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CHAPTER XVI.

REASONS AND CONSIDERATIONS TOUCHING THE LAWFUL-
NESS OF REMOVING OUT OF ENGLAND INTO

THE PARTS OF AMERICA.

XVI.

amble.

FORASMUCH as many exceptions are daily made CHAP against the going into and inhabiting of foreign desert places, to the hindrances of plantations abroad, and 1621. the increase of distractions at home; it is not amiss Tee that some which have been ear-witnesses of the exceptions made, and are either agents or abettors of such removals and plantations, do seek to give content to the world, in all things that possibly they can.

And although the most of the opposites are such as either dream of raising their fortunes here to that than which there is nothing more unlike, or such as affecting their home-born country so vehemently, as that they had rather with all their friends, beg, yea, starve in it, than undergo a little difficulty in seeking abroad; yet are there some who, out of doubt in tenderness of conscience, and fear to offend God by running before they are called, are straitened and do straiten others from going to foreign plantations.

For whose cause especially I have been drawn, out of my good affection to them, to publish some reasons

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XVI.

THE LAWFULNESS OF REMOVING

CHAP that might give them content and satisfaction, and also stay and stop the wilful and witty caviller; and 1621. herein I trust I shall not be blamed of any godly wise, though through my slender judgment I should miss the mark, and not strike the nail on the head, considering it is the first attempt that hath been made (that I know of) to defend those enterprises. Reason would, therefore, that if any man of deeper reach and better judgment see further or otherwise, that he rather instruct me than deride me.

Cautions.

1. 2, &

Matth.

cv. 13.

Heb.

1. 1, 2.

And being studious for brevity, we must first conGen. xii. sider, that whereas God of old did call and summon XXIV. I. our fathers by predictions, dreams, visions, and certain 11. 19. illuminations, to go from their countries, places and habitations, to reside and dwell here or there, and to Panlin Wander up and down from city to city, and land to land, according to his will and pleasure; now there is no such calling to be expected for any matter whatsoever, neither must any so much as imagine that there He will now be any such thing. God did once so train up his people, but now he doth not, but speaks in another manner, and so we must apply ourselves to God's present dealing, and not to his wonted dealing; Josh and as the miracle of giving manna ceased, when the fruits of the land became plenty, so God having such a plentiful storehouse of directions in his holy word, there must not now any extraordinary revelations be expected. But now the ordinary examples and precepts of the Scriptures, reasonably and rightly understood and applied, must be the voice and word, that must call us, press us, and direct us in every action.

v. 12.

Gen. xvii. 8.

Neither is there any land or possession now, like unto the possession which the Jews had in Canaan,

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XVI.

being legally holy and appropriated unto a holy people, CHAP. the seed of Abraham, in which they dwelt securely, and had their days prolonged, it being by an imme- 1621. diate voice said, that he (the Lord) gave it them as a land of rest after their weary travels, and a type of eternal rest in heaven. But now there is no land of that sanctimony, no land so appropriated, none typical; much less any that can be said to be given of God to any nation, as was Canaan, which they and their sced must dwell in, till God sendeth upon them sword or captivity. But now we are all, in all places, strangers and pilgrims, travellers and sojourners, most properly, having no dwelling but in this earthern tabernacle; 1,2,3. our dwelling is but a wandering, and our abiding but as a fleeting, and in a word our home is nowhere but in the heavens,' in that house not made with hands, whose maker and builder is God, and to which all ascend that love the coming of our Lord Jesus.

Though then there may be reasons to persuade a man to live in this or that land, yet there cannot be the same reasons which the Jews had; but now, as natural, civil and religious bands tie men, so they must be bound, and as good reasons for things terrene and heavenly appear, so they must be led.

2 Cor. v.

And so here falleth in our question, how a man Object. that is here born and bred, and hath lived some years, may remove himself into another country.

persons

I answer, a man must not respect only to live, and Ans. 1. do good to himself, but he should see where he can What live to do most good to others; for, as one saith, "He m whose living is but for himself, it is time he were dead.”

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renove

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REASONS FOR EMIGRATING

CHAP. Some men there are who of necessity must here live, XVI. as being tied to duties either to church, common1621. wealth, household, kindred, &c.; but others, and that

many, who do no good in none of those, nor can do none, as being not able, or not in favor, or as wanting opportunity, and live as outcasts-nobodies, eyesores, eating but for themselves, teaching but themselves, and doing good to none, either in soul or body, and so pass over days, years and months, yea, so live and so die. Now such should lift up their eyes and see whether there be not some other place and coun2. Why try to which they may go to do good, and have use towards others of that knowledge, wisdom, humanity, reason, strength, skill, faculty, &c. which God hath given them for the service of others and his own glory.

they

should

reinove.

xix. 20.

But not to pass the bounds of modesty so far as to name any, though I confess I know many, who sit Luke here still with their talent in a napkin, having notable endowments both of body and mind, and might do great good if they were in some places, which here do none, nor can do none, and yet through fleshly fear, niceness, straitness of heart, &c. sit still and look on, and will not hazard a drachm of health, nor a day of pleasure, nor an hour of rest to further the knowledge Reas. 1. and salvation of the sons of Adam in that new world, where a drop of the knowledge of Christ is most precious, which is here not set by. Now what shall we say to such a profession of Christ, to which is joined no more denial of a man's self?

Object.

Answ.

But some will say, What right have I to go live in the heathens' country?

Letting pass the ancient discoveries, contracts and agreements which our Englishmen have long since

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XVI.

made in those parts, together with the acknowledg- CHAP ment of the histories and chronicles of other nations, who profess the land of America from the Cape de 1621. Florida unto the Bay of Canada1 (which is south and north three hundred leagues and upwards, and east and west further than yet hath been discovered) is proper to the king of England, yet letting that pass, lest I be thought to meddle further than it concerns me, or further than I have discerning, I will mention such things as are within my reach, knowledge, sight and practice, since I have travailed in these affairs.

And first, seeing we daily pray for the conversion Reas. 2. of the heathens, we must consider whether there be not some ordinary means and course for us to take to convert them, or whether prayer for them be only referred to God's extraordinary work from heaven. Now it seemeth unto me that we ought also to endeavour and use the means to convert them; and the means cannot be used unless we go to them, or they come to us. To us they cannot come, our land is full; to them we may go, their land is empty.

This then is sufficient reason to prove our going Reas. 3. thither to live, lawful. Their land is spacious and void, and there are few, and do but run over the grass, as do also the foxes and wild beasts. They are not industrious, neither have art, science, skill or faculty to use either the land or the commodities of it; but all spoils, rots, and is marred for want of manuring, gathering, ordering, &c. As the ancient patriarchs, therefore, removed from straiter places into more

1 Jacques Cartier, of St. Malo, in France, discovered the great river of Canada in August, 1534, and in 1535 sailed up as far as

Montreal. Florida was discovered
by Juan Ponce de Leon, a Span-
iard, in 1512. See Holmes's An-
nals of America, i. 31 and 65.

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