[In the year 1634. Mr. Roger Williams removed from Plymouth to Salem, He had lived about three years at Plymouth, where he was well accepted as an assistant to Mr. Ralph Smith then Pastor there; But by degrees venting of divers of his own singular opinions, and seeking to impose them upon others, he not finding such a concurrence as he expected, desired his dismission—foreseeing that he would run the same course of rigid Separation and Anabaptistry as Mr. John Smith the Separatist at Amsterdam had done, the Church consented to his dismission; and such as did adhere to him were also dismissed, or removed with him, or not long after him, to Salem.—But he having ⟨p. 171⟩in one years time filled that place with principles of rigid Separation, and tending to Anabaptistry; the prudent Magistrates of the Massachusetts jurisdiction, sent to the Church of Salem, desiring them to forbear calling him to Office; which they not hearkening to, was a cause of much disturbance.—He being in Office, proceeded more vigorously to vent many dangerous Opinions, as, That it is not lawful for an Unregenerate man to pray; nor to take an Oath; and in special, not the Oath of Fidelity to the Civil Government; Nor was it lawful for a godly man to have Communion, either in Family-Prayer, or in an Oath, with such as they judged unregenerate. And therefore he himself refused the Oath of Fidelity, and taught others so to do. Also that it was not lawful so much as to hear the godly Ministers of England, when any occasionally went thither; and therefore he admonished any Church-members that had done so, as of heinous sin. Also he spake dangerous words against the Patent which was the foundation of the Government of the Massachusetts Colony. Also he affirmed that the Magistrate had nothing to do in matters of the First Table, but only the Second: And that there should be a general and unlimited Toleration of all Religions: And for any man to be punished for any matters of his Conscience, was Persecution.—Staying at home in his own house, he sent a Letter, which was read in the public Church-Assembly, to give them notice, That if the Church of Salem would not separate, not only ⟨p. 172⟩from the Churches of England, but the Churches of New-England too, he would separate from them. The more prudent and sober part of the Church being amazed at his way, could not yield to him:
[In the year 1634. Mr. Roger Williams removed from Plimouth to Salem, He had lived about three years at Plimouth, where he was well accepted as an assistant to Mr. Ralph Smith then Pastor there; But by degrees venting of divers of his own singular opinions, and seeking to impose them upon others, he not finding such a concurrence as he expected, des•red his dismission—foreseeing that he would run the same course of rigid Separation and Anabaptistry as Mr. John Smith the Separatist at Amsterdam had done, the Church consented to his dismission; and such as did adhere to him were also dismissed, or removed with him, or not long after him, to Salem.—But he having ⟨p. 171⟩in one years time filled that place with principles of rigid Separation, and tending to Anabaptistry; the prudent Magistrates of the Massachusets jurisdiction, sent to the Church of Salem, desiring them to forbear calling him to Office; which they not hearkening to, was a cause of much disturbance.—He being in Office, proceeded more vigorously to vent many dangerous Opinions, as, That it is not lawful for an Unregenerate man to pray; nor to take an Oath; and in special, not the Oath of Fidelity to the Civil Government; Nor was it lawful for a godly man to have Communion, either in Family-Prayer, or in an Oath, with such as they judged unregenerate. And therefore he himself refused the Oath of Fidelity, and taught others so to do. Also that it was not lawful so much as to hear the godly Ministers of England, when any occasionally went thither; and therefore he admonished any Church-members that had done so, as of heynous sin. Also he spake dangerous words against the Patent which was the foundation of the Government of the Massachusets Colony. Also he affirmed that the Magistrate had nothing to do in matters of the First Table, but only the Second: And that there should be a general and unlimited Toleration of all Religions: And for any man to be punished for any matters of his Conscience, was Persecution.—Staying at home in his own house, he sent a Letter, which was read in the publick Church-Assembly, to give them notice, That if the Church of Salem would not separate, not only ⟨p. 172⟩from the Churches of England, but the Churches of New-England too, he would separate from them. The more prudent and sober part of the Church being amazed at his way, could not yield to him:
