vinity, and was supposed to be one of the best systems that could be obtained. He was a burning and a shining light.

REV. MR. DAVENPORT.

DOCT. MATHER calls Mr. Davenport, Puritanissimus, most puritan. It is undoubtedly true that he carried his puritan sentiments, his ideas of the practicable purity of Christian churches, as far as any one of the fathers of New England. He is justly ranked with the first of those venerable fathers, and will ever be viewed as one of the most illustrious lights of the American church.

influence in all the conduct of his future life. Soon after he received the degree of Bachelor of Arts, he commenced a preacher, though he was not more than nineteen years of age. He was, very soon, invited to be an assistant to a Minister in London, where he preached constantly, and to great approbation. He possessed an uncommon share of habitual gravity, which gave him a popularity and influence, unusual for his years. He was very laborious in his studies, and having been diligent in the pursuits of science from his infancy, his public discourses appeared like those of a matured divine.

He had not been long in London, when the city was severely visited with the plague. On this trying occasion, he remained with his people, visiting them in their distresses, and administering to them the consolations of the gospel. This Christian fidelity procured him much notice and respect. The more he wasknown, the more was he esteemed for his personal merit, and many persons of distinction became his friends.

Mr. John Davenport was born at Coventry in Warwickshire, in the year 1597. His father was an eminent merchant and Mayor of the city of Coventry. His mother was eminent for her piety, yet was removed by death, leaving this son in his infancy, after having dedicated him to the care and special service of God, with great fervor and faith, humbly relying on the special promises of God, to faithful parental dedication. His father possessed the disposition, not leɛs About the year 1626, a numthan the ability, to give his son ber of distinguished characters the best opportunities for educa- in and about London united in a tion. The early application and plan for the purchase of improprivigorous genius of the son equal-ations, [church lands in the hands led the exertions and hopes of of laymen,] for the purpose of the father. Before he was four-supporting an evangelical ministeen years of age, he was admit- try in the distant parts of the ted a member of Brazen-Nose kingdom. In this benevolent dcCollege, in the University of Oxford. A little previous to that event, he became, hopefully, a subject of the special influences of divine grace. Divine love, now possessing his soul, seems to have had a governing

sign Mr. Davenport was actively engaged. They had made considerable progress in the work, when Bishop Laud, taking umbrage at the design, lest it should eventually prove an encouragement to non-conformity, as it

undoubtedly would, resolved to correct the proceedure, caused the powers of the company to be revoked, and their funds to be confiscated. It seems that at this time Mr. Davenport had begun to view the puritans with a favorable eye, yet the habits of his education and his reluctance to dissent from the national church were of such force, that he continued in a general conformity with the ecclesiastical establishment. He was, however, after the business of the impropriations, watched by the bishop of London, with a constant jealousy.

many of those revered characters, naturally turned his attention to the grounds of the separation from the established church, and to examine with candor the nature of the controversy. The more he examined, the less occasion he found, notwithstanding all his prejudices, to disapprove of the measures of the Non-conformists. Still however, he felt disposed to continue within the pale of the national church, hoping for the reformation of existing abuses. A mysterious event, however, in the holy providence of God, brought his mind, long in suspense, to a firm decision. The eminent Mr. Cotton having fallen under the censures of the hierarchy, for his non-conformity; Mr. Davenport and several other divines, who knew his worth, who were very unwilling that he should become an exile from his country, appointed a special conference, for the purpose of convincing him of what they supposed his mistakes, and of persuading him to comply with the appointed ceremonies, so far at least, as to be permitted to continue his ministry. The points of difference were discussed with great attention, and the issue of the

When a number of pious and public-spirited individuals engaged in the noble design of rearing a Christian commonwealth in America, Mr. Davenport was very active in the promotion of the undertaking. He was very influential in procuring the Massachusetts patent. Yet he desired that his name might not be inserted as one of the patentees, lest it should be an occasion of prejudicing bishop Laud against the design. During his residence in London, he contracted a very intimate friendship with Mr. Eaton and Mr. Hopkins, two eminent merchants, which was afterwards productive of the most important events and end-conference was, that Mr. Davened not but with their lives.How long he continued an assistant minister in London, does not appear. Probably not long. Previous to his troubles with ecclesiastical authority, he was pastor of the church in Coleman

street.

Mr. Davenport's connection with the puritans who commenced the settlement of Massachusetts, with his great esteem of

port and some others came into the sentiments of Mr. Cotton, and became convinced of the impropriety of countenancing many of the unauthorized rites and practices of the ecclesiastical establishment. But the same inconformity which made it necessary for Mr. Cotton to remove to America, would prevent Mr. Davenport from exercising his ministry, especially, under the

particular attention to the western wilderness, whither many of his pious friends had removed. During his residence in Holland, he received letters from Mr. Cotton, informing him, "That the order of the churches and the commonwealth, was now so settled in New England, by common consent, that it brought into his mind the new heaven and new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.' Mr. Davenport returned to England in 1636, and found a number of his friends, in consequence of the increased oppressions of ecclesiastical intolerance, ready to unite with him in a removal to a land of peace. Mr. Dav

eye of the bishop of London. I tian churches, according to the Finding that he was like to fall primitive pattern, in that coununder censure, he communicated try, he began to turn a more to his people, without reserve, the circumstances of the case, and assured them that, if they wished him to continue with them, he would remain, though at the risk of his ministerial character, his property, his liberty, and his life. But his people, knowing his danger, knowing how small was the prospect of their enjoying his labors, when he had deliberately resol- | ved that he could not conform to the controverted ceremonies, advised him to resign his pastoral connection. This he accordingly did, and hoped to live unmolested in retirement, till Providence should open a door for his further services in his beloved work. But the zeal of the pur-enport, Mr. Eaton, Mr. Hopkins, suviants would not suffer him to rest. He soon found that his only safety was in flight. He accordingly, in the year 1633, went over to Holland. As soon as he arrived in that country, he was invited to Amsterdam to be an assistant to Mr. Paget, the aged pastor of the English church in that city. He soon, however, found himself in great embarrassment, on account of the practice of that church of administering baptism, indiscriminately, to the children of all parents. With this practice, he could not conform. He therefore desisted from his ministry in that church, early in the year 1635, and, for a time, did no more in his profession than deliver a weekly catechetical lecture. But this soon excited at-harmony to the agitated churchtention, and procured a crowded audience. Seeing little prospect of the establishment of ChrisVOL. VI. No. 1.

with a large number of planters which constituted a highly respectable and opulent company, arrived at Boston, to the great joy of the colony, June 26th, 1637. The colony was at that time in a considerable ferment in consequence of the influence of the Antinomian errors, and the Synod of the churches which was called in consequence of those errors, was held at Cambridge the August following. In that assembly, the extensive theological knowledge, the unprejudiced opinions, and the judicious counsels of Mr. Davenport, were much improved, and produced a most salutary effect. He was eminently instrumental in suppressing the growth of dangerous errors, and restoring

es.

In the year 1638, Mr. Davenport and his company commen

C

ven.

ced the settlement of New Ha-, their civil and religious polity The history of mankind seems to have been, principally, furnishes no instance of the the work of Mr. Davenport, for commencement of a colony un- which, by his extensive learnder more favorable auspices, oring, he was eminently qualified. of a new settlement which for It has been observed in these many years has enjoyed a great-numbers that the Colony of er share of social happiness.- New Haven enjoyed greater inThe most of the planters had ternal peace, and suffered less been bred in the improvements molestation from the Indians, of cultivated society; they pos- than any of the other colonies. sessed a competent share of This was owing, principally, to wealth; they possessed habits of the influence and the unremitted industry and virtue; they sought vigilance of their Moses and for the glory of the divine Sav- Aaron, Gov. Eaton and Mr. Daiour. Mr. Davenport and Gov. venport. By taking care that the Eaton possessed the unlimited natives were always treated with confidence of all; a confidence justice and kindness, they inspiwhich was never improved but red them with an extraordinary for the common welfare. Mr. confidence, and a correspondent Davenport, having made the ob- disposition towards the colony. servation that Reformed church- Those two men possessed the es can never be persuaded to veneration of the natives, to a make any advances in improve-greater degree than any others ment beyond the limits to which of their time. they are led by their first reformers, resolved to have the ecclesiastical constitution of the infant colony, as nearly as possible, conformable to the pattern and precepts of the gospel. Setting aside precedents, therefore, this was their only guide in the formation of their churches.-sing of heaven. His church conSoon after the commencement tinued in great unity, during the of the settlement, a church was whole period of his pastoral reorganized at New Haven with lation, near thirty years, and ofgreat solemnity, and Mr. Dav- ten received additions of those enport became the pastor. The who were, apparently heirs of the civil and ecclesiastical constitu- grace of life. But few occasions tions of the colony were singu- of public discipline occurred in larly incorporated with each his church, though few men have other, which according to the ever had a deeper sense of the sentiments of the present day, importance of the discipline of was a defect; yet this connec- Christ's house, than he. He tion was attended with the was very strict in the qualificagreatest harmony, and produc- tions for membership, yet his tive of the greatest public bles-church was large, and they sings, during the existence of walked together in prayer and the colony. The constitution of love.-In 1643, he was invited

Mr. Davenport was exceedingly laborious in the care of his people, and in the many weighty cares of the rising colony. His influence with his people does not appear to have ever suffered any diminution. His labors were attended with the abundant bles

That was

together with Mr. Hooker and, church in Boston. Mr. Cotton, to attend the vene- the oldest church except the one at Plymouth, and the most considerable one in the united coloOn the death of Mr. Wil

rable assembly of divines, which sat at Westminster. These three American divines were appoint-nies. ed to be members of that assem-son, Mr. Davenport was thought bly. Mr. Davenport was in- to be the only proper man in the clined to go. But the others colonies, to succeed the eminent thinking the call not sufficiently characters, who had ministered weighty to induce so long an to that church. After much deabsence from their people as liberation, he concluded to go. would be necessary, especially, His people were perfectly united while the colonies were in such in him, and parted with him, a tender, critical state, the voy- with the utmost reluctance. His age was not attempted. Could removal was unhappy. He was they have been present, they far advanced in life, he continuwould have been distinguished ed at Boston but a short period; characters in that illustrious his people at New Haven were council. not happily settled, till after a number of years. The church at Boston, who had enjoyed the ministry of Mr. Cotton, Mr. Norton, and Mr. Wilson, justly numbered among the first lights of the New England churches, highly esteemed Mr. Davenport, and derived much profit from his ministrations. Though in his seventieth year, at the time of his removal, his mental powers continued in full vigor. They had hope of enjoying this blessing for a considerable period.--But his services in the church on earth were now drawing to a close. On the fifteenth of March, 1670, he was suddenly seized with an apoplexy, by which he was dismissed from a life of faithful and unremitted labor, and removed to his eternal rest. He died in the seventy-third

The New Haven colony, in several instances, sustained severe losses by sea. Heavy losses of property, with many valuable lives. Such were their misfortunes on several occasions, that they meditated a general removal. These reasons demanded all the address, all the constancy, all the labours of Mr. Davenport, to allay the agitation, to bring them to a proper acquiescence in the righteous providence of God, and to keep them from despondency under his holy frowns. He taught them as a divine, he counselled them as a friend, he sustained them as a father.

In 1657, he was called to part with his great fellow-laborer in the arduous work of rearing a Christian colony, Gov. Eaton. An additonal burden now devol-year of his age. ved upon him, but he had learned to look on high for help, and to trust there for all needed assistance.

Mr. Davenport was a great scholar. His powers of mind were strong, his genius was comprehensive and vigorous, his In the year 1667, Mr. Dav-judgment was discriminating and enport was invited to take the sound. While he possessed a pastoral charge of the first strong thirst for learning, he was