dation of the Puritan Church in this howling wilderness, had a foretaste, or prescience of the glorious days the church in the wilderness has already enjoyed, and the still more glorious days she is destined to enjoy, is uncertain; doubtless their faith and hopes were strong; but even these must have fallen far short of the reality of what we at this day experience; because no such instance of national, civil, and religious prosperity, had ever been recorded on the whole page of history; a prosperity that approaches the nearest to the blessed millennial state, of any that it can be in the heart of man to conceive of; and may well serve to give us a foretaste of the enjoyments of that glorious period. Perhaps the difference of the happiness and enjoyments of this modern Canaan, and the happiness and enjoyments of the millennial kingdom, will not be greater, than the happiness and enjoyments of this modern Canaan, are now greater than those of any one, or all the nations and kingdoms of the whole habitable earth. With what gratitude and submission to the will of Divine Providence, ought we to look back upon these scenes of suffering, tyranny, and distress, that were the causes of promoting to such an extent, the glory of God, the happiness of America, and the good of the world? It is no part of my plan to enquire whether it was right, or best at that time, to take the life of the king, and abolish the civil and religious institutions of the nation; nor who were the immediate instruments, amongst all the conflicting interests of party it is sufficient for me, that the immediate agency of God, was as conspicuous in these great and important events, as in the destruction of Pharaoh and his host, in the Red Sea, and with equal resignation to both, I can say, the will of the Lord be done. Had the king and Arch Bishop Laud prevailed, what would have been the state of the Protestant Church in England, and of the Puritan Church in the wilderness? What would have been in the place of the united labours of these churches, in diffusing the Scriptures of Truth, and giving to an ignorant, dark, and benighted world, the light of the Gospel, and the knowledge of the one true God? Let each one pause and reflect for himself. I shall not attempt to enquire whether James I. Charles I. Arch-Bishop Laud, or even Oliver Cromwell, with any, or all of the host of blind instruments, who became the rods of their power, were honest, or conscientious in their principles or views, or whether they were all the creatures of pride and ambition; but with a steady eye to the glorious events they have accomplished, and were destined to accomplish, I can most fervently unite with my Divine Master, and say, "Father forgive them, for they know not what they do." I have thus far accomplished my design, in shewing the caus es that led to, as well as the causes that promoted the settle ment of New-England, and built up this little church in the wilderness. I will take a retrospective view of this subject, and shew, that the causes that led the first settlers of NewEngland, to lay the foundation of their civil and religious institutions in a commonwealth, and not in a monarchy, led the reformers in England to change their monarchy into a commonwealth. 1. Monarchy and Popery, with a religious Hierarchy, had been the government of England from the days of Alfred, and even from their origin; but more immediately so, from the time of the Norman conquest, under William the 1st, and they were considered as co-existent with each other, and inseparably connected. 2. From the time of Wickliffe, in the 14th century, men began to question whether this was consistent with the pure principles and doctrines of the Gospel; this led to that enquiry which opened the way for the rise of the Puritan Church, and through them, the accomplishing of all the successive prosperity of the Gospel. 3. This, under the existing state of things, (considering the habits of the nation, which had grown up with them from their infancy, or even their birth,) could not have been changed by any thing short of that revolution, which ended in a commonwealth. 4. This commonwealth strengthened and supported the rising commonwealths of the infant church in the wilderness; the two nations at this time became joint co-operators in support of the reformation; they flourished, and were prosperous and happy beyond all former example. Thus we see how God in his all-wise providence, has brought light out of darkness, and order out of confusion; has supported the pure principles of the reformation in England, which commenced with Wickliffe; has raised up and established the Puritan Church, and through them, planted his modern Canaan in the wilderness of the west. Let us who have lived to witness the glorious accomplishment of so many glorious events, and have been permitted to share so largely in the blessings they have produced, bless God for his distinguished favours to us; and at the same time, let us remember," that to whom much is given, of them much will be required." CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY REMARKS. CHAP. I. Comparative view of the Jewish and Christian Churches, and the B. C. ORIGIN OF NAVIGATION. Page. 2000 Navigation commenced with the Phœnicians, and Egyptians- A. D. 1302 Discovery of the mariner's compass by Goya, 1377 1444 Art of printing invented by Faust, or Dr. Faustus of Stras- burg, 1492 Coincident circumstances attending the discovery of America, Adventures of the first voyage of Columbus, Discovers the Bahama Islands and returns to Spain, 1493 Pope Alexander guarantees the discoveries of Columbus to Discovers the Caribbee Isles on his passage to Hispaniola, 1498 Commences his third voyage and discovers the southern conti- 1500 The Bishop of Badajos at the head of his enemies, caused a 1502 Columbus embarks on his fourth voyage; discoveries and mis- fortunes, 17 Adventures of Columbus continued, 18 Return to Spain; death of Queen Isabella; death of Colum- 20 1496 Adventures and discoveries of Americus Vespucius, 22 1512 Attempts made to settle the last discoveries of Columbus upon |