mned by us, because we complain of imposing in other
communions, and our fathers fled for the same. If there ever was a
custom among us, whereby communion in our Churches was made a test for
the enjoyment of civil privileges in the State, we have done well long
since to abolish such corrupt and persecuting maxims, which are a
mischief to any free people, and a scandal to any communion to retain.
If there were of old among our fathers any laws enacted or judgments
given or executions done according to those laws which have carried too
much the face of cruelty and persecution, we ought to be humbled greatly
for such errors of our fathers, and confess them to have been sinful;
and blessed be God for the more catholic spirit of charity which now
distinguishes us. Or if any of our fathers have dealt proudly in
censuring and judging others who differed from them in modes of worship,
let us their posterity the rather be clothed with humility, meekness,
and charity, preserving truth and holiness with the laudable zeal of our
predecessors" (pp. 20, 21, 22).

The Rev. Dr. Cotton Mather, the distinguished son of the famous Rev. Dr.
Increase Mather, but more tolerant than his father, has a passage
equally significant and suggestive with that just quoted from Mr.
Coleman:

"In this capital city of Boston," says Dr. Cotton Mather, "there are ten
assemblies of Christians of different persuasions, who live lovingly and
peaceably together, doing all the offices of good neighbourhood for one
another in such manner as may give a sensible rebuke to all the bigots
of uniformity, and show them how consistent a variety of rites in
religion may be with the tranquillity of human society, and may
demonstrate to the world that such persecution for conscientious
dissents in religion is an _abomination of desolation_--a thing whereof
all wise and just men will say, _cursed be its anger, for it is fierce,
and its wrath, for it is cruel_."[219]

It is not needful that I should trace the legislation and government of
the Province of Massachusetts under the second Charter with the same
minuteness with which I have narrated that of Massachusetts Bay under
the first Charter. The successive Governors appointed by England over
the province were, upon the whole, men of good sense, and were
successful in their administration, notwithstanding the active
opposition of a Boston disaffected party that prevented any salary being
granted to the Judges or Govern