ROBINSON'S ADDRESS TO THE PURITANS.
By Frederick Walter
BRO. SMITH: The subjoined extract from the address of Mr. Robinson to the pilgrims previous to their departure from Leyden to this country in 1620, is found in an old work put into my hands by a sister, as appropriate for the Review. All things being in readiness for their departure from Leyden, they kept a day of solemn humiliation and prayer. This was in July. In one part of the day, Mr. Robinson preached from Ezra, 8, 21; "Then I proclaimed a fast at the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of Him a right way for us and for our little ones and for all our substance." The conclusion of this discourse is truly excellent. It contains an exhortation which breathes a noble spirit of Christian liberty, and gives a just idea of the sentiments of this most excellent man. It exhibits a spirit of charity and genuine liberty, which perhaps has not been surpassed since the days of the apostles. This will appear the more remarkable and lovely, when we consider the general bigotry of the age and the narrow principles of the Brownists from which he had recently escaped. "Brethren" said he, "we are now quickly to part from one another, and whether I may live to see you face to face on earth any more, the God of heaven only knows; but whether the Lord hath appointed that or not, I charge you before God and his blessed angels, that you follow me no farther, than you have seen me follow the Lord Jesus Christ. If God reveals anything to you by any other instrument, be as ready to receive it, as ever you were to receive any truth by my ministry; for I am verily persuaded, I am very confident, that the Lord has more truth yet to break forth out of his holy word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed churches, who are come to a period in religion, and will go, at present, no farther than the instruments of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw. Whatever part of his will our God revealed to Calvin, they will rather die than embrace; and the Calvinists, you see, stick fast where they were left by that great man of God, who yet saw not all things. This is a misery much to be lamented; for though they were burning and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the whole counsel of God; but were they now living, would be as willing to embrace farther light, as that which they first received." "I beseech you, remember it is an article of your church covenant, 'that you be ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known to you from the written word of God.' Remember that, and every other article of your sacred covenant. But I must herewith exhort you to take heed, what you receive as truth. Examine it, consider it, and compare it with other scriptures of truth, before you receive it; for it is not possible, that the christian world should come so lately out of such thick antichristian darkness, and that perfection of knowledge should break forth at once."