.. we
become partakers of the guilt of those irregularities by which you have
given just cause of offence....
INCREASE MATHER.
JAMES ALLEN. [Footnote: _History of Brattle St. Church_, p. 55.]
* * * * *
Under the theocracy a subservient legislature would have voted the
association "a seditious conspiracy," and the country would have been
cleared of Leverett, Colman, the Brattles, and their abettors; but in 1700
the priests no longer manipulated the constituencies, and there was actual
danger to the conservative cause from their violence; therefore Stoughton
exerted himself to muzzle the Mathers, and he did succeed in quieting them
for the moment, though Sewall seems to intimate that they submitted with
no very good grace: [1699/1700.] "January 24th. The Lt Govr [Stoughton]
calls me with him to Mr. Willards, where out of two papers Mr. Wm Brattle
drew up a third for an accommodation to bring on an agreement between the
new-church and our ministers; Mr. Colman got his brethren to subscribe
it.... January 25th. Mr. I. Mather, Mr. C. Mather, Mr. Willard, Mr.
Wadsworth, and S. S. wait on the Lt Govr at Mr. Coopers: to confer about
the writing drawn up the evening before. Was some heat; but grew calmer,
and after lecture agreed to be present at the fast which is to be observed
January 31.
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