This protracted controversy being thus brought to a close, Mr. Cotton found leisure to write a reply to a treatise which a Mr. Barnard in England had published against the mode of gathering the churches in this country. Mr. Cotton, in this year 1638, also replied to a defence of liturgies by Mr. Ball.

Thus this faithful soldier of the cross, ever valiant for the truth, had scarce panted through the toils of one sharp conflict, before he girded himself for fresh encounters. And, doubtless, it was no small relief, to turn from the struggle within the camp to meet an adversary abroad.

CHAPTER IX.

Mr. Cotton's success in the ministry. His influence in the commu. nity. Instances. Women's vails. Independent spirit of the people. Instances. Morality of the colony. Mr. Cotton invited to return to England in 1641, Again next year to the Westminster Assembly. Congregationalists in the Assembly. Mr. Cotton declines going. Survey of the sum of Church Discipline. Other writings on the subject. Synod of 1643. Synod of 1646-8. Cambridge platform. Mr. Cotton in the family. Family altar. Sabbath keeping. T. Shepard. Letter to N. Rogers. Hospitality. Benevolence to Church of Segetea. Learning. Reading Calvin. Habits of study. Manner of preaching. Luther. Roger Clap. Fast days. Controversial writings. Correspondence, N. Rogers, O. Cromwell. Carlyle. Mr. Cotton's personal appearance. Pulpit delivery. Equanimity. Patience under abuse. Cause of his death. Last labors. Prepares to die. Closing scene. Funeral obsequies. Dwellinghouse. Will. Houses of worship. Baptisms. Admissions to the church. Mr. Cotton's children. His grand-children. Ministers and preachers to the Indians: Children of Mr. Cotton who died before him. The Mothers. Mr. Cotton's widow. Woodbridge's elegy.

AFTER his troubles in connection with Mrs. Hutchinson's disturbances, which so afflicted him that he seriously meditated a retreat from the colony, Mr. Cotton passed the rest of his days in peace and high esteem. His labors in the pulpit

and elsewhere were exceedingly great; and the power of God mightily attended them, and crowned them to the conversion of numerous souls, and the edification of thousands. Under

the wise counsels of the noble and devout Winthrop in the State, and those of Mr. Cotton in the Church, the community prospered to such a degree, as to make the grateful inhabitants apply to them the words of the Psalm,-" Thou leddest thy people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron."

Mr. Cotton knew how to touch the keys of the human heart, so as to draw out responsive and accordant notes. He played this complicated organ with a master's hand: and though he found it sometimes sadly out of tune, his skill would often blend the jarring sounds in surprising harmony. The church which he governed, with one or two exceptions, so peacefully, was organized of very discordant materials. Many of the members were strongly inclined to most of the forms of the national church of England, in which they had been bred; and others were speculative and adventurous reformers, who scarce knew how to be subject to any settled rule. But the patient sagacity of their teacher was

marvelously successful in training them to habits of agreement and order.

In

A few instances are recorded which may serve to show the extent of his influence. 1634, the people of Boston chose a committee for the division and distribution of the town lands, and purposely omitted to place any of the magistrates on the committee. Mr. Cotton soon persuaded them, that it was more according to order, to refer such affairs to the civil elders of their Israel. And so they unanimously agreed to go into a new election, agreeably to his views.

In 1639, when the decays of their first rude place of worship, and the growth of the congregation, made it necessary to rear another, there arose a warm dispute as to the spot where it should stand. Their Teacher interfered with such success as to reconcile their opinions upon a point, which, above all others is apt to rend a congregation in sunder. The new edifice cost a thousand pounds, which this poor people cheerfully paid, without assessment, by voluntary contribution.

At an election held in 1641, it was proposed, that two of the deputies, who had fallen into low circumstances, should be dropped in favor of

wealthier men. The Teacher, hearing of the project, generously, but prudently, condemned it at his next weekly lecture, in which he maintained, that, if old and faithful officers had grown poor in the public service, instead of being discarded, they should be relieved at the public expense. The reproof was felt, and had its proper effect.

In another case he proved that even the arbitrary fashions of female apparel could not withstand the weight of his solid counsels. Roger Williams and Mr. Skelton had persuaded the female part of their congregation at Salem, that it was a religious duty for all women to wear vails in public worship. Mr. Cotton went there to preach on the Lord's day. He was much struck at the oriental aspect of things in the congregation, so different from the customs of the English people: and in his forenoon instructions, he effectually took the vail from off the understandings of the ladies, and so enlightened their minds thereby, that they all appeared in the afternoon without any vail upon their heads. And so that fashion passed away.

But it would be the height of injustice to our free-spirited ancestors, to suppose that there was VOL. I. 22