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the Fathers of New England, it is not intended to hold them up as infallible, nor to point to them as instances of the perfectibility of human nature. Their virtues, not their faults, deserve commendation. Their errors, however, appear to have been the errors of honest hearts. The reproach of intolerance, so often with reason urged against them, belongs rather to the age in which they lived. To one of them at least, Roger Williams, it cannot be attached, though it must be confessed, the very fact that he was in advance of the age in this respect, rendered him obnoxious to the censure of his brethren. Yet, in the words of the judicious biographer of Roger Williams, "A candid mind, which understands their principles, will not, while it must lament and condemn their conduct, use the language of harsh censure. They were so far from believing that the liberty of conscience in religious concerns, ought to be extended to all men, that they regarded toleration as a crime. They argued, that they ought to promote truth and oppose error by all the methods in their power. If they were able to suppress false doctrines, it was; they believed; a solemn duty to God, to employ force, if necessary for their suppression. They thought that he who permitted error to be believed and preached, was chargeable with a participation in the guilt. Intolerance became in their view a paramount duty to God, and to the heretic himself; and the greater their love to God, the greater was their zeal to extirpate every weed from the garden of the Lord. It was not therefore, a bigoted preference for their own views that made them persecute others, but a conviction that they

only embraced the truth, and that all opposing doctrines were pernicious, and must not be allowed. It was not, in their judgment,inconsistent to act thus towards others, after having themselves endured persecution; for they regarded themselves as having been sufferers for the truth, and they were urged, by these very sufferings, to be more faithful in upholding that truth, and suppressing what they deemed to be error. It is due to the Pilgrims to remember, that they acted from principles, erroneous certainly and deplorable in their effects, but sincerely adopted and cherished in hearts which nevertheless glowed with love to God. The grand doctrine of LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCE was then a portentous novelty, and it was the glory of Roger Williams, that he, in such an age, proclaimed it, defended it, suffered for it, and triumphantly established it. Were these excellent men now alive, they would be foremost in lamenting their own error, and in vindicating those principles of religious liberty, for which Mr. Williams incurred their displeasure."

After all, the Puritans, among whom were the Fathers of New England, were a virtuous "remnant," shining as light amidst the comparative darkness and corruption of the age. Doubtless there was also a remnant in the church from which they honestly seceded: and both will finally be found among the innumerable "multitude" "redeemed out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation," harmoniously ascribing "Salvation to God who sitteth upon the throne, and to the Lamb," forever and ever."

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JOHN ROBINSON.

THE first effectual settlements in NewEngland were made by those who after the Reformation dissented from the Establishment of the Episcopal church, who suffered on account of their dissent, and sought an asylum from their sufferings. Those who could not conform to the Establishment, but wished for a more complete reformation,were at first distinguished by the name of Puritans; and among these the most rigid were the Brownists, so called from Robert Brown, "a fiery young clergyman," who, in 1580, headed a zealous party, and was vehement for a total separation. But in his advanced years he conformed to the Church, while others who more deliberately withdrew, retained

Reformation, s.; the period so called from the attempt of Martin Luther and others to produce a reform in the Romish Church, by correcting its errors and abuses.

their separation, but became more candid and moderate in their principles. Of these people a congregation was formed about the year 1602, near the confines of York, Nottingham and Lincoln, who chose for their ministers, Mr. John Robinson and Mr. Richard Clifton.

Mr. Robinson was born in the year 1575, but the place of his birth is unknown. He was probably educated in the University of Cambridge, and is said to have been "a man of learned, polished and modest spirit, pious and studious of the truth, and largely accomplished with gifts and graces suitable to be shepherd over the flock of Christ." Before his election to this office by the Puritans, he had a benefice near Yarmouth, where his friends were often molested by the bishop's officers, and suffered greatly by prosecution in the ecclesiastical courts.

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Confines, s.; boundaries, edges.-Benefice, s.; an ecclesiastical living.-Ecclesiastical, a.; relating to the church.

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