Year: 1865

apologist for arbitrary principle, he had


to confess that the precious spark of lib


erty had been kindled by the Puritans


and that it was to this sect the English


owe the whole freedom of their Consti>


tuition This is as true of religious as of


political freedom, and therein was the


great triumph of their principles here.


Coming where the pressure Of old in


stitutions was unfelt, where the arm Of


arbitrary power could not reach, where


the very atmosphere was redolent of lib


erty, the Fathers Of New England natur-


ally adopted and cherished Congregation


alism-with their high and uncomprom-


ising principles of freedom, how could


they do otherwise !? As il was there un-


der no restraint, but entirely free to un--
! fold its inherent and essential tendencies,


by its fruits there should it be judged
Who that bas descended from that noble


stock, will fear the judgment of impartial


posterty? We do not say that no de-.
fects, no errors, no extravagancies, can


be detected in it.


No human institution, no human socie-


ty, nothing human, is perfect. We do


not say that, looking back on New Eng


land history through little more than %


century and half after the Mayaower
dropped anchor at Plymouth, there can
not be found anything which we regret.


But of what like period in the history of
any people, could that be said? We do
say with the utmost confidence, that that
century and a half of New EngIand's his
tory, during all of which Congregational


ism was dominant, enjoyed its palmiest
days, was left to carry out TO the full its
principles, must be ranked among the
most remarkable periods in the annals
of the race. So, we doubt not, the men
of the future will decide. Firmly we
believe, and deliberately we say, that no
period of equal length in the worlds
history can be pointed out, in which high
souled men, lovers Of religion and of rs-
tional freedom, friends of education and
phianthropiSts, can look with feelings Of
profound admiration. Never was there
a more rapid growth of every great
quality going to constitute t b true
grandeur Of state. Never were found
nobler men or nober women. Never
were the resources Of country more
or harmoniously developed.
Never were found examples of sounder
enterprise and industry. Never were
the rights of the people more respected,
or secured by better safeguards. Never
was there greater watchfulness. tyranny
from without, and corruption of manners
within. Never was more healthful
one of public sentiment, better practi-
,al morality, or more of the virtues which
20 to bless and adorn private, domestic,
)r social life. Never was earnestness of
'eligions faith and principle brought more
o bear on all the thoughts and actions of
men. Never was religion itself viewed
Is thing Of deeper practical moment
lot as form, not as conventionalism,
lot as decent drapery cast about the
outward, visible life but as a reality
he greatest and grandest of all realities
something to which the lofties soul 10
Is inmost depths must do homage, must
i've obedience, and without which man
imself is shorn of half his glory. We
elieve more than this, namely, that what
Jongregationalism has done, it can do
gain and will, wherever it has fair
ED, grave and devoted friends and sup
orters. Ia our country and under our
rec constitution, with the spirit of which


is in entirest harmony, it will always
e a leaven of vast and most wholesome
,huence in the religious life of the peo-
lie, in every branch of the Church.
Hristian Inquirer.