Brief Account of the State of Massachusetts
The source for this document is http://name.umdl.umich.edu/N01595.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
A brief ACCOUNT of the STATE of the Province OF THE Massachusetts-Bay IN New-England, Civil and Ecclesiastical.
By a Lover of his Country.
BOSTON: Printed by T. Crump, for Gillam Phillips, and Sold at his Shop, over against the West End of the Town-House. 1717.
A brief Account of the State of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, Civil and Ecclesiastical.
IT was not very long after the beginning of the former Century, That a considerable Number of the Subject of the Crown of England, by the Allowance, and under the Countenance and Protection of the Supreme Authority, did Transplant themselves, Families and Estates into the remote Regions of America.
THESE first Planters were known to be Persons not only of approved Piety to GOD, but of exemplary Loyalty to the Throne and Government they belonged to, and brought these Principles of affection and duty to their Prince into these His distant Dominions, and their care was to transmit the same Loyal Principles and Spirit to their Posterity.
TO encourage and strengthen them to submit to the many Toils, Hazards and vast Expence in Subduing and Planting a Wilderness. They were favored with the Royal Grant of a CHARTER, by which they were vested with several Powers, Liberties, and Privileges for their good Order and Government.
UNDER the Protection of the Royal CHARTER, in which they entirely confided for the security of the Liberties therein granted, they were animated cheerfully to undergo, unknown Perils and Hardships, which were unavoidable in their first Plantations: By which a valuable accession has been made to the British Dominions, and the Commerce of Great Britain enlarged, without any Charge to the Crown.
IN the latter end of the Reign of King Charles the Second, this Charter was vacated by a Judgment in the High Court of Chancery, which Judgment was respited till the Reign of King James the Second, when this Corporation were disfranchised, and actually divested of all the Powers, Liberties & Privileges that had been granted to them.
AFTER the happy Revolution those Glorious Princes King WILLIAM & Queen MARY of Immortal Memory, were pleased in their Princely Wisdom and Grace, by their Royal CHARTER to Unite, and Erect into One Province the Colonies of the Massachusetts-Bay, New-Plymouth, &c. by the Name of the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England, which was to be Governed by a Governor, Council and Assembly.
BY this Royal CHARTER many valuable Privileges and Immunities are vested in the Body of the People inhabiting said Province, their Properties secured, and all the Immunities and Liberties of natural Subjects born in the Realm of England, are granted and affirmed to them.
HEREBY also Powers are vested in the General Assembly of Electing Annually such as shall assist in Council, to Constitute and Settle all Civil Officers, under certain Restrictions and Reservations: To Erect Courts of Judicature, To Levy Taxes upon said Inhabitants for the Support of the Government, and Defense of the Province. And to make Laws from time to time not repugnant to the Laws of England, for the good Government of the Subjects.
IN the present Constitution of the Government of the said Province by its present CHARTER, effectual Provision is made to maintain their entire dependence on, and to secure in all points the Rights and Prerogatives of the Crown.
THE Nomination and Constitution of the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary, and all Officers of the Admiralty, is wholly reserved to the Crown.
THE Power of the Militia is wholly in the hands of His Majesty's Governor, as Captain General.
ALL Judges and Justices, of a Superior and Inferior Order, and Sheriffs, to whom the Execution of the Laws are Entrusted, are nominated and appointed by the Governor, with the Advice and Consent of his Majesty's Council.
THE Governor has a Negative upon all Laws, Elections, and Acts of Government of the General Assembly and Council.
ALL Laws Enacted by the General Assembly and approved of by the Governor are to be transmitted Home for the Royal Approbation and if disallowed within the space of Three Years, to be utterly void.
HIS Majesty's Liege People of this Province have since the Enjoyment of their present CHARTER been exposed to many inconceivable Hardships by two long and bloody Wars with the barbarous Salvages, in which with great Unanimity and Alacrity, they have defended these His Majesty's Dominions with great Expence of Blood and Treasure.
THE Inhabitants of this Province have always had a just value for their Civil Liberties. But the free and secure Enjoyment of their Religious Privileges, has ever been most dear to them: and esteemed a plentiful Reward of all the Dangers and Difficulties they have been struggling with, from their first Plantation to this Day.
THE first Planters of these His Majesty's Territories, were as to their Perswasion in Religion, such as in the English Nation were called Puritans, who desired and sought, what was in their apprehension a further Reformation, in point of Discipline, and Worship.
THAT they and their Posterity after them might Enjoy the Liberty of their Consciences in these Points, and Worship GOD according to their best Light, with less hazard to themselves and less offense to others, They sought a place of rest in these remote Regions.
NOTWITHSTANDING their conscientious dissent from the Church of England in some lesser Points, yet in their Removal they paid all just Regards to Her, they dutifully asked her Prayers and Blessing in their Settlement, & heartily prayed for the Prosperity of Religion in her Communion.
BY the Care and Zeal of these first Planters, the Kingdom of CHRIST was first Planted in these His Majesty's distant Dominions, Churches Erected in their several Towns & Plantations, in which the Gospel is Dispensed, & the Ordinances of GOD's House, Administred, without any Terms of Communion, but what according to their best Light, were plainly prescribed in the Word of GOD.
THE Doctrines of Faith professed in these Churches are entitely Protestant, most agreeable to the Doctrinal Articles and Homilies of the Church of England, and to the Confessions of the Reformed Churches abroad.
THESE Churches in point of Discipline & Mode of Worship are mainly Congregational & Presbyterian, of one Profession & Principle, with the United Brethren the Protestant Dissenters in South-Britain.
THE Use and Power of Ecclesiastical Councils & Synods is here acknowledged, & the Right not only of the Churches, but also the Power of the Civil Government to Convocate such Assemblies, when the necessities of the Churches shall call for them, is Asserted.
IT is required that the Pastors of these Churches, be Persons of approved Sanctity of Life, Orthodoxy in the Faith, of good Learning and known Ministerial Abilities: These are Elected by the People, They take the Charge of; & are set apart to the Pastoral Office, by the Imposition of the hands of the Presbytery.
TO provide for a Succession of such an Orthodox & Learned Ministry in these Churches, Grammar-Schools were Erected in the most considerable Towns through the Province, and a College early was Founded, where the Liberal Arts and Sciences are publicly taught, and nothing required to qualify for Academical Honors, and Privileges, but a proficiency in Learning and good Morals.
BY the Favor of Heaven upon this Seminary of Piety, & good Literature, these Churches, have hence been fully supplied from time to time to this Day, with a well qualified Ministry, who have taught them the good Knowledge of GOD.
THESE Churches, though' not formed in all points, in exact Conformity to the Establisht Church of South-Britain, yet have their Constitution and Privileges secured to them, not barely, by an Act of Toleration, but a Legal Approbation and Establishment.
MANY good Laws have been Enacted by the Governor and Assembly, by which these Churches are Protected & Encouraged in the peaceable and regular Profession & Practice of their Religious Privileges, their Form of Worship, Church Order & Discipline. By which also the Method of Calling & Setling Ministers in the several Congregations through the Province, is Legally stated and established, and Legal Provision made for the Honorable Support and Maintenance of the Ministers thus Called & Setled.
ALL which Laws have been Confirmed, by the Approbation and Sanction of the Crown in the Glorious Reign of King WILLIAM of Blessed Memory.
THROUGH the Blessing of Heaven these Churches under their present Securities, have greatly flourished and increased, That at the present Time, there are above an Hundred Religious Assemblies and Congregations in this Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, besides about Thirty Assemblies of Christianized Indians, who profess the Faith, Order and Worship herein acknowledged.
AND at the same time there are through the whole Province not above Three Congregations that in their Form of Worship and Discipline, profess themselves of the Perswasion of the Church of England; Though Persons of that persuasion are under no Restraints, or Discouragements, but are ever Treated with all Christian Respect.
IT must in Justice be affirmed to the Honor of these Churches of the Congregational and Presbyterian Denomination, that there is not one Minister or one single Person known in their Communion, but what are full of Duty, Zeal and Affection to the Succession of the Crown in the Illustrious Protestant House of HANOVER, and do account themselves under the strongest ties, to Bless GOD for the happy Accession of His present Majesty King GEORGE, to the Throne of his Ancestors, and both Pastors and People do utterly abhor the late Impious and Rebellious attempts, to disturb His Peaceable Government. They Adore and Praise the Hand of Heaven in giving such a signal Blast to the designs of those wicked Sons of Violence. And their Prayers are ever going up, for the long Life and Prosperity of His Majesty, and the whole Royal Family.