The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-13
MEMOIR or u. ISLAND.

ndherenls, did not put an end to the un-
happy divisions, and contentious in the
Massachusetts. Mr.. Hams, the Gov
eruor. in 1886, did, with grea, difficulty,
still and quie, the storm for the present,
in the beginning Of his administration
bu, Mr.. (aiferwards) Sir Henry Vane,
Jun. arriving at Boston that summer,
and zealousIy falling in with the opin-
ions of one party, he was by them per-
swaded to tarry there, tho designed for
connecticut river) and was'the next
wear, 1886, chosen Governor, and then
the animosities and contentious we're
carried TO very great belght--one side
reproducing the other as legalsts and
under covenant Of works, &c. and the
others calling them famllists, entinoml-
ans &c. The next year, Mr. Winthrop
being rechosen Governor, with great
struggle, he s,renuously exerted himself
20 crush and exterminate the opinions
he disapproved. A synod was called
for that end at New-Town (since named
Cambridge on the Both of August,
where eighty erroneous opinions were
presented, debated, and condemned; and
n court held on The I'd Of October fol-
lowing a, the same place, banished a
few of the chief persons among those
who were aspersed with those errors; ;
aad censured several that had been the
mos, active. not, it seems, for their hold
ing those opinions, hut for their preten-
dea seditious carriage and behavior and
the church nj Boston, likewise, excom-
municatcd at least one of its members,
no, for those opinions, but for denying
they ever held them, and the behavior
which these heats occasioned; and some
Of these with their friends and followers,
came to this Island.
Notwithstanding such q formidable
number of errors, produced at the syn
cd, that which these people differed ir
from others, was chiefly this, rs Mr..
John Clarke has briefly repi esented it,
yz,-sTouching the covenants and IN
point of eyidencing mans good estate.
Some, says he, press'd hard for the coy
enant of works, aud for sanctification 10
be the first and chief evidences; others
The means himself, and those who came
here) pressed os hard for the covenant
OF grace that was established on better
promises, and for the evidence of the
spirit, as that which is more sure, con-
slant, and satisfactory Witness (Clark's
Narrative Introd.) This account is a.
gree able to what there is in those books,
written on the other side, have had the
opportunity to consult; only they must
be allowed to express III their own way,
their own sentiments Of the opinions of
the other side, and they add such shades
as darken and dis6gure the opinions of
the opposite party, and set off their own
to the best advantage.
DIR. Mather thus describes the five
questions, debated between the synod
and Mr.. Gotten, (Which were the same
points about which all the divisions first
began they were 'about the order of
things IN our union 10 our lord Jesus
Christ, about the influence of our faith in
the application of bis righteousness, a
bout the use Of our sanctilication in evil
dencIng our justification, and about the
consideration of our lord Jesus Christ, by
men, yet under covenant Of works,
briefly they were the points whereon de-
pend the grounds Of our assurance for
blessedness in another and better world.
Magnalia, B. Z. p. II.
Mr.. Neal says. The commonwealth
was almost torn in pieces by intestine
divisions, occasioned by the spreading OF
famlistical errors among the people.
Aud from the writer's before him, he
giyes the original Of the controversy to
this purpose THE members of the
church at Boston. used to meet once
week TO repeat the sermons they heard
on the lords day, and to debate on the