[Footnote 359: Many of the enactments of the colonies are described by Lord Campbell as "anticipating and going beyond most of the salutary amendments which have been adopted in the reigns of William IV. and Victoria."--GOODWIN, _Pilgrim Republic_, 251.] Governor Winthrop, in commenting upon "a great marriage to be solemnized at Boston," in 1647, expresses the sentiment prevailing during the first three-quarters of a century after the settlement. The bridegroom was "of Hingham, Mr. Hubbard's[360] church," and the latter "was procured to preach and came to Boston to that end. But the magistrates, hearing of it, sent to him to forbear. The reasons were, 1. for that his spirit had been discovered to be averse to our ecclesiastical and civil government, and he was a bold man, and would speak his mind. 2. we were not willing to bring in the English custom of ministers performing the solemnity of marriage, which sermons at such times might induce, but if any ministers were present and would bestow a word of exhortation, etc., it was permitted."[361] The last remark reminds us of the benediction of the early Christian priest, who, like the Puritan, discriminated between the religious act and the marriage. Sermons, however, were originally proscribed at the nuptials, though they were permitted at the betrothal.[362] [Footnote 360: Peter "Hobart": GOODWIN, _Pilgrim Republic_, 596; DEXTER, _Congregationalism_, 458 n. 166; YOUNG, _Chronicles of the Pilgrims_, 402 n. 2.] [Footnote 361: WINTHROP, _History of New England_ (ed. SAVAGE, 1853), II, 382 (313).] [Footnote 362: See especially DEXTER, _Congregationalism_, 458, who has pointed out the error of Mr. Savage (WINTHROP, _Hist. of New England_, II, 382 n. 2) in confusing the nuptials with the "contraction."]