CHAPTER V.

Voyage to America, Birth of Seaborn Cotton. Arrival at Boston. Small beginnings. Interest felt in Mr. Cotton's coming. Admis sion to the church. Installation. Laying on of hands, why used. Distinction between the offices of pastor and teacher. Not two orders in the ministry, but different employments of the same order. "God's promise to his Plantations." Mr. Cotton's services in giving form and order to ecclesiastical and civil affairs. Utility of order.

It was about the middle of July, in 1633, when Mr. Cotton commenced his voyage. Both he and Mr. Hooker preserved their disguise, till they were so far over the main ocean, that they could safely disclose who they were. Mr. Stone, who was much the youngest, and for whom the search was not so furious, performed all the public religious duties of the ship's company, till his companions could resume their character as preachers, and officiate in their

turns.

This was a richly freighted ship, bearing a large part of the fortune of New England. Our pun-loving ancestors observed, at her coming, that God had supplied them with three neces

sary commodities: "Cotton for their clothing, Hooker for their fishing, and Stone for their building." During the voyage, they usually had three services every day; which was, perhaps, the first example of a "protracted meeting." When they had been a month at sea, Mr. Cotton, whose first wife died childless, became a father. This, his eldest child, received the name Seaborn, in commemoration of the mercies attending his birth. Seaborn Cotton lived to be a highly useful and honored minister of the gospel. There were other children born on the same passage. At the end of seven weeks, which was then regarded as a remarkably expeditious and prosperous voyage, they landed at what is now the good old city of Boston, on the third day of September, 1633.

This place had then been settled three years. Governor Dudley says, that the first settlers, previous to their coming hither, had already determined to name the place they should fix upon after the scene of Mr. Cotton's pastoral labors, and in compliment to him, with the hope that it might be some little inducement to him to come there himself. The compliment, however, at the time, was not so very flattering. For so forlorn and unimposing was this little out-of-theway settlement, that our fathers, who delighted

in puns, anagrams, alliterations, and other modes of playing upon words, used rather familiarly to call it Lost-town. Let them be excused, if, by such pleasantries, they sometimes sought to alleviate the discomforts of their lot. The place soon began to wear a more cheering aspect; and flourished more and more, till it far exceeded in importance the parent-town whose name it inherited. Our elder writers ascribe much of its early prosperity to the wisdom, conduct and credit of Mr. Cotton; who seems to have had something of the talent of the Athenian statesman, who, when laughed at because he had no skill to touch the lute, retorted that he knew not how to fiddle; but he knew how to raise a small city into a powerful state. In New England, "a little one became a thousand, a small one a strong nation."

Just before his arrival, the people had been holding a special season of fasting and prayer, urging their covenant with God as a reason why he should send them a spiritual guide, to be unto them, like Hobab to the tribes of Israel, "as eyes in the wilderness." Their supplications were answered in the gift of this "able minister of the New Testament." Mr. Cotton was then about forty-eight years of age, and ripe in wisdom, knowledge, experience and

grace. At his coming, his services were called for in different directions. His great capacities for usefulness were considered to be the common property of the whole colony; and it was at first proposed, that his support should be provided for from the colonial treasury, in consideration of the public benefit expected to accrue from his labors. This motion however, was, very properly, overruled. The magistrates and other leading men decided, that this great light must be set in the chief candlestick; and, within a fortnight, designated him to be Teacher of the First Church in Boston, of which the Rev. John Wilson was then Pastor.

Mr. Cotton was first to be admitted to the church. This was an interesting scene. There was a stated religious service held on the Saturday evenings. At the first of these meetings after his landing, he, by request, took part in the discussion of the question, which, on that occasion, happened to be in reference to the church. He expatiated upon the diversities in the spiritual state and grades of purity of different churches. He showed from the Song of Solomon 6: 8, that some churches are as queens, some as concubines, and some as virgins. After this, he and his wife were propounded for admission.

On the Lord's day following, he conducted the exercises of public worship in the afternoon. He then expressed his desire to make a confession of his faith, according to usage. His confession related chiefly to the subject of baptism, ! which he then desired for his child. He gave his reasons for not baptizing it while at sea; from which it appears, that he then held that the sacraments can only be administered in a settled congregation, or organized church; and/ also, that a minister, notwithstanding his official character, can dispense the seals only in his own congregation. On this last point, at least, he afterwards changed his views so far as to maintain that a minister might give the sacraments in a church which is destitute of the proper officers.

Mr. Cotton next requested the admission of his wife, to whose qualifications for membership he bore "a modest testimony." He craved that she might be excused from making a public oral profession of her faith, as was then the custom of the church. He regarded the practice as

unfit for women's modesty," and contrary to the apostle's rule. To her examination in private by the elders, he had no objections. So she was asked, whether she consented to the confession of faith made by her husband, and con