490 The HISTORY of the PUIITANS. Chap. II. Kineames I. beff caufe in the world ; however, this noble familywas the care of divine ' Z° providence, during a long exile of twenty-eight years ; after which they were reftored to their dominions by the treaty of Mun/ler r 648, and de- clared prefumptive heirs of the crown of Great Britain, in the laft year of king William III. of which they took poffeffron upon the death of queen Anne, r714. to the inexpreffible joy of the proteflant diffenters, and of all who loved the reformed religion and the liberties of their country. 362.o. Among the BROWN ISTS in Holland we have mentioned the reverend Puritans fit- Mr. yobn Robinfon of Leyden, the father of the independents, whole nu- :le in New- merous congregation bein on the decline, by their aged members dying England. off, and their children marrying into Dutch families, they confulted how to preferve their church and religion ; and at length, after feveral folemn addrefi'es to heaven for direction, the younger part of the congregation refolved to remove into force part of America, under the prote Lion of the king of England, where they might enjoy the liberty of their con fciences, and be capable of encouraging their friends and countrymen to 'follow them. Accordingly they Pent over agents into England, who having obtained a patent from the crown, agreed with feveral merchants. to become adventurers in the undertaking. Several of Mr. Robinfen's congregation fold their eftates, and made a common bank, with which . they purchafed a fmall Chip of fixty tons, and hired another of one hun- dred and eighty. The agents failed into Holland with their own Chip, to take in as many of the congregation as were willing to embark, while the other veffel was freighting with all neceffaries for the new plantation. . All- things being ready, Mr. Robinfon obferved a day of falling and prayer with his congregation, and took his leave of the adventurers with the fol- lowing truly generous and chriftian exhortation. Brethren, Rr. Robin - c, 4TE are now quickly to part from one another, and whether I fon'r parting may ever live to fee your faces on earth any more, the God of fpeecb tobit congregra- to heaven only knows ; but whether the Lord has appointed that or no, I Lion. " charge you before God and his bleffed angels, that you follow me no " farther than you have feen me follow the Lord Jefus Chrift. " If God reveal any thing to you, by any other inftrument of his, be " as ready to receive it as ever you was to receive any truth by my mi- " niftry ; for I am verilyperfuaded, the Lord has more truth yet to break " forthout of his holy word. For my part, I cannot fufficiently bewail thecondition of the reformed churches, who arecome to a period in re- " ligion, and will go at prefent no farther than the inftruments of their " reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther law; whatever part of his will our God has revealed to Cal- vin,
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