The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-03-20
MEMOIR OF IL. ISLAND.


The majority of the town ofBoston were
of the same side the question with those
people who afterwards came here. 'Tis
certain the synod and the court were
both held at New-Town, because of the
disaffecton of the people of Boston. The
deputies of the Town, at least some of
them, espoused that party. The Town,
at least many of them, petitioned IN
their favor. And Mr.. Cotton the chief
oracle then of both Town and country,
was confidently believed by them to be
Of the opinion they contended for. To
which I might add the number of the
people in that Town that were censured
at the court.
Those who came away were most of
them long esteemed as brethren Of the
church, and never censured by the
church at all nay that church did long
retain some particularities ms TO the
breihren's power in church affairs, and
their liberty TO exercise their gifts in
private or family meetings, and rs to
the subjects of infant baptism. II is cer-
tain that Mr.. Whcelright, minister to n
branch of that church, at a place since
called Braintree (where the Town had
some lands) was eager and Jealous a
gainst the covenan, Of works and was
banished by the court for what was then
called sedItion by the same rule which
will make every dissent from, or oppo-
sition 10 majority in any religious af-
fairs, to be sedition, and an iniquity to
be punished by the Judge. The minor
part must always be scJitious, if il be
sediton to defend their own religious o.
plnions, and endeavor to confute the
contrary. This Maxim once allowed
must chain men down under errors and
falsehoods wherever they prevail, and e.
ven riyet their Chains. On this foot,
whn, will become Of the glorious martyrs
for the gospel in the first ages of il, and
the holy apostles, who turned the world
upside down, who turned men from
darkness to light, from the God of the
nations, whom they called vanities to
the living and true God. Nay, what
shall we say of our blessed savior HIM
felG who says he came TO send division
on earth. How shall we excuse the pro-
testants, nay how shall we justify the pu-
ritans themselves, if it be be scditlous to
oppose any religious opinions which we
think are false or erroneous, when the
major part of the society happen to think
otherwise. ] must farther add, that how
ever Mr.. Cotton, at the synod, after long
labor with him, dsowncd many Of the
opinions charged on these people, yet
he would not condemn all the said errors
in the gross, as the rest did, and there is
some reason TO believe that he differed
from the other ministers To the last, at
least in the manner of explaining these
mos, ahstruse and difficult points, if he
did not continue to hold that "Union
to Christ was before faith in him, and
that the habit Of faith proceeded or fol-
lowed from our Justification" which tbs
said, he once seemed TO hold in the SYM
cd; and which was in reality the roo: or
fountain of all the opinions so much
faulted in this people. And however Mr.
Cotton has in print dIsowned them, and
they are by others charged with false
hood and calumny, and in shrouding
themselves under his great name; yet
they who should be owned TO know their
own opinions, and understand their own
expressions and designs best, always
persisted in il, that "Mr. Cotton was
with them," or tina. they meant no more
than they understood him to mean.
But to returD,-The affair was agita-
ted in court for days and some changing
sides in the court, the majority were on
the side Of the synod, and took
measures ehectualy TO support their
own opinions. Whereupon, many Of
the other side determined to remove