The bloody tenet, washed, and made white in the blood of the LambThe bloudy tenent, washed, and made white in the bloud of the Lambe

Soon after, when upon hearing of some Episcopal, and malignant practises against the Country, the Magistrates, and whole general Court thought meet to take a trial of the fidelity of the people (not by imposing upon them, but) by offering to them an Oath of Fidelity, That in case any should refuse, they might not betrust them with place of public Command; He vehemently withstood it, partly because it was Christs Prerogative to have his Office established by Oath; partly, because an Oath was a part of Gods worship, and many of the people being carnal (as he conceived) it was not meet to put upon them an Oath, which was an act of Gods worship. Upon such, and the like disturbances to the Civill Peace (for upon this sundry refused the Oath, and upon their refusal the Magistrates could not discern how the people stood affected to the public Safety) therefore, both the Magistrates, and sundry Elders (though I do not remember my self to be one) advised the Church of Salem, not to proceed to choose him (as they were then about to do) unto office in the Church. Yea and in Salem (though many of the Members were taken with him) some judicious amongst them told me, they could not choose him to office, because they found him to be (contrary to the Apostles rule) [Greek or Hebrew], self-pleasing, self-full, or (as it is translated) self-willed, Tit. 1.7. Nevertheless, the major part of the Church made choice of him. Soon after the Church of Salem made suit to the Court, for a parcel of Land, which lay commodious for them: But the Court delayed to grant their request, because the Church had refused to hearken to their motion, in forbearing the choice of Mr. Williams. Which so much incensed Mr. Williams, that he caused ⟨p. 5⟩the Church to join with him, in writing Letters of Admonition to all the Churches, whereof any of the Magistrates were members, to admonish their Magistrates of their breach of the rule of Justice, in not granting their Petition. Which following upon all the former disturbances raised by Mr. Williams, it still aggravated the former jealousies, which generally, the judicious sort of Christians had conceived of his self-conceited, and unquiet, and unlambelike frame of his Spirit:

Soone after, when upon hearing of some Episcopall, and malignant practises against the Countrey, the Magistrates, and whole generall Court thought meet to take a tryall of the fidelity of the people (not by imposing upon them, but) by offering to them an Oath of Fidelitie, That in case any should refuse, they might not betrust them with place of publick Command; He vehemently withstood it, partly because it was Christs Prerogative to have his Office established by Oath; partly, because an Oath was a part of Gods worship, and many of the people being carnall (as he conceived) it was not meet to put upon them an Oath, which was an act of Gods worship. Upon such, and the like disturbances to the Civill Peace (for upon this sundry refused the Oath, and upon their refusall the Magistrates could not discerne how the people stood affected to the publick Safety) therefore, both the Magistrates, and sundry Elders (though I doe not remember my selfe to be one) advised the Church of Salem, not to proceed to choose him (as they were then about to doe) unto office in the Church. Yea and in Salem (though many of the Members were taken with him) some judicious amongst them told me, they could not choose him to office, because they found him to be (contrary to the Apostles rule) , selfe-pleasing, selfe-full, or (as it is translated) selfe-willed,