Massachusetts Body of Liberties (December 1641) the first code of laws established in New England, were established by the Massachusetts General Court. They were compiled by Nathaniel Ward (1578- 1652), a leading English Puritan minister, who had been trained as a lawyer. He came to the Colony in 1634, and was for a time pastor at Ipswich.
The Massachusetts Body of Liberties stated:
<The free fruition of such liberties, Immunities and Priveledges as humanities, Civilitie and Christianitie call for as due every man in his place and proportion without impeachment and Infringement hath ever bene and ever will be the tranqualities and Stabilities of Churches and Commonwealths. And the deniall or deprivall thereof, the disturbance if not the ruine of both....
We doe therefore this day religiously and unanimously decree and confirme these following Rites, liberties, and priveledges concerneing our Churches, and Civill State....
58. Civill Authoritie hath power and libertie to see the peace, ordinances and rules of Christ observed in every church according to his word. So it be done in a civill and not in an Ecclesiastical way.
59. Civill Authoritie hath power and libertie to deale with any Church member in a way of Civill Justice, notwithstanding any Church relation, office or interest.
60. No church censure shall degrad or depose any man from any Civill dignitie, office, or Authoritie he shall have in commonwealth.
94. 1. If any man after legall conviction shall have or worship any other god, but the Lord God, he shall be put to death.
2. If any men or women be a witch, (that is hath or consulteth with a familiar spirit), They shall be put to death.
3. If any man shall Blaspheme the Name of God, the Father, Sonne or Holie Ghost, with direct, expresse, presumptous or high handed blasphemie, or shall curse God in the like manner he shall be put to death.
95. 1. All the people of God within this Jurisdiction who are not in the church way, and the orthodox Judgment, and not scandalous in life, shall have full libertie to gather themselves into a Church Estaite. Provided they doe it in a Christian way, with due observation of the rules of Christ revealed in his word...
10. Wee allow private meetings for edification in religion amongst Christians of all Sortes of people. So be it without just offence for number, time, place, and other cercumstances.> 1641BL001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1641BL001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Massachusetts Body of Liberties, 1641. Massachusetts Colonial Records, 1:174. Benjamin Fletcher Wright, Jr., American Interpretations of Natural Law (New York: Russell & Russell, 1962), p. 33. John Eidsmoe, Christianity and the Constitution-The Faith of Our Founding Fathers (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, A Mott Media Book, 1987, 6th printing 1993), p. 33. "Our Christian Heritage," Letter from Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 2.