The present state of the Natives.
The Indian Natives are now become so weak in number, and in some measure reduc’d to a dread of the growth of the English, that of late years they have not practis’d any thing against them, or at least, not justifi’d them by numbers in open Hostility, willing rather to purchase their Peace and buy off Injuries committed by them at the Price of their Lands and Possessions.
And although care and expence hath been many years apply’d to the Conversion of Indians to the Faith, however inclinable they seem’d at first to the imbracing thereof, not then so well discerning the insincerity of its Professors; yet there are so few of late who do imbrace it or persevere in it (wanting a good Foundation for instruction in Moral Honesty, and perhaps the example of it in those that undertake to instruct them in Religion;) that Christianity to them seems a Chimera, Religion a design to draw them from the libidinous Pleasures of a lazy Life; however, some there are who make Profession of Christianity, and some who are educated in the Schools of New Cambridge, to entitle them to Preach the Gospel in their own Language.
One great hindrance to the Propagation of the Faith amongst those Heathens, is the diversity of their Languages; for it is commonly known, that the Natives themselves do not understand one another, if their Habitations are but at forty Miles distance.
Church-Government among the English.
Their Church-Government and Discipline is Congregational and Independent, yet in some places more rigid than others, for in many Towns there yet remains some leaven of Presbytery, from which Sects our Independency had its Original; insomuch, that one of the most remarkable Opposers of Episcopal Government, Doctor Bastwick (who, spoil’d so much Paper in railing at the Church Government of England, and crying up Liberty of Conscience) finding the Apostacy of his own Brethren of Boston from their first Principles, and his, generally prevail over them, even to the denying that liberty to others, which they seem’d only to aim at, did write a large and vehement Dehortatory Epistle to them from their New Lights or Paths, saying, That according to their present Tenents, they could not pretend to be, or other than a Christian Synagogue.
Their Civil Government and Laws.
Their Laws and Methods of Government are wholly of their own framing, each Colony for themselves, makes an Annual choice of Governor, Deputy Governor, and a certain number of Assistants, by the plurality of Suffrages collected from their several Towns, the Electors are only Free-men and Church-Members; for he that is not a Member of their Church, can neither chuse, nor be chosen a Magistrate, nor have his Children Baptiz’d; besides the loss of many other Priviledges, and liable moreover to frequent, if not constant Mulcts for absenting themselves from Divine Worship (so call’d) in their Meeting-houses.
Since the transmitting of the Patent in New England, the Election is not by Voices, nor erection of Hands as formerly, but by Papers, thus:
The general Court-electory sitting, where are present in the Church, or Meeting-house at Boston, the old Governor, Deputy, and all the Magistrates, and two Deputies or Burgesses for every Town, or at least one; all the Freemen are bid to come in at one Door, and bring their Votes in Paper for the new Governor, and deliver them down upon the Table, before the Court, and so pass forth at another Door; those that are absent, send their Votes by Proxies. All being deliver’d in, the Votes are counted, and according to the major part, the old Governor pronounceth, That such an one is chosen Governor for the year ensuing. Then the Freemen, in like manner, bring their Votes for the Deputy Governor, who being also chosen, the Governor propoundeth the Assistants one after another. New Assistants are, of late, put in nomination, by an Order of general Court, beforehand to be consider’d of: If a Freeman give in a Blank, that rejects the Man nam’d; if the Freeman makes any mark with a Pen upon the Paper which he brings, that elects the Man nam’d: Then the Blanks and mark’d Papers are number’d, and according to the major part of either, the Man in Nomination stands elected or rejected; and so for all the Assistants. And after every new Election, which is, by their Patent, to be upon the last Wednesday in Easter Term, the new Governor and Officers are all new Sworn. The Governor and Assistants chuse the Secretary. And all the Court consisting of Governor, Deputy, Assistants, and Deputies of Towns, give their Votes as well as the rest; and the Ministers and Elders, and all Church-Officers, have their Votes also in all these Elections of chief Magistrates: Constables, and all other inferior Officers, are sworn in the general, quarter, or other Courts, or before any Assistant.