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years; and their much valued pastor, Mr. Robinson, whom they had long waited for, died there March 1, 1624, 5, aged near 50, to their great grief and disappointment, being one of the most celebrated divines of the age. The chief obstruction to his and their coming was the opposition of several of the merchant adventurers in England, who net liking their principles of strictness in religion (apprehending that it would hinder the growth of the plantation, by keeping many back from settling with them) would not provide shipping and money; and they were unable to do it themselves, being brought low, partly by persecution in their own, and the difficulty of subsisting in a foreign country. However, a considerable number of them, viz. about 35 families, were at last transported hither in the year 1629, at the charge of their brethren here, which was cheerfully borne by them, though it amounted to about five hundred pounds sterling. The same year, several other godly persons, some of whom had been of Mr. Lothrop's church in England, came over and joined with them. So that the church of Plymouth, through the goodness of God about this time, became pretty numerous and flourishing, although in regard of ministry it was low with them.

In March, 1623, 4, one John Lyford, a minister, came into the country, being sent by some of the adventurers to hinder Mr. Robinson. The church improved him in preaching for some time, and were liberal and generous to him and family, while he behaved well: But discovering him to be a vile man, and an enemy to the plantation, as is at large recited in the New-England memorial, he was discarded and banished hence; and after spending two or three years among some straggling settlers in the Massachusetts, went to Virginia, where he soon dies miserably.

In the year 1628, a young man, named Rogers, was sent over to be their minister, without any invitation from the church; who, having smarted in Lyford's case were become cautious of improving ministers without personal knowledge, or sufficient recommendation. They, however, made some trial of him; and soon perceiving him disordered in brain, they were at considerable charge to send him back the next year; and after his departure, he grew quite delirious.

Not long after, Mr Ralph Smith, another minister, came from the Massachusetts, and was kindly entertained; and

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after some time of trial was chosen to be their pastor, being a grave man, and continued in the ministry here about 5 or 6 years. But finding him to be a man of low gifts and parts, they, as providence gave opportunity, improved others as his assistants; particularly Mr. Roger Williams (a young man of bright accomplishments, but of unstable judgment) who preached among them for about three years: But at last, beginning to vent some errors which were offensive to the church, they, at his desire, gave him a dismission to Salem, where, being called to office, he more openly propagated his principles, and did much mischief, as the ecclesiastical histories of the country give an account. The next year after Mr. Williams's departure, (which was anno 1634,) Mr. Smith also resigned his ministry, partly of his own accord, as thinking it too heavy a burden, and partly at the desire and by the persuasion of others, who apprehended him not sufficiently gifted for the work.

During the time of Mr. Smith's ministry, they employed Mr. Edward Winslow, who was sent an agent to England, to procure them a teaching elder to be joined with Mr. Smith; who accordingly agreed with Mr. Glover, an able dispenser of the word, to come over to them; but he ended his life in London before he came on board. Afterwards, Mr. Winslow providentially meeting with that worthy man, Mr. John Norton, then intending for New-England, he treated with him about supplying Plymouth; and coming over in the same ship with Mr. Winslow, he landed here, and preached to them for one Winter, but declined settling, though earnestly pressed to it. In the Spring he went into the Massachusetts colony, and soon after settled at Ipswich; from whence, upon Mr. Cotton's death, he was translated to Boston.

Thus was this poor church disappointed, from time to time, in their attempts to settle the gospel and ordinances among them to their full satisfaction. "But it pleased the Lord, at last, (as the record expresses it), to send them Mr. John Reyner, an able and a godly man, of a meek and humble spirit, sound in the truth, and every way unreprovable in his life and conversation; who, after some time of trial, they chose for their teacher, the fruit of whose labours they enjoyed many years, with much comfort in peace and agreement."

The deacons that officiated in his day were Mr. John • Doane,

Doane, Mr. William Paddy, Mr. John Cooke,* and afterwards Mr. John Donham: And before his time was Mr.

■Samuel Fuller, an eminent surgeon, and a man of great piety, who, together with governour Carver, were chosen to that office while the church resided in Holland. After their arrival here, the deacons they first elected were Messrs. Richard Masterson and Thomas Blossom, two experienced saints, the ■ former especially, a man of rare abilities, a second Stephen, to defend the truth against gainsayers, and one who had expended most of his estate for the publick good. These blessed servants of Christ lived not long after they were chosen, but changed this life for a better, within a little time one of another, before the year 1630.

In the year 1632, a number of the brethren inhabiting on the other side of the bay, at a place since called Duxborough, growing weary of attending the worship of God at such distance, asked and were granted a dismission; and soon after, being embodied into a church, they procured the Rev. Mr. Ralph Partridge, (a gracious man of great abilities), to be their pastor.

The second church that sprang out of the bowels of the church of Plymouth, was that of Greens Harbour, (first called Rexham by the General Court, afterwards Marshfield), who who were incorporated soon after Duxborough, and had Mr. Edward Buckley, (an able and faithful preacher), for their pastor. A considerable number also of Scituate church derived from hence, and settled Mr. John Lathrop as their minister; who, sometime after, with a great part of the church, removed to Barnstable.

In the year 1638, the church used many endeavors to obtain Mr. Charles Chauncy, a very learned and godly man, to be a colleague with Mr. Reyner; the one to officiate as teacher, the other as pastor, according to the distinction used in those days,† founded upon Eph. iv. 11. But which the generality of the churches since suppose to be synonymous phrases, or to indicate the same office. Mr. Chauncy accordingly came and preached with them the most part of three years, but declined settling, the church and he being

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of a different mind about the mode of baptism, which he held ought to be by dipping or plunging the whole body under water. Much pains were taken to remove his scruples, several ministers conferring with him, and writing to him, upon that head, but without success. And at last, the church (being loth to lose a man of such eminency), conceded so far as to offer, in case he should settle, to suffer him to practice according to his pursuasion, by administering the ordinance in that manner to such as desired it, either for themselves or infants, provided he could peaceably suffer Mr. Reyner to baptise according to the mode in general use, when it was requested; so as there might be no disturbance in the church about the matter. But he did not see light to comply. So that there was a necessity of parting. He went from hence to Scituate, where he, for some time, remained a minister to the church there, and was afterwards elected president of the college.

Sometime after this, (viz. about the year 1643, or 1644), many having left the town by reason of the straitness and barrenness of the place, and their finding better accomodations elsewhere; and sundry others still, upon every ocсаsion, desiring their dismissions, the church began seriously to think whether it were not better jointly to remove to some other place, than to be thus weakened, and as it were insensibly dissolved. Many meetings and much consultation were held about the premises, and there was a great diversity of sentiments; some were still for staying together in this place, alledging that they might live here well enough, if they would be content with their condition; and that it was not for want or necessity so much that they proposed a removal as to enrich themselves. Others were resolute upon removal, and declared that if the whole church would not go, they would go by themselves. So that at last, to prevent a dissolution, a remove was universally agreed to, if a fit place could be found that might more conveniently and comfortably receive the whole, with such accession of others as might come to them for their better strength and subsistence. And sundry places being propounded, and among others, Nauset, near Cape-Cod, which had been superficially viewed, they fixed upon this last: and sent a number for further discovery, and also to make a purchase from the natives; who, upon better view, found the place too

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strait for their purpose, not being sufficient to accommodate the whole church for the present, much less to leave room for further addition or increase. Besides, its situation was too much on the outside of the country, remote from all society, and so wholly unfit to be the motropolis of the government; however, they thought proper to purchase the place of the Indians. The committee returning with this report, the church changed their resolutions: But such as were before resolved upon removal, took advantage of the general agreement above specified, and went on notwithstanding; neither could the rest hinder them, they having made some beginning, and agreeing to pay for the whole purchase, which was made in the church's name. And thus was this poor church (say the records) left like an ancient mother, grown old and forsaken of her children, (though not in their affections, yet) in regard of their bodily presence and personal helpfulness; her ancient members being most of them worn away by death, and those of latter times being like children translated into other families, and she like a widow left only to trust in God. Thus "she, that had made many rich, became herself poor." The principal members that then removed were the honourable Thomas Prince, | (afterwards governour,) deacon John Doane, with several others of the church, who were very desirable, and they became a body of themselves, distinct from the church of Plymouth, and settled at said Nauset, by them called Eastham. This was the third church, which came forth, as it were, out of our bowels.

In the year 1644,* died their reverend elder, Mr. William Brewster, who had done and suffered much for Christ and the gospel's sake, both in England and Holland, and in this wilderness; the Lord upheld him to a great age, being above eighty when he died. Some account of him is given in the New-England memorial, page 153, &c. To which we may add, some further hints from the records. He had the happiness of an early conversion, his heart being seasoned with grace while at the university.. And after his leaving it, he was usefully employed in state affairs, for some years, under that religious gentleman, Mr. Davison, then secretary of state to queen Elizabeth, and afterwards ambassador in Holland, who found him so discreet and faithful as that he trusted him

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In the New-England memorial his death is placed under the year 1643; but in the church records it is said to be April 16, 1844.