition 
 to the popular view was not tolerated, and when it was 
 attempted, if it could not be crufhed out by any legal procefs, 
 focial oftracifm followed as the inevitable confequence. This 
 was not altogether unnatural. It is what would poffibly 
 
 have 
 
 Sewall was invited to be one of the Bearer, and bid him to drop fuch a word 
 
 bearers, together with Sir Charles that I had rather wear a pair of Gloves 
 
 Hobby, Col. Hutchinfon, and others, for his fake." ..." I have a pair of 
 
 After finding that there was to be a fer- Gloves fent me." ..." All seem'd to 
 
 mon by the Rev. Mr. Harris, he fays, be for going to hear the fermon except 
 
 " I now began to be diftreff'd." " In Major Geni. [Winthrop] and I. Went 
 
 the evening [before the funeral] I fent in to Col Townfend's ; when had drunk, 
 
 one to call out Jn? Roberts, and told the Major Geni and I went away." 
 him it fo fell out, I could not be a
 
 *3 2 Memoir of 
 
 have taken place at that period, in any community in exactly 
 the fame circumftances. It required the heart of a lion and 
 the fpirit of a martyr to bread the tide, and fpeak out, what 
 one honeftly believed in oppofition to the prevailing Puritan 
 fentiment. 
 
 There was probably at that time no member of the Church 
 of England in Maffachufetts Bay, except Mr. John Checkley, 
 who by education, force of character, ftrength of will, and 
 confcientious fenfe of duty could fummon the courage to 
 perform the difagreeable tafk of flating plainly, fully, and 
 publicly the doctrines of the Church of England, as he under- 
 ftood them, with all their logical and damaging confequences 
 to the teaching of the New England divines. This Mr. 
 Checkley did, as we mall fee in the fequel, with a franknefs, 
 directnefs, and completenefs, that proved how heartily he 
 believed the doctrines which he announced, how ready 
 he was to meet any oppofition on a fair field of dialectics, 
 and to abide the confequences whether in triumph or in 
 defeat. 
 
 In the year 1719, Mr. Checkley ifiued an edition of the 
 Rev. Charles Leflie's treatife, entitled " The Religion of Jefus 
 Chrift the only True Religion, or a Short and Eafie Method 
 with the Deifts, Wherein the Certainty of the Chriftian 
 Religion is demonftrated by infallible Proof from Four 
 Rules, which are Incompatible to any Impofture that ever 
 yet has been, or that can pofTibly be. In a letter to a Friend. 
 The Seventh Edition. Bofton ; Printed by J. Fleet, and are 
 to be fold by JOHN CHECKLEY at the Sign of the Crown and 
 Blue Gate over againfl the We/I end of the Town-Houfe. 
 
 ,7,9.- 
 
 To
 
 John Checkley. 33 
 
 To this publication was added a tranflation of the Epiflle 
 of St. Ignatius to the Trallians, with the following note : 
 
 " S* Ignatius, the author of the Epiftle, was a companion of the 
 Apojlles, and was taught the Faith of Chrijl from their Mouths: 
 He wrote this Epiflle with many other as He was on his way to Rome, 
 where He seal'd the Truth of what He had taught and written with 
 his Blood, being caft to the wild Beads : Thus dying a glorious 
 Martyr of the ever blessed Jejus. 
 
 " His Martyrdom was but a few Years after the Death of S* John, 
 who wrote the Revelations" 
 
 The defign of Mr. Checkley in this publication was appar- 
 ently twofold. While it brought to the notice of its readers 
 the argument of Leflie againft the Deifls, which has been 
 regarded as unanfwerable by orthodox Chriftians down to 
 the prefent time, it placed before them the teftimony of 
 Ignatius, a companion of the Apoftles, to the exiflence, in his 
 time, of the three orders of the Chriftian Miniflry, Bifhops, 
 Presbyters, and Deacons. It was, indeed, an argument 
 for the exiftence of Epifcopacy in Apoftolic times, thrown 
 out in the original document, needing no comment or 
 commendation. 
 
 The fame year Mr. Checkley iffued another pamphlet, 
 calling in queftion the Calviniftic and current view of the 
 doctrine of " Election and Predeftination," entitled " Choice 
 Dialogues Between a Godly Minifter and an Honeft Country- 
 man Concerning Election & Predeftination. Detecting the 
 falfe Principles of a certain Man, who calls himfelf a Pref- 
 byter of the Church of England. By a Reverend and Labor- 
 ious Paftor in Chrifls Flock, by One who has been, for almoft 
 
 twice 
 
 VOL. I. 5
 
 34 Memoir of 
 
 twice thirty years, a faithful & Painful Labourer in Chrijlt 
 Vine-yard" 
 
 Appended to this publication is the Epiflle of St. Ignatius 
 to the Magnefians, and subftantially the fame note which 
 was introduced at the end of the previous publication. This 
 pamphlet contains neither date nor name of the publifher. 
 For the omiffion of the publimer's name a good reafon may 
 be eafily affigned. No printer or publifher could think it 
 expedient to attach his name to a publication, at that time, 
 which affailed two fundamental doctrines of the Congrega- 
 tional creed. An anfwer to this pamphlet appeared in 1720 
 by the Rev. Thomas Walter, an intimate friend of Mr. 
 Checkley, written with great vigor, ornamented with pungent 
 farcafm, and cauftic wit. In the preface he fays, " I was the 
 other day very much furprifed to meet with a fmall Pamph- 
 let wearing the fpecious and very promifing Title : Choice 
 Dialogues," &c. &c. It is obvious from this remark that 
 the Choice Dialogues had been printed but a fhort time 
 before. Walter's brochure was elaborate and learned, and 
 allowing fufficient time for its preparation, we conclude that 
 Mr. Checkley 's pamphlet without date was really iffued in 
 1 719 or 1720. 
 
 On the 2d of December, 1719, a law was enacted by the 
 General Court of Maffachufetts Bay, and promulgated on 
 the nth of that month, by which authority was given to any 
 two or more Juftices of the Peace to tender to any perfon 
 whom they fufpected to be difaffected to his Majefty or to 
 his Government, an oath of allegiance and abjuration. 
 
 It was denominated " an act in addition to an act entitled 
 an act requiring the taking of oaths appointed to be taken 
 
 inftead
 
 Checkley. 35 
 
 inftead of the oaths of allegiance and fupremicy made in the 
 fourth year of the reign of the late King William and Queen 
 Mary of bleffed memory." 
 
 The proximity, as to time, in the publication of the two 
 pamphlets, the titles of which we have given above, and the 
 paffage of the law juft referred to, is noteworthy and fug- 
 geflive. The two, the publications and the paffage of the 
 law, appear to have a very clofe logical relation. The one 
 was not only the pqft hoc of the other, but apparently the 
 propter hoc likewife. It was now twenty-feven years fmce 
 the original law, requiring thefe oaths, had been on the 
 ftatute books of England. In all thefe years no exigency 
 had arifen in the Province of Maffachufetts Bay for any 
 fpecial legiflation for the enforcement of this law. No 
 combination againft his Majefty's government had been 
 difcovered or alleged. No act of hoftility to it had been 
 detected or reported. The motive which infpired the enact- 
 ment of this law, at that late day, feems plainly to point to 
 the publication of thefe two pamphlets. They were direct 
 attacks upon fundamental doctrines, which had from the 
 beginning been taught in the pulpits of Maffachufetts Bay. 
 It was not unnatural that the minifters and authorities fhould 
 wifh to fee the author fuppreffed and humiliated, or at leaft 
 his influence limited and curtailed. Mr. Checkley had 
 undoubtedly ufed great freedom of fpeech. He had, we may 
 well believe, expreffed a tender fympathy for the fuffering 
 and impoverifhed Nonjurors. He had openly and per- 
 fiflently advocated and defended the doctrines and practice 
 of the Church of England. The Puritan minifters and 
 prominent laymen could well fee that thefe new ideas and 
 
 flrange
 
 36 Memoir of 
 
 ftrange doctrines would be contagious, and gain more or lefs 
 adherents from their own body. They could not be refifted 
 by argument or perfuafion. Mr. Checkley's pofition, his 
 intercourfe and contact with young men, his ability and 
 influence could not be matched by any difputant which they 
 could put into the field. They muft look to the feat of 
 juftice for a remedy. They fancied that the new law would 
 minifter to him a wholefome leffon of humility, and that it 
 would ftigmatize him fo effectually, as hoftile to the Englifh 
 government, that his influence would ceafe to be dangerous 
 in the fober little town of Bofton. 
 
 Not long after the paffage of the new law, two or more 
 Juftices of the Peace prefented themfelves to Mr. Checkley, 
 and informed him that he W&fufptfted of being difaffected 
 to his Majefty, and his Government, and that it became their 
 duty to tender to him the oaths of allegiance and abjuration, 
 according to the provifions of the law, which had recently 
 been pafled by the General Court. Whether this announce- 
 ment came upon Mr. Checkley as a furprife we know not; 
 but unfortunately for him, and perhaps for both parties, he 
 was not in a fubmiffive ftate of mind. There is no evidence 
 that he was not at that, and at all other times, friendly and 
 loyal to the Government of George I. He was doubtlefs 
 then contemplating taking orders in the Church of England 
 at fome future time, when it would be neceffary to take the 
 oaths of allegiance and fupremacy, which a difaffected or 
 difloyal fubject could not do. He fubfequently, in a private 
 letter, fpoke of " that Scandalous Report of my being dif- 
 affected." His confcious innocence and the falfenefs of the 
 fufpicion naturally awakened in his warm temperament a 
 
 lively
 
 John Checkley. 37 
 
 lively indignation, that he fhould be fingled out from among 
 the citizens of Bofton, and without any overt act of difloyalty 
 or any opportunity to prove his innocence, made to take an 
 oath for his good behavior, who in his own judgment had 
 given no caufe even for a fufpicion of his difaffeclion or dif- 
 loyalty in the paft. It is always vexatious to a ftriclly honeft 
 man and a man of fpirit to feem to be prevented from doing 
 wrong by fome conftraint placed upon him by his neighbors. 
 Such conftraint is a ftigma, which moft men would avoid, if 
 poffible. The a<5l of taking the oath under the threat of a 
 penalty if he did not, might be conftrued as a quafi confeffion 
 that he was guilty of the charge alleged. For this Mr. 
 Checkley was by no means prepared. 
 
 It is eafy to fee, in the light of what foon after followed, 
 that it would have been far wifer had he taken the oaths, 
 and thus rid himfelf of further annoyance. But at that time 
 he was not in an attitude of mind for fuch an acl; of cool, 
 exalted wifdom. 
 
 To the demand of the magiftrates he accordingly returned 
 a firm and unhefitating refufal. He was then informed that 
 he could have the following option, viz., to be incarcerated 
 in the common jail, there to remain, without bail or main- 
 prife, for the fpace of three months, or pay over a certain 
 fum of money, not exceeding forty (hillings, for the fupport 
 of the government of the province of Maffachufetts Bay, or 
 become bound with two fufficient fureties for his good 
 behavior, and appear at the next General Quarter Seffions 
 of the Peace, where the oaths would again be tendered to 
 him by the Juftices of that court in open feffion. 
 
 Mr. 
 
 326377
 
 38 Memoir of 
 
 Mr. Checkley chofe the latter alternative, and fatisfa<5lory 
 fureties were promptly furnifhed. 
 
 The next General Quarter Seffions of the Peace was held 
 in Bofton, in the old State Houfe, on the 5th day of April, 
 1720, when Mr. Checkley appeared and received the fen- 
 tence of the Court. We give a narrative of the proceedings 
 as contained in the Court Records: 
 
 " At a Court of General Seffions of the Peace begun & held at 
 Bofton for and within the County of Suffolk on the firft Tuefday of 
 April being the fifth day of the month Annoque Domini 1720. 
 
 " His Majeftys Juftices Prefent are as followeth viz. : 
 
 Penn Townfend Edward Hutchinfon 
 
 Edward Broomfield Timothy Clark 
 
 John Clark Daniel Oliver 
 
 Adam Winthrop Anthony Stoddard 
 
 Jofiah Willard William Wolftood 
 
 Thomas Palmer William Hutchinfon 
 
 Edward Lyde Samuel Thaxter 
 
 Samuel Checkley Nathaniel Hubbard 
 
 John Valentine John Quincey 
 
 Samuel Lynde Hebijah Savage 
 
 "John Checkley being bound by Recognizance to appear at this 
 time to Anfwer to fuch matters and things as ftiould be objected 
 againft him now efpecially for refufing to take the Oaths appointed 
 inftead of the oaths of allegiance & Supremacy & c . and alfo for re- 
 fufing to take the abjuration Oath as the fame is called : all which 
 are appointed to be taken by a late Law of this Province in that 
 Cafe made and provided ; He the faid John Checkley appeared and 
 being now Required by the Court to take the oaths abovef d puflu- 
 ant to the Law aboveff Refufed to take the fame. 
 
 " ORDERED
 
 Checkley. 39 
 
 " ORDERED that the d John Checkley Ihall pay a fine of Six 
 pounds to His Majefty toward the fupport of the Government of 
 this Province, And recognize to his Majefty in the fum of one hun- 
 dred pounds with two Sureties in the Sum of fifty pounds each on 
 Condition that the f^ John Checkley lhall be of good behaviour 
 towards his Majefty and all his good Subjects until Such time as he 
 the f^ John Checkley lhall take the f> oaths. And alfo pay cofts 
 of profecution Handing committed until his Sentence be per- 
 formed." Vide Records of the Court of General SeJJiions of the 
 Peace for April 5, 1720. 
 
 From this decifion there was no appeal. Mr. Checkley 
 paid the fine of fix pounds impofed by the Court, and the 
 cofts of profecution. He entered into bonds of one hundred 
 pounds perfonally for his good conduct towards his Majefty 
 and all his good Subjects, and Samuel Miller w of Milton, 
 innholder, and John Gibbins 34 of Bofton, apothecary, entered 
 into bonds of fifty pounds each, until fuch time as he fhould 
 take the oaths required. Mr. Checkley remained under 
 thefe bonds until the 2Oth day of May, 1724, when, to 
 remove what he called the "fcandalous report of my being 
 difaffected," he took the oaths and received a certificate 
 under the feal of the Province, which he forwarded through 
 his Rector, the Rev. Samuel Myles, to the Rt. Rev. Edmund 
 Gibfon, D. D., the Bifhop of London, to whofe fee all the 
 Englifh Colonies were attached. 35 
 
 In 
 
 88 Samuel Miller, innkeeper in Mil- of Chrift Church. Subfequently, in 
 
 ton, -vide aniea, p. 12. 1/28, he was one of the contractors for 
 
 84 John Gibbins was a prominent man land on which to ere<5l Trinity Church. 
 
 in the Church of England in Bofton Vide Hiftory and Antiquities of Bofton, 
 
 at that time. On the 26. of September, by Samuel G. Drake, pp. 567, 583. 
 1722, he was appointed on a committee ** Vide Mr. Checkley's letter to Dr. 
 
 to receive fubfcriptions for the erection Marfhal, poftea, Vol. II. pp. 161-66.
 
 40 Memoir of 
 
 In 1721 the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather publifhed a book in 
 London, entitled the " Chriftian Philofopher," in which he 
 gave himfelf the title of " Fellow of the Royal Society." It 
 feems to us at this time, and doubtlefs it did to many at that 
 time, as a matter of very little importance whether Dr. 
 Mather was, or was not, a Fellow of the Royal Society. 
 But the honor was then rarely beftowed, and was greatly 
 prized. Not more than three in New England had been 
 accounted worthy of the great diftinction. The announce- 
 ment that Dr. Mather had been honored by memberfhip in 
 that fociety, by attaching the title in full to his name, was 
 received with much furprife, and fome doubted the validity 
 of his claim. Mr. Checkley appears to have been among 
 this number, and had probably exprefied his opinion with 
 his ufual freedom. It became, therefore, a matter of per- 
 fonal intereft to him to get at the truth, and to be certified 
 whether he was in error or not. He accordingly wrote to 
 Sir Francis Nicholfon, 86 and fubfequently to the Hon. Ed- 
 mund Halley, LL.D., fecretary of the fociety, to afcertain 
 whether Dr. Mather was a member. No anfwer to this 
 letter is in our poffeflion, and perhaps none exifts. But Dr. 
 Mather fays that Mr. Checkley wrote a letter full of "fcan- 
 dalous inveclives " againft him, " which was publickly read 
 in the Royal Society." Dr. Mather's memberfhip in the 
 
 fociety 
 
 38 Sir Francis Nicholfon was at tenant-General in the Englifh Army, 
 
 different times Governor of Virginia, He was a fad friend and patron of the 
 
 Maryland, and of Nova Scotia, and Church of England. He was the 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor of New York, and founder of Trinity Church, Newport, 
 
 at this time was Governor of South Vide Memoir of Trinity Church, New- 
 
 Carolina. He was by profeflion a fol- port, in Updike's Narraganfett Church, 
 
 dier, and fubfequently was made a Lieu- p. 392.
 
 John Checkley. 41 
 
 fociety has been doubted, and has been difcuffed at differ- 
 ent periods down to the prefent time. But recently this 
 unimportant queftion has been apparently fettled beyond 
 further difpute. Dr. Cotton Mather, it feems, as early as 
 1713, fent a communication to the fociety, containing obferva- 
 tions on " Natural Subjects," with a defire clearly expreffed 
 that he might be made a member. The Council of the 
 Royal Society, accordingly, on the 2;th day of July, 1713, 
 by vote recommended him for memberfhip. But his name 
 not appearing on the lift of members, in 1723 Dr. Mather 
 wrote the following letter to James Jurin, M. D., the fecre- 
 tary of the fociety : 
 
 " SYR : You are better known to me than I am to you ; 
 and I congratulate unto myfelf, as well as unto the world, 
 the felicity of your fucceffion in the office of Secretary to the 
 Royal Society. But in order to a mutual better knowledge, 
 I owe you, & muft now give you, fome very fhort account of 
 myfelf ; more particularly, with relation to that Illuftrious 
 Body, whereof I hoped, I had the Honour of being efteemed 
 a Member. Having the pleafure of fome correfpondence 
 with your excellent predeceffor Mr. Waller, I did commu- 
 nicate unto him (and unto my valuable Dr. Woodward) a 
 great number of American, and philofophical, curiofities; 
 with an intimation of my purpofe to continue the commu- 
 nications. Thofe gentlemen put the, as unexpected as un- 
 deferved, refpecl upon me, of propofmg me for a Member of 
 the Royal Society ; and they both wrote unto me, that I 
 was chofen accordingly both by the Council and Body 
 of the Society, on the Anniverfary Day for fuch election 
 VOL. i. 6 in
 
 42 Memoir of 
 
 in 'the year 1713. Adding that the only Reafon of my 
 not having my name in the printed lift of the Society, was 
 becaufe of my being beyond-Sea and yet a Natural Born 
 Subject, & fo not capable of being inferted among the 
 gentlemen of other Nations. 
 
 " Your Secretary alfo, Dr. Halley in the philofophical 
 Tranfaclions of 1714 printed my name, with an F.R.S. an- 
 nexed unto it. Mr. Petiver did the like, in his Naturae 
 Collectanea; and in his letters to me, he had thefe words, 
 ' Your election fucceeded without oppofition, and you were 
 elected after the ufual method of Balloting. The reafon of 
 your being out of the printed lift, is your not being perfon- 
 ally here, to fubfcribe to the orders that mould be tendered 
 you ; ' to which he added congratulations & complements 
 not proper to be by my pen tranfcribed. 
 
 " A Diftinguifhed, & a diminutive crue of odd people here, 
 when they could find no other darts to throw at me, im- 
 agined their not finding my name on the printed lift of the 
 Royal Society, would enable them to detect me of an impof- 
 ture for affixing an F.R.S. unto my name, on fome juft occa- 
 fions for it. And an infamous fellow, whofe name is John 
 Checkley, a forry Toryman (that yet had the impudence to 
 write as a Divine) wrote a letter full of fcandalous invec- 
 tives againfl me, which was publickly read in the Royal 
 Society. This wretched man, ambitious to do the part of a 
 Divine, printed here fome Rapfodies, to prove, that the God 
 whom K. William, and the chriftians of New England have 
 worJJiipped, is the D 1. A young and a bright kinfman 
 of mine, beftowed fuch caftigations on the Blafphemer that I 
 became thereupon the object of his implacable revenge. But 
 
 of
 
 Checkley. 43 
 
 of this matter, I gave Dr. Woodward a more full account, a 
 year and a half ago : Which becaufe I know not whether 
 ever he received it, I now repeat a little of ; Relying to your 
 juftice, if any further indignity of this Nature fhould be 
 offered me. But, that I may not lay afide any of the meek, 
 patient, humble difpofition with which I mould addrefs you 
 on this occafion, I mall keep fuch Terms, as I ufed unto my 
 Doctor when he had what he required of me upon it. 
 
 " I mould never have prefumed upon affixing an F.R.S. 
 unto my poor unworthy name, had I not thought, that my 
 Honourable maflers, would have taxed me as guilty of fome 
 ingratitude unto them for their unmerited favours, if I had 
 always declined it. 
 
 " The many treatifes (many more than three hundred) 
 which Heaven has allowed & affifted me to publifh (in the 
 midft of many other conftant & heavy labours) on various 
 arguments, and in various Dead as well as Living Lan- 
 guages, added unto fome other circumftances needlefs to be 
 mentioned, had procured me from fome Europaean Univer- 
 fities, without my feeking in the leaft meafure for them, the 
 Teftimonies of the higheft refpecl that they could (how to 
 the meaneft of men, and among the reft a Diploma for the 
 Doftorate in Theology. Upon this I was under fome temp- 
 tation unto the vanity of Thinking that it was poffible the 
 Royal Society, alfo might efteem it no difgrace, to permit my 
 name among their members. Efpecially, when my remit- 
 tances to their Treafury, might for number (however not for 
 value) be aequal to what they might receive of fome other 
 members whofe correfpondence they caft a kind Afpecl 
 upon. For the embellifhments wherewith I ftudied ufually 
 
 (after
 
 44 Memoir of 
 
 (after the manner of the German Ephemerides), to make my 
 dry & dull (lories a little more palatable to men of erudition, 
 fome of your own members, as well as Monsr Tournefort 
 helped me to fome apology. 
 
 " But if after all, it be the pleafure of thofe Honourable 
 perfons, who compofe or govern the Royal Society, that I 
 mould lay afide my pretenfions to be at all related unto that 
 illuftrious Body, upon the lead fignification of it by your 
 pen, it mall be dutifully complied withal. I will only con- 
 tinue to take the leave of ftill communicating Annually to 
 you (as long as I live) what Curio/a Americana I can be- 
 come the poffeffor of. For (my Jewifh Rabbis having taught 
 me, to love the work, and have little regard unto the Rabbi- 
 nate] it is not the Title, but the fervice that is the Heighth, 
 & indeed the whole, of my ambition. 
 
 " As a Token of my purpofes this way, and as an earneft 
 of a much greater variety, which I propofe to fend you by 
 another hand, about a Fortnight hence, I now prefent you 
 with a tedious account of fentiments & occurrents relating to 
 a fubjecl:, about which I perceive you are follicitous to have 
 the exacleft informations. At this time, I add no more, but 
 with hearty prayers, to Heaven, that you may be continued 
 long as a great BlefTing to the world I fubfcribe 
 "Syr 
 
 " Your mofl affectionate 
 " Friend and Servant 
 
 " COTTON MATHER 
 "BOSTON, N. ENGLAND 
 
 "May 21, 1723. 
 
 14 Dr. Jurin." 
 
 The
 
 Checkley. 45 
 
 The original of the above letter is in the archives of the 
 Royal Society, at Burlington Houfe in London. It was 
 copied under the direction of Mr. N. Darnell Davis, and the 
 copy was afterwards carefully collated with the original. It 
 was printed in the "Nation" of Feb. 18, 1892, and alfo, 
 by permiffion, in the " New England Hiflorical and Genea- 
 logical Regifler" for April, 1892. 
 
 We give the following note by Mr. Davis, which ac- 
 companied its publication both in the Nation and in the 
 Regifler : 
 
 " In moft biographical notices of Cotton Mather, that eminent 
 man is faid to have been a Fellow of the Royal Society. In fome of 
 fuch notices, the ftatement is emphafized by defcribing him as the 
 firft native-born American who attained to that honor. According 
 to his fon, there were many in New England who were ' fo foolifh as 
 to doubt, nay, to deny, his right to that title.' Cotton Mather's 
 name did not and does not appear in any lift of the Fellows of the 
 Society. Becoming himfelf uneafy upon the point, he inquired of 
 the Secretary to the Royal Society whether he really was a Fellow. 
 In reply, he was informed that he had been elected a Fellow both 
 by the Council and by the general body of Fellows. That his name 
 did not appear in the published lift was due, he was told, to the fact 
 that, being in America, he was unable to fubfcribe perfonally to the 
 orders of the Society, from which foreigners were difpenfed, but not 
 Britifh fubjects. Years went by, and ftill Cotton Mather felt un- 
 certain of his pofition. On May 21, 1723, he wrote the fubjoined 
 letter to Dr. Jurin, then Secretary of the Royal Society. 
 
 " The anfwer to the above letter ftiould be interefting. There is, 
 however, no record of it in the archives of the Royal Society. 
 Under the circumftances, it will be well to inquire how far the pro- 
 ceedings of the Society eftablifhed the fact of Cotton Mather's con- 
 nection with it. 
 
 "For
 
 46 Memoir of 
 
 " For the ele&ion of Fellows, the ordinary procedure obferved 
 by the Royal Society is this : The names are firft fubmitted to the 
 Council of the Society. After candidates have by the Council been 
 chofen for fubmiffion at a general meeting of Fellows, their names 
 are brought before fuch meeting. Here the election is made, and 
 two-thirds of the votes are neceflary to fecure it. 
 
 " In the Journal of the Society there is the following entry, under 
 date of July 23, 1713 : 
 
 " ' A letter drawn up by Mr. Waller for Mr. Cotton Mather at Bofton in 
 New England was read ; giving an account of the receipt of his letter and 
 his manufcript, containing his feveral obfervations on Natural fubje<5ls, with 
 an invitation to a future correfpondence ; which was ordered to be fent. 
 
 " ' Mr. Waller propofed the fame gentleman as a candidate, according to 
 his defire mentioned in his faid letter; which was referred to the next 
 Council.' 
 
 "The Minutes of the Council of July 27, 1713, record that 'Mr. 
 Cotton Mather was propofed, balloted for, and approved to be a 
 Member of the Society.' A diligent fearch among the records of 
 the Society has, however, failed to find that Cotton Mather's name 
 was ever fubmitted to the general body of Fellows. Would it be 
 an undue furmife to fufpecl: that Cotton Mather's miftaken zeal in 
 the witchcraft herefy ftood in the way of his obtaining a two-thirds 
 vote, and that, the Council finding this the cafe, did not rifk a 
 rejection ? " 
 
 There appears to be no valid reafon why Dr. Cotton 
 Mather was not qualified to be a member of the Royal 
 Society. His vaft learning was univerfally admitted. His 
 induflry in ifluing three hundred or more publications was 
 unparalleled. That his general aim and purpofe was to be 
 ufeful in his office and vocation is the verdicl of the majority 
 of unprejudiced minds. But he was, it muft be admitted, 
 pedantic, pompous, fupercilious. He was imprudent and 
 
 hafty,
 
 John Checkley. 47 
 
 hafty, and ufed language unadvifedly. He calls Robert 
 Calef, who was an honefl oppofer of the witchcraft furor, 
 Calf, a vile tool, malicious adverfary. 37 This language was 
 indecorous and libellous. He became unpopular where he 
 was beft known. His " miftaken zeal in the witchcraft 
 herefy " may, as Mr. Davis fuggefts, have flood in the way 
 of his election by the fellows of the Royal Society. But in 
 addition to this, his Sermon before the General Court in 
 Bofton in 1690 had been publifhed, and was by no means 
 flattering to the members of the Church of England. His 
 open and violent hoftility to that Church, and abufive lan- 
 guage concerning it mufl have been known, and could not 
 have gained for him many friends among the Fellows of the 
 Royal Society, who were, we prefume, moftly prominent 
 members of the Church of England. 
 
 If his non-enrolment among the members had been an 
 overfight, or an accident, his letter to Dr. Jurin was not 
 likely to fecure, if read to the Society, a correction of the 
 error. The terms which he applies to Mr. Checkley, " in- 
 famous" " blafphemer" and " Toryman" were unfortunate, 
 and the application of them was impolitic. Mr. Checkley 
 was well and favorably known to prominent men in Eng- 
 land, and fuch allegations, bad in fpirit and worfe in vera- 
 city, could only work harm to their author. If Mr. Checkley 
 
 was 
 
 87 Vide Biographical Sketches of entitled More Wonders of the Invifible 
 
 Graduates of Harvard Univerfity, by World, and was in anfwer to Cotton 
 
 John Langdon Sibley, Vol. III. p. 17. Mather's Wonders of the Invifible 
 
 Robert Calef was a merchant of Bof- World. It did much to change the 
 
 ton, of excellent character and ftanding. public fentiment. It is faid that Dr. In- 
 
 He had the bravery to publifh a book creafe Mather, prefident of Harvard Col- 
 
 againft witchcraft when the furor of lege, ordered Calef's book to be burned 
 
 perfecution was at its height. It was in the college yard.
 
 48 Memoir of 
 
 was a Toryman, it is highly probable that a majority of the 
 Fellows of the Royal Society were fo likewife. This term, 
 applied to a political party in England in contempt, was 
 not adapted to fecure for their author a favorable confid- 
 eration. 
 
 The charge that Mr. Checkley " printed fome Rapfodies, to 
 prove, that the God whom K. William, and the chriftians of 
 New England have worfhipped, is the D 1," is a very grave 
 one, and ought to reft on a folid foundation. The truth is, 
 he printed an able metaphyfical pamphlet againft the Cal- 
 vinifm of the New England Divines. The name of King 
 William is not mentioned, even by implication, in any part 
 of the publication, nor does Mr. Checkley charge " the Chrif- 
 tians of New England," or anybody elfe, with worfhipping 
 the Devil. The pamphlet ftates that the Lutherans charge 
 the Calvinifts with worfliipping the Devil, and points out the 
 logical procefs by which the Lutherans come to that conclu- 
 fion. The exact language will be found in this volume, vide 
 poftea, p. 152. It is a fimple recital of an hiftorical fact, and 
 leaves the inference to bk drawn that the doctrine of the 
 Calvinifts may be liable to that interpretation. But Mr. 
 Checkley 's perfonal opinion or belief on this queftion is not 
 given. Whether he can be called a blafphemer for printing 
 an hiftorical ftatement, and whether Dr. Cotton Mather's 
 confcience was aflive and true when he made this extraordi- 
 nary charge, the reader can judge. The moft charitable 
 interpretation appears to be that the charge was made in 
 paflion, and that his confcience had gone to fleep. 88 
 
 In 
 
 w Dr. Cotton Mather's name, not- quoted in full in the preceding pages, 
 withftanding his letter of May 21, 1723, has never to this day appeared on 
 
 the
 
 John C keck ley. 49 
 
 In 1722 Mr. Checkley made a voyage to England, failing 
 from the port of Bofton on the 21 ft of November of that 
 year, in the fhip Barlow. This expedition was, in part at 
 leaft, commercial, as he fhipped goods to London at the 
 fame time, but of what kind and to what extent we have no 
 information. His ftay in England was about eight months ; 
 returning, he arrived in Bofton on the 2Oth day of Sep- 
 tember, 1723. Befides giving his attention to his commer- 
 cial tranfaclions, there are intimations that he took fteps 
 towards entering into Holy Orders. If fuch was the cafe, he 
 was doubtlefs defeated by his inconfiderate and unwife 
 refufal to take the oaths required by the ftatute in the Prov- 
 ince of Maffachufetts Bay. This refufal, founded fimply in 
 pride, and not in any confcientious objection to the oaths, 
 left neverthelefs the implication, at once logical and inex- 
 plicable, that he was indeed a Nonjuror. No more ferious 
 objection to a candidate for Holy Orders could have been 
 offered to the Bifhop of London, who had doubtlefs been 
 promptly informed of his recufant proceedings in Bofton 
 touching the oaths. 39 * 
 
 the lift of Fellows of the Royal So- candidate, which was referred to the next 
 
 ciety. Council.' Yale was elected on the 3Oth of 
 
 The following is interefting as fhow- November, 1717, and Paul Dudley on the 
 
 ing who, in New England, were the early 2d of November, 1721. In a Lift of Fel- 
 
 members of that Society : lows of . the _, R y a ' SgdetJ'. to be found 
 
 J among the Rawlmfon MSS. in the Bodleian 
 
 " If Cotton Mather may not be reckoned (C. 437), the names of Brattle (1713-14), 
 
 a duly elected Fellow of the Royal Soci- Yale (1717), and Dudley (1721) are given, 
 
 ety, who then, of Americans born, is to be but not the name of Cotton Mather." 
 
 reckoned the eariieft Fellow of that dif- Vide Communication by Mr. N. Dar- 
 
 ^T 1 ^ ^ Y M w-n- 6 II $ f f fl Marc ; h ' ' nett Davis in the Nation of Feb. 18, 
 
 1714, the Rev. Mr. William Brattle, mm- Q A , r AT zr / j u-a t 
 
 ifier of the Church at Cambridge/New ^Sg2 AVo Mw England Htflortcal 
 
 England, was elefted a Fellow by the gen- and Genealogical Regijler for April, 
 
 eral body of members. On November the 1892. 
 
 2ift, ' Sir Hans Sloane propofed Mr. Elihu OT The Rt. Rev. Edmund Gibfon, 
 
 Yale, Executor to Dr. Thomas Paget, as a D.D., who became Bifhop of Lincoln in 
 
 VOL. I. 7 I 7 I 5.
 
 5o Memoir of 
 
 A few months after Mr. Checkley returned to Bofton, 40 he 
 caufed to be iflued a pamphlet entitled " A MODEST PROOF 
 of the Order & Government Settled by Chrift and his 
 Apoftles in the CHURCH BY SHOWING 
 
 I. What Sacred Offices were Inltituted by them. 
 II. How thofe Offices were Diftinguifhed. 
 
 III. That they were to be Perpetuated and Standing in 
 the Church. And 
 
 IV. Who Succeed in them, and rightly Execute them to 
 this day. 
 
 Recommended as proper to be put into the hands of the Laity. 
 
 Bofton : Reprinted by Theo. Fleet, and are to be fold by 
 Benjamin Eliot in Bojlon, Daniel Aurault in Newport, 
 Gabriel Bernon in Providence, Mr Gallop in Bri/lol, Mr 
 yean in Stratford, and in moft other Towns within the 
 Colonies of Connecticut and Rhode I/land. 1723," pp. 63. 
 
 While the name of the author is not given on the title- 
 page, it was afcribed without contradiction to Mr. Checkley. 
 A wide circulation was immediately given to it both in town 
 
 and 
 
 1715, was tranflated to London this very gation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, 
 
 year, 1723. He was not likely, new as he vide Hiftorical Collections relating to 
 
 was in his office, to favor any applica- the Colonial Church in Maffachufetts, 
 
 lion for Holy Orders, if objections were p. 142, the Rev. Dr. Cutler fays: "On 
 
 made from any fource whatever. Dr. September 24th part, Mr. Johnfon and 
 
 Gibfon was born in 1669. and died in I arrived fafely here, to the great joy 
 
 1748. He was a diftinguifhed theo- of our Epifcopal Brethren." As two 
 
 logian and antiquary, and was the author veflels rarely failed from London to 
 
 of many valuable and learnerl works. Bofton fo nearly together as four days, 
 
 * In a letter to Dr. Marfhal, which it feems probable that there was fome 
 
 will be found in another part of this miflake in the date of their arrival as 
 
 work, vide Vol. II. p. 162, Mr. Check- given by Mr. Checkley or Dr. Cutler, 
 
 lev fays he arrived in Bofton on the 2oth and we may well believe that they all 
 
 of September, 1723. In a letter to the returned in the fame veffel. 
 Secretary of the Society for the Propa-
 
 John Checkley. 5 1 
 
 and country. It caufed a very perceptible ftir in the ranks 
 of the intelligent and learned of the Congregational order. 
 It touched principles, pradlifes, and interefts too vital to be 
 paffed over in filence. It was important that an anfwer be 
 made to it, which, in character and fource, mould command 
 univerfal refpect After urgent and repeated requefts, the 
 Rev. Edward Wigglefworth, 41 who a few months before had 
 been publicly inducted into the office of Hollis Profeflbr of 
 Divinity at Harvard College, entered upon the tafk, and 
 early in 1724 publifhed an able, learned, and ingenious reply 
 in a pamphlet of feventy-eight pages. It was entitled, 
 " Sober remarks ON A Book lately reprinted at Bofton, entitled 
 A MODEST PROOF Of the Order and Government Settled 
 by CHRIST and his Apoftles in the Church. In a Letter to 
 a Friend" 
 
 Like Mr. Checkley's brochure, the name of the author is 
 not given on the title-page, but we are not aware that its 
 authorfhip has ever been doubted. 
 
 This was fpeedily followed by a pamphlet of forty-four 
 pages by the Rev. Jonathan Dickinfon, Minifter of the 
 Gofpel at Elizabeth-town, the firfl president of the College 
 of New Jerfey, and a diftinguifhed and influential leader in 
 the Prefbyterian body. 42 This contribution to the contro- 
 
 verfy 
 
 41 The Rev. Profeflbr Wigglefworth 42 The Rev. Jonathan Dickinfon was 
 
 was born in 1693, and died in 1765 ; born in Hatfield, MalTachufetts, April 
 
 graduated at Harvard College in 1710. 22, 1688, and died 061. 7, 1747. He 
 
 He received the degree of Doctor in publifhed many difcourfes of a contro- 
 
 Divinity from the Univerfity of Edin- veriial and theological character, fuch 
 
 burgh in 1730. He was the author of as Eternal Election, Original Sin, 
 
 feveral theological papers, fuch as the Saints' Perfeverartce, &c. &c. He 
 
 Duration of Future Puttijhment, the was the firft Prefident of the College of 
 
 Imputation of Adam's Sin to his Pcf- New Jerfey, which was fituated at that 
 
 terity, the Doftrine of Reprobation. time at Elizabeth, New Jerfey.
 
 52 Memoir of 
 
 verfy was denominated " A DEFENCE OF Prejbyterian Ordi- 
 nation, In ANSWER to a Pamphlet entitled, A MODEST PROOF 
 OF THE Order and Government Settled by Chrift in the 
 CHURCH." 
 
 Thefe criticifms were feverally anfwered by Mr. Checkley, 
 as we fhall fee in the fequel. 
 
 While the clergy of the Church of England, as well as 
 thofe of other names, and many of the intelligent laymen, 
 were entertained, and perhaps fomewhat enlightened, by this 
 fkirmim of the pamphleteers, a heavier ordnance was dif- 
 charged in Bofton, whofe refonant vibrations extended far 
 beyond the limits of New England, and created an alarm 
 and indignation among the minifters of Maffachufetts Bay 
 before unknown. This alarm was caufed by the publication 
 of a book which they regarded as a virulent and libel- 
 lous attack upon the divine authority and validity of their 
 miniftry. 
 
 The hiftory of this publication is both interefling and 
 important. When Mr. Checkley was in England, he pur- 
 chafed of a gentleman who had the privilege of printing the 
 works of the Rev. Charles Leflie tt the liberty of ufmg fuch 
 of Leflie's publications as he needed in the compilation of a 
 
 book 
 
 41 Charles Leflie was born about 1650, Dibden fays: "No fingle theological 
 and died in 1722. He was the fon of work has perhaps received fo much ap- 
 the Rt. Rev. John Leflie, Bifhop of plaufe as his Short and Eafy Method 
 Clogher, and was educated at Trinity with the Deifis." It has been a text- 
 College, Dublin. He was admitted to book for theological ftudents down 
 Holy Orders in 1680. He was a Non- to the prefent time. Dr. Johnfon fays 
 juror, a man of great learning, and the " Lefley was a reafoner, and a reafoner 
 moft diftinguiflied controversial writer who was not to be reafoned againjl." 
 of his times. He wrote againfl the Vide BofwelFs Life of Samuel John- 
 Deifts, the Jews, the Presbyterians, /on, LL.D. Bofton, 1807, Vol. III. 
 Papifts, Quakers, and others. He alfo p. 379, n. 
 wrote upon many political queftions.
 
 Checkley. 53 
 
 book, which he caufed to be printed in London and brought 
 with him to Bofton, where he arrived on the 2oth day of 
 September, 1723, and put upon fale on the 2 7th of Febru- 
 ary following. The book confifts of 1 32 pages. Its title is, 
 "A Short and Eafie METHOD WITH THE DEISTS. 
 Wherein the CERTAINTY OF THE CHRISTIAN RE- 
 LIGION Is demonftrated, by infallible Proof from FOUR 
 RULES, WHICH ARE Incompatible to any Impofture that 
 ever yet has been, or that can poffibly be. In a LETTER to 
 a Friend. The Eight Edition. LONDON ; Printed by j. 
 APPLEBEE, and Sold by JOHN CHECKLEY, at the Sign of the 
 Crown and Blue-Gate, over-againft the Weft-End of the 
 Town-Houfe in Bofton. 1723." 
 
 For the publication of this book, Mr. Checkley was profe- 
 cuted and fined, as we mall fee in the fequel. The work 
 bearing the above-named title was a compilation from fev- 
 eral works publifhed in England. Let us examine it with 
 fome care, and fee if we can afcertain who were the authors 
 of the feveral parts. 
 
 Mr. Leflie's argument againft the deifts covers forty 
 pages, and is a verbatim reprint from his works publifhed 
 in folio in London in the year 1721. Then follows 
 " A Difcourfe concerning EPISCOPACY." Fifty-fix pages, 
 from the forty-firft to the ninety-feventh, with fome emen- 
 dations and omiffions, are taken, with the exceptions here- 
 after noted, from a fmall quarto pamphlet by Leflie, now 
 lying before me, publifhed in London in 1698, entitled 
 "A DISCOURSE SHOWING Who they are that are now 
 Qualify 'd to Adminifter Baptifm and the Lords-Supper, 
 Wherein the Caufe of EPISCOPACY Is briefly Treated." 
 
 Of
 
 54 Memoir of 
 
 Of thefe fifty-fix pages, nine are not in Leflie's pamphlet, 
 and are clearly the compofition of Mr. Checkley. The 
 remainder of the book, from page ninety-feven to the end, 
 is taken from a fmall pamphlet, of which the author's 
 name is not given, but which neverthelefs is recommended 
 and prefaced by the diftinguifhed and learned Robert 
 Nelfon, 44 whofe writings are ftill daffies both in England 
 and America. 
 
 This volume, thus compiled, treating of Epifcopacy in the 
 mod ample, thorough, and exhauflive manner, efpecially 
 adapted to the meridian of Bofton, was the theme of con- 
 verfation by the citizens in the ftreet, in the traders' Ihops, 
 and in focial gatherings. The minifters were foon affem- 
 bled in folemn conclave. The weak points and the ftrong 
 points of the book were canvaffed. It is eafy to fancy how, 
 in the fympathetic heat of difcuffion, fallacies, affumptions, 
 bad logic, and bad rhetoric were difcovered on nearly every 
 page of the unwelcome book ; nor is it difficult to piclure 
 the indignation, not unmingled with alarm, that mantled in 
 black clouds the otherwife placid countenances of that little 
 band of learned men. Their difcuffions were amicable, and 
 in their opinions there were no effential difagreements. The 
 unanimous conclufion was eafily reached that the book was 
 
 a 
 
 44 Robert Nelfon was born in 1656, number of fuch confecrated portions of 
 
 and died in 1715. He was the author time be not too extenfive. The excel- 
 
 of a Companion for the Fejlivals and lent Mr. Nelfon's Fejlivals and fa/Is, 
 
 Fajls of the Church of England, The which has, I understand, the greateft 
 
 Praftice of True Devotion, and the Life fale of any book ever printed in Eng- 
 
 of Bijhop George Bull. Dr. Samuel land, except the Bible, is a mod valu- 
 
 Johnfon fays: "The holidays obferved able help to devotion." Vide Bofwelfs 
 
 by our church are of great ufe in Life of Samuel Johnfon, LL.D. Bof- 
 
 religion. There can be no doubt of ton, 1807, Vol. II. p. 263. 
 this, in a limited fenfe, I mean if the
 
 Checkley. 55 
 
 a deteftable libel, and that the vender was an equally deteft- 
 able libeller, and that a public odium ought to be put upon 
 the one, and a fpeedy punifhment vifited upon the other. 
 The law alone furnifhed the proper remedy for fuch mifde- 
 meanors. 
 
 Three weeks had not elapfed after the book was put on 
 fale, before the firft ftep was taken to call Mr. Checkley to 
 account by a legal tribunal. The Council Records give the 
 following narrative of the proceedings : 
 
 " At a Council held at the Council Chamber in Bofton upon 
 Thurfday, March 19, I723. 45 
 
 Prefent The Hon W Dummer Efq r L* Gov^ 
 
 Samuel Sewall Edw? Bromfield Adam Winthrop 
 
 PennTownfend,Efqrs Thomas Hutchinfon Jon* Belcher 
 
 Thomas Fitch Efq 1 ? Jon* Dowfe Efqr 9 . 
 
 The Board taking into their confideration a certain Book lately 
 Publifhed & Sold in Bofton, entitled, a fhort and eafy method with 
 the Deifts, and obferving in the faid volume many vile & Scandal- 
 ous 
 
 46 The number of Councillors named Vide Majfachufetts Civil Lift, by Wil- 
 
 in the Charter of 1692 was twenty-eight, liam H. Whitmore, 1870. 
 That was the number elected fubfe- Subfequently to this trial, Governor 
 
 quently. Of thefe, nine, including the Belcher, while he was Governor of 
 
 Lieutenant-Governor, were prefent. The Maffachufetts Bay, addreffed letters, 
 
 Hon. Samuel Sewall was a member of from which the following are extracts, 
 
 the Council from 1693 to 1725 ; Penn to his fon, Jonathan Belcher, Jr., who 
 
 Townfend, from 1703 to 1727, except graduated at Harvard College in 1728, 
 
 the years 1708 and 1715 ; Edward and was, at the time the letters were 
 
 Bromfield, 1703 to 1724. Thomas written, purfuing his ftudies at the 
 
 Hutchinfon, the father of Governor Temple in London. He had connected 
 
 Hutchinfon, was Councillor 1714 to himfelf with the Church of England, 
 
 1739, except 1724 and 1727; Thomas which gave his father great diftrefs. 
 
 Fitch, 1715 to 1730 and 1734; Adam Whoever reads the Belcher Papers, 
 
 Winthrop, 1715 to 1728, except 1719, lately publifhed by the Maflachufetts 
 
 1720, 1727; Jonathan Belcher, 1718 to Hiftorical Society, will fee that the Gov- 
 
 1727, except 1721, 1724, 1725; Jona- ernor did not hide his religion under a 
 
 than Dowfe, 1718 to 1731, except 1727. bufhel, but kept it generally blazing on
 
 Memoir of 
 
 ous paflages not only reflecting on the minifters of the Gofpel 
 Eftablifhed in this Province & denying their facred function & the 
 Holy ordinances of religion as adminiftered by them but alfo fun- 
 dry vile infmuations againft his Majefty's rightful & Lawful author- 
 ity & the conftitution of the Gov 1 - of Great Britain 
 
 Voted that the Attorney General be directed to draw up a pre- 
 fentment of the S? Book as a fcandalous libel, & alfo a prefentment 
 of the Author or Publisher thereof, when he (hall be known, that 
 fo a Profecution be had thereon at the next general feffions of the 
 peace for the county of Suffolk & that Rob* Auchrauty, Efq* 46 
 
 be 
 
 a candleftick. In one of his letters he 
 fays : 
 
 " As you grow older I hope you'l grow 
 wifer. The diffenters are certainly men of 
 better lives in general than thofe of the 
 National Chh. I remember a gingle of the 
 late Dr. Cotton Mather which pleaf'd me 
 as I thought it true, that the religion of the 
 Chh of England was a lifelefs religion & an 
 irreligious life ; and I hope you fpeak with 
 pleafure of returning to your firft love. . . . 
 
 " Here I can't help mentioning with the 
 greateft concern & affection to you your 
 conformity to the C^h of England ; & witht 
 a previous lifp to me in fo confiderable an 
 alteration, it was the greateft folly you could 
 be guilty of, & could I have imagin'd it you 
 had never fat your feet off your native 
 countrey. It has vaftly hurt you in your 
 temporal intereft (I wifh it ha" n't other- 
 wife) ; it has made all the Diffenting inter- 
 eft cool towards you in Engld & here, & in 
 that way it has alfo greatly differv'd me, 
 and your hugging Checkley in the manner 
 you did was a piece of moft imprudt con- 
 duel, a man that had been a non-juror 
 here for a long time & odious to this whole 
 countrey. Oh, Jon a learn to be thought- 
 full, cautious & wife ; but thefe things 
 grieve me & I muft not dwell upon them. 
 I rejoice that you begin to fee your folly & 
 that you think as formerly that the Diffent- 
 ers arc the bed livers. What will it avail a 
 man in the great day of accounts to have 
 had the form of godlinefs without the 
 power ? and as to doctrine, I know not 
 
 wherein the Diffenters & Chh differ, if 
 the latter will ftick to their 39 Articles. I 
 fhall fay no more on this head, but com- 
 mend you to ye guidance & teaching of 
 God." . . . 
 
 " I have fpoken fo fully about your fool- 
 ifh conformity that I add no more upon it, 
 but that 1 think you will be wife to come 
 of from it gradually with as much honour as 
 you can." Vide Majfachufetts Hijlorical Col- 
 lefiions, Vol. LXVII. pp. 214, 292, 326; 
 also antea, p. 30. 
 
 Jonathan Belcher, Jr., did not follow 
 his father's advice. Notwithftanding 
 his pathetic and tender appeal, he ftill 
 adhered to the Church of England. He 
 became Governor of the Province of 
 Nova Scotia, and fubfequently Chief- 
 Juflice of the Supreme Court of that 
 Province. 
 
 46 Robert Auchmuty, a diftinguiflied 
 lawyer, was educated at Dublin, and 
 ftudied law at the Temple, in London. 
 He fettled in Boflon early in the i8th 
 century. He was a prominent member 
 of King's Chapel, and a Truftee of the 
 Bofton Epifcopal Charitable Society at 
 its organization in 1724. His only 
 daughter married Benjamin Pratt, Chief- 
 Juftice of New York. His fon, the 
 Rev. Samuel Auchmuty, D. D., gradu- 
 ated at Harvard College, 1742. He was 
 a minifter of Trinity Church, in the city 
 of New York. His fon Robert was a 
 diftinguifhed
 
 John Checkley. 57 
 
 be defired to afiift in the S"? Profecution & in cafe of the abfence of 
 the Attorney General, 47 to draw up the Said Prefentments. 
 
 Examined by J. WILLARD. Sec? " 
 
 It will be obferved that the Chief-Juftice of the Court of 
 Seffions, the Hon. Penn Townfend, and the Chief-Juftice of 
 the Superior Court of Judicature and Affize, the Hon. Sam- 
 uel Sewall, were members of the Council, and were com- 
 plainants, or plaintiffs in a certain fenfe, in the fuit againft 
 Mr. Checkley, which was to be tried in the courts over 
 which they reflectively prefided. This double relation of 
 two of the judges in the cafe would, at the prefent day, be 
 regarded as highly improper, and we imagine few magiftrates 
 would now choofe to go into hiftory as acting in both 
 capacities in the fame cafe. 
 
 On hearing that the Council had ordered a prefentment 
 againft the book, Mr. Checkley went to the Advocate- 
 General and informed him that he had brought the books 
 
 in 
 
 diftinguifhed lawyer and advocate in it pretty certain that the prefentment 
 
 Bofton, and was counfel for Prefton and was drawn up by Robert Auchmuty, 
 
 the Britifh foldiers engaged in the Bof- Efqr., perhaps affifted by Mr. Hews, 
 
 ton Maflacre. Whether Robert Auch- who had been Mr. Checkley's counfel, 
 
 muty, fenior, actually took any part in but had been appointed to fupply the 
 
 the trial of Mr. Checkley does not place of the King's Attorney. Vide 
 
 further appear from the court proceed- Mr. Checkley's letter to Dr. Marfhal, 
 
 ings. It is, however, more than prob- poftea, Vol. II. p. 164, also note 46. 
 
 able that he drew up the prefentment, Mr. Read was elefted Attorney-Gen- 
 
 and aded as the profecuting attorney. eral in June, 1724, but he does not ap- 
 
 47 The Attorney-General at this time pear to have taken the oaths, or to have 
 
 was John Read, who had been elected, acted as fuch for that year. Vide note 
 
 June 25, 1723, and was duly qualified by 5, p. 3, also note 60, poftea. 
 
 taking the prefcribed oaths. The inti- The reader will obferve that the date 
 
 mation of the poffible abfence of the of this inftrument, March 19, 1723, fell 
 
 Attorney-General, and the ftatement of into the year 1724, as the civil year then 
 
 Mr. Checkley in his private letter to Dr. began on the 25th of March, and not 
 
 Marfhal, on the rgth of the June follow- on'January firft. 
 ing, that he was in fact abfent, renders 
 
 VOL. i. 8
 
 58 Memoir of 
 
 in queftion from England, and was the feller of them. 
 This information to the Advocate-General obliged him to 
 prefent Mr. Checkley as the feller of the book; the cafe 
 being perfonal, nothing could be done without his prefence 
 in court, thus affording him an opportunity of defending 
 the book, which he otherwife could not have had. 
 
 The Court of Seffions was to be held on the firft day 
 of April, and Mr. Checkley could only appeal to the Court 
 of Affize, which was to be held in May. He deemed it 
 exceedingly important that he mould have more time, that 
 he might, if poffible, obtain fome order from England that 
 mould put a flop to the proceedings. By avoiding thefe 
 two courts, his firft trial by the Court of Seffions would 
 take place in July, and his fecond trial, by appeal to the 
 Court of Affize, would fall in November. Accordingly, on 
 the 3oth day of March, no warrant having been ferved upon 
 him, he left Bofton, and proceeding beyond the limits of 
 the Province, paffed feveral weeks in Rhode Ifland and 
 Connecticut 48 At length, the time having elapfed for his 
 arraignment before the court fitting on the firft of April, 
 on the 1 6th of May he returned to Bofton, and on the 
 2Oth of the fame month he appeared before Chief- Juftice 
 Townfend, and took the oaths, which he had before declined 
 to take, and fent a certificate of the fame, under the feal 
 of the Province, to the Bifhop of London. 
 
 During his abfence from the Province and after his 
 return, he wrote numerous letters to gentlemen of his ac- 
 quaintance in England, foliciting fuch aid as might relieve 
 
 him 
 
 48 Mr. Checkley appears at this time cut along the banks of the Quinnebaug 
 to have vifited the Indians in Connefti- River.
 
 John Checkley. 59 
 
 him from the criminal proceedings already in progrefs 
 againfl him. He was doubtlefs induced to feek for this 
 affiftance by over fanguine friends, and as a dernier reffort, 
 although no practical method of relief was probably either 
 fuggefled or known. For friends in England to interfere 
 in any way, at that diflance, and in fo fhort a fpace of time, 
 was plainly a difficult, if not an impoffible, tafk. What 
 efforts were made in his behalf we are not informed. 
 But we know very certainly, if any were made, they were 
 unfuccefsful. 49 
 
 Two days after Mr. Checkley 's return to Boflon, on the 
 1 8th day of May, the Grand Inquefl for the County of 
 Suffolk having found a bill againfl him, a Bench warrant 
 for his appearance at the Court of General Seffions of the 
 Peace, to be holden in Boflon on the firft Wednefday of 
 July, was iffued againfl him, to anfwer to a prefentment for 
 falfely, wickedly, malicioufly, feditioufly, caufmg to be pub- 
 limed, uttered, and expofed to fale, a feigned, falfe, wicked, 
 and fcandalous libel entitled a " Short and Eafy Method 
 with the Deifls," &c. 
 
 This warrant was ferved upon Mr. Checkley by John 
 Darrell, on the firfl day of June, 1724, and he gave bail to 
 appear under a bond of ^100, entered into by himfelf and 
 Dr. George Stewart. 60 
 
 But while thefe proceedings againfl Mr. Checkley were 
 in progrefs, he was himfelf by no means idle. At this very 
 
 time 
 
 49 Vide Mr. Checkley's letter in this tenance of the organ introduced into the 
 work, Vol. II. pp. 158-9. chapel in 1713. It was the firft ufed 
 
 50 Dr. George Stewart was an aftive in public worfhip in New England. He 
 and prominent member of King's was warden in 1732-34, and a member 
 Chapel, and a contributor for the main- of the veftry fubfequently.
 
 60 Memoir of 
 
 time he was writing a pamphlet entitled, " A Difcourfe 
 fhowing who is a true Paftor of the Church of Chrift." It 
 was largely a criticifm and anfwer to the celebrated difcourfe 
 of the learned Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton of the Old South 
 Church in Bofton, on the " validity of Prefbyterial Ordina- 
 tion," publimed fome years anterior to this. Mr. Checkley's 
 pamphlet was printed during his firft trial, in July, 1724, 
 and was done fecretly left it fhould be made a handle for 
 the forfeiture of his bonds. It is hardly probable that any 
 copies were diftributed in Bofton at that time. It was a 
 clear, concife, logical production, adapted to the comprehen- 
 fion of plain people, for whom it was especially intended. 
 Five hundred copies were immediately fent into Rhode 
 Ifland, where the Quakers and Baptifts were in the heat of 
 a lively controverfy touching their refpeclive theories and 
 beliefs. Mr. Checkley had the fatisfaclion of believing that 
 it proved an antidote to their troubles, and pointed out, to 
 fome of them at leaft, a better way. 
 
 At the end of the publication above referred to, was this 
 fignificant note : " Thofe who have a Mind to fee the Propo- 
 fitions in this fmall Tracl prov'd beyond the PofTibility of 
 a Reply, are defir'd to read a Difcourfe concerning Epifco- 
 pacy, which they may have at the Crown and Gate oppolite 
 to the Weft End of the Town-Houfe in Bo/Ion" 
 
 This " Difcourfe concerning Epifcopacy " which Mr. 
 Checkley was thus advertifing was the addendum to the 
 " Short and Eafy Method with the Deifts," and was the 
 identical publication for the fale of which he was at that 
 time undergoing a trial for libel. It is obvious therefore 
 from this advertifement that he did not intend, whatever 
 
 punifhment
 
 John Checkley. 61 
 
 punifhment might be in ftore for him, to defift from making 
 known far and wide what he honeftly believed to be true 
 and agreeable to the conftitution of the Apoflolic Church. 
 At the end of the pamphlet he appended, for the inftruclion 
 of fuch as were not familiar with the teftimony of the early 
 Fathers to Epifcopacy, the " Epiftle of S e Ignatius to the 
 Trallians." 
 
 The Court of Seflions was duly held in July, and Mr. 
 Checkley's trial began on the i4th day of that month. 
 
 The prefentment contained fixteen counts, citing the 
 exact words in the book which the Council and the Grand 
 Jury had pronounced libellous, and by which it was intended 
 to prove that Mr. Checkley was a libeller. For the fatisfac- 
 tion of the inquilitive reader we give the fpecifications in 
 full and in order, premifing that each citation is prefaced by 
 feveral of the following epithets, viz. : falfe, feigned, mali- 
 cious, wicked, fcandalous, and feditious. 
 
 The following are the citations from the book already 
 adjudged to be libellous by the Chief-Juflices of the two 
 courts reflectively before which Mr. Checkley was to be 
 tried : 
 
 I. " And when the Time fhall Come, as they are the moft Honour- 
 able and Ancient of all the Nations on the Earth, fo will their Church 
 Return to the Mother Chriftian Church, as fhe was at Firft ; And 
 Rome muft Surrender to Jerufalem" 
 
 II. " WITH the Deifts, in this Caufe, are join'd the Quakers and 
 other of Dijfenters who throw off the Succejfion of our Priefthood." 
 
 III. " I fhall fay fomething at this time by way of Advice td 
 thofe Perfons, who madly think that there is nothing at all neceflary 
 to conftitute a Gofpel Minifter, but (what they fondly call) a good 
 flock of Gifts. To thefe mad Enthufiajls, thefe heady Impoflers, whofe 
 
 pretended
 
 62 Memoir of 
 
 pretended Gifts are in nothing extraordinary, except in a furious 
 Zeal without Knowledge, and a Volubility of Tongue, which proceeds 
 from a Habit of Speaking without Thinking ; and an AJfurance that 
 is never out of Countenance; for ten Thoufand Blunders, which 
 wou'd daJJi and confound any Man of Senfe, or Modejly, or that con- 
 fider'd the prcfence of GW, in which he fpoke: To thefe Men I fay 
 I fhall fpeak fomething concerning the Qualifications requilite in a 
 Gofpel Minijler" 
 
 IV. " And confequently, that the Rebellion of Prejbyters from 
 under the Government of their Bijhops, is the fame Cafe as the 
 Rebellion (for fo it is call'd, Numb. xvii. 10) of Korah and his 
 Levites, again ft Aaron" 
 
 V. " And here let our Korahites, of feveral Sizes, take a view of 
 the Heinoufnefs of their Schifm" 
 
 VI. " And indeed, whoever wou'd write the true Hiftory of Pref- 
 byterianifm, muft begin at Rome, and not at Geneva" 
 
 VII. " As the Neceflity of Government, and the General commands 
 in Scripture, of Obedience to Government do require our Submiflion 
 to the Government in being, where there is no Competition concern- 
 ing the Titles, that is where no One claims a better Right than the 
 Po/effor." 
 
 VIII. "Againft thefe we produce the vaft Empire of Rujfia 
 (which is greater in extent, than all thofe popiJJi Countries before 
 named) Great-Britain, Denmark, Sweden, and all the Lutheran 
 Churches in Germany, which will vaftly out-number both the Papijls 
 and (their kinfmen) the Diffentcrs of all Denominations before 
 mention'd." 
 
 IX. "They imitate the coming of Anti-ChriJl now approaching." 
 
 X. "And now, let me tell our Dijfenters of all Denominations, 
 that they imitate the Hardncfs of the Jews, who built the Scpulchers 
 of thofe Prophets, whom their Fathers flew ; while, at the fame 
 Time, they adher'd to, and out-did the Wickednefs of their Fathers, 
 in Perfecuting the Succejfors of thofe Prophets" 
 
 XI. " And if fo, then their Ordinations in Oppojition to Epifcopacy 
 
 are
 
 John Checkley. 63 
 
 are not only invalid but Sacrilege, and Rebellion againft Chrijl who 
 did injlitute this Society, and gave them their Charter, and if their 
 Ordinations are null, then their Baptifms are fo too, and all their 
 Ordinances. They are out of the vi/ible Church, and have no Right 
 to any of the Promifes in the Gofpel!' 
 
 XII. " Let then the Common-wealth-men and the Orators for the 
 Power of the People, (if they will argue fairly and upon the Square 
 with us) fet down the Time when Monarchy did begin in the World, 
 and fee if this Clew will not lead them up to the Divifion of the 
 Nations after the Flood, which I am fure no Man (who has feen 
 that Account which holy Scripture gives us of it) will venture to fay, 
 was done by the People" 
 
 XIII. " What think ye my Friends ? Was there ever a Time in 
 the World when all Mankind (all but the Ufurpers !) were all 
 a-fleep?" 
 
 XIV. " Shall then the Ufurpers of the Levitical Priejlhood bzfwal- 
 lowd up quick into the Pit, and is there no Judgment of God due 
 to the Ufurpers upon the Chriflian Priejlhood ? Was it Death for 
 any but the Priejls to offer the legal Sacrifices, and may the Evan- 
 gelical Sacrifice be oflfer'd, without Offence, by any Hands not law- 
 fully ordairid?" 
 
 XV. " Can their Call, or their Conceits of any Man's Sufficiency 
 enable him to take this Honour unto himfelf ? Is this the Call of 
 Aaron and of Chrijl ? No ; but it is of Korah and our Dijfenters 
 who fet up upon their Gifts ! " 
 
 XVI. " The Children of Korah, Dathan and Abiram were fwal- 
 lowed up with Them." 
 
 The words contained in thefe citations are declared by the 
 indictment to be a falfe, feigned, malicious, fcandalous, and 
 feditious libel. 
 
 By a careful collation we find the firft two counts to be in 
 Leflie's " Short and Eafy Method with the Deifts." This 
 
 work
 
 64 Memoir of 
 
 work was publiflied in London in 1694, and it had been 
 before the Britifh public thirty years, during which period 
 its libellous character had not been difcovered. 
 
 The third count in the declaration is partly in the words 
 of Mr. Checkley himfelf, and partly in thofe of Leflie. This 
 is the only count in which any of Mr. Checkley 's own 
 words are cited. 
 
 From the fourth count to the tenth inclufive all are found 
 in a " Difcourfe wherein Epifcopacy is briefly treated," by 
 the Rev. Charles Leflie, publiflied by him, in London, in 
 1698. 
 
 The remaining fix counts are in that part of the publica- 
 tion which Mr. Checkley informs us he " took entirely from 
 a pamphlet prefaced and recommended by that great man, 
 Mr. Nelfon." 
 
 This refers to the diftinguifhed Robert Nelfon, Efq., 
 whofe works ftill hold a prominent place in facred literature 
 both among churchmen and diffenters. With two flight 
 variations, not affecting the animus of the citations, the 
 counts containing the charges againft Mr. Checkley are 
 all taken from works written and publiflied in England 
 many years before, except one among the fixteen, which 
 is partly in the words of Mr. Checkley, as we have already 
 dated. 
 
 We can hardly avoid afking ourfelves how, during all 
 thefe years, the libellous character of thefe publications 
 efcaped the notice of the Englifh Diflenters, to whom they 
 were firft addreffed, and for whofe illumination they were 
 written. 
 
 The
 
 John Check ley. 65 
 
 The Court of Seffions was compofed of juftices of the 
 peace. Those prefent at this time were Penn Townfend, 
 Chief-Juftice, together with Edward Bromfield, Samuel 
 Checkley, William Welfteed, Thomas Steel, John Ruck, 
 and John Campbell. 61 
 
 Of the details of the proceedings at this trial we know 
 little. Who the counfel were on either fide, or the names 
 of the jury, no record difclofes. Mr. Checkley informs us 
 that he was not allowed to fpeak in his own defence, and 
 that the juftices ordered the profecuting attorney to infift 
 upon thofe claufes only which charged him with difaffection 
 to the government, and that they prefumably intended to 
 amend the prefentment, but the verdict, as recorded in the 
 court records, is general, and, in form at leaft, covers the 
 whole indictment. 52 
 
 A verdict againft Mr. Checkley was promptly rendered. 
 He appealed, and entered into bonds, as principal, in the 
 fum of ,100, and Gillam Phillips, 53 Efq., and William Speak- 
 man, 64 both of Bofton, in the fum of ^"50 each, for his 
 appearance at the Court of Affize, to be held in the 
 November following. 
 
 Mr. 
 
 61 Edward Bromfield was a Council- court was held in July following. He 
 lor, vide antea, p. 55, and was, with was an intimate friend of Mr. Checkley. 
 Chief-Juftice Townfend, a complainant M Gillam Phillips was a prominent 
 as well as judge in the cafe Dominus citizen of Bofton. He purchafed a pew 
 Rex -verfus Checkley. No relationfhip in Chrift Church among the original 
 has been traced between the Rev. John proprietors, and was a veftryman and 
 Checkley and the other Checkleys of warden of that church. 
 
 Bofton who were prominent in both 54 William Speakman was fome time 
 
 civil and ecclefiaftical affairs. a member of the veftry of King's Chapel 
 
 62 It is clear that John Read was Mr. and a warden in 1729. He was one 
 Checkley's counfel at this trial. He was of the early contributors for the erec- 
 Attorney-General for 1723, but his term tion of Trinity Church, Bofton, and its 
 had expired in June, 1724, and this firft warden. 
 
 VOL. i. 9
 
 66 Memoir of 
 
 Mr. Checkley now devoted himfelf with great affiduity to 
 a careful ftudy of the legal afpecls of his cafe, foon to be 
 decided by the higheft tribunal in the Province of Maffachu- 
 fetts Bay. This was not a period of unbroken peace and 
 ferenity of mind. It brought with it many deep and pain- 
 ful anxieties. The expenfe of a trial in all the courts, in 
 which the verdict was practically preordained to be againft 
 him, with the branded ftigma of a heavy fine, and perhaps 
 imprifonment, with a dependent family and a limited fortune, 
 impofed a painful mental burden, which he alone could 
 appreciate. Neverthelefs, his mofl poignant fufferings came 
 from a deep, tender, manly fympathy for his diftrefied wife, 
 who, in his own language, was " almofl frightened to death 
 by their proceedings." 66 But for himfelf, independent of 
 others, he had neither fears nor regrets. To his mind, the 
 truth, as he comprehended it, mufl be made known plainly 
 and fully, at whatever perfonal inconvenience or perfonal 
 facrifice. A confcious " innocence and honefly " he regarded 
 as his proper " fliield and buckler." 
 
 The animus which controlled him in the publication 
 of the " fcandalous " book, may be feen in the publication 
 itfelf, on its ninety-fixth page, as follows : 
 
 " I make no Queftion, but by this Time, I have made myfelf many 
 Enemies by talking thus freely againft the Dijfenters. But if I 
 have, all that I can fay is, that I wou'd willingly difpleafe no Man, 
 but live at Peace with all the World. God knows my Heart, I hate 
 no Man's Perfon, but would do him all the Good that is in my 
 Power. But if I cannot do him that Good without difpleafing him, 
 
 I 
 
 66 Vide Mr. Checkley's letter to Dr. Bennet, Vol. II. p. 168.
 
 Checkley. 67 
 
 I ought to prefer his Good to the difturbing him a little ; elfe I do 
 not really love him. And if he takes Offence at me for this, it is 
 his Fault, not mine. 
 
 "And truly, as to our dijfenting Brethren upon the Point of 
 Religion, I look upon their Cafe with the greateft Companion and 
 Concern that is poifible for the fake of their Souls, which to me they 
 feem to hazard upon the greateft Uncertainty, and the moft caufelejjly 
 of any on Earth? 
 
 The tardy weeks of the fummer and early autumn paffed 
 reluctantly away. But the calends of November came at laft. 
 On the 3d of the month, Anno Domini 1724, in the Council 
 Chamber of the Old State Houfe, familiar to all Boflonians, 
 and within fpeaking diftance of Mr. Checkley 's own refi- 
 dence, the Superior Court of Judicature and Aflize opened 
 its feffion. 
 
 The judges, the jury, and the attorneys were all in their 
 places. 
 
 A flight draft on the imagination will furnifh a vivid 
 picture of this court-room as it appeared on that crifpy 
 autumnal morning. A few fagots of hickory were blazing 
 on the ample hearth. The arms of the Houfe of Hanover, 
 and portraits of the royal family of England were looking 
 down from the walls of the fpacious room, to give dignity 
 and authority to the proceedings of the highefl legal tribunal 
 in the Province of Maffachufetts Bay. At one fide, on 
 a dais flightly raifed, fat Chief-Juflice Sewall, in his judicial 
 robes and bands, his natural hair white with the frofts of 
 feventy-two winters, flowing in rich abundance upon his 
 moulders. On either fide were the affociate juftices, Benja- 
 
 min
 
 68 
 
 Memoir of 
 
 min Lynde, 66 Addington Davenport, 57 Paul Dudley, 68 and 
 Edmund Quincy, 59 all in their official robes, bands, and wigs. 
 Around a fpacious table, near the centre of the room, were 
 the attorneys in their citizen's drefs. Among them was 
 Robert Auchmuty, acting in place of the Attorney-General, 
 by appointment of the Council, and not far removed was 
 the diftinguifhed John Read, already the corypheus of the 
 Bofton bar, and near him his client, Mr. John Checkley, 
 
 charged 
 
 M Benjamin Lynde, born Sept. 22, 
 1666, died March 28, 1 745, graduated at 
 Harvard College, 1686. He was edu- 
 cated in the law at the Temple in Lon- 
 don. He was Judge of the Superior 
 Court of Judicature, 1712, and fubfe- 
 quently became Chief-Juftice of the 
 fame court For fome account of Chief- 
 Juftice Sewall, vide Sewall's Journal as 
 quoted in the previous pages, as like- 
 wife note 32. 
 
 67 Addington Davenport, born Aug. 
 3, 1670, died April 2, 1736, graduated 
 at Harvard College in 1689. After hold- 
 ing many civil offices, he was a Judge 
 of the Superior Court of Judicature 
 from 1715 to his death in 1736. His fon, 
 the Rev. Addington Davenport, was the 
 firft reclor of Trinity Church, Bofton. 
 
 68 Paul Dudley, fon of Governor 
 Jofeph Dudley, born Sept. 3, 1675, died 
 Jan. 25, 1752, graduated at Harvard 
 College, 1690. He was educated in the 
 law at the Temple in London. He was 
 Attorney-General for many years. He 
 became a Judge of the Superior Court 
 of Judicature in 1718, of which court he 
 was fubfequently Chief-Juftice. Vide 
 antea, note 27. 
 
 w Edmund Quincy was born O61. 24, 
 1681, died 1738, graduated at Harvard 
 College, 1699. He was a Judge of the 
 Superior Court of Judicature from 1718 
 
 to 1736 inclufive. His regard for the 
 Church of England may be feen from 
 the following excerpt : " When in Au- 
 guft, 1704, the increafe of the Rev. Mr. 
 Fifke's falary from 80 to ^90 was the 
 burning queftion in Braintree, Judge 
 Edmund Quincy urged as an argument 
 in favor of the increafe that the Church 
 of England people would have to pay 
 their proportion, calling Samuel French 
 out of Captain John Mill's houfe, and 
 faying to him ' You know what has 
 fell out in the town, the churchmen are 
 now fcheming to get a foot in the town ; 
 if you will join with us in a vote, we '11 
 fupprefs the churchmen ; I have got fix- 
 teen already.'" Vide Three Epifodes 
 of Majfachufetts Hiftory, by Charles 
 Francis Adams, p. 627. It is to be 
 obferved that when Judge Edmund 
 Quincy with his fixteen neighbors was 
 laying plans to supprefs the churchmen 
 in the Church of England parifh in 
 Braintree, now Quincy, he was only 
 twenty-four years of age, and his zeal 
 may have been more aclive and vigorous 
 than at this time, when, at the age of 
 forty-three, he was fitting as judge on the 
 conduct of a churchman who was by no 
 means eafily fupprefled. There is, how- 
 ever, fcanty evidence that the fpirit of 
 toleration had gained any perceptible 
 ftrength during thofe years.
 
 Check ley. 69 
 
 charged with the crime of publifhing an alleged libellous 
 book, a man fmall in ftature, with a high intellectual fore- 
 head, a clear eye, and an expreffion of countenance indicat- 
 ing intellectual force, ftrength of will, franknefs, honefty, and 
 fincerity. In their proper place fat the impanelled jury, 
 twelve men of undoubted honefty and fagacity, viz., Samuel 
 Appleton, John Wifwell, Noah Kingftmry, Jofhua Child, 
 Benjamin Ruffell, Jofeph Wells, Edward Langdon, Ezra 
 Clafs, Seth Bafs, John Cobet, Jofeph Mansfield, and Thomas 
 Verien. 
 
 Befides thefe there were prefent in an unofficial way, we 
 may well believe, the minifters both of the Church of Eng- 
 land and of the Diffenters, and other gentlemen drawn 
 thither by their intereft in this extraordinary trial. The 
 chief intereft centred in the arguments of the learned, able, 
 and diftinguifhed counfel on both fides. 
 
 After the ufual formalities, the adminiftration of the oath 
 to the jurors, the reading of the indictment, the trial was 
 opened by the attorney for the government. 60 Mr. Checkley 
 
 having 
 
 60 The court records do not ftate who Checkley, may be found in another part 
 
 the counfel were who prefented the cafe of this work. 
 
 of the government, or who defended Mr. It appears by the record that John 
 
 Checkley. It is, however, very clear Read was elected Attorney-General by 
 
 that the counfel for the government was the Houfe in June, 1724. Vide Records 
 
 Robert Auchmuty. We learn, from of the General Court, Book II. p. 509. 
 
 evidence derived from other fources, It was at firft no little furprife that we 
 
 that Mr. Checkley's counfel in this trial found him acting as counfel for Mr. 
 
 in the Superior Court of Judicature, Checkley, who was on trial upon a 
 
 was the celebrated jurift John Read, criminal charge. It appears, however, 
 
 The argument in arreft of judgment, after very careful and extended exami- 
 
 made at a later ftage by Mr. Read, was nation of both the Court and Council 
 
 written out in his own hand and figned records, that he did not qualify by tak- 
 
 by him, and is ftill preferved in the files ing the oaths of office for the year 1724, 
 
 of the Supreme Court of Maffachufetts. and the reafon was that the election 
 
 This argument, as well as that of Mr. was illegal. It was neceffary that the 
 
 nomination
 
 7o Memoir of 
 
 having admitted that he was the publifher of the book, it 
 was only neceffary to fhow that it contained the libel charged 
 in the indictment. The arguments of the counfel for the 
 profecution and thofe by the counfel for the defence are un- 
 fortunately not preferved. After Mr. Read, the counfel for 
 the defence, had been heard, whofe treatment of the cafe was 
 highly fatisfa6tory to his client, Mr. Checkley was himfelf 
 permitted to addrefs the court in his own behalf. His 
 argument was fubfequently publifhed, and will be found in 
 another part of this work. As the lower court had vir- 
 tually, as he thought, acquitted him of the charge of fcan- 
 dalizing the diffenting clergy, Mr. Checkley devoted two 
 thirds of his argument to the charge of attempting to " tra- 
 duce and to draw into difpute the undoubted Right and 
 Title of King George to the Kingdom of Great Britain and 
 Ireland and the territories thereunto belonging." On this 
 part of the indictment Mr. Checkley was fully acquitted by 
 the jury. The remaining part of his argument was to prove 
 his innocence of fcandalizing the minifters of the Congre- 
 gational order. 
 
 It will not be neceffary here to enter into any analyfis of 
 this extraordinary forenfic effort, which the reader may 
 examine in another part of this work. He does not aim at 
 
 touching 
 
 nomination of the Attorney-General declined to do. Mr. Read was not 
 
 fhould be made by the Lieutenant-Gov- therefore Attorney-General for the year 
 
 ernor. This nomination was his pre- 1724, when this court was held, and was 
 
 rogative. But in this inftance it had therefore quite at liberty to act as coun- 
 
 been omitted, probably becaufe the elec- fel for Mr. Checkley in this cafe. Vide 
 
 tion had taken place without waiting for the interefting and valuable communi- 
 
 this formality. The Lieutenant-Gover- cation of Mr. A. C. Goodell, Jr., on 
 
 nor could not have affented to fuch an this fubjeft, in the Proceedings of the 
 
 election without ferious prejudice to his Maffachufetts Hiflorical Society, Vol. X. 
 
 prerogative. This he appears to have 2d Series, p. 287.
 
 John Checkley. 71 
 
 touching the fympathies either of the jury or the court, but 
 evidently defires to ftand or fall by what feems to him 
 unchanging and irrefutable truth. Rich in all neceffary 
 learning, clear and logical in ftatement, dignified in method 
 and ftyle, he deals fimply with principles and facls. It 
 would be interefting to know how the oppofmg counfel could 
 either difcard his principles, or deny his facls. 
 
 The trial was conducted with dignity and propriety, 
 and in thefe refpecls was fatisfactory to Mr. Checkley. 
 He concluded his argument in the following courteous 
 peroration : 
 
 " May it p leaf e your Honours : 
 
 I mall now conclude, only beg leave to render Thanks for the 
 liberty granted to me, (which was deny'd me at the SeJJions) of mak- 
 ing fo particular a Defence ; and if in the Profecution of it, I have 
 faid any Thing ungrateful to your Honours, I am fure you will for- 
 give me, when you confider, that the nature of the Charge againft 
 me obliged me to fuch a manner of Defence. 
 
 Wherefore without any farther Apology, I fhall fubmit it to 
 your Honours, and to you Gentlemen of the Jury, with all that 
 Humility that becomes a Chriftian. Hoping, nay, being well 
 affured, that you will not find me guilty, nor this Book a Libel." 
 
 It is obvious that the argument of Mr. Checkley and that 
 of his counfel made a profound impreffion on the minds of 
 the jury. Their difcuffions muft have been interefting. 
 They plainly were not convinced that the book was a libel. 
 Confequently they were not prepared to fay under oath that 
 Mr. Checkley was guilty. In this ftate of mind they natu- 
 rally defired to efcape that refponfibility. This they could 
 do by returning a fpecial verdict. By this courfe they would 
 
 likewife
 
 72 Memoir of 
 
 likewife efcape the inevitable denunciations and reproaches 
 of the Puritan minifters and their friends and neighbors. 
 It was not unnatural, under the circumflances, that the jury 
 fhould be glad to caft the burden from their own fhoulders, 
 and place it upon the fhoulders of the judges. 
 
 They accordingly returned the following fpecial verdict : 
 
 John Checkley 
 
 adfea' 
 Dora. Reg. 
 
 " The Jury find fpecially ; viz. If the Book entituled, A Short and 
 Eafy Method with the DEISTS, containing in it a Difcourfe concerning 
 Epifcopacy, {publijhed and many of tlum fold by the faid Checkley) 
 be a falfe and fcandalous Libel ; Then we find the faid Checkley 
 guilty of all and every Part of the Indiflment (excepting that fup- 
 pofed to traduce and draw into difpute the undoubted Right and Title 
 of our Sovereign Lord King George, to the Kingdoms of Great- 
 Britain and Ireland, and the Territories thereunto belonging} ; But 
 if tlie faid Book, containing a Difcourfe concerning Epifcopacy as 
 aforcfaid, be not a falfe and fcandalous Libel; Then we find him 
 not guilty. 
 
 Att. SAMUEL TYLEY, Clerc." 
 
 It will be obferved that the verdicl divides itfelf into two 
 diftindl parts. 
 
 Firft. It entirely acquits Mr. Checkley of the charge con- 
 tained in the prefentment of traducing and drawing into 
 difpute the undoubted right and title of King George to the 
 Kingdoms of Great Britain and Ireland, and the territories 
 thereunto belonging. 
 
 Second. It finds him guilty only on condition that the 
 book containing a difcourfe concerning Epifcopacy be a falfe 
 and fcandalous libel. 
 
 A
 
 John Checkley. 73 
 
 A plea for arreft of judgment was immediately entered 
 by his counfel, Mr. John Read, and able arguments were fub- 
 fequently made by Mr. Read and by Mr. Checkley himfelf, 
 both of which will be found in another part of this work. 
 
 Chief Juftice Sewall, as a member of the Council, had 
 been one of the complainants againft Mr. Checkley, and 
 now he was fitting in judgment on his cafe. Moreover 
 only two years before this, in a letter to Governor Gurdon 
 Saltonftall of Connedicut, the Chief- Juftice faid : 
 
 " I am fully of Mr. Cotton's mind, that Epifcopacy is that upon 
 which the Fifth Vial is poured out ; and he will have hard work 
 that mail endeavour to controll that Angel." 
 
 This refers to the vifion of Saint John in the Apocalypfe, 
 when he faw feven angels who had received feven golden 
 vials full of the wrath of God, which they poured out for the 
 punifhment of men on the earth. " The fifth angel," fays the 
 facred text, " poured out his vial upon the feat of the beaft? 
 and his kingdom was full of darknefs, and they blafphemed 
 God on account of their fufferings, but they did not repent. 
 
 Epifcopacy therefore, according to Judge Sewall, was that 
 terrible " beaft," about which theologians have faid fo much, 
 and about which they know fo little. Tolerance of fuch a 
 vile thing, the embodiment of unmitigated wickednefs, or of 
 its difciple and defender, could not be a virtue in the efti- 
 mation of the Chief- Juftice, and doubtlefs this was the fenti- 
 ment of the other members of the court, who had been 
 educated in the fchool of the fame enlightened prophets. 
 
 With this knowledge we can eftimate, in fome degree, the 
 
 difficulties that furrounded the court in " maturely " confid- 
 
 VOL. i. 10 ering
 
 74 Memoir of 
 
 ering the cafe before them. With this infpired definition 
 of Epifcopacy could there be any doubt as to the character 
 of the verdict about to be rendered ? Whatever explanations 
 might be made, and whatever arguments might be offered, 
 the iffue could not be doubtful. The refult might be faid 
 to be morally " foreordained." 
 
 On the 27th day of November, 1724, the Court pro- 
 nounced the following fentence : 
 
 " The Court, having maturely advifed on this fpecial Verdict, are 
 of Opinion that the faid John Checkley is guilty of publifhing and 
 felling of a falfe and fcandalous Libel. It is therefore confidered 
 by the Court, that the faid John Checkley fhall pay a Fine of Fifty 
 Pounds to the King, and enter into Recognizance in the Sum of 
 One Hundred Pounds, with two Sureties in the Sum of Fifty 
 Pounds each, for his good Behaviour for fix Months, and alfo pay 
 Cofts of Profecution, {landing Committed until this Sentence be 
 performed. ATT'. SAMUEL TYLEY, Clerc." 
 
 Mr. Checkley entered into the bonds required, and, as 
 fureties, Gillam Phillips, Efq., and George Buckeridge, of 
 Bofton, gave bonds in fifty pounds each. The fine was 
 promptly paid. There was indeed, we confefs, a grim far- 
 cafm in paying a fine of " fifty pounds to the king," as a 
 penalty for defending the church of which the King himfelf 
 was the national head, while in reality the fine went into 
 the public treafury, and was made practically to lower the 
 taxes of the judges who impofed it. The irony of facts and 
 the logic of events need no comment ! ! 
 
 Thus ended this judicial drama. To the outfide obferver 
 it might be regarded as a melodramatic farce. But to the 
 victim himfelf, to the members of the Church of England, 
 
 to
 
 John Checkley. 75 
 
 to the Puritans of Maffachufetts Bay, it had the obvious 
 tinge of tragedy. It kindled afrefli the fire it was intended 
 to extinguim. It intenfified the hoflility of both parties, 
 and infpired hatred, where love and kindnefs and tolerance 
 ought to have prevailed. 
 
 There was a period in human hiftory when freedom in the 
 expreffion of religious doctrines and beliefs could be fmoth- 
 ered in its birth, and even its memory lingered but a fhort 
 time in the minds of men. But that period had now paffed 
 forever. 
 
 In this inveftigation we have endeavored to exhibit the 
 animus that governed Mr. Checkley as derived exclufively 
 from original documents. Whether he was right in his 
 theological and ecclefiaftical conclufions we have not under- 
 taken to determine. We do not hefitate to fay, that as we 
 have thus far followed him through the different ftages of 
 his career, we have been profoundly imprefled with his 
 fimple honefty and guilelefs fincerity. Our chief aim has 
 been to fet forth as clearly as poffible the degree of religious 
 toleration which was entertained and praclifed at the period 
 of our narrative. The intolerance which had prevailed in 
 the early years of the colony had become greatly mitigated 
 and foftened. Banifhment, mutilation, and death were no 
 longer regarded as remedies for difcordant beliefs. The 
 law and the civil courts had been invoked without fuccefs. 
 The wifer Puritans appear to have feen this, and henceforth 
 legal reftriclions and fines were laid afide, and the truth of 
 both theory and practice in ecclefiaftical matters, however 
 damaging it might be to the claims of an opponent, was 
 tefled in the open forum of argument and reafon. This trial 
 
 of
 
 76 Memoir of 
 
 of Mr. Checkley was the laft attempt, fo far as we know, to 
 prevent the publication of theological and ecclefiaftical 
 views, with all their confequences, by legal proceffes, fines, 
 and the ftigmas that naturally followed. But the publica- 
 tions of Mr. Checkley, for which he fuffered fo much, and 
 which he bore with a commendable dignity and equanimity, 
 made him neverthelefs the protagonift of a great controverfy, 
 which continued through all the years down to the Ameri- 
 can Revolution, and called forth the beft talent and the pro- 
 founded learning of the clergy of the Church of England, 
 and of the Puritan minifters. But to this controverfy we 
 fhall have occafion to refer in the fequel. 
 
 While Mr. Checkley was pafling through thefe fevere 
 trials, he was devoting his leifure moments to the organiza- 
 tion of two important inftitutions, the Bofton Epifcopal 
 Charitable Society and a Public Library. The former of 
 thefe was eftabliflied on Eafter Monday, the 6th of April, 
 1724, and in the record of members Mr. Checkley 's name is 
 among the Founders. Its charities are difpenfed to perfons 
 who have been reduced from eafy or affluent to very narrow 
 circumftances, and during all thefe one hundred and feventy- 
 one years, it has removed depreflion and anxiety from hun- 
 dreds of burdened hearts, and given relief to thofe who were 
 too diffident to afk a charity, but were neverthelefs in fore 
 need of it. Its motto is : Dare quam accipere. 
 
 At the prefent time the Society has a fund, which has 
 been gradually accumulating, amounting to $94,000; and, 
 during the laft year, its income of $4,200 has been difperfed 
 among forty-five beneficiaries. 
 
 To
 
 John Ckeckley. 77 
 
 To have been an aclive founder of fuch an inftitution is 
 highly creditable to Mr. Checkley's memory. 
 
 Of the public library little is known. There was fuch a 
 library in the firfl town-houfe, a wooden ftruclure, which 
 was burned in 1711. The library fubfequently organized, 
 was, doubtlefs, in the prefent Old State Houfe, when its in- 
 terior was confumed by fire on December 9, 1747. It is re- 
 corded that " books, papers, and records " were deftroyed, and 
 the books may have been, and doubtlefs were, thofe of the 
 public library. The only allufion which I find to the exift- 
 ence of a public library in Bofton between 1711 and 1747, is 
 in a private letter of Mr. Checkley to the Rev. Dr. Thomas 
 Bennet, dated June 15, 1725, in which he fays: 
 
 " In a fhort Time I propofe to fend you an account of the charit- 
 able Society of the Church of England, and of the public Library 
 creeled here : the laying the Foundation of both which, I have been 
 (thanks to my good God) the happy tho' unworthy Inftrument." 
 
 The publication of the condemned book on Epifcopacy 
 and the profecution and trial for the fame caufed a lively ftir 
 among the clergy of the Church of England, as well as 
 among the Puritan minifters, and gave to Dr. Gibfon, the 
 Bifhop of London, much trouble and anxiety. 
 
 The procedure of Mr. Checkley had the approbation and 
 fympathy of the Rectors of the two large and important 
 churches of Bofton, the Rev. Samuel Myles, of King's 
 Chapel, 61 the Rev. Timothy Cutler, D.D., of Chrift's 
 
 Church, 
 
 61 The Rev. Samuel Myles graduated the honorary degree of Matter of Arts 
 at Harvard College in 1684, received from the Univerfity of Oxford in 1693. 
 
 He
 
 Memoir of 
 
 Church, 62 and alfo of the Rev. Matthias Plant, of St. Paul's 
 Church, Newburyport; 63 and in other parts of New Eng- 
 land, of the Rev. James McSparran, D.D., of St. Paul's 
 Church, Narraganfet, 64 the Rev. James Honyman Re6tor of 
 Trinity Church, Newport; 66 the Rev. Samuel Johnfon, 
 
 D.D., 
 
 He was Rector of King's Chapel from 
 June 29, 1689, to his death, March i, 
 1727-8, a period of nearly forty years. 
 For a full account of his ufeful career 
 vide Hijlory of King's Chapel, by the 
 Rev. Dr. F. W. P. Greenwood, 1833: 
 alfo Ihe Annals of Kings Chapel, by 
 the Rev. Henry W. Foote, 1882. 
 
 62 The Rev. Dr. Timothy Cutler was 
 born in Charleftown, Maffachufetts, 
 about 1683, and died in Bofton, 1765; 
 graduated at Harvard College in 1701 ; 
 he was a Congregational minifter in 
 Stratford, Connecticut, ten years from 
 1709; he became Prefident of Yale 
 College in 1719; in 1723 he conformed 
 to the Church of England, and repaired 
 to London for orders ; he returned to 
 Bofton in September, 1723, and became 
 the firft Rector of Chrift Church, where 
 he remained till his death, a period of 
 forty-two years. He received the de- 
 gree of Doctor of Divinity both from 
 the Univerfity of Oxford and from Can- 
 terbury, England. He was an accom- 
 plifhea and eloquent preacher, and 
 diflinguifhed for his learning, efpecially 
 in Oriental languages, in which he had 
 no peer in this country. He fpoke Latin 
 with fluency, and was thoroughly 
 equipped in the humanities. 
 
 In a letter to Dr. Zachary Grey, the 
 diftinguifhed annotator of Hudibras, 
 referring to Mr. Checkley's trial, he 
 fays : " Some good friends in town have 
 made his fines eafy to him, and, what- 
 ever his fufferings have been, we reap 
 this advantage by it, that we have an 
 inftance of a bare-faced perfecution, 
 for, by the verdict of the Jury, he is 
 
 acquitted from any thing feditious re- 
 lating to the Civil Government, and is 
 only punifhed for detecting their fchifm, 
 when the blackeft and moft hellifh things 
 are here vented againft the Church 
 with commendation." This is ftrong 
 language. Perhaps he had in view 
 Judge Sewall's definition of Epifcopacy, 
 as given on page 73, the "beaft," the 
 object of Divine wrath ! ! Vide Hiftor- 
 ical Collections of the American Colo- 
 nial Church in Majfachufetts, edited 
 by Bifhop W. S. Perry, p. 663. 
 
 88 A miffionary of the Society for the 
 Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign 
 Parts from 1721 to 1753. Vide Digeft 
 of the Society's Records, p. 853. 
 
 64 Dr. McSparran was born in the 
 North of Ireland, but of Scotch defcent ; 
 he was ordained Auguft 21, 1720, in the 
 Chapel in the Palace of Fulham, by the 
 Rt. Rev. John Robinfon, D.D., Bifhop 
 of London. He was Rector of St. Paul's 
 Church in North Kingftown, Rhode 
 Ifland, then known as Narraganfett, 
 from April, 1721, till his death on De- 
 cember i, 1757. He publifhed a fermon 
 on the Chriflian Priefthood, and aferies 
 of Letters of an hiftorical character 
 entitled " America Diflected." He was 
 an able preacher and a learned divine. 
 He received the honorary degree of 
 M after of Arts in 1709 from the Uni- 
 verfity of Glafgow, and in 1731 that of 
 Doctor of Divinity from the Univerfity 
 of Oxford. 
 
 65 The Rev. Mr. Honyman, a Scotch- 
 man by birth, was the firft Rector of 
 Trinity Church, Newport, having been 
 appointed by the Society for the Prop- 
 agation
 
 Checkley. 
 
 79 
 
 D.D., Redor of Chrift Church, Stratford, 66 and the Rev. 
 George Pigot of Providence. 67 But there were two clergy, 
 men of the Church of England who did not approve of Mr. 
 Checkley 's proceedings ; viz. the affiftant minifler of King's 
 Chapel, the Rev. Henry Harris, 68 and the Rev. David Mof- 
 fom, Redor of St. Michael's Church, Marblehead. 69 
 
 Numerous 
 
 agation of the Gofpel in 1704. He is 
 denominated an "excellent fcholar, a 
 found divine and accomplifhed gentle- 
 man." He died on July 2, 1750, after 
 a long and eminently ufeful miniftry. 
 
 66 The Rev. Dr. Johnfon was born 
 in Guilford, Connecticut, Oct. 14, 1696; 
 graduated at Yale College in 1714; 
 received the honorary degree of Matter 
 of Arts in 1723, and that of Doctor of 
 Divinity from the Univerfity of Oxford 
 in 1743. For many years he was Rector 
 of Chrift Church, Stratford. He was 
 the firft Prefidentof King's, now Colum- 
 bia, College, New York. He was a man 
 of profound learning and great ability. 
 He was the author of numerous publi- 
 cations ; an Englifh Grammar, an He- 
 brew Grammar, a work on logic, and 
 feveral controverfial publications, the 
 titles of which will be found in the 
 Bibliography contained in another part 
 of this work. 
 
 67 The Rev. George Pigot was a mif- 
 fionary of the Venerable Society at 
 Stratford, Connecticut, in 1722; at 
 King's, now St. John's, Church, Provi- 
 dence, 1723 to 1726; and Rector of St. 
 Michael's Church, Marblehead, 1727 
 to 1838, when he refigned, and probably 
 returned to England. Vide Digeft of 
 Records of the Society for the Propaga- 
 tion of the Gofpel, p. 853. Mr. Pigot 
 published a fermon on the obfervance of 
 Chriftmas, in reply to the Rev. John 
 Barnard, of Marblehead. Vide Bibliog- 
 raphy, poftea. 
 
 68 The Rev. Henry Harris became 
 
 affiftant minifter of King's Chapel in 
 1709. An anonymous publication, with- 
 out date, was iflued in 1689, about the 
 time of the erection of King's Chapel in 
 Bofton, written by the Rev. Dr. Increafe 
 Mather, entitled " A Brief Difcourfe 
 Concerning the unlawfulnefs of the 
 Common Prayer Worfhip," etc., which 
 was intended to reprefs the intereft 
 lately awakened in favor of the Church 
 of England in Bofton. As early as 1704, 
 the Rt. Rev. William King, then Biftiop 
 of Derry, publifhed a treatife entitled, 
 " A Difcourfe concerning the Inven- 
 tions of Men in the Worfhip of God." 
 The Rev. Mr. Harris publifhed a re- 
 print of this work, to which he added 
 an elaborate Preface, over his own 
 name, dated, Bofton, November 7,1712. 
 
 For much relating to the Rev. Mr. 
 Harris, vide Annals of King's Chapel, 
 by the Rev. H. W. Foote. 
 
 ' Harris is under fome Attrition for 
 his unhappincfs (that is the word) in 
 writing his Preface, which was indeed 
 almoft univerfally decried." Cotton 
 Mather. Vide Afajfachufetts Hijlorical 
 Collections, XLVIII. p. 414. 
 
 69 The Rev. David Moflbmwas Rector 
 of St. Michael's Church at Marble- 
 head, from 1718 to 1726, when he re- 
 moved to Virginia, and became the 
 Rector of St. Peter's Church in New 
 Kent County, where he remained forty 
 years, till his death in 1767. While in 
 Marblehead by his ftrenuous efforts and 
 that of the Wardens and Veftry, he ob- 
 tained an order from Governor Shute 
 
 which
 
 8o Memoir of 
 
 Numerous letters, both by Churchmen and by diffenters, 
 not excepting the Lieutenant-Governor, William Dummer, 
 were addreffed to Dr. Gibfon, the Bifhop of London, on 
 queftions growing out of this contention, containing ftate- 
 ments differing at fo many points that his Lordfhip wrote 
 an excellent letter to one of the clergy, evidently intending 
 it for all, counfelling conciliation and peace, in which occurs 
 the following fenfible advice : 
 
 " The reprefentations, which come over hither concerning the true 
 ground and foundation of thefe unhappy differences, are fo various 
 that I am not able as yet to form any certain judgment about it, nor 
 to fee who is moft in the blame. But as in cafes of this nature there 
 is ufually more or lefs blame refting on both fides, while paffion pre- 
 vails againft reafon, fo I earneftly entreat and require both fides to 
 lay afide paffion & to think ferioufly of peace." 70 
 
 If the Bifhop of London with all the information which 
 came to him from the fcene of thefe heated debates, could 
 
 form 
 
 which relieved the parifhioners of St. the conclufion of the fermon, read the 
 
 Michael's from paying taxes for the following: 
 fupport of diflenting minifters. He ad- 
 
 dreffed a letter, Dec. 17, 1724. to the With reftlefs and ungovern d rage, 
 
 Secretary of the Venerable Society, * t^^l^Ts engage 
 
 written in great warmth of paffion, in As they can ne'er perform ? 
 which there are numerous errors of 
 
 faft relating to Mr. Checkley. Vide Mr. Moflbm's miniftrv was not unfuc- 
 Hijlorical Colletlions of the American cefsful. He performed the memorable 
 Colonial Church in Majfachujetts, fervice at New Kent, of joining in mar- 
 edited by Bifhop W. S. Perry, pp. riage George Wafhington and Mrs. 
 168-70. ' Martha Curtis, the widow of John Park 
 While at St Peter's Church, New Curtis. Vide Old Churches, Miniflers, 
 Kent, according to Bifhop Meade, he and Families of Virginia. Bv Bifhop 
 had a contention with the clerk of the William Meade. Vol. I. p. 386. 
 parifh, and unwifely took occafion to 70 Vide Hijlorical Colleftions of the 
 affail him in a fermon from the pulpit. American Colonial Church in Majfa- 
 It was the clerk's duty to give out the chufetts, edited by Bifhop W.S. Perry, 
 Pfalm for the choir, who immediately on pp. 166-7.
 
 Checkley. 81 
 
 form no "certain judgment," much lefs can we after the lapfe 
 of a hundred and feventy years. I (hall not therefore enter 
 into any difcuffion of the fubjecl, but (imply ftate that the 
 contention grew out of a criticifm of Mr. Checkley's book 
 by the Rev. Henry Harris in a public difcourfe delivered in 
 King's Chapel. Some of the friends of Mr. Checkley con- 
 ceived that in the fermon Mr. Harris had infmuated that 
 they were difloyal to the government, and requefled an 
 interview with him, which he however declined, but re- 
 quefted the Lieutenant-Governor, Mr. Dummer, who was 
 a diftinguifhed diflenter, to call both parties before him and 
 his Council, compofed alfo of diffenters, which he did, and 
 after a full hearing, Mr. Harris was acquitted of any fault, 
 and a commendatory letter was written in his behalf by 
 Lieutenant-Governor Dummer, both to the Bifhop of Lon- 
 don and to the Secretary of the Society for the Propagation 
 of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts. 
 
 In this letter, for both letters were in the fame words, Mr. 
 Checkley is charged with " difaffeclion to his Majefty ; " and 
 it is alfo ftated that in his book " an indefeazible hereditary 
 right to the Crown was therein advanced, and a parliamen- 
 tary right oppugned & denied." It is obvious that the 
 Lieutenant-Governor had been reading Mr. Checkley's book, 
 if he had read it at all, through " green fpeclacles," or fome 
 other irritating or diftorting medium, as on the trial which 
 occurred a few months later, a jury of twelve men under oath 
 found this charge wholly without foundation. There is no 
 reference whatever in the book to loyalty or difloyalty to 
 his " Majefty," nor any allufion made however remotely to 
 VOL. i. 1 1 " hereditary "
 
 82 Memoir of 
 
 " hereditary " or " parliamentary " right to the Crown. 
 How an honeft fair-minded Chriflian man, as he profeffed 
 to be, could make fuch a flatement, fo definite and unquali- 
 fied, and at the fame time fo deftitute of truth, is difficult to 
 conceive. 
 
 This efcapade in King's Chapel, the arraignment of cer- 
 tain members of the parifh, in a public difcourfe, was a bold, 
 as well as unfortunate ftep for the Rev. Mr. Harris. He 
 had been anxious to be advanced to the Reclorfhip of King's 
 Chapel, but his proceedings in this contention were fo vio- 
 lent, perfonal, and unreafonable, that he loft the confidence 
 of his parifhioners which was never afterwards regained. We 
 mall refer to this fubjecl more at length in the fequel. 
 
 During the year of Mr. Checkley's trial his affailants were 
 not afleep. They had invoked the authority of the law, but 
 its potency had apparently been lefs decifive than they had 
 anticipated. It had given currency to the arguments for 
 Epifcopacy, which they had defired to fupprefs. The queftion 
 could now only be met, argument for argument, in an open 
 field. Both parties were ready for the fcrimmage. Eight 
 pamphlets at leaft, attacking Mr. Checkley's publications, 
 were iffued from the prefs, bearing the date of 1724, the year 
 of his trial. But it muft be borne in mind that 1724 Old 
 Style did not end till the 25th of March, 1725, and confe- 
 quently there were nearly four months from the completion 
 of the trial to the end of the year. Any publication iffued 
 after the firft of January and before the 25th of March, 1725, 
 would bear the date of 1 724. Befides the pamphlets by Pro- 
 feffor Wigglefworth, and Dr. Dickinfon, already referred to 
 
 on
 
 John Check ley. 83 
 
 on a previous page, another attack upon Mr. Checkley was 
 ifiued by the Rev. Thomas Foxcroft, 71 the accomplifhed min- 
 ifter of the Firfl Church of Bofton, entitled the " Ruling and 
 Ordaining Power of Congregational Bifhops or Prefbyters 
 Defended." The Rev. Thomas Walter, 72 the intimate friend 
 of Mr. Checkley already referred to, published a fmall volume 
 entitled, "An Effay upon that Paradox, Infallibility may fome- 
 times Miftake, or a Reply to a Difcourfe concerning Epif- 
 copacy. Prefixed fome Remarks upon a Difcourfe mowing 
 who is a true Paftor of the Church of Chrifl. By Martin 
 Marprelate." 
 
 Mr. Checkley firft replied to Profeffor Wigglefworth's 78 
 book, entitled " Sober Remarks," in a pamphlet of 73 pages. 
 In the colophon at page 52, is the date May 20, 1724, which 
 indicates that it was ready for the prefs before the final fteps 
 were taken in his trial. It may not have been iffued till 
 fome months later. Before the end of the year however, 
 Mr. Checkley reiffued this fame pamphlet with important 
 additions, containing ftrictures upon Mr. Dickinfon's 74 " De- 
 fence of Prefbyterian Ordination," on Mr. Walter's " Effay 
 on the Paradox," and on Mr. Foxcroft's " Ordaining Power 
 of Congregational Bifhops." This was a pamphlet of 87 
 pages. Thefe publications of Mr. Checkley are all reprinted 
 in another part of this work. 
 
 Mr. Dickinfon publifhed a rejoinder, entitled, " Remarks 
 upon the Poftfcript of the Defence of the Modeft Proof." 
 
 Mr. 
 
 71 The Rev. Thomas Foxcroft was Bofton in 1717. He publifhed many 
 born in 1697, and died in 1769; grad- difcourfes. 
 uated at Harvard College in 1714, and 72 Vide antea, note 4, p. 3. 
 became a minifter of the Firft Church in 7S Vide antea, note 41, p. 51. 
 
 74 Vide antea, note 42, p. 51.
 
 84 Memoir of 
 
 Mr. Nathan Prince, 75 a brother of Dr. Thomas Prince, for 
 many years an inftruclor in Harvard College, publiflied, "An 
 Anfvver to Lefley and his late Interpolator's Difcourfe con- 
 cerning Epifcopacy." An unknown writer iffued a " Caveat 
 againft the new feet of Annabaptifls that are great zealots 
 for Diocefe Bifhops, yet no Great Friends to the Eftablifhed 
 Church of England." Another tract was publifhed, entitled, 
 " The Madnefs of the Jacobite Party in attempting to fet a 
 Popifh Pretender on the Britifh Throne, Demonflrated." 
 
 All thefe publications were iffued in 1724. The laft 
 three were not thought of fufficient importance to merit a 
 reply. 
 
 The next year, 1725, the Rev. Mr. Foxcroft rejoined in a 
 fomewhat extended effay entitled, " A vindication of the ap- 
 pendix to the Sober Remarks, being a reply to the Defence 
 of the Modeft Proof," etc. The fame year Mr. Checkley 
 ended his part of the Controverfy by a pamphlet, entitled 
 " A Letter to Jonathan Dickinfon." 
 
 All had been faid that was demanded by the gravity of the 
 queftion in debate. Indeed more or lefs had been uttered, 
 as is ufual in moft controverfies, that might well have been 
 omitted. In perfonalities neither party often indulged. Severe 
 
 epithets 
 
 Tt Nathan Prince was born in Sand- duras, in the Caribbean Sea, where he 
 
 wich, Maflachufetts, Nov. 30, 1698, and died. Dr. William Allen fays in his 
 
 died, July 25, 1748. He was a tutor dictionary that he was a "greater 
 
 and fellow of Harvard College where mathematician and philofopher, and a 
 
 he had graduated in 1718. He wrote much better claffical fcholar and logi- 
 
 and publiflied an account of the confti- cian than his brother," the Rev. Dr. 
 
 tution and government of the college Thomas Prince, the antiquary. He was 
 
 from its foundation to the year 1742. removed from his fellowfhip in 1742, 
 
 He fubfequently took orders in the out of which grew his criticifms on the 
 
 Church of England, and was fettled on management of the college ; fome of 
 
 the ifland of Ruatan, in the Bay of Hon- his fuggeftions have been adopted.
 
 Checkley. 85 
 
 epithets and envenomed words from both fides were fre- 
 quently poured out in ample abundance upon the adver- 
 fary's fentiments and conclufions. There was fome boaft- 
 ing, fome threatening difplay, and confiderable unwarranted 
 aflumption. But this was apparently intended for the 
 unlettered and uninftructed, and not for the erudite and 
 learned. The difputants themfelves knew full well the 
 weight of each other's armor. They were not fo blinded 
 by the fog of hoftile feeling as not to fee clearly the force 
 of an adverfe logic. But it is no part of our prefent purpofe 
 to analyze this debate. The whole is on record, and the 
 ftudent of this hiflory can drink at the fountain, if he will, 
 either for his entertainment or inftruction. 
 
 The elaborate arguments at the trial of Mr. Checkley, and 
 the lively controverfy that followed left apparently fome un- 
 eafmefs, fome felf-diffatisf action in the minds of the miniflers 
 of the Handing order. As clergymen their ordinations had 
 been invalidated and difcredited, and they had been emphati- 
 cally told that theirs was not the Eftablifhed Church of Maffa- 
 chufetts Bay. This laft unwelcome truth had never before 
 been proclaimed in their prefence, or at leaft no argument 
 had been publicly adduced to prove it. It was doubtlefs a 
 new revelation. It came unexpectedly and under circum- 
 ftances which gave it great weight. By the trial the rare op- 
 portunity had been offered for Mr. Checkley to flate fully and 
 publicly not only the argument for Epifcopacy, but likewife 
 what he regarded as the untenable character of their claim 
 to be the Eftablifhed Church of Maffachufetts Bay. They 
 did not admit that thefe allegations were true, but never- 
 thelefs they pondered them deeply and ferioufly. Dr. Cotton 
 
 Mather,
 
 86 Memoir of 
 
 Mather, the leading fpirit among the minifters, pondered 
 them moodily in his brown old ftudy. He clearly faw an im- 
 pending danger ahead, and was fure that fomething mud be 
 done to avert the threatening evil. This learned divine 
 never brooded over any great fubjecl without bringing forth 
 fomething of which he deemed himfelf juftly proud. The 
 outcome of his folemn brooding after this trial, was a Synod, 
 a veritable legalized Synod, the like of which had not been 
 held in Maffachufetts Bay fince the advent of the new 
 Charter. 
 
 In a convention of minifters the fubjecl was fully difciuTed, 
 and Dr. Cotton Mather was deputed to draw up and prefent 
 to the General Court a petition in their behalf, afking its 
 authority and approbation, which he did in the following 
 words : 
 
 " To the very Hon blc W Dummer Efq r , Lieut Gov r and Com r in 
 Chief, &f to the Honerable the Councillors, to the Honoured the Rep- 
 refentatives in the Great and General Court of his Magefty's Province 
 of the Maffachufetts Bay aflembled and now fitting A Memorial 
 and addrefs humbly prefented. 
 
 At a general Convention of Minifters from feveral parts of the 
 province at Bofton, 2/th May 1725, 
 
 Confidering the great and vifible decay of piety in the Country, and 
 the Growth of many mifcarriages, which we may fear have provoked 
 the Glorious Lord, in a law, in a feries of various Judgments wonder- 
 fully to diftrefs us ; Confidering alfo the laudable example of our pre- 
 deceffors to recover and eftablifh the faith and order of the Gofpel 
 in the Churches and provide againft what immoralitys might threaten 
 to impair them in the way of general Synods convened for that pur- 
 pofe, and Confidering that about Forty Five years have now rolled 
 away fince thefe Churches have now feen any fuch conventions, it is 
 
 humbly
 
 John Check ley. 87 
 
 humbly defired, that the Honored General Court, would exprefs their 
 concern for the great interefts of Religion, in the Country, by calling 
 the feveral churches in the province to meet, by their Paftors, and 
 Meffengers, in a Synod, and from thence offer their advice upon 
 that weighty cafe which the circumftances of the day do loudly call 
 to be confidered : What are the Mifcarriages whereof we have reafon 
 to think the Judgment of Heaven upon us, call us to be more gen- 
 erally fenfible, and what may be the moft evangelical and effectual 
 expedients to put a flop to thofe or the like mifcarriages. This pro- 
 pofal we humbly make in hopes that if it be profecuted it may be 
 followed with many defirable confequences worthy the fbudy of thofe 
 whom God has made, and we are fo happy to enjoy, as the nurfmg 
 Fathers of our Churches. COTTON MATHER 
 
 In the name of the minifters affembled in their General Convention." 
 
 A Synod at that time, called together and authorized by 
 the General Court, was neceffarily a body poffeffmg great 
 power and authority. It was fomething more than a mere 
 conference. It was the creature of the General Court. 
 The fcope of the one here propofed, as the reader has feen, 
 was indefinite, of almost unlimited comprehenfion, and its 
 defign purpofely fhrouded in uncertain generalities. It 
 might deal with principles of faith, modes of life and con- 
 duct, and with church government and orders. If the pro- 
 ceedings of the propofed Synod mould be ratified by the 
 government, as they were moft fure to be, it might abridge 
 and limit the liberty of all Chriftian bodies except that of 
 the congregational order; in fact, it might, and doubtlefs 
 would, have conftituted that body the eftablifhed church of 
 the Province of Maffachufetts Bay. 
 
 The dangerous nature of fuch a Synod, held under the 
 aufpices of the General Court, was keenly felt by the clergy 
 
 of
 
 88 Memoir of 
 
 of the Church of England in Boflon. The Rev. Samuel 
 Myles, of King's Chapel, and the Rev. Dr. Timothy Cutler, 
 of Chrifl Church, immediately fent in their objections to the 
 movement. The Memorial itfelf will beft give their views 
 on the fubjecl : 
 
 THE MEMORIAL of Timothy Cutler, Samuel Myles, Minijlers of 
 tJte EJlabliJhed Church of England in Bojlon humbly prefented to 
 tfie Hon bu W m Dummer, Efq. Lieut Gov r of His Majejly's Prov- 
 ince of Majfachufetts Bay ; The Hon bu his Majefty's Council & 
 reprejentati'ves of the faid Province in Gen 1 Court ajjembled this 
 \Qth day of June 1725. 
 
 WHEREAS we are informed that a Memorial has been prefented to 
 this honorable Court & that the prayer of it hath been already 
 granted by the honorable his Majefty's Council & is now depend- 
 ing in the honorable the houfe of reprefentatives : 
 
 Therefore we humbly beg leave to offer the following reafons 
 againft the s d memorial. 
 
 I st . The matter of the petition being general refpecting ye mif- 
 cariages of the whole body of the people in this land it is prefumed 
 to comprehend the Churches of England, wherein the petitioners 
 have no right to intermeddle. 
 
 2 nd . Whereas, by the tenour of the Petition which is to revive the 
 decaying Piety, in Conformity with the Faith & order of the Gofpel, 
 In explication of which general terms the Petitioners refer this 
 Hon? le Court to a time (45 years ago) when there was no Church of 
 England in New England ; We therefore apprehend that the Synod 
 petitioned for is defigned to prejudice the people of the Land againft 
 the s d Church, & we have little reafon to expect that in fuch a 
 Synod (he will be treated with that Tendernefs and refpect which is 
 due to an eftablifhed Church. 
 
 3 rd . As the Epifcopal Minifters in this Province are equally con- 
 cerned with the Petitioners, for the Purity of Faith and manner in 
 
 this
 
 John Check ley. 89 
 
 this Land it is difrefpectful to them not to be confulted in this 
 important affair. 
 
 4 th . Whereas it is defired that the feveral churches in the Prov- 
 ince do meet, &?, it is either an hard reflection upon the epifcopal 
 churches as none in not including them ; & if they are included 
 we think it very improper it being without the knowledge of their 
 Right Rev. Diocefan the Lord Bifhop of London. 
 
 5 th . Whereas by Royal Authority the Colonies in America are 
 annexed to the Diocefe of London, & inafmuch as nothing can be 
 tranfadted in ecclefeaftical matters without the Cognizance of the 
 Bifhop, We are humbly of opinion that it will neither be dutiful to his 
 moft facred Majefty King George nor confident with the rights of 
 our Right Rev. Diocefan to encourage or call the faid Synod until 
 the pleafure of His Majefty fhall be known therein. We hum- 
 bly pray this Hon We Court to take the premifes into their ferious 
 confideration. 
 
 TIMOTHY CUTLER 
 SAM L MYLES. 
 
 In the Council this Memorial was curtly difmiffed, with 
 this brief record of their proceedings : 
 
 " Whereas this memorial contains an indecent reflection on the 
 proceedings of this Board, with feveral Groundlefs Infinuations 
 Voted that it may be difmiffed. J. WILLARD, Secretary." 
 
 The lower Houfe concurred. 
 
 But the Memorial, notwithftanding this haughty and 
 fupercilious treatment, neverthelefs had its effect. It had 
 been carefully drawn in confultation with Mr. Checkley, 
 and the 5th feclion, which he had propofed and ftrenuoufly 
 urged, contained legal poffibilities that gave the Houfe fome 
 uneafmefs about the propriety of holding the propofed 
 Synod. After this important feclion had been read over in 
 VOL. i. 12 the
 
 go Memoir of 
 
 the Houfe feveral times, and fully debated, it was finally 
 unanimoufly decided that the fubjecl of a Synod be deferred 
 until the autumnal feffion. Thus the offspring of Dr. Cotton 
 Mather's fertile brain had already fickened, and was likely 
 to die in the hands of his friends. Whoever liftened to the 
 fublime Doctor's comments on this difpofition of the fubjecl 
 mufl have been greatly entertained. 
 
 But the end had not yet come. It was neceflary that all 
 thefe proceedings mould be tranfmitted to the Bifhop of 
 London, in order that they might reach the King's Council, 
 through which his Majefty might iffue his command forbid- 
 ding the holding of a Synod. Mr. Checkley haftened to 
 obtain a copy of Dr. Mather's memorial in behalf of the 
 minifters for holding a Synod, in which he fucceeded, but 
 neverthelefs with great difficulty. It was the duty of the 
 Lieutenant-Governor to tranfmit thefe proceedings to the 
 King's Council in England, but this he did not choofe to 
 do, but fought, on the contrary, to keep them fecret. 
 Through the vigilance and activity of Mr. Checkley copies 
 of all the papers were defpatched, the Memorial of Dr. 
 Cutler and Mr. Myles, the proceedings of the Affembly in dif- 
 miffing it, and their doings upon the application of the 
 miniflers through Cotton Mather for the calling of a Synod. 
 
 On reaching the Bifhop of London, the papers were 
 referred to the Lords Juftices for their opinion. By them 
 they were fubmitted to the Attorney-General and Solicitor- 
 General for their confideration. The opinion of thefe two 
 learned jurifts was in due time prefented, approved, and 
 adopted by the Lords Juftices of England, and by their 
 Secretary, Mr. Delafaye, communicated to William Dum- 
 
 mer,
 
 John Checkley. 91 
 
 mer, Efq., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of Maffa- 
 chufetts Bay. This official opinion on an important queftion 
 we give in full as follows : 
 
 WHITEHALL O5l r 7 th , 1725. 
 
 SIR, 
 
 The Lords Juftices being informed from fuch good hands 
 as make the truth of this advice not to be doubted, that at a 
 General Convention of Miniflers from feveral parts of His 
 Majefty's Province of Maffachufetts Bay at Bofton on the 
 27 th May laft, a Memorial and addrefs was framed, directed 
 to you as Lieu* Governor and Commander in Chief and to the 
 Council and Houfe of Reprefentatives then fitting, defiring 
 that the General Affembly would call the feveral Churches in 
 that Province to meet by their Paftors and Meffengers, in a 
 Synod, which memorial and addrefs being accordingly pre- 
 fented by fome of the faid Miniflers, in the name and at 
 the defire of the faid Convention, was confidered in Council 
 the 3 rd of June following, and there approved ; but the Houfe 
 of Reprefentatives put off the confideration of it to the next 
 feffion in which the Council afterwards concurred. Their 
 Ex cies were extremely furprifed, that no account of so ex- 
 traordinary and important a tranfaclion mould have been 
 tranfmitted by you purfuant to an Act in your Inftruclions 
 by which you are directed upon all occafions to fend unto 
 His Majefty, and to the Commif for Trade and Plantations, 
 a particular account of all your proceedings and the condi- 
 tion of affairs within your Government. 
 
 As this matter does highly concern His Majefty's Royal 
 Prerogative, Their Ex cies referred it to Mr Attorney and 
 Mr Solicitor General, who after mature Deliberation and 
 
 making
 
 92 Memoir of 
 
 making all the proper enquiries, reported that from the 
 Charters and Laws of your Colony, they cannot collect that 
 there is any regular eftablifhment of a National or Provincial 
 Church There, fo as to warrant the holding of Convocations 
 or Synods of the Clergy ; but if fuch Synods might be 
 holden, yet they take it to be clear in point of Law that his 
 Majefty's fupremacy in Ecclefiaftical affairs being a branch 
 of his prerogative does take place in the Plantations, and 
 that Synods cannot be held, nor is it lawful for the Clergy 
 to affemble as in a Synod without authority from his 
 Majefty. They conceive the above mentioned application 
 of the faid Minifters, not to you alone as reprefenting the 
 King's Perfons ; but to you and the Council, and the Houfe 
 of Reprefentatives, to be a contempt of his Majefty's Pre- 
 rogative, as it is a public acknowledgement, that the power 
 of granting what they defire, refides in the Legiflative body 
 of the Province, which by Law is vefted only in his Majefty, 
 and the Lieu 1 Gov r , Council and Affembly intermedling 
 therein was an invafion of his Majefty's royal authority, 
 which it was your particular duty as Lieu 1 Gov r to have 
 withftood, and rejected, and that the confent of the Governor, 
 the Council and Houfe of Reprefentatives will not be a 
 sufficient authority for the holding of fuch Synod. 
 
 Their Excell cle8 , upon confideration of this opinion of the 
 Attorney and Solicitor General, which they have been 
 pleafed to approve, have commanded me to acquaint you 
 therewith, and to exprefs to you their furprife, that no 
 account of fo remarkable a tranfaclion, which fo nearly 
 concerns the King's Prerogative, and the welfare of his 
 Majefty's Province under your Government, has been 
 
 received
 
 John Check ley. 93 
 
 received from you, and to fignify to you their directions 
 that you do put an effectual flop to any fuch proceedings ; 
 but if the confent, defired by the Miniflers above mentioned 
 for holding a Synod mould have been obtained, and this 
 pretended Synod mould be actually fitting when you 
 receive thefe, their Exc les directions, they do, in that cafe, 
 require and direct you to caufe fuch, their meeting, to ceafe, 
 acquainting them that their Affembly is againft Law, and 
 a contempt of his Majefly's Prerogative, and that they are 
 to forbear to meet any more, and if, notwithftanding fuch 
 fignification, they fhall continue to hold their Affembly, You 
 are then to take care that the principal Actors therein be 
 profecuted for a mifdemeanor; but you are to avoid doing 
 any formal act to diffolve that, left that might be conftrued 
 to imply that they had a right to Affemble. 
 
 This, Sir, is what I have in command from their Ex cies to 
 fignify to you, and I muft obferve to you that the Precedent 
 quoted in the above-mentioned memorial of fuch a Synod 
 being held 45 years ago, falls in with the year 1680, and that 
 the former Charter upon which the Government of your 
 Province depended was repealed, by Scire facias, in the year 
 1684, and the new Charter was granted in the year 1691, 
 from whence it appears that if fuch Synods or Affembly 
 was holden as is alledged, it happened a fhort time before 
 the repealing of the old Charter; but none has been held 
 fince the granting of the New One. 
 
 I am &?, 
 
 CHARLES DELAFAYE. 76 
 
 This 
 
 76 Vide Hiftorical Collections of the chufetts, edited by Bifhop W. S. Perry, 
 American Colonial Church in Mafla- pp. 186-90.
 
 94 Memoir of 
 
 This opinion of the Attorney-General, the Solicitor-Gen- 
 eral, and the Lords Juftices of England, could not fail to be 
 gratifying to Mr. Checkley. He had been deeply interefted 
 in the whole proceedings, and was undoubtedly magna pars 
 in all the meafures defigned to oppofe the calling of a 
 Synod. He had Hated in his argument on his trial that 
 " the Church of England, as eftablifhed in England, and NO 
 OTHER, is eftablifhed in all his Majefty's Plantations." The 
 opinion of thefe diftinguifhed jurifts was that after mature 
 deliberation and making all the proper inquiries, " they can- 
 not collect that there is any regular eftablifhment of a 
 National or Provincial Church there, fo as to warrant the 
 holding of Convocations or Synods of the Clergy." The 
 confirmation of his opinion, which he had boldly ftated 
 before the magiftrates, on his recent trial, and doubtlefs on 
 many other occafions, by fuch legal authority was eminently 
 fatisfa&ory. Mr. Checkley 's enforced ftudy of the law had 
 made him familiar with the legal relations of the Church 
 of England to the religious bodies in the colonies. But he 
 was only a layman, and no opinion of his could have much 
 weight with the diffenters. This confirmation of his views 
 was not only a compliment to his knowledge and acumen, 
 but a gratification of his pride. The defeat of Dr. Cotton 
 Mather, in a favorite fcheme, by one whom he affe6led to 
 defpife, muft have been painfully humiliating, and perhaps 
 accounts for the uncomplimentary terms in which he was 
 fubfequently accuftomed to fpeak of Mr. Checkley when- 
 ever he had occafion to mention him. 
 
 It is not improbable that Mr. Checkley 's pofitive ftate- 
 ment that the ftanding order was not a legally eftablifhed 
 
 Church
 
 John Checkley. 95 
 
 Church in Maffachufetts Bay, and his proofs by the citation 
 at his trial of the laws of England and the canons of the 
 Englifh Church, fo clear, fo full, and fo explicit, had much 
 to do in determining the character of the verdict found 
 againft him, and the fevere penalty adjudged by the Court 
 This doctrine was then new to the Magiftrates of Maffachu- 
 fetts Bay, and if fet up and eftablifhed would work a ferious 
 change in the adminiftration of the ecclefiaftical affairs of 
 the Province. A Synod, legalized by the General Court, 
 which mould place their claim of an eftablifhed Church on 
 a more folid foundation, was apparently their laft expiring 
 effort. 
 
 It is obvious to remark that no attempt was afterwards 
 made by Dr. Cotton Mather or others to hold a Synod in 
 the Province of Maffachufetts Bay. 
 
 Mr. Checkley had long entertained a defire to enter into 
 Holy Orders. He had made application for orders in 1723, 
 which had been declined becaufe there was at that time no 
 vacancy in New England where he could be appointed, and 
 partly on account of his refufal to take the oaths which had 
 been ordered by the authorities in Maffachufetts Bay. 76 * In 
 
 1727 
 
 76 s According to the rules of the Soci- finally adopted. At a fubfequent meeting 
 
 ety for the Propagation of the Gofpel of the Society it was agreed that Mr. 
 
 in Foreign Parts, all miffionaries were Checkley be informed that there was at 
 
 appointed to fome fpecific parifh or that time no vacancy in New England 
 
 field. In 1723 Mr. Checkley ap- to which he could be appointed, and he 
 
 peared before a committee of the Soci- was recommended, if he looked for any 
 
 ety and ftated the advantages of an future favor from them, upon his return 
 
 itinerant miffionary for New England, to New England to take the oaths ap- 
 
 The fuggeftion was entertained with pointed by authority, and to demean 
 
 fome favor. But the fcheme was not himfelf as a loyal and dutiful fubjeft.
 
 96 Memoir of 
 
 1727 he repaired to England, and made application again for 
 orders to Dr. Gibfon the Bifhop of London. He was here 
 met, however, by unexpected and extraordinary obflacles. 
 At that time the Rev. John Barnard 77 and the Rev. Edward 
 Holyoke, who fubfequently became Prefident of Harvard 
 College, 78 were miniflers of the Congregational order at 
 Marblehead. They were both men of character and dif- 
 tinction. A rumor had gained currency that Mr. Checkley, 
 on obtaining orders in England, would be fent by the Soci- 
 ety for the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts to 
 Marblehead, as Re<5lor of St. Michael's Church, which was 
 then vacant. His publications in defence of Epifcopacy, 
 and his attack upon fome of the diftinguifhing do6trines 
 of Calvinifm, naturally led thefe gentlemen to believe that 
 fuch a lively champion of the Church of England would 
 hardly prove a defirable neighbor in the compact little town 
 of Marblehead. Mr. Barnard informs us in his autobi- 
 ography that he wrote a letter to the Bifhop of London, for 
 the purpofe of preventing Mr. Checkley's ordination, figned 
 both by himfelf and Mr. Holyoke. Mr. Barnard has placed 
 upon record the objections, which he urged doubtlefs in his 
 letter to the Bifhop of London. The firft was that Mr. 
 Checkley was "void of a liberal education"; the fecond, 
 that he was "an indefatigable enemy to the churches of this 
 
 country"; 
 
 7 The Rev. John Barnard was born 78 The Rev. Edward Holyoke was 
 
 Nov. 6, 1681, and died Jan. 24, 1770. born June 25, 1689; died June i, 1769; 
 
 He graduated at Harvard College 1700. graduated at Harvard College in 1705. 
 
 He publifhed many fermons, one on the He became Prefident of the College in 
 
 impropriety of keeping Chriftmas day. 1737, and held the office till his death. 
 
 He alfo left an Autobiogaphy, which He published feveral fermons. 
 was publifhed in the Majfachnfetts Hif- 
 torical Collections, Vol. XXXV.
 
 C keck ley. 97 
 
 country"; third, that he was "a non-juror to the Britifh 
 government." re 
 
 The firft of thefe flatements was undoubtedly not true. He 
 was educated at the Bofton Latin School, and at the Uni- 
 verfity of Oxford in England. Although he did not matric- 
 ulate at the latter inflitution, he appears to have purfued 
 his ftudies there under private tutors. He was an accom- 
 plifhed fcholar in the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew languages, 
 and, as all may fee who read his defence on his trial in 
 Bofton, he was mafter of a pure, vigorous, and polifhed 
 Englifh, and of a found, clear, and difcriminating logic, the 
 beft evidences of well difciplined and cultivated intellectual 
 powers. Such a man could not be "void of a liberal 
 education." 
 
 The fecond ftatement was true, if all were " enemies of 
 their churches " who did not believe in the validity of their 
 minifterial orders or in the truth of their Calviniftic teach- 
 ing. Mr. Checkley was neither a Congregationalift nor a 
 Calvinift. By his publications he had made known as dif- 
 tinclly as was poffible his views on both of thefe fubjects. 
 If he had agreed with them on thefe points, he doubtlefs 
 would not have fought orders in the Church of England, 
 But he did not regard himfelf as the enemy of thofe with 
 whom he differed. His own words are explicit : 
 
 " I wou'd willingly difpleafe no Man, but live at peace with all the 
 World. God knows my Heart, I hate no man's Perfon, but would 
 do him all the good that is in my Power. But if I cannot do him 
 Good without difpleafmg him, I ought to prefer his Good to the dif- 
 
 turbing 
 
 79 Vide Collections of the Majfachufetts Hijlorical Society, Vol. XXXV. p. 229. 
 VOL. i. 13
 
 9 8 Memoir of 
 
 turbing him a little ; elfe I do not really love him. And if he takes 
 Offence at me for this, it is his Fault, not mine." w 
 
 It is interefting to obferve that Mr. Barnard did not defire 
 to have any clergyman of the Church of England fettled at 
 Marblehead who would be likely to be an " enemy of the 
 churches of this country ; " neverthelefs two years after he 
 had written this to the Bifhop of London, he preached, on 
 the 25th of December, 1729, and fubfequently publifhed, a 
 fermon againft the obfervance of Chriftmas day, a very nat- 
 ural method of provoking hoftility to their "churches," if 
 it did not already exift. Whatever may be faid of Mr. 
 Checkley, it is very plain that Mr. Barnard was an enemy 
 to at leaft one very important and univerfal obfervance of 
 the Church of England. 81 
 
 Mr. Barnard's third objection was that Mr. Checkley was 
 "a non-juror to the Britim Government." This was dif- 
 tinc"lly a falfe accufation. He had undoubtedly a very ftrong 
 fympathy for the non-jurors in their fufferings for con- 
 fcience' fake, as the beft men, from that time to this, have 
 always had. But there was at that time the moft ample 
 evidence that he was not himfelf a non-juror. He had 
 taken the oath of allegiance in Bofton, which was on record. 
 He had been profecuted on this identical charge, and had 
 been acquitted by a jury of twelve men. The Holy Orders 
 which he was feeking could not be conferred upon any one 
 until he had taken an oath of allegiance to the Britifh Gov- 
 ernment, 
 
 80 Vide Difcourfe on Epifcopacy, p. 96. anfwer by the Rev. George Pigot, Reftor 
 91 Vide Mr, Barnard's Sermon upon of St. Michael's Church, Marblehead, 
 December 25, 1729. Bofton 1731, and an January 4, 1729-30, Bofton 1731.
 
 John Check ley. 99 
 
 ernment, and this Mr. Checkley was ready to do. In the 
 face of thefe fa<5ls this charge could not be made by any one 
 without affuming the office of a falfe accufer. This office 
 Mr. Barnard affumed, of which it does not appear that he 
 ever repented. We have here a notable example of how 
 completely prejudice and zeal fometimes ftifle the voice of 
 confcience, and lead their victim into violations of Chriftian 
 morality at which a pagan might well hefitate and be 
 afhamed. 
 
 Influenced more or lefs by thefe mifreprefentations, and 
 probably by others during Mr. Checkley 's late trial, the 
 Bifhop of London was not prepared at this time to grant 
 to him the Holy Orders for which he fought. 
 
 On his return to Bofton, thus defeated in his purpofe, Mr. 
 Checkley again fettled down to his accuftomed occupations 
 in felling books and other commodities in his little mop 
 over againft the weft end of the Town-Houfe, which he had 
 dignified with the name of the " Crown and Blue-Gate." 
 
 Few events of general intereft diverfified the next ten 
 years of his life. He was a member of the corporation of 
 King's Chapel, and took an active part in the adminiftration 
 of its affairs. He was fometimes a member of its veftry, and 
 often appointed on important committees. During this 
 period there were in the parifh many differences and conten- 
 tions. Mr. Checkley's active temperament and habit of 
 holding pofitive views on moft fubjecls made him promi- 
 nent, if not a leader, on one fide or the other, on all queftions 
 on which there were two opinions in the parifh. 
 
 Perhaps the moft exciting, if not the moft important, 
 matter in the parifh of King's Chapel during thefe years 
 
 related
 
 IOO 
 
 Memoir of 
 
 related to the Rev. Henry Harris, the affiftant minifter of 
 the Chapel. Mr. Harris was an Englifhman, a graduate of 
 Jefus College at Oxford, and held a unique fellowfhip in that 
 college, on a foundation eftablifhed by Sir Leoline Jenkins, 
 yielding a ftipend of ^40 per annum. The fellows on this 
 foundation were under the direction of the Bimop of Lon- 
 don, and were created for fervice on "her Majefty's fhip 
 at fea," or in " her foreign plantations." In addition to this 
 ftipend, the Rev. Mr. Harris received ^100 annually from 
 the fovereign, which during the reign of Queen Anne was 
 denominated the " Queen's Bounty." His duties were well 
 defined, and beyond thefe duties he was not under the direc- 
 tion or control of the Reclor of the parifh. 82 He was diftin- 
 guimed for good fcholarfhip and fuperior ability. 83 
 
 In 
 
 M Vide The Bijhop of London's In- 
 Jiruftions to Mr. Harris, in the Hijlori- 
 cal Collections of the American Colo- 
 nial Church in Majfachufetts, edited 
 by Bifhop W. S. Perry, pp. 115-16. 
 A full account of the origin of the fel- 
 lowfhip which the Rev. Mr. Harris held 
 will be found in the Hijlory of the 
 Church of England in the Colonies, by 
 the Rev. James S. M. Anderfon, Lon- 
 don, 1848, Vol. II. p. 571, etfequentia. 
 
 88 Vide Annals of King's Chapel, by 
 Henry Wilder Foote, Vol. I. p. 194 
 et alibi, for much relating to the Rev. 
 Henry Harris. He became the affiftant 
 minifter of King's Chapel, or Queen's 
 Chapel, as it was at that time called, in 
 1 709. He edited an edition of a Difcourfe 
 concerning the "Inventionsof Men in the 
 worfhip of God," by Dr. William King, 
 Bifhop of London-Derry, reprinted in 
 Bofton 1712. Mr. Harris publifhed alfo 
 a fermon delivered in King's Chapel on 
 Chriftmas day, 1712. The occafion of 
 this publication may be here noted. 
 
 Dr. Cotton Mather preached a difcourfe 
 at the Thurfday leclure, on the fame 
 day, entitled " Grace Defended. A Cen- 
 fure on the Ungodlinefs, By which the 
 Glorious Grace of God is too commonly 
 Abufed. A Sermon preached Deer. 25, 
 1712. Bofton-Leclure, Bofton, 1712." 
 Dr. Mather took this opportunity to 
 cenfure the obfervance of Chrift- 
 mas by the members of the Church of 
 England. This he did by innuendoes 
 in fuch ftatements as thefe: "'Tis an 
 Evident Affront unto the Grace of God 
 for Men to make the Birth of Our Holy 
 Saviour an Encouragement and an 
 Occafion for very Unholy Enormities, 
 . . . Can you in your Confcience think 
 that our Holy Saviour is honored by 
 Mad Mirth, by long Eating, by hard 
 Drinking, by lewd Gaming, by rude 
 Regretting, by a Mafs, fit for none but a 
 Saturn or .a Bacchus, on the Night of a 
 Mahometan Ramadam ? " 
 
 The dignified courfe of the veftry of 
 King's Chapel after this virulent attack 
 
 upon
 
 John Checkley. 101 
 
 In the later years of the Rev. Mr. Myles's Reclorfhip, 
 when the infirmities of age made it obvious that his earthly 
 career would foon be terminated, the Rev. Mr. Harris 
 became ambitious to fucceed him as Rector of the parifh. 
 He had not, however, purfued a courfe that rendered him 
 generally acceptable to the parifhioners. He had put him- 
 felf in an attitude of hoflility to Mr. Checkley when he was 
 paffing through his trial, had criticifed his book from the 
 pulpit, and at that time wrote to the Bifhop of London, cen- 
 furing with great bitternefs both Mr. Checkley and the Rev. 
 Dr. Cutler, Rector of Chrift Church. This letter doubtlefs 
 contained a mixture of truth and error. If it prevented Mr. 
 Checkley 's entrance into Holy Orders, which he was at that 
 time feeking, it undoubtedly defeated Mr. Harris's hope of 
 obtaining the Reclorfhip of the Chapel, which was at that 
 time his controlling ambition. 
 
 In the contention between Mr. Checkley and Mr. Harris 
 it is quite impoffible, with the incomplete data now before 
 us, to determine which was in the right, or how far each was 
 in the wrong. While full reprefentations were fent by both 
 fides to the Bifhop of London, he "wrote that he was not able 
 
 "to 
 
 upon one of their cherifhed obfervances A SERMON Preached at the QUEEN'S 
 
 was fimply to publifh the Rev. Mr. CHAPPEL in Bofton, upon CHRISTMAS 
 
 Harris's fermon delivered in the chapel DAY, the 2$th of December 1712. Pub- 
 
 on the fame day, which was a plain, lifh'd at the Requeft of the Gentlemen of 
 
 practical difcourfe, clear in ftatement the Veftry. By Mr. HARRIS, one of the 
 
 and devout in fpirit, wholly inconfiftent Minifters of the faid Chappel, and Fel- 
 
 with the bugbears with which Dr. Ma- low of Jefus- College, in OXFORD. Bos- 
 
 ther had thought it beft to adorn his TON in New England: Printed by 
 
 Chriftmas fermon. This was a delicate B. Green; Sold by Jeanna Perry, at 
 
 and apoftolic method, not too common her fhop in King Street. 1712. 
 
 at that day, of " heaping coals of fire " The orthography of the Mohammedan 
 
 on an affailant's head. The following is faft Ramadan, as ufed by Dr. Mather, 
 
 the title of the fermon : needs correction.
 
 102 Memoir of 
 
 " to form any certain judgment about it, nor to fee who is 
 moft in the blame." The fympathies of a majority of the 
 parifh were diftinclly with Mr. Checkley, and the cher- 
 iflied hopes of Mr. Harris of obtaining the Redlorfhip of 
 the Chapel were blafted almoft in the bud. The Rev. Roger 
 Price 84 was appointed to the place by Dr. Gibfon, the 
 Bifliop of London, and was inducted into office, with the 
 ufual ceremonies, on the 25th of June, 1729. About three 
 months later, on the 6th of October, the Rev. Mr. Harris 
 died, and with him the controverfy that had given him and 
 others great difcomfort and mental anguifh, and which, we 
 may well believe, haftened his death. 
 
 While this parochial and perfonal fcrimmage was in prog- 
 refs Mr. Checkley found time, in 1728, to addrefs a letter to 
 the Bifliop of London, in which he fet forth with great 
 earneftnefs and force the fufferings and hardfhips which the 
 
 members 
 
 84 The Rev. Roger Price was born in 1729. This office he held till the death 
 
 England, Dec. 6, 1696, was of Balliol of Bifliop Gibfon, in 1748, when it ceafed 
 
 College, Oxford, where he graduated in by limitation. As Commiffary to the 
 
 1717. After taking orders, he was fome Bifhop of London, it was his duty to 
 
 time a chaplain on the Coaft of Guinea, collect and forward to the Bifliop fuch 
 
 and on the ifland of Jamaica. He was information in regard to the clergy and 
 
 fubfequently for fome time at Leigh, a the churches as was important for him 
 
 fmall feaport town in Effex, England, to have. He alfo called conventions 
 
 By the recommendation of Dr. Gibfon, of the clergy, and prefided at the fame, 
 
 the Bifliop of London, he became Reftor and was expected to exercife at all times 
 
 of King's Chapel. He was inducled a benign influence for the profperity 
 
 into office on the 25th of June, 1729, and advancement of the Church. From 
 
 with the ceremonies ufual in the Church 1748 to 1753 he was a miffionary of 
 
 of England ; a full account of which the Venerable Society at St. Paul's 
 
 will be found in Dr. F. W. P. Green- Church, Hopkinton, Maffachufetts. He 
 
 wood's Hiflory of King's Chapel, pp. returned to England in 1753, and died 
 
 89-91. Mr. Price refigned the Reclor- at Leigh, Effex, Dec. 8, 1762. A very 
 
 fhip of the Chapel in 1747. He had full account of his life and career 
 
 been made Commiffary for New Eng- maybe found in the Annals of King's 
 
 land by the Bifliop of London, on be- Chapel, by Henry Wilder Foote : Bof- 
 
 coming Reftor of King's Chapel, in ton, 1882.
 
 John Checkley. 103 
 
 members of the Church of England were forced to endure 
 from the unjuft and tyrannical laws, which compelled them 
 by taxation to aid in the fupport of the parimes of the con- 
 gregational order, although they did not believe their teach- 
 ing or attend their fervices. Members of the Church of 
 England in every part of the Province of Maffachufetts Bay 
 were threatened and haraffed, and thrown into prifon for 
 non-compliance. Thofe who refided more than five miles 
 from an Epifcopal church were arrefled and fined if they 
 attempted on Sunday to go to their own church, and were 
 fubjected to taxation for the fupport of congregational par- 
 imes. Mr. Checkley 's able letter afks the Bifhop of London 
 to ufe his influence in their behalf, that the Church of Eng- 
 land might not fall a facrifice to their cruel and oppreffive 
 laws. 85 
 
 Mr. Matthew Ellis, of Medford, a member of Chrift 
 Church, Bofton, was among others caft into prifon for non- 
 compliance in the payment of thefe odious taxes. Through 
 the influence of the united veftries of King's Chapel and 
 Chrift Church, who regarded the law as inconfiftent with the 
 provifions of the charter of the Province, Mr. Ellis, in 
 order to teft it, profecuted for falfe imprifonment the con- 
 ftable, Richard Sprague, who had been the inftrument of 
 his incarceration. The cafe was carried through all the 
 courts of the Province of Maffachufetts Bay, but no redrefs 
 could be obtained ; and moreover the Superior Court denied 
 him an appeal to the King in Council. But the feeling was 
 
 too 
 
 86 For this letter, Vide Vol. II. p. 188, fetts, edited by Bifhop W . S. Perry, 
 alfo, Hijtorical Collettions of the Amer- pp. 250-52. 
 ican Colonial Church in Maffachu-
 
 104 Memoir of 
 
 too intenfe to allow the matter to be dropped here. On the 
 application of Mr. Ellis to the King in Council an appeal 
 was readily granted, and Mr. Sprague was fummoned to 
 appear before a committee of the Privy Council to anfwer 
 for the imprifonment of Mr. Ellis. 
 
 The perfiftence of Mr. Ellis, backed by the churchmen of 
 the two important parifhes of the Church of England in 
 Bofton, among whom was to be found the beft legal talent 
 in the colony, led the magiftrates and the General Court, 
 however unwillingly, to a ferious consideration of the weak- 
 nefs of their cafe, and the great injuftice of their law. They 
 clearly faw that good policy at leaft required their immediate 
 aclion. The General Court therefore, without waiting till the 
 law was pronounced null and void, as they doubtlefs antici- 
 pated it would be, haftened to change and modify it in fuch 
 a manner that it was no longer oppreffive to the members of 
 the Church of England. 
 
 The fruits of Mr. Checkley's letter to the Bifhop of 
 London came tardily but neverthelefs effectively. Through 
 it the Bifhop of London and the officers of the Society for 
 the Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts were clearly 
 and fully informed of the nature and oppreffive character of 
 the Puritan law. It was doubtlefs through their influence 
 that Mr. Ellis's appeal to the Privy Council was granted, 
 and that the law was finally modified and divefted of its 
 oppreffive features. 86 
 
 In the year 1 730, fix years after Mr. Checkley's profecu- 
 
 tion 
 
 M Vide Hijlorical Colleflions of the fachufetts, edited by Bifhop W. S. 
 American Colonial Church, in Maf- Perry, pp. 311-12, et alibi.
 
 John C keck ley. 105 
 
 tion in the courts of Bofton, and three years after he was 
 defeated in his efforts to enter the miniftry of the Church of 
 England, he publilhed his argument at his trial, which had 
 occurred in 1724. There was fomething fignificant in the 
 publication of this forenfic difcourfe. In it he reiterated 
 and affirmed in the moft decifive and pofitive manner the 
 claims of Epifcopacy as fet forth in the fo-called " libelous 
 book." He neither withdrew, denied, mitigated, nor foftened 
 one of its allegations. In this fpeech his views had been 
 formulated under great refponfibilities, and he had ftated 
 them with fludious clearnefs and care. It moreover con- 
 tained what Mr. Checkley and his friends regarded as an 
 abfolute refutation of all the falfe charges made againft him 
 on his trial. On its original delivery it had been liftened to 
 by the judges of the court, the jury, and the fmall number 
 of perfons who could be accommodated in the Council 
 Chamber of the Old State Houfe, doubtlefs comprifing the 
 miniflers of the {landing order, their zealous partifans, and 
 fome of the warm friends of Mr. Checkley. It was plainly 
 expedient that it mould have a wider hearing. It was defir- 
 able that the clergy of the Church of England throughout all 
 the Englifli Provinces in America mould know the grounds 
 of his profecution and the nature of his defence. As his 
 application for Holy Orders in the Church of England had 
 not been granted on account of mifreprefentations made by 
 certain Puritan miniflers and others in Maffachufetts Bay, 
 no other document could be placed before Dr. Gibfon, the 
 Bifhop of London, and the Society for the Propagation of 
 the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, which mould flate fo clearly 
 Mr. Checkley 's views on the apoflolic character of Epifco- 
 VOL. i. 14 pacy
 
 io6 Memoir of 
 
 pacy and his unfeigned loyalty to his fovereign, the King of 
 England. It is not poiTible to determine with exaclnefs 
 what influence this fpeech had upon the Bifliop of London, 
 but it is fufficient for us to know that Mr. Checkley's next 
 application for Holy Orders was not refufed. 87 
 
 A fubjecl which greatly interefted Mr. Checkley at this 
 time was the education of his children, of which two only 
 lived to the period of manhood, a fon and a daughter. The 
 daughter married Henry Paget, Efq., an Irifh gentleman, 
 a merchant of Providence, a prominent member of King's 
 Church, often one of the Veftry, and Warden in 1761-63. 
 
 The son, bearing the fame name as the father, was gradu- 
 ated at Harvard College in 1738. His name appears in the 
 catalogue of the Bofton Latin School, among thofe who 
 were probably members, but of which there is no abfolute 
 and certain knowledge. While it is highly probable that he 
 was at fome ftages of his education a member of the Latin 
 School, it is not unlikely that he received inftruclion from 
 his father, who was doubtlefs better qualified, efpecially in 
 the Greek and Latin languages, to prepare his fon for 
 Harvard College than any teacher which the Latin School 
 could at that time furnifh. After his graduation he gave 
 
 feveral 
 
 87 The following is the full title of the Chrijlianity, and the CHURCH of Eng- 
 
 fpeech: land, againft the DEISTS and the Dis- 
 
 THE SPEECH OF Mr. John Checkley SENTERS. To which is added: The 
 
 UPON HIS TRIAL at Bofton in NEW- Jury's VerdicV, His Plea in Arreft of 
 
 ENGLAND, FOR PUBLISHING the Short Judgment; and the Sentence of Court, 
 
 and Eafy METHOD with the Deijls : To LONDON: Printed for J. WILFORD, 
 
 which was added a Difcourfe concern- behind the Chapter Hcufe in S* PauVs 
 
 ing EPISCOPACY; In Defence of Church- Yard. 1730.
 
 John Checkley. 107 
 
 feveral years to the ftudy of theology, probably under the 
 direction and tuition of his father. While thefe ftudies 
 were going forward, he acted for fome time as tutor in the 
 family of the Hon. Daniel Updike, for many years Attorney- 
 General of Rhode Ifland, and was likewife a member of a 
 literary fociety in Newport, Rhode Ifland, eftablifhed in 
 1730, while the celebrated Dr. George Berkeley, fubfe- 
 quently Bifhop of Cloyne, was a refident, and of which, if he 
 was not the founder, he was doubtlefs the leading fpirit 
 
 In the autumn of 1742 he was refiding in Narraganfett, 
 Rhode Ifland, and was perhaps receiving inftruction in fome 
 department of theological ftudy from the learned Rector of 
 St. Paul's Church, the Rev. Dr. James McSparran. 88 He 
 repaired to England, and received Deacon's orders in Fullam 
 Chapel, on the 2Qth day of June, 1744, from the Rt. Rev. 
 Edmund Gibfon, D. D., Bifhop of London, and in the 
 fame place, and by the fame prelate, prieft's orders, July 8, 
 i 744 . 89 
 
 He was affigned a miffion by the Society for the Propaga- 
 tion of the Gofpel, at Newark, New Jerfey. 
 
 He did not furvive to return to America, but died of fmall- 
 pox in London. He is reputed by tradition to have been a 
 young man of promife, of fuperior abilities, and of many 
 attractive qualities. We cannot overftate the father's pro- 
 found fenfe of lofs in the death of this only fon, at once the 
 pride and hope of his advancing years. 
 
 But 
 
 18 Vide note 64, antea p. 78. the Venerable Society for Newark, New 
 
 89 A certified record of his ordination Jerfey. Vide Digeft of the Records of 
 
 from the archives of the Diocefe of the Society for the Propagation of the 
 
 London is in the pofleffion of the Edi- Gofpel in Foreign Parts, p. 854. 
 tor ; he was appointed a miffionary of
 
 io8 Memoir of 
 
 But to return to the thread of our narrative. Of Mr. 
 Checkley's businefs occupations little is definitely known. 
 At times he exported goods to London, and doubtlefs 
 imported from the fame city fuch commodities as were fal- 
 able at the " Crown and Blue-Gate " in Cornhill. He pur- 
 chafed in 1730, probably for inveftment, a piece of real 
 eftate in the northweft part of the town of Bofton, near the 
 Mill Pond, which he fold in 1 74 1 , at a large advance. In 
 1733 he fold his houfe in Cornhill, although it is not unlikely 
 that he continued to occupy it, as long as he refided in 
 Bofton. 80 
 
 In 1738, Mr. Checkley again repaired to London, and 
 fought admhTion to Holy Orders in the Church of England. 
 It was now ten years fmce his former application had been 
 refufed. The active perfonal oppofition of the Congrega- 
 tional minifters, which they claimed had been fuccefsful in 
 preventing his entrance to the facred office had finally died 
 away. As water is the folvent of many fubftances in nature 
 filently neutralizing them and difcharging their poifonous 
 elements, fo time mitigates and deftroys, or at leaft renders 
 inactive, perfonal hoftilities, efpecially when they are founded 
 in paffion and not in reafon. Mr. Checkley had " lived 
 down" all perfonal oppofition. Dr. Gibfon, the Bifhop of 
 London, had doubtlefs read his fpeech on his trial, publimed 
 in 1730, and had found him an earneft, true, and faithful 
 defender of the Church of England. He had no longer any 
 wifli to thwart his confcientious and noble defire of entering 
 
 the 
 
 * Vide Suffolk Regijiry of Deeds, Bofton, for Conveyance of real eftate by 
 John Checkley.
 
 John Checkley. 
 
 109 
 
 the miniftry of the church, a defire which had furvived 
 unabated through fo many years of hatred and perfecution. 
 In the month of May, 1738, on a day between the 8th and 
 1 9th of that month, he received both Deacon's and Prieft's 
 Orders in the Church of England ; 91 the Univerfity of Oxford 
 haftened to confer upon him the honorary degree of Mafter 
 
 of 
 
 91 There is a tradition that Mr. Check- 
 ley was ordained by the Bifliop of Exe- 
 ter, and it is probably correft. It was 
 not unufual for the Bifhop of London, 
 when his own engagements made it ex- 
 pedient, to appoint fome other Bifhop to 
 confer orders. The following are in- 
 ftances of this kind. Bifhop Seabury 
 received Deacon's Orders from the 
 Bifhop of Lincoln, and his Prieft's Or- 
 ders from the Bifhop of Carlifle ; Bifhop 
 White received his Deacon's Orders 
 from the Bifhop of Norwich ; Bifhop 
 Provooft received his Prieft's Orders 
 from the Bifhop of Chefter ; Bifhop 
 Jarvis received his Deacon's Orders 
 from the Bifhop of Chefter, and his 
 Prieft's Orders from the Bifhop of Car- 
 lifle, all a<5ling for the Bifhop of London. 
 The records of the Diocefe of London, 
 of Oxford, and of Ely have been care- 
 fully examined at the inftance of the 
 editor ; and likewife by the kind offices 
 of Mr. C. F. Pafcoe, keeper of the 
 Records of the Venerable Society, en- 
 quiries have been made at the Dio- 
 cefan Regiftrar's office of Canterbury 
 and at the Lambeth Palace Library, 
 and no record of his ordination has 
 been found. It feems therefore not un- 
 likely that he was ordained by the 
 Bifhop of Exeter by the requeft of the 
 Bifhop of London, and by fome mifun- 
 derftanding no record was made in 
 either Diocefe. Thus the evidence ftands 
 in this not very important matter : That 
 he was ordained in May, 1738, on fome 
 
 day between the 8th and the ipth of that 
 month inclufive, is matter of record. In 
 the records of the Society for the Prop- 
 agation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts, 
 for April 21, 1738, the Society " agreed 
 to revive the miffion at Providence, the 
 people there having built a houfe and 
 fettled a glebe for an Epifcopal Min- 
 ifter, and to appoint Mr. Checkley Mif- 
 fionary there, when in Prieft's Orders." 
 Journal, Vol. VII. p. 231. At the 
 next meeting, on the igthof May, 1738, 
 is the following record : " The Rev. 
 Mr. Checkley laid before the Board his 
 Prieft's Orders, which were approved 
 of," and he was " appointed Miffionary 
 at Providence in New England." Jour- 
 nal, Vol. VII, p. 248. 
 
 The following is from the Records of 
 the Diocefe of London : 
 
 I, John Checkley to be admitted td 
 perform the Miniflerial office in Provi- 
 dence in New England do willingly and 
 from my heart fubfcribe to the three ar- 
 ticles prefixed and comprized in ye thirty 
 fixth canon and alfo to the thirty nine 
 Articles of Faith and Religion of the 
 Church of England and to all things there- 
 in contained this 8^ day of May in the 
 year of our Lord 1738. 
 
 JN CHECKLEY. 
 
 It thus appears that he was not in 
 Orders on the 8th, but was on the igth, 
 of May, and confequently was ordained, 
 as we have already ftated, during the 
 period intervening between thofe two 
 dates.
 
 1 10 Memoir of 
 
 of Arts, and on the igth of that month the Society for the 
 Propagation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts appointed him 
 a miflionary at Providence, Rhode Ifland, " with a falary of 
 ;6o a year, to commence from Lady Day laft," which was 
 the 25th day of March, 1738. 
 
 He lingered fome months in England attending to vari- 
 ous perfonal matters of bufmefs. During his ftay in Lon- 
 don, he iffued a fecond edition of his fpeech upon his trial 
 for publiming a difcourfe concerning Epifcopacy, in defence 
 of Chriftianity and the Church of England, with the jury's 
 verdict, his plea in arreft of judgment, and the fentence 
 of the court. 
 
 Mr. Checkley's appointment to Providence, Rhode Ifland, 
 was eminently fatisfaclory to him as well as to the members 
 of King's Church, now St. John's, of which he became Reclor. 
 No field on the continent of America could have been felecled 
 better fuited to his varied qualifications, or which he would 
 himself have preferred to this. It was little more than 
 a day's journey to his old home and many friends in 
 Bofton. The Rev. Mr. Honyman of Newport, and the 
 Rev. Dr. McSparran at North Kingfton, then known as 
 Narraganfett, both old and tried friends, were to be his 
 neareft neighbors. The whole Province of Rhode Ifland 
 was a miflionary field, ripe and ready for the reaper's fickle. 
 All thefe were attractive features in the opening profpecl, 
 and efpecially the latter, as Mr. Checkley's whole life had 
 been deeply imbued with the miflionary fpirit. 
 
 Services in King's Church, Providence, had been held 
 with more or lefs regularity for the laft feventeen years. 
 A church had been creeled, and a parfonage, on a glebe of 
 
 eighteen
 
 John Checkley. in 
 
 eighteen or more acres, had been provided for the Rector. 92 
 The parifh, however, at that time was fmall, and its means 
 exceedingly limited. When the news reached them that 
 the Venerable Society in England had provided a Rector 
 for them, contributing a large part of the means necefiary 
 for his fupport, their hearts were touched with gratitude and 
 filled with joy. They immediately tranfmitted a memorial 
 to the Society, bearing date May 4, 1739, conveying their 
 " moft unfeigned thanks " for the appointment of the Rev. 
 Mr. Checkley to officiate to them, " than whom no man," 
 they add, " was more defired, and they do not doubt but that 
 he will anfwer the expectation of all good men concerning 
 him." Mr. Checkley entered upon his duties in May, I739, 93 
 and on the November following he wrote to the Venerable 
 Society that "his congregation received him with joy;" 
 that he was deeply engaged in his work, and had already 
 baptized thirteen perfons ; and, outfide of the parifh lines, 
 was giving attention to the inftrudlion both of Indians and 
 Negroes. Although in age he had nearly reached the limit 
 of threefcore years, he began at once, and continued for a 
 complete decade, to vifit many outlying pofts, nothing 
 daunted by the miry bogs, tangled fens, and pathlefs forefts 
 
 through 
 
 92 The Rev. Mr. Checkley's prede- Orders in England, upon the Recommenda- 
 ceflbrs in King's, now St. John's, Church, tion of the Clergy of New-England, to the 
 Providence, were the Rev. George Miffion at Providence, and there are good 
 Pigot, the Rev. Mr. Charro, and the H P es of his doin g confiderable Service 
 Rev Arthur Browne there from his being a Native of the Coun- 
 
 93 In the abftrafts of the Prnreed try, from his great Skill in the neighbouring 
 *, ft\ c J s ?* t> proceed- Indian Language , and from his long Ac- 
 tngs of the Society for the Propagation qua i ntance with the Indians themfelves: 
 of the (jrofpel, on the i6th of February, an d it is to be hoped Hit. Checkley is by 
 1 738-9, occurs the following: this time happily arrived at his Miffioa 
 
 The Society hath fent the Reverend Vide *#<*> PP- 42-3- 
 Mr. Checkley, lately admitted into Holy
 
 1 1 2 Memoir of 
 
 through which his journeys led. He held, at appointed 
 periods, monthly fervices at Warwick on the fouth, and at 
 Attleborough on the north. At the requeft of the Rev. 
 Roger Price, Rector of King's Chapel in Bofton, and Com- 
 miflary of the Bifhop of London, he fometimes held fervices 
 and preached at Taunton, twenty miles diftant from Provi- 
 dence, to congregations of more than three hundred perfons, 
 fome of whom, he had reafon to believe, were never before 
 in any place of Chriftian worfhip. 
 
 Mr. Checkley at an early period, when a layman in Bofton, 
 conceived a very deep intereft in the welfare of the aborigi- 
 nes of the country, and at that time made one or two jour- 
 neys of infpeclion and inveftigation, and devoted much time 
 in learning their language. Now, as a Chriftian teacher 
 and confecrated minifter of Chrift, his intereft in them was 
 ftrengthened and enlarged. He vifited them in their diftant 
 homes ; he expounded the New Teftament in their own 
 language ; preached the gofpel, revealing to them its mar- 
 vellous power upon the heart and life of man, and thus from 
 his lips they heard of " the wonderful works of God " in the 
 tongue wherein they were born. Among other places, he 
 vifited their wigwams along the banks of the Quinnebaug, 94 
 
 becoming 
 
 M On the northern borders of Con- tinuing generally in a fouthern direc- 
 neflicut, in Tolland and Windfor Coun- tion with many angles, windings, and 
 ties, feveral fmall ftreams rife, flowing curves, after a courfe of thirty-five miles, 
 northward, eroding the State line into uniting with the Shetucket from the 
 Maflachufetts, becoming confluent with northweft, it foon lofes itfelf in the tide- 
 others in IJrimfield and Sturbridge, and waters of the Thames at the city of 
 at length fwell into an important ftream Norwich. This is the Quinnebaug 
 in Southbridge, which flowing on in an River. A hundred and fifty or two 
 eafterly and foutherly direction, pafiing hundred years ago, the fhores of this 
 through the town of Dudley, again ftream were inhabited by a fubordinate 
 enters the State of Connecticut, and con- tribe of Indians called the Quinnebaugs. 
 
 They
 
 John C keck ley. 1 1 3 
 
 becoming familiar with their ways of living and thinking, 
 ftiedding what fpiritual light he could into their dark and unin- 
 ftrucled minds. Thefe journeys were no holiday excurfions. 
 They were made at the expenfe of toil, of wearinefs, and fome- 
 times of hunger. It muft have been a pathetic and touch- 
 ing fpeclacle to fee the venerable and ardent miffionary, with 
 locks white with the frofts of fixty-five winters, mounting his 
 horfe and threading his way through the crooked and half- 
 trodden paths of the wildernefs, feeking out thefe children 
 of the foreft to tell them the fimple but enchanting ftory of 
 the crofs, of redemption from fin in Chrift, of a life beyond 
 this where there is peace and purity and bleffednefs forever. 
 
 Thefe journeys and vifits to outlying pofts were always 
 made on fecular days. On Sundays Mr. Checkley was con- 
 fcientioufly devoted to his work in King's Church in Provi- 
 dence, which yielded fteady and gratifying fruits. 
 
 Befides official, clerical duties, Mr. Checkley found time 
 to give inftruclion to feveral young men who, from time to 
 time, were placed under his care. 
 
 It is to be regretted that no manufcripts, either fermons 
 or letters, written in the later years of his life, are, fo far as 
 we are aware, now extant. The twenty or more letters 
 written during the five years from 1720 to 1725 inclufive, 
 contained in another part of this work, mow very clearly his 
 literary taftes, his devout character, the high purpofes and 
 
 aims 
 
 They were thinly (battered over a com- of people in the woods than he could 
 
 paratively large territory, were mild and have imagined, deftitute of all religion, 
 
 unwarlike, living upon the products of and as living without God in the world; 
 
 the foil, the chafe, and the fim which that he had vifited the Indians upon 
 
 they took from this river. Mr. Checkley Quinnebaug River, and was in hopes of 
 
 ftates that " he found a greater number doing fome good among them." Vide 
 VOL. i. 15 Abjlrafls
 
 1 14 Memoir of 
 
 aims of his life. 95 His private library, for a New England 
 parifh minifter, was large for that period, numbering not 
 much lefs than a thoufand volumes. 96 It abounded in folios 
 and quartos, in works in Latin, Greek, Hebrew, French, and 
 other languages, and indicated fomewhat the extent of his 
 fcholarfhip and the breadth of his learning. 
 
 Mr. Checkley's education at Oxford in his early youth, his 
 vifits to England in 1722, in 1727, and likewife in 1738, 
 where at each vifit he lingered feveral months, gave him a 
 wide acquaintance, both in the Univerfities and in London, 
 with diflinguifhed and learned men. Thefe acquaintances 
 were mutually maintained for many years. Among thefe 
 friends and affociates were the Rev. Dr. Zachary Grey, the 
 learned editor of " Hudibras "; 97 the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Mar- 
 fhall, tranflator of the works of St. Cyprian ; * the Rev. Dr. 
 
 Thomas 
 
 Abjlraftsof the Report of the Society for of this mifcellaneous lot we eftimate 
 
 the Propagation of the Gofpel for 1744. that it contained 400 volumes, which 
 
 96 In the M emoirs of the Rhode IJland would make the whole number in the 
 
 Bar, by Wilkins Updike, Efq., it is library 926 volumes befides pamphlets, 
 
 ftated that the Rev. John Checkley and the 450 copies of Lejlie's Short and 
 
 was a member of a Literary Society in Eafy Method -with the Dei/Is. 
 
 Newport out of which fprang the Red- * 7 Dr. Grey died in 1766, in the 7Qth 
 
 wood Library. This appears to have year of his age. He was educated at 
 
 been a miftake. The afTociation re- the Univerfity of Cambridge, and was 
 
 ferred to was a local fociety, and its Vicar of St. Peter's and St. Gile's. His 
 
 rules could not be complied with by one elaborate annotations of Hudibras gave 
 
 living as far diftant as Providence, value and permanent hiftorical intereft 
 
 John Checkley, Jr., was a member of to that fatirical poem. He was a volu- 
 
 that Society. Vide Annals of the Red- minous writer, largely of a controver- 
 
 ivood Library, by George Champlin fial and critical character. Mr. Nichols 
 
 Mafon, Newport, 1891, p. 18. gives 33 titles, which are only a part of 
 
 * In the inventory of Mr. Checkley's his publications. Vide Literary Anec- 
 
 property may be found 42 folios, 55 dotes, by John Nichols, Vol. II. pp. 
 
 quartos, 242 octavos, 187 duodecimos, 532-49. 
 
 and a large number of books in Latin, 98 Dr. Marfhall was Canon of Wind- 
 Greek, Hebrew, French, and other Ian- for. Befides his tranflation of St. Cyp- 
 guages, of various fizes. from folios to rian, he published feveral volumes of 
 twenty-four-mos. From the valuation fermons.
 
 John Checkley. 115 
 
 Thomas Bennet, the author of many theological treatifes ; " 
 the Rev. Dr. William Delaune, Margaret Profeffor of Di- 
 vinity at Oxford ; 10 the Rev. Robert Mofs, the eloquent and 
 accomplifhed Dean of Ely ; 101 Sir Francis Nicholfon, 102 and 
 many others. It is to be regretted that very little of his 
 correfpondence has been preferved. That he highly valued 
 the friendfhip of thefe diflinguifhed men is apparent from 
 his frequent allufion to them in the fragments of his letters 
 which ftill exift. How long he kept up his acquaintance 
 after he took orders and entered upon his miniflerial work 
 is unknown. In the later years of his life many of them 
 had died ; and after reaching threefcore years, with all its 
 abforbing duties, it is hardly probable that new affociations 
 were formed. 
 
 At the end of ten years of his miniftry, infirmities began 
 to creep upon the aged miffionary, and to admonim him 
 that the work which he had done fo faithfully, with fo much 
 pleafure to himfelf and benefit to others, was now approach- 
 
 ing its end. 
 
 For 
 
 99 Dr. Bennet was born about 1673, Grey fays of the fermons of Dr. Mofs 
 and died in 1728, was educated at "their reputation muft laft as long as 
 the Univerfity of Cambridge. He that of Learning, Eloquence, or Re- 
 publifhed works on the Sacraments, ligion." An epitome of Dr. Grey's 
 Schifm, Liturgies, on the 39 Articles, memoir is given in Nichofs Literary 
 a confutation of Popery, and likewife Anecdotes, Vol. IV. pp. 223-39. 
 
 of Quakerifm, and he alfo publifhed An- 102 Sir Francis Nicholfon, when Gov- 
 
 notations upon the Book of Common ernor of Maflachufetts, held a commif- 
 
 Prayer. fion tantamount to that of commiflary, 
 
 100 Dr. Delaune was the author of as will be feen by reference to Dr. F. 
 feveral volumes of fermons. W. P. Greenwood's Hiftory of King's 
 
 101 Dr. Mofs was born about 1666 and Chapel, Bofton, pp. 76-78. Vide also 
 died in 1 729. Dr. Zachary Grey publifhed Hi/lorical Collection of the American 
 a Memoir with his collected works in Colonial Church in Majfachufetts, 
 8 volumes. Allibone. Dr. Timothy edited by BifhopW. S. Perry, pp. 660-1. 
 Cutler of Bofton in a letter to Dr. Vide antea p. 40, n. 36.
 
 n6 Memoir of yohn Checkley. 
 
 For many lingering months he was the fubjecl of a weari- 
 fome and hopelefs illnefs. During the laft two years of his 
 life he was wholly difabled, and performed none of the 
 duties of his facred office. The neighboring clergy, moved 
 by a warm, tender, and generous fympathy, haftened to offer 
 and render to the parifh and its devoted Reclor fuch fervice 
 as they could. 103 Tardily and gently the fands of life paffed 
 away. The end came at laft. He died in the little par- 
 fonage of King's Church in Providence on the i5th day of 
 February, I754- 104 Thus ended the earthly career of a true 
 lover and heroic champion of the Church of England, a 
 friend of the too much neglected Indian, a learned fcholar, 
 and a faithful and felf-confec rated Minifter of Chrift. 
 
 108 Befides the neighboring clergy, 
 the Rev. James Orem, chaplain of His 
 Majefty's (hip Jafan, officiated feveral 
 months. He was firft a miffionary of 
 the Society for the Propagation of the 
 Gofpel at Briftol, Rhode Ifland, where 
 he remained a year, 1721-2, and was 
 then appointed a chaplain, and removed 
 to New York. Vide Hiflory of the 
 
 Narraganfett Churchy by Wilkins 
 
 Updike, pp. 409, 434; also 
 
 Records of the Venerable Society, p. 
 
 Updike, pp. 409, 434; also Digejt of 
 
 if 
 853. 
 
 IM Vide Letter of 'Wardens of 'King's 
 Church, March 4, 1754, in Hi/lory of the 
 Epif copal Church in Narraganfett, by 
 Wilkins Updike, pp. 410-11.
 
 THE WILL 
 
 OF THE 
 
 REV. JOHN CHECKLEY. 
 
 N the name of God, Amen. I, John Checkley 
 of Providence in the Colony of Rhode Ifland 
 and Providence Plantations in New England, 
 Clerk, caling to mind the uncertainty of 
 Human life, do make this my laft Will and 
 Teftament, Principally and firft of all, I recommend my 
 fole unto the hands of Almighty God, hoping for the for- 
 givnefs of my fins and eternal Life through the infinite 
 merits and fatisfaclion of lefus Chrift, my Saviour and 
 Redeemer. My body I commit to the earth, to be decently 
 interred at the difcretion of my executrix hereafter named. 
 As to my worldly goods, I will and difpofe of them in 
 manner following. 
 
 Imprimis, my will is that all my just debts be paid as foon 
 as conveniently they may by my executrix. 
 
 Item. I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter 
 Anne Paget the fum of twenty pounds to be paid by my 
 
 executrix
 
 1 1 8 Memoir of John Checkley. 
 
 executrix upon the day of my faid granddaughter's marriage, 
 or arriving to the age of twenty one years. 
 
 Item. I give and bequeath unto my granddaughter, 
 Rebekah Paget, the fum of twenty pounds to be paid by my 
 executrix upon the day of my faid granddaughter's mar- 
 riage, or arriving at the age of twenty one years. 
 
 I give, bequeath and devife unto Rebeckah, my beloved 
 wife, her heirs and afligns forever, all my lands in Provi- 
 dence aforefaid, and all other my eftate real and perfonal 
 wherefoever it be, or of what kind foever it be, and I do 
 hereby conftitute and appoint my faid wife, Rebeckah, fole 
 executrix of this my laft will and teftament, and hereby 
 revoke all other and former wills by me at any time made. 
 I do declare this to be my laft will and teftament ; In wit- 
 nefs whereof I have hereto fet my hand and feal this 
 fifteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord one 
 thoufand feven hundred and fifty two, and in the twenty 
 feventh year of the reign of his Majefty George the fecond, 
 of Great Britain, france and Ireland King, defender of the 
 faith, &c. 
 
 Signed, fealed, publifhed and declared by the beforenamed 
 John Checkley to be his laft will and teftament in the pref- 
 ence of us, 
 
 JOHN MERRIT, JN- CHECKLEY 
 
 SAMUEL MILLER, 
 
 EBENEZER MiLLER. 106 
 
 108 Samuel and Ebenezer Miller were Reflor of (Thrift Church, Braintree, 
 
 undoubtedly the brothers of Mrs. Check- now Quincy. Vide antea, p. 12, alfo 
 
 ley. The former was a gentleman of the Hi/lory of Milton, for fome account 
 
 prominence in Milton, Maffachufetts; of the Miller family, 
 and the latter was the Rev. Dr. Miller,
 
 INVENTORY. 
 
 IN INVENTORY of the Perfonal Eftate of the Rev 1 ? 
 Mr JOHN CHECKLEY of Providence, who Died 
 the 1 5th day of February A. D. 1754, which exhib- 
 ited to and approved by us the fubfcribers as fol- 
 lows viz : 
 
 In back Study : 2 Chefts & 2 boxes & one fquare table 4 o o 
 2 fniall boxes, with fifhing geer & Indian Toys 106 
 
 & fom fifhing rods 
 
 In the front Jludy ; 116 Glafs Bottles 12 
 
 Other glafs and Earthern ware 
 
 A box with money weights & fcales 
 
 Lead & tin canifters 
 
 A cafe of 12 bottles 
 
 A Chyrurgian faw 3 powder horns & 2 pairs of 
 
 fhears 
 
 2 Pair of Piftols 3, 2 Guns 2$ 50 
 
 2 old Swords & 2 Cannes 
 
 One 
 
 106 Mr. Checkley was fomethingof an and pipe. Thefe were kept in the 
 archaeologift, and took a great intereft family till 1842, when they were loaned 
 in Indian implements and relics. There 
 is a tradition in the family that he ex- 
 
 2 - - - 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 o 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 T . . _ 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 3 _ 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 o 
 
 
 
 to a Mr. Robbins, a member of the 
 Connecticut Hiftorical Society, where 
 
 changed his gold watch for the war- they are faid ftill to remain, 
 drefs of King Philip, his war-club, belt,
 
 I2O Memoir of 
 
 One cutlas & feveral Belts 2 o o 
 
 One pair of fcales & weights 2 o o 
 
 3 time Glaffes 2O/- & one Hammer io/ . . . . i 10 o 
 
 One other fword belt 2 o o 
 
 Old calks & boxes 4O/ & box of old iron $ . . . 7 o o 
 
 In the back room ; One Low cafe of Drawers . . 5 o o 
 
 Two tables & one Joint Stool n o o 
 
 4 chairs 2 o o 
 
 One pair of handirons & Chimney Backs &c . . 6 o o 
 
 2 pair of bellows 3O/- one pair of tongs io . . . 2 o o 
 
 2 wicker Hampers 2 o o 
 
 I fether bed and Furniture 60 o o 
 
 i Delk 3 o o 
 
 i Shagreen cafe with knives & forks 5 o o 
 
 One Medal of Count Staremberg in filver . . . . 12 15 o 
 
 i Silver Snuff box with gilt crucifix &c 107 . . . . 50 5 o 
 
 I Looking Glafs 60 o o 
 
 1 Brafs Globe for a fleeple 5 o o 
 
 2 cane arm chairs 10. 4 other chairs 4- 14 o o 
 
 2 brumes i o o 
 
 i pair of Hand Irons, fliovel, tongs & Iron backs . io o o 
 
 i Large filver fpoon & 2 Do Teafpoons .... 4 o o 
 
 China & Glafs Ware in the Beufett 20 o o 
 
 i pair Tobacco Tongs & 3 table cloaths . . . . 9 io o 
 
 Chamber N? i. ; i Feather & furniture 61 o o 
 
 4 chairs & one Table 2 o o 
 
 Chamber N" 2 : one feather bed & Furniture . . 5 
 
 1 feal-fkin Trunk 3O/- 2 chairs io/ 2 o o 
 
 in Chamber N 3 ; I bed and Furniture . . . . 20 o o 
 
 2 chairs io/ i ches. 2O/- i io o 
 
 In the Kite/tin ; Pewter $o. coper .40. Brass 20 no - o o 
 
 Iron ware 25. warming pans 4 29 o o 
 
 i pair 
 
 107 The " Silver Snuff-box with gilt Porter Winne, of Watertown, N. Y., a 
 crucifix &c," is ftill extant, and is in defcendant of the Rev. John Checkley 
 the pofleflion of the Rev. Frederick in the fixth generation.
 
 John Checkley. 121 
 
 I pair of caft Dogs 3. Wooden ware $ ... S o o 
 In ye D airy room ; one fwivel Gun, i faddle & bridle 
 
 & two leather buckets 10 o o 
 
 In the yard: one grindftone 2 o o 
 
 In the kitchen chamber ; a quantity of corn . . . 6 o o 
 
 In the back-room ; one Feather bed and furniture . 60 o o 
 
 i Low Cheft of Drawers 5-0 o 
 
 1 Table & 2 chairs 5O/- i looking glafs $ . . . 710 o 
 
 Six pair of fheets & fix pillow cafes 10 o o 
 
 Wearing apparel 100 - o o 
 
 In ye cellar ; Six barels of Cyder, fom provifions, 
 
 cafks &c 30 o o 
 
 3 Cows 30, 90, two mares 230 320 o o 
 
 2 old Chairs & Harneffes 100 o o 
 
 i Microfcope 20, i Telefcope 20 . . . . . 40 o o 
 
 i Coharn (churn ?) $, a neft of Brafs weight 3 . 8 o o 
 
 i hors cart &c 20 o o 
 
 Books : viz 42 Volumes in folio 100 o o 
 
 55 Volumes in quarto 27 10 o 
 
 242 Volumes in Octavo 240 o o 
 
 187 Volumes in Duodecimo 100 o o 
 
 Pamphlets in grofs 20 o o 
 
 450 Volumes Short method with ye 
 
 Deifts 125 o o 
 
 A large quantity of Latin, Greek, Hebrew, 
 
 French &c Books from fol to 2410 108 . 200 o o 
 
 92 pieces 
 
 108 It would be interefting to know of that kind, the difcourfe concerning 
 
 the titles of the books. The 450 vol- epifcopacy annexed to \.\\&JJiort method 
 
 umes of the Short and Eafy Method with the deifts, publifhed in Bofton 
 
 with the Deifts were probably given about 40 years ago, and fold by one 
 
 away or fold fome years after the fettle- JOHN CHECKLEY ; which received fun- 
 
 ment of the eftate. The Rev. Noah dry anfwers when it firft appeared, has 
 
 Welles, of Stanford, now written Stam- been very induftrioufly handed about 
 
 ford, Connecticut, who published a dif- of late among the episcopalians in this 
 
 courfe againft Epifcopacy in 1763, fays : part of the country." 
 " It is reported that among other pieces 
 VOL. i. 16
 
 122 Memoir of 
 
 92 pieces of paint (J>rints f) t Grate & Small . . . 26 o o 
 
 One Gold Ring fet with fix ftones cofs fafhing (crofs 
 fajhion ?) one caftal (cryjlal ?) and the other five 
 Brilliant Dimonds ; more books difcovered . . 40 o o 
 
 2530 S o 
 
 The above Inventory was begun the 18 & iQth Days of March 
 1754 and completed ye I7th day of May next following by us the 
 Subfcribers GEO. TAYLOR 
 
 JOHN COLE 
 
 The above written Inventory was at the town Council held at 
 Providence on ye 2/th day of May A. D. 1754, Examined, proved, 
 approved, and allowed Tefte RICHARD WATERMAN 
 
 Clerk of the Council. 
 Recorded ye 29th of May 1754 
 
 per RICHARD WATERMAN, Clerk. 
 
 NOTE. Befide the perfonal eftate included in this inven- 
 tory, the Rev. John Checkley left the following parcels of 
 real eftate in Providence, purchafed as follows : 
 June 22, 1743. Twenty-two acres in Provi- 
 dence, at a place called the Neck, which 
 
 coft ^400 o o 
 
 Nov. 24, 1744. Between fix and feven acres 
 adjoining the land already purchafed by him 
 
 at the Neck, for which he paid ^201 18 9 
 
 April 26, 1745. Mr. Checkley purchafed an 
 eftate on Town Street, having frontage of 
 70 feet, with a houfe on it, for the fum . . ^1180 o o 
 Dec. 14, 1750. Mr. Checkley and Henry 
 Paget purchafed of Jofeph Whipple of New- 
 port
 
 John Check ley. 123 
 
 port two acres more or lefs in Providence 
 
 Co., now Lincoln, R. I ^300 o o 
 
 April 7, 1 746. The Rev. John Checkley fold 
 to Henry Paget the eftate purchafed the year 
 before for the fame fum paid for it, viz. . . ^1180 o o 
 
 June 4, 1760. Rebecca, widow of the Rev. 
 John Checkley, fold half of a wood-lot which 
 her hufband had of Hofannah Brown . . . ^350 o o 
 
 From the above it appears that Mr. Checkley 's 
 real eftate in Providence, at the valuation of 
 the purchafe and fales, amounted to the 
 fum of . ;noi 18 9 
 
 The Scrivener muft be refponfible for the orthography of many words both in 
 the Will and the Inventory.
 
 THE CHECKLEY FAMILY. 
 
 HE parents of the Rev. John Checkley refided 
 in Bofton, were of Englifh nationality, and in 
 fufficiently affluent circumflances to give their 
 fon a fomewhat expenfive education both in 
 this country and in England, fupplemented by 
 extenfive travel on the continent of Europe. Beyond this 
 the ufual fources yield no information. There were other 
 families bearing the name of Checkley in Bofton, prominent 
 in civil and ecclefiaflical affairs, but no relationfhip with that 
 of the Rev. John Checkley has been traced. The Rev. 
 John Checkley was born in Bofton, in 1680. A pretty full 
 account of his life and career will be found in the earlier 
 pages of this work. He married Rebecca, daughter of 
 Samuel Miller, of Milton, Mafs., May 28, 1713. She 
 died in Providence, R. I., and was buried Nov. 27, 1775. 
 Her hufband, the Rev. Mr. Checkley, died on the i5th 
 day of February, 1754, in the parfonage of King's Church, 
 fituated on a glebe of eighteen acres, on Providence 
 Neck, near Swan Point Cemetery and Butler Hofpital, 
 being about a mile and a half from King's Church, now St. 
 
 John's,
 
 Memoir of John Checkley. 1 25 
 
 John's, Providence. The glebe and parfonage came into 
 pofleffion of the parifh in 1734, and were occupied by Mr. 
 Checkley during his entire rectorfhip. The property was fold 
 in 1794, but the old parfonage is ftill {landing. The Rev. 
 Mr. Checkley " was buried in front of the Old Church, be- 
 tween it and the ftreet," and it is highly probable that his wife 
 was buried near him. In 1810, " when the earth was removed 
 at the building of the new church, all the graves there dif- 
 appeared, and the grave-ftones alfo. Whither they were 
 removed is not known. ... At the building of the new 
 church nearly a cart-load of old grave-flones were deftroyed, 
 or carried away." The above ftatement is taken from an 
 Hijlorical Difcourfe> by the Rt. Rev. Thomas M. Clark, 
 D.D., June n, 1872, on the one hundred and fiftieth anni- 
 verfary of the Parifh. It is underftood that the ftatements 
 in this difcourfe were made after careful investigation, and at 
 that time perfons were living who well remembered the old 
 wooden church. The account, therefore, may be regarded 
 as hiftorically correct Vide Hijlorical Difcourfe, p. 34. 
 
 It is a remarkable though difcreditable fact, that in the 
 early part of this century there was an extraordinary indif- 
 ference in regard to the memorials of the dead. The 
 ancient cemeteries were flrangely neglected. In fome in- 
 ftances the infcribed flones were taken up and planted 
 beneath the furface, thus facilitating the forgetfulnefs of the 
 living. May we not hope that at no diflant day a marble 
 or bronze flab may be placed on the walls of St. John's 
 Church, with an infcription memorial of the Rev. John 
 Checkley, M.A., its able, learned, and faithful Rector from 
 the beginning to the end of his miniflry ? 
 
 The
 
 126 Memoir of 
 
 The children of the Rev. John Checkley and his wife 
 Rebecca were as follows : 
 
 1. Debora, daughter of the Rev. John Checkley, was born 
 
 Oct. 13, 1717; me died April 15, 1793; fhe married 
 Henry Paget, Efq., an Irifh gentleman of Provi- 
 dence, R. I. He was born April 15, 1715, and died 
 Jan. 15, 1772. He was a merchant, and an active 
 and prominent member of King's Church, Providence. 
 He was often appointed on important committees, 
 was fometime one of the veflry, and was Warden, 
 1761-63. 
 
 2. John, fon of the Rev. John Checkley, was baptized in 
 
 King's Chapel, Boflon, Oct. 20, 1719. He graduated 
 at Harvard College in 1738, took orders in the 
 Church of England in 1 744, and died in London foon 
 after of fmall-pox. Vide antea, pp. 106-7. 
 
 3. REBECCA, daughter of the Rev. John Checkley, was 
 
 baptized in King's Chapel, Boflon, March 25, 1722. 
 No further information has been obtained, and it is 
 prefumed fhe died young. 
 
 It may be here flated that in the records of burials in 
 King's Chapel, Boflon, is the name of " Elizabeth Checkley, 
 Oct. 21, 1718." She may have been, and probably was, the 
 daughter of the Rev. John Checkley, born about 1715 ; this 
 however can only be conjectured. 
 
 DEBORA, daughter of the Rev. John Checkley, was born 
 Oct. 13, 1717; fhe married Henry Paget, Efq., a merchant 
 of Providence, R. I. Their children were as follows : 
 
 i. Anne;
 
 John Checkley. 127 
 
 1. Anne ; married Capt. Jofeph Olney, Jr., of Providence, 
 
 R. I. 
 
 2. Rebecca; married, ift, Dr. Jofeph Harrifon; 2d, Col. 
 
 George Olney. 
 
 3. Henry John Checkley, born about 1760; was buried 
 
 Oc"l 10, 1760, aged 10 years. 
 
 4. Angelica, born about 1754; was buried Sept 28, 1760, 
 
 aged 6 years. 
 
 ANNE, daughter of Debora Checkley and Henry Paget ; 
 married Capt. Jofeph Olney, Jr., of Providence, R. I., 
 Nov. 28, 1762. On the 22d of December, 1775, Congrefs 
 appointed, among other naval officers, Jofeph Olney as 
 a fecond lieutenant. He was fubfequently commiffioned as 
 a captain. Was not this the Capt. Jofeph Olney, Jr., above 
 mentioned? Vide Hi/lory of the Navy, by J. Fenimore 
 Cooper, Vol. I. pp. 102, 162 et alibi. 
 
 Their children were as follows, all of whom were baptized 
 in King's Church, now St. John's, Providence : 
 
 1. Rebecca, baptized March 17, 1765; married Dr. Henry 
 
 Malcolm. 
 
 2. Sarah, baptized May n, 1766; married Col. James 
 
 Waller Head. 
 
 3. Angelica, baptized April 10, 1768; married the Hon. 
 
 Ezekiel Gilbert. 
 
 4. Anne Checkley, baptized Oct. 14, 1770; married, ift, 
 
 John Shipboy, 2d, William MacBeth. 
 
 5. Henry Paget, born June 9, 1774; baptized July 31, 
 
 1774; died March 20, 1809. 
 
 6. Jofeph, baptized Aug. 27, 1777. He is faid to have fet- 
 
 tled in Tenneffee. 
 
 REBECCA,
 
 128 Memoir of 
 
 REBECCA, daughter of Debora Checkley and Henry Paget, 
 married, ift, June 2, 1776, Dr. Jofeph Harrifon, a phyfician 
 and furgeon of Providence, R. I. Their daughter, Sufannah 
 Harrifon, was baptized in King's Church, April 27, 1777. 
 Dr. Harrifon died inteflate, and his widow was granted 
 adminiftration on his eftate July 20, 1778. Tradition fays 
 " (he married 2? Col George Olney and had two children, 
 Ruth and George neither of whom married." In the Rec- 
 ords of King's, now St. John's, Church, Providence, is the 
 following : " Ruth Paget, daughter of George Olney, bap- 
 tifed January 21, 1779." The record thus confirms the 
 tradition that George Olney had a daughter, Ruth, and 
 thereby flrengthens the tradition that he had a fon, George. 
 Was not this fon the fame George Olney who was promi- 
 nent in St. John's Church when the new church was creeled 
 in 1810? More extenfive inveftigation might decide this 
 queftion. Vide Hi/lory of the Narraganfett Church, by 
 Wilkins Updike, pp. 419, 430 et alibi. 
 
 The defendants of Anne Paget, granddaughter of the 
 Rev. John Checkley and wife of Capt. Jofeph Olney, Jr., are 
 numerous. It will not be poffible to give a full genealogical 
 account of them in this Memoir. Names and dates have 
 been given when it was practicable to do fo. Each of the 
 four daughters of Anne Paget and Capt. Jofeph Olney, Jr., 
 and their refpeclive defendants, will be treated feparately, 
 in the order of their births. 
 
 REBECCA, the eldeft daughter of Anne Paget and Capt. 
 Jofeph Olney, baptized in King's Church, Providence, R. I., 
 March 17, 1765, married Dr. Henry Malcolm, who was 
 born Dec. 12, 1756. He was a furgeon in the war of the 
 
 Revolution,
 
 Checkley. 129 
 
 Revolution, and we are informed by one of his defcend- 
 ants that he ferved on the fhip Columbus, Capt. Abraham 
 Whipple, and like wife on the fhip Andrea Doria, Capt. 
 Nicholas Biddle. He alfo ferved with Dr. William Shippen 
 in the Medical Department of the Army. After the clofe 
 of the war, he removed to Hudfon, N. Y., where he paffed 
 the remainder of his life in the practice of his pro- 
 feffion. He died April 18, 1831. Their children were as 
 follows : 
 
 1. Donald, born Feb. 7, 1784; married Ermine Hawkins. 
 
 2. Margaretta Ward, born Jan. 14, 1787; died young. 
 
 3. Anne Paget, born Oct. 13, 1789; m. ift, George Clinton 
 
 Hamilton, 2d, Frederick Porter. 
 
 4. Angelica, born March 30, 1 792 ; married Jofeph Gibbons 
 
 Malcolm. 
 
 5. Amelia, born April 13, 1794; died unmarried. 
 
 6. Henry, born June 9, 1796; died unmarried. 
 
 7. William, born Feb. 18, 1800; died in New Orleans, 
 
 unmarried. 
 
 8. Robert Munclon, born July 20, 1802. He is faid to 
 
 have been married, but no further information has 
 been obtained. 
 
 9. Margaretta Ward, born Nov. 25, 1805. 
 
 1. DONALD, born Feb. 7, 1784; married Ermine Hawkins, 
 and had (i) Jane, who married William Winne, of New 
 York, whofe defendants are faid to refide in New York 
 City, (2) Emma, (3) Mary, (4) Maria, (5) George, (6) 
 Angelica. 
 
 2. ANNE PAGET, born Oct. 1 3, 1 789, who died in October, 
 1853; married, ift, George Clinton Hamilton, a lawyer of 
 
 VOL.I. 17 Hudfon,
 
 130 Memoir of 
 
 Hudfon, N. Y. He died Nov. 27, 1820, at the age of 30 
 years. Their only daughter, Elizabeth Gregg Hamilton, 
 born June 12, 1812, died July 9, 1838, married Maj. James 
 Winne. Their elded fon is the Rev. Frederick Porter 
 Winne, a minifler of Trinity Church, Watertown, in the 
 Diocefe of Central New York. His fon, John Checkley 
 Winne, organift in the Cathedral of the Diocefe of Arkan- 
 fas, died O<51. 3, 1891. A window has been placed to his 
 memory in the Cathedral at Little Rock. The Rev. Mr. 
 Winne's daughter Elizabeth Hamilton refides in Water- 
 town, N. Y. 
 
 The fecond fon of Elizabeth Gregg Hamilton Winne is 
 George Clinton Hamilton Winne, who with feveral children 
 refides in Albany, N. Y. ; namely, Mrs. Frederick J. Wing, 
 Mrs. William J. Bogardus, Mr. Harrie Bell Winne, and 
 Mifs Carrie Winne. 
 
 ANNE PAGET (Malcolm), born Oct. 13, 1789, married, 2d, 
 Frederick Porter, a merchant of Albany, N. Y., who died in 
 1853. They had Henry Malcolm, and Maria Lawrence, 
 who married Charles Schoolcraft, of Albany, and had John 
 L. and William. John L. Schoolcraft was a lawyer of note 
 in Adrian, Mich. Mrs. Schoolcraft married, 2d, Dr. Laird, 
 a phyfician, who died in Adrian, Mich., where Mrs. Laird 
 and her children ftill refide. 
 
 ANGELICA, daughter of Rebecca Olney and Dr. Henry 
 Malcolm, born March 30, 1792; married at Hudfon, N. Y., 
 Nov. 8, 1813, her coufm, Jofeph Gibbons Malcolm, of Phila- 
 delphia, who was born Feb. 15, 1785. Their children were 
 as follows : 
 
 i. Either Barton, born Ocl. i, 1818; married John Lloyd. 
 
 2. Angelica
 
 John Checkley. 131 
 
 2. Angelica Gilbert, born Nov. 19, 1820; married William 
 
 Ryan, and had Angelica, who married Sylvanus 
 Miller Davidfon. 
 
 3. John Gibbons, born Nov. 3, 1824. 
 
 4. Robert Munclon, born April 6, 1827; refides in Moline, 
 
 Illinois, and has eight children. 
 
 5. Henry, born April 6, 1827. Twin with preceding. 
 
 6. Jane, born Auguft 31, 1829. 
 
 7. William, born Dec. 24, 1831. 
 
 ESTHER BARTON, daughter of Angelica Malcolm and 
 Jofeph Gibbons Malcolm, born Oct. i, 1818; married John 
 Lloyd, of Philadelphia, and had : 
 
 1. Malcolm, who married Anna Howell, and had (i) 
 
 Howell, (2) Malcolm, (3) Stacy Bancroft, (4) Francis 
 Vernon, (5) Anna, (6) Efther Malcolm, (7) Mary 
 Carpenter. 
 
 2. Ifaac, not married. 
 
 3. Elizabeth Gibbons, not married. 
 
 4. Eftelle Barton married Henry Troth Coates, Publifher, 
 
 of Philadelphia. 
 
 5. John, not married. 
 
 6. Anne Morris married William Morrifon Coates, and 
 
 had (i) Efther Malcolm, (2) Samuel, (3) Benjamin, 
 (4) John Lloyd, (5) Helen Langdale. 
 
 7. Laura married George Morrifon Coates, and had 
 
 (i) Eliza, (2) Eleanor Percy, (3) Mary, (4) Malcolm 
 Vernon, (5) Laura Lloyd, (6) Edward Ofborne. 
 
 8. Emma Malcolm, married S. Afhton Souder, and had 
 
 (i) Edmund Lloyd, (2) Donald Malcolm, (3) Afhton, 
 (4) Thatcher. 
 
 9. Mary
 
 132 Memoir of 
 
 9. Mary Bancroft, married Norman Mariott Jones, and 
 had (i) Lloyd Pennifton, (2) Ethel Mariott, (3) Edwin 
 Olney. 
 
 The above defcendants of Efther Barton Malcolm and 
 John Lloyd are refidents of Philadelphia, Penn. 
 
 SARAH, the fecond daughter of Anne Paget and Capt. 
 Jofeph Olney; baptized May n, 1766, and died Dec. 7, 
 1804 ; married Col. James Waller Head, of Warren, Me. He 
 was born in Bofton in 1766, and baptized in Trinity Church 
 in that city, July 5, 1766. He was apprenticed in his youth 
 to " Clark and Nightingale," merchants of Providence, 
 R. I. On reaching his majority in 1787, he fettled as a 
 merchant in Warren, Me. He conducted a large bufmefs in 
 dry and Weft India goods, in lumber, and to fome extent 
 in fhipbuilding and commerce. During his refidence in 
 Providence he became attached to Mifs Sarah Olney, and 
 they were married May 16, 1788. He was a magiftrate, 
 colonel of a regiment when there were but two in the Prov- 
 ince, a delegate to the Convention held in Bofton for the 
 ratification of the Conftitution of the United States by 
 MafTachufetts, while Maine was a part of that State, and 
 was a foremoft citizen in the affairs of the town and county. 
 He died in Warren, Aug. 17, 1861. After the death of his 
 wife, Sarah Olney, Col. Head married, 2d, Frances Sandford, 
 and had Thomas Sandford, who died in infancy, and Martha 
 Derby, baptized July 15, 1810; me married John Brooks, 
 of Portland, Ocl. 3, 1839, and died Sept. 23, 1840. He was 
 an uncle of the late Bifliop Phillips Brooks, of Bofton. 
 
 The children of Sarah Olney and Col. James Waller 
 Head were as follows : 
 
 i. Angelica
 
 John Checkley* 133 
 
 1. Angelica Gilbert, born Dec. i, 1789; married William 
 
 Hovey. 
 
 2. James, born Sept. 24, 1791; married Jerufha Gelfton 
 
 Dwight. 
 
 3. Sarah Olney, born June 24, 1794 ; married Henry Flagg, 
 
 Sept. 20, 1813. 
 
 4. Maria Halfey, born April 22, 1796; married Thomas 
 
 Gelfton Sandford, Sept. 20, 1813. 
 
 5. Jean McKenzie, born March 27, 1799; died July 23, 
 
 1804. 
 
 6. Jofeph Olney, born Jan. 20, 1802; he died Sept. 12, 
 
 1819, on his paffage from Bermuda to his home in 
 Maine. 
 
 ANGELICA GILBERT, born Dec. i , 1 789, daughter of Sarah 
 Olney and Col. James Waller Head, married William 
 Hovey, a merchant of Warren, Me., Dec. 3, 1806. Their 
 eldeft daughter, Sarah Frances Head, married Thomas 
 Hodgman, a merchant of Warren, and had Frances Maria, 
 Martha Derby Head who died Oct. i, 1844, and William 
 Hovey. Frances Maria Hodgman married the Hon. 
 Edwin Smith, a Senator of the State of Maine, and had 
 Carrie Emerfon and Frances Hodgman, both deceafed. 
 William Hovey Hodgman, now of Medford, Mafs., mar- 
 ried Emeline Augufta Cufhman; and their children are 
 Edwin Smith, Sewall Cufhman, Percy Herbert, and Fred 
 William. 
 
 Angelica Head, fecond daughter of Angelica Gilbert 
 Head and William Hovey, married her coufm Warren F. 
 Hovey, of Eaft Machias, Me., and had a large family, moft of 
 whom died young. Their fon, Urban Hitchcock, married 
 
 Emma
 
 134 Memoir of 
 
 Emma Miller, of Lincolnville, Me., and left two daughters, 
 Frances Marion Hovey and Jofephine Buxton Hovey, who 
 refide in Warren, Me. Julia Hitchcock, daughter of Urban 
 Hitchcock Hovey, married John Miller, of Rockland, Me., 
 and left no ifiue. 
 
 JAMES, the eldeft fon of Sarah Olney and Col. James 
 Waller Head, born Sept. 24, 1791, refided in Portland, Me., 
 where he died March 30, 1835. He married Jerufha Gelfton 
 D wight, Ocl. 5, 1829. Their only child was Ellenore 
 Waller, born Jan. 1 1, 1832. She married her coufm, Thomas 
 Hovey Sandford, May 3, 1854. He died June 20, 1880. 
 Their children were as follows : 
 
 1. Edith D wight, born June 4, 1857, in Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 She married in Tokyo, Japan, December, 1881, ift, 
 Frederick William Strange, of London, England ; he 
 died in 1889. Their children are Frederick Baily, born 
 March 25, 1883, and Ellenore Martha, born Aug. 10, 
 1884. Mrs. Edith D wight Strange married, 2d, Capt. 
 Alexander Etienne Bougouin, of Nantes, France, an 
 officer of the French Army. They were married in 
 Tokyo, Japan, where Capt. Bougouin is at prefent 
 ftationed. 
 
 2. Frederick Swift, born in Orange, N. J., May 16, 1862. 
 
 He married, in January, 1890, Minna Dorothea, daugh- 
 ter of Frederick Ferdinand Bunker, of New York. 
 He refides in Orange Vale, Sacramento Co., California. 
 
 3. Parker Dwight, born in Orange, N. J., Dec. 3, 1865; 
 
 died in Pownal, Me., Ocl. 5, 1868. 
 
 After the death of her hufband, Mrs. Head married, 2d, 
 John Parker Boyd, a lawyer of Portland, Me., and had 
 
 Parker
 
 John Checkley. 135 
 
 Parker Dwight; Sufan Coffin, who married William Cook, 
 a profeffor in Harvard Univerfity ; and Mary Dwight, who 
 married Franklin Ripley Barrett. 
 
 SARAH OLNEY, fecond daughter of Sarah Olney and Col. 
 James Waller Head, born June 24, 1794, married Henry 
 Flagg, of Bangor, Sept. 20, 1813. Their children were as 
 follows : 
 
 1. Frances Maria, who married Frederick A. Jarvis, and 
 
 had (i) Jofephine H., who married George C. Fol- 
 fome, and refides in Wellefley, Mafs., (2) Francis P., 
 (3) Sarah J., Wellefley, Mafs., (4) Maria Sandford, 
 (5) Anna, (6) Frederic William, Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 2. Henry Jofeph, died 1866, in Chicago, 111. 
 
 3. James Head, refidence Clarence, 111. 
 
 4. Edmund Webfler, died in 1873. 
 
 5. William Hovey, refides in Bangor, Me. 
 
 6. Arthur French, died in 1891, in Clarence, 111. 
 
 MARIA HALSEY, third daughter of Sarah Olney and 
 Col. James Waller Head; born April 22, 1796; died 
 Feb. 9, 1831; married Thomas Gelfton Sandford, of 
 Topfham, Me., Sept. 20, 1813. The following are their 
 children : 
 
 i. James Head, born Aug. 13, 1814; married Dorothy 
 Burton, O61. 17, 1837. They had gemini, James Head 
 and Edward T., born 1840. On the death of his wife 
 he again married, and with a fon, George Dwight, 
 removed to Minnefota. The above-named Edward 
 T. Sandford was fettled as a Baptift minifter in St. 
 Johnfbury, Vt. He removed to California. 
 
 2. Thomas
 
 136 Memoir of 
 
 2. Thomas Hovey, fecond fon of Maria Halfey Head and 
 
 Thomas Gelfton Sandford, born in Topfham, Me., 
 April n, 1816; married, ift, Caroline Mary Bond, 
 Sept. 6, 1837, and had: 
 
 (1) Adelaide McKenzie, born in Bangor, Me., Dec. 
 1 8, 1841 ; 4ied, unmarried, Oct. i, 1870. 
 
 (2) Lucretia Bond, born May 4, 1844, in Bangor; mar- 
 ried, i ft, in Orange, N. J., Aug. 15, 1874, Henry 
 Auguftus Howe, of Orange, N. J., refidence in 
 Nagafaki, Japan. Their children are Edith Helen, 
 born in Nagafaki, July 30, 1875, and Henry Arnold, 
 born in Tokyo, Japan, Dec. 12, 1879. After the 
 death of her hufband, Mrs. Howe married, 2d, in 
 Tokyo, Japan, July 8, 1893, Alexander McMillan, 
 of London, England, refiding in Tokyo. 
 
 Thomas Hovey Sandford married, 2d, his coufin, Elle- 
 nore Waller Head, and had: 
 
 (3) Edith Dwight, born June 4, 1857. 
 
 (4) Frederick Swift, born May 16, 1862. 
 
 (5) Parker Dwight, born Dec. 3, 1865. 
 
 Vide antea, family of James, eldeft fon of Col. 
 James Waller Head, and Sarah Olney, p. 134. 
 
 3. Frances Head, the eldeft daughter of Maria Halfey and 
 
 Thomas Gelfton Sandford, born Nov. 12, 1817; mar- 
 ried, Sept. 7, 1836, Nehemiah Ordway Pillfbury, of 
 Bangor, Me., and died about 1852, leaving a fon, 
 Thomas Sandford Pillfbury. 
 
 4. William, born June 30, 1819; died in 1827. 
 
 5. Jofeph Head, the fourth fon of Maria Halfey Head and 
 
 Thomas Gelfton Sandford, born Sept. 17, 1820; died 
 
 April 30.
 
 John Checkley. 137 
 
 April 30, 1891, in Chelfea, Mafs. ; married Mary Jane 
 Valentine, of Bangor, Me., July 17, 1843. Their chil- 
 dren are : 
 
 (1) Gelflon, born Sept. 19, 1845; died Aug. n, 1846. 
 
 (2) Jofeph Head, born Sept. 27, 1846; married Clara 
 Jofephine Elliot, of Everett, Mafs., and had Elliot, 
 who married Jan. n, 1890, Blanche Atkinfon, of 
 Temple, Arizona, and they have Violet Blanche, 
 born Dec. 3, 1890, and George Elliot, born Dec., 
 
 1893- 
 
 (3) Frank Valentine, born April 13, 1850; married 
 
 Jennie Gilbert, of Chelfea, Mafs., Oct. 12, 1871. 
 Their children are Gertrude Brenkerhoff, Herbert 
 Valentine, Frederick Gilbert, and Grace May. 
 
 (4) Thomas Hovey, born Nov. 13, 1857, died March 4, 
 
 1859- 
 
 (5) Minnie Frances, born Nov. 30, 1861, married 
 Francis Green, of New York, Dec. 29, 1887. 
 
 6. Gelfton, the fifth fon of Maria Halfey Head and Thomas 
 
 Gelfton Sandford, born 061. 12, 1826; died in Warren, 
 November, 1837. 
 
 7. Maria Head, fecond daughter of Maria Halfey Head 
 
 and Thomas Gelfton Sandford, born Dec. 31, 1830, 
 married Henry M. Snell, of Bofton, and had Jofeph 
 Dix, born Feb. n, 1864, and Mary Sandford, born 
 Feb. 21, 1870. Mrs. Snell and her fon refide in 
 Afhmont, Mafs. 
 
 ANGELICA, the third daughter of Anne Paget and Capt. 
 
 Jofeph Olney; baptized, April 10,1768; married the Hon. 
 
 VOL. i. 1 8 Ezekiel
 
 138 Memoir of 
 
 Ezekiel Gilbert, of Hudfon, N. Y. He was a lawyer, and 
 fometime a member of Congrefs. Their children were: 
 Angelica, William Henry, and Edward. They left no 
 defcendants. 
 
 ANNE CHECKLEY, fourth daughter of Anne Paget and 
 Capt. Jofeph Olney, baptized Ocl. 14, 1770, died June 19, 
 1803. She married, ift, John Shipboy of Albany, N. Y., 
 he died without iffue. She married, 2d, William MacBeth, 
 a native of Scotland ; he was a trader and had a ftore in 
 Warren; he died in Waldoborough, Me., April 25, 1840. 
 Their children were as follows : 
 
 1. Henry, fon of Anne Checkley Olney and William Mac- 
 
 Beth, married and died in Liverpool, England. 
 
 2. Angelica Gilbert, daughter of Anne Checkley Olney 
 
 and William MacBeth, married Dr. Daniel James, 
 of New Hartford, N. Y., Sept. 26, 1842; fhe died 
 without iffue. 
 
 3. Beatrice W., daughter of Anne Checkley Olney and 
 
 William MacBeth, married Francis Overlock, of 
 Waldoborough, Me., Oct. 27, 1825, and had (i) 
 Olivia Buxton, who married George Fifh, of Waldo- 
 borough, Me.; (he died June 13, 1849. ( 2 ) William 
 Henry, who refides in Thomafton, Me. (3) Pelham 
 Francis. (4) Margaret Keizer, who married William 
 Fuller, and refides in North Warren, Me. The names 
 of her children are Frances Beatrice, Fred Ofcar, Le 
 Foreft, of Fitchburg, Mafs. ; Mabel Angeline, Laura 
 Anna, of North Warren, Me. (5) Anne Checkley. 
 (6) Angelica Gilbert, who married Sandford Lam, 
 of Waldoborough, Me. 
 
 4. Julia,
 
 John Checkley* 139 
 
 Julia, daughter of Anne Checkley Olney and William 
 MacBeth, baptized June 12, 1803, married Edward 
 Manning, of Waldoborough, Me., April 13, 1826. 
 The names of their children are as follows: (i) 
 Angelica; (2) Hannah E. ; (3) Maria Sandford; (4) 
 Henry J., married Emily French, and had Henry 
 William and Edward Elfworth, res. Roxbury, Mafs. ; 
 (5) Mary A., married Domingus Roderick, and had 
 Cora, res. Chelfea, Mafs. ; (6) Margaret C, married 
 William Deering, and had Fred W. and George R., 
 res. Topsfield, Mafs. ; (7) A. Maria, married Ifaac Bray 
 Young, and had Roderick B. and Edward H., res. 
 Topsfield, Mafs. ; (8) Beatrice M., married George H. 
 Kirk, and had Mary A. and M. Florence, res. Tops- 
 field, Mafs.; (9) Edward F. ; (10) Eliza L., married, 
 i ft, Eben E. Wolton, and had Julia M., Henry D., 
 Cora R., married, 2d, Henry Stone, res. Topsfield.
 
 CHOICE DIALOGUES 
 
 BETWEEN A 
 
 GODLY MINISTER, 
 
 AND AN 
 
 HONEST COUNTRY-MAN, 
 
 CONCERNING 
 
 ELECTION & PREDESTINATION. 
 
 Detecting the falfe Principles of a certain Man, who calls 
 himfelf a Prefbyter of the Church of England. 
 
 By a Reverend and Laborious Paftor in Chrifis Flock, 
 by One who has been, for almoft twice thirty years, a faithful 
 & Painful Labourer in Chrifis Vine-yard. 
 
 For whom he did foreknow, he alfo did predeftinate to be 
 conformed to the Image of his Son, that he might be the 
 firft-born among many Brethren. Moreover, whom he did 
 predejlinate, them he alfo called: and whom he called, them 
 he alfo juftified; and whom he juftified, them he alfo glori- 
 fied. Rom. 8. 29, 30.
 
 TO THE READER: 
 
 [DESIRE to premife a few things, concerning 
 the following Dialogues, and the Occafion of 
 their Publication. As to the Dialogues them- 
 felves they contain a rich and precious ftore of 
 fpiritual Knowledge and godly Comfort. They 
 fpeak to the Hearts of Men in a very eafie and familiar 
 manner, fo that the meaneft Plough-man, the very meaneft 
 of God's People may underltand them. They treat of that 
 deep but comfortable Do6trin, (that Soul-pierceing Doclrin 
 to the wicked and unregenerate, but Soul-refrejhing and 
 Heart-comforting Doclrin to the Saints, to all righteous 
 and godly Folk;) I mean the Doclrin of Election and 
 Predeftination. 
 
 And now as to the Occafion of the Publication of thefe 
 Dialogues. Alas Chriftians ! I fear there is too, too great 
 Occafion for them. The many pernicious (and I fear 
 Alas! Soul-dejlroying] Books that have been handed up 
 and down in the Country as well as City, to poifon and 
 debauch Men's Minds, call aloud for thefe Dialogues (or 
 
 other
 
 144 The Preface. 
 
 other fuch like Difcourfes) to redifie Men's Opinions in 
 thefe Matters. There have been many wicked Books writ- 
 ten (by the inftigation of the Old Serpent who goes about to 
 deceive) which put falfe Comments & horrid Anti-Chriftian 
 Glofles upon the bejl of Books, the Fountain of all true and 
 Divine Wifdom. I mean our holy and precious Bible. 
 Thefe Dialogues will rightly inflrud Men concerning the 
 true Scripture Dottrines of Election and Predejlination. 
 Thefe, thefe plain, but Heart-enlightening Dialogues will 
 (hew Thee (Chriftian Reader] what was the Opinion of the 
 holy Martyrs of the Church in the firft and pureft Ages of 
 Chriftianity concerning thefe Doctrines ; & oh ! I am fure 
 we ought to follow them, them I fay who were taught the 
 Faith of Chrift from the Mouthes of the Apojlles orapo/lolick 
 Men, and dyed glorious Martyrs to the Truth ; I fay we ought 
 to mind what thefe fay, rather than harken to the delufions of 
 the great Whore, the Scarlet Whore, the Whore of Babylon, 
 that great Anti-Chrift, & others who in later Ages have new- 
 vampt her wicked and Soul-murthering Maxims, and have 
 fent them abroad to bewitch the Nations. Oh Chrijlians ! 
 Fellow-Chriftians and Proteftants / Thefe are direful Things, 
 ah, thefe are Heart-affliEling Matters ! that we fhou'd ever 
 hear of them in a Land of Light ! No, let us not follow 
 thefe blind Guides ; who (if we do) will certainly lead us into 
 the Ditch, but as I faid before, let us follow the Example of 
 the primitive Church, and give Ear to thofe pious and godly 
 FatJiers of the Church, who will teach us the Truth in 
 Sincerity. Here I cannot but take notice of the fad and 
 deplorable Degeneracy of Mankind, who are grown (many 
 of them) to that Height of malicious fcorning of others who 
 
 happen
 
 The Preface. 145 
 
 happen (tho' confcientioujly} to diflent from them, that they 
 will neither read the Books publifh'd by fuch Men, nor 
 fuffer others to read them, if they can help it : This, this is an 
 unchriftian-like Practice. This is fo unlike the kind Dealing 
 which Chrijlianity always makes ufe of, and fo like the 
 horrid Practice of the Synagogue of Rome, that we Chriftians 
 ought to abhor it. For the Papifhes will Suffer no Books 
 of the Proteftants (whom they call Hereticks) to be Printed 
 in their Countries, neither will they fuffer their Difciples 
 (or rather Slaves) to read them : I fay Slaves, becaufe thofe 
 Majlers who will not fuffer their Profelytes to make Enquiry 
 whether the Doctrines they teach them be true or falfe. 
 They, I fay, whom they thus teach, are fo far from being 
 Difciples, that they are mean, they we fervile & abjeft Slaves ; 
 and utterly unlike the rational Bereans, who are called noble 
 in Scripture, for examining whether thofe Things werefo or 
 not. The Scripture bids us examine all Things, and hold 
 fafl that which is be/I. But the Meaning of this Exhorta- 
 tion is not, that we fhou'd be forever reading, reading all 
 Books that are publim'd, for indeed many of them are not 
 worth the Reading. Indeed I have hear'd People fay that 
 there is fcarce one in twenty of the Books written by 
 Dijfenters that have common fenfe in them. Whether this 
 be true or not, let the World judge. But if it be true, 
 I hope they will take more heed for the future. But be it true 
 or not true, this I am fure is a true faying, viz: Wifdom is 
 juftified of her Children. I muft fay one Word more con- 
 cerning this Matter, (by way of Apology for their crude 
 and undigejled Notions) that if the Writings of the Noncon- 
 formijls of all Denominations be not quite so Polite as the 
 VOL. i. 19 Works
 
 146 The Preface. 
 
 Works of fome others, it may be, the caufe of it is their 
 Writing fo much ; for when Men write Books f after than 
 People can read them, their Method of reafoning too being 
 perfectly circular, and their Motion being so exceeding quick, 
 (Poor Men /) they can't help being a little giddy. But there 
 is another Reafon, and a charitable one too. There is a 
 vaft Deal of Paper made in that mojl chriftian Country (in 
 fome Men's Efteem) Holland, fo much that they fcarce 
 know what to do with it all ; and fome Men think it an Acl 
 of Charity, not to let any Thing ly upon the Hands of our 
 good Allies, and true Protejlant Brethren, the Dutch. There- 
 fore their Charity, with their Lujl after Writing, forces 
 them to buy it up, and then cramm it full of painfull and 
 Labourious Searches and Re-Searches after the Truth, and in 
 Soul-Cheri/hing and Heart-helping Works of Edification, 
 Recumbency and Regeneration, Mifterious Tractates all ! If 
 what has been faid concerning the Writings of Diffenters 
 be true, (as fome Men fay they can make it appear) I hope 
 the rijing Generation will mend the Matter. And to let 
 Thee fee what Hopes thou may'ft have of their fo doing ; 
 I will give Thee fome Account of the Parts of fome of tht 
 Rijing Generation, who tho' (it muft be confeft) they are but 
 Striplings'] yet they are (fome of them) wonderful, wonderful 
 Striplings ! It has been remarked by fome of the Hearers, 
 that (oh dear /) they can fay what they pleafe ; that even in 
 publick Prayer to God they can fay even what they pleafe ; 
 (and there are fome People who think indeed that they do 
 fay what they pleafe) there be others who can preach a long 
 Sermon without ufmg any Notes, nay and preach three fuch 
 Sermons in one Day. There be others in this Country like- 
 
 wife,
 
 The Preface. 147 
 
 wife, (but from whence they came, or how they came hither 
 we know not ; but no Matter for that, we have them, & able 
 Men they are) there be others who I fay are very extraordi- 
 nary: whofe zeal im preaching (if we may believe common 
 Fame) was fo great, that they (poor Hearts half ftarv'd) left 
 their dear Country, and all that they had in the World, (that 
 is their Packs) to come into Foreign Parts to Preach. But 
 there are fome (to their Praife be it fpoken) who are of an 
 higher Order and Abilities than thefe ; concerning one of 
 whom, one of the Rifeng Generation, there has been lately 
 pronounc'd, by a celebrated Writer, a very extraordinary 
 Speech, fo extraordinary that I beg leave to tranfcribe part 
 of it : (the Quintejfence] it is this, viz: 
 
 " Highly favoured of God, are the Churches enriched with 
 Pajlors of bright Abilities, for the building and ferving of 
 his Temple : Able to underftand the Sacred Oracles even 
 in the Languages wherein they are given us, and illuftrate 
 them from an intimate Acquaintance with Antiquity : . . . 
 Able to maintain the Truth with Armour fetch'd from the 
 Tower of David, and convince or confound Gainfayers, that 
 go to perplex us with their Controversies " m 
 
 Here (I befeech ye) let me advife Gainfayers to take heed 
 
 how 
 
 109 This extracl is from a fpeech by ife, a grandfon of Dr. Increafe Mather, 
 
 the Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather, on giving and nephew of Dr. Cotton Mather. 
 
 the right hand of fellowfhip to the Rev. Mr. Walter fubfequently reviewed 
 
 Thomas Prince, A.M., at his ordination this pamphlet in a brochure entitled 
 
 in the Old South Church in Bofton, a " Choice dialogue between John 
 
 Oct. i, 1718. Mr. Prince preached the Fauftus, a conjurer, and Jack Tory, his 
 
 fermon on the occafion, and Dr. In- friend. By a Young Strippling." He 
 
 creafe Mather gave a charge. The evidently affumes this fobriquet in allu- 
 
 whole proceedings were publifhed. The lion to a remark of Mr, Checkley in a 
 
 extracl: refers to the Rev. Thomas preceding fentence in which he refers 
 
 Walter, a young man of unufual prom- to him as a "ftrippling."
 
 148 The Preface. 
 
 how they oppofe them, for here 's nothing but convince or 
 Confound^ ftand clear, for here 's no Quarter to be given. 
 If anything fhould be objected againft the following Papers, 
 (as I expert there will, for there are many who call them- 
 felves Church of England-Men, who won't like what thefe 
 Papers contain) I fay if any Thing fhou'd be faid againft the 
 Doclrins laid down herein, it is expected that fome of thefe 
 Gentlemen (who are fo able to convince or Confound} will 
 let the world know, whether what the following Pages con- 
 tain is the true Scripture Doflrine of thefe Matters or not. 
 And indeed I will help the Gmtlemen (becaufe they are 
 young) to an unanfwerable Argument, and fuch as the 
 meaneft ploughman may apprehend ; and 'tis this, viz. (if 
 any Man in anfwer to thefe Papers, fhou'd argue upon their 
 old Hypothejis of Secret Decrees) I would have them make 
 ufe of this Argument : That two abfolute Contradictions can- 
 not both be true, but the Will of the true God reveal' d to us 
 in holy Scripture is an abfolute Contradiction to thofe ftoical 
 and fatal Schemes ; Therefore it is impojfible that thofe 
 Schemes can be true. The Minor is prov'd to a Demon- 
 ftration in the following Sheets. 
 
 Before I conclude this Preface, I beg leave to give a little 
 Advice to thofe Perfons into whofe hands thefe Papers may 
 fall, that they wou'd not, if they happen to find any Thing 
 difpleajing to them, immediately throw them out of their 
 Hands ; it may be they may take Offence without Reafon ; 
 but I entreat them to read them quite thro', left they may 
 be guilty of Injuftice, by giving Sentence before the Trial of 
 the Matter. I conclude with an hearty Defire that thefe 
 Papers may be attentively read over, and for this Reafon, 
 
 becaufe
 
 The Preface. 149 
 
 becaufe they will rightly inftrucl Thee concerning fome 
 of thofe Things in PauCs Epiftles, which Peter fays are 
 hard to be underftood, which they that are unlearned & un- 
 ftable wreft, as they do alfo the other Scriptures unto their 
 own Deftruclion. Ye therefore, beloved, feeing ye know thefe 
 Things before, beware left ye alfo being led away with the 
 Error of the wicked, fall from your own Steadfaftnefs. But 
 grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord and 
 Saviour Jefus Chrift : To whom be Glory, both now and 
 forever. Amen.
 
 DIALOGUE THE FIRST. 
 
 Country-Man. Good morrow, Reverend Sir. 
 
 Minifter. I thank Thee, honefl Countrey-man, a good 
 Morning to Thee likewife, and I pray God blefs Thee. But 
 I wou'd know what has brought Thee to my houfe fo early. 
 
 C. I am come to be inflrucled and to know my Duty. 
 
 M. Thou art to be commended for fo doing. Sit down, 
 my Friend, I will give Thee my beft Inftruclions concerning 
 what thou malt inquire of me. 
 
 C. I have heard that fome Men, particularly one Dr. Ed- 
 wards 110 has been endeavouring to bring into our excellent 
 Church the Scotch and Dutch Prejbyterian Notions concern- 
 ing Election and Predeftination. Now Sir, if I have been 
 rightly inform'd concerning thefe rigid Doftrines, I fhou'd 
 be very forry they fhou'd take place any further in the 
 Minds of Men ; becaufe they will take away our Free-will, 
 and transform us into fomething worfe than Brutes, for the 
 
 Brutes 
 
 110 This was the Rev. John Ed- 
 wards, D.D., Fellow of St. John's 
 College, Cambridge, who was born in 
 1637 and died 1716. He was a Cal- 
 vinift and a voluminous writer. He 
 publifhed in 1713 a work entitled 
 
 Theologia Reformata. He was fome- 
 times faid to be the Calvin of his time. 
 He is referred to on the titlepage of 
 this tra6l as a " certain man who calls 
 himfelf a Prejbyter of the Church of 
 England"
 
 152 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 Brutes plainly difcover a Freedom of Election in their 
 Aclions. They will make God the Author of Sin. And 
 his Punifhment of the wicked to be merely arbitrary, to 
 condemn Men to eternal Flames, for thofe Sins which he 
 had put out of their Power to avoid ! Nay to create them on 
 purpofe to make them thus miferable ! the repeating of it 
 frights me ! It feems all Blafphemy to me ; to reprefent 
 the infinit Goodnefs and Father of Mercies, in the Colours 
 of Cruelty it felf, that you cou'd not exceed it in the Defcrip- 
 tion of the Devil ! 
 
 M. Therefore the Lutherans have charg'd the Calvinifts 
 with Worfhipping the Devil. For, fay they, we fee not the 
 Perfon of God, or of the Devil. Therefore we defcribe them 
 by their Qualifies. And if we make God more cruel than 
 the Devil, we make Him worfe than the Devil. And we 
 Worfhip the Devil under the Name of God. For it is not 
 the Word GOD that we Wor/Jiip, but what we mean by it. 
 The Heathens did Sacrifice to Devils, & not to God, yet 
 they call'd thofe Devils by the Name of Gods. in 
 
 C. But 
 
 111 What may be called " high Cal- ily wove them into their prayers, into 
 
 vinifm" prevailed in Maflachufetts their difcourfes, and into their conver- 
 
 Bay from the foundation of the colony. fations, and thus thefe Calviniftic doc- 
 
 The early confeflions of faith and the trines gave tone and colouring to the 
 
 platforms adopted at Cambridge and whole religious life of the people. Not 
 
 Saybrook maintained their fupremacy many original difcuffions on thefe topics 
 
 throughout New England for a hun- by the New England divines had up to 
 
 dred and fifty years. The doclrines this time appeared in print. But there 
 
 of decrees, of election, predeftination, were neverthelefs Sublapfarians, who 
 
 and reprobation were fet forth in their taught that God permitted the fall of 
 
 fternand moft pofitive character. They Adam without in any way predetermin- 
 
 were difpenfed everywhere by the ing it, while there were alfo Supralap- 
 
 learned and unlearned from the Puri- farians. who taught that the fin of Adam 
 
 tan pulpit. While few had the rare with all its confequences was not only 
 
 gift or capacity for dealing with nice known but predetermined by God from 
 
 metaphyfical queftions, neverthelefs all all eternity. 
 
 underftood their conclufions, and read- After a very careful refearch we do not 
 
 find
 
 Choice Dialogues. 153 
 
 C. But God is call'd a Confuming Fire, and a terrible 
 God. Is there not fomething of Cruelty in this ? 
 
 J/. You eafily apprehend the Difference betwixt Juftice 
 and Cruelty. God is Juftice, but ther is nothing of Cruelty 
 in his Nature. Cruelty is delighting in the Mifery of an- 
 other, without any regard to a Fault committed. As Envy 
 is repining at the Profperity of another, let him deferve it 
 never fo well ; for an envious Man cannot endure to fee any 
 other in a better Condition than Himfelf. But none of thefe 
 can be in God. 
 
 C. Now I underftand. God punifhes in Juftice, as He is 
 the Supreme Judge of the World. But if He made Crea- 
 tures on purpofe to damn them, this has all the Notion we 
 can have of Cruelty. And if He put it out of their Power 
 not to Jin, and left them no Free-will to chufe whether they 
 would fin or not, I fee not how this can be reconcil'd to 
 Juftice. Therefor I think no Creature is capable of finning 
 
 but 
 
 find that any denial of thefe do<5lrines, papers againft the repudiated doclrines. 
 
 or any arguments in oppofition to them, Among thefe may be mentioned the 
 
 had, anterior to this, been publifhed by famous letter of Dr. Samuel Johnfon, 
 
 any theologian or fcholar within the the firft prefident of King's College, 
 
 boundaries of New England. New York, under the pfeudonyme of 
 
 Thefe dialogues by Mr. Checkley Ariftocles to Authades, on the fover- 
 
 were therefore the firft attempt by a eignty and the promifes of God. To 
 
 native of the foil to mow by argument this may be added the reply to the 
 
 that thefe cardinal do6lrines of Cal- Rev. Jonathan Dickinfon by the Rev. 
 
 vinifm were unfcriptural, and inconfift- John Beach, A.M., on God's fover- 
 
 ent with the character of a wife, good, eignty and his univerfal love to the 
 
 and benevolent ruler of the univerfe. fouls of men. 
 
 The Churchmen of New England Thefe Choice Dialogues by Mr. 
 
 who left the miniftry of the Puritan Checkley led the way, and furnifhed, in 
 
 body and fought orders in the Church concife and clear ftatements, the ob- 
 
 of England, up to the time of the Amer- vious objections to thefe abftrufe doc- 
 
 ican Revolution, we believe, without an trines, which had been accepted, for 
 
 exception, abandoned the Calvinifm in a whole century in Maffachufetts Bay, 
 
 which they had been educated, and fome without proteft and probably without 
 
 of them publifhed able and elaborate being underftood. 
 
 VOL. I. 20
 
 154 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 but what has free-will. Sin being the Inclining of the 
 Will to Evil, and not to Good. Which if I have no Power 
 to do, I can neither do Good nor Evil. I have no Title 
 to Reward, nor am I lyable to Punijhment. And what a 
 Jeft wou'd it be in you, if you fhou'd pretend to argue with 
 me, to promife or threaten, to perfwade me to do fuch a 
 Thing, if you knew before-hand that it was impojffible for me 
 to do it? Suppofe you mould tye me Hand and Foot, 
 throw me into a Prifon, bolt and fetter me down to the 
 Floor, lock the Doors fafl upon me, and then fet-Jire to it, 
 then preach to me in at the Window, and life Tf&fa pathetical 
 Exhortations to me to come out, and why wou'd I flay there 
 to be burrid? And fliou'd Swear to me, as I live I don't dejire 
 your Death, nor have any Pleafure in it ; and fhou'd promife 
 me great Rewards if I wou'd come out ; wou'd not this be 
 infulting my Mifery, and the greateft Aggravation of Cru- 
 elty that is poffible to be imagined ? Yet this is the Notion 
 thofe rigid Calvinifts wou'd have us entertain of the Goodnefs 
 of God, of all his gracious Promifes, and of all his Threaten- 
 ings to us, if we forfake not our Iniquities, and deliver our- 
 felves out of that Prifon and Bondage of Sin into which 
 we had cafl our felves, by our habitual wicked Courfes. This 
 is the Cafe as they put it. And I have made it eafie to my 
 felf to apprehend it, by this familiar Example I have given, 
 that I fee it before my Eyes, and deleft and abhor it ! But 
 flill I have a Queftion to afk upon this Point. We fay in 
 the Collccl for the Second Sunday in Lent, That we have no 
 power of our felves to help our felves. Is not this the Cafe I 
 put of the Prifon ? 
 
 M. Yes, fully. If we confider our Help as only from our 
 
 felves.
 
 Choice Dialogues. 155 
 
 felves. When Man had fallen by his Rebellion againft God ; he 
 was no ways able to deliver himfelf either from the Dominion 
 of Sin, or from the Prifon of Death to which it was doom'd, 
 But Chrift our bleffed Saviour enter'd into that Prifon in 
 our Nature, and in our Stead, and made full Satisfaction 
 for all the Sins of that Nature, to be apply 'd to all who laid 
 hold upon it, by a true and lively Faith, and a fmcere Repen- 
 tance for their Sins. He open'd the Prifon-Doors, and 
 preach 'd Deliverance to all who wou'd accept of his Salva- 
 tion. And to thofe who are willing, he gives the Affiftance 
 of his Grace, to help their Infirmities. And this is neceffary 
 to all the Actions of our Life. Without this, we can neither 
 do a good Deed, nor think a good Thought. So that all the 
 Glory is ftill to Him. \ &. fomething is ftill left for us to do. 
 We muft work with Him, becaufe he works in us both to 
 will, and to do. 
 
 C. Thus then I take it. If I manure my Ground never 
 fo well, yet without the Sun, it will not bear. On the other 
 Hand if I do not prepare my Ground, the Sun will not bring 
 a. Crop I did not fow. Nay, it is the Sun too, which with 
 my Labour, do's prepare the Ground, and fit it to receive 
 the Seed. So that in Effect all is from the Sun, both to 
 prepare the Earth, and enable it to bring forth the Seed. 
 Yet our Labour is neceffary, not as what produces any 
 Thing, but only to remove what hinders the Production. 
 Now I compare the Sun to the Grace of God, without which 
 we can do nothing. And our Working, tho' it can produce 
 nothing of it felf, yet it prepares the Heart to receive the 
 Influence of the Sun of Righteoufnefs. So that, as St. Paul 
 faith, he that planteth is nothing, nor he that watereth, but 
 
 God
 
 156 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 God who giveth the Encreafe. And this was the Baptifm 
 of Repentance St. John Baptijl was fent to preach, to turn 
 the Hearts of the Fathers to the Children and the Hearts 
 of the Children to their Fathers, to foften the Ground of 
 the Heart to take out thofe Stones and Hardnefs which 
 wou'd hinder it to receive the Seed of the Go/pel. For 
 THEY who are proof againft even Natural Affec~lion, are 
 deaf to all the Charms of the Go/pel. And this was truly 
 preparing the Way to our Saviour, to fit and difpofe Men to 
 receive his felf-denying Doflrine. This is a preventing and 
 preparing Grace ; which whofo refefts, nips the Seed in the 
 Bud, and brings no Fruit to Perfection. In vain then do thefe 
 unprofitable Servants plead their own want of Strength as 
 an Excufe, while they refifl that Grace which is offer'd them 
 for an Help. Suppofe I was lame, and cou'd not go where 
 my Life depended upon it. But then a Coach was offer'd 
 me with all Convenience to carry me ; and I fhou'd refufe 
 it, cou'd I plead my Lamenefs as a Defence for me ? Or, 
 which is more abfurd, cou'd I fay, it was not in my Power to 
 accept it ? Or that He who offer'd it, did not really intend 
 it? All this Banter and Blafphemy thefe Predefiinarians 
 put upon the great God. 
 
 DIALOGUE THE SECOND. 
 
 C. I have been attack'd, Sir, for the laft words, I fpoke 
 laft Time, faying that the Predefiinarians did banter and 
 blafpheme the great God. They fay that Predejlination is a 
 Scripture-word, and therefore no Man ought to fpeak againft 
 it. And I muft have fome of your Help to rid me out of 
 
 this ;
 
 Choice Dialogues. 157 
 
 this ; for I wou'd by no Means fay any Thing to the Deroga- 
 tion of the holy Scriptures. 
 
 M. The holy Scriptures often fpeak to us, after the Man- 
 ner of Men, which in the Schools is call'd, ad Captum, that 
 is to our Capacities. For otherwife we cou'd not under/land 
 them. We have no words that can properly exprefs the 
 infinit Nature of God. He is eternal and dwells in Eternity, 
 but we have no words but of Time. We cannot conceive 
 a Duration without pajl, prefent and to come, yet thefe can- 
 not be in God. For then He muft have a Beginning, and 
 wou'd gain or lofe in Procefs of Time, as we do. All 
 Things are prefent to Him. Therefor wherever Fore or 
 After is attributed to God in holy Scripture, we muft take 
 that Word ad Captum, becaufe ther is no Fore or After in 
 God. Such is the Word Pre-DeJlination, or Fore-Ordaining, 
 or Fore-Knowing. God knows all Things. But He fore- 
 knows nothing, becaufe all Things are Prefent to Him. 
 So He ordains, but He do's not fore-ordain. Yet we muft 
 ufe thefe Words, becaufe they are according to our Capaci- 
 ties. But if we argue ftriflly and properly from them, we 
 fhall fall not only into many Abfurdities, but even Blaf- 
 phemies. And fo it is as to other Words ad Captum. God 
 is faid in Scripture to repent, to be grieved, to be angry, &c. 
 Yet we all know God is not fubjecl to any of thefe PaJJions. 
 And if we mould argue ftriftly and properly from fuch 
 Expreffions, we muft deny the Being of a God. Now if I 
 fhou'd argue from God's being faid to repent, that He is 
 changeable, and 20 other Confequences might be drawn from 
 thence, What wou'd Dr. Edwards fay to me ? Wou'd He 
 not tell me, that I was totally out of the Way, and ought 
 
 not
 
 158 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 not to draw any fuch Confequences from a Word that was 
 only ad Captum. The fame I fay to Him as to Predeftination, 
 which is only ad Captum, and no more a Scripture- Word, than 
 God's repenting, &c. And if He will not give me leave to draw 
 Confequences from the one, neither will I give him leave to 
 draw Confequences from the other, both being equally abfurd. 
 And let Him mew me a reafon more for the one than the 
 otJur, if He can. Now thefe Words ad Captum are to be 
 underflood comparatively, with an as if. Thus when it is 
 faid God repented He had made Man, and it grieved Him at 
 the Heart, it is to exprefs the high Difpleafure of God, and 
 the terrible Puni/Jiment of the Flood that follow'd, As IF 
 God had repented & been grieved at the Heart, &c. And 
 thus when God was willing to exprefs the exceeding Great- 
 nefs of his Love to us, and the full AJJurance we may have 
 in his Promifes, He do's it with an as if ther were a Yejler- 
 day in God, and that He had then chofen us by Name, and 
 paft an ir-reverjible Decree for our Salvation, which no Time 
 or Accident fhou'd ever alter. In which Scripturc-fenfe 
 of Predeftination it is a Doclrin full of Comfort and AJJur- 
 ance to all good Chri/lians. And ther is nothing hard to be 
 underflood in it. But the Perplexities of this Difpute have 
 arifen from taking the Word in the flricl and literal Senfe, 
 without any as if, or Comparifon in the Cafe, or any Allow- 
 ance for a Word ad Captum : But down-right fuppofmg a 
 Time paft in God, and the Decree already paft, concerning 
 Things to Come with God. Which Abfurdity being granted, 
 others follow in-extricable on both fides. For Example, 
 fuch Decree being fuppofd to be paft, it takes away Free- 
 will; elfe the Will of Man might difappoint the Decree of 
 
 God.
 
 Choice Dialogues. 159 
 
 God. On the other Hand, without Free-will fuppofd, it 
 will be impoffible to give an Account for all the Promifes 
 and Threatnings in the Holy Scriptures, and the Protejla- 
 tions of God that he delighteth not in the Death of a Sin- 
 ner, and his earneft Invitations to Repentance. And as this 
 is the Perplexity of the Difpute, fo remove the firft Abfur- 
 dity, and all clears up on both fides. Let us underftand 
 God's Predeftination (as his repenting) to be a Word ad Cap- 
 turn, not to be Strictly and Philofophically inquir'd into, and 
 Confequences drawn from it; but to look to the general 
 Import and Meaning of it, & there we underftand the Firm- 
 nefs of God's Promifes, and of his Covenant made with us 
 in Chrift, impoffible to be fruftrated, As IF decreed in 
 Time paft, even from Eternity. But the Decree of God 
 being only Prefent, for that ther is no paft or future in 
 Him, we take the Expreffion only ad Captum, and fee no 
 future Infraction upon our Free-will from the Pre-Deftina- 
 tion of God. The whole Difficulty being as to Time of "fore 
 and after, which we are fure are not, nor can be in God. 
 
 C. Sir, I underftand. And if others wou'd take notice of 
 what you have faid, it would flop our arguing and wrangling 
 about it, while it is plain we fet out upon a wrong Founda- 
 tion, in applying /#/? and future to God, which is only as to 
 us. And it is of God only we fpeak, when we fpeak of his 
 eternal Decrees before Man was made. For Man was not 
 then in the Cafe, otherwife than as all future Things are 
 prefent with God. But if we will apply this to our felves, 
 then it will follow, that I was born before I was born, even 
 from Eternity, becaufe my Birth was then prefent with God. 
 And my Death is now prefent with Him, therefor I am 
 
 now
 
 160 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 now Dead! And when I am dead, I am not dead, becaufe 
 all live to Him ! Thus we apply to our felves what we call 
 his Fore-Decrees, and fay that the Freedom of our Will is 
 now ty'd up by them. Therefor let me make this Experi- 
 ment. Let us leave the Word Fore out of the Difpute, and 
 fay only, that God ordains the Punifhment of Wickednefs 
 and the Reward of Vertue ; and ther is no Difficulty at all 
 in this. But when we fay (in the rigid Calviniftical Senfe) 
 that God Fore-ordains, there comes in all the Confufion. 
 
 M. And Dr. Edwards, or any Predejlinarian cannot 
 refufe this, fince they all allow that ther is no Fore or 
 After in God. Therefor if they will fpeak properly of 
 Him, they muft ufe Words only of the prefent. And will 
 they perplex the World, and make Men run mad, only 
 becaufe they will not fpeak properly of God ? If they pre- 
 tend to argue Philofophically, and draw juft Confequences, 
 they muft ufe proper Words, & not difpute from Words that 
 are only ad Cap turn. 
 
 DIALOGUE THE THIRD. 
 
 C. The Account you gave me laft Time, Sir, of Predefti- 
 nation has fatisfy'd me, that in the Scripture-fenfe of the 
 Word, and taken only ad Captum, as you exprefs it, it is a 
 moft comfortable Doftrin, and full of Affurance to all good 
 Chriftians. But that the rigid Calviniftical Notion of it, 
 and the Inferences they draw from it, are not only moft 
 abfurd, but like wife blafphemous again ft God. 
 
 M. And the Effects of it (fome of which I have feen) 
 
 among
 
 Choice Dialogues. 161 
 
 among the common Prejbyterians are terrible. For their 
 Heads being perpetually fill'd with the abftrufe Notions of 
 Predeftination, Election, Reprobation, and Secret Decrees of 
 God ; and that they have no Free-will or Choice what to do, 
 but muft go on as it is fecretly Decreed. This, as it of com- 
 mon Confequence makes Men carelefs : (for why fhou'd they 
 ftruggle when there is no remedy, and their Sentence is 
 already part, and that ir-revocably ?} So it is obfervable, 
 that more of THESE dye in Defpair, than of any other fort 
 of People. I have feen them cry out on their Death-Beds 
 for Ajfurance ! Affurance ! Oh ! What mail I do for 
 Ajffurance ! And when the Merits and Satisfaction of 
 Chrift has been preach'd to them, they wou'd fay, alas ! 
 What is that to me, if I be not one of the Elect? For 
 Chrift dy'd only for the Elect. (This is another of 
 their Doctrines, purfuant to their Notion of Predeftina- 
 tion, that the Decrees of God may not be frustrated.) 
 And when they were afk'd, why they did doubt of their 
 Election? And bid look into their Lives, which bating 
 humane Infirmities, were good and vertuous, in the common 
 Size of Mankind ; and therefor that they might take this as 
 a Mark of their Election : They wou'd anfwer, that the good 
 Works of the Reprobate were hateful to God, (for fo they 
 had been taught) and therefor that this was no fure Mark. 
 Nothing but Election ! Election! was in their Minds. The 
 Condition of thefe poor People is moft lamentable. Elec- 
 tion is with them a fecret Decree, without any refpecl to our 
 Works. And they can have no other AJJurance of it, but 
 that of their own Imagination. They cannot, as the Apojlle 
 requires, be always ready to render a Reafon of the Hope 
 VOL. i. 21 that
 
 1 62 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 that is in them. Nay, they fpeak againft Reafon, and think 
 it rather an Hindrance to Faith. 
 
 C. I thank God my Faith (which I have learn'd in the 
 Church of England) is this, That Chrift dy'd for all Man- 
 kind, and confequently for me in particular. And I have 
 his Promife, which is an infallible AJfurance ; that if I 
 believe and truft in that compleat Satisfaction he has made 
 for all my Sins, and truly repent of them, I fhall be Sav'd. 
 And tho' my Faith be weak, that I fay, Lord, I believe, help 
 mine unbelief; and my Repentance is unworthy, and fit to 
 be repented of, and all my Righteoufnefs is as filthy rags, yet 
 I defpair not, becaufe the Satisfatlion made for my Sins 
 was perform'd by Chrijl in his own Perfon, wholly without 
 me, in which I have no Share or Part at all ; I paid not, nor 
 cou'd pay one Penny of my Debt, or make any Satisfaction 
 to infinit offended Juftice ; but my whole Debt was paid by 
 my Surety, and by Him alone full Satisfaction was made, 
 who only cou'd make it. And my Faith is the Hand that 
 reaches this Medicin to me, and applys it. The Vertue is 
 not in the Hand, but in the Medicin. But the ftronger the 
 Faith, the greater the Comfort. Therefor, Lord increafe my 
 Faith, and I pray, that my Faith fail not. They who look'd 
 upon the bra/en Serpent were healed, yet fome had better 
 Sight than others. Even fo was the Son of Man lifted up, 
 that whofoever believeth in Him JJwuld have eternal L ife. 
 Thus my Faith is in Chrijl, but not in my Faith it felf. 
 And if I have but a Grain of it, as big as a Muftard-feed, the 
 Mountain of my Sins will be remov'd & caft into the Sea. 
 If my Faith be well-grounded, tho' weak, and my Repentance 
 be fmcere, tho' unworthy, I am upon Jacob's Ladder, and 
 
 tho'
 
 Choice Dialogues. 163 
 
 tho' upon the loweft Step, yet in the Road to Heaven. Some 
 are upon an higher Step, and fome upon a lower, but all are 
 fafe. That is my Faith, and my AJJurance, and this is the 
 Reafon and the /fo:/ upon which it is built. But what Rea- 
 fon can any Man give for his being elected by &fecret Decree, 
 which He knows not? He fancies himfelf defied! Ther 
 can be no more in it. For, as You have faid before, ther 
 can be no fure Mark of it, even by the Principles of the 
 Predejlinarians. And what then cou'd the Apoftle mean 
 (in their Senfe) by bidding us Make our Calling and Election 
 fure ? What ! Is not the Decree of God fure without us ? 
 
 M. I am pleaf'd with the Account you have given of 
 your Faith. And you ought to blefs God that you have 
 been educated in the Church of England, where you have 
 been inftrucled in the true Foundations of Chrijlianity, 
 which give all the AJJurance that the Word and Promife of 
 God can give. And this is the higheft Reafon. But the 
 AJJurance of the Predejlinarians is all Imagination, being 
 built upon Decrees which they confefs to hefecret and hidden 
 from us. Therefor it is no Wonder they fhou'd cry out for 
 Affurance^in their Extremity. And when theyy^j/ or may 
 think they have it, and boaft in it, yet they can give no 
 Reafon for it, and therefor it is but Imagination ftill. 
 Impreffions upon the Imagination may give great Pleafure 
 and even Raptures of Joy. And if thefe are built upon the 
 true Foundation, they are Gold and precious Stones; other- 
 wife they are but Hay and Stubble, and will not endure the 
 Fire. They are often the Delujion of Satan, who thus tranf- 
 forms himfelf into an Angel of Light, and deceives many 
 an unjlable Soul. But they mufl be try'd by the Foundation. 
 
 Upon
 
 164 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 Upon which they are not built, if we can give no Reafon for 
 them, but are Flajhes and Meteors, and give a falfe Light. 
 We may know them likewife by their Effects. If fuch 
 Trait/ports leave us more humble in our felves, and with 
 more Love and Charity to others, they come from God. But 
 if they fill us with fpiritual Pride, and make us look down 
 upon others as beneath us, they come, no Doubt, from the 
 Spirit of Pride, and tempt us to Pride ; tho' fometimes with- 
 out our knowing it, and while we act Humility. Ther is 
 none fo proud as \\\t proud-humble man, who is proud of his 
 Humility ! So fubtile is our Adverfary, that we muft watch 
 even over our Vertues. He mixes Poyfon with our Meat. 
 So that we often put Darknefs for Light, and Light for 
 Darknefs. And if the Light that is in us be Darknefs, how 
 great is the Darknefs ! And this muft be known by Reafon. 
 My Reafon tells me, that J can build no AJfurance upon 
 Decrees which are hidden and kept fecret from me. But 
 whatever thofe Decrees are, my Reafon affures me they can- 
 not be contrary or againft the reveal 'd Will of God, which is 
 given us in the holy Scriptures ; becaufe that wou'd be for 
 God to contradict Himfelf. Which is impoflible. And 
 therefore my Reafon tells me that I may furely truft in his 
 Promifes, and chearfully fet about my Duty, without per- 
 plexing my felf about \i\sfecret Decrees. 
 
 DIALOGUE THE FOURTH. 
 
 C. I hope Sir, that what you have faid of Predeftination 
 will fatisfie others as well as it has me. Firft, that the whole 
 
 Difpute,
 
 Choice Dialogues. 165 
 
 Difpute, as managed by the Calvini/ls, is all built upon 
 a wrong Foundation, even by their own ConfeJJion, in argu- 
 mgjlriclly from Words ad Captum, and which they confefs 
 to be fo; and will not fuffer the like to be done in any other 
 Cafe. Therefor that they ought to flop their Difputes 
 upon this Point, till they can find proper Words to fpeak by, 
 if they will fpeak properly of God. And thefe Difputes 
 ought to ceafe for a fecond Reafon you have given, which is, 
 that they are ufelefs, becaufe whatever the fecret Decrees of 
 God may be fuppof'd to be, yet that they cannot^ again/I or 
 invalidate his Will declar'd openly in the holy Scriptures, for 
 that wou'd be to contradict Himfelf. Therefor that we may 
 work in Hope, and chearfully apply our felves to the per- 
 forming of what He has commanded us ; with full Truft and 
 AJJurance in what He has promifd, without perplexing and 
 intangling our felves in thefe Difputes about his Secret 
 Decrees ; for they muft go according to his reveaVd Will. 
 In this we are fure, and therefor thefe Difputes are at 
 the beft ufelefs to us ; but of moft pernicious Confequence 
 when taken by the wrong Handle, as you have fully fhew'd. 
 But ther is one Thing wherein Dr. Edwards and the Pre- 
 dejlinarians do very much boaft, they fay that their Doclrin 
 is agreeable to our 39 Articles; and therefor that our Clergy 
 have apoftatizd (as Dr. Edwards words it) from the Doclrin 
 of the Church of England: and that the Diffenters are the 
 true Church of England, becaufe they hold Predejlination, 
 and are againfl Free-will, as they fay our Articles likewife 
 fpeak. Now tho' this be no Argument as to the Doclrin 
 it felf, yet to thofe of the Church of England it is of very 
 great Confequence, as well to vindicate the Church of Eng- 
 land
 
 1 66 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 land, as to flop the Mouths of Diffenters, which are all open 
 upon us on this Account. 
 
 M. The tenth Article is of Free-will. Which is not at 
 all there deny'd, but rather fuppof'd and afferted. But it 
 fuppofes the Concurrence of the Grace of God by Chrift to 
 be neceffary to incline and guide our Will, and to work with 
 us, When we have that good Will. Which is exactly 
 agreeable to what I have faid before of Grace and our work- 
 ing with it, page 156. The 17* Article is of Predeftination. 
 And keeps to the Scripture-Phrafe of God's ordaining before 
 the World began, of calling whom he fore-knew, juflifying, 
 fanttifying them, &c. Which is to be underflood in the 
 fame and no other fenfe than as thefe Words are uf'd in 
 holy Scripture, which all agree to be ad Captum, as we have 
 difcourf 'd it before. And thefe Expreffions of Scripture are, 
 according to our Capacities and Manner of fpeaking, as this 
 Article fays, full of fweet, p leaf ant and unfpeakable Comfort 
 to godly Perfons. But then this Article checks the Curi- 
 ofeties of this Difpute (which Is what I have been blaming) 
 and fays, For curious and carnal Perfons lacking the Spirit 
 of Chrift, to have continually before their Eyes the Sentence of 
 Gods Predeftination, is a moft dangerous Downfal, whereby 
 the Devil doth thru/I them either into Defperation, or into 
 WretchleJJnefs of moft unclean Living, no lefs Pernicious than 
 Defperation. 
 
 C. This is fo exactly what you have faid, that yours is 
 but a Comment upon this. 
 
 M. Then the Artick ends thus, Furthermore, We muft 
 receive God's Promifes in fuch wife as they be generally fet 
 forth to us in holy Scripture: And in our Doings, that Will 
 
 of
 
 Choice Dialogues. 167 
 
 of God is to be follow d, which we have exprejly declared 
 unto us in the Word of God. 
 
 C. This is juft as you have concluded, That we may 
 fafely truft in God's Promifes, and perform our Duty chear- 
 fully which He has commanded in holy Scripture, without 
 perplexing our felves about his Secret Decrees. Therefore 
 inftead of thefe Articles being againft you, or you againft 
 them, you have perfectly follow'd them in your Arguments, 
 and explained them. 
 
 M. Obferve further, that ther is not a Word of Reproba- 
 tion in all the if* Article of Predestination, nothing of 
 God's having Fore-decreed any to Mifery, but it fpeaks only 
 of thofe whom He has elected to Salvation. So that the 
 rigid Calvinifls againft whom we have been difputing can 
 find no Colour of Umbrage in their Favour from this 
 Article. Therefore whatever the Opinion of particular Men 
 might have been, this cannot be charg'd upon the Church 
 of England. 
 
 There was a Time when fome of our Divines ran in too 
 much with the Calvinijls. In the Marian Perfecution many 
 fled to Geneva and thofe Parts. And the joint Caufe 
 againft Popery, together with the Smart of their own Perfe- 
 cution, inclin'd 'em to all the favourable Opinion they cou'd 
 have of their Friends, who gave them Shelter. By this 
 Mean fome were tinclur'd with thefe rigid Notions of Pre- 
 dejlination. And when they return'd to England in the 
 Reign of Queen Elizabeth, their Reputation made this Doc- 
 trin go down more eafily with fome People. 
 
 But our EngliJJi Cyprian, and holy Martyr, the great 
 Arch-Bifhop LAUD, fet himfelf to ftop the Torrent of this 
 
 Infection
 
 1 68 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 Infection, and when he was Chancellor of Oxford, He turn'd 
 the Bent of their Studies from thefe modern Polemicks, and 
 Reading the Dutch and German Syftems of Divinity, to 
 learn downwards, and from the firft Beginning of Chrif- 
 tianity, to acquaint themfelves with the Fathers in the feveral 
 Ages to our Times ; Whereby they wou'd be better able to 
 judge of the novel Difputes of the Remonftrants, Anti- 
 Remonflrants, Supra and Sub-Lapfarians, &c., which then 
 tormented the Reformation in Germany and Holland ' ; and 
 wherein WE likewife took part. And that famous Univerjity 
 (together with her Sifter of Cambridge, which took the 
 fame Method) reap to this Day the Benefit of thofe pious 
 Inftruclions of her learned Chancellor, which has given 
 them that deferved Reputation all over Europe for their 
 great Knowledge and ExacJnefs in Antiquity; and the 
 primitive Doc~lrin and Difciplin of the Church; and teach- 
 ing us to derive our Faith from its Fountain and Original, 
 and to go higher up than either Luther or Calvin. For 
 want of which the Church of Rome has gain'd great Advan- 
 tages againft her lefs learned Oppofers. For this Caufe, Dr. 
 Edwards has thought fit to fall foul upon Arch-Bifhop 
 Laud, as the Corrupter of our Doflrin. But WE blefs his 
 Memory as the Rcflorer of it. The DocJor charges Him 
 and us for bringing in what he calls Pelagianifm, and 
 Arminianifm. But He is too learned not to know this 
 to be a Miftake. For tho' we affert Free-will, yet we teach 
 the Concurrence and even NeceJJity of Grace, to enable us to 
 bring forth Fruit unto God, as is before explain'd, page 156. 
 
 C. You have made it plain even to me. And now I am 
 frighted to think, that any Divine of the Church of Eng- 
 land
 
 Choice Dialogues. 169 
 
 land fhou'd make fuch an Ufe of the Union of the two 
 Kingdoms, & to propofe it in Print, as to joyn with the 
 rigid Calvinijls in Scotland and Holland, and our own Dif- 
 fenters at Home, againft the Church of England, which he 
 (good Man) calls Apoftate; and hopes, with tix& foreign and 
 dome/lick Aid, to bring us all back again to the rigid and 
 moft abhorrent Calvinifm of Predejlination ; to throw Men 
 into Defpair, and WretchleJJnefs of mojl unckan Living, 
 as our Article of Predejlination fpeaks. But I hope this 
 will give fufficient Warning to thofe of our Clergy who 
 yet remain firm to the Church, that they may in Time 
 ward this Blow which is fo publickly threatened, and already 
 attempted! 
 
 DIALOGUE THE FIFTH. 
 
 M. Ther is one Point remaining that follows from that 
 of Predejlination we have been upon ; in which I wou'd 
 have you, Country-man, to be well grounded, and therefor 
 muft examin you a little upon it. Thefe Predejlinarians 
 placing all upon the eternal Decrees of Election and Repro- 
 bation, allow not of Univerfal Redemption, or that Chrijl 
 dy'd for All, Becaufe, fay they, if Chrijl dy'd for the Repro- 
 bate, it was totally in vain, and the End of his Sufferings 
 muft be fruftrated as to them. Befides that he cou'd not 
 intend or defign to Save thofe whom God had Reprobated 
 by an eternal Decree. 
 
 Now let me fee what you have to fay to this. 
 
 C. As to eternal Decrees, enough has been faid to that 
 VOL. i. 22 already,
 
 170 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 already, that ther is no arguing from it, being only Words 
 ad Captum, and therefor not to be ftrittly and properly 
 taken. So I difmifs that Point. But now as to univerfal 
 Redemption, the Scripture is plain, which fays, That Chrijl 
 dyd for all. And woud have none to peri/Ji, but all to come 
 to the Knowledge of the Truth. And as in Adam all dye, 
 even fo in Chrijl JJiall all be made alive. And many other 
 fuch like Texts. 
 
 M. But all are not made alive, that is in Chrijl, fo as to 
 be Saved, for many periJJi. 
 
 C. Yet Chrijl dy'd even for thofe who perijh. As it is 
 faid i Cor. 8, 1 1 in the Cafe of giving Scandal to a weak 
 Brother. And thro thy Knowledge Jhall the weak Brother 
 peri/It, for whom Chrijl died? 
 
 Now I help my felf to underfland this, by a familiar Ex- 
 ample. Suppofe you came to a Prifon, and taking a Lift 
 of all the Debtors, fhou'd pay all their Debts, Co/Is Charges 
 and all. And opening the Prifon-Doors, fhou'd tell them, 
 they were all at LIBERTY who wou'd accept of it, and come 
 out in fuch a Time. After which the Prifon Doors fhou'd 
 be lock'd again, and they fhou'd be kept there, 'till they 
 had paid the uttermojl Farthing. Upon this, fome thank- 
 fully accept of your Goodnefs, and come out. But ther are 
 others, who defpife your Mercy, or will not believe you, or 
 underftand not the pleafure of Liberty, but prefer the fordid 
 Life of a Prifon, the Pot and the Pipe, and will not come 
 out. Which is the very Condemnation our Saviour fpoke of 
 when He faid, that Light was come into the World, but Men 
 loved Darknefs rather than Light, becaufe their Deeds were 
 evil. The Light was offer'd to all. But fome lov'd Dark- 
 nefs
 
 Choice Dialogues. 171 
 
 nefs better. It is faid that Life and Death are fet before us, 
 yet fome chufe Death. An Habit of Sinning contrails a 
 Love to it, that we are loth to leave it. 
 
 The Application is this. The Debt of thofe Prifoners 
 who Stay'd in the Prifon was pay'd as well as of thofe who 
 came out. And as the Releafe of the one is wholly owing 
 to Him who pay'd the Debt ; fo the Condemnation of the 
 other, lies wholly at his own Door, becaufe, He wou'd not 
 accept of his Liberty. Something was left to the Prifoners 
 to do, to chufe whether they woud come out, or ftay in, 
 God (tho' a God of infinit Mercy) will not fave us againfl 
 our Will. This fhews Free-will. But ther is no Merit in 
 us, when we accept of his Salvation. We pay not a Penny 
 of the Debt, He pays it all. And all the Thanks and the 
 Glory is to Him. But if He did not pay my Debt, how 
 cou'd I be blam'd for flaying in the Prifon, when my Debt 
 lay ftill upon me, that I cou'd not get out? How cou'd 
 I be call'd ungrateful to Him who payd nothing for me, 
 nor ever did dejign it ? And how can wicked Men 
 be blam'd for trampling under Foot the Blood of the 
 Son of God, for defpifeng and reft/ling his Grace, if He 
 Shed no Blood for them, nor ever gave them any faving 
 Grace ? 
 
 M. I delire Dr. Edwards (or any One of his Opinion) to 
 anfwer this. But this brings me to another Point which 
 follows in the Train of Confequences of thefe Men's Notion of 
 Predejlination. For from the eternal Decrees, as they put it, 
 they infer that there can be no falling from Grace, becaufe 
 this might defeat the Decree. And therefor that Men can- 
 not finally rejift his Grace, or fall from it. This minds 
 
 me
 
 172 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 me of a remarkable Pafiage told by Dr. Bates, who wrote 
 the Eleuchus Motuum nuperorum in Anglia. He as a Phy- 
 fician was call'd upon to aflift that Night that Oliver (that 
 Chriftian Heroe in fome Mens Efteem) prov'd a true Deliv- 
 erer of his Country. The Ufurper was in great Agonies of 
 Mind, of tvs\Jlarted, and afk'd them if they faw any Thing ? 
 At length He calls for his Chaplains. And the firft Quef- 
 tion He afk'd them was, If there was any falling from Grace ? 
 To which being anfwered, No, then, faid he, / am fafe. 
 For He fuppof'd that fome Time or other in his Life, he 
 might have had a little Grace. And then his Ufurpation, 
 with the Murder of the King his Royal and Religious Majler, 
 and Devajlation of three Kingdoms, befides much Blood-Jhed 
 abroad, and the Overthrow of the eftabliflid Church, cou'd 
 do him no Hurt! This is a fhort Way of quieting Con- 
 fcience ! and to kill Men afleep in their Sins ! Thus poor 
 Souls are deluded by thefe Doc~lrins of Decrees ! 
 
 In Confequence of which it is a Maxim with them, that 
 God fees no Sin in his Elefl. Which is indeed, that the Elefl 
 cannotyfo. They fay that David was nothing out of God's 
 Favour while he continued in his Sin, more than before he 
 committed it, or than after he repented. Nay fome of them 
 have wrote exprefily againft Repentance, as being a Dero- 
 gation from the Decrees of God, & fuppofing 'em to be 
 conditional. Whence others have likewifp fpoke againft 
 Good Works. What ! Do we think that any Thing we 
 can do, can reverfe or alter the Decrees of God? 
 
 And as they think the Elefl cannot Jin, fo they fay that 
 others can do nothing elfe but Jin. Thus the fame Actions 
 are Sin in One, and Piety in the other. As the Poet faid, 
 
 The
 
 Choice Dialogues. 173 
 
 The Saints may do the fame Things by 
 
 The Spirit in Sincerity, 
 
 Which other Men are tempted to, 
 
 And at the Devil's Inftance do : 
 
 All Piety confifts therein 
 
 In them, in other Men all Sin. 
 
 I have read in a Book of one of their celebrated Preachers, 
 a long Comparifon betwixt Efau and Jacob, wherein Efau 
 was fet forth with all the Advantages of Worth and Honour, 
 and Jacob reprefented as the wickedeft Fellow upon Earth ; 
 and this Ufe was made of it, that God chofe Jacob before 
 Efau, to fhew that his Decrees were abfolute, and had no 
 refpecl to the Goodnefs or Wickednefs of the Perfons. 
 
 C. Then it is all one whether we are good or wicked ! 
 Nay Wickednefs has the Advantage in many Cafes, as in 
 this of Efau and Jacob ! Sir, thefe are monftrous Prin- 
 ciples / And make me now no longer wonder at what one 
 of their eminent Preachers in London faid fince the Revolu- 
 tion, who being afk'd by fome of his Brethren, what progrefs 
 he had made, He faid he had made many Profelytes, and 
 had a full Congregation ; but, added he, all the Effecl I have 
 found is, That I have preach'd a Congregation of Chriftians 
 into a Congregation of Devils. Perhaps not knowing the 
 Caufe, and that this was the natural Confequence of thofe 
 Doctrines he had preach'd to them. 
 
 And are thefe the Principles to which Dr. Edwards 
 wou'd have us reformed backwards over, by the Kirk in 
 Scotland and in Holland coming into the Aid of our Dif- 
 fenters at Home ? A Bleffed Confederacy ! 
 
 M. The Doctor has given the On-fet himfelf in a large 
 
 Book>
 
 174 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 Book, he has lately Printed, call'd Veriias Redux wherein 
 thefe Principles are fet up to the Height. He heads the 
 Armies of the Philiftines, and leads them on againfl the 
 Camp of Ifrael. 
 
 DIALOGUE THE SIXTH. 
 
 C. Reverend Sir, before I take my leave of you, I wou'd 
 willingly be informed whether what I have heard of the 
 Diffenters be true or not. I have heard that many of them 
 are turn'd Arians and Socinians. I pray now, is it true ? 
 
 M. Yes, Country-man, it is too true ! Many of the Dif- 
 fenting Minifters themfelves have publickly profeff'd them- 
 felves Socinians ; that is, they deny Jefus Chrijl to be God. 
 Thefe are fome of thofe of whom the Scripture fpeaks, that 
 in the latter Times Men wou'd arife who wou'd deny the 
 God that bought them. Their woful Apojlacy, Country- 
 man, may eafily be accounted for. Unhappy Men ! They 
 have thrown off the Succeffion of the Priejlhood, by which 
 only the Minifters of Jefus Chrift can demonstrate that they 
 are fent by Him. They have likewife thrown off the facred 
 Feftivals and Feafts of the Church, and the comely and 
 decent Ceremonies which have been praclifed in the Church: 
 Which tho' they are ((imply) no Parts of WorJJiip, yet with- 
 out them, the true Fear of God and his true Worfhip can- 
 not long be preferved. For thefe Fejlivals, &c., are like 
 the Cajk to the Wine ; The Cafk is no Part of the Wine, 
 but if thou breakeft the Cajk, thou inevitably wilt lofe the 
 Wine. 
 
 C. Sir, 
 
 118 Veriias Redux, or Evangelical Truths Reflored. 8vo. 1 707.
 
 Choice Dialogues. 175 
 
 C. Sir, I make no Wonder now that thofe Men who fo 
 much incline to this wicked Here/le fhou'd make fuch a 
 Noife againft the decent Ceremonies, &c. of our excellent 
 Church. 
 
 M. Your Remark is juft, Country-man. This was the 
 chief Reafon, that made that Arch-Heretick, that uncircum- 
 fifd Philiftine, their infamous Mr. James Peirce, 113 who is 
 one of the chief of thefe Infidels, I fay it was chiefly his 
 Inclination to this Herefee that made him fo loudly exclaim 
 againft the Fe/livals&oA Ceremonies of our excellent Church ; 
 particularly againft our Bowing, in i\\e pub lick AJJemblies, at 
 the moftfolemn and devout Mention of the Name of the ever 
 blefled JESUS. 
 
 This made him fay, in his Vindication of the Dijfenters, 
 page 531, " But we can fee no Reafon why we fhou'd rather 
 bow at the Name of Jefus, than at the Name God, Jehovah, 
 Chrift, or Saviour, which is the fame with Jefus'' 
 
 Therefor in Anfwer to this arrogant and infulting Infidel, 
 and to all other Enemies of our holy Chriftian Faith, I will 
 inftrucl; Thee, my Chriftian Friend, concerning the true 
 Reafon of that laudable and truly Pious Cuftom. I mean 
 that of reverently Bowing in the Publick Affemblies of Chrif- 
 tians, at the folemn Mention of the Sacred Name of the holy, 
 the ever-b faffed and always to be adored JESUS. 
 
 The 
 
 118 James Peirce was born in 1673. an d publifhed at Halle in 1747. The Rev. 
 
 died in 1726. He was a diftinguifhed Dr. William Nichols, Fellow of Merton 
 
 Arian DifTenter, the author of a great College, Oxford, publifhed in 1707 a 
 
 number of learned and critical works, work entitled Defenfio Ecclefia Angli- 
 
 efpecially commentaries upon feveral of canes, which he iffued in an Englifh 
 
 the Epiftles of St. Paul. His Commen- tranflation in 1715. This work was 
 
 tary on the Epiftle to the Hebrews was anfwered by Peirce in his Vindication 
 
 tranflated into Latin by Michaelis, and of the Diffenters in 1718.
 
 176 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 The Word JESUS fignifies a Saviour, and is the proper 
 Name of OUR bleffed Saviour, who had this Name given 
 Him by the Angel, before He was conceiv'd in the Womb. 
 So that this is his Perfonal Name. The Word Chrijl 
 denotes only his Office, as He was the anointed of God, 
 which that Word fignifies. 
 
 Now, there was in the Apojlles Time, a Set of Hereticks, 
 as Cerinthus and his Followers who deny'd This Jefus to be 
 the Chrift. They faid that Chrijl, or the Holy Spirit (for 
 they made no Diftinclion) dwelt in Jefus, as in other holy 
 Men. That it defcended upon Him at his Baptifm, but left 
 Him on the Crofs, which made Him cry, My God, my God, 
 why haft thou forfaken me? Againft thefe the Apojlles 
 wrote. And the Burden of their Arguments was to prove 
 that THIS Jefus is the Chrift. As St. Peter faid, (Aft. 2. 36.) 
 Therefore let all the Houfe of Ifrael know ajjuredly, that God 
 hath made that fame Jefus whom ye have crucified, both Lord 
 and Chrift. And St. John fays, (Joh. 20. 31.) Thefe Things 
 are written, that ye might believe that Jefus is the Chrift, the 
 Son of God. And (i Joh. 2. 22.) Who is a Liar, but he that 
 dcnieth that Jefus is the Chrift ? Wherefore St. Paul fays, 
 (Phil. 2. 10.) That at the Name of JESUS every Knee ftwuld 
 bow. This was owning HIM to be the Chrift. Which is 
 truly to be a Chriftian. And the Bowing at any other 
 Name, do's not mew this. To bow at the Name of God 
 do's not diftinguifh me from a Jew, a Mahometan, or an 
 Heathen, wh6 afr acknowledge a God. And to bow at the 
 Name of Chrift or the Mejfiah, do's not mew but that I may 
 be a Jew, for they own a Chrift, and expect him yet to 
 come. But they expreflly deny that this JESUS is the Chrift. 
 
 And
 
 Choice Dialogues. 177 
 
 And (alas !) we have the fame Caufe of diftinguifhing our 
 felves at this Day, where many that fhelter themfelves under 
 the Name of Chriftians, (ay, and good Proteftants too) are 
 profeff d Deifts and blafpheme that worthy Name by which 
 we are called, faying, " The old Romans did him Juftice to 
 puni/h Him with the Death of a Slave. Oh ! curfed Blat 
 phemy!) This is taken out of a Pamphlet entitled, The 
 Growth of Deifm, approv'd and recommended by the infa- 
 mous and execrable Tyndal in his blafphemous Book of the 
 Rights; (which Book of the Rights is highly valued by 
 many of the Diffenters Unhappy Men!) And we mall 
 not diftinguifh our felves from thefe by Bowing at the Name 
 of God. Then again, the Quakers do expreffly deny the 
 Man Jefus to be the Chrift, they run in directly with the 
 Herejie of Cerinthus, and fay that Chrift or the Light dwelt 
 in Jefus, they make Chrift and Jefus to be two. Therefore 
 Bowing at the Name of Chrift will not diftinguifh us from 
 thefe. But Bowing at the Sacred Name of Jefus, is owning 
 THAT Perfon, THAT Man Jefus to be the Chrift. And 
 nothing lefs than this (owning Chrift) can denominate 
 a Man to be a Chriftian. 
 
 I don't fay it is necejfary or an Article of Faith always to 
 bow at the Name of Jefus. But I hope I may fay from the 
 Authorities and Reafons I have offer'd, that ther" can be no 
 Harm in it, far lefs any Superftition. That it is highly 
 decent and a ProfeJJion of our Chriftianity. And that 
 THOSE who refrain from it out of a Principle, give Grounds 
 of Sufpicion, that they are not found in the Faith, and lean 
 more to the Deifts, Socinians, or Principles of the Quakers, 
 than to the Chriftian Church. At leaf! they give Counte- 
 VOL. i. 23 nance
 
 178 Choice Dialogues. 
 
 nance to thefe Enemies of Chriflianity, while they joyn with 
 them in refilling this Publick Atteftation which the Church 
 gives of her Faith in the crucify d JESUS. We bow or un- 
 cover our felves at the Name of an Earthly King, when his 
 Grants or Patents are read. And may we not bow at the 
 Name of the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords ! 
 
 C Reverend Sir, I thank Thee for thefe pious Inftruc- 
 tions and Exhortations. And I thank my good God, that I 
 have not fo learned Chrift, as like thefe Infidels to be 
 afham'd of the crucify d Jefus. No, as for me and my 
 Houfe, we will ferve the Lord CHRIST. And while the 
 infidel World, and Luke-warm Chrijlians are afham'd to 
 own their God and their Redeemer, I will excite my Chrif- 
 tian Neighbours (by my Example) in the AJfemblies of 
 Chrijlians for Publick Worfhip, humbly to bow down, and 
 with godly Reverence adore, at the folemn Mention of the 
 Name of our great God, and our holy Redeemer, the Cap- 
 tain of our Salvation ; the holy, the adorable, and ever 
 bleffed JESUS. 
 
 Reverend Sir, before I take my leave, I entreat that 
 I may join with Thee in offering up this Hymn to the ever- 
 blej/ed Trinity, which I have learned by frequenting our 
 moft excellent Church, the Church of England. 
 
 To Father, Son, and holy Ghoft, 
 
 The God whom WE adore, 
 Be Glory ; as it was is now, 
 
 And fhall be ever-more. 
 
 NOTE. In the original edition of ent objed of the author was to fhow the 
 
 the Choice Dialogues there followed at prevalence of Epifcopacy in the time of 
 
 the end the Epijlle of St. Ignatius to the this Apoftolic Father, whofe Martyr- 
 
 Magnefians, tranflated into Englifh by dom occurred about feven years after the 
 
 the Rt. Rev. William Wake, D.D., death of St. John, who wrote the Book 
 
 Archbifhop of Canterbury. The appar- of Revelation.
 
 A 
 
 MODEST PROOF 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Order & Government 
 
 Settled by Chrift and his Apoftles 
 
 IN THE 
 
 CHURCH. 
 
 BY SHEWING 
 
 I. What Sacred Offices were Inftituted by them. 
 
 II. How thofe Officers were Diftinguifhed. 
 
 III. That they were to be Perpetual and Standing in 
 the Church. And, 
 
 IV. Who Succeed in them, and rightly Execute them 
 to this Day. 
 
 Recommended as proper to be put into the Hands of the Laity. 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 Re-printed by Tho. Fleet, and are to be Sold by Benjamin Eliot in 
 Bojlon, Daniel Aurault in Newport, Gabriel Bernon in Providence, 
 Mr. Gallop in Briftol, Mr. Jean in Stratford, and in moft other 
 Towns within the Colonies of Connecticut and Rbode-IJland. 
 1723.
 
 The Publiflier 
 
 TO THE 
 
 READER. 
 
 I Was advifed by fome pious Perfons, who dejlre Peace and 
 Union among/I Chri/lians, to re-print this Difcourfe, in 
 hopes of its good Effect on all impartial Readers. 
 The Arguments being wholly Scriptural, are not only con- 
 vincing, but managed withfo miich Charity, that few Books 
 of Controversy in Religion can expefl a better Reception. 
 
 Upon a ferious perufal of this Piece, it will appear clear 
 and evident, That whofoever jujlly fujlains the Character of 
 a Minijler of the Go/pel of Chrift, hath, bejides his Internal 
 Qualifications, an External Vijible Commiffion delivered to 
 him, by thofe who have Power and Authority to grant it: 
 From whence thefe Inferences do naturally flow. 
 
 Firft, That the Minijler s of the Church of England, who 
 freely own that the Power of Ordinations was firft vefted 
 in the Apoftles, and from them, through all Ages fence, in a 
 fuccejjion of Bifhops, from whence they derive their own 
 
 Ordinations,
 
 1 82 The Publifher to the Reader. 
 
 Ordinations, are to be acknowledged true Minifters of the 
 Go/pel. 
 
 Secondly, That it is a daring Offence to intrude into the 
 facred Function, without a regular dejignation to the Exercife 
 of it. See Numb. 16. 40. 2 Sam. 6. 6, 7. 2 Chron. 26. 19, 20, 
 21, 22. Heb. 5. 4, 5. 
 
 Thirdly, That People ought to endeavour after all the Affur- 
 ance they can attain to, that they have the Means of Grace in 
 the Word and Sacraments, duly adminijlred and difpenfed 
 unto them, by P erf ons fully authorized for thofe holy Offices. 
 For Jince the Prieft's Lips are to preferve Knowledge, the 
 People ought to be fatisfied that they are really fuch, at whofe 
 Mouth they feek the Law. And, 
 
 Fourthly, That it is a very criminal Prefumption, and an 
 unfufferable Infolence in fome, to value their Gifts at fo high 
 a rate, as to think themfelves by the virtue of them, entituled 
 to the Mini/lerial Office, without being admitted by the Impoji- 
 tion of the Hands of thofe, whom Chrift has ordered to prefide 
 over the affairs of his Church. 
 
 Fifthly, That Jince there is no approaching before Gods 
 Altar, without the appointed Rites of Confecration, nor 
 any medling with his Injlitutions without his Order and 
 Command ; Thofe invaders of the facred Services, cannot 
 be faid to be the Ambaffadors of God, or accounted the 
 Stewards of the Myfteries of Chrift, who prefume to 
 touch thofe holy Things, with their unhallowed Hands, 
 and like Saul, would facrifice without a Call, i Sam. 13. 9, 
 10, n, 12, 13, 14. For thofe who offer ftrange Fire before 
 the Lord, their Incence mujl be an Abomination to him, 
 Levit. 10. 12. 
 
 Laftly,
 
 The Publifher to the Reader. 183 
 
 Laftly, Tho we can by no means quejlion our Saviour s 
 Gifts and Abilities, yet he did not enter upon his Minijlry, 
 until he was folemnly inaugurated into that Office; for he 
 glorified not himfelf to be made an High Prieft, but he that 
 faid unto him, Thou art my Son, which was faid unto him 
 at his Baptifm, Luke 2. 22. So when he was about to leave 
 the World, he Commijffioned others to go upon the great Em- 
 baffy of Reconciliation, to tranfafl in his Name, and proclaim 
 andfeal his Pardons, faying, As my Father fent me, fo fend 
 I you : Whereupon he immediately gave them the power of 
 Cenfures and Abfolutions, John 20. 22, 23. Matth. 28. 19, 20. 
 And they alfo before their Death, imparted their Power to 
 others, by Impofetion of Hands. Thus the Apojlles ordained 
 feven Deacons, Act. 6. 5, 6. among other Services, to Preach 
 and to Baptize, in the Exercife of which Offices we find St. 
 Philip, one of them, diligently employed, A6ls 8. i. &c. Thus 
 Paul and Barnabas ordained Elders in every Church, A6ls 
 14. 23. And thus St. Paul, who had ordained Timothy and 
 Titus, appointed Titus to ordain Elders in every City in 
 Crete, Tit. i. 5. And that thefe facred Offices fhould con- 
 tinue in a regular Miniftry to the end of the World, is unde- 
 niable from Math. 6. 18. and Chap. 28. 19, 20. and Eph. 4. 
 n, 12, 13. And finally, that there was a preheminence of 
 Jurifdittion and Authority in fome of thefe Church-Offices 
 over others, is plainly proved in this Treatife, in the Apof- 
 tolical Dignity (to which the Epif copal mujl needs fucceed] over 
 the feventy, and the Deacons ; and St. Paul's Epiftles to Tim- 
 othy and Titus, where we find many marks of the Power of 
 thofe Bifhops over their inferiour Prefbyters, as to Ordain 
 them, or upon occajion to promote them to a higher Order, to 
 
 Judge
 
 184 The Publifher to the Reader. 
 
 Judge and Cenfure them, and if the cafe required, to pro- 
 ceed to Depojition. This is the ftanding Miniftry that the 
 Church of England claims a Part and Lot in : This is the 
 Nature and true Notion of a Go/pel Miniftry, as we find it 
 founded by our Saviour and his Apoftles.
 
 Modeft Proof 
 
 OF THE 
 
 Order and Government 
 Settled by Chrift and his Apoftles 
 
 IN THE 
 
 CHURCH. 
 
 MY defign is at prefent, to reprefent to the World, 
 what was the primitive Model, or Form of Church- 
 Government; what was fettl'd by our Saviour, 
 and his Apoftles, in this point; and that from what is re- 
 corded of the matter in the Books of the New-Teftament : 
 This is evident from the Title-page ; and the end of this 
 undertaking is in order to let all Parties contending for 
 various Forms fee which is really the right one, with which 
 if they compare their own, they may be enabl'd to continue 
 it or reject it as it agrees with, or deviates from the firfl 
 Inftitution. 
 
 VOL. I. 24 NOW
 
 1 86 A Modejl Proof. 
 
 Now the Church however harraffed and difquieted, with 
 a great variety of Difputes and Debates, about points of 
 Dottrine and D if dp line ; yet heard little or no noife made, 
 for about 1400 years, about this point of Church-Government. 
 One Aerius ftarted a debate, but had fo few to fecond him 
 that it died with himfelf, and left his name on record among 
 Hereticks. 
 
 The goodly Order and Government inftituted by Chrift, 
 flood firm for many Ages ; and under it the Church flour- 
 ifhed, and the Chriftian Religion mightily prevailed, not- 
 withftanding the violent Perfecutions of thofe times: but at 
 length it was invaded, and fuppreffed by the Ufurpation and 
 Tyranny of the Roman Papacy. A fecular Power, and 
 Dominion was fet up ; and the DoElrine, Worfliip, and Dif- 
 cipline of the Church, following the fate of its Government, 
 were corrupted. Error, Superftition, Idolatry and Tyranny, 
 the Pillars of the Papal Kingdom, were introduced : And all 
 maintained, on the one hand, by a moft falfe and blafphe- 
 mous Pretenfion to an Abfolute infallible Power and Au- 
 thority derived from Chrift; and on the other, by a moft 
 horrid and cruel Perfecution of all who did but mutter the 
 leaft Diffent. 
 
 Thus lay the Church for fome Ages, groaning under this 
 A nti-chriftian Ufurpation, ftruggling and wreftling even 
 unto Blood and Martyrdom, to recover its primitive Purity 
 and Liberty. It pleafed the Lord at length, to deliver it in 
 part, and to retrieve its Dottrine, Worfhip, Difcipline and 
 Government, by a longwifh'd for Reformation : A Reforma- 
 tion which had been much more happy and compleat, had 
 not the Adverfary fcattered his Tares among the good Seed 
 
 which
 
 A Mo deft Proof. 187 
 
 which fprung up in Briars and Thorns: Had not fome 
 Doctrines and Cuftoms, maintained by one part of the Re- 
 formed Church, and rejected by an other, occafioned hot 
 difputes, which gave no lefs difturbance to the Church, 
 than they yielded Pleafure and Diverfion to the Common 
 Enemies. 
 
 Among other differences this was one ; that while the 
 greater! and mofl confiderable part of the Reformed Church, 
 retained the Ancient Order and Government, and vindicated 
 it from the Ufurpations and Encroachments of the Papacy, 
 Others (upon what confiderations I mail not enquire) were 
 pleafed to fet up a new Form and Model of Policy, with a 
 modeft kind proteftation, Cal. Inft. lib. 4. Cap. 10. . 32, ne 
 eccelefea ecclejiam contemnat ob externce difciplintz variatatem, 
 that thefe their different Meafures, fhou'd be no Ground of 
 breach between them, and other Reformed Churches: But this 
 did not prevent Difputes upon that Head, and every Church 
 defending its own Model, as mofl agreeable to the firft Infti- 
 tution, the debate came to that height, as to occafion a fad 
 Rupture and Schifm ; a Schifm which has produc'd no 
 where more woful effects, than in thefe three Kingdoms: 
 What Alienation of Minds among profeffors of the fame 
 Reformed Religion, what Confulions and barbarous Cru- 
 elties, what Convulfions and Revolutions in Church and 
 State, what publick and private Mifchiefs, have fprung from 
 this Root of Bitternefs, the Hiftories of the paft Age, give a 
 very fad and lamentable Account: And above all, the ma- 
 lignant Influence it hath had on Religion, to obftruct the 
 Life and Practice of true Chriftianity, cannot be fufficiently 
 regretted. 
 
 I
 
 1 88 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 I doubt not but the Common Enemy, and they whofe 
 trade it is to fifh in muddy Waters, have been very a<5live to 
 blow this Coal ; but that which hath fometimes made this 
 Debate break forth in Vefuvian Flames, and be difputed with 
 Fire and Sword, with Blood and Wounds, is, That it hath 
 been incorporated into, and joined with other Political 
 Debates and State-differences ; It were eafie to demonftrate 
 this, did not the evidence of it render it needlefs; that 
 Political Interejls and State-differences, have all along been 
 interwoven with this contefl about Church-Government^ and 
 have fupported and maintained it: And perhaps at the 
 Bottom, 't is none of the lead prejudices againft Epifcopacy, 
 that they of that Perfwafion have generally afferted the juft 
 Rights and Prerogatives of Princes, as the fureft Founda- 
 tion of a Kingdoms Happinefs and Tranquility ; and ac- 
 cordingly have maintained the Doctrines of Non-rejiftance, 
 and Paffive Obedience, &c. whereas its Rival Government 
 hath been thought by fome, more ferviceable for Checking 
 and Curbing the Power of Princes. Certain it is, there is 
 too much of a Carnal and worldly Spirit, that keeps this 
 Debate fo long alive ; and there is little hopes it will die, till 
 Chriftians be more animated with the true Spirit and Temper 
 of the Gofpel. i Cor. 3. 3. 
 
 I am fenfible there have been many Volumes which have 
 appear'd in the World upon this Argument, which may 
 feem, or be expected to have exhaufted the Subject on both 
 fides ; and this may be a prejudice againft my prefent un- 
 dertaking, as fuperfluous : And the little good effect thofe 
 Volumes have had, may make it be look'd upon as Pre- 
 fumption in me to fancy that what I have to offer will do 
 
 any
 
 A Mode/I Proof. 189 
 
 any good, where fo little has been effected by thofe that have 
 gone before me. But I remember the Story of Spiridion, a 
 famous Bifhop, for Piety, Hofpitality and many Miracles, 
 who, is faid, to have confounded, at the Council of Nice, a 
 certain Philofopher, who by the fubtilty of his Arguments 
 again ft Chriflianity, fought to imbarafs the Bifhops. Spiri- 
 dion takes the Difcourfe, and prays the Philofopher, in the 
 Name of Chrift, to hear him ; and fo goes on, repeating the 
 Articles of the Chriftian Faith, which, when the Philofopher 
 heard, with great Aflonimment he faid ; So long as any 
 reafoned with me, I oppofed other Reafons ; but now when 
 Godfpeaks to me, by the Mouth of that old Man, I am not 
 able to anfwer, I find a fecret force upon my Spirit, convincing 
 me and perfwading me. I fliall with God's Affiftance, follow 
 the Method of this holy Man, in giving as plain and impar- 
 tial an Account of the Order and Government inftituted by 
 Chrift and his Apoftles in the Chriftian Church, as I am 
 able to collect from the facred Records of the New Tefta- 
 ment, to which I purpofe clofely to adhere. Poffibly, what 
 I offer may have as good effect upon fome of my Readers, 
 as the good Bifhop's like Conduct upon another Occafion, 
 had with the Philofopher: And a clear, and full View of the 
 firft Scriptural Inftitution of Church Government fet before 
 our Eyes, may enable all Parties to fee moft clearly which of 
 the Forms now contended for and promoted, bid faireft to 
 be true Copies of the Divine Original. 
 
 To proceed the more Methodically, I fhall produce what I 
 have to fay upon this great Subject, under thefe four Heads. 
 
 I. Firft, I will (hew what facred Offices were inftituted by 
 Chrift and his Apoftles, in the Church. 
 
 II. Secondly,
 
 1 90 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 II. Secondly, I will make it appear, howthefe Offices were 
 diftinguifh'd, and demonftrate an Imparity among them. 
 
 III. Thirdly, I will examine whether any of them were 
 extraordinary and temporary, and prove that they were not, 
 but defign'd to be perpetual, and (landing in the Church. 
 
 IV. Fourthly, fuppofmg thefe Offices to be {landing, I 
 will mew who fucceed in them, and rightly execute them to 
 this day. 
 
 I. Firft, then, I am to mew what facred Offices were infti- 
 tuted by Chrift, and his Apoflles in the Church. 
 
 When our bleffed Lord appeared in his publick Miniftry, 
 in the beginning thereof he called many unto him, to be his 
 ordinary Attendants, of whom, fome had been trained up 
 under Johns Miniftry ; Thefe were in a peculiar manner his 
 Difciples, in diftinclion from the multitude of Profelites, who 
 were gained by his preaching and Miracles ; and he made 
 ufe of the Miniftry of thefe his Difciples, in baptizing fuch 
 as were profelited, as thofe were baptiz'd, who were made 
 Profelites under the old Difpenfation. John'w. 1,2. The 
 Eminent Prophets whom GOD raifed up to his People, 
 gathered a School or College of Difciples, called, The Sons 
 of the Prophets, who were trained up under their Infpeclion 
 and Difcipline to the Prophetical Office: So it is to be con- 
 ceiv'd of the Difciples of John the Baptift, and of our Lord, 
 that they were as two Seminaries wherein many were trained 
 up, under the Difcipline and Inftruclion of thefe two emi- 
 nent Mafters as Candidates for the Gofpel Miniftry: Our 
 bleffed Lord being thus attended, with his Difciples, Mat. 9. 
 went about, in his own Per/on, " all the Cities and Villages, 
 " teaching in their Synagogues, and preaching the Gofpel of 
 
 "the
 
 A Modeft Proof. 191 
 
 " the Kingdom, and healing every Sicknefs and every Difeafe 
 " among the People. And when he faw the Multitudes come 
 " Flocking to him from all quarters, he was moved with Com- 
 " palfion on them, becaufe they fainted, (being 'tis like wearied 
 " with their long Journies] and were fcattered abroad as 
 " Sheep having no Shepherd. John iv. 35-8. Then faid 
 " he to his Difciples, the Harveft truly is plenteous, but the 
 " Labourers are few, pray ye the Lord of the Harveft, that he 
 " fend forth Labourers to his Harveft. Upon this St. Mark 
 tells us, iii. 13-14, " He goeth unto a Mountain, and calleth 
 " unto him whom he would, and they came unto him. St. 
 Luke adds, vi. 12-13, "That he went to this Mountain to 
 "pray, and continued all night in Prayer to GOD, and when 
 " it was day, he called unto him his Difciples, and of them he 
 "chofe and ordained twelve, that they mould be with him, 
 " and that he might fend them forth to preach ; whom alfo 
 " he named APOSTLES. 
 
 Some time after, Lukeix. 1-2, He called thefe twelve together, 
 and gave them Power and Authority over all Devils, and to 
 cure Difeafes, andfent them forth to preach the Kingdom of 
 GOD, and to heal the Sick; We have their Commiffion at 
 large, Matth. 10. After their return from executing which 
 firft Commiffion, they continue with their Mafter as his con- 
 flant Attendants ; and we read not, that, during his abode 
 on Earth, they were fent forth a fecond time ; until he gave 
 them their laft and full Commiffion, a little before his 
 Afcenfion. 
 
 Some time after the return of the Apoftles, Luke x. He 
 appointed other feventy, and fent them forth, with the fame 
 Commiffion and the fame Power, that he had fent the 
 
 Apoftles,
 
 192 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 Apoftles, to preach the Gofpel, to cafl out Devils, to heal 
 Difeafes, and almoft in all things with the fame inftruclions, 
 concerning their Conduct : which makes the Continuator of 
 Pool'j Annotations on the place, fay, how fome come to 
 imagine a difference of Order betwixt them and the Apoftles, 
 I cannot tell: Yet Calvin fcruples not to call them, in dig- 
 nity lefs than the Apoftles, next in Office to them, defigned 
 by Chrift in the fecond place after the Apoftles. Cal. Inft. 
 lib. 4. Cap. 3. Seel. 4. dignitate Apoftolis minores, Officiis 
 proximi, quos fecundo ab Apoftolis loco Chrijlus deftgnavit. 
 
 Here we fee, in what a folemn manner, Chrift inftituted 
 the firft and prime Officers of his Church, who are particu- 
 larly defcribed by their Number, Names, and that honour- 
 able Defignation by which he called them : Whom he alfo 
 named Apoftles. 
 
 Indeed all the difference exprefled in thefe two Miffions, 
 is, that we read not of fuch a folemn Inauguration of the 
 feventy unto their Office, as of the twelve ; and that the 
 Twelve were particularly honoured with the Title of 
 APOSTLES, even before they were fent forth (of the im- 
 portance of which Name, we mall afterwards enquire) ; but 
 \htfeventy, tho' they were fent forth immediately by Chrift, 
 are no where fo called, but only Difciples. But though 
 their Commiffion was much the fame, with what was given 
 to the Apoftles, (who had not as yet received their full Com- 
 miffion) yet it is moft certain, that they were two diftinft 
 Orders of Gofpel Minifters: they are never numbred to- 
 gether, but in two diftincl Claffes. The Apoftles are ftill 
 twelve and not eighty two ; And (which puts it beyond all 
 queftion) when a Vacancy falls in the Colledge of Apoftles, 
 
 by
 
 A Mode/I Proof. 193 
 
 by the Apoftacy of Judas, what a folemn Work was there, at 
 the Tranflation of one from the Number of Difciples, that 
 he might be reckoned and numbred with the Eleven, and 
 fucceed to Judas his Apoftle-fhip ? Ac~ls I. 13-26. 
 
 Thus have we feen two Orders of Gofpel Minifters infti- 
 tuted by Chrift himfelf. There is a third Order inftituted 
 by his Apoftles, that of Deacons. The occafion, defign, and 
 manner of inftituting this new Order, we have fully fet down 
 in the fixth Chapter of the Acls of the holy Apoftles, from 
 the firft to the feventh verfe. 
 
 Of this Inftitution I fhall only obferve, That it was made 
 by the twelve Apoftles, to whom the Government of the 
 Church was principally committed, and who had Power and 
 Authority to inftitute new Offices and Officers as the Exi- 
 gence of the Church fhould require ; That thefe Deacons 
 were appointed and fet apart to their Office by the Apoftles, 
 with the Ceremony of Prayer and Impojition of Hands, 
 which was ufual in defigning and appointing Perfons to any 
 facred Office, in the Gofpel Miniftry: And further, that 
 thefe Deacons thus feparated and ordained, were inverted 
 with fome mare of the Apoftolick Office, particularly of 
 Preaching and Baptizing, as well as managing the publick 
 Stock of the Church, which they exerted in fubordination 
 to the Apoftles, under their Infpection and by their Direc- 
 tion ; That Stephen was a Preacher (and the reft of them, of 
 whom we have nothing on record, fave their Names) as well 
 as Philip, cannot be doubted. Stephen by his Zeal in prop- 
 agating the Gofpel, became the firft Martyr ; and of Philip 
 we exprefly read, that by his Preaching, he converted 
 
 Samaria 
 
 VOL. i. 25
 
 194 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 Samaria and initiated the Converts there, into the Chriftian 
 Profeffion by Baptifm. Hence we afterwards find him dig- 
 nified with the honourable Title of Philip the Evangelift, 
 though but one of the Seven. Aft. 8. and 21.2. 
 
 This I obferve to fliew the vaft difference betwixt thefe 
 Go/pel Deacons inftituted and ordained by the Apoftles, and 
 thofe who are named Deacons under the Presbyterian Model, 
 without any Ordination or Power to Preach or Baptize, that 
 none may be impofed upon by the bare Name, to think 
 them to be of Divine or Apqftolick Inftitution. 
 
 Thus much fhall ferve to mew what I promis'd in the firft 
 place, what facred Offices were inftituted by Chrift, and his 
 Apoftles in the Church. 
 
 II. I now come to what I promis'd in the fecond place, 
 to make it appear how thefe Offices were diftinguifhed ; and 
 demonftrate an imparity among them. 
 
 Now of the laft mentioned, there is no debate ; all acknowl- 
 edge that Deacons were different from, and inferiour to the 
 two former Offices of Apoftles, and the Seventy ; 'tis of thefe 
 two that fome are pleafed to pronounce that they are one 
 and the fame ; whereas what I have already obferved of their 
 Inftitution, plainly mows them to have been diftincl Offices, 
 and they are every where fpoken of in Scripture as fuch : 
 particularly in that enumeration of Gofpel Officers, i Cor. 
 12. 28. God hath fet in his Church, firft Apoftles, fecond- 
 arily Prophets, thirdly Teachers : Are all Apoftles, are all 
 Prophets, are all Teachers ? Though every Apoftle was a 
 Prophet and Teacher, the Superiour Order including the 
 Inferiour; yet every Prophet and Teacher, was not an 
 Apoftle (as for the reft in that Enumeration, they are not 
 
 diftincl
 
 A Mode/I Proof. 195 
 
 diftin<5t Offices, but various and different Powers and Gifts 
 wherewith the Gofpel Officers were endued.) 
 
 Suppofing then the Deacons inferiour to the Apoflles and 
 Seventy, the queftion is concerning the twelve who were 
 called Apoftles, and the feventy and others of their Order, 
 who go by the name of Prophets, in a Gofpel Senfe ; Min- 
 ifters of the Word and Sacraments, fuch as Judas and Silas 
 were ; who are alfo called Prophets, Evangelifts, Pajlors and 
 Teachers in the 4th Chapter to the Ephejians and the nth 
 Verfe. Atts 15. 32. Eph. 2. 20. Ch. 3. 5. i Cor. 14. 3. 
 
 I fay, the queftion is whether thefe Prophets, Pajlors and 
 Teachers and Evangelifts, were of the fame Office and Order 
 with the Apoftksl Or, whether they were of a diflinc~l 
 Office and Order, and inferiour to that of the Apoftles ? 
 For clearing this we muft confider their Commiffions, 
 and the Exercife of their Office conformable to their 
 Commiffions. 
 
 And firft of the Apoftles. All that their firft Commiffion 
 did bear, was to Preach the Gofpel and to Adminifter the 
 Ordinances of Religion; and this was all the exercife of 
 their Apoftolick Office that we read of, during Chrift's bodily 
 prefence with them, and in this, (as I faid) they differed little 
 from the feventy : But when Chrift was to leave the Earth, 
 having finifhed the Work of our Redemption, He enlarged 
 their Commiffion, and put them in a6tual exercife of their 
 Apoftolick Power and Office. All Power (fays he) is given 
 unto me in Heaven and in Earth, go ye therefore and Dif- 
 ciple all Nations, Baptizing them in the Name of the Father 
 and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghoft, teaching them to 
 obferve all things whatfoever I have commanded you, and lo, I 
 
 am
 
 1 96 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 am with you alway even to the end of the World. And he 
 lifted up his Hands, and bleffed them, and faid unto them, 
 As my Father fent me, fo fend I you, "and thus faying, he 
 " breathed upon them, and faid unto them, " Receive ye the 
 " Holy Ghoft, whofe foever Sins ye forgive, they are forgiven, 
 " and whofe foever Sins ye retain, they are retained. We read 
 moreover, " That through the Holy Ghoft he gave Com- 
 " mandments to his Apoftles whom he had chofen, to whom 
 " he mewed himfelf alive after his Sufferings, by many infal- 
 lible Signs, being feen of them for the fpace of Forty 
 " Days, and fpeaking unto them of the things pertaining 
 "to the Kingdom of God. Matth. 28. 17, 18. Luke 24. 
 50. John 20. 21. A<5ls i. Caves Antiq. Apoft. Introducl. 
 
 i- 5- 
 
 All this CommifTion and Inftruclion was given particu- 
 larly to the Apoftles, as being his Prime and Special Dele- 
 gates, whom he intrufted with the Affairs of his Church, to 
 act and do, in his Name and his Authority; And this is 
 the common Notion and Importance of the Word Apoftle, 
 according to the ufe of the Word among the Jews: He is a 
 Meffenger endued with peculiar Letters of Authority and 
 CommifTion, whereby he acts as Proxy and Deputy of him 
 who fends him ; and it is a Proverb among the Jews, that 
 every Mans Apoftle is as himfelf: What he does by vertue 
 of his CommhTion, is look'd upon to be as firm and valid, as 
 if the Perfon himfelf had done it. 
 
 Thefe Twelve then whom Chrift named Apoftles, were to 
 reprefent his Perfon, to act as his fpecial Ambaffadors, to 
 communicate his Will and Mind, to preach and propagate 
 his Gofpel, to inftru<5l and difciple the World in the Doc- 
 trines
 
 A Mode/I Proof. 197 
 
 trines and Precepts of Chriftianity, and on this Doclrine to 
 found and build the Church, and to govern the fame in his 
 Name and Authority, conftituting and ordaining Minifters 
 of Religion, fettling good Order, and difpofmg all Affairs 
 for the Edification of the Church, determining and deciding 
 Controverfies in Religion, compofmg Differences, infpecl- 
 ing and fuperintending the ordinary Paflors in the Difcharge 
 of their Office, cenfuring and punifhing contumacious Of- 
 fenders, and loofing fuch as were Penitent. This the 
 Apoflle calls the Care of all the Churches, efpecially them 
 of his Province, 2 Cor. n. 28; for, their Commiffion was 
 unlimited and univerfal, not only in refpecl of Power, to 
 difcharge all Acts of Religion, relating either to Miniftry or 
 Government ; but alfo in refpecl of Place, not being confined 
 to any particular Province, but fent to the whole World ; 
 yet for the more orderly executing their Commiffion, they 
 are faid, by the Ancients to have parcelled the World among 
 them : and fomething like this feems to be infinuated on 
 two feveral occafions by St. Paul himfelf. 
 
 This Power and Authority conveyed by Commiflion to 
 the Apoftles, was equally conferred upon all of them : What- 
 ever Order there was among them, yet no Superiority or 
 Power of one Apoflle above another, 2 Cor. 10. 13. Gal. 
 2. 9 : Though Paul, with refpecl to his former ftate, counted 
 himfelf the leafl of all the Apoftles, being before a Perfe- 
 cutor, and one born out of time, as he words it. Yet as to 
 Power and Authority, he owns himfelf not Inferior even to 
 the chief eft Apoftles. i Cor. 15. 9, 10. 
 
 And as their Office was high and eminent, no lefs were 
 the Gifts and Endowments, by which they were qualified for 
 
 it:
 
 198 A Modeji Proof. 
 
 it: They had been Eye and Ear Witneffes of (Thrift's Life, 
 Doctrine, Miracles; and befides the benefit of his publick 
 Miniftry, had enjoyed the Advantage of his private Con- 
 verfe, and were well acquainted with all the Pafiages of his 
 Life, at leaft from his entering into his publick Miniftry, till 
 the Day of Afcenfion : They were immediately taught and 
 inftructed by him in all things, pertaining to the Kingdom 
 of GOD : He had opened their Minds to underftand the Scrip- 
 tures, and endued them with the Holy Ghoft, to guide them 
 into all Truth, fo that they were infallibly fecured from 
 Error, in delivering the Doctrines and Principles of Chrif- 
 tianity : And to confirm their Doctrine, they were endued 
 with many Extraordinary Gifts and Powers, to work Mir- 
 acles, to heal all manner of Difeafes, to caft out Devils, to 
 fpeak with divers Tongues, to interpret ftrange Tongues, to 
 foretel things to come, to difcern Spirits, to inflict Corporal 
 Punifhments on Notorious Sinners ; and (which was peculiar 
 to them) they had Power to confer thefe Extraordinary Gifts 
 upon others. 
 
 Thus have I given you an Account of the Commiflion by 
 which the Apoftles acted, I come now to confider the Com- 
 miflion given to the other Order of Church Officers, inftituted 
 by Chrift, the Seventy Difciples\ in whom the Order of 
 Presbyters and ordinary Pajlors and Teachers is fuppofed to 
 be founded : Now, as it is already fhevvn, They received 
 their Commiflion immediately from Chrift, as well as the 
 Apoftles, and were authorized to preach the Go/pel, and 
 endued with Extraordinary Gifts of working Miracles, heal- 
 ing Difeafes, &c. and unto them no lefs than unto the 
 Apoftles, Chrift faid, He that heareth you, heareth me, and he 
 
 tliat
 
 A Mocte/l Proof. 199 
 
 that rejefleth you, rejetleth me, and he that rejefttth me, 
 rejefteth him that fent me. So that in their Meafure and 
 Proportion, fo far as their Commiffion extended, they were 
 Chrifl's Meffengers and Ambajfadors alfo, though not in the 
 fame Order and Quality with the Apoftles, as we have feen 
 in part already. Luke 10. 16. 
 
 Indeed from the Account we have of them and their 
 Miniflry in the Sacred Hiftory, we cannot frame a more juft 
 and true Notion of this Second Order of Church Officers, 
 than that they were inflituted to be AJfiftants and Helpers 
 to the Apoftles in the Work of the Go/pel. 
 
 And I know nothing which will give us a better Reafon 
 for this Notion than this Confideration, that as it was the 
 fame Lord and Law-giver, the fame M after-builder, who had 
 framed the Civil and Ecclejiaftical Policy among the Jews, 
 under the Legal Difpenfation, who does Erecl this New 
 Fabrick of his Gofpel-Church ; fo 'tis reafonable to expecl as 
 great a Symmetry and Proportion between the one and the 
 other, as the Difference of the two Difpenfations will allow : 
 And it is the Opinion of many Ancient and Modern Di- 
 vines, That our Blefled Lord in many of his Gofpel Inftitu- 
 tions, had fome refpecl to the ftate of things in the JewiJJi 
 Church, as might be mewed in many Inftances : And partic- 
 ularly will appear in thefe Offices, which he inflituted in the 
 Gofpel Church, not only in making them of a Superior and 
 Inferior Order, as under the Mofaick Difpenfation, but alfo, 
 as to the Reafon and Defign of thefe different Orders ; for 
 after Aaron and his Sons were inftalled in the Prieft's 
 Office, GOD gave unto them the whole Tribe of Levi to 
 Minifter unto them, in the Charge of the Tabernacle, 
 
 Numb. 3.
 
 200 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 Numb. 3. So alfo, when Mofes was vexed with the un- 
 towardlinefs of the People, and complained to GOD of the 
 Weight and Burden of his Charge, and that the Care and 
 Government of fuch an unruly People was committed to him 
 alone, Numb. 1 1 ; the Lord orders that Seventy Men, of the 
 Elders of the People, be chofen and prefented before him at 
 the Door of the Tabernacle, and he took of the Spirit that 
 was upon Mofes, and put it upon them, that they might bear 
 the burden of the People with him, and he might not bear 
 it alone. Now, whether the Apqftles after their firft Prog- 
 refs, returned, with any fuch Complaint of the greatnefs of 
 their Charge, we read not, except it be infmuated by St. 
 Mark, when he fays, That after their return, Chrift called 
 them apart to a defert Place to reft themfelves a while, 
 Mark 6. 31 : However, certain it is, our Bleffed Lord well 
 knew the greatnefs of their Work, and fhortly after, inftituted 
 that other Order of Gofpel Minifters, the Seventy to be Affift- 
 ants to the Apoftles ; and accordingly we find the Apoftles 
 frequently making ufe of the Miniftry and Afliftance of 
 them of that Second Order, either taking fome of them along 
 with them in their Travels, to Minifter unto them in propa- 
 gating the Gofpel among the Jews or Heathens ; or elfe 
 fixing them in places where the Gofpel was received, and 
 Churches founded ; or elfe in fending them with Apoftolick 
 Orders to Churches that were at a diftance : And 'tis prob- 
 able that according to the different Exercifes of their Min- 
 iftry, they were defigned fometimes Evangelijls, when they 
 laboured in converting Jews, or Heathens to the Faith ; 
 fometimes Paftors and Teachers, when they exercifed their 
 Miniftry among them that were already converted; and 
 
 generally
 
 A Modeft Proof. 201 
 
 generally they pafs under the Name of Brethren and Elders, 
 or Presbyters, in diftinclion from the Apoftles. 
 
 From thefe different Commifjions given to the Apoftles 
 and the Seventy, 'tis evident that there was a DiftinEKon 
 betwixt their Offices, and that the Apoflolick Office was 
 Superior to that of the Seventy, which great Truth may alfo 
 farther be fhown by feveral very weighty Arguments: For 
 although the Apoftles did manage the Authority we fuppofe 
 they had, fo much with the Spirit of their Lord and Mafter, 
 who, though he was their Lord and Mafter, yet humbled 
 himfelf to wafh their Feet, and treated them rather as 
 Friends than Servants, and behaved himfelf among them as 
 one that ferved, although they (I fay) following his Example, 
 behaved themfelves with the greateft gentlenefs and fweet- 
 nefs of Temper toward their Inferiors feldom making ufe of 
 their Authority in any fevere manner, John 13. 13. 15. 15. 
 Luke 22. 27; whereof we have a notable Inftance in the 
 Epiftle of Paul to Philemon, a Minifter of the Gofpel, where 
 he fays, Though I might be much bold in Chrift to enjoy n 
 thee, that which is convenient, yet for loves fake, I rather 
 befeech thee. Philem. ver. 8, 9. Yet, that they had fuch 
 Authority over the other Paftors and Teachers in the 
 Church, appears from feveral Inftances of their exercifmg it 
 in feveral refpecls and ways, as is recorded in the Sacred 
 Hiftory. I mail inftance in fome particulars in Confirma- 
 tion of this Truth, in the order as they occur to us in 
 Holy Writ. 
 
 i . And Fir/I, we read that the Apoftles abode for fome time 
 in Jerufalem, and the Brethren with them (no doubt accord- 
 ing to fome Order given them by their Lord) to fettle and 
 VOL. i. 26 eftablifh
 
 202 A Modefi Proof. 
 
 eftablifh the Chriftian Church there ; but when the Perfecu- 
 tion arofe about Stephen, all almoft, except the Apoftles, were 
 fcattered abroad through the Regions of Judaa and Sa- 
 maria : Philip, one of the Seven Deacons, went down to 
 Samaria, preached the Gofpel, wrought Miracles, converted 
 many of that City to the Faith, and initiated his Converts 
 by Baptifm : Others went as far as Phenice, Cyprus, and 
 Antioch, where a great number believed and turned to the 
 Lord : When the Apoftles heard of this, Peter and John are 
 fent to Samaria, to confirm and fettle the Church there, and 
 to confer upon them the Gifts of the Holy Ghoft. Acts 8. 14. 
 For though the Brethren had Power to Preach and Baptize, 
 and Work Miracles, yet it belonged to the Apoftles to fettle 
 and eflablifh Order in the new founded Churches, and to 
 confer the Gifts of the Holy Ghoft: Paul and Barnabas 
 were alfo fent to Antioch upon the like Errand. Acls 
 ii. 26. 
 
 2. Secondly, We find that when the Apoftles went abroad 
 to execute their CommiiTion in Difcipling the World, they 
 were attended by fome of the Brethren, as their Afliftants 
 and Minifters: Six attended Peter from Joppa to Cefarea, 
 and from thence to Jerufalem ; and to them it was that he 
 gave Orders for Baptizing Cornelius* Family ; and them he 
 brings as Witneffes for his Vindication, when challenged by 
 them of the Circumcifion, for his Converfe with the Gentiles. 
 Acls 10. 13, 38. Paul and Barnabas had John, furnamed 
 Mark, one of the Seventy, for their Minifter, in their firft 
 Progrefs, who after fome time departed from them, for which 
 Paul is highly difpleafed with him, and will not admit him 
 again to be one of his Attendants, becaufe he had departed 
 
 and
 
 A Modeji Proof. 203 
 
 and went not with them to the Work. A els n. 12. 12. 25. 
 13. 5. Verfe 13. 15. 38. This was the occafion of fome 
 Contention betwixt Paul and Barnabas, which came to that 
 height, that they departed afunder the one from the other ; 
 Barnabas going to Cyprus, attended by Mark, his Sifter's 
 Son ; and Paul to Syria and Cilicia, attended by Silas. 
 
 As Paul's Province was enlarged, by the Converfion of 
 many Cities and Countries unto the Faith, the Number of 
 his Attendants and Affiftants in the Work of the Gofpel did 
 alfo increafe, many accompanied him from place to place, 
 befides thefe Paftors, whom he fettled in every City that had 
 received the Gofpel. 
 
 3. Thirdly, Thefe Inferior Paftors were generally very 
 obfequious to the Orders of the Apoftles, going whither they 
 fent them to Vifit planted Churches ; coming when they 
 called them, to give their perfonal Attendance ; and ferving 
 with them in the Work of the Gofpel, as Sons with their 
 Fathers, as Paul fays of Timothy. Phil. 2. 22. 
 
 4. Fourthly, When any of them proved Refractory and Dif- 
 obedient to the Orders of the Apoftles, they are blamed for 
 it, and fometimes threatned with Cenfures ; fuch were fome 
 Teachers at Corinth, who defpifed and decried Paul's 
 Apoftlefhip, whom he threatens for their diforderly Con- 
 duct; with the Apoftolical Rod. i Cor. 4: 18, 19. 
 
 5. Fifthly, And when he is giving Apoftolical Orders, for 
 Redreffmg and Reforming fome Irregularities and Abufes 
 in the Publick Worfhip, occafioned through the Pride or 
 Impudence of fome of their Prophets and Teachers, who (it 
 feems) were too much puffed up with their Spiritual Gifts ; 
 he writes to them in an Authoritative Stile ; What ? fays 
 
 he.
 
 204 -^ Mode/I Proof. 
 
 he, Came the Word of God out from you, or came it unto you 
 only ? If any Man think himfelf to be a Prophet or Spir- 
 itual, Let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto 
 you, are the Commandments of the Lord, i. e. that I as an 
 Apoftle, have Power from the Lord to give Commandments 
 and Orders in thefe matters, which concern the decent and 
 orderly Performance of the Publick Worfhip ; but if any be 
 ignorant, let him be ignorant, i Cor. 14. 36, 37. He com- 
 plains alfo of others, who added Affliction to his Bonds, 
 preaching Chrift out of Contention and Strife, difowning his 
 Apofllefhip, refufmg to receive his Commands ; yea walking 
 contrary to his Orders, while others preached Chrift out of 
 Love, owning his Apoftlefhip, knowing that he was fet for the 
 Defence of the Gofpel. Phil. i. 15, &c. And when this 
 holy Apoftle 's Back was at the Wall, in Prifon, and hazard 
 of Death, many who had been formerly his Attendants and 
 Afliftants in the Gofpel-work, deferted him, when he flood 
 moft in need of their Miniftry ; which, he prays, might not 
 be laid to their charge. 2 Tim. 4. 10, 16. 
 
 6. Sixthly, In like manner St. John the Apoftle com- 
 plains of one Diotrephes, who affetted a pre-eminence over 
 the Church, difowned the Authority of the Apoftle, refufed 
 to receive the Orders which he fent to the Church, or the 
 Brethren by whom he fent them ; yea, prefumptuoufly took 
 upon him to caft thefe Brethren, and fuch who were willing to 
 receive them, out of the Communion of the Church, and to 
 all, added contemptuous and flighting Words of the Apoftle\ 
 whom the Apoftle threatens, when he comes, to chaftife for 
 his Pride and Infolence, in rejecting the Orders of his Su- 
 perior, and arrogating to himfelf that Superiority to which 
 
 he
 
 A Mode/I Proof. 205 
 
 he had no Call or Title ; for which Malepertnefs, the Apoftle 
 no doubt exercifed his Apoftolical Power in cenfuring him, 
 if he did not prevent it by Repentance. John 3. 9, 10. 
 
 In a Word, through all the New-TeJlament Hiftory, we 
 read of none who oppofed the Authority of the Apoftles, but 
 fuch as were Hereticks and Difturbers of the Church's Peace, 
 who every where made it their Bufmefs to deprefs the Credit 
 and Authority of the True Apoftles, i Cor. n. 13, 14; and 
 to gain the more eafily Profelites to their falfe Doctrines, 
 they either pretend that they themfelves were Apoftles, or 
 elfe that they themfelves were Commiffioned by the Apoftles, 
 whereas truly they were fuch as had departed from the Com- 
 munion of the Apoftles, as St. John tells us. Acts 15. 24. 
 i John 2. 19. Jude n. And St. Jude gives us this Account 
 of them, Wo unto them, they have gone in the way of Cain, a 
 Murderer of his Brother, and ran greedily after the Error of 
 Balaam, a covetous Wretch, and have perifhed in the gain- 
 faying of Corah, a proud ambitious Levite, who difdaining to 
 fubject himfelf to that Order God had fettled in his Church, 
 and Murmuring to be fet in a lower Station among the 
 Levites, afpired to the Priefthood. Numb. 16. 8, 9, 10. 
 Now it is not eafy to underftand, how thefe Hereticks could 
 correfpond with Corah in his Sin, if Chrift had fettled a 
 Parity among Church-Officers, and not a Superior and 
 Inferior Order. 
 
 And as all true Paftors and Teachers were faithful and duti- 
 ful Affiftants and Helpers, with the Apoftles in the Work of 
 the Gofpel,and punctual obfervers of all Apoftolick Orders and 
 Commands : So on the other hand, The Apoftles pay'd always 
 that refpecl unto the Paftors, that was due unto their Char- 
 acter,
 
 206 A Modeji Proof. 
 
 after, not treating them as Underlings and Servants, but as 
 Brethren and Fellow-labourers and Helpers, admitting them 
 to all their Confultations about Church Affairs, joyning their 
 Names with their own, in the Apoflolical Decrees and Con- 
 flitutions ; yet always, with a clear Indication of Diflinclion 
 and Subordination of their Order unto that of the Apojlles. 
 See A els i. and 15. 22, 23. Yea, and in fome of Paul's 
 Epiflles to the Churches, after that he defigns himfelf the 
 Apoftle of Jefus Chrijl, he fubjoyns the Names of fome of 
 his Brethren, his Affiftants and Fellow-helpers in the Work 
 of the Gofpel. And he does moft earneflly recommend to 
 the Church, That they have their Paftors in Reputation and 
 Honour. Philip. 2. 29. That they know them that labour 
 among them, and are over them in the Lord, and admonifh 
 them, and that they efteem them very highly in love for their 
 works fake. That they remember their Rulers with Refpecl, 
 obey them, and be fubjett to them, i Theff. 5. 12, 13. Heb. 
 13. 6. and 17. 
 
 Notwithstanding which, when his Apofllelhip is called in 
 queflion, or when it is fet upon a Level with the Inferior 
 Order, with what holy Zeal does he affert the Dignity and 
 Authority of his ApoftlefJiip : So when the Factious Corin- 
 thians began to ftate themfelves in Parties, and to fet in 
 Oppofition, or at lead, upon a Level with him, fome of their 
 Teachers, faying, I am of Paul, and 70/" Apollo: He owns 
 himfelf the Planter, Apollo the Waterer : Himfelf "the Mafter- 
 builder, Apollo, and others, as Builders with him. i Cor. 3. 
 6. &c. Chap. 4 : 6. Tis true, in this matter, he but borrows 
 his own Name and Apollo 's, as he tells us ; for it was far 
 from the Apoftles to fet up themfelves, as Heads of Factions 
 
 one
 
 A Modeft Proof. 207 
 
 one againfl another, neither did any of the faithful Paftors, 
 fuch as Apollo was, attempt any fuch thing. No, it was the 
 turbulent Paftors and Teachers who introduced thefe Fac- 
 tions, with defign, no doubt, to deprefs the Authority of the 
 Apoftle, and advance their own, and to gain Followers. To 
 correct the Arrogance of thefe Teachers, who being puffed up 
 with their Spiritual Gifts, durft thus fet up themfelves in Com- 
 petition with, or Oppofition to, the Apoftle ; and the Fickle- 
 nefs and Fondnefs of the Corinthians, their Admirers and 
 Followers, he reprefents feveral things, and an heavy Com- 
 plaint of the ill Treatment he, and other Apoftles, had met 
 with from them. He puts them in mind, that though they had 
 ten thoufand Inftrutters in Chrift, yet they were obliged to 
 own him as their Father, who had begotten them in Chri/l by 
 the Gofpel, and therefore ought to be Followers of him. And 
 if this his Fatherly Admonition did not reclaim them, he 
 threatens both thefe Factious Teachers and their Abettors 
 with his Apoftolick Rod. 1 Cor. 4. It was upon the fame, 
 or the like occafion, that we find him with holy Keennefs 
 afferting and proving his Apoftlefhip, magnifying his Office, 
 boafting of that Authority he had received from Chrift, and 
 once and again maintaining that he was not Inferior to the 
 chief eft Apoftles. i Cor. 9. 2 Cor. 10. n, 12, 13. Chapters. 
 To what purpofe all this, either their denying his Apoftle- 
 fhip, or his ftrenuoufly afferting it, if there had not been an 
 Eminency of Power and Authority in the Apoftolate, above 
 the Ordinary Paftor and Teacher? 
 
 Prophecy, fays Ckryfo/lome,$e.rm. de util. S Scrip. Tom 8. 
 pag. 114. Edit. Savil, the Gift of Miracles, the expelling 
 Demons, the Order of Paftors and Teachers, were all Spir- 
 itual
 
 208 A Modeft Proof. 
 
 itual Powers, and Enfigns of great Authority; but the 
 Apoftolic Eminency was far greater than all thefe, which he 
 therefore calls a Spiritual Confullhip. An Apoftle having 
 as great Pre-eminence above other Officers in the Church, 
 as the Conful had above all other Magiftrates in Rome\ 
 which is allow'd by Calvin, who acknowledges a Bimop to 
 be, ut Conful in Senatu, as Conful in the Senate. Inft. Lib, 4. 
 Cap. 4. Seel. 2. 
 
 Thus, I think, I have done with what I propos'd to make 
 appear in the Second Place, having demonftratively mown 
 how the Gofpel- Officers were diflinguifhed, and that there 
 was a Difparity among them. 
 
 III. I am to examine, Thirdly \ Whether any of them 
 were Extraordinary and Temporary, and prove that they 
 were not ; but defign'd to be perpetual and Handing in the 
 Church. 
 
 And this is the Hinge on which the whole Controverfey 
 in this matter depends, yea, all theAuthority and Obligation 
 of Chrift's firft inftitution, as to the prefent Church ; for if 
 his Inftitution was Extraordinary and Temporary in any 
 part, it is fo far as it was of this Nature, no Rule or Stand- 
 ard now : But if the Order he inftituted was to be perpet- 
 ual and {landing, then it continues Obligatory to the end of 
 the World ; and it muft be to all Chriftians, what the Pat- 
 tern in the Mount was to Mofes and the Jews, a conftant 
 Standard by which the Church is to be moulded and framed 
 in all After-Ages : I mail therefore impartially examine into 
 this matter. 
 
 And, i/?, it is acknowledged by all, that many of the Gifts 
 and Powers wherewith both Apoftles, and other Paftors 
 
 were
 
 A Mode/I Proof. 209 
 
 were endued, were Extraordinary and Temporary, being 
 defigned only, as the Apoftle fays of Tongues, for Signs, to 
 convince Unbelievers of the Divinity of that Doctrine which 
 they faw attefted by fuch Miraculous Operations, i Cor. 14. 
 22 : But the Gofpel- Doctrine being once fufficiently attefted 
 and confirmed, there was no further need of continuing 
 them, and they have long fince ceafed in the Church. 
 
 idly, Tis alfo acknowledged, that fome things peculiar to 
 the firft Apoftles, were Extraordinary and Temporary, and 
 expired with their Perfons. Such as, Their having been 
 eye and ear Witneffes of Chrift's Life, Doctrine, Miracles, 
 Sufferings, Refurrection and Afcenfion. Their having re- 
 ceived their Commiffion immediately from Chrift. Their 
 being infallible Guides in delivering the Doctrines of the 
 Gofpel. Their unlimited Commiffion to all the World, and 
 Jurifdiction over all Churches. Their Power to confer 
 miraculous Gifts on others, to difcern Spirits, and to back 
 their Cenfures with corporal Punifhments, as on Ananias 
 and Saphira and Elimas\ and perhaps, to thefe may be 
 added their power to inftitute new Gofpel Officers and Min- 
 ifters, as the exigence of the Church fhould require ; as they 
 did that of Deacons, All thefe extraordinary Powers and Gifts, 
 whether they which were peculiar to the Apoftles, or fuch as 
 were common to them and other inferiour Minifters, had a 
 particular refpect to the firft planting of the Gofpel, and the 
 erecting and conftituting of the Chriftian Church in the 
 World : which when performed, thefe extraordinary Powers 
 ceafed : but, 
 
 Zdly, Befides thefe, There was the ordinary Power and 
 
 Authority of the Apoftles, which was to ferve the Edifica- 
 
 VOL. i. 27 tion,
 
 210 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 tion, good Order and Government of the ConfHtuted Church 
 in all fucceeding Ages : Such as, Their power to preach the 
 Gofpel, adminifter the Sacraments, and perform all the 
 Offices of Religion, common to them with other Paftors. 
 More particularly, to preferve the Offices inftituted by Chrifl 
 in his Church, by ordaining Minifters of Religion in all the 
 three diftincl Offices: To Govern the Churches, and fuper- 
 intend both Paftors and People : To Judge, Correct and Cen- 
 fure Mifdemeanors either in the one or other: To fettle 
 good Conftitutions agreeable to the Word of God, for the 
 orderly and decent performance of all the Ordinances of 
 Religion, Publick Worfhip and other Affairs of Difcipline, as 
 the exigence of the Church mould require : And finally, By 
 their Authority and Care, to preferve the Church from the 
 Corruptions of Error, Superftition, Faction, Schifm, and 
 Prophanefs, by their right ufe of the Keys and the Power 
 of binding and looting committed to them : All which are 
 proper parts of the Apoftolick Office, always neceffary for the 
 good of the Church ; and no part more neceffary than their 
 Authoritative Infpeclion, over the ordinary Paftors, that they 
 be well qualified for the Paftoral Office before they be ad- 
 mitted thereto, and when admitted, they perform the fame, 
 with Faithfulnefs and Diligence, with Prudence and Difcre- 
 tion, and in Peace and Concord with their Brethren. Now, 
 thefe things being Premifed, I come to an impartial Exam- 
 ination of the matter in hand. 
 
 And here I muft needs confefs I think there is nothing 
 more evident upon the flighteft Examination than that 
 Chrift in Inftituting thefe Orders and Offices, defigned, that 
 they mould be ftanding and unalterable Conftitutions in his 
 
 Church,
 
 A Modejl Proof. 2 1 1 
 
 Church, to continue for its Edification to the end of the 
 World: And of none, is the unalterablenefs of Inftitution 
 more evident, than of the Apoftolick Office, (which fome 
 contend to be temporary and extraordinary.) 
 
 For ift, When Chrift gave them their full and lafl Com- 
 miffion, Mat. 28. 19, He enjoyns them to reach all Nations, 
 whom they fhould Difciple, to obferve all things whatfoever 
 he had commanded them, of which the Order and Offices, 
 he had inftituted, were a part, which accordingly they were 
 to fettle in all new founded Churches : And then he adds, 
 Lo I am with you alway to the end of the World'. But how 
 could that be, if their Office was to expire with themfelves / 
 We muft then underftand it, as a promife, not to them only, 
 but to their Succejfors alfo : not to their Perfons only, but to 
 their Office, which was to continue to the end of the World, 
 even fo long as Chrift was to have a Church upon Earth. 
 
 'idly, The Apoftle S. Paul tells us, i Cor. 12. 28, God 
 hath fet fome in his Church, fir/I Apoftles,fecondly Prophets, 
 thirdly Teachers (what follow, are not diftincl Offices from 
 thefe, but extraordinary Gifts conferred on them.) God hath 
 fet, even He, who fettled the Ordinances of Heaven, which 
 none can alter, hath fixed thefe different Orders in his 
 Church : or rather, to ufe the Apoftles Simile, as God hath 
 fet various and different Members in the natural Body, fome 
 more excellent and honourable, yet, all ufeful and neceffary 
 to the Beauty and Integrity of the whole ; he has done the 
 fame by his Church : So that whoever would deprive the 
 Church of any of thefe Sacred Offices fet in it by God, 
 endeavours no lefs than to mutilate and deform it, to pluck 
 out one of its Eyes, or cut off one of its Hands : And how 
 
 heinous
 
 212 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 heinous the Guilt muft be, fo to treat the Body whereof 
 Chrift Jefus is Head, let them confider who prefume to 
 do it. 
 
 But farther, Thirdly, in the 4th Chapter of the Epiftle to 
 the Ephefians, we have an unconteftible Teftimony, proving 
 the perpetual continuance of thefe Offices inftituted by 
 Chrift, taken from the end and defign for which they were 
 inftituted, Eph. 4. n, 12, 13, 14: He gave fome Apojlles, 
 fome Prophets, fome Evangelifts, fome Paftors and Teachers, 
 for the perfecting of the Saints, for the work of the Miniftry, 
 for tlie edifying the Body of Chrift, till we all come in the 
 unity of the Faith and of the Knowledge of the Son of GOD 
 unto a perfect Man, unto the Meafure of the Jlature of the 
 fulnefs of Chrift ; That we henceforth be no more Children 
 tojffed to and fro, and carried about by every wind of Doc- 
 trine, by the flight of Men and cunning Craftinefs, whereby 
 they lie in wait to deceive-. Where it is plain, thefe Offices 
 were to continue till the Church Ihould be perfected, fully 
 brought in, and fully advanced, and till it fhould be beyond 
 all hazard of being feduced, that is, to the end of the World. 
 We fee the end for which thefe Offices were Inftituted, and 
 how long they were to continue, exprefly fet down. 
 
 If any fay, That here are more Offices than are pleaded 
 for : The Anfwer is obvious, that thefe different Defigna- 
 tions do not import different Offices, but different Exer- 
 cifes of the fame Office: For Inftance, an Apoftle, Presbyter 
 or Deacon, might be a Prophet, Evangelift, Doclor or 
 Teacher. If employed in converting Jews or Heathens to 
 the Faith, he did the Work of an Evangelift, and on this 
 Account Philip, one of the feven Deacons, is fo call'd. If 
 
 in
 
 A Mo deft Proof. 213 
 
 in Inftrucling them who were already Converted, that was 
 the Work of an ordinary Pa/lor: If he laboured mainly in 
 explaining and confirming the Do6lrines of Chriftianity, he 
 a6led the Part of a DoElor or Teacher: If he further im- 
 proved thefe Doctrines to Edification, Exhortation and 
 Comfort, that was the Work of the Prophet, in the Gofpel 
 Senfe. Thus Judas and Silas, two Presbyters, are called 
 Prophets ; fo that all thefe are reducible to the three Offices, 
 of whofe Inflitution we have given a particular Account. 
 Acts 21. 8. i Cor. 14. 3. Acts 15. 32. 
 
 And now, if thefe different Orders of Gofpel Minifters infti- 
 tuted by Chrifl, were defigned by him to be perpetual ftand- 
 ing Offices in his Church, for its Edification, good Order 
 and Government, to the end of the World, as is evident from 
 what hath been faid ; there muft of Neceffity be a Succeffion 
 of Perfons, duly called to thefe Offices, according to Chrift's 
 Inflitution, that the Offices themfelves may be capable of 
 continuing {landing in the Church. 
 
 And to erect and fet up a new Office Paramount to thefe 
 inftituted by Chrift, fuch as the Papacy, is intolerable Pre- 
 fumption ; for who can have a Power and Authority in the 
 Church above Apoftles who were Chrifl's immediate Dele- 
 gates, but Chrifl himfelf/ 
 
 And it is no lefs Prefumption to cut off, or abrogate any 
 of thefe Sacred Offices: Tis an overturning that Order 
 eftablifhed by Chrifl in his Church, and altering and changing 
 his Inflitution : It is a Sacrilegious Robbing the Church of 
 thefe Minifters which Chrift in his infinite Wifdom thought 
 neceffary for her Edification and Perfection. You know 
 what a dreadful Curfe is pronounced againft them, who 
 
 either
 
 214 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 either add to, or take away from, the Inftitutions of Jefus 
 Chrift in the i8th and igth Verfes of the 22d Chapter 
 of the Revelations of St. John. 
 
 If it be pretended, that now at lead, in the prefent State of 
 the Church, both the Apoftolick and Prophetick Offices, may 
 be, to as good Purpofe, and as great Benefit of the Church, 
 performed by the ordinary Paftors, acting in Parity, and 
 that it is therefore needlefs to keep a diftinclion of Orifices: 
 This is to pretend to be wifer than Chrift: It is to confound 
 and jumble together the different Orders inftituted by him : 
 It is to fet up a new Model different from what he not only 
 eftablifhed, but alfo appointed to continue in his Church to 
 the end of the World ; it is to cafhier Chrift's Prime Officers 
 and Reprefentatives, and the Churches principal Guides: 
 And to deprive the Church of the Pledges of her Lord's 
 Care and Kindnefs which he gave her, when he Afcended 
 up unto Heaven. 
 
 If then our Blefled Lord's Inftitution be preferred, there 
 muft be Apojlles, as well as Presbyters and Deacons who are 
 not difputed, that is, Succeffors to them in their Office in 
 the Chriftian Church: And who are they? Sure, not 
 every Pajlor, nor yet any number of them, however moduled 
 into leffer or larger Judicatories : I Honour their Order 
 and Office, but would not have them take too much upon 
 them, nor go beyond their Sphere: They are indeed the 
 Succe/ors of the Seventy, if duly admitted to the Pajloral 
 Office, and may well rejoyce in that honourable Station to 
 which they are advanced in God's Church, if they Walk 
 worthy of it ; but let them remember, that the whole Seventy 
 could not fill the Chair of one Apojlle, (for no Man may take 
 
 this
 
 A Modefi Proof. 215 
 
 this Honour to himfelf, but he that is called of GOD) until 
 the Holy Ghofl did determine the Choice of one to that 
 High Office : I doubt not, but there were upwards of feven 
 hundred Eminent Paftors, and all endued with Extraordi- 
 nary Gifts, in the Days of the Apoftles: But were all 
 Apoftles ? Says St. Paul, No, they were not. 
 
 IV. Which brings me to what I promis'd in the Fourth 
 and Lajl Place, to mew, fuppofing thefe Church-Offices to 
 be ftanding, who fucceed in them, and rightly execute them 
 to this Day. 
 
 I need but do it of the Succeflbrs to the Apoftles, for when 
 that is done, the other comes in of Courfe. 
 
 And in clearing this Point, I muft put you in mind of 
 what was obferved under the foregoing Head, That the 
 Apoftles were endued with fome Powers and Gifts, which 
 had a peculiar Reference to the firft Planting and Propa- 
 gating the Gofpel, and the firft Gathering and Conftitut- 
 ing the Chriftian Church : Thefe were Extraordinary, 
 and did expire with themfelves ; and in thefe they have no 
 Succeffors. 
 
 But the queftion is concerning the Ordinary Power and 
 Authority of the Apoftolick Office, as it was inftituted and 
 appointed by Chrift, to be a ftanding and continuing Office 
 in his Church when conftituted, to ferve for the Edification, 
 good Order and Government thereof to all fucceeding 
 Ages : The Apoftles were an Order of the Gofpel-Minifters, 
 Superior to Ordinary Paftors and Teachers, to whom Chrift 
 in a fpecial Manner committed the Care and Government of 
 his Church : To difpenfe the Word and Sacraments, and 
 perform all Offices of Religion : To Ordain Minifters of 
 
 Religion
 
 216 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 Religion according to his Inftitution: To Govern and 
 Superintend his Church both Paftors and People: To 
 Judge, Correct, and Cenfure Mifdemeanors in the one or 
 other: To fettle good Orders and Conftitutions for the 
 orderly and decent performance of all Ordinances of Reli- 
 gion, Publick Worlhip, and Exercife of Difcipline, and to 
 preferve the Church from Corruption of Error, Superftition, 
 Faction, Schifm, and all Irregular Practices. All thefe are 
 proper Parts of the Apoftolic Office, always neceffary for the 
 good of the Church ; and they are alfo the proper Offices 
 of a BiJJiop, Overfeer or Superintendent. So that 'tis very 
 evident, that in this ordinary and continuing Part of the 
 Apoftolick Office, Chrift hath inftituted the (landing Office 
 of Bijhops in his Church, that is an Order of Gofpel-Minif- 
 ters, Superior to Paftors and Teachers, to whom he hath 
 committed the Power and Authority above-mentioned. 
 
 That the Apoftles were actually Bijhops, and their Apof- 
 tle/hip a proper Epifcopacy, as it is exprefly called, Afls i. 
 20. and that they actually exerted an Epifcopal Poiver and 
 Jurifdiftion over the Churches, and the ordinary Paftors 
 and Teachers, Presbyters and Deacons, I have fully fhewed 
 in the Second Inquiry. And accordingly we find the An- 
 cients do frequently in their Writings call the Apoftles, 
 Bijhops ; and no lefs frequently do they ftile the BifJiops 
 Apoftles, as being their Succeffors in ordinary ; by which 'tis 
 evident, they underftood, that in the Apoftles, the Epifcopal 
 Office was inftituted, and that in Bijhops the Apoftolical 
 Office is continued in the Church : But this is beyond my 
 Province, having confin'd my felf in this Inquiry, to what 
 Light the Sacred Records afford. 
 
 And
 
 A Modeji Proof. 217 
 
 And in confulting them we find it evident, Fir/I, That 
 the Apoftles were a Superior Order of Gofpel-Minifters to 
 Presbyters and Ordinary Paftors and Teachers : That to 
 thefe Apoftles Chrift Committed the chief Care & Govern- 
 ment of his Church, as his fpecial and immediate Delegates 
 and Truftees: That the Inferior Pajlors and Teachers did 
 always own and acknowledge the Apoftles as their Supe- 
 riors, and did readily receive and obey their Orders : That 
 this Apoftolick Order, Superior to Presbyters and Deacons, 
 was to continue in the Church : all which we have fully 
 cleared from Scripture in the former Enquiries. Now, what 
 Order of Gofpel-Minifters is there, Superior to Ordinary 
 Paftors and Teachers, but that of Biftiops, in whom the 
 Apoftolick Order is continued in the Church ? 
 
 Either then Bijhops muft be the true Succefibrs of the 
 Apoftles, or elfe they have no Succeffors at all, and the 
 Apoftolick Order and Office is quite Extinct, and the Church 
 is totally deprived of the prime and chiefeft Office inftituted 
 by Chrift for its Edification, good Order and Government : 
 And finally, There is now no fuch Order of Men extant in 
 the World, to whom that large and ample Commiffion which 
 Chrift gave only to his Apoftles, does belong : To them it 
 was he gave the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, the 
 Power of Binding and Loofing : Them he fent as his Leg- 
 ates and Ambaffadors to the World, as the Father had fent 
 him : Them he inftrucled in, and entrufted with the great 
 Affairs of his Kingdom, and to them he made that encour- 
 aging and gracious Promife, Lo, I am with you alway, even to 
 the end of the World. Now, who can lay Claim to that Com- 
 miflion, or the Promife annexed, but the Apoftles and their 
 VOL. i. 28 Succefforsl
 
 218 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 Succe/ors ? And if they have no Succeffors now, that they 
 themfelves are Dead, all that Com million falls, and the 
 Promife with it ; which is abfurd to think, and 'tis horrid 
 even to conceive what confequences would follow. 
 
 Secondly, It is evident alfo from Scripture, That the 
 Apq/lles in their own time did confer upon others the Apof- 
 tolick Power and Authority ; which they had never done, if 
 they had thought that the Office was confined to their own 
 Perfons, and was to end with their refpeclive Lives : They 
 underftood better the Mind of their Lord and Matter, and 
 the Importance of his Promife to be with them to the end of 
 the World. Hence they rightly concluded, That they were 
 to commit the CommiiTion given to them, unto the Hands 
 of other faithful Perfons, who mould in like manner tranfmit 
 it to others in a continual SuccefTion, to the end of the World. 
 Accordingly their firft Work was to chufe one to fucceed 
 Judas ; and by the Direction of God, Matthias is received 
 into the number of the ApofHes : So when James, the 
 Brother of John, is killed by Herod, another of that Name 
 was Bifhop of Jerufalem ; to whom as fuch, St. Peter noti- 
 fies his miraculous Deliverance. He who prefided in the 
 Council at Jerufalem. Acts 12. 17. Acts 15. Acts 21. 18. 
 He to whom St. Paul made his Addrefs when he came 
 thither: and he of whom he fpeaks in the iQth Verfe of the 
 firft Chapter of the Epiftle to the Galatians, whom he calls 
 an Apojlle, and the Lords Brother'. This James fome will 
 have to be another, than James, commonly called the Lefs, 
 one of the firft Twelve Apoftles ; that he was one of the 
 Seventy, commonly called James the Juft, advanced to the 
 Apoftolate ; but however this be, certain it is, That /W/and 
 
 Barnabas
 
 A Modeji Proof. 2 1 9 
 
 Barnabas were received into the Apqftolick Office, Paul im- 
 mediately called thereunto by Chrift at his Converfion. Acts 
 26. 1 6. But Barnabas in the ordinary manner, when he 
 received that new Name from the Apoftles, which fignifies 
 Son of Confolation. Acts 4. 36, 37. Both of them owned 
 afterwards by the Apoftles, James, Peter, and John, as their 
 Fellow Apoftles ; and in Teftimony thereof, they gave them 
 the Right hand of Fellowfhip, and a particular CommiiTion 
 to the Gentiles. Galat. 2. 9. 
 
 Befides thefe we read of others rais'd from among the 
 Ordinary Paftors to the Apoftolical or Epifcopal Order; 
 and endued with a Power and Authority over Churches, 
 and their Paftors and Presbyters; (under what Defigna- 
 tion I mail not difpute, inafmuch as the thing is evidently 
 Matter of Fact) for after this manner, Paul actually gave to 
 Timothy fuch an Epifcopal Power over the Church of Ephe- 
 fus, and the Presbyters and Paftors thereof ; by vertue of 
 which Commiffion, he is Authorized and Inftructed in all 
 the Exercife of the Epifcopal Power. To Command and 
 Charge them, (the Paftors) that they Preach found Doctrine, 
 i Tim. i. 3. Chap. 2 : To prefcribe Rules for the Publick 
 Worfhip, particularly, that Prayers be offered up for all in 
 Authority : To examine and judge Perfons duly qualified 
 for the Sacred Offices of the Gofpel, and to give Impojitions 
 of Hands to, or Ordain none but fuch as are found duly qual- 
 ified, Chap. 3. And 5. 22: To guard diligently againft falfe 
 Doctrines and feducing Spirits, and put the Brethren in 
 mind, and command them that they give not heed to fuch 
 Doctrines and Seducers : To Judge, Correct and Cenfure 
 Offenders even Presbyters, after due Examination and Con- 
 viction,
 
 220 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 viclion, Chap. 4. Ch. 5. 19. 20: To encourage and promote 
 to higher Degrees fuch Deacons or Presbyters as were faith- 
 ful and diligent, Chap. 3. 13. And 5. 17: And, in a Word, 
 he is inftrucled how in all things to behave himfelf, as a 
 good Ruler and Governour in the Church committed to his 
 Care and Inflection ; and that with thefe very remarkably 
 folemn Obteftations, Chap. 5.22. Chap. 6. 13, 14. Ver. 20: / 
 charge thee before God, that thou obferve thefe things without 
 partiality or preferring one before another. I give thee charge 
 in the Jight of God and of Jefus Chrijl, that thou keep this 
 Commandment. O Timothy, keep that which is committed 
 to thy Truft. The like Power and Authority is conferred 
 on Titus over the Churches in Crete. Titus 4. 5. Ver. 9, 
 10, ii. That he Jhould fet in Order the things that were 
 wanting, and ordain Elders or Presbyters in every City. 
 And, that he fhould flop the Mouths of the unruly who 
 taught things they ought not: And that heJJwuld rebuke them 
 Jharply that they may be found in the Faith : And that if any 
 after due Admonitions, fhould continue obftinate, he mould 
 cenfure him with Depofition and Excommunication. Chap. 
 3. 10. 
 
 Thefe are fuch evident Proofs of an Apojlolical or Epif- 
 copal Power conferred upon one Paftor over other Pajlors 
 and Teachers, as ought in Reafon to fatisfie all Men who are 
 not immediately prejudiced againft the Epifcopal Order. I 
 will not contend, but that in the Exercife of this Power, they 
 may have taken the Advice and Concurrence of the Faithful 
 Pajlors in thefe Churches, and concerted Affairs with them : 
 and not done things in an Arbitrary and defpotick manner, 
 as Calvin obferves : Yet he allows they had fuch a Prefe- 
 
 dency
 
 A Mo deft Proof. 221 
 
 dency over the Paftors, as the Roman Conful had in the 
 Senate, and more I plead not for. Calvin's Inft. Lib. 4. 
 Cap. 3. Sect. 15. 
 
 If it be faid, That Timothy and Titus acted only as PauFs 
 Delegates, it weakens not the Argument, but rather corrob- 
 orates it, for it ftill holds that there was in the Apoftles, a 
 Superior Power and Office, above that of Presbyters which 
 might be conferred upon and committed to another, whether 
 by Delegation, or by Invefliture and Ordination of the Perfon 
 into the Office, to which that Power and Authority be- 
 longed, comes all to one. It is to as little purpofe to fay, 
 that Timothy and Titus exercifed this Power and Authority 
 over the Paftors of Ephefus and Crete, as Evangelifts : for i . 
 If the Power was really Apoftolical and Epif copal, 'tis all 
 one under whatever defignation they exercifed it ; But idly, 
 'Tis altogether groundlefs ; for we find no fuch Office of an 
 Evangelift inftituted, diftinct from that of Apojlle, Presbyter, or 
 Deacon, but that it was a common defignation to all who 
 were the firft Planters of the Gofpel among Jews, or Hea- 
 thens, which cannot hold in the prefent cafe, for their Com- 
 miffion is not only to the unconverted Heathens at Ephefus 
 or Crete, but to the Churches already fettled, and Paftors 
 inftituted, in the actual Exercife of their Miniftry in thefe 
 places over whom they are charged to exercife this Epifcopal 
 Authority, as they will anfwer to Jefus Chrift, the Supreme 
 Lord of his Church. 
 
 And what hath been hitherto obferved, makes it to me* 
 very evident, and I think may make it to any other unpreju- 
 dic'd Perfon at leaft highly probable, That the Angels of 
 the Seven Churches of the lefler AJia, were Perfons of the 
 
 Apoftolical
 
 222 A Modeji Proof. 
 
 Apq/lolical and Epifcopal Order : For fmce there was fuch 
 an Office of Apoftles and Biftiops inftituted by Chrift in his 
 Church, whofe Office was to Superintend Churches and the 
 Paftors thereof, and by their Authority to fettle good Order, 
 to prevent and correcl Abufes and Corruptions in Paftors 
 and People: Who elfe could thefe Angels be, but Officers of 
 this higher Order/ Who therefore are accountable for, and 
 charged Particularly with, any Diforder or Corruption tol. 
 erated in their refpeclive Churches: And commended for 
 fuppreffing and correcting thefe Diforders, and Purging their 
 Churches of Heretical Teachers. 
 
 And, Finally, we cannot entertain the leaft Doubt of it in 
 our Minds, but that the Holy Apoftles, to whom our Lord 
 gave fpecial Commiffion and Power, to Plant and Settle, and 
 Govern his Church in his Name, would be moft faithful and 
 exa<5l, in fettling that Order, and Inftituting thefe Offices, in 
 all fully conftituted Churches, which their Lord had ap- 
 pointed ; and would be careful to leave the Church at their 
 Death, under the fame Order and Government, furnimed 
 with the fame Offices and Minifters which Chrift himfelf her 
 Lord, had inftituted and appointed for her Edification. 
 
 Neither can it be conceiv'd, that any Chriftian Church 
 could look on herfelf as rightly Conftituted, if any of thefe 
 facred Offices inftituted by Chrift and his Apoftles had been 
 wanting. 
 
 And now, having plainly from unconteftible Matters of 
 Facl, Recorded in the New Teftament, reprefented the 
 Order and Government, the different Offices and Powers 
 inftituted by Chrift and his Apoftles, in the firft modeling of 
 the Chriftian Church ; I might add for Confirmation of all 
 
 that
 
 A Mode/I Proof. 223 
 
 that has been hitherto alleg'd, that all the Records we have 
 of the Ancient and Primitive Church do harmonioufly 
 atteft, That this Order, and thefe Offices inftituted by Chrift, 
 were inviolably preferved for many Ages ; and fo pofitive 
 are they, as to that prime Office of Apqftles and Bifhops, that 
 they give us particular Catalogues of the Bifhops who fuc- 
 ceeded the Apoflles, in governing the moft famous and 
 principal Churches in the World : But to infifl on this, 
 would force me beyond the Bounds within which I propos'd 
 to contain my felf in my firfl Entrance upon this Subject. 
 
 I mail therefore only give the Teftimony of Calvin in this 
 Matter, becaufe perhaps his Authority may go further with 
 fome, than that of the Ancients: You will find it in the ift 
 and 4th Sections of the 4th Chapter of his Inftitutions, 
 where treating of the State of the Church, and the Form of 
 its Government before the Papacy, he fays to this purpofe : 
 ' It will be ufeful in this Matter, to know and confider the 
 ' Form of the Ancient Church, which will reprefent before our 
 ' Eyes, a certain Image of the Divine Inflitution : Although 
 ' the Bifhops of thofe Times, framed many Canons, by which 
 ' they feem to ftrain Things beyond what is expreffed in Holy 
 ' Writ ; yet with that Caution did they frame all their Order 
 ' and Government, according to the only Rule of God's Word, 
 ' that you may eafily fee they had almoft nothing in this 
 ' Matter difagreeable to the Word of God. Yea, though 
 ' fomething might be wanting in their Order, yet, becaufe 
 ' with a fincere Study they endeavour'd to preferve God's 
 ' Inftitution, and erred not much from it, it will be very 
 ' profitable, briefly to recount what kind of Cuflom they had. 
 ' As we have mown, there is a threefold Miniftry commended 
 
 'to
 
 224 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 'to us in Scripture; So whatever Minifters the ancient 
 ' Church had, it diftinguifhed them into three Orders, Bifhops, 
 ' Presbyters, and Deacons. 
 
 And 4. * That every Province had among their BiJJtops 
 ' one who was an Arch-bifhop, and that in the Council of 
 ' Nice, Patriarchs were appointed, who in Order and Dignity 
 'might be fuperior to Arch-bijhops ; This was for Preferva- 
 1 tion of Difcipline, that if any thing happened in any Church 
 1 which could not well be determined by a few, it might be 
 ' referred to a Provincial Synod, and if the Affair were of 
 ' fuch Importance that it required a greater Difcuflion, Ap- 
 1 plication was made to the Patriarch with the Synods, from 
 ' whom there was no Appeal but to a General Council: The 
 ' Government thus conftituted, fome did call an Hierarchy, a 
 ' Name improper (as feems to me) furely not ufed in Scrip- 
 1 ture ; for the Holy Spirit would provide, that in the Matter 
 'of Church-Government, None might Dream of a Princi- 
 ' pality or Dominion ; but if laying afide the Name, we view 
 ' the Thing it felf, we will find that the ancient Bifhops had 
 1 no mind to frame any other Form of Church-Government, 
 * than what was prefcribed by God in his Word. Thus far 
 Calvin. 
 
 And I would conclude with thefe Words, but that I 
 am obliged, for further clearing what hath been hitherto 
 obferved, to confider fome Paffages of Scripture that are 
 commonly objecled againfl what I have advanc'd. 
 
 And, Fir/I, 'tis alleg'd, that the names of Bi/Jtop and Pres- 
 byter are promifcuoufly ufcd in Scripture, and therefore they 
 fignifie but one and the fame Office : It is Anfwered by 
 fome, That this is a great Miftake: And that wherever 
 
 Bi/hops
 
 A Mode/I Proof. 225 
 
 Bifhops are named, we are to underftand Bifhops properly 
 fo called, and not Presbyters, which they make appear from 
 the Texts brought in favour of the Community of Names ; 
 for Inftance, Acts 20. Verfes 18. 27, 28. They fay, Paul called 
 both Bijhops and Presbyters unto him, and that the Clergy 
 of all the Cities thereabout were there ; for Paul, during his 
 three Years abode in Afea, had Converfed with the Bijhops 
 and Presbyters of other Places, than of Ephefus, and his 
 appealing to their Knowledge, proves that they were prefent, 
 fo that what he fays, ver. 28. was principally directed to the 
 Bifhops, and fecondarily and by way of Reflection to the 
 Presbyters. To Titus i. Ver. 5, 6, 7. it is anfwer'd, That 
 what is there to be found, only proves that he fhould 
 Advance the Presbyters under him, and Ordain Bifhops, and 
 Difpofe of them unto Cities, fixing them to certain Cures ; 
 fo it follows, for a BiJJtop muft be blamelefs, &c. There were 
 Presbyters before at Crete, and Titus was to ordain fome of 
 them Bifhops : So i Tim. 3. is to be underftood of Bifhops 
 properly fo called, that were to be ordained to prefide over 
 other Cities, as Timothy did over Ephefus. Phil.\. i. may be 
 underftood of the Bifhops of Philippi, and other neighbour- 
 ing Cities, who were wont to convene and meet together; 
 or it may mean that Paul, and the Bifhops and Deacons 
 that were with him, Salute the Saints at Philippi. This 
 Anfwer however not obvious to every one, yet clearly fhews 
 how uncertain that alledged Identity of Names is. 
 
 But though we mould not look upon this Anfwer as abfo- 
 
 lutely conclufive, but grant an Identity of Names ; yet it 
 
 will not follow, that there was an Identity of Offices ; for 
 
 Names are common in Scripture, where Offices are acknowl- 
 
 VOL. i. 29 edged
 
 226 A Mode/I Proof. 
 
 edged to be diftin<5t. Thus Hebrews the $d and the ifl, 
 Chrift is called an Apoftle\ and i Pet. 2. 25. he is called a 
 Bijhop\ Peter and John call themfelves Presbyters; i Pet. 
 5. i. John Ep. 2. 3. i Cor. 3. 5. 2 Cor. 3. 6. Col. 4. 7, 17. 
 and the Apoftles and Paftors are frequently called Deacons. 
 i Thef. 3. 2. Now it cannot from thence be argued, that the 
 Apoftles and Presbyters Office was one and the fame with 
 the Deacon : The Name of the Genus is ufually given to 
 the Species: the Superior Office including the Inferior, all 
 Apoftles were Presbyters and Deacons, though not vice verfa : 
 Therefore the Identity of Office is not to be argued from 
 the Identity of Names: for according to the Presbyterians 
 themfelves, the Name Presbyter is common to the Paftor, 
 and Ruling Elder, yet the Offices are vaftly diftmcl. 
 
 But, Secondly, feveral Texts are adduced, in which 'tis 
 alledged, That Parity among Church-Offices is peremtorily 
 commanded ; fuch as Matth. 20. 26. The Lords of the Gen- 
 tiles, &c. and the parallel places, Luke 9. 47, 48. Luke 22. 24. 
 i Pet. 5. 3. To which 'tis anfwered in general, That thefe 
 Scriptures cannot by any juft Rules of Interpretation be 
 underftood as condemning a Difparity among Gofpel Min- 
 ifters, nor a Superiority of one Order above another; nor a 
 more eminent Power and Authority in fome to Govern the 
 Church above others ; nor all Jurifdiclion of one Gofpel 
 Office above others, but only that, which is exercifed with 
 imperious Bitternefs and Domination ; nor are they inter- 
 preted to any fuch purpofe by any Judicious Perfon of either 
 Perfwafion: So that it is not fair, honed, or ingenuous Deal- 
 ing, in any to make ufe of thefe Texts, as condemning Im- 
 parity among Gofpel Officers, in order to amufe the Populace 
 
 and
 
 A Modejl Proof. 227 
 
 and Simpler Sort, who are oft-times foon taken with the 
 Sound of Words, without confidering the true Senfe and 
 Importance of them. 
 
 But to anfwer this Objection more particularly, \Jl, That 
 only is forbidden Gofpel-minifters, which was praclifed 
 by the Lords of the Gentiles^ that is, Secular Dominion 
 and Authority; and it was certain, it was this that the 
 Difciples had in their View, when they contended who 
 Ihould be greatefl; for they were mightily poffeffed with 
 the Jewi/Ji Opinion, that Chrifl's Kingdom was to be 
 a Temporal Kingdom ; and it is this miftake that Chrift 
 removes. 
 
 zdly, That Dominion which the Lords of the Gentiles 
 exercifed, was not one over another, but over their Subjects, 
 fo that if it take away all Power of one above another, it 
 will deftroy the Power of Minifters over their Flocks : Now, 
 though Lording over God's Heritage is exprefly difcharged ; 
 yet the Paftors Power and Authority over them, is exprefly 
 afTerted, where they are called Rulers, and the People com- 
 manded to obey them: i Pet. 5. 3. Heb. 13. 7. 17. It 
 would alfo deftroy the Power of Synods and Presbyters, 
 where Minifters rule over Minifters. 
 
 3<//j/, There are in St. Luke, fome Expreffions. which 
 plainly imply a Superiority or Eminency of Power, in fome 
 over others, when it is faid, He that is greateft among you : 
 And when Chrift propofes his own Example in what he 
 there enjoyns them, faying, / am among you as one that 
 minijlreth ; yet none will doubt he was their Lord and Supe- 
 rior, fo that the command of Miniftring takes not away the 
 Superiority and Power. 
 
 It
 
 228 A Modejl Proof. 
 
 , It cannot be thought that our Saviour condemned 
 a Difparity among Gofpel Minifters, when it is fo evident 
 that he actually inftituted Minifters of Different Offices and 
 Degrees, firft Apoftles, then Seventy others of a Second 
 Order ; and his Apoftles inftituted a Third Order of Deacons, 
 who 'tis certain was Inferior to Presbyters, as thefe were to 
 the Apoftles. 
 
 $thly, If our Lord had defigned to forbid all Difparity or 
 Subordination among the Minifters of the Gofpel ; 'tis like, 
 he would rather have ftated the Oppofition between them 
 and the Minifters of Religion under the Mofaick Difpen- 
 fation, and not the Lords of the Gentiles. 
 
 But Thirdly, whereas that Paffage in the tft of Timothy, 
 the 4th Chapter, and i4th Verfe, is brought to prove, That 
 Presbyters have a Right or Power to ordain Presbyters, and 
 other Gofpel Minifters : It is anfwered, That place proves 
 no fuch Thing. For S. Jerome, a zealous Afferter of the 
 Rights of Presbyters, acknowledges that Ordination belongs, 
 if KQtfolely, yet chiefly to Bifhops. And both Ancients and 
 Modern, and among thefe, Calvin, underftand Presbyter in 
 the aforefaid Place, not of the Confeffus or Collegium Pres- 
 byterorum, the Affembly or Confiftory of Presbyters; but 
 of the Munus or Office it felf, or the Ordination of the 
 Office of a Presbyter; fo that the Laying on of the Hands of 
 the Presbyter fignifies no more than when he was ordained a 
 Presbyter ; as if St. Paul had faid, Take heed that the Grace 
 conferred on thee, when I ordained thee a Presbyter, be not 
 in vain : Thus Calvin interprets that place ; and what con- 
 firms this Glofs, is the Karifma, or Gift fpoken of, feems to 
 have refpecl to thefe extraordinary Gifts conferred by the 
 
 Laying
 
 A Mode/I Proof. 229 
 
 Laying on of the Hands of the Apoftles in the Ordination of 
 Paftors, to which the Affiftance and Concurrence of others 
 was not neceffary. Calv. Inftit. Lib. 4. Cap. Seel. 16. 
 ad finem. 
 
 But granting that Presbytery is to be underftood of the 
 meeting of Presbyters, yet it will not prove that they had 
 full Power and Authority to Ordain ; for here, at the moft 
 they did but concur and affift in the Ordination of Timothy, 
 as is evident from 2 Tim. i. 6. where the Apoflle calling 
 him to ftir up that Gift, fays, that it was conferred on him 
 by laying on of Hands. Certain it is, that Apoftles did 
 Ordain without the Concurrence of Presbyters ; but I read 
 not that ever Presbyters ordain'd without an Apoftle or 
 Bifhop ; and in an Action of that Nature and Importance, 
 it may at leaft be a juft ground of Doubt and Scruple, that 
 there is no Warrant or Precedent to be found for it in 
 Scripture, without which I know not how any can be fully 
 perfwaded in his own mind. How far an abfolute neceffity 
 may alter the cafe according to the common Axiom, That 
 many things may be lawful for a Senate when they have no 
 King, that are not when there is one, I mall not determine.
 
 230 A Modeft Proof, 
 
 CONCLUSION. 
 
 AND now having finifhed what I defign'd at prefent, 
 that is, having demonflrated from the Scripture's 
 Account of thefe Matters, what was at firft fettled 
 in it, and having thence deduc'd what is at prefent the true 
 Form of Government in the Church of Chrift : I fhall only 
 add, by way of Conclujion, a fhort Expoftulation, in the Spirit 
 of Meeknefs and Love ; and calmly enquire, What is the 
 Ground of all that Noife and Clamour, Hatred and Preju- 
 dice, raifed againft them who are of the Principles, as to the 
 Point of Church Government, which are here afierted ? 
 
 'Tis evident we own Chrift Jefus the Lord, Head, King, 
 and Lawgiver to his Church, who hath Power and Au- 
 thority to fettle and eftablim Order and Government there- 
 in, and to inftitute and appoint what Offices, and in what 
 manner he pleafes, in his Spiritual Kingdom. 
 
 We are fully perfwaded, that He, who is of Infinite Wif- 
 dom and Goodnefs, hath difpofed all Affairs relating to the 
 Government of his Church, in the moft excellent method, in 
 the way and manner that tends moft for the Peace and 
 Unity, Order and Security, Edification and Salvation of his 
 Church and People. 
 
 We find, plainly and exprefly, Three diftincl Offices infti- 
 tuted by Chrift and his Apoftles ; one Prime and Chief, the 
 Twelve Apoftles ; and two Subordinate, the Seventy Difciples, 
 and Seven Deacons: Thefe Three Orders of Gofpel-Minif- 
 
 ters
 
 A Mo deft Proof. 231 
 
 ters are unqueftionably of Divine Injlitution and Appoint- 
 ment. And we cannot find in all the New Tejlament, that 
 any of them was Extraordinary and Temporary ; no, not the 
 leaft Infinuation to move us to think, that after a Ihort time 
 any of them was to ceafe. On the contrary, we have the 
 fame Evidence for the perpetual Duration, that we have for 
 their firft Inflitution. 
 
 And now let any impartially Judge, who do moft truly 
 affert Chrift's Kingly Office, and the Prerogatives of his 
 Crown? They who plead for his Inflitution, and clofely 
 adhere thereunto, and to the Offices which he hath appointed 
 in his Church ; or they, who make bold with his Inflitution ; 
 to abrogate the prime Office he inflituted, as how long fince 
 antiquated and out of ufe ; and that only upon a falfe and 
 groundlefs Suppofition, that it was Extraordinary and Tem- 
 porary. The falfenefs of which I have already fliewed under 
 my Third Head, and mail now reprefent briefly of what a 
 dangerous confequence it is to Religion, to alledge that any 
 of the Offices inftituted by Chrifl, were Extraordinary and 
 Temporary, appointed only to ferve the Infancy and Fir/I 
 Conjlitution of the Church, but not to continue in it when 
 once conftituted. This makes the Rule and Standard of 
 our Religion uncertain and unfixed, and opens a Gap to all 
 Errors : At this rate, and upon the fame pretence, Quakers, 
 and others, caft off the Gofpel Inflitutions, of Holy Orders, 
 Baptifm and the Lords Supper, &c. for, fay they, thefe were 
 only Temporary Ordinances', but now all the Lord's People 
 are Holy, they are all Prophets, the Manifeflation of the 
 Spirit, which is given unto all, hath outdated all thefe Rudi- 
 mentary Elements. 
 
 If
 
 232 A Mo deft Proof. 
 
 If any, thus principled, could but gain fuch an afcendant 
 over the Populace, as to infpire them with this Notion, and 
 thereby influence them as much againft the Order of Pres- 
 byters, as they have been againft that of Bifhops; What 
 mould then become of Order in the Church, or any Gofpel 
 Ordinance ? God forbid ! That any fuch wild Caprice mould 
 ever feize on Chriftian People ; but I make the Suppofition 
 to reprefent thereby the dangerous Confequence of that 
 Principle, That fome of Chrifts Injlitutions were but Tem- 
 porary : For it may be improved as much, and on as good 
 ground, againft the Office of a Presbyter, yea, againft the 
 pofitive Inftruclions of the Gofpel, as againft the Office of a 
 Bifhop ; and there may come fuch an unhappy Juncture, 
 when one as well as another, and all as well as one, may thus 
 come to be thought unneceflary. For alas, if the Truth 
 may be told, 'tis greatly to be feared, that not only the Office 
 of Bifhops, but of all Pa/lors, yea, all the Sacred Injlitutions 
 of Chri/l, are become intolerable unto too many Carnal 
 Libertines, who want but a favourable Opportunity to vent 
 their minds, and fay, Come, let us break their Bonds afunder, 
 and cajl away their Cords from us. 
 
 How will they be able to anfwer God, or their own Con- 
 fciences for it ? Who have folemnly combined together to 
 ruin and overthrow that Order, fettled by Chrift in his 
 Church, and have left no Stone unturned, in their reftlefs 
 Endeavours, to bring the Sacred Offices of Bijhops, and Paf- 
 tors Miniftring under their Inflection and Government, 
 into perpetual Contempts ; and having induftrioufly fet them- 
 felves to oppofe and fruftrate all their Gofpel Adminiftra- 
 tions; and not only to alienate the Minds of poor fimple 
 
 People
 
 A Mo deft Proof. 233 
 
 People from their Lawful Govemours and Paftors, but with 
 Noife and Clamour, and bitter Invectives, to infpire them 
 with the higheft Rage and Fury to commit the mofl horrid 
 Outrages on their Sacred Perfons, as good Service done to 
 God ; and all upon no other Account, but their firm adher- 
 ence unto the Inflitution of Jefus Chrift. 
 
 Father forgive them, they know not what they do : L ord lay 
 not this Sin to their charge, but mercifully open their eyes, 
 that they may fee ttie evil of their ways, and may be converted 
 to the Way of Truth and Godlinefs, Peace and Charity, 
 Unity and Order, and Eternally Saved: Through Jefus 
 Chrift our Lord. Now unto GOD the Father, Son, and 
 Holy Ghoft, be Glory Everlafting. Amen. 
 
 FINIS. 
 
 VOL. I. 30
 
 A 
 
 DISCOURSE 
 
 Shewing Who is a true Paftor of the 
 CHURCH of CHRIS T. 114 
 
 AM fully fatisfy'd, that the good and well, 
 meaning People, for whole Sake this fhort 
 and plain Difcourfe is now publifhed, are 
 thoroughly convinced of the great Neceffity 
 and Advantage of making Ufe of a Spiritual 
 Guide ; and that they are always ready to 
 confult Him, and to commit the Care of their Souls to 
 him. BuT 
 
 114 In the order of time, this " Dif- 
 courfe " was preceded by the publication 
 of a Difcourfe concerning Epifcopacy, 
 but as the laft mentioned was only a 
 compilation, it is not included in this 
 collection. It is acceffible in all the 
 older libraries. For the publication of 
 the Difcourfe concerning Epifcopacy, 
 and Leflie's Short and Eafy Method 
 with the Deifls, Mr. Checkley was prof- 
 
 ecuted in the courts of Maflachufetts 
 Bay for a libel. All the pafiages cited 
 as libellous in the prefentment may 
 be found at pages 61 to 63 in this 
 volume. 
 
 For fome account of this "Difcourfe 
 fheiueing who is a true Paftor of the 
 Church of Chrift" vide antea, pp. 
 59-60. We may here add that 500 copies 
 were fent into Rhode Ifland.
 
 A True Pa/lor. 235 
 
 BUT then they may juftly afk, WHO, WHERE is 
 
 He? Since there are fo many falfe Teachers gone out 
 
 into the World, howjhall I know WHICH is a true One ? 
 Among fo many different Pretenders to the Miniftry, how 
 {hall I find out, WHICH are indeed the Minifters of Chriftl 
 Are all Apojlles ? Are all Prophets ? Are all Teachers ? 
 i Cor. xii. 29. Saint Paul plainly determins, that they are 
 not fo ; as alfo, Chrift himfelf faith to the Angel of the Church 
 of Ephefus, Thou hajl tried them, which fay they are 
 Apojlles, and are not, and hajl found them Lyars. Rev. ii. 2 
 And if in the Days of Saint John the Apoftle, there were 
 falfe Deceivers, who faid that they were Miniflers of Chrift, 
 and were not, much more are there fuch in our Days. 
 How then mail I be able to know and find them out ? 
 
 THIS indeed is a Queflion of grand Importance ; for 
 Chrift, who hath appointed an Order of Men to teach his 
 People, hath forbidden them to heap to them/elves Teachers ; 
 warned us again/I thofe who come in Sheep's Cloathing, and 
 yet are ravenous Wolves ; and affures us, that if the blind lead 
 the blind, they JJiall both fall into the Ditch. It is to Them 
 only who derive their Authority from Him, through the 
 Hands of the Apoflles, and their Succeffors ; and are his 
 commiflioned Miniflers, that He hath promifed his Prefence 
 andAJfiftanceto the End of the World. So that if he con- 
 firms the Ad, and bleffes the Miniftry of any others, it is 
 more than He hath promifed in his holy Word. 
 
 BUT tho' this Queftion is of fuch weighty Concern, yet 
 the folving of it has not fuch Difficulty in it, but that every 
 One might of himfelf judge what is Right, if without Par- 
 tiality, and without Hypocrifie, he wou'd confider the fol- 
 lowing
 
 236 A True Pajlor. 
 
 lowing Particulars, and the Texts of Scripture annexed to 
 them. 
 
 1. THAT none ought to ac~l as Minifters of Chrift in his 
 Church, but they who hav.e received a Commiffion from him. 
 
 And Jefus came andfpake unto them, faying, all Power 
 
 is given unto Me in Heaven and in Earth. Go ye therefore 
 
 and teach all Nations, and lo, I am with you alway even 
 
 unto the End of the World. Matth. 28. 18, 19, 20. And 
 no Man taketh this Honour unto himfelf, but he that is called 
 of God, as was Aaron. Heb. v. 4. And howfhall they hear 
 without a Preacher ? And howjhall they preach except they 
 befent? Rom. x. 14, 15. 
 
 2. THAT none can be faid to receive a divine Commif- 
 fion from Him, but Thofe who are either mediately or imme- 
 diately called and appointed by him. Rom. x. 15. Heb. v. 
 4. 5. Afls xiv. 23. Rev. ii. 2. 
 
 3. THAT they who pretend to an immediate Call, ought, 
 as the Apoftles did, to prove the Truth of their Miffion, by 
 working of Miracles', 'till which Time no Regard is due to 
 their Pretences. Mark xvi. 20. Matth. vii. 15 and ix. 6. 30, 
 31. i John iv. i. 
 
 4. THAT therefore the only (landing regular Way of 
 having this Honour, is the deriving of it mediately thro' the 
 Hands of others, from Chrift himfelf. 
 
 5. THAT Chrift himfelf, whilft on Earth, had two Orders 
 of Men under Him, the twelve Apoftles, and the Seventy ; 
 gave the Power of fending, or ordaining others, to the 
 Apoftles; and to them only, and thofe that fucceed them, 
 did He give the Promife of his Prefence and Ajffiftance unto 
 the End of the World. Luke ix. i. vi. 13. x. i and xxii. 
 
 29, 30-
 
 A True Pa/lor. 237 
 
 2 9> 3- John xx. 21. Matth. xxviii. 16. 20. -<4^?.y xxii. 17. 
 xv. 13 and xxi. 18. Gal. ii. 9. 
 
 6. THAT after Chrifl's Afcenfion into Heaven, there 
 were ftill three diftinc~l Orders fet apart to the Miniftry, viz. 
 Deacons, Presbyters, or Elders; and a ftill higher Order, 
 which were fuperiour to, and had Authority over both thefe, 
 fuch were, befides the Apoftles, Timothy, Titus, St James, 
 Sur-named the Juft, and the Angels of the Seven Churches. 
 i Tim. v. 19. 22. Tit. i. 5. Rev. ii. 2. 
 
 7. THAT therefore, in the Beginning of the Chriftian 
 Church, there was not a Parity, but Inequality, or Prelacy 
 in the Minifters of it. 
 
 8. THAT farther from the holy Scriptures it is evident, 
 That the Power of Ordination was lodged in thofe of the 
 higheft Order, Timothy and Titus, and in them alone without 
 any others being mentioned with them, i Tim. v. 22. Tit. i. 5. 
 
 9. THAT we have no Warrant from Scripture to con- 
 clude, that this Power was given by the Apoftles to thofe of 
 the fecond Order, now called Presbyters; the chief Text 
 upon which this Warrant is fuppofed to be grounded, being 
 that of the Apoftle to Timothy, Neglett not the Gift that is 
 in thee, which was given Thee by Prophecy, with the laying 
 on of the Hands of the Presbytery. 
 
 AND as Mr. Roberts judicioufly obferves, to make this 
 Place any Thing to the Purpofe, thefe three Things at leaft 
 muft be proved, i. That by Presbytery is here meant a 
 Company of Perfons. 2. That thefe Perfons were all meer 
 Presbyters. 3. That none but fuch gave Timothy his Ordi- 
 nation. The firft of which is uncertain, the fecond improb- 
 able ; and the third abfolutely falfe. 
 
 AND
 
 238 A True Pa/lor. 
 
 AND here I cannot but take Notice of the Ignorance or 
 Difingenuity (not to call it a plus Fraud] of fome Gentle- 
 men in New England, in their Difcourfe HAD (as they 
 elegantly term it) of Presbyterial Ordination." 6 The Defign 
 of the Gentlemen is to prove from Scripture, that meer 
 Presbyters had the Power of Ordination. And thus they 
 go to work. Page n. ' We cant but apprehend their \_the 
 k Presbyter s\ Power of Ordination from Scripture Precedents. 
 ' I (hall name two famous Inftances. Paul and Barnabas 
 ' were fet apart by the Hands of ordinary Elders. Atts xiii. 
 'i, 2, 3. This is falfe. They were not ordinary Elders, for 
 they were Prophets and Teachers immediately commanded 
 by God to fend thefe Men on that particular Errand, as is 
 plain by the Text. Befides, St. Paul fays of Himfelf, that 
 He was an Apoftle, (not of Men, neither by Man, but by Jefus 
 Chrift, and God the Father, Gal. i. i. And moreover, it 
 appears by the Text to be an extraordinary Acl, for it is 
 faid to be done by the Holy Ghoft. Afts xiii. i, 2, 3. 
 
 BUT 
 
 "* The "Difcourfe had of Presby- " A DISCOURSE HAD By the late 
 
 terial Ordination 1 ' 1 was by the Rev. Reverend and learned MR EBENEZER 
 
 Ebenezer Pemberton. He was minifter PEMBERTON Previous, to the ORDINA- 
 
 of the Old South Church, Bofton, from TION of the Reverend Mr/ofe^A Sew- 
 
 1700 till his death in 1717. He was all, at BOSTON, September 16, 1713. 
 
 born in Bofton in 1671. Graduated at Affirming and proving the Validity of 
 
 Harvard College in 1691. The Ser- Presbyterial ORDINATION. BOSTON : 
 
 mon referred to above was delivered Printed by J. FRANKLIN for S. GERRISH 
 
 on the occafion of the ordination of the and Sold at his Shop near the Old 
 
 Rev. Jofeph Sewall, D.D., September Meeting-Houfe. 1718." 
 
 16, 1713. It was published in connec- The Rev. Mr. Pemberton was reputed 
 
 tion with the proceedings at the ordina- an able, eloquent, and learned preacher, 
 
 tion of the Rev. Thomas Prince as He publifhed feveral difcourfes, and a 
 
 minifter of the Old South Church, volume of his fermons was iffued in 
 
 October i, 1718. 1727. 
 
 The following is the title of this dif- 
 courfe :
 
 A True Pa/lor. 239 
 
 BUT to let the Gentlemen go on. 'So was Timothy 
 1 ordained by the Impofition of the Hands of the Presbytery : 
 
 * i Tim.iv. 14. And what was then valid is now. Upon 
 
 ' the whole, if Scripture be the Rule then we can't but fafely 
 ' conclude for the Right of Presbyters, or ordinary Gofpel 
 ' Minifters, to ordain others. 
 
 THUS they. Now, before I anfwer it, I defire the 
 Reader to take Notice, that they call it a famous In/lance, 
 which implys thus much, that they thought it a very good One 
 for the Proof of the Validity of Presby ferial Ordination ; and 
 indeed, it is the chief Text upon which the Diffenters build 
 their unhappy Miflakes. But thefe Gentlemen might have 
 been better inform'd by their great Matter John Calvin, 
 whofe Opinion I fuppofe will have fome Weight with them. 
 Thefe are his Words upon the Place. ''Paul himfelf elfe- 
 1 where declares that he (without any others) laid Hands on 
 ' Timothy: I admonifh Thee (fays He) that thou ftir up the 
 ' Gift that is in thee, by the laying on of MY HANDS; for 
 ' what is faid in the other Epiftle of the laying on the Hands 
 
 * of the Presbytery, I don't take it as if Paul fpake of the 
 1 College of Presbyters, but by that Name I underftand the 
 'Ordination it felf: As if he mould fay, fee that the Grace 
 ' which thou didft receive by the laying on of MY HANDS 
 ' when I made thee a Presbyter be not in vain : Calv. Inftitut. 
 ' L. 4. C. 3. Thus Mr. Calvin. 
 
 THE Summ of the Difpute betwixt thefe Gentlemen and 
 us on this Head is this. We affirm (and are fure) that Timothy 
 was not ordain'd by ordinary Gofpel Minifters inferiour to 
 the Apoftles. They affirm, that ordinary Gofpel Minifters 
 inferiour to the Apoflles ordain'd Timothy. And they pro- 
 duce
 
 240 A True Pa/lor. 
 
 duce this famous Inftance (as they call it) to prove their 
 Affertion. Now, nothing is more certain than this ; that it 
 is the current Opinion of great Numbers of good Divines, 
 both antient and modern, that by Presbytery is not meant a 
 Number of Men, but the Office; and in particular Mr. 
 Calvin, you fee, has given it up. 
 
 BUT nothing is (or can be) more plain than the Scrip- 
 ture it felf, therefore to the Law and to the Teftimony. Let 
 it be decided by Scripture. There Saint Paul exprefly fays 
 to Timothy. 2 Tim. i. 6. Wherefore I put thee in Remem- 
 brance, that thoujlir up the Gift of God, which is in thee by 
 the putting on of MY HANDS. Thus the Scripture. 
 Now if Saint Paul was an ordinary Go/pel Minifter inferiour 
 to the Apoftles, then thofe Gentlemen, for once, are in the 
 right. 
 
 BUT this Text, I fear, was induftrioufly omitted, the 
 Beams of Light darting from it, and fo direclly pointing at 
 their unhappy Error, they could not bear the Sight of it, 
 but hid it under a Bufhel. But let them take care, for it is 
 a ftanding Maxim, That He is as much a falfe Witnefs who 
 keeps back any Part of the Evidence, as He who produces 
 that for Evidence which is not Truth. 
 
 10. THEREFORE, that fmce it do's not appear, that 
 the CommiJJion to ordain, which the Apoftles receiv'd from 
 our blefied Saviour, was ever granted by them to thofe who 
 are now called Presbyters, they cannot juftly lay claim to 
 the Power of Ordination: Every Commiffion neceffarily fup- 
 pofing a Conveyance, and being exclufive of all Perfons^ 
 except thofe to whom it is given. 
 
 11. AND laftly, that they who had the Power of Ordi- 
 
 nation
 
 A True Pa/lor. 241 
 
 nation lodged in their Hands by the Apoftles, had many 
 Presbyters, and many Congregations under their Jurifdiclion, 
 as may be feen by thefe Texts of Scripture. Tit. i. 5. i. Tim. i. 
 3. and v. 19. 23. AttsxK. 10. and xx. 17, compared with 
 Rev. ii. i. 2. 
 
 So far we may conclude from the holy Scriptures them- 
 felves ; and from primitive Antiquity it is farther evident. 
 
 1 . THAT immediately after the Death of St. John, thefe 
 three Orders, Bifhops, Presbyters and Deacons, were eftab- 
 lifhed in every Church ; and the Power of BiJJiops over Pres- 
 byters univerfally owned and acknowledged to be of divine 
 Right. See the Epiftle of St. Ignatius at the End of this 
 Trad. 116 
 
 2. THAT down from the Beginning of Chriftianity, unto 
 the Time of the Reformation, the Power of conferring Orders 
 was fuppofed to be lodged, not in the Hands of Presbyters, 
 but of Bi/hops; nor can fo much as one I nftance be pro- 
 duced of Presbyters laying claim to this Power, and of its 
 being allowed by the Church of Chrift : For the Truth of this 
 Proportion, we have the fame Evidence that we have for the 
 Canonicalnefs of feveral Books of the new Teftament, the 
 concurrent Tejlimony of the Church of Chrift. 
 
 3. T H A T at the Time of the Reformation, this Power of 
 our Church (till continued in, and was appropriated to thofe 
 of the higheft Order. 
 
 4. THAT thofe Presbyters who firft broke off from the 
 
 Communion 
 
 119 In the original edition The Epijlle acceffible in the Genuine Epiftles of the 
 
 of St. Ignatius to the Trallians was Apoftolic Fathers, tranflated by Dr. 
 
 appended to the Difcourfe, but it is Wake, late learned and diftinguifhed 
 
 omitted in this work, inafmuch as it is Archbifhop of Canterbury. 
 
 VOL. i. 31
 
 242 A True Pa/lor. 
 
 Communion with their Bifhops, and firft pretended to this 
 Authority of ordaining others, did not receive it ; only a 
 Power to preach the Word, and adminifter the Sacraments, 
 according to the Rules of the Gofpel, and the Canons of the 
 Church, and this in Subordination to their BiJJiops ; much 
 lefs did they receive Authority to ordain others, in Oppo- 
 fition to THEM to whom they owed, and had fworn Obe- 
 dience. 
 
 5. THAT therefore,yz^^ none can give that which he did 
 not receive, they amongfl us, who have received their Orders 
 only from the Hands of Presbyters, have no valid Ordination, 
 no Authority, to ac"l in Chrift's Name, as his commiffioned 
 Minifters, and to be fpiritual Guides of the People. 
 
 I mail only add farther under this Head, that tho' it was 
 only a doubtful Cafe, whether Presbyterian Ordination was 
 valid, or not\ yet, fince it is confefled on all Hands, that 
 they of the National Church who are Epifcopally ordained, 
 are lawful Minifters of Chrift, it is the Chriftian's Duty 
 and Intereft to obey and fubmit to them, and to acknowl- 
 edge them ONLY as their Guides that watch for their 
 Souls', fince in all doubtful Cafes the fafeft Side is to be 
 chofen. 
 
 AND now, having (aid thus much, I fhall once more take" 
 Notice of thofe New England Gentlemen before mentioned. 
 But, before I animadvert upon them, I muft confefs I am at 
 a lofs, and know not what Name to give to fomething I find 
 in their celebrated Performance ; whether I fhall call it 
 Ignorance or Sleight of Hand: For I am perfectly amazed ! 
 that Gentlemen of fuch Figure (as I have been informed 
 they were) among the Diffcnters, that fuch Rabbies of the 
 
 Party
 
 A True Pa/lor. 243 
 
 Party fhou'd betray fuch finifh'd, fuch confummate Igno- 
 rance in Church Hiftory; and if it mult not be imputed to 
 their Ignorance, I affure you, that my Aftonimment is 
 encreas'd, to think that Men, who call themfelves the Guides 
 of Souls, fhou'd be fo daringly wicked, as to affert THAT 
 for Truth, which they knew to be falfe, and in a Caufe too 
 where the Souls of Men were concerned. 
 
 THEY affirm, Page 7. 'That we have nothing in primi- 
 'tive or later Antiquity but what may be reconciled hereto, 
 1 (that is to the Practice of Presbyters ordaining of Presbyters] 
 ' and much to confirm this Practice.' And to fhew you that 
 this was not dropt from them thro' Inadvertency but by 
 Defign, They are at it again Page 1 1. where they affert very 
 roundly that, ' We find much in Antiquity, primitive and 
 ' later, that favours this Power of Presbyters, and nothing but 
 1 what may be reconciled to it. 
 
 THESE Gentlemen were refolv'd to do Bufinefs, they 
 fcorn'd to mince the Matter. 
 
 I confefs ferioufly, that I never met with any Affertion 
 more furprizing than this, nor more falfe. Surely thefe Gen- 
 tlemen cou'd not think to impofe upon all Mankind with 
 their Ignorance, or their Legerdemain, But 'tis plain, their 
 finking, dying Caufe requires fuch mean, fuch little Tricks 
 to fupport it. They perceiv'd, that the People were refolv'd 
 for the future to fee with their own Eyes, and were univer- 
 fally enclin'd to enquire into Antiquity, being defirous to 
 underftand the State of the Primitive Church, and refolving 
 to pay Obedience to that Church which was moft Apojlolick. 
 
 THEREFORE they thought it neceffary to affert, that we 
 have much in Antiquity, primitive and later, that favours 
 
 this
 
 244 ^ True Paftor. 
 
 this Power of Presbyters ordaining of Presbyters, and nothing 
 but what may be reconcil'd to it. 
 
 THAN which nothing is more Falfe. Here we will 
 joyn Iflue. And if thefe Gentlemen will produce any one 
 Inftance of a Presbyters ordaining a Presbyter, for the 
 Space of 1500 Years after Chrift, which was not condemn'd 
 by the Catholick Church, I aflure them, for my part, I'll give 
 up the Caufe. There are but two 117 Inflances of fuch Ordi- 
 nations for 1500 Years after Chrift, that of Ifchyras and 
 Colluthus ; one of which was not done upon a Principle that 
 Presbyters have a Power to ordain; nor was it done in 
 Oppofition to the Bifhop, who was prefent, but being indif- 
 pos'd, order'd a Prieft to read the Words of Confecration, 
 the Bifhop laying on his Hands. But the primitive Church 
 wou'd not fuffer even this to pafs, but feverely condemn'd 
 this as well as the other. And it was a principal part of the 
 Herefy of Aerius, his affirming, that there was no Difference 
 between a Bifhop and a Presbyter by divine Right, and for 
 which (among other Things) he was condemn'd for a Here- 
 tick by the Catholick Church of Chrift. 
 
 Now, if thefe Things are true, (and I call upon thefe 
 Gentlemen to difprove them if they are not) you may fee 
 
 what 
 
 117 In the " Errata," at the end of Now, the firft of thefe was not done 
 
 the book, we are direfted to read as upon a Principle, that Presbyters have 
 
 follows : a Power to ordain, for Colluthus had 
 
 There are but few inftances of fuch- falfely aflum'd to himfelf the Name of a 
 
 like Ordinations for 1 500 Years after Bifliop ; nor was the latter done in Op- 
 
 Chrift : That of Ifchyras ordained by pofition to the Bifhop, who was prefent, 
 
 Colluthus, and a Presbyter with two but having fore Eyes order'd a Pres- 
 
 Deacons ordain'd (in part) by a Pres- byter to read the Words of Confecra- 
 
 byter, on Account of the Indifpofition tion, the Bifhop laying on his Hands, 
 of the Bifhop of Agabra, are the two 
 chief Inftances in all Antiquity.
 
 A True Paftor. 245 
 
 what little Ground they had to afiert, that they had much in 
 Antiquity to confirm their Practice. Oh, to what defpicable 
 Arts are Men driven in defending a bad Caufe ! 
 
 BUT the other Part of this monftrous Affertion is as 
 much beyond this, as this is beyond all Modefty, viz. That 
 they have nothing in Antiquity but what may be reconcil'd 
 
 to it, that is, to their Pradice. What! Nothing but 
 
 what may be reconcil'd to it ! Why, Sirs ! Were all the 
 
 Bifhops of the Catholick Church for j 700 Years after Chrift, 
 no more than common Presbyters? What! Can all the 
 Ordinations, the Thoufands, the Millions that have been 
 perform 'd in the Catholick Church, in all that fpace of Time, 
 by Bifhops, and upon this Principle, that Bifhops alone had 
 the Power of Ordination; can all thefe too be reconciled 
 to your Practice ! 
 
 CERTAINLY thefe Gentlemen were out of their Senfes 
 when thefe unaccountable Abfurdities were fuffer'd to come 
 
 abroad. 
 
 I N the fecond Page of their Rhapfody, they affert, (nay, 
 they fay, it feems evident to a Demonftration) the Necef- 
 fity of an uninterrupted Succeffion from the Apoftles. They 
 were obliged to do this from the Nature of the Thing ; it 
 being fo plain that the meaneft Capacity underftands it. 
 The fhort Method has demonftrated it. But notwithftanding 
 ten thoufand Demonftrations, they found that it was their 
 Interefl to deny it ; and accordingly knowing that they were 
 not in the Succeffion, at pag. 14, they tack about, and wiping 
 their Mouths very demurely tell us, that they don't believe 
 the Neceffity of an uninterrupted Succeffion from the 
 Apq/lks. 
 
 THESE
 
 246 A True Pa/lor. 
 
 THESE Men make a great Noife, and amufe the People 
 
 with the great Names of our firft Reformers the 
 
 foreign Churches, &c. thereby intimating as if the foreign 
 Churches approv'd of their Practice. 
 
 WHEREAS nothing is more plain, than that our Dif- 
 fenters have departed from Calvin as well as from Luther, 
 in their Abhorrence of Epifcopacy, from all the Chriftian 
 World, in all Ages; and particularly from all our late 
 Reformers, both of one Sort and another. 
 
 Calvin wou'd have anathematized all of them, had he lived 
 in our Days. He fays there were none to be found in his 
 Time, who oppofed the Epifcopal Hierarchy, but only the 
 Papal. But fays He, ' if they wou'd give us fuch an Hie- 
 1 rarchy, in which the Bifhops fhou'd fo excell, as that they 
 'did not refufe to be fubjecl to Chrifl, and to depend upon 
 1 Him as their only Head, and refer all to Him ; then I will 
 'confefs that they are worthy of all Anathemas, if any fuch 
 ' mail be found, who will not reverence it, and fubmit them- 
 * felves to it, with the utmoft Obedience. Calvin de Necef- 
 1 fitate Eccles. Reformand. 
 
 AND Beza fuppofes as pofitively as Calvin had done, that 
 there were none who oppofed the Epifcopal Hierarchy, but 
 only the Papal, or that oppofed the Order of Bifhops; and 
 condemns them as Madmen, if any fuch cou'd be found. 
 For thus fays he, 
 
 1 1 F there be any (which you mail hardly perfuade me to 
 ' believe) who reject the whole Order of Epifcopacy ; God 
 'forbid that any Man in his Wits, fhou'd aflent to the Mad- 
 ' nefs of fuch Men. Beza. ad Traclat. de Minift. Ev. Grad. 
 'ab Hadrian. Sarav. Belga. Edit. C. i. 
 
 AND
 
 A True Pa/lor. 247 
 
 AND particularly as to the Church of England, and her 
 Hierarchy of Arch-Bifhops and Bifhops, He fays, that he 
 never meant to oppugn any thing of that; but calls it a 
 Jingular Blejfing of God, and wifhes that fhe may ever enjoy 
 it. Ibid. C. 18. 
 
 PRAY take Notice, Calvin fays, if there Jhall be any 
 fuck, and Beza fays, if there be any who won't fubmit to 
 Epifcopacy as it is in England, which fuppofes that THEY 
 knew none fuch amongfl their Reformers : And that if any 
 fuch mould arife, THEY thought there were no Anathemas 
 which they did not deferve. 
 
 S o that our modern Diffenters are difarm'd of the prece- 
 dent of Calvin, Beza, and all the Reformers abroad, by 
 whofe Sentence they are anathematized, and counted as 
 Madmen. 
 
 Thofe who have a Mind to fee the Propofitions in this fmall Trad 
 prov'd beyond the Poffibility of a Reply, are defir'd to read a Difcourfe concern- 
 ing Epifcopacy, which they may have at the Crown and Gate oppofite to the 
 Weft End of the Town-Houfe in Bofton. Where likewife may be had Barclay 'j 
 perfwafive, printed in London, by Jonah Bowyer, with other Books of the like 
 Nature.
 
 THE OLD PARSONAGE, 
 
 KING'S CHURCH, PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND. 
 
 THE Rev. Arthur Browne, a native of Drogheda, Ire- 
 land, was ordained by the Bifhop of London in 1729, 
 and appointed the fame year by the Society for the Propa- 
 gation of the Gofpel in Foreign Parts to the Parifh of 
 King's Church in Providence, Rhode Ifland. He entered 
 upon the duties of his Reclorfhip October i, 1730. 
 
 On the 6th of January, 1734-5, Mr. Browne purchafed of 
 Jofeph Whipple, Robert Currie and Nathaniel Brown, in fee 
 Jimple, for the confideration of ^250, lawful money, eighteen 
 acres of land " with all the houfmg thereon " fituated on 
 Providence Neck. Vide Records of Deeds in Providence. 
 
 Before the end of the year 1735, the Rev. Mr. Browne 
 had accepted an invitation, with the confent of the Bifhop 
 of London, to become the Rector of Queen's Chapel .in 
 Portfmouth, New Hampfhire. His miniftry in Providence 
 clofed in February, 1736-7. 
 
 On
 
 The Old Parfonage. 249 
 
 On the 30th day of Auguft, 1737, about fix months after 
 his miniftry clofed in Providence, the Rev. Arthur Browne, 
 and " Mary his wife," conveyed by deed the before men- 
 tioned eighteen acres on Providence Neck, for the fum of 
 ^250, to William Coddington, John Brown, and Charles 
 Bardine, neverthelefs, in truft, for " the repairing and uphold- 
 ing the Church of England in Providence." Vide Records 
 of Deeds. 
 
 After the Rev. Mr. Browne's removal to Portfmouth, 
 New Hampfhire, the mifiion of King's Church, Providence, 
 eftablifhed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gof- 
 pel, remained vacant until the appointment, by the Society, 
 of the Rev. Mr. Checkley, in 1 738. 
 
 From the manufcript Journal of the Society for April 21, 
 1738, it appears that preliminary fteps were then taken to 
 revive the million at Providence, "the People there having 
 built a houfe and fettled a glebe for an Epifcopal Minifter." 
 
 It feems clear, therefore, that the Old Parfonage was built, 
 or at lead finimed, for it may have been begun much earlier, 
 after the property was conveyed by the Rev. Mr. Browne 
 and his wife to a Committee of King's Church ; that is to 
 fay, in the autumn or winter of 1737, notice having reached 
 the Society in London before the 21 ft of April, 1738, that a 
 houfe had been built by the people and a glebe fettled for 
 an Epifcopal minifter. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Checkley entered upon his duties in Provi- 
 dence, and took poffeffion of the Parfonage in May, 1739, 
 which he occupied till his death. 
 
 Time has obliterated moft buildings erected here in New 
 England in the firft half of the laft century, but the Old 
 
 VOL. i. 32 Parfonage
 
 250 The Old Parfonage 
 
 Parfonage is flill (landing, and in a ftate of good preferva- 
 tion for a wooden ftruclure, which has witneffed the viciffi- 
 tudes of more than a hundred and fifty years. 
 
 The interior has been but little changed. A chimney of 
 mafiive fize occupies a large fpace in the centre of the 
 houfe. It refts upon folid mafon work, fpringing from the 
 bottom of the cellar in two walls or buttrefies of ftone, 
 about fix feet in height. On thefe buttreffes are beams of 
 compacl wood, probably oak, now worm-eaten and crum- 
 bling, upon which refts the fuperftruclure of the aforefaid 
 enormous chimney. Open wood fires prevailed at the 
 period of its erection everywhere on this continent. In the 
 Old Parfonage there are five fire-places of generous fize, 
 whofe flues open into the great centre chimney, befides that 
 of the capacious oven, a neceffary and univerfal appendage 
 in thofe days to a well equipped kitchen. The principal 
 apartments are finifhed in panelled wainfcoting, and the 
 quaint hinges of the doors, the latches and locks ingenioufly 
 combined in one, with brafs knobs, are characleriftic memo- 
 rials of the early part of the laft century. 
 
 The exterior of the Parfonage has fuffered fome " modern 
 improvements." The chimney top has been diminimed in 
 fize ; the window-fames of the lower ftory have given place 
 to new ones, with large panes of glafs, unfuited to the fize 
 and character of the building. In the (ketch, which ac- 
 companies this volume as a frontifpiece, the artift has very 
 properly difcarded thefe " improvements," and the houfe as 
 here feen prefents the fame appearance that it did when it 
 was firft creeled more than a century and a half ago. 
 
 This now antique houfe is pleafantly fituated on Olney 
 
 Street,
 
 of Kings Church. 25 1 
 
 Street, leading from North Main Street to Swan Point 
 Cemetery, and is on a flight declivity, near the bafe of 
 Obfervatory Hill. It faces to the eaft, and commands a full 
 view of Eaft Providence, which prefents the appearance of a 
 fmall city neftling at the feet of a larger one. It is a mile 
 and a half, or perhaps lefs than that, from St. John's 
 Church. The City of Providence has now expanded into 
 its immediate neighborhood, but when it was occupied by 
 the Rev. Mr. Checkley it muft have feemed to be quite in 
 the country. 
 
 Five or fix years after Mr. Checkley came to refide in the 
 Parfonage, he purchafed other lands in the neighborhood, 
 which with the glebe conftituted an eftate of nearly fifty 
 acres, the products of which furnifhed a convenient and 
 fubftantial addition to his annual income. In this modeft 
 abode Mr. Checkley paffed nearly fifteen happy and ufeful 
 years of his life. Here he difpenfed his fimple hofpitality 
 to the rich and to the poor alike. Here the red man of the 
 foreft and the African flave came for Chriftian fympathy, for 
 confolation, encouragement and fpiritual advice. From this 
 home his noble fon, full of youthful hope and promife, went 
 forth to crofs the ocean and obtain the facred commiffion to 
 minifter in the Church of God, but alas ! never to return. 
 Here his only daughter was pledged in a happy marriage, 
 and here his grandchildren came with fmiles and words of 
 love to cheer his laft months of weaknefs and decay. And 
 here, at length, on the i5th of February, 1754, the firft 
 occupant of the Old Parfonage paffed to a ferene and peace- 
 ful reft, ripe in experience, in learning, and in the fruits of a 
 long cherifhed and devout faith. 
 
 After
 
 252 The Old Parfonage 
 
 After the death of Mr. Checkley, the Rev. John Graves, 
 who had been Vicar of Clapham in the Diocefe of Chefter, 
 England, was appointed to King's Church, and he occupied 
 the Parfonage from 1754 to 1783. He was a firm loyalift, 
 and when prayers for the king were forbidden during the 
 Revolution by the local authorities, he declined to officiate 
 in the church, although he continued to occupy the Parfon- 
 age until the end of the war. 
 
 The Rev. Thomas Fitch Oliver refided in the Parfonage 
 from 1783, to September, 1786. Two of the years of his 
 occupancy were before he was in holy orders, while he offi- 
 ciated as a lay-reader. He was ordained by Bifhop Seabury, 
 Auguft 7, 1785, and was the fifth clergyman who received 
 Epifcopal ordination in the Anglican fucceffion in America. 
 He was fubfequently Reclor of St. Michael's church in 
 Marblehead, Maffachufetts. 
 
 The Rev. Mofes Badger, a graduate of Harvard College 
 in 1761, who was ordained in England, and had been in the 
 fervice of the Society for the Propagation of the Gofpel in 
 Foreign Parts, as an itinerant in New Hampfhire from 1767 
 to 1774, became Reclor of King's Church in 1786, and died 
 in the old Parfonage in 1792. 
 
 The laft incumbent of King's Church, now St. John's, 
 who occupied the Parfonage, was the Rev. Abraham Lynfen 
 Clarke, whofe refidence continued but two years, from 1792 
 to 1794, when the property on account of its inconvenient 
 diflance, was fold, and another parfonage was purchafed 
 nearer to St. John's Church. 
 
 For more than half a century the old Parfonage contrib- 
 uted valuable aid to the parifh, when its numbers were few 
 
 and
 
 of Kings Church. 
 
 253 
 
 and its means were fmall. Five of its Reclors found within 
 its flickering walls an attractive and comfortable home. 
 Within it two of them completed their earthly career. It is 
 now more than a hundred years fmce it paired out of the 
 pofieffion of the parifh. On September i, 1794, it was con- 
 veyed by deed to Dexter Brown, by the Rector, Wardens 
 and Veftry of St. John's Church. It fubfequently came into 
 the ownerfhip of Thomas Seflions. It is now the property 
 of Brown Univerfity.
 
 1 897-
 
 CommonbjeaWj of Jtasarfjusetts* 
 
 IN THE YEAR ONE THOUSAND EIGHT HUNDRED AND 
 SEVENTY-FOUR. 
 
 AN ACT TO INCORPORATE THE PRINCE SOCIETY. 
 
 Be it cnafted by the Senate and Houfe of Reprefentatives, in General Court 
 ajfembled, and by the authority of the fame, as follows : 
 
 SECTION I. John Ward Dean, J. Wingate Thornton, Edmund F. Slafter, 
 and Charles W. Tuttle, their aflbciates and fucceflbrs, are made a corporation 
 by the name of the PRINCE SOCIETY, for the purpofe of preferving and extending 
 the knowledge of American Hiftory, by editing and printing fuch manufcripts, 
 rare traces, and volumes as are moftly confined in their ufe to hiftorical ftudents 
 and public libraries. 
 
 SECTION 2. Said corporation may hold real and perfonal eftate to an amount 
 not exceeding thirty thoufand dollars. 
 
 SECTION 3. This aft mail take effe6l upon its pafiage. 
 
 Approved March 18, 1874. 
 
 NOTE. The Prince Society was organized on the 25th of May, 1858. 
 What was undertaken as an experiment has proved fuccefsful. This ACT OF 
 INCORPORATION has been obtained to enable the Society better to fulfil its 
 objeft, in its expanding growth.
 
 THE PRINCE SOCIETY. 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 ARTICLE I. This Society ftiall be called THE PRINCE SOCIETY ; 
 and it fhall have for its object the publication of rare works, in 
 print or manufcript, relating to America. 
 
 ARTICLE II. The officers of the Society (hall be a Prefident, 
 four Vice-Prefidents, a Correfponding Secretary, a Recording 
 Secretary, and a Treafurer ; who together fhall form the Council 
 of the Society. 
 
 ARTICLE III. Members may be added to the Society on the 
 recommendation of any member and a confirmatory vote of a 
 majority of the Council. 
 
 Libraries and other Inftitutions may hold memberfhip, and be 
 reprefented by an authorized agent. 
 
 All members fhall be entitled to and fhall accept the volumes 
 printed by the Society, as they are iffued from time to time, at the 
 prices fixed by the Council ; and memberfhip fhall be forfeited by 
 a refufal or neglect: fo to accept the faid volumes. 
 
 Any perfon may terminate his memberfhip by refignation ad- 
 dreffed in writing to the Prefident ; provided, however, that he fhall 
 have previoufly paid for all volumes iffued by the Society after the 
 date of his election as a member. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. The management of the Society's affairs fhall 
 be vefted in the Council, which fhall keep a faithful record of its 
 
 proceedings,
 
 258 The Prince Society. 
 
 proceedings, and report the fame to the Society annually, at its 
 General Meeting in May. 
 
 ARTICLE V. On the anniverfary of the birth of the Rev. 
 Thomas Prince, namely, on the twenty-fifth day of May, in every 
 year (but if this day fhall fall on Sunday or a legal holiday, on 
 the following day), a General Meeting fhall be held at Bofton, in 
 MafTachufetts, for the purpofe of electing officers, hearing the 
 report of the Council, auditing the Treafurer's account, and tranf- 
 acting other bufinefs. 
 
 ARTICLE VI. The officers fhall be chofen by the Society an- 
 nually, at the General Meeting; but vacancies occurring between 
 the General Meetings may be filled by the Council. 
 
 ARTICLE VII. By-Laws for the more particular government of 
 the Society may be made or amended at any General Meeting. 
 
 ARTICLE VIII. Amendments to the Conftitution may be made 
 at the General Meeting in May, by a three-fourths vote, pro- 
 vided that a copy of the fame be tranfmitted to every member 
 of the Society, at leaft two weeks previous to the time of voting 
 thereon. 
 
 COUNCIL. 
 
 RULES AND REGULATIONS. 
 
 1. THE Society fhall be adminiftered on the mutual principle, 
 and folely in the intereft of American hiftory. 
 
 2. A volume fhall be iflued as often as practicable, but not more 
 frequently than once a year. 
 
 3. An editor of each work to be iflued fhall be appointed, who 
 fhall be a member of the Society, whofe duty it fhall be to pre- 
 pare,
 
 The Prince Society. 259 
 
 pare, arrange, and conduct the fame through the prefs ; and, as he 
 will neceflarily be placed under obligations to fcholars and others 
 for affiftance, and particularly for the loan of rare books, he lhall 
 be entitled to receive ten copies, to enable him to acknowledge and 
 return any courtefies which he may have received. 
 
 4. All editorial work and official fervice lhall be performed 
 gratuitoufly. 
 
 5. All contracts connected with the publication of any work 
 fhall be laid before the Council in diftinc~l fpecifications in writ- 
 ing, and be adopted by a vote of the Council, and entered in a 
 book kept for that purpofe ; and, when the publication of a volume 
 is completed, its whole expenfe lhall be entered, with the items 
 of its cofb in full, in the fame book. No member of the Council 
 fhall be a contractor for doing any part of the mechanical work 
 of the publications. 
 
 6. The price of each volume mail be a hundredth part of the 
 coft of the edition, or as near to that as conveniently may be ; and 
 there fhall be no other affeffments levied upon the members of 
 the Society. 
 
 7. A fum, not exceeding one thoufand dollars, may be fet apart 
 by the Council from the net receipts for publications, as a working 
 capital ; and when the faid net receipts fhall exceed that fum, the 
 excefs fhall be divided, from time to time, among the members of 
 the Society, by remitting either a part or the whole coft of a 
 volume, as may be deemed expedient. 
 
 8. All moneys belonging to the Society fhall be depofited in the 
 New England Truft Company in Bofton, unlefs fome other banking 
 inftitution fhall be defignated by a vote of the Council ; and faid 
 moneys fhall be entered in the name of the Society, fubject to the 
 order of the Treafurer. 
 
 9. It fhall be the duty of the Prefident to call the Council to- 
 gether, whenever it may be neceffary for the tranfaction of bufmefs, 
 and to prefide at its meetings. 
 
 IO.
 
 260 The Prince Society. 
 
 10. It (hall be the duty of the Vice-Prefidents to authorize all 
 bills before their payment, to make an inventory of the property 
 of the Society during the month preceding the annual meeting 
 and to report the fame to the Council, and to audit the accounts 
 of the Treafurer. 
 
 n. It fhall be the duty of the Correfponding Secretary to iff ue 
 all general notices to the members, and to conduct the general 
 correfpondence of the Society. 
 
 12. It fhall be the duty of the Recording Secretary to keep a 
 complete record of the proceedings both of the Society and of 
 the Council, in a book provided for that purpofe. 
 
 13. It fhall be the duty of the Treafurer to forward to the 
 members bills for the volumes, as they are iffued ; to fuperintend 
 the fending of the books ; to pay all bills authorized and indorfed 
 by at leaft two Vice-Prefidents of the Society ; and to keep an 
 accurate account of all moneys received and difburfed. 
 
 14. No books fhall be forwarded by the Treafurer to any mem- 
 ber until the amount of the price fixed for the fame fhall have 
 been received ; and any member neglecting to forward the faid 
 amount for one month after his notification, fhall forfeit his 
 meraberfhip.
 
 OFFICERS 
 
 OF 
 
 THE PRINCE SOCIETY 
 
 FROM ITS ORGANIZATION. 
 
 Presidents. 
 
 *SAMUEL GARDNER DRAKE, A.M., Bofton 1858 to 1870. 
 
 JOHN WARD DEAN, A.M., Bofton 1870 to 1880. 
 
 The Rev. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, D.D., Bofton 1880. 
 
 Vice- Presidents. 
 
 *THOMAS WATERMAN, Bofton 1858 to 1866. 
 
 *FREDERIC KIDDER, Bofton 1858 to 1863. 
 
 *JEREMIAH COLBURN, A.M., Bofton 1858 to 1863. 
 
 JOHN WARD DEAN, A.M., Bofton 1863 to 1870. 
 
 *JOHN WlNGATE THORNTON, A.M., Bofton 1863 to 1878. 
 
 The Rev. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, D.D., Bofton 1866 to 1880. 
 
 WILLIAM BLAKE TRASK, A.M., Dorchefter 1870. 
 
 *CHARLES HENRY BELL, LL.D., Exeter, N. H 1874 to 1893. 
 
 JOHN MARSHALL BROWN, A.M., Portland, Me 1878 to 1885. 
 
 JOHN WARD DEAN, A.M., Bofton 1880. 
 
 JAMES PHINNEY BAXTER, A.M., Portland, Me 1885 to 1894. 
 
 The REV. EDWARD G. PORTER, A.M., Dorchefter .... 1894. 
 
 DAVID GREENE HASKINS, Cambridge 1895.
 
 262 Officers of the Society. 
 
 Correfponding Secretaries. 
 
 JOHN WARD DEAN, A.M., Bofton 1858 to 1863. 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY WHITMORE, A.M., Bofton 1863 to 1872. 
 
 *The Hon. CHARLES H. BELL, LL.D., Exeter, N. H. . . . 1872 to 1874. 
 
 CHARLES WESLEY TUTTLE, Ph. D., Bofton 1874 to 1881. 
 
 *The Rev. HENRY WILDER FOOTE, A.M., Bofton . . . . 1882 to 1889. 
 
 ROBERT NOXON TOPPAN, A.M., Cambridge 1890. 
 
 Recording Secretaries. 
 
 WILLIAM HENRY WHITMORE, A.M., Bofton 1858 to 1863. 
 
 WILLIAM SUMNER APPLETON, A.M., Bofton 1863 to 1865. 
 
 The Rev. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, D.D., Bofton 1865 to 1866. 
 
 WILLIAM S. APPLETON, A.M., Bofton 1866 to 1870. 
 
 WILLIAM THEOPHILUS ROGERS MARVIN, A.M., Bofton . . 1870 to 1873. 
 
 WILLIAM H. WHITMORE, A.M., Bofton 1873 to 1875 
 
 DAVID GREENE HASKINS, Jr., A.M., Cambridge 1875 to 1895. 
 
 The REV. HENRY F. JENKS, A.M., Canton, Mafs 1895. 
 
 Treasurers. 
 
 JOHN WELLS PARKER, Roxbury 1858 to 1863. 
 
 JEREMIAH COLBURN, A.M., Bofton 1863 to 1873. 
 
 CHARLES WESLEY TUTTLE, Ph.D., Bofton 1873 to 1874. 
 
 ELBRIDGE HENRY Goss, Melrofe 1874.
 
 OFFICERS 
 
 OF 
 
 THE PRINCE SOCIETY. 
 
 1897. 
 
 Prefident. 
 THE REV. EDMUND F. SLAFTER, D.D. . . . BOSTON, MASS. 
 
 Vice-Prefidents, 
 
 JOHN WARD DEAN, A.M BOSTON, MASS. 
 
 WILLIAM B. TRASK, A.M BOSTON, MASS. 
 
 EDWARD G. PORTER, A.M DORCHESTER, MASS. 
 
 DAVID GREENE HASKINS, A.M CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 
 
 Carre/ponding Secretary. 
 ROBERT N. TOPPAN, A.M CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 
 
 Recording Secretary. 
 THE REV. HENRY F. JENKS, A.M CANTON, MASS. 
 
 Treafurer. 
 ELBRIDGE H. GOSS, ESQ BOSTON, MASS.
 
 THE PRINCE SOCIETY. 
 
 i8 97 . 
 
 Charles Francis Adams, LL.D Lincoln, Mafs. 
 
 The Rev. Jeremiah Williams Annis, M.A. . . . London, Canada. 
 
 William Sumner Appleton, A.M., LL.B Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 George Armour, A.M Chicago, 111. 
 
 Edward Everett Ayer Chicago, 111. 
 
 Thomas Willing Balch, A.B Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 The Hon. George Lewis Balcom Claremont, N. H. 
 
 James Phinney Baxter, A.M Portland, Me. 
 
 Warren Kendall Blodgett, A.B., LL.B Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 The Rev. Caleb Davis Bradlee, D.D Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Alexander Brown Norwood, Va. 
 
 John Marfliall Brown, A.M Portland, Me. 
 
 John Nicholas Brown Providence, R. I. 
 
 Thomas Nadauld Brufhfield, M.D. . . Budleigh, Salterton, Devon, Eng. 
 
 Lucien Carr, A.M Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 The Hon. Mellen Chamberlain, LL.D Chelfea, Mafs. 
 
 The Hon. William Eaton Chandler, A.M., LL.B. . Concord, N. H. 
 
 Clarence Howard Clark Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Henry Troth Coates, A.M Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Deloraine Pen d re Corey Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Eraftus Corning Albany, N. Y. 
 
 James Henry Coyne, B.A St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada. 
 
 Ellery Bicknell Crane Worcefter, Mafs. 
 
 John McNab Currier, M.D Newport, Vt. 
 
 Abram Edmands Cutter Charleftown, Mafs.
 
 The Prince Society. 265 
 
 John Ward Dean, A.M Boflon, Mafs. 
 
 Edward Denhara New Bedford, Mafs. 
 
 Andrew Fein Derr Wilkesbarre, Pa. 
 
 Prof. Franklin Bowditch Dexter, A.M New Haven, Conn. 
 
 Henry Thayer Drowne New York, N. Y. 
 
 Henry Herbert Edes Charleftown, Mafs. 
 
 William Henry Egle, A.M., M.D Harrisburg, Pa. 
 
 Samuel Eliot, LL.D. . Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Jofeph Story Fay Woods Holl, Mafs. 
 
 Albert Alonzo Folfom Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Charles William Galloupe . Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Richard Hallowell Gardiner, A.B Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Frederick Lewis Gay Brookline, Mafs. 
 
 Julius Gay, A.M Farmington, Conn. 
 
 Abner Cheney Goodell, Jr., A.M Salem, Mafs. 
 
 Elbridge Henry Gofs Melrofe, Mafs. 
 
 The Hon. Juflice Horace Gray, LL.D Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Ifaac John Greenwood, A.M New York, N. Y. 
 
 David Greene Hafkins, A.M., LL.B Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 Winfield Scott Hill, M.D Augufta, Me. 
 
 Amor Leander Hollingfworth, A.M Milton, Mafs. 
 
 Sumner Hollingfworth Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 The Rev. Jofeph Hooper, A.M Durham Centre, Conn. 
 
 Mifs Cornelia Conway Felton Horsford .... Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 James Frothingham Hunnewell, A.M Charleftown, Mafs. 
 
 David Hunt, A.M., M.D Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Theodore Irwin Ofwego, N. Y. 
 
 Stephen Burr Jacobs Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Fitch Jenks, AM Canton, Mafs. 
 
 Frank Keene Lynn, Mafs. 
 
 David Sherwood Kellogg, A.M., M.D Plattsburg, N. Y. 
 
 Nathaniel Thayer Kidder, S. Agric. B Milton, Mafs. 
 
 George Lamb Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Edward Floyd de Lancey, M.A New York, N. Y. 
 
 Ifaac Remfen Lane New York, N. Y. 
 
 VOL. i. 34
 
 266 The Prince Society. 
 
 The Rt Rev. William Lawrence, D.D Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 Henry Lee, A. M Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Efther Barton Lloyd Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 The Hon. Henry Cabot Lodge, Ph. D Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 George Manierre Chicago, 111. 
 
 Frederick Warren Goddard May Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 George Shattuck Morifon, A.M., LL.B Chicago, 111. 
 
 Willard Atherton Nichols, B.S Redlands, Cal. 
 
 The Rev. James De Normandie, A.M Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Prof. Charles Eliot Norton, LL.D Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 John Henry Osborne Auburn, N. Y. 
 
 Nathaniel Paine Worcefter, Mafs. 
 
 John Carver Palfrey, A.M Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Daniel Parifti, Jr New York, N. Y. 
 
 The Rev. Henry Ainfworth Parker, A.M. . . . Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 James William Paul, Jr Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 The Rt. Rev. William Stevens Perry, S.T.D., LL.D. Davenport, Iowa. 
 
 The Rev. Edward Griffin Porter, A.M Dorchefter, Mafs. 
 
 John Frank Pratt, M.D Chelfea, Mafs. 
 
 Samuel Smith Purple, M.D New York, N. Y. 
 
 James Ford Rhodes, LL.D Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Nathaniel Morton Safford, A.M., LL.B Milton, Mafs. 
 
 Arthur Hawley Scribner New York, N. Y. 
 
 Jofhua Montgomery Sears, A.B Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Charles Archibald Shaw New York, N. Y. 
 
 William Green Shillaber Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 The Rev. Carlos Slafter, A.M Dedham, Mafs. 
 
 The Rev. Edmund Farwell Slafter, D.D Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Charles Card Smith Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Otho Sylvefter Arnold Sprague Chicago, 111. 
 
 Oliver Blifs Stebbins Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 George Alfred Stringer Buffalo, N. Y. 
 
 Walter Eliot Thwing Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Robert Noxon Toppan, A.M., LL.B Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 William Blake Trafk, A.M Bofton, Mafs.
 
 The Prince Society. 267 
 
 Mrs. Frances Batchelder Troup . Rockbeare Houfe, Exeter, Devon, Eng. 
 
 The Rev. Samuel Heber Webb Providence, R. I. 
 
 William Henry Whitmore, A.M Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 The Rev. Frederick Porter Winne Watertown, N. Y. 
 
 Juftin Winfor, LL.D Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 Robert Charles Winthrop, Jr., A.M Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 The Hon. Charles Levi Woodbury Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Prof. John Henry Wright, A.M Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 LIBRARIES. 
 
 American Antiquarian Society Worcefter, Mafs. 
 
 Amherft College Library Amherft, Mafs. 
 
 Aftor Library New York, N. Y. 
 
 Bangor Public Library Bangor, Me. 
 
 Biblioteca Nacional de Mexico Mexico, Mexico. 
 
 Bibliotheque Nationale Paris, France. 
 
 Bibliotheque de la Le'giflature de la Province de 
 
 Quebec Quebec, Canada. 
 
 Bodleian Library Oxford, Eng. 
 
 Bofton Athenaeum Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Bowdoin College Library Brunfwick, Me. 
 
 Britifh Mufeum London, Eng. 
 
 Buffalo Library Buffalo, N. Y. 
 
 Cambridge Public Library Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 Chicago Public Library Chicago, 111. 
 
 City Library Affociation Springfield, Mafs. 
 
 Columbia College Library New York, N. Y. 
 
 Concord Public Library Concord, Mafs. 
 
 Dartmouth College Library Hanover, N. H. 
 
 Detroit Public Library Detroit, Mich. 
 
 Fitchburg Public Library Fitchburg, Mafs. 
 
 Free Public Library Worcefter, Mafs.
 
 268 The Prince Society. 
 
 Gale Free Library ... Holden, Mafs. 
 
 Harlem Library Harlem, N. Y. 
 
 Harvard College Library Cambridge, Mafs. 
 
 Hiftorical Society of Pennfylvania Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Lancafter Public Library Lancafter, Mafs. 
 
 Library of Brown Univerfity Providence, R. I. 
 
 Library Company of Philadelphia Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 Library of Cornell Univerfity Ithaca, N. Y. 
 
 Library of the Northweftern Univerfity .... Evanfton, 111. 
 
 Library of Parliament Ottawa, Canada. 
 
 Library of the State Department Wafhington, D. C. 
 
 Library of the Univerfity of Vermont Burlington, Vt 
 
 Long Ifland Hiftorical Society Brooklyn, N. Y. 
 
 Lowell City Library Lowell, Mafs. 
 
 Maine Hiftorical Society Portland, Me. 
 
 Maryland Hiftorical Society Baltimore, Md. 
 
 Maffachufetts Hiftorical Society Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Mercantile Library New York, N. Y. 
 
 Minnefota Hiftorical Society St Paul, Minn. 
 
 Nebrafka State Hiftorical Society Lincoln, Neb. 
 
 Newberry Library Chicago, 111. 
 
 Newburyport Public Library, Peabody Fund . . Newburyport, Mafs. 
 
 New England Hiftoric Genealogical Society . . Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 New Hampfhire State Library Concord, N. H. 
 
 New London Public Library New London, Conn. 
 
 Newton Free Library Newton, Mafs. 
 
 New York Hiftorical Society New York, N. Y. 
 
 Peabody Inftitute of the City of Baltimore . . . Baltimore, Md. 
 
 Pilgrim Society Plymouth, Mafs. 
 
 Portfmouth Athenaeum Portfmouth, N. H. 
 
 Providence Public Library Providence, R. I. 
 
 Public Library of Cincinnati Cincinnati, Ohio. 
 
 Public Library of the City of Bofton Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 Public Library of Cleveland Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
 Public Library of Toronto Toronto, Canada.
 
 The Prince Society. 269 
 
 Public Library of Victoria Melbourne, Vic. 
 
 Quincy Hiftorical Society Quincy, Mafs. 
 
 Redwood Library Newport, R. I. 
 
 San Francifco Free Public Library San Francifco, Cal. 
 
 Somerville Public Library Somerville, Mafs. 
 
 Stadtbibliothek zu Hamburg Hamburg, Germany. 
 
 State Hiftorical Society of Wifconfm Madifon, Wis. 
 
 State Library of Maffachufetts Bofton, Mafs. 
 
 State Library of New York Albany, N. Y. 
 
 State Library of Rhode Ifland Providence, R. I. 
 
 Stockbridge Library Affociation . Stockbridge, Mafs. 
 
 Eben Dale Sutton Reference Library Peabody, Mafs. 
 
 Taunton Public Library Taunton, Mafs. 
 
 Univerfity of Chicago Chicago, 111. 
 
 Vaffar College Library Poughkeepfie, N. Y. 
 
 Warren Public Library Warren, Mafs. 
 
 Williams College Library Williamftown, Mafs. 
 
 Woburn Public Library Woburn, Mafs. 
 
 Yale College Library New Haven, Conn.
 
 PUBLICATIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 
 
 NEW ENGLAND'S PROSPECT. 
 
 A true, lively and experimentall description of that part of America, commonly called 
 New England : difcovering the State of that Countrie, both as it (lands to our new-come 
 Englijh Planters ; and to the old Natiue Inhabitants. By WILLIAM WOOD. London, 
 1634. Preface by Charles Deane, LL.D. pp. 131. Bofton, 1865. 
 
 THE HUTCHINSON PAPERS. 
 
 A Collection of Original Papers relative to the Hiftory of the Colony of Maffachufetts- 
 Bay. Reprinted from the edition of 1769. Edited by William H. Whitmore, A.M., and 
 William S. Appleton, A.M. 2 vols. Vol. I. pp. 324. Vol. II. pp. 354. Albany, 1865. 
 
 JOHN DUNTON'S LETTERS FROM NEW ENGLAND. 
 
 Letters written from New England A.D. 1686. By John Dunton, in which are 
 defcribed his voyages by Sea, his travels on land, and the characters of his friends 
 and acquaintances. Now firft publifhed from the Original Manufcript in the Bodleian 
 Library, Oxford. Edited by William H. Whitmore, A.M. pp. 340. Bofton, 1867. 
 
 THE ANDROS TRACTS. 
 
 Being a Collection of Pamphlets and Official Papers iffued during the period between 
 the overthrow of the Andros Government and the eftablifhment of the fecond Charter of 
 Maffachufetts. Reprinted from the original editions and manufcripts. With a Memoir 
 of Sir Edmund Andros, by the editor, William H. Whitmore, A.M. 3 vols. Vol. I. pp. 
 215; 1868. Vol. II. pp. 346 ; 1869. Vol. III. pp. 257 ; 1874. Bofton. 
 
 SIR WILLIAM ALEXANDER AND AMERICAN COLONIZATION. 
 
 Including three Royal Charters, iffued in 1621, 1625, 1628; a Tract entitled an 
 Encouragement to Colonies, by Sir William Alexander, 1624 ; a Patent, from the Great 
 Council for New England, of Long Ifland, and a part of the prefent State of Maine ; a 
 Roll of the Knights Baronets of New Scotland ; with a Memoir of Sir William Alexander, 
 by the editor, the Rev. Edmund F. Slafter, D.D. pp. 283. Bofton, 1873. 
 
 JOHN WHEELWRIGHT. 
 
 Including his Faft-day Sermon, 1637 ; his Mercurius Americanus, 1645, and other 
 writings ; with a paper on the genuineness of the Indian deed of 1629, and a Memoir by 
 the editor, Charles H. Bell, LL.D. pp. 253. Bofton, 1876. 
 
 VOYAGES OF THE NORTHMEN TO AMERICA. 
 
 Including extracts from Icelandic Sagas relating to Weftern voyages by Northmen in 
 the tenth and eleventh centuries, in an Englifti tranflation by North Ludlow Beamifh ; 
 with a Synopfis of the hiftorical evidence and the opinion of Profeffor Rafn as to the 
 places vifited by the Scandinavians on the coaft of America. Edited, with an Introduc- 
 tion, by the Rev. Edmund F. Slafter, D.D. pp. 162. Bofton, 1877. 
 
 THE VOYAGES OF SAMUEL DE CHAMPLAIN. 
 
 Including the Voyage of 1603, and all contained in the edition of 1613, and in that of 
 1619; translated from the French by Charles P. Otis, Ph.D. Edited, with a Memoir and 
 hiftorical illuftrations, by the Rev. Edmund F. Slafter, D.D. 3 vols. Vol. I. pp. 340; 
 1880. Vol. II. pp. 273; 1878. Vol. III. pp. 240; 1882. Bofton.
 
 272 Publications of the Society. 
 
 NEW ENGLISH CANAAN OF THOMAS MORTON. 
 
 Containing an abftracl of New England, compofed in three books. I. The firft fetting 
 forth the Originall of the Natives, their Manners and Cuftomes, together with their 
 tractable Nature and Love towards the Englifh. II. The Natural Indowments of the 
 Countrie, and what Staple Commodities it yieldeth. III. What People are planted there, 
 their Profperity, what remarkable Accidents have happened fince the firft planting of it, 
 together with their Tenents and practice of their Church. Written by Thomas Morton 
 of Cliffords Inne, Gent, upon ten Years Knowledge and Experiment of the Country, 
 1632. Edited, with an Introduction and hiftorical illuftrations, by Charles Francis 
 Adams, Jr., A.B. pp. 381. Bofton, 1883. 
 
 SIR WALTER RALEGH AND HIS COLONY IN AMERICA. 
 
 Containing the Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth to Sir Walter Ralegh for difcover- 
 ing and planting of new lands and countries, March 25, 1584, with letters, difcourfes, and 
 narratives of the Voyages made to Virginia at his charges, with original defcriptions of 
 the country, commodities, and inhabitants. Edited, with a Memoir and hiftorical illuftra- 
 tions, by the Rev. Increafe N. Tarbox, D.D. pp. 329. Bofton, 1884. 
 
 VOYAGES OF PETER ESPRIT RADISSON. 
 
 Being an account of his travels and experiences among the North American Indians 
 from 1632 to 1684, tranfcribed from Original Manufcripts in the Bodleian Library and the 
 Britifh Mufeum. Edited, with hiftorical illuftrations and an Introduction, by Gideon D. 
 Scull, pp. 385. Bofton, 1885. 
 
 CAPTAIN JOHN MASON, THE FOUNDER OF NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 Including his Tract on Newfoundland, 1620, the American Charters in which he was 
 a Grantee, with Letters and other Hiftorical Documents ; and a Memoir by the late 
 Charles W. Tuttle, Ph.D. Edited, with hiftorical illuftrations, by John Ward Dean, A.M. 
 pp. 492. Bofton, 1887. 
 
 SIR FERDINANDO GORGES AND HIS PROVINCE OF MAINE. 
 
 Including his Trad entitled A Brief Narration, 1658, American Charters granted to 
 him, and other papers ; with hiftorical illuftrations and a Memoir by James P. Baxter, 
 A.M. 3 vols. Vol. I. pp. 268; 1890. Vol. II. pp. 270; 1890. Vol. III. pp. 353; 1890. 
 Bofton. 
 
 ANTINOMIANISM IN THE COLONY OF MASSACHUSETTS BAY. 
 
 Including the Short Story and other documents, 1636-1638. Edited by Charles 
 Francis Adams, pp. 415. Bofton, 1894. 
 
 JOHN CHECKLEY, OR THE EVOLUTION OF RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE IN MASSA- 
 CHUSETTS BAY. 
 
 Including Mr. Checkley's Controverfial Writings ; his Letters and Other Papers ; his 
 Prefentment on the Charge of a Libel for Publishing a Book ; his Speech at his Trial ; the 
 Hon. John Read's Plea in Arreft of Judgment ; and a Bibliography of the great Controverfv 
 on Epifcopacy by the Minifters of the ftanding order and the Clergy of the Church 
 of England. 1719-1774. With hiftorical illuftrations and a Memoir by the Rev. Edmund 
 F. Slafter, D.D. 2 vols. Bofton, 1897. 
 
 VOLUMES IN PREPARATION. 
 
 1. SAMUEL MAVERICK, including his Defcription of New England, Letters and other 
 papers, with hiftorical illuftrations and a Memoir by Frank W. Hackett, A.M. 
 
 2. EDWARD RANDOLPH, a monograph including his letters and other papers, with 
 hiftorical illuftrations and a Memoir by Robert N. Toppan, A.M. 
 
 3. THE LETTERS OF GOVERNOR HUTCHINSON AND LIEUT. GOVERNOR OLIVER. 
 1768-1769. With hiftorical illuftrations by Mellen Chamberlain, LL.D.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 VOL. i. 35
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Adams, Brooks, 16. 
 
 Adams, Charles Francis, 68. 
 
 Adams, John, Prefident, vii. 
 
 Adrian, Michigan, 130. 
 
 Agabra, the Bifhop of, 244. 
 
 Albany, 130, 138. 
 
 Allen, the Rev. James, 27. 
 
 Allen, Dr. William, 84. 
 
 Allibone, S. Auftin, 115. 
 
 American Houfe, Bofton, 4. 
 
 Ancient and Honorable Artillery Com- 
 pany, the, 29. 
 
 Anderfon, the Rev. James S. M., 100. 
 
 Andrea Doria, the, 129. 
 
 Antioch, 202. 
 
 Apollo, 206, 207. 
 
 Apoftles, the College of, 191-192; firft 
 in order, 194, 215; their commiffion 
 and work, 195-198, 208-209; at- 
 tended by brethren, 202 ; oppofed 
 only by heretics and difturbers of 
 the peace, 205 ; not the head of fac- 
 tions, 206-207 ; above all officers of 
 the church, 208 ; the peculiar things 
 which expired with their perfons, 
 
 209; conferred their power upon 
 
 others, 218. 
 Appleton, Samuel, 69. 
 Archbifhops, 224. 
 Afhmont, Mafs., 137. 
 Atkinfon, Blanche, 137. 
 Attleborough, 112. 
 Attorney-General, 4. 
 Auchmuty, Robert, 56, 57, 68, 69. 
 Auchmuty, the Rev. Samuel, 56. 
 Auguftine, 12. 
 Aurault, Daniel, 50. 
 Auftin, J. O., vii 
 
 B. 
 
 Badger, Mofes, 252. 
 Balliol College, 102. 
 Bangor, Me., 135, 136, 137. 
 Baptifts, the, 10, 15, 16, 50, 60. 
 Barclay, Patric, 247. 
 Bardine, Charles, 249. 
 Barlow, the, 49. 
 
 Barnard, the Rev. John, 96, 98. 
 Barrett, Franklin Ripley, 135. 
 Bates, A. C., vii. 
 Bates, George, 172.
 
 276 
 
 Index. 
 
 Bay of Honduras, 84. 
 Beach, the Rev. John, 153. 
 Beardfley, the Rev. E. Edwards, 4. 
 Belcher, Jonathan, 30, 55. 
 Belcher, Jonathan, Jr., 54, 56. 
 Bennett, the Rev. Thomas, 66, 77, 
 
 iiS- 
 Berkeley, Dr. George, Bifhop of 
 Cloyne, 5, 107. 
 
 Bernon, Gabriel, 50. 
 
 Beza, 246, 247. 
 
 Biddle, Capt. Nicholas, 129. 
 
 Bifhop of Ely, vi. 
 
 Bifhop of Oxford, vi. 
 
 Bifhop of London, vi., vid. Gibfon, the 
 Rev. Edmund. 
 
 Bifhops, refufed to publifh the Dec- 
 laration of Indulgence, 6 ; refufed 
 to take the oath of abjuration, 6-7 ; 
 not the fame as Presbyters, 224; 
 above Presbyters, 241. 
 
 Bogardus, Mrs. William J., 130. 
 
 Bond, Caroline Mary, 136. 
 
 Book of Common Prayer, ufed at 
 Salem, 17; the king ordered that 
 thofe who mould defire to ufe it, 
 mould not be prevented, 20 ; anfwer 
 of the General Court to the king 
 concerning, 20-21; its ufe forbid- 
 den in England and Wales, 21, 
 ./ reafons alleged for its unlawful- 
 nefs, 22; Mather's fermon againft, 
 23-25. 
 
 Bofton, 2, 3, 4, 10, 12, 13, 14, 23, 49, 
 52, 54, 58, 59 124, 132. 238, 247. 
 
 Bofton Epifcopal Charitable Society, 
 56, 76- 
 
 Bofwell, James, 52, 54. 
 
 Bougouin, Capt Alexander Etienne, 
 '34- 
 
 Bowyer, Jonah, 247. 
 
 Boyd family, 134, 135. 
 
 Braintree, Mafs., 12, 68, 1 18. 
 
 Brattle Street, 10, n. 
 
 Brattle, Rev. William, 49. 
 
 Brimfield, 112. 
 
 Brooks, John, 132. 
 
 Brooks, Bifhop Phillips, 132. 
 
 Broomfield, Edward, 38, 55, 65. 
 
 Brown, Dexter, 253. 
 
 Brown, Hosannah, 123. 
 
 Brown, John, 249. 
 
 Brown, Nathaniel, 248. 
 
 Brown Univerfity, 253. 
 
 Browne, the Rev. Arthur, in, 248, 
 
 249. 
 
 Browne, John, 16. 
 Browne, Samuel, 16. 
 Buckeridge, George, 74. 
 Bull, the Rt. Rev. George, 54. 
 Bunker, Frederick Ferdinand, 134. 
 Bunker, Minna Dorothea, 134. 
 Burton, Dorothy, 135. 
 Butler Hofpital, 124. 
 Byles, the Rev. Dr. Mather, 4. 
 
 Calef, Robert, 47. 
 
 Calvin, John, 12, 168, 192, 208, 223, 
 228, 239, 246, 247. 
 
 Calvinifm, high, prevailed in Maffa- 
 chufetts Bay, 152; Checkley mowed 
 fome of its doctrines to be unfcrip- 
 tural, 153; difcarded by thofe who 
 fought orders in the Church of 
 England, 153. 
 
 Calvinifts, 48, 165, 167. 
 
 Cambridge Platform, the, 152. 
 
 Campbell, John, 65.
 
 Index. 
 
 277 
 
 Canterbury, Af chbilhop of, 1 78. 
 
 Cerinthus, 176. 
 
 Charles II., 19, 20. 
 
 Charro, the Rev. Mr., in. 
 
 Chauncy, the Rev. Charles, 3. 
 
 Checkley, Debora, 126, 127, 128. 
 
 Checkley, Elizabeth, 126. 
 
 Checkley, the Rev. John, v., vi., vii., viii., 
 birth and childhood, i, 124; educa- 
 tion of, i, 2, 9, 97, 114; in England 
 and returned to Bofton, 2, 10; his in- 
 tellectual abilities, 2, 3, 8 ; a wit, 3 ; 
 Greene's friendly lampoon, 5 ; fym 
 pathizes with the non-jurors in their 
 fufferings, 7, 14, 35, 98; ftudies the 
 controverfies with the non-jurors 
 and the great Englifh divines, 8-9; 
 Bofton in his time, 11-13; married, 
 
 12, 134; purchafed a houfe and 
 land, 12-13, 13 n -j opened a ftore, 
 
 13, 14; fite of his ftore, 13, 32, 53, 
 60; alarmed the clergy, ir, 36, 48, 
 51 ; bold, plain, and frank in declar- 
 ing the doctrines of the Church of 
 England, 32 ; publifhed a book by 
 Leflie, and the Epiftle of St. Igna- 
 tius, 32, 48 ; publilhed " Choice Dia- 
 logues," 33-34, 142 ; Walter's anfwer 
 to, 147 ; fufpefted of being difaf- 
 fe<5led to the king and his govern- 
 ment, 36, 37 ; oaths of allegiance 
 and abjuration tendered to, 36 ; con- 
 templated taking orders in the 
 Church of England, 36, 49, 95 ; re- 
 fufed to take the oath, 39, 49 ; to be 
 imprifoned, pay a fine, or give furety 
 for good behavior, 37 ; fentenced, 
 38 ; paid fine and gave bonds, 39 ; 
 why he later took the oath, 39, 95 
 ., 98-99; doubted Mather's being a 
 
 member of the Royal Society, 40 ; 
 Mather's remarks upon, 42, 47, 48; 
 printed a pamphlet againft the Cal- 
 vinifm of Englifh Divines, 48 ; voy- 
 age to England, 49 ; returned to 
 Bofton, 50 ; publifhed, " Modeft 
 Proof of Order and Government 
 fettled by Chrift," 50, 185 ; anfwers 
 publifhed to the fame, 5 1 ; publifhed 
 Leflie's "Short and Eafie Method 
 with the Deifts," 52-53, 121 ; prof- 
 ecuted, 53, 55-59 ; his additions to 
 Leflie's work, 54; reafons for his 
 leaving the Province, 58 ; took the 
 oath, 58, 95 n., 98-99 ; unfuccefs- 
 fully fought aid in England, 58-59 ; 
 gave a bond for appearance at court, 
 59 ; at work on " Difcourfe mowing 
 who is a true Paftor of the Church 
 of Chrift," 60, 234; citations from 
 his work, fuppofed to be libellous, 
 61-63; thefe citations not objected 
 to in England, 64 ; not permitted to 
 fpeak in his defence at his trial, 65; 
 verdict rendered from which he ap- 
 pealed, 65 ; devoted his attention to 
 legal ftudies, 66, 94; his wife dif- 
 treffed, 66 ; why he publifhed the 
 books, 66-67 5 before the Superior 
 Court, 67-71 ; partially acquitted, 
 72 ; fined and placed under bonds, 
 74 ; the farcafm of the fine, 74 ; 
 effect of his fentence upon the 
 political parties, 75, 80, 82, 85 ; the 
 protagonift of a great controverfy, 
 76; organized the Epifcopal Chari- 
 table Society and Public Library, 
 76 ; effect of his condemnation in 
 England, 77, 80 ; two Epifcopal 
 clergymen did not approve of his
 
 278 
 
 Index. 
 
 proceedings, 79; accufed of difloy- 
 alty, 8 1 ; his publications attacked 
 by pamphleteers, 82-84 his arifwers, 
 83, 84 ; effecl of his trial on the clergy, 
 85; concerned in the memorial of the 
 church in oppofition to the Synod 
 propofed by Mather, 89-90; fent 
 copies of the proceedings of the 
 General Court to England, 90 ; grat- 
 ified by Englifh legal opinion con- 
 cerning the Synod, 94; the value of 
 his enforced ftudy of law, 94 ; Mather 
 humiliated by the man he defpifed, 
 94 ; applied for Holy Orders, 95 ; 
 why his application was declined, 
 95, 95 ., 99, 100; vifited England 
 and made another application, 96 ; 
 unexpected and extraordinary obfta- 
 cles, 96-99 ; Barnard's falfe accufa- 
 tions dated, 96-99 ; took the oath, 
 98-99; an aftive member of King's 
 Chapel, 99; contention with Harris, 
 99-102; has the fympathy of the 
 parifh, 102; his letter to the Bifliop 
 of London, 102-103; fruits of his 
 letter, 103-104; publifhed the argu- 
 ment at his trial, 104-105, 106 . ; 
 interefted in the education of his 
 children, 106 ; his bufmefs tranfac- 
 tions, 108 ; again vifited London 
 and fought admiffion to Holy Orders, 
 1 08 ; received deacon's and prieft's 
 orders, 109 ; honorary degree con- 
 ferred upon him by the Univerfity of 
 Oxford, 109-110; appointed miflion- 
 aryat Providence, R. I., 109 ., no; 
 a fecond edition of his fpeech pub- 
 lifhed, no; a field fuited to his 
 qualifications, 1 10 ; congregation re- 
 ceived him with joy, in; entered 
 
 upon his duties with enthufiafm, 
 in; his fervices in other places, 
 112; his duties, 112-113; his liter- 
 ary taftes, 1 13 ; his library, 1 14 ; his 
 acquaintances, 114; interefted in 
 archaeology, 119; the Short andEafy 
 Method induftrioufly handed about 
 among Epifcopalians, 121 n.j copies 
 of his " Difcourfe " fent to Rhode 
 Ifland, 234; his death, 116, 124; 
 burial place of, 1 25 ; fhould have a 
 monument, 125; his will, 117-118; 
 inventory of his eftate, 119-123 ; his 
 children, 126; the firft native of the 
 colony who attempted to mow that 
 fome of the doctrines of Calvin were 
 unfcriptural, 153, 249. 
 
 Checkley, Mrs. John, 118, 123, 124. 
 
 Checkley, John, Jr., 106, 114, 126. 
 
 Checkley, Samuel, 38, 65. 
 
 Cheever, Ezekiel, i. 
 
 Chelfea, Mafs., 137, 139. 
 
 Chefter, Diocefe of, 252. 
 
 Chicago, 135. 
 
 Child, Jofhua, 69. 
 
 Chrift Church, Bofton, 3, 39, 65, 77, 
 78, 88, 101, 103. 
 
 Chrift Church, Braintree, 12, 118. 
 
 Chrift Church, Quincy, 12. 
 
 Chrift Church, Stratford, 3, 79. 
 
 Chriftmas Day, the obfervance of, pro- 
 hibited, 17, 18, 19, 21 n.j law 
 concerning, repealed, 21 ; partially 
 obferved, 27, 28 ; Allen preached 
 againft the obfervance of, 27 ; Gen- 
 eral Court afked to adjourn, that the 
 governor might obferve the day, 28- 
 30; obferved in the French Church, 
 28; Barnard preached againft the 
 obfervance of, 98.
 
 Index. 
 
 279 
 
 Chryfoftome, 207. 
 
 Church, the National, 56. 
 
 Church of England, v., vi., 3, 8, 9, 10, 
 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 
 27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 35, 36, 47, 74, 77, 
 78, 79, 84, 88, 94, 97, 98, io, 103, 
 104, 105, 108, 109, 126, 162, 165, 168, 
 169, 172, 178, 181, 184, 247. 
 
 Church, Old South, II. 
 
 Church of Rome, 6, 9, 24. 
 
 Cilicia, 203. 
 
 Clarence, 111., 135. 
 
 Clark and Nightingale of Providence, 
 132. 
 
 Clark, John, 38. 
 
 Clark, the Rt. Rev. Thomas M., 125. 
 
 Clark, Timothy, 38. 
 
 Clarke, the Rev. Abraham L., 252. 
 
 Clafs, Ezra 69. 
 
 Coates family, 131. 
 
 Cobet, John, 69. 
 
 Coddington, William, 249. 
 
 Cole, John, 122. 
 
 Coleman, Dr. Benjamin, n, 14. 
 
 College of New Jerfey, 51. 
 
 Collier, Jeremy, 9. 
 
 Colluthus, 244. 
 
 Colonies, Englifli, attached to the See 
 of the Bifliop of London, 39. 
 
 Columbia College, 79. 
 
 Columbus, the, 129. 
 
 Commonwealth of England, 19. 
 
 Congregational Churches, the ufe of, 
 afked by the Church of England, 
 26-27. 
 
 Congregational Miniftry, 3. 
 
 Congregationalifts, four pariflies of, 
 in Bofton, n ; the theology of, 12; 
 alarmed by Checkley, 15, 36; the 
 
 fundamental doflrines of their creed 
 
 aflailed, 34. 
 Congrefs Street, 10. 
 Connecticut, 3, 4, 10, 50, 58. 
 Connecticut Church Documents, 3, 
 
 4, 14. 
 
 Connecticut Hiftorical Society, 119. 
 Cook, Prof. William, 135. 
 Cooper, J. Fenimore, 127. 
 Corinth, 203. 
 Corinthians, 206, 207. 
 Corner Book Store, 13. 
 Cornhill, u, 12, 108 
 Cornwall, the Rev. N. Ellfworth, viii., 4. 
 Cotton-Hill, 27, 28. 
 Cotton, the Rev. John, 22, 27, 73. 
 Council, 13. 
 
 Court, Great and General, 13, 18, 19. 
 Court Street, 13. 
 Court, Supreme, vii. 
 Crete, 221. 
 
 Cromwell, Oliver, 21, 172. 
 Cromwell, Richard, 19. 
 Crown and Blue Gate, at the fign of 
 
 the, 13, 32, 53, 60, 99, 108, 247. 
 Cunningham, Andrew, 13. 
 Currie, Robert, 248. 
 Cufhman, Emeline Augufta, 133. 
 Cutler, the Rev. Dr. Timothy, 14, 50, 
 
 77, 78,88,89,90, 101, 115. 
 Cyprus, 202, 203. 
 
 D. 
 
 Damrell and Upham, 13. 
 
 Darrell, John, 59. 
 
 Davenport, the Hon. Addington, 30, 
 
 68. 
 Davenport, the Rev. Dr. Addington, 
 
 30,68.
 
 280 
 
 Index. 
 
 David, 7. 
 
 Davidfon, Sylvanus Miller, 131. 
 
 Davis, Capt., 27. 
 
 Davis, N. Darnell, 45, 47, 49. 
 
 Deacons, the order of, inftituted, 193 ; 
 
 under the Presbyterian Model, 194 ; 
 
 different from apoftles, 194, 195. 
 Dean, John Ward, vii. 
 Deering family, 139. 
 Delafaye, Charles, 90, 93. 
 Delaune, the Rev. Dr. William, 115. 
 Dexter, Prof. F. B., vii. 
 Dexter, the Rev. Dr. H. M., 16. 
 Dibden, Thomas Frognall, 52. 
 Dickinfon, the Rev. Jonathan, 51, 82, 
 
 83, 84, 153. 
 Diotrophes, 204. 
 Directory, 21. 
 Difciples, diftinct from apoftles, 192, 
 
 203 ; their commiffion and work, 
 
 198-201. 
 
 Divines, New England, 12. 
 Dowfe, Jonathan, 55. 
 Drake, Samuel G., 39. 
 Dudleian Lectures, the, 29. 
 Dudley, Jofeph, 68. 
 Dudley, Paul, 29, 49, 68. 
 Dudley, Town of, 112. 
 Dummer, William, 55,80, 81, 86, 88, 
 
 90. 
 
 Dwight, Jerufha Gelfton, 133, 134. 
 Dyer, Giles, 30. 
 
 E. 
 
 Eaft Machias, 133. 
 
 Edwards, the Rev. John, 151, 157, 160, 
 
 165, 168, 171, 173. 
 Election, 33. 
 Eliot, Benjamin, 50. 
 Eliot, the Rev. Dr. John, 2, 3. 
 
 Ely, Bifhop of, vi. 
 
 Elliot, Clara Jofephine, 137. 
 
 Ellis, the Rev. Dr. George E., 16. 
 
 Ellis, Matthew, 103, 104. 
 
 Elizabethtown, N. J., 51. 
 
 England, 4, 6, 18. 
 
 Ephefus, 221, 225. 
 
 Epifcopacy- 3; independent of civil 
 governments, 8 ; Checkley unfolded 
 the doctrines of, 14; a belief in its 
 apoftolic origin regarded as a men- 
 ace to the Puritan clergy, 15; the 
 firft parifh in New England, 17; 
 King's Chapel erected, 23 ; Mather's 
 fermon before the General Court 
 againft, 23-25 ; argument for the 
 early exiftence of, 23 ; Leflie's and 
 Checkley's publications the theme 
 of converfation in Bofton, 54 ; 
 Checkley's book is declared a libel, 
 72; Sewall's definition of Epifco- 
 pacy, 73, 78 ; the condemned book 
 on, caufed a lively ftir among the 
 Puritan minifters and the clergy of 
 the Church of England, 77, 78 ; cur- 
 rency given to its arguments, 82-84; 
 the claim of the Puritans to be the 
 eftablifhed church of Maflachufetts 
 Bay regarded by Checkley as untena- 
 ble, 85, 86 ; the propofed Synod, 87- 
 88 ; memorial of the clergy againft 
 it, 88 ; Checkley publishes his argu- 
 ment, 105, io6. 
 
 Epifcopal Church in Connecticut, 4. 
 
 Epifcopal Parifh, firft in New Eng- 
 land, 17. 
 
 Epifcopate, 14. 
 
 Europe, i, 14. 
 
 Evans, Dr. Evan, 4. 
 
 Evolution, v.
 
 Index. 
 
 281 
 
 F. 
 
 Firft Church of Bofton, 11, 13, 83. 
 
 Fifh, George, 138. 
 
 Fiflce, the Rev. Mofes, of Braintree, 68. 
 
 Fitch, Thomas, 55. 
 
 Fitchburg, Mafs., 138. 
 
 Flagg family, 135. 
 
 Fleet, J., 32. 
 
 Fleet, Theo., 50. 
 
 Folfom, George C, 135. 
 
 Foote, the Rev. Henry Wilder, 4, 78, 
 
 79, 100, 1 02. 
 
 Fourth Church of Bofton, n. 
 Foxcroft, the Rev. Thomas, 83, 84. 
 France, 6. 
 Franklin, J., 238. 
 Freewill, 154, 165, 166, 168. 
 French, Emily, 139. 
 French Proteftants, 10, 50. 
 French, Samuel, 68. 
 Friends, 10. 
 Fullam Chapel, 78, 107. 
 Fuller family, 138. 
 
 G. 
 
 Gallop, Mr., of Briftol, 50. 
 
 General Court of Mafiachufetts Bay 
 forbade the obfervance of Chriftmas, 
 17, 19; ordered by the king to per- 
 mit the people to follow the ufages 
 of the Church of England, 19-20 ; 
 evaded anfwering the king, 20; 
 their anfwer, 20-21 ; fermon of 
 Mather before, 23-25; afked to ad- 
 journ that the governor could ob- 
 ferve Chriftmas, 28-30 ; enacted a 
 law which gave authority to juftices 
 of peace to adminifter the oath of 
 VOL. i. 36 
 
 allegiance and abjuration, 34, 36; 
 afked to legalize a Synod of Puritan 
 clergymen, 87 ; memorial of Cutler 
 and Myles to, 88-89 ; royal author- 
 ity difapproved the Synod, 91-93 . 
 obliged to modify unjuft laws againft 
 members of the Church of England, 
 104. 
 
 George I., 36. 
 
 Gerrifh, S., 238. 
 
 Gibbins, John, 39. 
 
 Gibfon, the Rt. Rev. Edmund, Bifhop 
 of London, 39, 49, 50, 77, 80, 81, 89, 
 90, 96, 98, 99, 100, 101, 102, 103 
 104, 105, 107, 1 08. 
 
 Gilbert family, 138. 
 
 Goodell, Abner C., Jr., vii., 70. 
 
 Governor's Council, 4, 19. 
 
 Graves, the Rev. John, 252. 
 
 Green, Francis, 137. 
 
 Green, Jofeph, 4. 5. 
 
 Green, Dr. S. A., vii. 
 
 Greenwood, Dr. F. W. P., 78, 102, 
 115. 
 
 Grey, the Rev. Dr. Zachary, 78, 114, 
 115. 
 
 H. 
 
 H alley, Edmund, 40, 42. 
 
 Hamilton, Elizabeth Gregg, 130. 
 
 Hamilton, George Clinton, 129. 
 
 Hanover Street, 4. 
 
 Harris, the Rev. Henry, 30, 31, 79, 
 81, 82. 
 
 Harrifon, Dr. Jofeph, 127, 128, 
 
 Harrifon, Sufannah, 128. 
 
 Harvard College, 3, 4, 12, 22, 26, 28, 
 29* 30, 47, 5i 56, 68, 77, 78, 83, 84, 
 96, 100, 101, 102, 106, 126, 135, 238.
 
 282 
 
 Index. 
 
 Hatfield, 51. 
 
 Hawkins, Ermine, 129. 
 
 Hawks, the Rev. Dr. Francis L., 3, 4. 
 
 Head family, 133-137. 
 
 Hebrew, 2. 
 
 Herbert, George, 9. 
 
 Hews, Mr., 57. 
 
 Hicks, the Rev. Dr. George, 9. 
 
 Hierarchy, 224. 
 
 Higginfon, the Rev. Francis, 24. 
 
 Hoadley, the Rt. Rev. Benjamin, 9. 
 
 Hobby, Sir Charles, 31. 
 
 Hodgman family, 133. 
 
 Hollis Street Church, 4. 
 
 Holyoke, the Rev. Edward, 96. 
 
 Honyman, the Rev. James, 78, no. 
 
 Hopkinton, Mafs., 102. 
 
 Houfe of Reprefentatives, 4. 
 
 Hovey family, 133, 134. 
 
 Howe family, 136. 
 
 Howell, Anna, 131. 
 
 Hubbard, Nathaniel, 38. 
 
 Hudfon, N. Y., 129, 130, 138. 
 
 Hull, Hannah, 27- 
 
 Hull, John, 27. 
 
 Humorifts of Bofton, 3, 
 
 Hutchinfon, Col., 31. 
 
 Hutchinfon, Edward, 38. 
 
 Hutchinfon, Thomas, 15, 16, 17, 28, 55. 
 
 Hutchinfon, William, 38. 
 
 I. 
 
 Ignatius, Epiftles of, 9. 
 
 Indians vifited by Checkley, 58; the 
 education of, m, 112-113, ii3.y 
 the Indian Archaeology, 119. 
 
 Ifchyras, 244. 
 
 J- 
 
 James I., 29. 
 
 James II., 6, 7. 
 
 James, Dr. Daniel, 138. 
 
 Japan, 134, 136. 
 
 Jarvis family, 135. 
 
 Jafon, the, 116. 
 
 Jean, Mr., 50. 
 
 Jenkins, Sir Leoline, 100. 
 
 Jefus College, Oxford, 100, 101. 
 
 Johnfon, Dr. Samuel, 52, 54. 
 
 Johnfon, the Rev. Samuel, D.D., 50, 
 
 78, 79. *53- 
 Jones family, 132. 
 Judea, 202. 
 
 Judges acting as complainants, 57. 
 Jurin, James, 41, 44, 45, 47. 
 
 K. 
 
 Kelby, Wm., vii. 
 
 Ken, Bifhop of Bath and Wells, 6, 9. 
 
 King, the Rt. Rev. William, 79, 100. 
 
 Kingsbury, Noah, 69. 
 
 King's Chapel, Bofton, 4, 10, 22, 23, 
 
 25, 28, 29, 30, 50, 56, 59, 65, 77, 78, 
 
 79, 81, 82, 88, 99, 100, 102, 103, 112, 
 
 115, 126. 
 
 King's Chapel Burying Ground, 27. 
 King's Church, Providence, R. I., i, 
 
 106, 1 10, in, 113, 116, 124, 128, 
 
 248, 249, 252. 
 
 King's College, New Jerfey, 79, 153. 
 Kirk family, 139. 
 Knapp, Samuel L., 4. 
 
 L. 
 
 Laird, Dr., 130. 
 
 Lake, Bifhop of Chichefter, 6.
 
 Index. 
 
 283 
 
 Lambeth Palace Library, 109. 
 
 Langdon, Edward, 69. 
 
 Lafti, Sandford, 138. 
 
 Lathbury, Thomas, 8. 
 
 Latin School, Bofton, i, 97, 106. 
 
 Laud, the Rt. Rev. William, Arch- 
 
 biftiop, 167, 1 68. 
 Leigh, England, 102. 
 Leflie, the Rev. Charles, 9, 32, 52, 53. 
 Leflie, the Rt. Rev. John, 53. 
 Library, Public, in Bofton, 76, 77. 
 Lincoln ville, Me., 134. 
 Little Rock Cathedral, 130. 
 Liturgical fervices, how early ufed, 
 
 25. 
 
 Lloyd family, 130-132. 
 Lloyd, Bifliop of St. Afaph, 6. 
 London, Bifliop of, vi. 
 Luther, Martin, 168, 246. 
 Lutherans, 48, 152. 
 Lyde, Edward, 38. 
 Lynde, Benjamin, 68. 
 Lynde, Samuel, 38. 
 
 M. 
 
 MacBeth family, 127, 138, 139. 
 McMillan, Alexander, 136. 
 McSparran, the Rev. James, 78, 107, 
 
 no. 
 
 Mails fent from Bofton, 50. 
 Maine, Province of, 10, 50. 
 Malcolm family, 127, 129, 130, 131, 
 
 132. 
 
 Manning family, 139. 
 Mansfield, Jofeph, 69. 
 Marblehead, 96, 98, 252. 
 Marian Perfecution, the, 167. 
 Marprelate, Martin, 83. 
 
 Marfliall, the Rev. Nathaniel, 9, 39, 
 
 57, 114- 
 
 Mary, Queen, 6. 
 Mafon, George C., 1 14. 
 Maflachufetts Bay, v., 4, 16, 21, 25, 26, 
 
 30, 31, 74-75* 85, 86, 87, 91, 95, 103, 
 
 152. 
 Maflachufetts Hiftorical Society, 3, 14, 
 
 56, 96, 97. 
 Mather, the Rev. Cotton, 3, n, 14, 23, 
 
 24, 29, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 56, 
 
 79, 86, 87, 90, 94, 100, 101, 147. 
 Mather, the Rev. Increafe, II, 22, 47, 
 
 79, 147- 
 
 Meade, the Rt. Rev. William, 80. 
 Medford, Mafs., 133. 
 Merrit, John, 118. 
 Merton College, Oxford, 175. 
 Milk Street, u. 
 Mill, Capt. John, 68. 
 Mill Pond, the, 108. 
 Miller, the Rev. Dr. Ebenezer, 12, 118. 
 Miller, Emma, 134. 
 Miller, John, 134. 
 Miller, Rebecca, 12, 124. 
 Miller, Samuel, 12, 39, 124. 
 Miller, Samuel, Jr., 118. 
 Milton, Mafs., 12, 39. 
 Minifters of the Handing order, 
 
 alarmed by Checkley, 15, 48, 51 ; 
 
 declared Leflie's "Short and Eafy 
 
 Method " to be a libel, 54-55, 72 ; 
 
 effe6l of Checkley's trial on, 85; 
 
 defired a legalized Synod, 86-87; 
 
 oppofed by Dr. Cutler and Mr. 
 
 Myles, 88-89 5 circumvented by 
 
 Checkley, 90 ; their Synod declared 
 
 illegal, 91-93 ; their laft expiring 
 
 effort, 95. 
 Minnefota, 135.
 
 284 
 
 Index. 
 
 Modeft Proof, 14. 
 Moline, 111., 131. 
 Monograph, its defign, v. 
 Mofs, the Rev. Robert, 115. 
 Moffom, the Rev. David, 79. 
 Mufick, 3. 
 
 Myles, the Rev. Samuel, 39, 77. 88, 89, 
 90, 10 i. 
 
 N. 
 
 Nagafaki, Japan, 136. 
 
 Nantes, France, 134. 
 
 Narraganfett, R. I., 78, 107, no. 
 
 Nation, the, 45. 
 
 Neck, the, Providence, 122, 124. 
 
 Nelfon, Robert, 9, 54, 64. 
 
 Newark, New Jerfey, 107. 
 
 New England, 12, 13, 15, 17. 
 
 New England Hiftorical and Genealo- 
 gical Regifter, 45, 49. 
 
 New Hampfhire, 30. 
 
 New Hartford, New York, 138. 
 
 New Jerfey, 30. 
 
 Newman, Mr., 28. 
 
 New Orleans, 129. 
 
 Newport, R. I., 50, 107, 114. 
 
 New York, 10, 13, 50. 
 
 Nice, the Council of, 189, 224. 
 
 Nichols, John, 114, 115. 
 
 Nichols, the Rev. Robert, 22. 
 
 Nichols, the Rev. William, 175. 
 
 Nicholfon, Sir Francis, 40, 115. 
 
 Noble, John, vii. 
 
 Nonjurors, the, 6; defined, 6-7; hif- 
 tory, 8 ; Checkley fympathized with 
 them in their fufferings, 7, 14, 35, 98; 
 ejected from their livings but not from 
 exercifmg the functions of their office, 
 8; Checkley's fympathy for them 
 
 prevented his obtaining Holy Orders, 
 49, 97. Leflie a nonjuror, 52. 
 
 North Kingfton, R. I., 78, no. 
 
 North Main Street, 251. 
 
 North Warren, Me., 138. 
 
 Norwich, 112. 
 
 O. 
 
 Oath of allegiance and abjuration, 6-7, 
 
 38, 39- 
 
 Old Parfonage, 248, 249. 
 Old South Church, n, 28, 60, 147, 238. 
 Old State Houfe, n, 12, 13, 38, 67, 
 
 77. i5- 
 
 Oliver, Daniel, 38. 
 Oliver, Thomas Fitch, 252. 
 Olney family, 127, 128, 132, 133, 134, 
 
 137, 138, 139- 
 Olney Street, 251. 
 Orange, N. J., 136. 
 Orange Vale, California, 134. 
 Orem, the Rev. James, 116. 
 Organ firft ufed in public worfhip in 
 
 New England, 59. 
 Overlock family, 138. 
 
 P. 
 
 Paget family, 127, 128, 132, 137, 138. 
 Paget, Henry, 106, 122, 123, 126, 127, 
 
 128. 
 
 Paget, Dr. Thomas, 49. 
 Palfrey, Dr. John G., 16. 
 Palmer, Thomas, 38. 
 Papacy, the Roman, 186. 
 Pafcoe, C. F., vi., 109. 
 Peirce, James, 175. 
 Pemberton, the Rev. Ebenezer, 11, 60, 
 
 238.
 
 Index. 
 
 285 
 
 Perry, the Rt. Rev. W. S., 3, 4, 78, 80, 
 
 93, 100, 103, 104, 115. 
 Petiver, James, 42. 
 Phenicia, 202. 
 Philadelphia, 4, 131, 132. 
 Phillips, Gillam, 65, 74. 
 Phillips, Mrs., 29. 
 Phillips, Samuel, 13. 
 Pigot, the Rev. George, 79, 98, in. 
 Pillsbury, Nehemiah O., 136. 
 Pillsbury, Thomas S., 136. 
 Plant, the Rev. Matthias, 78. 
 Plymouth, 10. 
 
 Porter, Frederick, 129, 130. 
 Porter, Henry M., 130. 
 Porter, Maria L., 130. 
 Portland, Me., 132, 134. 
 Port Royal, 29. 
 Potter, the Rt. Rev. John, Archbifhop, 
 
 9- 
 
 Pownal, Me., 134. 
 
 Pratt, Benjamin, 56. 
 
 Prayer, Common, 17, 20, 21, 22. 
 
 Predeftination, 156, 157, 158, 160, 161, 
 163, 164, 166, 167, 169, 171. 
 
 Presbyterian, 51, 52. 
 
 Presbyters, not the fame as bifhops, 
 224, 241-244; did not ordain Col- 
 luthus, 244 n. 
 
 Presbytery, only a meeting of presby- 
 ters, 229, 237, 240. 
 
 Prefton, Capt. Thomas, 57. 
 
 Price, the Rev. Roger, 102, 112. 
 
 Prince, the Rev. Nathan, 84. 
 
 Prince Society, the, 28. 
 
 Prince, the Rev. Thomas, 84, 147, 238. 
 
 Prophecy defined, 207. 
 
 Prophets, 194, 195, 238. 
 
 Prote6lor of England, 19. 
 
 Providence, Divine, v. 
 
 Providence, R. I., i, 106, 109 ., no, 
 in, 123, 124, 126, 128, 132, 248, 
 249, 251. 
 
 Providence Neck, R. L, 122, 124, 248. 
 
 Province of Connecticut, 4. 
 
 Province Houfe, the, 13. 
 
 Puritans, 15, 16, 26, 75. 
 
 Puritan Church, v., n. 
 
 Q- 
 
 Quakers, 10, 15, 16, 60, 177. 
 Queen's Bounty, the, 100. 
 Queen's Chapel, Bofton, 100. 
 Queen's Chapel, Portfmouth, N. H., 
 
 248. 
 
 Quincy, Edmund, 68. 
 Quincy, John, 38. 
 Quincy, Mafs., 68, 118. 
 Quinnebaug River, 112, 113. 
 Quinnebaugs, the, 112. 
 
 R. 
 
 Radcliff, the Rev. Robert, 28. 
 Randolph, Edward, 28, 29. 
 Rawlinfon Manufcript, the, 49. 
 Read, John, vii., 3, 4, 57, 65, 68, 69, 70, 
 
 73- 
 Records of Colony of Mafs. Bay, 17, 
 
 20. 
 
 Records, Council, 4. 
 Records, Suffolk Court, 4, 39. 
 Redwood Library, 114. 
 Reed, George B., 4. 
 Religion, Roman, 6. 
 Rhode Ifland, i, 58, 60, 234. 
 Richards, the Rev. Dr. C. A. L., vii. 
 Robbins, the Rev. Thomas, 119. 
 Roberts, Jno., 31, 237.
 
 286 
 
 Index. 
 
 Robinfon, the Rt. Rev. John, 78- 
 
 Rockland, Me., 134. 
 
 Roderick, Cora, 139. 
 
 Roderick, Domingus, 139. 
 
 Rogers Building, u, 13. 
 
 Rome, 33. 
 
 Root and Branch Legiflation, the, 
 
 21 ;/. 
 
 Roxbury, Mafs., 3, 139. 
 Royal Society, the, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 
 
 45, 46, 47, 48, 49- 
 Ruck, John, 65. 
 Ruflell, Benjamin, 69. 
 Ryan, Angelica, 131. 
 Ryan, William, 131. 
 
 S. 
 
 St. Ignatius, the Epiftle of, to the Tral- 
 
 lians, 33, 34, 61. 
 St. John, 33. 
 St. Johnsbury, Vt, 135. 
 St. John's Church, Providence, R. I., 
 
 I, no, in, 124, 125, 128, 252, 253. 
 St. John's College, 151. 
 SL Michael's Church, Marblehead, 79, 
 
 80, 96, 98, 252. 
 St. Paul's Church, Hopkinton, Mafs., 
 
 102. 
 
 St. Paul's Church, London, 106. 
 St. Paul's Church, Narraganfett, R. I., 
 
 78, 107. 
 
 St. Paul's Church, Newburyport, 78. 
 St. Paul's Church, North Kingftown, 
 
 R. I., 78. 
 St Peter's Church, New Kent, Va., 
 
 79,80. 
 Salem, 17. 
 
 Saltonftall, Gurdon, 73. 
 Samaria, 194, 202. 
 
 Sancroft, the Rt. Rev. William, 6. 
 
 Sandford family, 132-137. 
 
 Saul, 7. 
 
 Savage, Hebijah, 38. 
 
 Savary, John, vii. 
 
 Saybrook Platform, the, 152. 
 
 Schoolcraft family, 130. 
 
 School Street, 10, 13, 50. 
 
 Sears Building, the, 13. 
 
 Second Church, the, n. 
 
 Separatists, 24. 
 
 Seffions, Thomas, 253. 
 
 Sewall, the Rev. Jofeph, 28, 238. 
 
 Sewall, the Hon. Samuel, 26, 27, 28, 
 29, 3, 55. 57, 67, 68, 73, 78. 
 
 Shetucket River, 112. 
 
 Shipboy, John, 127, 138. 
 
 Shippen, Dr. William, 129. 
 
 Shute, Gov. Samuel, 28, 29, 79. 
 
 Sibley, John Langdon, 47. 
 
 Slafter, the Rev. Carlos, vii. 
 
 Sloane, Sir Hans, 49. 
 
 Smibert, John, 5. 
 
 Smith, Carrie E., 133. 
 
 Smith, Edwin, 133. 
 
 Smith, Frances H., 133. 
 
 Snell family, 137. 
 
 Society for the Propagation of the 
 Gofpel in Foreign Parts, or the Ven- 
 erable, the, vi., 3, 50, 78, 79, 81, 95, 
 96, 104, 105, 107, 109, 1 10, in, 
 116. 
 
 Souder family, 131. 
 
 Southbridge, 1 12. 
 
 Speakman, William, 65. 
 
 Spiridion, Bimop, 189. 
 
 Sprague, Richard, 103, 104. 
 
 Steel, Thomas, 65. 
 
 Stewart, Dr. George, 59. 
 
 Stoddard, Anthony, 38.
 
 Index. 
 
 287 
 
 Stone family, 139. 
 
 Strange family, 134. 
 
 Stratford, Conn., 3, 4, 50, 78, 79. 
 
 Sturbridge, 112. 
 
 Succeffion, Apoftolic, 245. 
 
 Suffolk Court Records, vii., 4. 
 
 Swan Point Cemetery, 124, 251. 
 
 Swift, Lindfay, vii. 
 
 Synod, attempt to eftablifh one by the 
 Province of Maffachufetts Bay, 86 ; 
 its fcope, 87 ; danger from, 87-88 ; 
 Memorial of Meffrs. Cutler and 
 Myles, 88-89 fubjecl deferred, 90 ; 
 opinion of attorney and solicitor 
 general, 92-93 ; the laft attempt to 
 hold a Synod in Maffachufetts Bay, 
 95 ; the ancient Provincial, 224. 
 
 Syria, 203. 
 
 T. 
 
 Tailor, William, 29. 
 
 Taunton, Mafs., 112. 
 
 Taylor, George, 122. 
 
 Teachers, 194. 
 
 Temple, Arizona, 137. 
 
 Thames River, Conn., 112. 
 
 Thatcher, the Rev. Peter, 12. 
 
 Thaxter, Samuel, 38. 
 
 Third Church, Bofton, vide Old South 
 
 Church. 
 
 Thomafton, Me., 138. 
 Tillinghaft, C. B., vii. 
 Tokyo, 134, 136. 
 Tolland County, Conn., 112. 
 Topsfield, Mafs., 139. 
 Topfham, Me., 135, 136. 
 Tournefort, J. P. de, 44. 
 Tower of London, 6. 
 
 Town Houfe, Bofton, 12, 13, 32, 53, 
 
 99, 105, 247. 
 Townfend, Penn., 30, 31, 38, 55, 57, 
 
 58, 65. 
 
 Town Street, Providence. 122. 
 Trallians, 33. 
 
 Trelawney, Bifhop of Briftol, 6. 
 Tremont Street, Bofton, 10, 50. 
 Trinity Church, Bofton, 3, 30, 39, 65, 
 
 68, 132. 
 
 Trinity Church, Newport, 40, 78. 
 Trinity Church, New York, 56. 
 Trinity Church, Watertown, N. Y., 
 
 130. 
 
 Turner, Bifhop of Ely, 6. 
 Tyley, Samuel, 72, 74. 
 Tyndal, Matthew, 177. 
 
 U. 
 
 Univerfity of Aberdeen, 4. 
 Univerfity of Cambridge, 114, 115, 1 68. 
 Univerfity of Edinburgh, 51. 
 Univerfity of Glafgow, 28, 78. 
 Univerfity of Oxford, i, 12, 77, 78, 79^ 
 
 97, 109. 
 
 Updike, Daniel, 107. 
 Updike, Wilkins, 40, 114, 116, 128. 
 Upham, W. P., vii 
 
 V. 
 
 Valentine, John, 38. 
 Valentine, Mary Jane, 137. 
 Verien, Thomas, 69. 
 
 W. 
 
 Wadfworth, the Rev. Benjamin, n. 
 Wake, the Rt. Rev. William, 9, 178, 
 241.
 
 288 
 
 Index. 
 
 Waldoborough, Me., 138, 139. 
 Wales, the ufe of the Book of Common 
 
 Prayer forbidden in, 21. 
 Walker, Benjamin, 13. 
 Waller, Mr., 41,46. 
 Walter, the Rev. Nehemiah, 3. 
 Walter, the Rev. Thomas, 3, 34, 83, 
 
 147. 
 
 Walter, the Rev. William, 3. 
 Warren, Me., 132, 133, 134, 137, 138. 
 Warwick, R. I., 1 1 2. 
 Wafhington Street, n, 12, 13. 
 Waterman, Richard, 122. 
 Watertown, N. Y., 130. 
 Webb, the Rev. S. H., viii. 
 Welles, the Rev. Noah, 121. 
 Wellefley, Mafs., 135. 
 Wells, Jofeph, 69. 
 Welfteed, William, 65. 
 Wheatley, Charles, 25. 
 Whipple, Capt. Abraham, 129. 
 Whipple, Jofeph, 122, 248. 
 White, Bifhop of Peterborough, 6. 
 
 Whitmore, William H., 55. 
 Wigglefworth, the Rev. Edward, 51, 
 
 82, 83. 
 
 Willard, Jofeph, 38, 57, 89, 106. 
 William III., 6, 42, 48. 
 William and Mary, 6, 24, 35. 
 Windfor County, Conn., 1 12. 
 Wing, Mrs. Frederick J., 130. 
 Winne family, 129, 130. 
 Winfor, Juftin, vii. 
 Winthrop, Adam, 38, 55. 
 Winthrop, Maj. Gen., 31. 
 Wifwell, John, 69. 
 Wolftood, William, 38. 
 Wolton family, 1 39. 
 Woodward, Dr., 41, 43. 
 
 Y. 
 
 Yale College, 14, 78, 79. 
 Yale, Elihu, 49. 
 Young family, 139.
 
 Council of ttye prince 
 
 1897. 
 
 EDMUND F. SLAFTER. 
 JOHN WARD DEAN. 
 WILLIAM B. TRASK. 
 EDWARD G. PORTER. 
 DAVID GREENE RASKINS. 
 ROBERT N. TOPPAN. 
 HENRY F. JENKS. 
 ELBRIDGE H. GOSS. 
 
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