CONTENTS. CHAPTER I. Page Mr. Williams refuses to unite with the Boston church—is in- vited to Salem-interference of the General Court-removes Returns to Salem-ministers' meetings-Court again interferes Baptism of Mr. Williams-establishment of the first Baptist church in Providence-Mr. Williams soon leaves the church, 162 Affairs of the Indians-birth of Mr. Williams' fourth child- Birth of Mr. Williams' second son-league of the colonies— Letters to John Winthrop-organization of the government- Warwick-Mr. Williams' compensation-imprisonment of John Clarke and Obadiah Holmes-Mr. Coddington's separate Mr. Williams and Mr. Clarke sail-Mr. Coddington's charter vacated-troubles in Rhode-Island-Mr. Williams returns- Sir Henry Vane-Milton-Mr. Williams endeavors to re- Troubles in Rhode-Island-William Harris-Quakers-severe laws against them in other colonies-conduct of Rhode- Death of Cromwell-his character-Richard Cromwell suc- ceeds-restoration of Charles II.-Act of Uniformity, and Hireling Ministry none of Christ's—the ministry-controversy MEMOIR. CHAPTER I. Early life of Mr. Williams-State of religious affairs in EnglandMr. Williams embarks for America. THE obvious analogy between human life and a river has supplied the poet with similes, and the moralist with arguments. The resemblance of the two objects is, in this point, at least, worthy of notice, that their origin awakens the curiosity of every reflective mind. This feeling has impelled many travellers to a perilous search for the sources of the Niger and the Nile; and it made Lewis and his associates look, with triumphant joy, on the little rill, at the summit of the Rocky Mountains, which flows on, and expands into the mighty Missouri. We feel a similar desire, when we survey the actions of a distinguished individual, to learn the incidents of his youth. The mind is perplexed and dissatisfied, if such a personage has suddenly appeared, like Manco Capac to the Peruvians, as if he had indeed alighted on the earth from the sun, or risen, like the fabled Venus, from the ocean. This curiosity has valuable uses. The instruction which is gathered from the lives of men is drawn, in great part, from a view of the steps, by which they ad |