1. Their piety was of a high order, and they were more truly spiritual and devout men, than most of their contemporaries. Their preaching was in "demonstration of the Spirit, and with power." Their standard of Christian character was elevated. Their holy living was to many, both a reproof and a restraint. This raised them up enemies in their own time, who watched for their halting, who magnified and trumpeted their imperfections, and the influence of whose reproaches has not yet passed away.

2. They were called, in divine providence, to stand in the breach, when those innovations on New England usages commenced, which have since resulted in the apostacy of so many of the churches of the Pilgrims. When the separate, independent action of the churches in the election of their ministers began to be denied, and the right of examining candidates for admission to the churches, was first assailed, it devolved on the Mathers to stand up and oppose what they regarded, and what all evangelical Christians now regard, as alarming innovations. This is one of the things for which they cannot be forgiven.

3. Another cause of hostility, is the position which the Mathers felt constrained to assume, at least for a time, with respect to Harvard College. Their affectionate regard and veneration for the college, they had previously exhibited, in a thousand ways. But when, at length, it fell under the control of what were called, in those times, "the Manifesto Men," the promoters of the innovations spoken of above, the Mathers felt obliged to stand comparatively aloof. Not that they opposed the college, or withdrew from it all their former regard and patronage. Cotton Mather, in a letter to President Leverett, says: "It is a satisfaction that I

can reckon sixteen or seventeen of the sons of the church whereof I am servant, who belong, at this time, unto the college." But they were suspicious as to its influence, and complained of its government, perhaps, more than they ought. It cannot be doubted, however, that their intentions were pure, and that they acted conscientiously. Nor can it be doubted that their exertions were, in a good degree, successful. The threatening tide of innovation was stayed; and with an occasional exception, here and there, the churches of New England held fast their integrity for another half century.

So called, from a paper called the Manifesto, drawn up by the founders of the Brattle Street Church, in which was set forth the extent of their innovations, and the reasons of them,

WILLIAM BREWSTER.

THIS "chief father" in our Israel was born in 1564, but in what part of England is not known. Having pursued his preparatory studies, he spent some time at the University in Cambridge, where he became deeply penetrated by the puritan spirit which then very much pervaded that seat of learning. Here he was a fellow-student with the excellent John Robinson. It does not appear that he took any degree. He went to court, where he became a confidential servant or clerk, of William Davison, then Secretary of State to Queen Elizabeth. In this employment, he was associated with George Cranmer and Sir Edwin Sandys, the pupils and intimate friends of the "judicious Hooker;" and both of whom became eminent in scholarship and affairs of diplomacy. Secretary Davison found young Brewster so faithful and discreet, that he trusted him in affairs of state and business of the Privy Council, more than he did any other; and in their private intercourse treated him with paternal familiarity. In 1585, when Da vison was sent on an important embassy to Holland, he was at tended by Brewster, who then first saw the country to which he afterwards fled as an exile for conscience sake. Three fortresses, called "cautionary towns," were placed in the hands of the Queen, as security for the repayment of money advanced by her, to enable the Hollanders to maintain their independence against the Spanish crown. The keys of the most important of these towns, Flushing, were committed by Mr. Davison to the charge of Brewster, who slept with them beneath his pillow, so carefully must these tokens of possession be guarded. In consideration of his services, the States General of Holland presented him, at his return, with a chain of gold, which his master commanded him to wear openly, as they journeyed back to the English court.

Not long after this, poor Davison, though a wise and godly man, of whom the Queen herself confessed to the Earl of Essex that," in her kingdom she had not such another," for "sufficiency in council and matters of state," fell into ruin and disgrace. That "throned vestal," as her flatterers called her, or rather that imperious old spinster, first tricked him into drawing and sending the death-warrant of the Queen of Scots, and then made him the scape-goat to bear away into the wilderness the odium of that

detestable business. The unhappy victim of kingcraft, sacrificed to propitiate the wrath which the sophomore king of Scotland affected to feel at his mother's judicial murder, was removed from his high office of Secretary of State, imprisoned, ruined by heavy fines rigorously exacted, and banished from the court. Even in his downfall, he was universally pitied and beloved. The planet being thus disastrously dashed from its orbit, was not forsaken by its faithful satellite. Brewster followed his master into obscurity, and for a considerable period rendered him all the services in his power.

After this, Mr. Brewster retired to the north of England, among his friends. Here he lived for many years in high esteem. He was very active in promoting religion, stimulating all around him by his pious example, procuring good preachers for different places about him, and freely expending his large property in the good work. Meanwhile he was growing more and more displeased with the tyranny of the Elizabethan bishops, in silencing zealous ministers, and persecuting their devout hearers. He and others began to look more narrowly into questions of church order, and into the Romish corruptions retained in the established Church of England. Their severe afflictions led them into severe investigations; till, in 1602, they "joined themselves, by a covenant of the Lord, into a church-estate, in the fellowship of the gospel, to walk in all his ways, made known or to be made known, unto them, according to their best endeavors, whatsoever it should cost them." And indeed it cost them the loss of all things, except the confirmation of their title to a heritage in heaven. Such loss is the highest gain.

In 1606, this flock of Christ, becoming rather numerous and scattered, became two distinct bodies. In one of these churches, under the pastoral care of the venerable Richard Clifton and the illustrious John Robinson, William Brewster was made ruling elder, which office he exercised till his death; being held in "double honor," as one who "labored in word and doctrine." From their organization in 1602, his house, which was in one of the episcopal manors, was the ordinary place of meeting on the Lord's Day. "With great love he entertained them when they came, making provision for them to his great charge," so long as they were able to remain in England. But the troubles of this holy band of brethren, which had been so intolerable before, were now

heaped up till "from mole-hills they became mountains." Hunted and often taken, beset in their houses and watched night and day, forced to fly secretly from their dwellings and means of livelihood, they persisted in keeping up their Sabbath assemblies; till, with extreme difficulty and through cruel sufferings, they escaped to Holland during 1607 and the following year. Have we not reason to fear, lest our peaceful worship, so quiet and comfortable, may run out into sluggish and nerveless sentimentalism? How dear to our fathers must have been the religious privileges which they sought with such constancy in the face of exposure, and with the loss of all things! How keen must have been their relish for the bread of life, and how high their enjoyment of the waters of salvation, during those covert assemblages, when every faculty of the soul was kept awake, and strung to the highest tension, by the presence of danger! This is the only sense in which piety ap proves the saying: "Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant!"

In the emigration to Holland, Mr. Brewster was the most active leader, and the severest sufferer. When a large company of the Pilgrims was taken by treachery near Boston, in Lincolnshire, the greatest loss fell upon him, and he was one of the seven who were longest detained in prison. He and Mr. Robinson were among the last that went abroad, "having tarried to help the weakest over before them." In this company there were about three hundred families.

"

When, at length, Mr. Brewster reached Holland, most of his property was spent. To support his large family, he was forced to resort to labors for which he had not been fitted by his former course of life. Yet he ever bore up with hearty cheer and content; being strong in spirit, and firm in faith. During the latter part of his twelve years' sojourn at Leyden, he was in easy circumstances. He taught English to the young Dutchmen, by means of a grammar which he drew up in Latin, a language common to him and his pupils. There were many Danes and Germans among his numerous scholars, some of them belonging to families of distinction. By his method of teaching, they acquired the English speech both quickly and easily.

He was also aided by friends in setting up a printing office; so that he was abundantly and usefully occupied. He printed most

ly such books as the censors of the press would not allow to be published in England. Some of these were Commentaries and learned works of the famous Cartwright and others; and some were pamphlets for popular use, written against the abuses in the Church of England. No open shop was kept for the sale of these prohibited books, which were sent over, to be privately circulated in England. The British government, much incensed at the appearance of these publications, made great efforts to arrest Mr. Brewster. Sir Dudley Carleton, the British Ambassador, did his utmost to get him into the hands of the Star Chamber. But while this was going on, in 1619, Mr. Brewster was in England, whither he and Robert Cushman had gone as agents of the church at Leyden, to complete the arrangements for removing to America. It is probable that he never returned to Leyden; but remained in concealment in the north of England, till the sailing of the Mayflower, on the sixth of September, 1620.

It is needless here to recite the circumstances of this famous voyage, which has been so often and so fully described in the histories, and which wafted across the ocean a richer freight of virtue, patriotism and piety, than will ever again be borne so far in a vessel of one hundred and eighty tons. The "Mayflower' was the seed-blossom whose abounding fruit is spreading over a mighty continent, so that "the small one has become a strong nation." To them have the mercies of ancient Israel been renewed. To them hath God given "the lot of their inheritance, when they were but few men in number; yea, very few, and strangers in it; when they went from one nation to another, from one kingdom to another people." To the eye, any small portion of the sea appears as a level plain; but when we survey a larger tract, we discover the bold swell of the rounding surface. Thus the providence of God, scarce visible at its first day, becomes conspicuous and adorable when viewed along the tract of two hundred years.

When the colonists were landed at Plymouth, Mr. Brewster, then fifty-six years of age, still continued to act a leading part in all their civil and religious affairs. But for his office in the church, he would have been chosen their first governor for though our fathers did not believe in the "indelible character" of ecclesiastical office, but permitted it to be laid aside for any good and sufficient reason, yet they held that no man might properly hold 31

VOL. I.