What spirit does his concluding exhortation breathe? How, did he say, they should regard any new truth, that God should show them from his word? From what, did he think, more truth would break forth? has not been surpassed since the days of the apostles. This will appear the more remarkable and lovely, when we consider the general bigotry of the age, and the narrow principles of the Brownists, from which he had recently escaped. 66 Brethren," said he, "we are now quickly to part from one another, and whether I may live to see your face on earth any more, the God of heaven only knows; but whether the Lord hath appointed that or not, I charge you before God and his blessed angels, that you follow me no farther, than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. What, did he say, Luther and Calvin would be willing to embrace, if they had been living? What nickname did he advise them to shake off? In what month, did they leave Leyden ? times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God; but were they now living, would be as willing to embrace farther light, as that which they first received. I beseech you, remember, it is an article of your church-covenant, That you be ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the written word of God.' Remember that, and every other article of your sacred covenant. But I must herewith exhort you to take heed, what you receive as truth. Examine it, consider it, and compare it with other scriptures of truth, before you receive it. For it is not possible, that the Christian world should come so lately out of such thick anti-christian darkness, and that perfection of knowledge should break forth at once. "I must also advise you to abandon, avoid and shake off the name of Brownist. It is a mere nickname, and a brand for the making odious to the Christian world." "If God reveal any thing to you by any other instrument of his, be as ready to receive it, as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry. For I am verily persuaded- I am very confident, that the Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his holy word. For my part, I cannot sufficient-religion and the professors of it, ly bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go, at present, no farther, than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw. Whatever part of his will our God revealed to Calvin, they will rather, die, than embrace it. And the Calvinists, you see, stick fast, where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things. "This is a misery, much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their Having said this, with some other things, relating to their private conduct, he devoutly committed them to the care and protection of divine providence. While at Southampton, they re ceived a most affectionate and instructive letter from their beloved pastor. The following extracts may give some idea of its spirit and its value. "Loving Christian Friends, "I do heartily and in the Lord, salute you, as being those, with whom I am present in my best To what port, did they repair for embarkation ? How long had they been in Holland ? To what port in England, did they first sail? What most excellent man affections, and most earnest longing after you, though I be constrained for a while to be bodily absent from you. I say Constrained, God knowing how willingly, and much rather than otherwise, I would have borne my part with you in this first brunt, were I not by strong necessity, held back for the present. Make account of me in the mean time, as a man divided in myself, with great pain, and as (natural bonds set aside) having my better part with you. And although I doubt not, in your godly wisdoms, you both foresee and resolve upon that which concerneth your present state and condition, both severally and jointly, yet have I thought it my duty to add some further spur of provocation to them that run well already; if not because you need it, yet because I owe it in love and duty. "And first, as we are daily to renew our repentance with our God;-so doth the Lord call us in a particular manner, upon occasions of such difficulty and danger, as lieth upon you, to both a more narrow search and careful reformation of your ways in his sight. Sin being taken away by earnest repentance, and the pardon thereof sealed up to a man's conscience by his Spirit, great shall be his security and peace in all dangers, sweet his comforts in all distresses, with happy deliverance from all evil, whether in life or death. "Next after this heavenly peace with God and our own consciences, we are carefully to provide for peace with all men especially with our associates. For that, watchfulness must be had, that we was born at Southampton? Dr Watts. How long after the Pilgrims touched there? 54 years, In what year, was Dr. Watts born? Whom did Dr. Watts most neither do give, nor easily take offence.- Neither yet is it suf ficient, that we keep ourselves by the grace of God from giving of offence except withal we be armed against the taking of them, when they are given by others. In my own experience, few or none have been found, which sooner give offence, than such, as easily take it; neither have they proved sound or profitable members in societies, who have nourished this touchy humor. "But besides these, there are divers motives provoking you above others, to great care and conscience this way; as first, you are many of you strangers as to the persons, so to the infirmities, one of another, and so to stand in need of more watchfulness this way which doth require at your hand, much wisdom and charity for the covering and preventing of incident offences that way. And lastly, your intended course of civil community will minister continual occasion of offence, and will be as fuel for the fire, except you diligently quench it with brotherly forbearance. "And if taking offence causelessly, or easily, at men's doings, be so carefully to be avoided, how much more heed is to be taken, that we take not offence at God himself. Which yet certainly we do, so oft as we do murmur at his providence in our crosses; or bear impatiently such afflictions, as wherewith he pleaseth to visit us. Store up, therefore, patience against the evil day, without which we take offence at the Lord him self in his holy and just works. strikingly resemble in character? Mr. Robinson. Which way is Southampton from Winchester?- from Oxford? Whom did they meet at Southampton? From whom, did they receive a most interesting letter? In what respect, did he say, he was present with them? What, did he say, had held him back from going with them? What, does he say, we must daily renew? What peace should we seek, next after peace with God and our own consciences? With what persons, should we especially strive to be at peace? What characters are generally most ready to give offence? At whom, should we be more especially cautious not to take offence? When may we be said to take offence at God? let "Lastly, whereas you are to become a body politic, using among yourselves, civil government. your wisdom and godliness appear, not only in choosing such persons, as do entirely love, and will promote, the common good; but also in yielding unto them, all due honor and obedience in their lawful administrations; not beholding in them, the ordinariness of their persons, but God's ordinance, for your good; not being like the foolish multitude, who more honor the gay coat, than either the virtuous mind of the man, or the glorious ordinance of God. But you know better things, and that the image of the Lord's power and authority, rulers? Because they would be men of their own choice. In what month, did the Pilgrims embark at Southampton? Who was master of the May. flower? Capt. Jones. Who was master of the Speed well? Capt. Reynolds. What complaint did Reynolds soon make? That his vessel was leaky. At what port, did they stop, to make repairs? At Dartmouth. At what port, did they next call? At Plymouth. What was there the decision respecting the Speedwell? Principal cause of her condemnation? The treachery of Reynolds. What was done with her pas sengers? How many passengers did the Mayflower then contain? On what month and day, did she sail from Plymouth? How long after Columbus first sailed from Gomera? What kind of a voyage had the Pilgrims? Stormy, dangerous and dreadful. What land did they first discover? Present name of the place? On what month and day? How many days after they left Plymouth? In what part of the country, had the I ilgrims intended to settle? Why did Capt. Jones steer so far north? He had been hired by the Dutch, to betray the Puri tans. Why? The Dutch wished to occupy the place themselves. What prevented the Pilgrims from then proceeding to the mouth of the Hudson? When did they come to anchor? Where? In Cape Cod harbor, near Provincetown, between Cape Cod and Plymouth. How many days did the Mayflower continue at anchor in Cape Cod harbor? 34. What act of devotion did they perform, immediately after their arrival? What political measure did the Pilgrims adopt the same day? They formed themselves into a body politic. A Meaning of body politic? civil society, united together, to be governed by certain men or certain laws. What did they engage by the covenant, that they then formed? "To submit to such government and governors, laws and ordinances, as should by general consent, from time to time, be made choice of." When and where, was this in + NOTE F. Names of the Plymotheans, who subscribed the civil compact at Cape Cod. John Carver, William Bradford, Edward Winslow, William Brewster, Isaac Allerton, Miles Standish, John Alden, Samuel Fuller, Christopher Martin, William Mullens, William White, Richard Warren, John Howland, Stephen Hopkins, Edward Tilly, John Tilly, How much time did the Pilgrims spend in seeking and preparing for themselves, a habitation? Two months. On what part of Cape Cod, did they seriously think of settling? A few miles S. E. of Cape Cod harbor. Which way from Plymouth? Nearly east. On what important expedition, did some of them set out, Dec. 6? To go round Cape Cod bay. For what purpose? To discover the best place for a habitation. Where is Cape Cod bay? Between Cape Cod and the rest of Ms. How many set out on this important expedition? 14 Pilgrims and 4 sailors. Who were the principal characters? Carver, Bradford, Edward Winslow and Standish. How did they commence their Francis Cooke, Thomas Rogers, Thomas Tinker, John Ridgedale, Edward Fuller, John Turner, Francis Eaton, James Chilton, John Crackston, John Billington, Moses Fietcher, John Goodman, Degory Priest, Thomas Williams, Gilbert Winslow, Edmund Margeson, Peter Brown, Richard Britteridge, George Soule, Richard Clarke, Richard Gardiner, John Allerton, Thomas English, Edward Dotey. Edward Leister. expedition? From Cape Cod harbor, they proceeded towards the South, near the eastern shore of the bay. What was the state of the weather? It was so cold, that the salt water froze upon their garments. In what manner, did they afterwards travel? Partly by sea, and partly by land. When did they have the first encounter with the Indians? Dec. 8. Who made the attack? The Nausets. What was the issue? It appears to have been a bloodless skirmish. After exchanging a few shots, the Nausets fled. How did the adventurers proceed, after the "first encounter?" They went on board, and proceeded a little farther along by the shore, and then turned, and sailed across the bay nearly to Plymouth. What disasters did they meet with? In a storm, they lost their rudder, mast and sails, and came very near losing their lives. Where did they keep Sabbath, Dec. 10? At Clark's island, near Plymouth. Where did they land, on Dec. 11, after leaving Clark's island? At Plymouth. Why is this landing celebrated as THE LANDING by way of eminence? It was the first landing of any of the Pilgrims, at the oldest town in New-England. How many Pilgrims then landed? Probably 14, the same who set out on the expedition. Why is Dec. 22, observed as the anniversary of the landing? Be *The number that sailed from England, was 101. One person died on the passage, and one child, son of Stephen Hopkins, was born, who was called Oceanus. Four persons died in Cape Cod harbor. One of these was the wife of Mr. Bradford, who was soon after cho cause Dec. 22, N. S. is the same, as Dec. 11, O. S. which was then in use. What judgment did they then form of Plymouth? They thought it was better for settlement, than any other they could there find. When did they begin to erect the first building at Plymouth? Dec. 25. Why did they not begin sooner? They were some days in fixing upon a spot, and were farther de tained by a storm. When, may we consider the set tlement of Plymouth as commen cing? On the Sabbath, Dec. 31, the last day of the year 1620. Why may we consider it as com mencing then? Because some of the company kept that Sabbath in their house at Plymouth. How many days was this, after they discovered Cape Cod? What had been the state of the weather during that time? Uncommonly cold, stormy, and distressing. What was the effect? Much suffering and injury to the people. How many of the Pilgrims died after their arrival, before April? 44.* How many survived? 58. How many of the 41 signers of the compact died before April? 21. How many survived? How many were at some time, sick? All but six or seven. Who was peculiarly engaged in rendering the sick all possible aid? Gov. Carver. What method did the Pilgrims take, to prevent the Indians from knowing the extent of this mortal sen governor. While he was absent, she fell from the Mayflower, and was drowned, Dec. 7. One child, Peregrine White, was born in Cape Cod harbor. He lived to be almost 84 years old. Of the Pilgrims, 6 died in Dec. 8 in Jan 17 in Feb. and 13 in March. |