37S
��The First Baptist Church in Massachusetts.
��God as being most abominable and loath- some to our souls and utterly inconsistent with that Christian Charity which declare men to be Christ's Disciples. Indeed further declaring in that as Union in Christ is the sole ground of our Communion, each with other, So we are ready to accept of, Receive too and hold Communion with all such as by a judgment of Charity we conceive to be fellow-members with us in our head Christ Jesus tho Differing from us in Such Controversial Points as are not absolutely and essencially necessary to salvation. We also hope that though of ourselves we are altogether unworthy and unfit thus to offer up ourselves to God or to do him a — or to expect any favor with, or mercy from Him. He will graciously accept of this our free will offer- ing in and through the merit and media- tion of our Dear Redeemer. And that he will imploy and emprove us in his service to his Praise, to whom be all Glory, Honor, now and forever, Amen.
The names of the persons that first joyned themselves in the Covanant afore- said as a Church of Christ,
John Myles, Elder, James Brown, Nicholas Tanner, Joseph Carpenter, John Butter worth, Eld ad Kingsley, Benjamin Alby.
The catholic spirit of Mr. Myles soon drew to the new settlement on New
��Meadow Neck many families who held to Baptist opinions, as well as some of other church relations friendly to their interests. The opposition which their principles had awakened, had brought the little company into public notice, and their character had won for them the respect and confidence of their neighbors.
The Rehoboth church had come to regard Mr. Myles and his followers with more kindly feelings, and, in 1666, after the death of the Reverend Mr. Newman, it was voted by the town that Mr. Myles be invited to " preach, namely : once in a fortnight on the week day, and once on the Sabbath day." And in August of the same year the town voted " that Mr. Myles shall still continue to lecture on the week day, and further on the Sabbath, if he be thereunto legally called."
This interchange of pulpit relations indicates a cordial sentiment between the two parishes, which is in striking contrast to the hostility manifested to the new church but three years before, when they were warned out of the town, and suggests the probable fact that ani- mosities had been conquered by good will, and that sober judgment had taken the place of passionate bigotry.
��Church Services in Puritan Times. Welsh brother there shall be a publick
sermon to the world, after this breaking
��The Elders' Advice in Matrimonial Matters.
From the Baptist Church records copied from the Welsh, which were brought from Swansea, Wales, by the Reverend John Myles, we quote, as follows : —
" The Sabbath meeting shall begin at 8 A.M., and on the fourth day of the weeke begins at nine of the Clock." . . .
" That one brother extemporize in Welsh for an hour, and after the said
��bread." . . .
" That such brethren or sisters as shall any way hereafter intend to change their calling or condition of life by marriage or otherwise, do propose their cases to the elders or ablest brethren of the church, to have council from before they make any engagements, and in all diiScult cases, and before all marriages, the churches council be taken therein."
�� �
