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constitution of the civil government hath in some things always differed from that of the Massachusetts, as was hinted before, especially in reference to the persons betrusted with the choice of their governour and magistrates, who are not determined by church membership, as in the other colony, but by some other qualification. But as to their ecclesiastical affairs in that colony, it is to be noted, that the two principal towns, viz. Hartford and Windsor, were peopled with such as were settled in their church state before their removal thither, conformable in all things to the churches in the Massachusetts; and so lived in great peace together all the days of Mr. Hooker, for about eleven years space. Although at Weathersfield the case was much otherwise; for there was scarce men enough removed thither to constitute a church; neither were they supplied with a minister before they removed, and he whom they called to that function among them after their removal was not so happy in his conduct, or in his colleague, (who bore the ruling elder's place,) as to maintain the place in any tolerable degree of unity and peace, insomuch, that they were looked upon as a people, by a kind of fatal necessity, destined to contention for many years after. Whether there were any indirect means used in a kind of surreptitious seizure of the land, (which made the plantation,) that of right belonged to their neighbours of Hartford, as some have said, or any other secret occurrence, they were not so blessed in the enjoyment of it, as was to be desired for it might have been said, not only (as they about Jericho said to Elisha) that the situation was pleasant, and the land also very fertile, but for want of agreement amongst themselves they had not much comfort therein, for a long time after. For about the year 1639 it was found, not only that the church was divided, but that the rent grew greater, notwithstanding the great pains which had been taken for the healing thereof: and the church was not only divided from the rest of the town, but of those seven, which made the church, four fell off, so as it was conceived that thereby the church

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was dissolved, which occasioned the church of Watertown (which had divers of their members there, not yet dismissed) to send two of their church to look after their members, and to take order with them; but the contention and alienation of their minds one from another was such, as they could not bring them to any other accord than this, that the one part must remove to some other place, (which they both consented to,) but still the diffi culty remained; for those three, who pretended themselves to be the church, pleaded that privilege for their stay, and the other four alleged their multitude, as being the greater number, so as neither would give place; whereby it seemed, that they either minded not the example of Abram's offer to Lot, or else they wanted Abraham's (and indeed the christian) spirit of peace and

love.

This controversy proceeded so far that it occasioned the calling in of Mr. Davenport, with others of New Haven, by way of mediation; but they, not according with those of Connecticut about the case, gave some advantage to the enemy to sow some seeds of contention between those plantations also; but being godly and wise men, on both parts, things were the more easily reconciled not long after. But as to the church and town of Weathersfield, some of the inhabitants chose rather to remove elsewhere, and to live in a cottage in a wilderness, than to abide any longer in the fire of contention in a beautiful habitation. But after the removal of some, those that stayed behind lived not so peaceably together as they should neither: and some time after Mr. Chaplin, the ruling elder, removed back again to England, but did not carry away all the matter of contention; but there was enough left to maintain the old quarrel, or new fuel was afterward gathered together to rekindle the same fire. But some years after there was an appearance of great unanimity, upon the choice of another minister, one Mr. Russell, who was called to take upon him the pastoral office there, which he faithfully discharged for some time, till another occasion of trouble arose at Hart

ford, soon after Mr. Hooker's death, when the said Russell removed to another place higher up the river; for that town of Hartford being the centre and chief town of that colony, any leaven of division arising there did the more easily diffuse itself over the whole colony, or a great part thereof. If there were any notions or principles tending that way before, latent in the minds of any persons of interest there, they never had discovered themselves during the time of Mr. Hooker's life, and if there had any such thing appeared, his interest and authority would easily have suppressed it.

But after the removal of him and some other of the principal persons out of the jurisdiction, by death or otherwise, some of the inhabitants, holding more strictly to the former principles of discipline, could not well bear that any, in whose real piety they were not satisfied, (as not being confirmed members in the church,) should partake of any higher privileges, civil or ecclesiastical, than formerly belonged to non-members. The first appearance of disturbance, which on that account happened amongst them, was at Hartford, occasioned on the call of a person to supply the place of Mr. Hooker, who deceased in the year 1647, and that being the principal town of the colony (as was said before) the trouble there easily diffused itself into the body of the colony. Dis. cords upon such an occasion have upon experience been found to make way for sad breaches, in many of those churches that have embraced the Congregational way, which yet cannot be said to arise from any defect in the persuasion itself, but the perverseness of some men's tempers, together with their unacquaintedness with the practice, that are unwilling to submit to the remedy, which is in that way provided for, as well as in any of the other Reformed churches, where any ecclesiastical subordination is supposed the only means to prevent or redress such grievances; for the best sort of government, like the best complexion, may, in case of mal-administration, be as soon or sooner overthrown,

as any other that may be judged more remote from the case. But that point is not now to be debated here.

And not long after there arose another difference in that colony, which was occasioned through the endeavours of some of their ministers for enlarging of baptism, and extending the right of membership to children, before their admission into full communion; which notion, first started in that colony, produced a kind of synodical meeting and dispute of sundry ministers at Boston, anno 1657, managed by twenty six of the chief ministers of that and the other colonies, the result of which was not long after published in print, and the substance of it weaved into the answer of the synod at Boston to the two questions propounded and discussed, anno 1662, as shall be more particularly declared in its proper place.

But the aforesaid differences, in the years 1656, 1657, 1658, arose to such a paroxysm that it ended in the removal (yet orderly and peaceably) of one part of the churches and towns of Hartford, and Weathersfield, and Windsor to another plantation or two up higher, upon Connecticut river, the one of which was called Hadley, the other Northampton; and since that time other towns have been erected there.

Thus was the particular difference between Paul and Barnabas of old overruled by Divine Providence, for the advantage of the church in general, that it might be further propagated and enlarged thereby.

But when once the fire of contention hath begun to kindle, it is hard to say when it will be quenched. Happy therefore are those societies, which, attending the counsel of Solomon, leave off contention before it be meddled withal, seeing the beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water. For the following differences, that arose in that jurisdiction, about the enlarging of baptism, or such like accounts, ended rather in the dividing than multiplying of some of their churches and congregations, cohabiting still within the bounds of the same parish, which was the product of an act of their general court, granting liberty for [distinct walking] (for

how can two walk together unless they be agreed ;) but whether such a commission hath or is like much to advance the honour of God, the peace and purity of his church, there or elsewhere, future time will declare. However it may truly be affirmed, that no difference in their civil matters hath been occasioned thereby. The sudden and unexpected (as some say) incorporating of New Haven colony, with that of Connecticut, (which was about the nineteenth year of his majesty, Charles the second, now reigning,) being by this time pretty well digested, and all supposed inconveniences, probably feared to arise therefrom, healed and composed (though it could not be wholly prevented) by a wise and timely condescension on all hands, there seems now to be such a perfect coalescence of all minds and spirits, as leaves no remembrance of the former distinction of two colonies.

CHAP. XLII.

The first planting of New Haven. Some of the most remarkable passages concerning that colony, as also of Rhode Island, Providence, and the places adjoining, near the Narraganset bay, in the years 1637, 1638.

THE same grounds, that stirred up the spirits of many in all parts of England, did also prevail with Mr. John Davenport, the then famous minister in Coleman street, and sundry of his eminent hearers, with many other their friends in and about London, to join in the design of coming over into these parts; accordingly Mr. Davenport, more secretly, as being then under a cloud by reason of his non-compliance in ecclesiastical matters, and Mr. Theophilus Eaton, more manifestly, in behalf of their friends, took part in the patent for Massachusetts Bay, then in designation, which obtained in the season by Providence presented. They passed over into these parts of the world, as many had done before them, and, according to their primitive intention, endeavoured to settle themselves within the proper precincts of the said patent; which was also desired by the magistrates, and

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