by the chief Sachem at Mount Hope, who made him a grant of a valuable tract of land at Secunk, but even on this favored lot of his refuge, he was not long suffered to remain but was ordered by the colonist to cross the river, they claiming the lands upon which he was then located as belonging to the colony of Massachusetts. He accordingly in the spring (with his servant) crossed the river where he once more planted himself, and laid the foundation of the now city of Providence, where he resided many years, an instrument in the hands of the Lord, to protect the lives, liberty, and property of his persecutors in the colony from which he was banished; from the scalping knife and tomahawk of the ruthless savage, over whom he had gained an influence and control by his kindness to them, he alone was enabled to conciliate the angry passions and revengeful dispositions of the Indians about him, and save the bloodshed of the Massachusetts colonists. Mr. Williams soon after he formed his colony at Providence, became Law-giver and Minister to his infant colony, and formed his constitution upon the broadest principles of civil and religious liberty, and equal rights, and was the first Governor in North America, "who held liberty of conscience to be the birthright of man." Roger Williams was the first founder of a Baptist Church in America, which took place in the year 1639 less than two centuries since, and that little band of Christians with that pious Father at their head now number in the United States 452,000 members, all of which important facts and events with many others equally interesting originated from the following Record.

Record of trial and charges, vs. Rev. Roger Williams.

* At a general court, July 8th, 1635, Mr. Williams of Salem, was summoned, and did appear. It was laid to his charge, that being under question before the magistracy

*Winthrop's Journal.

peace.

and churches for divers dangerous opinions, viz., 1. That the magistrate ought not to punish the breach of the first table, otherwise than in such case as did disturb the civil 2. That he ought not to tender an oath to an unregenerate man. 3. That a man ought not to pray with such, though wife, children, &c. 4. That a man ought not to give thanks after sacrament, nor after meals; and that the other churches were about to write to the church of Salem to admonish him of these errors, understanding the church had called him to the office of a teacher. The said opinions were adjudged by all the Magistracy and Ministers, (who were desired to be present,) to be erroneous, and very dangerous, and the calling of him to office at that time, was adjudged a great contempt of authority. So in fine, there was given to him and the church of Salem to consider of these things till the next General Court, and then either to give satisfaction to the court, or else to expect the sentence; it being professedly declared by the ministers, (at the request of the Court, to give their advice,) that they who should obstinately maintain such opinions, (whereby the church might come into heresy, apostacy, or tyrany, and yet the civil magistrate could not intermeddle,) were to be removed, and that the other churches ought to request the magistrate so to do.

In this whole affair we cannot fail to discover the superintendence of a wise and holy providence causing the wrath of man to praise him, and restraining that portion of which that would not work his glory.

The parallel in some important points is striking between the persecutions inflicted on Joseph by his brethren, and the persecutions of Williams by his brethren in Massachusetts. Joseph was wickedly banished to a land of strangers by his brethren, because they envied him on account

* First Commandment-"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all

thy heart."

of the superior light communicated to him from on high. So Williams was envied by his brethren for the same reason, for he was in advance of the age in which he lived, and the envy of his brethren carried out, resulted in his banishment to a dreary wilderness in the midst of winter, subject to the caprice of merciless savages.

Of Joseph it is said-"God was with him" in his exile, and gave him favor with the rulers and people. So was it with Williams in his banishment in a most remarkable degree, insomuch, that penetrated with a conciousness of this truth, that he named the place of his refuge, "Providence," which name continues to mark the spot to this day. In the case of Joseph, the sacred historian informs us, that although his brethren "meant it for evil," yet "God meant it for good, to save much people alive," and to carry forward his purposes of mercy, by making Joseph the saviour of much people. So in the case of Williams, God was pleased to allow the unholy wrath of his brethren to burn against this eminent philanthropist, statesman, and servant of his, on the account of his superior light, and more enlarged views of civil and religious liberty, until it resulted. in the entire severance of Williams from them and their order.

This opened the way for his laying the foundation of an independent state government, based on the broad principles of civil and religious liberty. Such as the world till then had never seen or known.

Joseph became honored in his exile as the saviour of his people, while the pride of his elder brethren was humbled. So Williams from the elevated stand which he occupied in the confidence, and affections of the red men around him, was enabled at the fearful onset, when the restless spirit of some of the Massachusetts colony, had incited the Indians to wage a war of extermination against that colony, to interpose his friendly offices and save them from impending ruin. At the salutation of his persecutors, now terror

stricken by the invasion of the merciless foe, Williams meekly takes his life in his hand, alone and unarmed, except with his staff, prompted by a spirit of genuine benevolence, penetrated even to the centre of the savage encampment, as the Indians were just ready to fall upon their prey, and succeeded in negotiating a peace for his envious and persecuting brethren, and thus he saved them alive in the hour of peril.

The same is true in this case, as in another. "This poor wise man, by his wisdom, saved the city, yet no one remembered this poor wise man."

The charges were not finally tried and closed, until October following the above date, when the trial closed, and the following is the record.

Massachusetts Records, 1635.

"Whereas Mr. Roger Williams, one of the elders of the church of Salem, hath broached and divulged divers new and dangerous opinions, against the authority of magistrates, as also written letters of defamation both of magistrates and churches here, and that before any conviction, and yet maintaineth the same without retraction: It is therefore ordered, that the said Mr. Williams shall depart out of this jurisdiction within six weeks now next ensuing, which, if he neglects to perform, it shall be lawful for the Govr. and two of the magistrates, to send him to some place out of this jurisdiction, not to return any more, without licence from the court."

Massachusetts Record, 1644.

"Richard Waterman, being found erroneous, heretical and obstinate, it was ordered, that he should be detained prisoner till the quarter Court in the seventh month, unless five of the magistrates find cause to send him away, which

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BLUE LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS.

if they do, it is ordered, he shall not return within this jurisdiction upon pain of death."*

* There are many cases of banishment for heresy upon those ancient records, which often reminds me of the golden remark of a learned theologian.

"To banish, imprison, starve, hang and burn men for their religion, is not the gospel of Christ but the gospel of the Devil. Where persecution begins, christianity ends; and if the name of it remains, the spirit is gone. Christ never used any thing like force or violence except once, and that was to drive bad men out of the temple and not to drive them in."-Jortin.