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 difficulty 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 1 Rev. John (Trumbull says Jonathan) Russell.-H. 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 1647,2 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. Discords 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, 1 Hadley, in 1660.-н. 2 July 7th.-H. 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 endeavors 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 1 June 4th. See pages 562-71.—H how can two walk together unless they be agreed?) but whether such a concession|| hath, or is like, much to advance the honor 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 [was] 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, endeavored to settle themselves within the proper precincts of the said Patent; which was also desired by the magistrates, and || commission || 1 See page 262; Sav. Win. i. 227, 237, 259.—H. others there already in their new beginnings settled; but, upon some considerable trial, not finding any place of meet capacity for them and their many friends expected, which would require sundry townships, and hearing from Connecticut, then lately planted, of considerable tracts of land to the southwest, upon the sea coast, beyond Cape Cod, they inclined to remove thither, as hoping to find the conveniences they were hitherto shortened in thereby redressed, and in order thereunto they sent up to their friends at Connecticut to purchase for them all those lands, lying between them and Hudson's River, of the native proprietors, which was in part effected. Things being thus prepared, the aforesaid worthy men, with their partners, began to go more southward, and they for their own parts pitched on a place called Quillipiuk, which is a pleasant land lying on both sides of the mouth of a small river, where it makes a bay of some miles in length, and proportionably broad. The place being by them chosen, they began to make improvement upon it, and to dispose of it into allotments, in a way suitable to their then designs and hopes; for the chief of their company being Londoners, and merchants of considerable estates and dealing in the world, they propounded to themselves the setting up a place of trade, for which they were most fitted, and accordingly chose their town plot upon the face of the bay, and laid out very small proportions to the inhabitants, such as were agreeable enough to their end, if it had stood. But since the frustration thereof, and that they have been forced to husbandry for their subsistence, they have found much incommodity in their situation, by being so close crowded together: however, having made this beginning, they quickly grew to be a considerable people, not so much for numbers, as for the excellency of the ministry, and eminency of sundry persons suited for civil affairs, and capable to manage those of a much vaster territory than this was, or ever like to be; yet they esteemed themselves weak and solitary while alone, and therefore were in expectation of their friends from Eng They sailed from Boston, March 30, 1638, and on April 18th kept their first Sabbath in their new home.-H. |