Genealogical notes of Barnstable families - citizen hylbom blog

256 GENEALOGICAL NOTES OF BARNSTABLE FAMILrES.
great and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not
into the whole counsel of God. I beseech you, remember it, 'tis
an article of your church covenant, that you be ready to receive
whatever truth shall be made known to vou from the written word
of God."
This was not spoken for rhetorical effect, it was a sober truth,
a solemn injunction, not to forget, or transgress a prime article in
their church covenant. The covenant of the Puritan Church
established in London in 1616, of which Mr. Lothrop was afterwards
pastor, was the same in form. The members of that
church, with joined hands, "solemnly covenanted with each other,
in the presence of Almighty God, to walk together in all Gods
ways and ordinances, according as he had always revealed, or
should further make known to them." This covenant Mr. Lothrop
brought over with him, and on the 8th day of Jan. 1634, O. S.
(Jan. 18, 1635, N. S.) at Scituate, after spending the day in
fastmg, humiliation and prayer, at evening, there was re-union of
those who had been in covenant before. Mr. Cudworth united
with the church ten days after, and from the expression used in
the record, I infer that he had not been a member of Mr. Lothrop's
church in London.
Till 1657, the Plymouth Colony had maintained the principles
of its founders ; but during the preceding twenty-six years, causes
had been in operation which had gradually disturbed the harmony
of sentiment which had at lirst prevailed. Rhode Island, influenced
by the liberal and intelligent counsels of Roger Williams,
had become the impregnable citadel of toleration in New England.
Massachusetts and Connecticut were founded by men who brought
over with them the same spirit of intolerance, which then prevailed
in the mother country. They enacted severe laws against
the Anna baptists, and more severe against the quakers.
Through the commissioners of the United Colonies, they urged
the magistrates of Plymouth to pass similar laws.
The "first comers" had, among their number, a large proportion
of educated men. There were very few who had not received
the elements of a good education. They were men of large
experience, intelligent, tolerant in religion, and liberal in their
politics. These men were the advocates of a learned ministry,
and desirous of establishing schools and seminaries of learning.
In 1657, many of these men bad passed away. Brewster and
Lothrop, the calm yet firm advocates of toleration and liberty,
were dead. A new race had succeeded—men who had enjoyed
few educational advantages, and who, in their ignorance of better
things, had imbibed intolerant, and illiberal principles.
During this period many new men had been introduced into
the colony, some from Massachusetts, but mostly from the eastern
country. Among these were many who had no sympathy for the