delivered in the "Common House of the Colony," a framed

building, 20 feet square, which stood on the south side of Leyden street, in Plymouth, just where the steep descent of the hill commences, on the ground covered by the present residence of Capt. Samuel D. Holmes.1

Let us for a moment picture in our minds the condition of Plymouth at the time of the delivery of that discourse, and imagine the audience that assembled to hear it, just as the speaker was about to leave on his return to England. It was then just about one year since they first landed. But fifty of the whole number who came in the Mayflower were then living. Thirty-six had arrived in the Fortune. So that his audience could not have exceeded sixty to seventy persons, of all ages and both sexes. "The Common House" was the place where they held their religious meetings and their municipal gatherings. We may suppose that it was rude in its construction and unfinished in many parts. Its roof was "thatched," and to us it must have presented an unique appearance and indicated a semi-civilized community.

There, in that little building, were gathered together the hopes of the Puritan; the germ of a mighty Republic; the beginnings of a civilization of which the mind, in its farthest reach, cannot conceive the end.

Their friend, their coadjutor for many years, their companion through many trials, was about to depart, and as it proved, it was a last farewell. He desired to speak to them words of consolation, of hope, of advice, before he left. On the 12th of December, therefore, that little community assembled to hear the parting words of one, on whom they had oftentimes relied.

On

printed, called A Sermon, preached at Plymouth, in New England, which, as I am certified, was made there by a comber of wool."

Dr. Belknap remarks that "this discourse may be considered as a specimen of the prophesyings of the brethren. The occasion was singular; the exhortations and reproofs are not less so, but were adapted to the existing state of the Colony. Judge Davis says that "the late Isaac Lathrop, of Plymouth, who died in 1808, aged 73 years, often mentioned an intimation, received from an aged relative, as to the spot where this sermon was delivered. It was at the common house of the plantation, which is understood to have been erected on the southerly side of the bank where the town brook meets the harbor."

In the year 1801, some men who were digging a cellar on this spot, found several tools and a plate of iron, seven feet below the surface of the ground. These interesting relicts were carefully preserved.

his right, in the "Common House," we may suppose, was seated with great dignity and decorum, the Governor, William Bradford, whose wisdom was their support in many dark and doleful days. Near him was his "Assistant" in the government, Isaac Allerton, who with Bradford, then constituted the whole administration of the civil power of the Colony. On his left sat Elder Brewster, the perfect personification of religious devotion and trust in God. Nearly in front, was, probably, the place of Capt. Standish, who then exercised the military command of the Colony; and who, in every move and look, indicated that he felt the importance and the dignity and the honor of his office. Edward Winslow, a pillar of the little community, must have been in a conspicuous place. Ranged around them were others, their brethren of a common faith, their wives and children, as the world has seldom seen.

forming a group such

Under such circumstances and to such an audience was the sermon of Robert Cushman, "on the sin and danger of self-love," delivered. And it seems to us quite singular, that to a body of men so self-sacrificing, so zealously devoted to the common cause, such a subject was selected and deemed necessary. But they were the best judges of what was fit and proper and best for themselves.

This sermon was first published in London, in the year after its delivery, 1622; afterwards reprinted in Boston in 1724. "And though his name is not prefixed to either edition, yet unquestioned tradition renders it certain that he was the author, and even transmits to us a knowledge of the spot where it was delivered." Subsequently it was printed at Plymouth, Mass., by Nathaniel Coverly, in 1780; another edition at Boston, in 1815; another at Stockbridge, Mass., in 1822, and again at Boston, by Charles Ewer, in 1846, and a portion of it in Dr. Young's Chronicles of the Pilgrims, in 1841.2

As that sermon illustrates not merely one aspect of the condition of the Plymouth Colony, but also something of the style,

I Judge Davis' Biographical Sketch of Robert Cushman, printed in the Plymouth edition of his sermon.

2 Dr. Young does not print the entire sermon. He says he publishes "all that is of any general or historical value in the discourse." It is a source of regret that one who is usually so full and complete as Dr. Young is, should have omitted, in his valuable work, an interesting portion of that sermon.

manner of thought and literary composition of the times, as well as the ability and character of its author, we give it entire, together with the prefatory address. We copy from one of the oldest editions.

TO HIS LOVING FRIENDS AND ADVENTURERS FOR NEW-England.

TOGETHER

WITH ALL WELL-WILLERS AND WELL-WISHERS THEREUNTO, GRACE AND PEACE, &C.

NEW-ENGLAND, so called, not only (to avoid novelties) because Captain Smith hath so entitled it in his Description, but because of the resemblance that is in it, of England, the native soil of Englishmen; it being much what the same for heat and cold in Summer and Winter, it being champaign ground, but no high mountains, somewhat like the soil in Kent and Essex; full of dales, and meadow ground, full of rivers and sweet springs, as England is. But principally, so far as we can yet find, it is an island, and near about the quantity of England, being cut out from the main land in America, as England is from the main of Europe, by a great arm of the sea, which entereth in forty degrees, and runneth up North West and by West, and goeth out either into the South-Sea, or else into the Bay of Canada. The certainty whereof, and secrets of which, we have not yet so found as that as eye-witnesses we can make narration thereof, but if God give time and means, we shall, ere long, discover both the extent of that river, together with the secrets thereof; and so try what territories, habitations, or commodities, may be found, either in it, or about it.

It pertaineth not to my purpose to speak anything either in praise, or dispraise of the country; so it is by God's Providence, that a few of us are there planted to our content, and have with great charge and difficulty attained quiet and competent dwellings there. And thus much I will say for the satisfaction of such as have any thought of going hither to inhabit? That for men which have a large heart, and look after great riches, ease, pleasures, dainties, and jolity in this world (except they will live by other men's sweat, or have great riches). I would not advise them to come there, for as yet the country will afford no such matters: But if there be any who are content to lay out their estates, spend

their time, labors, and endeavors, for the benefit of them that shall come after, and in desire to further the gospel among those poor heathens, quietly contenting themselves with such hardship and difficulties, as by God's Providence shall fall upon them, being yet young, and in their strength, such men I would advise and encourage to go, for their ends cannot fail them.

And if it should please God to punish his people in the Christian countries of Europe, (for their coldness, carnality, wanton abuse of the Gospel, contention, &c.) either by Turkish slavery, or by popish tyranny which God forbid, yet if the time be come, or shall come (as who knoweth) when Satan shall be let loose to cast out his floods against them, (Rev. 12. 14, 15.) here is a way opened for such as have wings to fly into this wilderness; and as by the dispersion of the Jewish church through persecution, the Lord brought in the fulness of the Gentiles, (Act. 11. 20, 21.) so who knoweth, whether now by tyranny and affliction, he suffereth to come upon them, he will not by little and little chase them even amongst the heathens, that so a light may rise up in the dark, (Luke 2. 32.) and the kingdom of Heaven be taken from them which now have it, and given to a people that shall bring forth the fruit of it. (Mat. 21. 43.) This I leave to the judgment of the godly wise, being neither prophet nor son of a prophet, (Amos 7. 14.) but considering God's dealing of old, (2 Kings 17, 23.) and seeing the name of Christian to be very great, but the true nature thereof almost quite lost in all degrees. and sects, I cannot think but that there is some judgment not far off, and that God will shortly, even of stones, raise up children unto Abraham. (Mat. 3. 5.)

And who so rightly considereth what manner of entrance, abiding, and proceedings, we have had among these poor heathens since we come hither, will easily think, that God has some great work to do towards them.

They were wont to be the most cruel and treacherous people in all these parts, even like lions, but to us they have been like lambs, so kind, so submissive, and trusty, as a man may truly say, many christians are not so kind, nor sincere.

They were very much wasted of late, by reason of a great mortality that fell amongst them three years since, which together with their own civil dissensions and bloody wars, hath so wasted them, as I think the twentieth person is scarce left alive, and those that are left, have their courage much abated and their countenance is dejected, and they seem as a people affrighted. And though when we came first into the country, we were few, and many of us were sick, and many died by reason of the cold and wet, it being the depth of winter, and we having no houses, nor shelter,

yet when there was not six able persons among us, and that they came daily to us by hundreds, with their sachems or kings, and might in one hour have made a dispatch of us, yet such a fear was upon them, as that they never offered us the least injury in word or deed. And by reason of one Tisquanto, that lives amongst us, that can speak English, we have daily commerce with their kings, and can know what is done or intended towards us among the savages; also we can acquaint them with our courses and purposes, both human and religious. And the greatest commander of the country, called Massasoit, cometh often to visit us, though he lives fifty miles from us, often sends us presents, he having with many other of their governors, promised, yea, subscribed obedience to our sovereign Lord King James, and for his cause to spend both strength and life. And we for our parts, through God's grace, have with that equity, justice, and compassion, carried ourselves towards them, as that they have received much favor, help, and aid from us, but never the least injury or wrong by us. We found the place where we live empty, the people being all dead and gone away, and none living near by 8 or 10 miles; and though in the time of some hardship we found (travelling abroad) near 8 bushels of corn hid up in a cave, and knew no owners of it, yet afterwards hearing of the owners of it, we gave them (in their estimation) double the value of it. Our care hath been to maintain peace amongst them, and have always set ourselves against such of them as used any rebellion, or treachery against their governors, and not only threatened such, but in some sort paid them their due deserts; and when any of them are in want, as often they are in the winter, when their corn is done, we supply them to our power, and have them in our houses eating and drinking, and warming themselves, which thing (though it be something of a trouble to us) yet because they should see and take knowledge of our labors, order and diligence, both for this life and a better, we are content to bear it, and we find in many of them, especially of the younger sort, such a tractable disposition, both to religion and humanity, as that if we had means to apparel them, and wholly to retain them with us (as their desire is) they would doubtless in time prove serviceable to God and man, and if ever God send us means we will bring up hundreds of their children, both to labor and learning.

But leaving to speak of them till a further occasion be offered; if any shall marvel at the publishing of this treatise in England, seeing there is no want of good books, but rather want of men to use good books, let them know, that the especial end is, that we

They offer us to dwell where we will.