Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 2
1630-07-30
In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in Obedience to His holy will, and Divine Ordinaunce:
Wee whose names are herevnder written, being by His most wise, and good Providence brought together into this part of America in the Bay of Masachusetts, and desirous to vnite our selves into one Congregation, or Church, vnder the Lord Jesus Christ our Head, in such sort as becometh all those, whom He hath Redeemed, and Sanctifyed to Himselfe, doe hereby solemnly, and religiously (as in His most holy Praesence) Promisse, and bind ourselves, to walke in all our wayes according to the Rule of the Gospell, and in all sincere Conformity to His holy Ordinaunces, and in mutuall love, and respect each to other, so neere as God shall give vs grace.
Early copy in the archives of the First Church; William Emerson, Historical Sketch of the First Church in Boston (Boston, 1812), 11–12; W. A. Budington, History of the First Church, Charlestown (Boston, 1845), 13–14;
L. and L.
, II. 45; A. B. Ellis, History of the First Church in Boston (Boston, 1881), 3; Justin Winsor, Memorial History of Boston (Boston, 1880–1881), I. 114.
The copy in the archives of the First Church has the marginal entry: “At Charlestown Aug. 27, 1630.” The date of July 30 is, however, established by the letters of Samuel Fuller and Edward Winslow in Bradford's Letter Book (Ed. of 1906, 57–59). Their letter of July 26 says that July 30 “is set apart, that they may humble themselves before God, and seek him in his ordinances; and that then also such godly persons that are amongst them and known each to other, publicly at the end of their exercise, make known their godly desire, and practice the same, viz. solemnly to enter into covenant with the Lord to walk in his ways.” In his letter of August 2 Fuller adds: “Some are here entered into a church covenant, the first four, namely, the Governour, Mr. John Winthrop, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Dudley, and Mr. Willson; since that, five more are joined unto them, and others it is like will add themselves to them daily.” Winthrop's Journal under August 27 tells of the election of officers by the new church.