146.] but the deputies refusing to concur, the sentence of
imprisonment in irons during the pleasure of the General Court was agreed
upon as a compromise. "Only they in New England are more strict and rigid
than we, or any church, to suppress, by the power of the magistrate, all
who are not of their way, to banishment ordinarily and presently even to
death lately, or perpetual slavery; for one Jortin, sometime a famous
citizen here for piety, having taught a number in New England to cast oft
the word and sacrament, and deny angels and devils, and teach a gross kind
of union with Christ in this life, by force of arms was brought to New
Boston, and there with ten of the chief of his followers, by the civil
court was discerned perpetual slaves, but the votes of many were for their
execution. They lie in irons, though gentlemen; and out of their prison
write to the admiral here, to deal with the parliament for their
deliverance." [Footnote: Baillie's Letters, ii. 17, 18.]
Like all phenomena of nature, the action of the mind is obedient to law;
the cause is followed by the consequence with the precision that the earth
moves round the sun, and impelled by this resistless power his destiny is
wrought out by man. To the ecclesiastic a deep debt of gratitude is due,
for it was by his effort that the first step from barbarism was made.
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