J. ROBINSON. I 341 " they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God : but " were they now living, would be as willing to embrace " further light, as that which they first received. I beseech "you, remember it is an article of your church covenant, " That you be ready to receive whatever truth may be made " known to you from the written word of God. Remember " that, and every other article of your sacred covenant. " But I must, herewithal, exhort you to take heed what you " receive as truth. Examine it, consider it, and compare it " with other scriptures of truth, before you receive it. For " it is not possible the christian world should come so " lately out of such thick antichristian darkness, and that " perfection of knowledge should break forth at once. " I must also advise you to abandon, avoid, and shake " off the name of BROWNISTS. It is a mere nick-name, and " a brand for making religion, and the professors of it, " odious to the christian world.". On July 1, 1620, thissmall band of christian adventurers, in number one hundred and one,t went from Leyden to Delft Haven, to which place Mr. Robinson and the elders of the church accompanied them. They continued together all night ; and the next morning, after mutual embraces, Mr. Robinson kneeled down on the sea-shore, and with fervent prayer, committed them to the protection and blessing of heaven.t The leader of this new colony was Mr. William Brewster, a man admirably well qualified for the post which he occupied.l After the affecting and * Neal's New England, vol. i. p. 74-79. 1 Neal, by mistake , says their number was one hundred and twenty.- Ibid. p.80.-Prince's Hist. vol. i. p.,103.-Evangelical dfag. vol. vi. p. 314. Morton's Memorial, p. 6. S Mr. William Brewster received a learned education in the university of Cambridge. His first employment was in the service of Mr. Davison, secretary of state to Queen Elizabeth, with whom he went over to Holland, and was entrusted with affairsof great importance,'particularly with the keys ofthe cautionary towns. Heafterwards lived much respected in his own country, till the severity of the times obliged him to return to Holland. He was ruling elder of Mr. Robinson's church previous to its leaving England, and borehis share of hardships with the rest of his brethren. In this office he continued with great honour, during their twelveyears truce in Holland. When he was sixty years of age, he had the courage and re- solution to put himself at the head of the colony, which peopled New England. They sailed from Delft Haven, July2, 1620,as observed above ; and after a long and dangerous voyage, arrived at Cape Cod, on the coast of New England, November 9th following. Upon their first settlement, they divided the land by lot, according to the number of persons in each family ; and having agreed upon some general laws, chose a governor, and called the name of the place NEW Pr:mourn. Inexpressible were the hardships which they underwent during the first winter. The fatigues of
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