Puritanism was not merely a religious doctrine, but it corresponded in many points with the most absolute democratic and republican theories.

It was this tendency which had aroused its most dangerous adversaries.

Persecuted by the Government of the mother-country, and disgusted by the habits of a society opposed to the rigor of their own principles, the Puritans went forth to seek some rude and unfrequented part of the world, where they could live according to their own opinions, and worship God in freedom.
A few quotations will throw more light upon the spirit of these pious adventures than all we can say of them.

Nathaniel Morton, *f the historian of the first years of the settlement, thus opens his subject: [Footnote f: "New England's Memorial," p.

13; Boston, 1826.