States generally, wherever pure and
undefiled religion prevails, and wherever the enterprising citizens of
the greatest republic the world ever saw, have leisure to trace the
first beginnings of their nation's glory. The fact mentioned in the
preface of this first collected edition of his works, that "a large body
of subscribers" have been obtained "in Great Britain and in the United
States," while it is no measure of the reverence with which the memory
of Robinson is regarded, affords nevertheless good augury for the
future. Another hopeful circumstance is the announcement of a new Life
of Robinson, from the pen of the Editor of the "American Biographical
Dictionary," Dr. Allen, of Northampton, Massachusetts. This rivalry, or
rather co-operation of the two countries, in reviving the memory of the
dead, is gratifying evidence that the seed which Robinson sowed so
diligently was living seed, and reproductive in both hemispheres; and
is, possibly, an indication at the same time--for the providence of God
prepares the way for great events by raising up the means auxiliary to
their accomplishment--that the time is drawing near, when, in the
conflict of opinion, such principles as those which the pastor of the
pilgrim fathers so nobly vindicated, both by his life and his writings,
will be greatly in request.

We have no space to enter at length into the various incidents in the
life of this truly great and good man--a life, which, notwithstanding
the carefully compiled memoir prefixed to these volumes, and many
briefer or larger notices in other publications, still remains to be
written. A few particulars, however, will assist the reader in forming a
proper opinion of the man and his times.

John Robinson was born, probably, in Lincolnshire, in 1575. At the early
age of seventeen he entered upon his studies at Cambridge, matriculating
and taking his degree as master of arts at _Corpus Christi_ College, of
which he became a fellow in 1598. He resigned his fellowship in 1604, on
account of the new views he had embraced in relation to ecclesiastical
matters. In one of his works he has given some details respecting his
conversion to Separatism. It is regretted that such incidental
references are so rare. At the same time, we are convinced that the
future biographer may gather more from this source than has hitherto
been done. But this by the way. In his reply to Bernard, in
justification of his separation from the church of Eng