HIGGINSON. 373 than an ordinary share of sufferings.* He expressed his thankful acknowledgments to the magistrates and others, for their favour and encouragement; and informed them that he was going to New England, whichhe believed God designed as a refuge for persecuted nonconformists. He soon took his journey with his family to London, in order to his embarking for the new colony, when the streets, as he passed along, were filled with people, bidding him farewell, with prayers and cries for his welfare. They sailed from the Isle of Wight in the beginning of May, 1629, and arrived in Salem harbour the 24th of June following. The ships were filled with religious passengers, among whom were Mr. Samuel Skelton and Mr. Ralph Smith, both nonconformist ministers. Mr. Higginson kept a journal of the voyage, a copy of which is still preserved.+ Theywere no sooner arrived at Salem, than they entered upon the important object for which they went. They began the new plantation by calling on the name of the Lord. After consulting the brethren at Plymouth, who sent messengers to their assistance, they set apart the sixth of August as a day of fasting and prayer, and for settling the order of their intended church. On this interesting occasion, Mr. Higginson drew up a con- fession of faith, and a covenant,t a copy of which was given to each of the thirty persons who became members ; and to this confession and covenant, these thirty persons did solemnly and severally declare their consent. Mr. Higginson was then chosen teacher, Mr. Skelton the pastor ofthe church, and Mr. Houghton ruling elder. Afterwards, many other persons joined the church, but none were admitted without giving satisfactory evidence of their conversion to God. This was the first christian church that was ever formed in the Massachusetts' colony.§ Some of the passengers who went with these new planters, observing that the ministers did not use the Book of Common Prayer ; that they administered the sacraments' without the English ceremonies ; that they refusedto admit disorderly persons to the Lord's supper ; and that they resolved to exercise discipline against all scandalous Not many years after, Leicester, which was strongly fortified, received the wealth of the adjacent country. It was then besieged, taken by storm, given up to plunder and violence, and eleven hundred of its inhabitants were slain in the streets.--Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b. p. 74. + See Massachusetts' Papers, p. 32-46. 1- See Mather's Hist. of New Eng. b, i, p. 18, ls. § Ibid, b. iii. p. 74,71.
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