no record of any hasty or rash measure in his conduct, or of any passionate speech to have fallen from him.-As a Christian, he was meek and faithful, and now rests in the inheritance of the just.* historical pieces, which, judging from 69th year of his age, he slept with his those parts which remain, must have fathers. been very valuable; but the most of There is no character among the fathem are unfortunately lost. His fathers of New-England, transmitted to vorite study was Theology, in which us as more unexceptionable, than that he made great proficiency. He was of Gov. Bradford. For 36 years, he well versed in the religious controver-was the pillar of the Plymouth Colony. sies of his time, and was an able advo- His patriotism was ardent and incorcate for truth. ruptible, without haughtiness or self-inIn his Christian character, Mr. Brad-terest. His wisdom was practical, enford was no less distinguished than as lightened by science and guided by aca Magistrate and the founder of a pros- curate observation.. His care embraperous colony. In early life, he be-ced all objects within the compass of came a subject of sanctifying grace. his duty, and bis attention escaped His religious sentiments were formed none.-His firmness was above the on mature reflection, and a careful ex-reach of casualty or craft. His demeaamination of the holy scriptures as the nor always inspired confidence, and he only standard of truth. His opinions could ever command the minds of on gospel doctrines, and the order and men. The virtues of his private life discipline of the christian church, were were no less conspicuous than those of such as have been generally maintain-his public character. For these no ed by the New-England churches. Dur- less than for his public services he was ing the long destitute state of the Plym- always beloved. He possessed a perouth church, the wisdom and steadfast-fect command of himself. We find ness of Gov. Bradford were eminently instrumental in preserving them from disorder, and from a departure from the truth. He often assisted in the duties of divine worship, in public, as well as in a more private manner, when deprived of the labors of a minister. He was a faithful observer of the private duties of the Christian character; constant in the services of religion; grave and humble in his deportment; yet cheerful and singularly uniform. No changes diverted him from the path of Gov. Winslow was their faithful duty; no disappointments shook his and successful agent in all foreign emconfidence in God. His attainments bassies; to the Indian tribes, and to the in grace were eminent. For several parent country. Gov. Prince was a jumonths preceding his death, he was in dicious statesman, an upright magisa weak and declining state, from trate, and a valuable historian. Cap. which he was convinced he should not Standish was their undanted hero who recover. As he grew worse, contem-led all their military expeditions, notplating, on a certain night, the charac-less skilled in conduct than vigerous in ter and truths of the Redeemer, his soul was filled with extatic joy, longing to be with Christ. He informed his friends, the next morning, that the good Spirit of God had given him the first fruits of his eternal glory. His work on earth was done, his soul was allied to the church in Heaven. The day following, May 9th, 1657, in the The illustrious coadjutors of Gov. Bradford, who united with him in laying the foundation of the Plymouth and supporting through the first age the work which they had reared, richly deserve the tribute of historic memorial. action. Their worthy elder the Rev. Mr. Brewster, who, through modesty, declined the pastoral office, distinguished for his learning and piety performed the ministerial duties for many years to great acceptance, ever enjoy A Chair which was brought from England by Mr. Bradford, is still preserved and used at Plymouth. ing the confidence and the attachment order, and the civil constitution be reof the people and rested from his labors gulated by the great precepts of the in a good old age. Though it would word of God. To commence the opbe highly pleasing to have a nearer erations of this arduous work, perhaps, view of these eminent fathers, equally no person could have been more forillustrious for vigor of mind, for chris- tunately selected than Gov. Endicot. tian piety, and eminent usefulness, in He fully possessed the object of the our present historic sketch, they must proprietors, for its accomplishment no be passed with the bare mention of one was more ardent than himself, their names, and the willing tribute of while he fully realized the difficulties grateful remembrance. which must, necessarily, be encounterMr. Endicot was a native of Dorset-ed. Though sanguine in his hopes, he shire in the west of England, born about ever knew his own weakness, he knew the year 1595.* The Rev. Mr. White, that he was engaged in the cause of the great promoter of the Massachusetts God, and that all help must come from settlement, belonged to Dorchester the him. He had, indeed, a strong confishire town of that county. From that dence that the divine Saviour would town and its vicinity, came many of the do great things for his church in this principal planters of that colony. Mr. land, but he was ever mindful that it Endicot was one of the original Paten- would be done in such a way that himtees, who in the year 1628, made a pur-self and not his instruments would chase from the Council of Plymouth, of have the praise. that tract of country which now consti- By the great exertions of Mr. Entutes the principal part of the state of dicot, by his influence and example, Massachusetts. In the summer of that the company of planters, though they year, the proprietors sent over Mr. En arrived late in the season, made a dicot with about an hundred planters to comfortable provision for their accomcommence a settlement. He landed atmodation in the ensuing winter. It Salem, and laid the foundation of the || does not appear that they endured any rising colony. Mr. Endicot had the severe sufferings, from privations or sole management, and was constituted sickness. Divine worship was mainthe governor of the new plantation. tained for the first year by the care Situated in an extensive wilderness, || and efforts of Mr. Endicot, though the with the care of such a number of ad- company were but partially supplied venturers wholly unused to the nature with gospel ministrations. of a new country, vast was the burden time, the governor was careful to culwhich lay upon him. But his resolu- tivate an intercourse with the infant tion, his perseverance, his zeal for the settlement at Plymouth, and having church of Christ, in the cause of which become acquainted with their ecclesihe was primarily engaged, were equal astical order, he cordially approved to every difficulty. of their system, and united with them in Christian fellowship. For much important information and assistance he was indebted to Gov. Bradford and the people of Plymouth. In this Various had been the projects for the settlement of New-England for the sake of gain. All these had failed. The company which had now undertaken to accomplish the same object, had for In the summer of 1629, the new settheir chief design the formation of a set-tlement received an accession of about tlement on the principles of religion.-three hundred planters from England. They resolved on a noble effort for the With these came those two eminent erection of a Christian commonwealth; divines, Mr. Higginson and Mr. Skelin which, the churches should be estab-ton. They met with a most cordial lished on the pure principles of gospel reception from Mr. Endicot, to whom I have not been able to learn his age ex- they brought a commission of continu ance in his government. Soon after actly. O VL. II, 69th year of his age, he slept wit fathers. historical pieces, which, judging from those parts which remain, must have been very valuable; but the most of There is no character among th them are unfortunately lost. His fathers of New-England, transmitte vorite study was Theology, in which us as more unexceptionable, than he made great proficiency. He was of Gov. Bradford. For 36 year well versed in the religious controver-was the pillar of the Plymouth C sies of his time, and was an able advo- His patriotism was ardent and i cate for truth. ruptible, without haughtiness or s In his Christian character, Mr. Brad-terest. His wisdom was practic ford was no less distinguished than as lightened by science and guided a Magistrate and the founder of a pros- curate observation.. His care e perous colony. In early life, he be-ced all objects within the comp came a subject of sanctifying grace. his duty, and bis attention es His religious sentiments were formed none.-) -His firmness was abov on mature reflection, and a careful ex-reach of casualty or craft. His d amination of the holy scriptures as the nor always inspired confidence, i only standard of truth. His opinions could ever command the mi. on gospel doctrines, and the order and men. The virtues of his priv discipline of the christian church, were were no less conspicuous than t such as have been generally maintain-his public character. For th ed by the New-England churches. Dur- less than for his public services ing the long destitute state of the Plym- always beloved. He possesse‹ outh church, the wisdom and steadfast-fect command of himself. W ness of Gov. Bradford were eminently no record of any hasty or ras instrumental in preserving them from ure in his conduct, or of any disorder, and from a departure from ate speech to have fallen from the truth. He often assisted in the du- As a Christian, he was meek a ties of divine worship, in public, as well ful, and now rests in the inheri as in a more private manner, when de- the just.* prived of the labors of a minister. He was a faithful observer of the private duties of the Christian character; constant in the services of religion; grave and humble in his deportment; yet cheerful and singularly uniform. No changes diverted him from the path of duty; no disappointments shook his confidence in God. His attainments in grace were eminent. For several months preceding his death, he was in a weak and declining state, from which he was convinced he should not recover. As he grew worse, contem-led all their military expeditions, plating, on a certain night, the charac- less skilled in conduct than vigero ter and truths of the Redeemer, his soul was filled with extatic joy, longing to be with Christ. He informed his friends, the next morning, that the good Spirit of God had given him the first fruits of his eternal glory. His work on earth was done, his soul was allied to the church in Heaven. The day following, May 9th, 1657, in the The illustrious coadjutors c Bradford, who united with him ing the foundation of the Ply and supporting through the fi the work which they had reared |deserve the tribute of historic m al. Gov. Winslow was their f and successful agent in all foreig bassies; to the Indian tribes, and parent country. Gov. Prince was dicious statesman, an upright n trate, and a valuable historian. Standish was their undanted héro action. Their worthy elder thei Mr. Brewster, who, through mode declined the pastoral office, dis guished for his learning and piety formed the ministerial duties for ma years to great acceptance, ever enjo A Chair which was brought from E land by Mr. Bradford, is still preserved a used at Plymouth. ing the confidence and the attachment order, and the civil of the people and rested from his labors gulated by the great in a good old age. Though it would word of God. To com be highly pleasing to have a nearer erations of this ardurad view of these eminent fathers, equally no person could have be illustrious for vigor of mind, for chris- tunately selected tha tian piety, and eminent usefulness, in He fully posed to decide our present historic sketch, they must proprietors, for is a be passed with the bare mention of one was more as the their names, and the willing tribute of while be fully inite Che grateful remembrance. which must, neces Mr. Endicot was a native of Dorset ed. Though sange are in the west of England, born about ever knew his own weaknesse the year 1595. The Rev. Mr. White, that he was engaged in the case the great promoter of the Massachusetts God, and that all belp must come f settlement, belonged to Dorchester the him. He had, indeed, a stong ma de town of that county. From that dence that the divine Savi bawn and its vicinity, came many of the do great things for his church in principal planters of that colony. Mr. land, but he was ever mind that it Enfient was one of the original Paten- would be done in such a way that hi te, who in the year 1628, made a pur-self and not his instrument w de from the Council of Plymouth, of have the praise. d with unshaken perseverance. ✓ attempts to change the order. churches, or introduce any reon of discipline; to any proposal nge the fundamental laws of the or reduce the tone of public 5, he gave no indulgence. His was fixed when he first took arge of the infant settlement, and sued it with undaunted step till d of his days. His persevering ren, in the important stations he held, for thirty-seven years, powerful tendency to cement admirable institutions which devised by him and his great enjoy the inestimable benefits. atriots, of which their posterity Ir. Endicot had a very great desire fat tract of country which now cans By the great exertions of Mr. Ea yumponhhim. Butts rese Chirist the cave become e a Christian church in an entire And a Christian, Mr. Endicot was I and eminently laborious in the e of his Lord. The honor of his and the interests of the Church, bjects, at all times, nearest his to the advancement of which and labors were eminently deHis natural ardor sometimes led o indiscretions, but those who ew him, knew that his zeal was or the Redeemer. He is justidered the founder of that noimonwealth; and though the and virtues of Winthrop were ry to complete the fabric, the nes were laid by the faithful, gable Endicot. [To be continued.] 0. the arrival of this second company, the governor and the ministers proceeded to the formation of a Christian church. This was done, in the month of August, with the most joyful solemnity. The calamities of the ensuing winter and spring, in which the people suffered, in a severe season, the want of comfortable habitations, with a great scarcity of provisions, which brought on a most desolating sickness, required the exertion of all the wisdom and firmness of the governor. By his unremitted attention to the wants of the sufferers, by his constant vigilance to secure and promote the true interests of the colony, especially by his unshaken confidence in God, he preserved his people from sinking under accumulated evils, and inspired them with a humble reliance on Him who was with the church in the wilderness. In June, 1630, the vessels began to arrive with the numerous company of adventurers which established the Massachusetts colony. Mr. Winthrop now became the governor of the colony, having been appointed by the proprietors in England, and Mr. Endicot was one of the Assistants. He continued in the place of assistant for several years, and was one of the most active, vigilant, and influential magis-when the same sign had become an obtrates in the colony. He was even at the head of the Salem settlement, which, as it was the oldest, was one of the most respectable towns in the plantation. to do this by the example of King Hezekiah, in destroying the brazen serpent which had been set up by Moses.The brazen Serpent was in itself no evil. Yet in the days of Hezekiah, it had been prostituted to the purposes of idolatry. He therefore wisely caused it to be destroyed. The greater part of the corruptions of poperty had risen from the abuse of things, in themselves harmless. When we consider the danger which was then resonably apprehended of the re-establishment of popery; when we consider the great influence of sensible objects on the minds of men, the intimate connection between the use of sensible objects and the sentiments with which such objects have been connected; when we consider the great difficulty which had been found to eradicate the attachment of the human mind from the pompous pageantry of popish superstition, for which all good men had labored for a century, we shall find sufficient reason to justify the conduct, and to admire the firmness of Mr. Endicot in this decisive measure. When Constantine erected the cross above the imperial banner, it was done from the best motives, and was attended with the most beneficial effects. But In the year 1634, Mr. Endicot, in the capacity of a magistrate, caused the sign of the cross to be cut out of the king's colors, which were used as the public flag at Salem. He insisted that this was a relic of ancient superstition, that it was derived from the exploded institutions of popery, and ought to be discarded. He claimed not that it was an evil in itself, but as an appendage of Romish superstition which all good inen in the nation, and, especially, the Puritans, were endeavoring to exterminate, it ought not to be a devise of the public ensign. He felt authorized ject of adoration and worship, instead of the blessed person whom it bore, Luther, Zuinglius, Calvin, Beza, Cranmer, with all the venerable witnesses of their time, contended for its removal from the place of worship. For the same reason that we revere their conduct, we shall justify that of Mr. Endicot. He was, however publicly censured by the General Court for this transaction, and, for one year, excluded from the magistracy. But this was done for the most obvious reasons; that the government at home might take no offence against the colony. Still Mr. Endicot's opinion prevailed; the soldiers refused to serve under a standard having the figure of a cross, and by common consent it was universally laid aside. |