The Works of John Robinson, Vol. 1 [1851]
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The Online Library of Liberty A Project Of Liberty Fund, Inc. John Robinson, The Works of John Robinson, vol. 1 [1851] The Online Library Of Liberty This E-Book (PDF format) is published by Liberty Fund, Inc., a private, non-profit, educational foundation established in 1960 to encourage study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. 2010 was the 50th anniversary year of the founding of Liberty Fund. It is part of the Online Library of Liberty web site http://oll.libertyfund.org, which was established in 2004 in order to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. To find out more about the author or title, to use the site's powerful search engine, to see other titles in other formats (HTML, facsimile PDF), or to make use of the hundreds of essays, educational aids, and study guides, please visit the OLL web site. This title is also part of the Portable Library of Liberty DVD which contains over 1,000 books and quotes about liberty and power, and is available free of charge upon request. The cuneiform inscription that appears in the logo and serves as a design element in all Liberty Fund books and web sites is the earliest-known written appearance of the word “freedom” (amagi), or “liberty.” It is taken from a clay document written about 2300 B.C. in the Sumerian city-state of Lagash, in present day Iraq. To find out more about Liberty Fund, Inc., or the Online Library of Liberty Project, please contact the Director at [email protected]. LIBERTY FUND, INC. 8335 Allison Pointe Trail, Suite 300 Indianapolis, Indiana 46250-1684 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 1 Edition Used: The Works of John Robinson, Pastor of the Pilgrim Fathers, with a Memoir and Annotations by Robert Ashton, 3 vols (London: John Snow, 1851). Vol. 1. Author: John Robinson Editor: Robert Ashton About This Title: Vol. 1 of a 3 volume collection of this influential English Puritan minister’s writings, including his A Justification of Separation from the Church of England. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 2 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/855 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 1 About Liberty Fund: Liberty Fund, Inc. is a private, educational foundation established to encourage the study of the ideal of a society of free and responsible individuals. Copyright Information: The text is in the public domain. Fair Use Statement: This material is put online to further the educational goals of Liberty Fund, Inc. Unless otherwise stated in the Copyright Information section above, this material may be used freely for educational and academic purposes. It may not be used in any way for profit. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 3 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/855 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 1 Table Of Contents Memoir of Rev. John Robinson. Section I.: Mr. Robinson, a Puritan In Norfolk. (1575—1604.) Section II.: Mr. Robinson a Separatist At Scrooby. (1604—1608.) Section III.: Mr. Robinson an Exile At Amsterdam. (1608, 1609.) Section IV.: Mr. Robinson a Pastor At Leyden. (1609—1625.) Section V.: Mr. Robinson, His Character and Writings. The Preface. Prefatory Notice By the Editor. Chapter I.: Of Man's Knowledge of God . Chapter II.: Of God's Love. Chapter III.: Of God's Promises. Chapter IV: Of the Works of God, and His Power, Wisdom, Will, Goodness, Etc., Shining In Them. Chapter V.: Of Created Goodness. Chapter VI.: Of Equability, and Perseverance In Well-doing. Chapter VII.: Of Religion, and the Differences and Disputations Thereabout. Chapter VIII.: Of the Holy Scriptures. Chapter IX.: Of Authority and Reason. Chapter X.: Op Faith, Hope, and Love: Reason, and Sense. Chapter XI.: Of Atheism and Idolatry. Chapter XII.: Of Heresy and Schism. Chapter XIII.: Of Truth and Falsehood. Chapter XIV.: Of Knowledge and Ignorance. Chapter XV.: Of Simplicity and Craftiness. Chapter XVI.: Of Wisdom and Folly. Chapter XVII.: Of Discretion. Chapter XVIII.: Of Experience. Chapter XIX.: Of Examples. Chapter XX.: Of Counsel. Chapter XXI.: Of Thoughts. Chapter XXII.: Of Speech and Silence. Chapter XXIII.: Of Books and Writings. Chapter XXIV.: Of Good Intentions. Chapter XXV.: Of Means. Chapter XXVI.: Of Labour, and Idleness. Chapter XXVII.: Of Callings. Chapter XXVIII.: Of the Use and Abuse of Things. Chapter XXIX.: Of Riches and Poverty. Chapter XXX.: Of Sobriety. Chapter XXXI.: Of Liberality and Its Contraries. Chapter XXXII.: Of Health and Physic. Chapter XXXIII.: Of Afflictions. Chapter XXXIV.: Of Injuries. Chapter XXXV.: Of Patience. PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 4 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/855 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 1 Chapter XXXVI.: Of Peace. Chapter XXXVII.: Of Society and Friendship. Chapter XXXVIII.: Of Credit and Good Name. Chapter XXXIX.: Of Contempt and Contumely. Chapter Xl.: of Envy. Chapter Xli.: of Slander. Chapter Xlii.: of Flattery. Chapter Xliii.: of Suspicion. Chapter Xliv.: of Appearances. Chapter Xlv.: of Offences. Chapter Xlvi.: of Temptations. Chapter Xlvii.: of Conscience. Chapter Xlviii.: of Prayer. Chapter Xlix.: of Oaths and Lots. Chapter L.: of Zeal. Chapter Li.: of Hypocrisy. Chapter Lii.: of Sin, and Punishment From God. Chapter Liii.: of Rewards, and Punishments By Men. Chapter Liv.: of the Affections of the Mind. Chapter Lv.: of Fear. Chapter Lvi.: of Anger. Chapter Lvii.: of Humility and Meekness. Chapter Lviii.: of Modesty. Chapter Lix.: of Marriage. Chapter Lx.: of Children and Their Education. Chapter Lxi.: of Youth and Old Age. Chapter Lxii.: of Death. Introductory Notice By the Editor. Preface. Chapter I.: Of Predestination. Chapter II.: Of Election. Chapter III.: Of Falling Away. Adversaries. (page 78.) Chapter IV.: Of Free-will. Chapter V.: Of the Original State of Mankind. Chapter VI.: Of Baptism. (pages 129—176.) PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 5 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/855 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 1 [Back to Table of Contents] MEMOIR OF REV. JOHN ROBINSON. SECTION I. Mb. Bobinson, A Puritan In Norfolk. (1575—1604.) No complete Life of Mr. Robinson was written by any of his contemporaries. Numerous references are made to his history and character in the writings both of friends and foes. To collect, compare, and harmonize these scattered statements and allusions have occasioned his modern biographers no little difficulty. The means of furnishing a perfect Life are not extant. The present Memoir contains all that can be learned respecting Mr. Robinson: it elucidates some points hitherto left in obscurity, and supplies some additional information inaccessible to former historians. The parentage, education, youthful predilections, and exploits of a distinguished man, are important to be known. They give an interest and specificness to his biography, and take it out of the mere generalizations of an every-day Memoir. Unhappily none of these things can be learned respecting Mr. Robinson. He was born in 1575. He first appears to our view as a youth of seventeen, having finished his home-studies, and about to matriculate at Cambridge. He came hither out of the Midland Counties: whether from Lincolnshire or Nottinghamshire is undetermined; the preponderance of evidence is in favour of the former. Joseph Hall, afterwards Bishop of Norwich, who appears to have known him intimately, having teen his contemporary at college, and who became the antagonist of Robinson, states that “Lincolnshire was his county.” He graduated at Cambridge. Two colleges in the University present nearly equal claims to have been his alma mater. Emanuel College is generally considered to have been the home of his student life. The following entry occurs in the register of the college:— “John Robinson, entered as sizar, March 2nd, 1592; took his M.A. 1600, and B.D. 1607.” This latter date renders his connexion with Emanuel College more than doubtful. He had become a Separatist before 1607, and was then the pastor of the mother Church of the Pilgrims in Nottinghamshire. Having renounced the Established Church, he disclaimed her honours as well as her emoluments; and it is not probable that he would seek literary distinction at her hands, even if it were possible to obtain it under such circumstances. The CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE register exhibits a record which appears to identify Mr. Robinson, of Leyden, with her alumni:— PLL v6.0 (generated September, 2011) 6 http://oll.libertyfund.org/title/855 Online Library of Liberty: The Works of John Robinson, vol. 1 ”John Robinson, F. Lincsh., admitted 1592. Fell. 1598.” The Rev. Richard Masters published in 1749, a history of this college, and gives a list of all its members from its foundation, in which a similar entry to the above also occurs, and to which he appends a note, intimating his belief that this was the Robinson who had been beneficed near Yarmouth, but on being prosecuted by the Ecclesiastical Courts, had fled to Leyden and set up a congregation upon the model of the Brownists.* Entering the University at the early age of seventeen, his religious opinions could scarcely have been formed, nor could he have had very definite views respecting the work of the ministry. The time he was at Cambridge was one of considerable religious excitement. Several zealous Puritan clergymen preached at St. Mary's and other churches. Their evangelical preaching gave great offence to the authorities of the University. But the most distinguished Puritan there was the Rev. William Perkins, who was public catechist of Corpus Christi, and whose duty it was “to read a lecture every Thursday in the term, on some useful subject of Divinity; “he preached also at St. Andrew's Church, and attracted multitudes of persons from the town, the University, and surrounding neighbourhood, by his faithful, earnest, and spirit-stirring discourses.