Christ, in whom God was reconciled, and had reconciled them unto himself, and into whose glorious presence and likeness, after their mission on earth was accomplished, the Angel Death would usher them. It was thus that they left that goodly and pleasant city in the Old World, which had been their resting place near twelve years, to be thrown upon the shores of a "waste howling wilderness," without a habitation. It was thus, in the simple and beautiful language of Governor Bradford, that "they knew they were PILGRIMS, and looked not much on those pleasant things they were leaving, but lifted up their eyes to heaven, their dearest country, and quieted their spirits."

Their sojourn in Leyden had been pleasant, mainly through the power and perfect sweetness of that brotherly love which bound them together. "For I persuade myself," said Mr. Winslow, "never people on earth lived more lovingly together, and parted more sweetly, than we, the Church at Leyden, did; not rashly, in a distracted humor, but upon joint and serious deliberation, often seeking the mind of God by fasting and prayer; whose gracious presence we not only found with us, but his blessing upon us, from that time to this instant, to the indignation of our adversaries, the admiration of strangers, and the exceeding consolation of ourselves, to see such effects of our prayers and tears before our pilgrimage here be ended."

And never was the reality and purity of brotherly love better tested, than in the sacrifices so cheerfully made by the Church in Plymouth, after the death of Robinson, to transport at their own cost, to their own colony of refuge, the brethren with their families, whom they had left behind them. By labor, suffering, and the cost of many deaths they had prepared it; with unparalleled kindness and love they welcomed others to the enjoyment and possession of its comforts.

The simple record of Brewster's death we give in Brad

ford's own language. It is the opening of that part of his History of Plymouth Colony, which was occupied with the memoir of Brewster. "Now followeth that which was matter of great sadness and mourning unto this church. About the tenth of April, in the year 1644, died their reverend Elder, our dear and loving friend, Mr. WILLIAM BREWSTER; a man that had done and suffered much for the Lord Jesus and the Gospel's sake, and had borne his part in weal and wo with this poor persecuted church about thirty-six years in England, Holland, and in this wilderness, and done the Lord and them faithful service in his place and calling; and notwithstanding the many troubles and sorrows he passed through, the Lord upheld him to a great age. He was near four-score years of age, if not all out, when he died. He had this blessing added by the Lord to all the rest, to die in his bed, in peace, amongst the midst of his friends, who mourned and wept over him, and ministered what help and comfort they could unto him, and he again recomforted them whilst he could. His sickness was not long. Until the last day thereof he did not wholly keep his bed. His speech continued until somewhat more than half a day before his death, and then failed him; and about nine or ten of the clock that evening he died, without any pang at all. A few hours before, he drew his breath short, and some few minutes before his last, he drew his breath long, as a man fallen into a sound sleep, without any pangs or gaspings, and so sweetly departed this life unto a better."

These are the words of Governor Bradford in the memoir copied from the Records of the Plymouth Church. He was an eye-witness of the serene departure of his dear and loving friend, after whom he was still himself to remain with the church on earth thirteen years. He and Brewster had both experienced a great discipline from God of mingled mercy and trial, and had both learned by Divine Grace, whether living, to live unto the Lord, or

dying to die unto the Lord. They could say with the sweet musings of Baxter

Lord, it belongs not to my care,
Whether I die or live;

To love and serve thee is my share,

And this thy grace must give.
If life be long, I will be glad,
That I may long obey;

If short, yet why should I be sad,
That shall have the same pay!

Christ leads me through no darker rooms,
Than he went through before;

He that into God's kingdom comes

Must enter by this door.

Come, Lord, when grace hath made me meet,

Thy blessed face to see;

For if thy work on earth be sweet,

What will thy glory be !

CHAPTER VIII.

CONGREGATIONAL CONSTITUTION OF THE PILGRIM

CHURCH.

CORRESPONDENCE OF BREWSTER AND ROBINSON WITH THE COUNCIL IN ENGLAND, AS TO THEIR PRINCIPLES.-COMPARISON OF CONGREGATIONALISM AND HIERARCHISM.

THE unsuccessful attempt of the Pilgrims to obtain. liberty of conscience under the King's seal was the means of bringing out their principles into notice, as well as of trying their patience. Some unjust insinuations having been thrown out against them, to their injury, with the King's Privy Council, a correspondence ensued between Sir John Worstenholme, one of the members of the Virginia Company, and the Pastor Robinson, together with Elder Brewster. A prayerful spirit of devout dependence upon God runs through this correspondence, into which also there came no less distinguished a personage than Sir Edwin Sandys, truly a man of piety as well as qualities of state. The points illustrated in the letters to Worstenholme were "touching the ecclesiastical ministry, namely, of pastors for teaching, elders for ruling, and deacons for distributing the Church's contribution, as also for the two sacraments, baptism, and the Lord's supper." In regard to these, we do wholly and in all points," said Robinson and Brewster, "agree with the French Reformed churches, according to their public confession of faith, though with

66

some small differences." The differences were said to be "in some accidental circumstances," such as,

1. Their ministers do pray with their heads covered; we uncovered.

2. We choose none for governing elders but such as are able to teach; which ability they do not require.

3. Their elders and deacons are annual, or at the most for two or three years; ours perpetual.

4. Our elders do administer their office in admonitions and excommunications for public scandals, publicly and before the congregation; theirs more privately, and in their consistories.

5. We do administer baptism only to such infants as whereof the one parent, at least, is of some church, which some of their churches do not observe; although in it our practice accords with their public confession, and the judgment of the most learned amongst them.*

When these statements were submitted to Worstenholme, he asked who should make the ministers? A pregnant question, involving the main points in dispute between the Established and the Congregational churches. Sir John expected that Robinson and Brewster would "have been of the Archbishop's mind for the calling of ministers;" but he was greatly mistaken, and he is said to have "stuck much" at the contents of the letters, which, however, being friendly to the desire and project of the Pilgrim Church, he would not show to the bishops and the Council, “lest he should spoil all." And spoil all it would have done, doubtless, to have shown these independent scriptural principles to King James, and to have asked for a patent of liberty in religion "under the King's broad seal," for a Church of Puritans, maintaining the liberty and power, under God, of choosing and ordaining their own ministers. One can easily conceive the answer of the blustering

* Prince, 53.-Young's Chronicles, 65.