Subject: Ann Hutchinson - the Antinomian Position opposed by John Winthrop Source: Journal of John Winthrop 1630-1649 p.105 Journal of John Winthrop October 1636 "One Mrs. Hutchinson, a member of the church of Boston, a woman of a ready wit and bold spirit, brought over with her two dangerous errors. 1. That the person of the Holy Ghost dwells in a justified person. 2. That no sanctification can help to evidence to us our justification. From these two grew many branches; as, I, Our union with the Holy p.106 Ghost, so as a Christian remains dead to every spiritual action and hath no gifts nor graces, other than such as are in hypocrites, nor any other sanctification but the Holy Ghost himself. There joined with her in these opinions a brother of hers, one Mr. Wheelwright, a silenced minister sometimes in England. Oct 25, 1636 The other ministers in the Bay, hearing of these things, came to Boston at the time of a General Court, and entered conferences in private with them to the end they might know the certainty of these things; that if need were, they might write to the church in Boston about them, to prevent (if it were possible) the dangers which seemed hereby to hang over that and the rest of the churches. At this conference, Mr. Cotton was present, and gave satisfaction to them, so as he agreed with them all in the point of sanctification and so did Mr. Wheelwright; so as they all did hold that sanctification did help to evidence justification. The same he had delivered plainly in public, divers times, but for the indwelling of the person of the Holy Ghost, he held that still (as some others of the ministers did) but not union with the person of the Holy Ghost (as Mrs. Hutchinson and others did) so as to amount to a personal union. Mr. Cotton being requested by the General Court, with some other p.107 ministers, to assist some of the Magistrates in compiling a body of fundamental laws, did this Court present a model of Moses his judicials, compiled in an exact method, which wer taken into further consideration til the next General Court. October 30, 1636 Some of the church of Boston being of the opinion of Mrs. Hutchinson, had labored to have Mr. Wheelwright to be called to be a teacher there. It was propounded the last Lord's Day, and was moved again this day for resolution. One of the church (himself, John Winthrop) stood up and said he could not consent etc. His reason was, because the Church being well furnished already with able Ministers, whose spirits they knew, and whose labors God had blessed in much love and sweet peace, he thought it not fit (no necessity urging) to put the welfare of the church to the least hazard, as he feared they should do by calling in one whose spirit they knew not, and one who seemed to dissent in judgement, and instanced in two points, which he delivered in a late exercise there: 1. That a believer was more than a creature. 2. That the person of the Holy Ghost and a believer were united. Hereupon the Governor (footnote 71 - Henry Vane) spake that he marvelled at this, seeing Mr. Cotton had lately approved his doctrine. To this Mr. Cotton answered, that he did not remember the 1st and desired Mr. Wheelwright to explain his meaning. He denied not the points but showed upon what occasion he delivered them. Whereupon, there being an endeavor to make reconciliation the first replied that, although Mr. Wheelwright and himself might likely agree about the point, and though he thought reverendly of his godliness, and abilities so as he could be content to live under such ministry, yet seeing he was apt to raise doubtful disputations p.108 he could not consent to choose him to that place. Whereupon the church gave way, that he might be called to a new church to be gathered at Mount Woollaston (now Braintree) Diverse of the brethren too offence at the said speech against Mr. Wheelwright whereupon the same brother spake in the congregation the next day to this effect: That he was desirous to give satisfaction, for that he had charged the brother in public, and for a thing so long since delivered, and had not first dealt with him privately. For this he acknowledged it was a failing; but the occasion was that when he heard the points delivered, he took them in a good sense, as spoken figuratively, but hearing very lately that he was suspected to hold such opinions, it cause him to think he spake as he meant. And 2nd cause of offence was, that in his speech appeared some bitterness. For that he answered, that they well knew his manner of speech was always earnest in things which he conceived to be serious; and professed that he did love that brother's person, and did honor the gifts and graces of God in him. The 3rd was, that he had charged him to have held things which he did not. For this he answered, that he had spoken since with the said brother and for the two points - that a believer should be more than a creature, and that there should be a personal union between the Holy Ghost and a believer - he denied to hold either of them; but by necessary consequence, he doth hold them both; for he holds (said he) that there is a real union with the person of the Holy Ghost, and then of necessity it must be personal, and so a believer must be more than a creature, viz - God-man, even Christ Jesus. Now, whether this were agreeable to the doctrine of the church or not, he left the Church to judge; hoping that the Lord would direct our teacher (footnote 72 - John Cotton) to clear these points fully, and he had well done in good measure already, and concluded that he did not intend to dispute the matter (as not having place or calling thereunto then); yet if any brother desired to see what light p.109 he walked by, he would be ready to impart it to him. How this was taken by the congregation did not appear for no man spake to it. A day or two after, the same brother wrote his mind fully, with such scriptures and arguments as came to hand, and sent it to Mr. Cotton* footnote 73 John Winthropl's statement to Cotton is lost. John Winthrop also wrote two papers (also lost) against the Antinomian position that he showed to Wilson; one was a declaration on justification and the other a plea for pacification within the Massachusetts Church. When Shepard saw these papers, he urged John Winthrop not to circulate them further for he found John Winthrop's arguments to be dangerously close to condeding man an initiative in the quest for salvation. etc etc Insert Winthrop, John, 1588–1649, governor of the Massachusetts Bay colony, b. Edwardstone, near Groton, Suffolk, England. Of a landowning family, he studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, came into a family fortune, and became a government administrator with strong Puritan leanings. A member of the _Massachusetts Bay Company_ (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2040&dekey=MassachBC&gwp=8&curtab=2040_1) , he led the group that arranged for the removal of the company's government to New England and was chosen (1629) governor of the proposed colony. He arrived (1630) in the ship Arbella at Salem and shortly founded on Shawmut peninsula the settlement that became Boston. He was—with the possible exception of John _Cotton_ (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2039&dekey=Cotton-J&gwp=8&curtab=2039_1) —the most distinguished citizen of Massachusetts Bay colony, serving as governor some 12 times. He helped to shape the theocratic policy of the colony and opposed broad democracy. It was while he was deputy governor and Sir Henry _Vane_ (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2039&dekey=Vane-H2&gwp=8&curtab=2039_1) (1613– 62) was governor that Winthrop bitterly and successfully opposed the Antinomian beliefs of Anne _Hutchinson_ (http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2039&dekey=HutchinsoA&gwp=8&curtab=2039_1) and her followers, who were supported by Vane. The force of his influence on the history of Massachusetts was enormous. Winthrop's journal, which was edited by J. K. Hosmer and published in 1908 as The History of New England from 1630 to 1649 is one of the most valuable of American historical sources. _www.answers.com/topic/john-winthrop_ (http://www.answers.com/topic/john-winthrop) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ God Bless America History & Genealogy Freely Shared Janice Farnsworth _http://tfeeney.esmartbiz.com/janice.htm_ (http://tfeeney.esmartbiz.com/janice.htm) and Toni Feeney _http://www.tfeeney.esmartbiz.com/page7.htm_ (http://www.tfeeney.esmartbiz.com/page7.htm) Ray Charles - America ~ His 9/11/2001 recording. http://www.kids-teens.org/Greetings/america0.htm