bly of Scotland, was approved, with a few variations, as the faith of New England. The synod chose to use the confes. sions of faith adopted in Europe," that so they might not only with one heart, but with one mouth, glorify God and our Lord Jesus Christ.".

The fathers of the Plymouth colony had adopted the articles of the church of England, and the confession of faith, professed by the French reformed churches, or, in other words, Calvinism, as the articles of their faith, or the substance of their creed. This they declared while in Holland, in their negoci ations with those persons, who aided them in crossing the ocean to this country.

In the synod of New England, 1648, there was an unanimous vote in these words. "This synod having perused and considered with much gladness of heart, and thankfulness to God, the confession of faith published by the reverend assembly in England, do judge it to be very holy, orthodox, and judicious in all matters of faith, and do therefore freely and fully consent thereunto for the substance thereof. And we do therefore think it meet, that this confession of faith should be commended to the churches of Christ among us, and to the honoured court, as worthy of their due consideration and acceptance.'

In the synod of 1680, is a language explicit on the most discriminating points. "In the unity of the Godhead there be three persons," say they, "of one substance, power and eternity." "God from all eternity did, by the most wise and holy council of his will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others foreordained unto everlasting death." In his providence, his determinate counsel extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men, and that not by bare permission. The first pair" being the root, and by God's appointment, standing in the room of all mankind, a corrupt nature is conveyed to all their posterity." «The Lord Jesus Christ, the eternal God, hath fully satisfied the justice of God, and hath purchased reconciliation, and an eternal inheritance." "God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty and power of acting upon choice, that it is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good or evil.” "Works done by unrege nerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, vet because they proceed not from a

Saybrook Platform.

66

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heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive the grace of God." The works of creation and providence, with the light of nature, make no discovery of Christ, inuch less do they enable men, destitute of revelation, to attain saving faith or repentance." "Not only those, who do actually profess faith in, and obedience unto, Christ, but also the infants of one or both believing parents are to be bap tized, and those only." "From all those whom God hath predestinated unto life, he takes away their heart of stone, and gives them a heart of flesh, renewing their wills, and, by his Almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ, yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.

In 1703, the trustees of the college in Connecticut wrote a circular letter to the ministers of the colony for a general synod. The proposal was acceptable, and the churches and ministers met in a consociated council, and adopted the Savoy and Westminster confessions of faith, and drew up certain rules of discipline, preparatory to a general synod.

In 1708, a synod was convened at Saybrook, composed of ministers and delegates from the colony, with two or more messengers from a convention of the churches in each county. They drew up that system of church government and discipline, called the Saybrook Platform. It was passed into a law, and became the constitution of Connecticut churches. A distinguishing feature of this platform is the negative it gives the ministers to the vote of the church: but this is a claim which is now seldum made, and universally obnoxious in this republican age.

In 1724, the convention of ministers petitioned the general court to call a synod; but the attorney and solicitor general gave it as their opinion, that it was not lawful for a synod to meet without authority from the king, and the design was laid aside.

Such is a general view of the synods in New England, and such were the occasions and effects of their meeting. These are sketches of the platforms and confessions of faith adopted by them. The doctrines above enumerated were considered orthodox by our excellent ancestors before and after they came to this country. No convention since, no consociation, no synod, nor general council, has adopted any other systems of

156 Governor and Company impeached-Loss of Charter.

doctrine or discipline, therefore, such may now be considered the discipline and orthodoxy of New England.

CHAP. XXII.

Loss of Charter-State of New England-Andros arrives-Tenor of his Administration William and Mary proclaimedIndian War-Expedition against Canada and Nova ScotiaNew Charter.

IN June, 1683, articles of high misdemeanour were exhibited by Edward Randolph, the public accuser of those days, against the and governor company of Massachusetts. In consequence, a writ of quo warranto was ordered, and Randolph was appointed to carry it to New England; and to give importance to the messenger, and to his message, both of which were extremely obnoxious to the people of Massachusetts, a frigate was ordered to convey him to Boston. To prevent too great an alarm in the colony, a declaration accompanied the quo warranto, that it should affect no private rights. When these ar vived, the general court deliberated on the critical state of their affairs. The governor, and a majority of the assistants, resolved to submit to the royal pleasure, and transmitted an address to that effect. But the representatives, supported by the decisive influence of the clergy, refused their assent. All was ineffectual to preserve the charter. In Trinity term, 1684, judgment was given for the king, by the high court of chancery, against the governor and company of Massachusetts, "that their letters patent, and the enrolment thereof be cancelled."

Thus ended the ancient government of Massachusetts by legal process. The validity of these proceedings was afterwards questioned by high authority. The House of Commons at a subsequent period resolved," that those against the charter of New England were illegal and void.”

quo warrantos

Amidst all her disputes with the mother country, New England greatly flourished. Agricultural pursuits were successful, manufactures and commerce were extended, and popula tion and wealth were increased, because "the rough hand of

Temporary Government established.

157

oppression had not touched the labours of the inhabitants, or interrupted the freedom of their pursuits." If for a short time the splendour of New England independence was ob scured by the clouds of royal authority, it soon blazed forth never to be extinguished.

Ten months passed after the dissolution of the charter, when it was thought necessary to establish a temporary government for the preservation of order. During this period, James II. ascended the throne of England, and was proclaimed in Bos ton, April, 1685, with "sorrowful and affected pomp." In September following, a commission was issued, appointing a president and a council, composed of the most loyal of the inhabitants of the government of Massachusetts, New Hamp shire, Maine, and Narraganset, till the chief governor should arrive. Colouel Dudley, a native of Massachusets, was ap pointed president.

The people reluctantly submitted to a power which they could not oppose; declaring that "though they could not give their assent to it, they should demean themselves as loyal subjects, and humbly make their addresses to God, and in due time to their gracious sovereign, for relief." Counsellors were nominated by the king; no house of representatives was mentioned in the commission; still, to reconcile the minds of the people to the intended introduction of a governor general, the courts of justice were allowed to remain on their original plan; juries were continued, former laws and customs were observed. Before a year of Dudley's administration had expired, (Dec. 1689) Sir Edmond Andros arrived in Boston from New York, where he had been governor, being now appointed Captain General and Vice Admiral of Massachusetts, New Hamp shire, Maine, Plymouth, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, during pleasure. In 1683, New York and New Jersey were added to his jurisdiction. He, with four of his council, was impowered to grant lands with such quit rents as the king should appoing Like all tyrants, from Nero to the demagogues of the present day, Sir Edinond began his administration with professions of high regard for the public welfare.

In the fall of 1689, he went to Hartford, where the assembly were sitting, and demanded the charter, declaring their government dissolved. Remonstrances were made, and the bu siness delayed till evening; then, tradition says, the charter was brought into the assembly, and laid on the table; candles were extinguished, but lighted again. The charter could not

be found. All was quiet and peaceable. The charter had been taken by Captain Wadsworth and concealed in a hollow tree. Still Sir Edmond seized the reins of government; turned out the old, and appointed new officers, civil and military.

Numerous were the oppressions of this tyrant. The press was restrained, liberty of conscience infringed, and exorbitant taxes levied. The charter being vacated, it was pretended all titles to land were destroyed; farmers, therefore, who had cultivated their soil for half a century, were obliged to take new patents, giving large fees, or writs of intrusion were brought, and their lands sold to others. To prevent petitions or consultations, town-meetings were prohibited, excepting one in a year for the choice of town officers. Lest the cries of oppression should reach the throne, he forbid any person to leave the country without permission from the government. But the resolute Dr. Increase Mather escaped the watchful governor, bis guards and emissaries; crossed the Atlantic, and spread hefore the king the complaints of New England. But relief came not till the revolution.

When the report reached Boston, that the Prince of Orange had landed in England, joy beamed in every eye. Though the governor imprisoned the man who brought the Prince's declaration; though, by a proclamation, he commanded all persons to prepare for an invasion from Holland; though magis trates and the more considerate men were determined quietly to wait the issue; yet the indignant spirit of the people could not be restrained. On the morning of April 18th, the publi e fury burst forth like a volcano. The inhabitants of Boston were in arms; the country flocking to their assistance. dros and his associates fled to a fort; resistance was vain, he was made a prisoner, and conducted to England. The char ges exhibited against him not being signed by the colonial. agents, he was dismissed, and this tyrant, thus indignantly spurned from New England, was appointed governor of Virginia.

An

Mr. Bradstreet, the late governor with those who had been magistrates under the charter, assumed the government, taking the name of a "Council of Safety," till new orders should arrive from England. These were shortly after received from King William, who, with his queen Mary, were proclaimed in Boston, May 29th, 1689, with more ceremony than had ever been known in that colony on the like occasion. The revolu