when hee compareth a Christian to a Merchantman seeking pearles: For he never fetcheth a comparison from any unlawfull thing to illustrate a thing lawfull. The comparison from the unjust Steward, and from the Theefe in the night, is not taken from the injustice of the one, or the theft of the other; but from the wisdome of the one, and the sodainnesse of the other; which in themselves are not unlawfull.

Thirdly, to plant a Colony, that is, a company that agree together to remove out of their owne Country, and settle a Citty or commonwealth elsewhere. Of such a Colony wee reade in Acts 16. 12. which God blessed and prospered exceedingly, and made it a glorious Church. Nature teacheth Bees to doe so, when as the hive is too full, they seeke abroad for new dwellings: So when the hive of the Common wealth is so full, that Tradesmen cannot live one by another, but eate up one another, in this case it is lawfull to remove.

Fourthly, God alloweth a man to remove, when he may employ his Talents and gift better elsewhere, especially when where he is, he is not bound by any speciall engagement. Thus God sent Joseph before to preserve the Church: Josephs wisedome and spirit was not fit for a shepheard, but for a Counsellour of State, and therefore God sent him into Egypt. To whom much is given of him God will require the more: Luk 12. 48. Fifthly, for the liberty of the Ordinances. 2 Chron. II. 13, 14, 15. When Jeroboam made a desertion from Judah, and set up golden Calves to worship, all that were well affected, both Priests and people, sold their possessions, and came to Jerusalem for the Ordinances sake. This case was of seasonable use to our fathers in the dayes of Queene Mary; who removed to France and Germany in the beginning of her Reign, upon Proclamation of alteration of religion, before any persecution began.

Secondly, there be evills to be avoyded that may warrant removeall. First, when some grievous sinnes overspread a Country that threaten desolation. Mic. 2. 6 to II verse: When the people say to them that prophecie, Prophecie not; then verse 10. Arise then, this is not your rest. Which words though they be a threatning, not a commandement; yet as in a threatning a wise man foreseeth the plague, so in the threatning he seeth a com

mandement, to hide himselfe from it. This case might have been of seasonable use unto them of the Palatinate, when they saw their Orthodox Ministers banished, although themselves might for a while enjoy libertie of conscience.

Secondly, if men be overburdened with debts and miseries, as Davids followers were; they may then retire out of the way (as they retired to David for safety) not to defraud their creditors (for God is an avenger of such things, 1 Thess. 4. 6.) but to gaine further opportunity to discharge their debts, and to satisfie their Creditors. 1 Sam. 22. I, 2..

47.

Thirdly, in case of persecution, so did the Apostle in Acts 13. 46,

Thirdly, as these generall cases, where any of them doe fall out, doe warrant removeall in generall: so there be some speciall providences or particular cases which may give warrant unto such or such a person to transplant himselfe, and which apply the former generall grounds to particular persons.

First, if soveraigne Authority command and encourage such Plantations by giving way to subjects to transplant themselves, and set up a new Commonwealth. This is a lawfull and expedient case for such particular persons as be designed and sent: Matth. 8. 9. and for such as they who are sent, have power to command.

Secondly, when some speciall providence of God leades a man unto such a course. This may also single out particulars. Psal. 32. 8. I will instruct, and guide thee with mine eye. As the childe knowes the pleasure of his father in his eye, so doth the child of God see Gods pleasure in the eye of his heavenly Fathers providence. And this is done in three wayes.

First, if God give a man an inclination to this or that course, for that is the spirit of man; and God is the father of spirits: Rom. I. II, 12. I Cor. 16. 12. Paul discerned his calling to goe to Rom, by his тò πрółνuov, his ready inclination to that voyage; and Apollos his loathing to goe to Corinth, Paul accepted as a just reason of his refusall of a calling to goe thither. And this holdeth, when in a mans inclination to travaile, his heart is set on no byrespects, as to see fashions, to deceive his Creditours, to fight Duels, or to live idly, these are vaine inclinations; but if his heart

be inclined upon right judgement to advance the Gospell, to maintaine his family, to use his Talents fruitfully, or the like good end, this inclination is from God. As the beames of the Moone darting into the Sea leades it to and fro, so doth a secret inclination darted by God into our hearts leade and bowe (as a byas) our whole course.

Secondly, when God gives other men hearts to call us as the men of Mecedon did Paul, Come to us into Macedonia, and helpe us. When wee are invited by others who have a good calling to reside there, we may goe with them, unlesse we be detained by waightier occasions. One member hath interest in another, to call to it for helpe, when it is not diverted by greater employment. Thirdly, there is another providence of God concurring in both these, that is, when a mans calling and person is free, and not tyed by parents, or Magistrates, or other people that have interest in him. Or when abroad hee may doe himselfe and others more good than he can doe at home. Here is then an eye of God that opens a doore there, and sets him loose here, inclines his heart that way, and outlookes all difficulties. When God makes roome for us, no binding here, and an open way there, in such a case God tells them, he will appoint a place for them.

AN ACCOUNT OF MRS. ANNE HUTCHINSON

[From "The Way of Congregational Churches Cleared"]

At her first comming she was well respected and esteemed of me, not onely because herself and her family were well beloved in England at Allford in Lincolnshire (not far beyond Boston:) nor onely because she with her family came over hither (as was said) for conscience sake: but chiefly for that I heard, shee did much good in our Town, in womans meeting at Childbirth-Travells, wherein shee was not onely skilfull and helpfull, but readily fell into good discourse with the women about their spirituall estates: And therein cleared it unto them, That the soul lying under a Spirit of Bondage, might see and sensibly feel the hainous guilt, and deep desert of sin, and thereby not onely undergoe affliction of Spirit but also receive both restraining, and constraining

Grace likewise, (in some measure:) restraining from all known evill (both courses, and companies) (at least for a season) and constraining to all knowen duties, as secret Prayer, Family Exercises, Conscience of Sabbaths, Reverence of Ministers, Frequenting of Sermons, Diligence in calling, honesty in dealing and the like: yea and that the Soul might find some tastes and flashes of spirituall comfort in this estate, and yet never see or feel the need of Christ, much lesse attain any saving Union, or Communion with him, being no more but Legall work, even what the Law, and the Spirit of bondage (breathing in it) might reach unto. By which means many of the women (and by them their husbands) were convinced, that they had gone on in a Covenant of Works, and were much shaken and humbled thereby, and brought to enquire more seriously after the Lord Jesus Christ, without whom all their Gifts and Graces would prove but common, and their duties but legall, and in the end wizzen and vanish. All this was well (as is reported truely, page 31 of her Story) and suited with the publike Ministery, which had gone along in the same way, so as these private conferences did well tend to water the seeds publikely sowen. Whereupon all the faithfull embraced her conference, and blessed God for her fruitfull discourses. And many whose spirituall estates were not so safely layed, yet were hereby helped and awakened to discover their sandy foundations, and to seek for better establishment in Christ: which caused them also to blesse the Lord for the good successe, which appeared to them by this discovery.

Hitherto therefore shee wrought with God, and with the Ministers, the work of the Lord. No marvell therefore if at that time, shee found loving and dear respect both from our ChurchElders and Brethren, and so from my self also amongst the rest.

Afterwards, it is true, she turned aside not only to corrupt opinions, but to dis-esteem generally the Elders of the churches, (though of them shee esteemed best of Mr. Shepheard:) and for my selfe, (in the repetitions of Sermons in her house) what shee repeated and confirmed, was accounted sound, what shee omitted, was accounted Apocrypha. This change of hers was long hid from me: and much longer the evidence of it, by any two clear witnesses. I sent some Sisters of the Church on purpose to her

Repetitions, that I might know the truth: but when shee discerned any such present, no speech fell from her, that could be much excepted against. But further discourse about her course is not pertinent to the present businesse. But by this Mr. Baylie may discerne, how farre Ms. Hutchinson was dear unto mee, and if hee speak of her as my deare friend, till shee turned aside, I refuse it not.

But yet thus much I must professe to him, That in the times of her best acceptance, shee was not so dear unto mee, but that (by the help of Christ) I dealt faithfully with her about her spirituall estate. Three things I told her, made her spirituall estate unclear to mee. 1. "That her Faith was not begotten nor (by her "relation) scarce at any time strengthened by publick Ministry, "but by private Meditations, or Revelations onely.

"2. That shee clearly discerned her Justification (as shee "professed:) but little or nothing at all, her Sanctification: though "(she said) shee beleeved, such a thing there was by plain Scripture.

"3. That she was more sharply censorious of other mens spir"ituall estates and hearts, then the servants of God are wont to "be, who are more taken up with judging of themselves before the "Lord, then of others."

AN ADMONITION TO ROGER WILLIAMS

[From "A Letter of Mr. John Cottons, Teacher of the Church in Boston, in New-England, to Mr. Williams a Preacher there"]

Beloved in Christ,

Though I have little hope (when I consider the uncircumcision of mine owne lips, Exod. 6. 12.) that you will hearken to my voyce, who hath not hearkened to the body of the whole Church of Christ, with you, and the testimony, and judgement of so many Elders and Brethren of other Churches, yet I trust my labour will be accepted of the Lord; and who can tell but that he may blesse it to you also, if (by his helpe) I indevour to shew you the sandinesse of those grounds, out of which you have banished yours from the fellowship of all the Churches in these Countries. Let not any prejudice against my person (I beseech you) forestall either your affection or judgement, as if I had hastened forward the sentence