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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2

Robert Ryece to John Winthrop

1629

Objections Answered: First Draft

1629
General Conclusions and Perticular Considerations: Later Draft1
Winthrop, John

1629

Some General Conclusions shewinge that persons of good vse heere (yea in publike seruice) may be transplanted for the furtherance of this plantation in N: E:

1: It is granted that the worke is lawfull and hopefull of successe for the great good of the Churche.

2: It must be advaunced by persons, gifted (in some competent measure) suteable to the worke.

3: Everye one who hathe meet giftes, hathe not a will to the worke, and no bonde of Conscience or other Compulsarye Call can ordinaryely be imposed vpon suche as have no minde to it.

4: The service of raysinge and vpholdinge a particular Churche is to be preferred before the betteringe some parte of a Churche allreadye established.

5. Of workes of the same kinde, that is most to be furthered, which (by common intendment) is of largest extente

6: The Exercise of an Office of lesse consequence, whereinto any is putt by ordinarye Callinge, may be lefte, vpon the like Call to some other imploy­133ment of greater consequence: especially where there followeth no violation of the rule of Righteousnesse.

7: A future good, if it be greater, may be preferred before a present good that is lesse: and in this respecte, the members of that Churche may be of more vse to their mother Churche heere then manye of those whom she shall still keepe in her owne bosome, so when the Churche in the Rev: 12: was persecuted by the dragon, her sonne was taken from her, not regarding so muche what losse she should have of him for the present, as the future good he should be reserved for.

8: It may be instanced in divers publike persons, and in many others of great vse, that have lefte the places, where they have been setled, and their Changes approved.

9: The takinge off a Scandall from a wholl Churche and Religion it selfe is to be preferred before the betteringe of the same Churche: It is a Scandall to our Churche and Religion, that professinge, in all our Plantations, the Conversion of those Barbarians, yet we declare to the world that we intende not that, but our owne profitt, in that we imploye not persons meete for suche a worke, but onely suche as are a burden to vs, or, for the most parte, suche as we can well spare, while the Papists in their like Attempts, sticke not to send forthe of their most able and vsefull Instrumentes.

10: Our constant practice in matters of like nature may be a rule in this: In all forraine expeditions, we sticke not to imploye of our best Statesmen: and we grutche not to want their service at home (though never so vsefull) while they are imployed for the good of other Churches abroad.

Perticular Considerations in the Case of J: W:

1: It is come to that Issue as (in all probabilitye) the wellfare of the Plantation dependes vpon his goeinge, for divers of the Cheife vndertakers (vpon whom the reste depende) will not goe without him.

2: He acknowledges a satisfactorye Callinge, outwarde from those of the Plantation, inwardly by the inclination of his owne hearte to the worke, and bothe approved by godly and iuditious Devines (whereof some have the first interest in him) and there is in this the like mediate call from the kinge, which was to his former imployment.

3: Though his meanes be sufficient for a comfortable subsistence in a private condition heere, yet the one halfe of them beinge disposed to his 3: elder sonnes, who are now of age, he cannot liue in the same place and callinge with that which remaines, his charge beinge still as great as before, when his meanes was double: and so if he should refuse this opportunitye, that 134talent, which God hathe bestowed vpon him for publike service, were like to be buried.

4: His wife and suche of his Children, as are come to years of discreation, are voluntaryly disposed to the same course.

5: Most of his freindes (vpon the former considerations) doe consent to his change.

Endorsed: N: England

1.

W. 1. 58; L. and L. , I. 326–327. In the hand of John Winthrop. Written on paper similar to W. 1. 59.