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--K.

OR, THE

ECCLESIASTICAL fflSTORY

NEW-

rROM ITS FIRST PLANTING

IN THE YEAR 1620, UNTO THE YEAR OF OUR LORD, 1698.

m SEVEN BOOKS.

By THE Revkrend and Learned COTTON ]^THEL, D.D.— F.R.S.
And Pastor of the North Church in Boston, Jiew-Engtand,

IN TWO VOLUME^.'

o "■ cX*>:'- -.^^h^s:.

VOL.I.„g^ ,i,^^

FIRST AMERICAN COITION, FROM THE iXkHDOViniTION OVAIOfJIi

HARTFORD:

J:^

PUBLISHED BY SILAS ANDRU«.

Roberts k £urr, Priolera.

1820.

■^

L>- 1

GENERAL CONTENTS OP THE SEVERAL BOOKS.

' >!

VOL. I.

I. Aiitiquilies. In seven chapters.

With an Appendix.
II. Containing the lives of the Gov*

ernours, and names of the Ma-

SBtratcs of New England. In
irtecn chapters. With an Ap-
pendix.

III. The Live* of sixty Famous Di*
vinesj by whose ministry the
Churches of New-England have
been planted and continued.

VOL. II.

IV. An account of the University of
Cambridge in New-England ; in
TwoParts. The first contains
the Laws, the Benefactors, and
Vicissitudes of Harvard College;
withremarksupoa.it. The se-
cond part contains the Lives
of some eminent persons educa-
ted in it.

V. Acts and Monuments of the Faith
and Order in the Churches of
Kte^TEqi^land, passed in their
Synods ; tnth Historical Re-
marks upon thos^yeperable as-
semblies ; and a great variety of
Church-cases occurring, and re-
solved by the Synods of those
Churches. In four Parts.

VI. A Faithful Record of many il-

lustrious, wonderful Providen-
ces, both of mercies and judg-
ments, on divers persons in
New- England. In Eight Chap-
ters.
VII. The Wars of the Lord. Be-
ing an History of the manifold
Afflictions and Disturbances of
the Churches in New-England,
from their various adversaries,
and the wonderful methods and
mercies of God in their deliver-
ance. In six Chapters. To
which is subjoined, an Appen-
dix of Remarkable Occurrences
which New-England had in the
wars with the Indian salvages,
from the year 1688, to the year
1698.

■k.'^'^' .ii^>y^' ii'Mf'rli:^''^ .!"

^ '•' ^

•

PREFACE TO THE PRESENT EDITION.

THE Publisher of this second Edition of Dr. MatherV Magnalia,
has long been sensible of the great demand for tlie Work, both by lite-
rary men and all others who wish to be acquainted with the early history
of our country. The first Edition was published in London in the year
1702| in a Folio Volume of 788 pages. A considerable number of
Copies were soon brought into New England ; yet, as many of these are
lost, and the work is not to be obtained in England but with difficulty, it
has become very scarce. In some instances it has been sold at a
great price, but, in most cases, those who hare been desirous to possess,
or even to read, the volume, have been unable to procure it. ^

The Magnalia is a standard work with Anericafi Historians, and must *
ever continue to be such, especially, respecting the affairs of New Eng-
land. To this portion of our country, always distinguished for emigra-
tions, a great part of the population of New- York, the most important
state in the American confederacy, and of all the western states north of
the Ohio, will always trace their origin. Nor will the lapse of ages, dimin-
ish their respect for the land of their forefathers.

The work now presented to the American public contains the history of
the Fathers of New -England, for about eighty years, in the most authen-
tic form. No man since Dr. Mather's time, has had so good an oppor-
tunity, as he enjoyed, to consult the most authentic documents. The
greater part of his facts could be attested by living witnesses and the
shortest tradition, or taken from written testimonies, many of which have
since perished. The situation and character of the author afforded him
the most favourable opportunities to obtain the documents necessary for
his undertaking. And no historian would persue a similar design with
greater industry and zeal.

The author has been accused of credulity. This charge, however, will
not be advanced with confidence by those well acquainted with the char-
acter of the times of which he treats. The great object of the first Plan*
ters of New-England was to form A Christian Commonwealth. A de-
sign without a parallel in ancient or modern times. The judicious read-
er would expect to discover, in the annals of such a people, characters
and events not to be found in the history of other communities. — The
geography and natural history of the country were not the principal ob-
jects of the author's attention, and, on these subjects, he has fallen into
some mistakes.

I #' l»

♦ -^ .*

FRBrACB TO THE TtLtttOllf BDITIOK.

The work ii both a civil and '^ eccleiiastical hiitory.— The large
portfwn of it devoted to Biography, affords the reader a more diatinct
▼iew of the leading characters of the timesi than could have been given
in any other form.

The anthor'a language is peculiarly his own. In the rapidity of hit
manner, he could pay but little attention to his style. Such as it is, it
has been thought best to retain it, in this Edition, as well as his orthog-
raphy, unaltered. The Titles of D. D. and F. R. S. were given to Dr.
Mather after the publication of this work, and are now annexed to hie
name in the title page.

.Many omissions in the original work have been recommended,
but the publisher concludes to retain the whole. — He is sensible of the
risk of publishing so large a work, ^t the present time. But relying on
the utility of the object, he entertains a hope that the liberality of the
public will save him from loss.

HARTronp, CoffABCTicvT, June Ist 1820.

.•>*«4'A.':iaif:#l',1f^-,

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TIQUITIBS.

THE

FIRST BOOK

or THE

ITffilT^BIKDILSSat OSSS V<DS7<

IBPORTINO

THE DBSIOE WHERE'
THE MANRER WHERE
AHO rSOPLE WHERE'

The aeTenl Coloeie*
Enolahd were

on A C The aev
•in, J ? of New
by,) ( Planted.

WITH

OF MANY MEMORABLE PASSAGES,

RELATIEO TO THE

SETTLEMENT OP THESE PLANTATIONS;

AMD

AN ECCLESIASTICAL MAP OF THE COUNTRY.

BT THE ENDEAVOUR OF

COTTON MATHER.

TanUB Molts erat,pro CHRISTO condere Gentem.

HARTFORD :
PRINTED FOR SILAS ANDRUS.

1820.

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ATTESTATION

TO THIS

CHURCH-HISTORY

NEW-ENGLAND,

It hath been deservedly esteemed, one of the great and wonderful
works of God in this latt age, that the Lord stirred up the spirits of so
many thousands of his servants, to leave the pleatant land of England, the
land of their nativity, and to transport themseleves, and families, over the
ocean sea, into a desert land in America, at the distance of a thousand
leagues from their own country ; and this, meerly on the account of pure
and undefihd Religion, not knowing how they should have their daily
bread, but trusting in God for that, in the way o( seeking first the kingdom
of God, and the riglUeoutness thereof: And that the Lord was pleased to
grant such a gracious presence of his with them, and such a blessing upon
their undertakings, that within a few years a wilderness was subdued be>
fore them, and so many Colonies planted. Towns erected and Churches set-
tled, wherein the true and living God in Christ Jesus, is worshipped and
served, in a place where time out of mind, had been nothing before but
Heathenism, Idolatry, and Devil-worship ; and that the Lord has added so
many of the blessings of Heaven and earth for the comfortable subsistence
of his people in these ends of the earth. Surely of this work, and of this
time, it shall be said, what hath God wrought ? And, this is the Lord*s do-
ings, it is marvellous in our eyes! Even so (0 Lord) didst thou lead thy peo-
pie, to make thyself a glorious name! Now, one generation passeth away, and
another cometh. The first generation of our fathers, that began this plan-
tation of JWw-JEn^/ant/, most of them in their middle age, and many of
them in their declining years^ who, after they had served the will of God,
in laying the foundation (as we hope) of many generations, and given an
example of true reformed Religion in the faith and order of the gospel,
according to their best light from the iverds of God, they are now gath'

8 AN ATTESTATION TO THIS CHURCH-HISTORY. A.

ered unto thtirfatheri. There hath been another generation lacceediDg the
Jirit, either of such ai come over with their parents very young, or were
bom in the country,and these have had the managing of the poblick affair*
for many yean, but are apparently patting away, aa their fathert before
them. There ia also a thxrd generation, who are grown up, and begin to
stand thick upon the stage o( action, at this day, and these were all born
in the country, and may call ^few-England their native land. Now, in re-
spect of what the Lord hath done for these generations, succeedi % one
another, we have aboundant cause of Thanksgiving to the Lord our Ood,
who hath so increased and bir.ssed this people, that from a day of tmall
thingt, he has brought us to be, what we now are. We may set up a>
Ebbnezer, and »»y, hitherto the Lord hath helped ut. Yet in respect of our
present ttate, we have need earnestly to pray, as we are directed, Let thy
work farther appear unto thy tervantt, and let thy beauty be upon ut, and
thy glory upon our children ; eilabliih thou the workt ofthete our handt; yea,
the worJu of our handt, eitablish thou them.

For, if we look on the dark side, the humane side of this work, there
is much o( humane weakneti, and imperfection hath appeared in all that
hath been done by man, as was acknowledged by our fathert before us.
Neither was New-England ever without tome fatherly chattiiementt from
God ; shewing that He is not fond of the formalitiet of any people upon
earth, but expects the realitiei of practical Oodlinett, according to our
profession and engagement unto him. Much more may we, the children of
auch fathers, lament our gradual degeneracy from that life and power of
OodhnesSf that was in them, and the many provoking evilt that are amongst
us ; which have moved our God severely to witness against us, more
than in our Jirst limes, by his lesser judgments going before, and h'u great-
er judgments following ufler ; he shot off his waming-piecei first, but his
murthering pieces have come after them, in so much as in these calami-
tous times, the changes of wars of Europe have had such a malignant in-
fluence upon us in America, that we are at this day greatly diminished and
brought low, through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

And yet if we look on the light side, the divine side of this work, we
may yet see, thut the glory of God which was with our fathers, is not
wholly departed from ua their children ; there are as yet many signs of
his gracious presence with us, both in the way of his providences, and in
the use of his ordinances, aa also in and with the hearts and souls of a con-
siderable number of his people in New-England, that we may yet say as
they did. Thy name is upon us, and thou art in the midst of us, therefore,
Lord, leave us not ! as Solomon prayed, so may we, the Lord our God be
with us, as he was with our fathers ; let him not leave nor forsake us; but
incline our hearts to keep his commandments. And then, that he would
maintain his own, and hispeopWs cause, at all times, as the matter may re-
quire.

For the Lord our God hath in his infinite wisdom, grace, and holiness,
contrived and established His covenant, so as he will be the God of his
people and of their seed with them, and afler them, in their generations ;
and in the ministerial diapensation of the covenant of grace, in, with and
to his visible Church, He hath promised covenant-mercies on the condition
of covenant-duties. If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble
themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways,
then will J hear their prayers, forgive their sins, and heal their land ; and
mine eyes, and mine heart, shall he upon them perpetually for good ! that so

AN ATTESTATION TO THIS CHURCH-HISTORY, kc. 9

and

mess,
)f his
tions ;
and
iditioD
umhle

iht/aithfulmu of Ood may wppear id all generations for ever, that if there
he any breach between the Cord and hia ptoplt^ it ahall appear plainly to
lye on hit p<o/)/«'« part. And therefore he hat taken care, that hit own
atalingi with his people in the course of hisjprovi((«tic«, and their deal'
•Hge with him in tqe ways of obedience or diiobedienee, should be recorded,
and so transmitted for the use and benefit of after-times, from generation
to generation ; as, {Exodut 17. 14.) the Lordtaid unio Moses, write tki$
for a memorial in a book ; and, {Deut. 31. 19.) write ye thie eongforvoUf
that it may be a witnenfor me againtt the children of lsrae^ ; and (rm.
102. 18.) Thie and that $h«dl be written for the generation to come, and the
people that ehcdl be created ehall praise the Lord. Upon this ground it
was said (in P*al. 44. 1.) We have heard with our eart, O Qod, and our
fathere have told «*, what work thou didst in their daye in times of old, how
thm castest out the Heathen, andplantedst them ; (so likewise in Psal. 78.
V. 3 to the 8th.) Upon the same account it may be said, (Pia/. 46. last.)
/ will make thy name to be remen^ered to all generations : and this is one
reason why the Lord commanded so great a part of the Holy Scriptures to
be written in an historical way, that the wonderful works of God towards
his church and people, and their acting towards him again, might be known
unto all generations : and after the scripture-time, so far as the Lord in
bis holy wisdom hath seen meet, he hath stirred up some or other to
write the acts and monuments of the church'of God in all ages ; especially
since the reformation of religion from antichristian darknesa, was vigor'
ously, and in a great measure successfully, endeavoured in the foregoing
oentury, by such learned and pious persons, as the Lord inclined and
inabled thereunto.

And threfore surely, it hath been a duty incumbent upon the people
of God, in this our Afew-Etwland, that there should be extant, a true
history of the worderful works of God in the late plantation of this part
of America ; which was indeed planted, not on the account of any
worldly interest, but on a design of enjoying and advancing the true
reformed religion, in a practical way ; and also of the good hand of God
opon it from the beginning unto this day, in granting such a measure of
good success, so far as we have attained : such a work as this hath been
much desired, and long expected, both at home and abroad, and too long
delayed by us, and sometimes it hath seemed a hopeless thing ever to be
attained, till God raised up the spirit of this learned and pious person,
one of the sons of the eolUdge, and one of the ministers of the third
generation, to undertake this work. Hia learning and Godliness, and
ministericd abilities, were so conspicuous, that at the age of seventeen
years, he was called to be a publick preacher in Boston, the metropolis
of the whole English America ; and within a while after that, he was
ordained pastor of the same church, whereof his own father was the
teacher, and this at the unanimous desire of the people, and with the
approbation of the magistrates, ministers and churches, in the vicinity of
Boston. And after he had, for divers years, approved himself in an
exemplary way, and obliged his native country, by publishing many useful
treatises, suitable to the present state of Religion amongst us, he set
himself to write the church- history of New-England, not at all omitting his
ministerial employments ; and in the midst of many difficulties, tears and
temptations, having made a diligent search, collecting of proper materials,
and selecting the choicest mem>orials, he hath, in the issue, within a few
months, contrived, composed, and methodized the same into this form

VOK. I,

40 AN ATTESTATION TO THIS CHURCH-HISTORY,

and frame which we here «ee : ao that it deserres the vM/tn of, THE
CHVRCH'HISTORV OF NmWBJfQLAND.

But as 1 behold this exen)plary son of Afew- England, while thus youiig
and tender, at such a rate baiMiag the Temple of Ood, and in a few
months dispatching such a piece of TVmpfe'Work as this is ; a work so
notably adjusted and adorned, it brings to mind the epigram npon young
borellut :

Cum Juveni tantam dedit Experientia Lueem,
Tale ul protnat opus, quam Dabit ilia Seni ?
if'

■ Aa for my $elt\ having been, by the mercy of God, now abore sixty
eight yean in Neite-En^emd, and served the Lord and his people in my
weak measure, sixty yean in the ministry of the gospel, I may now say
in my old age, I have seen all that the Lord hath done for his people in
New-Bngland, and have known the beginning and progress of these
churches unto this day ; and having read over much of this history, I
cannot but in the love and fear of God, bear witness to tbe truth of it ;
viz. That this present church-history of New-England, compiled by Mr.
CoUon Mather, for the substance, end and scope of it, is, as farifs i have
been acquainted therewithal!, according to truth.

The manifold advantage, and usefulness of this present hisiory, will ap-
pear, if we consider the great and good ends onto which it may be
serviceable ; as.

First, That a plain scriptarat duty of recording Me works of Ood unto
after-times, may not any longer be omitted, but performed in the best
manner we can.

Secondly, That by the manifestation of the truth of things, as they
have beet and are amongst us, the misrepresentations of Ne«D-£Rj;(an«
may be removed and prevented ; for. Rectum est sui 4* obliqui Index. '^

Thirdly, That the true original and design of this plantation may not
be lost, nor buried in fublivion, but known and remembered for ever,
[Psal. 1 1 1. 4. He hath fnade his wonderful works to be remembered. Psal.
105. 5. Rememher ye the marvellous works which he hath done.]

Fourthly, That God may have the glory of the great and good works
which be hath done for his people in these ends of the earth, [As in Isai-
ah 63. 7. I will mention the loving kindness of the Lord, and the praises
of the Lord, according to all the great goodness and mercy he has be-
stowed on us.]

fifthly. That the names of such eminent persons as the Lord made use
of, as instruments in his hand, for the beginning and carrying on of this
work, may be embalmed, and preserved, for the knowledge and imitation
of posterity ; for the memory of the just is blessed.

Sixthly, That the present generation mny remember the way wherein
the Lord hath led his people in this wilderness, for so many years past
unto this day ; [according to ttmt in Deut. 8. 2. Thou shalt remember aU
the way wherein the Lord hath led thee in the wilderness this forty years,
to humble thee, and to prove thee, and to know what was in thy heart,
whether thou wouldest keep his commandments or no.] All considering
persons cannot but observe, that our wilderness-condition hath been i\ill
of humbhng, trying, distressing providences. We have had our Massahs
and Meribahs ; and few of our churches but have had some remarkable
hours of temptation passing over them, and God's end in all has been to

.' .-.'u

4feN ATTESTATION TO THIS CHURCH-HISTORY, lie. 11

prove a*, ivllftber, according to onr profeuiou, and /Wn expectation^ yre
would keep ki$ eomtnandmenUf or not.

. Seoentmv, That the generaHone to come in New'Enghnd, may kaow
the God of Aeir /ather$, and may terve him with a perfect heartland
willing mind ; as especially the firtt generaliotk did before them ; aod
that they may »et their hope m Gx>d, and not forget hit works, but keep his
commandments. (PubH. 78. 7.)

Eighthly, And whereas it may be truly said, (as Jer. 23. 21.) Tkai token
this people began to follow the Lord into this wilderness, they were, holi-
ness to the Lord, and he planted them as a noblevine ; yet if ia process of
tiiiie, when they are greatly increased and taulliplied , they should so far
degenerate, as to forget the religious design ot their fathers, and ibr-
sake the holy ways of God, (as it was said of them in Hosea 4. 7. ^s
they were increased, so they sitmed against the Lord) and so that many
evils aRd||roubles wiU befall them j then this Book may be for a witness
against them ; and yet through the mercy of God, may be .also a means
to reclaim them, and cause them to return again unto the Lord, and his
holy ways, that he may return again in mercy unto them ', even unto the
many thousands of New-England.

JVintUy, That the little daughter of JSTew-England in America, may
bow down herself to her mother England, in Europe, presenting this
memorial unto her ; assuring her, that though by some of her angry
brethren, she was forced to make a local secession, yet not a separation,
but hath always retained a dut'ful respect to the Church of God in Eng-
land ; and giving some account to her, how graciously the Lord has
dealt with . herself in a remote wilderness, and what she has been doing
all this while ; giving her thanks for all the supplies she has received
from her i and because she is yet in her mtnor%,she craves her farther
blessing and favour as the case may require : being glad if what is now
presented to her, may be of any use, to help forward the union and agree'
iiient of hAr brethren, which would be some satisfaction to her for her un-
desired local distance from her dear England ; and finally promising all
Ihiit reverence and obedience which is due to her good mother, by virtue
of the fifth commandment. And

Lastly, That this present history may stand as a monument, in relation
to future times, of a fuller and better reformation of the Church of God,
than it hath yet appeared in the world. For by this Essay it may be
seen, that a farther practical reformation than that which began at the
first coming out of the darkness of Popery, was aimed at, andenideavour-
ed by a great number of voluntary exiles, that came into a wilderness for
that very end, that hence they might be free from humane additions and
inventions in the worship of God, and might practice the positive part of di-
vine institutions, according to the word of God. How far we have attained
this design, may be judged by this Book, But we beseech our brethren,
of our own and of other nations, to believe that we are far from think-
ing that we have attained a perfect reformation. Ob, no ! Our fathers
did in their time acknowledge, there were many defects and imperfections
in our way, and yet we believe they did as much as could be expected
from learned and godly men in their circumstances ; and ym, their sue-
cessors, are far short of them in many respects, meeting with many t^^-
ctUties which they did not ; and mourning under many rebukes from our
God which they had not, aod with trembling hearts observing the grad-
ual decliuings that are amongst us from the holy ways of God ; we are,
forced to cry out, and say, Lord, what will become of these churches in

US'

18 AN ATTESTATION TO THIS CHURCH-HISTORY, <ic.

time ? And what wilt thou do for Ay grtat name f Anj^^tst in the
multitade of our thoughts and fean, the contolationt of God nfrtth owr
tonti, that all those that m nmplieity and godly sincerity do senre the
Lord, and his people in their generation (though they should miss it in
some things) they shall deliTer their own souls, they are accepted of the
Lord, and their rewdrd i$ with him ; and in the approaching days of a bet-
ter reformation^ the sincere, though weak endeavours of the servants of
God, that went before them, will be also accepted of the saints in those
times of greater light and holiness, that are to come ; and when the
Lord shall make Jerwalem (or, the true Church of God, and the true
Christian religion) a praise in the earth, and the joy of many generations,
then the mistakes o{ these times will be rectified ; and that which is of
God in any of his churches, now in any part of the world, will be owned
and improved unto an higher degree of practical godliness, that shall
continue for many generations succeeding one another, whicbi^hitherto
hath been so rare a thing to be found in the wor!^.

1 shall now draw to a conclusion, with an ohservaiion which hath visited
my thoughts : that the Lord hath blessed the family of the Mathers,
amongst us, with a singular blessing, in that no less than ten of them, have
been accepted of him, to serve the Lord and his people in the ministry
of the Gospel of Jesus Christ ; of whom, as the Apostle said in another
case, though some are fallen asleep, yet Wxb greatest part remain unto this
day ; 1 do not know the like iaionr Nvw-Et^land, and perhaps it will be
found rare to parallel the same in other countries. Truly 1 have thought,
it hath been a reward of grace, with respect unto the faithfulness they
have expressed, in asserting, clearing, maintaining, and putting on for the

Practice of that great principle, of the propagation of Religion in these
'hurches, viz. The Covenant'Stale and Church-memhership of the Children
bom in these Churches, together with the Scripture-duties appertaining
thereunto, and that by vertue of God's Covenant of Grace, established by
God with his people, and their seed with them, and after them in their
generations. And this has been done especially by Mr. Richard Mather
the father, and by Mr. Increase Mather his son, and by Mr. Cotton Mather
his son, the Author of this present Work.

I aball give the Reader the satisfaction to enumerate this happy De-
eemvirate

1. Richard Mather, Teacher of the Church in Dorcfcesfer.

2. Samuel Mather : He was the first Fellow of Harvard-Colledge in
CanAridge in New-England, and the first Preacher at North-Boston,
where his brother and his nephew are now his successors. He was af-
terwards one of the Chaplains in Magdalen-Colledge in Oxford ; after
that, a senior Fellow of Trinity-Colledge in JPu6/»n, and Pastor of a Church
in that city, where he died.

3. Nathaniel Mather ; which succeeded his biotber Samuel as Pastor
of that Church in Dublin, and is now Pastor of a Church in London.

4. Eleazar Mather : He was Pastor of the Church at Northampton in
New-England, and much esteemed in those parts of the country : he
died when he was but thirty-two years old.

6. Increase Mather ; who is known in both Englands. These four
were sons of Richard Mather.

6. Cotton Mather, the Author of this History.

7. Nathaniel Mather. He died at the nineteenth year of his age ;
was a Master of Arts ; began to preach in private. His piety and
learniug was beyond his years. The history of his Life tmd Death wa5

Pastor

se four

AN ATTESTATION TO THIS CHUar!i iTORY, &c. 13

.,t

written by jHi hrotker, and there have been thtefi idit<m$ of it prkited
at London. He died here at Sedem, and over his Grave there is writ"
ten, THE ASHES or AH hard student, a aoon scholar, ard a orbat

CHRISTIAir.

8. Samuel Mather ; he is now a pablick preacher. These three last
mentioned, are the sons of /ncreote MeOker.

9. Samuel Mather ^ the son o£ Timothy, and grandson of Richard Math-
er? He is the pastor of a church in Windeor ; a pious and prudent man ;
who has been an happy instrument of uniting the church and town,
amongst whom there had been great divisions.

10. Warham Mather, the son of Eleazar Mather ^ and by his mother
grandson to the Reverend Mr. Warham, late pastor of the church ia
fVindnor ; he is now also a public preacher. Behold, an happy family;
the glad tight whereof, may well inspire even an old ag/R past eighty,
with poetry enough to add this,

EPIORAMMji MATHEROS.

O J^mium Dilecte Deo, Venerande Mathere,
Gaudens tot Mttoa Christi numerare Ministroa !
Det Deus ut tales insurgant tuqtte Matheri,
Et Mxti, Matorum, ^ gui Jfaacentur ab illia.
Has inter Stellas fulgens, Cottone Mathere,
Patrum tu sequeris vestigia semper ad oranSf
Phosphorus ast aliis !

Now the Lord, our God, the faithful God, HhvAkeepeth conenant and
mercy to a thousand generations, with his people ; let him incline the
heart of his people of New-England, to keep covenant and duty to-
wards their God, to walk in bis ways, and keep his commandments, that
he may bring upon them the blessing of Mraham, the mercy and truth
unto Jacob, the sure mercies oi David, the grace and peace that cometh
from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ ; and that the grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ may be in and with these churches, from one gene-
ration to another, until the second coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus
Christ ! Unto him be glory and dominion,for ever and ever. Ahbh.

Salem, the 25tb of the first month, 1697,

JOHN HIGGINSON.

age ;
>ty and
athvfBS

A W

ON THAT EXCBLLBNT BOOK, KMTITULBO

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA .

Writtek by the Rev. Mr. COTTON MATHER,
Pastor of a Church at Bostoti^ Kna-England,

TO THE CANDID READER.

Struck with huge love, of what to be poaaest,
I much deapond, good reader, in the quest ;
Yet help me, if at length it may be aaid,
Who first the chambers of the south diaplay'd ?
Inform me, whence the tawny people came ?
Who was their fether, Japhet, Shem, or Cham?
And how they stradd?')d to th' Antipodes,
To look another world beyond the eeaa ?
And when, and why, and where they last broke ground,
What risks they rau, where they firat anchoring found ?
Tell me their patriarchs, prophets, priests, and kings,
Religion, manners, monumental things :
What charters had they ? What immunities ?
What altars, temples, cities, colonies,
Did they erect ? Who were their publick spirits ?
Where may we find the records oftheir merits ?
What instances, what glorious displayes
Of heav'ns high hand, commenced in their dayes ?
These things in black oblivion covered o'er^
(As theyM ne'er been) lye with a thousand more,
A vexing thought, that makea me scarce forbear
To stamp, and wring my hands, and pluck my hair.
To think, what blessed ignorance hath done.
What fine threads learning's enemies have spun,
How well books, schools, and coUcdge may be spar'd.
So men with beasts may fitly be compar'd !
Yes, how tradition leaves us in the lurch.
And who, nor stay at home, nor go to church : »

The light-within-enthusiasts, who let fiy
Against our pen and ink divinity ;
Who boldly do pretend (but who'll believe it ?)
If Genesis were lost, they could retrieve it ;
Yea, all the sacred writ ; pray let them try
On the New World, their gift of prophecy.
For all them, the new world's antiquities,
Smother'd in evejrlastnig silence lies ;

■V.i?

iVil

INTRODUCTORY POEMS, &c.

^ its first saehinu mention'd are no more,
Than they that Jlgamemmm liv'd before.
The poor .^tnerteaiw are under blume,
Like them of old, that from Tel-melah came,
Conjectur''d once to be of Israel* s seed.
But no record appear'd to prere the deed :
And like Habajah's sons, that were pat b^ ^
The priesthood, holv things to come not nigh, >
For having lost their genealogy. j

Who can past things to memory command,
Till one with Aaron's breast-plate up shall stand ?
Mischiefs remediless such sloth ensue ;
God and their parents lose their honour due.
And children's children suffer on that score, .
Like bastards Cast forlorn at any door ;
And they and others put to seek their &ther,
For want of Such a scribe as Cotton Mather ;
Whose piety, whose pains, and peerless pen.
Revives New- England* s nigh>lost origin.

Heads of our tribes, whose corps are under ground-,
Th<';ir rames and fames in chronicles renown'd,
Begemm'd on golden ouches he hath set,
Past envy's teeth and time* corroding fret :
Of Death and malice, he has brusb'd off the dust,
And made a resurrection of the just :
And clear 'd the land's religion of the gloss,
AnA eopper'Cuts of Alexander Ross.
He hath related academic things.
And paid their Jirst fruits to the King of kings ;
And done his Alma Mater that just favour,
To shew sal gentium hath not lost its savour.
He writes like*an historian, and divine, >
Of Churches, Synods, Faith, and Discipline.
Illustrious Providences are displayed.
Mercies and judgments are in colours laid ;
Salvations wonderful by sea and land ,
Themselves are saved by bis pious hand.
The Churches* wars, and various enemies, \
Wild salvages, and wilder sectaries, S

Are notify'd for them that after rise. )

This well-instructed Scribe brings new and old.
And from his mines digs richer things than gold ;
Yet freely gives, as fountains do their streams,
Nor mof e than they, himself, bv giving, drains.
He's all design, and by his craftier wiles
Locks fast his reader, and the time beguiles :
Whilst wit and learning move themselves aright, ^
Thro' ev'ry line, and colour in our sight, S

So interweaving pro/!< with delight ; )

And curiously inlaying both together,
That he must needs find both, who looks for either.

His preaching, writing, and his pastoral care,
Are very much, to fall to one man's share.
This added to the rest, is admirable,

INTRODUCTORY POEMS, kc.

And proves the mthor indefatigable.

Play is his toyl, and work bis recreation,

And his invenUone next to inspiration.

His|»eti was taken from some bird of light.

Addicted to a swift and lofty flight.

Dearly it loves art, air, and eloquence.

And lutes eot^nement, save to tnUh and teni*.

Allow what's kqown ; they who write histories
Write many things they see with others' eyes ;
^Tis fair, where nooght is feign'd, nor undigested,
Nor ought, but what is credibly attested.
The risk is his ; and seeing others do,
Why may not I speak mine opinion too t

The itijff"w true, the trimming neat and spruce.
The workman 's good, the work of publick use ;
Most piously designed, a publick store.
And well deserves the publick thanks, and more.

Nicholas Notbs, Teacher of the Church at Salem,

BEVBREHnO DOMIITO,

D. ayrroM) MjiDERo, ^

iiibri utilissimi, cui Titulus, Maf^nalia Chritti Americana,

Authori Doctissimo, ac Dilectissimo,
Dqo Ogdoastica, & bis duo Anagrammata, dat Idem, JV. J^oyes.

COTTONUS MADERUS.

. C Est duo Sanctorum,

^^' \ Mtttu es Doctorum,

Nomina Sanctorum, mtoa Scribie, clara duorun
JVbmtne Cemo Tuo; Virtutes Lector easdem
CandiduB inveniet Tecum, Charitate refertaa,
Doctrina Eximius Doctos, Pietate piosque
Tu bene describia, deacribere neacit at alter,
Doctorum es Natus, Domino Spirante Renatua ;
De bene quasitis gaudeto Tertius Hares j
Momen prcesagit, nee non Jinagrammata, votes.

•

COTTONUS MADERUS..

. ( Unctaa demortuos,

°''* \ Senatus Doctorum,

Unctas demort'os, decoratur Laude Senatus
Doctorum, Merita, fit praaena praterita ataa^
Huic exempla patent, <y> poatera Progenitorjes

INTRODUCTORY POEMS, &c.

jVon ignorabit, patriitque $t^«rbitt Actit ;
More^ FHdef otdtu, yuo^ patristare itudebU ;
Oratum opuB t$t Dmmno^ Patria nee inutile no$tr0f
Orbifructijicat, Fer Fertilitatit Honorumf
Scribendo Viiaa alinuu, propria teripta ctf., ,

CELKBBIUIIMI

COTTOJil MATHERi,

CBLKBRATIO ;

Qui Heroom ViUik, in iui-ipai«i k illohtm Me|ioriam
sempiteraun, revocavit.

Quod patriot Manes revoeaati a Sedibtu altit,
Sulvestres Masa gratety Mathere, rependunt*
Hcec nova Progenies^ veterum tub Imagine, calo
Arte Tua Terram viaitana, demiaaa, aalutat.
Grata Deo Pietaa ; Gratea peraolvimua omnea f
Semper HonoSj Mnntnque Tuum, Mathere, manelmnt.

Is the bless'd MATtoaa neeromatuer tern'd,
To raise his eoantries father's ashes urm'd ?
Eliaha't dast, life to the dead ini|Huris ;
This prophet by his more /amt7«ar arlr,
Unaeatt our Aieroet* tombs, and gif ^s them air;
They rise, they walk, they talk, look wond'roQS fhir ;
Each of them in aa orb of light doth shine.
In liveries of glory most divine.
When ancient names I in thy pages met,
Like gems on Aaron*a cosUy breast-plate set ;
Methinks Heaven's open, while great aainti descend,
To wreathe the brows, by which their acta were penn'd.

B. THOMPSON.

Vnr.. T.

:,t^ ■«:>'«. ji

^>y

TO THE REVEREND

MR, COTTON MATHER,

ON HIS

HISTORY OF JVEW'ENGLAXD.

In this hard age, when men such slackness show,
To pay Lmt't debts, and what to Truth we owe,
You to step forth, and such example shew,
In paying what's to God and country due.
Deserves our thanks : tnt'ne I do freely give ;
'Tis fit that with the raiitd ones you live.

Great your attempt. No doubt some sacred spy,
That Leiger in ybtar sacred cell did ly,
Nurs'd your first thoughts, with gentle beams of light,
And taught your hand things past to bring to sight :
Thus led by secret sweetest Influence,
You make returns to God's good providence :
Recording how that mighty hand war nigh,
To trace out paths not known to mortal eye,
To those brave men, that to this land came o'er,
And plac'd them safe on the Atlantick $hore :
And how the same hand did them after save,
And say, jR«(urn, oA; on the brink o' th' grave ; ''*
And gave them room to spread, and bless'd their root,
Whence, hung with fruit, now, many branches shoot.

Such were these AeroM, and their /aftouri such.
In their just praise, sir, who can say too much ?
Let the remotest parts of earth behold,
New-Englanefi crowns excelling Spanish gold.
Here be rare lessons set for us to read, . ,. ■ '-

That offsprings are of such a goodly breed.
The dead ones here, so much alive are made,
We think them speaking from bless'd Eden's shade ;
Hark ! how they check the madness of this age,
The growth of pride, fierce lust, and worldly rage.
They tell, we shall to clam-banks come' again,
If Heaven still doth scourge us all in vain.

But, sir, upon your merits heap'd will be.
The blessings of all those that here shall see
Vertue embalm'd ; thii hand seems to put on - i .

The lawrel on your brow, so justly won.

Timothy WoooBniooE, Minister of Hartford.

INTRODUCTORY POEMS, kc.

AD PO&ITUM LITBRATURJE, ATqUB lACRAIitni LITBRATUROIf ARTIITITBl^,
AITGLIX^VE AMERICAN JC AlfTIQUARIOM CALLCITTIMIMUM,
RBVKREIfOUM DOMINVII,

D. COTTONUM mTHERUM,

APOD BOSTORENIBa, V. O. M.
IPIORAMMA.

GOTTONUS MATHERUS.
Anagr.
**»• ' Tu tantum Cohors es»

EPIORAMMA.

Ipte, vale$ Tantum, Tu, mi ntemtrande Mathere,
Fortii pro Chri$to Milit, es tpi« cohors.

A PINDAR.TC. '

Art thou Heavtn't Trumpet ? sure by the Arckangtl blown ;.

Tombs crack, dead start, saints rise, are seen and known*
And (At'ne in constellation ; , /^

From ancient flames here's a new Phanix flown.
To shew the world, when. Christ returns, hell not return alone.

J. DANFORTH, V. D. M. Dore*$tr.

TO THE LEARNED AMD REVEREND

MR. COTTON MATHER.
ON HIS EXCELLENT MAGNALIA.

Sir,

Mr muse will now by chymistry draw forth
The spirit of your name's immortal worth.

J: COTTOKIUS MATHERUS.

Anagr.

Tuos Tecum omasti.

While thus the dead in thy rare pages rise, V

TAtne, ivith thy self, thou dost immortalize.

To view the odds, thy learned live* iiqfite,

'Tmxt £^eutherian and Edomite.

But all succeeding ages shall despinr,

A fitting monument for thee to rear.

Thy own rich pen (peace, silly Momus, peace I) , ,

Hath given thena a lasting writ of ease.

Grindal Rawson, Pastor of Jlf(en<{on.

IN jBtiT camsTi
MAONALIA AMERICANA,

DIOBSTA IN SEPTIM LIBROS,
FBR MAGNUM, DOCTISSIMUMdUB VIRUM,

D. COTTOJWM MATUEEVM,

J. CHMITI BCRVCM, ECCLESlJEtiVC AMBRICANO BOITONIBNSII MIHMXKVM

riUM & DISCRTIBSIHUM.

Sunt Jlliroc/aJ^M, c^nt &iJI/agnaito CAm(t,t ^

Qua patet Orbu , knot uUra Goromanlcu, & /ndoli
Manwna^ quae paucis licuit cognoncere. Sed, quae
Cernis in Amtrica, procul unvB-^aiique videbit.

Vivii, ubi fertur nuUain viyiMe. Videaque
Mtlle homiQet, res n^AltaSy Incunabtula jnirQ.
Siraho sile, qui Maff;no, refers. VtvpyAinu. aatem
Primis scire AoviMfi potuit copalibus Or6em.r
£( dum JIfagMa, docet te GfottiM, Upde repletos
Eece per ^^Mertirom, volucresque^ bominesqae, Deosque.
Deumque libet, tibi scire licet Nofta viscera rerum.

hiullus erat, nisi brutus homo : Sine lege, Deoque.
Muma dat Antiquis, Solonque &, Jara Lycurgus.
Hie nihil, & nullae (modo sic sibi vivere) Leges.
Jam decreta vide, & Regum diplomata, curque,
Ne sibi vivat bopiOf.nostrorum vivere Regi est.
Die, tot habendo Deos, legisque videndo peritos^
Centenosque virps» celebres virtute, Statumque
Quf ja Aovu« Orbis habet ; Quantum tnutatus abtllo es!

1 .es bona. Nee sat erit, & Rege Si Lege beatum,
Pojse vehi anper As^ra. Deum tibi noscere, fas est.

Mil Lex, nil Solon, nil ti Sine Aiimtn« Numa,

Sit Deus ignotosque D«o»fQge. Molta Poetx
De Jove finxenint, Aeptfino & Marie, Diisque
Innumerabilibus. JUagntque Manitto, pependit
Non eonvarsa Deo Gens Americana^ Manitto,
Quern velut.4r(?^cem,colit,v&cett JVuiimii adorat.

E tenebris Lux est. In abysso cernere Caelum est);
Ignolumqne Dmtn, ootum Indis, BibliaSancta
Jndtca, Tetnpla, Preeei, P$almo$, mdltosque Ministros.
Ut Chriitum discant, bidorum Idiopiate Aitmen
Utitur, Ut sese pate^c^ ubique locornm.

Plura canam. Veterem Senola. Bit dispersa per OrhetnJ^
Et tot Athenais scatet Ang!us,.Belga^ Polonus,
Germanui, Oalluique. Sat est Academia nostra.
Extra Orbem ATomu Orbis habet, qaOd habetar in Orhe.

'ff't

INTRODUCTORY PO£MS, iic.

Dat Cantdtrigia Domu$ Harvardina Cathedrua
Cuilibet, U cur non daret lndi$, Proaelytiaqae ?
Trana Mare non opua eat ad P<Ulada currere. Pallas
Hie habitat, confertqae Oradu$ ; modo Pallada diacaa,
Deaiataique gradam. Quantum SapimmUa confert !
Forte ooraa, plareaque artta JVovut Orhi$ haberet.

Qootquot in America licet Admiranda auperaint,
Singula non narro. Nee opua tibi aingula narrem.
MuTtafidem auperant, multorum Exempla docebunt,
Plura quot Orfr«« habet JVooim Admiranda, quot artes,
Et quot in America de|a|unt ubicunque Co/ont.

Deque Ftn^eiii quid erit tibi noacere ? I uaua
Sperne DiMbolicos. Sunt hie Magnolia Chritti.
Ne timeaa Umbram. Corpua sine corpore spectrum est

Pax rare in terris. £tas quasi ferrea. Bellum
Sceptra gerena, g^adiosque feroz ubicunque Noverca est.
Destniit omnia, deatruit oppida, destruit artes.
Mars nulli cedit. Nihil ezitialina armia.
Testis adest. i7ttropadocetlacrjmubileBe//ttni,
Hi$pani, B$lga, Oermanif k quotqnot in Or^e
Sunt Veteri, Rigidisq ; plagia vezantur & armis.

Quas Sectas yetus Orbii habet, qua dogmata Camia ?
Primum Roma locum tenet, £filAimo*to secundum,
Arminiui tandem, Menno & Spino$a sequuntur.
Qnisqne incredibeles poterit dignoseere Sectat ?
Non tot cemuntur fidei diserimina, nee tot
Hasreticos noviM Or6t« habet, quod It Enthea res est.

Tu dilecte Deo, cujus Bottonia gaudet
Nostra Ministerio, seu cui tot scribere Libros,
Non opua, aut labor est, & qui Afagno/ia Christi
Americana refers, scriptura plurima. Nonne
Dignus es, agnoscare inter Magnolia Cftmtt f

Vive Liber, totique Or6t Mirocido monstres,
Quas sunt extra Qr6em. Cottone, in secula rive ;
Et dum Mundus erit, vivat tua Fama per Orbem.

Ddbam, J^eo-Ehoraei i
Ameriema^Vi Oct. >
1997. >

HENR1CU8 SELIJN8,
Eeeleti^e Ka»Eboraeentit MinUter Belgieiu.

-5 I-

■r- "

A* GENERAL

INTRODUCTION.

'tftt h rir; tin rmt f»riv|«/M*«w '«f iAfi«< Mum,

Dicam hoc propter utilitatem eorum qui Ltcturi sunt hoc opua,

Theodorit.

§ 1. I WRITE the Wonder I of the Christun Relioioit, flying frooi
the depravation! of Eur<^e, to the Atnerican Strand : and, aaaisted by
the Holv Author of that Religion, I do, with all conscience of Truth,
required therein bv Him, who is the Truth itralf, report the wonderful
ditplayt of His innnite Power, Wisdom, Goodness, and Faithfulness,
wherewith His Divine Providence hath irradiated an Indian Wildemeit.

1 relate the Coniiderahle Matteri, that produced and attended the First
Settlement of Colonies, which have been renowned for the degree of
Refohmatiok, professed and attained by Evangelical Churches, erected
in those ends of the earth: and a Field being thus prepared, 1 proceed
unto a relation of the Considerable Matters which have been acted there*
upon.

I first introduce the Actors, that have, in a more exemplary manner
served those Colonies ; and give Remarkable Occurrences, in the exem-
plary Lives of many Magistrates, and of more Ministers, who so lived,
M to leave unto Posterity, examples worthy of everlasting remembrance.

I add hereunto, the Notables of the only Protestant University, that
ever shone in that hemisphere of the JVew World ; with particular in-
stances of Criolians, in our Biography, provoking the whole world, with
vertuoas objects of emulation.

I introduce then, the Actions of a more eminent importance, that have
signalized those Colonies: whether the Establishments, directed by their
Synods ; with a rich variety of Synodical and Ecclesiastical Determina-
tions ; or, the Disturbances, with which they have been from all sorts of
temptations and enemies tempestuated ; and the Methods by which they
have still weathered out each horrible tempest.

And into the midst of these Actions, I interpose an entire Book, wherein
there is, with all possible veracity, n Collection made, of Memorable Oc'
currences ; and amazing Judgments and Mercies, befalling many particu-
lar persons among the people of Ne-w-England.

Let my readers expect all that I have promised them, in this Bill of
Fare ; and it may be they will find themselves entertained with yet many
other passages, above and beyond their expectation, deserving likewise
n room in Historv : in all which, there will be nothing, but the Author'n
too mean way of preparing so great entertninments, to reproach the In-
vitation.

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

§ 2. The reader will doabtleu desire to know, what it was that
tot Vohere casus

Jnsignes Pietate Viros, tot adire Labores,
Impulerit.

And our History sUaU, on many fit occasions jvl;^c^ will be therein offer-
ed, endeavour, with all hi8<torical fidelity and simplicity, and with as little
offence as may be, to satisfie him. The sum of the matter is, that from
the very beginning of the Reformation in the Engliih Nation, there
hath always been a generation of Godly Men, desirous to pursue the
Reformation of Religion, according to the Word of God, and the Example
of the best Reformed Churches; ".nd answering' the character oi Good
Men, given by Joiephus, in his Paraphrase on the words of Samuel to
Saul, fui^ 'o^* wfm x IlnniM tusxSs 'vf'' 'imtrrSt n/u^tiTH '« •> r< 'w jrM«nwri
Ttt ^ut wmAimm7««. They think they do nothing right in the service of God,
but what they do according to the eommand of God. And there hath been
another generation of men, who have still employed the power which
they have generally still had in their hands, not only to stop the progress
of the desired Reformation, but also, with innumerable vexations, to per<^
secute those that most heartily wished well unto it. There were many
of the JReform^rs, who joyned with the Reverend John Fox, in the com-
plaiiUs which he then entred in his Martyrology, aboqt the baits of Po-
P*J^ yet left in the Church ; aiid in his wishes, God take them away, or
ease- us fnm them, for God knows they be the cause of much blindness and
strife among^ men ! They zealously decreed the policy of complying al-
ways with the ignorance and vanity of the People ; and cried out ear-
nestly for purer Administrations in the house of God* and more con-
formity to the Law of Christ, and primitive Christianity : while others
would not hear of going any further than the^rst Essay of Reformation.
'Tis very certain, that the jirst Reformers never intended, that what they
did, should be the absolute boundary of Reformation, so that it should be
a sin to proceed any further ; as, by their own going beyond Wicklift,
and changing and growing in their own Models also, and the confessions
of Cranmer, with the Scripta.inglicana of Bucer, and a thousand other
things, was abundantly demonstrated. But afler a fruitless expectation,
wherein the truest friends of the Reformation long waited, for to have
that which Heylin himself owns to have been the design of the first Re-
formers, followed as it should have been, a party very unjustly arrogat-
ing to themselves, the venerable name of, The Church of England, by
numberless oppressions, grievously smote those their Feilow-Servants.
Then 'twas that, as our great Owen hath expressed it, " Multitudes of
pious, peaceable Protestants, were driven, by their severities, to leave
their native country, and seek a refuge for their lives and liberties,
with freedom, for the worship of God, in a wilderness, in the ends of
the earth."

* I 3. It is the History of these Protestants, that is here attempted :
Protestants that highly honoured and affected the Church of England,
and humbly petition to be a part of it : but by the mistake of a few pow-
erful brethren, driven to seek a place for the exercise of the Protestant
Religion, according to the light of their consciences, in the desarts of
America. Apd in this attempt 1 have proposed, not only to preserve
and secure the interest of Religion, in the Churches of that little coun-
try New-Enolan*, so far as the Lord Jesus Christ may please to bless it

GENERAL INTr6dUCTI0N.

for that end, but also to offer uoto the Churehes of the Refonuationt
abroad ia the world, some small Memorials, that may hb serviceable ao-
to the designs of RejoTmationt whereto, 1 believe, they are qaickly to be
awakened. I am far from any such boast, concerning these Churches,
that they have need of nothing, I wish their works were more perfect be-
fore God. Indeed, that which Austin called the petfettion of ChrietianSf
is like to be, until the term for the antichristian apoitasie be |e»pii€d,
the perfection of Churches too ; vi Agnoicant $e nunquam eue penecta*.
Nevertheless, I perswade myself, that to far at they /tave attained^ they
have given great examples of the methods and measures, whereiq. an
Evangelical Reformation is to be prosecuted, and of the qualifications
requisite in the instruments that are to prosecute it, and of the difficul*
ties which may be most likely to obstruct it, and the most likely JDtreco
tions and Remedies for those obstructions. It may be, 'tis not possible
for me to do a greater service unto the Churches on the bett Island <of
the universe, than to gtve a distinct relation of those great examples
which have been occurring amone Churches of «xt7e«, that were driven
out of that bland, into an horrible «t7clemet*, meerly for their being
well-willers unto the R^ormation. When that blessed Martyr Conttan-
tine was carried, with otbA* Martyrs, in a dung-cart, unto the place of
execution, he pleasantly said, *' Well, yet we are a precious odour to
God in Christ." Though the Reformed Churehet in the American Re^
ftof)>, have, by very injurious representations oftheir brethren (all which
they desire to forget and foi^ive !) been many times thrown into a dung-
carl ; yet, as they have been a preciout odour to Ood in Christ, so, I
hope, they will be a precious odour unto His people; and not only pre-
cious, but useful also, when the History of them shall come to be censid*
ered. A Reformation of the Church is coming on, and I cannot but there-
upon say, with the dying Cyrtis to his children in Xenophon, 's»i-«t
^f«V*y*nni»nin fiMitmnTi, ^mrrn ymf ^ttfi^fln hftinu^m. Learn from the things
that have 6«'e» done already, for this is the best way of learning. The
reader hath here an account of the things that have been done already,
Bernard upon that clause in the Canticlet, [0 thou fairest among women]
has this ingenious gloss, Pulehram, non omnimode quidem, ted pulchram
inter mulieres earn docet, videlicet cum distinctione, quatenus ex hoc amj^iut
repriinatur ; k sciat quid desit tibi. Thus I do not a.iy, that the Churches
of J^ew-England are the most regular that can be ; yet I do say, and am
sure, that they are very like unto those that were in the first ages
of Christianity. And if I assert, that in the Reformation of the Church,
the state of it in those first Ages, is to be not a little considered, the
great Peter Ramus, amOng others, has emboldened me. For when the
Cardinal of Lorrain, the JUixcenat of that great man, was offended at him,
for turning Protestant, he replied, /n<er C^en illas, quibus me ditasti, hat
etiam in aternum recordabor, quod Beneficio, Poessiacm Responsionis tute
didici, de quindecim a ChristO saculit, primum vere esse aureum, Reliqua,
quo longius abscederent esse nequiora, atqtie deterioru : tum igitur cum
fieret optio, Aureum saculum delegi. In short, the^r«( Age was the gol-
den Age: to return unto that, will make a man a Protestant, and I may add,
Si Puritan. 'Tis possible, that our Lord Jesus Christ carried some thou-
sands of Reformers into the retirements of an .American desart, on pur-
pose, that, with an opportunity granted unto many of his faithful ser-
vants, to enjoy the precious liberty of their Ministry, though in the midst
of many temptations all their days. He might there, to them first, and
then by them, give a specimen of many good things, which He would
Vot. !, 4

» GENERAL "introduction. "*

Imre His Churches ekewbere aspire and arise unto: and tki$ being done,
be knows not whether there be not all done, that New-England was
planted for ; and whether the Plantation may not, soon after this, come
i» nothing. Upon that expression in the sacred Scripturei Cait the un-
proJUaUe «ervant into outer darkness, it hath been imagined by some, that
the JRtgioMs ExUrvt of America, are the Teniiira Exteriorea, which the
utiprontable are there condemned unto. No doubt, the authors of those
Ecclesiastical impositions and severities, which drove tbe English Chris-
tians into the dark regiont of Jimcrica, esteemed those Christians to be a
vet7 unprofitable sort of creatures. But behold, ye European Churches,
there are golden Can^esticks [more than twice seven times seven /] in the
midst of this outer darkness : unto the upright children of Abraham, here
hath arisen /t^ in darkness. And let us humbly speak it, it shall be
profitable for you to consider the lig^, which from tbe midst of this
outer darkness, is now to be darted over unto the other side of the Atlanr
tick Ocean. But we must therewithal ask your Prayers, that these golden
Candlesticks may not quickly be removfd out of their place !

§ 4. But whether jV«ii;-£ngi2an(2 may live any where else or noj it
must live in our History !

History, in general, hath had so many lind mighty commendations
from the pens of those numberless authors, who, from Herodotus to
Hovael, have been the professed writers of it, that a tenth part of them
transcribed, would be a furniture for a Polyanthea in folio. We, that
have neither liberty, nor occasion, to quote those comme>jdations of His*
tory, will content ourselves with the opinion of one who was not much
of a professed historian, expressed in that passage, whereto all mankind
subscribe, Historia est TmIis temporum, Muntia vetustatis, Lmx verUatiSi
vita memaruBf magistra vita. But of all History it must be confessed,
that the palm is to be given unto Church History ; wherein the dignity,
the suavity, and the ^ity of the subject is transcendent. I observe,
that for the description of the whole witrld in the Book of Genesis, that
first-bom of all historians, the great Moses, implies but one or two chap-
ters, whereas he implies, it may be seven times a^ many chapters, in de-
scribing that one little Pavilion, the Tabernacle. And when 1 am thinking ,
what may be the reason of this difference, methinks it intimates unto us,
that the Church wherein the service of God is performed, is much more
precious than the world, which was indeed created for the sake and use
of the Church. 'Tis very certain, that the greatest entertainments must
needs occur in the History of the people, whom the Son of God hath
redeemed and purified unto himself, as a peculiar peopU, and whom the
Spirit of God, by, supematurcU operations upon their minds, does cause to
live like stranger* in this world, conforming themselves unto the Truths
and Rules of his Holy Word, in expectation of a Kingdom, whereto they
shall be in another and a better World advanced. Such a people our Lord
Jesus Christ hath procured and preserved in all ages visible ; and the dis-
pensations of his wonderous Providence towards this People (for, O Lord,
thou do'st lift them up, and cast them downf) their calamities, their deliv-
erances, the dispositions which they have still discovered, and the con-
siderable persons and actions found among them, cannot but afford matters
of admiration and admonition, above what any other story can pretend
unto : 'tis nothing but Atheism in tbe hearts of men, that can perswade
them otherwise. Let any person of good sense peruse the History of
Herodotus, which, like a river taking rise, where the Sacred Records of
the Old TestannetU leave off, runs along smoothly and sweetly, with rela-

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

tiona that flomAtimes perhaps want an apology^ down until the Qreeiam
drive the Persians hetbre them. Let him then peruse Tkiuydidit* wb«
from acting betook himself to writing, and carries the ancient state of the
Oreciatu, down to the twenty first year of the Peloponnesian wars in a
manner, which Casaiibon judges to be Mirandum potius quam imitandum.
Let him next revolve Xtnophitn^ that Bm of AtherUf who continues a nax-
rative of the Greek affairs, from the Peloponnesian wars, to the battle of
Mantinea, and gives us a Cyrus into the bargain, at such a rate, that Lip'
tins reckons the character of a Suavi, Fidus ^ Circumspectus Saiptor, to
belong unto him. Let him from hence proceed unto Diodorus Siadus, who,
besides a rich treasure of Egyptian, Assyrian, Lybian and Grecian, and
other Antiquities, in a phrase which according to Photim's judgment, is
'rrtfiti /Miurrm vfnrwti, of all most becoming an historian, carries on
the thread begun by bis predecessors, until the end of the hundred and
nineteenth Olympiad ; and where he is defective, let it be supplied from
^rianus, from Justin, and from Curtitts, who in the relish of Q)lerut is,
Quovis medle dulcior. Let him hereupon consult Polybiua, and acquaint
himself with the birth and growth of the Roman Empire, as far as 'tis
described, in^ve of the/orty books composed by an author, who with a
learned Professor of History is, Prudens Scriptor, si quis alixu. Let him
now run over the table of the Roman affairs, compendiously given by
Lucius Flonu, and then let him consider th€ transactions of above tbre«
hundred years reported by Dionvsius Halicamassaus, who, if the censure
of Bodin may be taken, Grmcos omnes S[ Latinos super asse videatur. Let
him from hence pass to Livy, of whom the famous critick says. Hoc aohum
ingenium {de Historicis Loquor) popultu Ramanus par Imperio tuo habuit,
and supply those of his Decads that are lost, from the best fragments of
antiquity, in others (and especially Dion and Sahut) that lead us on still
further in our way. Let him then proceed unto the writers of the Cc-
saretm times, and first revolve Suefonhu, then Tacitiu, then Heredian,
then a whole army more of historians, which now crowd into our Li-
brary ; and unto all the rest, let him not fail of adding the incomparable
Plutarch, whose books they say, Theod0re Gaza preferred before any in
the world, next unto the inspired oracles of the Bible: but if the num-^
ber be still too little to satisfie an historical appetite, let him add Polyhit-
tor unto the number, and all the ChronicUs of the following ages. After
all, he must sensibly acknowledge, that the two short books of JE2cc2«n«
astical History, written by the evangelist Luke, hath given us more glo*
rious entertainments, than all these voluminous historians if they were
put all together. The cUchievements of one Paul particularly, which
that evangelist hath emblazoned, have more true glorj in them, than all
the acts of those execrable plunderers and murderers, and irresistible
banditti of the world, which have been dignified by the name of conque-
rors. Tacitus counted Ingentia belta, Expugnationes urbium, fusoh cap-
tosque Reges, the rages of war, and the glorious violences, whereof great
warriors make a wretched ostentation, to be the noblest matter for an
historian. But there is a nobler, I huiTibly conceive, in the planting
and forming of Evang'eZictt^ Churches, and the temptations, the corruptionf,
the afflictions, which assault them, and their salvations from those as-
8aulta« and the exemplary lives of those that Heaven employs to be pat-
terns of holiness and itgefukuss upon earth : and unto such it is, that I
now invite my readers ; things, in comparison whereof, the subjects of
many other Histories, are of as little weight, as the questions about Z,
the last letter of our Alphabet, and whether H is to be pronounced with

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

an aspiration, where about whole volumes have been written, and of no
mure account, than the composure of DidymM. But for the tnanner of
my treating this nuitter, 1 must now give some account unto him.

§ 6. Reader / 1 have done the part of an impartial historian, albeit
not without all occasion perhaps, for the rule which a worthy writer, in
his Historica, gives to every reader, Historici Legantur cunt Modertitione
8f venia, ^ cogitetur Jieti non puaae ut in omnibus drcumstanliis sint Lymei.
Polybius complains of those historians, who always made either the Cartha-
geniana brave, or the Romans base, or e amtra, in all their actions, as their
* affection for their own party led them. I have endeavoured, with all good
conscience, to decline this writing meerly for a party, or doing like the deal-
er in History, whom Lucian derides, for always calling the captain of his
own party tknAchilhi, but of the adverse party a Thersites: nor have I added
unto the just provocations for the complaint made by the Baron Manner,
tbiit the greatest part of Histories are but so many panegyricks composed
by interested hands, which elevate iniquity to the Heavens, like Patercw
lus, and like Machiavel, who propose Tiberius Cesar, and Cesar Borgia,
as examples fit for imitation, whereas true History would have exhibited
them as horrid monsters, as very devils. 'Tis true, I am not of the'
opinion, that one cannot merit the name of an impartial historian, except
he write bare matters of fact, without all reflection ; for I can tell where
to find this given as the definition of Hii-tory, Historia est rerum gesta-
rum, cum laude aut vituperatwne, Jiarratio : and if 1 am not altogether
a Tacitus, when vertues or vices occur to be matters of reflection, as well
as o( relation, I will, for my vindication, appeal to Tacitus himself, whom
Lipsius calls one of the prudentest (though Tertullian, long before, counts
him one of the lyingesl) of them who have inriched the world with His-
tory : he says, Prcecipuum munus Annalium rear, ne virtutes sileantur,
ittque pravis Dictis, Factisque ex posteritate fy Infamia metus sit. I have
not commended any person, but>when I have really judged, not only that
he deserved it, but al'^o that it would be a benefit unto posterity to know,
wherein he deserved it : and my judgment of desert, hath not been hi'
assed, by persons being of my own particular judgment in matters of dis-
putation, among the Churches of God. I have been as willing to wear
the name of Simplicius Verinus, throughout my whole undertaking, as
he that, before me, hath assumed it : nor am I like Pope Zachary, impa-
tient so much as to hear of any Antipodes. The spirit of a Schlusselber-
gius, who fulls foul with fury and reproach on all who differ from him ;
the spirit of an Heylin, who seems to count no obloquy too hard for a
Reformer; and the spirit of those (folio-writers there are, some of them,
in the English nation !) whom a noble Historian stigmatizes, as, Those
hot-headed, passionate bigots, from whom, 'it's enough, if you be of a Re-
ligion contrary unto theirs, to be defamed, condemned and pursued with a
thousand calumnies. I thank Heaven I hate it with all my heart. But
how can the lives of the commendable be written without commending
them ? or, is that law of History given in one of the eminentest pieces
of antiquity we now have in our hands, wholly antiquated, Maxime pro-
prium est Historiee Laudem rerum egregie gestarum p :rsequi ? nor have
I, on the other side, forbore to mention many censurable things, even in
the best of my friends, when the things, in my opinion, were not good ;
or so bore away for Placentia, in the course of ouc story, as to pass by
Verona ; but been mindful of the direction which Polybius gives to the
historian. It becomes him that writes an History, sometimes to extol enemies
in his praises, when their praise worthy actions bespeak it, and at the same

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 19

time to reprove the be$t friends^ when their deeds appear worthy of a re-
proof; in-as much as History is good for nothing, if truth (which is the
very eye of (/r<? animal) be not in it. Indeed 1 have thought it my Baty
upon all accounts, (and if it have proceeded unto the degree of b fault,
there is. it may be, something in my temper and nature, that has betrayed
me therein^to be more sparing and easie in thus mentioning ofcensurO'
hie things, than in my other liberty : a writer of Church-History, iihpuld,
I know, be like the builder of the temple, one of the tribe of Aaphthtdi ;
and for this 1 will also plead my Polybius in my excuse ; It is not the
work of an historian, to commemorate the vices and villanies of men, so
much as their just, their fair, their honest actions : and the readers of His-
tory get more good by the objer i of their emulation, than of their indigna-
tion. Nor do I deny, that though 1 cannot approve the conduct otJose-
phus; (whom Jerom not unjustly nor ineptly calls, the Greek lAvy) ^hen
h^ left out of his Antiquities, the story of the golden Calf, and I don't
wonder to find Chamier, and Rivet, and others, taxing him for bis par-
tiality towards his country -men ; yet I have left unmentioned some cen-
surable occurrences in the story of our Colonies, as things no less u6-
ui>eful than improper to be raised out of the grave, wherein oblivion hath
now buried them ; lest I should have incurred the pasquil bestowed
upon Pope Urban, who employing a committee to rip upthe o/J errors
of bis predecessors, one clapped a pair of spurs upon the heels of the
statue of St. feter; and a label from the statue of St. Pa%d opposite
thereunto, upon the bridge, asked him. Whither he was bound? St. Peter
answered, I apprehend some danger %n staying here ; I fear theyUl call me
in question for denying my Master. And St. Paul replied, S'ay, then I
had best be gone too, for theyHl question nu also, for persecuting the Chris-
tians before my conversion. Briefly, my pen shall reproach none, that can
give a good word unto any good man that is not of their own faction, and
shall fall out with none, but those that can agree with no body else, ex-
cept those of their own schism. If I draw any sort of men with char-
coal, it shall be, because I remember a notable passage of the best
Queen that ever was in the world, our late Q.ueen Mary. Monsieur Ju-
vien, that he might justifie the Reformation in Scotland, made a very
black representation of their old Queen Mary ; for which, a certain
sycophant would have incensed our Queen Mary against that Reverend
person, saying. Is it not a shame that this mon, without any consideration
for your Royal Person, should dare to throw such infanwus calumnies upon
a Queen, from whom your Royal Highness is descended? But that excel-
lent Princess replied, JVb, not at all; is it not enough that by fulsome
praises great persons be lulVd asleep all their lives; but must flattery ac-
company them to their very graves ? How should they fear the judgment of
posterity, if historians be not allowed to speak the truth after their death ?
But whether I do my self commend, or whether I give my reader an op-
portunity to censure, 1 am careful above all things to do it with truth ;
and as I have considered the words of Plato, Deum indignc ^ graviter
ferre, cum quis ei similem hoc est, virtute prcestantem, vituperet, aut laudet
contrarium : so I have had the J^inth Commandment of a greater law-giver
than Plato, to preserve my care of Truth from first to last. If any mis-
take have been any where committed, it will be found meerly circum-
stantial, and wholly involuntary; and let it be remembred, that though n«
historian ever merited better than the incomparable Thuanus, yet learn-
ed men have said of Ats work, what they never shall truly say of o«rs,that
it contains multa falsissima fy indigna. I find Erasmus himself mistaking

OKNERAL INTRODUCTION.

MM man for (wn, when writing of the ancients. And efeu our own
English writers too are often mistaken, und in matters of a ver^ late im-
portance, as Baker, and Haylin, and ICuUer, (professed historians) tell us,
that Richard Sutton, » single man, founded the Charter-HouH ; wheraas
bin name was Thomas, und ' he was a married man. 1 think 1 can re Jte
such mistakes, it may be $an$ number occurring in the most credible
writers ; yet 1 hope 1 shall commit none such. But although 1 thus ohal*
lenge, as my due, the character of an impartial, 1 doubt 1 may not chal-
lenge that of an elegant historian. I cannot say, whether the style,
wherein this Oturch'History is written, will please^ the modem critice i
but if I seem to have used «vAtfr7«r« rvfr«{i< yfH^nu a simple, submiss,
humble style, 'tis the same that Eusebiua atfiruis to have been used by
Hegesippus, who, as far as we understand, was the first author (aAer
Ldike) that ever composed an entire body of Eccletiaetical History, which
he divided into^ve books, and entitled, 'wntummTm rut ^simimrtmrJtmSt <rf«|*
sm. Whereas others, it maybe, will reckon the style embellished with
too much of ornament, by the multiplied references to other and former
cdnceros, closely couched, for the observation of the attentive, in almost
•very paragraph ; but 1 must confess, that I am '' *>*smind who said,
SicHti sal modiee cibis asperms Condit, 4* grattam saporis addit, ita si
paulum antiquilalis admiscueris, Oratiojit venustior. And 1 have seldom
seen that way of writing faulted, but by thofie, who, for a certain odd
reason, sometimes find fault, i(Ao< the grapes are not ripe. These embel-
lishmeuts (of which yet I only — Fentam pro laude peto) are not the pue-
rile spoils of Polyanthea^s ; but I should have asserted them to be as
choice flowers as most that occur in ancient or modern writings, almost
unitvoidabiy putting themselves into the author's hand, while about his
work, if those words of Jlmhroae had not a little frighted me as well as
they did Baronius,' Unumquemque Fallunt sua scripta. 1 observe that
learned men have been so terrified by the reproaches of pedantry, which
lidle smatterers at rending and learning have, by their quoting humours
brought upon themselves, that, for to avoid all approaches towards that
which those feeble creatures have gone to imitate, the best way of wri<
ting has been most injuriously deserted. But what shall we say ? The
beot way of writing, under heaven, ahull be the worst, when Ercwnue
his monosyllable tyrant will have it so ! and if I should have resigned
my self wholly to the judgment of others, what way of writing to have
taken, the story of the two statues made by Policletus tells me, what may
have been the issue : he contrived one of them according to the rules
that best pleased himself, and the other according to the fancy of every
one that looked upon his work : the former was afterwards applauded by
all, and the latter derided by those very persons who had given their di-
rections for it. As for such vnaccuracies as the critical may discover,
Opere in longo^ I appeal to the courteons, fur a favourable construction of
them ; and certainly tliey will be favourably judged of, when there is
considered the variety of my other employments; which have kept me
in continual hurries, 1 had almost said, like those of the ninth sphere, for
the few months in which this Work has been digesting. It was a thing
well thought, by the wise designers of Chelsey-Colledge, wherein able
historians were one sort of persons to be maintained ; that the Roman-
ists do in one point condemn the Protestants ; for among the Romanists,
they don't burden their Professors with any Parochial incundtraticet ; but
among the Protestants, the very same individual man must preacA, eatC'
chise, administer the Sacraments, visit the afflicted, and' manage all the

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

parts of C^ureh'diicipline ; and if any booka for the service of Religion,
be written, persons tbus extreamly incumbred muotbe tbe writers. Now,
of all tbe Churches under heaven, there are none that expect so much
variety of service from their Pastors, as those of New-Eni^land ; and of
alf tbe Churches in Ntw-EHglandy there are none that require more than
those in Botton, the metropolis of the English Amtrica; whereof one is,
by the Lord Jesus Christ, committed unto the care of tbe unworthy
hand, by which this Hitdory is compiled. Reader, give me leave
humbly to mention^ with him in Tti/Zy, Antequam de Re, Pauca de Mei
Constant iermotu, usually more than once, and perhaps three or four
times, in a week, and all the other duties of a pa$toral watehfulneti, a
very large flock has all this while demanded of me ; wherein; if I had
been furnished with as many headt as a Typheut, as many eyei as an Ar-
gbt, and as many hands as a Briareus, I might have had work enough to
have employed them all ; nor hath my station left me free from obliga*
tions to spend very much time in the Evangelical service of others also.
It would have been a great sin in me, to have omitted, or abated, my just
cares, to fulfil my Ministry in these things, and in a manner give my self
wholly to them. AH the time 1 have had for my Church-History, hath
been perhaps only, or chiefly, that, which I might have taken else for less
profitable recreations ; and it hath all been done by snatches. My read-
er will not find me the person intended in his Littany, when he says,
Idbera me ab homine unius Kegotis : nor have I spent thirty years in
shaping this my History, as Diodorus Siculus did for his, [and yet both
fiodtnus and Sigonius complain of the «-^«A^7« attending it.] But I wish
I could have enjoyed entirely for this work, one quarter of tbe little
more than two years which have rolled away since 1 began it ; whereas
I have been forced sometimes wholly to throw by the work whole months
together, and then resume it, but by a stolen hour or two in the day, not
without some hazard of incurring the title which Coryat put upon his
History of his Travels, Crudities hastily gobbled up in five months. Pro-
togenes being seven years in drawing a picture, Apelles upon tbe sight of
it, said. The grace of the work was much allayed by the length of the time.
Whatever else there may have been to take off the grace of the work,
now in the reader's bands, (whereof the joicturea of great and good men
make a considerable part) 1 am sure there hath not been the lengi*>ofthe
time to do it. Our English Martyrologer, counted it a sufficient apology,
for what meanness might be found in the first edition of his acts and mo-
numents, that it was hastily rashed up in about fourteen months : and I may
apologize for this collection of our acts and monuments, that I should
have been glad, in the little more than two years which have ran out,
since I entered upon it, if I could have had one half of about fourteen
months to have entirely devoted thereunto. But besides the time, which
the daily services of my own first, and then many other Churches, have
neccssar'y oalled for, 1 have lost abundance of precious time, through the
feeble aid l^roken state of my health, which hath unfitted me for Aord
study ; I can do nothing to purpose at lucubrations. And yet, in this time
also of the two or three years last past, I have not been excused from the
further diversion of publishing (though not so many as they say Mercurius
Trismegistus did, yet) more than a score of other books, upon a copious
variety of other subjects, besides the composing of several more, thai
are not y(3t published.

Nor is this neither all the task that I have in this while had lying upon
me ; for (though I am very sensible of what /erom said, .Von icnc ,/?<,

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

^uod Qccupato Animofit ; and of Quinh'/tan'i remark, Aon timulin nmUa
intendert Animui totum pot«$t ;) when 1 applied my mind unto this way
of serving the Lord Jrsur Christ in my generation, 1 set upon another
and a greater, which has had, I suppose, more of my thmght and hope
than this, and wherein there hath passed me, for the most part, J^ulla atit
ftne Hnta. I considered, that all sort of learning might be made glorious-
ly subservient unto the illustration of the $acred Scripture ; and that no
professed commentaries had hitherto given a thousandth part of so much
Utustration unto it, as might bo given. 1 considered, that multitudes of
particular texts, had, especially of later years, been more notably t'Wtt»-
trated in the scattered books of learned men, than in any of the ordinary
commentators. And I considered, that the treasurek of illustration for the
Bible, dispersed in many hundred volume!*, might be fetched all together
by a labour that would resolve to conquer all things ; and that all the im-
provements which the later-ages have made in the sciences, might be also,
with an inexpressible pleasure, called in, to Christ the illvstratton of the
holy oracles, at a rote that hath not been attempted in the vulgar Annota-
tions ; and that a common degree of sense, would help a person, who
should converse much with these things, to attempt sometimes also an
illustration of his own, which might expect some attention. Certainly,
it will not be ungrateful unto good men, to have innumerable Antiquities,
Jexuish, Chaldee, Arabian, Grecian and Roman, brought home unto us,
with a sweet light reflected fbom them on the word, which is our light ; or,
to have all the typical men and things in our Book of Mysteries, accom-
modated with their Antitypes: or, to have many hundreds of references to
our dearest Lord Messiali, discovered in the writings which testi/ie of Him,
oftner than the most of mankind have hitherto imagined : or, to havfL
the histories of all ages, comirg in with punctual and anrprKing fulfillments
of the divine Prophecies, as far as they have been hitherto fulfilled ; and
not meer conjectures, but even mathematical and incontestible demonstra-
tions, given of expositions oflcrcd upon the Prophecies, that yet remain to
be accomplished : or, to have in one heap, thousands of those remarkable
discoveries of the deep things of the Spirit nfOod, whereof one or two, or
a few, sometimes, hiive been, with good success accounted materials
enough to advance a person into Authorism ; or to have the delicious
euriosties of Orotius, and Bochart, and Mede, and Ldghtfoot, and Selden,
and Spencer, (carefully selected and corrected) and many more giants
in knowledge, all set upon one Table.

.'*'' Travellers tell us, that at Florence there is a rich table, worth a thou-
sand crowns, made of precious stones neatly inlaid ; a table that was
tiflecn years in making, with no less than thirty men daily at work Upon
it; even such a table could not afford so rich entertainments, as one
that should have the soul-feasting thoughts of those learned men togeth*
er set upon it. Only 'tis pity, that instead of one poor feeble American,
overwhelmed with a thousand other cares, and capable of touching this
work no otherwise than in a digression, there be not more than th!rty men
daily employed about it. For, when the excellent Mr. Pool had finished
his laborious and immortal task, it was noted by some considerable per-
sons, " That wanting assistance to collect for him many miscellaneous
criticisms, occasionally scattered in other authors, he left many better
things behind him than he found." And more than all this, our Essay
is levelled, if it be not anticipated with that Epitaph, agnis tamen excidit
nusis. Designing accordingly, to give the Church of God such displays
of his blessed word, as may be more entertaining for the rarity and no-

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

velty of them, than any thut have hitherto been seen together in any
E»po$ition ; and yet such as may be acceptable unto the most jiididons,
for the demonstrative truth of them, and unto the most orthodox, fur the
regard had unto the Analogy of Faith in all, i have now, in a fetv months,
gOt ready an huge number of golden keys to open the pandects of Heav-
en, and 8ome thousands of charming and curious and singular notes, by
the new help whereof, the word of Christ may run and be ghtifiea.
If the God of my life, will please to spare my life [my yet sinful, and
slothful, and thereby forfeited life 1] as many years longer as the barren
Jig-tree had in the parable, 1 m.iy make unto the Church of God, an hnm-
bltt tender of our Biblia Amkricana, a volume enriched with better
things than all the plate of the /nt/tes ; yet not i, but the Gracr of
Chhist with me. My reader sees, why I commit the fault of a wifimvriM,
which appears in the mention of these minute passages ; 'tis to excuse
whatever other fault of inaccuracy, or inadvertency, may be discovered
in an History, which hath been a sort of rupsody made up (like the pa-
per whereon His written !) with many little rags, torn from an employ-
ment, multifarious enough to overwhelm one of my small capacities.

Magna dabit, qui magna potest ; mibi parva potenti,
Parvitque poscenti, parva dedisse tat est.

§ 6. But shall I prognosticate thy fate, now that,

Parve (sed invideo) tine me, Liber, ibitin Urbem.

Luther, who was himself owner of such an heart, advised every historian
tt) get the Heart of a Lion; and the more 1 consider of the provocation,
which this our Church' History must needs give to that roaring Lion, who
has, through all ages hitherto, been tearing the church to pieces, the
more occasion I see to wish my self a Cceur de Lion. But had not my
heart been trebly oak'd and brass'd for such encounters as this our his-
tory may meet withal, I would have worn the silk-worms motto, Operi-
tur dum Operatur, and have chosen to have written Anonymously ; or, as
Clauditis Salmasius calls himself Walo Messalinvs, as Ludovicus Molinmus
calls himself Luc^tomcEus Colvinus, as Carolus Scribanins calls himself C7a-
rus Bonarscius, (and no less men than Peter du Moulin and Dr. Henri/
More, stile themselves, the one Hippolytus Fronto, the other Franciscus
Paleopolitanus) Thus 1 would have tried whether I could not have
Anagrummatized my name into some concealment ; or I would have re-
ferred it to be found in the second chapter of the second Syntagm of
Selden de Diis Syris. Whereas now 1 freely confess, 'tis Cotton Ma-
ther that has written all these things ;

Me, me, ad sum qui scripsi ; tu me convertite Ferruin.

I hope 'tis a right work that I have done ; but we are not yet arrived
unto the day, wherein God will bring every work into judgment (the day
of the kingdom that was promised unto David) and a Son of David hath
as truly as wisely told us, that until the arrival of that happy day, this is
one of the vanities attending humane affairs ; For a right work a man
shall be envied of his neighbour. It will not be so much a surprise unto
me, if I should hve to see our Church- Hi story v«'Xcd with anie mad-ver-
sions of calumnious writers, as it would have been unto Virgil, to rea^
Vol. !. .,- ..,„- .,&

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

his Bucolickt repronched by the Antiliwiolica of a oamelevs scribbler, and
his JEneidi travestied by the Xneidomattix of Ciir6Wiu« : or Herenniu$
taking pains to make a collection of the fauU$, and FautlinuB of the
thefti, in his- incomparable composures : yea, Pliny, and Seneca them-
selves, and our Jerom, reproaching him, as a man of no judgment, nor
skill in sciences ; while Ptedianut affirms of him, that he was himself,
U$qu« adeo invidia Expert^ ul «t quid trudite dictum impictret alteriuM,
non minu$ gauderet ac ft suum euet. How should a book, no better la-
boured than this of ours, escape Zoilian outrages, when in all ages, the
most exquisite works have been as much vilified, as PUtto't by Scaligtr,
and AriitotU^s by Lactantiu$ ? In the time of our K. Edward VI. there
was an order to bring in all the teeth of St. Apollonia, which the people
of his one kingdom carried about them for the cure of the tooth ach ; and
they were so many, that they almost filled a tun. Truly tmy hath as
many teeth as madam Apollonia would have had, if all those pretended
reliques had been really hers. And must all these teeth be fastned on
thee, my Book? It may be so ! and yet the Book, when ground be-
tween these teeth, will prove like IgfULtiui in the teeth of the furious ty-
gers, The whiter manchel for the Churches of Ood. The greatest and
fiercest rage of envy, is that which I expect from those Idumjians, whose
religion is all ceremony, and whose charity is more for them who deny
the most essential things in the articles and homilies of the Church of
England, than for the most .conscientious men in the world, who manifest
their being so, by their dissent in some little ceremony ; or those per-
sons whose hearts are notably expressed in those words used by one of
them ['tis Howel in h'u familiar Letters, vol. 1. sec. 6. lett. 32.] / rather
pitty, than hate, Turk or Infidel, for they are of the same metal, and bear
the same stamp, as I do, though the inscriptions differ ; if / hate any, *fis
those schismaticks that puzzle the sweet peace of our Church ; so that I
could be content to see an Anabaptist go to hell on a BrownisCs back. The
writer whom I l<^8t quoted, hath given us a story of a young man in High-
Holbourn, who being after his death dissected, there was a serpent with
divers tails, found in the left ventricle of hit heart. I make no question,
that our Church-History will find some reader disposed like that writer,
with an heart as full of serpent and venom as ever it can hold : nor in-
deed will they be able to hold, but the tongues and pens of those angry
folks, will scourge me aa with scorpions, and cause me to feel (if I will
feel) as many lashes as Cornelius Agrippa expected from their brethren,
for the book in which he exposed their vanities. A scholar of the great
JuELS, made once about fourscore verses, for which the Censor of Cor-
pus Christi Colledge in the beginning of Queen Maries reign, publickly
and cruelly scourged him, with one lash for every verse. Now in those
verses, the young man's prayers to the Lord Jesus Christ, have this for
part of the answer given to them.

Respondet Dominua, spectans de sedibus altiSf
% ■'•, Ne dubites rede credere, parve puer.

Olim sum passus mortem-, nunc occupo dextram

Patris, nunc summi sunt mea regnapoli.
Sed tu, crede mihi, vires Scnptura resumet,

Tolleturque suo tempore missanequam.

In English.
S'he Lord beholding from bis throne, reply'd,
Doubt not, O Youth, firmly in me confide :

I i

GENERAL INTRODUCTION. J^

1 dy'd long itince, now lit At the right band

Of my bleis'd Father, and the world command. ]

Believe me, Scripture shall regain her sway,

And wicked Mom in due time fiide away.

Reader, I also eipect nothing oat $eourge» from that generation, to
whom the mati-book is dearer than the BibU : but I hare now likewise
confessed another expectation, that shall be my consolation under all.
They tell ui, that on the highest of the Capiian mountains in Spaint
there is a lake, whercinto if you throw a stone, there presently ascends
a smoke, which forms a dense cloud, from wheaee issues a tempest of
rain, hail, and horrid thunder-claps for a good quarter of an hour. Our
Church-History will be like a stone cast into that lake, for the furious
tempest which it will raise among some, whose Ecclesiastical dignities
have set t^em, as on the top of Spanish mountains. The Catbolick spirit
of communion wherewith 'tis written, and the liberty which 1 have ta-
ken, to tax the schismatical impositions and persecutions of a party, who
have al<f ays been as real enemies to the English nation, as to the Chris*
tian and Protestant interest, will certainly bring upon the whole compo-
sure, the quick censures of that party, at the first cast of their look up-
on it. In the Duke of Alva^s council of twelve judges, there was one
Heuels a Flenwning, who slept always at the trial of criminals, and when
they waked him to deliver his opinion, he rubbed his eyes, and cryed,
between sleeping and waking, Ad patibulum ! ad pcUibulutn I to the gal-
lows with them ! [And, by the way, this blade was himself, at the lasti
condemned unto the gallowii without an hearing !] As quick censures
must this our labour expect from those who will not bestow waking
thoughts upon the representations of Christianity here made unto the
world ; but have a sentence of death always to pass, or at least, wish,
upon those generous principles, without which, 'tis impossible to main-
tain the Reformation : and I confess, I am very well content, that this
our labour takes the fate of those principles : nor do I dissent from the
words of the excelleat Whitaker upon Luther^ Falix iUe, quern Dominus
eo Honore dignatut ett, ut Homines nequistimoi suos haberet inimicot. But
if the old epigrammatist, when he saw guilty folks raving mad at his
lines, could say —

Hoc volo ; nunc nobis carmina nostra plaeent :

certainly an historian should not be displeased at it, if the enemies of
truth discover their madness at the true and free communications of his
history ; and therefore the more stones they throw at this book, there
will not only be the more proofs, that it is a tree which hath good fruits
growing upon it, but I will build my self n monument with them, where-
on shall be inscribed, that clause in the epitaph of the martyr Stephen :

Excepit Lapides, cut petra Christus erat :

Albeit perhaps the epitaph, which the old monA;* bestowed upon Wick-
l^, will be rather endeavoured for me, (if I am thought worth one !) by
the men, who will, with all possible monkery., strive to stave off the ap-
proaching Reformation.

But since an undertaking of this nature, must thus encounter so much
envy, from those who are under the power of the spirit that works in the

3«

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

ehitdren of unperrwadeabUntii, methiDlci I might penwade my lelf, that
it will tiuu anotatir lurt of ent«rtainmoDt from tiioae good men who have
abetter tpiril in them: for, hs the Apoitle Jatn»$ hath noted, (lo with
Moniicur diiudt I read it) Tht $pirit that ti in ui, lu$t«tk againit envy ;
aitd yet even in w« tiUo, tbcro will be the^/ei/t, among whose works, one
is envy, which will be lusting nguinst the $pirit. All good men will not
be SHtisiied with every tiling that is here set before them. In my own
country, besides a considerable number of loose and vain inhabitants
risen up, to whom the Congregational Church-discipline, which cannot
live well, where the power of godliness dyes, is become distasteful for
the*purit^ of it ; there is nUo a number of eminently godly persons,
who (irc lor a larger way, and unto these my Church-History will give
distaste, by the things which it may happen to utter, in favour of that
Cburch-disciplinu on some few occasions ; and the discoveries which I
may happen to make uf my apprehensions, that Scripture, and reatoti,
and antiquity is for it ; and that it is not far from a.glorious resurrection.
But that, as the famous Mr. Baxter, after thirty or forty years hard stu-
dy, about the true instituted Church-discipline, at last, not only owned,
but also invincibly proved, that it is the Congregational; so, the further
that the unprejudiced studies of learned men proceed in this matter, the
more gcnertUly the Omgregational Church-discipline will be pronounced
for. On the other side, there are some among us, who very strictly
profess the Congregational Church-discipline, but at the same time they
have an unhappy narrowness of soul, by which they confine their jralue
and kindness too much unto their own party : and unto those my Church-
History will be offensive, because my regard unto our own declared
principles, docs not hinder me from giving the right hand of fellowship
unto the valuable servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, who find not our
Church-discipline as yet agreeable unto their present understanding!
and illumiuutions. If it be thus in my<own country, it cannot be other-
wise in.that whereto I send this account of my own. Briefly, as it hath
been said, that if all Episcopal men were like Archbishop Usher, and all
Presbyterians like Stephen Marshal, and all Independents like Jeremiah
Burroughs, the wounds of the Church would soon be healed ; my essay to
carry that spirit through this whole Church-History, will bespeak
wounds for it, from those that are of another spirit. And there will also
be in every country those good men, who yet have not had the grace of
Christ so far prevailing in them, as utterly to divest them of that piece
of ill nature which the Comedian resents, In homine Imperito, quo nil
quicquam Injustius, quia nisi quod ipsefacit, nil recte factum putat.

However, all these things, and an hundred more such things which I
think of, are very small discouragements for such a service as I have
here endeavoured. I foresee a rccompence which will abundantly
swallow up all discouragements ! It may be Strato the Philosopher
counted himself well recompensed for his labours, when Ptolomy be-
stowed fourscore talents on him. It may be Archimelus the poet count-
ed himself well recompensed, when Hiero sent him a thousand bushels
of wheat for one little epigram : and Salcius the poet might count himself
well recompensed, when Vespasian sent him twelve thousand and five
hundred philippicks ; and Oppian the poet might count himself well re-
compensed, when Caracalla sent him a piece of gold for every line that
he had inscribed unto him. As I live in a country where such recom-
ponces never were in fashion ; it hath no preferments for me, and I
shall count that 1 am well rewarded in it, if I can escape without being

GENERAL INTRODUCTION.

h«avitv reproached, ceDiurcd and condemned, for what I have done : lo
I thank the Lord, 1 should exceedingly acorn all tuch mean coniidera-
tioni, I leek not out for benefactora, to whom theic labouri may be dedi-
cated : thert is ONE to whom all is due! from Mim 1 ahall have a re-
compence : and what recompence ? The recouipence, whereof I do,
with inexpreaaible joy, asaure my self, ia thia. That the$t my voor labourt
. will etrtatnly lerve the Ckurchea and interati of the Lord jetun Chritt.
And I think 1 may aay, that I aak to live no longer, than I count naervice
unto the Lord Jeaua Chriat. and hia Churchet, to be it aelf a glorious re-
compence for the doing of it. When David was contriving to build the
houae of God, there was that order given from Heaven concerning him,
Qo tell David my tervant. The adding of thcU more than royal title unto
the name of David, was a autHcient recompence for all hia contrivance
about the houae of God. In our whole Church' Hi$tory, we have been at
work for the houae of the Lord Jeeus Chriat, [even that Man, who is
the Lord God, and whoae /orm aeema on that occaaion repreaented unto
His David.] And herein 'tia recompence enough, that I have been a
iervunt unto that heavenly Loird. The greateat nonour, and the aweet-
eat pleature, out of Heaven, ia to aerve our illuatrioua Lord Jesus CiiRiar,
who hath loved v$, and gtven himtelf for uf ; and unto whom it ia infi-
nitely reaaonable that we ahould give our $elve$, and all that we have and
are : and it may be the AngeU in Heaven teo, aapire not aAer an higher
felicity.

Unto thee, therefore, thou Son of Ood, and King of Heaven, and Lord
of all thinge, whom all the glorioui Angeli of Light, un$peakably love to
gloryfie ; I humbly qffer up a poor Hiitory of Churches, which own thee
alone for their Head, and Prince, and Law giver ; Churches which thou
hast purchased with thy own blood, and with wonderful dispensations of thy
Providence hitherto protected and preserved ; and of a people which thou
didst fonnfor thy self, to shew forth thy praises. I bless thy great Name,
for thy inclining of me to, ana carrying of me through, the work of this
History : I pray thee to sprinkle the book of this History with thy blood,
and make it aeceptable and profitable unto thy Churches, and serve thy
Truths and Wcys among thy people, by that which thou hast here prepared;
for 'tis THOU that hast prepared it for them. Amen.

Quid sum ? KxU Quis sum ? Mtllus, Sed Gratia Christi,
Quad sum, quod rivo, quodqm Laboro, facit.

k.. .-/■•, • >.■■

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* ■>,•

THE FIRST BOOK.

ANTICtUITIES:

OR,

A FIELD PREPARED FOR CONSIDERABLE THINGS TO BE
ACTED THEREUPON.

■,..fi ■. , ". • »:■:.,

THE INTRODUCTION.

n ' .V

It toas not long ago, as about the middle of the former centunfj
that under the influences of that admirable hero and martyr, of thepro-
testant religion, Gasper Coligni, the great Admiral of France, a noble
and learned knight called Vtllagagnon, began to attempt the Settlement
of some Colonies in Aufitiic A, {as it was declared) for the propagation
of that religion. He sailed with several ships of no small burthen, till
he arrived at Brasile ; where he thought there were now shown him
quiet seats, for the retreat of a people harrassed already with deadly
persecutions, and threatned with yet more calamities. Thence he wrote
home letters unto that glorious patron oj the reformed churches, to
inform him, that he had now a fair prospect of seeing those churches
erected, multiplyed and sheltered in the southern regions of the new
world ; and requested him, that Geneva might supply them with Pas-
tors for the planting of such churches in these New Plantations. The
blessed Calvin, with his colleagues, thereupon sent of their number
tzDO worthy persons, namely Richerius and Quadrigarius, to assist
this undertaking ; and unto these were joined several more, especially
Leirus, and who became a leader to the rest, Corquillerius, an eminent
man, for the cause of Christianity, then residing at Geneva. Embarked
in three ships, well ft ted, they came to the American country , whi-
ther they had been invited ; ana they soon set up an evangelical church
order, in those comers of the earth where God in our Lord Jesus Christ
had never before been called upon. But it was not long before some
unhappy controversies arose among them, which drove their principal
ministers into Europe again, besides those three that were murthered
by their apostate Governour, whose martyrdom Lerius procured Cris-
pin to commemorate in his history, but I now omit in this of ours, JVe me
Crispini scrinia lecti, compitasse putes, and asjor the people that staid
behind, no other can be learned, but that they are entirely lost, either in
paganism or disaster : in this, more unhappy sure, than that hundred

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Book I.

thousand of their brethren who were soon after butchered at home^
in ihat horrible massacre, which then had not, but since hath, known
a parallel. So has there been utterly lost in a little time, a country
intended for a receptacle of Protestant Churches on the American
Strand. It is the most incomparable De Thou, the honourable Presi-
dent of the Parliament at Paris, an Historian whom Casaubon pro-
nounces, A singular gift of Heaven, to the last age, for an example
of piety and probity, that is our author, {besides others) for this
History.

'TVs now time for me to tell my reader, that in our age there has
been another essay made not by French, but by English Protestants,
fofll a certain country in America with Reformed Churches ; noth-
ing in doctrine, little in discipline, different from that of Geneva.
Mankind toill pardon me, a native of that country, if smitten with a
just fear of incroaching and ill-bodied degeneracies, I shall use my
modest endeavours to prevent the loss of a country, so signalized for
the profession of the purest Religion, and for the protection of God
upon it, in that holy profession. I shall count my country lost, in the
loss of the primitive principles, and the primitive practices, upon
tohich it was at first established : but certainly one good way to save
that loss, would be to do something that the memory of the great things
done for us by our God may not be lost, and that the story of the cir-
cumstances attending the foundation and fornftation of this country,
and of its preservation hitherto, may be impartially handed unto pos-
terity, THIS is the undertaking whereto I now address myself f and
now, Grant me thy gracious assistances, O my God ; that in this
my undertaking I may be kept from every false way : but that sin-
cerely aiming at thy glory in my undertaking, I may find my labours
made acceptable and profitable unto thy Churches, and serviceable
unto the interests of thy gospel ; so let my God think upon me for
good ; and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy in the
blessed Jesus, ^wn

CHAPTER I.

Venisti tandem ? or discoveries of America, tending to, and ending
discoveries of New-England.

§. 1. It is the opinion of some, though 'tis but an opinion, and but of
some learned men, that when the sacred oracles of heaven assure us, the
things under the sarth are some of those, whose knees are to bow in the
nanm of Jesus, by those things are meant the inhabitants of America, who
are Antipodes to those of the other hemisphere. I would not quote any
words oi Lactantivs, though there are some to countenance this interpre-
tation, because of their being so vngeographical : nor would I go to
strengthen the interpretation by reciting the words of the Indians to the
first white invaders of their territories, we hear you are come from under
the world to take our world from us. But granting the uncertainty of such
an exposition. 1 shall yet give the Church of God a certain account of

Book I.

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

it home,
, known
country
\merican
h Presi'
)on pro-
example
for this

here has

SSTANTS,

is ; noth-
Geneva.
en Toith a
I use my
tlizedfor
ii of God
)st, in the
;e8, upon
ly to save
3at things
of the cir-
y country,
unto pos-
telf; and
at in this
that sin-
ly labours
Irviceable
n me for
•cy in the

\nding in,

Lnd but of
Ire us, the
\tv in the
\rica, who
luote any
pnterpre-
1 go to
|ins to the
under
jfy of such
[■count of

those things, which in Jlmerica have been believing and adoring the glo-
rious name of Jesus ; and of that country in Ameriot, wliere tliose things
have been attended with circumstances most remarkable. I can con-
tentedly allow that America (which as the learned Nicolas Fuller ob-
serves, might more justly be called Columbina) was altogether unknown
to the penmen of the Holy Scriptures, and in the ages when the scriptures
were penned. I can allow, that those parts of the earth, which do not
include America, are in the inspired writings of L»fce, and of Paul, stil-
ed, all the world. I can allow, that the opinion of Torniellus, and of Pa-
gius, about the apostles preaching the gospel in America, has been suflS-
ciently refuted by Basnagius. But 1 am out of the reach of pope Zach-
aty^s excommunication. I can assert the existence of the American Anti-
podes: and 1 can report unto the European churches great occurrences
among these Americans. Yet 1 will report every one of them with such a
Christian and exact veracity, that no man shall have cause to use about any
one of them, the words which the great Austin (us great as he was) used
about the existence of Antipodes; it is a fable, and, nulla ratione credendum.
§ 2. if the wicked one in whom the whole world lyeth, were he, who
like a dragon, keeping a guard upon the spacious and mighty orchards of
America, could have such a fascination upon the thoughts of mankind,
that neither this ballancing half of the globe should be considered in
Europe, till a little more than two hundred years ago, nor the clue that
might lead unto it, namely, the Loadstone, should be known, till a JVea-
politan stumbled upoh it, about an hundred years before ; yet the over-
ruling Providence of the great God is to be acknowledged, as well in th6
concealing of America for so long a time, as in the discovering of it, when
the fulness of time was come for the discovery : for we may count
America to have been concealed, while mankind in the other hemisphere
had lost all acquaintance with it, if we may conclude it had any from the
words of Diodorus Siculus, thsi Phanecians were by great storms drivea
on the coast of Africa, far westward, Jti xoMen 'tifu^an^for many days to-
gether, and at last fell in with an Island of prodigious magnitude ; or from
the words of Plato, that beyond the pillars of Hercules there was an
Island in the Atlantick Ocean, c^fui A(j3t/iw x«i Ao-<«(f jkk^*", larger than Afri-
ca and Asia put together : nor should it pass without remark, that three
most memorable things which have born a very great aspect upon hu-
mane qff'airs, did near the same time, namely at the conclusion of the
^fifteenth, and the beginning of the sixteenth century, arise unto the world :
the first was the resurrection of literature ; the second was the opening
of America ; the third was the Reformation of Religion. But, as proba-
bly, the devil seducing the first inhabitants of America into it, therein :
aimed at the having of them and their posterity out of the sound of the
silver trumpets of the Gospel, then to be heard through the Roman Em-
pire; if the devil had any expectation, that by the peopling of America,
he should utterly deprive any Europeans of the two benefits, Literature
and Religion, which dawned upon the miserable world, one just before,
the other j'jst after, the first famed navigation hither, 'tis to be hoped he
will !/:; disappointed of that expectation. 1 he Church of God must no
longet- be wrapped up in Slrabo's cloak ; Geography must now find work
for a Christiano-graphy in regions far enough beyond the bounds wherein
the Church of God had through all former ages been circumscribed.
Renowned Churches of Christ must be gathered where the Ancients once
derided them that looked for any inhabitants. The mystery of our
Lord's garments, made /o«r parts, by the soldiers that cast lots f«r them,
Vor.. F. 'a

MASNALIA CFIRISTI AMERICANA

[Book f.

is to be accomplished in the good sence put upon it by Austin, who if he
had known America could not have given a better Quadripartita vestis
Domini Jesu, quadripartitam Jlguravit ejus Ecclesiam, toto scilicet, qui
quatuor partibus constat, terraram orbe dy^usam,

§ 3. Whatever truth may be in that assertion of one who writes ; if
we may credit any records besides the Scriptures, I know it might be said
and proved well, that this new world was known, and partly inhabited by
Britains, or by Saxons from England, three or four hundred years before
the Spaniards coming thither ; which assertion is demonstrated from the
discourses between the Mexicans and the Spaniards at their first arrival ;
and the Popish reliques, as well as British terms and words, which the
Spaniards then found among the Mexicans, as well as from undoubted
passages, not only in other authors, but even in the British annals also:
nevertheless, mankind generally agree to give unto Christopher Coluni'
bus, a Genoese, the honour of being the first European that opened a way
into these parts of the world. It was in the year 1492, that this famous
man, acted by a most vehement and wonderful impulse, was carried into
the northern regions of this vast hemisphere, which might more justly
therefore have received its name from him, than from Americus Fesputius
a Florentine, who in the year 1497, made a further detection of the more
southern regions in this continent. So a world, which has been one great
article among the Res dcperditce of Pancirollus, is novi found out, and the
affairs of the whole world have been affected by the finding of it. So the
Church of our Lord Jesus Christ, well compared unto a ship, is noiv victo-
riously sailing round the globe after Sir Francis Drake''s renowned ship,
called, The Fictory, which could boast,

/^ Prima ego velivolis ambivi cursibus orbem.

And yet the story about Columbus himself must be corrected from the in-
formation of De la Fega, That one Sanchez, a native of Helva in Spain,
did before him find out these regions. He tells us, thai S.tnchez using to
trade in a small vessel to the Canaries, was driven by a furious and tedi-
ous tempest over unto these western countries ; and at his return he
gave to Colon, or Columbus, an account of what he had seen, but soon
after died of a disease he had got on his dangerous voyage. However,
1 shall expect my reader e're long to grant, that some things done since
by Almighty God for the English in these regions, have exceeded all that
has been hitherto done for any other nation : if this new world were not
found out first by the English ; yet in those regards that are of all the
greatest, it seems to be found out more /or them than any other.

§ 4. But indeed the two Cabots, father and son, under the commission
of our King Henry VII. entering upon their generous undertakings in the
year 1497, made further discoveries of America, than either Columbus
or Fesputius; in regard of which notable enterprizes, the younger of
them had very great honours by the Crown put upon him, till at length he
died in a good old age, in which old age King Edward VI. had allowed
him an honourable pension. Yea, since the Cabots, employed by the King
uf England, made'a discovery of this continent in the year. 1497, and it was
the year 1498 before Columbus discovered any part of the continent ;
and Fesputius came a considerable time after both of them ; I know not
why the Spaniard should go unrivalled in the claim of th'is new world,
which from the first finding of it is pretended unto. These discoveries
of the Cabots were the fomdation of all the adventures, with which the

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND.

English nation have since followed the sun, and served themaelves into as
acquaintance on the hither side of the Atlantick ocean. And now I shall
drown my reader with my self in a tedious digression, if I enumerate all
the attempts made by a Willougkby-, a Frobisher, a Gilbert, and besides
many othtir», an incomparable Rawlcigh, tp settle English colonies in the
desarts ef the western India. It will be enough if I entertain him with
the History of that Etiglish Settlement, which may, upon a thousand ac-
counts, pretend unto more of true English than all the rest, and which
alone therefore has been called New-England.

§ 6. After a discouraging series of disasters attending the endeavours
ef the English to swarm into Florida, and the rest of the continent unto
the northward of it, called Virginia, because the first white born in those
regions was a daughter, then burn to one Ananias Dare, in the year
Ibiib. The courage of one Bartholomew Gosnold, and one captain Bar-
tholomew Gilbert, and several other gentlemen, served them to make yet
more essays upon the like designs. This captain Gosnold in a small
bark, on May 11, 1602, made land on this coast in the latitude of forty-
three ; where, though he liked the welcome he had from the Salvages
that came aboard him, yet he disliked the weather, so that he thought it
necessary to stand more southward into the sea. Next morning he found
himself embayed within a mighty head of land ; which promontory, in
remembrance of the Cod-Jish in great quantity by him taken there, he
called Cape-Cod, a name which 1 suppose it will never lose, till shoals
of Cod-Jish be seen swimming upon the top of its highest hills. On this
Cape, and on the Islands to the southward of it, he found such a com-
fortable entertainment from the summer-fruits of the earth, as well as
from the wild creatures then ranging the woods, and from the wilder peo-
ple now surprised into courtesie, that he carried back to England a re-
port of the country, better than what the spies once gave of the land
flowing with milk and honey. Not only did the merchants of Bristdl now
raise a considerable stock to prosecute these discoveries, but many other
persons of several ranks embarked in such undertakings ; and many sal-
lies into America were made ; the exacter narrative whereof I had ra-
ther my reader should purchase at the expeace of consulting Purchases
Pilgrims, than endure any stop in our hastening voyage unto the History
OF A New- English Israel.

§. 6. Perhaps my reader would gladly be informed how America came
to be first peopLd ; and if Homius's Discourses, D» origine Gentium
Americanarum, do not satisfie him, I hope shortly the most ingenious Dr.
Woodward, in his Natural History of the Earth, will do it. In the mean
time, to stay thy stomach, reader, accept the account which a very sen*
sible Russian, who had been an officer of prime note in Siberia, gave un-
to father Avril. Said he, ' There is beyond the Obi a great river called
' KawoinOf at the mouth whereof, discharging it self into the Frozen Sea,
' there stands a spacious Island very well peopled, and no less consider-
' able for hunting an animal, whose teeth are in great esteem. The in-
' habitants go frequently upon the side of the Frozen Sea to hunt this mon-
' ster ; and because it requires great labour with assiduity, they carry
' their families usually along with them. Now it many times happens
' that being surprized with a thaw, they are carried away, I know not
' whither, upon huge pieces of ice that break off one from another.
' For my part, I am perswaded that several of those hunters have been
' carried upon these floating pieces of ice to the most northern parts of
' America, which is not far from that part of Asia that jutts out into the

MAGNALIA

cnft

ISTI AMERICANA

(BookI;

* Bea of Tartary. And that which confirms me in this opinion, is this,
' that the Americans who inhabit that country, which advances farthest

* towards that sea, have the same Physiognomy as those Islanders.' I'hue
the Vayode of Smotensko. But aM the concern of this our history, is to
tell bow English people first came into America ; and what English
people first came into that part of America, where this History ia
composed. Wherefore instead of reciting the many Adventures of
the English to visit these parts of the world, I shall but repeat
the words of one Captain Weymouth, an historian, as well as an under"
taker of those Adventures; who reports, that one main end of all these un-
dertakings, was to plant the gospel in thesi dark regions of America.
How well the most of the English plantations have answered this -
main end, it mainly becomes them to consider : howeverj 1 am
now to tell mankind, that as for one of these English plantations,
this was not only a main end, but the sole end upon which it was
erected. If they that are solicitous about the interests of the gos-
pel, would know what and where that plantation is ; be it noted, that
all the vast country from Florida to J^ova-Franda, was at first called Vir-
ginia ; but this Virginia was distinguished into JVorih Virginia and South
Virginia, till that famous Traveller Captain John Smith, in the year 1614,
presenting unto the court of England a draught of JVorth Virginia, got
it called by the name of New-England ; which name has been ever
since allowed unto my country, as unto the most resembling daughter, to
the chief lady of the European world. Thus the discoveries of the
country proceeded so far, that K. James I. did by his letters patents
under the great seal oi England, in the 18th year of his reign, give and
grant unto a certain honourable council established at Plymouth, in the
county of Devon, for the planting, ruling, and ordering, and governing
of New-England in America, and to their successors and assigns, all that
part of America, lying and being in breadth, from forty degrees of north-
erly Isititude, from the equinoctial line, to the forty-eighth degree of the
suid northerly latitude inclusively ; and the length of, and within all the
breadth aforesaid, throughout all the frm lands from sea to sea. This
at last IS the spot of earth, which the God of heaven spied out for the
seat of such evangelical, and ecclesiastical, and very remarkable transac-
tions, as require to be made an history; here 'twas that our blessed Jesus
intended a resting place, must I say ? or only an hiding place for those
reformed Churches, which haye given him a little accomplishment of
his eternal father's promise unto him ; to be, we hope, yet further ac-
complished, of having tlie utmost parts of the earth for his possession?

§. 7. The learned Joseph Mede conjectures that the American Hem-
isphere will escape the conflagt ation of the ear/A, which we expect at the
descent of our Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven : and that the people
here will not have a share in the blessedness which the renovated world
shall enjoy, during the thimsand years of hdy rest promised unto the
Church of God : and that the inhabitants of these regions, who were
originally Scijtiieuns, and therein a notable fulfilment of the prophecy,
about the eidai<reuient r*/" Japhet, will be the Gog and Magog whom the
devil will seduce to invade the New-Jerusahm, with an envious hope to
gain the angelical circumUancts of the people there. All this is but con-
jecture ; and it may be 'twill appear unto some as little probable, as that
of the later Pierre Poiretin his VOecommiy Divine, that by Gog- and Magog
are meant the devils and the damned, which he thinks will be let loose
at the end of the thousand years, to make a furious, but a fruitless attempt

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OT NEW-KNGLAND.

is thia,
farthest
.' Thus
ry, is to ,

English
listory ia
ntures of
It repeat
in under*
: these uH'
America,
ered this
!rj 1 am
antations,
ch it was
the gos-
)ted, that
;alled Vir-
and South
rear 1614,
rinia, got
leen ever
lughter, to
ies of the
trs patents
1, give and
th, in the
governing
IS, all that
of north-
ee of the
in all the
lea. This
for the
e transac-
ised Jesus
for those
hment of
Irther ae-

on the glorified saints of the J^ew-Jerusslem. However, I am goii^g to
give unto the christian reader an history of some/e^ble attempts made ill the
American hemisphere to anticipate the state of the J^ew- Jerusalem, as far
as the unavoidable vanity of humane affairs, and iuftntnce of Satan upon
them would allow of it; and of many wor^Ay pemms who.«e posterity, if
they make a squadron in the Jletts of G jg and Magog, will be apostates
deserving a room, and a doom with the legions of the grand apostate, that
will deceive the nations to that mysterious enterprize.

CHAPTER n.

Primordia : or, the voyage to New-Enolanb, which produced the first
settlement of New-Plymouth ; with an account of many remarkable
and memorable Providences relating to that voyage,

§ I. A NUMBER of devout and serious Christians in the English nation,
finding the Reformation of the Church in that nation, according to the
Word of God, and the design of many among the first Reformers, to la-
bour under a sort of hopeless retardation ; Vaey did. Anno 1602, in the
north of England, enter into a Covenant , wherein expressing them-
selves desirous, not only to attend the worship of our Lord Tesus Christ,
with a freedom from humane inventions and additions, but also to enjoy
all the Evangelical Institutions of that worship, they did like those Ma'
cedonians, that are therefore by the Apostle Paul commended, give them-
selves up, first unto God, and then to one another. These pious people
finding that their brethren and neighboOrs in the Church of England,
as then established by law, took ofl'ence at these their endeavours after a
scriptural reformation ; and being loth to live in the continual vexations,
which they felt arising from their non-conformity to things which their
consciences accounted superstitious and unwarrantable, they peaceably
and willingly embraced a banishment into the Netherlands ; where they
settled at the city of Leyden, about seven or eight years afler their first
combination. And now in that city this people sojourned, an Holy
Church of the blessed Jesus, for several years under the pastoral care
of Mr. John Robinson, who had for his help in the government of the
Church, a most wise, grave, good man, Mr. William Brewster, the ruling
Elder. Indeed Mr. John Robinson had been in his younger time, (as ve-
ry griod fruit hath sometimes been, before age hath ripened it) sowred
with the principles of the most rigid separation, in the maintaining
wherebf he composed and published some little Treatises, and in the
management of the controversie made no scruple to call the incompara-
ble Dr. Amss himself. Dr. Amiss, for opposing such a degree of separa-
lion. But this worthy man suffered himself at length to be so far con-
vinced by his learned antagonist, that with a most ingenious retractation,
he afterwards writ a little book to prove the lawfulness of one thing,
which his mistaken zeal had formerly impugned several years, even till
1625, and about the fiftieth year of his own age, continued he a blessing
unto the whole Church of God, and at last, when he dyed, he left behind
bim in his immortal writings, a name very much embalmed among the
people that are best able to judge of merit ; and even among such, as
about the matters of Church-discipline, were not of his perswasion. Of
such an eminent character was he, while he lived, that when Arminian-

4<»

MAGNALIA CHRI3TI AMERICANA :

[Book I.

itm 10 much prevaileJ, as it then did io the low coiuUrte*, those famous
Divinei, Polyander, and Fettiu Hommiu$, employed this our learned
RobintoH to dispute publickly in the University of Leyden against Epi$-
copius, and the other champions of that grand choak-weed of true Chrii-
tianity : and when he died, not only the Univenity, and Ministers of the
city, accompanied him to his grave, with all their accustomed $oleiiuiitie$f
but some of the chief among them with sorrowful resentments and ex-
pressions affirmed, That all the Churches of our lard Jetut Christ had
sustained a great loss by the death of this worthy tnan.

§ 8. The English Ch: "h had not been very long at Leyden, before
they found themselves encountred with many inconveniences. They
felt that they were neither for health, nor purse, nor language well ac-
commodated ; but the concern which they most of all had, was for their
posterity. They saw, that whatever banks the Dutch had against the in-
roads of the sea, they had not sufficient ones against a flood of manifold
profaneness. They could not with ten years endeavour bring their neigh-
bours particularly to any suitable observation of the Lord's Day ; with-
out which they knew, that all practical Religion mu'>t wither miserably.
They beheld some of their children, by the temptations of the place,
which were especially given in the licentious ways of many young peo-

ftle, drawn into dangerous extravagancies. Moreover, they wer« very
oth to lose their interest in the English nation; but were desirous ra-
ther to enlarge their King's dominions. They found themselves also
under a very strong disposition of zeal, to attempt the establishment of
CoNoREOATioNAL Churches in thc remote parts of the world ; where
they hoped they should be reached by the Royal influence of their Prince,.
in whose allegiance they chose to live and die ; at the same time likewise
hoping that the Ecclcsiaalicks, who had thus driven them out of the king-
dom into a M'ew World, for nothing in the world but their non-conformity
to certain rites, by the imposers confessed indifferent, would be ashamed
ever to persecute them with any further molestations, at the distance of
a thousand leagues. These reasons were deeply considered by the
Church ; and after many deliberations, accompanied with the most solemn
humiliations and supplications before the God of Heaven, they took up a
resolution, under the conduct of Heaven, to remove into America ; the
opened regions whereof had now filled all Europe with reports. It was
resolved, that par^ of the Church should go before their brethren, to
prepare a place for the rest ; and whereas the minor part of younger and
stronger men were to go Hrst, the Pastor was to stay with the major, till
they should see cause to follow. Nor was there any occasion for this
resolve, in any weariness which the States of Holland had of their com-
pany, as was basely whispered by their adversaries ; therein like those
who of old assigned the same cause for the departure of the Israelites
out of Egypt: for the Magistrates of Leyden in their Court, reproving
the Walloons, gave this testimony for our English ; These English have
lived now ten years among us, and yet we never had any accusation against
any mie of them ; whereas your quarrele are continual.

I 3. These good people were now satisfyed, they had as plain a com-
mand of Heaven to attempt a removal, as ever their father Abraham had
for his leaving the Caldean territories ; and it was nothing but such a sat-
isfaction that could have carried them through such, otherwise insupera-
ble difficulties, as they met withal. But in this removal the terminus ad
(^uem was not yet resolved upon. The country of Guiana flattered
Hif'm with the promises of a perpetual Spring, and a thousand other com-

Book I.) OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

fbrtable entertainments. But the probable disagreement of so torrid a
climate unto English bodies; and the more dangerous Ticinity t' the
Spaniards to that climate ; were considerations which made them fear
that country would be too hot for them. They rather propounded aome
country bordering upon Virginia ; and unto this purpose, they sent over
agents into England, who so far treated not only with the Virginia Com-
pany, but with several great persons about the Court ; unto whom they
made evident their agreement with the French Rtformed Churches in all
things whatsoever, except in a few small accidental points ; that at last,
after many tedious delays, and after the loss of many/rtend« and hopes in
those delays, they obtained a Patent for a quiet settlement in those ter-
ritories ; and the Archbishop of Canterbury himself gave them some ex •
pectations that they should never be disturbed in that exercise of Re-
ligion, at which they aimed in their settlement ; yea, when Sir Robert
M'anton, then principal Secretary of State unto King James, moved his
Majesty to give way , that such a people might enjoy their liberty ofconseienct
under his grcusious protection in America, where they would endeavour the ^
advancement of his Majesty* s dominions, and the enlargement of th» inter-
ests of the Gospel; the King said, it was a good and honest motion. All
this notwithstanding, they never made use of tha* Patent : but being in-
formed of HKw-EsoLAinn, thither they diverted their design, thereto in-
duced by sundry reasons ; but particularly by this, that the coast being
extreamly well circumstanced for fishing, they might therein have some
immediate assistance against the hardships of their tirst encounters. —
Their agents then again sent over to England, concluded articles be-
tween them and such adventurers, as would be concerned with them in
their present undertakings. Articles, that were indeed sufficiently hard
for those poor men that were now to transplant themselves into an hor-
rid wilderness. The diversion of their enterprise from the ^rst state
and way of it, caused an unhappy division among those that should have
encouraged it ; and many of them hereupon fell off. But the Removers
having already sold their estates, to put the money into a common stock,
for the welfare of the whole ; and their stock as well as their time, spend-
ing so fast as to threaten them with an army of straits, if they delayed
any longer ; they nimbly dispatcht the best agreements they could, and
came away furnished with a Resolution for a large Tract of Land in the
south'West parts of New-England.

§ 4. All things now being in some readiness, and a couple of ships,
one called The Speedwell, the other, The May-Flawer, being hiredTor^their
transportation, they solemnly set apart a day for fasting and prayer ;
wherein their Pastor preach 3d unto them upon Ezra 8. 21 , / proclaim-
ed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might afflict our selves before
our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for
fill our substance.

After the fervent supplications of this day, accompanied by their
affectionate friends, they took their leave of the pleasant city, where
they had been pilptmi and strangers now for eleven years. Delft-Ha-
ven was the town, where they went on board one of their ships, and
there they had such a mournful parting from their brethren, as even
drowned the Dutch spectators themselves, then standing on the shore, in •
tears. Their excellent pastor, on his knees, by the sea-side, poured out
their mutual petitions unto God ; and having wept in one another's
arms, as long as the wind and the tide would permit them, they bad adieu.
So sailing to Southa7npttfn in England, they there foand the other of

MAONALIA CIIRISTI AMERICANA

[Book I.

their ships come from London, wilh .the rest of their friends that were
to be the eompaniom of the voyage. Let my reader phico the chronolo*
gy of this business on July 2, 1G2(). And know, that the faihtful pastor
of this people immediately sent ufler them a pastoral letter ; a letter
tilled with holy counsels unto them, to settle their peace with God in
their own consciences, by an exact repentance of all sin whatsoever,
that so they might more easily bear all the ditliculties that were now be>
fore them ; and then to maintain a good peace with one another, and be-
ware of giving or taking iffencea ; and avoid all diHcoverics of a touchy
humour; but \x»b m\xc)\ brotherly forbearance , [whereby the way he had
this remarkable observation ; In my own experience few oi m^ne have
been found that sooner give offence, than those that easily take it ; neither
have they ever proved sound and profitable membeis of societies who have
nourished this to*',ny humour ;] as also to take heed of a private spirit,
and all retired uss of mind in each man, for his own proper advantage ;
and likewise io be careful, that the house of God which they were, might
not be shaken with unnecessary novelties or oppositions : which Letter
afterwards produced most happy fruits among them.
< § 6. On August 5th, 1620, they set sail from Southampton ; but if it
shall, as I believe it will, afflict my reader to be told what heart-breaking
disasters befel them, in the very beginning of their undertaking, let him
glorifie God, who carried them so well through their greater affliction.

They were by bad weather twice beaten back, before they came to the
Land's End: But it Vvas judged, that the badness of the weather did not
retard them so much as the deceit of a master, who grown sick of the
voyage, made such pretences about theleakineas of his vess^el. that they
were forced at last wholly to dismiss that lesser ship from the service.
Being now all stowed into one ship, on the sixth of September they put
to sea ; but they met with such terrible storms, that the principal per-
sons on board had serious deliberations upon returning home again ;
however, after long beating upon the Atlantick ocean, they fell in with
the land at Cape Cod, about the ninth of J^ovember following, where go-
ing on shore they fell upon their knees, with many and hearty praises
unto God, who had been their assurance, when they were afar off upon
the sea, and vi'as to be further so, now that they were come to the ends of
the earth.

But why at this Cape ? Here was not the port which they intended :
thvi was not the land for which they had provided. There was indeed a
most wonderful providence of God, over a pious and a praying people, in
Was disappointment ! The most croo&ed wai/ that ever was gone, even
that ofhraeVs peregrination through the wilderness, may be called a right
way, such was the way of this little Israel, now going into a wilderness.

§ 6. Their design was to have sat down some where about Hudson's
River ; but some of their neighbours in Holland having a mind them-
selves to settle a plantation there, secretly and sinfully contracted with
the master of the ship, employed for the transportation of these our Eng-
lish exiles, by a more northerly course, to put a trick upon them. 'Twas
in the pursuance of this plot, that not only the goods, but also the lives of
all on board were now hazarded, by the ship.'^ falling among the shoals of
Cape-Cod : where they were so entangled among dangerous breakers, thus
late in the year, that the company got at last into the Cape- Harbour, broke
off their intentions of going any further. And yet beliold the watchful
providence of God over them that seek him ! this //iZse-r/ea/Mig- proved a
safe-dealing for the good people against whom it was used. Had they been

Book 1] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. '^t

carried Recording to their desire unto lludson'x River, the hvdianu in tbost
partn were ut thia tioie so m.iny , and no mighty, and so sturdy, thnt in pro-
babiiity all this little feeble number of Christians had been intisaac red by
these bloody salvages, us not long nflur some others were : whereas th«
good hand of God now brought them to a country wonderfully prepared
for their entertainment, by a sweeping ini>rt,il(iy that had lately beea
among the natives. H'e liitve heard with oui earn, O God, our fathers have
told ua, what work thou didst in their days, in thr times 0/ old; how thou
dravest out the heathen with thy hand, and plaittedst them ; lu/iv thuu did'st
afflict the. people, and cast llmin out/ 'I'he Indians in these parts had
newly, even about a year or two before, been visited with such a prodi-
gious pestilence ; as carried away not a tenth, but nine parts of ten, (yea,
'tis said, ninet^'tn of twenty) among them : so that the woods were
almost cleared of those pernicious creatures, to m'ike room for a better
growth. It is remarkable, that a Frenchman who not long before these
transactions, had by a shipwreck been m:ide a captive among the Indians
of this country, did, as tlie survivers reported, just before he dyed in
their hands, tell those tawny pagans, that God being angry with tkemfor
their wivkediuss, would not only destroy tfum all, but also people tlie place
with anothtr nation, which would not. live after tlieir brutish manners.
Those inhdels then blasphemously replyed, God could itot kill them ;
which blasphemous mistake was confuted by an horrible and unusual
plague, whereby they were consumed in svch vast multitudes, that our
j£«'«< /)Zun/er8 found the land almost covered with their unburied carcases ;
and they that were left alive, were smitten into awful and bumble re-
gards of the English, by the terrors which the remembrance of the
/r«nc/iiftan'« prophesie had impriuted on them.

§ 7. Inexpressible the hardships to which this chosen generation was
now exposed ! Our Saviour once directed his disciples to deprecate a
jlighl in the winter ; but these disciples of our Lord were now arrived at
a very cold country, in the beginning of a rough and bleak winter; the
sun was withdrawn into Sagittarius, whence he shot the penetrating ar-
rows of cold; feathered with nothing but snow, and pointed with Aat'Z;
and the days left them to behold the yh/s/-bitten and weather-beaten face
of the eart/i, were grown shorter than the nights, wherein they had yet
more trouble to get shelter from the increasing injuries of the/tos^and
weather. It was a relief to those primitive believers, who were cast on
shore at Malta, That the barbarous people s/iowed them no litfl^lfindness,
because of the present rain, and be-cause of the cold. But these believers in
our primitive times, were more afraid of the barbarous people among whom
they were now cast, than they were of the rain, or cold: these barhari'
ans were at the first so far from accommodating them with bundles of
sticks to warm them, that they let fly other sorts of sticks (that is to say,
arrows) to wound them : and the very looks and shouts of tliose grim, sal-
vages, had not much less of terrom >n them, than if they had been so many
devils. It is not long since I compared this remove of our fathers, to
that of Abraham, whereas I must now add, that if our father Abraham,
called out of Ur, had been directed unto the Desarts o{ Arabia, instead of
the land flowing with milk and honey, thetrial of his faith had been
greater than it was ; but such was the trial of the faith in these holy
men, who followed the call of God into desarts full of dismal circumstan-
ces. All this they chearfully underwent, in hope, that they should set-
tle the worship and order of the gospel, and the Kingdom of our Lord
Jesus Christ in these regions, and that thus enlarging the d&minion, they

Vol. I. 7

4MAUNALIA CIIKIbTl AIIEKICANA :

[Book 1.

ohonid thereby ro merit the prottotion of the crown of England, na to bv
never ubandoned unto uny i'nrXher pentcutuma, from any j)iirty oftheiryi^
tow tuh}tct», for the irconiciencioiis regards unto llie r$JormvtioH. Their
propoaal woe,

' Kxigttan tedem SacriSt Littuaqm rogamus,
Innoiuum, Sf atnctis undamq ! uuramq ; Fattnttm.

^ 0. Finding ul their Innt iirrivnl, thiit what other powers they had.
were made uhoIom by the undeaigned place of their arrival ; they did,
ns the light of naturt it self directed them, immediately in the harbour,
xign an intirumtnt, as a foundation of their future and needful guvtrn-
ment ; wherein declaring themselves the loyal subjects of the Crown of
England, they did combine into a body politick, and solemnly engage sub*
mission and obedience to the laws, ordtnancei, actt, con$tilutioni and qffi-
cen, that from time to time should he thought most convenient for the
general good of the Co/ony. This was done on JVov. 1 1th, 1G20, and
they chose one Mr. John Carver, a pious and prudent man, their Gov-
crnour.

Hereupon they sent ashore to look n convenient 'eat for their intended
habitation : and while the carpenter was fitting of their shallop, tixteen
men tendered themselves, to go, by land, on the discovery. Accordingly
on JVov. 16lh, Iti'iO, they made n dangerous adventure ; following Bve
Indiana, whom they spied tlying before them, into the wootis for many
miles ; from whence, after two or three days ramble, they returned with
some ears of hdian Corn, which were an eshcul for their company ; bat
with a poor and small encouragement, as unto any scituation. When the
shallop wits fitted, about thirty more went in it upon a further discovery ;
who prospered little more, than only to find a little Indian Corn, and
bring to the company some occasions of doubtful debate, whether they
hhould here fix their stakes. Yet these expeditions on discovery had
this one remarkable smile of Heaven upon them ; that being made br
fore the snow covered the ground, they met with some Indian Corn ; for
which, 'twas their purpose honestly to pay the natives on demand ; and
this Corn served them lor seed in the Spring following, which else they
had not been seasonably furnished withal, bo that it proved, in effect,
their deliverance from the terrible famine.

§ 9. The month of November being spent in many supplications to Al-
mighty (>od, and consultations one with another, about the direction of
their course; at last, on Dec. 6, 1620, they manned the shallop witli
about eighteen or twenty hands, and went out upon a third discovery.
So bitterly cold was the season, that the spray of the sea lighting on
their deaths, glazed them with an immediate congelation ; yet they kept
cruising about the bay of Cape-Cod, and that night they got safe down
the bottom of the bay. There they landed, and there they tarried that
night ; and unsuccessfully ranging about all the next day, at night they
made a little barricado of boughs and logs, wherein the most weary
slept. The next morning after prayers, tiiey suddenly were surrounded
with a crue of Indians, who let fly a shower of arrows among them ;
whereat our distressed handful of English happily recovering their arms,
Vrhich they had laid by from the moisture of the weather, they vigo-
rbusly discharged their muskets upon the Salvages, who astonished at Utc
strange effects of such dead-doing things, as powder and shot, fled apace
intc the woods ; but not one of ours was wounded by the Indian arrows
^hat flew like hail about their ears, and pierced through sundry of their

DooK r] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-RNQLAND. |M

roati: for tvhioh they returned their •olemn tlinnks unto Ood their Sm-
vioiir ; and tbry cnllcd thu |«lace by the niimo of, Tht Fint Uncounler.
From hence they cuaiited Hlong, till an horrible storm nroiie, which tore
their veuel utsuch ii rate, nnd threw them into the midst ol'auch danger-
QUI breaktri, it waa reckoned little short of miracle that they escaped
nlive. in the end they got under the lee of a Hmull hlanU, where going
ashore, they kindled Ares for their succoiirjngninst the wet nnd cold ; it
was the morning before they found it was an hland, whereupon they ren-
drcd their praises to Him, ihnt hitherto had helped them; and the day fol-
lowing, which was, the Lord's Day, the difliculties now upon them, did not
hinder them from spending it in the devout and pious exercises of a *a-
ered rett. On the next day they sounded the harbour, and found it fit for
shipping; they visited the main land also, and found it accommodated
with pleasant tields and brooks ; whereof they curried an encouraging
report unto their friends on board. So they resolved that they would
here pitch their tents ; and sailing; up to the town of Plymouth, [as with
an hopeful prolepsis, my reader shall now call it j for otherwise, by the
Indium 'twas called Patuxet ,-J on the twenty-tiAli day of December they
began to erect the^rit Houte that ever was in that memorable town { an
house for the general entertainment of their persons and estates : and
yet it was not long before an unhappy accident burnt unto tho ground
their house, wherein some of their principal persons then lay sick ; who
were forced nimbly to fly out of the tired house, or else they hud been
blown up with the powder then lodged there, iiler this, they soon went
upon the building of more little cottage* ; and upon the settling of good
law$, fur the better governing of such as were to inhabit tbose cottager.
They then resolved, that until they could be further strengthened in
their settlement, by the authority of England, they would be governpd
by ruleri chosen from among themselves, who were to proceed accord-
ing to the laws' of England, as near as they could, in the administration
of their government ; and such other by laws, as by rmnmon consent
should be judged necessary for the circumstances of the t'lantation.

§ 10. If the reader would know, how these good people fared the
rest of the melancholy winter ; let him know, that besides the exercises
of Religion, with other work enough, there was the care of the sick to
take up no little part of their time. 'Twas a most heavy trial of their
patience, 'vhereto they were called the first winter of this their pilgrim-
age, and enough to convince them, and remind them, that they were
but Pilgrims. The hardships which they encountered, were attended
with, and productive o( deadly sicknesses; which in two or three months
carried otf more than half their company. They were but meanly pro-
vided against these unhappy sicknesses; but there died sometimes two,
sometimes three in a day, till scarce Jifty of them were left alive ; and
of those^t^, sometimes there were scarce Jive well at a time to look
after the sick. Yet their profound submission to the will of Qod, their
Christian readiness to help one another, accompanied with a joyful as-
surance of another and better world, carried them chearfully through
the sorrows of this mortality : nor was there heard among them a con-
tinual murmur against those who had by wireasonable impositions driven
them into all these distresses. And there was this remarkable providence
further in the circumstances of this mortality, that if a disease had not
more easily fetcht so many of this number away to Heaven, a famine
would probably have destroyed them all, before their expected supplies
^Vom England were arrived. But what a wonder was it that all the

»,u. ;t MAGNALIA ClIRISTI AMERICANA : [Book I.

bloody salvnges ftir nnd near did nut cut off this tittle remnant ! If he that
once muzzled the lions ready to dcvuur the man of desires, hnd not ad-
mirably, 1 had almost said, miraculously restrained them, thene had been
all devoured ! but this peopio of Uod were come into a wilderness to
worship liim ; and so He kept tnelr enemies from such attempts, as would
otherwise have soon annihilated this poor handful of men, thus far already
diminished. They saw no Indians all tlie winter long, but such us at the first
sight always ran uwuy ; yen, they quickly found, that God had so turned
the hearts of these babarians, as more to /e<u-, tlian to hate his people
thus oist among them. This blessod pooplc wus as a little flock of kids,
while there were many natiun» of Indians left still as kennels of wolves
in every corner of the country. And yet the Utile flock suffered no dam-
age by those rapid wolves! VVc may and should say, This is the Lord's
doing, 'tis marvrtlous in our eyes.

But among the many causes to be assigned for it, one was this. It was
afterwards by thcni confessed, that upon the arrival of the English in
theso parts, the Indians employed tijeir sorcerers, whom they call pow-
au>«, like lialnam, to cvrse them, and let loose their t/cinoHs upon them,
to shipwreck them, to distract them, to poison them, or any way to ruin
them. All the noted /lowoa's in the country spent three days together
in diabolical conjurations, to obtain the assistance of the devils against
the settlement of these our English ; but the devils at length acknowl-
edged unto them, that they could not hinder those people from their be-
coming the owners nnd masters of the country ; whereupon the Indians
resolved upon a good correspondence with our new-comers ; and God
convinced them, that there was no enchantment or divination iigainstsuch
a peopio

§ 1 1. The doleful winter broke up sooner than was usual. But our
crippled planters were not more comforted with the early advance of the
Spring, than thoy were surprized with the appearance of two Indians,
who in broken English bade tltem, welcome Englishmen ! It seems that
one of these Indians had been in the eastern parts of J\'ezv- England, ac-
quainted with some of the English vessels that had been formerly^s/ijwg
there ; but the other of the Indlann, and he from whom they had most of
service, was a person provided by tl»e very singular providence of God
for that service. A most wicked ship master being on this coast a few
years before, had wickedly spirited away more than twenty Indians ;
whom having enticed them aboard, he presently stowed them under
batches, and carried them away to the Streights, where he sold as many
of them as he could for Slaves. This avaritioue and pernicious felony
laid the foundation of grievous annoyances to all the English endeavours
of settlements, especially in the northern parts of the land for several
years ensuing. The Indians would never forget or forgive this injury ;
but when the En{!;lish afterwards came upon this coast, in their ^«/«Mg-
yoyages, they were still assaulted in an hostile manner, to the killing and
wounding of many poor men by the angry natives, in revenge of the
wrong that had been done them ; and some intended Plantations here
were hereby utterly nipt in the bud. But our good God so ordered it,
that one of the stoln Indians, called Squanto, had escaped out of Spain
into England; where he lived with one Mr. Slany, from whom he had
found a way to return into his own country, being brought back by one
Mr. Detmer, about half a year before our honest Plymotheans were cast
upon this continent. This Indian (with the other) having received much
kindness from the English, who he saw generally condemned the man

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

that first betrayed him, now made unto the English a retarn of that
kindness : nnd being by his acquiiintance with the English language, fit-
ted for a conversation with them, he very kindly informed thein what
was the present condition of the Indians ; instructed them in the way of
ordering their Corn; and acquainted them with many other things,
\vhicb it was necessary for them to understand. But Squanto did for
them a yet greater bcnetlt than all this: for he brr.u^ht ./W««su$ni<, the
chief Sachim or Prince of the Indians within many miles, with some
scores of his attenders, to make our people a kiud vii^it ; the issue of
which visit was. that Massasott not only enlred into a firm agreement of
peace with the English, but also they declared and submitted themselves
to be subjects of the King of England ; into which peace and subjeriiiA
many other bachims quickly after came, in the most voluntary manner
that could be expressed. It seems this unlucky Squanto having told his
countrymen how easie it was for so great a monarch as K James to de-
stroy them all, if they should hurt any of his people, he went on to ter-
rifie them with a ridiculous rhodomantado, which they believed, that
this people kept the plague in a cellar (where they kept their powder)
and could at their pleasure let it loose to make such havock among them,
as the distemper had already made among them a few years before.
Thus was the tongue of a dog made useful tb a feeble and sickly Laza-
rus! Moreover, our English ,guns, ctspecially the ,^rea{ ones, made a
formidable report among these ignorant Indians ; and the hopes of enjoy-
ing some defence by the English, against the potent nation of JS'arragan-
set Indians, now at w!ir with these, made them yet more to court our
friendship. This very strange disposition of things, was extreamly advan-
tageous to our distressed p/rt«<<;rs : and who sees not herein the special
providence of the God who disposeth all ?

CHAPTER III.

Conamur Tenues Grandia : or, a brief account of the difficulties, the de-
liverances, and other occurrences, through which the Plantation of New-
Plymouth arrived unto the corisistency ojf a Colony. ^

§ 1. Setting aside the just and great grief of our new planters for
the immature death of their excellent governour, succeeded by the wor-
thy Mr. Bradford, early in the Spring after their first arrival, they spent
their summer somewhat comfortably, trading with the Indians to the
northward of their Plantation ; in which trade they were not a little as-
sisted by Squanto, who within a year or two dyed among the English ; but
before his death, desired them to pray for him. That he might go to the
Et^lishman's God in Heaven. And besides the assistance of Squanto.
they had also the help of another Indian called Hobbamok, who con-
tinued faithful unto the English interests as long as he lived ; though he
sometimes went in danger of his life among his countrymen for that fi-
delity. So they jogged on till the day twelvemonth after their first arri-
val ; when there now arrived unto them a good number more of their
old friends from Holland, for the strengthening of their new Plantation :
but inasmuch as they brought not a sufiicient stock of provisions with
them, they rather weakened it, than strengthened it.

MA&NAtIA CHRIST} AMEKICANA

[Book I.

If Pettr Martyr could magniiie the Spaniards, of whom he report:9,
Tk*y led a miserabU life for three days together with parched grain of
nnize only, and that not unto satiety ; what shall I say of our Englishmen,
who would have thougUt a little parched Indian Com a mighty feast ? Bat
they wanted it, not only three days together ; no, for two or three
months together, they hud no kind of Com among them : such was the
scarcity, accompanied with the disproportion of the inhabitants to the
provisions. However, Peter Martyr^s conclusion may be ours. With
their miseries this people opened a way to those new lands, and afterwards
other men came to inhabit them with ease, in respect of the calamities which
those men have suffered. They were indeed very often upon the very
point of starving ; but in their extremity the God of Heaven always fur-
nished them with some sudden reliefs ; either by causing some vessels of
strangers occasionally to look in upon them, or by putting them into a
way to catch Jish in some convenient quantities, or by some other sur-
prising accidents ; for which they rendered unto Heaven the solemn
thanks of their souls. They kept in such good working case, that be-
sides their progress in building, and planting, and fishing, they formed
n sort of a fort, wherein they kept a nightly watch for their security
against any treachery of the /nutans, being thereunto awakened by an
horrible massacre, which the Indians lately made upon several hundreds
of the English in Virginia.

§ 2. In one of the first SdiAmers after their sitting down at Plymouth,
a terrible drought threatened the ruin of all their summer's husbandry.
From about the middle of May to the middle of July, an extream hot
sun beat upon their fields, without any rain^ so that all their com began to
wither and languish, and some of it was irrecoverably parched up. In
this distress they set apart a day for fasting and prayer, to deprecate the
calamity that might bring them to fasting through famine ; in the morn-
ing of which day there was no sign of any rain ; but before the evening
the sky was overcast with clouds, which went not away without such
easie, gentle, and yet plentiful sAowers, as revived a great part of their
decayed corn, for a comfortable harvest. The Indians themselves took
notice of this answer given from heaven to the supplications of this de.
vout people ; and one of them said, now I see that the Englishman's God
is a good God ; for he hath heard you, and sent you rain, and that without
such tempest and thunder as we use to have with our rain ; which after <Atr
Powawing/or it, breaks down the corn ; whereas your corn stands whole
and good still ; surely, your God is a good God. The harvest which God
thus gave to this pious people, caused them to set apart another day for
solemn Thanksgiving to the glorious Hearer of Prayers !

§ 3. There was another most wonderful preservation, vouchsafed by
God unto this little knot of Christians. One Mr. H''es/on, a merchant of
good note, interested at first in the Plymouth design, afterwards desert-
ed it ; and in the year 1622, sent over two ships with about sixty men, to
begin a plantation in the Massachuset-Bay. These beginners being well re-
treshed at Plymouth, travelled more northward unto a place known since
by the name of Weymouth ; where these Westonians, who were Church
•f England-men, did not approve themselves like the Plymotheans, a pious,
honest, industrious people ; but followed such bad courses, as bad like
to have brought a ruin upon their neighbours, as well as themselves.
Having by their idleness brought themselves to penury, they stole corn
from the Indians, and many other ways provoked them ; althongb th«

[Book I.

B reports,
grain ojf
iglishmen,
east ? But
or three
li was the
nU to the
urs, With
ifttrwards
xtiea which
1 the very
Iways fur-
veasels of
em into n
other sur-
:he solemn
J, that be-
ley formed
ir security
tned by an
tl hundreds

; Plymouth,
husbandry.
xtream hot
m began to
ed up. In
trecate the
the morn-
le evening
:bout such
irt of their
iclves took
if this de-
lan's God
\at without
after (fur
mds whole
ivhich God
day for

:hHafed by
jrchant of
\ds desert-
Ity men, to
Tig well re-
)wn since
re Church
is, a pious,
had like
lemselves.
Itole corn
lough th«

Book I.] OR, TH£ HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. 65

Governor of Plymouth writ them his very sharp disapprobation of .their
proceedings. To satisfie the exasperated Salvages, divers of the thievts
were slockt and whipt, and one of them at last put to death by tkns migeraMe
company ; which did no other service than to affot-d an occasion for «
fable to the roguish Hudibras, for all accommodation was now too late.
The Indians far and near entred into a cospiracy to cut off these abusive
English ; and least the inhabitants of Plymouth should revenge thatt ex-
cision of their countrymen, they resolved upon the murtber of them also.
In pursuance of this p/ot, Captain Slandish, the commander of the militia
of Plymouth, lodging on a night, with two or three men in an Indian house,
the Indians proposed that they might begin the execution of their maAice
by the assassination of the Captain, as soon as he should be fallen asleep.
However, the watchful Providence of God so ordered it, that th«
Captain could not sleep all that night ; and so they durst not meddle with
him. Thus was the beginnii^ of the plot put by : but the whole plot
came another way to be discovered and prevented. Massas0it, the sou-
thern Sachim falling sick, the Governour of Plymouth desired a couple
of gentlemen, whereof one was that good man, Mr. Winalow, to visit this
poor Sachim : whom after their long journey they found lying at the point
of death with a crue of hellish Po^arfis, using their ineffectual spells and
howls about him to recover him. V] n th<^ (aking of some English phy-
sick, he presently revived ; and u. g ; ninghis lost health, the fees
he paid his English doctor were, i cri''^...jion of the plot among several
nations of the Indians, to destroy the tinglish. He said, that they had in
vain solUcited him to enter into that bloody combination ; but bis advice
was, that the Governour of Plymouth should immediately take off the
principal actors in this business, whereupon the rest being terrifyed,
would soon desist. There was a concurrence of many things to confirm
the truth of this information ; wherefore Captain Standish took eight re-
solute men with him to the ^estonian Plantation ; where pretending to
trade with the Indians, divers of the conspirators began to treat him in a
manner very insolent. The Captain, and his little army of eight men,
(reader, allow them for their courage to be called so) with a prodigious
resolution, presently killed some of the chief among these Zndians, while
the rest, after a short combate, ran before him as fast as their legs could
carry them ; nevertheless, in the midst of the skirmishes, an Indian
youth ran to the English, desiring to be with them ; and declaring that
the Indians waited but for their finishing two canoos, to have surprized
the ship in the harbour, and have massacred all the people ; which had
been finished, if the Captain had not arrived among them just in the
nick of time when he did : and an Indians^y detained at Plymouth, when
he saw the Captain return from this expedition, with the head of a
famous Indian in his hand, then with a fain and frighted countenance,
acknowledged the whole mischief intended by the Indians against the
English. Releasing this Tallow, they sent him to the Sachim of the Mas-
sachusets, with advice of what he must look for, in case he committed
any hostility upon the subjects of the King of England ; whereof there
was this effect, that not only that Sachim hereby terrified, most humbly
begged for peace, and pleaded his ignorance of his men's intentions ; but
the rest of the Indians, under the same terror, withdrew themselves to
live in the unhealthful swamps, which proved mortal to mtoy of them.
One of the Westonians was endeavouring to carry unto Plymouth a report
of the straits and fears which were come upon them, and this man losing
his way, saved bis life ; taking a wrong track, he escaped the hands ot

'^^*;MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Book I.

the two Indians, who went on hunting after him ; however e're he reach-
ed Plymauth, care had been already taken for these wretched Wettonians
by the earlier and fuller communications of Mastasoit. So was the peace
ot Plymouth preserved, and so the We$tonian plantation broke up, went
off, and came to. nothing ; although 'twas much wished by the holy Rob-
inson, that some of the poor heathen had been converted before any of
them had been slaughtered.

§ 4. A certain gentleman [if nothing in the following story contradict
that name] was employed in obtaining from the Grand Council of Ply-
motUh and England, a Patent in the name of these planters for a conve-
nient quddtity of the country, where the providence of Cod had now
disposed them. This man speaking one worit for them, spake two for
himself : and surreptitiously procured the patent in his own name, re*
serving for himself and his heirs an huge tract of the land ; and intending
the Plymotheans to hold the rest as tenants under him. Hereupon he took
on board many passengers with their goods ; but having sailed no further
than the Downs, the ship sprang a leak ; and besides this disaster, which
alone was enough to have stopt the voyage, one strand of their cable was
accidentally cut ; by which means it broke in a stress of wind ; and they
were in extream danger of being wrecked upon the sands. Having
with much cost recruited their loss, and encreased the number of their
passengers, they put out again to sea ; but after they had got halfway,
one of the saddest and longest storms that had been knowi. siuce the
days of the apostle Paul, drove them home to England again, with
a vessel well nigh torn to pieces, though the lives of the people,,
which were above an hundred, mercifully preserved. This man, by all
his tumbling backward and forward, was by this time grown so sick of his
patent, that he vomited it up ; he assigned it over to the company, but
they afterwards obtained another, under the umbrage whereof they
could now more effectually carry on the affairs of their new colony. The
passengers went over afterwards in anotiier vessel ; and quickly after
that another vessel of passengers also arrived in the country : namely,
in the year 1623. Among these passengers were divers worthy and
useful men, who were come to seek the welfare of this little Israel ;
though at their coming they were as diversly affected, as the rebuilders
of the Temple at Jerusa/em : some were grieved when they saw ^ots; bad
the circumstances of taeir fiiends were, and others were glad that they
were no worse.

§ 6. The immature death of Mr. Robinson in Holland, with many en-
suing disasters, hindred a great part of the English congregation at Ley-
den, from coming over to the remnant here separated from their brethren.
Hence it was, that although this remnant of that church were blessed with
an elder so apt to teach, that he attended all the other works of a minister ;
yet they had not apc^tor to dispense the sacraments among them, till the
year 1629, when one Mr. Ralph Smith undertook the pastoral charge of
this holy^ocfc. But long before that, namely in the year 1624, the ad-
venturers in England, with whom this company held a correspondence,
did send over unto them a minister, who did them no manner of good ;
but by his treacherous and mischievous tricks, at last utterly destroyed
that correspondence. The first neat-cattle, mamely , three heifers and a 6m//,
that ever were brought into this land, now coming with him, did the land
certainly better service than was ever done by him, who sufficiently forgot
that scriptural emblem of a minister, the ox treading out the com. This
minister at his first arrival did caress them with such extream showers

BoMc I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

«9

of affection and humility, that they were very much taken with him {
nevertheless, within a little while, he used most malignant endeavours
to make factions among them, and confound all their civil and satred or«
der. At last there fell into the hands of the governour his UtUr$ hom«
to England, filled with wiciced and lying accusations against the people ;
of which things being shamelully convicted, the authority sentenced hiia
to be expelled the Plantation, only they allowed him to stay $ix months,
with secret reservations and expectations to release him from that sen*
tence, if he approved himself sound in the repentance which he now ex*
pressed. Repentance, 1 say ; for he did now publickly in the Church
confess with tears, that the censure of the Church was less than he deserv
ed ; he acknowledged. That he had slanderously abused the good people,
and that God might justly lay innocent blood to his charge ; for he knew not
what hurt might have come through his writings ; for the interception
whereof he now blessed God ; and that it had been his manner to pick up
all the evil that was ever spoken against the people ; but he shut his ears and
eyes against all the good ; and that tf God should make him a vagabond in
the earth, he were just in doing so ; and that those three things, pride, vain-
glory, and self-love, had been the causes of his miscarnoges. These
things he uttered so pathetically, that they again permitted him to preach
among them ; and some were so perswaded of his repentance, that they
professed they would fall down on their knees, that the censure passed
on him should be remitted. But, Ob the deceitful heart of man ! AAer
two months time, he so notoriously renewed the miscarriages which he
had thus bewailed, that his own wife, through her affliction of mind at
his hypocrisie, could not forbear declaring her fears, that God would
bring some heavy judgment upon their family, not only for these, bat
some former wickednesses by him committed, especially as to fearful
breaches of the Seventh Commandmient, which he had with an oath de«
nied, though they were afterwards evinced. Wherefore upon the whole,
being banished from hence, because his residence here was utterly iu'
consistent with the life of this infant-plantation ; he went into Virginia,
where he shortly after ended his own life. Qjuickly after these difficul-
ties, the company of adventurers for the support of this Plantation, be-
came rather adversaries to it ; or at least, a. Be you warmed and filled ;
a few good words were all the help they afforded it ; they broke to pie-
ces, but the God of Heaven still supported it.

§ 6. After these many difficulties were thus a little surmounted, the
inhabitants of tlus Colony prosecuted their affairs at so vigorous and suc-
cessful a rate, that they not only fell into a comfortable way, both of
planting and of trading ; but also in a few years there was a notable
number of towns to be seen settled among them, and very considerable
Churches walking, so far as they had attained, in the faith and order of
the Gospel. Their Churches flourished so considerably, that in the yealr
1642, there were above a dozen ministers, and some of those ministen
were stars of the first magnitude, shining in their several orbs among
them. And as they proceeded in the evangelical service and ivorship of
our Lord Jesus Christ, so they prospered in their siecular concernments.
When they first began to divide their lands, they wisely contrived the
division so, that they might keep close together for their mutual de-
fence ; and then their condition was very like that of the Romans in the
time of Romulus, when every man contented himself with two acres of
land ; and as Pliny tells us. It was thought a great reward for one to re-
ceive a pint of com from the people of Rome, which corn thty atstt

Vol. I. 8

MAdNALlA CHRISTI AMERICANA:

[Book I.

pounded in mortars. But since then their condition is marvellously aN
tered and amended : great jarnu are now seen among the effects of this
good people's planting ; and in their ^s/ttnjr, from the .atching of cod,
and other tish of less dimensions, they are since passed on to the catch-
ing of whales., whose oil is become a staple-commodity of the country :
whales, 1 say, which living and moving islands, do now find a way to this
coast, where, notwithstanding the desperate hazards run by the whale-
ccurjiers in their thin gehale-boats, often torn to pieces by the streaks of
those enraged monsters ; ye* it has been rarely known that any of them
jiuve miscarried. And within a few days of my writing this paragraph,
a cow and a calf were caught at Yarmouth in this Colony ; the cow was
fifty five foot long, the bone was nine or ten foot wide ; a cart upon
wheels might have gone in at the mouth of it ; the calf was twenty foot
long, for unto such vast calves, the sea-monsters draw forth their breasts.
But so does the good God here give his people to suck the abundunce of
the seas !

§ 7. If my reader would have the Religion of the8,e planters more
exactly described unto him ; after I have told him that many hundreds of
holy souls, having been ripened for Heaven under the ordinances of
God in this Colony ; and having left an example of wonderful prayerful-
ness, watchfulness, thankfulness, usefulness, exact conscientiousness,
piety, charity, weanedness from the things of this world, and affection to
the things that are above, are now at rest with the blessed Jesus, whose
names, though not recorded in this book, are yet entred in the Book of
Life ; and I hope there are still many hundreds of their children, even
of the third and fourth generation, resolving to follow them as they fol-
lowed Christ. I must refer him to an account given thereof by the right
worshipful Edward Winslow, Esq ; who was for some time the Govern*
oiir of the Colony. He gives us to understand, that they are entirely
of the same faith with the reformed Churches in Europe, only in their
Church-government they are endeavourous after a reformation more thor-
ough than what is in many of them ; yet without any uncharitable sepa-
ration from them. He gives instances of their admitting to communion
among them the communicants of the French, the Dutch, the Scotch
Churches, meerly by virtue of their being so ; and says, We ever placed
a large difference between those that grounded their practice on the Word
of God, though differing from us in the exposition and understanding of it,
and those that hated such reformers and reformation, and went on in anti-
christian opposition to it, and persecution of it : after which, he adds,
'Tis true, we profess and desire to practice a separation from the world,
and the works of the world ; and as the Churches of Christ are all saints
by calling, so we desire to see the Grace of God shining forth (at least
seemingly, leaving secret things to God) in all we admit into Church-fel-
lowship with us, and to keep off such as openly wallow in the mire of their
sins, tfiat neither the holy things of God, nor the communion of saints, may
be leavened or polluted thereby. 4nd if any joining to us formerly, either
when we lived at Leyden in HollaAd, or since we came to New-England,
have with the manifestation of their faith, and profession of holiness, held
forth therewith separation from the Church of England ; Ihave divers times,
both in the one place, and in the other, heard either Mr. Robinson our pas-
tor, or Mr. Brewster our elder, stop them forthwith, shewing them that we
required no such thing at their hands ; but only to hold forth faith in
Christ Jesus, holiness in the fear of God, and submission to every ordinance
and appointment of God. Thus he. It is true there have been some

Book 1.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLANB.

varieties among this people, but still 1 suppose the body of them do ^vith
integrity espouse nnd maintain the principles upon which they were first
established : however, I must without fear of offending express my fear,
that the leaven of that rigid thing, they call Brownism, has prevailed
sometimes a little of the furthest in the administrations of this pious
people. Yea, there was an hour of temptation, wherein the fondness of
the people for the prophecyings of the brethren, as they called those ex-
ercises ; that is to say, the preachments of those whom they called gift-
ed brethren, produced those discouragements unto f- ir mi* ' erf, that
almost all the mtn»»t«r» left the Colony ; apprehcndi ^ let, ■t driven
away by the insupportable neglect and contempt, with which people
on this occasion treated them. And this dark hour of eclipse, upon the
light of the iiospel, in the Churches of the Colony, continued until
their humiliation and reformation before the great Shepherd of the sheep,
who hath since then blessed them with a succession of as worthy minis-
ters as moot in the land. Moreover, there has been among them one
Church, that have questioned and omitted the use of infant-baptism ; nev-
ertheless, there being many good men among those that have been oi
this perswasion, I do not know that they have been persecuted with any
harder means, than those of kind conferences to reclaim them. There
have been also some unhappy sectaries, namely, Quakers and Seekers,
and other such Energununs, [pardon me, reader, that I have thought
them so] which have given uggly disturbances to these good-spirited
men in their temple-work ; but they have not prevailed unto the subver*
sion of the first interest.

Some little controversies likewise have now and then arisen among them
in the administration of their discipline ; but Synods then regularly call-
ed, have usually and presently put into joint all that was apprehended
out. Their chief hazard and symptom of degeneracy, is in the verifica-
tion of that old observation, Religio peperit Divitias, fy Filia devoravit
Matrem : Religion brought forth prosperity, and the daughter destroyed
the mother. The' one would expect, that as they grew in their estates,
they would grow in the payment of their quit-rents unto the God who
gives them power to get wealth, by more liberally supporting his ministers
and ordinances among them ; the most likely way to save them from the
most miserable apostacy; the neglect whereof in some former years, began
for a while to be punished with a sore/amtne of the Word ; nevertheless,
there is danger lest the enchantments of this world make them to forget
their errand into the wilderness : and some woful villages in the skirts of
the Colony, beginning to live without the means of grace among them,
are still more ominous intimations of the danger. May the God of JVew-
Ensland preserve them from so great a death !

§ 8. Going now to take my leave of this little Colony, that 1 may con-
verse for a while with her younger sisters, which yet have outstript her
in growth exceedingly, and so will now draw all the streams of her af-
fairs into their channels, I shall repeat the counsel which their faithful
Robinson gave the first planters of the Colony, at their parting from him
in Holland. Said he, [to this purpose.]

• Brethren, we are now quickly to part from one another ; and wheth*

• er I may ever live to see your faces on earth any more, the God of
' Heaven only knows. But whether the Lord have appointed that or
' no, I charge you before God, and before his blessed angels, that you

* follow me no further than you have seen tat follow the Lord Jesus
'Christ. ^ ^,., ; ...J - . , ^ ,.

ii -^ ,: MAONALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book!.

* If God reveal any thing to you by any other initrnment of Ai*, be ae
' ready to receive it, at ever yoo were to receive any truth by my min-
' istry ; for I am verily penwaded, I am very confident the Lord hatk

* more truth yet to break forth out of his holy Word. For ny part, I

* cannot sufficiently bewail the condition of the reformed Churehei, wha

* are come to a period in religion ; and will go at present no Airther
' than the instruments of their first Jieformation. 1'he Lutkeran$
'cannot be drawn to go beyond what L«(Aer saw: whatever part of
' his will our good God has imparted and revealed unto Caivin, they will
' rather die than embrace it. And the Calvinieti, you see, stick fast
' where they were left by that great man of God, who yet raw not all

* thiingi.

* This is a misery much to be lamented ; for though they were bum-

* ing and shining lights in their times, yet they penetrated not into the

* whole counsel of OoC ; but were they now living, they would bfe at
' willing to embrace further light, m that which they ^r«f received. I

< beseech you to remember it ; it is an article of your Church-covenant,

* That you will be ready to receive whatever truth shall be made known unto

* you from the written Word of God. Remember that, and every other
' article of your most sacred covenant. But I must herewithal exhort

* you to take heed what you receive as truth ; examine it, consider it,

* compare it with the other Scriptures of truth, before yoo do receive it.
' For it is not possible the Christian world should come so lately out of

< such thick antichristian darkness, and that perfection of knowledge

* should break forth at once. I must also advise you to abandon, avoid

* and shake ofi* the name of Brownist : it is a mere nick-name, and a

* brand for the making of Religion, and the professors of religion, odi-

* ous unto the Christian world. Unto this end, I should be extreamly

* glad, if some godly minister would go with you, or come to you, before

* you can have any company. For there will be no di£ference between

* the unconformable ministers o( England and you, when yoo come to the

* practice of evangelical ordinances out of the kingdom. And I would

* wish you by all means to close with the godly people of England f

* study union with them in all things, wherein you can have it without

* sin, rather than in the least measure to afiiect a division or separation

* from them. Neither would I have yoo loth to take another pastor be<

* sides my self; in as much as a flock that hath two shepherds is not

* thereby endangered, but secured.'

So adding some other things of great consequence, he concluded most
affectionately, commending his departing Jlock unto the grace of God,
which now I also do the offspring of thht holy Jlock.

"4i .fr

CHAPTER IV.

,*.*.;■•*'■

Paulo Majora ! Or, 7%e Essays and Causes which produced the Second, but
largest Colony of N{^W-ENGLAND ; and the manner wherein the First
Church of this New-Colony was gathered.

§ 1 . Words full of emphasis, are those which my reader may find written
by a learned and pious minister of the Church of England ; and I hope I
may without offence tender to the reader the words of <ucA an author.

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

* Some amoag ui (write$ ke ) are angry with *Calvin for calling hninf ne

* rites, toUrabiltt ln«ptia$ ; they will not at the great day be twh unto tbe
' rigorous imposen, who made them tht t$rin$ ofeommunion. How will you

* at that day lift up your &ces before your Master and your Judge, when

* he shall demand of you, what i$ become of tkoeehie lambs which you drov«

* into the wilderneei by luedleee imporitione ?

The story of the folks thus driven into the wildemesf has begun to be re*
lated : and we would relate it without all intemperate expressions of
our anger against bur drivers, before whom the people must needs go, aa
they did : it becomes not an historian, and it less becomes a Christian, to be
passionate. Neverthelcsti, poetry may dare to do something at the des*
cription of that which drove those drivers ; and with a few lines fetched
from the most famous epic poem of Dr. Blackmore, we will describe the
fury.

A Fury crawPd from out her cell,

7%e bloodiest Minister of Death and Hell.

A monstrous shape, afoul and hideous sight,

Which did all hell with her dire looks affright.

Huge full-gorged snakes on her lean shoulders hung.

And Death's dark Courts with their loud hissing rung.

Her teeth and claws were iron, and her breath

Like subterranean damps, gave present death.

Flames worse than hell's, shot from her bloody eyes,

And fire ! and sword ! eternally she cries,

Ao certain shape, no feature regular,

J^o limbs distinct in th* odious fiend appear.

Her squalid, bloated belly did arise,

SwolPrk with black gore to a prodigious size :

Distended vastly by a mighty flood

Of slaughtered Saints, and constant Mai tjr's blood,

A monster so deformed, so fierce as this,

It self a hell, ne''re saw the dark abyss !

Horrow till now, the uggliest shape esteem''d.

So much out-done, an harmless figure seem'd,

^^^. , Eavy, and Hate, and Malice blush'^d to see
TAem^e/ves eclips'd by such deformity,
, ,, «i Her feav^rish beat drinks down a sea of blood,

« .' -^ J{ot of the impious, but the just and good :

^Gainst whom she bums with unextinguished rage,
J^or can th* exhausted world her wrath a^swage.

It was Persecution ; a fury which we consider not as possessing the
Church o/'England, but as inspiring aparty which hare unjustly challenged
the name of rte Church o/England,and which, whenever the Church of En-
gland shall any more encourage her fall, will become like that of the
house which our Saviour saw built upon the sand,

I 2. There were more than a few attempts of the English, to people
and improve the parts of New-England, which were to the northward of
New-Plymouth ; but the designs of those attempts being aimed no higher
than the advancement of liome worldly interests, a constant series of dias-
ters has confounded them, until there was a plantation erected upon the
nobler designs ofehristianity ; and that plantation, though it has had more

MAONALIA CHRI8TI AMERICANA

[Book f.

adversaries than perhaps any one upon earth ; yet, having obtained help
from God, it continuet to this day. There have been very nne settlements
in the north'tast regions ; but what is become of them ? I have heard
that one of our ministers once preaching to a congregation there, urged
them to approve themselves a religious people from this consideration,
thai otherwise they would contradict th* main end of planting this wilder-
ness ; whereupon a well-known person, then in the assembly, cryed
out, iSir, you are mistaken, you think you are preaching to the people at the
Bay ; our main end was to catch fish. Truly 'twere to have been wished,
that something more excellent had been the main end of the settlements in
that brave country, which we have, even long since the arrival of that
more pious colony at the Bay, now seen dreadfujly unsettled, no less t^an
twice at least, by the sword of the heathen, after they had been replenished
with many hundreds of people, who had thriven to many thousands of
pounds ; and had all the force of the Bay too, to assist them in the main-
taining of their settlements. But the same or the like inauspicious things
attended many other endeavours, to make plantations upon such a main end
in several other parts of our country, before the arrival of those by whom
the Massachuset colony was at last formed upon more glorious aims : all
proving like the habitations of the/oo/t«A, cursed before they had taken
root. Of all which catastrophe'' s, I suppose none was more sudden than
that of Monsieur Finch, whom in a ship from France, trucking with the
Massachuset-J^atives ; those bloody Salvages, coming on board without
any other arms, but knives concealed under^ops, immediately butchered
with all his men, and set the ship on fire. Yea, so many fatalities at-
tended the adventurers in their essays, that they began to suspect that the
Indian sorcerers had laid the place under some fascincUion . and that the
English could not prosper upon such enchanted ground, so that they were
almost afraid of adventuring any more.

§ 3. Several persons in the west of England, having by fisbing-voy-
itges to Cape Ann, The northern promontory of the Massachuset-Bay,
obtained sonse acquaintance with those parts ; the news of the good
progress made in the new plantation of Plymouth, inspired the renowned
Mr. White, minister of Dorchester, to prosecute the settlement of such
another plantation here for the propagation of religion. This good man
engaged several gentlemen about the year 1624, in this noble design ;
and they employed a moet religious, prudent, worthy gentleman, one
Mr. Roger Conant, in the government of .he place, and of their affairs
upon the place ; but through many discouragements, the design for a
while almost fell unto the ground. That great man greatly grieved
hereat, wrote over to this Mr. Roger Concnt, that if he and three hon-
est men more would yet stay upon the spot, he would procure a patent
for them, and send them over friends, goods, provisions, and what was
necessary to assist their undertakings. Mr.Conan^, then looting out a sc't-
uation more commodious for a town, gave his three disheartened com-
panions to understand, that he did believe God rro'^ld make this land a
receptacle for his people ; and that if they should leave him, yet he
would not stir ; for he was confident he should not long want company ;
which confidence of his caused them to abandon the thoughts of leaving
him. Well, it was not long before the Council of Plymouth in England,
bad by a deed bearing date, March 19, 1627, sold unto some knights
and gentlemen about Dorchester, viz. Sir Henry Rowsel, Sir John Young,
Thomas Southcott, John Humphrey, John Endicott, and Siman Whetcomb,
and their heirs and assigns, and their associates for ever, that part of

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

/ftw- England which lyes between a great river called Merimack, and a
certain other river there called CharU$' River, in the bottom of the
Mcusachuset'Bay. But shortly after this, Mr. Whitt brought the afore^
said honourable persons into an acquaintance with several other persons
of quality about London} as, namely, Hit Richard Saltonatall, Itaac
Johmon, Samuel Adderly, John Fen, Matthew Cradock, Oeorge Harwood,
Increase Nowtl, Riehard Perry, Richard Bellingham, Jiathaniel Wright t
Samuel Fattal, ThsttphiliM EatoK, Thomas Gojf, Thomas Adams, fohn^
Brown, Samuel Brown, Thomas Mulchings, fVilliam Fassal, fVUliam Pin-
chon, and George Foxcraft. These persons being associated unto the
former, and having bought of them all their interest in J^ew-England
aforesaid, now consulted about settling a plantation in that country,
whither such as were then called Non-conformi^, might with the grace
and leave of the King make a peaceable secession, and enjoy the liberty
and the exercise of their own perswasions, about the worship of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Whereupon petitioning the King to confirm what
they had thus purchased with a new patent, he granted them one, bear-
ing date from the year 1628, which gave them a right unto the soil, hold-
ing their titles of lands, as of the mannor of East Greenwich in Kent^
and in common soccage. By this Charter they, were empowered yearly
to elect (heir own govcrnour, deputy-governour and magistrates ; as also
to make such laws as they should think suitable for the plantation : but
as an acknowledgment of their dependance upon England, they might
not make any laws repugnant unto those of the kingdom ; and the fifth
part of all the oar of gold or silver found 'n iae territory, belonged unto
the crown. So, soon after Mr. Cradock being by the company chosen
governour, they sent over Mr. Endicott in the year 1628, to carry on
the plantation, which the DorcAes/er-agents had lookt out for them, which
was at a place called JVahumkeick, Of which place I have somewhere
met with an odd observation, that the name of it was rather Heir«u) than
Indian; for OlflJ -^^ahum, signifies comfort, and p^n Keik, signifies an
haven ; and our English not only found it an Haven of Comfort, but hap-
pened also to put an Hebrew name upon it ; for they called it Salem, for
the peace which they had and hoped in it ; and so it is called unto this
day.

§ 4. An entrance being thus made upon the design of planting a coun-
try of English and Reformed Churches ; they that were concerned for the
plantation, made their application to two non-conformists ministers, that
they would go over to serve the Cause of God and of Rtligiou in the
beginning of those Churches. The one of these was Mr. Higginson, a
minister in Leicester shire, silenced for his non-conformity ; the other was
Mr. Skelton, a minister of Lincolnshire, sufiering also for his non-confor-
mity : both of which were men eminent for learning and virtue, and
who thus driven out of their native country, sought their graves on the
American-Strand, whereon the Epitaph might be inscribed that was on
Scipio^s, Ingrata Patria, ne Mortui quidem habebis Ossa. These minis-
ters came over to Salem, in the summer of the year 1629, and with these
there came over a considerable number of excellent christians, who no
sooner arrived, but they set themselves about the Church- work, which
was their errand hither.

'Tis true, there were two other Clergy-men, who came over about the
same ,time ; nevertheless, there has been very little account given
of their circumstances ; except what a certain little J^arrative-Wrtter has
offered us, by saying, ihere were tw that began to hew stones in the movn

'' HAONALIA CHRISTI AMtlRICAllA :

[Book t.

tain$, for ike building of th» tempU hero ; but when they lOW all $on$ of
$lotte$ wmld not Jit in tho buildings th$ one betook hinnelf to the itae again »
and the other to till the land ; for which cause, burying ^11 further mention
of them amoDgtbe rubbish, in the foundation of the Colony, we will pro-
ceed with our story ; which is now to tell us, that the passage of these
our pilgrime was attended with many smiles of Heaven upon them.
They were blessed with a company of honest eeamen ; with whom the
ministers and passengers constantly served God, morning and evening ;
reading, expounding and applying the word of Ood, tinging of his praise,
and leeking of his peace ; to which exercises they added on the Lord^t
day two sermons, and a catechising : and sometimes they set apart an
whole day (or farting and prayer, to obtain from Heaven a good success
in their voyage, especially when the weather was much against them,
whereto they had very remarkable answers ; but the teamen said, that
they believed thete xvere the Jirtt teafattt that ever were kept in the world.
At length. Per varioi Caiui, per Tot Ditcrimina Rerutn, they landed at the
Haven of rett provided for them.

6 5. The persecuted servants of Ood, under the Englith Hierarchy,
bad been in a tea of ice mingled witkjire ; though the^r« scalded them,
yet such cakes of ice were over their heads, that there was no getting
out : but the ice was now br^oken, by the Amerynan offers of a retreat
for the pure worshippers of the Lord into a wiuifmeii.

The report of the charter granted unto the governour and company of the
Matsachuset-Bay, and the entertainment and encouragement, which plan-
ters began to find in that Bay, came with a, — Patriat age^ detere Sedet,
and caused manj very deserving persons to transplant themselves and their
families into New-England. Gentlemen of ancient and worshipful families,
an(< mittiiteri of the gospel, then of great fame at home, and merchantt, hus-
bandmen, artificert to the number of some thousands, did for twelve years
together carry on this transplantation It was indeed a banithment rather
than a removal, which was undergone by this glorious generation, and
you may be sure sufficiently afflictive to men of estate, breeding and con-
versation. As the hazard which they ran in this undertaking was of such
extraordinarinesi, that nothing less than a strange and strong impression
from Heaven could have thereunto moved the hearts of such as were in
it ; so the expence with which they carried on the undertaking was truly
extraordinary. By computation, the passage of the persont that peopled
New-England, cost at least ninety five thousand pound : the transporta-
tion of their first small stock of cattle great and small, cost no less than
twelve thousand pound, besides the price of the cattle themselves : the
provisioni laid in for subsistence, till tillage might produce more, cost for-
ty five thousand pounds ; the materials for their first cottages cost eigh-
teen thousand pounds ; their arms, ammunition and great artillery, cost
twenty two thousand pounds ; besides which hundred and ninety two
thousand pounds, the adventurers laid out in England, what was not in-
considerable. About and hundred and ninety-eight ships were employed
in passing the perUs of the seas, in the accomplishment of this renowned
settlement ; whereof, by the way, but one miscarried in those perils.

Briefly, the God of Heaven served as it were, a summons upon the
spirits of his people in the English nation ; stirring up the spirits of thou-
sands which never saw the /aces of each other, with a most unanimous
inclination to leave all the pleasant accommodations of their native coun-
try, and go over a terrible ocean, into a more terrible desart, for the
pure enjoyment of all his ordinances. It is now reasonable that before

UooK I.J OK, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

wo pass any further, the rea$ont of this undertaking thould be roqre
exactly made known unto po$terity, cs|jecinlly unto the pottfrtty of those
that were the undertaker s,[«>ii thev coruc nt length to forg<:tand neglect (he
trueinlereit of New-En|g;lnnd. Wherefore I ahall now transcribe loine
of them from n munuicript, wherein they were then teiidred unto con-
sideration.

General Considerations for the Plantation of New>England.

' First, It will be a service unto the Church of great consequence,
' to carry the Gospel into those parts of the world, and rnirie a bvlwark

* against the kingdom of antichrist, which the Jesuites labour to rear up

* inall parts of the world.

' Secondly, All other Churches of Europe have been brought under

* desolations ; and it may be feared that the like judgments are coming

* upon us ; and who knows butCiod hath provided this place to be a re-
*/uge for many, whom he means lu save out of the General Destruction.

* Thirdly, The land grows weary of her inhabitants, insomuch that
' man, which is the most precious of all creatures, is here more vile and
' base than the earth he treads upon : children, luiglibnurn aad/riends, es-
' pecially the poor, are counted the greatest burderu, which if things were
' right would be the chiefest earthly blessings.

* Fourthly, We are grown to that intemperance in all excess of riot, as
' no mean estate almost will suffice a man to keep sail with his equals, and
' he that failo in it, must live in scorn and contempt : hence it comes to pass,
' that all arts and trades are carried in that deceitful manner, and unright-

* eous course, as it is almost impossible for a good upright man to main-
' tain his constant charge, and live comfortably in them.

' Fifthly, The schools of learning and religion are so corrupted, as (be-
' sides the unsiipportable charge of education) most children, even the
' best, wittiei^t, and of the fairest hopes, are perverted, corrupted, and ut-
' terly overthrown, by the multitude of evil examples and licentious be-
' havionrs in these semintiries. *

' Sixthly, The whole earth is the Lord's garden, and he hath given it to
' the sons olAdatn, to be tilled and improved by them : why then should
' we stand starving here for places of habitation, and in the mean time
' suffer whole countries, as profitable for the use of man, to lye waste

* without any improvement ?

' Seventhly, What can be a better or nobler work, and more worthy of a
' christian, than to erect and support a reformed particular Church in its
' infancy, and unite our forces with such a company of faithful people, as
' by a timely assistance may grow stronger and prosper ; but for want of
' it, may be put to great hazards, if not be wholly mined.

' Eighthly, If any such as are known to be godly, and live in wealth and
' prosperity here, shall forsake all this to join with this reformed church,

* and with it run the hazard of an hard and mean condition, it will be an
' example of great use, both for the removing of scandal, and to give more
' life unto the faith of God's people in their prayers for the plantation, and
' also to encourage others to join the more willingly in it.

§ 6. Mr. Higginson, and Mr. Skelton, and other good people that arrived
»t Salem, in the year 1629, resolved, like their father Abraham, to begin
their plantation with calling on the name of the Lord. The great Mr. ntZ-
dersham had advised our first planters (o agree fully upon their form of
church government, before their coming into New-England ; but they had
Vol. I. 9

I<»

MAUNALIA CIIRISTI AiM£UICANA : [Uook I.

iiuleeil ugreetU ittle (urihur tliiiii in ttiia general principle, that th$ rr/unna-
tion o/tht church was tu be tiuteavoured according to the wrMtm toord o/God>
Accordingly ours, now urrivud ut &'a/(f/i, cuntultod with their brothren at
Ptjimouthf what aleps to take for thu more exact acquainting of them*
solve* with, and confcrming thomselvoH to, tliitt writltn word : uiid the Ply-
mothtam, to their great satidtaction, laid before them what warrant, they
Judged, that they hud in the laws o( our Lord Jesus Christ, for every par-
ticular in their Church'Order.

Whereupon having the concurrence and countenance of their deputy
governour, the worshipful John Endicott, Ksq ; and the approving pre-
sence of the messengers from the church o( Plymouth, they set apart the
sixth day of Attgutt, atler Iheir arrival, for/a«(mff and prayer, for the
settling of a Church State among them, and for their making a Conftision
of thur Fnithf and entering into an holy Covenant, whereby that C/turr/i-
&at« was formed.

Mr. Higginaon then became the teacher, and Mr. Sketton the pastor,
of the church thus constituted ixiSuleini and they lived very peaceably in
SaUtn together, till the death of Mr. Higgimon, which was about a
twelvemonth after, and then uf Mr. SkcUon, who did not long survive
him. Now the Covenant whereto theifie Chrisiiani engaged themselves,
which was about seven years aAer solemnly renewed among them, I shall
here lay before all the Churckei of God, as it was then expressed andin-
ibrced.

H'e CovemiNf with vur Lwd^ and one xeith another ; and we do bind our
a«lve$ in the presence of Clod, to xeatk together in all his ways, according us
he is pleased to reveal himself unto us in his blessed word of tntth ; and do
explicitly, in the name and fear of God, profess and protest to malk as follow'
eth, through the power and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We avouch the Lnrd to be our God, and our selves to be his people, in the
truth and simplicity <four spirits,

fVegive our teivcs to the lAird Jesus Christ, and She word of his grace for
the teaching, ruling and snncttfying of us in maitcra of worship and con-
t)«r«a(i<)H, resolving l» cleave unto him alone for life and glory, and to re-
ject ait contrary vsays, i':<n >hs, and constitutions of men in his worship.

ff V juromiJte to walk with mtf" brethren, with all watchfulness and tender-
ness, avoiding jealousies and suspicions, back-bidngs^censtaings, provok'
ings, secret risings of spirit agatnst them ; but in alt offences to follow the
rwe of our liord Jesus, and to bear and forbear, give and forgive, as he
hath taught us.

In public or private, we will willingly do twtliing to the t^ff'-nce of the
thurtk ; but will be willing to take advice for our selves and ours, as occa-
tioH shall be presented.

IVe will not in the cottgregntion beforwara either to show our own gift:>
and parts in speaking or scrupling, or there discover the weakness or fail-
ings of our brethren ; but,atleHd <^n orderly call thereunto, knowing how
tnvch the Lord may be dishonoured ^ and his gospel, and the profession of it.
slighted by our distempers and weaknesses in public.

iVe bind our sehes to study the advancetnent of the gospel in all trutit
and peatc ; both in regard of those that are within or without ; no way
ilighting our sifter churches, but using their counsel, as need shall be ; not
laying a stumbling-block before any, no, not the Indians whose good we de-
tt're (o proMotr ; and so to converse, as we may avoid the very appearance
of «t>i7.

-■-:-,■. t

UooK I.J OR, THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENQLAND. m

We do hereby promiie to carry our ielvee in all lawful obedinu* to lAoM
that are over i«, in Church or Commonwealthf knowing how well-pleonng
it will be to the Lord, that they ehould have encouragement in their plaeeit by
our not grieving their sj^iriti through our irregularitiei.

IVe resolve to approve our selvei to the Lorain our particular callinge;
shunning idleneit as the bane of any tlate ; nor wtll we deal hardly or op*
preuingly with any, wherein we are the Lord's itewardt.

Promising aim unto our best ability to teach our children and tervantt
the knowledge of God, and of lii» Will, that tluy may serve Him also ; and
all this not by any strength of our own, but by the Lord Christ : whott
blood we desire may sprinkle this our Covenant made in His name.

By tliis instrument wus the Covenant of Grace explained, received, and
recognized, by the first Church in this Colony, and applied unto the
evangelical designs of a Church-estate before the Lord : this instrumet^
they afterwards often read over, and renewed the consent of their souls
unto every article in it ; especially when their days of humiliation in>
vited them to lay hold on particular opportunities for doing so.

So you have seen the nativity of the first Church in the Massachuset'
colony.

§ 7. As for the circumstances of admission into this Church, they left
it very much unto the discretion and faithfulness of their elders, togeth*
er with the condition of the persons to be admitted. Some ivere admit*
ted by expressing their consent unto their confession and covenant ; some
were admitted after tl\eir iirst answering to questions about Religion, pro-
pounded unto them ; some were admitted, when they had presented in
writing such things, as might give satisfaction unto the people of God
concerning them ; ynd some that were admitted, orally addressed the
j)eople of God in such terms, as they thought proper to ask their com-
munion with ; which diversity was perhaps more 6eaM(t/u/,than would
have been a more punctilious uniformity : but none were admitted with-
out regard unto a blameless and holy conversation. They did all agree
with titcir brethren of Plymouth in this point. TTiat the children of the
faithful were Church-members, with their parents ; and that their baptism
was a seal of their being so ; only before their admission to fellowship in
li particular Church, it was judged necessary, that being free from scan-
dal, they should be examined by the elders of the Church, upon whose
approbation of their fitness, they should publickly and personally own
the covenant ; so they were to be received unto the table of the Lord :
and accordingly the eldest son of Mr. Htgginson, being about fifteen
years of age, and laudably answering all the characters expected in a
communicant, was then so received.

§ 8. It is to be remembered, that some of the passengers, who came
over with those of our first Salemites, observing that the ministers did
not use the Book of Common-Prayer in their administrations ; that they
administered the baptism and the supper of the Lord, without auy un-
scriptural ceremonies ; that they resolved upon using discipline in the
congregation against scandalom^ offenders, according to the word of God ;
and that some scandalous persons had been denied admission into the
communion of the Church ; they began (Frankford-fushion) to raise a
deal of trouble hereupon. Herodiana Malitia, nascentem persequi Reli'
gionem! Of these there were especially two brothers ; the one a lawyer,
the other a merchant, boik men of parts, estate and figure in the place.
These gathered a company together, separate from the publick assem-
bly ; and there the Common-Prayer-Worship was after a sort upheld

MAONALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA :

IBOOK 1.

among such as would resort unto them. The governour perceiving a
disturbance to iiriso nmong the people on this occasion, sent for the
brotlur${ who iiccused the ministers, us departing from the orders of the
Church of Engliind ; uddiug, That they were Sep/aratisti, and would be
ihortty Anabuptiati ; but for themselven, They would hold unto the orders
of the Church nf Knghind. The answer of the ministers to these accu-
sations, was, 'i hat tliey were neither Separatists nor Anabaptists ; that they
did not separate froinfthe Church of England, nor from the ordinances of
Qod there, but only from the eorruptions and disorders of that f'hurch:
that thei/ came away from the Comuiun-Prayer and Ceremonies, and had
titfferrd much for their non-conformity in their native land ; and therefore
being in a place where they might have their liberty, they neither could nor
would «».i them ; inasmuch as they judged the imposition of these things to
be a sinful violation of the worship of Cod. Tiie guvernour, the coun-
cil, the people, generally approved uf the answer thus given by the min-
isters ; but these pursuns returned into England with very furious threat-
nings against the Church thus established ; however the thrcatned folks
have lived so long^ that the Chxtrch has out lived the grand climacterical
year of humane age ; it now Hourishing more than sixty-three years after
Its tirst gathering under the pastoral care of amofit reverend and ancient
person, even Mr. John liigginson, the son of that excellent man who laid
the foundations of tliat soci'oly.

CHAPTER V.

Peregrini Deo Curte ; or, the progress of the New-Colony ; with some
Account of ihe Persons, the Methods, and the Troubles, by which it
eatne to iSomcthing.

§1. The Gor«rn our and Company of the Massachuset-Bay then in
London, did in the year 1629, after t-xact and mature debates, conclude,
that it was most ronvenicnt for the govermnent, with the charter of the
plantation, to he transferred into the plantation itself; and an order of
court being drawn up for that end, there was then chosen a new govern-
our, and a new dep'ity- governour, XUat were willing to remove themselves
with their tamilies thither on the first occasion. The governour was
JoAn H'inthrop, Esq ; a gentleman of that wisdom and \irtue, and those
manifohl accomplishments, that after-generati ns must reckon him no
Ifss a glory, thitn he wis a patriot of the country. The deputy-govern-
ourwHS Thomas Dudley, Esq ; a gentleman, whose nafural and acquired
abilities, joined with his excellent nwral qualities, entitled him to all the
grC'it respects with which his country on all opportunities treated him.
Several most worthy assistants were at the same time chosen to be in this
transpo la ion; moreover, several other gentlemen of prime note, and
flcveral fliinous ministers of the gospel, now likewise embarked them-
selves with those lionourable adventurers: who equipped a ^«(, con-
sistint; of ton or eleven ships, whereof the admiral was, The Arabella
(so culled in honour of the rischt honourable the lady Arabella Johnson,
at this time on board) a ship of three hundred and lifty tuns ; and in some
of the 8-ud ships there were two hundred passcncers ; all of which ar-
rived before the middle of July, in the year l(i30, safe in the harbours
of jWw- England. There was a time when the British sea was by Clem-

Boob I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

Brcciving u
nt for the
dert of the
I would be
a the orderi

lIlCSC HCCU-

I ; that theij
•dinances of
at Church :
IB, and had
nd therefore
tr could nor
tae things to
, the coun-
by the min-
rious threat-
coined J'olki
iitnacterical
t yenra after
iind ancient
lun who laid

irernour was
e, and those
kon him no
inty-govern-
tnd acqxtire.d
im to all the
reated him.
to be in this
c note, and
irked them-
n fleets con-

'he Arabella
>lla Johnson,

and in some

f which ar-
|he harbours

as by dem-

enti, and the other ancients, called ^mumtrtf "'mmfturt, ike iMpautfble
ocean. What then was to be thought of the vu8t Jltlantick sea, on the west-
ward of Britain ? but this ocean must now be jtassed ! An heart of stone
must have dissolved into tears at the utlectionate/arewe/ which the govern-
our and other emirlent persons took of their friends, at a /east which the
governour made for them, a little before their going off; however they
were acted by principles that could carry them through tears and oceans ;
yea, through oceans of tears: principles that enabled them to leave,
Dulcia Limina, atq ; amabilem Lnrem, quern 6r pareiitum meinoria, atq ;
ipsius (to use Stupius^ words) Infamia Rudimenta Conjirmant. Some ve-
ry late geographers do assure us, that the breadth of the Jltlantick sea is
commonly ^ver-reckoned by six, by eight, by ten degrees, but let that
sea be as narrow as they please, 1 can assure the reader the passing of
it was no little trial unto those worthy people that were now to pass it.

§ 2. But the most notable circumstance in their farewel, was their
composing and publishing of what they culled. The humble request of his
Majesties loyal subjects, the Governour and Company lately gone for New-
England, to the rest of their brethren in and of the Church of England ;
for the obtaining of their prayers, and the removal of suspicions and mis-
constructions of their intentions. In this address of theirs, notwithstand-
ing the trouble they had undergone for desiring to !*ee the Church of
England reformed of several things, which they thought its deformities,
yet they now called the Church of iJng/onrf their dear toother ; acknowl-
edging that such hope and part as they had obtained in the common sal-
vation they had sucked from her breasts ; therewithal entrcuting their
many reverend fathers and brethren to recommend them unto the mercies
of God, in their constant prayers, as a church now springing out of their
own bowels. You are not ignorant (said they) that the Sjtirit of God stir-
red up the apostle Paul, to make a continual mention of the cliurch at Phi-
lippi, wAicA was a colony from Rome ; let the same npirit, we beseech you,
putjyou in mind, that are the Ijord^s remembrancers, to pray for us without
ceasing, who are the weak co\ony from your selves. And after such pray-
ers, they concluded, What goodness you shall extend unto us, in this or
any other Christian kindness, we your brethren in Christ shall labour to re-
pay, in ivhat duty we are or shall be able to perform ; promising so far as
God shall enable us, to give him no rest on your behaifs ; wishing our luads
and hearts may be fountains of tears for your everlasting welfare, when we
shall be in our poor cottages in the wilderness, overshadowed with the spirit
of supplication, through the manifold necessities and tribulations, which
may not altogtther unexpectedly, nor we hope unprofitahhj, befal vs.

§ 3. Reader, If ever the charity of a right christian, and enlarged
soul, were examplarily seen in its proper caTJcnssons, 'twas in the address
which thou hast now been reading : but if it now puzzel the reader to
reconcile these passages with the principles declared, the practices fol-
lowed, and the persecutions undergone, by these American Reformers, let
him know, that there was more than one distinction, whereof these ex-
cellent persons were not ignorant. First, thsy were able to distinguish
between the Church of England, as it contained the whole body of the faith-
ful, scatered throughout the kingdoms, though of different perswasions
about some rites and modes in religion ; many thousands of whom our
JS'or-Angels knew could comply with many things, to which our con-
sciences otherwise enlightened and perswaded could not yield such a
compliance : and the Church of England as it whs confined unto r certain
constitution by cano»s, which pronounced Ipso Facto, excommunicate all

MAGNALIA CURISTI AMERICANA

[Book I.

those who should affirm that the worship contained in the book of Com-
mon-Prayer, and ttdminiatrationt of sacramentt, is unlawful, or th£tt any
of the thirty-nine articles are erroneous, or that any of the ceremonies
commanded by the authority of the church might not be approved, used
and subscribed ; and which will have to be accursed all those, who main-
tain that there are in the realm any other meetings, assemblies or congre-
gations of the King's born subjects, than such as by the laws of the land
are allowed, which may rightly challenge to themselves the name of true
and lawful Churches : and by which, «all those that refuse to kneel at the
reception of the sacrament, and to be present at publick prayers, ac-
cording to the orders of the church, about which there are prescribed
many formalities o{ responses, with bowing at the name of Jesus, are to be
denied the communion ; and all who dare not submit their children to be
baptized by the undertaking of god-fathers, and receive the cross as a
dedicating badge o{ Christianity, must not have baptism f()T their children:
besides an Et-ctetera of how mary more imposiiions ! Again, they were
able to distinguish between the Church of England, as it kept the true
doctrine oftlieprostestant religion, with a disposition to pursue the refor-
mation begun in the former century, among whom we may reckon such
men, as the famous assembly of divines at Westminster, who all h\it eig^
or nine, and the Scots, had before then lived in conformity ; and the
Church ofEnglandi as limiting, that name unto a certain faction, who to-
gether with a discipline very much anscriptural, vigorously prosecuted
the tripaftite plot of Arminianism and conciliation with Rome, in the
church, aad unbounded prerogative in the state ; who set themselves to
cripple as fast as they could the ipore learned, godly, painful ministers
of the land, and silence and ruin such as could not{read a book for sports on
the hordes days ; or did but use a prayer of their own conceiving, before
or after sermon ; or did but preach in an afternoon, as well as in a morn-
ing, or on a lecture, or on a market, or m aniwise discountenance old
superstitions, or new extra\ ugancies ; and who at last threw the nation
into the lamentable confusions of a civil war. By the light of this dis-
tinction, we may easily perceive what Church of England it was, that
OUT JVew- England exiles called, their Mother; though their mother had
been so harsh to them, as to turn them out of doors, yet they highly hon-
oured her ; believing that it was not so much their mother, but some df
their angry brethren; abusing the name of their mother, who so harshly
treated them ; and all the harm they wished her, wap to see her put otf
those ill trimmings, which at her first coming out of the popish Babylon,
she had not so fullj laid aside. If any of those envious brethren do now
call these dissenters, as not very long since a great prelate in a sermon
did, the bastards of the Church of England, I will not make the return
which was made upon it by a person of quality then present ; but in-
stead thereof humbly demand, who arc the truer sons to the Church of
England ; they that hold all the fundamentals of Christianity embraced by
that church, only questioning and forbearing a few disciplinary points,
which are confessed indifferent by the greatest zealots for them ; or they
that have made Britain more unhabitable than the Torrid Zone ? for the
poor non-comformists, by their hot pressing of those indifferencies, as if
they had been the only necessaries, in the mean time utterly subverting
iha faith in the important pointaof predestination, free-will, justification,
perseverance, and some other things, which that church requires all her
children to give their assent and consent unto ? If the /ormcr ; then, say
I, the Brst planters of JVew-England were irwer sons to the Church of

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLAND.

England, than that part of the church, which, then by their mis^ai'
ploying their heavy church-keys, banished them into this pbatation.
And indeed, the more genuine among the most conformable lona of th*
church, did then accordingly wish all prosperity to their J^ew-English
brethren ; in the number of whom I would particularly reckon that
faithful man, Mr. Edward Stfnunu, minister ofRayn in Essex; who in a
Discourse printed Anno 1637, -does thus express himself ; Many novo
promiss to thetnselves nothing but successive happiness at New-England ;
tohichfor a time through God's mercy, they may enjoy ; and I pray God,
they may a long time, but in this world there is no happiness perpetucd.
Nor would 1 on this occasion leave unquoted some notable words of the
learned, witty and famous Dr. Fuller, in his comment on Rulhf^age 1^.
Concerning our brethren tohic/i of late left this kingdom to advance a plan-
tation in New-England, I think the counsel best, that King Joash prescribed
unto Amaziah, Tarry at home ; yet as for those that are already gone, far b»
it from us to conceive them to be such, to whom we may not say, God speed :
but let us pity them, and prayfot them. I conclude of the two Englands,
what our Saviour saith of the two unnes ; No man having tasted of the old,
presently desireth the new ; for he saith, the old is better.

& 4. Being happily arrived at New-England, our new planters found
the difficulties of a rough and hard wilderness presently assaulting them: of
which the worst was the aickliness which many of tbem had contracted
by their other difficulties. Of those who soon dyed after their first arri-
val, not the least considerable was the lary Arabella, who left an earthly
paradise in the family of an Earldom, to encounter the sorrows of a
wilderness, for the entertainments of » pure worship in the house of God ;
and then immediately left that wilderness for the Heavenly paradise,
whereto the compassionate Jesus, of whom she was r follower, called her.
We have read concerning a noble woman of Bohemia, who forsook her
friends, her plate, her house and all ; and because the gates of the city
were guarded, crept through the common-sewer, that she might enjoy
the institutions of our Lord at another place where they might be had.
The spirit which acted that noble woman, we may suppose carried this
blessed lady thus to and through the hardships of an American desart.
But as for her virtuous husband, Isaac Johnson, Esq ;

-He try''d

■ To live without her, lik'd it not, and dy'd.

His mourning for the death of his honourable consort was too bitter to be
extended a year; about a month after tier death his ensued, unto the extream
loss of the whole plantation. But at the end ofthiaperfect andupright man
there was not only peace but joy ; and his joy particularly expressed it
self ;Aoi! God had kept his eyes open so long as to see one church of the Lord Je-
sus Christ gathered in these ends of the earth, before hisown goingaway to Hea-
ven. The molality thus threatning of this new Plantation so enlivened
the devotions of this good people, that they set themselves by fasting
and prayer to obtain from God the removal of it ; and their brethren at Ply-
mouth also attended the like duties on their behalf: the issue whereof
was, that in a little time they not only had health restored, but they like-
wise enjoyed the special directions and assistance of God in the further
prosecution of their undertakings.

§ 5. But there were two terrible distresses more, besides that of sicit-
nws,' whereto this people were exposed in the beginning of their settle-

MAGNALIA CHlilSTI AMEKICANA

[Book I.

m ent : though a most seasonable and almost iincxpected mercy from
Heaven still rescued them out of those distresses, pne thing that some-
times extreamly exercised them, was a scarcity of provisiont ; in which
'twas wonderful to see their dependance upon God, and God's mindfulnesi
of them. When the parching droughts of the summer divers times threat-
ned them with an utter and a total consumption to the fruits of the
earth, it was their manner, with heart-melting, and 1 may say. Heaven-melt-
ing devotions, to fast and pray before God ; and on the very days, when
they poured out the water of their tears before him, he would shower
dawn the water of his rain upon their fields ; while they were yet speaking
he would hear them ; insomuch that the salvages themselves would on that
occasion admire the Englishman's God i But the £ng/isAmen themselves
would celebrate their days of Thanksgiving to him. When thei.r stock
was likewise wasted so far, which divers times it was, that, they were
come to the last meal in the barrel, just then, unloolied for, arrived sev-
eral ships from other parts of the world loaden with supplies ; among
which, one was by the lord deputy of Ireland sent hither, although he
did not know the necessities of the country, to which he sent her;
and if he had known them, would have been thought as unlikely as
any man living to have helpt them : in these extremities, 'twas
marvellous to see how helpful these good people were to one another,
following the example of their most liberal governour Winthrop, who
made an equal distribution of ivh&t he had in his own stores among the
poor, taking no thought for to-morrow ! And how content they were ;
when an honest man, as I have heard, inviting his friends to a dish of
clam^j at the table gave thanks to Heaven, who had given them to suck the
abundance of the seas, and of the treasures hid in the sands !

Another thing that gave them no little exercise, was the fear of the In-
dians, by whom they were sometimes alarmed. But this fear was won-
derfully prevented, not only by intestine wars happening then to fall out
among those barbarians, but chiefly by the small-pox, which proved a
great plague unto them, and particularly to one of the Princes in the
Massachuset-Bay, who yet seemed hopefully to he christianized before he
dyed. This distemper getting in, I know not how, among them, swept
them away with a most prodigious desolation, insomuch that although
the English gave them all the assistances of humanity in their calamities,
yet there was, it may be, not one in ten among them left alive ; of those
jeu) that lived, many also fled from the infection, leaving the country a
meer Golgotha of unburied carcases ; and as for the rest, the English
treated them with all the civility imaginable ; among the instances of
which civility, let this be reckoned for one, that notwithstanding the pat-
ent which they had for the country, they fairly purchased of the natives
the several tracts of land which they afterwards possessed.

§ 6. The people in the fleet that arrived 9.1 New- England, in the year
1630, left the fleet almost, as X\iQ family of Noah did the ark, having a
whole world before them to be peopled. Salem was already supplied
with a competent number of inhabitants ; and therefore the governour,
with most of the gentlemen that accompanied him in his voyage, took
their first opportunity to prosecute further settlements about the bottom
of the Massachuset-Bay : but wbere-ever they sal down, they were so
mindful of their errand into the wilderness, that still one of their ^rs/
works was to gather a church into the covenant and order of the gospel.
First, there was a church thus gathered at Charles-town, on the north
side of Charles's river ; where keeping a solemn fast on August 27, 1630,

[Book i-

ercy from
hat soine-

in which
indfvintn
es threat-
iu of the
avtH'tntlt-
lays, when
lid shower
:t speaking
uld on that
hemselvcs
their stock
they were
riived sev-
es ; among
Ithoogh he

sent her ;
unlikely as
ties, 'twas
le another,
ithrop, who

among the
they were ;
a dish of
n to suck the

irof the In-
ir was won-
n to fall out
1 proved a
inces in the
d before he
lem, swept
ut although
calamities,
of those
e country a
he English
nstances of
ing the pat-
the natives

in the year
i., having a
dy supplied
Igovernour,
^yage, took
I the bottom
ey were so
. their ^rs<
I the gospel.
In the north
1st 27, 1630,

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

to implore the conduct and blessing of Heaven on their ecclesiastical
proceedings, they chose Mr. Wilson, a most holy and zealous man, for-
merly a minister of Sudbury, in the county of Sifffolk, to be their teach-
er { and although he now submitted unto an ordination, with an imposi-
tion of such hands as were by the church invited so to pronounce the
benediction of Heaven upon him ; yet it was done with a protestation by
all, that it should be only as a sign of his election to the charge of his
new flock, without any intention that he should thereby renounce the
ministry he had received in England. After the gathering of tiie church
at Charles-town, there quickly followed another at the town of Dorches-
ter.

And after Dorchester there followed another at the town of Boston^
which issued out of Charles-town ; one Mr. James took the care of the
Church at Charles-town, and Mr. Wilson went over to Boston, where they
that formerly belonged unto Charles-town, with universal approbation
became a distinct church of themselves. To Boston soon succeeded a
church at Roxbury ; to Roxbury, one at Lyn ; to Lyn one at Watertown ;
so that in one or two years' time there were to be seen seven churches in
this neighbourhood, all of them attending to what the spirit in the scrip-
ture said unto them ; all of them golden candlesticks, illustrated with a
very sensible presence of our Lord Jesus Christ among them.

§ 7. It was for a matter of twelve years together, that persons of all
ranks, well affected unto church-nformation, kept sometimes droppings
and somelimes^oc^ktng' into New-England, though some that were coming
into New-England were not suffered so to do. The persecutors of those
Puritans, as they were called, who were now retiring into that cold coun-
try from the heat of their persecution, did all that was possible to binder
as many as was possible from enjoying of that retirement. There were
many countermands given to the passage of people that were now steer-
ing of this western course ; and there was a sort of uproar made among
no small part of the nation, that this people should not be let go. Among
those bound for New-England, that were so stopt, there were especially
three famous persons, whom I suppose their adversaries would hot have
so studiously detained at home, it they had foreseen events ; those were
Oliver Cromwell, and Mr. Hambden, and Sir Arthur Haselrig : neverthe-
less, this is not the only instance of persecuting chiirch-mens not having
the spirit of prophecy. But many others were diverted from an intend-
ed voyage hither by the pure providence of God, which had provided
other improvements for them ; and of this take one instance instead of
many. Before the woful wars which broke forth in the three kingdoms,
there were divers gentlemen in Scotland, who being uneasie under the ec-
clesiastical burdens of the times, wrote unto New-England their enquiries,
Whether they might be there suffered freely to exercise their Presbyte-
rian church-government ? And it was freely answered, That they might.
Hereupon they sent over an agent, who pitched upon a tract of land
near the mouth of Merimack river, whither they intended then to trans-
plant themselves : but although they had so far proceeded in their voy-
age, as to be half-seas thorough ; the manifold crosses they met withal,
made them give over their intentions ; and the providence of God so or-
dered it, that some of those very gentlemen were afterwards the revivers
of that well-known solemn league and covenant, which had so great an in-
fluence upon the following circumstances of the nations. However, the
number of those who did actually arrive at New-England before the
year 1640, have been computed about /our thousand; since which time

Vol.. I. 10

MAGNALIA CIllUSTI AMERICANA

IBOOK 1.

fur more hnvc gone out of the country than have come to it ; and yet the
(]o(i of Heuvcii 80 itmiled upon tlio rluntation, while under an eo«te and
tqual govornmeut, the designs of Christianity in well-formed churches
huvo bcuD carried on, that no hiittory can parallel it. That saying of
Eulropiua nbuut liomtt which hath been sometimes applied unto the
church, is capable of some applicHtion to this little part of the church :
JVec Minor ab Exor ^lo, iicc trnj^or Incrementii ulla. Never was any plan-
tation brought unto such a considorublaness, in a space of time so incon-
niderable I an honilwif nitderness in a few years became a pleatatU land,
accommodated with the necensariei, yea, and the conveniences of humane
life ; the gospd has carried with it n fulness of all other blessings ; and
(albeit, that munkiiid generally, as far us we have any means of enquiry,
have increu»cd, in one and the same given proportion, and so no mort*
than doubled themselves in about three hundred and sixty years, in all
the past ages of the world, since the fixing of the present period of hu-
mane life) the four thousand^rsf planters, in less than filly years, notwith-
standing all transportations and mortalities, increased into, they tiay,
more than an hundred thousand.

CJIAFTER VI.

— Qjui Transmure Currunt.— Or, The Addition of several other Colonies Iv
the former ; with some other Considerables I'u the Condition of these
later Colonies.

§ 1. It was not long before the Massachtutet Colony was become like
an Atve, overstocked with bees : and many of the new inhabitants enter-
tained thoughts of swarming into plantations extended further into the
country. The colony might fetch its own description from the dispensa-
tions of the great God, unto his ancient Israel, and say, O God of Hosts,
titou hast brought a vine out of England ; thou hast cast oM the heathen and
planted it ; thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep
root, and it filled the land ; the hills were covered with the shadow of it,
and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars ; she sent out her boughs
unto the sea. But still there was one stroak wanting for the compleat ac-
commodations of the description ; to wit. She sent forth her branches unto
th* river ; and this therefore is to be next attended. The fame of Con-
necticut river, a long, fresh, rich river (as indeed the name Connecticut is
Indian for a long river) had made a little M'ilus of it, in the expectations
of the good people about the Massachuset-bay : whereupon many of the
planters belonging especially to the towns of Cambridge, Dorchester, fVa-
tertowti and Roxbury, took up resolutions to travel an hundred miles
westward from those towns, for a further settlement upon this famous
river. When the learned Fernandius had been in the Indies, he did in
his prefecc to his Commentaries aAerwards publisht..', give this account
of it ; Deo sic votetUe, prodii in remotissimos usq ; Indos, tarn non avidua
lucis ^gloria, ut earn vere dixeritn, lUtro clegcrim mei ipsius adhuc viven-
tis verissinutm Sepulluram. Reader, come with mc now to behold some
worthy, and learned, and genteel persons going to be buried alive on the
banks of Connecticut, having been first shin by the ecclesiastical imposi-
t-ions and persecutions of Europe.

*'t

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

§ 2. It WH8 in the yenr 1635, that this design wtis firit fbrmcd ; 9nd
the diapoaition of the celebntcd Mr. Thomas Hooker, with hi> people now
in Cambridge, to engage in the design, wits that which gare moat life unto
it. Tiicy then sent their ngents to view the country, who returned with
80 advantageous a report, thitt the next year there was a great remove of
good i^eople thither : on thia remove, they that went from Catnb^ridge
became a church upon a spot of ground now cnllcd Hartford; they that
went from Dorchester becumd a church at Windsor ; they that went from
IVatertown »ai down at Weth(r«Jield ; and they that leftlioxhury were in-
churched higher up the rivei: ai Springfield, a place which was afterwards
found within the line of the Ma ssaclumt -charier. Indeed ihejirst win-
ter after their going thither proved an hard one ; and the grievous dia-
appointments which befel them, through the unseasonable freezing of
the river, whereby their vessel of provisions was detained at the mouth
uf the river, threescore miles below them, caused them to encounter
with very disastrous difficulties. Divers of them were hereby obliged
in the depth of winter to travel back into the Bay; and some of them
were frozen to death in the journey.

However, such was their courage, that they prosecuted their Planta-
tion-work with speedy and blessed successes ; and when bloody salvages
in their neighbourhood, known by the name ofPequots, had like to have
nipt the plantation in the bud by a cruel war, within a yeir or two after
their settlement, the marvellous providence of God immediately extin-
guished that war, by prospering the J\'ew-English arms, unto the utter
subduing of the quarrelsome nation, and affrightning of all the other
natives.

§ 3. It was with the countenance and assistance of their brethren in
the Massachuset-bay, that the first Planters of Connecticut made their es-
says thus to discover and cultivate the remoter parts of this mighty wil-
derness ; and accordingly several gentlemen went furnished with, some
kind of commission from the government of the Mcssuchnset-bayl for to
maintain some kind of government among the inhabitants, till there could
be a more orderly settlement. But the inhabitants quickly perceiving
theuiselves to be without the line of the Massachuset-charter, entred into
ii combination among themselves, whereby with mutual consent they be-
came a body-politick, and framed a body of necessary laws and orders, to
the execution whereof they chose all necessary officers, very much,
though not altogether after the form of the colony from whence they
issued. So they jogged on for many years ; and whereas before the year
1644, that worthy gentleman, George Fenwick, Esq ; did on the behalf of
several persons of quality begin a plantation about the mouth of the
river, which was called Say-brook, in remembrance of those right hon-
ourable persons, the Lord Say, and the Lord Brook, who laid a claim to
the land thereabouts, by virtue of a patent granted by the Earl of War-
mick ; the inhabitants of Connecticut that year purchased of Mr. Fenwick
this tract of land. But the confusions then embarassing the affairs of
the English nation, hindered our Connecticotians from seeking of any
further settlement, until the restoration of K. Charles II. when they made
their application to the King for a charter, by the agency of their hon-
ourable governour, John Winthrop, Esq ; the most accomplished son of
that excellent person, who had been so considerable in the foundations
of the Massachuset-co\ony. This renowned virtuoso had justly been the
darling of .Yew-England, if they had only considered his eminent quali-
tic. a? he was a Chnstian, a gentleman, and a philosopher, well worthy to

MAUNALIA CHRiSTl AMERICANA

IBooK 1.

be, ai> he wa«, a member ot the Royal-Societif ; but it niuvt needafurtbei
eDdenr his memory to hit country, that (<ud made him the inttrumentof
obtrtining for them, as he did from the Kiug of England, as amply privi-
ledged a charter at was ever enjoyed perhaps by any people under the
cope of Heaven. Under the protection and encouragement of this
charier they flourished many years ; and many towns being succesMively
erected among them, their churches had rest, and walked in ihe fear of
Gotl, and m the comfort if the Holy Spirit.

§ 4. The church-order observed in the churches of Connecticut, has
been the same that in observed by their sisterM in the Massachueet'bay ;
and in this order they lived exceeding peaceably all the eleven years that
Mr Hooker lived ainon^ them. Nevertheless there arose at length some
unhappy contexts in ouit town of the colony, which grew into an alienation
that could not be cured without such a parting, and yet, indeed, hardly
so kind ii parting, as that whereto once Abraham and Lot were driven.
However, these little, idle, angry controvenies, proved occasions, of en-
largeinenls to the church of God ; for such of the inhabitants as chose n
coltagi^ in a wildtrness, before the most beautiful and furnished edifice,
overheated with the^re of contention, removed peaceably higher up the
river, where a whole county of holy ehurchee has been added unto the
number of oancongergations.

§ 6. But there was one thing that made this colony to become very
consideraMe ; which thing reihains now to be considered. The well-
known Mr. Davenport, and Mr. Eaton, and several eminent persons that
cam»> over to the Massachutet-bay among some of the first planters, were
strongly urged, that they would have settled in this Bay ; but hearing of
another Bay to the south-west of Connecticut, which might be more ca-

})able to entertain those that were to follow them, they desired that their
i-iends at Connecd'cut wouldpurchase of the native proprietors for t^m, all
the land that lay between themselves ^md Hudson's River, which was in
part effected. Accordingly removing thither in the year 1637, they seated
themselves in a pleasant Bay, where they spread themselves along the
sea-coast and one might have been suddenly, as it were supprized with
the sight of such notable towns, as first New-Haven ; then Guilford ; then
Milford; then Stamford; and then Brainford where our Lord .'esut
Christ is worshipped in churches of an evangelical constitution ; and from
thence, if the enquirer make a salley over to Long-Island^ he might there
also have seen the churches of our Lord beginning to take root in the
eastern parts of that island. All this while this fourth colony wanted the
legal basis of a charter to build upon ; but they did by mutual agreement
form themselve.s, into a body-politick as like as they judged fit unto the
other colonies in their neighbourhood ; and as for their church-order, it
was generally secvndum vsvm MassacUusettensem,.

§ 6. Behold, a fjurth colony of j\ew-Eny;lish Christians, in a manner
stolen into the world, and a colony, indeed, constellated with many stars of
t!.e ^raf inag:>it'ide. The colony was under the conduct of as holy, and
as prudent, and as genteel persons as most that ever visited these nooks
of Jimrricu ; and yr* these too were tryed with very humbling circam-
stancea.

Being Londoners, or merchants and men of trnffick and buisness, their
design was in a manner wholly to apply themselves unto trcule ; but the
design failing, they found their £:reat estates sink so fast, that they must
quickly do something. Whereupon in the year 1646, gathering together

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

almost all the strength which was left theui, they built one thip more,
which they fraighted for England with the best part of their tradable es-
tates ; and sundry of their eminent persons embarked themselves in her
for the voyage. But, alas, the ship was never after beard of! she found-
red in the sea ; and in her were lost, not only the hopes of their future
trade, but also the livu of several excellent persons, as well as divers
mantucripta of some great men in the country, sent over for the service
of the church, which were now buried in the ocean. The/ulltr $tory of
th^t grievous matter, let the reader with a just astonishment accept from
the pen of the reverend person, who is now the pastor of M'ew-Hav4n.
1 wrote unto him for it, and was thus answered.

Reverend and Dear Sir,
* Iw compliance with your desires, I now give you the relation of that

< appaiiiion of a ship in tht air, which I have received from the most credi-
' ble, judicious and curious surviving observers of it.

' In the year 1647, besides much other lading, a far more rich treasure
' of passengers, (five or six of which were persons of chief note and worth

* in ATew-Haven) put themselves on board a new ship, built at Rhode-Island,

* of about 150 tuns ; but so walty, that the master, {Lamberttn) often said
' she would prove their grave. In the month of Janttary, cutting their

< way through much ice, on which they were accompanied with the Rev-

* erend Mr. Davenport, besides many other friends, with many fears, as
' well as prayers and tears, they set sail. Mr. Davenport in prayer with
' an observable emphasis used these words, Lord, if it be thy pleaawe to
' bttry these our friends in the bottom of the sea, they areAinef save them !

< The spring following, no tidings of these friends arrived with the ships
' from England : New-Haven's heart began to fail her : this pot the godly
' people on much prayer, boc publick and private, that the Lord would

* (if it was his pleasure) let them hear what he had done with their dear

* friends, and prepare them with a suitable submission to his Holy fVill.

* In June next ensuing, a great thunder-storm arose out of the north-west ;

< after which (the hemisphere being serene) about an hour before sun-set

< a Ship of like dimensions with the aforesaid, with her canvass and co-
' lours abroad (though the wind northernly) appeared in the air coming
« up from our harbour's mouth, which lyes southward from the town,
' seemingly with her sails filled under a fresh gale, holding her course
' north, and continuing under obser^'ation, sailing against the wind for the
' space of half an hour.

' Many were drawn to behold this great work of God ; yea, the very
' children cryed out, There*s a brave ship ! At length, crouding up as far
' as there is usually water sufficient for such a vessel, and so near some of
' the spectators, as that they imagined a man might hurl a stone on board
' her, her main-top seemed to be blown off, but lefl banging in the
' shrouds ; then her missen-top ; then all her masting seemed blown away

* by the board: quickly after the hulk brought unto a careen, site overset,
^ and so vanished into a smoaky cloud, which in some time dissipated,
' leaving, as everywhere else, a clear air. The admiring spectators
' could distinguish the several colours of each part, the principal rigging,
' and such proportions, as caused not only the generality of persons to
' say. This was the mould of their ship, and thus was her tragick end : but

* Mr. Davenport also in publick declared to this effect, Tltat God had

* condescended, for the quieting of their a^icted spirits, this extraordinary

MAUNALIA CliKlSTl AMEKICANA

lUooK I.

* account of his $ov$r«ign diapotal of thou for whom to many ftrvtnt pray-
' «rt were nutde continually. Thui I am, Sir,

Your humble lorvant,

James PiKftpoNT.'

Render, there being yet living so many credible gentlemen, that were
eye-witnesses of this wonderful thing, 1 venture to publish it for a thing
M undoubted, as 'tis wonderful.

But let us now proceed with our story. Our colony of New-Haven ap-
prehended themselves disadvantageously seated for the afl'airs of hut-
handry ; and therefore upon these disasters they made many attempts of
removing into some other parts of the world. One while they were invited
unto Delaware-bay, another while they were invited unto Jamaica; they
had offers made them from Ireland also, after the wars there were over )
and they entred into some treaties about the city of Galloway, which
thev were to have had as a small province to themselves. But the God
of Heaven stili strtingely disappomted all these attempts ; and whereas
they were concerned how their posterity should be able to live, if they
must make husbandry their mr^in shift for their living ; that posterity of
theirs by the good providence of God, instead of coming to beggary and
misery, have thriven wonderfully : the colony is improved with many
wealthy husbandtnen. and is become no small part of the best granary for
n\\ M'ew-Ktigland, And the same good providence has all along so pre-
served them from annoyance by the Indians, that although at their first
setting down there were few towns but what wisely perswaded a body of
Indians to dwell near them ; whereby such kindnesses passed between
them, that they always dwelt peaceably together ; nevertheless there
are few of those towns, but what have seen their body of Indians utterly
extirpated by nothing but mortality wasting them. .

§ 7. But what is now become of M'ew-Haven colony ? I must answer,
It is not : and yet it has been growing ever since it first was. But when
Connecticut-colony petitioned the restored King for a Charter, they pro-
cured New-llaven colony to be annexed unto them in the same charter ;
and this, not without having first the private concurrence of some lead-
ing men in the colony ; though the minds of others were so uneasie
about the coalition, that it cost some time after the arrival of the Char-
ter for the colony, like Jeplitah''s daughter, to bewail her condition be-
fore it could be quietly complied withal. Nevertheless they have lived
ever since, one colony, very happily together, and the God of love and
peace has remarkably dwelt among them : however, these children of
God have not been without their chastisements, especially in the malig-
nant fevers and agues, which have often proved very mortal in most or
all of their plantations.

§ 8. While the soutk-west parts otJ^ew- England were thus filled with
new-coionies, the north-east parte of the country were not forgotten.
There were ample regions beyond the line of the Masaachuset-patent,
where new settlements were attempted, not only by such as designed n
^sAing- trade at sea, or a Bever-trade on shore ; not only by some that
were unoasie under the Massachmet-government in a day of temptation,
which came upon the first planters ; but also by some very serious
>-.hristians, who propounded the enlargement and enjoyment of our Lord's
evangelical interests in those territories. The effect of these excursions
were, that several well-constituted churches were gathered in the pro-
vince of Easf-IIampshirc, bcs'u\es one or two in the province of JWani,

Book 1.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND. T»

whereto were added a large number of other congregations, wherein
weekly prayers and sermotu were nrtade, although the inhabitant belong-
ing to thoic congregiitionH, proceeded not so far as to all the ordinances of
n more compleat Church State among them. That which contributed more
than a little to the growth o( chriatianity in those parts of JVtw- England,
was the application, which the people being tired with many quarrelsome
circumstances about their government, made unto the general court of
the Mataad^tuet-bay, to be taken under their protection ; which petition
of theirs being answered by that general court, surely aAcr n more char-
itable and accountable manner, than such authors as Ogilby in his Ameri-
ca have represented it, [f^ua magia Hiatorkia, Lectorea, Credite veria /]
there followed many successful endeavours to upread the good effects and
orders of the goapel along that coast.

But thus was the settlement of J^ew-England brought about ; these
were the bcginninga, these the foundationa of those colonics, which have
not only enlarged the English empire in some regards more than any oth-
er outgoings of our nation, but also afforded a singular prospect of
churches erected in an American corner of the world, on purpose to ex-
press and pursue the Protestant Reformation.

CHAPTER VII.
IJecatompoIiH -. or, a field which the Lord hath blessed.

A MAP OF THE COUNTRY,

It is proper that I should now give the reader an Ecclesiaatical Map of
the country, thus undertaken. Know then, that although for more than
twenty years, the blasting strokes of Heaven upon the secular affairs of
this country have been such, as rather to abate than enlarge the growth
of it i yet there are to be seen in it at this present year 1696, these Colo-
nies, Counties, and Congregations.

IT The Numbers and Places of the Christian Congregations, now worship-
ping our Lord Jesus Christ, in the several Colonies of New-England^
and the Names of the Ministers at this time employed in the service of
those Congregations.

.Yotandum, Where the name of any minister hath H. C. added unto ittf '
our catalogue, it is to be understood that Harvard-Colledge was t^ "^
mother, in whose arms that minister was educated. 4.

I. In Plymouth colony there are three counties; and the several congre-
gations therein are thus accommodated.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY MINISTERS.

Bridgewater, Mr. James Keith.

Puxbury, Mr. Ichabod Wiswul, H. C.

Marshfield, Mr. Edward Thompson, H. C.

Middlebury, Mr.

Plymouth, Mr. John Cotton, H. C.

Scituate \ which hath two churches, Mr. Jeremiah Cashing,

' i H. C. Mr. Deodale Lawson.

•0

^ MAUNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA :

[Book I.

Earnttuble,

EaatEiam,

Falmouth,

Harwich,

MiiQaiDoyet,

Rochester,

Sandwich,

Yarmouth,

Bristol,

Dartmouth,

Freetown,

Little-Comptou,

Swansy,

Tanton, >

BARNSTABLE COUNTY MINISTRRS.

Mr. Jonathan Rutiel, H. C.
Mr. Samuel Treat, U. C.

Mr. Jiathaniel Stone, H. C. > '

Mr. Arnold,

Mr. Rowland Cotton, U. C.

Mr. John Cotton, H. C.

BRISTOL COVNTY MINISTERS.

Mr. John Sparhawk, H. C.
Perishing without vision.

Mr. Elipheltt Adams, H. C.

Mr. Samud Danforth, H. C.
Hereto an ccclcdiusticHl reckoning may annex the Islands of
Martha's Vine- } Mr. Ralph Thucher, Mr. Denham, besides It iian-

yard,
Nantucket,
NeifrportinRode-

Island,

churches and pastors.
Indian Pastors.

Mr. jYathaniel Clap, H. C.

1 1

II. In M&ssadmset colony are four counties, and the several congrega-
tions in them are so supplied.

THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK MINISTERS.

Boston,

of the old church, Mr. Jatnes Allen, Mr. Benj. Wads'

worth, H. C.
of the north church, Mr. Increase Mather, President
of the CoUedge, and hi^i son Cotton Mather, H. C.
of the south church, Mr. Samuel IVilward, H. C.
Besides these, there is in the town ii small congregation that worship God
with the ceremonies of the Church of England; served generally by
a change of persons, occasionally visiting these parts of the world.
And another small congregation of Antipedo Baptists, wherein Mr. Em-

blin is the settled minister.
And a French congregation of Protestant Refugees, under the pastoral

cares of Monsieur Daille.
Braintree, Mr. Moses Fisk, H. C.

Dedham, Mr. Joseph Belcher, H. C. .-. y

Dorchester, Mr. .^/m Dr.u/or/A, H. C.

Hingham, Mr. John JVurton, H. C.

Hull, Mr. Zechariah Whitman, H. C.

Medficld, Mr. Joseph Baxter, H. C. i /,M,v:.i

Mendon, Mr. Grindal Rawson, H. C. lii^^tji'

Milton, Mr. Peter Thacher, H. C. r <V

Roxbury, Mr. JVchemiah Walter, H. C.

Weymouth, Mr. Samuel Torrey, H. C.

Woodstock, ilr. Josiah Dwight, li. C.

Wrentham, Mr. Samuel Man, H„ C. * '

Book I] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

8 hdian'

congregn-

nj. Wads-

President
,H.C.

H. C.

rship God

lerally by
orld.
Mr. Em-

ler

pastoral

Billerica,

Cambridge,

Charles- town,

Chelmsford, '

Concord,

Dunstable,

Groton,

Lancaster,

Malborough,

Maiden,

Medford,

Newtown,

Oxford,

Reading,

Shcrborn,

Stow,

Sudbury,

Watertown,

Woburn,
Worcester,

Amesbury,

Andover,

Beverly,

Boxford,

Bradford,

Glocester,

Haveril,

Ipswich,

And village,

Lyn,

Manchester,

Marblehead,

Newbury,

Rowly,

Salem,

And village,

Salsbury,

Topstield,

Wenham,

Deerfield,
Endfield,
Hatfield,
Hadley,
Northampton,
Sprmgfield,
Vol. L

THE COUNTV OF MIDDLESEX MIKISTEB9.

Mr. Samuel fVhiteing, H. C.
Mr. mUiam Brattle, H. C.
Mr. Charles Morton.
Mr. Thomas Clark, H. C.
Mr Joseph Eastabrook, H. C.
Mr. Thomai fVeld, H. C.
Mr. Gershom Hobart, H. C.
Mr. John Whiteing, H C.
Mr. William Brinsmead, H. C.
. Mr. Michael Wigsrtesworth, H. C,
Mr. Simon Bradstreet, H. C.
Mr. Nehemiah Hobart, H. C.

Mr. Jonathan Pierpont, H. C.

Mr. Daniel Gookit., H. C.

Mr.

Mr. James Sherman. ',

C East, Mr. Henry Gibs, H. C.
\ West, Mr. Samuel Mgier, H. C.

Mr. Jabez Fox, H. C.

THE COUNTY OF ESSEX MINISTERS.

P.: I. Francis Dean, and Mr. Thomas Barnard, H. C.
Mr. John Hale, H. C.

Mr. ZechariaJi Symmfs, H. C.

Mr. John Emerson, H. C.

Mr. Benjamin Rolfe, H. C.

Mr. Wm. Hubbard, H. C. and Mr. John Rogers, H. C.

Mr. John Wise, H. C.

Mr. Jeremiah Shepard, H. C.

Mr. John Emerson, H. C.

Mr. Samuel Cheever, H. C. ■ vp .

East, Mr. Tappin, H. C.

West, Mr. Samuel Belcher, H. C.

Mr. Edward Payson, H. C.

Mr. John Higginson, and Mr. JSTicholae Noyse, H. (?.

Mr. Samuel Paris, H. C.

Mr. Caleb Gushing, H. C.

Mr. Joseph Capen, H. C. '

Mr. Joseph GerishfH.C. ./-•*;•;

THE CODNTY OV HAMPSHIRE MINISTKRS.

Mr. John Williams^ H. C.
Mr.

Mr. William Williams, H. C.
Mr.

Mr. Solomon Stoddard, H. C.
Mr. Daniel Brexver, H. C.
11

>■<■■ :

MAGNALIA CilRISTI AMERICANA. [Book 1.

Southtield, 'i Mr. Benjamin Rugglea, H. C. ♦

Westfield, 3Ir. Edward Taylor, H. C.

To which, if we add the congregations in Piscataqna

Dover,

Exeter,

Hampton,

Newcastle,

Portsmouth,

Isle of Sholes
Kittery,
Weils, York,

Mr. John Pikcr H. C.
Mr. John Clark, H. C.
Mr. John Cotton, H. C.
Mr. Samuel Moodey, H. C.
Mr. Joshua Moodey, H. C.

And in the Province of Maine

Mr, Hancock, H. C.

:f-i.,;_ -i'i'

III. In Connecticut-co/oni/ there are four counties, and the several cort-
gregations therein are illuminated by these preachers of the gospel.

B'armington,
Glastonbury,
Madliam,

Hartford.

Middletown,

Simsbury,

VVaterbury,

Wethersfield,

Windsor,

And Farme,

Windham,

Killingworth,

Lebanon,

Linne,

New-London,

Norwich,

Pescamsik,

Preston,

Saybrook,

Stonington,

Brainford,

Derby,

Guilford,

Milford,

Ne»v-H»ven,

Wallingford,

Danbury,
Fairfield,

HARTFOno COUNTY MINISTERS.

Mr. Samuel Hooker, H. C. . ? .:,

Mr., Timothy Stevens, H. C.

Mr. Jeremiah Hobart, H. C.

old church, Mr. Timothy Woodb ridge, H. C.

new church, Mr. Thomas Buckingham, H. C.

Mr. JVoadiah Russel, H. C.

Mr. Dudly Woodbridge, H. C.

Mr. Jeremiah Peck, H. C. i

Mr. Steven Mix, H. C. • .

Mr, Samuel Mather, H. C.

Mr. Timothy Edwards, H. C.

Mr. Samuel Whiting.

XEW- LONDON COUNTV MINISTERS.

Mr. Abraham Pierson, H. C. ' •'

Mr. Moses jYoyse, H. C.

Mr. Gordon Sallonstal,li. C.

Mr. James Fitch.

Mr. Joseph Mors, H. C. . .' '

Mr. Samuel Tread, H. C.

Mr, Thomas Buckingham.

Mr, James JVoyse, H. C.

NBW-IIAVEN COUNTY MINISTERS

Mr. Samuel Russel, H. C.
Mr. John James, H. C.
Mr. Thomas Ruggles, H. C.
Mr, Samuel Andrews, H. C
Mr. James Pierpoint, II. C.
Mr. Samuel Street, H. C.

FAIRF/ELD COUNTY MINISTERS.

Mr. Seth Shove, H. C.
Mr. Joseph Web, H. C.

' them.'
port thui

Book 1.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

Fairfield village,

Greenwich,

Norwalk,

Rye,

.Stamford,
Stratford,
Woodbury,

Mr. Charles Chauncey, H. 0.

Mr. Joseph Mori^an.

Mr- Steven Bucking ham, H. C.

Mr. Bowers, H, C.

Mr. John Davenport, H C.

Mr. Israel Chauncey, H. C.

Mr. Zachariah Walker, H. C.

"Jr

REMARKS UPON THE CATALOGUE OF PLANTATIONS.

§ 1. There are few towns to be now seen in our list, but what were
existing in this land before the dreadful Indian war. which befel us twen-
ty years ago ; and there are few towns broken up within the then Massa-
chuset-line by that war, but what have revived out of their ashes. Nev-
ertheless the many calamities, which have ever since been wasting of the
country, have so niptthe growth of it, that its later progress hath held no
proportion with what was from the beginning ; but yet with such variety,
that while the trained companies of some towns are no bigger than they
were thirty or forty years ago, others are as big again.
' § 2. The calamities that have carried ofl' the inhabitants of our several
towns have not been all of on« sort ; nor have all our towns had an equal
share in any sort. Pestilential sicknesses have made fearful havock in
<livers places, where the sound perhaps have not been enough to tend the
sick ; while others have not had one touch from that angel of death. And
the sword hath cut off scores in sundry places, when others, it may be.
have not lost a man by that avenger.

§ 3. 'Tis no unusual, though no universal experiment among us, that
while an excellent, laborious, illuminating ministry has been continued
in a town, the place has thriven to admiration ; but ever since that inan'.i
time, they have gone down the wind in all their interests. The gospel
has evidently been the making of our towns, and the blessings of the
upper have been accompanied with the blessings of the nether-springs.
Memorable also is the remark of Slingsby Bethel, Esq ; in his most judi-
cious book of The Interest of Europe. Were not the cold climate if New-
England supplied by good laws and discipline, the barrenness of that country
would never have brought people to it, nor have advanced it in consideration
and formidableness above the other English plantations, exceeding it much
in fortuity, and other inviting qualities.

I 4. Well mixy ,J^ew- England lay claim to the name it wears, and to a
room in the tenderest affections of its mother, the happy Island ! for as
there are few of our towns but what have their Jiam«s-su/res in England,
so the reason why most of our towns are called what they arc, is because
the chief of the first inhabitants would thus bear up the names of the
particular places there from whence they came.

§ 5. I have heard an aged sain/ near his death chearfully thiis express
himself; ' Well, I am going to heaven, and I will there tell the faithful,
' who are gone long since from J^ew-Eugland, thither, that though they
' who gathered our churches are all dead and gone, yet the churches are
' still alive, with as numerous flocks of christians as ever were among
' them.' Concerning the most of the churches in our catalogue, the re-
port thus carried unto heaven, I must now also send through the earth ;
but if with, as numerous, we could in every respect say, as gnuious,
what joy unto all the saints, both in heaven and on earth, might be from
ihence occasioned '

THE B08T0J>rMJ^ EBEXEZER.

$.M~»r»ii

SOME

HISTORICAL REMARKS

ON THE STATE OF

BOSTON,

THE CHIEF TOWJ^ OF NEW-ENGLAND, AND OF
ENGLISH AMERICA. . ,
, WITH SOME

AGREEABLE METHODS

THE

rOR PRESERVING AND PROMOTING THE GOOD STATE OP THAT, AS WELt
AS ANY OTHER TOWN IN THE LIKE CIRCUMSTANCES.

HUMBLY OFFERED BY A NATIVE OF BO^IO^.

Ezek. XLViii. 35, The name of the City from that day shall be, the lord

IS THERE.

Urbs Metropolis, ul sil maxima: Aiirtoj-itutis, constilualur prrxipuum piclalis Exctn-
plum & Haciarium. Aphor. I'olit.

THE HISTORY OF BOSTON RELATED AND IMPROVED.

Jit Boston Lecture, 7 d. 2 m. 1G90.

Remarkable and memorable was the time, when an army of terrible
destroyers was coming against one of the chief towns in the land of
Israel. God rescued the town from the irresistible fury and approach
of those destroyers, by an immediate hand of heaven upon them. Upon
that miraculous rescue of the town, and of the whole country, whose fate
was much enwrapped in it, there followed that action of the Prophet
Samuel, which is this day to be, with some imitation, repeated in the
midst of thee, O Boston, thou helped of the Lord.

J SAM. VII. 12.

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it up,— -and called the name of it, Eb-
enezer, saying, Hitherto the Lord hath helped us.

The thankful servants of God have used sometimes to erect monu-
ments of stone, as durable tokens of their thankfulness to God for mer-
cies received in the places thus distinguished. Jacob did so ; Joshua did
so ; and Samuel did so ; but they so did it, as to keep clear of the trans-

Book I.J THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

gression forbidden io Lev. xxvi. 1. Ye shf.U not setup an image of stone in
your land, for to bow dorvn uuto it.

The Stone erected by Samuel, with the name of Ebenezer, which is as
much as to say, a stone of help ; I know not whether any thing might be
writ upon it, but i am sure there is one thing to be now read upon it, by
our selves, iu the text where we find it : namely, thus much.

That a people whom the God of Heaven hath remarkably helped in their
distresses^ ought greatly and gratefully to acknowledge what help of Aea-
ven they have received.

Now 'tis not my design to lay the scene of my discourse as far off as
Bethcar, the place where Samuel set up his Ebenezer. I am immediately
to transfer it into the heart of Boston, a place where the remarkable help
received from heaven by the people^ does loudly call for an Ebenezer.
And 1 do not ask you to change the name of the town into that of Help-
stone, as there is a town in England of that name, which may seem the
English of Ebenezer ; but my Sermon shall be this day, your Ebenezer, if
you will with a favourable and a profitable attention entertain it. May
the Lord Jesus Christ accept me, and assist me now to glorifie him in the
town where I drew my first sinful breath ; a town whereto I am undei-
great obligations for the precious opportunities to glorifie him, which I
have quietly and publickly enjoyed therein for tiear eighteen years to-
gether. O my Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me
this once, to speak from thee wito thy people !

And now, sirs, that I may set up an Ebenezf.r among you, there are
these things to be inculcated.

I. Let us thankfully, and agreeably, and particularly acknowledge what
HELP we have received from the God of Heaven, in the years that have
rouled over us. While the blessed apostle Paul, was, as it should seem,
yet short of being threescore years old, how affectionately did he set up
an Ebenezer, with an acknowledgment in Acts xxvi. 22. Having obtain-
ed help of God, I continue to this day ! Our town is now threescore and
eight years old ; and certainly 'tis time for us, with all possible affection,
to set up our Ebenezer, saying, Having obtained help from God, the towv
is continued until almost the age uf man is passed over it ! The town hath
indeed three elder sisters in this colony, but it hath wonderfully outgrown
them all ; and her mother, Old Boston, in England also ; yea, within a
few years after the first settlement it grew to be. The Metropolis of
THE WHOLE Engmsh America. Little was this expected by them thai:
first settled the town, when for a while Boston was proverbially called,
Lost-town, for the mean and sad circumstances of it. But, O Boston, it is
because thou hast obtained help from God, even from the Lord Jesus
Christ, who for the sake of his gospel, preached and once prized here,
undertook thy patronage. When the world and the church of God had
seen twenty-six generations, a psalm was composed, wherein that not*;
occurs with twenty-six repetitions ; His mercy endnreth for ever. Truly
there has not one year passed over this town, Ab Urhe Condita, upon the
story whereof we might not make that note, our Ebenezer; His mercy en-
dureth for ever. It has been a town of great experiences. There have been
several years wherein the terrible /amine hath terribly stared the town in
the face : we have been brought sometimes unto the la'it meal in the bar-
rel ; we have cryed out with the disciples, We have r.nt loaves enough to
feed a tenth part of us ! but the feared famine has always been kept off;
always we have had seasonable and sufficient supplies af^er a surprizing
manner sent in unto us : let the three last years in this thing most emi-

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[lioOK 1.

nently proclaim the goodness of our heavenly Shepherd and Feeder. This
has been the help of our God ; because his mercy endurethfor ever/ The
aui^els of death have often shot the arrows of death into the midst of the
town ; the small-pox has especially fvur times been a great '|ilague upon
us : how often have there been bills desiring prayers for more than nn
hundred sick on one day in one of our assemblies ? in one twelve-month,
about one thousand of our neighbours have one way or other been car-
ried unto their long home : and yet we are after all, many more than
seven thousand souls of us at this hour living on the spot. Why is not, a,
Lord, have meraj upon us, written on the doors of our abandoned habita-
tions ? 'J'his hath been the help of our God, because his mercy endureth
for ever. Never wys any town under the cope of heaven more liable to
be laid in ashes, eitlu'.- tJiiough the carelessness, or through the wicked-
ness of them that sleLf in it. That snch a combustible heap of contiguous
houses yet stands, it £:. 'y be called, a standing miracle ; it is not because!
the tvatdiman keeps thr 'fy: perhaps there may be too much cause of re-
flection in that tliinjj;, , I'l of inspection too; no, It is from thy watchful
protection, C thc\ "eper f Boston, icho neither slumbers nor sleeps. Ten
TIMES has the /'?. iiadu notable ruins among us, and our good servant
been almost oui )/:a .' r ; but the ruins have mostly and quickly been re-
built. I suppose, tii^* iij \v more than a thousand houses are to be seen
on this little piece oi :" und, all filled with the undeserved favours of
God, Whence this preservation ? This hath been the hdp of our God :
because his mercy endureth forever ! But if ever this town saw a year of
salvations, transceudently such was the last year unto us. A for^iidable
French squadron hath not shot one bomb into the midst of thee, O thou
munition of rocks ; our streets have not run with blood and gore, and
horrible devouring flames have not raged upon our substance : those are
ignorant, and unthinking, and unthankful men, who do not own that we
have narrowly escaped as dreadful things, as Carthagena, or Newfound-
land, have suffered. I am sure our more considerate friends beyond-sea
were very suspicions, and well nigh despairing, that victorious enemies
had swallowed up the town. But thy soul is escaped, O Boston, as a bird
out of the snare of the fotolers. Or if you will be insensible of this, ye
vain men, yet be sensible, that an English squadron hath not brought
among us the tremondous pestilence, under which a neighbouring planta-
tion hath undergone prodigious desolations. Boston, 'tis a marvellous
thing a plague has not l^id thee desolate ! Our deliverance from our
friends has been as full of astonishing mere//, as our clelive-jtuce from our
foes. We read of a certain city in Isa. xix. 18, t, ' 3d, I'he City of De-
struction. Why so ? some say, because delivered from destruction. \i
that be so, then hast thou been a city of desiruciiof : or I will rather say.
a city of salvation : and this by the help of God ; because his mercy en-
dureth for ever. Shall I go on ? I will. We have not had the bread of
adversity and the ^t:atef of affliction, like many other places. But yet all
this while our eyes have >se.en our teachers. Here are several golden can-
dlesticks in the town. Shining and burning lights have illuminated them.
There arc gone to shine in an higher orb seven divines that wore once
the stars of this town, in the pastoral charge of it; besides many others,
that for some years <^ave us transient influcnceii. Churches flourishing
with much love, and peace, and many comforts of the Httly Spirit, have
hitherto been our greatest glory. 1 wish that some sad eclipse do not
come e're long upon this glory ! The dispensations of the gospel were
never cnjoye'l by any town ^vith more liberty and purily for fco long «

Book I] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

while together. Our opportunities to draw near unto the Lord Jesus
Christ in bis ordinance*, cannot be parallelled. Boston, thou hast been
lifted up lo heaven; there is not a town upon earth, which, on some ac-
counts, has more to answer for. Such, O such has been our help from
our God, because hie mercy endureth for ever.

II. Let us acknowledge whose help it is that we have received, and
QOt give the glory of our God unto another. Poorly helped had we been ,
I may tell you, it* we had none but humane help all this while to depotnl
upon. The favours of our superiors we deny not : we forget not the
instruments of our help, Nevertheless, this little outcast Zion, shall, wiih
my consent, engrave the name of no man upon her Ebmezer ! It was
well confessed in Psal. cviii. 12, Vain is the help of man! It was well
counselled in Psal. cxivi. 3, Put not your trust in princes, nor in the sun of
man, in whom there is no lielp.

Wherefore, first, let God in our Lord Jesus Christ, have the glory
of bestoioing on us all the help that we have had. When the Spirit of God
camt' upon a servant of his, he cried out unto David, in 1 Chron. xii. 18,
Thy God helfieth thee. This is the voice of God from heaven to /;ft»s/«rt
this day, Thy God hath helped thee: thou hast by thy sin destroyed Ihy self,
hut in thy God hath been ihy help. A great man once building an edilice,
caused an inscription of this importance to be written on the gates of it,
Such a place planted me, such a place watered me, and Caesar gave the in-
crease. One that passed by with a witty sarcasm, wrote under it. Hie
Deus nihil fecit ; i. e. God, it seems, did nothing for this man. But the
inscription upon our Ebenezer, owning what help this town hath had, shall
say, Our God hath done all that is done! Say then, O helped Boston,
say as in Psal. cxxi. 2, My help is from the Lord which made heaven and
earth. Say as in Psa/. xciv. 17, Unless the Lord had been my help, my
soul had quickly dwelt in silenre. And boldly say, Tis only because the
Lord has been my helper, that earth and hell have never done all that they
zvould unto me.

Let our Lord Jksus Christ be praised as our blessed helper : that
stone which the foolish builders have refused. Oh ! set up that stone ;
even that high rock ; set him on high in our praises, and say, that Ihut is
our Ebenezer. 'Tis our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his infinite com-
passions for the town hath said, as in Isn. Ixiii. 5, I looked, and there was
none to help ; therefore my own arm hath bright salvation unto it. It is
foretold concerning the idolatrous Roman Catholicks, that together witli
the Lord Jesus Christ, they shall 7vorship other Maiizzim ; that is to say,
other protectors. Accordingly, all their towns ordinarily have singled
out their protectors among the saints of hoaven ; such a saint is entituled
untb the patronage of such a town among them, and such a saint for an-
other : old Boston, by name, was but saint Botolph's town. Whereas
thou, O Boston, shalt have but one protector in heaven, and that is our
Lord Jesus Christ. Oh ! rejoice in him alone, and say, the Lord is my
fortress and my deliverer ! There was a song once made for a town,
which in its distresses had been helped wondrously ; and the tirst clause
in that song, [you have it in Isa. xxvi. 1,] may be so rendred, JVe have a
strong town ; salvation [or Jesus the Lord, whose name hath salvation in
it] will appoint walls and buhvarks. Truly what help we have had we will
sing, 'T'is our Jesus that hath appointed them. The old pr ui towns were
sometimes mighty solicitous to conceal the name of the par* ^ular God that
they counted their protector, JVe ab hostibus Evocatus, alio commigraret.
Bnt I shall be far from doing my (own any damage, by publishing the

.;^_^.s

MAGNALIA CHKISTI AMERICANA

[Book I

name of its protector ; no, let all mankind know, that the name of our
protector is Jesus Christ : for, Among the Gods there is none like unto
thee, OLord: nor is any help like vnto thine : and there is 710 rock like to
our God.

Yea, when we ascribe the name o( helper unto our Lord Jesus Christ,
let us also acknowledge that the name is not sufficiently expressive, em-
phatical and significant. Lactantius of old blamed the heathen for giving
the highest of their Gods no higher a title than that of Jupiter, or Juvans
pater, i. e. an helping father ; and he says, JVon intelligit Divina benefi-
cia, qui se a Deo tantummodo Juvari putat : the kindnesses of Qod are not
understood by that man, who makes no more than an helper of him.
Such indeed is the penury of our language, that we cannot coin a more
expressive name. Nevertheless, when we say, the Lord Jksus Christ
hath been our helper, let us intend more than we ex^/ress ; Lord, thou
hast been all unto us.

Secondly, Let the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ most explicitely
have the glory o( purchasing for us all our help. What was it that pro-
cured an Ebenezer for the people of God ? We read in 2 Sam. vii. d. Sam-
uel took a sucking lamb, and off'ered it a burnt-offering wholly unto the
Lord; and Samuel cried unto the Lord for Israel, and the Lord heard him.
Shall I tell you 1 Our Lord Jssus Christ is that lamb of God ; and he
has been a lamb slain as a sacrifice ; and he is a sacrifice pleadable not
only for persons, but also for peoples that belong unto him. To teach us
this evangelical and comfortable mystery, there was a sacrifice for the
'johole congregation prescribed in the Mosaic Paedagogy. 'Tis notorious
that the sins of this town have been many sins, and mighty sins ; the cry
thereof hath gone up to Heaven. If the Almighty God should from Hea-
ven rain down upon the town an horrible tempest of thunderbolts, as he
did upon the cities which he overthrew in his anger, and repented not, it
would be no mor<: than eur unrepented sins deserve. How comes it
then to pass tha', we have had so much help from Heaven after all ? Tru-
ly the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ has been pleaded for Boston, and
therefore say, therefore it is that the town is not made a sacrifice to the
vengeance of God. God sent help to the town that was the very heart and
life of the land that he had a pity for : but why so ? He said in Isa. xxxvii.
■io, I will defend this town, to save it for my servant David's sake. Has
this town been defended ? It has been for tf e sake of the beloved Jesus :
therefore has the daughter of Boston shaken /wr head at you, O ye calami-
ties that have been impending over her head. O helped and happy town !
Thou hast had those believers in the midst of thee, that have plead-
»^d this with the great God ; J)h ! Lord, thou hast been more honoured by
fhe sufferings of our Lord Jesus Christ, than thou couldst be honoured by
iiverwhelming this town with all the plagues of thy ju - indignation. If
ihou wilt spare, and feed, and keep, and help this poor lown, the stifferings
'>( our Lord Jesus Christ shall be ozoned as the prize of all our help. 'Tis
riiis that hath procured u* all our help : 'tis this that must have all our
praise.

Thirdly, Let the Lord be in a special manner glorified for the ministry
of his good angels, in that help that has been ministred unto us. A Jacob
lying on a stone, saw the angels of God helping him. We are setting up
an Ebenezer ; but when we lay our heads and our thoughts upon the stone,
let us then see, the angels of God have helped jis. Whnn Macedonia was
to have some help from God, an angel, wliom the apostle in Jicts xvi. 9,
saw habited like a wan ©/"Macedonia, was a mean of its being brought unto

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND. |g^

them. There is abundant cause to think, tliat every town in which the Lord
Jeaus Christ is worshipped, hnth nn angel to watch over it. The primi-
tive chriHtians were perswaded from the scriptures of truth to maice no
doubt of this, ^uod per Civitales diBtributa sunt Angelorvm prafecturce.
When the capitil town of Judea was rescued from an invasion, we read
in 2 Kings xix. 35, The angel of the Lord went out, and smote the tamp
of the Assyrians. It should seem there was an angel which did residt in,
and preside over the town, who went out for that amazing exploit. And
is it not likely, thni the angel of the Lord went out for to smke thefleet
of the Assyrians with a sickness, which the last summer hindred their in>
vading of this town ? The angel o/'Boston was concerned for it! Why
have not the destroyers broke in upon us, to prey upon us with sore de-
struction ? 'Tis because wo have had o -wall of fire about us ; that is to
say, a guard of angels, those flames oi fire have been as a wall unto us.
It was an angel that helped n Daniel when the lions would else have
swallowed him up. It was an angel that helped a Lot oiit of the fires
that were coming to consume his habitation. It was an angel that helped
an Elias to meat when he wanted it. They were angels that helped the
whole people of God in the wilderness to their daily bread : their man'
na was angel's food : and is it nothing that such angels have done for
this town, think you ? Oh ! think not so. Indeed if we should go to
thank the angels for doing these things, they would zealously say, iSes
thou do it not ! But if we thank their Lord and ours for his employing
them to do these things, it will exceedingly gratifie them. Wherefore,
Bless ye the Lord, ye his angels ; and bias the Lord, O my town, for those
bis angels.

111. Let the help which we have hitherto had from our God, encour-
age us to hope in him for more help hereafter as the matter may require.
The help that God had given to his people of old was commemorated,
as with monumental pillars, conveying down the remembrance of it unto
their children. And what for ? We are told in Psal. Ixxviii. 7, That
they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God. I am
not willing to say how much this town may be threatned, even with an
litter extirpation. But this I will say, the motto upon all our Ebenezers,
is, Hope in God ! Hope in God ! The use of the former help that we
have had from God, should be an hope for future help from him, that is
a present help in the time of trouble. As in the three first verses of the
eighty-fifth Fsalm six times over there occurs. Thou hasty Thou hast : all
to usher in this ; Therefore thou wilt still do so. O let our faith pro-
ceed in that way of arguing in 2 Cor. i. 10, The Lord hath delivered, and
he doth deliver, and in him we trust that he will still deliver. We are to-
day writing. Hitherto the Lord hath helped us ; let ua write under it, Jlnd
we hope the Lord has more help for us in the time of need /It may be some are
purposing suddenly and hastily to leave the town through their fears of
the straits that may come upon it. But I would not have you be too sudden
and hasty in your purposes, as too many have been unto their after-sot'
row. There was a time when people were so discouraged about a sub-
sisttnce in the principal town of the Jews, that they talked of plucking
up stakes and flying away ; but the minister of God came to them, [and
so do 1 to you this day!] saying, in ha. xxx. 7, I cried concerning this,
their strength is to sit still ! Boston was no sooner come to some consist-
ence threescore years ago, but the people found themselves plunged into
a sad nonplus what way to take for a subsistence. God then immediately
put them into a way, and hitherto the Lord has helped us ! The town is af^

Vor. f. 12

9ft

MAONALIA CllKlhll AMERICANA

[Book I.

tliia (lay lull oi' widuw$ and orphans, and a inultitmlu of tliein arc very
helpl(.'»8 creatures. 1 am aslotii^livd li'<w they live ! In that church^
whereof I am the servant, I have cuuut' the widows make about a lixth
part of our communicants, and no donlit in the whole town the propor-
tion did'crs not very much. Now stand still, my friends, and behold the
litlp of God ! Were any of these ever siarved yet ? No, these widown
are every one in some sort provided for. And let me tell you, ye hand-
maids of the Lord, you shall be still provided for! Ti>e Lord, whose
family yon belong unto, will conveniently and wonderfully prm ide foryou$
if you say, and Oh ! say of him. The Lon' is my helper, I will not /ear !

What shall I say ? When jMases was ready to faint in Ui» prayers for
his people, we read in Exod. xvii. 12, '/'/c)/ took a stone, and put it under
him. Christians, there are some of you who abound in prayns. that
the help of God may he granted unto the town ; the town is uuich up-
held by those prayers of your*. Now that you may not faint in your
prayers, 1 bring you a stone : the stinw, 'tis our Ebemzer ; or, the rela-
tion of the help that hitherto the Lord hath i:iven uh.

IV. Let all that bear ruiii ic okficc in the tovvu contribute all the
help they can, that may cnutinue the help of God unto up. Austin in
his confessions gives thanks to God, that wlien he was an helpless infant,
he had a nurse to help him, and one that was both able and willing to
help him. Infant- /Boston, thou hast those whom the bible calls nursing-
fathers. Oh be not froward, as thou art in thy treating of thy nurses ;
but give thanks to God for them. I forget my self ; 'tis with ihe fathers
themselves ihat I am concerned.

When it was demanded of Demosthenes, what it was that so long pre-
served Athens in a flourishing state, he mad*:, this answer, The orators are
men of learning and Zx-'isdotn, i!i(, magisliates do justice, the citizens love
quiet, and the laws are kept among litem alL May Boston flourish in such
happy order !

And first, you may assure yourselves that ihe ministers of the Lord
•Tosus Christ among you will be joyful to approve themselves, as the
k of God has called them. The helpers of your joy. O our dear
,'c' ' ; ' owe you our all j all our love, all our strength, all our time;
A for you as those that must give an account : and 1 am very much

if we are not willing to die for you too, if called unto it. If
c>,i oii( Jesus Christ should say to us, My servant, if yo'll die to night,
you shall have this reward ; the people that you preach to shall be alt cun-
vf-rted mto me! I think we should with triumphing souls reply, Ah!
Lord, then Fll die with all my heart. Sirs, we should go away rejoycing
with joy unspeakable and full of glory. I am satif *ied, that the most fu-
rious and foul-mouthed reviler that God may give any of us to be buf-
feted withal, if he will but come to sober thoughts, he will say, That
there is not any one man in the town, but the ministers wish that man as
well as they do their own souls, and would gladly serve that man by day
or by night, in any thing that it were possible to do for him. Where-
fore, O our beloved people, I beseech you leave off, leave off to throw
stones at your Ebenezers. Instead of that pray for us, and strive together
with us in your prayers to God for us. Then with the help of Christ
we'll promise you, we will set our selves to observe what special truths
may be most needful to be inculcated upon you, and we will inculcate
them. We will set our selves to observe the temptations that beset you,
the ajtlctions that assault you, and the duties that are incumbent on you ;
and we will accommodate our selves unto them. We will set our selves

Hook I.] OR, TIE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGT,AND.

to observe what souls among you do call for our more |iartir,ulnr address-
ei, iinil we will address theui fdithfully, aiic! even travel in birth for them.
So/ will we give over praying, and fasting, and crying to our prcat
Iic-uij for you until we die. Whatever other hcli>cr» the town enjoys,
tliey shall hiive that convenience .in Ezra v. 2, With them, were Ihr
prophets of God, helpinf^ them. Well then, let the rest oi our worthy
helptrs lend an helping hand for the promoting of those things wherein
the weal of the town is wrapped up ! When the Jews thought thai a de-
liling thing was breaking in among them, in Acts xxi. 28, They cried out.
Men (f Israel, help. 'Jiuly there is cause to ntake that cry, JV/en q/" Bos-
ton, help! for ignorance, and prophaneness, and oud living, and the worst
things in. the world, arc breaking in upon us.

And now will the Jusxicns of the town set themselves to consider,
How they may help to suppress all growing vices among ns ?

Will the CoNSTABLKS of the town set themselves to consider, How
they may help to prevent all evil orders among us ?

There are some who have the eye of the town so much upon Ihem,
that the very name of TowiVS-men is that by which they are distinguish-
ed. Sirs, will you also consider how to help the affairs of the town, so as
that all things may go well among us ?

Moreover, may not School-mastf.hs do mufch to instil principles of
religion and civility, as well as other points of good education into the
children of the tott!«. 5* Only let the town well encourage its well-de-
serving school-masters.

There are some officers ; but concerning all, there are these two
things to be desired. First, it is to be desired, that such officers as are
chosen among us, may be chosen in the /ear <f God. May none but pi-
ous and prudent men, and such as love the town, be chosen to serve it.
And, secondly, it is to be desired, that officers of several sorts would often
come together for consultation. Each of the sorts by themselves, may
they often come together to consult. What shall we do to serve the town
in those interests which are committed unto our charge? Oh I what a de-
plorable thing will it be for persons to be entrusted with talents, [yonr
opportunities to serve the town are so many talents.'] and they never
serious/y consider. What good shall I dn with my talents in the place where
God hath stationed me <*

And will the Representatives of tlic town be considered among the
rest, as entrusted with some singular advantages for our help I The Lord
give you understanding in all thitigs.

V. God help the town to manifest all that riETv, which a town so
helped of him is obliged unto! When the people of God had been Cdr-
ried by his help through their difficulties, they set up stones to keep in
mind how he hud helped them : and something was written on the
stones : but what was written ! see Josh. viii. 32, Joshua wrote upon the
stones a copy of the liw. Truly upon those Ebenezers which we set up,
we should write the law of our God, and recognize the obligations which
the help of our God has laid upon us to keep it.

We are a very unpardonable town, if after all the help which our
God has given us, we do not ingenuously enquire, WhatslmU we render to
the Lord fur all his benefits ? Render I Oh ! let us our selves thoa answer
the enquiry ; Lord, we will render all possible and filial obedience nut) thee.
bectH'ie hitliTf.o thou h'lst helped vs : only do Ihon also help us to rende" tluit
ohedienci', ! Mark what F say ; if there be so much as one prayerlens hnise
in such n town as this, 'tis inexcusable ! How inoxcusable then will be all

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23 WEST MAIN STREET

WEBSTER, N.Y. MS80

(716) 872-4503

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MA6NALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Book I.

flagUiout outrage*? There was a town, ['twas the town of Sodom !'\ tbikt
had been wonderfulijr saved out of the hands of their enemies. But of*
ter the help that God sent unto them, the town went on to sin against God
in very prodigious instances. At last a provoked God sent a^re upon the
town that made it an eternal deeoiation. Ah, Boston^ beware, beware,
lest the 8int> of Sodom get footing in thee ! And what were the sins of
Sodom ? We find in Ezek. xvi. 49. Behold, this was the iniquity of Sociom;
pride, fulness of bread, andabundance oj idleness was in her ; neither did
she strengthen the handofthepoor and the needy ; there was much oppres-
sion there. If you know of any scandaloM disorders in the town, do
all you can to suppress them, and redress them : and let not those that
send their sons .hither from other partd of the world, for to be improved
in virtue, have cause to complain. That after they came to Boston they tost
what lUtte viittu was before budding in them ; that in Boston they grew
more debaudud and more malignant than ever they were before ! it was
noted concerning the famous town of Port-Royal in Jamaica, which you
know was the other day swallowed up in a stupendous 'earthquake, that
just before the earthquake the people were violently and scandalously set
upon going to Fortune-tellers upon all occasions : much notice was taken
of this impiety generally prevailing among the people : but none of those
wretched Fortune-tellers could foresee, or forestal the direful catastrophe.
I have heard that there are Fortune-tclhrs in this town sometimes con-
sulted by some of the sinful inhabitants. 1 wish the town could be made
too hot for these dangerous transgressors. I am sure the preservation
of the town from horrendous earthquakes, is one thing; that bespeaks our
Ebenezers ; 'tis from the merciful help of our God unto us. But beware
I beseech you, of those provoking evils that may expose us to a plague,
'Exceeding all that are in the catalogue of the twenty-eighth of Deuterono-
my Let me go on to say, What, shall there be any bawdy-houses
in such a town as this ! It may be the neighbours, that could smoke them,
and rout them, if they would, are loth to stir, for fear of being reputed
ill neighbours. But I say unto you, that you are ill neighbours because
you do it not. All the neighbours are like to have their children and
servants poisoned, and their dwellings laid in ashes, because you do it
not. And Oh I that the drinking-houses in the town might once come
under a laudable regulation. The town has an enormous number of them;
will the haunters of those houses hear the counsels of heaven ? For you

'that are the toion-dvillcrs, to be oft, or long in yourvmt* of the ordinary,
Hwill certainly expose you to mischiefs more than ordinary. I have
seen certain taverns, where the pictures of horrible devourers were
banged out fur the signs ; and, thought 1, 'twere well if such signs were
not sometimes too significant : alas, men have their estates dievourecf,
their names devoured, their hours devoured, and their very souls devour-
ed, when they are so besotted, that they are not in their element, except
they be tipling at such houses. When once a man is bewitched with the

>' ordinary, what usually becomes of him ? He is a gone man ; and when he
comes to die, he will cry out as many have done, Ale-lumsts art heU-hi>uses!
ak-houses are hell-houses ! But let the ovsners of those houses also now hear

' our counsels. Oh! hearken to me, that God may hearken to you another day!

' I'i is an honest, and a lanful, though it may not be a very desirable employ-
ment, that you have undertaken : you may glorifie the Lord Jesus Christ

" in your employment if you will, and benefit the town considerably. There
was a very godly man that was an inkeeper, and a great minister of God
could say to that man, in 3 John 2, Thy soul prospereth. O let it not bp

Book I.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

said of you, since you are fallen into this employment, Thy aoul wither-
eth ! It is thus with too many : especially, wlien they that get a /tcense
perhaps to seil drink out of doors, do stretch their license to sell
within doors. Those private houses, ivhen once a professor of tLe
gospel comes to steal a living out of them, it commonly precipi-
tates them into an abundance of wretchedness and confusion. But 1 pray
God assist you that keep ordinaries, to keep the commandments of God
in them. There was an Inn at Bethlehem where the Lord Jesus Christ
was' to be met withal. Can Boston boast of many such ? Alas, too ordi-
narily it may be said, there is no room Jor hitA in the Inn ! My friends, let
me beg it of you, banish the unfruitful works of darkness from your houses,
and then the sun of righieousntss will shine upon them. Don't counten-
ance '(ir«nA;enne««, revelling, and mis-spending of precious time in your
houses ; let none have the snares of death laid for them in your houses.
You'll say, I shall starve then / I say, better starve ihandn : but yovi shall
not. It is the word of the Most High, trttst in the Lord, and do good, and
verily thou shalt be Jed. And is not peace of conscience, with a little, bet-
ter than those riches, that will shortly melt away, and then run like .
scalding metal down the very bowels of thy soul ?

What shall I 8a> more ? There is one article of piety more to be re-
commended unto us all ; and it is an article which all piety does exceed-
ingly turn upon, that is, the sanctification of the Lord's day.
Some very judicious persons have observed, that as they sanctify the
Lord^s day, remisly or carefully, just so their affairs usually prospered all
the ensuing week Sirs, you cannot more consult the prosperity of the
town, in all its affairs, than by endeavouring that the Lord's day may be
exemplarily sanctified. When people about Jerusalem took too much
liberty on the sabbath, the ruler of the town contended with them, and
said. Ye bring wrath upon Israel, by prophaning the eabbatk. I fear, I
fear there are many among us, to whom it may be said, Ye bring wrath
upon Boston, by prophaning the sabbath. And what wrath ? Ah, Lord,
prevent it! But there is an awful sentence in Jer. xvii. 27, If ye will not
hearken unto me, to sanctifie the sabbath day, then will I kindle a Jire on
the town, one/ it shall devour, and shall not be quenched.

Finally, Let the piety of the town manifest it self in a due regard unto
the Institutions of him whose help has hitherto been a shield jato us.
Let the ark be in the town, and God will bless the town ! I believe it
may be found, that in the mortal scourges of heaven, which this town has
felt, there has been a discernable distinction of those that have come up
to attend all the ordinances of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the communion
of his churches Though these have had, as 'tis fit they should, a share
in the common deaths, yet the destroying angel has not had so great a
proportion of these in his commission, as he has had of others. Whe-
ther this be so, or no, to uphold, and support, and attend the ordinances
of the Lord Jesus Christ in reforming churches, this will entitle the town
to the help of heaven ; for. Upon the glory there shall be a defence !
There were the victorious forces of Alexander, that in going backward
and forward, passed hy Jerusalem without hurting it. Why so.'* Said
the Lord in Zech. ix. 8. I will encamp about my house, because of the ar-
my. If our God have an house here, he'll encamp about it. J^azianzen,
a famous minister of the gospel, taking his fiirewel of Constantinople, an
old man that had sat under his ministry, cried out. Oh! my father. donU
you dare to go away, you'll carry the whole Trinity with you ! How much

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Book I.

more may it be cried out, // we lose or slight the ordinances of the Lord
Jesus Christ, we forego the help of all the Trinity with them !

VI. Extraordinary equity and charitv, as well as fiety, well be-
comes a town that bath been by the help of God so. extraordinarily sig-
nalized. A town marvellously helped by God, has this foretold concern-
ing it, in ha. i. 26, Afterward thou shalt be called, the city of righteous-
ness, the faithful city. May the Ebenezers of this town render it a town
of equity, and a town of charity ! Oh ! there should be none but fair
dealings in a town wherewith heaven has dealt so favourably. Ldt us
tl^l fairly in ' bargains ; dial fairly in taxes ; deal fairly in paying re-
specia to such as have been benefactors unto the town. 'Tis but equity,
that they who have been old slanders in the town, and both with person
and est.tte served the town unto the utmost for many years together,
should on all proper occasions be considered. For charity, 1 may in-
deed speak it without flattery, this town has not many equals on the face
of the earth. Our Lord Jesus Christ from heaven wrote unto the good
people of a town in the lesser Asia, [Rev. ii. 19.] I know thy works and
charity. From that blessed Lord I may venture to bring that message
unto the good p. aple of this town ; the glorious Lord of heaven knows thy
works, O Boston, and all thy charity. This is a poor town, and yet it may
be wiiid of the Bostonians, as it was of the Macedonians, their deep pov-
erty hath ahoutided unto the riches of their liberality. Oye bountiful peo-
ple of Go^, ail your daily bounties to the needy, all your subscriptions to
send the biead of life abroad unto places that are perishing in wicked-
nus'^, ;)|| your collections in your assemblies as often as they are called
for ; all these alms are come up far a memorial before God! The Lord
Jesus Christ in heaven hnth beheld your helpfulness, >md readiness to
every good work ; and he hath requited it with his helpful Ebenezers.
It was said, in ha. xxxii. 8, The liberal deviselh liberal things, and by libe-
ral things he shalt stand. There arc some in this town that are always
devising liberal things, and our Lord Jesm Christ lets the town stand
for the sake of those ! Instead of exhorting you to augment your
charity, I will rather utter an exhortation, or at least a supplication,
that you may not abuse your charily by misapplying of it. I remember
I have read, that an inhabitant of the city Pisa being asked why their
town so went, as it then did, unto decay ? If '"tched a deep sigh, and
•aid. Our young men are too prodigal, our r en are too affectionate,
and we have no punishment for those that j^. . their years in idleness.
Ah ! the last stroak of that complaint I must here sigh it over again.
Idleness, alas ! idleness increases in the town exceedingly ; idleness, of
which therfe never came any goodness ! idleness, w^ich is a reproach to
any people. We work hard all summer, and the drones count themselves
wronged if they have it not in the winter divided among them. The
poor that can't work, are objects for your liberality. But the poor that
can work and won't, the best liberality to them is to make them. I be-
seech you, sirs, rind out a method quickly, that the idle persons in the
town may earn their bread ; it were the best piece of charity that could
be shown unto them, and equiiy unto us all. Our beggars do shamefully
grow upon us, and such beggars too as our Lord Jesus Christ himself
hath expressly forbidden us to countenance. I have repd a printed ser-
mon which was preached before both Houses of Parliament, the Lord
Mayor and Aldermen of London, and the Assembly nf Divines ; the great-
est audience then in the world : and in that sermon the preacher had
this passage ; I have lived in a country a7tere in seven years I never saw

Book I.J OR, THE HI&TORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

a beggar, nor heard an oath, nor looked upon a drunkard. Shall I loll
you where that Utopia was? 'Twas. New-England ! But they th.a ^o
from hp.Qce must now tell another story.

Vll. May the cha7iges, and especially the jWg7n«n/s that iiavc came
upon the town, direct us what help to petition from the Qjd *>f our salva-
tions. The Israelites had formerly seen dismcU things, \vher« tiiey now
det up their Ebenezer : the Philistines had no less than twice beatun thctu
there, and there taken from them the Jlrk of God. -Now wc arc setiiiig
up our Elfenezer, let us a little call to mind some dismal things that we
have seen ; the Ebenezer will go up the better for it.

We read in 1 Sam. vi. 18, conceraiag ilie g: eat stone a/ Abel. Some say,
that Adam erected that itone, as a grave-stone for his Abel, and wrote that
epitaph upon it. Here was poured out the blood of the righteous Abel. I
know nothing; ofthis ; the names, I know, differ in the original ; but as
we may erect many a stone for an Ebenezer, so wc may erect many a great
stone of Abel, that is to say, we may write mourning and sorrow, upon
the condition of the town in various examples. Now from the stones of
Abel, we will a little gather what we should wish to write upon the atones
of our Ebenezer.

What changes have we seen in point of religion ? It was noted by Lu-
ther, he could never see good order in the church last more thanjifteen years
together in the purity of it. Blessed be God, religion hath here flourished
in the purity of it for more th^a fifteen years together. But certainly the
power of Godliness is now grievously decayed among us. As the prophet
of old Exclaimed in Joel i. 2, Hear this ye old men, and give eav, ye ithha-
bitants; has this been in your days ? Thus may I say, Hear this, ye old men,
that are the inhabitants of the torrn : can't you remember that in your dayr^
a prayerful, a watchful,a fruitful christian, and a well governed family, was
a more common sight, than it is now in our days ? Can't you remember that
in your days those abominable things did not shoxi) their heads, that are now
barefaced among us ? Here then is a petition to be made unto our God ;
Lord, help «s to remember whence we are fallen, and to repent, and to do
the first works.

Again, What changes have we seen in point o£ mortality ? By mortali-
ty almost all the old race of our first planters here are carried off; the
old stock is in a manner expired. We see the fulfilment of that word in
Eccl. i. 4, One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh.
It would be no unprofitable thing for you to pass over the several streets,
and call to mind, who lived here so many years ago ? Why ? In that place
lived such an one. But, where are they now ? Oh ! they are gone ; they
are gone into that eternal world, whither we must quickly follow them.
Here is another petition to be made unto our God ; Lord help us to num-
ber our days, and apply our hearts unto wisdom, that when the places that
710W know us, do know us no more, we may be gone into the city of God.

Furthermore, What changes have we seen in point of possessions ? If
some that are now rich, were once low in the world, 'tis possible, more
that were once rich, are now brought very low. Ah ! Boston, thou hast
seen the vanity of all worldly possessions. One fatal morning, which laid
fourscore of thy dwelling-houses, and seventy of thy ware-houses, in a
ruinous heap, not nineteen years ago, gave thee to read it in fiery char-
acters. And an huge fleet of thy vessels, which they would make if they
were all together, that have miscarried in the late war, has given thee to
read more of it. Here is one petition more to be made unto our God.

MAUN ALIA CHKISTI AMEKICANA

[Book I.

Lord help u» to enture a better and a lotting substance in Heaven, and tiie
good part that cannot be taken away.

In fine, how dreadfully have the young people o( Boston perished un-
der the judgments of God I A renowned writer, ; mong the Pagans could
make this remark ; there was a town so irreligious and atheistical, that
they did not pay their j^rst-fruits unto God ; (which the light of nature
taught the Pagans to do !) and, says he. they were by a sudden desolation
so strangely destroyed, that there were no remainders either of the per-
sons, or of the houses, to be seen any more. Ah, my young folks, there
are (evr first fruits paid unto the Lord Jesus Christ among you. From
hence it comes to pass, that the consuming wrath of God is every day
upon you. New-England has been like a tottering house, the very foun-
dations of it have been shaking ; but the house thus over-setting by the
whirlwinds of the wrath of God, hath been like Jo6'f house ; It falls
upon <Ae young men, and they are dead! The disasters on our young folks
have been so multiplied, that there are few parents among us, but what
will go with wounded hearts down unto their graves : their daily moans
are, Ah, my son cut <^ in his youth ! My son, my son ! Behold then the
help that we are to ask of our God ; and why do we, with no more days
o{ prayer W\th fasting, ask it ? Lord help the young people of Boston to
remember thee in the days of their youth, and saiisfie unto the survivers the
terrible things that have come upon so many of that generation.

And now as Joshua having reasoned with his people, a little before he
died, in Josh, xxiv, 26, 27, took a great stoke, and set it up, and said
unto all tlie people. Behold, this stone shall be a witness unto yon, lest ye deny
your God. Thus we have been this day setting up a stone, even, an
Ebenezer among you ; and I conclude, earnestly testifymg unto you, be-
hold this stone shall be a witness unto you, that the Lord Jesus Christ has
bun a good Lord unto you ; and if you seek him, he will be still found of
you f but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

ECCLESIMUM CLTFEL

THE

SECOND BOOK

O" THE

If IB17»mi<&Sia3Xt SK^IS V(Dm7<

CONTANINO THE

L I y E s

*•

:tle before he
I up, and said
u, lest ye deny
»NE, even, an

THE GOVERNOURS,

AND THE NAMES OF

THE MAGISTRATES,

THAT HAVE BEEN SHIELDS UNTO THE

CHURCHES OF NEW-ENGLAND,

(UNTIL THE YEAR 1686.)
PERPETUATED BY THE ESSAY OF COTTON" MAT^^.

Priteaq; ne Veterit vanueat Gloria Saeti,
Vivvia defemant, qua Jlf onumenta damur.

Qui Aliis prasunt, tantoprivatu HominibwMeliort$ eat Opoi^,
Quanta Konoribus & Liguitate antecellunt- Paoorinitao.

JiTondum hat, qua nunc tenet Saeulum, Jfegligtntia
Dei Fenerat. Liv. 1. 3.
Opfimus quitq ; J^obiliirimus. Plato. '

HARTFORD :
PRINTED FOR SILAS ANDRUS.

1820.

> • ¥

■ vi 4 n»i'S.n i ^ <i w » » !iiw .» »*' '

'''*,»-

INTRODUCTION.

'TwERB to be xvithed that there might ntver be any English translation
of that wicked position tn Machiavel, Non requiriin Principe veram pie-
tatem, red sufficere illius quandaDn iimbram, & simulationem Externan).
It may be there never was any region under heavenhappier than poor New-
England haUt been tn Magistrates, whose true piety wai worthy to be made
the example of after-ages.

Happy hast thou been, O land! tn Magistrates, whose disposition to
serve the Lord Jesus Christ, unto whom they still considered themselves ac-
countable, answered the good rule of Agapetua, Quo quia in Republica
Majorem Dignitatis gradum adeptus est, eo Deum Colat Submissius :
Magistrates, whose disposition to serve the people that chose them to rtUe
over them, argued them sensible of that great stroak in Cicero, Nulla Re
propius Homines ad Deum Accedunt, quam salute Hominibus danda :
Magistrates, acted tn their administrations by the spirit of a Joshua.
When the wise man observes unto us, That oppressions make a wise man
mad, it may be worth considering, whether the oppressor t« not intended
rather than the oppressed tn the observation. '7Yi very certain that a dis-
position to oppress other men, does often mtike those that are otherwise very
wise men, to forget the rules of reason, and commit most unreasonable ex-
orbitancies. Rehoboam tn some things acted wisely ; but this admonition
of his inspired father caidd not restrain him from acting madly, when the
spirit of oppression was upon him. The rulers of New-England' ^ve
been wise men, whom that spirit of oppression betrayed not into this mad-
ness.

The father of Themistocles disswading him from government, showed
him tuyi old .ara which the mariners had now thrown away upon the sea-
shores with neglect and contempt; and said. That people would certainly
treat their old rulero with the same contempt. Bvt, reader, let us nrir.^
take up our old oars with all possible respect, and see whether we can. ■ t
still rnake use of them to serve our Utile vessel. But this the rather, because
we may with an easie turn change the name into that of pilots.

The word Gov^ernhent, properly tignifie* the guidance of a ship :
Tully uses it for that purpose ; and tn Plutarch, tiie art of steering a
ship, is, Tiy^n mrfisfinriKn. New-England t« a little ship, which hath wea-
thered many a terrible storm ; and it is but reasonable that they who have
sat at the helm of the ship, should be remembred in the history of its deliver-
ances.

Prudentius calls Judges, The great lights of the sphere ; Symmachus
calls Judges, The better part of mankind. Reader, thou art now to be
entertained with the Lives of Judges which have deserved that character.
And the Lives of those who have been called, speaking laws, will excuse our
History from coming under the observation made about the work of Homer,
That the word. Law, is never so much as once occurring in them. They
are not written like the Cyrus of Xenophon, like the Alexander of Cur-
tius, like VirgiFs iEneas, and ttke Pliny's Trajan : but the reader hath in
every one of them a real and a faithful History. And I please my self
with hopes, that there will yet be found among the sons of New- England,
those young gentlemen by whom the copies gtven tn this History will be writ-
ten after ; and that saying of old Chaucer be remembred^ To do the gen-
l.ecl deeds, that makes the gentleman.

ECCLESIARUM CLYPEL .

THE SECOND BOOK

OF THE

NEW-ENGLISH HISTOllY.

CHAPTER I.

Galeacius Secundus. The Li^e of William Bradfobd, Esq. Governour

of Plymouth Colonv.

Omnium Somnos, ilHus vigilantia defendit, omnium otium illivi Labor,
omnium Delitia» illius Industria, omnium vacationem illius octupatio.

§ 1. It has been a matter of some observation, that although York-
shire be one of the largest shires in England ; yet, for all the j^res of
martyrdom which were kindled in the days of Queen Mary, it afforded
no more fuel than one poor Leaf} namely, John Leaf, an apprentice,
who suffered for the doctriue of the Refftmation at the same time and
stakf with the famous John Bradford. But when the reign of Queen
Elizabeth would not admit the Reformation of worship to proceed unto
those degrees, which were proposed and pursued by no small number of
the faithful in those days, Yorkshire was not the least of the shires in Eng-
land that affurded suffering vriinesses thereunto. The Churches there
gathered were quickly molested with such a raging perstcution, that if
the spirit of separation in them did carry them unto a further extream
than it shouK) have done, one blameable cause thereof will be found in
the fXtiemity of that persecution. Their troubles made that coW country
too hot for them, so that they were under a necessity to seek a retreat in
the Low Count tV,> • and yet the watchful malice and fury of their adver-
saHcs rendred it almost impossible for them to fnd what they sought.
For them to leave their nativf noil, their laiids and their friends, and go
into a strange place, where they must hear foreign language, and live
meanly and harilly, and in other imployments than that of husbandry,
wherein they had been educated, these must needs have been such dis-
cow ugentfnts as could haw been conquered by none, save those who
sough* fist tlie kingdom if Gnd, and tlw lighteowiuess thereof. But that
which would have made these discouri^ements the more unconquerable
unto an ordinary f lith, was che terrible zeal of their enemies to guard all
poits, and search all shipi, that none oi them should be carried off. I
will not relate the sad things of this kind, then neen and felt by this peo-

Book II.) THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND.

101

, Governour

pie of God ; but only eiemplifie thote tricUa with one short story. Di>
▼ers of this people having hired a Dulchmun then lying at Hull, to carry
them over to Holland, he promined faithfully to take them in between
Orinuly and Hull ; but they coming to the place a day or two too soon,
the appearance of soch a multitude alarmed the oj/icers of the town *d-
joining, fvho came with a great body of aoldiert to seize upon them.
Now it happened that one boat full of nun had been carried aboard,
while the wonun were yet in n bark that lay aground in a creek at low
water. The Dutchman perceiving the storm that was thus beKinning
a$hore, swore by the tacranunt that he would stay no longer for utiy o?
them ; and so taking the advantage of a fair wind then bloiving. he put
out to 8ta for Zealand. The women thus left near Grimsty-aiminon, be-
reaved of their husbands, who had been hurried from them, and fors^tken
of their neighbours, of whom none duret in this fright stay with them,
were a very rueful spectacle ; some crying for /ear, some shaking for
cold, all dragged by troops of armed and angry men from one Justice to
another, till not knowing what to do with them, they even disuiisged
them to shift as well as they could for themselves. But by their singular
ajfflictions, and by their christian behaviours, the cause for which they ex-
posed themselves did gain considerably. In the mean time, the men at
Hea found reason to be glad that their families were not with them, for
they were surprized with on horrible tempest, which held them for four-
teen days together, in seven whereof they aaw not sun, moon or star, but
were driven upon the coast of JSTotway. The mariners often despaired
of life, and once with doleful shrieks gave over all, as thinking the ves-
sel was foundred : but the vessel rose again, and when the manners
with sunk hearts often cried out, fVe sink ! We sink ! the passengers
without such distraction of mind, even while the wate^* ./as running into
their mouths and ears, would chearfully shout, Yet, Lord, thou canst save !
Yet, Lord, thou canst save ! And the Lord accordingly brought them at
last safe onto their desired haven: and not long ufter helped their dis-
tressed relations thither after them, where mdeed they found upon almost
all accounts a new world, but a world in which they fou-^d that they must
live like strangers and pilgrims.

§ 2. Among those devout people was our William Bradford, who wai
boi'n iinno 1688, in an obscure village called Ansterjield, where the peo-
ple were as unacquainted with the Bible, as the Jews do seem tr have
been with part of it in the days otJosiah; a most ignorant and licentious
people, and like unto their priest. Here, and in some other places, he
had a comfortable inheritance left him of his honest parents, who died
while. he was yet a child, and cast him on the education, tirst of his
grand parents, and then of his uncles, who devoted him,>like his ances-
tors, unto the affairs of husbandry. Soon and long sickness kept him,
as he would afterwards thankfully say, from the vanities of youth, and
made him the litter for what he was afterwards to undergo. When ho
was about a dozen years old, the reading of the Scriptures began to cause
great impressions upon him ; and those impressions were much assisted
and improved, when he came to enjoy Mr. Richard CUfton's illuminating
ministry not far from his abode ; he was then also further befriended,
by being brought into the company and fellowship of such as were then
called professors ; though the young man that brought him into it, did
after become a prophaoc and wicked apostate. Nor could the wrath of
his uncles, nor the scoffs of |iis neighbours now turned upon him, as one of
the /jwrftons, divprt him from bis piouR inclinations. ■.., „,, ,_

MAGNALIA ClIRM 11 AMEHICANA

10 b k

§ S. A( iMt b«hul(ling hotv reHrfuily the rvnogelicnl ond npottolicul
elmnih/iMm, whercinto Ui« churcliva uf Die j/rimittv* tinut wtrn cHitt by
lh« good npirit of (lod, Imd btcn d$Jorm«d by the apottacy of (he tuc-
e$$ding tinui } and what Jittlo progrmit the JUj(trmation had yet made in
oiany parts of CKrintttidont towarda ita recovery, he ict hiniaelf by ri>«id«
ingt by diacourae, by iruyer, to learn whether it was not hit duty \owUk-
dreni) from the communion of the vu uh-ausemblUi, and engage with Home
socUty of the faithful, that ithould keep cloae unto the writt$n wtrd uf
C>o<l, at the rti/e of their wonhip. And nAer many diiitreHci of mind
uoncerning it, he took up a very ileliberato and underatanding rnolututn
of doing HO ; which r«fo/ii/t«n he cheerfully prosecuted, although the pro*
voked rag* of hit friendt triud nil the wuya imaginable to reclaim him
from it, unto all whom hit answer was, Wert I likt to tndangtr iny life, or
contuHU my «»tat$ by any ungodly cour$u, your countef» to m« wtu very
sMtonabU : but you know that I have b»$n diligent and provident in my
callings and not only dotiroue to augment what 7 have, but also to enjoy it
in your company ; to part from which will be ae great a cross as can befal
fiM. JVevetllieless, to keep a good cotiictmct, and walk in such a wuy ae
Qod hoe prescribed in his Word^ is a thing which I must prefer bejore you
all, and above life it self. Wherefore, since His for a good cause that I am
like longer the disasters which ^ou lay before me, you have no cause to be
either angry unth me, or sorry /or me ; yea, I am not otUy willing to part
with every Mng that is dear to me in this world for this cause, but 7 am also

trldfot
toao.

thankful that Qod has given me an heart eo to do, and will accept me so to
svffer Jot him. Some lamented him, somt derided him, all disswadod him:
nevertheleit the more they did it, the more tixed he was in hit purpoto
to leek the ordinancet of the gospel, where thev ahould be dispensed
vrith mott of the commanded purity ; nnd the sudden deaths of the chief
relationa which thus lay nt him, quickly aAer convinced him what a
folly it had been to have quilted hit prt^fession, in eipeclation of any tat*
isfactiou from them. So to Holland he attempted a removal.

§ 4. Having with n great company of christiani hired a thip to trant-

Eort them for Holland, the matter perfidiously betrayed them into the
ands of thote persecutor*, who rifled and rantacked their goods, and
clapped their persons into prison at Boston, where they lay for a month
together. But Mr. Bradford being a young man of about ei^Areen, was
dismissed sooner than the rest, so that within a while he had opportunity
with some others to get over to Zealand, through perils both by land
and sea not inconsiderable ; where he was not long ashore eVe n vtper
seized on his hand, that is, an ollicer, who carried him unto the magis-
trutes, unto whom an envious passenger had accused him as having j?e(2
out of England. When the magistrates understood the true cause of his
coming thither, they were well satisfied with him; and so he repaired
joyfully unto his brethren at ^Imsterdam, where the difficulties to which
he afterwards stooped in learning nnd serving of a Frenchman at the
working of silks, were abundantly compensated by the delight where-
with he sat under the shadow of our Lord in his purely dispensed ordi-
nances. At the end of two years, he did, being of age to do it, convert
his estate iu England into money ; but setting up for himself, he fonnd
some of his designs by the providence of God frowned upon, which he
jadged a c<'rrec<to» bestowed by God upon him for certain decays of tn-
ternal piety, whercinto he had i;illen ; the consumption of his estate he
thought came to prevent a consumption in his virtue. But after he had
resided in Holland about half a score years, he was one of those who

Book H] OR, THE HISTORY OF NKW-ENGLANI). KM

bore a put in that hacRrdoim nnd generoua enter price of removing into
yt»-Engtand, with part of the Kngliih chnrch at iAyHtn, where at their
first landing, his dearest consort arcidentally fulling overboard, was
drowned in the harbour ; and the rest of his diiys were spent in the ser«
vices, and the temptations, of that American wild«me$i.

§ 6. Here whs Mr. Bradford in the year 1021, unanimously chosen
the govemour of the plantation : the difficulties whereof were such, that
if he hod not been a person of more thun ordinary piety, wisdom and
courage, he must have sunk under them. He hnd with a laudable in-
dustry been laying up a treasure of experiencei, and he hnd now occasion
to use it : indeed nothing but an exptritnend man could have been suita-
ble to tho necessities of the people. The potent nations of the Indian*,
into whose country they were come, would have cut them off*, if the
blessing of Ood upon hit conduct had not quelled them ; and if his pru-
dence, justice and moderation had not over-ruled them, they had been
ruined by their own diittmpar$. One ipecimen of his demeanour is to
this day particularly spoken of. A company of young fellows that were
newly arrived, were very unwilling to comply with the govemour's or-
der ^r working abroad on the publick account ; and therefore on Ckri$t-
tnais-daift when he had called upon them, they excused themselves, with
a pretence that it was against their eontcienee to work such a day. The
govemour gave them no answer, only that he would spare them till
they were better informed ; but by and by he found them all &\ play in
the street, sporting themselves with various diversions ; whereupon com-
manding the instruments of their games to be taken from them, he effect-
ually gave them to understand. That it wai again$t hi$ eoniet'ence that
they thould play whiht othere were at work; and that if they had any de-
votion to the day, they ihould $how it at home in the exerdtee of religion,
and not in the ttreeli with pastime andfrolickt ; and this gnntle reproof
put n final stop to all such disorders for the future.

§ 6. For two years together after the beginning of the colony, where-
of he was now govemour, the poor people had a great experiment of
man*i not living by bread alone ; for when they were left all together
without one morsel of bread for many months one after another, still the
good providence of God relieved them, and supplied them, and this for
the most part out of the tea. In this low condition of affairs, there was
no little exercise for the prudence and patience of the govemour, who
chearfully bore his part in all : and that industry might not flag, he
quickly set himself to settle propriety among the new-planters ; fore-
seeing that while the whole country laboured upon a common ttock, the
husbandry and businett of the plantation could not Nourish, as Plato and
others long since dreamed that it would, if a community were establish-
ed. Certainly, if the spirit which dwelt in the old puritans, had not in-
spired these new-planters, they had sunk under the burden of these
di$culties ; but our Bradford had a double portion of that spirit.

§ 7. The plantation was quickly thrown into-u storm that almost over-
whelmed it, by the unhappy actions of a minister sent over from Eng-
land by the adventurers concerned for the plantation ; but by the bless-
ing of heaven on the conduct of the govemour, they weathered out that
storm. ' Only the adventurers hereupon breaking to pieces, threw op all
their concernments with the infant-colony ; whereof they gave this as
one reason, That the planters dissembled with his Majesty, and their friends
in their petition, wherein they declared for a churchzdiscipline, agreeing
Titk the French and others of the reforming churches in Europe. Where-

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book II.

as 'twas now urged, that they had admitted into their communion a per-
son, who at his admission utterly renounced the Churches of JSngland,
(which person by the way, was that very man who had made the com-
plaints against them) and therefore though they denied the name of
Brownists, yet they were the thing. In answer hereunto, the very
words written by the governour were theae ; Whereat you tax ua with
diitembling about the French discipline, you do us wrong, fvr we both hold
and practice the discipline of the French and other Reformed Churches
{as they have published the same in the Harmony of Confessions) accord-
ing to our means, in fffect and substance. But whereas 3^ou would tie «« up
to the French discipline tn every circumstance, you derogate from tht lib-
erty we have in Christ Jesus. The apostle Paul would have none to follow
bim in any thing, but wherein he follows Chcist ; much less ought at»f
diristian or church in the world to do it. The French may err, we nuty
4rr, and other churches may err, and doubtless do in fnony circumstances.
That honour therefore belnvgs only to the infallible Word of God, and
pure 'i'estament of Christ, to he propounded and fallowed as the only
rule and pattern for direction herein to all churches and christians. And
it is too great arrogancyfor any man or church to think, that he or they have
so sounded the Hard of God unto tlie bottom, as precisely to set dozen the
churches discipline without error in substance or circumstance, that no other
without blame may digress or dfffer in any thing from the same. And it is
not difficult to shew that the Reformed Churches diffl^er in many circum-
stances among thtmaelves. By which words it appears how far he was
free from that rigid spirit of separation, which broke to pieces the Sepa-
ratists themselves in the Low Countries, unto the great scandal of the re-
forming churches. He was indeed a person of a well-tempered spirit, or
else it had been scarce possible for him to have kept the affairs of Ply-
mouth in so good a temper for thirty-seven years together ; in every one
of which he was chosen their governour, except the three years, where-
in Mr. fVinslow, and the two years, wherein Mr. Prince, at the choice of
the people, took a turn with him.

§ 8. The leader of a people in a wilderness had need be a Moses ; and
if a Moses had not led the people of Plymouth Colony, when this worthy
person was their governour, the people had never with so much unanim-
ity and importunity still called him to lead them. Among many instances
thereof, let -this one piece of self-denial be told for a memorial of him,
wheresoever this History shall be considered. The Patent of the Colony was
taken in his name, running in these terms. To William Bradford, his heirs,
associates and assigns. But when the number of the freemen was much
increased, and many new townships erected, the General Court there de-
sired of Mr. Bradford, that he would make a surrender of the same into
their hands, which he willingly and presently assented unto, and confirm-
ed it according to their desire by hia hand and seal, reserving no more for
himself than was his proportion, with others, by agreement. But as he
found the providence ef heaven many ways recompensing his many acts
of self-denial, so he gave this testimony to the faithfulness of the divine
promises ; That he had forsaken friends, houses and lands for the sake of
the gospel, and the Lord gave them him again. Here he prospered in his
estate ; and besides a worthy son which he had by a former wife, he had
also two sons and a daughter by another, whom he married in this land.

§ 9. He was a person for study as well as action; and hence, notwith-
standing the difficulties through which he passed in his youth, he attained
unto a notable skill in lanKuaires : the Dvtih tongue was become almost as

Book 11) OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. 106

vernacular to him as the English ; the French tongue he could also ma-
nage i the Latin and the Greek he had mastered ; but the Hebrew he mo^t
of all studied, Because, he ftard, he would see with his own eyes the ancient
oracles cf Gpd in their native beauty. He was also well skilled in Histo-
ry, in Antiquity, and in Philosophy ; and for Theology he became so versed
in it, that he was an irrefragable disputant against the errors, especially
those of Anabaptism, which with trouble he saw rising in his colony ;
wherefore he wrote some significant things for the. confutation of those
errors. But the crown of all was his holy, prayerful, watchful and
fruitful walk with God, wherein he was very exemplary.

§ 10. At length he fell into an indisposition of body, which repdred
him unhealthy for a whole winter; and as the spring advanced, his health
yet more declined ; yet he felt himself not what he counted sick, till onie
day ; in the night after which, the God of heaven so filled his mind with
in^able consolations, that he seemed little short of Paul, rapt up unto
the unutterable entertainments of Paradise. The next morning he told
his friends, That the good Spirit of God had given him a pledge of his hap'
piness in another world, and the first-fruits of hix eternal glory : and on
the day following he died. May 9, 1657, in the 69th year of his age.
Lamented by all the colonies of New-England, as a cpmmon blessing
and father to them all.

O tnihi si Similis Contingat Clausula Vita !

Plato^s brief description of a govemour, is all that I will now leave 9s
his character, in an

EPITAPH.

M eK are but flocks : Bradford beheld their need,
Jlnd long did them at once both rule and feed.

, ^ : " CHAPTER II.

/";;, ' .; ,,^v successors. .*' " ^'*''\

Inter omnia quce Itempublicam, ejusq ; fmlicitatem conservant, quid utilius,
quid prastantius, quam Fires ad Magistratus gerendos Eligere, summa
prudentia 4* Firtute preditos, quiq ; ad Honores obtinendos, non Ambi'
tione, non Largitionibus, sed Virtute ^ Modestia sibi parent a,dytum!

§ 1 . The merits of Mr. Edward fVinslow, the son of Edward Wins-
low, Esq. of Dratightwich, in the country of Worcester, obliged the votes
of the Plymouthean colony (whereto he arrived in the year 1624, after
his prudent and faithful dispatch of an agency in England, on the behalf
of that infant colony) to chuse him for many years a magirtrate, and for
two or three their govemour. Travelling into the Low-Countries, he
fell into acquaintance with the English church at Leyden, and joining
himself in them, he shipped himself with that part of them which first
came over into America; from which timel^e.was continually. emj^agedji^

Vor.'l. ' • '■■' ' 14 '■-:■'- ''•■■'- Jt'-- :' : ;.f

106

MAGNALIA CHKISTI AMERICANA: [Book 11.

such extraordinary actions, as the assistance of that people to encounter
their more than ordinary difficulties, called for. But their pubiick af-
fairs then renuii'ing an agency of as wise a man as the country could find
at IVhUhall lor them, he was again prevailed uithalin the year 1635, to
appear for them ut the Council-board ; and his appearance there proved
as eff'ectual, as it was very seasonable, not only for the colony of Ply-
tnoutk, but for the Massachusets also, on very important accounts. It
was by the blessing of God upon his wary and proper applications, that
the attempts of many adversaries to overthrow the whole settlement of
KewEnglandy were themselves wholly overthrown ; and as a small ac-
knowledgment for his great service therein, they did, upon his return
again, chuse him their governour. But in the year 1646, the place of
governovr being reassumed by Mr Bradford, the Massachuset-colony
addressed themselves unto Mr. Winslow to take another voyage for Eng-
land, that he might there procure their deliverance from the designs of
many troublesome adversaries that were petitioning unto the Parliament
against them ; and this Hercules having been from his very early days
accustomed unto the crussing of that sort of serpents, generously under-
took another agency, wherein how many good services he did for JVen;-
England, and with what tidelity, discretion, vigour and success he pur-
sued the interests of that happy people, it would make a large history to
relate, an history that mny nut now be expected until the raurrtction of
the just. After this he returned no more unto Ne-w-Evgland ; but being
in great favour with the greatest persons then in the nation, he fell into
those imploymcnts wherein the whole nation fared the better for him.
At length he was imployed as one of the grand commissioners in the ex-
pedition against liispaniola, where a disease (rendered yet more uneasie
by his dissatisfaction at the strange miscarriage of that expedition) arrest-
ing him, he died between Domingo and Jamaica, on May 8, 1655, in the
sixty-tirstyear of his life, and had his body honourably committed unto
the sea.

§ i. Sometimes during the life, but always after the death of govern-
our Bradford, even until his own, Mr. Thomas Prince was chosen Gov-
RRNOUR of Plymouth. He was a gentleman whose natural parts exceeded
his acquired ; but the want and worth of acquired parts was a thing so
sensible unto him, that Plymouth never had a greater Mecanas of learn-
ing in it : it was he that in spite of much contradiction, procured reve-
nues for the support of grammar-schools in that colony. About the time
of governour Bradford's death, religion it self had like to have died in
that colony, through a libertine and Bro-wnistick spirit then prevailing
among the people, and a strange disposition to discountenance the gospel-
ministry, by setting up the gifts of private brethren in opposition there-
unto. The good people being in extream distre&s from the prospect
which this "tatter gave to them, saw no way so likely and ready to save
the churches from ruin, as by the election of Mr. Prince to the place of
governour ; and this point being by the gracious and marvellous provi-
dence of the Lord Jesus Christ gained at the next election, the adverse
party from that very time sunk into confusion. He had sojourned for awhile
at Eastham, where n church was by his means gathered ; but after this
time he returned unto his former scituation at Plymouth, where he re-
sided until he died, which was March 29, 1673, when he was about sev-
enty-three years of age. Among the many excellent qualities which
adorned him as governour of the colony, there was much notice taken of
that integrity, wherewith indeed he was most exemplarily qualified:

Book II.] OR, THE STORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

whence it was that as he ever would refuse any thing that looked like a
bribe ; so if any person having a case to be heard at Court, had went a
present unto his family in his absence, he would presently send back the
value thereof in money unto the person. But had he been only a pri-
vate christian, there would yet have been seen upon him those orna-
ments of prayerfulness, and peaceableness, and profound resignation to
the conduct of the fVord of God, and a strict walk with God, which
might justly have been made an example to a whole colony.

§ 3. Reader, if thou wouldest have seen the true picture of wisdonif
courage and generosity, the successor of Mr. Thomas Prince in the govern-
ment of Plymouth would have represented it. It was the tnily honourable
Josiah Winslow, Esq. the first governour that was born in JVero-England,
and one well worthy to be an example to all that should come aAer him :
a true English gentleman, and (that.l may say all at once) the true son
of that gentleman whom we parted withal no more than two paragraphs
ago. His education and his disposition was that of a gentleman ; and
his many services to his country in the Jield, as well as on the bench,
ought never to be buried in oblivion. All that Homer desired in a ruler,
was in the life of this gentleman expressed unto the life ; to be. Fortes
in Hostes, and Bonus in Gives. Though he hath left an (^-spring, yet I
must ask for one daughter to be remembred above the rest. As of old,
Epaminondas being upbraided with want of issue, boasted that he left
behind him one daughter, namely, the battel of Leuctra, which would
render him immortal ; so our general fVinslow hath left behind him his
battel at the fort of the Jiarragansets, to immortalize him : there did he
with his own sword make and shape a pen to write his history. But so
large afield of merit is now before me, that I dare not give my self the
liberty to range in it lest I lose my self. He died on Dec. 18, 1680.

Jam Cinis est, ^ de tam magus restat Jlchille,
Nescio quid; parvam quod nan bene compleat urnam.

§ 4. And what Successor had he ? Methinks of the two last words in
the wonderful prediction of the succession, oracled unto King Henry Vll.
fiEO, NuLLVS, the first would have well suited the valiant Window of
Plymouth ; and the last were to have been wished for him that followed.

CHAPTER III.
Patres Conscripti : or, ASSISTENTS.

•v^

,-^^

The Governours of New-England have still had righteousness the
girdle of their loins, and faithfulness the girdle of their reins, that is to
$ay, righteous and faithful men about them, in the assistance of such ma-
gistrates as were called by the votes of the freemen unto the adminis-
tration of the government, (according to their charters) and made the
judges of the land. These persons have been such members of the
churches, and such patrons to the churches, and generally been such ex-
amples of courage, wisdom, justice, goodness niui reiisrion, that it is fit
our Church- Hi story should remember them. The l>les3ed Jlpollovius,
who in a set oration generously and eloquently pleaded the cause of
Christianity before the Roman Senate, was not only a leaincd person, but

10^

kAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book II.

also (if Jerom say right) a Senatot' of Rome. The Senators of JVettr-
England also haVe |/)eacled the cause of Christianity, not so much by
oration*, as by practising of it, and by sitffering for it. Nevertheless,
as the Sicyonians would have no other epitaphs written on the toroba of
their Kings, but only their name*, that they might have no honour but
ivhat the remembi^nce of their actions and merits in the mindia of the
])eople should procure for them ; so I shall content my s6lf vi^ith only
reciting the names of these worthy persons, and the titMt ivhen I find
them first chosen unto their magistracy.

. MAGISTRATES IN THE COLONY OF NEW-PLTltOVTH.

The good people, soon after their first coming o^er, chose Mr. Wil-
tidm Bradford for their governoUr, and added five assistenls, whose
names, I suppose, will be found in the catalogue of them, whom I find
sitting on the seat of jndgiaent among them, in the y^ar 1633.

Edward Witui/ow, Gov.

John Alden.

•■.,»t'i'-w

tVi/liam Btadford.

John Done.

Miles Si andish. ,, ..

•' .■ .'.-■i

Stephen Hopkins.

John Rowland. , -: r :

'' <''-!.>' ■ :,':

William Gilson.

Afterwards at sever

al times were added,

'x'hnmas PrinUy

1634.

Thomas Southworth,

1662

Wtlliam Collier,

1634

James Cudworth,

1666

Timothy Hatherly,

1636.

Jvsiah Winslow,

1637

John BruWHf ,^. ,,,,

. 1636.

William Bradford, F.

1668

Sohn Jenny, i .

1637.

Thomas Hinkley,

1668

John Atwoodi

1638.

James Brown,

1666

Edmund Frer.mar^,

1640.

John Freeman, i y. ,

1666.

William Thomas,

1642.

Nathanael Bacon, , . .

1667.

Thomas WiUet,

1661.

Thus far we find in a book entituled, J^ew-Evgland's Memorial, v^hich
was published by Mr. M'athanael Morton, the Secretary of Plym,outh col-
ony, in the year 1669. Since then there have been added at several
times, ' ' :-. w- . - j.^ ,

Constant Southworth,
Daniel Smith,
Barnabas Lothrop,

1670.
1674.
1681.

John Thatcher,
John Walley.

r '

"f-

.'•• . . • '

CHAPTI

ZR IV.

Nehemias Americanus. The Life of John Winthrop, Esq, Governour
of (he Massachvs£t Colony.

Quicunq ; Venti erunt, Ars nostra certe non aberit. Cicer.

§ 1. Let Greece boast of her patient Lycurgus, the lawgiver, by whom
diligence, temperance, fortitude and wit were made the fashions of a
therefore long-lasting and renowned commonwealth: let Rome tell of her
devout Jfumu, the lawgiver, by whom the most famous commonwealth

Book It.

of JVe*-
much by
erthelees,
J tombs of
onour but
iidB of the
with only
hen I fin**

le Mr. Wil-
•nls, whose
hom 1 fin*

1662.

1656.

1657.

1658.

1665.

1666.

1667.

orial, «*rhich

Plymouth col-

at several

». Governow

;;icer.

uer, by whom

fashions of a

gnu tell of her

lommonwealth

l^oK IK) OR, tut WSTORY OF NEW-ENG'.AND. left

saft p^O£e triamphiAg over extinguished war, and cruel plundtrs f and
mwdin giving i^atie to the more mollifying exercises of his nHgion.
Our J^ew^Etigland shall tell and boast of her Winthrop, a lawgiver, as
patiebt as L§curgtn, but not admitting any of ku criminal disorders ; as
devout as JVuMHi, but not liable to any of his heathenish madnesses ; a
govemout ih whom the excellencies of cAnsU'ani/y made a most improving
addition unto the virtues, wherein even without those he would have
made a parallel for the great men of Qreect, or of Awme, which the pen
of a Plutarch has eternized.

§ 2. A stock of herots by right should afford nothing but what is hero-
ical; and nothing but an extream degeneracy would make anything less
to be expected frond a stock of Winthrops. Mr. ^dam fVinthrop, the son
of a worthy gefttleman wearing the same name, was himself a worthy, a
discreet, and a learned gentleman, particularly eminent for skUl in the
iawj nor without rfemark for love to the gospel, under the reign of King
Henr^ Vlll. ; and brother to a memorable favourer of the reformed reli-
gion in the days of Queen Mary, into whose hands the famous martyr
Philpot coihmitted his papers, which afterwards made no inconsiderable
part of our martyr-books. This Mr. A^am Winthrop had a son of the
same name also, tUid of the satfte endowments and imployments with his
fatheif ; and this third Adam Winthrop was the father of that renowned
John Winthrop, who W» the father of jVew-England, and the founder of
a colony, which upon many accounts, like him that founded it, may chaU
lenge the first place among the English glories of Atnerica. Our John
Winthrop thus born at the mansion-house of his ancestors, at Groton in
Sv^olk, on June 12, 1587, enjoyed afterwards an agreeable education.
But though he would rather have devoted himself unto the study of Mr.
John Calvin, than of Sir Edward Cook ; nevertheless, the accomplish-
ments of a lawyer^ were those wherewith heaven made his chief oppor-
tnhies to be serviceable.

§ 3. Being made, at the unusually early age of eighteen, a justice of
peace, his virtues began to fell under a more general observation ; and
he not only so bound himself to the behaviour of a christian, as to become
exemplary for a conformity to the laws of Christianity in bis own conver-
sation, but also discovered a more than ordinary measure of thoiie quali-
ties, which adorn an officer of humane society. His justice was impar-
tial, and used the ballance to weigh not the cash, but the case of those
who were before him : prosopolatria, he reckoned as bad as idolo-
latria : bis wisdom did exquisitely temper things according to the
art of governing, which is a business of more contrivance than the
neven arts of the schools : dyer still went before terminer in all his ad-
ministrations : his courage made him dare to do right, and fitted him
stand among the lions that have sometimes been the supporters of the
throne : all which virtues he rendred the more illustrious, by emblazon-
ing them with the constant liberality and hospitality of a gentleman. This
made him the terror of the wicked> and the delight of the sober, the
envy of the many, but the hope of those who had any hopeful design in
hand for the common good of the nation, and the interests of religion.

§ 4. Accordingly when the noble design of carrying a colony of chosen
people into an American wilderness, was by some eminent persons under-
taken, <At« eminent person was, by the consent of all, chosen for (he
Moses, who must be the^ Leader of so great an undertaking : and indeed
nothing but a Mosaic spirit coul(^ have carried him through the tempta-
tions., to which either his fareviiel to his own land, or his fravel in a

110

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book II.

utrangt land, must needs expose a gentleman of his education. Where-
fore having sold a fair estute of six or seven hundred a year, he trans-
ported himself with the effects of it into Nero-England in the year 1630,
where he spent it upon the service of a famous plantation founded and
formed for the seat of the most reformed Christianity : and continued
there, conflicting with temptations ot all sorts, as many years aa the nodes
of the moon take to dispatch a revolution. Those persons were never
concerned in a new-plantation, who know not that the unavoidable diffi-
culties of such a thing, will call for all the prudence and patience of a
mortal man to encounter therewithal ; and they must be very insensible
of the influence, which the just wrath of heaven has permitted the devils
to have upon this world, if they do not think that the difficulties of a
new-plantation, devoted unto the evangelical worship of our Lord Jesus
Christ, must be yet more than ordinary. How prudently, how patiently,
and with how much resignation to our Lord Jesus Christ, our brave fVin-
throp waded through these difficulties, let posterity consider with admi-
ration. And know, that as the picture of this their governour, was, aAer
his death, hung up with honour in the state-house of his country, so the
wisdom, courage, and holy zeal of his life, were an example well-worthy
to be copied by all that shall succeed him in government.

§ 5. Were he now to be considered only as a christian, we might
therei'.i propose him as greatly imitable. He was a very religious man ;
and as he strictly kept his heart, so he kept his house, under the laws of
piety ; there he was every day constant in holy duties, both morning and
evening, and on the Lord's days, and lectures ; though he wrote not after
the preacher, yet such was his attention, and such his retention in hearing,
that he repeated unto his family the sermons which he had heard in the
congregation. But it is chiefly as a governour that he is now to be con-
sidered. Being the governour over the considerablest part of jVew-
England, he maintained the figure and honour of his place with the
spirit of a true gentleman ; but yet with such obliging condescention to
the circumstances of the colony, that when a certain troublesome and
malicious calumniator, well known in those times, printed his libellous
nick-names upon the chief persons here, the worst nick-name he could
And for the governour, was John Temper-well ; and when the calumnies
of that ill man caused the Arch-bishop to summon one Mr. Cleaves before
the King, in hopes to get some accusation from him against the country,
Mr. Cleaves gave such an account of the governour's laudable carriage in
all respects, and the serious devotion wherewith prayers were both pub-
lickly and privately made for his Majesty, that the King expressed him-
self most highly pleased therewithal, only sorry that so worthy a person
.should be no better accommodated than with the hardships of America.
He was, indeed, a governour, who had roost exactly studied that bocfk,
which pretending to teach politicks, did only contain three leaves, and but
one word in each of those leaves, which word was. Moderation. Hence,
though he were a zealous enemy to ;)ll vice, yet his practice was accord-
ing to his judgment thus expressed ; In the infancy of plantations, justice
should be administered with more lenity than in a settled state ; because peo-
ple are more apt then to transgress ; partly out of ignoratice of new laws
and orders, partly out of oppression of business, and other straits, [Len-
to Gradu,] was the old rule ; and if the strings of a new instrument be
wound up unto their heighth, they will quickly crack. But when some
leading and learned men took ofl'ence at his conduct in this matter, and
upon a conference gave it in as their opinion, That a stricter discipline was

here-
trans-

1630,
>d and
ilinued
£ nodei

uever
le diifi-
ice of a
lensible
iC devil*
les of a
d Jesus
atiently,
ive W»n-
th admi-
89, after
f, so the
l-worthy

ve migbt
ous man ;
e laws of
rning and
B not after
a hearing,
jard in the
Lo be con-
of JVew-
with the
\cention to
>8ome and
libellous
, he could
calumnies
lues before
J country,
;arriage in
both pub-
sssed him-
a person
America.
that bodk,
•s, and but
|N. Hence,
las accord-
Ions, j«s<ice
'.cause peo'
' new laws
\its. [Lkn-
\lruvicn1 be
hen some
../.itter, and
kipline was

Book H.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGlLAND. 1 1 1

to be used in the beginning of a plantation, than after its being with more
age established and confirmed, the goveraour being readier to see Ai« own
errors than other men'*, professed his purpose to endeavour their satis-
faction with less o( lenity in his administrations. At that conference there
• were drawn up several other articles to be observed between the gov-
ernour and the rest of the magistrates, which were of this import : That
the magistrates, as far as might be, should aforehand ripen their consulta-
tions, to produce that unanimity in their pvblick vote's, which might make
them liker to the voice of God ; that if differences fell out among them in
their publick meetings, they should speak only to the case, without any
reflection, with all due modesty, and but by way of question ; or desire the
deferring of the cause to further time ; and after sentence to imitate
privately no dislike ; that they should be more familiar, friendly and
open unto each other, and more frequent in their visitations, and not any
way expose each other's infirmities, but seek the honour of each other,
and all the Court ; that one magistrate shall not crues the proceedings uf
another, without first advising \vith him ; and that they should in all their
appearances abroad, be so circumstanced as to prevent all contemjpt of
authority ; and that they should support and strengthen all under officer*.
All of which articles were observed by no man more than by the gov-
ernour himself.

§ 6. Bnt whilst he thus did as our New-English JVehemiah, the part
o( A Ruler in managing the public affairs of our American Jerusalem,
when there were Tobijahs and Sanbatlats enough to vex him, and give
him the experiment of Luther^s observation, Omnis qui regit est tanquam
signum, in quod omnia jacula, Satan & Mundus dirigunt ; he made him-
self still an ex&cter parallel unto that governor of Israel, by doing the
part of a neighbour among the distressed people of the new plantation. To
teach them thefrugality necessary for those times, he abridged himself of
a thousand comfortable things, which he had allowed himself elsewhere :
his habit was not that soft raiment, which would have been disagreeable
to a wilderness ; his table was not covered with the superfluities that
would have invited unto sensualities: water was commonly bis own drink,
though he gave wine to others. But at the same time his Itkerality unto
the needy was even beyond measure generous ; and therein he was con-
tinually causing the blessing of him that was ready to perish to come upon
him, and the heart of the widow an,d the orphan to sing for joy : but none
more than those of deceased Miniiters, whom he always treated with a
very singular compassion ; among the instances whereof we still enjoy
with us the worthy and now aged son of that reverend Higgimon, whose
death lefl his family in a wide world soon ailer his arrival here, publick -
ly acknowledging the charitable Winthrop for his fosterfather. It was
otlentimes no small trial unto his faith, to think how a table for the people
should be furnished when they first came into the wilderness ! and for very
many of the people, his own gond works were needful, and accordingly em-
ployod for the answering of his/a<</i. Indeed, for a while the governour
was the Joseph, unto whom the whole body of the people repaired when
their corn failed them ; and he continued relieving of them with his open-
handed bounties, as long as he had any stock to do it with ; and a lively
faith to see the return of the bread afer many days, and not starve in the
days that were to pass till that return should be seen, carried him chear-
fully through those expences.

Once it was observable, that on Feb. 5, 1630, when he was distri-
buting the last handful of the meal in the barrel unto a poor man distressed

MAGNALIA CHKISTI AM£UiiCANA

(Book II.

by the wolf a< the door, at that instant they Bpied a ship arrived at the har-
bour's mouth laden with proviiions for tliem all. Yep, ihe gov«rnour
Honietiines made hiH own private purie to be the publiek ; not by mcking
into it, but by iqveezing out of it ; for when the publiek treaiure had no-
thing in it, ho did himself defray the charges of the publiek. And haviqg
learned that lesson of our Lord, that it n better to give , than to receive,
be did, at the general court when he was a third time chosen governour,
make a speech unto this purpose, That he had received gratuitiei from
divert ttmnt, which he accepted with tnuch comfort and content ; and he
had likewise received civilittes from particular persons, which he could not
refuse, without incivility in himself : nevertheless, he took them vitha tremb-
ling heart, in regard of CJod^t word, and the confidence of his own infirmi-
ties ; and therefore he desired them that they would not hereafter take it ill
if he refused such presents for the time to come. 'Twas his custom also to
send some of his iamily upon errands, unto the houses, of the poor about
their meal time, on purpose to spy whether they wanted; and if it were
found that they wanted, he would make tAaf the oppQrtunil;y of sending
supplies unto them. And there was one passage of his charity that was
perhaps a little unusual : in an hard and long winter, when wood was
very scarce at Boston, a man gave him a private information, that a needy
person in the neighbourhood stole wood sometimes from his pile ;
whereupon the governour in a, seeming anger did reply. Does he so?
Pll take a cottrse with him; go, call that man to me, IHl warrant you
Vll cure him of stealing. When the man came, the governour consid-
ering that if he had stolen, it was more out of n«ce««try than (^t«/>o«i-
tion, said unto him. Friend, it is a severe winter, and I doubt jfou are
but meanly provided for wood ; wherefore I would have you supply your
self at my wood-pile till this cold season be over. And he then merrily
asked his friends, Whether he had.not effectually cured this man of stealing
his wood?

§ 7. One would have imagined that so good a man could have had no
enemies ; if we had not had a daily and woful experience to convince
us, th&t goodness it self will make eqemies. It is a wonderful speech of
Plato, (in one of his books, De Repvblica) For the trial of true vertue,
'tis necessary that a good nukn fiiii'n miiicmt i>»l»¥ 'tx*' 1"* /tuyii7«* "tiiiMMt •
Though he do no unjust thing, should suffer the injumy oj the greatest in-
justice. The governour had by his unspotted integrity, procured himself
n great reputation among the people ; and then the crime of popularity
was laid unto his charge by such, who were willing to deliver him from
the danger of having all men speak well of him. Yea, there were per-
sons eminent both for figure and for number, unto whom it was almost
essential to dislike every thing that came from him ; and yet he always
maintained an amicable correspondence with them ; as believing that
they acted according to their judgment and conscience, or that their
eyes were held by some temptation in the worst of all their oppositions-
Indeed, his right works were so many, that they exposed him unto the
envy of his neighbours ; and of such power was that envy, that some-
times he could not stand before it ; but it was by not standing that he
most effectually withstood it all. Great attempts were sometimes made
among the freemen, to get him left out from his place in the government
upon little pretences, lest by the too frequent choice of one man, the
government should cease to be by choice ; and with a particular
aim at him, sermons were preached at the anniversary Court of
election, to dissvyade the y)e«rtert from chusing one man twiqe.to^ethM-

BooE II.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

the har-
ivernour
, tucking
I hadno-
[id hayiog
) receive,
iveroour,
tiet from
; and he
could not
ha tremb-
)n infirnti-
• take itiU
;o^ also to
poor about
I if it were
of sending
ty that was
I wood was
hat a needy
I hi$ pile;
Ooei he to ?
oarrant yqu
lOur confiid-
han di$pon-
,ubt jfou are

, mppiy I/O"*"
\en mertily
n of ««oKng

This waa (he reward of his exttaordihary aervieeablenen .' Bat wrh«i
these attempts dtd sticceed, as they toriietimes did, his profoahd humiKtif
appeared in that equality of mind. Wherewith he applied himtelf cheer*
fully to serve the country in whatever station their votei had allotted for
him. And one year when the volet came (o be numbered, there weri
found six less for Mr. Winihrop, than for nnother gentleman ^ho thrift
stood in competition : but several other persons regularly tendring th^ii-
votei before the election wiM published, were, upon a Very frivblous ob-
jection, refused by iome of the magistrates, that were afraid l^ii the
election should at last fall upon Mr. Winthrop : which though it Was weA
perceived, yet such was th« telf-denial of this patriot, that he w6uld not
permit any notice to be tatcen of the injury. But these trials weri noth-
ing in comparison of those harsher and harder treats, which he ioin^
times had from the frowardness of not a few in the days of thei^ paro:i-
i»mi ; and from the faction of some againiit him, not much m^like that of
the Piazzi in Florence ngainst the family of the Medices : all of whic&
he at last conquered by coiifonbing to the famous Judge* t mdtto, Pru-
dent qui Patiens. The oracles of God have said, Envy i$ rottenneat to
the bones; and Qulielmus Parisiensis applies it unto rulers, who are as it
were the bones of the societies which they belong unto : Envy, says he,
is often found among them, and it is rottenness unto them. Our Winthrop
encountred this envy from others, but conquered it, by being free from
it htoiself.

§ 8. Were it not for the sakd of intrbducing the exemplary ttkill of
this wise man, at giving soft Answeri, one woul.l not chuse to relate thos^
instances of Wrath> which h^ had som^timesf to encounter With ; but h^
was for his gentleness, hitf forbearance, and longanithitv, A' pattern so
worthy (o be written after, ttiM something miist here be written of it.
He seemed indeed never to speak any othi^r language than that of Theo'
don'tis. If any man speak evil of the govtmout, tf it be through lightness,
Uis to be eofitemned; if it be through madness, Uis to be pitied; if it be
through injury, Uisto be remitted. Behold, reader, the meekness of mi-
dom notably exemplified ! There was a time when he received n very
sharp letter from' a gentltimaUj who was a member of the Coilrt, but he
delivered back the letter unto the messengers that brought it, with Such
a christian Speech as this, / am not willing to keep such a matter of pro-
vocation by me! Afterwards the same gtintlemah Was compelled by the
scarcity of provisions to send unto him that hd would sell him some of
his cattel ; whereilpon thegOvernour praydd him to aiftiiieptwhat he had
sent for as a token of his good will ; but the gentleman returned him this
answer. Sir, your overcoming of yourself hath overcome me ; and after-
wards gave demonstration of it. The /VencA have a saying. That Uti
Honeste Homme, est un Homme mesle ! a godd man is a mixt man ; and'
there hardly ever was a more sensible mixtur^e of those two things, res-
olution and condescenti&n, than in this good man. Thete Was a ftme'
when the court of election, being for fear of tumult, held at Cambridge,
May 17, 1637, the sectarian part of the country, who had the year be-
fore gotten agovernour more unto their mind j had a project lioW to have
confounded the eZech'on,by demanding that the «ourl 'would consider a pe-
(t'tton then tendered before their proceedir^ thereunto. Mr. Winlh-np
saw that this was only a trick to throw all into confusion, by putting oft
the choice of the governowr oaA assistents until the day should be over ;
and therefore he did, with a strenuous resolution, procure a disappoint-
ment unto that mischievous and ruinous contrivance. Nevertheless,

Vol.. I. 15

114

MAQNALIA CHRISTI AMCUICANA

[Book II

Mr. fFinthrop himself being by the voice ol' the freemen in thia exigence
chosen the govnnour, und all of the other party left out, that ill-affected
party discovered the dirt aad mire, which remained with them, after the
$tt>rm wut over ; particularly the Serjeants, whose office 'twas to attend
the govenuntr, laid down their hnlberts ; but such was the condfscention
of this governour, us to take no present notice of this anger and con-
tempt, but only order some of his own servants to take the halberts :
and when the country niunifested their deep resentments of the affront
thus offered him, lu prayed them to overlook it. But it was not long be-
fore a compensation was made for these things by the dm*bled rtapects
which were from nil parts paid unto him. Again, there was a time when
the suppression of nn antiTwmian and /amili$tical faction, which extream-
ly threatned the ruin of the country, was generally thought much owing
UDto this renowned man ; and therefore when the friends of that faction
could not wreak their displeasure on him with any politick vexations,
they set themselves to do it by ecclesitutical ones. Accordingly when a
sentence of banishment was passed on the ringleaders of those disturb-
ances, who

— Maria Sf Terras, Calumq; profundum,

Quippe Jerant, Rapidi, secum, vertantq; per Auras ;

many at the church of Boston, who were then that way too much inclin-
ed, most earnestly solicited the elders of that church, whereof the
governour was a member, to call him forth as an offender for passing of
that sentence. The elders were unwilling to do any such thing ; but the
governour understanding the ferment among the people, took that occa-
sion to make a speech in the congregation to this effect, ' Brethren, un-
' derstanding that some of you have desired that I should answer for an
' offence lately taken among you ; had I been called upon so to do, I
' would, ^rst, have advised with the ministers of the country, whether
' the church had power to call in question the dvil covrt ; and I would,
' secondly, have advised with the rest of the court, whether I might dis-
' cover their counsels unto the church. But though I know that the
' reverend elders of this church, and some others, do very well appre-
' hend that the church cannot enquire into the proceedings of the court ;

* yet for the satisfaction of the weaker who do not apprehend it, I will

* declare my mind concerning it. If the church have any such power,
' they have it from the Lord Jesus Christ ; but the Lord Jesus Christ
' hath disclaimed it, not only by practice, but also by precept, which we
' have in his gospel, Mat. xx. 2d, 26. It is true indeed, that magistrates,
' as they are church-members, are accountable unto the church lor their
' failings ; but that is when they are out of their calling. When Uzziah

* would go offer incense in the temple, the officers of the church called
' him to an account, and withstood him ; but when Jlsa put the prophet
' in prison, the officers of the church did not call him to an account for
' that. If the magistrate shall in a private way wrong any man, the

* church may call him to an account for it ; but if he be in pursuance of

< a course of justice, though the thing that he does he unjust, yet he is not

< accountable for it before the church. As for my self I did nothing in
' the causes of any of the brethren, but by the advice of the elders of the
^church. Moreover, in the oa^/» which I have taken there is this clause,
' In all cases wherein you are to give your vote, you shall do as in your
'judgment and comscience you sliall see to be just, and for the publick good.

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLANI)

llA

' And I am latiRfied, it ia most for the glory of God, and the public good,
' that there haa been such a nentence passed ; yea, those brethren are ao
' divided from the reit of the country in their opinions and practicea,

* that it cannot stand with the publick peace for them to tontinue with
' us ; Abraham saw that llagar and hhnuiel must be sent aivay.' By
such a speech he marvellously convinced, aatisticd and mollified the «m-
easie brethren of the church ; Sic cunctm Pelagi vecidft fVngor— . And
ai\er a little patient waiting, the differences all so wore away, that the
church, meerly as a token of reapect unto the govcrnour, when he had
newly met with some lo»»ea in his estate, sent him u present of several
hundre^h of pounds. Once more there was a time, when some active
spirits among the deputies of the colony, by their c-ndeavonrs not only to
make themselves a Court of Judicature, but also to take awiiy the nega-
tive by which the magistrates might check their votes, had like by over-
driving to have run the whole government into something too democrat-
ical. And if there were a town in Spain undermined by coneys, another
town in Thrace destroyed by moles, a third in Greece ran versed \*y frogs,
a fourth in Oermany subverted by rats ; 1 mu»t on this occasion add, that
there was a country in America like to be confounded by a sa<tne. A
certain stray sow being fount, was claimed by two several persons with
a claim so equally maintained on both sides, that after six or seven years'
hunting the business, from one court unto another, it was brought at last
into the General Court, where the final determination was, tluit it was im-
possible to proceed unto any judgment in the case. However in the de-
bate of this matter, the negative of the upper-house upon the lower in
that Court was brought upon the stage ; and agitated with so hot a 7.ea\,
that a little more and all had been in the fire. In these agitations the
governour was informed that an offence had been taken by some emi-
nent persons, at certain passages in a discourse by him written therea-
bout ; whereupon with his usual condescendency, when be next came
into the General Court, he made a speech of this import. ' I under-
' stand, that some have taken offence at something that I have lately
' written ; which offence I desire to remove now, and begin this year in
' a reconciled state with you all. As for the matteroi my writing, I hud
' the concurrence of my brethren ; it is a point of judgment which is not
' at my own disposing. I have examined it over and over again by such
' light as God has given me, from the rules of religion, reason and cus-
' torn ; and 1 see no cause to retract any thing of it : wherefore I must
' enjoy my liberty in that, as you do your selves. But for the manner,
' this, and all that was blame worthy in it, was wholly my own ; and what-
' soever 1 might alledge for my own justification therein before men, I
' wave it, as now 8ettin[r my self before another Judgment- seat. How-

♦ ever, what 1 wrote was upon great provocation, and to vindicate my
' self and others from great aspersion ; yet that was no sufficient warrant
' for me to allow any distemper of spirit in my self; and I doubt I have
' been too prodigal of my brethren's reputation ; I might have maintained
- my cause without casting any blemish upon others, when I made that my
' conclusion. And now let religion and sound reason give judgment in the
' case ; it looked as if I arrogated too much unto my self, and too little to
' othel-s. And when I made that profession. That I would maintain what
' I wrote before all the world, though such words might modestly be spo-
' ken, yet I perceive an unbeseeming pride of my own heart breathing
' in them. For these failings I ask pardon both of God and man.

MH IIAONAtIA CHRISTI AMERICANA ;

Sic fill, 4r ditto cHiut Tumida Xquora pfaeatf
» Colt«eta$q ; fugat JSubti, So/etitf ; rfduti$.

[Book il.

Thuf ncknowMg^g diifotition io the governour, made tbem all ueknowl'
edge, that he was tt^ly a nuin of an txcellent ipirii. Id fine, the vtcio-
rie» of un Alexander, an Hanmbal, or a C'viar over olAtr nMn, were not
so glorious, as the victoriee of thii great man over hitnnlf, which alto at
lait proved victories over other men.

§. d, B^t the Mtormieit of all the triaU (hat ever bcfel this gentleman,
wiu in the year 16'fd when he wai in titU, no more than Deputy •Qovtrftftur
of the colony. |f the famon" Cato were forty-four timet called into judg-
ment, but M oileo acquitted ; let it not be wondred, and if our famoua
IVmthriip were one time ao. There hapning certain oeditioua and mu'
tinous practice! in the town of Hingbeun, (he DejMiy-Ooverfumr aa legally
wi prudently interpoq^d his auUunity for the checking of them : wheru|>-
Qn there followed such ao enchantment upon the roiods of the depMties in
the General Court, tliat upon a scnndalous petition of the delinquenta
unto them, wherein u pretended invasion made upon the libertiet of the
peoplf was complained of the Deputy-OQvernour, was most irregularly call-
ed forth unto an ignoiuinous hfuring before them in a vast assembly ;
whereto with a sagacious hnmilitude he consented, although be shewed
them how he might have rrj'used it. The result of that httaring was, that
hottvithstaning the ioxichy jealomie of the peopU about their liberties lay
dt the bottom of all this prosecution, yet Mr. fVinthrop was publickly ac-
quitted, and the offenders were severally Hned and censured. But Mr.
Wtnthrop then resuming the place of Deputy-Govermtur on the bench, saw
cause to speak unto the root of the matter after Ibis manner. ' I shall not

* now speak any thing about the past proceedings of this Court, or the
' persons therein concerned. Only 1 bless God that 1 see an issue of this
' troublesome affair. 1 am well satistied that I was publickly accused, and
' that I am now publickly acquitted. But though 1 am justified before
' tnen, yet it may be the Lord hath seen so much amiss in my administra-
' tions, as calls me to be humbled ; and indeed for me to have been thus
' charged by men, is it self a matter o( humili(^ion, whereof I desire to

* make a right use before the Lord. {(Miriam's father spit in her face,
' she is to be ashamed. But give me leave before you go, to say some-

* thing that may rectifie the opinions of many people, from whence the

* disttnftpers have risen that have lately prevailed upon the body of this
' people. The questions that have troubled the country have been about

* the authority of the magistracy, and the liberty of the people. It is you

* who have called us unto this office ; but being thus called, we have our
' authority from God ; it is the ordinance of God, and it hath the image of
' Gi>d stamped upon it ; and the contempt of it has been vindicated by

* God with terrible examples of bis vengeance. I entreat you to consid-
' er, that when you chuse magistrates, you take them from among your

* selves, men subject unto like passions with your selves, if you see our in-

* firmities, reflect on your own, and you will not be so severe censurers
< otours. We count him a good servant who breaks not his covenant: the
' atvenant between its and yu, is the oath you have taken of us, which is

* to this purpose, that we shall govern you, and judge your causes, accord-
' ing Io God's laws, and our own, according to our best skill. As for our
' sMl, you must run the hazard of it ; and if there be an error, not in the
' will, but only in the skill, it becomes you to bear it. Nor would I have

* you to mistake in the point of your own liberty. There is a liberty of

Book H.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND.

• corrupt naturo, which i» affected both by mtn and b$futs, to do wl
' they lilt ; vnd tbia Hbtrty ia ioconsiRient with autlvrritu^ impatient ofil!
» reatraint ; by thia lih0rty, Bumm Oinn. Dtttrioru ; 'tia th» grand enemy
' or<ruiA and jmum, and all the ordinance uf <JntA are bent aKkinat it. Bat

* there ia a civil, a moral, a federal Wurty, which is the propor end and
' object of oul/kortiy ; it ia a libtrttf for. that only which it jmt and good ;
' for this libtrty you are to stand with the hasard of ypur very livtn ; and
' whatsoever crosses it is not Mtthorityt hut a dUttmyvr thereof. This
' libtrhi is maintained in a way odubjtction to au<Aori/y ; and the author-
' Uy set over you, will in all administrationa for your good be quietly sub-
' mitted unto, by all but such aa have a dispositon to ekake off tht yk;
*■ and lose their true libwty, by their murmuring at the honour and pow-
'er of au/Aart<y.'

The »p«U that was upon the eyes of the people being thus dissolved,
their distorttd and «nragfld notions of things all vanished ; and the people
would not afterwards entrust the hehn of the wtather'btaten bark in any
other hands, but Mr. fftnlArop't until he died.

§. 10. Indeed such was toe mixture of di$tant qualitiei in him, as to
make a most admirable temper ; and bis having a certain greatnexi of»oul,
which rendered him grave, generous, courageous, resoUed, well-applied,
and every way a ge^eman in his demeanour, did not hinder him from
taking sometimes the old Romance way to avoid confusions, namely, Ce-
tlendo ; or from discouraging some things which are agreeable enough
to most that wear the name of gentlemen. Hereof I will give no instan^
ces, but only oppote two passages of his life.

In the year 1632, the governour, with his pastor Mr. Wilton, and
some other gentlemen, to settle a good understanding between the two
colonies, travelled as far as Plymouth, more than forty miles, through an
howling wilderness, no better accommodated in those early days, than
the prince* that in Solomon's time saw tervantt on horseback, or than ge-
nut and •pecte« in the old epigram, got'ng on /oof. The difficulty of the
walk, was abundantly compensated by the honourable, ^r«( reception,
and then dismission, which they found from the rulers of PUjmouth ; and
by the good correspondence thus established between the new colonies,
who were like the floating bottels wearing this motto. Si Collidimur,
Franf tmur. But'there were at this time in Plymouth two roinisteraV'N
leavened so far ^ith the humours of the rigid teparation, that they in- '
sisted vehemently upon the unlawfulness of calling any unregenerate
man by the name of good-man euchan one, until by their indiscreet urg-
ing of this whimsey, the place began to be disquieted. The wioer peo-
ple being troubled at these trifles, they took the opportunity of govern-
our Winthrop's being there, to have the thing publicly propounded in the
congregation ; who in answer thereunto, distinguished between a theolo-
gical and a mx>ral goodness ; adding, that when Juries were first used in
England, it was usual for the crier, after the names of persons fit for that
service were called over, to bid them all, Attend, good men, and true ;
whence it grew to be a ctvt7 custom in the English nation, forncighbours
living by one another, to call one another good man such an one: and it
was pity now to make a stir about a civil custom, so innocently introduced
And that (speech of Mr. Winthrop^s put a lasting stop to the little, idle,
whimsical conceits, then beginning to grow obstreperous./^ Nevertheless
there was one civil custom used iti (and in few but) the English nation,
which this gentleman did endeavour to abolish in this country; and that
was, the usage of drinking to one another. For although by drinking fn

fW^'.

BIAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book II.

one anotlitr, do more is meant than an act of courtesie, when one going
to dritik, does invite another to do so too, for the same ends with him-
self} nevertheless the governour (not altogether unlike to Cleomenes, of
whom 'tis reported by Plutarch, ivin ^tti'ns mri^in irfTt^tfty No-
lenti poculam nunquam prabvii,) considered tlie imperttnency and inmgr
nificancy of this usage, as to any of those endf that are usually pretended
for it ; and that indeed it ordinarily served for no ends at all, but only to
provoke persons unto unseasonable, ani perhaps unreasona6/e drinking,
and at last produce that abominable health-drinking, which the fathers
of old so severely rebuked in the Pagans, and which the Papists
the'^selves do condemn, when their casuists pronounce it, Peccatum
mortale, provocare ad JEquales Calices 4" Nefas Respondere. Where-
fore in his own most hospitable house he left it off ; not out of any
silly or stingy fancy, but meerly that by his example a greater temperance,
vr'Ah liberty of drinking, might be recommended, and sundry inconve-
niences in drinking avoided ; and his example accordingly began to be much
followed by the sober people in this country, as it now also begins to be
among persons of the highest rank in the English nation it self ; until
an order of court came to be made against that ceremomy in drinking, and
then, the old wont violently returned, with aXiitimurin Vetitutn.

§ 11. Many were the afflictions of this righteous man ! He lost much of
his estate in a ship, and in an house, quickly after his coming to Jiew-Eng
land, besides the prodigious expence of it in the difficulties of his firsi
coming hither. Afterwards his assiduous application unto the publick af-
fairs, (wherein Ipse se non habuit, postquam Respublica eum Gubernatorem
habere ciepit) made him so much to neglect his own private interests, that
an unjust steward ran him 2500 I. in debt before he was aware ; for the
payment whereof he was forced, many years before his decease, to sell
the most of what he had left unto him in the country. Albeit, by the
observable blessings of God upon the posterity of this liberal man, his
children all of them came to fair estates, and lived in good fashion and
credit. Moreover, he successively buried three wives ; the first of
which was the daughter and heiress of Mr. Forth, o{ Much-IStambridge in
Essex, by whom he had wisdom with an inheritance ; and an excellent son.
The second was the daughter of Mr. William Clopton of London, who
died with her child, within a very little while. The third was the daugh-
ter of the truly worshipful Sir John Tyndal, who made it her whole care
to please, first God, and then her husband ; and by whom he had four
sons, which survived and honoured their father. And unto all these,
the addition of the distempers, ever now and then raised in the country
procured unto him a very singular share of trouble ; yea, so hard was
the measure which he fo\:v.d even among pious men, in the temptations
of a wilderness, that when the thunder and lightning had smitten a wtrid-
mill, whereof he was owner, some had such things in their heads as pub-
Mckly to reproach this charitablest of men as if the voice of the Almighty had
rebuked, I know not what oppression, which they judged him guilty of;
which things I would not have mentioned, but that the instances may for-
tifie the expectations of my best readers for such afflictions.

§ 12. He thai had been for his attainments, as they said of the blessed
Macarius, a irtuS'eipic'yeptii , an old man, while a young one, and that had in
his young days met with many of those ill days, whereof he could say,
he had little pleasure in them ; now found old age in its infirmities advanc-
ing ear/ter upon him, than it came upon his much longer lived progeni-
tors. While he was yet seven years off of that which we call the grand

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. 119

clitnacterical, he felt the approaches of his dissolution; and fiodinghe
could say,

jVon Habitus, non ipse Color non Gressus Euntis,
JVbn Species Eadem, qumfuit ante, manet.

He then wrote this account of himself, Age novo comes upon me, and tU'
firmities therewithal, which makes me apprehend, that the time of my de-
parture out of this world is not far off". However our times are all in the
Lord's hand, so as we need not trouble ottr thoughts how long or short they
may be, but how we may be found faithful when we are called for. But at last
when that year came, he took a cold which turned into a/eorer, whereof
he lay sick about a month, and in that sickness, as it hath been observed,
that there was allowed unto the serpent the bruising of the heel ; and ac-
cordingly at the heel or the close of our lives the old serpent will be nib-
bling more than ever in our lives before ; and when the devil sees that
we shall shortly be, where the wicked cease from troubling, that wicked
one will trouble us more than ever ; so this eminent saint noiv underwent
sharp conflicts with the tempter, whose wrath grew great, as the time to
exert it grew short ; and he was buffetted with the disconsolate thoughtp
of black and sore desertions, wherein he could use that sad representa-
tion of his own condition. ^

Nuper eram Judex ; Jam Judicor; Ante Tribunal,
Subsistens paveo, Judicor ipse modo.

But it was not long before those clouds were dispelled, and he enjoyed
in his holy soul the great consolations of God ! While he thus lay ripen-
ing for heaven, he did out of obedience unto the ordinance of our Lord,
send for the elders of the church to pray with him ; yea, they and the
whole church fasted as well as prayed for him ; and in that fast the ve-
nerable Cotton preached on Psal. xxxv. 13, 14, When they were sick, I
humbled my self with fasting ; I behaved my self as though he had been my
friend or brother ; / bowed down heavily, as one that mourned for his mo-
ther: from whence 1 find him raising that observation, The sickness of one
that is to us as a friend, a brother, a mother, is a just occasion of deep
humbling our souls with fasting and prayer; and making this application,
' Upon this occasion we are now to attend this duty for a governour, who
' has been to us as a friend in his counsel for all things, and help for our
' bodies by physick, for our estates by law, and of whom there was no
' fear of his becoming an enemy, like the friends of David: a governour
' who has been unto us as a brother ; not usurping authority over the
' church ; often speaking his advice, and often contradicted, even by
' young men, and some of low degree ; yet not replying, but offering)
' satisfaction also when any supposed offences have arisen ; a governour
' who has been unto us as a mother, parent-like distributing his goods to
' brethren and neighbours at his first coming ; and gently bearing our
' infirmities without taking notice of them.'

Such a governour after he had been more than ten several times by the
people chosen their governour, was New-England now to lose ; who
having, like Jacob, first left his council and blessing with his children gather-
ed about his bed-side ; and, like David, served his generation by the will of
God, he gave up the ghost, and fell asleep on March 26, 1649. Having.

!80* *;

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Boob II.

like the dying Emperour Falenfinian, this above all his othel' victories for
his triumphs, His overcoming of himself.

The words of Josephus about JVehemiah, the governour of tirael, we
will now use upon this governour of J^etv-England, as his

EPITAPH.

■* *Ar$f 'lyifif* Xfif** »W» ^va-it, mm hiutm,

Kmi mfi T«t '•^ih$n ^<A*T<f««r«r«( :

VIR FVIT INDOLE BONUS, AC JUSTUS :
ET POPULARIUM GLORIiE AHANTISSIMUS :
auiBUS ETERNUM RELIQUIT MONUHBNtUM,

J^ovanglorum M<eAia.

CHAPTER V.
SUCCESSORS.

(§ 1 . One as well acquainted with the matter, as bocrates, informs us,
that among the judges of Areopagus none were admitted, irA«» «< maAmc
yiy«v«7ff, Kx* vaAAv 'ttfiln* *mm raiipf»Tvni» ^v tw,/3<« 'ithS'ityiuui, unless they
were nobly 6om, and eminently exemplary for a viriuous and a sober lift.
The report may be truly made concerning the Judges of JVew-Englandy
though they were not nobly born, yet they were gt^nerally well bom ; and
by being eminently exemplary for a virtuous and a sober life, gave demon-
stration that they were new-born. Some account of them is now more
particularly to be endeavoured.

We read concerning Saul, [1 Sam. xv. If' ] He setup himself a place.
The Hebrew word, 'V there used, signifies a monumental pillar. It is
accordingly promised unto them who please God, [Isa. Ivi. 5,} That they
shall have a place and a name in the house of God ; that is to say, a pillar
erected (or fame in the church of God. And it shall be fulfilled in what
shall now be done for onr governours in this our Church-History. Even
while the Massachusettensians had a Winthrop for their governour, they
could not restrain the channel of their affections from running towards
another gentleman in their elections for the year 1634, particularly, wheu
they chose unto the place of governour, Thomas Dudley, Esq ; one
whom after the death of the gentleman abovementioned, they again and
again voted into the chief place of government. He wis born at the towit
of Northampton, in the year 1674, the only son of captain Roger Dudley,
who being slain in the wars, left this our Thomas, with his only sister,
for the Father of the orphans to take them up. In the family of the Earl
of Northampton he had opportunity perfectly to learn the points of good
behaviour; and here having liited himself to do many other benefits unto
the world, he next became a clerk unto Judge Nichols, who being his
kinsman by the mother's side, therefore took the more special notice of
him. From his relation to this judge, he had and used an advantage to
attain such a skill in the law, as was of great advantage to him in the fu-
t-ure changes of his life ; and the judge would have preferred him unto

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

)«1

the higher itnployments, whereto his prompt wit not a little recommend-
ed him, if be bad not been by death preveoted. But before he could
appear to do much at the pen, for which be was yery well accomplish-
ed, be was called upon to do something at the sword ; for being a young
gentleman well-known for his ingenuity, courage and conduct, when
there were soldiers to be raised by order from Queen Elizaheth for ibe
French service, in the time of King i/enry^he Fourth, the young sparks
about Northampton were none of them willing to enter into the service,
until a commission was given unto our young Dudley to be their captain;
and then presently there were /our«core (hat listed under him. At the
head of these he went over into the Low Countries, which was then an
academy of arnw, as well as arts ; and thus became to furnish himself with
endowments for the field, as well as for the bench. The post assigned
unto him with his company, was after at the siege of Amiens, before
which the King himself was now encamped ; but the providence of God
so ordered it, that when both parties were drawn furth in order to battel,
a treaty of peace was vigorously set on foot, which diverted the battel
that was expected. Captain Dudley hereupon returned into England^
and settling himself about Northampton, he married a gentlewoman
whose extraction and estate were considerable ; and the scituation of his
habitation after this helped him to enjoy the ministry of Mr. Dod, Mr.
Cleaver, Mr. Winston, and Mr. Hildersham, all of them excellent and re-
nowned men : which puritan ministry so seasoned his heart with a sense
of religion, that be was a devout and serious christian, and a follower of
the ministers that most effectually preached real Christianity all the rest
of his days. The spirit of real Christianity in him now also disposed
him unto sober non'conformity ; and from this time, although none more
hated the fanaticisms and enthusiasms of wild opinionists, he became a
judicious Dissenter from the unscriptural ceremonies retained in the Church
of England. It was not long after this that the Lord Say, the Lord
Compton, and other persons of quality, made such observations of him,
as to commend him unto the service of the Earl of Lincoln, who was
then a young man, and newly come unto the possession of his Earldom,
and of what belonged thereunto. The grandfather of this noble perbon
had left his heirs under vast entanglements, out of which his father was
never able to extricate himself ; so that the difficulties and incumbrances
were now devolved upon this Theophilus, which caused him to apply
himself unto this our Dudley for his assistances, who proved so able,
and careful, and faithful a steward unto him, that within a little while the
debts of near twenty thousand pounds, whereinto the young Earl found
himself desperately ingulphed, were happily waded through ; and by his
means also a match was procured between the young Earl and the daugh-
ter of the Lord Say, who proved a most virtuous lady, and a great bless-
ing to the whole family. But the Earl finding Mr. Dudley to be a
person of more than ordinary discretion, he would rarely, if ever, do
any matter of any moment without his advice ; but some into whose
hands there fell some of his manuscripts after his leaving of the
Earl's family, found a passage to this purpose. The estate of the Earl of
Lincoln, I found so, and so, much in debt, which I have discharged, and
have raised the rents nnto so many hundreds per annum ; God will, I trust,
bless me and mine in such a manner. I can. as sometimes Nehemiah did,
appeal unto God, who knows the hearts of all men, (hat I have with integrity
discharged the duty of my place before him.
Vol. I. ■ - • in

<Mii'

122

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMEKigANA : [Book II.

I had prepared and intended a more particular account of this gcntle>
man ; but not having any opportunity to commit it unto the perusal of
any descended from him, (unto whom 1 am told it will be unacceptable
for me to publish any thing of this kind, by them not perused) 1 have
laid it aside, and summed all up in this more general account.

It was about nine or ten years, that Mr. Dudley continued a steward
unto the Earl of Lincoln ; but then growing desirous of a more private
life, he retired unto Boston, where the acquaintance and ministry of Mr.
Cotton became no little satisfaction unto him. Nevertheless the Earl of
Lincoln found that he could be no more without Mr. Dudley, than P/ta>
raoh without his Joseph, and prevailed with him to resume his former
employment, until the storm of persecution upon the non-conformists
caused many men of great worth to transport themselves into J^ew-Eng-
land. Mr. Dudley was not the least of the worthy men that bore a part
in this transportation, in hopes that in an American wilderness they might
peaceably attend and enjoy the pure worship of the Lord Jesus Christ.
When the first undertakers for that plantation came to know him, they
soon saw that in him, that caused them to chuse him their deputy govern-
our, in which capacity he arrived unto these coasts in the year 1630, and
had no small share in the distresses of that young plantation, whereof an
account by him written to the Countess of Lincoln, has been since pub-
lished unto the world. Here his wisdom in managing the most weighty
and thorny affairs was oflen signalized : his justice was a perpetual ter-
ror to evil doers : his courage procured his being the first major-general
of the colony, when they began to put themselves into a military Jigure.
His orthodox piety had no little influence unto the deliverance of the
country, from the contagion of the famalistical errors, which had like
to have overturned all. He dwelt first at Cambridge ; but upon Mr.
Hooker's removal to Hartford, be removed to Ipswich; nevertheless,
upon the importunity and necessity of the government for his coming
to dwell nearer the center of the whole, he fixed his habitation at liox-
bury, two miles out of Boston, where he was always at hand upon the
publick exigencies Here he died, Ju/^ 31, 1653, in the seventy-se-
venth year of his age ; and there were found afler his death, in his
pocket, these lines of his own composing, which may serve to make up
what may be wanting in the character already given him.

- 1- ': i

Dim eyes, deaf ears, cold stomach, shew

My dissolution is in view. ^^ •,

Eleven times seven near liv'd have I,

And now God calls, I willing die. .,•..,

My shuttle's shot, my race is run, «-s

My sun is set, my day is done. ^. , -^

My span is measured, tale is told,

My flower is faded, and grown old. . .

My dream is vanish'd, shadow's fled.

My soul with Christ, my body dead. •', --

Fafewel dear wife, children and friends.

Hate heresie, make blessed ends. «

Bear poverty, live with good men ; ' Vf «'

So shall we live with joy agen.

Let men of God in courts and churches watch

O're such as do a toleration hatch, - . ■-■ ,-

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. 128

Lest that ill egg bring forth a cockatrice,
To poison all with heresie and vice.
If men be left, and otherwise combine,
My Epitaph*a, 1 dy'd no libertine.

But when I mention the poetry of this gentleman as one of bis accom->
plishments, I must not leave unmentioned the fame wi|h which the poenu
of one descended from him have been celebrated in both Englanda. If
the rare learning of a daughter, was not the least of those bright things
that adorned no less a Judge of England than Sir Thomas More ; it must
now be said, that a Judge of JSTew- England, namely, Thomas Dudley,
Esq. had n daughter (besides other children) to be n crown unto him.
Reader, America justly admires the learned women of the other hemis'
phere. She has heard of those that were tutoresses to the old professors
of all philosophy : she hath heard of Hippatia, who formerly taught the
liberal arts ; and of Sarocchia, who more lately was very often the mo-
deratrix in the disputations of the learned men of Home : she has been
told of the three Corinnass, which equalled, if not excelled, the most
celebrated poets of their time : she has been told of the Empress Endo-
cia, who composed poetical paraphrases on divers parts of the jBt6/« :
and of Romida, who wrote the lives of holy men ; and of PamphiliOf
who wrote other histories unto the life : the writings of the most re-'
nowned Anna Maria Schurnian, have come over unto her. But she now
prays, that into such catalogues of authoresses, as Beverovicius, Hottingert
and Foetius, have given unto the world, there may be a room now given
unto Madam Ann Bradstreet, the daughter of our governour Dudley^
and the consort of our governour Bradstreet, whose poems, divers times
printed, have afforded a grateful entertainment unto the ingenious, and ft
monument for her memory beyond the stateliest marbles. It was upon
these poems that an ingenious person bestowed this epigram :

Now I believe tradition, which doth call
The Muses, Virtues, Graces, females all.
Only they are not nine, eleven, or three ;
Our authWess proves them but an unity.
Mankind, take up some blushes on the score ;
• '. Monopolize /?er/ech'on hence no more. /. ir' ,,

^ ■_'. -'' In your own arts confess your selves outdone ;
•;. The moon hath totally eclips'd the sun :
'. Not with her sable mantle muffling him.

But her bright silver makes his gold look dim :
Just as his beams force our pale lamps to wink,
And earthly ^res within their ashes shrink.

What else might be said of Mr. Dudley, the reader shall constrije from
the en&uing ; ,

.;. - /* EPITAPH. I «lt

Helluo Lihrorum, Lectorum Bibliotheca

Communis Sacrm Syllabus Historic.
Ad Mensan Comes, hinc facnndiis, Rostra disertus,

(J{on Cumulus verbis, 2)ondus, Acumen erat,)

m^ MAi^NALIA CHUISTI AMERICANA. [Book II.

Monun aeris Censor, validus De/entor amanaq;

Et SufUB ^ Cana Catholicajidei.
Attgli-novi Culunun Sumntum Deeua atq; SmaiuB ;

Thomas Dudleius, conditur hoc Tumuh. £. R.

§ 9,. In the year 1635, at the anniversary election, the freemen of the
colony testified their greatful esteem of Mr. John Haines, a worthy gen-
tleman, who had been very fl«rvicable to the interests of the colony, by
chusing him their govemour. Of him in an ancient manuscript I find
this toationy given ; to him is New-England many ways beholden-; had he
done no more but stilled a storm of dissention, mhich broke forth in the be-
ginning of his government ; he had done enough to endear our hearts unto him,
and account that day happy when he took the reins ofgoverment into his hands.
But this pious, humble, well-bred gentleman, removing afterwards into
Connecticut, he took his turn with Mr. Edward Hopkins, in being every
oth«;r year the govemour of that colony. And as he was a great friend
of peace while he lived, no at his death he entred into that peace which
attends the end of the perfect and upright man, leaving behmd him the
chHracter sometimes given of a greater, though not a better, man, [Vespa-
sian] bonis Legibus multa correxit, sed exemplo proba vita plus ^ecitapud
populum.

§ 3. Near twenty ships from Europe visited New-England in the year
1635, and in one of them was Mr. Henry Fane, (afterward Sir Henry
Vane) an accomplished young gentleman, whose father was much
against his cotaing to ^few- England; but the King, apon information of
his disposition, commanded him to allow his son's voyage hither, with a
consent for his continuing three years in this part of the world. Although
his business had some relation to the plantation of Connecticut, yet in the
year 1636, the J)fas»acAu»€^ colony chose him their goT^emoitr. And now,
reader, I am as much a seeker for his character, as many have taken him to
be a seeker in religion, while no less persons than Dr. Manton have not been
to seek for the censure of a wicked book, with which they have noted the
Mystical Divinity, in the book of this knight, entituled. The retired man^s
Meditations. There has been a strange variety of translations bestowed
upon the Hebrew names of some animnls mentioned in the Bible: Kippod,
for instance, which we translate a 6tV<ern ; R. Salomon will have to be an
owl, but Luther will have it be an eagle, while Paynin will have it be an
hedg-hog, but R. Kimchi will have it a snail ; such a variety of opinions
and resentments has the name of this gentleman fallen under ; while
some have counted him an eminent christian, and others have counted
him almost an heretick ; some have counted him a renowned patriot, and
others an infamous traitor. If Barak signifie both to bless and to curse ;
xind £vAtV(i» be of the same significancy with BAar^/MiD, in such philo-
logy as that oiSuidas and Hesychias ; the usage which the memory o?" his
gentleman has met withal, seems to have been accommodated Uulo that
indifferency of signification in the terms for »uch an usage.

On the one side, I find a*? o\A New English manuscript thus reflecting,
His election will remain as a blemish to their judgments who did elect h:m,
while New- England remains a nation ; for he coming from 0\d-Eng\and, a
young unexperienced gentleman, {and as young in judgment as he was in years)
by the industry of some that could do much, and tftought by him to play their
own game, was presently elected govemour ; and before he was scarce warm
in his seat, began to broach new tenets ; and tliese were agitated with as much
violence, as if the welfare o/" New-England must lutve been sacrificed rather

lOOK

11.

>n of the
thy gen-
ilony, by
ipt 1 find
; had he
n the bt'
unto him^
his hands,
mrds into
ng e^ery
eat friend
ace which
Ihim the
n, [Vespa-
^ecit apud

in the year
Sir Henry
iwaa much
irmation of
her, with a
1 Although
yet in the
And now,
ken hitn to
tre not been
I noted the
tired man's
8 bestowed
e: Kippod,
ive to be an
ve it be an
)f opinions
ler ; while
^e counted
latriot, and
id to curse ;
[such philo-
lo^y of his
Uuio that

reflecting,
1(2 elect him,
T-England, a

las in years)

Vo play their

\carce wann

fiith as inuch

deed rathfT

Boofcll.l OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND: 125

than thest not take place. But the wisdom of the state put a period to his
sovemment ; necessity caused them to undo tfie works of their own hands,
and leave ns a caveat, that all go d men are not Jit for government. But
on the other side, the historian who has printed, 2Vte trial of Sir Henry
Vane, Knt. at the King's Bench, Westminster, June 2, and G, 1662, with
6ther occasional speeches ; also his speech and prayer on the scaj^old, has
given us in him the picture of nothing less than an heroe. He seems in-
deed by that story to have suffered hardly enough, but no man can deny
that he suffered bravely : the English nation has not often seen more of
Roman (and indeed more than Homan) gallantry, out-f.icing death in the
most prmpous terrours of it. A great royalist, present, at his decollation,
awore, He died like a prince : he could say, / bless the Lord I am so far
from being affrighted at death, that J find it rather shrink from me, than /
from it ! he could say. Ten thousand deaths rather than defile my conscience ;
the chastity and purity of which I value beyond all this world ; I would not
for ten thousand worlds part vrith the peace and satisfaction I have in my
own heart. When mention was made of the difficuU proceeding against
him, all his reply was, Mas what ado do they keep to make d poor creature
like his Saviour! On the scaffold they did, by the blast of trumpets in
bis face, with much incivility, hinder him from speaking what he intend-
ed ; which incivility be aforehand suspecting, committed n true copy of
it unto a friend before his going thither ; the last words whereof were
these, as my last words t leave this with you, that as the present storm we
mm lye under, and the dark clouds that yet hang over the reformed churches
of Christ, (which are coming thicker and thicker for a season) were not un-
foreseen by me for many years past ; (as some writings of mine declare) so
the coining of Christ in these clouds, in order to a speedy and sudden revival
of his cause, and spreading his kingdom over the face of the whole earth, is
most clear to the eye of my faith, even that faith m which I die. His execu-
tion was June 14, 1662, about the fiftieth year of his age.

§ 4. After the death of Mr. Dudley, the notice and respect of the colo-
ny fell chiefly on Mr. John Endicot, who after many services done for the
Colony, even before it was yet a colony, as well as when he saw it grown
into a populous nation, under his prudent and equal government, expired
in a good old age, and was honourably interred at Boston, March 23,
1665.

The gentleman that succeeded Mr. Endicot, was Mr. Richard Belling-
ham. One who was bred a lawyer, and one who lived beyond eighty,
well esteemed for his laudable qualities, but as the Thebans made the
statues of their magistrates without hands, importing that they must be
no takers ; in this fashion must be formed the statue for this gentleman ;
for among all his virtues, he was noted for none more, than for his nota-
ble and perpetual hatred of a 6ri6e, which gave him, with his country,
the reputation of old claimed by Pericles, to be, ^iMTe^^ n k»i xf^t*^-
r«ii xftirtnn. Civitatis Amans, ^ ad pecunias Invictus. And ns \w nev-
er took any from any one living; so he neither could nor would have
given any to death; but in the latter end of the year 1672, he had fii^
soul gathered not with sinners, whose right hand isfidl of bribes, but with
such as walk in their uprightness.

The gentleman that succeeded Mr. BeUingham, was Mr. .Tohn Leverrt.
one to whom the affections of the freemen were signalized, in liis quick
advances through the lesser stages of office and honour unto tli«.' Iii<;;lie«>!
in the country ; and one whose courage had been as much recommended
by martial actions abroad in his younger years, as hia nn'sifom and jimiir'

126

MAGNALIA CHRtSTI AMERICANA

[Book II.

were now at home in hid elder. The anniversary election connUintly
kept bimattbe helm from the time of his first sitting there, until March
)G, 1678, when mortality haviafi dnt put him on severe triuU of his
paisive-courage, (much more difficult than the active) in pains of the
stone, released him.

Pater Patriae : or, the Life of Simon Bradstreet, Esq.

— Extinctus ainahitur idem.

The gentleman that succeeded Mr. Leveret, was Mr. Simon Bradstreet,
the son of a minister in Lincolnshire, who wa<i always a non- conformist at
home, as well as when preacher at Middlehurgh abroad. Him the New-
Englanders in their addresses full of protound respects unto him, have
with good reason called. The venerable Mordecai of his country. He was
born at Horbling, March 1603. His father fwho was the son of a Suffolk
gentleman of a tine estate) was one of the hrst fellows in Immanuel-Co\-
ledgc, under Dr. Chaderton, and one afterwards highly esteemed by Mr.
Cotton, and by Dr. Preston. Our Bradstreet was brought up at the gram-
mar-school, until he was about fourteen years old; and then the death of
his father put a stop for the present unto the designs of his further edu-
cation. But according to the faith of his dying father, that he should be
well provided for, he was wiiiiin two or three years after this taken into
the religious family of the Earl oCLincoln, (the best family of any nobleman
then in Engla7id,) where he spent about eight years under the direction
of Mr. Thomas Dudley, sustaining sliccessively divers offices. • Dr. Preston
then (who had been my lord's tutor) moved my lord, that Mr. Bradstreet
might have their permission to come unto /mmanueZ-CQlledge, in the ca-
pacity of governour to the Lord Ritih, the son of the Earl of Warwick;
which they granting, he went with the Doctor to Cambridge, who pro-
vided a chamber for him, with advice that he should apply himself to
ntudy until my lord's arrival. But he afterwards in a writing of his,
now in my hands, made this humble complaint; I m^t with many obstacles
to my study in Cambridge ; the Earl of Lincoln had a brother there, who
often called me forth upon pastimes. Divers masters of art, and other
scholars also, constantly met, where xae spent most part of the afternoons ma-
ny times in discourse to little purpose or profit ; but that seemed an easie and
pleasant life then, which too late I repenied. My Lord Rich not coming to
the University, Mr. Bradstreet returned after a year to the Earl of JJn-
r.oln's ; and Mr. Dudley then removing to Boston, his place of steward
unto the Earl was conferred on Mr. Bradstreet. Afterwards he with much
ado obtained the Earl's leave to answer the desires of the aged and pious
Countess of Warzvick, that he would accept the stewardship of her noble
family, which ns the former he discharged with an exemplary discretion
and fidelity. Here he married the daughter of Mr. Dudley, by whose
perswasion ho came in company with him to JVew-England, where he
spent all the rest of his days, honourably serving his generation. It was
counted a singular favour of heaven unto Richard Chamond, Esq. one of
England'' s ivorthies, that he was a Justice of Peace near threescore years ;
but of Simon Bradstreet, Esq. one of JVew- England^ s worthies, there can
more than this be said ; for he was chosen a magistrate of New-England
before New-England it self came into New-England ; even in their first

Book II.J OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. |«

great voyage thither Attno 1630, and so he continued annually choaen ;'
8ometiiDe<i also their ucretary, and at last their governour, until the colo-
ny had a share in the general ahipwrack of charters, which the reign of
King CharltB 11. brought upon the whole English natiun. Mr. Jo$ejJi
Dudley was placed, Anno 1685, as president over the territory for a few
months, when the judgment that was entred against the charter gave unt6
the late King James II. an opportunity to make what alterations he pleas-
ed upon the order of things, under which the country had so long been
flourishing. But when the short presidentship of that ^few^English and
well accomplished gentleman, the son of Mr. Thomas Dudley abovemen-
tioned, was expired, I am not in a disposition here to relate what was
the condition of the colony, until the revolution whereto their condition
compelled them. Only I have sometimes, not without amazement,
thought of the representation which a celebrated magician made unto
Catherine de Medicis, the French (r^ueen, whose impious curiosity led her
to desire of him a magical exhibition of all the Kings that had hitherto
reigned in France, and yet were to reign. The shapes of all the Kings,
even unto the husband of that Queen successively showed themselves,
in the enclutnted circle, in which that conjurer had made his invocations,
and they took as many turns as there had been |!ters iu their govern-
ment. The Kings that were to come, did then in like manner succes-
sively come upon the stage, namely, Francis II. Charles IX. Henry III.
Henry IV. which being done, then two cardinals, RicUieu and Mazarine,
in red hats, became visible in the spectacle : but after those cardinals,
there entred wolves, bears, tygers and lions, to consummate the entertain-
ment. If the people of Nem-England had not imagined, that a number
of as rapacious animals were at last come into their government, I sup-
pose they would not have made such a revolution as they did, on April
18, 1689, in conformity to the pattern which the English nation was then
setting before them. Nevertheless, I have nothing in this paragraph of
our History to report of it, but that Mr. Bradstreet was at this time alive;
whose paternal compassions for a country thus remarkably his own, would
not permit him to decline his return unto his former seat in the govern-
ment, upon the unanimous invitation of the people thereunto. It was a
remark then generally made upon him. That though he were then well to-
wards ninety years of age, his intellectual force was hardly abated, but he
retained a vigour and wisdom that would have recommended a youfU(er man
to the government of a greater colony.' And the wonderful difficulties,
through which the colony under his discreet conduct waded, until the
arrival of his Excellency, Sir William Phips, with a commission for the
government, and a new charter in the year 1692, gave a remarkable de-
monstration of it. Yea, this honourable J^estor of New-England, in the
year 1696, was yet alive ; and as Georgius Leontinus, who lived until he
was an hundred and eight years of age, being asked by what means he
attained unto such an age, answered. By my not living voluptuously ; thus
this excellent person attained his good old age, in part, by living very
temperately. And the New-Englanders would have counted it their satis-
faction, if like Arganthonius, who had been fourscore years the goveruour
of the Tartessians, he might have lived unto the age of an hundred and
twenty ; or, even unto the age of Johannes de Temporibus, who was
knighted by the Emperour Charlemaign, and yet was living till the Em-
perour Conrade, and saw, they say, no fewer years than three hundred
threescore and one. Though, to be dissolved and be with Christ, was the
satisfaction which this our Macrobius himself was with a weary soul now

ltd

MAGNAUA CHRISTI AM£RICANA : [Boai 11.

wiiitiDg and loDging for ; and Christ at length granted it wto him, on
March 27, 1697. Then it viiu, that one of the oldest lervanU that God
and the King had upon earth, drew hit lait, io the very place where he
drew hi$Jint, American breath. He died at iSii/«m, in a troablesome
time, and eotred into everlasting pence. And in imitation of what the
Roman orator said upon the death of Craetw, 1 will venture to sa^, Fvii
hoc, luctuotutn auis, Acerbttm Patrim, Grave Boni* Omnihtu : ted n iamen
Rempublicam cams Secuti tunt, ut mihi non Erepta Bradstreeto Vita, sed
donata more etie videatur.

The epitaph on that famous luwjrer, SimoA Pietoritu, we will now em*
plQjr for this eminently prudent and upright administrator of our law.

EPITAPH.

SIMOlf BRAnSTRBET.

Quod Mortale fuit, Tellus tenet ; Inclyta Fama
JVominie haud ullo stat violanda Die.

And add,

Extinctum luget quern tota JVov-Jinglia Patremt
O quantum Claudit parvula Terra Virum !

CHAPTER VI.
Q^BJ 0P3 Idest.ViriAnimati: or, ^S5/Sr^A31S.

Tbk freemen ai Ne^- England had a great variety of worthy men,
among whom they might pick and chuse a number of Magistratks to be
the atsistants of their Governovhs, both in directing the general affairs of
the land, and in diiipensing of justice unto the people. But they wisely
mad^ few alterations in their annual election$ ; and they thereby shewed
their satisfaction in the wise and good conduct of those whom they had
elected. If they called some few of their magistratei from the plough to
the bench, so the old Romans did some of their dictators ; yea, the great-
est Kings in the world once carried plough-shares on the top of their
scepters. However, the inhabitants of New-England never were so un-
happy as the inhabitants of Norcia, a town scarce ten leagues from
Rome ; where they do at this day chuse their own magistrates, but use an
exact care, Tluit no tnan who is able to write, or to read, shall be capable
of any share in the government. The magistrates of New-England have
been of a better education. Indeed, several deserving persons, who
were joined as associates and commissioners unto these, for the more ef-
fectual exucution of the laws in some emergencies, cannot be brought into
our catalogue ; but the names of all our magistrates, with the times whea
I find their first advancement unto that character, are these.

magistrates of the hassachuset-colont.

John WinUirop, Gov.
TTionuts Dudley, Deputy Gov.
Matthew Cradock, 1629.

Tlumas Qoff, 1629.

Sir Richard Saltonstal, 1629.

Isaac Johnson, 1.4»29«.

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND. «f»

Samuel Alderttey. 16?9

John Venn, 182».

John Humfrey, 1629.

Simon Whereamh, 1629.

Increase Aowef, 16*9.

Richard Perry; 1629.

Nathanael Wright, 1629.

Samuel Vassal, 1629.

Theophilus Katon, 1629

Thomas Adams, 1629.

TAomaf Hutchint, 1629.

Oaorge Foxcroft, 1629.

K't7/iom Fasia/, 1629.

H^iWiOTO Pinchon, 1629.

Jofctt Pococik, 1629.

Christopher Cowlson, 1629.

William Coddington, 1629.

5»non Bradstreet, 1629.

JTiomas Sharp, 1629.

/7ocrer Ludltm, 1630.

JBtteord RossiUr, 1630.

JoAn Endicot, 1630.

JoAn Winthrop, JuD. 1632.

JoAn Haines, 1634.

Richard Billingham, 1636.

^tter/on Hough, 1635.

Richird Dummer, 1635.

ffenry Fane, 1636.

Aojper Hartackenden, 1636.

/sroe/ Stoughion, 1637.

Richard Saltonstal, 1637.

7%97na« F/tn<, 1643.

Samue/ Symon», 1643.

fTtZ/tam Hibbons, 1643.

William Tynge, 1643.

Herbert Pelham, 1C45.

Robert Bridges, 1647.

Francis Willoughby, 1650.

Thomas Wiggan, 1650.

Edward Oibbotit,

16S0.

John Olover,

' 1662.

Daniel Oookin,

1602.

Daniel DtnisaH,

1664.

Simon Willard,

166f

Humphrey Athtrton,
Richard nussel, •

1654:

1659.

Thomas Danforth,

1659.

William Hatothomy

1662.

Eleazer Lusher,

1662.

John Ijeroeret,

1665.

John Pinchon,

1666.

Edward Tyng,

1668.

William Stoughton^

1671.

Thotnas Clark,

1673.

Joseph Dudley,

1676.

Peter Bulkley,

1677.

JVathanael Saltonstalf

1679.

Humphrey Davy,

1679.

James i2uM«f,
•Samue/ Vowrf,

1680.

P««er TYfton,

1680.

JoAn Richards,

1680.

John Hull,

1680.

Bartholomew Gidney,

1680.

Thomas Savage,

1G80.

William Brown,

1680.

Samuel Appleton,
Robert P^,

1681.

1682.

Daniel Fisher,

1683.

John Woodbridge,

1683.

Elisha Cook,

1684.

William Johnson,

1684.

John Hawthorn,

1684.

Elisha Hutchinson,

1684.

Samuel Sewal,

1684.

Isaac Addington,

1686.

John Smith,

1686.

MAJOR OENEHAT.S OF THE HIUTART FORCES IN THE C9LONV, SI;CCR!!II>-

FUILY CHOSEN.

Thomas Dudley.
John Endicot.
Edward Gibbons.
Robert Sedgwick.

Humfry Atherton.
Daniil Denison.
John Leveret.
Daniel Gookin.

SECRETARIES OF THE COLOIfr, SUCCESSFUI.i;.Y CHOSEN.

William Burgis. \ Increase JVWei.

Simon Bradstreet.

Edward Rawson.

That these name* are proper aqd worthy to be
History, will he acknowledged, when it is coneidei
Vol. I. 17

^ .- -- found in our Church'
considered, not only that they

130

MAGNALIA CHRISTl AMERICANA: [Boor II.

were (he members of Congregaiiotial ehurehe$, and by the membere of the
churchet chosen to be the rv'£r$ of the Commonwealth ; and that their ex-
emplary behaviour io their magistracy was generally such ai to adorn
the doctrine of God our Saviour, and according to the old Jewiih wishei.
prohibitum eit Homini, inttar principii Dotninari tuner populum, ^ cum
elatione Spiritut, $ed, DKIU HIHl^J <:u>n imin*ii«(udtti« ae Timore : but
alio that their love to, and sseal for, and care of these churches, was not
the least part of their character.

The instances of their concern for the welfare of the churches were
innumerable. 1 will single out but one from the rest, because of some
singular subserviency to the designs of our Church-History, therein to be
proposed. I'll do it only by transcribing an instrument, published Jnnt)
1668, in such terms lU these.

To the Elders and Ministers of every town within the jurisdiction of the
Massachusets in New-England, the Govemour and Council sendeth
Greeting.

REVEREND AND BELOVED IN THE LORD,

* We Bnd in the examples of holy scripture, that magistrates have not

* only excited and commanded all the people under their government, to

* seek the Lord God of their fathers, and do the law and commandment,
' (2 Chron. xiv. 2, 3, 4. Ezra vii. 26, 26, S7,) but also stirred up and
' sent forth the Lttites, accompanied with other principal men, to teach
' Uu good knowledge of the Lord throughout all the cities, (2 Chron. xvii.
' 6, 7, 8, 9,) which endeavours have been crowned with the blessing
'of God.

* Also we find that our brethren of the Congregational perswasion in
'4 England, have made a good profession in their book, entituled,.^ decla-

* ration of their faith and order, (page 59, sect. 14,) where they say.
' That although pastors and teachers stand especially related unto their

* particular churches,, yet they ought not to neglect others living within their
' parochial bounds ; but besides their constant public preaching to them,

* they ought to enquire after their profiting by the word, instructing them

* in, and pressing upon them, {whether young or old) the great doctrines of
' the gospel, even personally and particularly, so far as their strength and

* time will permit.

% * We hope that sundry of yon need not a spur in these things, but are

* conscientiously careful to do your duty. Yet, forasmuch as we have

* cause to fear that there is too much neglect in many places, notwith-
' standing the laws long since provided therein, we do therefore think it

* our duty to emit this declaration unto you, earnestly desiring, and, in

* the bowels of our Lord Jesus, requiring you to be very diligent and
' careful to catechise and instruct all people (especially the ytM^h) under

* your charge, in the sound principles of christian religion ; and that not
>* only in publiel^^ but privately /rom house to house, as blessed Paul did ;

* {Acts XX. 20,) or at least, three, four, or more families meeting together,
*;a8 time and strength may permit ; taking to your assistance such godly

* and grave persons as to you may seem most expedient : and also that

* you labour to inform your selves (as much as may be meet) how your

* hearers do profit by the word of Uod, and how their conversations do
4 agree therewith ; and whether the youth are taught to read the English

' tongue : taking all occasions to apply suitable exhortations particularly

booK Il.J OK, THK HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

ttt

' unto them, for tkt rebuke of tho$e that do evil, and Iht encouragement of-
' Ihem that do well.

* The effectaal and constant prosecution hereof, we hope ivill have n
< tendency to promote t>> ' nalvation of tou/i ; to auppreaa the growth of
' tin and profiineneM ; to beget more love and unity among the people,
* and more reverence nnd eitcem of the minittry : and it will aB8uredi)i
' be to the enlargement of vour crown, and recomper\ce in eternal glory.

Oiven at Botton, the lOth of March, 1668, by the govemour andeounr
> (tV, and by them ordered to be printed, and tent accordingly.

Edward Kawson, Secretary.

CHAPTER Vn.

yublicola Chriatianufl. The Life of Edward Hopkins, Etq. Qavernour

of Connecticut-Colony.

Superiores tint, qui mperiores «fse teiunt.

§ 1. When the great God of heaven had carried his peculiar people
into a wildemeit, the theocracy, wherein he became (as he was for that
reaton stiled) the Ijord of Hottt, unto them and the four squadrons of
their army, was moat eminently displayed in his enacting of their laws,
his directing of their wars, and his electing and inspiring of their jud|^et.
In some resemblance hereunto, when four colonies of christians had
marched like so many hosts under the conduct of the good spirit of our
Lord Jesus Christ into an American wilderness, there were several in-
stances wherein that army of confessors was under a theocracy : for thei#
laws were still enacted, and their wars were still directed by the voice of
God, as far as they understood it, speaking from the oracle of the scrip-
tures: and though tiieir judges were still elected by themselves, and not
inspired with such extraordinary influences as carried them of old, yet
these also being singularly furnished and offered by the special providence
of God unto the government of his NeW'Knglish people, were so emi-
nently acted by kis graces, and his precepts, in the disolMi|;e of their
i^overnment, that the blessed people were still sensibly ranemed by the
Lord of all. Now among the first judges of New-England, was Edward
Hopkins, Esq. in whose time the colony o( Connecticut was favoured with
judges as at the first ; and put under the power of those with whom it
was a maxim, Gratius est pietatis Nomen, quam potestatis.

§ 2. The descent and breeding of Mr. Edward Hopkins, (who was
horn, I think near iS/trows6ury, about the year 1600,) first fitted him for
the condition of a Ttirkey-Merchant , in London ; where he lived several
years in good fashion and esteem, until a powerful party in the Church
of England, then resolving not only to separate from the communion of
ull the faithful that were averse to certain confessedly unscriptural and
nninstituted rites in the worship of God, but also to persecute with destroy-
ing severities those that were non-conformists thereunto, compelled a con-
siderable number of good men to seek a shelter among the salvages of
America. Among these, and with his excellent father-in-law, Mr. The-
ophilus Eaton, he came to JVew-England ; where then removing from
the Mnssachsuet-ha.y unto Hartford upon Connecticut River, he became a

MAQNALIA CHKISTI AMERICANA

[Book II.

ruler iind pillar oi'tlmt colony, during the time of his abode in the coun-
try.

§ 3. In his government he acquitted himself as the Solomon of his
colony, to whom God gave wisdom and knowledge, that he might go out
and comt in before the people ; and us he was the head, so he was tiie heart of
of the people, for the reeiolution to do well, which he maintained among
them. An unjmt judge is, as one says, a cold fire, a dark tun, a dry tea,
ati utigood God, a roiilniiliitio in adjcclo. Far from such was our/fop-
knu< i no, he was, hxttw 'iii».yl>»xi**f '* meer piece of living justice. And
as he hiid no separate mterenta of hm own, so he pursued their interests
with such uii unspotted and successful lidclity, that they might call him
as the tribci oi Benjamin did their leader in the wilderness, Midan, that
18 to say, ourj'ttther is judge. A'ew- England saw little dawningt, and em-
blems, and cdrnents of tlae day, that the greatness of the kingdom under the
whole heavin shall be given unto the people, oj'the saints oj'the Most High, when
such a saint us our Hofkins was one of its governours. And the felici-
ty which u great man has prognosticated for Europe, that God. will stir up
some hiippji governonr in some country in Christendom, indued with wisdom
and roiisidrration, who shall discern the true nature of Godliness and Chris-
tianity and the necessity and excellency of serious religion, and shall place his
honour and felicity in pleasing God and doing good, and attaining everlasting
happiness, and shall subject nil worldly respects unto these high and glorious
emis: this was now exemphtied in Jlmcrica.

§ 4. Most exemplary was his piety and his charity; and while he
governed others by the laws of God, he did Atmsi'// yield a profound sub-
jection unto those laws. He was exemplarily watchful over his own be-
haviour, and made a continual i;onfcm;;/a/t»?» of, am\ preparation for death,
to be the character of his life. It was his manner to rise early, even be-
tiirc day, to enjoy the devotions of his closet : after which he spent a con-
siderable time in reading, and opening, and applying the word of God
unto his family, and then praying with them : and he had one particular
way to cause attention in the people of his family, which was to ask any
person that seemed careless in the midst of his discourse, What was il
that I read or spoke last ? wereby he habituated them unto such an atten-
tion, that they were still usually able to give a ready account. But as for
bis prayers, tliey were not only frequent, but so fervent also, that he fre-
quently fell a bleeding at the nose through the agony of spirit with which
he laboured in them. And especially when imploring such s}nritual bles-
:sings as, that God would grant in the end rf our lives, the end of our hopes,
even the salvation of our souls, he would be so transported, that the observ-
ing and judicious hearers would say sometimes upon it. Surely this man
cannot be long out of heaven. Moreover, in his neighbourhood he not
only set himself to encourage and countenance real Godliness, but also
would himself kindly visit the .Meetings that the religious neighbours pri-
vately kept for the exerrisies of it ; and where the least occasion for con-
tention w. otVered, he would, with a prudent and speedy endeavour, ex-
tinguish it. But the poor he so considered, that besides the daily relief
which with his own hands he dispenced unto them, he would put consid-
erable sums of money into the hands of his friends, to be by them employ-
ed as they saw opportunity to do good unto all, especially tlu houshold of
faith. In this* thing he was like (.liiit noltle and worthy English General,
of whom 'tis noted, he never thou^iit he had any thing but what he gave
away ; and yet aiivf all. n iUi much humility he /ould profess, as one of
ihe most liUcrr^l men 'haf over was in the world often would, / have often

Book II.] OR, THE HISTOKY OF NEW-KNGLAN1>.

lii:i

turned wer my books of accountt, but I could never find tlie great Qod
charged a debtor there.

§ &. But suffering as well as doing belongs to the compleat character
of a christian ; and there were several trials wherein our Lord called this
eminently patient servant of his to sujer the will of God. He conflicted
with bodily infirmities, but especially with a wasting and a bloody cough,
which held him for thirty years together. He had been by fresecutlvns
driven to cross an ocean, to which he had in his nature an antipathy ; and
then a wilderness full of such crosses as attend the beginning of a plan-
tation, exercised him. Nevertheless there was one alHiction which co;i-
titmally dropt upon him above all the rest, and that was this, he married
a daughter which the second wile of Mr. Eaton had by a former hus-
band ; one that from a child had been observable for desirable quali-
ties. But some time after she wsis married, she fell into n distempered
melancholy, which at last iasued in an ineurable dtiilr„^:lion, ivilh such
illshaped ideas in her brain, as use to be formed when the animal
spirits are fired by irregular particles, fixed with acid, biiiouH, veu-
enious ferments in the blood. Very grievous was this aflliction unto this
her worthy consort, who was by temper a very nil'ectionate person : and
who now left no part of a tender husband undone, to eaue, and, if it
wPTe possible, to cure the lamentable desolation thus come upon, the
desire of his eyes ; but when the physician gave him to understand, that
no means would be likely to restore her sense, but such as would be also
likel)' to hazard her /t/'e, he replied with tears, Uiad rather bear my cross
unto '.he end that the Lord shall give ! but upon this occasion he said unto
her sister, \vho, with all the rest related unto lur, were as dear unto him
as his oum ; I have often thouglit, what slioiild be tlic meaning of the Lord,
in chastising of tne with so sliarp a rod, and with so long a stroke ; where-
to, when she replied. Sir, nothing singular has, in this case, bif alien you;
God liath afflicted others in the like way ; and we must be content with our
jtortion ; he answered, Sister, this is among the Lordh rarities. For my
part I cannot tell what sore to lay my hand upon : hmvever, in general, my
novereign Lord is just, and I will justifie him for ever : but in partkularfl
Juioe thouglit the- mcUter might lye litre : / promised my selj too much con-
tent in this relation and enjoyment ; and the Lord will make me to kiunv
that this world shall not afford it me. So he wisely, meekly, fruitfully
bore this heavy afiliction unto his dying day; having been taught by the
aflliction to die daily, as long as he lived.

§ (j. About governour Eaton, his father-in law, he saw cause to say
unto a sister-in-law, whom he much valued j / have often wondred at my
father and your father ; I have heard him say. Thai lie never had a repent-
ing, or a repining thought, about his cominsr to New-Eugland : surely, in
this matter he hath a grace Jar otU-shining mine. But he is our father ! I
cannot say, as he can, I have lutd hard work with my oan heart about it. But
upon the death of his elder brother, who was warden of the feet, it wa^
necessary for him to return into England, that he miglit look after thn
estate which then fell unto him; and accordingly, after a tempestuou?
and a terrible voyage, wherein they were eminently endangered by fire.
accidentally enkindled on the ship as well as by zi-oter, which tore it ft^
to pieces, that it was towed in by another ship, he at length,

Per Varios Casus ; per tot Discriminu Rerum.

arrived there. 77jere a great notice was quickly taken of him : he wa^

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA;

[ItooK 11.

made warden of the fleet, commissioner of the admiralty, and the navy-
office, a parliaiiient<man ; and he was phiced in uome other considerable
stations : in all which he more than answered the expectations of those
who took him to be n person eminently qualified for public service. By
these employments, his design of returning to Ncw-Lngland, with which
he left it, was diverted so far, that he sent for his family ; and about the
lime that he looked for them, he being advantaged by his great places to
employ certain frigots for their safety on the coast, by that means had
them safely brouglit unto him. When they were with him in London,
one of them told him bow much his friends in New-England wished and
prayed for his return : and how that passage had been used in our pub-
ilck supplicationH for that mercy, Lord, if wemay win him in heaven, we
!>hall yet have hiin on earth: but be replyed, //lave had vtany thoughts
about my return, and my affections have been bent very strongly that way ;
and tlwugh I have now, blessed be God, received my family here, yet that
shall be no hindrance to my return. I will tell you, though I am little worth,
yet I have that love which will dispose tne to serve the Lord, and that peoph
of his. But as to that matter, I incline to think they will not win it in heaven ;
and I kitatv not whether the terrors of my dreadful voyage hither might not
be ordered by the divine providence, to stake me in this land, being in my
spirit sxifficiently loth to run the hazard of such another. I must also say to
you, I mourn exceedingly, and I fear, 1 tear, the sins of New-England will
t'Ve long be read in its punishments. The Lord has planted that land with
a noble vine ; and blessed hast thou been, O land, in thy rulers ! But,
alas ! for the generality they lutve not considered how they were to honour the
rules of God, in Iwnouring of those whom God made rulers oruer them ; and
I fear they will come to smart by having them set over them, that it will be an
hard work to honour, ajid that will hardly be capable to manage their af-
fairs.

§ 7. Accordingly he continu<id in £ni^/andtlie rest of his days, in seve-
ral places of great honour and burden faithfully serving the nation ; but
in the midst of his publick employments most exactly maintaining the
zeal and watch of his own private walk with God. His mind kept con-
tinually mellowing and ripening for heaven ; and one expression of his
heavenly mind, among many others, a little before his end, was, How often
have I pleased my self with thoughts of a joyful meeting with my father
Eaton ! / remember witli what pleasure he would come down the street,
that he might meet me when I came from Hartford unto New-Haven : but
with how much greater pleasure shall wc shortly meet one another in heaven f
But as an heavenly mind is oftentimes a presaging mind, so he would
sometimes utter this presage unto some that were near and dear unto
him ; God will shortly take tlie Protector away, and soon after that yoti will
see great changes overturning the present constitution, and sore troubles
come upon those that now promise better things unto themselves. However,
he did not live to see the fulHlment of this prediction.

§ 8. For the time now drew near that this Israelite was to die ! He had
been in his life troubled with many /ears of death ; and after he fell sick,
even when he drew very near his death, he said with tears, Oh: pray
forme, for J am in extream darkness! But at length, on a LorJ's day.
about the very time when Mr. Caryl was publickly praying for him, his
darkness all vanished, and he broke forth into these expressions, Oh!
Lord, thou hast kept the best wine until the last ! Oh ! friends, could you
believe this ? I shall be blessed for ever, I shall iftdckly be in eternal glory.
.Vow let the xchole zt-orld count me vile, and call me an hypocrite, or what

[UOOK 11.

the navy-
Dsiderable
18 of tb«)fie
rvice. By
with which
1 about the
it places to
means had
in London,
wished and
n our pub-
heaven, we
any thoughts
ly that way ;
sre, ytt that
% little worth,
d that peoph
it in heaven ;
her might not
being in my
.St alto say to
England will
hat land with
ulers ! But,
to honour the
er them ; and
t it will be an
nage their af-

lays, in seve-
nation ; but
[intaining the
nd kept con-
ression of his
js, How often
ith my father
m the street,
•Haven : bttt
;r in heaven !
so he would
id dear unto
that you will
sore troiiblen
. However,

Htc .' He had
rhe feil sick,
g. Oh: pray
LorJ's day
for him, his
J-essions, Oh!
\ds, could you
\eternal glory.
Icritc, or rehai

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. W,

they will, I matter it not ; I shall be blessed ; there is reserved for me a
crown of glory. Oh ! blessed be God for Jesvs Christ ! I have heretofore
thought it an hard thing to die, but now I find that it is not so. If I might
have my choice, I would now chuse to die ; Oh ! my Ijord, I pray thee send
me not back again into this evil world, I have enough of it ; no. Lord, now
take me to glory, and the kingdom that is prepared for me I Yea, the
standers by thought it not possible for them to utter exactly after hi(n,
the heavenly words which now proceeded from him' ; and when one of
them said, Sir, the Lord hath enlarged your faith ; he replied, Friend, this
is sense ; the Lord hath even satisfied my sense ; I am sensibly satisfied of
everlasting glory ! Two or three days he now spent in prayers and prai-
ses, and in inexpressible joys: in which time, when some eminent per-
sons of a very publick station and imployment came to visit him, unto
them he said. Sirs, take heed of your hearts while you are in your work for
God, that there be no root of bitterness within you. It may be pretended
your desires are to serve God, but if there are in you secret aims at advanC'
ing of your selves, and your own estates and interests, the Lord will not ac*
cept your services as pure before him.

But at length in the month of March, 1657, at London he expired ;
when being opened, it was found that his heart had been unaccountably,
as it were, boiled and wasted in water, until it was become a little brit-
tle skin, which being touched, presently dropped in pieces. He had
often wished, upon some great accounts, that he might live till the be.>
ginning of this year ; and now when he lay a dying, he said. Lord ! thou
hast fulfilled my desires according to thy word, that thou wilt fulfil the dS'
sires of them that fear thee.

Now from the tombstone of another eminent person, we will fetch
what shall here be a proper

EPITAPH. .V

Part of Edward Hopkins, Esq.

But heaven, not brooking that the earth should share ■<

In the least atom of a piece so rare,
i :i Intends to sue out, by a nesu revt«e, *■ , . .(v <„,.,,
His habeas corpus at the grand assize. '<- ■ ' ■

■ l>!;V.r-!-.» ■

ly';. (' ','1 ■

'•>«<•

CHAPTER VIll.
SUCCESSORS.

§ 1. Altrrnatelv, for the most part every other year, Mr. Haim,
whom we have already mentioned elsewhere, took a turn with Mr. Hop-
kins in the chief place of government. And besides these, (reader, the
oracle that once predicted government unto a e, would now and here
predict it unto a W,) there were Mr. Willis, Mr. Wells, and Mr. Web-
ster, all of whom also had opportunity to express their liberal and gene-
rous dispositions, and the governing virtues of wisdom, justice and cour-
ag«> by the election of the freemen in the colony before its being united
with fiew-Haven. Had the surviving relations of these worthy men sent
in unto me a tenth part of the considerable and imitable things which or-

MAGNALIA CHRIStI AMERICANA

[Book If.

fiurred in their lives, they might have made more of a figare in this our
history ; whereas I must now sum up all, with assuring my reader, that
it is the want of knowledge in m«, and not of desert in them, that has con-
fined us unto this brevity.

§ 2. After the union of Connecticut with New-Haven, there were in
chief government Mr. Leet, whom we have already paid our dues unto ;
and Mr. Treat, who is yet living, a pious and a valiant man, and (if even
Annosa Quercus be an honourable thing !) worthy to be honoured for an
hoary head found in the way of righteousness : besides, Mr. Winthrop, of
whom anon, reader, expect a compleater history.

^I»!

i^-'m >*" ■■' -■'' A\

CHAPTER IX. -

Humilitas Honorata. The Life of Theophilvs Eaton, Esq. Govemour

of New-Haven Colony.

Jxistitia Cultor, Rigidi Senator Honesti,
In Commune Bonum.

§ 1. It has been enquired, why the evangelist Luke'm the Jirst sacred his-
tory which he addressed unto his fellow-citizen, gave him the, title of
*rhe most excellent Theophilvs, but in the next he used no higher a stile
than plain Theophilus! And though several other answers might be given to
that enquiry, 'tis enough to say, that neither the civility of Luke, nor no'
bility of Theophilus, were by age abated ; but Imke herein considered the
disposition of Theophilus, as well as his own, with whom a reduced age
had rendered all titles of honour more disagreeable superfluities. Indeed
nothiv;^ woul<^ have been more unacceptable to the govemour of our
New'Haven colony, all the time of his being so, than to have been advan-
ced and applauded above the rest of mankind ; yet it must be now pub-
lished unto the knowledge of mankind, that New-England could not of
his quality show a mxne excellent person, and this was Theophilus Eaton,
Esq. the first govemour of that colony. Humility is a virtue whereof
Amyraldus observes, There is not so much as a shadow of commendation in
all the pagan writers. But the reader is new concerned with writings
which will commend a person for humility ; and therefore our Eaton, in
whom the shine of every virtue was particularly set off with a more
than ordinary degree of humility, must now be proposed as commend-
able.

§ 3. 'Tis reported, that the earth taken from the banks of Nilus, will
very strangely sympathize with the place from whence it was taken, and
grow moist or dry according to the increase and the decrease of the
river. And in spite of that Popish lie which pretends to observe the
contrary, this thing has been signally moralized in the daily observation,
that the sons of ministers, though betaking themselves to other imploy-
ments, do ordinarily carry about with them an holy and happy savour of
their ministerial education. 'Twas remarkably exemplified in our Theoph-
ilus Eaton, who was born at Stony-Stratford in Oxfordshire, the eldest son
to the faithful and famous minister of the place. But the words of old
used by Philostratus concerning the son of a great man, .As for his son I
have nothing else to say, but that he was his son ; they could not be used
concerning our Theophilus, who having received a good education from

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

Hi.

his pious parents, did live many years to answer that education in hit>
OWD piety and usefulness. ,

§ 3. His father being removed unto Coventry, he there at school fell
into the intimate acqu-untance of that worthy John Davenport, with
whom the providence of God many years after united in the great under-
taking of settling a colony of chrintian and reformed churches on th^
American strand. Here his ingenuity iind proficiency rendered him no*
table ; and ?o vast was his memory, ihat although hk wrote not at the
church, yet when he came home, he would, at his father's call, repeat
unto those that met in his father's house, the sermons which had been
publickly preached by others, as well as his own ~ ^her, with such ex-
actness, as astonished all the neighbourhood. But in ..neir after improve-
ments, the hands of divine providence were laid across upon the heads df
Theophilus Eaton, and John Davenport; for £)aren/)or^. whose father was
the mayor of Coventry, became a minister ; and Eaton, whose father was
minister of Coventry, contrary to his intentions, became a merchant. His
parents were very loth to have complied with his inclinations ; but their
compliance therewithal did at last appear to have been directed by a
special favour of heaven unto the familjf, when after the death of his
father, he, by this means, became the Joseph, by whom his mother was
maintained until she died, and his orphan brethren and sisters had no small
part of their subsistence.

§ 4. During the time of his hard apprenticeship he behaved himself
wisely; and his wisdom, with God's /avour, particularly appeared in his
chaste escape from the snares of a young woman in the house where he
lived, who would fain have taken him in the pits by the wise man cau-
tioned against, and who was herself so taken only with his most comely
person, that she dyed for the love of him, when she saw him gone too
far to be obtained : whereas, by the like snares, the apprentice that next
succeeded him was undone for ever. But being a person herewithal
most signally diligent in his business, it was not long before the maxim of
the mse Tnan was most literally accomplished in his coming to stand be-
fote princes ; for being made a /reeman of Lion(ion, he applied himself
unto the East-Country trade, and was publickly chosen the deputy-go-
vernour of the company, wherein he so acquitted himself as to become
considerable. And afterwards going himself into the East-Country, he
not only became so well acquainted with the affairs of the Baltick-sea,
but also became so well improved in the accomplishments of a man of
business, that the King of England imployed him as an agent unto the
King of Denmark. The concerns of bis agency he so discreetly man-
aged, that as he much obliged and engaged the East-Land company, (who
in token thereof presented his wife with a bason and ewer double gilt,
and curiously wrought with gold, and weighing above sixty pound,) so
he found much acceptance with the King of Denmark, and was afterwards
used by that prince to do him no little services. Nevertheless he kept
his integrity amongst the temptations nf that court, whereat he was now
a resident ; and not seldom had he most eminent cause to acknowledge
the benignity and interposal of heaven for his preservations ; once par-
ticularly, ivhen the King of Denmark was beginning the King of Eng-
land's health, while Mr. Eaton, who disliked such health-drinking, was
in his presence ; the King fell down in a sort of a 6t, with the cup in his
hand, whereat all the nobles and courtiers wholly applied themselves to
convey the King into his chamber, and there was no notice- taken who
Vot. I. • Ifi

138

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICAI^A : [Book II

was to pledge his health ; whereby Mr. Eaton was the more easily de-
livered from any share in the debauch.

§ 5. Having arrived unto a fair estate, (which he v/m Jirst willing to
do,) he married a most virtuous gentlewoman, to whom he had iirst es-
poused himself after he had spent three years in an absence from her in
the Eatt-Country. But this dearest and greatest of his temporal enjoy-
ments proved but a temporal one ; for living no longer with him than to
render him the father of two children, she almost killed him with her
own d^ath ; and yet at her death she expressed herself wondrous willing
to be dissolved, and to be with Christ, from whom (she said) I would not be
detained one hour for all the enjoyments upon earth. He afterwards mar-
ried a prudent and pious widow, the daughter of the bishop of Chester ;
unto the three former children of which widow, he became a most exem-
plary, living and f lithful father, as well as a most worthy husband unto
herself, by whom he afterwards had five children, two sons and three
daughters. But the second of hischiMren by his latter wife dying some
while before, it was not long before his two children by his former wife
were smitten with the plague, whereof the elder died, and his house
thereupon shut up witli a, Lord have mercy! However the Lord had
this mercy on the family, to let the distemper spread no further ; and so
Mr. Eatort spent many years a merchant of great credit and fashion in
the city of London.

§ 6. At length conformity to ceremonies humanely invented and impos-
ed in the woriihip of God, was urged in the Church of England \yith so
much rigour, that Mr. Davenport was thereby driven to seek a refuge
from the storm in the cold and rude corners of America. Mr. Eaton had
already assisted the new Massachuset-colony, as being one of the patentees
for it ; but had no purpose of removing thither himself, until Mr. Dav-
enport, under whose excellent ministry he lived, was compelled unto a
share in this removal. However, being fully satisfied in his own con-
science, that unlawful things were now violently demanded of him, he
was willing to accompany his persecuted pastor in the retreat from vio-
lence now endeavoured, and many eminent Z^ne^oners chearfu I ly engaged
with him in this undertaking. Unto New-England this company of good
men came in the year 1637, where chusing to be a distinct colony by
themselves, more accommodated unto the designs of mercliandize than of
husbandry, they sought and bought a large territory in the southern parts
of the country for their habitations. In the prosecution hereof, the
chief care was devolved upon Mr. Eaton, who with an unexempled pa-
tience took many tedious and hazardous journies through a desolate wil-
derness full of barbarous Indians, until upon mature deliberation he
pitched upon a place now called New-Haven, where they soon formed a
very regular town ; and a number of other towns along the sea side were
quickly added thereunto. But by the difficulties attending these journies,
Mr. Eaton brought himself into an extream sickness ; from which he
recovered not without a fistula in his breast, whereby he underwent
much affliction. When the chirurgeon came to inspect the sore, he told
him. Sir, I know not how to go about what is necessary for your cure; but
Mr. Eaton answered him, God calls you to do. and me to suffer! And God
accordingly strengthened him to bear miserable cuttings and launciqgs of
his flesh with a most invincible patience. The chirurgeon indeed made
so many wounds, that he was nc^t able to cure what he had made ; anoth-
er, and abetter, hand was necessarily imployed for it ; b\it in the mean

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND,

139

while great wc-re the trials with which the God of heaven exercised the
faith of this hia holy servant.

§ 7. Mr. Eaton and Mr. Davenport were the Mosca and Mron of the
christian colony now erected in the south-west parts of New-England ;
and Mr. Eaton being yearly and ever chosen their governour, it was the
admiration of all spectators tu behold the discretion, the gravity, th^
equity with which he still managed all their publick a^airs. He carried
in his very countenance a majesty which'cannot be described ; and in
his dispensations of justice he was a mirrour for the most imitable impar'
tiality, but ungainsayable authority of his proceedings, being avrnilly
sensible of the obligations which the oath of a judge lays Upon him.
lis sont plus tenvs de raison de garder Leur Serment, doubter mort, o« au'
cutie forfeiture : and hence he, who would most patiently bear hard
things oiTered unto his person in private cases, yet would never pass by
any pubHck affronts, or neglects offered, when he appeared under the
character of a magistrate. But he still was the guide of the blind, the
staff of the lame, the helper of the widow and the orphan, and all the
distressed ; none that had a good cause was afraid of coming before him :
on the one side, in his days did the righteous flourish ; on the other side,
he was the terrour of evil doers. As in his government of the common-
wealth, so in the government of his family, he was prudent, serious,
happy to a wonder ; and albeit he sometimes had a large family, consist*
ingof no less than thirty persons, yet he managed them with such an
evtn temper, that observers have affirmed. They never saw an house or-
dered with more wisdom ! He kept an honourable and hospitable table ;
but one thing that still made the entertainment thereof the better, was
the continual presence of his aged mother, by feeding of whom with an
exemplary piety till she died, he ensured his own prosperity as long as he
lived. His children and servants he would mightily encourage unto the
study of the scriptures, and countenance their addresses unto himself
with any of their enquiries ; but when he discerned any of them sinfully
uegligent about the concerns either of their general or particular callings,
he would admonish them with such a penetrating efficacy, that they
could scarce forbear falling down at his feet with tears. A word of his
was enough to steer them !

§ 8. So exemplary was he for a christian, that one who had been a ser-
vant unto him, could many years after say, Whatever difficulty in my daily
zealk I now meet withal, still something that I either saw or heard in my
blessed master Eaton's conversatif*n, helps me through it all ; I have reason
to bless God that ever I knew him! It was hb custom when he first rose in a
morning, to repair unto his study ; a study well perfumed with the medi-
tations and supplications of an holy soul. After this, calling his family
together, he would then read a portion, of the scripture among them, and
after some devout and useful reflections upon it, he would make a prayer
not long, but extraordinary pertinent and reverent ; and in the evening
some of the same exercises were again attended. On the Saturday
morning he would still take notice of the approaching sabbath in his
prayer, and ask the grace to be remembring of it, and preparing for it ;
and when the evening arrived, he, besides this, not only repeated a ser-
mon, but also instructed his people, with putting of questions referring to
the points of religion, which would oblige them to study for an answer ;
and if their answer were at any time insufficient, he would wisely and
gently enlighten their understandings ; all which he concluded with sing-
ni^ of a psalm. When the Lord's day came, he called his family togeth-

lit

MAONALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book II.

er at the time for the ringing of the first bell, and repeated a sermon,
whereunto he added a fervent prayer, eapeciully tending unto the sanctifi-
cation of the day. At noon he sang a psalm, and at night he retired an hour
into his closet; advising those in his house to improve the same time for the
good of their own souls. He then called his family together again, and
in an obliging manner conferred with them about the things with which
they had been entertained in the house of God, shutting up all with a
;^rayer for the blessing of God upon them all. For solemn days of Au-
t.Miation, or of thanksgiving, he took the same course, and endeavoured
still to make those that belonged unto him, understand the meaning of
the services before them. He seldom used any recreations, but being a
great reader, all the time he could spare from company and business, he
commonly spent in hia beloved study ; so that he merited the name which
was once given to a learned ruler of the English nation, the name of
Beauclerk: in conversing with his friends, he was affable, courteous,
and generally pleasant, but grave perpetually ; and so cautelous and cir-
cumspect in his discourses, and so modest in his expressions, that it be-
came a proverb for incontestable truth, Govemour Eaton said it.

But after all, his humility appeared in his having always but low expectO'
tions, looking for little regard and reward from any men, after he had
merited as bi^ihly as was possible by his universal serviceableuess.

§ 9. Hit eldest son he maintained nt the Colledge until he proceeded
master of aria; and he was indeed the son of his vows, and a son of great
hopes. But a severe catarrh diverted this young gentleman from the
work of the ministry whereto his father had once devoted him ; and h
malignant fever then raging in those parts of the country, carried off
him with his wife within two or three days of one another. This was
counted the sorest of all the trials that ever hefel hn father in the days of
the years of his pilgrimage ; but he bore it with a patience and compo-
sure of spirit which was truly admirable. His dying son looked earnestly
on him, and said, Sir, what shall we do! Whereto, with a well-ordered
countenance, he replied. Look tip to God! And when he passed by his
daughter drowned in tears on this occasion, to her he said, Remember the
sixth commandment, hurt not your self with immoderate grief; remember
Job, who said. The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken away,
blessed be the name of the Lord ! You may mark what a note the spirit
of God put upon it; in all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolish-
ly : God accounts it a charging of him foolishly, when we don't submit
unto his will patiently. Accordingly he now governed himself as one that
had attained unto the rule of weeping as if we wept not ; for it being the
Lord's day, he repaired unto the church in the afternoon, as he had been
there in the forenoon, though he was never like to see his dearest son
alive any more in this world. And though before the first prayer began,
a messenger came to prevent Mr. Davenport's praying for the sick per-
son, who was now ({eon,yet his affectionate father altered not his course,
but wrote after the praacher as formerly ; and when he came home he
held on his former meUiods of divine worship in his family, not for the
excuse of Aaron, omit ing any thing in the service of God. In like sort,
when the people bar jeen at the solemn interment of this his worthy
son, he did with a very unpassionate aspect and carriage then say.
Friends, I thank you all for your love and help, and for this testimony of
respect unto me and mine : the Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken ;
blessed be the name of the Lord! Nevertheless, retiring hereupon
into the chamber where bis daughter then lay sick, some tears were

.■ i -

Book U] OK, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

141

observed falling from him while he uttered these words, There m a dif^
ference betwuen a tuUen nletwe or a $tuy' semtUitnesM utuUr the hand of
God, and a ehitd-like iubmi$non thereunto.

& 10. Thus continually be, for about ■ score of years, was the glory
ana pillar of Netv-Haven colony. He would often aay. Some covmt it a
great matter to die well,| but I am itire Hie a great matter to live tfell.
AU our care should be while we have our life to uie it well, and $o when
death puts an end unto that, it will put an end unto all our cares. But baV'
iog excellently managed his care to live well, Qod would have him to die
well, without any room or time then given to take any care at all ; for he
enjoyed a death sudden to every one but himself! Having worshipped
God with his family after his usual manner, and uoon some occasion wiUi
much solemnity charged all the family to carry u well unto tlieir mis-
tress who was now confined by sickness, he sapped, and then took a turn
or two abroad for his meditations. After that he came in to bid his wife
good-nighty before he left her with her watchers; which when he did,
she said, Methinks you look sad! Whereto he replyed, The ddfferetues
risen in the church of Hartford make me so ; she then added, Let us even
go back to our nattve country again; to which he answered. You may,
[and so she did] but I sk-ll die here. This was the last word that ever
she heard him speak ; for now retiring unto his lodging in another cham-
ber, he was overheard about midnight fetching a groan ; and unto one,
sent In presently to enquire how he did, he answered the enquiry with
only saying. Very ill! and without saying anymore, he fell asleep inJe-
MS, in the year 1657, loosing anchor from J^ew-Haven for the better.

Ostendunt.

-Sedes, ubi Fata, Quietus

Now let his gravestone wear at least the following

EPITAPH.

New-Enoland's glory, full of warmth and light.
Stole away (and said nothing) tn(Ae mg/tf.

CHAPTER X.

SUCCESSORS.

§ 1 . When the day arrived in the anniversary course for thO' freeman of
the colony to elect another governour in the place of the deceased Ea-
ion, Mr Davenport preached on that passage of the divine oracle, in Josh.
i. 1,2, JVbtt) after tiie death o/* Moses, the servant of the Lord, it came to
pass that the Lord spake unto 3 oahuR, the son of Sun, M,oaea* minister, saying,
JVow arise thou and all this people. The colony was abundantly sensible
that their Eaton had been a man of a Mosaic spirit ; and that while they
chose him, as they did every year of his life among them to be their gov-
ernour, they could not chuse a better. But they now considered that
Mr. Francis ATewman, who had been for many years the secretary of the
colony, was there a minister to their Moses, as he had been otl^snvisc
his intimate friend, neighbour, companion and connsellor. For thi<$ ranxt;

Ufi

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Boot II.

the unaniinoua choice of the freemen fell upon this gentleman to succeed
in the government. And 1 shall here give a sufficient history of his gov-
ernment ; vvhich through death was md suffered to continue above three
or four years, by only saying, That he walked exactly in the steps of his
predecessor.

§ 2. Upon the setting of Mr. Francis liewtnan, there arose Mr. IVil'
Ham Leet, of whom let not the reader be displeased at this brief account.
This gentleman was by his education a lawyer, and by his imployment (k
register in the Bishop'' s Court. In that station, ut Cam6rtdg<, he observed
that there were summoned before the court certain persons to answer
fur the crime of going to hear sermons abroad, when there were none to
be heard in their own Darish churches at home ; and that when any were
brought before them {^fornication or adultery, the court only made them-
selves merry with their Peccadillos ; and that these latter transgressions
were as favourably dealt witttal, as ever the wo/^was when be came with
an auricular confession of his murders to his brother/ox for absolution :
but the former found as hard measure as ever the poor ass, that had only
taken a straw by mistake out of a pilgrim^s pad, and yet upon confession,
was by Chancellour Fox pronounced unpardonable. This observation
extreamly scandalized Mr. Leet, who always thought, that hearing a good
aetmon had been a lesser fault than lying with one's neighbour's wife : and
had the same resentments that Austin sometimes had of the iniquity
which made the transgression of a ceremony more severely reprehended than
a transgression of the law of God ; but it made an everlasting impres-
sion upon his heart, when the judge of the court furiously demanded of
one then to ^3 censured. Hew he durst be so bold as to break the laws of
the church, in going from, his own parish to hear sermons abroad ? And the
honest man answered. Sir, how should I get faith else? For the apostle
saith. Faith comes by hearing the word preached ; which faith is necessary to
salvation ; and hearing the word is the means appointed by God for the ob-
taining (fnd encreasing of it : and these means I must use, whatever I staffer
for it in this world. These words of that honest man were blessed by
God with such an effect upon the mind of Mr. Leet, that he presently
left his office in the Bishop's Court, and forsaking that untoward genera-
tion of men, he associated himself with such as would go hear the word,
that they might get faith ; and in hearing he did happily get the like pre-
cious faith. On this, and for this, he was exposed unto the persecution,
which caused him to retire into Kew-England with many worthy minis-
ters and other christians, in the year 1639. In that country he settled
himself under the ministry of the excellent Mr. Whitfield at Guilford,
where being also chosen a magmf rate, and then govemour of the colony ;
and being so at the juncture of time, when the Royal Charter did join
Connecticut and New-Haven, he became next unto Govemour Winthrop,
the deputy-governour of the whole ; and after the death of Mr. Winthrop,
even until his own death, the annual election for about a decad of years
together, still made him govemour. But in his whole government he gave
continual demonstrations of an excellent spirit, especially in that part of
it where the reconciliation and th^ coalition of (he spirits of the people
under it was to be occomplished. Mr. Robert Treat is the follower of
his example^ as well as the successor in his government.

Book II.) OR, THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLAND: 145

«r. mi'

account.

jyment ft

observed

> answer

» none to

any were

ade them-

sgressions

came with

htolution :

it had only

confeinon,

bservation

ing a good

wife : and

lie iniquity

hended ^an

lOg imprea-

emanded of

: the law of

t And the
the apostle

necetiary to
for the ob-
wer I sufftT

< blessed by
e presently

'irrf genera-
\r the word^
.le lihe pre-
Vpersecution,
'frthy minis-
) he settled
A Guilford,
[the colony ;
Her did join
|r Winihrop,
. Winthropt
ad of years
|ent he gave
Ihat part of
^ the people
follower of

CHAPTER XI.

Hermes Chiislianus. The Life of John Wintiirop, Eiq. Governonr
of Connecticut and New-Havkn united.

— Et.J^os aliguod JSTointnq ; Decusq ;
Gessimus. —

§ 1. If the historian could give that character of the best Roman Etn-
peror, that he was Bonus a Bono, Pius a Pio, the ton of a father like him-
self, our history may aflirm concerning a very good J^ew-tlnglish govem-
our also, that he was the father of a son like himltelf. The proverb of
the Jews which doth observe, That vinegar is the son of wine ; anil the
proverb of the Greeks, which doth observe, That the sons of heroes are
trespassers, has been more than once contradicted in the happy experi-
ence of the New-Englanders : but none of the least remarkable contra*
dictions given to it has been in the honourable family of our Winthrops.

§ 2. The eldest son of John Winthrop, Esq; the governour of one-
colony, was John Winthrop, Esq; the governtur of another, in, therefore
happy, Neva- England, born Feb. 12, 1605, at Groton in England. His
glad father be&towed on him a liberal education at the university, first of
Canwridge in Englrnd, and then of Dublin in Ireland ; and because travel
has been esteemed i.o little accomplisher of a young gentlenuin, he then
accomplished himself by travelling into France, Holland, Flanders, Italy,
Germany, and as far as Turky it self; in which places he so improved his
opportunity of conversing with all sorts of learned men, that he return-
ed home equally a subject of much experience, and of great expectation.
§ 3. The son of Scipio Africanus proving a degenerate person, the
people forced him to pluck off a signet-ring, which he wore with his
father's face engraven on it. But the son of our celebrated Governour
Winthrop, was on the other side so like unto his excellent father for early
wisdom and virtue, that arriving ai New-England with his father's fami-
ly, jVov. 4, 1631, he was, though not above twenty-three years of dge.
by the unanimous choice of the people, chosen a magistrate of the colo-
ny, whereof his father was the governour. For this colony he afterwards,
did many services, yea, and he did them abroad as well as at home ; very
particularly in the year 1634, when returning for England, he was by bad
weather forced into Ireland, where being invHed unto the bouse of Sir
John Clotworthy, he met with many considerable persons, by conferring
with whom, the affairs of New-England were not a little promoted ; but
it was another colony for which the providence of heaven intended him
to be such another /a(Aer, as his own honourable /a</ier bad been to this.
§4. In the year 1635, Mr Winthrop returned xknio New-England, with
powers fr .ui the Lord Say and the Lord Brook, to settle a plantation up-
on the Long River of Connecticut, and a commission to be himself the gov-
ernour of that plantation. But inasmuch as many good people of the Mas-
sachuset-clony bad just before this taken possession of land for a new-
colony thereabouts, this courteous and peaceable gentleman gave them
no molestation ; but having wisely accommodated the matter with them,
he sent a convenient number of men, with all necessaries, to erect a forti-
tication at the mouth of the river, where a town, with a fort, is now dis-
tinguished by the name of Say-Brook ; by which happy action, the plan-

'■mk.

MAONALIA CHRISTl AMERICANA

[Book II.

ten farther up the river had no amall kindneis done unto them ; and the
Indiam, which might else have been more troubleHume, ivcre kept in awe.

§ 5. The lelf-denying gcntleiniui, who hud iniiiloycu his commimon
of govtmour »o little to the disudvoutagc of the intunt-culony at Omnect-
t'cul, was himself, e're long, by election mndo govemour of thut coluuy.
And upon the rt$toration of King Charles II. he willingly undertook an-
other voyage to England, on the behalf of the people under his govern-
ment, whose affairs he managed with such ii successful prudence, that he
obtained a royal ckarttr for them, which incorporated the colony of Afexo-
Havtn with them, and invested both colonies, now happily united, with a
tirm grant of priviUdget, beyond those of the plantations which had been
settled before them. I have been informed, that while he was engaged
m this negotiation, being admitted unto a private conference with the
King, he presented his majesty with n ring, which King Charlen I. had
upon some occasion given to his grandfather ; and the King not only ac-
cepted his present, but also declared, that he accounted it one of his
rkhett jewels ; which indeed was the opinion that J^tew- England had of
the band that carried it. But having thus laid his colony under everlast-
ing obligations of gratitude, they did, after his return to JVew-Eltigland,
express of their gratitude, by saying to him as the Israelitet did unto
Oideon, Rule tkuu wer us for thou hnst delivered us ; chusing him for their
qovernour twice seven years together.

§ 6. When the goveriiour of Athens was a philosopher, namely Deme'
trius, the common-wealth so flourished, that no less than three hundred
brazen statues were afterward by the thankful people erected unto his
memory. And a blessed land was Nen-England, when there was over
part of it a governour, who was not only a christian and a gentleman, but aico
an eminent philosopher : for indeed the government of the state is then
most successfully managed, when the measures of it are, by a wise observ-
er, taken from the government of the world; and very unreasonable is
the Jewish proverb, JVe Habites in urbe ubi caput urbis est Medicus : but
highly reasonable the sentence o( Aristotle, (fbi presses fuerit Phdosophus,
Ibi Civitas erit Falix ; and this the rather for what is truly noted by TTiu-
cydides, Magistratus est Civitatis Medicus. Such an one was our Win-
throp, whose genius und faculty for experimental philosophy, was advan-
ced in his travels abroad, by his acquaintance with many learned vtVtuost.
One effect of this disposition in him, was his being furnished with roble
medicines, which he most charitably and generously gave away upon all
occasions ; insomuch that where-ever he came, still the diseased flocked
about him, as if the healing angel o{ Bethesda bad appeared in the place;
and so many were the cures which he wrought, and the lives that he
saved, that if Scanderbeg might boast of his having slain in his time
two thousand men with his own hands, this worthy person might
have made a far more desirable boast of his having in his time
healed more than so many thousands ; in which beneficence to man-
kind, there are of his worthy children, who to this day do follow his di-
rection and example. But it was not unto New-England alone that the
respects of this accomplished philosopher were confined. For, whereas
in pursuance of the methods begun by that immortally famous advancer
of learning, the most illustrious Lord Chancellor Bacon, a select compa-
ny of eminent persons, usuing to meet in the lodgings of Dr. Wilkins of
Wadham Colledge in Oxford, had laid the foundation of a celebrated socie-
ty, \vhich by the year 1663, being incorporated with a Royal Charter, hath
since been among the glories of England, yea, and of mankind ; and their

ond the
itinawo.

tnmiusion
, Cimnect-
it colony,
irtuok aa-

e, that he
f of JWw-
ted, with a
A had been
111 engaged
with the
rlei I. had
ot only ac-
one of his
and had of
Bt everlast-
iD.£ng<and,
IS did unto
im for their

mely Deme'
ree hundred
ted unto his
•re was over
jfln, but aleo
$tate is then
I wite obierv'
■easonable is
tedicus : but
Philosophus,
,ted by Thu-
;a8 our Win-
L was advan-
|rned virtuosi.
•d with robU
,/ay upon all
lased flocked
in the place;
lives that he
in his time
.erson might
in his time
;nce to man-
follow his di-
done that the
_'or, whereas
[ous advancer
elect compa-
Ir. Wilkint of
jbrated socie-
Charter, hath
fndjandtheiT

Boor II-l OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND. i4&

design was to make faithful records of oil the works of naturt or of art,
which might come under their olMervation, and correct what had been
jfaUt, restore what should be true, preserve what should be rors, and
render the knowledge of the world, as well more perfect as more uee/ut,-
and by multiplied experiments both of light and Jruit, advance the em*

«iV« of man over the whole vioihle creation ; it was the honour of Mr.
yinlhrop to be a member of this Royal Society. And i)ccordiog|y among
the philosophical tramactioni pulilished by Mr. Oldenburgh, there arc
some notable communications from this iitquiHitivc and intelligent person,
whose insight into many parts of the creation, but especially of the min*"
ral kingdom, was beyond what had been attained by the most in many
parts of JImerica.

§ 7. If one would therefore desire an exact picture of this worthy
man, the description which the most sober and solid writers of the great
philo»ophick work do give of those persons, who alone are qualified for
the smiles of heaven upon their enterprizes, would have exactly 6tted
him. He was a tludiow, humble, patient, rmerved and mortified person,
and one in whom the love of God wan fervent, the love of man sincere :
and he had herewithni a certain extension of soul, which disposed him to
a generous behflviour towards those, who by learning, breeding and vir*
tue, deserve respects, though of a perswasion and profession in religion
very different from his own ; which was that of a reformed Protestant,
and a JSTew-English Puritan. In sum, he was not more an adoptist in
those noble and secret t \edicinets which would reach the roots of the dis>
tempers that annoy humane bodies, and procure an universal rest unto
the archoeus on all occasions of distjroance, than he was in those christian
qualities, which appear upon the cure of the distempers in the minds of
men, by the effectual grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

§ 8. In the year 1643, after divers essays made in some former years,
the several colonies of New-England became in fact, as well as name,
vtfiTEo COLONIES. And an instrument was formed, wherein having de-
clared. That we all came into th. .^t: parts of America with the same end
and aim, namely, to advance the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, and et^joy
the liberties of the gospel with purity and peace, it was firmly agreed be>
tween the several jurisdictions, that there should yearly be chosen two
commissioners out of each, who should meet at fit places appointed for
that purpose, with full powers from the Genera I Courts in each, to con-
cert and conclude matters of general concernment for peace or war of the
several colonies thus confederated. In pursuance of this laudable con-
federacy, this most meritorious gavernour of Connecticut colony accepted
the trouble of appearing as a commtsstoner for that colony, with the rest
met at Boston, in the year 1676, when the calamities of the Indian-war
were distressing the whole country : but here falling sick of a fever, he
dyed oi< ,9pril 6, of that year, ana was honourably interred in the same
tomb with ttis honourable father.

§ 9. His father, as long.ago as the year 1643, had seen cause to write
unto him an excellent letter, wherein there were these among other
passages.

' You are the chief of two families ; I had by your mother three sons
' and three daughters, and f had with her a large portion of outward e8»
' tate. These now are all gone : mother gone ; brethren and sisters
' gone ; you only are left to see the vanity of these temporal things, and
' learn tmsdom thereby, which may be of more use to you, through the
' Lord's blessing, than all that inlieritance which might have befallen von :

Vol. I. 19 *

146

* MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book II.

and for which this may stay and quiet your heart. That God is able to
give you more than this; and that it being spent in the furtherance of his
work, which hath here prospered so well, through his power hitherto,
you and yours may certainly expect a liberal portion in the prosperity and
blessing ihereof hereafter ; and the rather, because it wais noi forced from
you by a father's power, but freely resigned by your self, out of a liv-
ing and filial respect unto me, and your own readiness unto the work
it self. From whence as I do often take occasion to bless the Lord for
you, so do I also commend you and yours to his fatherly blessing, for a
plentiful reward to be rendred unto you. And doubt not, my dear son,
but let your faith be built upon his promise and faithfulness, that as he
hath carried you'hitherto through many perils, and provided liberally for
you. so he will do for the time to come, and will never faif you,nor forsakt

you. My son, the Lord knows how dear thou art to me, and that my

care has been more for thee than for my self. But / know thy pros-
perity depends not on my care, nor on thine own, but upon the blessing
of our Heavnfii Father; neither doth it on the things of this world, but
on the /tg/t^u/ (iod's countenance, through the merit and mediation of our
Lord Jesus Christ. It is that only which can give us peace of conscience
with contentation ; which can as well make our lives happy and com-
fortable in a mean estate, as in a great abundance. But if you weigh
things aright, and sum up all the turnings of divine providence together,
you shall find great advantage.— The Lord hath brought us to a good
land ; a land, where we enjoy outward peace and liberty, and above all,
the blessings of the gospel, without the burden of impositions in matters
of religion. Many thousands there are who would give great estates to
enjoy our condition. Labour therefore, my good son, to increase our
thankfulness to God for all bis mercies to thee, especially for that he
hath reveale 1 his everlasting good-will to thee in Jesns Christ, and join-
ed thee to the visible body of his church, in the fellowship of his peo-
ple, and hath saved thee in all thy travails abroad, from being infected
with the ■Dices of these countries where thou hast been, (a mercy vouch-
safed but unto few young gentlemen travellers.) Let /tiVn have the ho-
nour of it who kept thee. He it was who gave thee favour in the eye«
of all with whom thou hadst to do, both by sea and land ; he it was who
saved thee in all perils ; and he it is who hath given thee a gift in un-
derstanding and art ; and he it is who hath provided thee a blessing in
marriage, a comfortable help, and many sweet children; and hath hith-
erto provided liberally for you all : and therefore I would have you to
love ii'im ?gain, and serve him, and trust him for the time to come. Love
and prize that word of truth, which only makes known to you the pre-
cious and eternal thoughts and councils of tho light inaccessible. Deny
your own wisdom., that you may find his ; and esteem it the greatest
honour to lye under the simplicity of the gospel of Christ crucified,
without wliich you can never enter into the secrets of his tabernacle, nor
enjoy those sweet things which Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor can
the heart of man conceive ; but God hath granted unto some few to know
them even in this life. Study well, my son, the saying of the apostle,
Knowledge pujfeth up. It is a good gift of God, but when it lifts up the
mind above the cross of Christ, it is the pridn nf life, and the high way
to apostacy, wherein many men of great learning ami hopes have perish-
ed. — In all the exercise of yo\ir gifts, and improvement of your talents,
have an eye to your master's ejtd, more than yonr wn; and to the day
of your account, that you may tiien have your Qwiettts est, even, Well

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-DNGLAND.

147

* done, good and faithful servant ! But my last and chief request to yon,
' iii, that you be careful to have your children brought up in the knowU
' edge and fear of ,God, and in the faith of our Lord Jeaus Christ. This
' will give you the best comfort of them, and keep them sure from any
' want or miscarriage : and when you part from them, it will be no smuU
'joy to your soul, that you shall meet them again in heaven!*
. Doubtless, the reader considers the historical passages in this extract
of the letter thus recited. Now, but by making this, reflection upon the
rest, that as the prophetical part of it was notably fulfilled in the estate,
whereto the good providence of God recovered this worthy gentleman
and his family, so the monitory part of it was most exemplarily attended
in his holy and useful conversation. I shall therein briefly sum up the
life of a person whom we shall call a second unto none of our worthies,
but as we call him our second! Winthrop.

EPITAPHIUM.

Abi Viator ;
Et Luge plures magistratus in Uno periisse.
Redi Viator.
JVon Periit, sed ad Calestem Societatem
Rtgia Magis Regiam,
Fere Adeptus,
Miit:
WiNTHROPUs, Non minor magnis Majoribus. ^

CHAPTER Xn.

A S S I S T E N T S.

Magistrates of Connecttcut-colony, before New-Haven colony was ac>^
tually annexed unto it, were, ^besides the two alternately, for the most
part, elected governours, Hopkins, and Hains.)

Roger Ludlow,

1636.

John Steel,

1636.

William Phelps,

1636.

William Westwood,

1636.

Andrew Ward,

1636.

Thomas Wells,

1637.

William Swayn,

1637.

Matthew Mitchel,

1637.

George Hull,

. 1637.

William Whiting,

.. 1637.

John Mason,

1637.

George Willis,

1639.

John Webster,

, 1639.

William Ludlow,

1640.

William Hopkins,

, 1642.

Henry Woolcot,

1643.

George Fenwick,

1644.

Cosmare,

1647.

John Howel,

1647.

John Cullick,

1648.

Henry Clark,

1660.

John Winthrop, it

1661.

Thomas Topping,

1661.

John Talcot,

1654.

John Ogden,

1666.

J^athan Gold,

1657.

Matthew Allyn,

1668.

Richard Treat,

1668.

Thomas Baker,

1668.

Mnlford,

1658.

148

MAGNALIA CHRIStI AMERICANA : [Book It.

Alexander Knawles,

1658.

John Allyn,

1662.

John Weill,

1658.

Daniel Clark,

1662.

Robert Band, '

1659.

Samuel Sherman,

1662.

Rayner,

1661.

John Young,

1664.

Maoirtrates of New-Haven colony, before Connecticut-colony could ac-
complish its coalition therewith, were, (besides the govemours else-
where mentioned.)

Stephen Ooodyeavf
Thomas Grigson,
Bichard Malbon,
William Leet,
John Desborough,

Tajpp,
William fowler,
Trancis Newman,

Magistrates after the two colonies were content, according to their
charter, to become one, were,

1837.

Asiwood,

1653.

1637.

Samuel Eaton,

1654.

1637.

Benjamin Fen,

1654.

1637.

Matthew Gilbert,

1658.

1637.

Jasper Crane,
Robert Treat,

1668.

1637.

1659.

1637.

William Jones,

1662.

1653.

John Winthrop, Gov.

.1665.

James Bishop,

1668.

John Mason,

1665.

Anthony Hawkins,

1668.

Matthew Allyn,

1665.

Thomas Wells,

1668.

Samuel Willys,

1665.

John Nash,

1672.

Nathan Gold,

1665.

Robert Treat,

1673.

John Talcot,

1665.

Thomas Topping,

1674.

Henry Woolcot,

1665.

Matthew Gilbert,

1677.

John Allyn,

1665.

Andrew Leet,

1678.

Samuel Sherman, .■..

;. 1665.

John Wadsworthf

1679.

James Richards,

1665.

Robert Chapman,

1681.

William Leet,

1665,

James Fitch,

1681.

William Jones,

1665.

Samuel Mason,

1683.

Benjamin Fen,

1665.

Benjamin Newbury,

1685.

Jasper Crane,

1665.

Samuel Talcot,

1685.

Daniel Clark,

1666.

Giles Hamlin,

1685.

Alexander Bryans,

1668.

While the colonies were clusters of rich grapes, which had a blessing
in them, such leaves as these (which is in the proverbs of the Jewish
nation, a name for magistrates) happily defended them from the storms
that molest the world.

Those of the least character among them, yet came up to what the
Roman commonwealth required in their magistrates.

Populus Romanus delegit Magistratus, quasi Reipublica Villicos, in qui-
bus, si qua praterea est Ars, facile patitur ; sin minus, virtute eorum 4*
Innoeentia Contentus est. Cic. Orat. PraPlan.

.. iy.r

-SV41-..,,.

[Book It.

1662.
1662.
1662.
1664.

ay could ac-
mours else-

m^mm*:

PIETAS IN PATRIAM:

THE

1653.
1654.
1654.
1658.
1658.
1659.
1662.

ding to their

1668.
1668.
1668.
1672.
1673.
1674.

1677.

1678.
1679.

1681.

1683.

1685.

had a bleating
)f the Jewish
om the storms

n to what the

tHicos, in qui-
rtute eorum^

LIFE

OF HIS EXCELLENCY

SIR WILLIAM PHIPS, KNT.

LATE CAPTAIN GENERAL, AND OOVERNOVR IN CHIEF OF THE PROVINCE OF
THE MASSACHUSKT-BAY, NBW*ENOLAND.— CONTAINING THE MEMORABLE
^CHANGES UNDERGONE, AND ACTIONS PERFORMED BY HIM.

■iX

■k- wk:t^ ; BY oKe intimately acquainted with him;

y,r^fi'

DUeite FirlUlem ex tiocy verumque Laborem.

The author of the following narrative, is a person of sach well
known integrity, prudence and veracity, that there is not any cause
to question the truth of what he here relates. And moreover, this
writing of his is adorned with a very grateful variety of learning,
and doth contain such surprizing workings of providence, as do
well deserve due notice and observation. On all which accounts,
it is with just confidence recommended to the publick by

Nath. Mather.
. • John Howe,

' Matth. Mead.

April 27, 1697.

To his Excellency the Earl of Bellomont, Baron of Coloony in Ireland,
General Governour of the Province of Massachusets in New-England^
and the Provinces annexed.

MAY IT PLEASE YOUR EXCELLENCY,

The station in which the hand of the God of heaven hath disposed his
Majesty's heart to place your honour, doth so manifestly entitle your
Lordship to this ensuing narrative, that its being thus presented to your
Excellency's hand, is thereby both apologized for and justified. I be-
lieve, had the writer of it, when he penned it, had any knowledge of
your Excellency, he would himself have done it, and withal, would have
amply and publickiy congratulated the people of New-England, on ac-

150

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Boor If.

count 6r their having such a governour, and your Excellency, on ac-
count of your heini; made governour over them. For though as to
some other things it may possibly be a place to some persons not
so ilcsirable, yet I believe this character may be justly giv'^n of
thcDi, that they arc the best people un<ier licaven ; there being
iiniong them, not only leas of open profaneness, and less of lewd-
ness, but also more of the serious profession, practice, and power
of Christianity, in proportion to their number, than is among any other
ppople upon the face of the whole earth. Not but 1 doubt, there are
many bad persons among them, and too many distempered humours, per*
haps even among those who are truly good. It would be a wonder if it
should be otherwise ; for it luith of late years, on various accounts, and
some very singular and unnsual ones, been a day of sore temptation with
that whole people. Nevertheless, as I look upon it as a favour from
God to those plantations, that he hath set your Excellency over them, so
I do account it a favour from God to your Excellency, that he hath com-
mitted and trusted in your hand so great a part of his peculiar treasure
and precious jewels, as are among that people. Besides, that on other
accounts the Lord Jesus hath more of a visible interest in New England,
than in any of the outgoings of the English nation in America. They
have at their own charge not only set up schools of lower learning up
and down the country ; but have also erected an University, which hath
been the happy nursery of many usciui, learned, and excellently accom-
plished persons. And moreover, from them hath the blessed gospel
been preached to the poor, barbarous, savage heathen there ; and it hath
taken such root among them, that there were lately four and twenty as-
semblies in which the name of the Lord Jesus was constantly called on,
and celebrated in their own language. In these things Jfew-England
outshineth all the colonics of the English in those goings down of the
sun. I know your Excellency will favour and countenance their Uni-
versity, and also the propagating of the gospel among the natives ; for
the interest of Christ in that part of the earth is much concerned in
them. That the God of the spirits of all flesh would abundantly re-
jtlenish your Excellency with a suitable spirit for the service to which he
hath called your Lordship, that he would give your honour a prosperous
voyage thither, and when there, make your Excellency a rich blessing
fo that people, and them a rejoicing to your Excellency, is the prayer of,

S«v"

Mij Lord,

Your Excellency'' s most

Humble servant,

April 27, 1(597.

Nath. Mather.

■ •';"-''*')'*■,?>■/• '-'?vV'.

J.i -^ •■*.:^.:'fi*» tf I f f ■

'■iikl'i/iiXini -.hf^i

THE

LIFE

or HIS EXCBtLBNCy

SIR WIILLIAM PHIPS, KNT.

§ 1. If such R renowned chymist, as Quercetanus, with a whole tribe of
labourers in ihtfire, since that learned man, find it no easie thing to make
the common part of mankind believe, that they can take a plant in its
more vigorous consistence, and aAer a due maceration, fermentation and
separatibn, extract the salt of that plant, which, as it were, in a chaos, in-
visibly reserves the form of the whole, with its vital principle ; and,
that keeping the salt in a glass hermetically sealed, they can, by apply-
ing a soft fire to the glass, make the vegetable rise by little and little out
of its ashes, to surpriste the spectators with a notable illustration (of that
resurrection, in the faith whereof the Jews returning from the graves of
their friends, pluck up the grast from the earth, using those Words of
the scripture thereupon. Your bones shall flourish like an herb : 'tis likely,
that all the observations of such writers, as the incomparable Borellus^
will tind it bard enough to produce our belief, that the essential salts of
animals may be so prepared and preserved, that an ingenious man may
have the whole ark of J^'oah in his own study, and raise the fine shape of
an animal out of its ashes at his pleasure : and, that by the like method
from the essential salts of humane dust, a philosopher may, without any
criminal necromancy, call up the shape of any dead ancestor from the
dust whcreinto his body has been incinerated. The resurrection of the
dead, will be as just, as great an article of our creed, although the rela-
tions of these learned men should pass for incredible romances : but yet
there is an anticipation of that blessed resurrection, carrying in it some
resemblance of these curiosities, which is performed, when we do in a
book, as in a glass, reserve the history of our departed friends ; and by
bringing our warm affections unto such an history, we revive, as it were,
out of their ashes, the true shape of those friends, and bring to a fresh
view, what was memorable and imitable in them. Now, in as much as
mortality hi\fi done its part upon a considerable person, with whom I had
the tiononr to be well acquainted, and a person as memorable for the
wonderful changes which befel him, sis imitable for his virtues and actions
under those changes ; 1 shall endeavour, with the chymistry of an impar-
tial historian, to raise my friend so far out of hisasAej, as to shew him
again unto the world ; and if the character of heroick virtue be for a man
to describe well of mankind, and he great in the purpose and success of es-
says to do so, I may venture to promise my reader such example of hero-
ick virtue, in the story whereto I invite him, that he shall say, it would
have been little short of a vice in mc, to have withheld it from him. Nor
is it any partiality for the memory of my deceased friend, or any other
sinister design whatsoever, that has invited me to this undertaking ; but I

NAUNA1.IA CHUIHTI AMCKICANA: [Book If

ltnv« unilnrlnkmi thin innUar iVom n ainonrt ildiiru, tlmt the ovtr*([loriou«
l«or«i •iHxm CiiniMt miiy hnvn tho Klory of lii« pnwtr iind gooilntii, and of
lii« fit'uvUtPHe^, ill wiiNl tip «ll(l i'ur iu«:li ii iivinun, tind in wTiiit ha diNpoiied
und MMNiatad thul {K^mun tndo lor him. Nnw, may h« a$ii»t my writing,
«wit H« thnt prtfmrttl th» mhjti'l, whn'0»f I tun t» wriVo /

^ t, 8n vbtmtn whh tho uHffintU of thiU nKunornldn itttraon, whoie ac-
H«Hii I Nin KDiitg to rrliit«, thnt I muit, in ii WHy of writing, Uk« thnt of
r/MltinA, |>r(*j|>nr« iti>> mudur Ibr Iho iiitiMidfld I'ldtition. hy Hrat ■tMrnhing
Ihn artiAJMN or Hnli<|tlily fhi* ii fHtralUl, Now, hvoiiuiie w(i will notfxira//««
him with KitmtHtMy who, (hoHgli ho wnro tliu ion of u poor cnrrior, 'b«-
CMNio H govurnour of niiKhty (trnvincoa ; nor with Murius, who«a m«nn
|i«r«ntNK0 did not liiiidor liiit hocoiiiing ii Kloriotnt dofondor of hit country,
Andaovon tiinu* thi^ iihirf mNKiatrttto of tho ohiufitat city in tho univorae :
nor with //«Ai(ir«i/#«, who hncunio n auceeaaful nnd ranowiied general
of a grffnt |t«o|>le, though hia fiithor were »mbUrf nor with /iiWasian,
(lie aon ol a poor nomtMri nor with I/immmm, theaon of n pooricAuoi-
MM«<af% who yntuiinin to away the acept<«rof tho iioMan empire: nor.
Iaatl;|f , will I (^oinpure him to tho more late exiimpio of the colobrMtnd JIIok*
oi'im, who thougii no gentleman by hia extraction, imcl one ao aorrily edu-
ontod, that ho might Tmve wrotu mmh boforu he could write at ull \ yet
iwoeiul«<i unto that grandeur, in the memory of many yet livin||, aa to
umpire tho moat important aiVuira of ChitUndom i we will decline look-
iiig any l\irther in that A<iiMwpAtf»V of tho world, and make the hut and
wy throughout tho regiona of Amtrioa^ the Ntw World, which Aa, that
ia be«omiug tho auliiicKt of our hiatory^ by hia nativity ^ belonged unto.
A«d in »im*rim, the lirat that meeta me, ia i'VoMcitoo i'Mtirro, who, though
a i»mirt<NM i>^«^)'«*<ir, expoaod when a Aa6« in a churoh-»oroh, at a aurry
villM)!^ of A'aiHirnr, and alUrwtirda omploj^ed while ho waa a 6oy, in
keepinii of cattel, yet, ul length, atealing into Amtrica, ho ao thrived
U|mn hid advontur«>» there, that upon aomo diacoverio», which with an
handtUI of men he had in a dcuporato oxpedilion made of Peru, he obtain*
•d the King of .S/uuM'jt commt«»ion ibr the conqoust of it. and at Inst ao
incredibly onriuhod him!tt>U by tho oonqunat. tiiat ho waa made the firat
Vice*roy of /VrM, and crt>at«d Maniuoaa of Anatilh,

To the latter and higheat part of that atury, if any thing hindrod hia
Kucellency Sir Wh.mam Piin>a, fi\>ni ntVortling of ii pamlltl, it wan not the
want either of (/«<«^'n, or of i;hi<i*(i,<«, or of romiuct in himaelf, but it woa
tho fate of a artm<iiur« murM/iVy. For my rentier now boing aatiaiied,
that a poi^inn » being o&t<Hi*4> in lust unirtnii/, is) not alwaya a just pr<f)u-
dice U% an fxpniMation of fOHmin^\hh tiMUers from him ; 1 hIuiII now in*
Airm him, that this onr PkiM was born F«h, S, .^1. D. 1060, at a despicable
plantetion on tho rirrr ot KfHttthtfk, and almost the furthest village of
the eastern settlement of .Vcn-A.yir/iiNf^. And as the /iiMe r of that man,
H'hieh WM« as grt^at a blessing as KnglaHd bad in the age of that man, was
n smith, so a ^-HM*JtmtM. namely, ./(imr« rAi/>i. ouoc of iJmfoi, had the
honour of lH>ing tho t»lh«r to him, whom we shall presently see.
made bv (bo IumI of lleaven as great a blessing to .\'e:i'' England ^ us
(hat country could have hiul, if they themselves had pleased. His
frtiitful fMiVAf (*. yet living, had no less than im^nty'six children, whereof
fc(vi»f<r*<>i!4« wert> sons : but equivalent to them ull was Wilijam, one of
the youngest, whom bis /«ifA«r dying, let\ young with his HiofAer, and with
her he livetl, kt*tHhi( oV sk**p in tht v^iidfrntsf. until he was eighteen
Years old ; at wbioii time he bogixn to feel some further di|iositions of mind
tVom that tfn>vidcxi« of tjod which totjk ';m» ft\>m the ^ttpt'oldf. frfim /ol-

UooK U] OR, TlIK IIISTOUY OF NEW-ENCiLAND. IM

lowinff tht cwf* f(reat with young, and brought him to f««d /m« peopl*. Hea^
d«r, enquire no I'lirther who wiw hitj'ather 'f i'tiou >hiilt auon sec, that
h« WM| M* til* Italiant exprenH it, a ion to hii otvn labour$ f

§ 3. liii frifinda earneittly Holic.ited him to settie iimong them in a
plantation of tho cant ; but he had an unaccountnblo impaltt upon hiit mind,
preawading him aa ho would privately hint unto Home of them, that he
ivai born to gr$ater matter$, 'i o come at tho»u greater matteni, hi» lirMt
contrivance waa to hind himielf an apprentice unto a ihip carpenter for
four yean ; in which time be became u matter of the trade, that once
in a vMsei of more than '>' tit id tunt, repaired the ■■ ■"- of tho
narth ; ./V<;o/t'«, I moan ; hi. i..tin b«.c Simself an hiindre.l at. ' 'U^ milea
further a liold, even to lioiton, the Ci.vf town of New-Kngland; which
boinK a place of the moit buoinoafl and retort in thooe partti of the world,
he expected there more commodinutdy to pmtite the Sptu Majormn 4*
MelioruM, hope* which had intpired him. At lioBlon, where it waa that
he now learned, lirMt of all to r«aii and tDii/0, ho followed bis trade for
about a year ; and by a laudable deportment, no recommended himaelf,
that he raarried a young gentlewoman of good repute, who wat the wid-
ow of one Mr. John i/u^/, a welUbrcd merchant, but the daughter of one
Captain Roger Spenier, a person of good fathion, who having suffered
much damage in hix eatate, by some unkind and unjuitt actions, which he
bore with such patience, that for fear of thereby injuring tho publick,
he would not seek satisfaction, posterity might afterward see the reward
of his pati$nce, in what providence hath now done for one of his own
posterity. Within a little while ailer his marriage, he indented with sev-
oral persons in lioslon, to build them a ship at Sheeps'wat Kiver, two
or three leagues eastward of Kennebeck; where having launched the ship,
he also provided n lading of lumber to bring with him, which would
have been to the advantage of all concerned. But just as the ship was
hardly finished, the barbarous Indiana on that river, broke forth into
an open and crnci war upon the EngUth ; and the miserable people, sur-
prized by so sudden a storm of blood, had no refuge from the iniidcla,
but the ship now finishing in the harbour. Whereupon he left his in-
tended lading behind him, and instead 'thereof, carried with him his old
neighbours and their families, free of all charges to Boston ; so the Jirst
action that he did, ader he was his own man, was to save his father's
home, with tho rest of the neighbourhood, from ruin ; but the disap-
pointment which befcl him from the loss of his other lading, plunged his
afl'airs into greater embarasments with such as had employed him.

§ 4. But he was hitherto no more than beginning to make scaffolds for
lurther and higher actions! He would frequently tell the gentlewoman
his wife, that he should yet be captain of a King^s shipi that he should
come to have the command of better men than he was now accounted him-
self; and, that he should be owner of a fair brick'house in the Oreen-
lane, of North-Boston; and, that, it may be, this would not be all that
ihe providence of God would bring him to. She entertained these pas-
saged with a sufficient incredulity ; but he had so serious and positive an
expectation of them, that it is not easic to say, what was the original
thereof. He was of an enterprizing genius, and naturally disdained lit-
ihims : but his disposition for business was of the Dutch mould, where,
with a little shew of teit, there is as much wisdom demonstrated, as can
be shewn by any nation. His talent lay not in the airs that serve chiefly
tor the pleasant and sudden turns of converwtion; but he might say, as
Thtmistorles. Though he rovtd itot play npnn a fiddle, yet he knew how to
Voi. I. on " "

I«4

MAGNALIA CHRISTl AMERICANA

[Book II.

make a little city become a great one. He would prudently contrive a
weighty undertaking, and then patiently pursue it unto the end. He
was of an iuclinution, cutting rather like a hatchet, than like a razor ; he
would propose very considerable matters to himself, and then so cut
through them, that no ditiiculties could put by th$ edge of his resolutions.
Being thus of the true temper, for doing of great things, he betakes him>
self to the sea, the right scene for such things ; and upon advice of a
Spanish wreck about the Bahamas, he took a voyage thither ; but with
little more success, than what just served him a little to furnish him for
a voyage to England; whither he went in a vessel, not much unlike that
which the Dutchmen stamped on their first coin, with these words about
it, Incertum quo Fata ferant. Having tirst inlormed himself that there
was another Spanish wreck, wherein was lost a mighty treasure, hitherto
undiscovered, he hrtd a strong impression upon his mind that he must be
the discoverer ; and he made audi representations of his design at
White- Hall, that by the year 1683, he became the captain of a King"'*
ship, and arrived at JVew-England commander of the Mgicr-Ross, a frig-
ot of eighteen guns, and ninety-five men.

§ 5. To relate all the dangers through which he passed, both by sea
and land, and all the tiresome trials of his patience, as well as of his
tourage, while year after year the most vexing accidents imaginable de-
layed the success of his desigp, it would even tire the patience of the
reader : for very great was the experiment that captain Phips made of
the Italiaa observation. He that cannot suffer both good and evil, will never
corns to any great preferment. Wherefore I shall supersede all journal
of his voyages to and fro, with reciting one instance of his conduct, that
showed him to be a person of no contemptible capacity. While he was
captain of the Mgier-Rose, his men growing weary of their unsuccess-
ful enterprize, made a mutiny,, wherein they approached him on the
quarter-deck, with drawn swords in their hunds, and required him to
join with them in running away with the ship, to drive a trade of piracy
on the South Seas. Captain Phips, though he had not so much of a
weapon as an ox-goad, or h jaw-bone in bis hands, yet like another iS%am-
gar or Samson, with a most undaunted fortitude, he rushed in upon them,
and with the blows of his bare hands, felled many of them, and quelled
all the rest. But this is not the instance which I intended : that which
I intend is, that (as it has been related unto me) one day while his frigot
lay careening, at a desolate Spanish island, by the side of a rock, from
whence they had laid a bridge to the shoar, the men, whereof he had
about an hundred, went all, but about eight or ten, to divert themselves,
as they pretended, in the woods : where they all .entred into an agree-
ment, which they signed in a ring. That about seven o'clock that eve-
ning they would seize the captain, and those ei^ht or ten, which they
knew to be true unto him, and leave them to perish on this island, and
so be gone away unto the South Sea to seek their fortune. Will the read-
er now imagine, that Captain Phips having advice of this plot but about
an hour and half before it was to be put in execution, yet within two
hours brought all these rogues down upon their knees to beg for their
lives ? But so it was ! for these knaves considering that they should want
a carpenter with them in their villanous expedition, sent a messenger to
fetch unto them the carpenter, who was then at work upon the vessel ;
and unto him they shewed their articles ; telling him what he must look
for if he did not subscribe among them. The carpenter being an honest
fellow, did with much importunity prevail for one half hour's time to

Book H.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND ;

Ib^

consider of the matter ; and returning to work upon the vessel, with »
spy by them set upon him., he feigned himself taken with a fit of the ehol-
i(k, for the rehef whereof he suddenly run unto the captain in the grent
cabbin for a dram ; where, when he came, his business was only in brief,
to tell the captain of the horrible distress which he was fallsn into ; but
the captain bid him as briefly return to the rogues in the woodt, and sign
their articles, and leave him to provide for the rest. The carpenter was
no sooner gone, but Captain Pkips calling together the few friends (it
may be seven or eight) that were left him aboard, whereorthe gunner
was one, demanded of them, whether they would stand by him in th«
eitremity, which he informed them was now come upon him ; whereto
they replied. They would stand by him, if he could save them ; and he an*
swered, by the help of God he did not fear it. All their provisions had heett
carried ashoar to a tent, made for that purpose there ; about which they
bad placed several great guns to defend it, in case of any assault from
Spaniards, that might happen to come that way. Wherefore Captain
Phips immediately ordered those guns to be silently drawned and turn-
ed ; and so pulling up the bridge, he charged his great guns aboard,
and brought them to bear on every side of the tent. By this time the.
army of rebels comes out of the woods ; but as they drew near to the
tent of provisions, they saw such a change of circumstances, that they
cried out, We are betrayed! And they were soon confirmed in it, when
they heard the captain with a stern fury call to them. Stand off, yo
■wretches, at your peril ! He quickly saw them cast into a more than or-
dinary confusion, when they saw him ready to fire his great guns upon
them, if they offered one step further than he permitted them : and
when he had signified unto them his resolve to abandon them unto all the
desolation which they had purposed for him, he caused the bridge to be
again laid, and his men begun to take the provisions aboard. When the
wretches beheld what was coming upon them, they fell to very humble
entreaties ; and at' last fell down upon their knees, protesting. That they
never had any thing against him, except only his unwillingness to go away
with the King's ship upon the South-Sea design ; but upon all other accounts,
they would chuse rather to live and die with him, than with any man in the
world : however, since they saw how much he was dissatisfied at it, they
would insist upon it no more, and humbly begged his pardon. And when
he judged that he had kept them on their knees long enough, he having
first secured their armA, received them aboard ; but he immediately
weighed anchor, and arriving at Jamaica, he turned them off. Now
with a small company of other men he sailed from thence to Hispaniola,
where by the policy of his address, he fished out of a very old Spaniard,
(t)r Portuguese) a little advice about the true spot tvhere lay the wreck
which he bad been hitherto seeking, as unprosperously, as the chymists-
have their aurisick stone : that it was upon a reef of shoals, a few leagues
to the northward of Port de la Plata, upon Hispaniola, a port so called,
it seems, from the landing of some of the shipwrecked company, with a
boat full of plate, saved out of their sinking frigot : nevertheless, when
he had searched very narrowly the spot, whereof the old Spaniard had
advised him, he had not hitherto exactly lit upon it. Such thorns did
vex his affairs while he was in the Rose-frigot ; but none of nil these
things could retund the edge of his expectations to find the wreck; with
i»z\\ expectations he returned then into England, that he might there
'letter furnish himself to prosecute a new discovery; for though he judged:

166

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AAIERICANA

[Book 11.

he might, by proceeding a little further, have come at the right spot, y«t
he fouod hi* present company too ill a crew to be confided in.

§ 0. So proper wns his behaviour, that the best noble men in the king*
dom now admitted him into their converHation ; but yet he was opposed
by powerful enemies, that clogged his afl'airs with such demurrages, and
such diitappointtnenti, us would have wholly discouraged his designs, if
his patience had not been invincible. He who can wait, hath what he de-
aireth. This hiH indefatigable patience, with a proportionable diligence,
at length overcame the ditliculties that had been thrown in his way ; and
prevailing wich the Duke of Albemarle, and some other persons of quali-
ty to fit him out, he set sail for i\\e fishing- ground, which had been so
welt baited hiilf an hundred years belore : and as he had already discov-
ered his capacity for business in many considerable artions, he now added
unto those discuveries, by not only providing all, but also by inventing
many of the iiiAti-uinents necessary to the prosecution of his intended
fishery. Ca|)l<tin Fliips arriving with a ship and a tender at Port de la
Plata, made a stout canoo of a statel.v cotton-tree, so large as to carry eight
or ten oitrs. for the making of which pfriaga (as they call it) he did.
with the same industry that he did every thing else, employ his own Aand
and adac, and endure no little hardship, lying abroad in the woods many
nights together. Thisn periaga, with the tender, being anchored at a
pi ice convenient, the periaga kept busking to and again, but could only
discover a reef of rising shoals thereabouts, called, The Boilers, which
rising to be within two or three foot of the surface of the sea, were yet
so steep, that a ship striking on them, would immediately sink down,
who could say, how many fath'^n into the ocean ? Here they could get
no other pay for their long peeping among the boilers, but only such as
caused them to think upon returning to their captain with the bad news
of their total disappointment. Nevertheless, as they were upon the re-
turn, one of the men looking over the side of the periaga, into the calm
tvater, he spied a sea feather, growing, as he judged, out of a rock ;
whereupon they bad one of their Indians to dive and fetch this feaHier,
that they might however cnrry home something wi.h them, and make, at
least, as fair a triumph as Caligula^s. The diver bringing up the feather,
brought therewithal a surprizing story, th^it he perceived a number of
great guns in the watry world where he had found his feather ; the report
of which grtc^i guns exceedingly astonished the whole company ; and at
once turned their despondencies for their ill success into assurances, that
they had now lit upon the triie spot of ground which they had been look-
ing for ; and they were further confirmed in these assurances, when upon
further diving, the Indian fetcht up a sow, as they stiled it, or a lump
of silver worth perhaps two or three hundred pounds. Upon this they
prudently buoyed the place, that they might readily find it again ; and
they went back unto their captnin wh>im /or some while they distressed
with nothing but sw^ bad nezcs. as they formerly thought they must
have carried him : nevertheless, they so slipt in the sow of silver on
one side under the table, where they were now sitting with the captain,
and hearing him express his resolutions to wait still patiently upon the
providence of God under these disnppointraents, that when he should
look on one side, he might see th?it odd thing before him. At last he saim
it ; seeing it, he cried out with some agony, Why ? what is this ? whence
comes this ? And then, with changed countenances, they told him how,
and where they eot it : T: en, said he, thanks be to God! we are made;
and so away they went, all hands to work ; wherein they had this onf

liooK 11.) OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

157

further piece of remarkable prosperity, tbut whereus if they had firtt
fallen upon that part of the Spaniah wreckt where the piucci of eight bail
been stowed in bags among the ballast, they had seen a more laborious,
and less enriching time of it : now, moiit happily, they firat fell upon
that room in the wreck where the bullion hud been stored up ; and they
so prospered in this new Jiihery, that in a little while they had, without
the loss of any man's life, brought up ihirty-tvoo turn of «ilver ; ibr it was
now rodoe to measuring of silver by tuni. Besides Which, one Adderly
of Providenct, who had formerly been very helpful to Captain Phips in
the search of this wreck, did upon former agreement meet him now with
a little vessel here ; and he, with his few hands, took up about six tunt of
silver ; whereof nevertheless he made fo little use, that in a year or
(wo he died at Bermudas, and as I have heard, he ran distracted some
while before he died. Thus did there once again come into the light of
the sun, a treasure which had been half an hundred years groaning un-
der ihe waters : and in this time there was grown upon the plate a cruKt
like limestone, to the thickness of several inches ; which crust being bro-
ken open by irons contrived for that purpose, they knocked out whole
bushels of rusty pieces of eight which were grown thereinto. Besides
thiit incredible treasure of plate in various forms, thus fetched up, from
seven or eight fathom under water, there were vast riches of gold, and
pearls, and jewels, which they also lit upon ; and indeed, for a more com-
prehensive invoice, I must but summarily say. All that a Spanish frigot
uses to he enriclud withal. Thus did they continue fishing till their pro-
visions failing theti, 'twits time to be gone ; but before they went. Cap-
tain Phips caused Adderly and his folk to swear, that they would none
of them discover the place of the wreck, or come to the place any more
till the next year, when he expected again to be there himself. And it
was also remarkable, that though the sows came up still so fast, that on
the very last day of their being there, they took up twenty, yet it was af-
terwards found, that they had in a manner wholly cleared that room of
the ship where those massy things were stowed.

But there was one extraordinary distress which Captain Phips now
found himself plunged into : for his men were come out with him upon
seamens' wages, at so much per month ; and when they saw such vast lit-
ters of silver sows and pigs, as they call them, come on board them at the
captain's call, they knew not how to bear it, that they should not share
all among themselves, and be gone to lead a short life and am^rry, in a
climate where the arrest of those that had hired them should not reach
them. In this terrible distress he made his vows unto Almighty God, that
if the Lord would carry him safe home to England with what he had now
friven him, to suck of the abundance of the seas, and of the treasures hid in
the sands, he would for ever devote himself unto the interests of the Lord
Jesus Christ, and of bis people, especially in the country which he did him-
self originally belong unto. And he then used nil the obliging arts ima-
ginable to make his men true unto him, especially by assuring them, that
besides their wages, they should have ample requitals made unto them ,
which if the rest of his employers would not agree unto, he would him-
self distribute his own share among them. Relying upon the word of oaf
whom they hud ever found worthy of their love, and of their trust, they
declared themselves content : but still keeping a most careful eye upon
them, he hastened back for England with as much money as he thought
he could then safely trust his vessel withal ; not counting it safe to sup-
ply himself with necessary provisions at any nearer port, and so return

16l

HAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book II

unto the wreck, by wliicli delays he wisely feared iMt nil ini|ht be loit,
more wayt than one. 'J'hougb he alio left to much behind him, that
many from divers parts made very considerable voyages of gUaningi
•Acr hit harvest : which cnmo to puss by certain Bermudiani, compel-
ling of Adderly's boy, whom they spirited away with them, to tell them
the exact place where the wreck was to be found. Captain Phipt nov/
coming up to London in the year 1687, with nenr three hundred thousand
pounds sterling aboard him, ifid acquit himself with such an exemplary
honesty, that ]>urtly by his fulfilling his assurances to the seamen, and
partly by hit exact and punctual care to have his employers defrauded
of nothing that might con»cienciously belong unto them, he had lest than
nixtten thousand pounds left unto himself: as an acknowledgment of which
honesty in him, the Duke oi Albemarle made unto hia wife, whom he never
naw, a present of a golden cup, near a t>^ fusand pound in value. The
r.haractef of an honest man he had so merited in the whole course of his
life, and especially in this last act of it, that this in conjunction with his
other serviceable qualities, procured him the favours of the greatest per-
sons ia the nation ; and he that had been so diligent in hia business, must
now stand before Kings, and not stand before mean men. There were in-
deed certain mean men, if base, little, dirty tricks, will eutitle men to
meanness, who urged the King to seize his whole cargo, instead of the
tenths, upon his first crvival ; on this pretence, that he hud not been right-
ly informed of the true nidtcofthe case, when he granted the patent, under
the protection whereof these /lar/tcu/ai' men had made themselves masters
of all this mighty treasure ; but the King replied, that he bad been right-
ly informed by Captain Phips of the wliole matter, ns it now proved ; and
that it was the slanders of one then present, which had, unto his damsige,
hindred him from hearkning to the information : wherefore he would
give them, he said, no disturbance ; they might keep what they had got ;
but Captain Phips, he saw, was a person of that honesty, fidelity and abili-
ty, that he should not want his countenance. Accordingly the King, in
consideration of the service done by him, in bringing such a treasure in-
to the nation, conferred upon him the honour of knighthood; and if we
now reckon him, a knight of the golden fleece, the stile might pretend unto
Home circumstances that would justifie it. Or call him, if you please,
the knight of honesty ; for it was honesty with industry that raised him ;
and he became a mighty river, without the running in of muddy water to
make him so. Reader, bow make a pause, and behold one raised by God !
§ 7. 1 am willing to employ the testimonies of others, as much as may
be, to support the credit of my history : and therefore, as I have hither-
to related no more than what there are others enongh to avouch ;
thus I shall chuse the words of an ingenious person printed at London
some years ago, to express the sura of what remains, whose words are
these ; 'It has always been Sir William Phips'' disposition to seek the
' xvealth of his people with us great zeal and unweariedness, as our publi-
' cans use to seek their loss and ruin. At tirst it seems they were in hopes
' to gain this gentleman to their partyt as thinking him good natured and
' easie to be flattered out of his understanding ; and the more, because
' they had the advantage of some, no very good, treatment that Sir fVil-
' Ham had for»T>erlymet with from the people and government of JVea>-JEng-

* land. But Sir fVilliam soon shewed them, that what they expected
' would be his temptation to lead them into their little tricks, he embraced
*as a glorious opportunity to shew his generosity and greatness of mind;

* for in imitation of Ihe greatest worthies that have ever been, he rather

;be lott,
lim, that
gleaning*
, compel-
t«U them
r;»ipi nov/
d llwuiand
exemplary
Mmen, und
(lefrnuded
,d lets than
[jt of which
m he never
due. The
>ur8e of his
an with hid
reatest per-
siness, must
ire were in-
litle men to
Btead of the
t been ripht-
latent, under
■Ives m«8tev9
d been rif^ht-
proved ; and
p his daniiige,
•e he would
ley had got ;
ity and abili-
the King, in
treasure in-
.; and if we
pretend unto
you please,
raised him ;
jddy water to
lised by God !
much as may
have hither-
to avouch ;
d at London
ie words are
to seek the
as our publi-
lere in hopes
natured and
jre, because
that Sir Wil-
ofJVea)-fing-
ley expected
be embrsiced
less of mind ;
sn, he rather

Book II] OR, THE HISTORY OF xNEW-ENGLAND. l|f

•chose to join ill the defence of his country, with some p«nons who

* formerly were none of his friends, than become the head of a faction,

* to its ruin and dttsoiation. It seems this noble disposition of sir IVil-
' Ham, jomed with that capacity and good success wherewith he hnth
' been altendcd, in raising himself by such an occasion, as it may be, all
' things considered, has ntver hapftened to any before him, makes these men
' apprehensive ; — and it must needs heighten their trouble to see, that
' he neither hath, nor doth spare himself, nor any thing that is near and
' dear unto him, in promoting the good of his native country.

When Sir IViUiatn Pkipt was per ardua ^ a/pera, thus raised into an
higher orb, it might easily be thought that he could not be without charm*
ing temptations to take the way on the left Hand. But as the grare of God
kept him in the midst of none of the strictest company, unto .>hich his
affairs daily led him, from abandoning himself to the lewd vices o( gam-
ing, drinking, swearing, and whoring, which the men that made England <©
sin, debauched so many of the gentry into, and he deserved the salutations
of the Roman poet :

Cum Tu, inter scabiem tantam, ^ Contngia Lvcri,
Xfil parvvm sapias, 4" adhuc Sublimia cures.

Thus he was worthy to pass among the instances of heroick vertue for
that humility that still adorned him : he was raised, and though he pru-
dently accommodated himself to the quality whereto lie was now raised,
yet none could perceive him to be lifted up. Or, if this were not hero'
ick, yet I will relate one thing more of him that must certainly be ac-
counted 80. He had in his own country of New-England, met with
provocations that were enough to have alienated any man living, that hod
no more than flesh and_ blood in him, from the service of it ; and some
that were enemies to that country, now lay hard at him to join with them
in their endeavours to ravish away their ancimt liberties. But this gen-
tleman had studied another way to revenge himself upon his country, and
that was to serve it in all its interests, with all of his, even with his estate,
liis time, his care, h'la friends, and his very life ! The old heathen virtue
of piETAS IN PATRiAM, or, Ltovc to oucs country, he turned iu > ■^l:ristian ;
and so notably exemplified it, in all the rest of his life, thai t \ ill be an
essential thread which is to be now interwoven into all that remains of
his history, and his character. Accordingly though he had the offers of a
very gainful place anongthe commissioners of the navy, r.ith many other
invitations to settle himself in England, nothing but a return to JVew-
England would content him. And whereas the ;h;irters of JVew-Eng-
land being taken away, there was a governour imposed upon the territo-
ries with as arbitrary and as treasonable a commission, perhaps, as ever
was heard of; a commission, by which th^ governour, with three or four
more, none of whom were chosen by the people, had power to make
what laws thry would, and levy taxes, according to their own humours,
upon the people ; and he himself had power to send the best men in the
land more than ten thousand miles out of it, as he pleased : and in the
execution of his power, the country was every day suflFering intollc-
vMe invasions upon their proprieties, yea, and the lives of the best men
in the territory began to be practised upon : Sir William Phips applied
himself to consider what was the most significant thing that could be
done by him for that poor people in their present circumstances. In-
deed, when King James offered, as ho did, unto Sir William Phips an

1 *▼

4;-;

MAGN/LIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

Book If.

opportunity to ask what he plased of hicn, Sir William generously prayed
for nothing but this, That New-England might have its lost priviledges re-
stored. The King then replied, Any thing but that ! Whereupon he set
himself to consider what was the next thing that he might ask for the ser-
vice, not of himself, but of his country. The result of his considera-
tion was, that by petition to the King, he obtained, with expence of some
hundreds of guineas, a Patent, which constituted him the high sheriff^ of
that country ; hoping, by his deputies in that oflice, to supply the country
still with consciencious juries, which was the only method that the New-
Englanders had left them to secure any thing that was dear unto them,
l^urnished with this patent, after he had, in company with Sir John Narbo-
rough, made a second visit unto the wreck, (not so advantageous as the
former for a reason alrcudy mentioned) in his way he returned unto
JVew-England in the summer of the year 1688, able, after five years ab-
Hence, to entertain his lady with some accomplishment of his predictions ;
and then built himself a /hiV brick house in the very place -which we fore-
told, the reader can tell how many sections ago. But the infamous gov-
ernment then rampant there, found a way wholly to put by the execution
of this patent ; yea, he was like to have had his person assassinated in the
face of the sun, before his own door, which with some further de-
signs then in his mind caused him within a few weeks to take another
voyage for England.

\ 8. It would require a long summer's day to relate the miseries
which were come, and coming in upon poor New-England, by reason of
the arbitrary government then imposed on them ; a government wherein,
as old Wendover 9ays of the time, when strangers were domineering over
mbjects in England, Judicia committebantur Injustis, Leges Exlegibus, Pax
Discordantibus, Justitia Injuriosis ; ?a\A foxes were made the administra-
tors of justice to thepouhrty ; yet some abridgment of them is necessary
for the better understanding of the matters yet before us. Now to make
this abridgment impartial, I shall only have recourse unto a little book,
printed at London, under the title of The Revolution of New-England
Justified ; wherein we have a narrative of the grievances under the male
administrations of that government, written and signed by the chief
gentlemen of the governours''s council ; together with the sworn testimo-
niesof many good men, to prove the several articles of the declaration,
which the New- Englanders published against their oppressors. It is in
that book demonstrated.

That the governour neglecting the greater number of his anmcil, did
adhere pricipally to the advice of a few strangers, who were persons
without any int'rest in the country, but of declared prejudice against it,
and had plainly i.iid their designs to make an unreaonable pt'ifit of the
poor people : and four or j^ve persons had the absolute rule uv er a
tcrritfl~y, the most considerable qf any belonging to the crown.

Tlu-l when laws were proposed in the covncii, thouch : he major part at
any time dissented from them, yet if the governour were positive, there
was no (aiT counting the number of councellors consenting, or diss-enting^
but the laws were immediately engrossed, published and executed.

That this Junto made a law, which prohibited the inhabitHnts of any
to-ui:n to meet about their town-affairs above once in a year ; for frar, you
must note, of their having any opportunity to complain oi grievances.

That thp.y made another /aw. requirinc. all masters of vessels, -even shal-
lops and zvood-boats, to give security, that no man shoul-l be transported in
t.hom,rvcppt hi* name had been so many days posted up : whereby the

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

161

isly prayed
vUedgea re-
upon he set
for the ser-
considera-
nce of some
gh sheriff of
the country
hat the New-
' unto them.
John Narbo-
igeous as the
eturned unto
jve years ab-
j predictions ;
liich we fore-
infatnous gov
the execution
jsinated in the
le further de-
take another

. the miseries
cJ, by reason ot
nmeni wherein,
mineering over
Exlegibus, Pax
the administra-
sin is necessary
, Now to make
|o a little book,
/ New-England
[under the male
d by the chiel
k sworn testtino-
the declaration,
lasors. It is in

pockets of a few leeches had been filled with/ees, but the whole trade Of
the country destroyed ; and all attempts to obtain a rednss of thetie
things obstructed ; and when this act had been strenuously opposed in
council at Boston, they carried it as far as New-York, where a crew of
them enacted it.

That without any assembly, they levied on the people a penny in the
pound of all their estates, and twenty-pence per head, aa poll-money, with
a penny in the pound for goods imported, besides a vast excise un wine,
rum, and other liquors.

That when among the inhabitants of Ipswich, some cf the principal
persons modestly gave reasons why they could not chuse a commissioner
to tax the town, until the King should first be petitioned for the liberty of
an assembly, they were committed unto goal for it, as an high misdemean-
our, and were denied an habeas corpus, and were dragged many miles out
of their own county to answer it at a court in Boston ; wUere jurors were
pickt for the turn, that were not freeholders, nay, that were meer so-
journers; and when the prisoners pleaded the priviledges of Englishmen,
That they should not be taxed without their owti consent ; they were told,
That those things would not follow them to the ends of the earth ; as it had
been before told them in open council, no one in the council contradicting
it, You have no more priviledges left you, but this, that you are not bought and
sold for slaves : and in fine, they were all fined severely, and laid under
great bonds for their good behaviour ; besides all which, the hungry offi-
cers extorted/ees from them that amounted unto an hundred and three-
score pounds ; whereas in England, upon the like prosecution, the/ee$
would not have been ten pounds in all. Ailer which fashion the towns-
men of many other places were also served.

That these men giving out, that the charters being lost, all the title that
the people had unto their lands was lost with them ; they began to com-
pel the people every where to take patents for their lands : and accord-
ingly writs of intrusion were issued out against the chief gentlemen in the
territory, by the terror whereof, many were actually driven to petition
for patents, that they might quietly enjoy the lands that had been fifty or
sixty years in their possession ; but for these patents there were such
exorbitant prices demanded, that fifty pounds could not purchase for its
owner an estate not worth two hundred, nor could all the money and
moveables in the territory have defrayed the charges of patenting the
lauds at the hands of these crocodiles : besides the considerable quit-rents
for the King. Yea, the governour caused the lands of particular persons
to be measured out, and given to his creatures : and some of his council
petitioned for the commons belonging to several towns ; and the agents of
the towns going to get a voluntary subscription of the inhabitants to
maintain their title at law, they hare been dragged forty or fifty miles
to answer as criminals at the next assizes ; the ofiicers in the mean time
(ixtorting three poaada per man for fetching them.

That if these harpies, at any time^ were a little out of money, they found
ways to imprison the best men in the country ; and there appeared not
the least information of any crime exhibited against them, yet they were
|>ut unto intoUerable expences by these greedy oppressors, and the ben-
«^lit of ail habeas corpus not allowed unto them.

That packt and pickt juries were commonly made use of, when under
a pretended /ornt o/"/ai«), the trouble of some honest and worthy men
was aimed at ; and these also were hurried out of their own counties to

be tried, when juries for the turn were not like to be found there.

Vol. f. 21

The

3IAGNAL1A CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Book II.

grealeit rigour being used still towards the soberest sort of people, whilst
in the mean time the most horrid enormities in the world, committed by
others, were overlooked.

That the publick ministry of the gospel, and all schools of learning
were discountenanced unto the utmost. '

And several more such abominable things, too notorious to be be deni-
ed, even by a Randolphian impudence it self, are in that book proved
against that unhappy government. N or did that most ancient set of the
Phoenician shepherds, who scrued the government o( Egypt into their hands,
as old Manelhon tells us, by their vUlanies, during the reigns of those ty-
rants, make a shepherd more of an abomination to the Egyptians in all af-
ter ages, than these wolves under the name of shepherds have made the
remembrance of their French government an abomination to all posterity
among the JVew-Englanders ; a government, for which, now, reader, as fast
as thou wilt, get ready this epitaph :

Nulla quwsita Scelere Potentia diuturna.

It was under the resentments of these things that Sir William Phips re-
turned into England in the year 1688, in which twice wonderful-year such
a revolution was wonderfully accomplished upon the whole government
of the English nation, that New-England, which had been a specimen of
what the whole nation was to look for, might justly hope for a share in
the general deliverance. Upon this occasion Sir William offered his best
assistances unto that eminent person, who a little before this revolution
betook himself unto White-Hall, that he might there lay hold on all op-
portunities to procure some relief unto the oppressions of that afflicted
country. But seeing the New- English affairs in so able an hand, he
thought the best stage of action for him would now be New-England it
'Self ; and so with certain instructions from none of the least considerable
persons at White-Hall, what service to do for his country, in the spring
of the year 1689, he hastened buck unto it. Before he left London, a
messenger from the abdicated king tendered him the government oi New-
England, if he would accept it ; but as that excellent attorney general,
Sir William Jones, when it was proposed that the plantations might be
governed without assemblies, told the King, that he could no more grant a
commission to levy money on his subjects there, zvithout their consent by an
assembly, than they could disclutrge themselves from their allegiance to the
JEnglish crown. So Sir William Phips thought it his duty to refuse n gov-
ernment without an tssembly, as a thing that was treason in the very es-
sence of it ; and instead of petitioning the succeeding princes, that hia patent
for lagh sheriff' might be rendred effectual, he joined in petitions, that
New-England might have its own old patent so restored, as to render
ineffectual that, and all other grants tliat might cut short any of its ancient
priviledges. But when Sir I^t7/tam arrived at New-England, he found
a new face of things ; for about an hundred Indians in the eastern parts
of the country, had unaccountably begun a war upon the English in July,
1688, and though the govemour then in the western parts had immedi-
ate advice of it, jet he not only delayed and neglected all that was ne-
cessary for the /)«6/icfc de/encc, but also when he at last returned, he
manifested a most furious displeasure against those of the council, and ail
others that had forwarded any one thing for the security of the inhabitants ;
while at the sune time he dispatched some of his creatures upon secret

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

e be deni-
,k proved
iet of the
leir hands,
f those ty-
is in «ll s»f-
made the
1 posterity
der, asfast

m Phipa re-
d-year such
government
ipecimen of
r a share in
jred his best
} revolution
d on all op-
that afflicted
an hand, he
O'England it
considerable
I the spring
ft London, a
»ent of JVetJj-
ley general,
ins might be
more grant «
Y>ment by an
igiance to the
1 refuse a got)-
the very es-
Ihathis/ja^ent
[etitions, that
ks to render
of its ancient
\nd, he found
eastern parti
^glish in July,
had immedi-
1 that was ne-
[returned. he
(until, and rH
3 inhabitants ;
s upon secret

errands unto Canada, and set at liberty some of the most murderous Iti-
dians which the English had seized upon.

This conduct of the governour, which is in a printed remonstrance of
some of the best gentlemen in the Council complained of, did extreamlj
dissatisfie the suspiciotis people : who were doubtless more extream in
some of their suspioiotis, than there was any real occasion for : but the
governour at length raised an army of a thousand English to conquer
this hundred Indians ; and this army, whereof some of the chief com-
manders were Papists, underwent the fatigues of a long and a cpid win-
ter, in the most Cancascean regions of the territory, till, without the kill-
ing of one Indian, there were more of the poor people killed, than they
had enemies there alive ! This added not a little to the dissatisfaction of
the people, and it would much more have done so, if they had seen
what the world had not yet seen of the suggestions made by the Irish
Catholicks unto the late King, published in the year 1691, in the Account
of the state of the Protestants in Ireland, licensed by the Earl of JVotting-
ham, whereof one article runs in these express terms. That if any of
the Irish cannot have their lands in specie, but money in lieu, some of them
may transport themselves into America, possibly near New-England, to
clieck the growing Independants of that country : or if they had seen what
was afterwards seen in a letter from K. James to his Holiness, (as they
stile his foolishness) the Pope of Rome ; that it was his full purpose to
have set up Roman-Catholick religion in the £ng/isA plantations otAmert'
ca : though after all, there is cause to think that there was more made
of the suspicions then flying like wild-iire about the country, than a
strong charity would have countenanced. When the people were under
these frights, they had got by the edges a little intimation of the then
Prince of Grangers glorious undertaking to de'".ver England from the
feared evils, which were already /ett by New-England ; but when the
person who brought over a copy of the Prince's declaration was impris-
oned for bringing into the country a treasonable paper^ and the govern-
our, by his proclamation, required all persons to use their utmoU endeav-
ours to hinder the landing of any whom the Prince might send thither,
this put them almost out of patience. And one thing that plunged the
more considerate persons in the territory into uneasie thoua;hts, was the
faulty action of some soldiers, who upon the common suspicions, deserted
their ^stations in the army, and caused their friends to gather together
here and there in little bodies, to protect from the demands of the gov-
ernour their poor children and brethren, whom they thought bound (m
a bloody sacrifice ; and there were also belonging to the Rose-frigot some
that buzzed surprising stories about Boston, of many mischiefs to be
thence expected. Wherefore, some of the principal gentlemen in Bos-
ton consulting what was to be done in this extraordinary juncture, they
all agreed that they would, if it were possible, extinguish all essays in
the people towards an insurrection, in daily hopes of orders from England
for their cafety : but that if the country people by any violent motions
pushed the matter on so far, as to make a revolution unavoidable, then
to prevent the shedding of blood by an ungoverned mobile, some of the
gentlemen present should appear at the head of the action with a decla-
ration accordingly prepared. By the eighteenth oil April, 1689, things
were pushed on so far by the people, that certain persons first seized
the captain of the frigot, and the rumor thereof running like lightning
through Boston, the whole town was immediately in arms, with the most
tinaniinous resolution perhaps th:»t ever »va(? known to have inspired any

104

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA: [Book II.

people. They then seized those wretched men, who by their innume-
rable extortions and abuses had made themselves the objects of universal
hatred ; not giving over till the governour himself was become their ;)n.<i-
oner : the whole octton being managed without the least bloodshed or
plunder^ and with as much order as ever attended any tumult, it may be,
in the world. Thus did the New-Englanders a&sert their title to the
common rights of Englishmen ; and except the plantation? ire willing to
degenerate from the temper of true Knglishmen, or except the revolution
of the whule English nation be condemned, their action must so far be
justilicd. On their late oppressors, now under just confinement, they
took no other satiafartion, but sent them over unto White'IIall for the
justice of the King and Parliament And when the day for the anni-
versary election, by their vacated charter, drew near, they had many de •
bates into what form they should cast the government, which was till
then admiiiiiitrcd by a committee for the conservation of the peace, composed
of gentlemen whose hap it was to appear in the head of the late action ;
but their debates issued in this conclusion ; that the governour and ma-
gistrates, which were in power before the late usurpation, should renume
their places, and apply themselves unto the conservation of the peace,
and put forth vvliat acts of government the emergencies might make need-
ful for them, and thus to wait for further directions from the authority
of England. So was there accomplished a revolution which delivered
J^cw-England from grievous oppressions, and which was most graciously-
accepted by the King and Queen, when it was reported unto their Majes-
ties. Bui tht re were new matters for Sir William Phips, in a little
white, now to t ink upon.

§ 9. Behold the great things which were done by the sovereign God,
for a person once us litile in his own eyes, as in other men's. All the re-
turns which he had hitherto made unto the God of his mercies, were but
prelimiaarie.4 to nhat remain to be related. It has been the custom in
the churches of J\'eu<- England, still to expect from such persons as they
admitted unto constant communion with them, that they do not only pub-
lickly and solemnly declare their consent unto the Covenant of Grace, and
partioulaily to those duties of it, wherein a particular church-state is
more immediately concerned, but also first relate unto the pastors, and
by them unto the brethren, the special impresrV^ns which the j^racc of
(iod has made upon their souls in bringing them to this consent. By this
custom and caution, though they cannot keep hypocrites from their sacred
folloivship, yet they go as far as they can, to render and preserve them-
selves churches of saints, and they do further very much edijie one another.
When Sir William Phips was now returned unto his own house, he began
to bethink himself, like David, concerning the house of the God who had
surrounded him with so many fivoiirs in hisozin ; and accordingly he ap-
plied himself unto the north church in Boston, that with his open profes-
sion of his hearty subjection to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, he
niiirht have the ordinances and the privitedges of the gospel added unto
his other enjoyments One thing that quickned his resolution to do what
might be in this matter expected from him, was a passage which he heard
from a minister preaching on the title of the fifty -first Psalm : To make a
publick and an open profession of repentance, is a thing not misbecoming
the greatest man alive. It is an honour to be fovnd among the repenting
people of God, though they he in circumstances never so full of suffering.
A famous Kniglt going with other christians to he crowned with martyrdom,
observed, that his fellow-sufferers were m chains, from Khich the sarrificer.t

Book II.) OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

had, because of his quality, excused him ; whereupon he demanded, that •he:
might wear chains as well as they. For, said he, 1 would be a Knigh'l of
thnt order too. ITure is among ourselves a repenting people of God, who
hy their confessions at their admissions to his table, do signalize their being
and thanks be to God that we have so little of suffering in onr circum-

stances. But if any man count himself grown too big to be a Knight of
that order, the Lord Jesus Christ himself will one day be ashamed of that
man! Upon this excitation, Sir William Phips made his address unto a
Congregational-church, and he had therein one thing to propound unto
hirnaelt', which few persons of his age, so well satisfied in infant-baptism
as he was, have then to ask for. Indeed, in the primitive times, although
the lawfulness of infant-baptism, or the precept and pattern of scripture
for it, was never so much as once made a question, yet we find baptism
was frequently delayed by persons upon several superstitious and un-
reasonable accounts, against which we have such fathers as Gregory JVa-
zianzen, Gregory JVj/ssen, Basyl, Chrysostom, Ambrose, and others, em-
ploying a variety of argument. But Sir William Phips had hitherto de-
layed his baptism, because the years of his childhood were spent where
there was no settled minister, and therefore he was now not only willing to
attain a good satisfaction of his own internal and practical Christianity, be-
fore his receiving that mark thereof, but he was also willing to receive it
among those christians that seemed robst sensible of the bonds which it
laid them under. Oflering himself therefore, first unto the baptism, and
then unto the s%.pper of the Lord, he presented unto the pastor of the
church, with his own hand-writing, the following instrument ; which be-
cause of the exemplary devotion therein expressed, and the remarkable
history which it gives of several occurrences in his life, I will here faith-
fully transcribe it, without adding so much as one word unto it.

• The first of God's making me sensible of my sins, was in the year

• 1674, by hearing your fiither preach concerning. The day of trouble
' near. It pleased Almighty God to !>mite me with a deep sence of my

• miserable condition, who had lived until then in the world, and had
' done nothing for God. I did then begin to think.wAa^ / shaald do ie b&
' saved ? and did bewail my youthful days, which I had spent in vain : I

' did think that I would begin to mind the things of God. Being theo^
' some time under your father's ministry, much troubled with my burden,

■ but thinking on that scripture, Come unto me, yon that are weary and
' heavy laden, and I will give you rest ; I had some thoughts of drawing

• as near to the communion of the Lord Jesus as I could ; but the ruins
' which the Indian u^ars '^•'ought on my affairs, and the entanglements
' which my following the sea laid upon me, hindrcd my pursuing the

welfare of my awn soul as I ought to have done. At length God was
;)lea8cd to smile upon my outward concerns. The various providences,

■ both merciful and afflictive, which attended me in my travels, were
sanctified unto me, to make me acknowledge God in all my ways. I have
divers times been in danger of my life, and I have been brought to see

• that I owe my life to him that has given a life so often to me : I thank
God, he hath brought me to see my self altogether unhappy, without

' an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, and to close heartily with him,

' desiring him to execute all his offices on my behalf. I have now, foi

some time, been binder serious resolutions, that I would avoid whatever

1 should know to be displeasing unto God, and that I would serve him all

■ the days of my life. I believe mo man ■will repent the service of such a
master. I jind my self unable to keep such resolutions, but my serious

166

« MAGNALIA CHRISTl AMERICANA

fBoOK II.

' prayers are to the Most High, that he would ena6/e me. God hath done

* 80 much for me, that I am sensible I owe my self to him ; to him would
' I give my self, and all that he has given to me. I can't express bis mercies
' to me. But as soon as ever God hnd smiled upon me with a turn of my
' affairs, 1 had laid my self under the vows of the Lord, Tltat I would
' set my sey to serve his people, and churches here, unto the utmost of my

* capftcity. I have had gre»t offers made me in England ; but the church-

* es of New England were those which my heart was most set upon. 1
' knew, tliat if God had a people any where, it was here : and 1 resolved to

* rise and fall with them ; neglecting very great advantages for my world-

< ly interest, that I might come and enjoy the ordinances of the Lord Je-
' «U8 here. It has been my trouble, that since I came home I have
' made no more haste tfi get into the house of God, where / desire to be :
' especially having heard so much about the evil of that omission. I can
' do little for God, but I desire to wait upon him in his ordinances, and

* to live to his honour and glory. My being born in a part of the coun-

* try, where 1 had not in my infancy enjoyed the first sacrament of the
' JVew-Testament, has been something of a stumbling-block unto me. But
' though 1 have hacV profers ofbaptism elsewhere made unto me, I resolved
' rather to defer it, until I might enjoy it in the communion of these
' churches ; and 1 have had awful impressions from those words of the

* Lord Jesus in Matth. viii. .38, Whosoever shall be ashamed of me, and of

< my words, of himalso shall the Son of Man be ashamed. When God had

< blessed me with something of the world, I had no trouble so great sts
^ this, lest it should not be in mercy ; and I trembled at nothing more than

* being put off" with a portion here. That I may make sure of better things,

* I now offer my self unto the communion of this church of the Lord

< Jesus.'

Accordingly on March 23, 1690, after he had in the congregation of
North-Boston given himself up, Jirst unto the Lord, and then unto his peo-
ple, he was baptized, and so received into the communion of the faithful
there.

§ 10. Several times, about, before and after this time, did I bear him
express himself unto this purpose : / have no need at all to look after any
further advantages for my self in this world; I may sit still at home, if I
will, and enjoy my ease for the rest of my life; but I believe that I should o^end
God in my doing so : for I am now in the prime of my age and strength,
and, I thank God, I can undergo hardship : he only knows how long I have
to live ; but I think His my duty to venture my life in doing of good, before
an useless old age comes upon me : wherefore I will now expose my self
while lam able, and as far as I am able, for the service of my country : I
was born for others, as well as my self 1 say, many a time have I heard
him so express himself: and agreeable to this generous disposition and
resolution was all the rest of his life. About this time New-England was
miserably briared in the perplexities of an Indian war ; and the salva-
ges, in the east part of the country, issuing out from their inaccessible
swamps, had for many months made their cruel depredations upon the
poor English planters, and surprized many of the plantations on the
frontiers, into ruin. The New-Englanders found, that while they con-
tinued only on the defensive part, their people were thinned, and their
treasures wasted, without any hopes of seeing a period put unto the In-
dian tragedies ; nor could an army greater than Xerxes^ have easily come
at the seemingly contemptible handful of tawnies which made all this
disturbance ; or, Tamerlain, the greatest conqueror that ever the worW

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

167

aavr, have made it a business of no trouble to have conquered them i they
found, that they were like to make no weapons reach their enswamped
adversaries, except Mr. MiltoncouU have shown them how

I.I

To have pluckt up the hills with all their load,
Rocks, waters, woods, and by their shaggy tops.
Up-lifting, bore them in their hands, therewith
The rebel host to've over-whelm'd

So it was thought that the English subjects, in these regions of Antericit,
might very properly take this occasion to make an attempt upon the
French, and by reducing them under the English government, put an
eternal period at once unto all their troables from the Frenchified pagans.
This was a motion urged by Sir Willam Phips unto the General Court of
the Masaachuset-colony ; and he then made unto the court a brave offer
of bis own person and estate, for the service of the publick in their
present extremity, as far as they should see cause to make use thereof.
Whereupon they made ajirst essay against the French, by sending a naval
force, with about seven hundred men, under the conduct of Sir William
Phips, against L'Acady and JVbva Scotia ; of which action we shall give
only this general and summary account ; that Sir William Phips set sail
from J^aniascot, April 28, 1690, arriving at Port-Royal, May 11, and had
the fort quickly surrendered into his hands by the French enemy, who de-
spaired of holding out against him. He then took possession of that
province for the English Crown, and having demolished the fort, and sent
away the garrison, administred unto the planters an oath of allegiance to
King William and Queen Mary, he left what order he thought conven-
ient for the government of the place, until further order should be ta-
ken by the governour and council of the Massachuset'Co\ooy , unto whom
he returned May 30, with an acceptable account of his expedition, and
accepted a place ainong the magistrates of that colony, to which the free-
men had chosen him at their anniversary election two days before.

Thus the country, once given by King James the first unto Sir William
Alexander, was now uy another Sir WiUiam recovered out of the hands
of the French, who had afterwards got the possession of it ; and there was
added unto the English empire, a territory, whereof no man can read
Monsieur Denys* description Geographique Sf Historiqm des Costes de I*
Amerique SeptentrioncUe, but he must reckon the conquest of a regioa
so improvable, for lumber, for Jishing, for mines, and for furrs, a very
cosiderable service. But if a smaller service has, e*er now, ever merited
a knigntlwod. Sir WiUiam was willing to repeat his merits by actions of
the greatest service possible :

Nil Actum credens si quid superesset agendum.

§11. The addition of this French colony to the English dominion,
was no more than a little step towards a greater aetion, which was first is
the design of Sir WiUiam Phips, ani which was, indeed, the greatest aC'
Hon that ever the Nevo-Englanders attempted. There was a time when
the Philistines had made some inroads and assaults from the northward,
upon the skirts of Goshen, where the Israelites had a residence, before
their coming out of Egypt. The Israelites, and especially that active
colony of the Ephraimites, were willing to revenge these injuries upon
tbeir wicked neighbours ; they presumed themslvcs powerful and nu-

168

j«,MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMEHiCANA:

[Book If.

merouB enough to encounter the CanaemHts, even in their own country ;
and they formed a brisk expedition, but caoie off unhappy lowers in it ;
the Jexioish Rabbins tell us, they lost no less than eight tkotuaud men.
The time was not yet come ; there was more /umle than good apted in
the attempt ; they were not enough concerned for the counsel and pre-
sence of Uod in the undertaking ; they mainly propounded the plutuler to
be got among a people, whose trade was that wherewith beaste enriched
them ; so the business miscarried. This history the Psalmist going to
recite, says, I will utter dark sayings of old. Mow that what befel Sir
William Phips, with his whole country of Ntw-Engluud, may not be
almost forgotten among the dark sayings of old, 1 will here give the true
report of a very memorable matter.

It was Canada that was the chief source of New-England's miseries.
There was the main strength of the French; theie the Indians were mostly
supplied with ammunition ; thence issued parties of men, who uniting
with the salvages, barbarously murdered many innocent JVew-Englanders,
without any provocation on the New-English part, except this, that New-
England had proclaimed King William and Q. Maiy, which they said
were usurpers ; and as Cato could make no speech in the senate with-
out that conclusion, Delenda est Carthago ; so it was the general con-
clusion of all that argued sensibly about the safety of that country, Can-
ada must be reduced. It then became the concurring resolution of all
New-England, with New-York, to make a vigorous attack upon Canada
at once, both by sea and land.

And a fleet was accordintrly fitted out from Boston, under the command
of Sir William Phips, to fall upon Quebeque, the chief city of Canada.
They waited until August for some stores of war from England, whither
they had sent for that purpose early in the spring ; but none at last ar-
riving, and the season of the year being so far spent, Sir William could
not, without many discouragements upon his mind, proceed in a voyage,
for which he found himself so poorly provided. However, the ships
being taken up. aud the m n on board, his usual courage would not per-
, mit him. to desist from the entcrprize ; but he set sail from Hull near
Boston, August 9, 1690, with a fleet of thirty-two ships and tenders ;
whereof one, called the Six Friends, carrying forty-four great guns, and
two hundred men, was admiral. Sir William dividin<!; the fleet into seve-
ral squadrons, whereof there was the Six Friends, Captain Gregory Sugars
commander, with eleven more of the aJmiral's squadron, of which one
was also a capital ship, namely. The John and Thomas, Captain Thomas
Carter commander; of the vice-admirals, the Swan, Captain Thomas Gilbert
commander, with nine more; of the rear-admirals, the America-Merchant,
Captain Joseph Eldridge commander, with nine more, and above twen-
ty hundred men on board the whole fleet ; he so happily managed
his charge, that they every one of them arrived safe at anchor be-
fore Quebeck, although they had as dangerous, and almost untrodden
a path, to take mipiloted, for the whole voyage, as ever any voy-
age was undertaken with. Some small French prizes he took by the
way, and set up English colours upon the coast, here and there,
as he went along ; and before the month of August was out, he had
spent several days as far onward «f^is voyage, aa between the island of
Antecosta, and the Alain. But when they entred the mighty river of Con*
ada, such adverse winds encountred the fleet, that they were three weeks
dispatching the way, which might otherwise have been gone in three days,
and it. was the fifth ff October, when a fresh breeze coming up at east,

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND.

169

carried them along by the north shore, ap to the inle of Orltani ; aucl
then haling southerly they pasted bv the ea$t end of that island, with the
whole fleet approaching the city of Quefrecik. This loss of time, which
made it so late before the fleet could get ibto the country, where a cold
and tierce winter was already very far advanced, gave no vei^ good pros-
pect of success to the eipedition ; but that which gave a much wor$e,
wiu a most horrid mismanagement, which had, the mean while, happen-
ed in the west. For a thousand English from J^ew-York and Albany, and
Connecticut, with fiAeen hundred Ittdians, were to have gone over-land
in the west, and fallen upon Mount-RoycU, while the fleet was to visit Que-
biek in the east ; and no expedition could have been better laid than this^
vf hich was thus contrived. But those English companies in the west, march-
ing as far as the great Lakethatw<i8 to be passed, found their cawot not
provided, according to expectation ; and the Indians also were [how ? Ood
knows, and will one day judge !] dissuaded from joining with the EngliAj
and the army met with such discouragements, that they returned.

Had this western army done but so much as continued at the lake, the
diversion thereby given to the French quartered at Mount-Royal, would
have rendred the conquest of Quebeck easie and certain ; but the govern-
our of Canada being informed of the retreat made by the w««tern-army,
had opportunity, by the cross winds that kept back the fleet, unhappily
to get the whole strength of all the country into the city, before the fleet
could come up unto it. However, none of these difliculties hindred Sir
William Phips from sending on shoar the following summons, on Monday
Ihe ^ixth of October.

Sir William Phips, Knight, General and Commander in Chief, in and
' over their Majesties' forces of JS'ew-England, by sea and land ;

To Count Frontenac, Lieutenant-Qeneral and Governour for the French
King at Canada ; or in his absence, to his Deputy, or him, or them,
in chief command at 'Quebeck. t

THE war between the two crowns of England and France, doth not only
nufficienily warrant, but the destruction made by the French and Indians,
under your command and encouragement, upon the persons and estates of
their Majesties* subjects of New-England, without provocation on their part^
hath put them under the necessity of this expedition, for their <nen security
and satisfaction. And although the cruelties and barbarities used against
them, by At French and Indians, might, upon the present opportunity,
prompt unto a severe revenge, yet being desirous to avoid all inhumane and
unchristian4ike actions, and to prevent shedding of blood as much as may
he ;

• / the aforesaid William Phips, Knight, do hereby, in the name, and in the
behalf of their most excellent Majesties, William and Mary, King and Queen
of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, defenders of the faith, and by
order of their said Majesties^ government of the Massachuset-co/ony m
New-England, demand a present surrender of your forts and castles, unde-
molished, and the King's, and other stores, unimbezzled, with a seasonable
delivery of all captives; together with a surrender of all your persons and
estates to my dispose : upon the doing whereof you may expect mercy from
me, as a christian, according to what slutll be found for their Majesties^ ser-
vice, and the subjects^ security. Which if j/ou refuse forthwith to do, I am
come provided, and am resolved, by the help of God, in whom I trust, by
force of arms, to revenge all wrongs and injuries offered, and bring you «»-

Vol. I.. 22

MAtiNALIA CHRlS'i I AMERICANA : [Buok II.

4er tubj*ction to (hn Crovn of England ; and lehen too late, tuake you viuh
you had acctptea of the favour tendered.

Your answtr potUive in an hour, returned by your omn trumpet, with the
return of mine, ii required, upon the peril that will c»»«i.

The summons being delivered unto Count Frontenac, his answer was ;

That Sir Willinm Phips, and those with him, were hereticks unci traitors
'0 their King, and had taken up with that Usurper, the Prince of Orunge,
andhadmade a revolution, which if it had not been made, New-England
and the French had been all one : and that no other answer was to be expect-
ed from him, but Xihat should be from the mouth of his cannon.

General Phips now saw that it must cost him dry blows, and that he must
voar his perswauions out of the mouths of great guns, to make himself
master of u citjr which had certainly surrendered it self unto him, if he
had arrived but a httle sooner, and summoned it before the coming down
of Count Frontenac with all his forces, to command the oppressed peo-
ple there, who would have been, many of them, glader of coming under
the English government. Wherefore on the seventh of October, the
English, tliiit were for the land service, went on board their lesser ves-
sels, in order to land ; among which there was a bark, wherein was Cap-
tain Epkraim Savage, with sixty men, that ran a-ground upon the North-
shoar, near two miles from Q,%iebeck, and could not get off, but lay in the
same distress that Scceva did, when the Dritains poured in their numbers
upon the bark, wherein he, with a few more soldiers of Casar^s army,
were, by the disadvantage of the tide, leftashoar : the French, with In-
dians, that saw them lye there, came near, and tired thick upon them,^
and were bravely answered ; and when two or three hundred of the ene-
my, at last planted a field-piece against the bark, while the wind blew so
hard, that no help could be sent unto his men, the general advanced so
far, as to level two or three greatguns,conveniently enough to make the
assailants fly ; and when the flood came, the bark happily got off, with-
out the hurt of one man aboard. But so violent was the storm of wind
all this day, that it was not possible for them to land until the eighth of
October; when the English counting every hour to be a week until they
were come to battel, vigorously got ashoar, designing to enter the east-
end of the city. The small-pox had got into the fleet, by which distem-
per prevailing, the number of effective men which now went ashoar,
under the command of Lieutenant General Walley, did not amount unto
more than fourteen hundred ; but four companies of these were drawn
out as /or/orus, whom, on every side, the enemy fired at ; nevertheless,
the English rushing with a shout, at once upon them cau.sed them to run
as fast as legs could carry them : so that the whole English army, ex-
pressing as much resolution as was in CcBsar''s army, when they first land-
ed on Britain, in spight of all opposition from the inhabitants, marched
on until it was dark, having hrst killed many of the French, with the loss
of but four men of their own ; and frighted about seven or eight hun-
dred more of the French from an ambuscado, where they lay ready to fall
upon them. But some thought, that by staying in the valley, they took
the way never to gel over the hill : and yet for them to stay where they
were, till the smaller vessels came up the river before them, so far as by
their guns to secure the passage of the army in their getting over, was
wh$it the council of war had ordered. But the violence of the wither,

Book U] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEWENQLAND;

171

with the general's being sooner pluneed into the hent of nction than was
intended, bindrcd the smaller vessels from attending that order. And
this evening a French deserter coming to them, assured them, that nine
hundred men were on their march from Quebeck to meet them, alreiuly
passed a little rivulet that lay at the end of the city, but seeing them
land so suddenly, and so valiantly run down those that first encountered
them, they had retreated : nev<M'thcles8, that Count Fronlenac was come
down to iluebeck with no fewer than thirty hundred' men to defend the
city, having left but Jifty soldiers to defend Mount-Real, because they
had understood, tlint the English army on that side, were ^. >ne back to
Albany. Notwithstanding this dis-spiriting information, the common sol-
diers did with much veliemency beg and pray, that they might he led on ;
professing, that they hnd rather lose their lives on the spot, than fuil of
taking the city ; but the more wary commanders considered how rash a
thing it would be, for about fourteen hundred raw men, tirctl with a long
voyage, to assault more than twice as many expert soldierd, who were
Ualli in suo sterquilinio, or cocks growing on their orcn dunghil. They
were, in truth, now gotten into the grievous case which Livy describes
when he says, Ibi grave est Bellum gerere, ubi non consistcndi aut proce-
dendi locus ; quocumque aspexeris Hostilia sunt omnia ; look on one side
or the other, all was full of hostile difficulties. And indeed, whatever
popular clamour has been made against any of the commanders, it is ap-
parent thut they acted considerately, in making a pause upon what was
before them ; and they did a greater kindness to their soldiers than
they have since been thanked for. But in this time, General Phips and
his men of war, with their canvas wings, flew close up unto the west-
end of the city, and there he behaved himself with the greatest bravery
imaginable ; nor did the other men of war forbear to follow his brave
ey^r pie : who never discovered himself more in bis element, than when
(as the poet expresseth it,)

The slaughter breathing brass grew hot, and spoke
In flames of lightning, and in clouds of smoke :

He lay within pistol-shot of the enemies' cannon, and beat them from
thence, and very much battered the town, having his own ship shot
through in almost an hundred places with four and twenty pounders, and
yet but one man was killed, and only two mortally wounded aboard him,
in this hot engagement, which continued the greatest part of that night,
and several hours of the day ensuing. But wondring that he saw no sig-
nal of any effective action ashoar at the east-end of the city, he sent that
he might know the condition of the army there ; and received answer,
that several of the men were so frozen in their hands and feet, as to be
disabled from servicej and others were apace falling sick of the small-
pox. Whereupon he ordered them on board immediately to refresh
themselves, and he intended then to have renewed his attack upon the
city, in the method of landing his men in the face of it, under the shelter
of his great guns ; having to that purpose provided also a considerable
nnmber of well-shaped wheel-ba^rows, each of them carrying two Pe-
tarraros apiece, to march before the men, and make the enemy fly, with
as much contempt hs overwhelmed the Philistines, when undone by foxes
with torches in their tails ; (remembred in an anniversary diversion eve-
ry April among the ancient Romans, taught by the Phenicians.)

While the measures to be further taken were debating, there was
made an exchange of prisoners, the English having taken several of tho-

MAONALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

IBoji li.

French in diten actioni, and (he French having in their hands divert ol'
the Eitglith, whom the Indtane had brought captives unto them. The
army now on board continued still resolute and courageous, and on fire
for the conquest of Quebeck ; or if they had missed of doing it by storm,
they knew thiit they might, by posseiising themselves of the isle of Or-
leant, in a little while have starved them out. Incredible damage they
might indeed have done to the enemy before they embarked, but they
were willing to preserve the more undefensible parts of the country in
•uch a condition, as might more sensibly encourage the submission of the
inhubitiints unto the Crown of England, whose protection was desired
by so many of them. And still they were loth to play for any lesser
game than the immediate surrender of ^uebeck it selt. But e're a full
council of war could conclude the next steps to be taken, a violent ttorm
arose that separated the fleet, and the snow and the cold became so ez-
tream, that they could not continue in those quarters any longer.

Thus, by an evident hand of heaven, sending one unavoidable disaster
after another, as well-formed an enterprize, as perhaps was ever made by
the JVew-Englanderg. most unhappily miscarried ; and General Phipi un-
derwent a very mortifying disappointment of a design, which his mind
W'lH, as much as ever any, set upon. He arrived JVov. 19, at Boston,
where, although he found himself, as well as the publick, thrown into
very umatie circumstances, yet be had this to comfort him, that neither
his courage nor his conduct could reasonably have been taxed ; nor
could it be said that any man could have done more than he did, under so
many embarattmentt of hit business, as he was to fight withal. He also
relieved the uneasiness of his mind, by considering, that his voyage to
Canada, diverted from his country an horrible tempest from an army of
boss- lepers, which had prepared themselves, as Uis affirmed, that win-
ter, to fall upon the New-English colonies, and by falling on them, would
probably have laid no little part of the country desolate. And he fur-
ther considered, that in this matter, like Israel engaging against Benja-
min, it may be, we saw yet but the beginning of the matter : and that the
way to Canada now being learnt, the K)undation of a victory over it might
be laid in what had been already done. Unto this purpose likewise, he
was heard sometimes applying the remarkable story reported by Brad-
wardine.

* There was an hermit, who being vexed with blasphemous injections

< about the justice and wisdom of Divine Providence, an angel in humane

* shape invited him to travel with him, that he might see the hidden judg-

* menls of God. Lodging all night at the house of a man who kindly en-

* tertained them, the angel took away a valuable cup from their host, at

* their going away in the morning.and bestowed this cup upon a very ivicked
' tnan,with whom they lodged the night ensuing. The third night they were
' most lovingly treated at the house of a very godly man, from whom,
' when they went in the morning, the angel meeting a servant of his,
' threw him over the bridge into the water, where he was drowned.
' And the fourth, being in like manner most courteously treated at the

< house of a very godly man. the angel before morning did unaccountably
' kill his only child. The companion of the journey being wonderfully
' offended at these things, would have left his guardian: but the angel

< tbenft-tbus addressed him, Understand nofw the secret judgments of Gwll

* Tht fint man that entertained us, did inordinately affect that cup which I
' took from him ; Uwas for the advantage of his interiour that J took il
' away, and I gave it unto the impious man, as the present re7i'ard of hi%

liven oi
». The
I on fire
ly btorm,
le of Or-
age tbey
but they
ountry in
ion 01 the
It desired
my lewer
're a full
lent itorm
me flo ex-
cr.

le disnster
sr made by
I Phipt un-
h hie mind
at Boston,
lirown into
that neither
taxed ; nor
id, under so
,1. He also
is voyage to
inn army of
(1, that win-
hem, would
l^nd he fur-
linst Benja-
and that the
ver it might
likewise, he
id by Brad-

RooR II.) OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. 173

« good work$, which t« all the reward he ii like to have. At for o^r third
' hott, the eervant which I ilew had fanned a bloody design to have ilain hi»

* matter, but now, you fee, lUave tared the life of the matter , ami prevented
' tomething of growth unto the eternal punitiment of the murderer. At for

* our fourth Aoi(, before hit child wat bom unto htm, he was a very liberal
' and bountiful perton, and he did abundance of good with hit ettate ; but
' wAen he taw he wat like to leave tuch an heir, M grew cpvetous ; wherefore

* the toul of the infant it trantlated into paradite, but the occation of tin it,
' you «ee, 'mercifully taken away from the parent.

Thus General Fhipt, though he had been used unto diving in his time,
would say. That the thingt which had befallen him in thit expedition, werr.
too deep to be dived tn(o /

§ 12. From the time that General Pen made his attempt upon Hitpani-
ola, with an army that, like the JVew-Englith forces against Canada, mis-
carried after an expectation of having little to do but to poitett and
plunder; even to this day, the general disaster which hath attended
almost every attempt of the European colonies in America, to make any
considerable encroachments upon their neighbours, is a matter of some
close reflection. But of the disaster which now befel poor JVew-Eng-
land in particular, every one will easily conclude none of the least con-
sequences to have been the extream drltt which that country was now
plunged into ; there being/oWy thousand pounds, more or less, now to
be paid, and not a penny in the treasury to pay it withnl. In this ex-
tremity they presently found out an expedient, which may serve as an ex-
ample for any people in other parts of the world, whose distresses may
call for a sudden supply of money to carry them through any important
expedition. The general assembly first passed an act for the levying of
such a sum of money as was wanted, within such a term of time as was judg-
ed convenient ; and this act was a fund, on which the credit of such a sum
should be rendered patsable among the people. Hereupon there was
appointed an able and faithful committee of gentlemen, who printed,
from copper-platet, a just number of bills, and flourished, indented, and
contrived them in such a manner, as to make it impossible to countt>rfeil
any of them, without a speedy discovery of the counterfeit : besides
which, they were all signed by the hands of three belonging to that com-
mittee. These 6t7/9 being of several sums, from two shillings, to tm
pounds, did confess the Mastachuset-colony to be endebted unto the per-
;ion in whose hands they were, the sums therein expressed ; nnr!
provision was made, that if any particular bills were irrecoverable lost .
or torn, or worn by the owners, they might be recruited without any
damage to the whole in general. The public debts to the sailors and sol-
diers, now upon the point of mutiny, (for, Arma Tenenti, Omnia dat, qvi
Jmia negat .') were in these bills paid immediately : but that further erf
(Jtt might be given thereunto, it was ordered that they should be accept-
ed by the treasurer, and all officers that were subordinate unto him, in
all publick payments, at five per cent, more than the value expressed in
them. The people knowing that the tax-act ivould, in the space of two
years at least, fetch into the treasury as much as all the billt of credit,
thence emitted, would amount unto, tverc willing to be furnished with
bills, wherein it was their advantage to pay their <aa-e.«, rather than in any
other specie ; and so the sailors and soldiers put off their bills, instead of
Tjwney, to those with whom they had any dealings, .and they circulated
through all the hands in the colony pretty comfortably. Had the ^07- •
Tnmeii^ been so settled, that thrro had not bpon any donbt wf nnv oh-

174

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA r [Book II.

struction, or diversion to be given to the prosecution of the tax-act, by
a total change of their affairs then depending nt White-Hall, 'tia very cer-
tain, that the bills of credit had been better ihan so much ready silver;
yea, the invention had been of more use to the New-Englanders, than if
all their copper mines bad been opened, or the mountains of Peiru had
been removed into these parts of America. The Massachuset bills of
credit had been like the bank bills of Venice, where though there were
not, perhaps, a duca* of money in the bank, yet the bills were esteemed
more than twenty per cent, better than money, among the body of the
people, in all their dealings. But many people being afraid, that the
government would in half a year be so overturned, as to convert their
bills of credit altogether into waste paper, the credit of them was thereby
very much impaired ; and they, who first received them, could make
them yield little more than fourteen cr sixteen shillings in the pound ;
from whence there arose those idle suspicions in the heads of m<my more
ignorant and unthinking folks concerning the use thereof, which, to the
incredible detriment of the province, are not wholly laid aside unto this
day. However, this method of paying the pulick debts, did no less than
save the publick from a perfect ruin : and e're many months were ex-
pired, the governour and council had he pleasure of seeing the treasurer
burn before their eyes many a thousand pounds worth of the bills, which
had passed about until they were again returned unto the treasury ; but
before their being returned, had happily and honestly, xvithout n favthing
of silver coin, discharged the debts, for which they were intended. But
that which helped these bills unto much of their credit, was the generous
ofl'er of many worthy men in Boston, to run the risque of selling their
goods reasonably for them ; ;ind of these, 1 think I may say, that General
Phips was in some sort the leader ; who at the very beginning, meerly
to recommend the credit of the bills unto other persons, chearfully laid
down a considerable quantity of ready money for an equivalent parcel
of them. And thus in a little time the country waded through the
terrible debts which it was fallen into : in this, though unhappy
enough, yet not so unhappy as in tlie loss of men, by which the
country was at the same time consumed. 'Tis true, there was very
little blood spilt in the attack made upon Quebeek ; and there was a great
hand of heaven seen in it. The churches, upon the call of the
government, not only observed a general /ast through the colony, for
the welfare of the army sent unto Quebeck, but also kept the wheel of
prayer in a continual motion, by repeated and successive agreements,
for days of prayer with fasting, in their several vicinities. On these
days the ferventest prayers were sent up to the Qod of armies, for
the safety and success of the New-English army gone to Canada :
and though I never understood that any of the faithful did in their
prayers arise to any assurance that the expedition should prosper in all
respects, yet they sometimes in their devotions on these occasions, ut-
tered their perswasion, that Almighty God had heard them in this thing,
that the English army should not fall by the hands of the French enemy.
Now they were marvellously delivered from doing so ; though the ene-
my had such unexpected advantages over them, yea, and though the
horrid winter was come on so far, thet it is a wonder the English fleet,
then riding in the river o( Canada, fared any better than the army which
a while since besieged Poland^ wherein, o{ seventy thovsand invaders, no
less than/or^i/ thousand suddenly perished by the severity of the coW, al-
beit it werft but the month of November with them. Nevertheless, a kind

Book II] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

1T5

ax-act, by

very cer-

idy nlver;

ers, than if

; Pefu had

set billf of

there were

e esteemed

jody of the

id, that the

mvert their

vas thereby

could make

the pound ;

■ nwny more

rhich, to the

ide unto this

no less than

ths were ex-

the treasurer

e bills, which

reasury •, but

out a farthing

tended. But

the generous

f selling their

, that General

ining, meerly

;hearfuUy laid

ivalent parcel
through the

agh unhappy
y which the

ere was very
re was a great
J call of the
le colony, for
the wheel of
s^reements,
J. On these
of armies, for
to Canada •■
I did in their
prosper in all
occasions, ut-
I in this thiug,
rench enemy-
►ugh the ene-
id though the
English fleet,
>ie army which
id invaders, no
of the cold, aV-
•theless, ak'"^

of camp-fever, as v/nW as the small-pox, got into the deet, whereby some •
hundreds came short of home. And besides this calamity, it was also to
be lamented, that although the most of the fleet arrived safe a\ New-Eng-
land, whereof some vessels indeed were driven off by cross-winds as far
as the fVest-Indies^ before such arrival ; yet there were three or four vesr
sels which totally miscarried : one was never beard of, a second was
wrecked, but most of the men were saved by another ii\ company ; a third
was wrecked so, that all the men were either starved, or drowned, or
slain by the Indians, except one, which a long while aAer was by means
of the French restored : and a fourth met with accidents, which, it may
be, my reader will by and by pronounce not unworthy to have been re-
lated.

A brigarUine, whereof Captain John Rainsford was coiamander, hav-
ing about threescore men aboard, was in a very stormy night, October 28
1690, stranded upon the desolate and hideous island of Antecosta, an
island in the mouth of the mighty river of Canada; but through the
lingular mercy of God unto them, the vessel did not, immediately, sta\'e
to pieces, which if it had happened, they must have, one way or another,
quickly perished. There they lay for divers days, under abundance of
bitter weather, trying and hoping to get ofl* their vessel ; and they sol-
emnly set apart one day for prayer with fasting, to obtain the smiles of
heaven upon them in the midst of their distresses ; and this especially,
that if they must go ashoar, they might not, by any stress of storm, lose
the provisions which they were to carry with them. They ^ero at last
convinced, that they most continue no longer on board, and therefore, by
the seventh of November, they applied themselves, all hands, to get their
provisions ashoar upon the dismal island, where they had nothing but a sad
and cold winter before them ; which being accomplished, their vessel over-
set so, as to take away from them all expectation of getting ofl* the island in
it. Here they now built themselves nine small chimney-less things that they
called houses ; to this purpose employing such boards and planks as they
could get from their shattered vessel, with the help of trees, whereof that
squalid wilderness had enough to serve them.; and they built a particular
store-house, wherein they carefully lodged and locked the poor quantity
of provinons, which though scarce enough to serve a ve^y abstemious
company for one month, must now be so stinted, as to hold out six or seven ;
and the allowance agreed among them could be no better than for one
man, two biskets, half a pound of pork, half a pound of flower, onfifint
and a quarter of pease, and two salt fishes per week. This little handful
of men were now a sort of commonwealth, extraordinarily and miiai^bly
separated from all the rest of mankind ; (but I bel'eve, they thought
little enough of an Utopia : wherefore they consulted and concluded
such Zaws among themselves, as they judged necessary to their .sab-
sistence, in the doleful condition whereinto the providence of God had
rastthem ; now ^,« .«,. -^ , n- ...n^' .>,. . ■- , ■^^'-^r >' ^>. ' *. '^

» . — Penitus tola divisos Orbe. .-

They set up good orders, as well as they could, among themselves ;
and besides their daily devotions, they observed the Lord^s Daysf with
more solemn exercises of religion.

But it was not long before they begun to feel the more mortal eflects
of the strait^ whereinto they had been reduced: their «ftor< comT^ons,
their driok of snow-water, their hard, and wet, and smoaky lodgings, {ind

w-f

176

IMfAGNALIA CHRtSTI AMERICANA: [BooxII.

iheir grievous despair of mind, overwhelmed some of them, at such u
rate, and so ham'Stringed them, that sooner than be at the pains to go
abroad, and cut their own fuel, they would lye after a sottish manner in
the cold ; these things quickly brought sicknesses among them. The first
of their number who died was their doctor, on the iOth of December; and
then they dropt away, one after another, till between thirty ani forty of the
tixty were buried by their disconsolate friends, whereof every one look-
ed still to be the next that should lay his bones in that forsaken region.
These poor men did therefore, on Monday the twenty seventh of Janua-
ry, keep a sacred fast (as they did, in some sort, a civU one, every day, all
this while) to beseech of Almighty God, that his anger might be turned
from them, that he would not go on to cut them off in his anger, that the
extremity of the season might be mitigated, and that they might be pros-
pered in some essay to get relief as the spring should advance upon
them ; and they took notice that God gave them a gracious answer to eve-
ry one of these petitions.

But while the hand of God was killing so many of this little nation (and
yet uncapable to become a nation, for it was Res unius JEtatis, populus
vtVorum/) they apprehended, that they must have been under a most
uncomfortable necessity to kill one of their company.

Whatever penalties they enacted for other crimes, there was one, for
which, like that of parricide among the antients they would have prom*
ised themselves, that there should not have been occasion for any
punishments; and that was the crime of stealing from the common-stock
of their provisions. Nevertheless they found their store-house divers
times broken open, and their /^rovtmns therefrom stolen by divers un-
natural children of the Leviathan, while it was not possible for them to
preserve their feeble store-house from the stone'wall-hreaking madness
of these unreasonable creatures. This trade of stealing, if it had not
been stopped by some exemplary severity, they must in a little while, by
lot or force, have come to have cannibally devoured one another ; for
there was nothing to be done, either at fishing, or fowling, or hunting,
upon that rueful island, in the depth of a frozen winter ; and though
they sent as far as they could upon discovery, they could not find on the
island any living thing in the world, besides themselves. Wherefore,
though by an act they made stealing to be so criminal, that several did
run the gantlet for it, yet they were not far from being driven, after all,
to make one degree and instance of it capital. There was a wicked
Irishman among them, who had such a voracious devil in him, that after
divers burglaries upon the store-house, committed by him, at last he stole,
and eat with such a pamphagous fury, as to cram himself with no less
than eighteen biskets at one stolen meal, and he was fain to have his
belly stroked and bathed before the fire, lest he should otherwise have
burst. This amazing, and indeed murderous villany of the Irishman,
brought them all to their wit's ends, how to defend themselves from the
ruin therein threatned unto them ; and whatever fnet^ocis were proposed,
\t was feared that there could be no stop given to his furacious exorbi-
tancies any way but one ; he could not be past stealing, unless he were
past eating too. Some think therefore they might have sentenced the
wretch to die, and after they had been at pains, upon christian and spir-
itual accounts, to prepare him for it, have executed the sentence, by
shooting him to death : concluding matters come to that pass, that if theti
had fiot shot him, it>e nust have starved them unavoidably. Such an ac'
(ign, rf it were doj c, v»ill doubtless meet with no harder a censure, than

«»

Book H.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

177

at such u
lains to go
I manner in
The first
:einber ; and
\ forty of the
py one look-
ken region,
thof Jon«o-
veryday.all
ht be turned
ger, that the
ight be pros-
jvance upon
iswer to eve-

le nation (and
talis, populus
inder a most

was one, for
id have prom-
asion for any
common-stock
e-kouse divers
by divers un-
e for them to
■aking madness
if it had not
little while, by
. another ; for
ig, or hunting,
; and though
not find on the
,. Wherefore,
[hat several did
■iven, after all,
was a wicked
him, that aftei
I at last he stole,
If with no less
lin to have his
•therwise have
the IrishrMn,
lelves from the
pvere proposed,
[ractows exorbi-
mless he were
sentenced the
istian and spir-
ie sentence, by
lass, thatifthej/
t. Such an ac-
a censure, than

that of the seven Eugliahmen, who being in- a boat carried oif to sea from
St. Christophers, with but one day's provision aboard for seventeen, singled
out some uf their number by lot, and slew them, and eat them ; for
which, when they were afterwards accused of murtier, the court, in con-
sideration of the inevitable necessity, acquitted them. Truly the inevitable
necessity of starving, without such an action, sufiiciently grievous to them
all, will very much plead for what was done (whatever it were !) by these
poor Anteco3tians. And starved indeed they must have been for all this,
if they had not contrived and performed a very desperate adventure,
which now remains to be related. 'J'here was a very diminutive kind of
boat belonging to their brigantine, which they recovered out of the
wreck, and cutting this boat in two, they made a shift, with certain odd
materials preserved among them, to lengthen it so far, that they could
form a little cuddy, where two or three men might be stowed, and they
set up a little mast, whereto they fastened a little sail, and accommodated
it with some other little circumstances, according to their present poor
capacity.

On the twenty-fifth of March, five of the company shipped themselves
upon this doughty ^y-ioaf, intending, if it Were possible, to carry onto
Boston the tidings of their woful plight upon Antecosta, and by help from
their friends there, to return with seasonable succours for the rest.
They had not sailed long before they were hemmed in by prodigious
cakes of ice, whereby their boat sometimes was horribly woun i, and
it was a miracle that it was not crushed into a thousand pieces if indeed
a thousand pieces could have been splintred out of so minute a cock-boat.
They kept labouring, and fearfully weather-beaten, among enormous
rands of ice, which would ever now and then rub formidably upon
them, and were enough to have broken the ribs of the strongest frigot
that ever cut the seas ; and yet the signal hand of heaven so preserved
this petty boat, that by the eleventh of April they had got » '-'arter of
their way, and came to an anchor under Cape St. Lawrence, hbv>; .gseen
land but once before, and that about seven leagues o£i', ever s isce thoir
first setting out ; and yet having seen the open and ocean sea n'd so vmck
as once in nil this while, for the ice that still encompassed them. For
their support in this time, the little provisions they brouj^ht with them
would not have kept them alive ; only they killed scale i-;:on the ice, and
they melted the upper part of the ice for drink ; but fierce, wild, ugly
sea-horses would often so approach them upon the ice, that the fear of be-
ing devoured by them was not the least of their exercises. The day
.following they weighed anchor betimes in the morning, but the norv:esf.
winds persecuted them, with the raised and raging waves of the sea,
which almost continually poured into them ; and monstrous islands of
ice, that seemed almost as big as Antecosta it self, would ever now and
then come athwart them. In such a sea they lived by the special assist-
ance of God, until, by the thirteenth of April, they got into an island of
land, where they made a fire, and killed some fowl, and some seale, and
I'ound some goose-eggs, and supplied themselves with what billets of wood
were necessary and carriageable for them ; and there they stayed until
the seventeenth. Here their boat lying near a rock, a great sea hove it
upon the rock, so that it was upon the very point of oversetting', which if it
iiud, she had been utterly disabled for any further service, and they must
have called that harbour by the name, which, 1 think, one a little more
northward bears, the Cape without hope. There they must have ended
their weary days ! But here the good hand of God again interposed for

Vnr. I. ■ 23 .

17^

Jl MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA.

[Book II.

|#i

them ; they got her off ; and though they lost their compass in this hurry,
they tufficieatly repaired, another defective one they had ahoard. Sailing
from thence, by the twenty-fourth of J\pril, they made Cape Brittoon ;
when a thicii fog thre<v them into a new perplexity, until they were
safely gotten into the Bay of Islands, where they again wooded, and wa-
tred, and killed a few fowl, and catched some fish, and began to reckon
themselves as good as half way home. They reached Cape Sables by the
tbuj '^f May^ but by the fifth all their provision was again spent, and
they were out of sight of land ; nor had they any prospect of catching
any thing that lives in the Mantick : which while they were lamenting
one unto another, a stout halibut comes up to the top of the water, by
their side ; whereupon they threw out the n&hing-line, and the fish took
the hook ; but he proved so heavy, that it required the help of several
hands to hale him in, and a thonkjul svpper they made on it. By the
seventh of .1ia|/ seeing no land, but having once more spent all their
provision, tliey were grown almost wholly hopeless of deliverance, but
then a iisliing shallop of Cape Am came up with them, fifteen leagues
to the eastward of thiit cape. And yet before they got n, they had so
tempestuous a night, tliat they much feared perishing upon the rocks
after all : but Goil carried them into Boston harbour the ninth of May,
onto the great surprize of their friends that were in mourning for them :
and there furnishing themselves with a vessel fit for their undertaking,
they took a course in a few weeks more to fetch home their brethren that
they lefl behind them at Jlntecosta.

But it is now time for us to return unto Sir William !

§ 13. All this while Canada was as much written upon Sir WiUiain's
heart, as Callice, they said once, was upon Queen Mary^s. He need-
ed not one to have been his daily monitor about Canada : it lay down
with him, it rose up with him, it engrossed almost all his thoughts; he
thought the subduing of Canada to be the greatest service that could be
done for J^'ew- England, or for the crown of England, in America. In
pursuance whereof, after he had been but a few weeks at home, he took
another voyage for England, in the very depth of winter, xdien sailing
zeasnow dangerous ; conflicting with all the difhculties of a tedious and a
terrible passage, in a very little vessel, which indeed was like enough to
have perished, if it had not beer for the help of his generous hand
aboard, and his fortunes in the bottom.

Arriving per tot Discrimina, at Bristol, he hastned up to Lon-

don ; and made his applications to their Majesties, and the principal Min-
isters of State, for assistance to renew an expedition against Canada,
concluding his representation to the King with such words as these :

' If your Majesty shall graciously please to commission and assist me,

• 1 am ready to venture my life again in your service. And I doubt not,
' by the blessing of God, Canada may be added unto the rest of your
' dominions, which will (all circumstances considered) be of more ad-

• vantage to the croun oi England, than all the territories in the West-
' Indies are.

The Reasons here subjoined, arc humbly offered u7Uo your Majesty's con-
«;•* sideralion. *-«,;,'.

• First, The success of this deeign will greatly add to the glory and iii-
* terest of the English crown and nation ; by the addition of the Bever-
' trade, and securing the Hvdson''s bay company, some of whose factorie!<
' have lately fallen into the hands of the French ; and increase of English

JOOK 11'

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

18 hurry,
Sailiug
Brittoon ;
\ey were
, and wa-

reckon
les by the
pent, and

1 catching
lamenting
water, by
B fish took
of several
:, By the
t all their
ranee, but
en leagues
iiey had so
I the rocks
ith of May,
r for them :
ndertaking,
•ethren that

iir Williain'^
He need-
it lay down
loughts; he
bat could be
\merica. In
me, he took
jxt/ien sailing
jdious and a
e enough to
lerous hand

up to Lov-
[incipalMin
inst Canada,

these :
lid assist me,
J I doubt not,
[rest of your
lof more ad-
lin the West-

yjeslys con-

jlory and in-

tf the Bever-

lose /octories

se of Englis^t

' shipping anti seamen, by gaining the fi!<hery of Kfwfoundland ; and by
' consequence diminish the number of French seamen, and cut off a great
■» revenue from the French crown.

* Secondly, The cause of the English in New-England, their failing in

• the late attempt upon Canada, was thoir wniting for a supply of ammu-
' nition from England until August ; their long passage up that river ; the

• cold season coming on, and the small prx and /eijer* being in the as my
' and fleet, so that they could not stay fourteen days longer ; in which
' time probably they might have taken (iuebeck; yet, if a few frigots be
' speedily sent, they doubt not of an happy success ; the strength of the
« French being small, and the planters desirous to be under the English
' government.

' Thirdly, The Jesuites endeavour to seduce the Maquas, and other /n-

* dians (as is by them affirmed) suggesting the greatness of King Lewis,
' and the inability of King William, to do any thing against the French in
' those parts, thereby to engage them in their interests : in which, if
' they should succeed, not on\y JS'ew- England, but all our American j)lan-

* tations, would be endangered by tlie great increase of shipping, for the
•• French (built in Xew-England at easie rates) to the infinite dishonour
' and prejudice of the English nation.'

But now, for the success of these applications, I must entreat the pa-
tience of my render to wait until we have gone through a little more of
our history.

§ 14. The Reverend Increase Mather beholding his country of A"cj8>-
England in a very deplorable condition, under a governour that acted by
an illegal, arbitrary, trsasonable commission, and invaded liberty and
property after such a manner, as that no man could say any thing was his
own, he did, with the encouragement of the principal gentlemen in the
country, but not without much trouble and hazard unto his own person,
go over to Whitehall in the summer of the year 1688, and wait upon King
James, with a full representation of their miseries. That King did give
him liberty of access unto him, whenever he desired it, and with many
good words promised him to relieve the oppressed people in many instan-
ces that were proposed : but when the revolution had brought the Prince
and Princess of Oiunge to the throne, Mr. Mather having the honour di-
vers times to wait upon the King, he still prayed for no less a favour to
New-England, than the full restorsition of their charter-priviledges : and
Sir William Phips happening to be then in England, very generously
joined with Mr. Mather in some of those addresses : whereto his Majes-
ty's answers were always very expressive of his gracious inclinations.
Mr. Mather, herein assisted also by the Right Worshipful Sir Henry
.Ishurst, a most hearty friend of all such good men as those that once
tilled New-England, solicited the leading men of both houses in the Con-
vention-Parliament, until a bill for the restoring of the charters belong-
ing to New-England, was fully passed by the Commons of England ; but
that Parliament being prorogued, and then dissolved, aU that Sisyphceah
labour came to nothing. The disappointments whicii afterwards most
wonderfully blasted all the hopes of the petitioned restoration, obliged
Mr. Mather, not without the- concurrence of other agents, now also come
from New-England, unto tuat method of petitioning the King for a new
charter, that should contain more than all the priviledges of the old ; and
Sir William Phips, now being again returned into England, lent his ut-
most assistance hereunto.

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Book 11.

;>Jr

The Kiog taking a. voyage (ot Holland before this petition was answer-
ed ; Mr. Mather, in the mean while, not only waited upon the greatest
part of the Lords of iiis MHJesty'b most honourable Privy Council, of-
fering them a paper of rtatonafar the confirmation of the charter-privi-
ledgtis granted unto the Mattsachuset-colony ; but also having the honour
to be introduced unto the Hueen, he assured her Majesty, that there
'Vere none in the world better uDected unto their Majesties' government
than the people of New-England, who had indeed been exposed unto
great hardships for their being so ; and entreated, that since the King
hud referred the JVew-Engliali aflair unto the two Lord Chief Justices^
with the Attorney and Solicitor General, there might be granted unto ns
wh<)t they thought was reasonable. Whereto the Queen replied, that
thu request was reasonable : and that she had spoken divers times to the
King on the behalf oi' JS'ew- England ; and that for her o\vn part, she
dedired that the people there might not meerly have justice, hut favour
done to ih«jm. When the King was returned, Mr. Mather, beiiig by the
Duke of Devonshirs hrou^hi into the King's presence on April 28, 1601,
humbly prayed his Mitjtsty's favour to New-England; urging, that i*
their old charter priviledges might be restored unto them, his M(tm« would
'<p. great in those parts of the world as long as the world should stand ;
adding,

Sir,

Your subjects there luive been willing to venture their lives, that they matj
enlarge your dominions ; the expedition to Canada was a great and noble
undertaking.

May ii please your Majesty, in your great xvisdom also to consider the cir-
cuins'.ances of that people, as in your wisdom you liave considered the cir-
cuiHstances of England, and of Scotland. In New-England they differ
from otiier plantations; they are called Congregational and Presbyterian.
So that such a governour will not suit with Hie people of New-England, as
may be very proper for oilier English plantations.

Two days after this, the King, upon what was proposed by certain
l]||& Lords, wiks very inquisitive, tvhether he might, without breach of law,

set a governour over JVeu;-£ng{and; whereto the Lord Chief Justice,
and some others of the council, answered, that whatever might be the
merit of the cause, inasmuch v^ the charter of New-England stood va-
cated by a judgment agKS' t thtii , it was in the King's power to put them
under what /orm of government he should tl ink best for them.

The King then said, ' r^iat he believed ii <vould be for the advantage of
' the people in that colony, to be under a governour appointed by him-
' self : nevertheless (because of what Mr. Mather had spoken to him)

* he would have the agents of New England nominate a person that

* should be agreeable unto the inclinations of the people there ; and not-

* Hithstanding this, he would have charter-priviledges restored and con-

* firmed unto them.
The day following the King began another voyage to Holland ; and

when the attorney general's draught of a ( barter, according to what be-
took to be his Majesty's mind, as expressed in council, was presented ai
th'' connril-batti'l, on the eighth of Jtine, some objections then made^ pro-
cured an order to prepare minutes (or another draught, which deprived
t. e N w-E 'glanders of several f.tsentail privileilges in their other char-
ter. Mr. Mathtr put in his objections, and vehemently protested, tha'

Book II-

answer-
greatest
uncil, of-
Lev-privi-
le honour
hat there
verninent
Qoed unto
the King
' Justices,
ed unto us
jlied, that
tnes to the
I part, she
hnt favour
jiiig by the
/'i8, 1691,
ing, that i«
name would

ould stand ;

hat they »»aj/
at and noble

sider the cir-

ered the cir-

they differ

resbyterian.

.England, as

by certain
[each of law,
Ihief Justice,
jmight be the
\nd stood va-

to put them

advantage of
Lted by him-
ken to him)
I person that
Ire ; and not-
}red and con-

\Tonand; and
1 to what b<
■presented at
lnmade,pro-
lich deprived
y other char-

totested, tha'

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. m

he would sooner part with bis life, than consent unto those twniitef, or
any thing else that should infringe any liberty or priviledge of right be<
longing onto his country ; but he was answered, that the agents ofJVew-
England were not pknipotentiariet from another sovereign state ; and
that if they would not submit unto the King's pleasure in the iMttlement
of the country, they must take what would follow. ' '

The dissatisfactory mintUes were, by Mr. Mather's industry, sent over
unto the King in Flanders ; and the ministers of state then with the King
were earnestly applied unto, that every mistake about the good settle*
ment oiNeW'England might be prevented ; and the Queen her self, with
her own royal hand, wrote unto the king that the charter of New-Eng-
land might either pass as it was drawn by the attorney general, or be
deferred until his own return.

But after all, his Majesty's principal secretary of state received a signi*
fication of the King's pleasure, that the charter of New-Englaiui should
run in the main points of it as it was now granted : only there were seve-
ral important articles which Mr. Mather by his unwearied solicitation
obtained afterwards to be inserted.

There were some now of the opinion, that instead of submitting to this
new settlement, they should, in hopes of getting a reversion of the judg-
ment against the old charter, declare to the ministers of state, that they
had rather have no charter at all, than such an one as was now proposed
unto acceptance. But Mr. Mather advising with many unprejudiced per-
sons, and men of the greates abilites in the kingdom, noblemen, gentler
men, divines nnd laivyers, they all agreed, that it was not only a lawful,
but all circumstances then considered, a needful thing, and a part of
duty and wisdom to accept what was now offered, and that a peremptory
refusal would not only bring an inconveniency, but a fatal, and perhaps,:
a final ruin upon the country ; whereof mankind would lay the blame
upon the agents.

It was argued, that such a submission was no surrender of any thing ;
that the judgment, not in the court o(K\ng's-bench, but in chancery against
the old charter, standing on record, the patten was thereby annihilated ;
that all attempts to have the judgment against the old charter taken off»
would be altogether in vain, as men and things were then disposed.

It was further argued, that the ancient charter of New-England was
in the opinion of the lawyers very defective, as to several powers, whick
yet were absolutely necessary to the subsistence of the plantations : it
gave the government there no more power than the corporations have in
England ; power in capita! cases was not therein particularly express-
ed.

It mentioned not an house of deputies, or an assembly of representatives ;
the governour and company had thereby (they said) no power to impose
taxes on the inhabitants that were not freemen, or to erect courts of ad-
miralty. Without such powers the colony could not subsist ; and yet the
best friends that New-England had of persons most learned in the law,
prcfessed, that suppose the judgment against the Massachuset-ch-Arter
might be reversed, yet, if they shoul'' again exert such powers as they
Hid before the Quo Warranto against i -eir charter, a new writ of Scire
Facias would undoubtedly be issued oat against them.

It was yet further argued, that if an act of parliament should have re-
versed the judgment against the Massachuset-charter, without a grant of
iiome other advantages, the whole territory had been, on many accounts,
v^ . y miserably incommoded : the Province of Main, with Hampshire,

18'J

MAGNALIA C'HRISTI AMERICANA : [fiooK If.

would have been taken from them ; and Plymouth would have been an*
nexed unto Arw-ForA;; so that thi9 colony would have been squeezed
into an atom, and not only have been rendered inngnificant in its trade ,
but by having its militia also, which was vested in the King, taken away,
its ituignijicancies would have become out of measure humbling ; where-
as now, instead of seeing any relief by act of parliament, they would
have been put under a governour, with a commission, whereby ill men,
and the King's and country's enemies might probably have crept into
opportunities to have done ten thousand ill things, and have treated the
best men in the land after a very uncomfortable manner.
^*. It was lastly argued, that by the new charter very great priviledges
were granted unto JVew-England ; and in some respects greater than
what they formerly enjoyed. The colony is now made a province, and
their general court, has, with the King's approbation, as much power in
Nexo-England, us the King and parliament have in England, They have
all English liberties, and can be touched by no law, by no tax, but of their
own making. All the liberties of their holy religion are for ever secur-
ed, and their titles to their lands, once for want of some forms of legal
conveyance, contested, are now confirmed unto them. If an ill govern-
our should happen to be imposed on them, what hurt could he do to
them ? None, except they themselves pleased ; for he cannot make one
counsellor, one judge, or one justice, or one sheriff to serve his turn :
disadvantages enough, one would think, to discourage an} ill governour
from desiring to be stationed in those uneasie regions. The people have
a negative upon all the executive part of the civil government, as well
as the legislative, which is avast priviledge, enjoyed by no other planta-
tion in America, nor by Ireland, no, nor hitherto by England it self.
Why should all of this good be refused or despised, because of some-
what not so good attending it ? The despisers of so much good, will,
certainly deserve a censure, not unlike that of Causabon, upon some
who did not value what that learned man counted highly valuable,
Vix illis optari quidquam pejus potest, quam utfatuitrte sua frvantwr :
Much good niay do them with their madness ! All of this being well
considered, Sir William Pliips, who had made so many addresses for the
restoration of the old charter, under which he had seen his country ma-
ny years flourishing, will be excused by all the world from any thing of a
fault, in a most unexpected passage of his life, which is now to be re-
lated.

Sir Henry Jishnrst, and Mr. Mather, well knowing the agreeable dispo-
sition to do good, and the King and his country service, which was in
Sir William Phips, whom they now had with them, all this while prose-
cuting his design for Canada, they did unto the council-board nominate
him for the govf.unour of JVew-England. And Mr. Mather being by the
Earl of Nottingham introduced unto his Majesty, said,

Sir,
/ DO, in the behalf of New-England, most humbly thank your Majesty,
in that you have been pleased by a Charter, to restore English Liberties unto
them, to confirm them in their properties, and to grant them some peculiar
priviledges. I doubt not, but that your subjects there will demean themselvei
with that dutiful affection and loyalty to your Majesty, as that you will see
cause to enlarge your royal favours towi'rds them. And I do most humbly
thank your Majesty, in that you have been pleased to give leave unto those
that are eoncernedfor New-vEngland to nominate their Ctovernour. ^r^^

[Book II.

e been an-
i equeezed
D its trade
aken away,
,g ; where-
they would
Bby ili tnoi
i crept into
treated the

t priviledges
^renter than
orovince, and
ich power in
They have
[, but of their
ir ever secur-
f)rms of legal
an ill govcrn-
ould he do to
nnot make one
rve his turn :
ill governour
ie people have
jment, as well
[) other planta-
Zngland it self.
;aase of some-
:h good, will,
n, upon some
rhly valuable,
sua frvantur :
lis being well
[dresses for the
lis country ma-
il any thing of a

now to be re-

[rreeable dispo-
. which wa3 in

[is while prose-

Ijoard nominate

• being by the

U your .Majesty,
Ih Liberties vnio
\m some peculiar
\mean themselves
\at you nill se<'
Ido mast hvmbly
lleave utUo thoit
lernour.

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENOLAND. 183

iStr William Phips ha$ been accordingly nominated by ui at the Council' '
Board. He hath done a good service, for the crown, by enlarging your do-
minions, and reducing of Nova Scotia to your obedience. I know that he
■willfaithfvAly terve your Majesty to the utmost of hit capacity ; and if your
Majesty ihall think Jit to confirm him in that place i it will be a further obli-
gation on your subjects there.

The effects of all this was, that Sir William Phips was now invested
with u commission under the King's broad-seal to be captain-general,
and governour in chief over the province of the Massachusetbay in fierv-
England : nor do I know a perion in the world that could have been
proposed more acceptable to the body of the people throuirhout A'ew* n
England, and on that score more likely and able to serve the King's in- '
terests among the people there, under the changes in some things unac-
ceptable, now brought upon them. He had been a Gideon, who had
more than once ventured bis life to save his country from their enemies ;
and tb«y now, with universal satisfaction said. Thou shalt rule mser us.
Accordingly, having with Mr. *'j,ther kissed the King's hand on January
Sd, 1691, he hastned away to his government ; and arriving 9.i New-
England the fourteenth of May following, attended with the Non-such-
(rigot, both of them were welcomed with the loud acclamations of the
long shaken and shattered country, whereto they were now returned
with a settlement no full of happy priviledges. '.<vi«tv O^

§ 15. When Titus Flaminius had freed the poor Grecians from the"
bondage which had long oppressed them, and the herald proclaimed
among th6m the articles of their freedom, they cried out, A saviour f v^^
a saviour! with such loud acclamations, that the very birds fell down'
from heaven astonished at the cry. Truly, when Mr. Mather brought with ^
him unto the poor New-Englanders, not only a charter, which though in^-
divers points wanting what both he and they had wished for, yet for ever '
delivers them from oppressions on their christian and English liberties, ^
or their ancient possessions, wherein ruining writs of intrusion bad be-'
gun to invade them all, but also a governour who might call New-Eng-^ <>
land his own country, and who was above most men in it, full of affection
to the interests of his country ; the sensible part of the people then
caused the sence of the salvations thus brought them to reach as far as
heaven it self. The various little humours then working among the peo-r •
pie, did not hinder the great and general court of the province to appoint
a day of solemn Thanksoiving to Almighty God, (or granting (as the
printed order expressed it) a safe arrival to his Excellency our Governour, '^
and the Reverend Mr. Increase Mather, who have industriously endeavour- '^
ed the service of this people, and have brought over with them a settlement f
of government, in which their Majesties have graciously given us distinguish-
ing marks of their royal favour and goodness.

And as the obliged \3ople thus gave thanks unto the God of Heaven,
so they sent an address of thanks unto their Majesties, with other letters
of thanks unto some chief ministers of state, for the favourable aspect
herein cast upon the province.

Nor were the people mistaken, when they promised themselves all the
kindness imaginable from this governour, and expected, under his shadow
we shall live easie among the heathen : why might they not look for halcy-
on days, when they had such a King'' s-fisher for their governour ?

Governour Phips had, as every raised and useful person must have,
his envious enemies ; but the palest envy of them, who turned their worst

181

MAGNALIA CHRISTl AMERICANA

[Book II.

enmity upun him, cuuld not hinder them from confeaiing, That according
to the beit of h auprehention, he ever sought the good of hit crvntry : his
country quickly felt thin on innumcrnble occHHion* ; and tliey ha'l it emi-
nently demon«trut«d, as well in his proinuting ond approving i!ici coonciPs
choice of good ju(^.i(£ti, juttictt and sheriffs, which being once established
no successor covild remove them, as in his urgitii; the general assembly to
make themselves happy by proparin^ " body of irood laws as fast as they
could, which being passed by liii in hiH time, ruuld not be nulled by any
other after him.

fit: would otten speak io the members of the General Assembly in
such term^ an these, Gentlemen, you may make your selves at eaiie at you
will for ever; consider what may have ">ty tendency to your welfare ; and
you may be surf, that whatever bills you itff'er to me, consistent with the hon-
our ^nd interest of the Crown, I'll pass them readily ; I do but seek oppor-
tunities lit serve you : had il not been for the sake of this thing, I had never
accepted the government of (iiis pmrince ; and whenever you have settled such
a body of good laws, tluit no person coming after me may make youuneasie,
J shall desire not one day longer to continue in the government. Accord-
ingly he ever passed every act for the welfare of the province proposed
unto him ; and instead of ever putting them upon buying his assent unto
any good act, he was much forwarder to give it, than they were to ask it:
nor indeed, had the hunger of «' salary any such impression upon him.
as to make him decline doing all possible service for the publick, while
he was not sure of having any proportionable or honourable acknowl-
odgments.

But yet be m'i«dcd the pres'^rvation of the King's rights with as care-
ful am] faithful a r.o.al as became a good steward for the crown : and, in-
deed, he «iudied nothing more than to observe such a temper in all
things, as to eiinguish what others have gone to distinguish ; even the
pernicious notion of a separate interest. There was a time when the
Roman empire was infested with a vast number of governours, who were
infamous for intinite avarice and villany ; and referring to this time, the
apostle John 'lad a vision of people killed with the beasts of the earth.

But Sir V/illiam Phips was none of those governours ; wonderfully
contrary to this wretchedness was the happiness of JVew-England, when
they had Governour Phipj, using the tenderness of a father towards the
people ; tmd being of the opinion, Ditaremagis esse Regium quatn Dites-
cere, that it was a braver thing to enrich the people, than to grow rich
himself. A father, 1 said ; and what if I had said an angel too? If I
should from Clemens ALxandrinus, from Theodoret, and from Jerom, and
others among the ancients, as well as from Calvin, and Bucan, and Peter
Martyr, and Chemnitfus, and Bullinger, and a thousand more among the
modems, bring authorities for the assertion, That each country and prov-
ince is under the special care of some angel, by a singular deputation of
heaven assigned thereunto, I could back them with a far greater authority
than any of them all. The scripture it self does plainly assert it : and
hence the most learned Grotius, writing of commonwealths, has a passage
to lliis purpose. His singulis, suos Attributos, esse Angelos, ex Daniele,
magno consensu, fy Judvei 4* Christiani veteres colligebant.

But Jiew-England had now, besides the guardian-angel, who more in-
visibly intended its welfare , a governour that became wonderfully agree-
able thereunto, by his whole imitation of such a guardian-angel. He
employed his whole strength to guard his pc^^lc from all disasters, which
threatned them either by sea or land ; ai; remarked, that nothing

[BonK

li.

Book II] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

185

Kat according
Cfvniry : hiu
y hal iit «ini-
ilie coancil's
ce established
al atttmbly to
D* fast as they
nuU«d by any

I Assembly in
a» taiie a» yow

rwelfart} and
t( voith the hon-
but $eek oppor-
ng, I had never
lare tettled tucji
tike yowuneaiie,
nent. Accord-
vince proposed
his assent unto
I were to ask it :
sBion upon him.
B publick, while
arable acknowl-

nts with as care-
crown : and, in-
a temper in all
ruish -, even the
time when the
lours, who were
to this time, the
' the earth.
rs ; wonderfully
J.England, when
ther towards the
ium quam Dites-
ban to grow rich
Lngei too ? If •
[from Jerom, ami
Ifiucon, and Pettr
1 more among the
\wntry and profv-
lar deputation oj
fcreater authority
Ky assert it : and
fcj, has a passage
tlo», ex Danielt,

\el, who more ia-
Uderfully agree-
i-dian-angel. He
|\ disasters, which
Iked, that nothing

remarkably disastrous did beful that people from the time of his arrival
to the government, until there arrived an order for his leaving it : (ex-
cept one thing which was begun before he entred upon the government ;)
but instead thereof, the Indians were notably defeated in the assai'lts
which they now made upon the tlv^lish, and several French ships did also
very advantageously full into his hiinds ; yea. there was by his means a
peace restored unto the province, that had been divers years languishing
under the hectic feaver of a lingring war.

And there was this one thing more that rendred hi
more desirable ; that whereas 'tis impossible for »
without some error ; whenever this governour Wi.
in any of his administrations, he would immediately
it with all possible ingenuity ; so that if any ocou>i>
arose, it was usually his endeavour that it should not lon^

overnmcnt the

ui:m to govern

"<l ' any error

t. nd revoke

I complaint

ocumplaiDedof.

-O, falices nimium, sua si Bona, norant, Nov-Angli.

But having in a parenthesis newly intimated, that his Excellency, when
he entred on his government, found one thing that was remarkably disas'
trous begun upon it : of that one thing we will now give some account.

Reader, prepare to be entertained with as prodigious matters as can
be put into any history ! And let him that writes the next Thaumato-
graphia Pneutnatica, allow to these prodigies the chief place among the
wonders.

§ IG. About the time of our bles«ied Lord's coming to reside on earth,
we read of so maviy possessed with devils, that it is commonly thought the
number of such miserable energuinens was then encreased above what has
been usual in other ages ; and the reason of that increase has been made
a matter uf some enquiry. Now though the devils might herein design
by preternatural operations to blust the miracles of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which point they gained among the blasphemous Pharisees ; and the devils
might herein also design a villanous imitation of what was coming to pass
in the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, wherein God came to dwell
infie.sh; yet I am not without suspicion, that there may be something fur-
ther in the conjecture of the learned Bartholinus hereupon, who says,
It was Quod judai prater modum, Artibus Magicis dediti Doemonem Advo-
caverint, the Jews, by the frequent use of magical tricks, called in the
devils among them.

It is very certain, there were hardly any people in the world grown
more fond of sorceries, than that unhappy people : the Talmuds tell us of
the little parchments with words upon them, which were their common
amulets, and of the charms which they muttered over wounds, and of the
vario'JS enchantments which they used against all sorts of disasters what-
soever. It is affirmed in the Talmuds, that no less than twenty-four
scholars in one school were killed by witchcraft ; and that no less thbn
fourscore persons were hanged for witchcraft by one judge in one day.
The gloss adds upon it. That the women of Israel had generally fallen to
the practice of witchcrafts ; and therefore it was required, that there
should be still chosen into the council one skilful in the arts of sorcerers,
and able thereby to discover who might be guilty of those black arta
among such as were accused before them.

Now the arrival of Sir William Phips to the government of New-Eng-
land, was at a time when a governour would have had occasion for all
the skill in sorcery, that was ever necessary to a Jewish Cautwellor ; a

Vol. I. 24

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180

MA6NALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA. [Book il.

time when scores of poor people bad newly fallen under a prodigioas
pouessioh of devils, which it was then generuliy thought had been by
"wilchcrafts introduced. It is to be confessed and bewailed, that many in-
habitants of New-England, and young people especially, had been led
away with little torcerita, wherein they did secretly those things that were
not right against the. Lord their God ; they would often cure hurts with
' apetls, and practise detestable conjurations with sieves, and keys, and pease,
and nails, add horse-shoes, and other implements, to learn the things for
which they had a forbidden and impious curiosity. Wretched books had
stoln into the land, wherein fools were instructed how to become able for-
tune-tellers : among which, I wonder that a blacker brand is not set upon
that fortune-telling wheel, which that sham-scribler, that goes under the
letter'' of R. B. has promised in his Delights for the ingenious, as an honest
and pleasant recreation: and by these books, the minds of many had been
so poisoned, that they studied this jSner witchcraft ; until, 'tis well, if
some of thera were not betrayed into what is grosser, and more sensible ■
and capital. Although these diabolical divinations are more ordinarily
cofnmitted perhaps all over the whole world, than they are in the country
of New-England, yet, that being a country devoted unto the worship and
service of the Lord Jesus Christ above the rest of the world, he signal-
ieed his vengeance against these wickdinesses, with such extraordinary
dispensations as have not been often seen in other places.

The devils which had been so played withal, and, it may be, by some
few criminals moreexplicitely Engaged and imployed, now brokt: in upon
the country, after as astonishing a manner as was ever heard of. Some
ijcores of people, first about Salem, the centre hnd first-bom of all the
towns in the colony, and afterwards in several other places, were arrest-
ed with many preternatural vexations upon their bodies, and a variety of
cruel torments, which were evidently inflicted from the damons of the
invisible world. The people that were infected and infested with such
damons, in a few days' time arrived unto such a refining alteration upon
their eyes, that they could see their tormentors : they saw a devil of a
little stature, and of a tawny colour, attended still with spectres that ap-
peared in more humane circumstances.

These torm^entors tendred unto the afflicted a book, requiring them to
iign it, or to touch it at least, in token of their consenting to be listed in
the service of the devil ; which they refusing to do, the spectres under
the command of that blackman, as they called him, would apply them-
selves to torture them with prodigious molestations.

The afflicted wretches were horribly distorted end convulsed} they
were pinched black and blue : pins would be run every where in their
flesh ; they would be scalded until f:hey had blisters raised on them ; and
a thousand other things before hundreds of witnesses were done- unto
them, evidently prefenii3(<«rfl/ : for if it were preternatural to keep a
rigid fast for nine, yea, for fifteen days together ; or if it were preter-
natural to have one's hands tyed close together with a rope to be plainly
seen, and then by unseen hands presently pulled up a great way from the
earth before a croud of people ; such pretema^itra/ things were endured
by them.

But of all the preternatural things which befel these people, there
were none more unaccountable than those, wherein the prestigious da-
mons would ever now and then cover the most corporeal things in the
world with a fascinating mist of invisibility. As now ; a person was
cruelly assaulted by a spectre, that, she said, run at her with a spindle,

OK 11.

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW -ENGLAND.

1*7

Jigioas
ien by
any in-
een led
at were
rts with
Apeaie,
ings for
oka had
tble for-
}et upon
ider the
ID honest
iiadbeen
, well, if
seneible *
rdinarily
5 country
rship and
he signal-
lordinary

^ by some
e in upon
if. Some
of all the
ire arrest-
variety of
Dfis of the
with such
ition upon
evil of a
that ap-

them to
listed in
res under
ply Ihem-

Lle, there
Igious da-
Igs in the

Irson was
la tpindlt,

though no body else in the room could see either the specire or the spin-
dle : at last, in ber agonies, giving a snatch at the spectre, she puUei* the
spindle away ; and it was no sooner got into her hand, but the other
ibilis then present beheld that it viae indeed a real, proper, iron spindie;
which when they locked up very safe, it was nevertheless by the damons
taken away to do farther mischief. iv:>«$

Again, a person was haunted by a most abusive «pectre, which cabie^o
her, she said, with a sheet about her, though seen to none but herself.
After she had undergone a deal of teaze from th6 annoyance of the »ec-
tre, she gave a violent snatch at the sheet that was upon it ; where-from
she tore a corner, which in her hand immediately was beheld by all that
%vere present, a palpable corner of a sheet : and her father, which was
now holding of bci^i catched, that he might keep what his daughter had so
strangely seized ; but the spectre had like to.have wrung his hand off, by
endeavouring to wrest it from him : however he still held it ; and several
times this odd accident was renewed in the family. There wanted not
the oaths of good credible people to these particulars.

Also, it is well known, that these wicked spectres did proceed so ht a^
to steal several quantities of money from divers people, part of which
individual money was dropt sometimes out of the air, before sufficient
spectators, into the hands of the afflicted, while the spectres were urging
them to subscribe their covenant with death. Moreover, poisons to the
standers-by, wholly invisibly, were sometimes forced upon the afflicted ;
which when they have with much reluctancy swallowed, they have neo/n
presently, so that the common medicines for poisons have been found ne-
cessary to relieve them : yea, sometimes the spectres in the struggles
have so dropt the poisons, that the standers-hy have smelt them, and
viewed the«i' and beheld the pillows of the miserable stained with them.
Yet more, the miserable have complained bitterly of burning rags run
i.-ito their forceably distended mouths ; and though no body could see any
such clothes, or indeed any^res in the chambers, yet presently the scalds
were seen plainly by every body on the mouths of the complainers, and
not only the smelt, but the smoke of the burning sensibly filled the cham-
bers.

Once more, the miserable exclaimed extreamly of branding irons
heating at the fire on the hearth to mark them ; now though the standers-
by could see no irons, yet they could see distinctly the print of them in
theashes, and smell them too as they were carried by the not-seen furies,
unto the poor creatures for whom they were intended ; and those poor
creatures were thereupon so stigmatized with them, that they will bear
the marks of them to their dying day. Nor are these the tenth part of
the prodigies that fell out among the inhabitants of New-England.

Flashy people may burlesque these things, but when hundreds of the
most sober people in a country, where they have ns much mother-wit
certainly as the rest of mankind, know them to be true, nothing but the
absurd and froward spirit of Sadducism can question them. I have not
yet mentioned so much as one thing that will not bo justitied, if it be re-
quired by the oaths of more considerate persons than any that can ridi-
cule these odd phanomena.

But the worst part of this astonishing tragedy is yet behind ; wherein
Sir fVUliam Phips, at List being dropt, as it were from the machin of
heaven, was an instrument of easing the distresses of the land, now so
darkened by tlie wrath of the Ijord of Hosts. There were very worthy
men upon the spot where the assault from hell was first made, who ap-

19B

MAQNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[BookH.

]^rehended themselveB called from the Ood of Heaven, to sift the bosineM
unto the bottom of it ; and indeed, the continaal impreMsiona, which the
oatcries and the havocks of the afflicted people that lived nigh unto them
caused on their minds, gave no little edge to this apprehension.

The persons were men eminent for wisdom and virtue^ and they went
about their enquiry into the matter, as driven unto it by a conacienee of
duty to God and the world. They did in the first place take it
for granted, that there are witchet, or wicked children of men, who
upon covenanting with, and conuniasioning of evil spirita, are attended by
their OHnistry to accomplish the things desired of them : tosatisfie them
in which perswasion, they had not only the asaertiona of the holy acrvp-
turea i assertions which the witch^dvoeatea cannot erade without shifts,
too foolish for the prudent, or too profane for any honeat man to use ; and
they had not only the well-attested relatione of the gravest authors frOm
Bodin to Bovet, and from Binsfield to Brombal :.jd Baxter; to deny all
which, would be as reasonable as to turn the chronicles of all naticns
into romances of Don Qwtxof and the Seven Charipiona ; but they had ako
an ocular demonatration in one, who a little before had been executed for
witchcraft, when Joaeph Dudley, Esq. was the chief-judge. There was
one whose magical images were foi^nd^ and who confeating her deeda,
(when ^ jury of doctors returned her compos mentis) actually shewed the
whole couk't, by what ceremonies used unto them, she directed her fa'
miliar ^irita how and where tu cruciate the objects of her malice ; and
the experiment being made oVer and over again before the whole court,
the ^eet followed exactly in the hurts done to the people at a distance
from her. The existence of such witches wna now taken for granted by
those good men, wherein so far the generality of reasonable men have
thought they ran well ; and they soon received the confeanona of some
accused persons to confirm them in it : but then they took one thing more
for granted, wherein 'tis now as generaUy thought they went out of the
way. The afflicted people vehemently accused several persons in several
places, that the spectres which afflicted them, did exactly resemble them;
until the importunity of the accusations did provoke the magistrates to ex-
amine them. When many of the accused came upon their examination,
it was found, that the damans then a thousand ways abusing of the poor
<\fflicted people, had with a marvellous exactness represented them ; yea,
it was found, that many of the accused, but casting their eye on th ' > ^''c(-
ed, the afflicted, though their faces were never so much anotl f y,
would fall down and lye in a sort of a swoon, wherein they woulu . uo-
ue, whatever bands were laid upon them, until the hands cf the accused
came to touch them, and then they would revive immediately ) and it was
found, that various kinds o{ natural actions, done by many of the accused
in or to their own bodies, as leaning, bending, turning awry, or squeezing
their hands, or the like, were presently attended with the like things pre-
tematurally done upon the bodies of the afflicted, though they were so
far asunder, that the afflicted could not at all observe the accused.

It was also found, that the flesh of the afflicted was often bitten at such a
rate, that not only the print of teeth i^ould be left on iheirjlesh, but the very
s/aver of spittle too ; and there wouldappear justsuchaseto/'tee^ftaswasia
the accused, even such as might be clearly distinguished from other peo>
pies. And usually the afflicted went through a terrible deal of seeming
difficulties from the tormenting spectres, and must be long waited on, be-
fore they could get a breathing space from their torments to give in their
testimonies.

BooE II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

189

Now mady good men took op an opiDion,that the promdenc* of Ood would
not permit an iiutocetUper$on to come under such a spectral repreHtUatiom ;
and that a concurrence of w many circumstances would prove an oeeut-
ed person to be in a cm^edtracy with the dmmont thus afflicting of the neigb<
boon ; they judged, that except these things might amount unto a cwn'
victiony it would scarce be possible ever to etmvictawiteh ; and they hcd
some philosopkieal lehetnes of witehcrtft, and of the method and manner
wherein magical poiaona operate, which further supported them in their
opinion. y:

Sundry of the aceuaed persons were brought unto their triaii while
this opinion was yet prevailing in the minds ofthe^'uc/g^esand the juries,
and perhaps the most of the people in the country, then mostly suffering ;
and though against some of them that were tried there came in so much
other evidence .of their diabolical compacts, that some of the most judi-
cioua, and yet vehemetU opposers of the notions then in vogue, pubUckly
declared, Had they themaehea been on the bench, they could not have acquit-
ted ihemi nevertheless, divers were condemned, against whom the chief
evidence was founded in the spectral exhibitiims.

And it happening, that some of the euscused coming to confess them-
selves gih/^y, their shapes were no more seen by any of the afflictad^
though the confession bad been kept never so secret, but instead there*
of the accuaed themselves became in all vexations just like the affiietad}
this yet more cofirmed many in the opinion that had been taken up. ■»-■
And another thing that quickened them yet more to act upon it, wai,
that the afflicted were frequently entertained with apparitions of ghosts
at the same time that the spectres of the supposed witches troubled them :
which ghosts always cast the beholders into far more consternation than
any of the spectres ; and when they exhibited themselves, they cried
out of being murdered by the witchcrafts, or other violences of the per*
sons represented in the spectres. Once or twice these apparitions were
seen by others at the very same time that they shewed themselves to
the afflicted ; and seldom were they seen at all, but when something; un-
usual and suspicious had attended the death of the party thus appearing.
The afflicted people many times had never heard any thing before of
the persons appearing in ghost, or the persons accused by the apparitions ;
and yet the accused upon examination have confessed the murders of
thoxe very persons, though these accused also knew nothing of the appa-
ritions that had come in against them ; and the afflicted persons likewise,
without any private agreement or collusion, when successively brought
into a room, have all asserted the same apparitions to be there before
them : these tn'^rder* did seem to call for an enquiry.

On the other part, there were many persons of great judgment, piety
and experience, who from the beginning were very much dissatisfied at
these proceedings ; they feared lest the devil would get so fkr into the
faith of the people, that for the sake of many truths, which they might
find him telling of them, they would come at length to believe all bis lies,
whereupon what a desolation of name«, yea, and of lives also, would enr
sue, a man might without much witchcraft be able to prognosticate ; and
they feared, lest in such an extraordinary descent ofividced spirits from
their fttgAjv/aees upon us, there might such prmctp^es be taken up, as,
when put into practice, would unavoidably cause the righteous to perish
with the wicked, and procure the blood-shed of persons like the Gibeonites,
whom some learned men suppose to be under a false pretence of witch'
craft, by Saut exterminated.

190

MAGNALIA CHUISTl AM£RICANA : [Book If.

However oncoinm< < it might be for gutitlfM ptnona to come under
•ucb unaccountable circumstances, as were on so many of the accused,
they held some tkit%g8 there are, which if Buffered to be CMnmon, would eub-
vert government, cdtd dieband and ruin humane sodeiyt yet God 8ometit$u$
may suffer such things to evens, that we may hnovo thereby how nttich we ire
bsholden to him /nr that restraint which he lays upon the in/irnal spirits,
who would else reduce a world into a chaos. They bad already krown of
•ne at the town of Groton hideously agitated by devils, vf ho in her fits
cried out much tigninst a very godly woman in the town, and when thait
woman approached unto her, though the eyes of the creature were ne>
▼er so shut, she yet manifested n violent sense of her approach : but
when the gracious woman thus impeached, had prayed earnestly with
and for this creai<ire, then instead of crying out against her any more,
she owned, that she had in all been deluded by the devil. They now
saw, that the more the afflicted were henrkned unto, the more the num-
ber of the accused enoreased ; until at last many scores were cried out
upon, and among them, some, who by the unblameableness, yea, and ser-
viceableness of their whole conversation, had obtained the just reputation
of good people among all that were acquainted with them. The charac-
ter of the afflicted likewise added unto the common distate ; for though
some of them too were good people, yet others of them, and such of them
as were most flippent at accusing, had a far other character.

In fine, the country was in a dreadful ferment, and wise men foresaw
a long train of dismal and bloody consequences. Hereupon they first ad-
vised, that the afflicted might be kept asunder in the closest privacy ;
and one particular person (whom 1 have cause to know) in pureuauce
of this advice, offered himself singly to provide accommodations for any
star of them, that so the success of more than ordinary prayer yi\\h fasting,
might, with patience, be experienced, before any other courses were
taken.

And Sir William Phips arriving to his government, after this ensnaring
horrible storm was begun, did consult the neighbouring ministers of the
province, who made unto his Excellency and the council a return, (drawn
up at their desire by Mr. Mather the younger, as I have been informed)
wherein they declared.

WE judge, that in the prosecution of these and all swc/t witchcrafts, tktre
is need of a very critical and exquisite cautidn : lest by too much credulity
for things received only upon the devil's authority, there be a door opened
for a long train of miserable consequences, and Satan get an advantage over
us; for we should not be ignorant of his devices.

As in complaints upon witchcrafts, there may be matters of enquiry,
which do not amount unto matters of presumption ; and th^ire may be .tw*-
ters of presumption, which yet may not be reckoned matters of conviction ',
so "'tis necessary that all proceedings thereabout be managed with an exceed-
ing tenderness towards those that may be complained of: especially if they
have been persons formerly of on unblemished reputation.

When the first enquiry ij made into the circumstances of such as may lye
under any just suspicion of witchcrafts, we could wish that there may be
admitted as little as is possible of such noise, company, and openness, as
may too hastily expose them that are examined ; and that there may nothing
be used as a test for the trial of the suspected, the lawfulness whereof may
be doubted among the people of God : but that the directions given by suck
judicious writers as Perkins and Bernard, be consulted in such a case.

IBOOK li.

one under
le accused,
U)Ould*ub'
; aomeiinw
nuch we 3re
mal spirits,
y krowD of
} is her fits

when tbiit
e were ne-
roach: but
neatly with
p any more,

They now
re tlie num-
>re cried oiU
■ea, and wr-
it reputation
The charac-

for though
lucb of them

men foresaw
they first ad-
est privacy ;
in pureuauce
itions for any
with /asking,
ourses were

lis ensnaring
[sters of the
[turn, (drawn

-n informed)

icrafts, thtn

\uch credulity

door opened

fvantage oroer

1 of enquiry,
\may be mat-
I conviction ;
It an exceed-
Hally if tfuy

\h at may lyf

iere tnay he

ppenness, a»

ty nothing

vhereof tnay

liven by wc/i

I a case.

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND i

Idi

FreiMmptioM, whereupon persons may be committed^ and nmeh more con-
victions, whereupon persons may be condemned as guilty of witchcraAs,
nuglU certainly to be more considerable, than barely the accused person's be-
ing represented 6;/ a spectre to the afflicted : inasmuch as it is an undoubt-
ed and a notorious thing, that a daemon may, by QodU pertnission, appear
even to ill purposes in the shape of an innocent, yea, and a virtuous man :
nor can we esteem alterations made in the sufferers, by u lock or touch iof
the accused, to be an infallible evidence of guilt ; but frequently liable tobe-
abused by the devil's legerdemains.

fVe know not whether some remarkable affronts given to the devils, by
f*ur dis-believing of those testinumies whose whole force and strength is from
them tdone, may not put a period unto the progress of a direful calamity
begun upon us, in the accusation of so many persons, whereof, we hope,-
some are yet clear from the great transgression laid unto their charge.

The ministers of the province also being jealous lest this cotin««I should
not be duly followed, requested .the President of Harvard-Colledge to
compose and publish (which he did) some cases of conscience referring
to these difiBculties : in which treatise he did, with demonstrations of in-
comparable reason and reading, evince it, thati^iSSaton may appear in the
shape of an innocent and a virtuous person, to afflict those that suffer by
the diaboliccU molestations: and that the ordeal of the sight, and the
touch, is not a conviction of a covenant with the devil, but liable to great
exceptions against the lawfulness, as well as the evidence of it : and that
either a free and fair confession of the criminals, or the oath of two credi-
ble persons proving such things against the person accused, as none but
such as have a familiarity with the devil can know, or do, is necessary to
the proof of the crime. Thus,

Cum misit JVatura Feras, 4* Monstra per Orbem,
Misit 4* Alciden qui fera Monstra domet.

The Dutch and French ministers in the province of JVew-York, having
likewise about the same time their judgment asked by the Chief Judge
of that province, who was then a gentleman of JVew-England, they gave
it in under their hands, that if wc believe no venefick witchcraft, we must
renounce the Scripture of God, and the consent of almost all the. world |
but that yet the apparition of a person afflicting another, in a very insuffi-
cient proof of a witch ; nor is it inconsistent with the holy and righteous
government of God over men, to permit the affliction of the neighbours,
by devils in the shape of good men ; and that a good name, obtained by a
good life, should not be lost by meer spectral accusations.

Now upon a deliberate review of these things, his Excellency first
reprieved, and then pardoned many of them that had been condemned;
and there fell out several strange things that caused the ppirit of the
country to run as vehemently ijpon the acquitting of all tHe accused, af it
by mistake ran at first upon the condemning of them. Some that had
been zealously of the mind, that the devils could not in the shapes of
good men afflict other men, were terribly confuted, by having their own
shapes, and the shapes of their most intimate and valued friends, thus
abused. And though more than twice twenty had made such voluntary,
and harmonious, and uncontroulable confessions, that if they were all
sham, there was therein the greatest violation made by the efficacy of the
invisible world, upon the rules of understanding humane affairs, that was

19£

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book II.

ever seen since God made tnan upon the earth, yet they did ao recede
from their con/einoni, that it was very clear, some of them had been
hitherto, in a sort of a preternatural dream, wherein they had said of
thenudvei, they knew not what thetnaehes.

In fine, the last courts that sate upon this ttwrny but{.ne$t, finding that it
was impossible to penetrate into the whole meaning of the things that
had happened, and that so many untearehable cheate were interwoven into
the conclution of a mysterious busineis, which perhaps had not crept
thereinto at the beginning of it, they cleared the aeeueed as fast as they
tried tLem ; and within n little while the afflicted were most of them de-
livered out of their trouble* also : and the land had peace restored unto
it, by the Qod of peace, treading Satan under foot. Erasmus, among
other historians, does tell us, that at a town in Germany, a damon ap-
peared on the top of a chimney, threatned that he would set the town
on Jire, and at length scattering some ashes abroad, the whole town was
presently and horribly burnt unto the ground.

Sir William Phips now beheld such damons hideously scattering Jire
about the country, in the exasperations which the minds of men were
on these things rising unto ; and therefore when he had well canvwed a
cause, which perhaps might have puzzled the wisdom of the wisest men
en earth to have managed, without any error in their administrations, he
thought, if it would be any error at all, it would certainly be the st^est
for him to put a stop unto all futuie prosecutions, as far as it lay in him
to do it:

He did so, and for it he had not only the printed acknowledgments of
the J^ew-Englanderi, who publickly thanked him. As one of the tribe of
Zebulun, raised vp from among themselves, and spirited as well as com-
missioned to be tlie steers-man of a vessel befogged in the mare mdrtuumof
witchcraft, who now so happily steered her course, that she escaped ship-
wrack, and was safely again moored under the Cape of Good Hope ; and
cut asunder the Circaean knot of enchantment, more difficult to be dissolved
than the famous Gordian one of old.

But the QjDEEN also did him the honour to write unto him those gra*
cious letters, wherein her Majesty commended his conduct in these inex-
plicable matters. And I did right in calling these matters inexplicable.
For if, after the kingdom of &weden (in the year 1669, and 1670,) had
some hundreds of their children by night often carried away by spectres
to an hellish rendezvous, where the monsters that so spirited them, did
evei^ way tempt them to associate with them ; and the Judges of the
kingdom, after extraordinary supplications to heaven, npon a strict en-
quiry, were so satisfied with the confessions of more than twenty of the
accused, agreeing exactly unto the depositions of the affiicted, that they
pot several scores of witches to death, whereupon the confusions came
unto a period ; yet after all, the chiefest persons in the kingdom would
question whether there were any witchcrafts at all in the whole affair ; it
must not be wondred at, if the people of J^ew-England are to this hour
full of doubts, about the steps which were taken, while a a;ar from -the
invisible world was terrifying of them ; and whether they did not kill
some of their own side in the smoke and notse of this dreadful war. And
it will be yet less wondred at, if we consider, that we have seen the
whole English nation alarumed with a plot, and both Houses of Parlia-
ment, upon good grounds, voting their sense of it, and many persons
most justly hojnged, drawn and quartered, for their share in it : when yet
there are enough, who to this day will pretend, that they cannot com-

OOK II-

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW.ENGLAND.

199

recede
td been
I «aid of

ig Ihot it
ings that
>Ten into
sot crept

M they
them de-
)red uoto
IS, amoDg
(Ewon ep-

the town
town waa

tering fir«
men were
canvased a
wisest men
rations, be
) the mf»*i
lay inhiin

idgments of
the <nfr«o/
veil at com-
jniortuonio/
:aped $hip-
Hope; and
be dittolved

prebend how much of it is to be accounted eredibU. However, having
related these wonderful passages, whereof, if the veracity of the relator
in any one point be contested, there ere whole cloud* of mtneuet to Tin-
dicate it, I will take my leave of the matter with an wholesome cantion
of LaetantMit, which, it may be, some other parts of the world besidel
JSiewEnglcmd may have occasion to think upon ; I^gkiunt DsmoMt, u»
ftMB fum tuntf fie lamen, quati *tiil, conipicienda Hominibu* exhibetuaJ

But the devih being thus vanquished, we shall next hear, that some of
his most devoted and resembling children are so tbo.

§ 1 7. As one of the tirst actions done by Sir fVUliam, after he came to
the age of doing, was to save the lives of many poor people from the
rage of the diaSolicat Indiana in the eastern parts of the country, so now
he was come to the government, his mind waa very vehemently set upon
recovering of those parts from the miseries, which a new and a long wnt
of the hdioM had brought upon them. His birth and yovih in the east,
had rendred him well known unto the Indians there ; he had hunted and
fished many a weary day in his childhood with them ; and when those
rude savages had got the story by the end, that he had found a ehipftM of
money, and was noto become all one-a-kit^ I they were mightily astonished
at it : but when they fiirther understood that he was become the govern*
our of New-England, it added a further degree of consternation to their
astonishment. He likewise vras better acquainted wiih the scituationof
those regions than most other men ; and he considered what vast advan*
tages might arise to no less than the whole English nation, from the turn-
her, and fishery, and naval-stores, which those regions might soon supply
the whole nation withal, if once they were well settled with good inhabi-
tants.

Wherefore Governour Phips took the first opportunity to raise an ar-
my, with whfch he travelled in person, under the East-Coumtry, to find
out and cot off the barbaroi'it enemy, which had continued for near foo^
years together, making horrible havock on the plantations that lay all
along the northern frontiers of Jiew-England ; and having pursued those
worse than Scythian wolves, till they could be no longer followed, he did
with a very laudable skill, and unusual speed, and with less cost unto the
crown, than perhaps ever such a thing was done in the world, erect a
strong fort at Pemmaquid.

This fort he contrived no much in the very heart of the country now
possessed by the enemy, as very much to hinder the several nations of
the tawnies from clanning together for the common disturbance ; and his
design was, that a sufficient garrison being here posted, they might firom
thence, upon advice, issue forth to surprize that ferocient enemy. At
the same time he would fain have gone m person up the Bay of Funda,
with a convenient /orce, to have spoiled the nest of rebellious Frenchmen,
who being rendezvouzed at St. JtAns, had a yearly supply of ammuni-
tion from France, with which they still supplied the Indians, unto the ex*
tream detriment of the English ; but his friends for a long time would not
permit him to expose himself unto the inconvenience'n of that expedi*
tion. «

However, he took such methods, that the Indian Kings of the East,
within a little while had their stomachs brought down, to sue and beg for
a peace : and making their appearance at the new-foct in Pemmaquid,
Aug. II, 1693, they did there sign an instrument, wherein, lamenting
the miseries which their adherence to the French counsels had brought
them into, they did for themselves, and with the consent of aii the //»-

Vol. L S^

194

MAQNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

[Book II.

dtHM from the river of Merrimack, to the most oMterly bounds of all
the province, eckoowledge their hearty subjection and obedience unto
the vrowD of England, and solemnly covenant, promise and agree, to and
with Sir fViltiam Phip$, Captain Ueneral and Governour in Chief over
the province, and his successors in that place, That they would for ever
cease all acts of hostility towards tiie subjects of the Crown of England,
and hold a constant friendship with all the Engliih. That they would ut-
terly abandon the French interests, and not succour or conceal any enemy
/nutans, from Ckinada or elsewhere, that should come to any of their
plantations within the Englith territories : that all EngHeh captives,
which they had among them, should be returned with all possible speed,
«ad no ransom or payment be given for any of them : that their Majes-
ties' subjects the '■hglish, now should quietly enter vipon, and for ever
improve and enjov all and singular their rights of lands, and former pos-
sessions, within the eastern parts of the province, without any claims
■from any Indians or being ever disturbed therein : that all trade and com-
mierce, which hereafter might be allowed between the Engliih and the
Indiant, should be under a regulation stated by an act of the General
Auevkhly, or us limited by the governour of the province, with the con-
.sent and advice of his Council. And that if any controversie hereafter
happen between any of the Englith and the Indiana, no private revenge
was to be taken by the Indiant, but proper applications to be made unto
his Majesty's government, for the due remedy thereof: submiuing them-
selvet hereveithal to be governed' by hit Majesty^ t lawt.

And for the manifestation of their tincerity in the tubmiiiion thus made,
the hiffocritical wretchet delivered hottaget for their fidelity ; and then
net their marks and tealt, no less shan thirteen Sagamores of them, (with
names of more than a Persian length) unto this instrument^

The first rise of this Indian war had hitherto been almost as dark as
that of the river JVi7«5: 'tis true, if any vpild Englith did rashly begin to
provoke and affront the Indians, yet the Indians had a fairer way to ob-
tain justice than by bloodshed : however, upon the New-English revolu-
tion, the state of the war became wholly new : the government then em*
ployed all possible ways to procure a good understanding with the /n->
dians; hut 9il the English offers, kindnesses, courtesies were barbarously
requited by them, with new acts of the most perfidious hostility. Mot-
withstanding all this, there were still some nice people that had their
scruples about the jwtice of the war ; but upon this new submission of
the Indians, if ever those rattle-snakes (the only rattle-makes, which,
they say, were ever seen to the northward of Merimack-river) should
-stir again, the most scrupulous persons in the world must own, that it
must be tlie most unexceptionable pi^ce of justice in the world for to extin-
.guishtkem.

Thus did the God of heaven bless the unwearied applications of Sir
William Pkips, for the restoring of jieai-e unto JVetv-£flg'/an(i, when the
country was quite out of breath, in its endeavours for its own preservu-
tion from the continual outrages of an inaccessible enemy, and by the
jioverty coming in so like an armed tnan, from the unsuccessfulness of
their former armies, that it could not imagine how to take one step fur-
ther in its wars. The most happy respite of peace beyond Merimack-
■rivtr being thus procured, the governour immediately set himself to use
«li possible methods, that it might be peace, like a river, nothing short ot
everlasting.

300K II*

Is of all
Dce onto
!e, to and
lief ov«»r
I for ever
England,
would ut-
iny enemy
y of their
captives,
ble speed,
nr Majei-
id for ever
>rmer pos-
any claims
le and com-
i$h and the
:he Qentral
th the con-
le hereafter
ate revenge
e made unto
tiiUing th«m-

% thus made,

f : and then

them, (with

it as dark as
jhly begin to
r way to ob-
iglish revolu-
snt then em*
with the J«i^
barbarously
tility. Not-
it had their
ibmission of
ikes, which,
Iver) should
own, that it
For to extin-

lotions of Sir
i, when the
in preserva-
I and by the
Issfulness of
Ine step fur-
Merimadt'
nself to use
Ling short ot

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

He therefore prevailed with two or three gentlemen to join with him,
in sending a supply of Mcessarie$ for life unto the Indians; antil'the
General Assembly could come together to settle the Indian-trade for the
advantage of the publick, that the Indians might not by necessity be drir*
en again to become a French propr!<!ty ; although by this action, as the
gentlemen themselves were great losers in their estates, (bus he hinifself
declared unto the members of the General Assembly, that he would upon
oath give an account unto them of all his.own gains, and count himself a
gainer, if in lieu of all they would give him one beaver-hat. The same
generosity also caused him to take many a tedious voyage, accompanied
sometimes with his Fidm Achtites, and very dear friend, kinsman and
neighbour. Colonel John Philips, between Boston and Pemmaquid ; and
this In the bitter weeks of the New-English, which is almost a Aummiii
winter.

He was a sort of confessor under such torments of cold, as once mad(^
the niartyrdom of Muria, and others, commemorated in orations of the
ancients ; and the snoto and ice which Pliny calls, The punishment of
mountains, he cheerfully endured, without any other profit unto himtelf,
but only the pleasure of thereby establishing and continuing unto the
people the liberty to sleep quietly in their teorm nests at home, while he
was thus concerned for them abroad. Aon mihi sed Populo, the motto
of the Emperor Hadrian, was engraved on the heart of Sir William :
NOT FOR MYSELF, BCT FOR MY PEOPLE : or thatof Mttximin, Quo mOfOTt
hoe Laboriosior, the more honourable, the more laborious.

Indeed the restlessness of his travels to the southern as well as the east-
em parts of the country, when the publick safety called for his presence,
would have made one to think on the translation which the King of Por-
tugal, on a very extraordinary occasion, gave the fourth verse in the
hundred and twenty-first Psalm. He will not slumber, nor will he sitiffer
to sleep the keeper of Israel. Nor did be only try to cicurate the Indians
of the east, by other prudent and proper treatments ; but he also fur-
nished himself irith an Indian preacher of the gospel, whom he carried
unto the eastward, with an intention to teach them them the principles of
the Protestant religion, and unteach them the mixt Paganry and Popery
which hitherto diabolized them. To unteach them, I say ; for they had
been taught by the French priests this among other things, th&t the mother
of our blessed Saviour was h French lady, and that they were Englishmen
by whom our Saviour was murdered ; and that it was therefore a men'-
torious thing to destroy the English nation. The name of the preacher
whom the governour carried with him, was Nahauton, one of the na-
tives ; and because the passing of such expressions from the mouth of a
poor Indian, may upon some accounts be worthy of remembrance ; let it
be remembred, that when the governour propounded unto him such tt
mission to the eastern Indians, he replied, / know that I shall probably en-
danger my life, by going to preach the gospel among the Frenchyied Indians;
but I know that t( will be a service unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and therefore
I will venture to go.

God grant that his behaviour may be in all things, at all times, accord*
ing to these his expressions ! While these things were doing, having in-
telligence of a French man of war expected nt St. JohM, he dispatched
away the Non-such-frigot thither to intercept him ; nevertheless by the
gross negligence, and perhaps cowardice of the captain, who had lately
come from England with orders to take the command of her, instead of
one who had been by Sir William vl while before put in, and one who had

MAONALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA : [Book It.

•ignnlistd himielf bj doing of notable icrvice for the King tad eoantry
in it, the ffnchman arrived unladed, and went away ontourhed. The

Eivemour was eitreamly offended at this notoriooa dtfleitney ; it eaat
m into a great impatience to tee the nation ao wretchedly acrvcd ; and
he would himielf have gone to Saint John$ with a refolution to ipoit that
harbour of ipoiltn, if he had not been taken off, by being tent lor home
to WHUtkall, in the very midat of hit under'akinga.

But the treacherous Indiam being poiiontd with the <Vmclb tnehant-
intnto, and furnished with brave new eoati, and new armt, and dl new in-
centives to war, by the man of war newly come in ; they presently and
perfidiously fell upitn two Engliih towns, and butchered and captived
many of the inhabitants, and made a new war, which the JVew-JLWand*
»r$ know not whether it will end until either Canada become nn Engiiik
Province, or that state arrive, wherein they shall beat tword$ into plough-
thare$, and $ptars into pruning-hooh. And no doubt, the taking off Sir
WUliam Phips was no small encouragement unto the Indtani in this re-
lapse, into the villanies and massacres of a neo) inva$ion upon the
country.

§ 18. Reader, 'tis time for us to view a little more to the life, the pie-
(arc of the person, the actions of tvhose life we have hitherto been look-
ing upon. Know then, that for hi* exterior, he was one tall, beyond the
common set of men, and thick as well as tall, and «(rong as well as thick :
he w>>s,in all respects, exceedingly robwt, and able to conquer sach dif-
ficulties of ^t and of travel, as would have killed most men alive : nor
did the fat, whereinto he grew very much in his later yearS} take away
the vigour of his motions.

He was well-set, and he was therewithal of a very com«/y, though a
very manly countenance : a countenance where any true skill in pkyri-
ognomy would have read the characters of a generous mind. Wherefore
pafpsing to his «n(ertor, the very first thing which there offered it self unto
observation, was a roost incomparable generosity.

And of this, besides the innumerable instances which he gave in his
usual hatred o( dirty or little tricks, there was one instance for which 1
must freely say, I never saw three men in this world that equalled him ; this
was his wonderfully forgiving spirit. In the vast variety of Justness,
through which he raced in his time, he met with many and mighty inju-
ries ; bat althoogh I have heard all that the most venemous malice could
ever Atss at his memory, I never did hear unto this hour, that he did ever
once deliberately revenge an injury.

Upon certain affronts he has made sadden returns that have shewed
duUer enough, and he has by blow, as well as by word, chastised incivili-
ties : he was, indeed, sufficiently impatient of being put upon ; and when
base men, surprizing him at some disadvantages (for else few men dent
have done it) have sometimes drawn upon him, he has, without the witk*
ed madness of a formal duel, made them feel that he knew how to eorrea
fools. Nevertheless, he ever declined a ddiberate revenge of a wroi^
done unto him ; though few men upon earth have, in their mcissitudts,
been furnished with such frequent opportunities of revenge, as htaven
brought into the hands of tbia gentleman.

Under great provocations, he would commonly say, *Tit no matter, l*i
fAem alone ; some time or other theyll see their weakness and rashness, and
have occasion for me to do them a kindness : and they shall then see I have
quite forgotten all their baseness. Accordingly 'twas remarkable to see it,
that raw men ever did him a mischief, but those men afterwards had oc-

Book It*

\ country
id. Th«

y ; it OMt

ved; and
inot/ that
for home

h tneha«t-
01 now m-
■eotly and
I captivcd

Ml EngH^

nto p'oVf*"
ing off Sir

in this re-

npOD th«

ft, the fie-
been look*
beyond the
ell as thick :
ler •uch dif*
alive : nor
I, take away

y, though a

ill in phjfii-

Wherefore

it self unto

gave in his

for which 1

Uhim; this

of butineu,

lighty inju'

lice could

he did ever

are shewed
Ised incivili-
and when
men derst
lut the witk'
\vr to correct
lof a wrwig
1 vicittitudu,
as Atoven

matter, M
IwfcneM. and
see I have
lie to see it.
Lrde had oc*

Boon II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-CNOLAND. IQT

casion for him to do them a Jk*iwiiiM« ; and he did the kintkun with as for-
cetful a 6rov«ry, as if tho mitehie/ had never been done at all- The
Emporor Theodeteiui himself could not be readier to forgive ; so wor-
thily did he verifie that observation.

Quo qmequt e$t Major, magit ett Pheabatie Ira,

Et Faeitee Motue, Mene generoia eapit. ' >

In those places of power whereto the providence of God by several
degreee raised him, it still fell out so, that before his rite thereunto he
underwent such things as ho counted very hard abuses, from those very
persons over whom the Divine Providence nftenvards guvo him the o«-
cendani.

By such triah, the wisdom of iieaven still prepared him, as David
before him, for eucceeiive advaucemcnti ; and as he behaved himself with
a marvellous long-euffering, when he was tried, by such mortifications,
thus when he came to be advanced, he convinced all mankind, that he had
perfectly hUried all the old offences in an eternal amnesty. I was my
self an ear'witnete, that one, who was an eye-witneu of his behaviour
under such pro6aUon« of his patience, did, long before his arrival to thai
honour, say unto him. Sir, forgive tkoee that give you theie vexationt, ami.
iiinow that the Ood of heaven intende, before he hat done with you, to mal^
you the gffvemour of New*England ! And when he did indeed become
the governour of New-England, he shewed that he still continued a gov-
emour of himeelf, in his treating all that had formerly been in ill terms
with him, with as much favour and freedom, as if there had never hap-
pened the least exasperations : though any governour that kens Hobbi-
anism, can easily contrive ways enough to wreak u spite, where he owes
it.

It was with some christian remark, that he read the Pagan-story of the
renewed Fabius Maximus, who being preferred unto the highest office iu
the commonwealth, did, through a zeal for his country, overcome the
greatest contempts that any person of quality could have received.—
AfiHtih'nf the master of the horse, and the next person in dignity to him*
Helf, did first privately traduce him, as ouo that was no soldier, and less
politician ; and he afterwards did both by speeches and letters prejudice
not only the army, but also the senate against him, so that Minutiut was
now by an unpresidented commission brought into an equality with Fo'
bins.

All this while the great Fabius did not throw up his cares for the com-
monwealth, but with a wondrous equality of mind endured equally the
malice of the judges, and the fury of the commons ; and when Minutiut
a while after was with all his forces upon the point of perishing by the
victorious arms of Hannibal, this very Fabius, not listening to the dic-
tates of revenge, came in and helped him, and saved him ; and so by a
rare virtue, he made his worst adversaries the captives of his generosity.
One of the anticnts upon such an history, cried out. If heathent can
do thus much for tlie glory of their name, what thall not chrittiant do fo\r
the glory of heaven ! And Sir fVilh'am Phipt did so much more than thut
much, that besides his meriting the glory of such a name, as Phippius
Maximus, he therein had upon him the symptoms of a title to the glorv
of heaven, in the seal of his own pardon from God. Nor was this gene-
rosity in his Excellency the Governour of New-England, unaccompanied

198

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA: [Book H.

with many other excellencies ; whereof the piety of his carriage towards
God is worthy to be 6r8t mentioned.

it is true, he was very zealous for all men to enjoy each a liberty of
conscience J as he judged a native right of mankind : and he was eztreamfy
troubled at the over-boiling zeal of some good men, who formerly took
that wrong way of reclaiming herelicks by persecution. For this gene-
rosity, it may be, some would have compared him unto Gallio, the gov-
ernour of Achaia, whom our preachers, perhaps with mistake enough,
think to be condemned in the scripture, for his not appearing to be a
jddge, in matters which indeed fel! not under his cognizance.

And I shall be content that he be compared unto that gentleman ; for
that Gallio was the brother of Setteca, who gives this character of him.
That tliere was no man who did not love him too little, if he could love him
anymore ; and, that there was no mortal so dear to any, as he was to all;
and, that lie hated all vices, but none more than flattery.

But while the generosity of Sir William caused him to desire a liberty
of conscience, his piety would not allow a liberty of prophaneness, either
to himself or others. He did not affect any tiiighty show of devotion ;
and when he saw any that were evidently careful to make a show, and es*
pecially, if at the same time they were notoriously defective in the du>
ties of common justice or goodness, oi- the duties of the relations ivherein
God had stationed them, he had an an extream aversion for them.

Nevertheless he did show a conscientious desire to observe the laws
of the Lord Jesus Christ in tiis conversation ; and he conscientiously at-
tended upon the exercises of devotion in the seasons thereof, on lectures,
as well as on Lord's days, and in the daily sacrifice, the morning and eve-
ning service of his own family ; yea, and at the private meetings of the
devout people kept every fortnight in the neighbourhood.

Besides all this, when he had great works before him, he would invite
go>')d men to come and fast and pray with him at his house for the suc-
cess thereof; and when he had succeeded in what he had undertaken,
he would prevail with them to come and keep a day of solemn thanks-
giving with him. His love to Almighty God, was indeed manifested by
nothing; more than his love to those that had the image of God upon them;
be heartily, and with real honour for them, loved all godly men ; and in
so doing, he did not confine godliness to this or that party, but where-
ever he S3w the fear of God, in one of a Congregational, or Presbyterian^
or Antipmdobapiist, or Episcopalian perswasion, he did, without any dif-
ference, express towards them a reverent affection.

But he made no men more welcome than those good men, whose
office 'tis to promote and preserve goodness in all other men ; even the
mdnistcrs of the gospel : especially when they were such as faithfully
discharged their office : and from these at any time, the least admonition
or intimation of any good thing to be done by him, he entertained with a
most obliging alacrity. His religioii in truth, was one principle that ai-
Sedvirtue unto that vast courage, which was always in him to a degree
heroical. Those terrible nations which made their descents from the
northern on the southern pans of Europe, in those elder ages, when so to
swarm out was more frequent with them, were inspired with a valiant
Contempt of life, by the opinion wherein their famous Odin instructed
them. That their death was but an entrance into another life, wherein they
who died in warlike actions, were bravely feasted with the god of war for
ever : 'tis inexpressible how much the courage of those fierce mortals
v/a"! fortified by thiit opinion. ,, ..^.. ,^, ,^ ,-«^»., ., • Sj^-

x*^*

[Book II-

;e towards

X liberty of
eztreamly
aerly took
this g«ie-
», the gov-
le enough,
ng to he a

leman; for

ter of him,

dd love him

was to oil}

ire a liberty
tneas, either
if devotion ;
flow, and es-
e in the du«
ions wherein
them.

rve the laws
ientiously at-
f, on lecture*,
ning and evc-
etings of the

would invite

! for the 9UC-

undertaken,

llemn thanks-

knifested by

upon them;

..ten; and in

I, but where-

^retbyterian,

lout any dif-

1 wen, whose
L ; even the
fas faithfully
It admonition
lained with a
tple that ad-
[to a degree
Ms from the
r when so to
lith a valiant
I instructed

wherein ifi^y
d of wor fof
tree mortals

^ooK II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

199

But when Sir William Phipa was asked by some that observed his val-
iant contempt of deoA, what it was that made him so little afraid of dyings
he gave a better grounded account of it than those Pagans cou!d ; his
answer was, / do humbly believe, that the Lord Jesus Christ shed his pre-
cious blood for me, by his death procuring my peace with God : and suhut
should I mm be afraid of dying for ?

But this leads tas. to mention the humble ^nd modest carriage in him to-
wards other men, which accompanied this his pieiy. There were certain
pomps belonging unto the several places of honour, through which he
passed ; pomps that are very taking to men of little souls : but although
he rose ^om so little, yet he discovered a marvellous contempt of 4hose
airy things, and as far as he handsomely could, he declined, being cere-
moniously, or any otherwise than with a Dutch modesty waited upon..
And it might more truly be said of him, than it was of Jiristides, He was
never seen the prouder for any honour that was done him from his coun-
trymen.

Hence, albeit I have read that complaint, made by a worthy man, /
have often observed, and this not without some blushing, that even good peo*
pie have had a kind of shame upon them, to acknowledge their low beginning,
and used all arts to hide it. 1 could never observe the least of that fault
in this worthy man ; but he' would speak of his own low beginning with.
as much freedom and frequency, as if he had been afraid of having it
forgotten.

It was counted an humility in King Agathocles, the son of a potter, to
be served therefore in earthen vessels, as Plutarch hath informed us : it
was counted an humility in Archbishop fVilligis, the son of a Wheelright,
therefore to have wheels hung about his bed-chamber, with this inscrip' .
tion, Recole undo Veneris, i. e. Remember thy original. But such was tk j
humility and lowliness of this rising man ! Not only did he after his return to
his country in his greatness, one day, make a splendid feast for the ship'car-
jienters of Boston, among whom he was willing at his table to commemorate
the mercy of God unto him, who had once been a ship-carpenter himself,
but he would on all occasions permit, yea, study to have his meannesses
remembred.

Hence upon frequent occasions of uneasiness in his government, he
would chuse thus to express himself, Gentleman, were it not that I am to
do service for the publick, I should be much easier in returning unto my broad
ax again ! And hence, according to the affable courtesie which he ordi-
narily used unto all sorts of persons, (quite contrary to the asperity
which the old proverb expects in the raised) he would particulai^ly when
mailing in sight of Kennebeck, with armies under bis command, call the
young soldiers and sailors upon de'ck, and speak to them after this fashion;
Young men, it was upon that hill that I kept sheep a few years ago ; and since
you see that Almighty God has brought me to something, do you learn to/ear
God, and be honest, and mind your business, and follow no bad courses, and
|ou don't know what you may come to ! A temper not altogether unlike
what the advanced shepherd had, when he wrote the twenty-third Psalm ;
er when he imprinted on the coin of his kingdom the remembrance of his
old condition ; for Christiantu Gerson, a christianized Jew, has informed
as, that on the one side of David's coin were to be seen his old pouch and
crook, the instruments of shepkerdy; on the other side were enstamped the
towers of Zion.

In fine, our Sir William was a person of so sweet a temper, that they
who were most intimately acquainted with him, would commonly pro-

8U0

MAG^ALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA ; [Book It.

nounce him, The be$t conditioned gentleman in the world f Anil by the
cootiDual discoveries and expressious of such a temper, he so gained the
hearts of them who waited upon him in any of his expeditions, that they
would commonly profess themselves willing still, to have gone with him to
the end of the world.

But if all other people found him so kind a neighbour, we may easily
infer what an husband lie was unto his lady. Leaving unmentioned that
virtue of his chastity, which the prodigious depravation brought by the
lute reigns upon the manners of the nation, has made worthy to be men-
tioned as a virtue somewhat extraordinary ; i shall rather pass on to say,
that tihe love even to fondness, with which he always treated her, was a
matter not only of observation, but even of such admiration, that every
one said, ^e age afforded not. a kinder husband !
^ But we must now return to our story.

§ 1 9. When persons do by studies full of curiosity, seek to inform
themselves of things about which the God of Heaven hath forbidden our
curious enquiiies, there is a marvellous impression, which the desnums do
often make on the minds of those their votaries, about the/tUure or secret
matters unlawfully enquired after, and at last there is also an horrible
possession, wbic:'i those Fatidic damons do take of them. The snares of
hell, hereby laid for miserable mortals, have been such, that when 1 read
the laws, which Angellius affirms to have been made, even in Pagan
Rome, against the Vaticinatores ; \ wonder that no English nobleman or
gentleman signalizes bis regard unto Christianity, by doing what even a
Roman Tully would have done, in promoting an Act of Parliament against
that Paganish practice of judicial astrolt^y, whereof, if such men as
Austin were now living, they would assert. The devil first found it, and
they that profess it are enemies of truth and of God.

In the mean time, I cannot but relate a wonderful experience of Sir
William Phips, by the relation whereof somethig of an antidote may be
given against a poison, which the diabolical ^gure^tngers and /orlune-
tellers that swarm all the world over may insinuate into the minds of men.
Long before Mr. Phips came to be Sir William, while he sojourned io
London, there came into his lodging an old astrologer, living in the neigh'
bourhood; who making some observation of him, though he had small or
no conversation with him, did (howbeit by him wholly undesired,) one
daj send him a paper, wherein he had, with pretences of a rule in astro-
logy for each article, distinctly noted the most material passages that
were to befal this our Phips in the remaining part of his life ; it was par-
ticularly asserted and inserted, that he should be engaged in a design,
wherein by reason of enemies at Court, be should meet with much de-
lay ; that nevertheless in the thirty-sevMith year of his life, he should
find, a mighty-treasure ; that in the forty first year of his life, his Kin^
sh' uld employ him in as great a trust beyond sea, as a subject could easi-
ly have : that soon after this he should undergo an hard storm from the
endeavours of his adversaries to reproach him and ruin him ; that bis
adversaries, though they should go very near gaining the point, should
yet miss of doing so ; that be should hit upon a vastly richer matter than
any he had hitherto met withal ; that he should continue thirteen yean
in hia publick station, full of action, and full of hurry ; and the rest of his
days he should spend in the satisfaction of a peaceable retirement.

Mr. Phips received this undesired paper with trouble and with con>
tempt, and threw 'A by among certain loose papers in the bottom of a
trunk, where his lady some years after accidentaUy lit upon it. His

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NFF \^GLAND.

201

lady with admiration lavr, step after step, verj ^uuch of it accomplished ;
but when she heard from &tgland, that Sir fViUiam was coming over
with a commission to be go?emoar of Neat-England,, in that very year
of his Ufe, which the paper specified ; she was afraid of letting it lye
any longer in the house, bat cast it into the^re.

Now the tiling which I must invite my reader to remark, is this, that
albeit Almighty God may permit the deviU to predict, and pei'baps to jnef'
form very many particalar things to men, that shall by such aprtiumntU'
out and unwarrantable juggle as astrology (so Dr. Hall well calls it ! ) or
any other divination, consult them, yet the devils which /ore(e{ many true
things, do commonly /ore<«/ some that are false, and it may be, propose
by, Uie things that are true to betray men into some fatal misbelief and
miscarriage about those that are false.

Very singular therefore was the wisdom of Sir William Phips,Xhat as
he ever treated these prophesies about him with a most pious ^eglect, so
when he had seen all hot the two last of them very punctually fulfilled,
yea, and seen the beginning of a fulfilment unto the last but one also, yet
when I pleasantly mentioned them unto him, on purpose to try whether
there were any occasion for me humbly to give him the serious advice,
necessary in such a case to anticipate the devices of Satan, he prevented
my advice, by saying to me. Sir, I do believe there might be a cursed snare
of Satan in those prophesies : I believe Satan might have leave to foretel
many things, all of which might come to pass in the beginning, to lay me
asleep about such things as are to follow, especially about the main chance
of all ; / do not know but I am to die this year : for my part, by the help of
the grate of God, I shall endeavour to Itve as if I were this year to die.
And let the reader now attend the event !

§ 20. 'Tis a similitude which 1 have learned from no less a person
than the great Basil i that as the eye sees not those objects which are ap-
plied close unto it, and even lye upon it ; but when the objects are to
some distance removed, it clearly discerns them : so, we hav« little sense
of the good which we have in our enjoyments, until God, by the remo-
val thereof, teach us better to prize what we once enjoyed. It is true,
the generality of sober and thinking people among the New-Eglanders,
(lid as highly value the government of Sir William Phips, whilst he lived,
as they do his memory, since his death ; nevertheless it must be confes-
sed, that the blessing which the country had in his indefatigable zeal, to
serve the publick in all its interests, was not so valued as it should have
been.

It was mentioned long since as a notorious fault in Old Egypt, that it
was Loquax 4* Ingeniosa in CoiUumeliam Prafectorum Provincia : si quis
forte vitaverit Culpam, Contumeliam non effugit : And New-England has
been at the best always too faulty, in that very character, a province very
falkative, and ingenious for the vilifying of its publick servants.

But Sir William Phips, who might in a calm of the commonwealth
have administred all things with as general an acceptance as any that
have gone before him, had the disadvantage of being set at helm in a time
as full of storm as ever that provi7ice bad seen ; and the people having
their spirits put into a tumult by the discomposing and distempering va*
riety of disasters, which had long been rendring the time calamitous,
it was natural for them, as 'tis for all men then, to be complaining ; and
you may be sure, the rulers must in such ca^es be always complained of,
ind the chief complaints must be heaped upon those that are commandtr^

Vor„ J. 26

'f*^- ?•» y

802

MAGNALIA CHRISTl AMERICANA

[Book II.

in chit/. Nor has n certain proverb in .Ana been improper in America,
He deterveg no man's good word, of whom every man shall speak well.

Sir fVilliam was very hardly hatidled (or tongued at least) in the lib^
erty which people took to make most unbecoming and injurious reflec-
tions upon his conduct, and clamour against him, even for those very
actions which were not only necessary to be done, but highly beneficial
unto themselves ; and though he would ordinarily smile at their /roword-
Hest, calling it hit country pay, yet he sometimes resented it with some
uneasiness ; he seemed unto himself sometimes almost as bad as rolled
about in Regulus* barrel ; and had occasion to think on the Italian prO'
verb, To wait for one who does not come ; to lye a bed not able to sleep;
and to find it impossible to please those whom we serve ; are three griefs
enough to kill a man.

But aa froward as the people were, under the epedemical vexations of the
age, yet there were very few that would acknowledge unto the very last,
Jt will be hardly possible for us to see another governour that shall more in-
tirely love and serve the country : yea, had the country had the choice of
their own governour, 'tis judged their votes, more than forty to one,
would have still fallen upon him to have been the man : and the General
Assembly therefore on all occasions renewed their petitions unto the King
for his continuance. <,

Nevertheless, there was a little party of men, who thought they must
not sleep till they had caused him to fall : and they so vigorously prosecuted
certain articles before the Council-board at Whitehall against him, that
they imagined they had gained an order of his Majesty in Council, to
suspend him immediately from his government, and appoint a committee
of persons nominated by bis enemies, to hear all depositions against him;
and so a report of the whole to be made unto the King and Council.

But his Majesty was too well informed of Sir William's integrity to
permit such a sort of procedure ; and therefore he signified unto his
most honourable Council, that nothing should be done against Sir Wil-
liam, until he had opportunity to clear himself; and thereupon he sent
his royal commands unto Sir William to come over. To give any re-
torting accounts of the principal persons who thus adversaried him,
would be a thing so contrary to the spirit of Sir William Phips himself,
who at his leaving of New-England bravely declared that he freely for-
gave them all ; and if he had returned thither again, would never have
taken the least revenge upon them, that this alone would oblige me. if I
had no other obligations of Christianity upon mc, to forbear it ; and it
may be, for some of them, it would be to throw water upon a drowned
mouse.

Nor need I to produce any more about the articles which these men
exhibited against him, than this; that it was by most men believed, that
if he would have connived at some arbitrary oppressions too much used
by some kind of officers on the King's subjects, /cq) perhaps, or none of
those articles had ever been formed ; and that he apprehended himself
to be provided with a full defence against them all.

Nor did his Excellency seem loth to have had his case tried under
the brazen tree of Gariac, if there had l.een such an one, as that men-
tioned by the fabulous Murtadi, in his prodigies of Egypt, a tree which
had iron branches with sharp hooks, at the end of them, that when any
false accuser approached, as the fabel says, immediately flew at him, and
stuck in him, until he had ceased injuring his adversary.

\Yherefore in obedience unto the King's commands,, he took his leave
of Boston on the seventeenth of November, 1694, attended with all proper

[Book U.

n .America,
Ic well-

in the lib-
ioos reflec-

tbose very
iV beneficial
sir/roword-
, with some
kd as rolled
Italian pro-
hie to sleep ;

three gneft

ca<»ons of the
he very last,
hall more in-
[he choice of
forty to one,
1 the General
jnto the King

jht they must

ily prosecuted

inst him, that

n Council, to

nt a committee

s against him;

Council.

's integrity to

ified unto his

ainst Sir Wil-

upon he sent

give any re-

^rsaried him,

Phips himself,

he freely for-

i never have

tblige me, if I

jar it ; and it

ion a drowned

|ch these men
believed, that
^0 much used
Ls, or none of
pnded himself

tried under
as that men-
la tree which
|hat when any
' at him, and

;ok his leave
tth all proper

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND

f03

testimonies of rcnncct and honour from the body of the people, which be
had been the head unto ; and with addresses unto their Majesties, aAd
the chief Ministers of State from the General Assembly, humbly im-
ploring, that they might not be deprived of the happiness which they
had in such an head.

Arriving nt Whitehall, he found in a few days, that notwithstanding all
the impotent rage of bis adversaries particularly vented and printed in
a villanous libel, as well as almost in us many other ways as there are
mouths, at which Fyal sometimes bus vomited out its infernal fires, he
had all humane assurance of his returning in a very few weeks again the
governour of J^ew-England.

Wherefore there were especially fwo designs, full of service to the
whole English nation, as well as his own particular country ofJVew-Eng-
land, which he applied his thoughts unto. First, he had a new scene of
action opened unto him, in an opportunity to supply the Crown with ail
naval stores at most easie rates, from those eastern parts of the Massachu-
set provincoi which through the conquest that he had made thereof, came
to be inserted in the Massachuset-chmrter. As no man was more capable
than he to improve this opportunity unto a vast advantage, so his tnc/tna*
tion to it was according to his capacity.

And he longed with some impatience to see the King furnished from
his own dominions, with such floating and stiitely castles, those wooden-
zmalls of Great Britain, for much of which he has hitherto traded with
foreign kingdoms, JS'ext, if 1 may say next unto this, he had an eye upon
Canada ; all attempts for the reducing whereof had hitherto proved
abortive.

It was but a few months ago that a considerable fleet, under Sir Fran-
cis fVheeler, which had been sent into the West-Indies to subdue MartC'
nico, was ordered then to call at Nevo-England, that being recruited
there, they might make a further descent upon Canada ; but heaven
frowned upon that expedition, especially by a terrible sickness, the most
like the plague of any thing that has been ever seen in America, whereof
there died, e'er they could reach to Boston, as I was told by Sir Francis
himself, no less than thirteen hundred sailors out of twenty one, and no less
than eighteen hundred soldiers out of twentyfour.

It was now therefore his desire to have satisfied the King, that his
whole interest in America lay at stake, while Canada was in French
hands : and therewithal to have laid >befo re several noblemen and gentle-
men, bow beneficial an undertaking it would have been for them to have
parsued the Canadian-business, for which the JVew-Englanders vrere now
grown too feeble ; their country being too far now, as Bede says Eng-
land once was, Omni Milite Sfjloridce Juventutis Alacritate spoliata.

Besides these two designs in the thoughts of Sir William, there was a
third, which he had hopes that the King would have given him leave to
have pursued, after he had continued so long in his government, as lo
have obtained the more general welfare which he designed in the former
instances. I do not mean the making of New -England the seat of a
Spanish trade, though so vastly profitable a thing was likely to have been
brought about, by his being one of an honourable company engaged in
such a project.

But the Spanish wreck, where Sir William had made his first gO(fd voy-
itge, was not the only, nor the richest wreck, that he knew to he lying
under the water. He knew particdlarly, that when the ship which had
Governour Boadilla aboard, was cast away, there was, as Peter Martyr

il04

MAGNALIA CHRISTI AMERICANA

IbooK 11.

says, an entire table of g<dd of thret thousand three hundred and ten pound
weight.

'i be Duke of Albemarle^s patent fur all such wrecks now expiring, Sir
William thought on the motto which is upon the gold medal, bestowed by
the late King, with bis Knighthood upon him. Semper Tihipendeat Hamue :
and nupposing himself to have sained sufficient information of the right
way to such a wreck, it was his purpose upon his dismission from his
government, once more to have gone unto his old ^f^tttg'^lrodc, upon a
mighty shelf of rocks and banks of sixnds that lye where he had inform*
ed himself.

But as the prophet Haggai and Zechariah, in their pealm upon the
grants made onto their people by the Emperors of Persia have that re-
flection, Man^s breath goeth forth, he returns to his earth; in that very day
' his thoughts perish. My reader must now see what came of all these
considerable thoughts. About the middle of February, 1694, Sir WMiam
found himself indisposed with a cold, which obliged him to keep his
chamber ; but under this indisposition he received the honour of a visit
from a very eminent person at Whitehall, who upon sufficient assurance,
bad htm Get well as fast as he could, for in one month's time he should be
again dispatched asiay to his government of New-England.

Nevertheless his distemper proved a sort of malignant feaver, whereof
many about this time died in the city ; and it suddenly put an end at
once unto his days and thoughts, on the eighteenth of February ; to the
extream surprize of his friends, who honouriibly interred him in the
church of St. Mary Wootnoth, and with him, how much of New ■England's
happiness !

§ 21. Although he has now no more a portion for ever in any thing
tJiat is done under the sun, yet justice requires that his memory be not for-
gotten. 1 have not ail this while said he was faultless, nor am I unwilling
to use for him the words which Mr. Calamy had in his funeral sermon
for the excellent Earl of Warwidt, It must be confessed, lest I should prone
a flatterer, he had his infirmities, which I trmt Jesus Christ hcs covered ixUh
the robe of his righteousness : my prayer to God is, that all his infirmities may
be buried in the grave of oblivion, and that all his virtues and graces may
supervive ; although perhaps there were no infirmities in that coble per-
son, which Mr. Co/atny counted so.

Nevertheless I must also say, that if the anguish of his publick fa-
tigues threw Sir William into skoy faults of passion ; they were but faults
of passion soon recalled : and spots being soonest seen in ermin, there
was usually the most made of them that could be, by those that were
least free themselves.

After all, 1 do not know that I have been, by any personal obligations
or circumstances, charmed into any partiality for the memory of this wor-
thy man ; but I do here, from a real satisfaction of conscience concern-
ing him, declare to all the world, that I reckon him to have been really a
very worthy man ; that few men in the world rising from so mean an ori-
ginal as he, would have acquitted themselves with a thousandth part of
his capacity or integrity ; that he lef) unto the world a notable example of
a disposition to do good, and encountered and overcame almost invincible.
temptations in doing it.

And 1 do most solemnly profess, that I have most conscientiously en-
deavonred the utmost sincerity and veracity of a christian, as well as an
historian, in the history which I have now given of him. 1 have not writ-
ten of Sir William Phips, as they say Xenophon did of Cyrus, Non ad His
tori<B Fidem, sedad Effigiemveri imperii; what shoxdd have been, rathn

[Book 11-

ten pwnd

ptringt Sir
stowed by
atHamiu:
f the right
o from hn
ide, upon a
Bad inform*

n Qpon the
ive that re-
iat very day
of all thefie
Sir WMiam
to keep his
•ur of a visit
it assurance,
he shovld be

.very whereof
St an end at
tiorj;; to the
i him in the
^cwEitgland'i

• in any thing
ry be not for-
m I unwilliBg
neral sermon
Ithouldprace
s covered voiih
nfirmities may
id graces nwy
It coble per-
ils publick fa-
Bre but faulii
ermin, there
Ue that were

jal obligations
jofthiswor-
tnce concern-
[ been really"
. mean an ort-
Landth part of
lie example of
lost invincible.

Lntiously en-
fas well as an
lave not writ-
,J{onadBis
! been, ratb*^^'

Book II.] OR, THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

than what really wot. If the envy of his few enetniea be not now quiet ;
I must freely say it, that for many weeks before he died, there was tiot
one man among his perianal enemies whom he would not readily and
cheerfully have done all the kind offices of a friend unto : wherefore
though the gentleman in England that once published a vindication of
Sir William Phips against some of his enemies, chose to put the name of
puhlieans upon them, they must in this be counted worse than the Publi"
cans of whom our Saviour says, They love those that love him.

And I will say this further, that when certain 'persons had found the
skull of a dead man, as a Greek writer of epigrams has told us, they all
fell a weeping, but only one of the company, who laughed and flouted,
and through an unheard-of cruelty, threw stones at it, which stones won-
derfully rebounded backupon the face of him that threw them, and
miserably wounded him : thus if any shall be so unchristian, yea, so inhu-
mane, as libellously to throw stones at so deserved a reputation as this
gentleman has died withal, they shall see a just rebound of all their
calumnies.

But the name of Sir William Pairs will be heard honourably men-
tioned in the trumpets of immortal fame, when the names of many that
antipathied him will either be buried in eternal oblivion, without any sa-
cervates to preserve them ; or be remembred, but like that of Judias in
the gospel, or Pilate in the creed, with eternal infamy.

The old Persians indeed, according to the report of Agathias, exposed
their dead friends to be torn in pieces hywild beasts, believing that if they
lay long unworried, they had been unworthy persons ; but all nttempts of '
surviving malice to demonstrate in that way the worth of this dead gen-
tleman, give me leave to rate off with indignation.

And I must with a like freedom say, that great was the fault of New-
England no more to value a person, whose opportunities to serve all their
interests, though very eminent, yet were not so eminent as his inciina^
tions. If this whole continent carry in its very name of America, an
unaccountable ingratitude unto that brave man who first led any numbers
of Europeans thither, it must not be wondred at, if now and then a par-
ticular country in that continent a£ford some instances of ingratitude .-
but I must believe that the ingratitude of many, both to God and man,
for such benefits as that country of NeW'Ei^land enjoyed from a govern-
our of their own, by whom they enjoyed great quietness, with very worlhj
deeds done wnio that nation by his providence, wns that which huAtned tho
removal of such a benefactor from them.

However, as the Cyprians buried their friends in honen, to whom tht^}
gave gall when they were born ; thus whatever gall might be giren to
this gentleman while he lived, I hope none will be so base, as to put any
tbing but honey into their language of him now after his deceivie. And
indeed, since 'tis a frequent thing among men to wish for the presence oi
our friends, when they are dead and gone, whom, while they were pre
sent with us, wc undervalued ; there is no way for us to fetch back oiu
Sir William Phips, and make him yet living with us, but by setting up u
statue for him, as 'tis done in these pages, that may out-last an ordinary
monument.

Such was the original design of erecting «<a<Mcs, and if in Venice th(»rc
were at once no less than an hundred and sixty two marble, and twenty-
three brazen statues, erected by the order, and at the expence of the
publick, in honour of so many valiant soldiers, who had merited well ol'
that commonwealth, I am sure New-England has hnd those, whose merits
oall for as good an acknowledgment ; and, whatever thfy flid hrfnrp, it

206

MAGNALIA CHllISTI AMERICANA

[BooE ir.

will be well, if after Sir William Phips, they find many as meritorious as
he to be so acknowledged.

Now I cannot my self provide a better statue for this memorable per*
son, than the words uttered on the occasion of his death in a very great
ussembly, by a person of so diffused and embalmed a reputation in the
church of God, thitt such a character from him were enough to immor-
talize the reputation of the person upon whom he should bestow it.

The Greciaru employed still the most honourable and considerable per-
sons they had among them, to make a funeral oration in commendation
of soldiers that had lost their lives in tLe service of the publick : and
when Sir William Phips, the Captain-General of New England, who
had often ventured his life to serve the publick, did expire, (hat reve-
rend person, who was the president of the only University then in the En-
?iith America, preached a sermon on that passage of the sacred writ,
sa. Ivii. 1. Merciful men are taken away, none considering that the right-
eous are taken away from the evil to come ; and it gave Sir William Phips
the following testimony.

' This province is beheaded, and lyes a bleeding. A Govcrnovr is
' taken away, who was a merciful man ; some think too merciful : and if
' so, 'tis best erring on that hand ; and a righteous man ; who, when he
' had great opportunities of gaining by injustice, did refuse to do so.

' He was a known friend unto the best interests, and unto the Church-

* es of God : not ashamed of owning them : no, how often havie I heard
' him expressing his desires to be an instrument of good unto them ! He
' was a zealous lover of his country, if any man in the world were so :
' he exposed himself to serve it ; he ventured his life to save it : in that,
' a true Nehemiah, a governoor that sought the welfare of his people.

' He was one who did not seek to have the government cast upon him :

* no, but instead thereof to my knowledge, he did several times petition
'.the King, that this people might always enjoy the great priviledge of

* ehusing their own governour ; and I have heard him express his desires,
' that it might be so, to several of the chief ministers of state in the

* Court of England.

' He is now dead, and not capable of being flattered: but this I must

* testifie concerning him, that though by the providence of God I have

* been with him at home and abroad , near at home , and afar off, by
' land and by sea, / never saw him do any evil action, or heard him speak any
' iking unbecoming a christian.

' The circumstances of his death seem to intimate the anger of God,
' in that he was in the midst of his days removed ; and 1 know (though few
' did) that he had great purposes in his heart, which probably would have
' taken effect, if he had lived a few months longer, to the great advantage
' of this province ; but now he is gone, there is not a man living in the
' world capacitated for those undertakings ; NeW'England knows not yet
' what they have lost !'

' The recitation of a testimony so great, whether for the author or
the matter of it, has now made a statue for the governour of New-
England, which

Nee poterit Ferrum, nee edax abolere vetustast

And there now remains nothing more for me to do about it, but only to
recite herewithal a well-known story related by Stiidas, That anenBioM*
aian, once going to pull down a statue which had been raised unto the
memory of one whom he maligned, be only got this by it, that the statue
filing, knocked out his brains.

"»^

OUB 80

f great
in the
imoior-
it.

lie per-
ndntion
k : and
d, who
at reve-
thc fin-
ed writ,
he right-
m Phips

RNOVn 19

{ : and if
when he
>ao.

J Church-
i I heard
beml He
were bo ;
, : in that,
\opU-
ipon him :
^s petition
[ottedge of
Is desires,
;e in the

lis I must
(od I have
lar off, by

\speakany

of God,
Lough ftw
ould have
advantage
fing in the
vs not yet

lauthor or

of New-

it only to

in envious

unto the

Ihe italve

Book 11.) OR, THE HI^TOHY OF NEW-KNGLAND. %07

But Poetry as well as Hittory must pay its dues unto him. \i Cicero's
poem, intituled, Quodngw, wherein he did with a poetical chariot extol
the exploits of Ccciar in Britain to the very skies, were now extant in
the world, I would have borrowed some flights of that at least, for the
subject now to he adorned. ^

But instead thereof let the reader accept the ensuing Elegy.

UPON THE

DEATH

Sm WILLIAM PHIPS, Knt.

LATE CAPTAIN GENERAL AND OOVKKKOUR IN CHIEF OF THE PROVINCE OF
THE MASSACHUSET-BAY IN NEW-ENQLAND, WHO EXPIRED AT LONDON,
FEB. 1694—5.

Jnd to Mortality a sacrifice ^'

Falls he, whose deeds must him immortalize !

Rejoice Messieurs ; Netops rejoice ; 'tis true,
Ye Philistines, none will rejoice butj/ou.*
Loving of all be dy'd ; who love him not
Now, have the grace of publicans forgot.
Our Mmanacks foretold a great eclipse.
This they foresaw not, of our greater PHIPS.
PHIPS our great /rt'end, our wonder, and our glory,
The terror of our/oc», the world's rare story.
England will boast hira too, whose noble mind
ImpelI'd by Angels, did those treasures find,
Long in the bottom of the ocean laid.
Which her three hundred thousand richer made,
By silver yet ne'er canker'd, nor defil'd
By Honour, nor betray'd when Fortune smil'd.
Since this bright Phoebus visited our shoar.
We saw no fogs but what were rais'd before :
Those vanish'd too ; harassed by bloody tears
Onr land saw peace, by his most generous cares.
The wolvish Pagans at his dreaded name,
Tam'd, shrunk before him, and his dogs became !
Fell Moxus and fierce Dockawando fall,
Charm'd at the feet of our brave general.

Fly-blow the dead, pale Envy, let him not
(What hero ever did ?) escape a blot.
All is distort with an inchanted eye.
And heighth will make what's right still stand awry.
He was, Oh that he was ! his/au^^5 we'll tell,
Such/au/t$ as these we knew, and lik''d them well. .

Just to an injury ; denying none
Their dues ; but self-denying oft his own-.

«0{l MAONALIA tHRlSTt AMEklCANA :

Ctood to a miracle ; r«solv*d to do
Oood onto all, whether thev would ori)o«
To make «« good, great, wise, and all things else,
He wanted but the gift of mraclu.
On him, vain Jlfo6, thy mischiefs cease to throw ;
Bad, but alone in tin$, the timet were ao.

<Sroii< to a prodigy ; living in pain
To send back ^tubeek-MUt$ once again.
Thunder, his musick, sweeter than the spheret,
Chim'd roaring canon$ in bis martial ears.
Frigati of armed men could not withstand,
'Twas tryed, the force of his one ni4rdktthand:
Hand, which in one, all of Briareut had,
And Hercules* twelve toils but pleaturet made.

Too humble; in brave ttatute not so tall,
As low in carriage, stooping unto all.
Rau'd in estate* in figure and renown.
Not pride ; higher, and yet not prouder grown.
Of pardom full ; ne'er to revenge at all,
Was that which he would tatitfaction call.

True to his mate ; from whom though often flown,
A stranger yet to every love but one.
Write him not childleit, whose whole people were
Son$, orphane now, of his paternal care.

Now lest ungrateful brands we should incur.
Your salary we'll pay in tears, giieat Sir !

To England often blown, and by his Prince
Often sent laden with prtferments thence.
Preferred each time he went, when all was done
That earth could do, heaven fetch'd him to a crown.

'Tis he : with Am interred how great designs !
Stand fearless now, ye eastern firs and pines,
With naval stores not to enrich the nation.
Stand, for the universcd cot^gration.
Mines, opening unto none but him, now stay
Close under lock aad key, till the last day :
In this, like to the grand aur^k stone.
By any but great souls not to be known.
And thou rich table, with Bodilla lost.
In the fair Galeon, on our i^am'sA coast.
In weight three thousand and three hundred pound,
But of pure massy gold, lye thou, not found,
Safe, since Ae's laid under the earth asleep.
Who learnt where thou dost underwater keep.

But thou chief loser, poor New-England, speak
Thy dues to such as did thy welfare seek.
The governour that vow'd to nse and fall
With thee, thy fate shows in his funeral.
Write now his epitaph, 'twill be thine own,
Let it be this, a poblick spirit's gone.
Or, but name Phi rs ; more needs not be ezprest ;
Both Englands, and next ages, tell the rest.

[Book I(.

(»:

n»mt\

Vol. I

H '■

POLTBIUa.

TBI

THIRD BOOR

or THE

If ai!ramsr(B3L2S3at ants v®97«

CONTANINO THE

LIVES

OF MARY RCTBRBirD, I.EAR5BD, AND HOLY

DIVINES,

(aRRITINO such from EUROPE TO AMERICA) BY WHOSE BYANOBLlCAi:.
MINISTRY THE CHURCHES OF

HAVE BEEN ILLUMINATED.

BY COTTON MATHER.

Tettoft - > Chri$tianwn de Chri$tiano vera pro/em.

Simeon MetapfiraH. ia Vit& Chry$o$tami.
Equidem effetor studio Patres vestrot, quo$ colvi, if diUxit vidtndi.

HARTFORD :
PRINTED FOR SILAS ANDRUS.

1820.

Vol. I. S7

M m

^^■.

' T^^ ^^

'>i

INTRODUCTION.

WHAT wu U that obligtd J«rom to write hi$ book, De Viris IlloiUi-
bui ? It waa the common reproach of old ca«l «pori the chri$tianf, Tb«t
they w«re all poor, weak, unlearned men. The $ort of men wmetime
called Puritani, in the English nation have been reproached with, the eamt.
character ; and at a malignant Stapleton, counted the terme of an a«a, and
a fool, good enough to treat our incotnparable Whitaker. jVo les$ baeely
are the beat of Protestants often termed and thought, by the men, who knofw
no Christianity but ceremony. There hath been too much of that envy, that.
Sapientior sis Socrate Doctior Auguttino, Ca/venwifii(«, Si mod6.aictr«,
clam, vel propalam, mox Tartaris, Moacis, Afris, Turcisque, sBVienti-
bus, jacebis execratior. Awretekedneu often leen in English ; hhalinol
Ens;li«h t^ Tki$ i$ one thing that ha$ latd me. under obligation, here to.-
write a- book, De Viris lUustribus : in the. whole whereof, I will withamott
contcientiout and religious regard^ truth, eave our hi»tovy from any thare
m that old complaint o/'MelchiorCfaous, Dolentcr hoc dico, multd i Laer*
tio severius Vitas Philosophorum scriptas esse, qu4m i Christiaois, Vitaa
Chrintianorum : the liyes of philosophers tnore truly written, than the
lives of Christians.

Reader, behold these examples ; admire and follow what thou dost behold
exemplary t» (^m. They are tiered unto the publick, with the intention
sometimes mentioned by Gregory : Ut qui Praceptis non accendimur,
aaltem Exemplis incitemur ; atque ac Appetitu Rectifudinis nil sibi meus
nostra difficile 8B«timet, quod perfecte peragi ab aliis videt : that patterns
may have upon us the force which precepts have not.

If a man were so absurd, as to form his ideM of the primitive christians,
from the monstrous accusations of their adversaries, he would soon perswade
himself, that their God was the Deus Christianorum Ononychites, whose
image was erected at Rome. And if a man should have no other ideas of
the Puritan christians tn our days, than what the tory pens of the sons of
Bolsecus ^ve given them, we wotdd think that it was a just thing to banish
them into the cold swamps of the North-America. But when truth shall
have liberty to speak, it will be known, Aat Christianity never was more ex'
pressed unto the life, than in the lives of the^pfrsons that have been thus re-
proached, among the legions of the accuser of the brethren. It speaks in
the ensuing pages ! Here, behold them, of whom the world was not wor-
thy, wandring in desarts !

Arnobius was put upon an apology, against our particular calumny,
among the rest. That at the meetings of the christians, a dog tyed unto
the candlestick, drew away the light, whereupon they proceeded unto
the most adulterous confusions in the world. And a great man in hie wri-
tings does affirm, I have heard this very thing, told more than once, with
no small confidence concerning the Puritans.

Reader, thou shalt now see, what sort of men they were : Zion t« not a
city of fools. As Ignatius in his famous epistles to the Trallians, mention-
ing their pastor, Polybius, reports him, A man of so good and just a repu-
tation, that the very Atheists did stand in fear of him. / hope our Po-
(VBius, will afford many deserving such a character.

218

INTRODUCTION.

It wat mentioned at the bunnets and blestednesi o/* John Baptist, To turn
tbe hearts of the fathers to the children. After a deal of more ado about
the tence of the pat$age thut translated, I corUented my self rvith another
tramlation, to turn the hearts of the fathers with the children ; because
IJlnd the preposition, 'itri, as well as the prmfix ^; in Mai iv. 6, whence
ih* passage w taken to be rendred with, raUier than to. The sence there-
fore I took to be, that John should convert both old and young. But further
^ught hath offered unto me a further gloss upon it : to turn the hearts of
the mthers to the children, is to turn the children by putting the hearts of
the fathers into them ; to give them such hearts as were in Abraham, and
others of their famous and faithful fathers.

Reader, the book nou in thy hands, is to manage Ae design of a John
Baptist, and convey the hearts of the fathers unto the children.

Archilocus being desirous to give prevailing and eff'ectual advice urUo
Lycambes, by an elegant Prosopopoeia, brought in his dead father, as giv-
ing the advice he was now writing, and as it were put his pen into his fa-
thers hands. Cicero being to read a lecture of ier^perance and modesty
unto Clodia, raised up her father Appius Caius /rom the grave, and in his
name delivered his directions. And now by introducing the fathers of New-
England, without the lead fiction, or figure of rbetorick, / hope the plain
history of their lives, will be a powerful way of propounding their fetherly
counsels to their posterity. A stroke with the hand of a dead man, has be-
fore now been a remedy for a malady not easily remedied.

•V!* >f*^- =* "•^>'' ••'■'V • - ^^ rV. ^ rv ■ ij "• ■ .» >ii-.-- " ' . 1^ ■■;■■ .H- •■ ■-■.■yl'.'ii''.'!'
'-:'^.ii-.k-i. ' '■ i ' • ■ Vi- ' ' t. ,, -',■■','■■ 'it: -It ii0, i,^,;
'^. it, ^< '••'■;< '-■'.. r"'. : ■. , -. •. ,' :■-;•. ; • i t'. - • ■ " .- . ■ .' \, .■ . . • -i^v*.'' >V

•^., •■.., _,u..u:.Q .■_..> -J i.\ »- ** ;• ', i*,i ' ,". ■ ■ ;--■ ■ •■■ . -■i-\. -^fi^ryy..:
-../.-. 'S' ' ■■^.^' i(> •■ i- .■,:■•.-;■.■. ,v ;/ ,1^ ;. . ,..,,.■, ,, , .. ;--.,.• i ■■■\,'i:-i'

. ( ■* . ( ,(,

r-^t .,,-.■ * ,

: , !'■ "-■ *■'■ •'

;4; -yl , 'M-^

u:n

t, To turn
! ado about
ith another
Q ; because
, 6, whence
»ence there-
But further
e hearts of
\e hearts of
rahaiD) and

I of a John

advice unio
ither, atgiv-
n into his fa-
I and modesty
ve, and in his
hers of New-
hope the piain
their fetherly
I man, ha» be-

.-.^-^t.
•:^- '

THE THIRD BOOK.

DE VIRIS ILLUSTRIBU&.

IN FOUR PARTS.

CONTAINING

THE LIVES

OF NEAR FIFTY DIVINES,

CONSIDERABLE IN THE

CHURCHES OF NEW-ENGLAND.

Credunt de nobis qum non probantur, ^ nohint inquiri, ne probentur non
esse, qu(B malunt credidisse. Tert. Apol.

-,i*i. -..1.

Having entertained my readers with a more imperfect catalogue, * Of
' many persons whose memories deserve to be embalmed in a civil his-
< tory ;' I must so far consider, that it is an ecclesiastical history^ which I
have undertaken, as to hasten unto a fuller and larger account of those
persons who have been the ministers of the gospel, that fed the flocks in
the wilderness : and indeed, fifew-England having been in some sort an
ecclesiastical country above any in this world, those meti that have here
appeared most considerable in an ecclesiastical capacity^ may most rea-
sonably challenge the most consideration in our history.

Take then a catalogue of New-England's first ministers, who though
they did not generally affect the exercise of church-government, as con-
fined unto classes, yet shall give me leave to use the name of classes in
my marshalling of them.

THE FIRST CLASSIS.

It shall be of such as were in the actual exercise of their ministry when
they left England, and were the instruments of bringing the gospel into
this wilderness, and of settling churches here according to fhe order of
the gospel.

ni'^^yiU^I nyVUU • or* our/r«< Good Men. , ^

\. Mr. Thomas Allen, of Charles-town.

2. Mr. John Men, of Dedham. -

3. Mr. ./Ivery, of Marblehead. -.^,'- r .>

4. Mr. Adam Blackman of Stratford. ■■ f' ■*'^

5. Mr, Richard Blinnian, of i^\QCP,ntev.

•* ■*,

214 THE HISTORY 6F NEW-ElioLAND. £Book HI.

6. Mr. * Bifmcy, of Brainford.

7. Mr. Edmund Brown, of Sudbury.

8. Mr. Peter Bulkly, of Concord.

9. Mr. Jonathan Burr, of Dorchester.

10. Mr. Charles Chatmcey, of Scituate.

11. Mt. ^homas Cobbet, of hyn.

12. Mr. John Cotton, of Boston.

13. Mr. Timothy Dalton, of Hampton. °

14. Mr. /oAn Davenport, of New-Haven.

15. Mr. Richard Denton, of Stamford.

16. Mr. JF/ienr^ Dunstar, of Cambridge.

17. Mr. iSamue/ £o<on, of New-Haven. * vi v '-; >•

18. Mr. JoAn £//to(, of Roxbury. >r' ;,^

19. Mr. John Fisk, of Coelmsford.

20. Mr. flienry F/tnt, of Braintree.'

21. Mr. /orc^Aam, of Southampton. ' "'

22. Mr. Green, of Reading. . ..v

23. Mr. /o/tn Harvarc^, of Charles-town. ■'\>f

24. Mr. Francis Higginson, of Salem.

25. Mr. William Hook, of New-Haven. •; .r. :..

26. Mr. Thomas Hooker, of Hartford. . i'

27. Mr. Peter Hobart, of Hingham. .. .- , . . • •• ; ••

28. Mr. Ephraim Huet, o£ Windsor. mi. ..'v%.. .l<- 1 'j,

29. Mr. Hull, of the Isle of Sholes. - > -

30. Mr. James, of Charles -town.

31. Mr. Jones, of Fairfield.

32. Mr. Knight, of Topafi<?ld.

33. Mr. Anow/es, of Watt^rtown. >V ^ i ■ j

34. Mr. Leverick, of Sandwich.
? 35. Mr. JoAn IiotAro/7, of Barnstable. tu.. .-.
^ 36. Mr. Tiic/iord JWo</ter, of Dorchester.

37. Mr. Maud, of Dover.

;, > 38. Mr. Muverick, of Dorchester.

39. Mr. John Mayo, of Boston.

40. Mc. John Millar, of Yarmouth.

41. Mr. JWoxon, of Springfield.
f 42. Mr. SotmMc/ JVca>mnn, of Rehoboth.

43. Mr. J^Torris, of Salem.

44. Mr. John Jiorton, of Boston.

45. Mr. James JVoyse, of Newberry.

46. Mr. Thomas Parker, of Newberry.

47. Mr. Ralph Partridge, of Doxbury.

48. Mr. Peck, of Hingham.

49. Mr. Hug/i Peters, of Salem.

50. Mr. Tliomas Peters, of Saybrook.

51. Mr. George Phillips, of Watertown. ; ,

52. Mr. Philips, of Dedham.

53. Mr. Mraham Pierson, of Southampton.
64. Mr. Peter Prudden, of Milford.

55. Mr. Reyner, of Plymouth.

56. Mr. Ezckiel Rogers, of Rowly. •

57. Mr. NaOhaniel Rogers, of Ipswich. ■
.j8. Mr. Saxton, of Scituate. . . > •
59. Mr. Tftomfls .SAe/jarrf, of Cambridge,

1 1

-H

?» )

K '4V-

.i..,,f

f*>

B...ln.J THE HISW OP ^W-ENOUND

fin IW- 7>.-L_„ r. - _ tfc

60. Mr.

61. Mr.

62. Mr.

63. Mr.

64. Mr.
66. Mr.

66. Mr.

67. Mr.

68. Mr.

21$

69. Mr.

70. Mr.

71. Mr.
72 Mr.

73. Mr.

74. Mr.
76. Mr.

76. Mr.

77. Mr.

ZacAa^j^^, f Charles-town. ,
i>kelton, of Salem. ■>

^a/pA SmiVA, of Plymouth

5m>A, of Wethersfield.
Jamwe/ Stone, of Hartford.

2/ ;; «"» Thompson, of Brnintree *

^««;e«m Wau£m, of Marb ehead
JVathanael Ward, of In«»j^K J •.-
of Haverhil. ' ^'""'**' '"'*' l^*' 'O". Mr. /oA» ^.rrf,

^oA« WJirAam, of Windsor.
«i ^i^'i"^*^ of Salisbury

John fVthon, of Boston
W'lr '^*f*/''"'' of Scituate.

»^t//.amfrorce,*,,, „f Salisbury
yo«n^, of Southold

name amoDsihe «„!;„ ,1 ' "'•. ''^'™"» -S»i«, thatJL j?°; ""'° "« •'"-
Its' 4^-1™^^^^^^^^^^

doctor, was dpoiimin^ « .> "'*"»*. »rre/raffflA/i. „« ?/' ''"^n that
was hindred bTthaTlpo*li'''°*P°^* himself Cf^^; ^^ ^''"i «»*««««;

the charge of ^kt'Ila^J^ZZ^^^^^^^^^ "'T'^'*-

ever, all the £;„ j ' LTh "'*''' ^'^^'^^ <>«« of SeseZ^ ^^^'^P"*"

this pme„, «.//Zr i.'^'u^foT "°*" ^''^'"' ^«« "een to SvT ' J*^^"
now write unon .11 ♦!. . ? ^"6 spirits of just fru>« j ^^ *hem from
the ap"stIeTa?h left''" "^ministers ofiill^^iZX^^^M. I ^
not suffered to rlf P?" ^^e jonert, of the OW r Z**^ ^P'*«Ph 'vhich

THE SECONn ciASSIS.

■ ^''^*^'' «'y, of ConcQ^d.

--^ '''y.^iiv:'^^^^

4ei6

^THE HISTORY OF NEW-lBNOLANI). {Boo« UI.

,'4

•ytt-

4. Mr. Cofter, of Woburn.

5. Mr. Francis Dean, of Andover.

6. Mr. James Fitch, of Norwich.

7. Mr. Hunford, of Norwalk.

8. Mr. John Higginson, of Salem.

9. Mr. Hough, of Reading.

10. Mr. James, of Eastbampton.

11. Mr. Roger NevoUm, of Milford.

12. Mr. Joim Sherman, of Watertown.

13. Mr. Thomas Thacher, of Boston.

14. Mr. John Woodbridge, «f Newberry.

:>\.

Of these <wo sevens, almost, all are gone, where to be is, by far the
best of all. But these were not come to an e^ for service to the church
ofGod, before the wisdom, and prudence of the Jieve-Hngtanders, did re-
markably signifie it self, in the fouMlingef a College, from whence the
most of their congregations were afterwards supplied ; a river, the streams
whereof made glad the city of God. From that hour Old-England had
more ministers from New, than our J^ew-England had since then, from
Old ; nevertheless after a cessation of ministers coming hither from Eu'
rofe, for twenty years together, we had another set of ^wn, coming over
to help us ; wfaereibre take yet the names of two sevens more.

Wb will now proceed. ui^

THC THIRD CLASSIS.

,^^••ii<i^Jr■.

It shall be of such ministers, as came over to Kew-England after the
re'rettabUshment of the £pt«copa2'church-govemment in England, and
the persecution^ which then hurricanoed, such as were non-conformists
unto that establishment. ,. ^.

^v.

1. Mr.

2. Mr.

3. Mr.

I.'iii

4. Mr.

'd;f

5. Mr.

...... ^

6. Mr.

7. Mr.

8. Mr.

^ * -

.9. Mr.

U). Mr.

11. Mr.

12. Mr.

;

13. Mr.

14. Mr.

• 'I

James .4//en, of Boston.

John Bailey, of Watertown. ^ ;, "■'

Thomas Baily, of W^Aertown.

fiame^ of New-London.
James firown, of Swonsey.
Thomas Gilbert, of Topsfield. -

James Keith, of firidgewater.
Samuel Lee, of Briatol.
Cftaries .Afor/on, of Charlestown.
C/iaWes AVcAo/^, of Salem. V

John Oxenbridge, of Boston. .' ' ''^^,^

Thomas Thornton, of Yarmoulh. '>,'■';

Thomas Walley, of Barnstable.
William Woodr op, of hvacveiov.

It is -well known, that quickly after the revival of the English Hierar-
chy, those, whose consciences did not allow Ihem to worship God, in some
ways and modes then by lam established, were pursued with a violence,
which, doubtless many thousands of those whom the Church of England,
in its national constitution acknowledges for her sons, were so far from ap-
proving or assisting, that they abhorred it. What spirit acted the party
that raised this persecution, one may guess from a passage, which 1 find
in a book of Mr. Giles Firmius. A lady assured him that she signifying un-

cart
incli
wherj

of lb(

and]

were

sary

enauci

best p

Parlia

ihnt

non-coi

union i

prize 1

riiis V

Rome ;

sliipwn

I/. '.

horrid '

a wiide

in the (

Vol.

Book >IU-

, hy far the
} the church
iders, did re-
whence the
r, the streami
England had
« tfcen, from
ler from £«•
I, cowing over

gland after the
England, asd
on-con/orffw'**'

.... ,

,..v'i

'kip God, in some
ivith a violence,
IrchofEngUiiid,
tsofarfromflp-
[acted the party
'kc which 1 find
he9igaifying«°'

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. in

to a parliament-man, her dislike of the act of uniformity, when theyVere
about it, and saying, / see you are laying a snare in the gate, he replied, j9y,
if we can find any way to catch the rogues, we wiU have them ! It ia well
known that nearj^ve and twenty hundred faithful minisiters of the Gospel,
were now silenced in one black day, because they could not comply with
some things, by themselves counted sinful, but by the impos.ers confessed
indifferent. And it is affirmed, that by a raoJest calculation, thii^ perffscution
procured the untimely denth of three tlioiisand non-conformiHts, and the ru-
ine of threescore thousand families, within five and twenty years. Many
retired into New-England, that they might have a little rest at noon, with
the flocks of our Lord in this wilderness ; but setting aside some eminent
persons of a JVew-fing/ts^ jriginal, which were driven back out of Europe
into their own country again, by that storm. These few were the most of
the ministers, that fled hither from it. 1 will not presume to give the
reasons, why, no more ; but observing a glorious providence of the Lord
Jesus Christ, in moving the stars to shine, where they were most wanted, I
will conclude, lamenting the disaster of New-England, in the interruption
which a particular providence of heaven gave unto the designs of that in-
comparable person Dr. John Owen, who had gone so far as to ship himself,
with intents to have taken this country in his way to his eternal rest : it
must have been our singular advantage and ornament, if we had thus en-
joyed among us one of the greatest men, that this last age produced.

REMARKS.

Especially upon the First Class, in our Catalogue of Ministers.

I. All, or most, of the ministers that make up our two first classes, came
over from England within the two first lustres of years, afterthe first settle-
ment of the country. After the year 1 640, that part of the Church of Eng-
land, which took up arms in the old cause of the long Parliament, pad
which among all its parliament-men, commanders, lord-lieutenants, ma-
jor-generals, and sea-cnptains, had scarce any but conformists ; I say, that
part of the Church of England, knowing the Puritatu to be generally
inclinable unto those principles of such writers as Bilson and Hooker,
whereupon the Parliament then acted ; and seeing them to be generally
of the truest English spirit, for the preservation of the English liberties
and properties, for which the Parliament then declared, (although there
were some non-conformists in the King's army also :) it was found neces-
sary to have the assistance of that considerable people. Whereupon
ensued such a change of times, that instead of Old England^s driving its
best people into New, it was it self turned into New. The body of the
Parliament and its friends, which were conformists in the beginning of
that miserable tvar, before the war was ended, became such as those old
non-conformists, whose union with them in political interests produced an
union in religious. The Romanizing Laudians miscarried in their enter-
prize ; the Anglicane church could not be carried over to the Gallicane.
fliis was not the first instance of a shipwrack befalling a vessel bound for
Rome ; nor will it be the last : a vessel bound such a voyage, must be
shipwrackKd, though St. Paul himself were aboard.

11- The occasion upon which these excellent ministers retired into an
horrid wilderness of America, and encountred the dismal bardshijis of such
a wilderness, was the violent persecution, wherewith a prevailing party
in the Church of England harassed them. In their own land they were

Vol. l, ' 2S

sit

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

hereby deprived, not only of their livings, but also of their liberty to ex-
^ ^ erciae their ministry, which 'Wns dearer to them than their livings, yea,
than their very lives : and they were exposed unto extreme sufferings^
because they conscientiously dissented from the use of some things in the
worship of God, which they accounted sins. But I leave it unto the
consideratiqa of mankind, whether {hi» forbidding of such men to do their
duty, were no ingredient of that iniquity, which imraedintely upon the de-
parture of these good men brought upon Great Britain, and especially
upon the greatest authors of this persecution, a wrath unto the uttermost,
in the ensuing desolations. All that I shall add upon it, is, that, 1 re-
member, the prophet speaking of wliHt had been done of old, by the Assy-
rians, to the land ot'iheChaldcrans, uses an expression, which we trans-
late. In Isa. xxiii. 12. He brought it unto ruine : but there is a Fume word,
Mapatra, which old Fesltis (and Servius) affirm to signify, cottages; ac-
cording to Philargyrivs, it signifies. Casus in Eremo habitantium : now
that is the very word here used, jl^SQ '"><' ^^^ condition of cottagers
in a wilderness, is meant, by the ruine, there spoken of. Truly, such
was the ruine, which the ceremonious persecutors then brought upon the
most conscientious non- conformists, unto tl..' '^nscriptural ceremonies.
But as the kingdom of darkness uses to be always at length overthrown
by its own policy, so will be at last found no advantage unto that party in
the Church of England, that the orders and actions of the churches by
them thus produced, become an history.

HI. These ministers of the gospel, which wer«^ (without nny odi-
ous comparison) as faithful, painful, useful ministers, as most in the na-
tion, being thus exiled from a sinful nation, there were not known to be
left so many non-conformist ministers, as there were counties in England :
and yet they were quickly so multiplied, that a matter of twenty years
after, there could be found far more than twenty hundred, that were so
grounded in their non- conformity, as to undei^o the loss of all things,
rather than make shipwrack of it. When Antiochus commanded all the
books of sacred scripture to be burnt, they were not only preserved, but
presently after they appeared out of their hidden places, being translated
into the Greek tongue, and carried abroad unto many other patrons. It
was now thought, there was effectual c<ire taken, to destroy all those
men, that made these books the only rule of their devotions ; but behold,
they presently appeared in greater numbers, and many other nations be-
gan to be illuminated by them.

IV. Most, if not all, of the ministers, who then visited these regions,
were either attended or followed, with a number of pious people, who
had lived within the reach of their ministry in £ng/a/i(2. These, who
were now also become generally non-conformists, having found the power-
ful impressions of those good men's ministry upon their souls, continued
there sincere affections unto that ministry, and were willing to accompa-
ny it unto those utmost ends of the earth. Indeed, the ministers of New-
England have this always to recommend them unto a good regard with
the Crown of England, that the most floui-ishing plantation in all the
American dominions of that crown, is more owing to them, than to any
sort of men whatsoever.

V. Some of the ministers, and many of the gentlemen, that came over
with the ministers, were persons of considerable estates ; who therewith
charitably brought over many poor families of godly people, that were
not of themselves able to bear the charges of their transportation ; and
(hey were generally careful also to bring over none but godly servants in

«
Book III.J THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLANU.

iih

their own families, who, afterwards by OoJ's blessing on their industry
have arrived, many of them, unto such plentiful estates, that they have
had occasion to think of the advice, which a famous person, gave in a
public sermon, at their first coming over ; You (said b'') that are servants,
mark what I say ; I desire and exhort you to behind a while hence, unto
your master's children. It won't be long before, you that came with nothing
into the country, will be rich men, when your masters, having bufied ihpir
rich estates in the country, will go near to leave their families in a mean
condition ; wherefore, when it shall be well with you,.I charge you to remem-
ber them.

VI. The ministers and christians, by whom NeW'England was first
planted, were a chosen company of men ; picked out of, perhaps, all tho
counties in England, and this by no human contrivance, but by a strange
work of God upon the spirits of men that were, no ways, acquainted with
one another, inspiring them, as one man, to secede into a wilderness, they
knew not where, and suffer in that wilderness they know not what, ft
was a reasonable expression once used by that eminent person, the pre-
sent lieutenant-governour oi New- England in a very great assembly,
God sifted three nations, that he might bring choice grain into this wilderness.

VII. The design of these refugees, thus carried into the wilderness,
was, that they might there, sacrifice unto the Lord their God: it- was,
that they might maintain the power of godliness and practise the evangel-
ical worship of our Lord Jesus Christ, in all the parts of it, without any
human innovations and impositions : defended by charters, which at once
gave them so far the protection of their King, and the election of so many
of their own subordinate rulers under him, as might secure them the un-
disturbed enjoyment of the church-order establiihed amongst them. I
shall but repeat the words once used in a sermon preached unto the gen-
eral court of the Massachuset-co\ony, at one of their anniversary elec-
tions. ' The question was often put unto our predecessors. What went
' ye out into the wilderness to see ? And the answer to it, is not only too
' excellent, but also too notorious, to be dissembled. Let all mankind
' know, that we came into the wilderness, because we would worship
' God without that Episcopacy, th»t common-prayer, and those unwarrant-
' able ceremom'es, with which the /and of our fore fathers' sepulchres \\9S
' been defiled ; we came hither because we would have our posterity
' settled under the pure and full dispensations of the gospel ; defended
' by rulers that should be of our selves.'

VIII. None of the least concerns, that lay upon the spirits of these re-
formers, was the condition of their posterity : for which cause in the first
constitution of their churches, they did more generally with more or less
expressiveness take in their children, as under the churchwatch withthem-
i^elves. They also did betimes endeavour the erection of a College, for
the training up of a successive ministry in the country ; but b-^cause it
was !i!'«ly to be some while before a considerable supply could be ex-
pocteil from the college, therefore they took notice of the younger, hope-
ful scholars, who came over with their friends from England, and assisted
(heir liberal education ; whereby being fitted for the service of the
churches, they were in an orderly manner called forth to that service.
Of these we have given you a number ; whereof, I think, all but one or
iwo are now gone unto their fathers.

IX. Of these ministers, there were some feiv, suppose ten or a dozen,
that after divers years, returned into England, where they were emin-
♦^ntly serviceable unto their generation ; but, by far, the biggest part of

120

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. (Book III.

them, continued in thia country, serving their generation by the will of
God. Moreover, 1 find near halfoii\\em signaliy blebsed wilh tons, who
did work tor our Lord Jesus Christ, in the minibtry of the gospel, yea
some of them as Mr. Chancy, Mr. Elliot, Mr. Hobart, Mr. Muther, had
(though not like R. Jose, a wise man among the Jews, of whom they re-
port that he had eight sons, who were also celebrated for wise men among
them ; set) not less than four or five sons a piece thus employed : and
though Mr. Parker, living always a single man, hnd no children, yet he
was instrumental to bring up no less than twelve useful ministers. Among
thf! Jews they that have been instructed by another, are called, the sons
of their instructor. We read. These are the generations of Aaron and
Moses ; when we tind none but the sons of Aaron in the enumerated gen*
erations. But in the Talmud, it is thus expounAeA, Hos Jlaron genuit,
Moses vero docuit, ideoq; ejus Komine censentur, (Thus the sons oi Me-
rob, are called the sons of Michael, as the Talmud juilges, because by her
educated.) And on this account no less than twelve, were the sons of
Mr. Parker. I may add, that some of our ministers, having their sons
comfortably settled, at, or near, the place of their own ministry, the peo-
ple have thereby seen a comfortable succession in the affairs of Christian-
ity ; thus, the writer of this history, hath, he knows not how often, seen
it ; that his grandfather, baptized the grand-parent, his father baptized
the parent, and he himself has baptized the children in the same family.

X. In the beginning of the country, the ministers had their frequent
meetings, which were most usually after their publick and weekly or
monthly lectures, wherein they consulted for the welfare of their church-
es ; nor bad they ordinarily any difficulty in their churches, which were
not in these meetings offered unto consideration ; for their mutual direc-
tion and assistance : and these meetings are mnintained unto this day.
The private christians also had their private meetings, wherein they would
seek the yac«, and sing the praise of God ; and confer upon some ques-
tions of practical religion, for their mutual cditication. And the country
still is full of those little meetings ; yet they have now mostly left off one
circumstance, which in those our primitive times, was much maintained ;
namely, their concluding of their more sacred exercises with suppers;
whereof, I sincerely think, I cannot give a better account, than Tertulli-
an gives of the suppers among the ftiithful, in his more primitive times;
therein their spiritual gains countervailed their worldly costs ; they remember-
ed the poor, ihey ever began with prayer ; [and other devotions] in eating
and drinking they relieved hunger, but showed no excess. In feeding at
supper they remembred they xvere to pray in the night. In their discourse
they considered that God heard them : and when they departed, their behav-
iour was so religious and modest, tliat one would have thought, we had rath-
er been at a sermon, than at a supper Our private meetings of good peo-
ple to pray and praise God, and hear sermons, either preached perhaps by
the younger c:mti/rfa<es for the ministry, (who here use to ybrm them-
selves, at their entrance into their work,) or else repeated by exact wri-
ters of short hand after their pastors ; and sometimes to spend whole days
iafasling and prayer, especially when any of the neighbourhood are in
affliction, or when the communion of the Lord's table is approaching;
those do still aboimd among us ; but the meals that made meatings of them,
are generally laid aside. I suppose, 'twas with some eye to what he
had seen in this country, that Mr. Firmin has given this report, in a book
printed 1681 ' Plain mechanicUs have I known, well catechised, and
* bumble christians, excellent in practical piety : they kept their station.

OOK HI'

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLANU.

221

! will of
ons, who
pel, yea
[fcer, nad
they re-
en among
jied : and
n, yet he
Among
i, the sow
Uron and
rated gen-
on genuit,
)n9 of JWe-
186 by her
tie sons of
; their sons
y,the peo-
f christian-
often, seen
er baptized
e family,
if frequent
weekly or
eir church-
which were
itual direc-
this day.
they would
some ques-
the country
left off one
naintained *,
th suppers;
lan Tertulli-
litive limes;
y remember-
b] in eating
I feeding al
ir discourse
their behav-
we had rath-
if good pec-
perhaps by
form them-
r exact wri-
whole days
■hood are in
iproaching ;
igs of them,
[to what he
t. in a book
;hised, and
Iheir station.

'did not aspire to be preachers, but for gifts of prayer, few clergy -men
' must come near them. 1 have known somu ol them, when they did
' keep their fasts, (us they did often) they divided the work of prayer ;
' the first begun with confettion ; the second went on with petition for
< themselves ; the third with petition for church and kingdom; the fourth

* with thanksgiving : every one kept his own part, and did not meddle

* with another part. Such excellent matter, eo couipucted without tau-
' tologies; each of them for a good time, about an hour, if not more,
' apiece ; to the wondering of those which joined with them. Here was
' no reading of liturgies : these were old Jacob"* ions, tbuy could wrestle
' and prevail withOod.'

XI. Besides the ministers enumerated in the three classes of our cata-
logue, there might a fourth class be offered, under the name of anomalies
of Jiew England. There have at several times arriveil in this country,
more than a score of ministers from other parts of the world ; who prov-
ed either so erroneous in their principles, or so scandalous in their practi-
ces, or so disagreeable to the church order, for which the country was
planted, that i cannot well croud them into the company of our worthies :

JVon bene conveniunt, nee in una sede morantur.

And, indeed, I had rather my Church History should speak nothing, than
speak not well of them that might else be mentioned in it : being entirely
of Plutarch's miad, that it is better it should never be said, there was
such a man as P/n^arcA at all, than to have it said, that he was not an
honest, and a worthy man. I confess, there were some of those persons,
whose names deserve to live in our book for their piety, although their
particular opinions were such, as to be disserviceable unto the declared
and supposed interests of our churches. Of these there were some godly
Anabaptists; as namely, Mr. Hanserd Knollys, (whom one of his adver-
saries called, Absurd Knowless) of Dover, who afterwards removing back
to London, lately died there, a good man, in a good old age. And Mr.
Miles, of Swansey, who afterwards came to Boston, and is now gone to
his rest. Both of these have 9 respectful character in the churches of
this wilderness. There were also some godly Episcopalians; among
whom has been commonly reckoned Mr. Blackstone ; who, by happening
to sleep first in an hovel, upon a point of land there, laid claim to all the
ground, whereupon there now stands the metropolis of the whole English
America, until the inhabitants gave him satisfaction. This man was', in-
deed, of a particular humour, and he would never join himself to any of
our churches, giving this reason for it : I came from England, because I
did not like the \oT(\-h\nhopa; but I can't join zaith you, because I would not
be under the lord-brethren. There were some likewise that fell into
gross miscarriages, and the hunter of souls having stuck the darts of some
extreme disorder into those poor hearts, tlie whole flock pushed them
out of their society. Of these, though there were some so recovered,
that they became true penitents ; yet inasmuch as the wounds which they
received by their /«//«, were not in all regards thoroughly cured, 1 will
choose rather to forbear their names, than write them with any b/ots upon
them. For the same cause, though I have his name in our catalogue,
yet I will not say which of them it was, that for a while became a Seeker,
and almost a Quaker, and seduced a great part of his poor people, into
his bezoildring errors : at last the grace of God recovered this gentleman
out of his errors, and he bcc;une a very good and sound man, after hiis rr-

/ 22£

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLANU. [Book HI.

coyerjr : but alnn, it was a perpetual sling unto his penitent tmd, that he
could not now reduce his wandring flock, which he had himself seduced
into the most unhappy aberrations. They wandred on obstinately still
in their errors ; and being irrecoverable, he was forced thereby unto a
removal from them, taking the charge of a more orthodox flock, upon
Long-hland,

Nor know I where better than among these anomalien^ to mention one
Afr. Lenthal, whom I find n minister at Weymouth, about the year 1637.

He hud been one of good report and repute in England; whereas,
here, he not only had imbibed some Jlntinomian weaknesses, from whence
he was by conference with Mr. Cotton soon recovered ; but alsj he set
himself to oppose the way of gathering churches. Many of the common
people eagerly fell in with him, to set up a church state, wherein all the
baptised might be communicants, without any further trial of them ; for
which end many hniids were procured unto an instrument, wherein they
would have declared against the JS'ew- England design of church-reforma-
tion ; and would have invited Mr. Lenthal to be their pastor, in opposi-
tion thereunto.

Mr. Lenthal, upon the discourses of the magistrates and ministers be-
fore the (rcncral Court, who quickly checked these disturbances, by
sending for liiin, a<i quickly was convinced of his error and evil, in thus
disturbing the good order of the country. His conviction was followed
with his confession ; and in open court, he gave under his hand a laudable
retractation ; which retractation he was ordered also to utter in the as-
sembly at fVcymouth, and so no further censure was passed upon hint.

In Four Parts we will now pursue the design before us.

,V1.! ' ! .,^>.'^ ■ ^ > 1

Book HI.

«/, ihathe
f seduced
lately still
sby unto a
ock, upon

ention one
lar 1637>
; vvheretia,
Dm whence
alio he set
le common
rein all the
them ; for
iierein they
ch-refonna'
, in opposi-

linisterB be-
rbances, by
evil, in thus
ras followed
kd a laudable
er in the an-
on hint'

JOHANNES IN EltEMO.

MEMOIRS, I ,

AELATINU TO THR .

LIVES,

OF THE EVCR-MEMORABLE

Mr. JOHN COTTON, who died 23 d. 10 m. 1652.
Mr. JOHN NORTON, who died 6 d. 2 m. 1663.
Mr. JOHN WILSON, who died 7 d. 6 m. 1667.
Mr. JOHN DAVENPORT, who died 15 d. 1 m. 1670.

REVCRENO AND RENOWNED MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL, ALL, IN THE MORE
IMMEDIATE SERVICE OF ONE CHURCH, IN BOSTON.

ANi>

Mr. THOMAS HOOKER, who died 7 d. 5 m. 1647.

PASTOR OF THE CHURCH AT HARTFORD, NEW-ENOLANn..

PRESERVED BY COTTON MATHER.

THE FIRST PART.

Forte nimis Videor Laudes Cantare Meorum \
Furie nimis cineres Videor cclebrare repostos ;
JVon ita me Facilem Sine Vero Credite !

TO THE READER,

That little part of the earth which this age has known by the name of
jYew- England, has been an object of very signal, both frowns and favours
of heaven. Besides those stars of the first magnitude, which did some-
times shine, and at last set in this horizon, there have been several men
of renown, who were preparing and fully resolved to transport them-
selves hither, had not the Lord seen us unworthy of more such mercies.
It is still fresh in the memory of many yet living, that that great man.
Dr. John Owen, had given order for his passage in a vessel bound for
Boston ; being invited to succeed the other famous Johns, who had been
burning and shining lights in that which was the first candlestick, set up
in this populous town ; but a special providence diverted him. Long
before that, Dr. Ames, (whose family, and whose library JVew-England

984

THE HISTOPY OF NEW-ENGLANl). [Book III

has had) wnft upon the wing for thin Jltncrican deiart : but God then took
him to the heavenly Cunaini. Whether he lei\ his follow upoo eurth 1
know not : such acutenesa oi' jwtgmfnt, ami Hflo':(ionate zea/, as he eX"
celled in, seldom does meet togotiter in the same person. I have oAen
thought of Mr. Paui Ihijne, his furcwcl words to Dr. Jhna, when going
for Holland; Mr. liaiine perccivinfr him to be u man of extraordinary
parts, Beu/Ore Oi,n6 he) nf a strong headland a cold heart. It is rare for
a scholantical wft, to be jnined with an heart xvarm in religion: but in him
it was fiu. He has sometimes suid, that he could be willing to.walk twelve
miles on his ft^ct, on condition he might have an opportunity to preach a
sermon : and he seldom did preach a sermon without tears. V> hen he
lay on his death bed, he had such tastes of the Jirst-fruita of glory, as
that a learned phyHitian (who was n Papist) wondring. said, Aurn Protes-
tantea tic aolent inuri : is the latter end of Protestants like this man's ?
But although some excellent persons have, by a divii>e hand been kept
from couiing into these ends of the earth, yet there have been others,
who whiUt living made this land (which before their arrival was an hell
of darkness) to be a place full of light and glory ; amongst whom the
champions, whose livcH are here described, are worthy to be reckoned
as those that have attained to the first three.

There are many who have (and some to good purpose) endeavoured
to collect the memorable passages that have occurred in the lives of emi<
nent men, by means whereof posterity has had the knowledge of them.
Hieront of old, wrote Dc Viris lllustribus : the like has been done by
Gennadius, Epiphanius, Isidore, Prochorus, and other ancient authors.
Of later times, Schopfius, his Jlcademia Christi; Meursius his Athenat Ba-
tavoe ; Ferheidev, his Elogia Theologorum, Melchier Adams, Lives of mo-
dern Divines, have preserved the memories of some that did worthily,
and were in their day famous. There are two learned men who have
very lately engaged in a service of this nature, viz. Paulus Freherus, who
has published two volumes in folio, with the title of, Theatrum viroram
Eruditione clarorum, ad hwc vsque Tetnpora. He proceeds as far as the
year 1680. The other is Ilenningus Hitten, who has written, Memorim
Theologorum nostri seculi. It is a trite lyet a true) assertion, that histo-
rical studies are both profitable and pleasant. And of all historical nar-
ratives, those which give a faithful account of the lives of eminent saints,
must needs be the most edifying. The greatest part of the facred wri-
tings are historical ; and a considerable part of them is taken up in rela-
ting the actions, speeches, exemplary lives, and dealhs, of such as had
been choice instruments in the hand of the Lord, to promote his glory
in the world. No doubt but that the commemoration of the remarkable
providences of God towards his servants, will be some part of their work
in heaven for ever, that so he may have eternal praises fbr the wonders
of his grace in Christ towards them. It must needs therefore be in it
self, a thing pleasing to God, and a special act of obedience to the Fifth
Commandment, to endeavour the preservation of the names, and honour
of them, who have been fathers in Israel. On which account, I cannot
but rejoice in what is here done. Although J\fexv -England has been fa-
voured with many faithful and eminent ministers of God, there are only
three of them all, whose lives have been as yet published, viz. Mr.
Cotton, whose life was written by his immediate successor Mr. A''orton;
and my father Mather, whose was done by another hand, and is repub-
lished in Mr. Sam. Clark's last volume ; and Mr. Eliot whose was done
by the same hand which did these, and has hppq several times reprinted

LiUK

III

Dooi 111.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

186

ten took
I eurth I
) he ex*
ive often
icu going
lordinary
rare for
lut in liim
Ik twelve
1 preach u
A^hen he
■ glory, as
m Proles-
it mnn's I
been kept
en others,
vas an hell
whom the
! reckoned

deavoured
ves of eini'
e of them,
in done by
it authors.
Alhena Ba-
ives of mo-
d worthily,
who have
herus, who
nffi virorum
far as the
Memoricc.
that hiito-
lorical nar-
nent saints,
tacred a-rt-
up in rela-
uch as had
,e his glory
reinarkable
their work
le wonders
jre be in it
Lo the Fifth
ind honour
it, 1 cannot
89 been fa-
|re are only
, vis. Mr.
r. Xorton ;
is reput-
[e was done
reprinted

in London. Here the reitder hat preiented to him Jive of them, who
were amongut the chief of the /a(A«rt, in the churches of New England.
The tame hand hat done the like office of love und duty, for many olhert
who were the worthies of fiew- England, not only in the churchet, but in
thif civil state, whom the Lord Christ »aw mei t to use us instrumontt, in
planting the heavens, and laying the foundation of the earth, in thit new
world. If these 6nd a candid acceptance, those may possibly see the light
in due time.

Whcthertfwhatis herewith emitted and written by my son, be as to the
manner of it, well performed, I have nothing to sny, but shall leave it
unto others to judge, as they »hall see cause ; only as to the matter of
the history, 1 am ascertained that things are truly related. For although
I had little of personal acquaintance with Mr. Cotton, being a child not
above thirteen years old when he died. I shall never forget the last
sermon which he preached at Cambridge, and his particular application
to the scholars there, amongst whom I was then a student newly admit'
ted ; and my relation to his family since, has given me an opportunity to
know many observable things concerning him. Both Bostons have reason
to honour hit memory ; and New- England- Boston most of all, which
oweth its name and being to him, more than to any one person in the
world : he might say of Boston, much what as Augustus said of Rome,
Lateritiam reperi, marmoream reliqui : he found it little better than a
wood or wilderness, but left it a famous town with two churches in it.
1 remember. Dr. Lightfoot, in honour to his patron, Sir Roland Cotton,
called one of his sons. Cotton : it doth not repent me, that I gave my eld-
est son that name, in honour to his grandfather : and the Lord grant that
both of us may be followers of him, as he followed Christ.

As for the other three worthies who have taught the word of God in
this place, they had their peculiar excellencies.

Mr. Wilson (like John the apostle) did excel in love; and he was also
strong in faith. In the time of the Peifuod war, he did not only hope,
but had assurance, that God would make the English victorious. He de<
clared, that he was as certain of it, as if he had with his eyes seen tUi
victories obtained ; which came to pass according to bis iliith. t well
remember, that I heard him once say, that when one of his daughters
was sick, and given up as dead, past recovery, he desired Mr. Cotton to
pray with that child ; And (said he) whilest Mr. Cotton was praying, I
was sure that child should not then die, but live. That daughter did live to
be the mother of many children ; two of which are now usefuflninisteni
of Christ : and she is still living, a pious widow, another Anna, serving
Qod day and night. When Mr. Norton was called from the church of
Ipswich to Boston, Mr. Nathanael Rogers (that excellent man, who was
son to the fam<fti8 Mr. Rogers of Dedham, in Essex, and pastor of the
church of Ipswich, in N. E.) opposed Mr. Norton'' s removal from Ips-
xs'l^h : some saying, that Mr. fVilson would by his argument, or rheto-
rick, or both, get Mr. Norton from them at last ; Mr. Rogers replied.
That he was afraid of his faith more than his arguments. Sometimes he
was transported with a prophetical afflatus, of which there were marvel-
lous instances. His conversation was both pleasant and profitable ; in
that he could relate many memorable providences, which he himself had
the certain knowledge of. Whilst I am writing this, there comes to my
mind, one very pleasant, and yet very serious story, which he told me,
and I do not remember that ever I met with it any where bat from him.
't was this : there »vas one Mr. Snape, a Puritan minister, who was by
Vol. I. i39

22C

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

the Bisliops cast into prison, for his non-confotiniitj : when his money was
spent, tbe jailor was unkind to him : but one day as Mr. Snapc was on
his knees at prayer, the window of hh chamber being open, he perceiv-
«d something was thrown into his chamber ; but resolved he would tinish
his work with God, before he would divert to see what it was, Wlien
he arose from his knees, he saw a fnirsc oti the chamber-floor, which
was full o( gold, by which he could make his keeper better nntured than
he had been. Many such passages could that good man relate.

Mr. A'orton was one whose memory, I must acknowledge, 1 h:ve pe-
culiar cause to love and honour. 1 was his pupil several years. He had
a very scholastical genius. In the doctrine of grace he was exceeding
clear ; indeed another Jivstin. He loved and admired Dr. Twiss more
than any man that this age has produced. He has sometimes said to me,
Dr. 2'wiss is Omni Exceptioue Major. He was much in prayer : he
would very often spend whole days in prayer, with fasting before the
Lord alone in his study. He kept u strict daily watch over his own
heart. He was an hard student. He took notice in a private diary, how
he spent his time every day. If he found himself not so much inclined
to diligence and study, as at other times, he would reflect on his heart and
ways, lest haply some unobserved sin should provoke tbe Lord to give
him up to a slothful listless frame of spirit. In his diary, he would some-
times have these words, Leve desiderium ad studendum : Forsan ex pec-
catp admisso. I bless the Loi;d that ever I knew Mr. JSforton, and that I
knew so much of him as I did.

As for Mr. Davenport, I have in n preface to his sermon on the Canti-
cles, which are transcribed for the press, and now a% London, given what
account I could then obtain, concerning the remarkable passages of his
life. I several times desired him to imitate Junius, and some others, who
had written their own lives. He told me, he did intend it : but I could
not And any thing of that nature among his manuscripts, when many
years ago I had an occasion to seek after it. He was a princely preacher,
1 have heard some say, who knew him in his younger years, that he was
i,\\ea very fervent itnd vehement, as to the manner of his delivery : bat
in his later times, he did very much imitate Mr. Cotton, whom in the
gravity of his countenance, be did somewhat resemble. Sic ille manus,
sic oraferebat.

The reader will tind many observable things in what is here related
concerning Mr. Hooker. Yet great pity it is, that no more can be col-
lected of the memorables relating to so good and so great a man as be
was ; than whom Connecticut never did, and perhaps never will, see a
greater person. Mr. Cotton, in his prelace to Mr. JVbrton's answer to
Apollonius, says of Mr. Hooker, Doniinatur in Concionibus. Dr. Ames
used to say. He never kiiew his equal : there Has a great Ihtimacy between
them two. 1 rememlier my father told me, that Mr. Hooker was the au-
thor of that large preface which is before Dr. Ames, his Fresh Suit against
Ceremonies. He would 80ic«^ t^ties say, That next to converting grace, he
blessed God for his acquaintance with the principles and writings of </raf
lea.-ned man, Mr. Alexander Richardson. It was a black day to JSi'ew-Eng-
land, when that great light was removed.

There are some who will not be pleased, that any notice is taken of
the hard measure which these excellent men had from those persecuting
prelates, who were nilling to have the world rid of them. But it is im-
possible to write the history of New-England, and of the lives of them
who V eve the chief in it, and yet be wholly silent in that matter. Tuat

Book HI.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

22r

noney wM
tpc was on
e perceiv-
rould tinieh
,8, Wtien
oor, which
ntured than
e.

1 h:ve pe-
rs. He had

exceeding
Twisa more

gaid to me,
prayer : he

bei'ore the
er his own
e diary, how
uch inclined
bis heart ind
.ord to give
would some-
ormn ex pec-
n, and that I

on the Canti-
H, given what
issages of his
B others, who
: but 1 could
, when many
cely preacher.
t, that he was
lelivery : but
whom in the
lie ille manus,

here related
|e can be col-

a man as he
'F will, see a
[n's answer to
Is. Dr. Anes

iiacy between
[r was the au-
jfe Suit agaimi
Uing grace, ht
\itiiigs of </io'
to Neie-Eng-

ce is taken of
ke persecuting
r But it is im-
I lives of them
datter. Tuat

eminent person, Dr. Tillotson (the late Arch-Bishop of Canterbury) did,
not nboire four years ago, sometimes express to me, his resentments bf
the injury which had been done to the first planters of New-England,
and his great dislike of Arch-Bishop Laud's spirit towards them. And
to my knowledge, there are Bishnps at this day, of the same christian
temper and moderation with that great and good man, lately dead. Had
the Sees in England, fourscore years ago, been filled with such Arch-Bish-
ops, and Bishops, as those which King William (whom God grant long to
live and to reign) has preferred to Episcopal dignity, there had never
been a New^England. It was therefore necessary that it should be oth-
erwise then, than at this day, that so the gospel in the power and purity
of it, might come into these dark corners of the earth, and that here
might be seen a specimen of the new heavens and a new earth, wherein
dwells righteousness, which shall e'er long be seen all the world over, and
which, according to his promise we look for.

Boston, New-England, May 16, 1695.

IxraKASE Mather.

•v:fa-

INTRODUCTION.

§ 1. When the God of Heaven had carried a nation into a wilderness,
upon the designs of a glorious reformation, he there gave them a singu-
lar conduct of his presence and spirit, in a certain pillar, which by day
appeared as a cloud, and by night as a ^re before them ; and the report
of the respect paid by the Israelites unto this pillar, became so noised
among the Gentiles, that the pagan poets derided them on this account.

Vii'^i^.s Nil prater Nubes Sf ccrH Lumen adorant,

[Which is, I suppose the true reading of that famous verse in Juvenal :
and 1 thus translate it,]

Only the clouds and fires of Heaven they do worship at all times.

But I must now observe unto my reader, that more than a score of
years, after the beginning of the age which is now expiring, our Lord Je-
sus Christ, with% thousand wonders of his providence, carried into an
.American wilderness, a people persecuted for their desire to see, and
seek a reformation of the church, according to the scripture : of which
matter I cannot give a briefer, and yet fuller history, than by reciting the
memorable words of that great man. Dr. John Owen, who in his golden
book of communion with God, thus expresses it : * They who hold com-
' munion with the Lord Jesus Christ, will admit nothing, practice nothing,
' in the worship of God, but what they have his warrant for ; unless it
' comes in his name, with a, Thus sailh the Lord Jesus, they will not hear
' an angel from heaven: they know, the apostles themselves were to teach
' the saints, only what he commanded them : and you know, how many in
' this very nation, in the days not long since passed, yea how many thou-

22d

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book IU.

* $andst left their native soyl, and went into a vast and howling xmldemeia,

* in the uttermoBt parts of the world, to Keep their souls undeiiled and
< chaste unto their dour Lord Jesus, as to this of his worship and institu-

* tions.' Now though the reformed church thus fled into the w^demets,
enjoyed not the miraculous pillar, vouchsafed unto the erratick church of
Israel, for about forty years together ; yet for that number of years, we
enjoyed many a person, in whom the good spirit of God, gave a conduct
unto us, and mercifully dispensed those directing, defending, refreshing
influences, which were as necessary for us, as any that the celebrated
pillar of cloud, and^re, could have afforded. The great arfA good Shep-
herd of the church, favoured his distressed flocks in the wilderness, with
many pastors, that were learned, prudent, and holy, beyond the common
rates and tnen after his own heart : and it would be an ingratitude many
ways pernicious, if the churches of New-England should not, like those
of the primitive times, have their diptychs, wherein the memory of those
eminent confessors, may be recorded and preserved.

§ "2. Four or tive of those eminent persons are now to have their lives
descrilied unto us, and offered unto the contemplation and imitation, es-
pecially of the generation which are now rising up, after the death nf
Cotton, and vf the elders that out lived him, and had seen all the great
works of the Lord, which he did for New-England. 1 saw a fearful degen-
eracy, creeping, 1 cannot say, but rushing in upon these churches ; I
san to multiply continually our dangers, of our losing no small points in
our first faith, as well as oar first love, and of our giving up the essentials
of ti'ut church order, which was the very end of these colonies ; I saw a
vi!>iMe shrink in all orders of men among us, from that greatness, and that
goodness, which was in the first grain, that our God brought from three
sifted kingdoms, into this land, when it was a land not sown ; that while
the Papists in Europe have grown better of late years, by the growth of
Jansenism among them, the Protestants have prodigiously waxed worse,
for a revolt unto Pelagianism, and Socinianism, or what it half way to it,
has not been more surprising to me, than to see that in America, while
those parts which were at first peopled by the refuse of the English na-
tion, do sensibly amend in the regards of sobriety and education, those
parts which were planted with a more noble vine, do so fast give a pros-
pect of affording only the degenerate plants of a strange vine. What
should be done for the stop, the turn of th\a degeneracy ? It is reported
of the Scythians, who were, doubtless, the ancestors of the Indians first
inhabitins; these regions, that in battels, when they came to stand upon
the graves of their dead fathers, they would there stand immovable,
'till they dyed upon the spot : and, thought 1, why may not such a meth-
od now effectually engage the English in these regions, to stand fast in
their /fli/A and their orrfer, and in the power of godliness? I'll shew
them the graves of their dead, fathers ; and if any of them do retreat
unto a contempt or neglect of learning, or unto the errors of another
gospel, or unto the superstitions of will-worship, or unto a worldly, a
selfish, a little conversation, they shall undergo the irresistible rebukes of
theiv progenitors, here fetched from the dead, for their admonition ; and
I'll therewithal advertise my New-Englanders, that if a grand-child of a
Moses become an Idolater, he shall, [as the Jews remark upon Judg. xviii.
30,] be destroyed, as if not a Moses but a Manasseh, had been his father.
Besides, Plus Vivitur Exemplis quam prieceptis!

§ 3. Good men in the Church of England, I hope, will not be offended
at it, if the unreasonable impositions, and intolerable persecutions, of cer-

[>01C

iii.

Bool III.] THE HISTORY OF IHEW-ENGLAND.

229

Iderneii,
tiled and
i instito-
ildemets,
church of
rears, we
I conduct
efreshiog
elebrated
ood Shep-
nes$, with
B commoD
ade many
like those
y of those

their lives
itation, es-
ke death nf
I the great
irful degen,'
hurches; I
ill points in
le essentials
es ; I saw a
ess, and that
it from three
, that while
le growth of
\caed worse,
If way to it,
lertca, while
English na-
ition, those
;ive a pros-
tne. What
is reported
Indians fint
stand upon
immovable,
|uch a meth-
itand fast in
I'll shew
do retreat
■s of anothtT
worldly, a
rebukes of
tnition ; and
id-child of a
.Jwdg.xviii.
In his father.

I be offended
iions, of cer-

tain little-souled ceremony mongers, which drove these worthy men out
of their native contry, into the horrid thickets of Jimerica, be in their
lives complained and resented. For distinguishing between a Bomanizing
faction in tlie Church of England, and the trite Protestant Reforming
Church of England, (things that are different as a jewel, from a hey-
lin, or a Grindal from a Laud .') the first planters of New-England, at
their first coming over, did in a piiblick and a printed addresD, call the
Church of £flgtond, their dear mother, desiring their friends therein, to
recommend them unto the mercies of God, in their -constant prayers, as a
Church now springing out of their own bowels : nor did they think, that it
was their mother who turned them out of doors, but some of their angry
brethren, abusjagthe name of their mother, who so harshly treated them.
As for the Romanizing faction in the Church o/'England, or that party, who
resoVving (altogether contrary to the desire of the most eminent persons,
by whom the common-prayer was made English) that the reformation
should never proceed one jot further than the^rst essay of it, in the for-
mer century ,^did make certain unscriptural canons, whereby all that could
not approve, subscribe, and practise, a multitude of, (by themselves con-
fessed purely humane) inventions in the worship of God, were accursed,
and ipso facto excommunicate ; and by the ill-obtained aid of bitter laws
to back these canons, did by fines and goals and innumerable violences,
contrary to the very magna charta of the nation, ruine many thousands
of the soberest people in the kingdom ; and who continually made as
many Shibboleths as they could, for the discovering and the extinguish-
ing of all real godliness, and never gave over prosecuting their tri-
partite plot, of Arminianism, and a conciliation with the patriarch
of the west, and arbitrary government in the state, until at last they
threw all into the lamentable confusions of a civil war ; the churches
of New- England say Come not into their secret, O my soul. We dare not
be guilty of the schism, which we charge upon that party in the Church of
England : and if any faction of men will require the assent and consent of
other men, to a vast number of disputable and uninstituted things, and, it
may be, a mathematical falshood, among the first of them, and utterly re-
nounce all christian communion with all tliat shall not give that assent and
consent, we look upon those to be separatists ; we dare not be so narrow-
tipirited ; the churches of Aea» England i>ro(>}fs to make only the siibstan-
tials of the christian religion to be the terms of our sacretJ f<.^llov\'sbip : we
dare make no difference between a Presbyterian, a Congregational, an Epis-
copalian, and an Jintipaido-baptist, where their visible piety, makes it probsi-
ble that the Lord Jestis Christ has received them. And such reverend names
as HaU and Kidder, most worthy Bishops now adorning the English Clmrcb ,
as well as the names of such reverend and excellent persons among thr
Dissenters, as Bates, Annesly, How, Mead and Alsop, (with many others)
are, on that score, together precious unto this part of the christian Jimeri-
ca. On the other side, the true Protestant Reforming Church of England.
contains the whole body of the faithful, scattered through the English do-
minions, though of different perswasions about some r?Ves and modes, and
Ipffur points of religion : and all the friends of the last reformation, who,
whether they think there needs a further progress in that work or no, yet:
are willing l«j make the word of God the rule of their serving him, do come
under this denomination.

Those divines, who, with Arch-Bishop Ushxr in the head of them, did
more than fifty years h2;o, cive in a paper touching the innovationi oi
toctrine nnd of discipline in the Chvrch of England, and m;ike. rcat fovtr

230

THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND. [Book HI.

exceptions against things in the Liturgy, were still as good members of
tli»t church, HS they that hated to be reformed; and the assembly of di*
vines at Westminster, which made the catechisms now used among us,
were as genuine tons of the church after they became non-conformiiti, as
while they lived in conformity, which every one of them, except eight or
nine, did when they lirst cnmc together. One who is at this day a Right
Reverend Bishop, has in hin Irenicnm, well expressed the sense which I
believe, the biggest party of christians in the realm, three to one have of
fhose matters, which have been, the apples of strife among us : • Thnt

• Christ, who came to take away the insupportable yoke of the Jewish
' ceremonies, certainly did never intend to gall the necks of the dtse»-
' pies with another instead of it ; and it would be strange, the church
' would require more than Christ himself did, and make more terms of
' communion, than our Saviour did of disciple-ship. The grand commis-
' sion the apostles were sent out with, was only to teach, rvJiat Christ had
' commanded them ; not the least intimation of any power, given them to
' impose or reqnirf! any thing, beyond what he himself had spoken to
' them, or they wore directed to, by the immediate guidance of the spirit

• of God.' And, [speaking of the reason, why our first compilers of

the common-prayer, took in so much of the Popish service] ' Certainly,
'^ those holy men, who did seek by any means, to draw in others, at such

• a distance from tlieir principles, as the Papists were, did never intend,
' by what they did for that end, to ex'clude any truly tender consciences,
' from their communion ; that which they laid as a bait for them, was
' never intended by them as an hook for those of our own profession.'
And if this be the trne Church of England, give me leave to say, the
churches of JVezv-England, are no inconsiderable part of it ; and that
accordingly we may have a room in it, I may safely in the name of them
all, offer, (as did the. renowned author of our Martyr- Books, when they
demanded subscription from him.) to subscribe the New Testament.

Upon the whole (hen, if ..ny be displeased at my report of the unjust
impositions and pei-secudons, which drove into America, as good christians,
:md protcsta7its, as .'my that were left behind them, it will not be the true
Church of England ; for why should that be called, the Church of England,
which has caused thousands of as real and thorough christians, as any up-
on earth, tp say. It is no belter to dwell in the wilderness, tlianwith such an
■•ontentious and angry one ! That Church of England, which alone is wor-
thy to be called so, will bewail, as I know divers excellent persons now
in the Episcopal Sees have done, the injuries offered unto our puritan
fathers.

, 5 '1. Let my reader, thus prepared, nov^ entertain himself, as far as he
pleases, with our four Johns, to whose lives, I have upon the counsel and
command of an ever-honoured parent, nppendiced the life of a famous
Thomas in this publication ; Johns, with whom among the five or six
hundred noted persons of that name, celebrated by one historian, I find
not many that were worthy to be compared ; Johns, fuller of light and
grace and the good spirit, than all those four or f ve and twenty of that
name, who have sat in the chair that pretends to infallibility. And, if he
pleases, let him see that old little observation confirmed, that as the
uame Henry has been happy in kings, Elizabeth in queens, Edward in
lawyers, William in physicians, Francis'm scholars, Robert in soldiers and
state-men, so John hns been happy in divines. Even a divine Jehojadah,
when he comes to be reckoned among the priests of the Lord, must have
put uponbim, the name of John [1 C'hron. vi, 9.] But let him consider

[Book HI-

nembers of
mbly of di-
among us,
ifvrmist$t as
;ept tight or
day a Right
nse which I
one have of
; us : • Thnt
f the Jewish
of the disci-
i, the church
»re terms of
rand commis-
at Christ had
iven them to
ad spoken to
e of the spirit
compilers of
] » Certainly,
thers, at such
never intend,
r consciences,
for them, was
»n profession.'
ye to say, the
f it ; and that
name of them
Jkj, when they

iment.

ft of the unjust
'ood christians,
not be the trut
■ch of England,
ns, as any up-
in with such an
alone is wor-
it persons now
[o our puritan

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

891

these lives, as tendered unto the publick, upon an account no less tbnn
that of keeping alive, as tiir as this poor essay may contribute thereunto,
the interests of dyi7ig religion iu our churches. 1 remember u learned
man's conjecture, that [in 1 Tim. iii. 15.] it is Timothy, and nol^Ae church,
which is culled, The pillar and ground of Faith: such able, holy, and
faithful ministers as Timvihy, are the great procluiiners and preservers of
truth, for the Church of God : such were these famous John while they
lived, and now they are dead, I have done oiy endeavour that they may
still be such unto the churches, unto whom 1 owe -my all. I'll say but
this, the last words of the most renowned prebend of Canterbury, Dr.
Peter du Moulin, who died a very old man, about eleven years ago, were,
Since Calvinism is cried down [Actum est de Religione Christi apud An-
glos] Christianity is in danger to be lost in the English riation. Alluding
to what he said, about his John Calvin, I will take leave to say with re-
spect unto our John Cotton, and the rest that here accompany him, Chris-
tianity will be lost among us, if their faiih and zeal, rnnsl all be buried with
them: which, God forbid ! as there would be an hazard, that the early
and better times o{ JVew-England would have the true storj/ thereof, with-
in a while, as irrecoverably lost, us the story of the world, relating to
those times, which Varro distinguished unto Incognit, and fabulous, pre-
ceding the historical, and we should shortly have as wretched narratives
of the first person j and actions in this land, as Justin gives of the Jews,
when he makes Moses the son of their Joseph, and the sixth of their
kings, or when he makes them expelled from Egypt, because the Gods
would not otherwise allay a plague that raged there, or such as are giv-
en by Pliny, when he makes Moses a magician, or Strabo, that makes him
an Egyptian priest ; if no speedy care be taken to preserve the memora-
bles o£ oar first settlement; so I wish, the laudable pnnci/^/es and practices
of that^rst settlement, may be kept from utterly being lost in our aposta-
sies, by the care which is now taken thus to preserve what wus memora-
ble, of the men that have delivered them down unto us.

^ 5. Finally ; when the apostles bad set before christians the saints,
which were a cloud of witnesses, by imitating of whose exemplary behav-
iour we might enter into rest, he concludes with a looking unto Jesus ; or,
iiccording to the emphasis of the original, a looking off" (from them) unto
Jesus, as the incomparably most peifect of all. So, let my reader do,
when all that was imitable in the lives of these worthy men, has had his
contemplation ;>nd admiration ; they all yet had their defects, and there-
lore, look off unto Jesus; following them no'farther than ihey followed him.
It is a notable passage, [in Luke vii. 28.] which we mis-translate ; The
least in the kingdom of God, is greater than John. In the Greek, what
we translate, The least, is, he that is lesser ; that is, he that is younger.
[Minor still has been the same with jtinior,] Our Lord means himself,
who was lesser, that is, younger than John his fore-runner ; but, greater
than he ! Truly, whatever was excellent iu these our Johns, I would
pray, that the minds of all that see it, may be raised still to think, our
precimis Lord Jesus Christ, is greater than these Johns : all their excellen-
cies are in him tranacendantly, infinitely ; as they were from him derived.
High thoughts of the Lord Jesus Christ, provoked by reading the descrip-
tions of these his excellent servants, that had in them a little of him, and
were no farther excellent than as they had so, will make me hu abundant
recompence, for all the difficulties, and all the temptations, with which
iny 7(!riting is attended. And as it quickens the joys of my hastening death.

«32 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book IIL

when I have through ^^race, a pro»pect of being then in that state where-
to the spirits ofthenejust men made perfect, are all of them gaUured, to
I would have this now to out-do all those joys, to be with Jesus Christ, that
Burely, is by far the best of all.

Monumenta Sepulchralia Justis non faciunt, nam Dicta eorum Sunt Memo-^
ria Eorum.

Sentent. Judaic, in Dereschit. Rabba.

CHAPTER I.

CoTTONUS liedivivus: or, The Lifk of Mr. John Cotton.

In quo Lumen Religionis <$■ Devotionis, Fumus generalus ex Lumine Scien-
tice nonextinguit, tile perfectus est: SedQitis est Hie, ul adoremus eumi'
Algazel, in Libro Staterae. Resp. Hie. est ! —-

§ 1. Were I master of the pen, wherewith Palladius embalmed hit
. Chrysostom, the Greek patriark, or Posidonius eternized his .Austin, the
Latin oracle, among the ancients ; or, were I owner of the quill where*
with among the moderns, Beza celebrated his immortal Calvin, or Fabiui
immortalized his venerable Beza ; the merits oi John Cotton would oblige
me to employ it, in the preserving his famous memory. If Boston be
the chief seat of JVew-England, it was Cotton that was the father and glo-
ry of Boston: upon which account it becomes apiece of puro justice, that
the life of him, «vho above all men gave life to his country, should bear
no little tigure in its intended history ; and indeed if any person in this
town or land, had the blessedness which the Roman historian long since
pronounced such, even, to do things worthy to be writ, and to write things
worthy to be read, it was he ; who now claims a room in our pages. If it
were a comparison sometimes made of the reformers, Pomeranus was a
^anraiarian, Justus Jonas was an orator, Melancihon was a logician, but
Luther was all : even that proportion, it may without envy be acknonr-
ledged, that Cotton bore to the rest of oar JVew- English divines ; he that,
whilst he was living had this vertue extraordinarily conspicuous in him.
that it was his delight always, to acknowledge the gifts of God, in other nun,
must now be is dead, have other men to acknowledge of him what Eras-
mus does of Jeroin, In hoc uno conjunctum fuit ^ Eximium, quicquid in
aliis partim admiramur.

§ 'L There was a good heraldry in that speech of the noble Romania,
It is not tie blood of my progenitors, but my christian profession that makts
me noble. But our John Cotton, besides the advantage of his christian
profession, had a descent from honotir.ible progenitors, to render him
doubly honourable. His immediate jjro^entVors being by some injustice,
deprived of great revenues, his father Air. Roland Cotton had the educa-
tion of a lawyer bestowed by his friends upon him, in hopes of hi» being
the better capacitated thereby to recover the estate, whereof bis family
had been wronged ; and so the profession of a lawyer, was that unto
which this gentleman applied himself all his days. But our John Cotton,
in this happier than Austin, whose father was carcfuUer to make an ora-
tor than a christian of him, while his gracious mother was making him od
greater accotints, a son of her many tears, had a very pious father in this
worthy lawyer, as well as a pious mother, to interest him ia the covenant

[Book UL

;ate where-
'oUured, so
Chrittt that

Sunt Memo^
ba.

:tom.

jumine Scitn-
oremus turn f

tmbalmed hi?
18 Austin^ the
quill where-
vin, or Fabiw
i would oblige
If Botton be
alher and glo-
rej«»tice, that
«, should bear
jperaon in this
in long since
to rurite thing*
r pages. If »t
meranus was a
I logician, but
y be acknow-
ines ; he that,
icuous in him.
I, in other mtn,
im what Eras-
n, quicquid in

oble Romanui,
sion that maiui
i{ bis chrittian
to render him
jome injustice,
Ihad the educa-
les of hi9 being
Ireofbis family
Iwas that unto
ir John Cotton,
make an ora-
[making him on
Is father in this
in the ce^enfl"'

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

S33

of God. That worthy man was indeed very singular in two most imita-
hle practice$. One was, that when any of his neighbours desirous to su^
one another, addressed him for council, it was his manner, in the most
perswadive and obliging terms that could be, to endeavour a reconcilia-
tion between both parties ; preferring the coniolations of a peace-maker ^
before all the/ee«, that he might iiave got by blowing up of differencee.
Another was, that every night it was his custom to examine himself, with
reflections on the transactions of the day past; wherein, if he found that
he had not either (2one good unto others, or got goodvnto his own soul, he
would be as much grieved as ever the famous Titus was, when he cuuld
complain in the evening, Jlmici Diem Perdidi ! Of such parents was Mr.
Mm Cotton born, at the town o( Derby, on the fourth of December} in
the year 1586

§ 3. The religious parents of Mr. Cotton, were solicitous to have him
indued with a learned as well as a pious education ; and being neither
so rich, that the Mater Artis could have no room to do her part, nor so
poor that the Res Anguata Domi, should clog his progress, they were well
fitted thereby, to bestow such an education upon him. His first instruc-
tion was under a good school-master, one Mr. Johnson, in the town of
Derby: whereon the intellectual endowments of all sorts, with which
the God of our spirits adorned him, so discovered themselves, that at tho;
age of thirteen, his proficiency procured him admission into Trinity-C<d'
lege in Cambridge. Indeed the proverb, soon ripe soon rotten, has often
been too hastily applied unto rathe ripe wits, in young people ; not only
Oecolampadius and Melancthon, who commenced Bat^elours of Arts, at
fourtetn years of age, and Luther, who commenced Master of Arts at
twenty ; but also our Dr. Juel sent unto Oxford, our Dr. Usher sent un-
to Dublin, and our Mr. Cotton sent unto Cambridge, all at the age of thir-
teen, do put in a bar to the universal application of that proverb. While
IVIr. Co^fon was at the university, his diligent head, with God^s blessings,
made him a rich scholar; and his generous mind found no little nourish'
jnent by that labour, which like the sage philosopher, he found sweeter
than idleness : insomuch that his being elected fellow of Trinity College,
as the reward of his quick proficiency, was diverted by nothing but this,
that the extraordinary charges for their great hall then in building, did
put by their election. And there was this remarkable in the education
of this chosen vessel, at the university : that while he continued there, his
father's practice was, by the special providence of God, augmented so
much beyond what it had been before, as was enough to maintain him
there: upon which observatig^n Mr. Cotton afterwards would say, 'Twos
God that kept me at the University! Indeed r.ome have said, that the great
notice quickly taken of the eminency in the son, was one reason, why
hia father not only came to be complemented on all sides, and Omnes Om-
nia Bona dicere, 4" laudare Fortunas ejtts, qui Filium haberet Tali Ingenio
prcedituin, but also had his clients more than a little multiplied.

§ 4. Upon the desires of £>/tanue/-Colledge, Mr. Co(/on was not only
removed unto that Colledge, but also preferred unto a fellowship in it ; in
order whereunto, he did according to the critical and laudable statutes of
the house, go through a very severe examen of his fitness for such a 6ta>
tion ; wherein 'twas particularly remarked, that the Poser trying his He-
brew skill by the third chapter of Isaiah, a chapter which, containing
more hard words than any one paragraph of the bible, might therefore
have puzled a very good Hebrician, yet lie made nothing of it. He was
afterwards the Head Lecturer, the Dean, the Catechistt in that famous

Vol. I,, 30

Sii4

THE HISTOUY OF NEW -ENGLAND. [Book 111.

Colledge ; and became a 7«<or to many scholam, who afterwanlfl proved
famous persons, and had cause tobleH^God for the faithful, and ingenious
and laborious cornmunicativeness of this their tutor. Here, all his ncade<
mical exercises, whether in disputations or in common placcB^ or whatever
else did so smell of the lamp, that the wit, the strength, the gravity, and
the fulness, both of reason and of reading in them, caused him to be
much admired by the sparkling \vit8 of the university. But one thing
among the rest, which caused a great notice to be taken of him, through*
out the whole university, was his funeral oration upon Dr. Some, the
Master of Peter IL ,ae, wherein he approved himself such a master of
Periclaan, or Ciceronian oratory, that the auditors were even ready to
have acclaimed, AW Vox Hominem Sonat! And that which added unt(»
the reputation, thus raised for him, was an University- sermon, wherein
aiming more to preach self than Christ, he used such florid strains, as
extremely recommended him unto the most, who relished the wisdom of
words above the words of wisdom : though the pompous eloquenre of
that sermon, afterwards gave, such a distaste unto bis own renewed soul,
that with a sacred indignation he threw his notes into the fire.

§ 6. Hitherto we have seen the life of Mr. Cotton, while he was not
yet alive! Thougli the restraining and preventing grace of Ood, had
kept him from such out-breakings of sin, as defile the lives of most in
the world, yet like the old man, who for such a cause ordered this epi-
tapb to be written on his grtiVe, Here lies an old man, who lived hit seven
years, be reckoned himself to have been but a dead man, as being alien-
ated from the life of God, until he had experienced that regeneration, in
his own soul, which was thus accomplished. The Holy Spirit of God
had been at work upon his young heart, by the ministry of that Rever>
end and renowned preacher of righteousness, Mr. Perkins ; but he resist-
ed and smothered those convictions, through a vain perswasinn, that if he
became n godly man, 'twould spoil him for being a learned one. Yea,
80ch was the secret enmity and prejudice of an unregenerate soul, against
real holiness, and such the torment, which our Lord's witnesses give to the
consciences of the earthly-minded, that when he heard the bell toll for
the funeral of Mr. Perkins, his mind secretly rejoiced in his deliverance
from that powerful ministry, by which his conscience had been so oft
beleagured : the remembrance of which thing afterwards, did break his
heart exceedingly ! But he was, at length, more effectually awakened,
by a sermon of Dr. Sibs, wherein was discoursed the misery of those,
who had only a negative righteousness, or a civil, sober, honest blameless-
ness before men. Mr. Cotton became now very sensible of his own mis-
erable condition before God ; and the arrows of these convictions, did
stick so fast upon him, that after no less three year''s disconsolate apprehen-
sions under them, the grace of God made him a thoroughly renewed
ebristian, and filled him with a sacred joy, which accompanied him unto
the fulness of joy for ever. For this cause, as persons truly converted
unto God have a mighty and lasting affection for the instruments of their
conversion ; thus Mr. Cotton'' s veneration for Dr. Sibs, was after this very
^ particular and perpetual : and it caused him to have the picture of that
great man, in that part of his house, where he might oftenest look upon
h. But so the yoke of sore temptations nnd afflictions and lonp spiritual
trials, fitted him to be an eminently useful servant of God in his gene-
ration !

§ 6. Some time after this change upon the soul of Mr. Cotton, it came
unto his turn again to preach at St. Maries ; and because he was to preach,

BooK III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

33a

Bved

liOUB

:ade-
lever
, and
to be
thing
ough-
8, the
ter of
ady to
1 untQ
herein
ins. ns
jlom of
inre of
<d soul,

was not

od, had

most in

;hi8 epi-

nit seven

ip often-

ation. in
of God
Rever-
ie resist"

hat if he
Yea,

k, against

Ve to the
n toll for
liverance
sn so oft
ireak his
akened,
|of those,
damdess-
jown inis-
Jtions, (lid
Ipprchen-
% reneroerf
him unto
Converted
Is of their
1 this very
Ire of that
^ook upon
■ spiritual
|his gene-
it came
lo preach,

un high expectation was raised, through the whole university ^ that they
should have a sermon, flourishing indeed, with all the /earw' ^ of tbie
whole vniversitij Many difliculties had Mr. Cotton in bis owb mind now,
what course to steer. On the one side he considered, that if he should
preach with a scriptural and christian plainness, he should not only
wound bis own fume exceedingly, but also tempt carnal men to revive an
old cavil, tliat religion inadc scholars turn dunces, whereby the name of
God might suffer not a little. On the other side, he considered, that it
was his duty to preach with such a plainticss, aa became the oracles of
God, whidi are intended for the conduct of men in the paths of life, and
not for theatrical ostentations and entertainments, and the Lord needed
not any sin of ours to maintain his own glory. Hereupon Mr. Cotton
resolved, that he would preach a plain sermon, even such a sermon, as
in bis own conscience he thought would he most pleasing unto the Lord
Jesus Christ ; and he discoursed practically and powerfully, but very
dolidly upon the plain doctrine of repentance. The vain wit» of the
university, disappointed thus, with a more excellent sermon,, that shot
i^ome troublesome admonitions into their consciences, discovered their
vexation at this disappointment, by their not humming, aa according to
their sinful and absurd custom, they had formerly done ;: and the Vice-
Chancellor, for the very same reason also, (,raced bim a?*, as he did
others that pleased him. Nevertheless, the satisfaction which he enjoy-
ed .'n his own faithful soul, abundantly compensated unto him, the loss of
any human favour or honour; nor did he go without many encourage-
ments from some doctors, then having a better sence of religion upon
them, who prayed him to persevere in the good way of preaching, which
be had now taken. But perhaps the greatest consolation of all, was a
notable effect of the sermon then preached \: The famous Dr. Preston,
then a fellow of Queen's Colledge in Cambridge, and of great note in the
university, came to hear Mr. Cotton with the same itching ears, as others
were then led withal. For some good while after the beginning of the
sermon, his frustrated expectation caused him to manifest his uneasiness
all the ways that were then possible ; but before the sermon was ended,
Uke one of Peter^s hearers, he found himself pierced at the heart: bis
heart within him was now struck with such resentments of his own inte-
rior state before the God of heaven, th:it he could have no peace in bis
own soul, till with a wounded soul, he had repaired unto Mr. Cotton; from
whom he received those further assistances, wherein he became a spir-
Hual father, unto one of the greatest men in his age.

§ 7. The well-disposed people of Boston in Lincolnshire, after this,
invited Mr. Cotton to become their minister ; with which invitation, out
of a sincere and serious desire to serve our Lord in bis gospel, after the
solemnest addresses to heaven for guidance in such a solemn affair, he
complied. At this time the mayor of the town, with a more corrupt
party, having procured another scholar from Cambridge, more agreeable
to them, would needs have him to preach before Mr. Cotton ; but the
church-warden pretending to more of influence upon their ecclesiastical
matters, over ruled it. However when the matter came to a vote,
amongst those to whom the right of election did by charter belong, there
was an equi-vote for Mr. Cotton, and that other person ; only the mayor.
who had the casting vote, by a strange mistake pricked for Mr. Cotton.
When the mayor saw his mistake, a new vote was urged and granted ;
wherein it again proved an eqni-vote ; but the mayor most unaccountabl}'
mistook again, as he did before. Extreamly displeased hereat, he pressed

?s«

tHE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

for a third vote ; but the rest would not consent unto it ; nnd so the elee-
tion fell upon Mr. Coltmi, by the invt^untary catt of that very hand, which
hnd niOHt oppoard it. This obstruction to the settlement of Mr. Cottonin
Boston, being thus conquered, another followed : for the Biahop of the
Diooess, hnving understood thnt Mr. Cotton was infected with Puritanum,
let himself immediHtbl> to di8roiir»p;e his being there ; only he could ob-
ject nothing, but, That Mr. (/otton being a young man, he was not to Jit
upon that teore, to be over such a numerous and such a factious people. And
Mr. Cotton hnving learned no otherwise to value himself, than to concur
with the apprehensions of the Bishop ; intended therefore to return unto
Cambridge : but some of his friends, ngninst his inclination, knowing the
4rue ■w.ry of doing it, soon charmed the Biihop into a declared opinion,
that Mr. Cot'on was an honest, and a learned mxn. Thus the admission
of Mr. Cjtton unto the exercise of his ministry in Boston, was accom-
plished

§ 8. Mr. Cotton found the more peaceable reception among the people,
through hi:4 own want of internal peace ; and because his continual exer-
ieises, from his internal temptations and afflictions, made all people see,
that instead of serving this or that party, his chief care was about the
salvation of his own soul. But the stirs, which had been made in the
town, by the Anninian controversies, then raging, put him upon further
exercises ; whereof he has himself given us a narrative in the ensuing
words : ' When 1 was first called to Boston in Lincolnshire, so it was, that

* Mr. Baron, son of Dr. Baron, (the divinity reader of Cambridge) first
' broached, that which was then called Lutheranism, since Arminianism;
' as being indeed himself, learned, acute, plausible in discourse, and fit

* to insinuate into the hearb of his neighbours. And though he were

* a physitian by profession (and of good skill in that art) yet he spent the

* greatest strength of his studies, in clearing and promoting the Arminian

* tecents. Whence it came to pass, that in alt the great feasts of the

* town, the chiefest discourse at the table, did ordinarily fall upon Armin-

* tan points, to the great offence of godly ministers, both in Boston, and

* nejghbour-towns. I coming among them, a yovng man, thought it a part

* both of modesty and prudence, not to speak much to the points, at first,

* among strangers and ancients : until afterwards, after hearing of many

* discourses, in public meetings, and much private discourse with the
' doctor, I had learned at length, where all the great strength of the doc-
' tor lay. And then observing (by the strength of Christ) how to avoid
' such expressions as gave him any advantage in the expressions of others,

* I began publickly to preach, and in private meetings to defend the doc-

* trine of God's eternal election, before a\\ foresight of good or evil, ia

* the creature ; and the redemption (ex gratia) only of the elect ; the ef-
' fectual vocation of a sinner. Per irresistibilem Gratia: vim, without ail

* respect of the preparations of free will ; and finally, the impossibility

* of the fall of a sincere believer, either totally or finally from a state of
' grace. Hereupon, when the doctor had objected many things, anH
' heard my answers to those scruples, which he was wont most plausibly

* to urge ; presently after our publick feasts and neighbourly meetings,
•^ were silent from all further debates tiboiit predestination, or any of the
' points which depend thereupon, and all matters of religion were car-
' ried on calmly and peaceably.'

Al'ont half a year after, Mr. Cotton had been at Boston, thus usefully
employed, he visited Canihri(^ge, that he might then and there proceed
Batr.heUor of Divinity ; which he did : and his Concioad Clsrum, on Mat,

iooK IH.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

laflf

1 the dec-
ind, which
r. Cotton in
lop of the
'uritanitm,
5 could ob-
1$ not to Jit
tople- And
D to concur
return unto
nowing the
ed opinion,
e admiasioD
/vas accom-

the people,
ilinual exer-
people »ee,
IB about the
made in the
jpon further
the ensuing
it was, that
nbridge) first
IrmiMtanism ;
urse, and fit
jgh he were
he spent the
;he Jirminia*
feasts of the
upon ^rmtii-
n Boston, and
jught it a part
oints, at first,
jring of many
irse with the
,„ of the doc-
how to avoid
^ons of othrt,
Jend the doc-
\od or evil, in
dect ; the ef-
, without all
impossibility
[rom a state of
|y things, anH
lost plausibly
r'y meetings,
ir any of the
ion were car-

I thus usefully
lere proceed
rum, on Mo^

V. IS, Fos estis Sal Terrce, was highly esteemed by the judicious. Nor
was he less admired for his very singular acutcness in disrmtation, vi\tfio
he answered the divinity act in the schools ; wherein he liad for his op-
ponent a most acute antagonist, namely Dr. Chappel, who was afterwards
Provost of Trin% Colledgc in Dvblin ; and one unhappily successful in
promoting the new Pelagianism.

§ 9. Settled now at Boston, his dear friend, holy Mr. Bayns, recom-
mended unto him a pious gentlewoman, one Mrs. Elizabeth Ilorrockt, the
sister of Mr. James Horrocks, a famous minister in-Lancashire, to become
his consort in a married estate. And it was remarkable, that on the very
day of his wedding to that eminently vertuous gentlewoman, he first re-
ceived that assurance of God's love unto his own soul, by the spirit of
God, effect'ially applying his promise of eternal grace and life unto him,
which happily kept with him all the rest of his days : for which cause
he would afterwards often say, God made that day, a day of double mar-
riage tome! The wife, which by the favour of God he had now found,
was a very great help unto him, in the service of God ; but especially
upon this, among many other accounts, that the people of her own sex,
observing her more than ordinary discretion, gravity, and holiness, would
still improve the freedom of their address unto her, to acquaint her with
the exercises of their own S|>irits ; who acquainting her husband with
convenient intimations thereof, occasioned him in his publick ministry
more particularly and profitably, to discourse those things that were of
everlasting benefit.

§ 10. After he had been three years in Boston, his careful studies and
prayers brought him to apprehend more of evil remaining wireformed in
the Church of England, than he had heretofore considered ; and fiom
this time he became a conscientious non- conformist, unto the tinscriptw
ral ceremonies and constitutions, yet maintained hy that church ; but
such was his interest in the hearts of the people, that his non-conformity
instead of being disturbed, was indeed embraced by the greatest part of the
town. However, at last, complaints being made against him unto the
Bishop^s courts, he was for a while, then put under the circumstances of
a silenced minister ; in all which while, he would still give his presence at
the publick sermons, though never at the common prayers of the cnn-
formable. He was now offered, not only the liberty of his ministry, but
very great preferment in it also, if he would but conform to the scrupled
rites, though but in one act, and but for one time : nevertheless, his tender
soul, afraid of being thereby polluted, could not in the least comply with
such terr-ptations. A storm of many troubles upon him, was now gather-
ing; but it was very strangely diverted ! For that very man who had
occasioned this a£9iction to him, now became heartily afflicted for his own
sin in doing of it ; and a stedfast, constant, prudent friend ; presenting a
pair of gloves to a proctor of an higher court, then appealed unto that
proctor without Mr. Cotton's ) ..owledge, swore. In Animam Domini, that
Mr. Cotton was a conformable man : which things issued in Mr. Cotton's
being restored unto the exercise of his ministry.

§ 11. The storm of persecution being thus blown over, Mr. CoWon en-
joyed rest for many years. In which time he faithfully employed his
great abilities, not in gaining men to this or thnt party of christians, but
in acquainting them with the more essential and substantial points of
Christianity In the space of twenty years that he lived at Boston, on the
Lord\ days in the afternoons, he thrice went over the body of divinity in
^ catcrhistical reay ; and gave the heads of his discourse to young scho-

838

THK HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. [Book III

lars, and others in the town, that they might aniwer to bit queitiona in
the congregation ; and the answers he op«ned and applied unto th« gen-
eral advantage o( the hearerd. Whilst he was in this way handling the
aixth coinmandtnent, the words of Uod which he uttered were so quick
and powerful, thit a womnn among his hearers, who had been married
sixteun years to u second Uitshand, now in horror of conscience, openly
confessed her murdering her former husband, by poison, though there-
by she exposed herself to the extremity of being burned. In the fore-
noons of llie Lord's dayn, he preiiclied over the first six chapters in the
Gospel ofJolin, the whole book of EccUsiastes ; the prophecy of Zepka-
niah. th«> prophecy of Zcrfiariah, and many other scriptures. When the
Lord's Slipper wms uitiniiiiHtrcd, which was once a month, he handled
the eleventh chapler in the first epistle to the Corinthians, and the thir-
teenth chnpter in the second book of the ClironicUs ; and some otbei
pertinent pani^raplm uf the Bible. In his Uciures, he went through the
whole fust and second iOpiritles of John ; the whole book of Holomon'i
Song ; the Parables of our Saviour to the seventeenth chapter of Matthew.
His house aUo was full of young students ; whereof some were sent un-
to him out of O'erj/ftn^, some out o( Holland, hut most out ofCambridge :
for Dr. Preston would still advise his near Hedged pupils, to go live with
Mr. CoKon, that they might be fitted for publick service ; insomuch that
it was grown almost a proverb, That Mr. Cotton was Dr. Preston's sea-
soiling c'essd : aid of those that issued from this learned family, famous
and useful in their generation, the well-known Dr. Hill was not the least.
Moreover, he kept a daily lecture in his house, which, as very reverend
enr-witnesses have expressed it, He performed with much grace, to the
edification of (he hearers : and unto this lecture many pious people in the
town, would constantly resort, until upon a suspicion of some inconven-
tency, which might arise from the growing nuvierousness of bis auditory,
be left it oil'. However, besides his ordinary lecture every Thursday,
he preached t/tnce more ; every week, on the week-days; namely on
Wednesdays and Thursdays, early in the morning, and on Saturdays at
three in the afternoon. And besides these immense labours, he was
frequently employed on extraordinary days, kept Pro Temporis ^ Causis,
whereon he would spend sometimes no less than six hours in the word
and prayer. Furthermore, it was his custom, once a year, to visit bis
native-town of Derby, where he was a notable exception to the general
rule of, A prophet withotU honour in his own country ; and by bis vigilant
care.s, this town was fur many years kept supplied with able and faithful
ministers of the gospel. Thus was this good man a most indefatigable
doer of good.

§ 12. The good spirit of God, so plentifully and powerfully accom-
panied the ministry of this excellent man, that a great reformation
was thereby wrought in the town of Boston. Profaneness was extin-
guii^hed, superstition was abandoned, religion was embraced and prac-
ti-sed among the body of the people ; yea, the mayor, with most of
the magistrates, were now called Puritans, and the Satanical party was
become insignificant. As to the matter o{ non-conformity, Mr. Cotton w<i8
come to forbear the ceremonies enjoyned in the Church of England \
tor which he gave this account. ' The grounds were two : first. The sig'
' nificaeji and efficacy put upon them, in the preface to the book otCommon-
' Prayer : Tliat they were neither dumb nor dark, but apt to stir up the dull
' mind of man, to the remembrance of his duty to God, by some notable and
' "ipfrial !>igniU'fition, xi'hnrrhy he may be edified ; or words to the like

OKiU.

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

tf3&

tiona in
i« gen-
liog the

quick
married

openly

1 there-
he l'orc>
:• in the
i Zepha-
/hen the

hundlfd
the thir-
ne otbei
ough the
'iolomon't
Matthew.

sent un-
mbridge :

hve with
nuch that
jton'u »««•
^, famous
t the least.

reverend
tee, to the
>ple in the

inconven-
I auditory,

Thuridny,

tamely on

iturdayK at
he wafr
^ Causis,
the word

visit bis
le general

js vigilant

[nd faithful
lefatigable

lly accom-
\eformation
^■ras extin-
and prac-
|h most of
party was
Cotton w.»»
England ;

i(. The sii^-
jfCommon-
up the dull
•otable and
the like

' purpose. The second was the limitation o( church-power, even of the
' highest apoittolical commission, to the obtervation of the cotnmandmente
' ofChriit, Mat. xxviii, SO. Which made it appear to me utterly unl •W'

* ful for any church-power to enjoynthe observation odndiff'erent ceremo'
'niea, which Christ had not comtmnded : and all the ceremonies were

* alike destitute of the commandment of Christ, though they had been m-
' different otherwise ; which, indeed others have justly pleaded they
' were not.' But this was not all : for Mr. Cotton was also come to be-
lieve, that scripture bishops were appointed to rule no larger a dioccsa
than a particular congregation ; and that the ministers of the Lord, with
the keys of ecclesiastical government, are given by him to a congrega-
tional church. It hence came to pass, that our Lord Jesus Christ was
now worshipped in Boston, without the use of the liturgy, or of those
vestments, which are by Zanchy called Execrabites Vestes ; yea, the sign
of the cross was laid aside, not only in baptism, but also in the mayor^t
mace, as worthy to be made a Nehushtanl^ because it had been so much
abused unto idolatry. And besides all this, there were some scores of pious
people in the town, who more exactly formed themselves into an Evatt'
gelical Church-State, by entring into covenant with God, and with one
another, to follow after the Lord, in the purity of his worship. However,
the main bent and aim of Mr. Colon's ministry tvas, to preach a crucified
Christ ; and the inhabitants o( Boston observed, that God blessed them in
their, secular concernments, remarkably the more, through his dwelling
among them : for many strangers, and son. e too, that were gentlemen of
good quality, resorted unto Boston, and Some removed their habitations
thither, on his account ; whereby the prosperity of the place was very
much promoted.

§ 13. As his desert of it was very high, so the respect which he met
withal was far from low. The best of his hearers loved him greatly, and
the worst of i\i%m feared him, as knoxdng that he was a righteous and an
holy man. Yea, such was the greatness of his learning, his wisdom, his ho-
liness, that great men took no little notice of him. A very honourable
person rode thirty miles to see him ; and afterwards professed, That he had
«s lieve hear Mr. Cotton's ordinary exposition in his family, as any minis-
ter'' s publick preaching that he knew in England. Whilst he continued iq
Boston Dr. Preston would constantly come once a year to visit him, from
his exceeding value for Mr. Cotton'' s friendship. Arch-Bishop Williu ins did
likewise greatly esteem him for his incomparable parts ; and when he was
keeper of ilie great seal, he recommended Mr. Cotton to the royal favour.
Moreover,the Earl ofDorchester andofLindsey, had much regard unto him:
which happened partly on this occasion ; the Earl's coming into Lincoln-
shire, about the dreining of some fenny grounds. Mr. Cotton was then in his
course of preaching on Gal. ii. 20. Intending to preach on the duties of
living by faith in adversity , but considering that these noblemen were not
much acquainted with afflictions, he altered his intentions, and so ordered
it, that when they came to Boston, he discoursed on the duties o( living by
faith in prosperity : when the noblemen were so much taken with what
they heared, that they assured him, if at any time he should want a friend
at court, they would improve all their interest for him. And when Mr.
Cotton did plainly, but wisely admonish them, of certain /)as<tmc$ on the
Lord's day, whereby they gave some scandal, they took it most kindly
from him and promised a reformation. But none of the roses cast on
this applauded actor, smothered that humble, that loving, that gracious
disposition, which was his perpetual ornament.

■•r

240

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

§ 14. At length, doubtless to chastise the seldom uncbastised evils ol
divisioHS, crept in among the christians of Boston, it pleased the God
of Heaven to deprive tliem of Mr. Cotton^s ministry, by laying a tertian
ague upon him lor a year together. But being invited unto the Earl of
Lincoln's, in pursuance to the advice of his physicians, that he should
change the air, he removed thither ; and thereupon he happily recover-
ed. Nevertheless, by the same sickness he then lost his excellent wife ;
who having lived with him childless for eighteen years, went from him
now, to be for ever with the Lord ; whereupon he travelled further a
tield, unto London, and some other places, whereby the recovery of his
lost health was further perfected. About a year after this, he practically
'appeared in opposition to TertuUianism, by proceeding unto a second mar-
riage ; wherein one Mrs. Sarcdi Story, a vertuous widow, very dear to
his former wife, became his consort ; and by her he had both sons and
daughters.

§ 15. Although our Lord hath liithertomade the discretion and vigilancy
of Mr. Thomas Leveret (afterwards a dou6/^ honoured elder of the church,
in another land) the happy occasion of diverting many designs to molest
Mr. Cotton for his non-conformity, yet when the sins of the place liad
ripened it, for so dark a vengeance of heaven, as the removing of this
eminent light, a storm of persecution could no longer be avoided. A de-
bauched fellow in the town, who had been punished by the magistrates
fur his debaucheries, contrived and resolved a revenge upon them, for
theiryus^tce : and having no more effectual way to vent the cursed malice
of his heart, than by bringing them into trouble at the High Commission
Court, up he goes to London, with informations to that court, that the
mugistrates did not kneel at the sacrament, nor observe some other cere-
monies by law imposed. When some that belonged unto the court signi-
fied unto this informer, that he must put in the minister's name : J^ay,
(said he) the minister is an honest man, and never did me any reroug :
but it being further pressed upon him, that all his complaints would be
insignificant, if the minister's name were not in them, he then did put it
in : and letters missive were dispatched incontinently, to convent Mr.
Cotton, before the infamous High Commission Court. But before we relate
what became of Mr. Cotton, we will enquire what became of his ac-
cuser. The renowned Mr John Rogers of Dedham, having been on
his lecture day, just before his going to preach, advised, that Mr. Cotton
was brought into this trouble, he took occasion to speak of it in the ser-
mon, with just lamentations for it ; and among others, he used words to
this purpose : Jls for that man, who hath caused a faithful pastor, to be
driven from his flock, he is a wisp, used by the hand of God for the scow-
ring of his people : but mark the words now spoken by a minister of the
Lord ! I am verily perswaded, the judgments of God, will overtake the man
that has done this thing : either he will dio under an hedge, or somethinf;
else, more than the ordinary death of men shall befal him. Now behold,
how this prediction was accomplished : this miserable man quickly after
this, dyed of the plague, under an hedge, in Yorkshire ; and it was a
long time, e'er any could be found, that would bury him. This His to
turn persecutor.

§ 16. Mr. Cotton knowing that letters missive were out against him, from
the High Commission Court, and knowing, that if he appeared there, be
cov Id expect no other, than to be choaked with such a perpetual impris-
onment, as had already murdered such men as Bates and Udal, he con-
cealed himself as well as he could, from the raging pursevants. Appli-

Book III.) THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

cation wa« made, in thfr mean time, to the Earl of Por$et, for the fulfil'
ment of hi« old engagement unto Mr. Cotton ; and the earl did indeed
intercede for him, until the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, who would ofl^n
wish, OA / thcU I cotUd meet with Cotton! rendred all his intercessions
both ineffectual and unseasonable. Hereupon that noble person sent
word unto him, that if he bad been guilty of druiJunnest, or unclennness,
or any such leaner fait, he could have obtained his pardon ; but ium-
much as he had been guilty of non-con/br«^t(y, and puritanitm, the crime
was unpardonable ; and therefore, said he, you mutt fly for your safety.
Doubtless, it was from such unhappy experimetUi that Mr. Cotton after-
wards published this compl'iint : The eccletiattical courtt., are like the courts
of the high priests and Pharisees, which Solomon by a spirit of prophecy
stileth, dens of lions, and mountains of leopards, ^nd those who have to iflo
with them, have found themmarkets of the sins ofthepeople the cages of unclean-
ness, tfie forges of extortion, the tabernacles of bribery and they have been
cotUrary to the end of civil government, which is the punishtnent of evil-
doers, and the praise of them which do well.

§ 17. Mr. Cotton, therefore, now, with supplications unto the God of
Heaven for his direction joined consultations of good men oneartli ; and among
others, he did with some of his Boston friends, visit old Mr. Dod, unto
whom he laid open the difficult case now before him, without any intima-
tion of his own inclination, whereby the advice of that holy man, poight
have been at all forestalled. Mr. Dod upon the whole, said thus upto him :
/ am old Peter, and therefore must stand still, and bear the brunt ; hut you
being young Peter, may go whether you will, and ought, being persecuted
in one city, to flee unto another. And when the Boston friends urged, that
they would support and protect Mr. Cotton, though privately ; and that if
he should leave them, very many of them would be exposed unto extremis,
temptation : he readily answered, That the removing of a minister^ was
like the draining ofaflnh pond : the good fish willfolkm tlie water, but eels,
and other baggage fish, will stick in the mud. Which things when Mr.
Cotton heard, he was not a little confirmed in his inclination to leave the
land. Nor did he forget the concession of Cyprian, that a seusonnble
flight, is in effect, o confession of our faith : for it is h profession that our
faith is dearer unto us, than all the enjoyments from which we fly. But
that which is further memorable in this matter, is, that tis the great God
often makes his truth to spread by the sufferings of them that profess the
truth ; four hundred were converted by the death of one persecuted
Cecilia: and the Scotch Bishop would leave off burning of the faithCyl,
because the smoke of Hamilton infected as many as it blew upon. Thus
the silencing and removing of Mr. G>t<on,. which was to him, a thing little
short of martyrdom, was an occasion 0/ more thorough repentance in
sundry of his bereived people, who now began to consider, that God by
taking away their minister, was punishing their former unfruitfulims
under the most fruitful ministry, which they had thus long enjoyed. And
there was yet another such effect of the^natter, which is now to be related.
§ 18. To avoid them that thirsted for his ruine, Mr. Cotton travelled
under a changed name and garb, with a full purpose of going over for
Holland; but when he came near the place, where he would have i<hip-
ped himself, he met with a kinsman, v^o vehemently and effectually
persvvadcd him to divert into London. /Here the Lord had a work for him
to do, which he little thought of Some reverend and renowned ministers
of our Lord in that great city, who yet had not seen sufficient reison to
expose themselves unto persecutions for the sake of non-couformity^ but
Vol. I. .31

942

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

looked upon the tmpo«ed ceremonies as indilTereiit and snfierable trifles,
and weighed not the aspect of the second comandmentf upon ail xhe parts
'.md means of instiliiled worship, took this opportunity for a coihfetettce
with Mr. Cotton; being perswaded, that since he was no passionate . lut
a verj^jWto'oTis nan, they should prevail with him rather to confirm,

■ than to leave his work and his land. Unto the motion of a conference Mr.
Cotton most readily yielded ; and first all their arguments (or conformity,

' together with Mr. ^?^e/(]{'», Mr. Whateh/s, andMr. i^n'«/'s, were produced;
all of which Mr. Cotton answered, unto their wonderful satisfaction.
Then he gave his arguments for his non-conformity, and the reasons why
he must rt^ther forgo his ministry, or at least his country, than wound his
conscience with unlawful compliances ; the issue whereof was, that instead

' of bringing Mr. Cotton back to what he had now forsaken, he brought

' them off altogether from what they had hitherto practised : every one
of those eminent pei-sons, Dr. Goodicin, Mr. Nye, and Mr. Davenport,

-now became all that he was, and at last left the kingdom for their being

\9p. I Cut Mr. Cotton being now at London, there were three places which
oifered themselves to him for bis retreat ; Holland, Barbadoes, and JVev-
England. As for Holland, the character and condition, which famous
Mr. Hooker bad reported thereof, took off his intentions of removing

'thither. And Barbadoes had not near such encouraging circumstances,
upon the best accounts, as New-England ; where our Lord Jesus Christ

' had a more than ordinary thing to be done for hid glory, in an American
wilderness, and so would send over a more than ordinary man, to be em-
ployed in the doing of it. TTiithtr, even to that religious land reformed
plantation, after the solemnest applications to heaven for direction, this
great person bent his resolutions : and letters procured from the church

: of Boston^ by Mr. Winthrop, the governour of the colony, had their

' influence on the matter.

§ 19. The God that had carried him through the^rc of persecution, was
now graciously with him in his passage through the water of the Atlantic
ocean, and he enjoyed a comfortable voyage over the gr^af and wide sea.
There were then three eminent ministers of God in the ship ; namely,
Mr. Cotton, Mr. Hooker, and Mr. Stone; which glorious triumviraie
coming together, made the poor people in the wilderness, at their cotn-

' ing, to say, that the God of heaven had supplied them, with what wonid
in some sort answer their three great necessities ; Cotton for their cloth-
ing. Hooker for their fishing, ahd Stone for their building : but by oae
or other of these three divines in the ship, there was a sermon preached
every day, all the while they were aboard, yea they had three sermons, or
expositions, for the most part every day : of Mr. Cotton in the morning,
Mr. Hooker in the afternoon, M.r, Stone after supper in the evening.
And aAer they had been a month upon the seas, Mr. Cotton received a
mercy, which God had now for twenty years denied unto him, in the
birth of his eldest son, whom he called Sea-born, in the remembrance of
the never-to-be-forgotten blessings, tvhich he thus enjoyed upon the
seas. But at the end of seven weeks they arrived at New-England, Sep-
tember 3, in the year 1633 ; where he put a shore at New-Boston,vfhk\\

" in a few years, by the smile of God ; especially upon the holy wisdom,
conduct, and credit of our Mr. Cotton, upon some accounts of growth,
came to exceed Old Boston in every thing that renders a town consider-
able. And it is remarkable, that his arrival at New-England, was jiist

' after the people there, had been by solemn fasting and prayer seeking
unto God, that inasmuch OS they had been engaging to walk with him in

Book 111.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND.

24;:

le trides,
1 the parts
coiifeteitce
iouate. mt
( confirm,
'erence Mr.
conformity,
! produced;
atisfHCtion.
sasons why
I wound his
that instead
lie brought
every one
Davenport,
their being
ilaces which
es, and New-
lich famous
oi removing
'cumetanceR,
Jesus Christ
an Jlmeritan
an, to be em-
ind reformed
irection, this
im the church
ly, had theiv

raecution, was
f the Atlantic
and "wide sea.
lip ; namely,
iS triumvirait
at their com-
1 what wonld
)r their doth-
: but by ose
non preached
•e sermons, or
the morning,
the evening,
[on received a
5 him, in the
membrance of
)yed upon the
England, Sep-
-Bojeon, which
holy wisdom,
its of growth,
[own consider-
land, was just
raytr seeking
Ik with him m

his ordinances, according to his word, be would mercifully send over to
them, such as might be eyes unto them in the wUdemest, and strengtheti
tbeni in discerning and following of that word.

§ 20. There were divers churches gathered in 'he country ,^ before the
arrival of Mr. Cotton ; but upon bis arrival, the points of church-order,
were with more of exactness revived, and received inthem, and/uHAcr
observed in such as were gathered after them. He found the whole
country in a perplexed and a divided estate, as to their civil eouatitution^
but at the publick desires, preaching a sermon oil those words. Hag. ii..
4, Be strong, O Zerubhabel, saith the Lord; and be strong, O Joshua, son
of Joscdech the high priest ; and be strong all ye people of the land, saith
the Lord, and work : for I am with you, saith the Lord of Hosts. The good
.■spirit of God, by tliut sermon, had a mighty influence upon all ranks of
men, in the infant-plantation ; who from this time carried on their affaira
with a new life, satisfaction and unanimity. It was then requested of
Mr. Cotton, that he would, from the laws wherewith God governed his
ancient people, form an abstract of such as were of a moral and a last-
ing equity : which he performed as acceptably as judiciously. But inas-
much as very much of an Athenian democracy was in the mould of the ^ov-
ernm^nt, by the royal charter, which was then acted upon, Mr. Cotton
effectually recommended it unto li. oi, ihat none should be electors, nor
elected therein, except such a& we iible subjects of our Lord Jesus
Christ, personally con/e<2era(ed ir o - tiurches. In these, and many
other ways, he propounded unto i' : .i, an endeavour after a theocracy^
as near as might be, to that which was the glory of Israel, the peculiar
people.

But the ecclesiastical constitution of the country, was that on which he
employed his peculiar cares ; and he was one of those olive-trees, which
afforded a singular measure of oyl, for the illumination of our sanctuary.

§ 21. Tke churches now had rest, and were edified : and there were daily
added unto the churches, those that were to be saved. Now, though the
poor people were fed with the bread of adversity, and the waters of af-
fliction, yet they counted themselves abundantly compensated by this,
that their eyes might see such teachers, as were now to be seen among
them. The faith and the order in the churches, was generally glorious,
whatever little popular confusions, might in some few places eclipse the
glory. But the warm sun shine will produce a swarm of insects ; whilst
matters were going on thus prosperously, the cunning and malice of Sa?
tan, to break the prosperity of the churches, brought in a generation of
hypocrites, who crept in unawares, turning the grace of our God into lasr
civiousness, A company of Antinomian and Familistical sectaries, were
strangely crouded in among our more orthodox planters ; by the artifices
of which busie opinionists, there was a dangerous blow given, tirst unto
the /attft, and so unto the peace of the churches. In the storm thus rais-
ed, it is incredible what obloquy came to be cast upon Mr. Cotton, as if he
had been the patron oi these destroyers ; merely because they willing to
have a great person in admiration, because of advatitage, falaly used the
name of this great person, by the credit thereof to disseminate and dis-
semble their errors ; and because the chief of them in their private
conferences with him, would make such fallacious profession of gospel-
truths, that his christian and abused charity, would not permit him to be
so hasty as many others were, in censuring of them. However, the re-
port given of Mr. Cotton on this occasion, by one Bitily, a Scotchman, in
a most scandalous pamphlet, called, A Disswasive, written to cast an odium

244

THE h'I^TORY of NEWENGtANl). [Book III.

on the churches of New-England, by vilifying Atin, that was one of their
moat eminent servants, are most horrid injuries : for there being upon
the encouragement of the success which the old JWcene, Conitantinofoli'
tan, Epheaine, and Cholcedonian councils had, in the eitinguishing of
several successive heresies, a covncil now called at Cambridge, Mr. Co*^
ton, after some de'bates with the Reverend Assembly, npon some contro-
verted points of justijictttiari, most vigorously joined with the other min-
isters of the country, in testifying against the hateful doctrines, whereby
therhtirchcs had been troubled. Indeed there ()id happen paroxisms in
this hour of temptation, between Mr. Cotton, and some other zealous and
worthy per!>uns, which though they did not amount nnto the keat and
ftelghth of those that happened between Chrysoitom and Epiphanius, or
betvveen Hierom and Fuffinus, yet they inclined him to meditate a removal
into, another colony. But a certain scandalous writer, having publickly
reproached Mr. Cotton, witli his former inclination to remove, there was
thereby provoked his publick and patient answer ; which being a sum-
mery narrative of this whole business. I shall here transcribe it.

* 'J'here was a generation of Familists in our own, and other towns.

* who under pretence of holding forth what I had taught, touching union

* with Chritst, and evidencing that union, did secretly vent sundry and
' dangerous errors and heresies, denying all inherent righteousness, and
' all evidencing of a good estate thereby in nny sort, and some of them

* also denying ike immortality' of the soul, and the res%irrt"''>'nn of the body.

* When they were questioned by some brethren about those ihings, they

* carried it, as if they had held forth nothing, but what they had received

* from me : whereof, when I was advised to clear my self, I publickly

* preached against those errors. Then said the brethren to the erring

* party. See your teacher declares himself clearly to differ from you. Ab

* matter (say the other) what he saitk in publick, we understand him other-

* wise, and we know what he saith to us in private. Yea, and 1 my self

* could not easily believe, that those erring brethren and sisters, were so

* corrupt in their judgments as they were reported ; they seeming to

* me forward christians, and utterly denying any such tenents, or any

* thing else, but what they received from my self. All which bred in

* sundry of the country, a jealousie that I was in secret a fomenter of the
.* spirit of familism, if not leavened my self that way. Which I dii>cem-

* ing, it wrought in me thoughts (as it did in many^ other sincerely and

* godly brethren of our church) not of a separation from the churches,

* but of a removal to New-Haven, as being better known to the pastor,

* and some others l/tere, than to such as were at that time jealous of me

* here. The true ground whereof was an inward loathuess to be trouble

* some unto godly minds, and a fear of the unprofitableness of my minis-

* try there, where my way was suspected to be doubtful and dangerous.

* I chose therefore rather to meditate a silent departure in peace, than by

* tarrying here, to make way for the breaking forth of temptations. But

* when, at the Synod, I had discovered the corruption of the judgment of
• * the erring brethren, and saw their fraudulent pretence of holding forth

* no other, but what they received from me (when as indeed they plead

* for gro«s errors contrary unto my judgment) 1 thereupon did bear wit-
' * ness against them ; and when in a private conference with some chief

* magistrates and elders, I perceived, that my removal upon such differ-

* ences was unwekome to them, and that such points need not to occa
'"'* sioD any distance (neither in place nor in heart) amongst brethren, I Iher

'^'" '-'■ ■ ='■ ■-■..:.i,^j..J.,-,..-ii.i:...^r.:..:'....^^.^.::. ■

OK m.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND.

246

of their
ng upon
tinopoli'
ishing of
Mr. Co*-
i contro-
hfiT mln-
whereby
•oxisfM in
lalous and
heat and
ianiva, or
a T^mOval
poblickly
there was
ing a Bum*
it. ^;'«»w,

her towfi«,
;hing union
sundry and
usness, and
ne of them
Djf the body.
hing8, they
ad received
1 publickly
p the erring
n you. JVb
d him other-
d I my self
ers, were 80
seeming to
jnts, or any
ich bred in
menter of the
;h I difcem-
incerely and
le churches,
the pastor,
'alous of me
to be irovbk
if my minis-
J dangerous,
■ace, than by
lations. But
judgment of
holding forth
;d they plead
did bear wit-
h some chief
such differ-
not to occa-
(thren, I then

< rested satisfied in my abode amongst them, and so have contioaed, by the
* grace of Christ unto this day.'

'Tis true, such was Mr. Cotton^a holy ingenuity, ^ jhat when he per-
ceived the advantage, which erroneous and heretical persons in bis
church, bad from his abused charity,, taken to spread their dangerous
opinions, before he was aware of them, be did publickly sometimes with
teart bewail it, That the enemy had sown so many tares "uibiist he had bpen
asleep. Nevertheless 'tis as true, that nothing ever could be baser than
the disingenuity of those pamphletteers, who took advantage hence, to
catch these tears in their venomous ink horns, and employ them for so
many blots upon the memory of a righteous man, worthy to be had in ever-
lasting remembrance.

§ 22. When the virulent and violent Edwards had been after a roost
unchristian manner, bespattering the excellent Burroughs, that reviled
saint, in his answer, had that passage ; The extreme eagerness of some to
asperse our namesj makes us to think, that God hath made more use of our
nanus, Aan we were aware of. — —fVe see by their auger even almost to
madness, bent that way, thai thty had little hope, to prevail with all their
argument against the cause we profess, till they could get down our estum

(such as it was) in the hearts of the people. But our names are not in

the power of their tongues and pens ; thty are in the hands of God, who
wilt preserve them so far, as he hath use of them ; and further, we shall
have no use of thtm our selves. That bitter spirit in Ba^y, must for such
causes expose the name of the incomparable Cotton., unto irreparable in-
juries : for, from the meer hearsays of that uncharUable writer, hastily
published unto the world, the learned and worthy Dr. Hoombeck, not much
less against the rules of charity, printed a short account of Mr. Cotton i
whereof an ingenious author truly says, there was in it, Quotfere Verba,
tot Errores famosissimi ; neque tantum quot Capita, tot Carpenda, sed
tfuot fere Sententiarum punctula, tot Dispungenda. That scandalous ac-
count, it is pity it should be read in English, and greater pity that ever
that reverend person should make it be read in Latiii ; but this it was ,-
Cottonus, horrore Ordinis Episcopalis, •j.n Aliud Exlremum prolapsus, Om-

niaplebi absque Vinculo Ecclesiarum concedebat. Cottonus iate,primvm

in Anglia, alterius Longe Sentential fuerat unde, 4* plurimorum Errorum
Heresiumque Reus, Maximus Ordims iatius, vel polius Ataxias, promotor
extitit ; habuitqiie iecum, quemadmodum Montanus olim Maximillam, suam
Hutchinsooam, de quavari ir prodigiosa multa referunt. From these mis-
erable historians, who would imagine what a slur has been abroad cast
upon the u&aie of as holy, as learned, as orthodox, and eminent a servant
of our Lord, in his Reformed Churches, as was knosvn in his age ! Among
the ref>t, it is particularly observable how a laborious and ingenious for-
eigner, in his Bihliolheca Jlnglorum Theologica, having in his index men-
tioned a book of this our Mr. Cotton, under the style of Johannis Cottoni,
Via Vitae, Liber Uiilissimus, presently adds, Jllius Johannes Cottonus mal(f
JVotffi Homo: whereas 'twas only by the misrepresentations of conten-
tious and unadvised men, that John Cotton, the experimental author of
such an useful book, must be branded with a note of infamy. But if the
reader will deal justly, he must join these gross calumnies upon Cotton,
with the fables of Luther''s devil, ZuingUus^ dreams, Ca/vtn'« brands, and
Junius' cloven foot. If Hoombeck ever saw Cotton's mild, but full reply
to Baily, which as the good spirited Beverly says, would haVe been es-
teemed a sufficient refutation of all these wretched slanders, JV*m Fra-
trum quorundam aures ervnt ad veritatem,tanquamAspidum, obturata, 'tis

«46

THE HlSTORy OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book IIL

imposiiible to excuse liis wrongful deulings with a venerable loiDiater of
our Lord ! Pray, Sir, churge not our Cotton with an Horror Ordinis
Epiicopalii; until you h^ve chastised vour friend /lonoriw Heggiui, thnt
is Georgiu$ Homius, for Celling uti, as yoeliu$ quotes it ; Multorwn Avi-
tnoi Subiit Hecordatio illius^ quod VenerubilU Bezn. non sine Piophetia
Spiritu, olim rcscripait Knoxo, Eccletia Scotica Refomtatori : Sicut Epis'
copi Fapalum pepererunt, ita OeuUt pane ipaiajam cernitur, Pmedo Epit-
ropos, papatus keliquiat, Epicureismurn TerrU Invecturos, Atque hac
pttemittere Visum, ut eo manifeatiui esact Britanniam diutiua Episcopoa non
potuitte ftrre, niai in Papiamum 4* Jllheiamum Labi vellel. Charge not
our Cotton with an Omnia Plebi absque Vincuh Aliarvm Ecclesiarwn con-
cedebat ; until, besides the whole scope und scheme of his ecclesiastical
writings, which allow no more stUI unto the fraternity, than Parker,
Ames,Carf^n'ght; und advance no other than that ariatocraaie, that Bexa,
Zanchy, Whitaker, Bucer, and Blondel pleaded for ; you have better con-
strued his words in his golden preface to Jiorton^s answer unto the Syllo-
g« Qua>«(tonuin, JSfeque nos Regimen proprie dictum alibi quam penes Pres-
by teres stabilendum Cupimus: Convenimus ambo inSubjecto Regiminii Ec-
clcaiastici : Convenimus eliam in Regula Reminis, ut Administretitur Omttia
Juxta Canoncm Sacrarum Scriptarum : C'onvenimus etiam in Fine Rtgtmi-
■nis, ut Omnia Tranaigaulur ad Edijicationem Ecclesite, nou ad Pompam
aut Luxum Secularem : Hynodoa nos, una P'obiscum, cum opus fuertt, 4*
Suscipimua <$* veneramur, (^nantillum est, quod Restat, quod Distatl Ac'
tus Kegiminis, quos vos a Synodia peragi Velletia, eos a Sytiodis porrigi Ec-
clesiis ^ ab Eixlesiis, ex Synodali Diorthosisi peragi peteremus. Chaif;e
nut our Cotton with an Ataxias Promotor Extitit until you, your self,
Doctor, have revoked your own ttuo concessions, which are all the Atax^
ies that ever could, with so much as the least pretence, be imputed unto
this renowned person ; Ecchsia particularis qualibet Subjeclum est Ada-
quaiiim <$* proprium plena poteslatis Ecclesiasttca ; nee Congrue dicitur ejvs
Synodo Dependentia, and, JVeque enim Synodi in alias Ecclesias potes tatem
habent Imperantem, qua: Superiorum esty in Inferiores sibi Subditoa ; Aon*
Commwnionis Sententia Potestatcm ^uvimam denotat. As for the Cotttmus
Plurimcrum Errorum Haresiumquc Reus, were old Austin alive, he
would have charged no less a crime than that of sacriledge upon the man,
that thus without all colour, should rob the church of a name which
would justly be dear unto it ; for as the great Caryl hath expressed it.
The name of Collon is as an ointment poured forth. But for the top of
all these calumnies, Cottoni Hvtchinsona, instead of a resemblance to
Montani Maximilian the truer comparison would have been, Mulier ista,
iptm per Calumniam notissimam Objiciebatnr Alhanasio ; all the favour
which that prophetess of Thyatira had from this angeliial man, was the
same, that the provoked Paul showed unto the Pythoniss. In fine, the his-
tories which the world has had of the JVcw- English churches, under the
influence of Mr. Cotton, I have sometimes thought much of a piece, with
what we have in the old histories of Lysimachus ; that when a leprous, a
»cabby sort of people were driven out of Egypt into the wilderness, there
was a certain man called Moses, who counselled them to march on in a
body, till they came to some good soyl. This Moses commanded them to
be kind unto no man ; to give bad advice rather than good, upon all oc-
casions ; and to destroy as many temples as they could find ; so, after
much travel and trouble, they came to a fruitful soyl, where they did all
the mischief that Moses had recommended, and built a city, which was at
lirst called Hierosyla, from the spoiling of the temples : but afterwards, to

OOK

111.

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND.

847

WBter oi"
Ordinu
[till, thui
117/1 •nm*
Pj opketia
cut Epii-
tdo Epi*-
\lque hac
copoi non
large not
irum con'
leaiatttical
n Varker,
that Bega,
etter con-
, the Syllo-
tenet Fret-
imini* Ec-
\tur Omnia
ne htgimi-
d Pompam
s fver^l. ir
Uatat! Ac-
porrigi Ec-
J. Charge
your self,
1 the Atax'
puted unto
irn est Ma-
Hcitur ejvt
poles tatetn
litos; JVbn.
he Cottonut
ahve, he
in the man,
lame which
pressed it,
the top of
imblance to
lulier iita,
the favour
,n, was the
|ne, the his-
under the
piece, with
]a leprous, a
•ness, there
■ch on in a
led them to
ipon all oc-
; so, after
[hey did all

jich WM »'■
[erwards.to

shun the disgrace of the occasion, they changed it into Hierdtidytie't tM
bore the name of Hicroiolymitans. But thm must n bad report, as well,
as a good report, follow such a roan as Mr. Cotton, whose only fault after
all, was that, with which that memorable ancient Nazienzen was taxed
sometimes ; namely, the fault of Mantuetude.

§ 23. These clouds being thus happily blown over, the rest of his dayn
were spent in n more settled peace ; and Mr Cottou^s growing and spread-
ing fame, like Joseph's bough, ran over the wall of the Atlantic oceun, un-
to such a degree, that in the year 1641, some ^''^at pc'-'^ns in England,
were intending to have sent over a ship on p ^ se -tch him over,
for the take of the service, that such a man as ke, migh en do to the
church of God, then travelling in the nation. But although their doubt
of his vjillingnets to remove, caused them to forbear that metAod of obtain-
ing him, yet the principal members in both houses of parliament wrote
Uhto him, with an importunity for his return into England; which had
prevailed with him, if the dismal showers of blood, quickly after break-
ing upon the nation, had not made such afflictive impressions upon him,
as to prevent his purpose. He continued therefore in Boston unto bis
dying day ; counting it a great favour of Heaven unto him, that he was
delivered from the unsettledness oj" habitation, which was not among the
least of the calamities that exercised the apostles of our Lord. J^ineteen
years and odd months he spent in this place, doing of good publickly and
privately, unto all sorts of men, as it became agoodmanfull of faith, and
of the Holy Ghost. Here in an expository way, he went over the Uld Testa-
ment once, and a second time as far as the thirtieth chapter of Isaiah; and
the whole JS'ew Testament once, and a second time, as far as the eleventh
chapter to the Hebrews. Upon Lord^s-days and lecture-days, he preach-
ed thorow the Acts of the Apostles ; the prophesies of Haggai and Zecha-
riah, the books of £2rffl, the Revelation, Ecclesiastes, Canticles, second
and third Epistles of John, the Epistle to Titus, both Epistles to Timothy ;
the Epistle to the Romans ; with innumerable other scriptures on inci-
dental occasions. Though he had also the most remarkable faculty, per-
haps of any man living, to meet every remarkable occasion, with pertin-
ent reflections, whatever text he were upon, without ever wandring out
of sight from his text : and it is possible there might sometimes be a par-
ticular operation of providence, to make the works and words of God meet
in the ministry of his holy servant. But thus did he abound in the works
of the Lord!

§ 24. At length, upon desire, going to preach a sermon at Cambridge,,
(which he did, on Isa. liv. 13. 7'% children shall be all taught of the
Ifjord ; and from thence gave many excellent councils unto the studenti
of the colledge there) he took wet in his passage over the ferry ; but he
presently felt the effect of it, by the failing of his voice in sermon-time ;
which ever until now, had been a clear, neat, audible voice, and easily
heard in the most capacious auditory. Being found so doing, as it had
often been his declared wish, That he might not out live his work! (saying
upon higher principles than once Cnrius Dentalus did, Malle esse se Mor-
tuum, quam Vivere; that he had rather 6e dead, than Irve dead: and with
Seneca, Ultimum malorum est ex vivorum JVumero exire, ante quam moria-
ris :) his illness went on to an inflammation in his lungs ; from whence
he grew somewhat asthmatical ; but there was a complication of other
scorbutic affects, which put him under many symptoms of his approaching
end. On the eighteenth of November, he look in course for his text,
thfi four last vorses of the second Epistle to Timothy, giving this reason

248

THE HISTORY OF N£W.ENOLAND. (fioox III,

for his inaitting on so mtny verses at ooce, bteauu elu (he said) / dmll
not live to make an end of thi$ Epiitle ; but he chiefly insisted on those
words, Grace be with you all. Upon the Lord's day following, he preach-
ed his last sermon on Joh. i. 14. aboat thatg^ory of the LordJeem Chrirt,
from the faith to the $ight whereof, he was now hastening. After this
in that study, which had been perfumed with many such days before, he
now spent a day in secret humiliationi and supplications, before the Lord ;
seeking the special assistances of the Holy Spirit, for the great work of
dying, that was now before him. What glorious transactions might one
have heard passing between the Lord Jesus Christ, and an excellent ser-
vant of his, now coming unto him, if he could have had an hearit^ place
behind the hangings of the chamber, in such a day I But having finished
the duties of the day, he took his leave of his beloved study, saying to
bis consort, / shall go into that room no more ! And he had all along pre-
sages in bis heart, that God would by his present sickness, give him an
entrance into the everlasting kingdomofthe Lord Jesus Christ. Wherefore,
setting his house in order, he was now so far from unwilling to receive the
mercy-stroke of death, as that he was desirous to be with Him, with whom
to be, it by far the best of all. And although the chief ground of his read-
iness to be gone, was from the unutterably sweet and rich entertainments,
which he did by foretast, as well as by promise, know that the Lord had
reserved in the heavenly regions for him, yet he said, it contributed un-
to this readiness in him, when he considered the saints, whose company
and communion he was going onto ; particularly Perkins, Ames, Preston,
Ilildersham, Dod, and others, which had been peculiarly dear unto him-
aelf ; besides the rest, in thatgen«ra/ assembly.

' §25. While he thus lay sick, the magistrates, the ministers of the
country, and christians of all sorts, resorted unto him, as unto a public
father, full of sad apprehensions, at the withdraw of such ». publiek bles-
sing; and the gractous words that proceeded out of his mouth, while he
had strength to utter the profitable conceptions of his mind,^caofied them
to reckon these their visits the gainfulest that ever they had made. Among
others, the then president of the college, with many tears, desired of Mr.
Cotton before his departure, to bestow his blessing on him ; saying, /
know in my heart, they whom you bless shall be blessed. And not long be
fore his death, he sent for the elders of the church, \?bereof Ae himself
<ilso was em elder ; who having, according to the apostolical direction,
prayed over him, he exhorted them to feed the flock aver which they were
overseers, and encrease their watch against those declensions which he
saw the professors of religion falling into : adding, / have now through
grace, been more than forty years a servant unto the Lord Jesus Christ, and
have ever found him a good master. When his collegue Mr. Wilson, took
his leave of him with a wish, that God would lift up the light of his com-
ienOnce upon him, he instantly replied, God hath done it already, brother!
He then called for his children, with whom he left the gracious covenant
of God, as their never failing portion : and now desired, that he might be
left private the rest of his minutes, for the more freedom of his applica-
tions unto the Lord. So lying speechless a few hours, he breathed his
blessed soul into the hands of his heavenly Lord ; on the twenty third
of December 1652, entring on the sixty-eighth year of his own age : and
on the day, yea at the hour, of his constant weekly labours in the lecture,
wherein he had been so long serviceable, even to all the churches of
New-England. Upon Tuesday the twenty eighth of December, he wa?
most honourably interred, v/ith a most numerous mncourse of people.

oox

III.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

249

d) f tkall
00 those
} preach-
M Chriit,
After this
tefore, he
the Lord ;
it work of
might one
ellent ser-
iring p'oce
ng finished
, saying to
along pre-
ive him an
therefore,
receive the
, •with whom
of bis read-
ertainments,
le Lord had
tributed un-
tae company
nes, Pretton,
ar unto him-

litters of the
nto a public
publidt bles-
h, while he
caused them
lade. Among
esired of Mr.
m ; saying, /
not long be
BoffcehtflM«lf
al direction,
lich they veere
ni which he
noTB through
es Christ, and
Wilson, took
it of his cow-
>ady,l>rother!
•ious covenant
[the might be
f his appHca-
breathed his
twenty third
jwn age : an^
[in the lectvre,
I churches ol
fmher, he m
ge of people.

and the most grievous and solemn /unera/ that was ever known perhaps
upon the American strand ; and the lectures in his church, the whole
winter following, performed by the neighbouring ministers, were but so
many funeral sermons upon the death and worth of this extraordinarif
person : among which, the tirst, I think, was preached by Mr. Richard
Mather, who gave unto the bereaved church ol Boston this great charac-
ter of their incomparable Cotton, Let us pray, that God ivould raise ^p
some Eleazar to succeed this Aaron : bvt you can hardly expect, that so
large a portion of the spirit of God should duiell in any one, as dwelt in this
blessed man ! And generally in the other churches through the country*
the expiration of this general blessing to them pU, did produce funeral
sermons full of honour and sorrow ; even as many miles above an hun-
dred, as J^ew-Haven was distant from Massachuset-\my, when the tidings
of Mr. Cvtton's decease arrived there, Mr. Davenport with many tears
bewailed it, in a public discourse on that in 2 Sam. i. 26, / om distresae4
for thee, my broilur Jonathan, very pleasant hast thou been unto me. Tiea,
they speak of Mr. Cotton in their lamentations to this day I

It is a memorable saying oiAlgazel, In quo Luriten Religionis 4r Devo-
tionis, Fumus generatus ex Lumine Scientite non exlinguit, ille perfeclus
est : Sed quis est hie, ut adoremus eum ? Reader, 1 will show thee such a
man ; one in whom the Itght of learning accompanied the^re of goodness^
met in an high degree : but thou shalt adore none but the Lord Jesus
Christ, who made htm such a man.

§ 26. How vast a treasure of learning was laid in the grave, which
was opened on this occasion, can scarce credibly and sufficiently be rela-
ted. Mr. Cotton was indeed, a most universal scholar, and a living system
of the liberal arts, and a walking library. It would be endless to recite all
his particular accomplishments, but only three articles of observation
shall be offered. First, for his grammar, be had a very singular skill in
those three languages, the knowledge whereof was the inscription on the
cross of our Saviour, proposed unto the perpetual use of his church. The
Hebrew he understood so exactly, and so readily, that he was able to dis'
course in it. In the Greek he was a critick, so accurate and so well versed,
that he need not, like Austin, to have studied in his reduced age. Thus,
if many of the ancients committed gross mistakes in their interpretations of
the scriptures, through their want of skill in the originals, Mr. Cotton
was better qualified for an interpreter. He both wrote and spoke Latin
also with great facility ; and with a most Ciceronian elegancy, exemplifi-
ed in one published composure. Next, for his logic he was compleatly
furnished therewith to encounter the subtilest adversary of the truth.
But although he had been educated in iheperipatetick way, yet like the
other puritans of those times, he rather iifiected th^ Raman discipline ;
and chose to follow the methods of that excellent Ramus, who like Justin
of old, was not only a philosopher, but a christian, and a martyr also ;
rather than the more empty, trifling, altercntive notions, to which the
works of the Pagan Aristotle derived unto us^ through the mangling hands
of the apostate Porp/ti/n'e, have disposed his disciples. Lastly, for hi»
Tkeologie, there 'twas that he had his greatest extraordinariness, and most
of all, his Textual Divinity. His abilities to expound the scriptures, caus-
ed him to be admired by the ablest of his hearers. Although his incom-
parable modesty would not permit him to speak any more than the least
of himself, yet unto a private friend he hath said, That he knew not of any
difficult place in all the whole Bible, which he not weighed, some what unto
satisfaction. And hence, though he ordinarilv bestowed much pains up-
VoL. 1.. 32 •

tt60

'J'HE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. (Book III.

on hit publick termon$, yet he hath Hometimeii preached moat admirably,
without any warning ni ail ; and n new note upoo a text before him, oc-
curring to his mind, but just ns he wns going into the a«»emlby, hat taken
up his discoure ibr that hour, so pertinently und judiciously, that the most
critical of his auditorn, imsigined nothing extemporaneoun. Indeed his li-
brary was vast, und vast was his acquaintance with it : but although
amongst his rendingH, he had given a special room unto the fathers, and
unto the tchool-men, yet at hist, he preferred one Calvin nbovo them ail.
If Eratmus, when ufl'ered a Bishoprick to write against Luther, could
Hnswer, There ■was more dix'inity in a page of Luther, than in all Thoma!*
Aquinas : 'tis no wonder that Salmasius could so venerate Calvin, as to
say, That he had rather be the author of that one book, the Institutions writ-
ten hyCahin, than have written all that was ever done by Grotius. Even
such a Calvinist was our Cotton ! Said he, / have read the fathers and the
tcool-men, and Calvin loo ; but I find, that he that has Calvin has them all.
And being asked, why in his latter days he indulged nocturnal studies more
than formerly, he pleasantly replied. Because I love to sweeten my mouth
with a piece of Calvin before I go to sleep,

§ ST. Indeed in his common preacjiing, he did as Basil reports of
Ephrem Syrus, Plurimmn distare a Mundana Sapientia : and though he
were a great scholar, yet he did sonscientiously forbear making to the
common people any ostentation of it. He had the art o( concealing kit art ;
and thought with Sobinus, JVon minus est Virluas Populariter quam Argute
Loqui, and Mr. Dod, That Latin for the most part was flesh in a sermon.
Accordingly, when he was handling the deepest subjects, a speech of that
import was frequent with him, / desire to speak so as to be understood by
the meanest capacity! And he would sometimes "Ive the same reason
for it, which the great Ju«/in gave, If I preach more scholaatically, then
only the learned, and not the unlearned, can so understand as to profit by
me ; but if I preach plainly, then both learned and unlearned tdll under-
^stand me, and so I shall profif all. When a golden key of oratory would
not so •.veil open a mystery of Christianity, be made no stick to take an
iron one, that should be less rhetorical. You should hear few terms of
art, few latinities, no exotic or obsolete phrases, obscuring of the truth,
which he was to bring unto the people of God. Nevertheless his more
judicious and observing hearers, could by his most tmtrimmed sermons
perceive that he was a man of more than ordinary abilities. Hence
when a Dutchman of great leamiUg,, heard Mr. Cotton preach at Boston,
in England, he professed, That he never in his life saw such a conjunction
of learning and plainness, cu there was in the preaching of this worthy mm.
The glory of God, and not his own glory, was that at which he aimed
in his labours ; for which cause, at the end of his notes, he still inserted
that clause, TibiDomine: or. For thy glory, O God! For liis delivery,
though it were not like FareVs, noisy and thundering, yet it hid in it a
very awful mAtjesty, set off with a natural and becoming motion of his
right hand ; and the Lord was in the still '.■Ji'-e at such a rate, that Mr
Wilson would say, Mr. Cotton preaches with such authority, demonstration,
and life, that methihks, when he preaches out of any prophet, or apostle, I hear
not him ; I hear that very prophet and apostle ; yea, I hear the Lord Jesus
Christ himself speaking in my heart. And the success which God gave
to thete plain labours of his faithful, humble, diligent servant, was beyond
what most ministers in the country ever did experience : there have
been few that have seen so many and mighty effects, given to the traveli
of their souls, ^ . . . . ■ ^ i'S'.,

>0K lU.

booE III.] THE HISTORY OF NEVVENOLAND.

26 1

nirably,
liiin, oc-
as takcB
the most
id his />*
Although
hers, nnd
them all.
■r, could
I Thomas
i}in, U8 to
ttotis writ-
8. Even
•« and the
t thtm all.
tdiei more
my «io«</i

reports of
though he
king to the
tig in* art ;
mm Argute
% a sermon-
tech of that
ider stood by
lame reaaon
tically, then
I to profit by
will under-
itory would
, to take an
ew terms of
the trutiu,
\ia his more
\ed sermons
|es. Hence
at Boston,
conjunction
joorthy mm.
ih he aimed
ilill inserted
liis delivery,
hid in it a
otion of his
e, that Mr.
\moniitration,
jstlejkm
Lord Jesus
;h God gave
was beyond
there have
the travili

§ 88. He WHS «ven from hix youth to his ii^, an indefutigable «tnd<nt,
umler the conscience of the upoHtulicHl precept, Be not slothful inbu$i'
ness, but fervent in spirit servinj^ the Lord. He was careful to redeem
his hnam, na well as liis days ; uml miy;ht lay claim to that charl(cter of
the blessed miirtyr, Sparing of ileep, more sparing of words, but most
sparing of time. If any came to visit him, he would be very civil to
tnem, having learued it a» his duty, To use all gentleness towards all men :
and yet he would often siiy with home regret, after the departure of a
visitant, I had rather have -^iven this man an handful of money, than /love
been keep thus long out of my study : reckoning with Pliny, the time not
spent in study, for the most part, aweeled away. For which cause he
went not much abroad ; bbt he judged ordinarily that more benefit was
obtained, according to the advice of the wi«c Kin^, by conversing with
the dead [in Books,] than with the living [in Talks :] and that needUfs
visits do commonly unframe our spirits, and perhaps disturb our contorts.
He was an early riser, taking the morning fur tiie muses ; and in his lat-
ter days forbearing a supper, he turned his former supping-time, into a
reading, a thinking, a prnyins;-time. Twelve hours in a day he common'
!y Htodied, and would call that a scholar's day ; resolving rathor to wear
out with using, than with rusting. In truth, hid he not been of nn healthy
and hearty constitution, and had he not mitdea careful, though not curi-
ous diet serve him, instead of an Hippucra'es, his continued labour must
have made his life, as well as his labour, to have been but of a short coa>
tinuance. And, indeed, the work which lay upon him, could not have
been performed, without a labour more than ordinary. For besides his
constant preaching, more than on:e every week, many cases were
brought unto him Dir and near, in resolving whereof, us he took much
time, so he did much good, being a most excellent casuist. He was like-
wise very deeply concerned in peaceable and effectual disquisitions of
the controversies about church-government, then agitated in the Church
of Qod. And though he chiefly gave himself to reading, and doctrine,
and exhortation, depending much, on the ruling elders to inform him,
concerning the state of his particular Hock, that he might the better
order himself in the word and prayer, yet he found his ehurch-work, in
this regard also, to call for no little paiofulness, watchfulness, and faith-
fulness.

§ 29. He was one so clothed with humility, that according to the em-
phasis of the apostolical direction, by this livery his relation as a disciple
to the lowly Jesus, was notably discovered ; and hence he was patient
and peaceable, even to a proverb. He had a more than common excel-
lency in that cool spirit, which the oracles of wisdom describe, as the
excellent spirit in the man of understanding ; and therefore Mr. Norton
would parallel him with Moxe;, among the patriarchs, with Melacthon
among the reformers. He was rather excessive than defective in self-
denial, and had the JVimta Humilitas, which Luther sometimes blamed in
Staupicius : yea, he was at last himself sensible, that some fell very deep
into the sin of Corah, through his extreme forbearance, in matters rela-
ting to his own just rights in the church of God. He has, to a judicious
friend, thus expressed himself, Angry men have an advantage above m« ;
the people dare not not set themselves against such men, because they know it
viont be born ; but some care not what they say or do about me, because they
know I wont be angry with them again. One would have thought the in-
genuity of such a spirit should have broke the hearts of men, that had
indeed the hearts of men in them; yea, that the hardest^rnfs would hav*'

^-i

252

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND. [Book HI.

been broken, as is usual, upon such a soft bng of Cotton / But alas ! he
found it otherwise, even among 8otn« who pretended unto high attain-
tnenti in cbriftinnity. Once particulnrly, Hn humorous and imperious
brother, following Mr. Cotton home to liin house, after his publick !••
bours. instead of the grateful respects with which those holy labours
were to have been encouraged, rudely told him, that his ministry was be<
come generally, either dark, or flat : whereto this meek man, very mild>
ly and gravely, made only this answer : Both, brother, it may be, both:
let me lutve your prayers that it may be otherwise. But it is remarkable,
that the man sick thu* of wanton singularities, iiftcrwards died of those
damnable heresies, for which he was deservedly excommunicated. —
Another time, when Mr. Cotton had modestly replied unto one that
Tirould much talk and crack of his insight into the revelations : Brother, I
must confess my self to want light in those mysteries. The man went home,
and sent him a pound of candles : upon which action this good man be-
stowed only a silent smile. He would not set the beacon of his great soul
on fire, at the landing of such a little rock-boat. He learned the lesson
of Gregory, It is heUer, many times, tojlyfrom an injury by silence, than to
overcome it by replying: and he uded that practice oi Grynaus^ To re^
venge wrongs by christian taciturnity,

1 think, I may not omit,- on this occasion, to transcribe a remarkable
passage, which that good man, Mr. Flavd, reports, in asermon on gospel-
unity. His words are these : '

* A company of vain wicked men, having inflamed their blood in a

* tavern at Boston, and seeing that reverend, meek, and holy minister of

* Christ, Mr. Cotton, coming along the street, one of them tells bis com-

* panion, ni go, (saith he) and put a trick upon old 'Cotton. Down he
' goes, and crossing his way, whispers these words into his ear. Cotton

* (said he^ thou art an old fool, Mr. Cotton replied, / confess I am so:

* the Lord make both me and Ihee wiser than we are, even wti« uiUo salva-

* Hon. He relates this passage to his wicked comps^iions, which cast a
' great damp upon their sports, in the midst of a frolick.'

And it may pass for a branch of the same temper in him, that he ex*
tremely hated all Jlllotrio- Episcopacy : and though he knew as practically
as most men in the world, That we have a call to do good, as often as wt
have power and occasion ; yet he was slow of apprehending any occnsion
at all, though he might have had never so much power to meddle for
good, any where, but within the sphere of his own proper calling. As
he understood that Leontius blamed Constantine, for interposing too far in
ecclesiastical affairs, thus Mr. Cotton, on the other side, had a great aver-
eiou from engaging in any civil ones. He would religiously decline ta-
king into his cognisance all civil controversies, or umpirages, and what-
ever looked heterogeneous to the railing of one, whoseSwhole busineu
'twas to feed the flock of God. Nevertheless, in the things of God, of
Christ, of conscience, his condescending temper did not hinder him from
the most immovable resolution. He would not so follow peace with all
men, as to abandon or. prejudice, one jot. the interests of holiness.

§ 30. His command over his own spirit, was particularly observable
in his government of his family, where he would never correct any
thing in a passion , but first, with much deliberation shew what rule in
the holy vord of God, had bt^cn violated, by the fault lately committed.
He was indeed one that ruled well his own house. He therein morning
and evening read a chapter, with a little applicatory expo»ilion, before
and after which he made a prayer ; but he was very short in all, ac-

[Book II I •

utalatl he
high aUain-

I imperioui
publick It-
loly laboun
stry WBH b«-
, very miW*
ay 6e, both :
remarkHble,
lied of those
nunicated. —
ito one that
( : Brother, I

II went home,
good man be-
hiB greot soul
led the lessoa
Hence, than to
rynaut, To re'

a remarkable
noon on goipel-

?ir blood in a
oly minister ol"
I tells bis com-
)n. Down he
his ear. Cotton
nfe$s I am to:
lise unto $alva-
,, which cast a

Book 111.1 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

263

counting as Mr. Dod, Mr. Bains, and other great saints did beibre biUt
That it wa$ a thing inconvenient many wayt to be tediinu in family dutitt.
He also read constantly a portion of the scriptoi ) alone, and he prayed
over what he read : prayed I say ; for h« was very much in prayer, a
very man of prayer ; he would rarely sit down to study, without a prayer
over it, referring to the presence of Ood accompanying what be did. It
was the advice of the ancient, iSi vi* e$ie Semper cum Deo, Semper Ota,
Semper Lege : and agreeably hereunto, Mr. Cuiiun might suy with David^
Lord, I am itill wi<A thee. But he that was with (iod nil the week, was
more intimately with him on his own day, the chi^f day of tl e week,
which he observed most conscientiously. The sabbath be began th«
evening before : for which keeping of the sabbath /mm evening to «v«-
ning, he wrote arguments before his coming to J^ew- England: and 1 sup-
pose, 'twas from his reason and practice, that the cbriittians of M'ew-Kng-
land have generally done so too. When that evening arrived, he was
usually larger in his expotition in his family, than at other times : he
then catechised his children and servants, and prayed with them, and sang
a psalm ; from thence he retired unto study and secret prayer, till the
time of his going unto his repose. The nest morning, after his usual
family-worship, he betook himself to the devotions of his retirements,
and so unto the publick. From thence towards noon, he repaired again
to the like devotions, not permitting the interruption of any other din-
ner, than that of a small repast carried up unto him. Then to the publick,
once more : from whence returning, his first work was cLtset-prayer,
then prayer with repetitions of the sermons in the family. After sup-
per he otill sang a psalm ; which he would conclude with uplifted eyes
and hands, uttering this doxology, — Blessed be Qod in Christ our Saviour !
Last of all, just before bis going to sleep, he would once again go into his
prayerful study, and there briefly recommended all to that God, whom he
served with a pure conscience.

But there was one point of sabbath-keeping, about which it may not be
iinuseful for me transcribe a passage, which I find him writing to Mr. A*.
Rogers, in the year 1630.

'Studying for a sermon upon the sabbath-day, so far as it might be any
' wearisome labour to invention or memory, I covet (when I can) willingly
' to prevent it ; and would rather attend unto the quickning of my heart
' and affections, in the meditation of what 1 am to deliver. My reasoB
' is, much reading and invention, and repetition of things, to commit thera
' to memory, is a weariness to the flesh and spirit too ; whereas the sab-
' bcUh day doth rather invite unto an holy rest. But yet if God's provi-
' dence have straitned my time in the week-days before, by concurrence
' of other business, not to be avoided, I doubt not, but the Lord, who al-
' lowed the priests to employ their labour, in killing the sacrifices on the
' sabbath-day, will allow us also to labour in our callings on the sabbath,
' to prepare our sacrifice for the people.'

These were his ordinary sabbaths: but he also kept extraordinary
ones, upon the just occasions for them. He was in fasting often, and
would often keep whole days by himself, wherein he would with solemn
humiliations and supplications, implore the wanted mercies of heaven ;
yea, he would likewise by himself, keep whole days o{ thanksgiving unto
the Lord : besides the many days of this kind, which he celebrated in
publick assemblies with the people of God. Thus did this man of God
continually. ^

' = •■>«(.• ■■«S;^' •??•-'» 1

.T*^*-

Ml'

THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

§31. Without /tfr«ra/t7t/ and hospitality, he had been really as unde-
serving of the character of a minister of the gospel, as the sacrilegions
niggardliness of the people, does often endeavour to make ministers ud-
capnble of answering that character. But Mr. Cotton was most exem-
plary for thi!) virtue : wherein there are of his children, that have also
learned of him. Tlie stranger and the needy were still entertained at
his table, Episcopaliur 4* Brnigne, as was the phrase instructively used,
for H charitable entertainment of old. It might be said of him, as once if
was of the generous Corinthian, Semper aliquis in Cottoni Domo: he was
ever shewing of kindness to some-body or other. What Potidonius re-
lates of Austin, and virhat Peter Martyr affirms of Bucer, was very true of
our Cotton : his house xcas like an inn, for the constant entertainment which
he gave upon the account of the gospel. And he would say, If a man want
an heart for this charitij, it is not Jit such a man should be ordadned a min-
ister : consenting therein to the <;reat canonist, Hospitalitas usque adeo
Episcopis est necessaria, ut si uh ea inveniantur alieni, Jure prohibentur or-
dtnari. While he lived quietly in England, he was noted for his boun-
tiful disposition, especially to ministers driven into England by the storms
of persecution, then raging in Germany : for which cause Libingut, Sau-
mer, Jhlner, and others of the German sufferers, in their accounts of
him, would stile him,, Fautor Doctissimus, Clarissimus, Fidelissimus, plu-
rimiimque Honorandus. It was remarkable, that he never omitted invi-
ting unto bis house, any minister travelling to, or through the town, but
only that one man, who perfidiously betrayed Mr. Hildertham, with his
non'Conformist associates, into the hands of their enemies. And after he
came to New-England, he changed not his mind with his air ; but with a
Quantum ex Quantillo! continued his beneficence upon all occasions,
though his abilities for it were much diminished ; which brings to mind a
most memorable story. A little church, whereof the worthy Mr. White
was pastor, being by the strange and strong malice of their prevailing
adversaries, forced of Barmudas in much misery, into a desart of Ameri-
ca, the report of their distresses came to their fellow -sufferers, though
not alike sufferers, at New-England. Mr. Cotton immediately applied
himself to obtain a collection, for the relief of those distressed saints ; and
a collection of about 700/. was immediately obtained, whereof two hundred
was gathered in that one church of Boston, where there was no man who
did exceed, and but one man who did equal, (his deviser of liberal things, in
that contribution. But behold the wonderful providence of God ! Thin
contribution arrived unto the poor people on the very day, after they had
been brought unto a personal division of the little m^al then left in the
barrel ; upon the spending whereof, they could foresee nothing but a
lingring death ; and on that very day, when their pastor had preached
unto them, upon that most suitable t xt, Psal. xxiii. 1, The Lord is my
shepherd, I shall not want.

§ .32. Tile reader that is inquisitive after the prosopography of this
great man, may b«r inform, i, that he was a clear, fair, sanguine complex-
ion, and like David of a ruddy cotintenance. l\e was rather low than tall,
and rather fat than lean, but of a becoming mediocrity. In his younger
years his foaiVwas brown, but in his latter years as white as the driven
snow. In his countenance there was an inexpressible sort of majesty,
which commanded reverence from all that approached him : this Cotton
was indeed the Cato of hi^ age, for his gravity ; but had a glory with it
which Ca<o had not. I cannot indeed, say, what they report of Hilary,
that serpents were not able to look upon hin^ ; nevertheless, it was com-

iOOK 111.

as unde-
Tilegious
isten Qtt-
)8t exem-
have also
rtained at
^ely used,
as ot\ce if
o: he was
idoniws re-
ery true of
ment which
I inan want
Ined a tnin-
usqw adeo
it6cn<Mr or-
r his boun-
r the storms
nngWt Sou-
accounts of
isimus, plv-
mitted invi-
te town, but
tm, with his
\nd after he
; but with a
I occasions,
gs to mind a
,y Mr. White
prevailing
rt of fimeri-
pers, though
tely applied
I saints; and
two hundred
no man who
ralihingsM
God'. This
ler they had
1 left in the
othing but a
ad preached
Lord is »»!/

'aphy of this
ne complex-
]ow than tall,

bis yonnger

IS the driven

of majesty,

. this CoHon

Aory with it

ft of HilarV>

it was com-

BooK III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND,

266

iDonly observed, that the worser sort of serpents, would from the awe of
his presence keep in their poisons. As the keeper of the inn, where he
did u»e to lodge, when he came to Derby, would proiimely say to hia
companions, that be wished Mr. Cotton were gone out of hi« house ; for
he was not able to swear, while that man was vnder his roof. So other
wicked persons could not show their wickedness, whilst this holy and
righteous man was in the company. But the exacter picture of him, is
to be taken from his printed works, whereof there are many, that praise
him in the gates, though few of them were printed with his own knowledge
or consent.

We will mention a catalogue of his works, because (as it was said of
Calvin's,) ^

Chara quibus fuerat Cottoni Vita,' /aiorwm 4

Gratior ejnsdem Vita perennis erit. ...,%

•L

The children of New-England are to this day most usually fed with
his excellent catechism, which is entituled. Milk for Babes.

His well-known sermons on the First Epistle of John, in folio, have
had their acceptance with the church of God ; though being preached
in his youth, and not published by himself, there are some things therein,
which he would not have inserted.

There are also of his abroad, sermons on the thirteenth of the Revela-
tions, and on the vials, and on Rev. xx. 5, 6. and 2 Sam. vii. last in quarto.

As also, a savory treatise, entituled. The way of Life. The reverend
prefacer whereto saith, Ever since I had any knowledge of this judicious
author, I have looked upon him as one intrusted with as great a part of the
church's treasure, as any other whatsoever. vt

Several volumes of his expositions upon Ecclesiastes and Canticles, arc
also published in octavo.

As likewise, A treatise of the jVew Covenant : which being only a post-
humous piece, and only notes written after him, is accordingly to be
judged of.

And there have seen the light, an answer to Mr. Ball, about forms of
prayer. A discourse about the grounds and ends of infant-baptism. A
discourse about singing of psalms, proving it a gospel-ordinance. An Ab-
stract of laws in Christ's "kingdom, for civil government. A treatise
about the holiness of church-members ; proving, that visible saints are the
matter of a church. Another discourse upon things indifferent, proving
that no church-governours have power to impose indifferent things upon
the consciences of men. Add hereto, the way of the churches in JVexa-
England : and that golden discourse of The Kv.ys of the Kingdom of Hea-
ven: in a written copy whereof, yet in onr hands, there were some
things which were never printed, maintaining, that in the government of
the church, authority is peculiar to th»^. elders only; and answering all
the Brownistical arguments to the contrary. But whereas there may oc-
cur a passage in his book of The Way of the Lhnrches, which may have
in it a little more of the Morellian tang, reader, 'twas none of Mr. Cotton's;
Mr. Cotton was troubled when he saw such a passage, in an imperfect
copy of his writings, exposed unto the world, under his name, against his
mil: and he took an opportunity, in the moat publick manner, to de-
clare as much unto the world.

He was also sometimes put upon writing yet more polemically. In-
deed there was one occasion of so writinff, which ho declined meddling

256

THE HlbTOKV OF NEVV-ENGLAND. [Book III,

' withal ; and that was this : Mr. Cotton havintg in his younger years,
written to a private friend some things, tending (at hi? desire) to clear
the doctrine of reprobates, from the exceptions of the Jlrminiana ; and
this manuscript falling into Dr. Tvoiss' hand, that learned man published
it, with his oivn confutation of certain passages in it, which did not agree
so well with the doctor's own Supralapsarian scheme. Now when Mr.
Cotton saw himself reviled for this cause by Baily, as being Pelagian, he
only made this meek reply : / hme God will give me opportunity e'er long
to consider of this, the doctors lahour vf love. I bless the Lord, who has
taught me to be willing to be taught, of a far meaner disciple, than such a
doctor, whose sclvolastical acuteness, pregnancy of wit, solidity of judgment,
mad dexterity of argument, all orthodox divines do highly honour, and whom
all Arminians and Jesuites do fall down before, with silence. God forbid
I siiould shut my eyes against any light brought to me by him. Only I desire
I may not be condemned as a Pelagian, or Arminian, before I be heard.

Moreover, Mr. Cawdry fell hard upon him ; to whom he prepared an
answer, which was aAerwards published and seconded by Dr. Owen.
But besides these, he was twice compelled unto some other Eristical
writings : once in answer to Baily ; another time in answer to Williams :
in both of which, like Job, he turned the books which his adversaries had
written against him, into a crown. I believe, never any meer man, under
such open and horrid injuries, as these two reporters heaped upon Mr.
Cotton, did answer with more christian patience : his answers are hideed
a pattern for all answerers to the world's end. But it was particularly
remarkable, that in this matter, certain, persons, who had fallen under
the censures of the civil authority in the country, singled out Mr. Cotton
for the object of their displeasure, although he had, most ofcUl nun, de-
clined interesting himself in the actions of the magistrate, and had also
done more than all men, to obtain healing and favour for those ungrateful
delinquents. However, the Tenomous tongues all this while, only lick-
ed a file, which made themselves to bleed ; his fame, like the file, re-
mained invulnerable ; and if Mr. Cotton would from his own profitable
experience, have added another book unto this catalogue, it might have
been on the subject handled by Plutarch De Capienda ex Hostibus Utilitate.
This is the Elenchus of Mr. Cottons published writings ; wheupon we
might make this conclusion. »; ■ , .v.. , .,4 ,«, »;

DignaLegi Scribis, Fads <$• Dignissima Scribi; ».
Scripla probant Uoctum, Te, Tua, Facta, probum.

§ 33. The things which have been
Cotton an extraordinary person.

lated, cause us to account Mr.

Dives eras Donis, etiamgue Fidelis in Vsu,

Lucratus Domino multa Talenta tuo,
Midtus eras Studiis, mnltusq ; iMboribus, vno
■^ Te, Fora, Templa,Domus, Te, cupierefrui.

Multa Laborabas Scribendo, Multa Docendo,

Invigilans Operi, JVocte Dieque, Dei.
Multa Laborabas Scribendo, Multa Ferendo. > ,

Quce nisi Cottono, vix Subeundaforent.
Tu non unus eras, sed Multi ; Mvltus in uno.

Multorum Donis prmditus Unus eras. < .(

•? Uno Te amisso, Multos Amisimusin 3'c,

Sedncqiie per MvHos Restitvendv; <'ri-\

■^i!<

.a- /:,^!

•i*.

**■

SK III.

BdoK III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAlfrtJ.

257

years,
;o clear
m; aod
iblished
>t agree
ten Mr.
grtan, he
e'er long
who has
tn such <t
uc/gnwnt,
md whim
od forbid
y I desire
eard.
jpared an
>r. Owen.

Eristical
Williams :
•saries had
lan, under
upon Mr.
are indeed
larticularly
lien under
Mr. Cotton
^l men, de-
id had aUo
ungrateful

only \ick-
}ie file, re-
i profitable
might have
us Utilitate.
heupon we

These were some of the lines, which the renowned Bulkly >ju8t|y
wept upon his grave. Yea, we may, on as many accounts as these da)fs
will nllofv, reckon him to have been a prophet of the Lord : and when we
have entertained ourselves with a memortible demonstration of it, in one
i^urprising and stupcndious article of our church history, we will put a
period unto this part of it.

At the time when some unhappy persons wet^e just going from hence
to England, with certain petitions, which had a tendency to disturb the
ju;ood ordet* of things in both church and state, then settling among us,
Mr. Cotton in the ordinary course of his lectures on the Canticles, preach-
ed on Cant. ii. 15. Take us the foxes, the little foxts, which destroy thevinet.
Having thence observed. That when God has delivered his church from tki
dangers of the persecuting bear and lyon, then there were foxes that would
seek by policy to \indermine it : and, that all those who go by a fox-like poli'
ty to undermine the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ, shall be taken and
overtaken by his judgments. He came at length to his application^ where
with a more than ordinary majesty and fervency, he atter this manner
expressed himself.

' First, Let such as live in this country take heed, how they go about

* in any indirect way or course to prejudice the churches of the Lord
' Jesus Christ in the land, or the government of the land. If you do, the
' keeper of Israel, who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth, will not take it
' well at your hands. He that brought this people hither, and pre-
' served them firom the rage of persecution, and made this wilderness an
' hiding-place for them, whilst he was chastising our nation, with the
'other nations round about it, and has manifested his gracious presence
' in the midst of these his golden candlesticks, and secured us from the
' plots of the late Archbishop, and his confederates abroad, and from the
' plots of the heathen here at home ; there is no question but he will de-

* fend us from the underminings of false brethren, and such as are joined
' with them. Wherefore let such know, that this is, in many respects,
' IinmanueVs land, and they shall not prosper that rise up against it, hut
' shall be taken every one of them in the snares they lay for it. -This I
' speak as a poor prctphet of the Lord, according to the word of his grace
' nova before us ! But in the second place, whereas many of our brethren
' are going to England, let me direct a word unto them also. I desire
' the gracious presence of our Gnd may go with you, and his angels guard
' you, not only from the dangers of the seas, while you are thereupon,
' but also from the errors of the times, when you arrive. Nevertheless,
' if there he any among you, my bcethren, as 'tis reported there are, that
'have a petition to prefer unto the High Court of Parliament, that
' may conduce to the distraction and annoyance of the peace of our church-
' «},and the weakening the government of the land where we live, let such
* know, the Lord will never suffer them to prosper in their subtil, mali*
' cious, desperate undertakings against his people, who are as tender
' unto him as the apple of his eye. But if there be any such among you,
' who are to go, I do exhort you, and I would advise you in the fear of
' God, that when the terrors of the Almighty shall beset the vessel where-
' in you are, when the heavens shall frown upon you, and the billows of
' the sea shall swell above you, and the dangers of death shall threaten
' you, as I am verily perswaded they will, I would have you then to con-
' sider your ways. I will not give the counsel that was taken concern-
'iag Jonas, to cast such a person into the sea ; God forbid ! but I counsel

' such to come then unto a resolution in themselves to dmst riom their
Vol. I. 33

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111.

' enterpi'i/es, and cast their petitions into the sea. It may be, that hard-

* ness of heart and stoutness of spirit muy cause you to persist, and
' * yet in mercy to some gracious persons among you, the Lord may dcliv-

' er the ship from utter destruction for their sakes. But the Lord hath

* further judgments in store : he is the God of the land, as well as of the
'* sea. 1 speak this also, as an unworthy prophet of the Lord T

These things were then uttered by n person, that was as little of an
enthusiast, as most men in the world. Now attend the event !

That ship, aAer many stresses of weather in the harbour, puts out to
sea ; but at sea it had the terriblest passage, perhaps, that ever was
heard of; the mariners not being able to take any observation of either
tun or star, for seven hundred leagues together. Certain well disposed
persons aboard, now calling to mind the words of Mr. Cotton, thought it
necessary to admonish the persons, who were carrying over the malignat
papers against the country ; and some of those papers were by them
thereupon given to the seamen, who immediately cut them in pieces and
threw them over-board. The stortn forthwith abated ; however there
afterwards came up new storms, which at last hurried the ship among the
rocks of iSci'% ; where they yet received a deliverance, which most of
them that considered it, pronounced miraculous. When the rude Cornish
men saw how miraculously the vessel had escaped, they said, God was a
good man to save them so ! but the most instructed obliged passengers kept
a day of solemn Thanksgiving to God ; in which even the profanest per-
sons' on board, under the impression of what had happeaed, then bore a
part. However, the corn-fields in New-England, still stood undisturbed,
notwithstanding the various names affixed unto the tailet of petitions
against their liberties. For, as Mr. Cotton elegantly expressed it, God
then rocqued three nations, with shaking dispensations, that he might procure
some rest unto his people in this wilderness !

§ 34. This was Mr. Cotton ! what more he was, let these lines, taking
no license but from the real truth, delineate.

Upon the tomb of the most Reverend Mr. John Cotton, late Teacher of th
Church of Boston in New-Englaud.

Here lies magnanimous humility ;

Majesty, meekness; christian o/>a</(}/
On soft ajfections ; liberty in thrall ;

A noble spirit, servant unto all ;
Learning's great master-piece, who yet would sit

As a disciple, at his scholars'* feet :
A simple serpent, pr serpentine dove.

Made up of wisdom, innocence and love : 5.^ ,», j.

ft ft. »-*^!

Neatness embroidered with it self alone, u^.^.^

And civils canonized in a gown ; , ;".

Embracing old and young, and low and high,

Ethics imhodyeil in divinity ; _ ,

.(7m6t(tou5 to be /ot!)cs<, and to raise "■'*n

His brethren's honour on his own decays ;
(Thus doth the sun retire into his bed.

That being gone the stars may shew their head)
Could wound at argument without division.

Cut to the quick, and yet make no incision :
.Heady to sacrifice domestick notions

, .t

,*^ t

OOK

111

«ooK HI.) THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND,

•89

lat hard-
rsist, and
lay dcHv
Lord hath
as of the

ttle of an

rats out to
ever was
I of either
U disposed
thought it
le maliguat
e hy thein
pieces aod
ever there
» among the
ich most of
ude Cornisk
, God was a
lengers kept
•ofanest per-
then bore a
undisturbed,
of petition*
»99ed it, God
light procun

rfwi* ' To churhes' peace, and ministers* devotions :
'^H Himself, indeed (and singular in that)

Whom all admired he admired not :
Liv'd like an angel of a mortal birth, '

ConversM in heaven while he was on earlh :
Though not, as J\/loses, radiant with light

Whose glory dazeli'd the beholder's sight.
Yet so divinely beautifi'd, you'hl count

He had been born and bred upon the mount :
A living breathing Bible ; tables where

Both covencnts, at large, engraven were ;
Gospel and law, in's heart, had each its column -,

His head an index to the sacred volume ;
His very name a title-page ; and next,

His life a commentary on the text.
O, what a monument of glorious worth,

When, in a new edition, he comes forth,
Without erratas, may we think he'l be

In leaves and covers of eternity !
A man of might, at heavenly eloquence.

To fix the ear, and charm the conscience ;
As if Apollos were reviv'd in him.

Or he had learned of a Seraphim :
Spake many tongues in one : one voice and sense

Wrought, joy and sorrow, fear and conjidence :
Rocks rent before him, blind receiv'd their sight ;

Souls levelVd to the dunghill, stood upright :
Infernal furies burst with rage to see

Their prisoners captiv^d into liberty:
A star that in our eastern England, rose.

Thence hurry'd by the blast of stupid foe,s,
'f Whose foggy daarkness, and benummed senses,

^' V, Brookt not his daz'ling fervent inBuences :

Thus did he move on earth, from cast to west ;

There he went down, and up to heaven for rest.
Nor from himself, whilst living, doth he vary,

His death hath made him an uhiquitary :
^« » Where is his sepulchre is hard to say,

Who, in a thousand sepulchres, doth lay
(Their Wrts, I mean, whom^n hath left behind,

In them) his sacred reliques, now, enshrin'd.
But let his mourning flock be comforted.

Though Moses be, yet Joshua is not dead :
I mean renowned JVorton ; worthy he,

Successor to our Moses, is to be.
O happy Israel in America,

In such a Moses, such a Joshua.

B. WOODBRIDGE.

'II

§ 35. Three sons, and three daughters, was this renowned walker witii
Uod blessed withal.

H'm eldest son did spend and end his days in the ministry of the gospel,
'it Hampton: being esteemed a thorough scholar, and an able preacher;
and though his name were Sea-born, yet none of the lately revived here.-

360

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Rook III,

aies were more aboaiinable to him, than that of his name-sake, Pelagiw
[or, Morgan] of whom the vritMst of the ancient poet is trvt,

Pettifero Fomuit colvber Sermone Britaimut.

His $eeond son was a minister of the gospel, at Plytnouth ; and one by
whom, not only the English, but also the Indians of America, had the
glad tidings of salvation, iii4heir own language carried unto them.

Of his two younger daughters, the first was married unto a merchant
of good fashion, whose name was Mr. Egginton ; but she did not long
•urvive the birth of her first child, as that child also did not survive many
years after the death of her mother. The next is at this time living, the
consort of one well known in both EnglandSf namely. Increase Mather,
the President of Harvard Colledge, and the teacher of a church in
Boston.

The youngest of his sons, called Roland, and the eldest of his daugh-
ters, colled Sarah, both of them died near together, of the small'pox,
which was raging among the inhabitants of Boston, in the winter of the
year 1649. The death of those two lovely children, required the faith
of an Abraham, in the heart of their gracious father ; who indeed most
exemplarily expressed what w»a required. On this occasion, I find, that
on a spare leaf of his Almanack, he wrote in Greek letters these English
'verses; • ^ -

In Saram.

Farewel, dear daughter Sara, now thou'rt gone,

(Whither thou much desiredst) to thine home :

Pray, my dear father, let me now go home !

Were the last words thou spak'st to me alone.
Go then, sweet Sara, take thy sabbath rest.
With thy great Lord, and all in heaven blest.

'^ ' . "

In Rolandum,

•*■)')?

Our eldest daughter, and our youngest son, it't'iVl
Within nine days, both have their fulhrace run.
On th' twentieth of th' eleventh, died she.
And on the twenty ninth d»v died he.
Both in their /ives were lovely and united.
And in their deaths they were not much divided.
Christ gave them both, andhe talies both again
To live with him ; blest be his holy name.

In Utrumque.

■.^•■■■yifo.''-

,wt,-

Suffer, saith Christ, your little ones,

Tc come forth, me unto.
For of such ones my kingdom is.

Of grace and glory too. -. „ivm'i

We do not only suffer them.

But ^er them to thee,
Now, blessed Loni, let usbelieve,;^;;*; i:->i<^ .nto

Accepted, that they be :.,,; ;„„.^i>^v»utm^^mii^

>K HI.

1 one by
bad the
m.

nerobant
not long
ive many
iving, the
e Mather,
:hurcb in

his daugH-
smaU'pox,
ter of the
J the faiih
ideed most
I find, that

861

,'^

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NE\t-ENGLAND.

That thoa hast took them, in thine arms, ' '^ "
Aad OQ them ptU thine hand, •

And bltsted them with sight of thee,
Wherein our bleesit^s stand.

But he has at this day Jive grandson$, all of them employed in the |»ub-
b'ck service of the gospel ; whereof, let the reader count him the mean-
est, that is the writer of this hi$tory ; and accept further one little piece
of hiitory, relating hereunto.

The gathering of the second church in Boston, was evidently very
much to the disadvantage of Mr. Cotton, in many of his interests. But
be was a John, who reckoned his joy fulfilled in this, that in his own de-
create the interests of the Lord Jesus Christ would increase ; and there-
fore, with an exemplary self-denial, divesting himself of all carnal re-
ipects, he set himself to encourage the foundation of that church, out of
respect unto the service and worship of our common Lord. Now, it has
pleased the Lord so to order it, that many years after his decease, that
telf-denial of his holy servant, has turned unto some account, in the op-
portunities which that very church has given unto his children, to glorify
the Lord Jesus Christ, in the conduct of it : his son-in-law has been for
more than thrice ten years, and his grandson for more than twice seven
years, the ministers of the gospel, in that very church, accommodated
with happy opportunities, to serve their generation.

EPITAPHIUM.

Johannes Cottonus,

Cujus Ultima Laus est,
Quod fuerii inter Nov-Anglos Pr//n«s,,

■■*»
.A

- CHAPTER !J.

NoRTONUs Ho«ora^tt», the Life of Mr. John Norton.

§ 1. There was a famous John whose atchievements arc by our Lord
emblazoned in those terms ; He was a bttming and a shining light. In
the tabernacle of old, erected by the order and for the worship of God,
there were those two things, a candlestick and an altar ; in the one a light
that might never go out, in the other nflre that might never be extin-
guished ; and yet such an affinity between these, that there was a^re in
the liglu of the one, and a light in ♦he^re of the other. Such a mixture
of both faith and love should be in those that are employed about the
service of the tabernacle : and though the tabernacle erected for our
Lord in this wilderness, had many such burning and shining lights ; yet
among the chief of them is to be reckoned, that John which we bad in
our blessed JVorton.

§ 2. He was born the sixth of May, 1606, at Siarford in Hartfordshire;
descended of honourable ancestors. In his early childhood he discov-
ered a ripeness of wit, which gave just hopes of his proving extraordi-
nary: and under Mr. Strange in the school of fiwnmngybrd, he made such
a proficiency, that he could betimes write good Latin, with a more than

26S

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

common cicgnncy and invention. At fourteen years of nge, being sent
uittu Peter-House, he staid there, till uiler his taking of his firtt degree ;
wn(:) a Rwnish emissary, taking a curious and exact observation of his
ri'jUiblo. iiccomplithments, used all the methods he could think of, to have
s(^oii(.o(l him over unto the liomhh irreligion : but God intending him to
Vte a fiUar in his own temple, mercifully prevented his hearkening unto
any temptations to become a support unto the tower of Babel.

§ 3. In his youth he was accustomed unto some youthful vanitiee; es-
pecially unto card-playing ; an evil which he did first ponder and reform
upon a serious admonition, which a servant of his father's gave nnto him.
\Vhen he came to consider that a lot is a solemn appeal unto the God of
heaven, and even by the rudest Gentiles counted a sacred thing, he
thought that playing with it, ivas a breach of the lliird Commandment in
the laws of our Goil ; it should be used, he thought, rather prayerfully
than sportfully. He considered, that the Papists themselves do not allow
these games in ecclesiastical persons, and the fathers do reprove them
with a vehement xeal in all sorts of persons. He considered, that when
the Roman empire became christian, severe edicts were made against
these games, and that our Protestant reformers have branded them with
an infamous character ; wherefore inclining now to follow whatsoever
things are of a good report, he would no longer meddle with games that
had so much of a scandal in them.

§ 4. An extreme disaster befalling his father's estate, he left the Uni-
versity ; and became at once usher to the school, and curate in the church
at Slnrford: where a lecture being maintained by a combination of seve-
ral godly and able ministers, he on that occasion fell into acquaintance
with several of them ; especially Mr. Jeremiah Dyke, of Epping, by
whoso ministry the Holy Spirit of God gave him a discovery of his own
manifold sinfulness and wretchedness in an unregenerate state, and awa-
kened him unto such a self-examination, as drove him to a sorrow little
short of despair ; but after some time, the same Holy Spirit enabled him
to receive the Christ and grace, tendered in the promises of the gospel,
with an unspeakable consolation. Whereupon he thought himself con-
cerned in that advice of heaven, When thou art converted, strengthen thy
brethren!

§ 5. Hii-'inj; before this been well studied in the tongues and arts, lie
was the better fitted for the higher studies of divinity ; whereto he now
wholly addicted himself: and being in his own happy experience ac-
quainted with faith, and repentance, and holiness, he did from that expe-
rience now make lively sermons on those points unto his hearers. He
soon grew eminent in his ministry ; setting off the truths he delivered,
not only with such ornaments of laconic and well contrived expression,
as made him worthy to be called, the master of sentences, but alsowith
such "xpcrimental passages of devotion, as made him admired for a
preacher seeking out acceptable words.

§ 6. His accomplishments rendered him as capable of preferments, as
most in his age ; but preferments were then so clogged with troublesome
and scruplesome impositions, that Mr. JSTorton, as well as other conscien-
tious young ministers, his contemporaries, declined medling with them.
His tticra/on, and indeed antipathy to Jlrminianism (after he was, as
Bradwardin speaks., Gratia Radio Visitatun,) and his dislike of the cere-
monies, particularly hindered him from a considerable benefice, whereto
his unkle might have helped him. Dr. Sibs also, the master of Aai/janW
Hall in Cambridge, taken with his abilities, did earnestly solicite him, to

Kill.

g sent
egree ;
of his
ohave
him to
ig unto

es; es«

reform
ito him.

God of

ling, he
Iment in
tyerfully
lot allow
ve them
jat when
a agninst
lem with
jhatsoever
amea that

t the Unt-
ie church
1 of seve-
l^aaintance
\pping, by
f his own
md awii-
rrow little
tabled him
\e gospel,
nself con-
ngthen thy

A arts, he
to he now
rience ac-
that expe-
rers. He
delivered,
xpression,
also with
ired for a

J;rmen<«, M
(oublesome

conscien-

nth them.

le was, 08

If the cere-

;, whereto

■ Katharine

lite him, t*^

Book 111.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

203

have accepted of a fellowship in that College ; but hia conscience being
now satisfied in the utUawfulness of some things then required in order
thereunto, would not permit him to do it. One asked onco a gre.u pre-
late at court, how it came to puss, that such a preacher (an ancient chap-
lain there) a wise, grave, holy man, did not rise ? meaning by way of
preferment : the prelate answered him, Truly, let 7ne tell you, that I verity
think, he never will rise tintil the resurrection. Truly, let me now tell the
world, that such were the principles of Mr. J^orton, there was no likeli-
hood of his rising in this world, as things theh went in the world.
Wherefore he contented himself with a more private life, as chaplain in
two Knights' house at: Ht<jh Lever in Essex, namely, Sir William Mash-
am's; there waiting, till God might furnish him with unexceplaOle oppor-
tunities, for his more publick preaching of the gospel. Ilut generully,
all those who had any taste of his ministry, had a very irigh opinion of
it ; nor was there any man in that part of the country more estoemctt
than he was, for all sorts of excellencies ; insomuch, that when he caiim .
away, an ancient minister said. He believed there was not more grace ami
holiness left in all Essex, than what Mr. Norton had carried with kim.

§ 7. His natural temper had a tincture of choler in it ; but us the
sowrest and harshestyrut^s become the most pleasant, when tempered
with a due proportion of sweetness added thereunto, so the grace of Uod
sweetned the disposition of this good man, into a most affable, courteous,
and complaisant behaviour, which rendered him exceeding amiable. In-
deed when the apostle speaks of the spirit, and soul, and body, being
sanctijied, some do by spirit understand the natural temper, or humour ;
and accordingly the spirit oi this quick man being sanctijied, he became u
man of an excellent spirit.

§ 8. Vast was the treasure of learning in this reverend man. He was
not only a most accurate grammarian, which is abundantly manifested by
his printed works in divers languages ; but an universal scholar: never-
theless, 'twas as a school-man that he showed himself the most of a scholar.
He accounted that the excellency of a scholar lay more in distinctness of
judgment, than in elegancy of language ; and therefore, though he hud a
reater style than most ether naen, yet he was desirous to furnish himself
iid pugnaMf rather than ad pompam. Hence having intimately acquaint-
ed himself with the subtUties of scholastic divinity, be made all to illus-
trate the doctrinp of Christ and of grace, unto which he made all the
spoils of the schools gloriously subservient. He was u most elegant
preacher, and the true follower of Dr. Sibs ! .^

§ 9. But let his excellencies have been what they will, there was in
those days a set of men, resolved that the church of God should lose the
benefit of all those excellencies, except the person which had them,
could comply with certain uninstituted rites in the worship of God ;
which our Mr. Norton could not ; and it was that which made him ours.
This drove him to the remote regions of America, where he hoped, as
well he might, that there would never be done so unreasonable a thing,
as to obstruct that evangelical worship of our Lord Jesus Christ, for the
sake whereof those regions have been added unto the English dominions.
Wherefore in the year 1634, having married a gentlewoman both of good
estate, and of good esteem, he took shipping for JVew-England, accom-
panied in the same ship with the famous Mr. Thomas Shepard.

§ 10. In the road betwixt Harwich and Yarmouth, he very narrowly
escaped a terrible shipwrack : for by the vehemency of a storm all their
anchors gave way, so that they were driven within a cable's length of

«i

THE HISTORY OF NKW-FINGLAND. [Book IIF.

the tandt; but yitt the anchor of their hope in God, held fuat unto the
lant. Mr. Shtipnrd having taken (ho mariners iibore decks, Mr. Aor/on
took the pa«senger« between deck a, and each of them with their coinp»>
ny, applied themselves unto fervent praver, whereto the Almighty God
gave npri.'!<cnt answer in their wonderiiii deliverance. Afler tbiti tem-
pest, which disappointed their voyage to ^^e■l»■Ene;land for that season,
Mr. Norton returned unto his friendu in Essex ; where Mr. Dyke wel-
comed him, as one come from the dead ; professing to him, Tliat he would
have given many pounds for suck a tryal of his faith, as this his friend had
newly met withal.

§11. The next year Mr. Norton renewed his voyage to New-England ;
but intervening accidentM made it very late in the year, before be could be-
gin the voyage : and so, coming upon the American coast in the month of
October, they encountred with another very terrible storm, which lasted
eight and forty hours with great extremity, and had broken the vessel to
pieces, if it had not had a strength more than ordinary. One wave re-
markably washed some of the sea-nun overboard on one side, and then
threw them in again on the other : and so vehement was the storm, that
they were forced at length to undergird the ship with the cable, that they
might keep her sides together. But within ten days aAer this, they
were brought safe into Plymouth harbour.

§ 12. There had been some overtures between him and Mr. Winslow,
t\\*^ agent of Plymouth, now «n board witit him, about his accepting of u
settlement in that plantation ; and the people of Plymouth now courte-
oii<ily and earnestly invited him, accordingly to continue with them. Nev-
ertheless, the state of things in the Jl#a«jacAufe(-colony, was more agreea-
ble unto him ; and the church of Ipswich made their speedy applicationi
unto him, to take the pastoral charge of them. This occasioned his de-
liberation with his friends in the bay, what course to steer.

§ 13. While he sojourned in his unsettled state at Boston, be came into
acquaintance with the ministers thereabouts, who entertained him witli
a very high opinion of him ; especially Mr. Mather of Dorchester, who
though of longer standing than he, yet consulted him as an oracle, in nut-
ters of greatest consequence unto him ; and found him so accomplished
and experienced a person, that he maintained a most valuable friendship
with him to the last. Yea, though he were yet a young man, and short
of thirty, when he first came into the country, yet the magfstrates of the
colony soon became so sensible of bis abilities, as to make use of him in
some of their most arduous affairs. And there happened several occa-
sions to try the scholastick emmencies, whereto he was arrived ; one of
which WHS, when there was in these parts a French friar, who found in
Mr. Norton, a protestant, equal to his own school-men, and well ac-
quainted with them all. Indeed there was in him the union of too excel-
kncies, which do not always meet. It was the charitcter o( Hortensiui,
that he was weak in writing, and yet able to speak : it was the character
of Ahericus, that he was weak in speech, and yet able in writing : but
our J^orton was in both of these a very able person.

§ 14. It was the church of Ipswich, that our Lord gave so rich a
thing, as hi eminent servant Norton : but besides the constant labours
of this holy and fruitful man, in that- particular church, he there did
several great services of a more extensive influence to the whole Church
of God ; whereof one was this : Guilielmus Apollonii, at the direction
of the divines in Zealand, in the year 1644, sent over to New-England
a number of questions, relating to our way of chnrch-government : where-

Book WX.

t unto the
Ir. Aor»on
eircompB-
lighty God
r thin tem-
bat senioii,
Dyke wcl-
at he would
friend had

V'England ;
le could be-
tie month of
vhich Insted
he vessel to
ne wave re-
le, and then
e storm, that
He. that they
;r this, they

Mr. Winslovi,
ccepting of n
now courte-
them. Nev-
more agreea-
y applicntioDi
jioned his de-
he came into
led him witl»
rcheiter^ who
racle, in mat-
iccomplished
)le friendship
an, and short
^strates of the
use of him in
jeveral occa-
"ived ; one of
ho found in
and weH ac-

|n of too <*«*'•

jHoriensiui,

[the character

writing : but

kvc so rich a
kstant labours
1 he there did
Ivhole Church
[the direction

rjent : wboTC-

Dock III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND.

to the mioisters of J^ew-England unaoimoiisly impoigd upon Mr.
JVor<on the task of drawing up an answer, which. he finished in tbeyfMr
1fi''b, and it was, I suppose, the iirst Latin book that ever Mras written
in this country. What satisfaction it gave, may be gnthecUd, not eoiy
from the attestations of Dr. Goodwin, ilr. wVy«,Mr. Symf ion, thereunto {
but also from the expressions of Dr. Hornbtck, who frequeutly iiMi|itt*
fies the reason, and the candour of our New-English divine, even in UtiMe
points, wherein he does himself dissent from him. Nor is it amiss to
add the words in Dr. Fuller^ Church-History, hereupon ; which are :
Of all the authors I have perused concerning these opinions, none to m/s 7iia$
more informative Uian Mr. John Norton, one of no less learning than
modesty, in his anttver to Apollonius, pastor in the church of Middlebtirgh.
§ 15. It will do no hurt for me to repeat one pHssage on thif oc^asioDi
which to me seemed worthy of some remark. While Mi ..^orton wae
deeply engaged in writing his Latin account of our church-discipline,
some of bis more accurate and judicious hearers, imagined tbut his publick
sermons wanted u little of that exactness, which did use to attend them ;
whereof one said something to that Mr. Whiting, whom 1 may well call
the angel in the church of Lyn. Mr. Whiting hereupon in a very respect'
ful and obliging manner, spoke to Mr. Norton, saying, iSi'r, there are somt
of your people who tKmk that the services therein you are engaged fot
all the '.hurchM, do something take off' the edge of the ministry, wherewith
you should serve your own particular church ; I would intreat you, Sir, to
consider this matter ; for our greatest toork is to preach the gospel unto that
flock, whereof we are overseers. Our great and good man took the
excellent oyl of this intimation, with the kindness which became such a
man, and made it serviceable unto his holy studies.

§ 16. Another considerable service, which then called for the siudiec
ef this excellent man, w is the advising, modelling, and recommending
the Platform of Church-tS scipline, agreed by a Synod at Camliridge, in the
year 1647. , Into that P/a</orm he would fain have had inserted, certain
propositions concerning the watch, which our churches are to have over
the children born in them ; which propositions were certainly the first
principles of New-England ; only the fierce oppositions of one eminent
person, caused him that was o( tx peaceable temper, to forbear urging them
tiny further ; by which means, when those \ery propositions came to be
a>1vanced and embraced in another Synod, more than twice seven years
aftor, many people did ignorantly count them novelties. Moreover,
whea the Synod first assembled, it was a thing of some unhappy conse-
quence, that the church of Boston would not send any messengers unto it :
but Mr. JVbrton preaching the next lecture there, wherein he handled the
nature of councils, and the power of civil magistrates to call such assem-
blies, and the duty of the churchen in regarding their advice, the church
of Boston were therewithal so satisfied, as to testifie their communion
with the rest of the churches, by sending three messengers to accompa-
ny their elders now in the Synod. And when the result of the Synod
Ciime to try its acceptance in the churches, he did his part, especially in
his own, with a prudent and pious diligence to obtain it ; which was hap-
pily accomplished.

§ 17. There was yet one comprehensive service more, which this
learned man here did for the church of God ; and that was this : a gen-
tleman of New-England had written a book,, cntituled *^he marilorious
•price of man's redemption : whereiii he pretends to prove. That Christ
Kuffered not for us those tinuttf table tormenis of God's ftratt, which <ir«
Vol.. I. 31

26e

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. [Book ill.

cumnoHlji ealM btU-torniflnto, tortdtemour $oul$ from tkmn ; atul ihtt
CSIrtit bor« ntt our tint 6y God'i imputation, and ihtrifort alto did not
bear tint curio of tht law for tkom. Tlie Qontral Court of the colobj,
concerned WgX the glorious truth* of the gospel might be retcocd from
(iw coofotioiM, whereinto the ctaay of this gentleman had thrown then,
aadRfrnid lest the ciiurch of God abroad should suspect that ^few Eng-
land allowed of such oxorbitant aborrationt, appointed Mr. Aorton to
dr»Mr up an answer to that trnjneoui (r«ofite. Tnii work he performed
with a moet elaborate and judicious pen, in a book afterwards published
under the title of, A di$eui$ion of thai grtat point in Divinity^ the suffer-
Mgs of Christ : audthe queiUott$ about hii active and pamvt righteoutneu,
atui the imputation thereof. In that book the true principles of the gos-
pel v$ #4ited with so much demonttration, as is indeed unaoswei able.
The great gssertion therein explained and maintained, is, (according to the
wpreee words of the reverend author,) * That the Lord Jesus Christ

* as God'man, and Mediator, according to the will of the Father, and his

* own vrhintary consent, fully obeyed the law, doing the command in a

* way of w(trk$, and suffering the eiiential puniihment of the corse, in a
' way of obedient satisfaction unto divine justice, thereby exactly fulfil-

* ling the first covenant : which active and passive obedience of his, to-

* gether with his original righteoutneis, as a surety, God, of his rich
' grace, actually imputeth unto believers ; whom, upon the receipt there*

* of, by the grace offaiA, hedeclareth and accepteth, as perfectly right-

* eoutt end acknowledgeth them to have a rigfu unto eternal life.'

And in every clause of this position, the author expressed not his own
aence alone, but the sence of all the chui'ches in the country : in testi-
mony whereof, there was published at the end of the book, an instru-
ment signed by five considerable names. Cotton, Wilton, Mather, Symme$,
and Toii^son, who in the name of others, declare, * As lAcj/ believe, they

* do alto profett, that the obedience of Christ to the whole law, which is

* the law of righteousness, is the matter of our juttification ; and the tm-
' pvtation of our sins to Christ (and thereupon his suffering the tenu of
' the varath of God upon him for our sin) and the imputation of his obe-

* dience and sufferings to us, are the /orma/ eatite of our jiisfj^cad'on ;
*..dst)d that they who deny this, do now take away both of these, both
*tkatter and form of our juttification, which is the life of our souls, and
' of our religion, and therefore called the jtut^cation of life.*

. This being the primitive doctrine of juttification, among the churches
of J>CtW'England ; the things that were judged opposite hereunto, in the
renowned Richard Baxter'' t apfioritmt of juttification, did then give a
great and just offence unto the fiiithful in this country : yea, they looked
upon many things in his writings, to be, as Photius has it, upon some
llriags in Qement Alexandrinut ; that is to say, thingt expreited, W 'uym,
nottafely and toundly; albeit, the other more practical and savory books
of that Iwly man, were highly valued in these American regions ; and not
a few have here blessed God for him, and for his labours. And as in
those elder days of J^ew-Englattd^ |^e esteem which our churches had
£»r.that eminent man, did not hlQ4<Br them from rejecting that new cove-
nant of works, with which they thought he confounded that most impor-
'tant article, upon the notions wbiQrepf the church either stands or folk :
-thuS'it is a grief of mind unto our cbufches at this day, to find that great
and good man, in sooMt ^i bis last morkt, under the bhnding heat of his
indignation agnait some which we also accovat. unjustifiable, yea, dange-
•rouloftaMsn Md expr^Hions qf ^v. Crisp, reproaching some of the

ciujt III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-EINOLAND.

moft aDtioubttd point* in oar common /at'iA. W« rttcl bimi vneeoMte*
biy enumerating «tDOii|( erron, which be njt, heyt co rrup tt d thri$t^i^,
and »ubvirt$d tki goipti, auch things aa theae : ^ •

* Thiyftign, that God mado a coTenant with Aicm, thiPlf he stoei,

* God woalu continue him, and hit posterity ; and if be Ml, Oed would.

* talie it, as if all his posterity, then persooelly sinned hi biai.->-««
' Feigning Ood to mabe Jidann, not only the natural father and ro«t of
' maniiiQU, bu! «l«o arbitrarily, • con$titut«d rtprtitfUtr ti( all tbepersoas
' that should spring from him. VV hence they infer, that Christ was ^
' God's imposition, and his own sponsion, made the Itgal ny^t Mn ta t h t

* person of every one of the elect, taken singularly : so that what be

* did for tbem, God reputeth them to have done by him. Hereby they
' fiilsly make the person of the Mediator, to be the hgal ptrton of tb«
' sinner.

' They forge a Inw, tliat God never made, that saith, TTtou or tki/nf'
' ty, ihall obey petfeetly, or die.

* They feign God to have made an eternal eovenctnt with bit Sod.

* They Teign Christ to have made such an exchange with the eleet, u
' that having taken all their sine, he hath given them all Ms righteotuitetti

* not only the fruit of it, but the tking in it self.

* They say, that by the imputation of Christ's righnMnmess, haHtual
' and actual, we are judged perfectly juit. ^'

They talk of juttijication in meer ignorant confuaida ; ■ They

' say, that iojwtifie is not to make righteous, but to judge righteoite.

* They err grosly, saying, that by [faith imputed for righteoueneet] and
' [our beit^ juttified by faith] is not meant, the act, or habit of faith, bat
* the object, Christ's righteousnest : not sticking thereby to turn such
' texts into worse than nofuence.' [All these are Mr. Baxter'M words, ia
bis Defence of Christy chap. S.]

These things, which our churches with amazement, behold Mr. Bax-
ter thus calling Jictiont, falsehoods, forgeries, ignorant eonfutione., and
gross errors, were defended by Mr. J^orton, as the faith once deliveMd
unto the saints : nor do our churches at this day cousider themi 09 any
other, than glorious truths of the gospel ; which, as they were maintained
by Mr. Norton. So two divines, which were the scholars of Mr. Aor-
ton, well known in both Englands, JVathanael, and Increase Mather, {JFra-
trum dulce Par;) and a third, a worthy minister of the gospel, Mr. iSSam-
uf.l Willard, now living in the same house from whence Mr. J^orton
went, unto that not made with hands, have in their printed laboara oaost
accurately expressed them, and confirmed them. Hence, although as on
thn one side, I have this passage of Mr. Baxter's, in a letter from him.
written but a few months before he died, / avn as xealous a lover of the
New-England chnrches as any man, according to Mr. Norton's ana the
Synod^s model : sO on the other side, the memory of Mr. Baxter'u on
many accounts zealously loved among the churches of J^ew-England^ yet
espousing the principles for their establishment, wherein Mr. Norton had
appeared : nevertheless, inasmuch aa Mr. Baxter, just before his en*
trance into his everlasting rest, requested of my parent then in London :
^^> if youknow of any errors in any of my writitigs, I pray yom to confute
them after lam dead. I thought it not amiss, to regard ao far the gospel-
truths of justification at this day labouring, as to take occasion from the
mention of Mr. Norton's book, to say, that in that one book of his, there
is a confutation of Mr. Baxter, who seems to oppose those things, which
the churches of New- En gland judge cannot be denied without corrupting

261

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III*

t^ ehrit tianity^ and tubvetting etf the gotpel. But waving any further meo*
tion of tbe bode, I cannot leave unmentioned a couple of passages in the
pteface of itjgwhich is dedicatory to the General Court of the Ma$s<tchuu9
Ci^ony. OtnrVis this: I appeal to any competently judiciout and sober-
minded mant if the denial of rule in the Presbytery, of a decisive voice
in the Synod, and of the power of the magistrate in matters of religion, do
ntt in this point translate the Papal power unto the brotherhood of every
congregation. Another is thiii : You have been among the first of magis*
trates, which have approved and practised the Congregational way ; no
small favour from God, nor honour to your ',elves, with the generation to
^me, when that shall appear to be the way ot Christ.

§ ] 8. But wc say nothing of Norton, if we don't speak of an orthodot
emangelist. Being himself such an one, he digested the subtleties of the
fchool-men into solid and wholesome Christianity, which he published in a
treatise entituled, The Orthodox Evangelist : wherein he handles the ab-
struse points of the existence and subsistence, and efficience of God, and the
person of Christ, and the methods of the Spirit in uniting us to liim; and
the doctrine o( justification, with the future and happy state of the ^aints ;
all in such a manner, thut Mr. Cotton saw cause to say in his preface to
this treatise, Clusters of ripe grapes passing under the prtss, are fit to be
transported unU)^M^ nations ; thus, such gifts and labours pxssing under the
press, may befithj communicated to all churches. The physicians do speak;
there are Fillulte sine Quibus e<s3e nolo ; so there are Libelli sine quibus,
soive hooks. Sine quibus esse ticlo ; and this is one of them. This book
he dedicated unto bis own church, in Ipswich; and in the close of his
dedication, I cannot forget this emphatical passage, You are our glory and
joy : forget not the emphasis in the zvord, our: ministers, compared with
otiier christians, have little to joy in in this world: it is not with the ministers
of the present, as with the ministers of late times; nor with your exiles, at
TiDith some others. Let this our, or if you please your condition,for therein
you have been both partakers with us, and sxipporters of us, be your profoo*
cation. Thus and more than thus useful, was this Bradwardin of JVcw-
England, while Ipswich had him.

§ 19. When Cotton, that man of God, lay sick of the sickness whereof
he died, his church desired that he would nominate and recommend a fit
person to succeed him ; and he advised them to apply themselves unto
Mr. Xorton, hoping that the church of Ipswich being accommodated with
such another eminent person as Mr. Rogers, would out of respect unto
the general good of all the people of God throughout the land, so far
deny themselves, as to dismiss him from themselves. That which gave
encouragement unto this business, was not a drcawi 'of Mr. Cb/ton'*,
though it was indeed a strange thing, that Mr. Cotton in his illness, being
sollicitous what counsel to give unto his church, he dr%imed, th.it be
saw Mr. Norton riding unto Boston, to succeed him, upon a white horse,
in circumstances that were exactly afterwards accomplished : and when
Mr. RTiVson, with his flock, saw the thing accomplished, it caused them to
look upon Mr. Norton, almost with the same eye, that old Nareisrss,
with the church at Jerusalem, did upoii Alexander, when upon the warn-
ing of a voice from heaven, to take him, whom they should so find, they
found him out of the city, provided for them. But it was a design which
Mr. Norton had of returning for England : a design which he had so laid
before his people, as to obtain their grant, that if upon staying a twelve
month lonjGr among them, there did occur no occasion for him to alter
his pTirposes, they \vo!iKl not opposo hi? going. Now when the agents of

Jk'

tdOK liti

bermeo'
;e> in the
ifsachtiMt
ru2 $ober'
ive voice
iUgt'on, do
1 of «>ery
of magis*
way; no
itration to

n orthodot
ties of tbe
ilisbed in a
ies theab*
od, and the
iliim; and
the 'aint$ ;
preface to
%re fit to be
.g under the
»$ do ipeak;
line quibus,
This book
close of his
ur glory and
npared with
the miniiters
ur exiles, o»
,for therein
yourprovo*
!tn of JV«w-

BooK III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW.ENQLANi>.

369

the church at Boston^ made this motion to the church of A>ime&, tlMre
was nuch debate about it ; wherein at length an honest nrother miide
this proposal : Brethren, a eate in tome thingt like to thi$, om $nce that way
detemuned : we will call the damsel, and enqittre at her md<ith : where*
fore Ipropotey 4hat our teacher himtelf he enquired of, whether he be inclined
togof They then put that question to Mr. Norton himself, who being
troubled at the offer of the question unto him, answered, That if ^key
judged tuehretuona at cautedhit removal from Europe into America, nerw
called for hit removal from Ipswich to Boston, he ihould resign himtelf ^^
but he could not be active. However, at length, they consent^, that he
Hhould for the present, go sojourn at Boston, to try, and see how far the
will of God about this matter, might be afterwards discovered ; but aAer
Mr. Norton was gone, many of the people fell into n very unreasonable
indisposition towards Mr. Rogers, as if he had not been active enough,
although he had, indeed, been as active, as he well could be, to retain his
collegue among them. The melancholly temper of Mr. Rogers felt so
deep an impression from those p..roxisms, and murmurings of the people,
that it is thought, his end was thereby hastned ; but the church, upon the
death ot Mr. Rogers, renewing their demands of Mr. Norlands return, n
council was upon that occasion called ; which council advised Ipswich to
grant Mr. Norton a fair dismission unto the service of Boston, and in J9o«>
(on, of all New-England. However divers lesser councils, that were suc-
cessively called on this occasion, could not comfortably procure this dit-
mission, till at lust the governour and magistrates of the colony called a
council for Ibis end ; in their order for whi*ch, they intimate their con^
cern, lest while the too churches were contending, which of them should
enjoy Mr. Norion, they should both of them, and the whole country tvith
them, lose that reverend person, by his prosecuting his inclination to re"
move into England. Hereupon such a dismission could not be denied ;
but now .Boston joyfully receiving Mr. Norton, /pswtcA applied themselves'
unto Mr. Cobbet, who afterwards continued a rich blessing among them.
And Mr. Norton did indeed, the part of a surviving brother for Mr. Cot-
ton, in raising up, or at least keeping up the name of that great man, by
publishing a most elegant account of his life, part whereof was after-
wards transcribed by Sam. Clarke into hi^ collections.

§ 20. Mr. Norton being now transplanted into that garden which our
Lord bad in Boston, did there bring forth much of that fruit wherehy the
Heavenly Father was glorified. There he preached, he wrot*^, he prayed,
and maintained without any prelatical Episcopacy, a care of all the church'
es. And NeW'England being a coqntry whose interests were most re-
markably and generally enwrapped in its ecclesiastical circumstances,
there were many good offices, which Mr. Norton did for the peace of the
whole country, by his wise counsels upon many occasions, given to its
counsellors. In truth, if he had never dore any thing, but that one thing
of preventing by his wise interposition, the acts of hostility, which were
likcto^tass between our people, and the Dutch at Manhatoes, that alone
were well worth his coming into the station which he now had at Boston.
But the service which now roost signalized him, was, his agency at
White-hall ; for it being found necessary to address the restored King ;
the worshipful Simon Bradstreet, Esq. and this reverend Mr. John Norton,
were sent over as agents from the colony, with an address unto his Ma-
jesty; wherein there were, among others, the following passages.

' We supplicate your Majesty for your gracious protection of us, in
' the continuance both of our civil, and of our religious liberties ; ac-

"IJIPf

270

THE HISTORY OF NEV^-ENOLAND. [Boo« III

' cordinc (o the grante««' knoirn Md of suing for th« patent, ccnaftrrad
^ upon this plantation by your royal father. Our liberty to ivott in ih$
*f(ailk of th$ gotfl, with all good eonidtnce, according to th ordor ^ tht

* gotpoU waf' the cause of our transporting our selves, with our wiveii

* our little ones, and our substance, from that pleasant land, over the Jit-

* laniick oc«(in, into the vast wilderness ; choosing rather the pure sotip<

* ture-wor»hip, with Hgoodconieience, in this remote wilderness, thai) the

* pleasures or England, mih submissions to the impositiont of the then

* so disposed, and so far prevailing hierarchy, which we could not do

* without an evil conscience. We are not seditious as to the interests

* of Caior, nor schismatical as to the matters of religion. We distin-

* guish between churches, and their impurities.— —we could not live

* without the publtek u)orihip of Ood, nor be permitted the ptAlic wor-
' thtp, without such a yoke of tubseription and conformity, as we could not
' constint unto without sin. That we might, therefore, eiyoy divine wor-

* ship, free from human mixtures, without offence to Ood, man, and our
' own consciences, we, with Uavt, but not without teart, departed from

,*|our country, kindred, and fathers' houses, into this Patmoi.*'—^

It was in Februar^f 1861-3, that they began their voyage, and it was
in Sept<m6«r following, that they returned : Mr. J^orton*t place being
the mean time supplied by the neighbouring ministers, takmg of their
turns. And by their kande the country received the K%ng*$ lettert, where-
ill he signified, that the expressions of their loyalty and aflTection to him,
were very acceptable, and that contirining to them their pn'vi7e(/get, he
would cherish them with all manner of encouragement and protection.
§ 21. Such has been the jea/out disposition of our J^ew-Englanden
about their dearly bought privilegest and such also has been the variout
understanding of the people about the extent of those privileges, that of all
the agents, which they have sent over unto the Court o( England, for now
forty years together, I know not any one, who did not at his return, meat
with some very froward entertainment among his country-men : and there
may be the wudom of the holy and righteous God, as well as the tnaliee
cf the evil one, acknowledged, in the ordering of such temptation*. Of
those temptatione, a considerable share fell to Mr J^orton ; concerning
whom there were many, who would not stick to say, that he had laid the
foundation of mine to all our liberties ; and his melanchoUy mind imagined,
that his best friends begnn therefore to look awry upon him.

§ 22. In the spring before his going for England, he preached an ex-
cellent sermon unto the representatives of the whole colony, assembled
at the court of Ejection, wherein I take particular notice of this passage,
Mo*es was thr meekest man on earth, yet it went ill with Moses, Uis said, for
their sokes. How long did Moses live at Meribah ? Sure / am ; it killed
him in a short time ; a man of as good a temper as could be expected from
a vneer man ; I l^ll you, it will not only kill the people, but it will qtiicUy
kilt Moses too ! And in the spring after his retrun from England, he found
his own observation in himself too m:ich exemplified. It was co rmonly
judged, that the smothered griefs of his mind, upon the unkind resentments
which he thought many people had of his faithful and sincere endeavours
to serve them, did more than a little, hasten his end ; an end, whereat
John Norton w«nt, according to the anagram of his name into hon-
NOR. But he had the privilege to enter into immortality, without such a
formal and feeling death, as the most of mortals encounter with ; for
though in the forenoon of April 5, 1 66", ;♦ was his design to have preach-
ed in the afiernoon, he was ihaiajftemron Mken with a budden lypothymie,

M-

ofnftrred

w wim,
r the j9il*

, than the
the then
id not do
I intereita
Ve dittin-
1 not live
tiUtc WW-
, could not
irine wor-
n, and our
irted from

and it wai
flace being
ng of their
[fj, where-
ion to him,
Htdgt»^ he
protection.
hngUxndtri
ithe van'out
ts, that of all
md, fornow
etorn, meet
: and there
I the nto/tee
EcUions. Of
concerning
\ad laid the
id imagined,

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEWfiNGLAND.

271

which preiently and eaiily carried him away ^o those glohea, whereto
the w^aryare at reri ; but it wai a dark night, which the inbabitaDts . oi
Boiton had upon the noise of his death ; erery comer of the town was
filled with lamentations, which left a character upon that nigtftf unto this
day, not forgotten ! His dearest neighbour, Mr. Richard Afaihier, wept
oTer bin at his funeral, which was on the next lecture day, a sermon most
agreeable to the occasion ; and the son of his fellow-traveller, Mr. Thom-
as Shepard, was one of the many, who bestowed their elegiet upoi} bin ;
using thi$, among bis other strokes.

.^-'iV

■ii:

itiitf

The schoolmen's Doctors, whomsoe're they call,
Subtil, teraphick, or angelical :
Dull souls ! their tapers burnt exceeding dim ;
They might to ach0ol again, to learn of him.

Lombard must out of date ; we now profess
Norton, the master of the sentences ;
Scotus, a dunce to him ; should we compare
Aquinas, here, none to be named are.

Of a more heavenly strain, his notions were,
More pure, sublime, scbolastical, and clear.
More like th' apostles Paul and John, I wist,
Was this our orthodox Evangelist : ^

■Ir.

rfe

3.>

Which lines accompanied with Mr. ^t7son*sanagrammatiaingof Johai*'
NEs NoATONVs into JVonne is Horonatus? will give him his deserved
character. *

§ 23. He that shall read the tragical romances, written by that brazen
faced lyar Bolsecus, concerning the deaths of such men as Calvin and
fieza, or such monstrous writings as those of Tympius, Cochleus,Qenebard,
and some others, who would bear the world in band, that Jjuther and
Oecolampadius learned the protestant religion of the devil, and were at
list killed by him ; and that Bucer had his guts ptiUed out and cast about
by the devt'i ; will not wonder if 1 tell him, that after the death of Mr.
Norton, the quakers published a libel, by them called, A representation to
King and Parliament ; wherein, pretending to report some rmarkable
judgments upon their persecutors, they insert this passage, ' John J^'orton,
' chief priei^t in Boston, by the immediate power of the Lord, was smitten,
' and as he was sinking down by the lire-side, being under just judgment, he
* confessed the hand of the Lord was upon him, and so he died.' — Which
they mention, as a judgment upon a persecutor. VVhcreas, the death of
this good man, was attended with no circumstances, but what unto a j^ood
man might be eligible and comfortable, aad circumstanced far otherwise
than it was by those revilers represented. But it was necessary for that
enchanted people, thus to revenge themselves upon one, who amongst
bis other services to the church ofGod, already mentioned, had, at the de-
sire ofthe General Court, written a book, entituled, 2%e heart o/'New-Eng-
land rent at the blasphemies of the present generation ; or a brief tractate
concerning the doctrine ofthe quakers ; which doctrine was in this tractate
solidly confuted. And perhaps, it hitd been better if this had been all
the confutation ; which 1 add, because I will not, 1 cannot make my self
a vindicator of all the severities, with which the zeal of some eminent
men bath sometimes enraged and increaied, rather thao reclaimed those

. r.

378

THE HISTOliY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book Hi.

miserable kereticks : but wish^that the quakers may be treated as Queen
Elixabetk directed the Lord President of the North to treat the Papists ;
when ffhe advised him to coiivince them with argument, rather thap
suppresf them with violence ; to that purpose using of the words of
the prophets, Nolo Mortem Peccaioris.

^ S4. Not long after bis death, his friends published three sermons of
his, which for the circumstances of them could have been entituled,
Thesi were the last words tf that servant of the Lord. The first of the
sermons, was the la^: sermon, which he preached at the Court of Election
at Boston. It is on Jer. x. IT, entituled, iSion the out-cast healed of her
■wounds : and there are two or three passages in it, which I cannot but
recommend unto the peculiar consideration of the present generation.

" To differ from our orthodox, pious, and learned brethren, is such an
" affliction to a christian and an ingenuous spirit, as nothing but love to
*' the truth could arm a man of peace against. Our profession being in a
*' way differing from these and those, it concerns us, that our walking be
'* very cautelous, and that it be without giving any just offence."

Again, In matters of state and church, let it be shown that we are his
disciples, who said, give unto Ccesar the things that are Casar's, and give
unto God the things that are God's ; and in matters of religion, let it
be known, that we are for reformation and not for separation.

Once more, — / may sa/y thus much {and pardon my speech) a more
yielding ministry unto the people than ours, I believe is not in the
world. / beseech you, let no< Caesar be killed in the senate, after he hath
conquered in the lield. Let us acknowledge the order of the eldership in
our churches, in their way, and the order of councils in their ivay, duely
backed and encouraged : va-ithout which experience will witness that these
churches cannot long consist.

The second of the sermons, was the last sennon which he preached
on the Lord's day. It is on Job. xiv, 3, entituled. The believers con-
solation in the remembrance of his heavenly mansion, prepared for him
by Christ.

The third of the sermons was the last sermon, which be preached on
his lecture. It is on Heb. viii. 5, entituled. The Evangelical Worshipper,
subjecting to the prescription and sovereignty of scripture pattern.

§ 25. The three sermons thus published as the last, or the dropt
mantle of this Elias, arc accompanied with the translation of a letter,
which was composed in Latin by Mr. Norton, and subscribed by more
than forty of the ministers, on this occasion. The famous John Dury
having from the year 1636, been moat indefatigably labouring for apa-
creation, between the reformed churches in Europe, communicated his
design to the ministers of New-England, requesting their concurrence
and countenance unto his generous undertaking. In answer to him, this
letter was written ; and there are one or two passages, which I cbuse
to transcribe from it, because as well the spirit of our Norton, as the
story of our country, is therein indigitated.

Redeunt in Memoriam, ^ redeunt quidem non xine Sanctiori Sympat}ita,
Beatce ilia Anima, Melancthonis fy Parei ntn en Arioiz, bic inter Re-
formates, »W« in^crEvangelicos, Vir Consummatissimus, (Quorum Alter
Hnganoam iter facicns, ita Ingcmuit.

>■ Viximus in Synodis, & jam moriemur in illis.

Alter Vera, Super Erisiica Eucharistica Medilabundus, in hac Verba
Brvpit, Dofe«««»3 sum Dioputando. .Yiwirvm, ilJi? Judicibvs, Orandnm

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

273

potiusqiiam — Disputandum ; Vivcndum non Litigandum. Forsttan ^ Con-
silia Pacis, Sttmulanti recenti Ira kactenus, minus grata fvere, utri'us^ue
partis Theologi Rixis diulurnioribus aliquando fessi 4* Subacti, aquis
animis Suscipere^ nou moleste ferunt : Mare pacilicuai Aquis Meribanie,
Longo Rerum usu Edocti, anteferentes.

< We may here call to mind, and not without some sacred sympathy,
* those blessed souls, Melancthon and Parens, now among the blessed, the
' one no less famous among the Reformed, than the other among the
' Evangelicks. Of these, the one going towards Haganoa, with sighs
' altered these words,

In Synods hitherto we lived have, ^

And now in them, return unto the grave.

' The other seriously meditating on the controversy of the Eucharist,
' brake forth into these words ; / am weary with disputing. Thus, if
' these might be judges, we ought rather to pray than dispute, and study
' to live, rather than contend. And perhaps the divines of either part,
' after they have been wearied and broke in their spirits with daily and
' continual contention, will more readily accept of the cousels of peace,
" which hitherto have been less acceptable, while the sense of anger
' has been spurring of them : after they have been taught by long use,
' they may prefer the waters of the Pacific Sea, before those of Meribah.

Grntias agimus Domino Dureo, cui Josephi Longe terra mnrique a
fratribus Dissiti, meminisse Cordi fuit : Qui nos Misellos, in Cilicio, Cili-
cio dutem ipsi confidimus Evangelico, Militantes, tarn Jiuspicato JVuncio
invisere dignatus est : Qui Novam Angliam, quasi particulam aliqumm Fim-
bricE Vestimenti Aronici, nnguento prcediviti' delibutam, in Album SyncrB'
tismi Longe celebcrrimi, adscribere, non adspernatur : Qwt porro Litterif
ad Syncretismum hortatoriis, subinde nobis Ansam priebuit Testimonium.
hoc, quale quale, perhibcndi Communionis nostroB fratemce, cum tmiversa
Cohorte Protestantium, Jtdem Jesu Christi profitentium. Ingenue enim
fntemur, tranquiUa tarn quum erant Omnia, nee Signa Minantia signis ad
hue nobis conspiciebantur ; quippe qnihus, Episcopis, ilia Tempestate Re-
ruin Dominis, publico Ministerio Defungi nedum Sacrisfrui, sine Subscrip-
tiaae 4r conformitate, (ut loqui solent) utque adeo Humanarum Adinven-
fionum, in Divinis Commixtione, non Liceret, Sf satius x>isum est, vel in
Longinquas, ^ Jncultas Terrarum Oras, Oiltus purioris Ergo concessisse,
(juam Oneri Hierarchico, cum Rattm Omnium Affiuentia, Conscientio! av-
ion Dispendio, svxcubuisse. At patriam fugiendo, nos Ecclesiarum Evan-
Selicarum Commundoni J{uncium misisse, hoc vera est quod fidenter «^
Sande pernegamus,

' We give thanks to Mr. Dttry, into whose heart it came to remem-

■ ber, Joseph seperate frym his brethcren at so great a distance both by
• sea and land : and who hath vouchsafed with so comfortable a message
' to visit us poor people, cloathed in sackcloth, for our warfare ; yet, as

we trust, the sackcloth, of rtie gospel : who hath not refused to put
' JVeza-England as part of the skirt of Aaronh garment, upon which
' liath descended some of the precious oyl, into the catalogue of the so

■ much famed agreement : and who hath by his letter exhorting to such

■ iiiireement given us an occasion to bring in thig testimony, such as it
' is, for our brotherly communion with the whole company of Protestants

■ professing the faith of Christ Jesus. For we must ingenuously con-

■ tt'ss, tliat tlien, when all things were quidt, and no threatning giigna of

Vnr,. !•. ~ ,15

S74

THE HtSTOUV OF NEVV-KNCLAND. [Dook fll.

* war Appeared, seeing we could not be permitted by tbe Eishopi, at tbat
' time prevailing to perform tbe otbce of tbe ministry in pvblick, nor

* yet to enjoy the boly ordinances, without subscription and conformity

* (as they were wont to epeak) nor without the mixf jre of humane in-

* vcntions with divine instilvtions, we chose rather to depart into tbe rc-

* mote and unknown parts of the earth, for tbe sake ol'npurer worship, than

* to ly down under the Hierarchy in the abundance of all things, but

* with jjrc/Mdice of conscience. 13ut that in flying from our country,

* WG should renounce commvnion with such churches, i.s profess the

* gospel, is a thing, which we confidently and solemnly deny.'

(^uoscunque apvd Catus,pir L'nivenvm Krangelicorum cnorum, Funda-
inentalia Doctrinaj <)(• lOssentialiu Ordinis, rigeant, quamvis in plerisque
Controversiae T.'ieolopica;, Apicibus nobiscvm jvxta minus Seniiant, itlos
tamcn ad unu.i' Ouincs, pro Fratibus agnosc/jnws. Usque artcra pacijicis, ic
Ordinate inced' lious, i^£XIA}>K0INI2NIA£ in Domino porrigerc^ paratissi-
mos,nos esseh palamfacimus.

* In kvhu>,ev'^. ■ assemblies amongst the whole company of those that
' profoSij *Vp j^ospf t, the fundamentals of doctrine, and essentials o{ order,

* are t,.: -i . noil hough in many niceties of controversal divinity, they
' are at c ■ njrr( cment with us, we do hereby make it manifest, that we.
' do ajknowl .1' 'hem all, and every one for brethren, and that we shall
' be ready to ^ - ' unto them the right hand of fellowship in the Lord, iV
' in other things iiiey be peaceable, and walk orderly.'

§ 2G. This was our Norton! and we might have given yet a fuller ac-
count of him, if we could have seen the Diary, which he keptjof iiis daily
walk. However he was well known to be a great example of lioliness,
■watchfulness, and extraordinary a>isdom ; and though he left no children,
yet he has a better name than that of sons and of daughters. Moreover,
there was one considerable part of ministerial work, wherein he not only
vent beyond most of his age, but also proved a /cfliZer unto many followers.
Though the ministers of New-England counted it unlawful for them, or-
dinarilij to perform their ministerial acts of solemn and publick prayer by
reading or using any forms of prayer composed by other perso7is for
them ; they reckoned on ability to express the case of a congregation in
prayer, to be a ministerial gift, which our Lord forbids his ministers to
neglect ; they supposed thiit a minister, who should only read forms
of sermons composed for him, would as truly discharge the duty of
preaching, as one that should only read such forms of prayers, would
the duly of praying, in it : they could not f'nd, that any humane
forms of prayers, were much used in fs!' pai , of tlie church, un-

•or more

til about four hundred years after Chris*, nor any made
than some single province, until six huvf-'d years ; nor j.i>y impos-
ed until eight hundred, when all mannti of ill-formed things began
to be found in the temple of God ; nevertheless very many of our great-
est ministers, it our more early times, did not use to expatiate with such
n sigaiiicant and admirable variety in their prayers before their sermons,
as many of our later times have attained unto ; nor indeed then did they,
nor still do we, count all/orwisq/'praycr simply unlawtul. But the more
general improvements and expressions of the 'gift of prayer, in our min-
isters have since been the matter of observation ; and particularly Mr
Norton, therein was truly admirable! It even transported the souls of
li^s hearers to accompany him in his devotions, wherein his graces uouW
make wonderful salle- 1 into the vmstfield of entertainments, and acknowledg-
vicnts, with which we are furnished in the nczv-corcncmt, for ourprfi/f i '•

III.

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

21b

, nt that
lick, noi'
nformit})
1(1 ne in-
• the re-
hip, than
ngs, but
country,
jfess the

I, Funda-
plerisque
iant, illos
acificis, 4'
paraiisii-

a fuller ac-
of ijis daily
of holiness,
10 children,
Moreover,
le not only
y follozecrs.
r them, or-
, prayer hy
jersoJis for
i-regation in
ninistcra to
read forms
he duty of
ycrs, would
ly humane
iurch, un-
<br more
..i;y impos-
lings began
our great-
: with such
;ir sermons,
[en did they,
it the more
in our min-
.ularly Mr
|the souls ol
'0ces would
icknowledg-

I have heard of a godly man in fpswich, who after Mr. JVorton's going to
Boston, would ordinarily travel on foot from Ipswich to Boston, which in
about thirty miles, for nothing; but the weekly lecture there ; arid he would
l»rofes3, That it was worth a great journey, to be a partaker in one of Mr.
Norton's prayers. This pattern of prai/er in Mr. Iforton, had some in-
tliiencc U|)on it, that since his time, our pulpits have been fuller than ever
of experimental demonstrations, that the ministers of the gospel may on
all occasions present their supplications before God, in the discharge of
their ministry, with more pertinent, more affecting, more expanded en-
largements, than any/orm could afford unto them. New-England can show,
even young ministers, who never did in all things repeat one prayer
twice over, in that part of their ministry wherein we are_^rjt of all, to
make suppUcntiohs, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings ; and yet
sometimes, for much more than an hour together, they pour out their
souls unto the Almighty God in such a fervent, copious, and yet proper
manner, that their most critical auditors, can complain of nothing disa-
greeable, but profess themselves extreamly edifyed.

BiTt oMi praying Norton, who while he was among U3, prayed reith the
Migit-^ of angels is now gone to praise with the angels for over.

>•, ■'-*-',

EPITAPHIUM.

JOHANN-ES NORTONUS.

'* ^uis fuerat. Ultra si qutcras^
Digmis es qui Nescias.

,^*'i«:> ' At;;j#

; CHAPTER 111. • ^

• ' Memoria Wir.soNiA, the Life of Mr. John Wilson.

§ 1 . Such is the natural tendency in humane minds to poetry, that as
'tis observed, the Roman historian, in the very first line of his history,
fell upon a verse, ". ,' w .. » •

Urbcm Romam, In Principio Reges hahucre ;

'1 > . ^1/, 1 ^^.^

So the Roman orator, though a very mean poet, yei making an oration
for a good one, could not let his first sentence pass him, without a perfect

hexameter, ■ • • - -

In (^ua me non Inficior, mediocriter Esse. "-

^imam*'*

If therefore, I were not of all men the most unpoetical, my reader
might Kow expect an entertainment altogether in verse ; for I am going to
write the life of that New-English divine, who had so nil. le a faculty of
puUins; his devout thoughts into verse, that, ha signalized imself by the
^reiitest /i'e^we?^"?/, perhaps, that ever man used, of sending /joemstoall
person", in all place?', on all occapion? ; and upon this, as well as upon
"greater accounts, was a Dn.-i.dnnU> the y?erA"'! of our Lord iu the w*i-

tiU THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLAxNU. L*^«>ok 111.

%-': Quicquid tentabat Dicer e. Versus erat ;

Wherein, if the curious relished the piety sometimes rather than the
poetry, the capacity of the tnosl, therein to be accommodated, must be
considered. But I intend no further account of this matter, than what is
given by his worthy son, (reprinting at Boston in the year 1680, the
verses of his father, upon the famous deliverances of the English nation
printed at London, as long ago as the year 1626,) whose words are, What
volumes hath he penned, for the help of others, in their several changes of
condition ? How was his heart full of good matter ? And his verses past,
like to the handkerchiefs carried from Paul to uphold the disconsolate, and
heal their wounded souls ? For indeed this is the least thing that we have
to relate of that great saint ; and accordingly, it is under a more consid-
erable character, that I must now exhibit him, even as a father to the
iutiint colonies of New-England.

§ 2. Mr. John Wilson, descending from eminent ancestoi's, was born at
Windsor in the wonderful year 1588, the third son of Dr. William Wilson,
a prebend of St. Paul's, of Rochester and of Wiusor, and rector of Cliff":
having for his mother, a neece of Dr. Edmutid Grindal, the most worthily
renowned Arch-Bishop of Canterbury. His exact education under his
parents, which betimes tinged liim with an aversation to vice, and above
all, to the very shadow of a lye, fitted him to undergo the further educa-
tion, which he received in Eaton Colledge, under Udal (and Langley)
whom now we may venture, after poor Tom Tusser, to call, the severest of
men. Here he was most remarkably twice delivered from drowning ;
but at his book, he made such proficiency, that while he was the least boy
in the school, he was made a propositor ; and when the Duke of Biron,
Embassador from the French King Henry IV. to Q,ueen Elizabeth, visited
the school, he made a X<atin oration, for which the Duke bestowed three
angels upon him. After four years' continuance at Eaton, he was re-
moved unto Cambridge, between the fourteenth and fifteenth year of his
age ; and admitted into A'mo-'s Colledge in the year 1602. When he came
to stand for a fellowship in that Colledge, his antipathy to some horrid
Avickedness, whereto a detestable wretch that had been acquainted with
him, would have betrayed him, caused that malicious wretch by devised
and accursed slanders to ruin so far the reputation of this chast youth
with the other fellows, that had not the Provost, who was a serious and a
reverend person, interposed for him, he had utterly lost his priviledge ;
which now by the major vote he obtained. But this affliction put him
upon many thoughts and prayers before the Lord.

§ 3. He had hitherto been according to his good education, very civ-
illy and soberly disposed : but being by the good hand of God, led unto
the ministry of such holy men as Mr. Bains, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Chaderton,
he was by their sermons enlightned and awakened, unto more solicitous
enquiries after, the one thing yet lacking in him. The serious dispositions
of his mind were aow such, that besides his pursuance after the v/crks
of repentance in himself, he took no little nains to pursue it in others ;
especially the malefactors in the prisons, which he visited with a devout,
sedulous, and successful industry. Nevertheless, being forestalled witii
prejudices against *he Puritans of those times, as if they had held, he
knew not well what odd things, he declined their acquaintance ; althougii
his good conversation had made him to be accounted one o. them him
self. Until going to a bookseller's shop, to augment his well-furnished
library, he light upon that Aunous book of Mr. Richar-^ Rogfru, called

OK 111.

liooK III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

277

lian tbe
oust be
wrhat is
;80, the
h nation
re, What
langea of
ses past,
late, and
we have
e consid-
er to the

i8 born at

n Wilson,
of Clif:

t worthily

under his

and above

ter educa-
Langley)
severest of

drowning ;

te least fcoi/
of Biron,

Uh, visited
wed three
e was re-
year of his
in he came
me horrid
jnted with
by devised
liast youth
rious and »
iriviledge ;
put him

I, very civ-
1, led unto
\Cha(lerton,
solicitous
lispositlons
I the works
I in others ;
a devout,
ttalled with
[d held, hp
althouglt

Ithem hiui
-furnishf'^
r/->(, calloil

The Seven Treatises; which when he had read, he so affected, not only
the matter, but also tbe author of the book, that he took a journey uoto
fVethersJield, on purpose to hear a sermon from that Boanerges. When
he had heard the heavenly passages that fell from the lips of that worthy
man, privately, as wdl as publickly, and compared therewithal the wri-
tings of Greenkam, of Dod, and of Dent, especially, Tlie Pathway to
Heaven, written by the author last mentioned, he saw that they who
were nicknamed Purilansj were like to be the desirablcst companions,
for one that intended his own everlasting happiness ; and pursuant unto
the advice which he had from Dr. Ames, he associated himself with a
i))ious company in the university ; who kept their meetings in Mr. Wil-
son^ s chamber, for prayer, fasting, holy conference, and the exercises of
true devotion.

§ 4. But now perceiving many good men to scruple many of the rites
practised and imposed in the Church of England, he furnished himself
with all the booh that be could lind written on the case of conformity,
both pro and con, and pondered with a most conscientious deliberation,
the arguments on both sides produced. He was hereby so convinced of
tbe evil in conformity, that at length, for his obser able omission, of cer-
tain uninstituted ceremonies in the worship of God, the Bishop of Lt»-
r.oln then visiting the university, pronounced upon him the sentence of
Quindenumi that is, that besides other mortitications, he must within//i!eeH
days have been expelled, if he continued in his offence. His father be-
ing hereof advised, with all paternal affection, wrote unto him to con-
form ; ahd at the same time interceded with the Bishop, that he might
have a quarter of a year allowed him ; in which time, if he could not
be reduced, he should then leave his fellowship in the CoUedge. Here-
upon he sent him unto several Doctors of great fame, to get his objec-
tions resolved ; but when much discourse, and much writing, had passed
between them, he was rather the more confirmed in his principles about
church-reformation. Wherefore his father, then diverting him from the
designs of the ministry, disposed him to the inn.i of court ; where he fell
into acquaintance with some young gentlemen, who associated with him
in constant exercises of devotion ; to which meetings the repeated ser-
mons of Dr. Gouge were a continual entertainment : and here it was, that
lie came into Che advantageous knowledge of the learned Scultetua, chap-
lain to the Prince Palatine of the Wane, then making some stay in Eng-
land.

§ 5. When he had continued three years at the inns of court, his father
discei'iiing his disposition to be a minister of the gospel, permitted his
nroceeding Master of Arts, in the university of Cambridge; but advised
iiim to address another CoUedge, than that where he had formerly met
.vith difficulties. Dr. Cary, who wp.s then Vice-Chancellor, understand
ing his former circumstances, would not admit him without subscription ;
but he refused to subscribe. In this distress he repaired unto his father.
at whose house there happened then to be present, the Countess of Bed-
ford's chief gentleman, who had business with the Earl of Northampton.
the Chancellor of the university. And this noble person, upon the in-
lormatiou which thai gentleman gave him of the matter, presently wrote
a letter to the Vice-Chancellor, on the behalf of our young Wilson;
whereupon he received his degree, and continued a while after this, in
/■JmauMeZ-Coliedge : from whence he made frequent and useful visits unto
his friends in the counties adjoining, and became further fitted for his in
ended service. But while he was passing under these changes, he lnek

27a

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

[Book Ilf.

np a rtiolalion whicii he thus expressed before the Lord : That if the
Lord wauid grant him u libert>i of conscience, with purity of teorship, he
would be content, yea, thankful, nnirh it rvere at the furthermoit end of the
world. A most prophetical n -iolution !

§ 6. At length preaching his first sermon at JVen'port, he set his hand
vnto that plough, from whence he never afterwards looked hack : not very
long after which, his father lyins; on his death-bed, he kneeled, in his
turn, before him for his blessing, and brought with him for a Hharc in
that blessing, the vertuous young gentlewoman, the daughter of tho, lady
Mansfield, (widow of Sir John Ahn^Jteld, master of the Minories, and the
Queen's surveyor) whom h<> designed afterwards to marry : whereupoa
the old gentleman said. Ah, John, / have taken much dire about thee, such
time as thou wast in the univi r»ity, because thou wouldcst not conform; I
would fain hare brought thee to some higher preferment i mn thou hast yet.
attained unto : I see hy conscience is r^ry scrupulous, concerning some
things that have been observed and imposed in the church : nevertheless, I
have rejoiced to see the grace and fear of (ji d in thy heart ; and seeing
thou hast kept a good conscience hitherto, and zvalked according to thy light,
so dr> still ; and go hy the rules of God's holy word : the Lord bless thee,
and her, whom thou hast chosen to be the companion of thy life ! Among
othrr places where he now preached, Moreclake was one ; where his
non-conformity exposed him to the rage of persecution ; but by the
friendship of the Justice, namely Sir William Bird, u kinsman of his
wife, and by a mistake of the informers, the rage of that storm was mode-
rated,

§ 7. After this he lived as a chaplain successively, 'in honourable and
religious iiimilies ; and at last wn.^ invited unto the house of the most
pious lady Scudamorr.. Here Mr. Wilson observmg the discourse of the
gentry at the table, on the t-ord's day, to be too disagreeable unto the
devout frame to be mainiiined on snch a day, at length he zealously stood.
up at the table, with v/nrds to this purpose, I will make bold to speak a
word or two: this is the Lord's holy day, and we have been hearing his
word, and after the zvord preached, every one should think, and speak about
tch things as have been delivereil in the name of God, and not lavish out

. time in discourses about hazi'ks and hounds. Whereupon a gentleman

•n present made this handsome and civil answer : Sir, we deserve all of
uS to be thus reproved by you ; this is indeed the mbbath-day, and we should
surely have better discourse ; I hope it will be a earning to us. Notwith-
standing this, the next Lord's day, the gentry at the table were at their
old notes ; which caused Mr. ^'e/so/i again to tell them, That the haxvks
which they talked of, were the birds that pickc^ up the seed of the word, after
the sowing of it ; and prayed them, That their talk might be (f such things,
as might sanctifie the day, and edifia their own soxds : which caused the
former gentleman to renew his former thankfulness for the admonition.
But Mr. Leigh, the lady's husband, was very angry ; whereof when the
lady advised Mr. Wilson, wishing him to say something that might satisfic
liim, he replied, Good madam, I know not wherein I have given any just
offence; and therefore I know of no satisfaction that I owe : your ladyship
has invited mc to preach the good word of God among you ; and so I have
endeavoured according to my ability : now such discourse as this, on the
Lord's day, is profane and disorderly : if your husband like me not, I will
be gone. When the lady informed her husband how peremptory Mr. Wil-
»'o?} was in this matter he mended his countenance and carriage ; and the

(OOK III.

liooK ill.] THE HISTORY OF NEW -ENGLAND.

hat if the
)r»hip, /if
•nd of the

his hand
not very
>(), in hi<<
, Hharc in
f the lady
!s, and the
hereupon
! thee, mch
onform; I
ou hast yet

,:lU'i t of this reproof was, that unsuitable diticoursc, on the Lord's day,
was cured umong them.

§ 8. Uemoving from this family, aAcr he had been a while at Henly,
he continued for three years together, preaching at four places, by turns,
which lay near one another, on ^he edges of Snff'olk, namely liumsted,
Stoke, dure, and Candish. Here some of Sitdbury happening to hear
him, they invited him to succeed the eminent old Mr. Jenkins, with which
invitation he cheerfully complied, and the more cheerfully because of hir)
op|>ortunity to be near old Mr. Richard Rogers, from whom afterward*
when dying, he received n blessing among his children ; yea, to cncour
age his acceptance of this place, the very reader of the parish did sub
scribe, with many scores of others, their desires of it ; and y^t he ac
ceptcd not the pastoral charge of tlic place, without n solemn day o-
prayer with fasting, (wherein the neighbouring ministers assisted) at hi
election : great notice was now taken of the success, which God gave
unto his labours, in this famous town ; among other instances whereof,
one was this : a tradesman much given to stealing, as well as other pro-
flme and vicious practices, one day seeing people flock to Mr. IVilson^s
lecture, thought with himself. Why should I tarry at home to Zi'ork, when
so many go to hear a sermon ? Wherefore, for the sake of company, he
went unto the lecture too ; but when he came, he found a sermon, as it
were, particularly directed unto himself, on Eph. iv. 28, 1 ,et him that
hath stole, steal no more ; and such was the impression thereof upon his
heart, that from this time he became a changed and pious man.

§ 9. But if they that will live godlily miist suffer persecution, a peculiar
share of it must fall upon them, who are zealous and useful instruments
to make others live so. Mr. Wilson had a share of this persecution;
and one A — n, was a principal author of it. This A — n had formerly
keen an apprentice in London, where the Bishops detained him seme
years, under an hard imprif^onmcnt, because he refused the oath ex offi-
cio, which was pressed upon him to tell, IVhether he had 7ievir heard his
master pray against the Bishop ?

The charity of well-disposed people now supported him, till he got
abroad, recommended by his hard sufl'erings, unto the good affections of
the Puritans, at whose meetings he became so conversant, and thereupon
such a forward and zealous processor, that at length he took upon him,
under the confidence of some L«<«h?Vvi whereof he was owner, to be a sort
(^f preacher among them. This man would reverence Mr. Wilson as his fa-
ther, and yet upon the provocation of seeing Mr. Wilson more highly
valued and honoured than himself, he not only became a conformist him-
self, but also, as apostates use to be, a malignant and violent persecutor
of those from whom he had apostatized. By his means Mr. Wilson was
put into trouble in the Bishop's courts ; from whence his deliverance
'vas at length obtained by certain powerful mediators. And once by his
lucks, the most noted pursivant of those times, was, employed for the
seizing of Mr. Wilson ; but though he seized upon many scores of the
people coming from the lecture, he dismissed the rest, because he could
not meet with Mr. Wilson himself, who by a special providence, went
out of his direct way, to visit a worthy neighbour, and so escaped this
mighty hunter.

Afterwards an eminent lady, happening innocently to make some com-
parisons between the preaching of Mr. Wilson, and one Dr. B. of B.
the angry Doctor presently applied himself unto the Bishop of London,
who for a whilf suspended him. And when that storm was over, hf-:

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280

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

with several other worthy ministers, came to be wholly silenced in an-
other, that was raised upon complaints made by one Mr. Bird^ unto the
Bishop of Normeh against them. Co^icerning this ill Bird, there hap-
pened one passage hereapun, which had in it something extraordinary.
Falling very sick, he had the help of a/nmous and skilful physician, one
Dr. Duke m Colcheite*" ; who having left his patient, in his opinion, safely
recovered, gave Mr. Wilton a visit, with an account of it. Recovered !
says Mr. fVtl$on, you are mistaken, Mr. Doctor ; he's a dead man ! The
Doctor answered, If ever I recovered a sick man in my life, that man is
recovered. But Mr. Wilson replied, No, Mr. Doctor, he*s a dead man,
he shall not live : mark my words ! The doctor smiled ; but for all that,
before they parted, the news was brought them, that the man was dead
indeed, and the Lard known by the judgment which he executed. But at
last Mr. Wilson obtained from the truly noble Earl of Warwick, to sign a
letter, which the Earl bid himself to draw up, unto the Bishop, on bis
behalf; by the operation of which letter, his liberty, for the exercise of
his ministry, was again procured. This Bishop was the well-known Dr.
Harsnet, who a little while after this, travelling northward, upon designs
of mischief against the reforming pastors and christians there, certain
ministers of the south set apart a day for solemn fasting and prayer, to
implore the help of heaven against those designs ; and on that very day,
he was taken with a sore and an odd fit, which caused him to stop at a
blind house of entertainment on the road, where he suddenly died.

§ 10. At last, being persecuted in one country, he must flee into another.
The plaotatioD of a New-English colony was begun : and Mr. W'<hon,
with some of his neighbours, embarked themselves in the fleet, which
came over thither in tbe year 1630, where he applied himself with all
the vigor imaginable, to encourage the poor people, under the difficultiei
oH\i9\t new plantation. This good people buried near two hundred of their
number, within a quarter of a year afler their first landing ; which caused
Mr. Wilson particularly to endeavour their consolation, by preaching on
JacoVs not being disheartned by the death of his nearest friends in the
way, when God had called him to remove. And how remarkably, per-
haps I might say, excessively liberal he was, in employing his estate for
the relief of the needy, every such one so beheld him, as to reckon him
the father of them all : yea, the poor /nditns themselves also tasted of his
bounty. Ii it were celebrated, as the glory of Bellarmine, that he would
sell his goods, to convert them into alms for the poor ; yea, that ^uadam
die proprium Atramentarium A^genteolum, ut ditaret hopes, inter pignora
obligavtt : our Mr. Wilson, though a greater disclaimer of merit than
Belliirtaine was, not only in his writings, but on his death-bed itself, yet
came not behind Bellarmine for the extension of his charity. To give in-
stances of his, even over-doing liberality, would be to do it injuries; for in-
deed they were innumerable : he acted as if the primitive agreement of
having all things in common, had been of all things, the most agreeable
unto him. I shall sum up all, in the lines of an elegant elegy, which
Mr. Samuel Hache, nn ingenious merchant, made upon him, at his death:

When as the poor want succour, where is he

Can say, all can be said, extempore ?

Vie with the lightning, an^ melt down to Ih' quick

Their souls, and make themselves their pockets pick ?

Where's such a leader, thus has got the slight

T' teach hohi hands to xi-ar, fingers to fight ;

Book III.

;ed in an-
, unto the
here hap-
aordinary,
sician, one
ion, safely
Recovered /
an! The
hat man in
dead man,
OT aU that,
n was dead
d. Bui at
cfc, toeigna
liop, on his
exercise of
-known Dr.
ipon designs
Bre, certain
I prayer, to
at very day,
to atop at a
f died.
into another.
Mr. W'Hson,
fleet, which
self with all
le difficultiei
idred of tlieir
ivhich caused
jreaching on
[iends in the
[rkably, per-
ils estate for
, reckon him
tasted of his
.hat he would
that Quadom
\inter pignor<i
|f merit than
id it self, yet
To give in-
yuries; forin-
agreement of
JDst agreeable
[elegy, which
at his death :

ck?

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

■y

;'s*:

* - 'Their arrow hit ? Bowels to bowels metknt \tt ^fi>\s»>i
God, Christ, and saints, accept, but Wilson sent it..
Which way so e'er the propositions move,
The ergo of bis syllogisms love.
So bountiful to all ; but if the poor
Was christian too, all's money went, and more.
His coat, rug, blanket, gloves ; he thought their due
Was all his money, garments, one of two. , . ^

But he was most set upon the main business of this new plantation ;
which was, to settle and enjoy the ordinances of the gospel, and worship the
Lord Jesus Christ according to his own institutions : and, accordingly, be,
with the governour, and others that came with him on the same account,
combined into a church-state, with all convenient expedition.

§ 11. Mr. Wilson^ s removal to New-England, was rendred the more
difficult, by the indisposition of his dearest consort thereunto ; but he
hoping, that according to a dream which he had before his coming hither,
That he saw here a little temple rising out of the ground, which by degrees
increased into a very high anfl large dimensions, tlte Lord had a temple to
build in these regions ; resolved never to be discouraged from his un-
dertaking. Wherefore having Qrst sent over an encouraging account of
the good order, both civil and sacred, which now began to be establish-
ed in the plantation, he did himself return into England, that he doight
further pursue the effect thereof; and accordingly he made it his busi-
ness, where-ever he caate, to draw as many good men as he could, into
tills country with him. His wife remained unperswadable, till upoo
prayer with fanting before the Almighty turner of hearts, he received an
answer, in her becoming willing to accompany him over an ocean into a
wilderness. A very sorrowful parting they how had from their old friends
inSudbury, but a safe and quick passage over the Atlantic; and whereas
the church of Boston, observing that he arrived not at the time expected,
had set apart a day of humiliation on his behalf, his joyful arriVatbefore
the day, caused them to turn it into a day of thanksgiving. But Mrs*
Wilson being thus perswaded over, into the difficulties of an American
(lesart, I have heard, that her kinsman, old Mr. Dod, for her consolatioa
under those difficulties, did send her a present, with an advice, which he
had in it, something of curiosity. He sent her, at the same lime, a brass
counter, a silver crown, and a gold jacobus ; all of them severally wrap-
ped up : with this instruction unto the gentleman who carried it : that
he should first of all deliver only the counter, and if she received it with
any shew of discontent, he should then take no further notice of her ;
but if she gratefully resented that small thing, for the sake of the hand
it came from, he should then go on to deliver the silver, and so the gold :
but withal assure her. That such would be the dispensations of God unto
her, and the other good people of New-England : if they would be content
and thankful with such little things, as God at first bestowed vpon them, they
should, in time, have silver and gold enough. Mrs. Wilson accordingly, by
her cheerful entertainment of the least remembrance from good old Mr.
Dud, gave the gentleman occasion to go through with his whole present,
and the annexed advice ; which hath in a good measure been accom-
plished.

§ 12. It was not long before Mr. Wilsoti's return to Englattd once more,
was obliged by the death of his brother, whose will, because it bequeath-
ed a legacy of a thousand pounds unto New-England, gave satisfaction unto
Vol. I, 30

282

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book UJ

our Mr. Wilson, though it was otherwise injurious unto himself. A te-
dious and winter- voyage he now had ; being twice forced into /re/«in(/,
where tirst at Galloway, then at Kingsale, afterwards at Bandon- Bridge,
he occasionally, but vigorously and successfully served the kingdom of
God. At last he got safe among his old friends at Sudbury ; according to
the prediction which he had let fall in his former farewel unto them ; It
may be John Wilson may come and see Sudbury once again. From whence,
visiting Mr. Nathanael Rogers, at Assington, where he arrived before
their morning prayers ; Mr. Rogers asked him to say something upon the
chapter that was read, which happened then to be the first chapter in the
first book of Chronicles ; and from a paragraph of meer proper names, that
seemed altogether barren of any edifying matter, he raised so many fruit-
ful and useful notes, that a pious person then present, amazed thereat,
could have no rest, without going ovt into America after him. Having
dispatched his aflfairs in England, he again embarked for New-England,
in company with four ministers and near two hundred passengers, whereof
some were persons of considerable quality : but Ihey had all been lost by
a large leak sprang in the .ship, if God had not, on a day of solemn /asf-
ing, and prayer, kept op board for that purpose, mercifully discovered
this dangerous leak unto them.

§ 13. That Ph(snix of his age, Dr. Ames would say, That if he might
liave his option of the best condition that he could propound unto himself on
this side heaven, it xvould he, that he might be the teacher of a congregation-
al church, whereof Mr. Wibon should be the pastor. This happiness, this
priviledge, now had Mr. Cotton in the church of Boston. But Satan en-
vious at the prosperity of that flourishing church raised a storm of .^h-
tinomian, and Familistical errors, which had like to have thrown all into
an irrecoverable confusion, if the good God had not remarkably blessed
the endeavours of a Synod ; and Mr. Wilson, for a while, met with hard
measure for his early opposition to those errors, until by the help of
that Synod, the storm was weathered out. At the beginning of that as-
sembly, after much discourse against the unscriptural enthusiasms, and
revelations, then by some contended for, Mr. ^zVson proposed. You that
are against these things, and that are for the spirit and the word together,
hold up your hands ! And the multitude of hands then held up, was a
comfortable and encouraging introduction unto the '^th'tr proceedings.
At the conclusion of that assembly, a catalogue of t^ ., >rs to be con-
demned, was produced; whereof when one asked, shall be done
with them ? the wonted zeal of Mr. Wilson made this blunt answer, Ltt
them go to the devil of hell, from whence they cams.

In the midst of these temptations also, he was by a lot, chosen to ac-
company the forces, then sent forth upon an expedition against the
Pequod Indians ; which he did with so much faith and joy, that he pro-
fessed himself as fully satisfied, that God would give the English a victory
over those enemies, as if he had seen the victory already obtained. And the
tvhole country quickly shared with him in the consolations of that re-
markable victory.

§ 14. In the wilderness he met with his difficulties; for besides the
loss of houses, divers times hy/ire, which yet he bore with such a cheer-
ful submission, that once one that met him on the road, informing of him,
Sir, I have sad news for you; while you have been abroad, your house is
burnt. His lirst answer was. Blessed be God : he has burnt this house, be-
cause he intends to give me a better. (Which accordingly came to pass.)

DOK ili-

Hook I II. J THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLANi).

S83

Ate-
Ireland,
-Bridge,
igdom oj
)rding to
them; /(
fchence.
id before
upon the
ter in the
Dimes, that
any fruit-
d thereat,

Having
•England,
I, whereof
sen lost by
lemnfast-
liscovered

f he might
himself on
igregation-
piness, this
t Satan en-
orno of .^«-
>wn all into
bly blessed
t with hard
he help of
of that as-
siasms, and
You that
\rd together,
up, was a
Iroceedings.
to be con-
loW be done
Inswer, Let

iosen to ac-
lagainst the
liat he pro-
Lh a victory
\ And the
of that re-

Ibesides the
Ich a cheer-
Jiingof him,
Ittr house «
\is house, be-
ne to pass.)

He was also put upon complying with the inclinations of his eldest son
to travel ; who accordingly travelled, first into Holland, then into Italy,
where he proceefied a doctor of physick, and so returned into England,
excellently well adorned with all the accomplishments of n most pious
and useful gentleman. But this worthy person died about the year 1668.
And this hastened the death of his mother, e'er the year came about $
which more than doubled the grief nf his father. And these afflictions
\rere yet further embittered by the death of his eldest daughter Mrs.
Rogers, in child-bed with her first child ; at whose interment, though he
could not but express a deal of sorrow, yet he did it with so much pa-
tience, that /n token, he said, of his grounded and joyful hopes, to meet her
again in the morning of the resurrection, and of his willingness to resign
her into the hands of him who would make all things work together for gom,
he himself took the spade, and threw in th^ first shovelful of earth upon
her. And not long after, he buried three or four of his grand children
by another daughter, Mrs. Danforth (yet living with her worthy son-in-
law Edward Bromjield, Esq. in Boston) whereof one lying by the walls,
on a day of publick thanksgiving, this holy man then preached a most sa-
voury sermon on Job i. 21 , The Lord hath given, and the Lord hath taken
away, blessed be the name of the Lord. The next child, although so
weakly that all despaired ot its life, his prophetical grand-father said.
Call him John, / believe in God, he shall live, and be a prophet too, and do
God service in his generation ! which is, at this day, fulfilled in Mr. John
Danforth, the present pastor to the church of Dorchester. Encountring
with such, and many- other exercises his years rolled away, till he had
served New-England, three years before Mr. Cottonh coming over, twenty
years with him ; ten years with Mr. Nortor and /our years after him.

§ 15. In his younger time, he had been used unto a more methodical
way of preaching, and was therefore admired above many, by no kss
auditors than Dr. Goodw^, Mr. Burroughs, and Mr. Bridge, when they
travelled from Cambridge into Essex, on purpose to observe the minis-
ters in that county ; but after he became a pastor, joined with such
illuminating teachers, he gave himself a liberty to preach more after the
primitive manner ; without any distinct propositions, but chiefly in
exhortations and admonitions, and good wholesome councils, tending to
excite good motions in the minds of his hearers ; (but upon the same
texts that were doctrinally handled by his colleague instantly before :)
and yet sometimes his pastoral discourses had such a spirit in them, that
Mr. Shephard would say, Methinks I hear an apostle, when I hear this man :
yea, even one of bis ex-tempore sermons, has been since his death,
counted worthy to be published unto the world. The great lecture of
Boston, being disappointed of him, that should have preached it, Mr.
Wilson preached that lecture on a text occuring in the chapter that had
been read that morning in his family, Jer. xxix. 8, — JVeither hearken to
your dreams, which you cause to be dreamed ; from whence he gave a
reasonable warning unto the people against the dreams, wherewith
sundry sorts of opinionists, have been endeavouring to seduce them.
ft was the last Boston lecture that ever he preached (Nov. 16, 1665,)
»nd one who writ after him, in short hand, about a dozen years after
published it. But his last sermon he preached at Roxbury lecture,
lor his most worthy son-in-law Mr. Danforth ; and after he bad read
his text, which was in the beginnings and conclusions of sundry of the
last psalms, with a seraphical voice, he added, If I were sure this were
ihe last sermon that ever I should preach, and these the last words that

THE HISTOHY OK NKW-ENGLANU. [Book llf.

0ver lihould ipeak, t/et / would still my, Hnllelujah, Hulleliijah, praise ye
the Lord I 'i'hiis he ended hia miniitry on enrtli, thus he began hit po$-
»e»$ion of hcnven with Hallehijnhs,

& 16. Inilocd, if the picture of thifl s;ond, and therein great mnn, were
to bi

e exactly K>vt!n, great zeal, with great love, would be ihe two princi-
al Htrokex, that joined with orthodoxy, should make up his pourtraiture.
e had the zeal of n Phineas, I had nImoHt said of a teraphim, in testifying
against every thing that he thought oflcnsive nnto Ciod. The opinionuta,
whicli attempted at any time to debase the scripture, or confound the or-
d«r, embraced in our churches, underwent the most pungent animadver-
sions of this his devout zeal ; whence, when n certain nasembly of people,
which he approved not, had «et up in Boston, he charged all his family,
that they should never dnrc, so much as once to enter into that assembly;
I charge you, said he, that yov do not once go to hear them ; for whatsoever
they %mnj pretend, they will roh you of ordinances, rob you of your swls, rob
you of your (iod. But though he were thus, like John, a Sou of Thunder
a);ainst seducers, yet he was like Ibut blessed and beloved apostle also, all
made up of love. He was full of affection, and ready to help and relieve
and comfort Ibe distressed ; liis house was renowned for hospitality, and his
purse was continually emptying it self into the hands of the needy : from
which disposition of love in him, there once happened this passage ;
when he was beholding a great muster of soldiers, a gentleman then
present said unto him, Sir, Vll tell you a great thing ; here's a mighty body
of people, and there is not seven of them all, but uhat loves Mr. Wilson ;
but that gracious man presently and pleasantly replied. Sir, I'll tell yott as
good a thing as that, here's a mighty body of people, and there is not so muck
as one of them all, but Mr. Wilson loves him. Thus ho did, by his own
example, notably preach that lesson, \vhich a gentleman found in the
an^1gran^ of his name. Wish no one ill : and tl^s did he continue, to do
exyery one good, until his death gave the same gentleman occasion thus to
elegize upon him :

V "' , ■ ■ • •■' >>' • ' ' i •

, .. , Now may celestial spirits sing yet higher,

^ ' Since one more's added to their sacred quire ;

,' Vv Wilson the holy, whose grW nrtwic doth still,

'^ • In language sweet, bid us [Wish no ill.]

^ 17. He was one, that consulting not only his own edification,
but the encouragement of the ministry, and of religion, with an inde-i
fatignble diligence visited the congregations of the neighbouring- towns,
at their weekly lectures, until the weaknesses of old age rendered him
uncapable. And it was a delightful thing then to see upon every recur-
ring opportunity, a large company of christi'ms, and even magistrates
and ministers among them, and Mr Wilson in the head of them, visiting
the lectures in all the vicinai>:e, with such heavenly discourses on the
road, us caused the hearts of the disciples to bum within them: and in-
deed it was remarked, that though the christians then spent less time in
the shop, orjield, than they do noxv, yet they did in both prosper more.
But for Mr. Wilson, I am saying, that a lecture was a treasure unto him ;
he prized it, he sought it, until old age at length brought with it a sick-
ness, which a long while confined him. In this illness he took a solemn
farewel of the ministers, who had their weekly meetings at his hospitable
house, and were now come together from all parts, at the anniversary
ehcHon for the government of the colony. They asked him to declare

OOK III'

irninf ye
h>8 po$-

nn, were

princi-
rtrHitwre.
tcRtifying
oinioniifB,
1(1 the or-
limuJver-
)f people,
lis family,
DHfiembly;
whatsoever

• S !«<«, Tob

f Thunder
le niflo, all
ind relieve
iUj, antl his
.edy : from
18 pHBsnge ;
cinan then
mighty body
W. Wilson -,
// tell you as

1 not so tniich
hy hia own
bund in the
inue, to do
lion thus to

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND.

286

solemnly, what bethought might be the stns, which provoked thcr dis-
pleasure of God ngninst the country. Whereto his answer wa9, ihave
long feared several sins ; whereof, one, ho said, was Corahism; " That
" is, when people rise up as Corah, against their ministers, as if they took
'<too much upon them, when indeed they do but rule for Christ, and
«< according to Christ ; yet it is nothing for a brother to stand up and op-
«« pose, without scripture or reiison, the word of an elder, saying [/ am
" not satisjiedl] and hence if he do not like the administration (be it bap-
" tism or the like) he will turn his back upon God and his ordinances, and
" KG nwny. And for our neglect of baptising the children of the church,
•' those that some call grand-chUdren, I think God is provoked by it.
" Another sin (said he) I take to be the making light of, and not subject-
" ing to the authority of Synods, without which tlie churches cannot long
" subsist.'*

§ 18. Afterwards, having solemnly with prayer, and particularly and
very prophetically blessed his relations and attendants, he now thus com-
forted himself, / shall e'er long be with my old friends. Dr. Preston, Dr,
Sibs, Dr. Taylor, Dr. Oouge, Dr. Jimes, Mr. Cotton, Mr. M'orton, my Inns of
Court friends, and my consort, children, grand- children in the kingdom of
God. And when some then present magnified God for making him a man
of such use, and lamented themselves in their own loss of him, he replied,
Mas, alas ; use no such words concerning me ; for I have been an unprofita-
ble servant, not worthy to be called n servant of the Lord : but I must say.
The Lord be merciful to me a sinner, and I must say, Let thy tender mer-
cies come unto me, O Lord, even thy salvation according to thy word.
The evening before he died, his daughter asked him. Sir, how do you do ?
He held up his hand, and said. Vanishing things! vanishing things! but
he then made a most affectionate prayer, with and for his friends ; and so
quietly fell asleep on August 7, 1607, in the seventy-ninth year of his
ago. Thus expired that reverend old man : of whom, when he left
England, an eminent personage, said, M'ew-Englnnd shall flourish, free
from all general desolations, as long as that good man liveth in it ! which
was comfortably accomplished. He was interred with more than ordinary
solemnity ; and his neighbour Mr. Richard Mather of Dorchester, thereat
lamented the publick loss in his departure, with a sermon upon Zech. i.
5, Your fathers where are they, and the prophets, do they live for ever ?

§ 19. Being a man of prayer, he was very much a man of God ; and n
certain prophetical afflatus, which often direcis the speeches of such men,
did sometimes remarkably appear in the speeches of this holy man. In-
stances hereof have been already given. A few more shall now be
added.

Beholding a young man extraordinarily dutiful in all possible ways of
being serviceable, unto his aged mother, then rveak in body, and poor in
estate, he f'.flclared unto some of his family what ho had beheld ; adding
therewithal, / charge you to take notice of what I say; Qod will certainly
bless that young man ; John Hull f for timt was his name) shall grow rich,
and live to do God good service in his geAeration ! It came to pass ac-
cordingly, that this exemplary person became a very rich, as well as
emphatically a good man, and afterwards died a magistrate of the colony.
When one Mr. Admis, who waited on him from Hartford unto Weath-
ersjield, was followed with the news of his daughter's being fallen sud-
denly and doubtfully sick, Mr. fVilson looking up to heaven, began might-
ily to wrestle with God for the life of the young woman : Lord, (said he)
vilt thou 710W take axvay thy servant''s child, when thou neesf kc is afteiidivg

S8ft^>

THE HIsrORV OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

on thy poor unworlhy servant in most christian kindness ; Oh ! do it not I
And then turaing himself about unto Mr. Jldams, Brother (said he) / trust
your daughter shall live, J believe in God she shall recover of this sickness' '
And so it marvellously came to pass, and sbu is nowr the fruitful mothe-
of several desirable children.

A Pequot- Indian, in a canoo, was espied by the English, within gun-
shot, carrying away an English maid, with a design to destroy her or abuse
her. The soldiers fearing to kill the maid if they shot at the Indian,
asked Mr. Wilson's counsel, who forbad them to fear, and assured them,
God will direct the bvllet I They shot accordingly ; and killed the Indian,
though then moving swiftly upon the water, and saved the maid frep
from all harm whatever.

Upon the death of the first and only child (being an infant) of his
daughter Mrs. Danforth, he made a poem, whereii\ were these lines
among the rest,

What if they part with their beloved one,

Their Jirst begotten, and their only son ?

What's this to that which father Jlbram sufl'er'd,

When bis own hands his only darling offer'd,

In whom was bound up all his joy in this

Life present, and his hope of future bliss ?

And what if God their other children call.

Second, third, fourth, suppose it should be all ?

What's this to holy Job, his trials sad.

Who neither these nor t'other comforts had ?
vi) His life was only given him for a prey,

v Yet all his troubles v/ere to heav»n the way ;

Yea to far greater blessings on the earth,

The Lord rewarding all his tears with mirth.

And behold, as if that he had been a Fates, in both senses of it, a poet
and a prophet, it pleased God afterwards to give his daughter a second, a
third, and a fourth child, and then to take them all away at once, even in
one fortnight's time ; but afterwards, happily to make up the loss.

,Once passing over the ferry unto a lecture, on the other side of the
water, he look notice of a young man in the boat, that worded it very
unhandsomely unto his aged fatJier : whereat this faithful seer, beinp:
much troubled, said unto him, Young man, I advise you to repent of your
undutiful rebellious carriage towards your father ; I expect else to hear,
that God Juts cut you off", before a twelve-month come to an end! And be-
fore this time expired, it came to pass, that this unhappy youth going to
the southward, was there hacked in pieces, by the Pequvd Indians.

A company of people in this country, were mighty hot upon a project
of removing to Providence, an island in the West-Indies ; and a venerable
assembly of the chief magistrates, and ministers in the colony, was ad-
dressed for their council about this undertaking ; which assembly laid be-
fore the company very weighty reasons to disswade them from it. A
prime ringleader in that business, was one Fenner a cooper of Sa/'emr
the mad blade, that afterwards perished in a nonsensical uproar, which
lie, with a crew of Bedlamites, possessed like himself, made in London.
This Fenncr, with some others, now stood up and said, That notwithstand-
ing what had been offered, they were clear in their call to remove : where-
upon Mr. Wilson' stood up and answered. Jly, do you come to ask counsel in

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW.ENQLAND.

367

.to weighty a matter aa this, and to have help from an ordinance of God in it ?
and are you aforehand resolved, that you will go on ? Well, you may go, if
you will; but you shall nut prosper. What i do you make a mock of Clod's
ordinance ? And it came to pass accordingly ; the enterprize was not
lung after dnshed in pieces ; and Venner'^s precipitating impulses, after-
wards carried him to a miserable end.

A council sitting at a town, where some ecclesiastical differences called
for the assistances of the neighbours to compose Ihem, these was one
man observed by Mr. Wilson, to be extrearoly perverse, and most unrea-
sonably '.roublesome and mischievous to Ihe peace of the church there ;
whereupon Mr. Wilson told the council, be was confident, That the jeal-
ousy of God would set a mark upon that man, and that the ordinary death
of men should not befal him. It happened shortly after, that the man was
barbarously butchered by the salvages!

While Mr. Wilson was minister of Sudbury in England, ther« was a
noted person who had been absent for some while among the Papists.
This man returning home, offered himself to the communion; whereat
Mr. Wilson in the open assembly, spoke unto him after this manner ;
" Brother, you here present your self, as if you would partake in the
" Holy Supper of the Lord. You cannot be ignorant of what you have ,
" done in withdrawing your self from our communion, and how you have
'^ been much conversant for a considerable while, with the Papists,
'* whose religion is antichristian. Therefore, though we cannot so abso-
" lutely charge you, God knows, who is the searcher of all hearts ; and
" if you have defiled your self with their worship and way, and not re-
" pented of it, by offering to partake at this time in the Holy Supper
*' with us, yo\i will eat and drink your own damnation ; but if you are
" c'ear, and have nothing wherewith to charge your self; you your self
" Know, upon this account you may receive." The man did then par-
take at the Lord's ^able, (.rofessing his innocency. But as if the devil had
entered into him, he soon went and hanged himself.

In the circumstances of his a-^n children, he saw many effects of an
extraordinary faith.

His eldest son, Edmund, while travelling into the countries, which the
bloody Popish inquisition has made a clime too torrid for a Protestant,
was extreamly exposed : but the prayers of the young gentleman's con-
tinually distressed father, for him, tvere answered with signal preserva-
tions. When he was under examination by the inquisitors, a friend of
the chief among them, suddenly arrived ; and the inquisitor not having
seen this friend for many years before, was hereby so diverted and mol-
lified, that he carried the young Mr. Wilson to dinner with him ; and,
though he had passed hitherto unknown by his true name, yet this in-
quisitor could now call him, to his great surprize, by the name of Mr.
Wilson, and report unto him the character of his father, and his father's
industry in serving the hereticks of Kew-England. But that which I
here most of all design, is an account of a thing yet more memorable
and unaccountable. For, at another time, his father dream't himself
transported into Italy, where he saw a beautiful person in the son's,
chamber, endeavouring with a thousand enchantments, to debauch him ;
whereupon the old gentleman made, and was by his bed-fellow over-
heat'd making, first, prayers to God full of agony , and then warnings unto
his tempted son, to beware of defiling himself with the daughter of a
strange God. Now, some considerable while after this, the young gen-
tleman writes to bis father, that on such a night (which was upon enquiry

mh-

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Dook 1H,

found the very satne night,) a gentlewoman bad cnreaaed him, thua and
•o ( juat according to the vision,) and that his chaitity had been conquer-
ed, if he had not been atrongly posHcaaed with a aense of hia father's
prayeri over him, and warning! unto him, for hia escape from the pita,
whareintodofall iha abhorred of the Lord.

Ilia other son, John, when a child, fell upon his head from a loft four
stories high, into the street ; from whence he waa taken up for deod,
and so battered and bruised and bloody with his fall, that it struck hor-
ror into the beholders : but Mr. Wilson had a wonderful return of hia
prayers in the "ecovery of the child, both unto life and unto sense ; inso-
iBUch, tliat he continued unto Md age, a faithful, painful, useful minister
of the hospel ; and but lately went from the service of the church in
Medfield, unto the glory of the church triumphant.

After Mr. Wilson''s arrival at New-England, his wife, who had left off
bearing of children for many years, brought him another daughter;
which lamb was indeed unto him as a datigfiter ; and he would present
her unto other uiiniaters, for their blessing, with great affection, aaying,
This is my New-England token t But this child fell sick of a malignant
fever, wherein she was gone so far, that every one despaired of her life ;
except her father, who called in several ministers, with other christians,
unto a fast on that occasion ; and hearing the prayers of Mr. Cotton for
her, found his heart so raised, that he confidently declared. While I heard
Mr. Cotton at prayer, I was confident the child should live ! And the
child accordingly did live ; yea, she is to this day alive, a very holy wO'
man, adorned like them of old time, with a spirit (f great price !

The blessings pronounced by Mr. Wilson, upon many persons and af-
fairs, were observed so prophetical, and especially his death-bed bles-
sings upon his children and grand-children were so, that the most con-
siderable persons in the country thought it not much to come from far,
and bring their children with them, for the enjoyment of his patriarchal
benedictions. For which cause, Mr. Thomas Sliepard, in an elegy upon
him, at bis death pathetically thus expressed it ;

•.; ,,^ i Whoso of Abraham, Moses, Samuel, reads,, > .

''•:■ Or of Elijah's or Elisha^s deeds,

Would surely say, their spirit and jjower was hisi,
t And think there were a Metempsychosis.
'It A :[,. As aged John, th' apostle us'd to bless

The people, which they judg'd their happiness.
So we did count it worth our pilgrimage \ ' ' -

- , Unto him for his blessing, in his age.

These were extraordinary passages ; many of them, nre things which
ordinary christians may more safely ponder and wonder, than expect in our
days ! though sometimes great reformers, and great sxifferers, must be
signalized with them. I know very well what lAvy says, Datur hcec Ve-
nia Antiqtiitatis, ut miscendo Humana Divinis, Primordia Urbium Angus-
tiorafaciat : but I have been far from imposing the least fable upon the
world in reporting such extraordinary passages of Mr. Wilson, or any
other great confessor, by whom the beginnings of this country were made
illustrious ; there are witnesses enough, yet living of them.

§ 20. There is a certain little sport of wit, in anagrammatizing the
names of men ; which was used as long ago at least <is the days of old
Lycophron : and which sometimes has afforded reflections very monitory,

UooK III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW.ENGLAND.

18 and
iqner-
ther's
e pits,

ft four
r (Itsad,
;k hor-
of his
; in>o-
ninister
irch in

left off
lughter ;
present

saying,
alignaiit
tier life !
iristians,
'otton for
e / heard
And the
' holy wo-

18 and af-
bed bies-
nost con-
from far,
itriarchal
egy upow

igs which
\ect in our
must be
|r h(ec Vi-
Augw
I upon the
y», or any
lere made

lizittg the
lyg of old
\inonitoT}jt

as AUtedius by his just admirers chaoged into SeMitai ; or very chijirac-
teriiing, lu Henatus CarUtiut, by his disciples turned into, Tu tcis re$ Jhfa-
titra ; or very lalyrical, as when Satan nUeih me, was found in the trans-
posed name of a certain active pei-secutor : and when, Lo, « damned
trew, was found in the nttRie of one that made a figure among the Popish
plotters agiiinst the nation. Yea, 'tis possible, that they who affect such
grammatieul curiositiegi, will he willing to plead a prtscription of much
hit^her and elder antiquity for them ; even the tenmrah, or mutation,
with which the Jerei do criticise upon the oracles of the Old Tettament.
There, they say, you'll find the anagram'oi our fir tt father's name Ha
adam, to express Jldamah, the name of the earth, whence he had his
original. An anagram of a ,gnod signification, they'l show you [Gen. ri.
8,] and of a bad one [Gen. xxxviii. 7,] in those glorious oracles ; and
they will endeavour to pcrswade you, that Jlfa/eacAt in Exodus ia ana-
grammaticully expounded Michael, in Daniel. But of all the anagram'
matiitrs that have been trying their fancies, for the two thousand years
which have run out, fince the days of Lycophron, yea, or for the more
than live thousand, since the days of our first father, I believe there
never was man, that made to many, or no nimbly, as our Mr. Wilson} who,
together with his quick turns, upon the names of his friends, would ordi-
narily /e<c/(, and rather than /ose, would even /orce devout instructions
out of his anagrams. As once, upon hearing my father preach a fter>
mon about the glories of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mr. Wilson immediately
guve him that anogram upon his name, Crescentius Matherus, anagr. En I
Christus Merces tua : so there could scarcely occur the name of awy re-
markable person, at least, on any remarkable occasion unto him, without
an anagram raised thereupon ; and he made this poetical, and peculiar
disposition of his ingenuity, a subject whereon he grafted thougUs far
more solid and solemn and useful, than the stock it self. Wherefore me-
thoughts, it looked like » piece of injustice, that his own funeral produ-
ced (among the many poems afterwards printed) no more anagrams upon
liis name, who had so often thus handled the names of others ; and some
thought the Muses looked very much dissatisfied, when they saw t'lese
lines upon bis heurse.

, . JOHN WILSON.

Anfigr.
John Wilson.
Oh I change it not ; no sweeter name or thing,
Throughout the world, within our ears shall ring.

There was a little more of humour, in the fancy of Mr. Ward, the
well-known simple cobler of Agawam, as that witty writer stiled himself,
who observing the great Aospt^tt/tVy of Mr. WUson, in conjunction with his
me<a-£rmmmo<mng temper, said, That the anagram ofJoaa Wilson was,

I VRAY, COMB IN, YOU ARE HEARTILY WELCOME.

To make up this want, 1 might conclude the life of thn good man, with
;m anagram, which he left on, and for himself.

Joliannes Wilsonus.
Anagr.
In uno JesH, nos Salvi.,

::^.^ Vel

■ - Kan in uno Jesu Salus ? . < . . ■-:

Vol. I. "^ ' 37 ' "'' "^ —

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Rook HI.

All nun in Jesu, Crcdentum, tigitur, una,
Tota Salui l Hie est, liic isila Totu Sulua.

§ 21. But it is to the IubI place in our history of this worthy mnn,
that I reserve that part of his character, which hiy in hit disposition to
allot unto' himself the hut place -^mong all worthy men ; for his low opin-
ion of himself, was the top of all his other c ^cellenries. His htimitilii
not only caused him to prefer the meanest of his brethren above himself,
but also to comply with the meanest opportunities of being serviceable.
He migl > justly be reckoned the name's sake of that John, the Bishop of
Jllexandria, who was called not only Johannes EleemosynariuSy but also
HuinilU Johannes. Hcitce 'twas, that when his voice in his age did so
fail him, that his great congregation could be no longer edified by his
puhlick labours, he cheerfully and painfully set himself to do all the good
that he could by his private visits ; and such also as he could not reach
with sermons he ot\en found with verses : hence 'twas that when that
plea was used with the church of Ipswich, to resign Mr. JVorton unto the
church of Boston, after the death of Mr. Cotton ; because it was said,
Let him that hath Ixvo coats, give to him that hath none : and a person of
quality replied, Boston hath one, [meaning Mr. Wilson :] this good man
answered. Who ? me ! lam nothing ! Yea, hence 'twas, that when male-
factors had been #penly scourged upon the just sentence of authority,
he would presently send for them to his house, and having first expres-
sed his bounty to them, he would then bestow upon them such gracious
admonitions and exhortations, as made them to become, instead of despe-
rate, remarkably penitent. Indeed, I know not whether his humility
might not have some excess, in some instances charged upon it ; at least
once, when he had promised unto a neighbouring minister, to preach a
sermon for him, and afler his promise came in season to that minister,
saying. Sir, I told you, that I would preach for you, but it was rashly done
of me ; I have on my knea begged the pardon of it, from the Lord ; that I
should offer thus to deprive his people of your labours, which are so much
better than any of mine can be : wherefore. Sir, I now come seasonable to
tell you, that I shall fail you ! And accordingly, there was no perswading
of him to the contrary.

But from the like humility it was, that a good kinsman of his, who dp-
serves to live in the same story, as he now lives in the same heaven with
him, namely Mr. Edward liawson, the honoured secretary of the Massa-
chusct colony, could not by all his intreaties perswade him to let his picture
be drawn ; but still refusing it, he would reply. What ! sttch a poor viU
creature as I am ! shall my picture be drawn? I iay, no ; it never shall!
And when that gentleman introduced the limner, with all things ready,
vehemently importuning him to gratifie so far the desires of his friends,
as to sit a while, for the taking of his effigies, no importunity could ever
obtain it from him. However, being bound in justice to employ my
hand, for the memory of that person, by whose hand I was myself bap-
tised, I have made an essay to draw his picture, by this account of hif
life ; wherein if I have missed of doing to the life, it might be made uf
with several expressive passages, which I find in elegies written and
printed upon his death : whereof there were many composed, by those
whose opinion was well signified by one of them :

Sure verse/ess he does mean, to's grave to go.
And well deserves, that now no verse can shozv.

KooK III] THE HISTORY OF NKW-ENOLAND.

tdl

But waving the rest, let the following poem, never before printcd^offer
nuino odoum for the reader's further entertiiinmcnt.

Some nlfffi to embalm the mrmory of (he truly reverend and renowned JoH^
Wilson ; the first pastor of Boston, in Ncw-Knglnnd : interred (anrf a
great part of his countnfs glory with him) August II, 1667, aged 79.

MioiiT Jlaron^s rod (such funerals mayn't be dry)
But broach the rork, 'twould mish pure elegy.
To round the wiltlerness with purling lays.
And tell the world, the great saint Wilsmi's praise.

Here's one {pearls are not in great clusters found)
Here's one, the skill of tongues and arts had crown'd ;
Here's one (by frequent marhjrdom was try'<l)
That could forego skill, pelf and life beside,
For Christ : both England's darling, whom in swarm*
They press'd to sec, and hear, and felt his c/j« >•;«».

'Tis one (when will it rise to number two ?
The world at once can but one Pho'nix show :)
For trttlh a Paul, Cephas for zeal, for love
A John, inspir'd by the coclestial tiove.
Abram^s true son for faith ; and in his tent
Angels oft had their table and content.

So humble, that alike on's charily,
Wrought extract gent ; with extract rudii.
Pardon this fardt ; hia great excess lay there.
He'd trade for heaven, with all he came a near ;
His meat, clothes, cash, he'd still for ventures send
Consign'd, per Brother Lazarus, his friend.

Mighty in prayer, hi hands uplifted reach'd

Mercy''s high throne, and thence strange bounties fetch'd,

Once and again, and oft : so felt by all.

Who weep his death, as a departing Paul.

All, yea, baptiz'd with tears, lo children come,

(Their baptism he maintain'd !) unto his <o?n6.

'Twixt an apostle, and evangelist.

Let stand his order in the heavenly ^i»f.

Had we the costly alabaster box.

What's left, we'd spend on this I{ew-Knglish Knox ; .

True Knox, fill'd with that great reformer's grace,

In truth's just cause, fearing no mortal's face.

Christ's word, it was bis life, Christ's church his care ;
And so great with him his least brethren were ,
Not heat, nor cold, not rain, or frost, or snow,
Could hinder, but he'd to their sermons go ;
Aaron's bells .chim'd from far, he'd run, and then
His ravish'd soul echo'dy Amen, Amen !

191

?«

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111.

He travers'd oft the fierce Atlantic sea.

But Patf.ios of confessors *twa8 for thee.

This voyage lands him on the nia^ied shore,

From whenre this father will return no more,

To sit the moderator of thy sages.

But lell his zeal for thee to after-ages,

His care to guide his flock, and feed bis lambs,

By, words, works, prayers, psalms, alms, and anagrams :

Those anagrams, in which he made no start

Out of meer nothings, by creating art.

Whole words of counsel ; did to motes unfold

Names, till they lessons gave richer than gold.

And every angle so exactly fay, ■■•>'.

It should out-shine the brightest so/arrci^. - >

Sacred his verse, writ with a eheniVs quill ;
But those wing'd choristers of Zzon-hill,
Pleas'd with the notes, call'd him a part to bear '
With them, where he his anagram did hear,
I pray come in, heartily welcome. Sir. '

-!'!

EPITAPHIUM.

Thinking what epitaph I should offer unto the grave of this worthy
man, I called unto mind the fittest in the world, which was directed for
him, immediately upon his death, by an honourable person, who still con-
tinues the same lover, as well as instance, of learning and vertue, that he
was,

when he then advised them to give Mr. Wilson this

l - , ^ EPITAPH. ..,■ ! '.: fr _ :^ :

* And now abided faith, hope, and charity,
, But charity's the greatest of the three.

To which this might be added, from another hand :

Aurea, qua {ohstupeo referens /) Primava V^etustas
Candida Jlrcano, bsBcula Apostolica,

Officiis, Donisque itidem Sanctissimus Heros,
WiLSONus, taciiis Protulit ex Tenebris.

V. , . CHAPTER IV. ,. y

Puritanismus JVov-Anglicamts. The Lifk of Mr. John Davenport.

§ I. A NOTED author of more than twice seven treatises, and chaplain
to two successive Queens of England, was that Christopher Davenport,
whose assumed name was, Franciscus & Sancta Clara. And in Mr, Rush-
worth's collection of speeches, made in the celebrated parliament, 1640,
I find Sir Benjamin Hvdyard using these words : ' Sancta Clara hath
* publiched, that if a Synod were held, JVonintermixtis Puritanis, setting
' Puritans aside, our articles and their religion would soon be agreed.

lOi;

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLAND.

:;i:

his worthy
lirected for
lo still con-
ue, that he

. A-

IvESPORT.

iid chaplain
\Davtnfort,
Mr. ^«s''-
jient, 1640,
^lara hath
In's, setting
[be agreed.

< They have eo brought it to pass, that under the name of Puritans, all

< our religion is branded. Whoaoovcr squares his actions by any ru^e,
' cither divine or humane, he is n Puritm : whosoever would be govern-

• ed by the King's laws, he is a Puritan.' Whether this account of

matters be allowed or no ; there was, though not a brother (as a certain
woodden historian, in his AtheiKe Oxonientes, has reported) yet a kinsman
of thatiSancfa Clara, who was among the most eminent Puritans of those
days: and this was our holy and famous Mr. John Davenport: one of.
whom I may, on many accounts, use the elogy, with which tho learned
still mention Salmasius, P'ir nunguam satis Laudatus, nee Temere sine
Laude nominanduf.

§ 2. Mr. John Davenport was born at Coventry, in the year 1597, of
worthy parents ; a father who was mayorof the city, anil a pious mother,
who having lived just long enough, to devote him, as Hannah did her
Samuel, unto the service of the sanctuary, left him under the more im-
mediate care of heaven to fit him fot* that service. The grace of God
Eanctified him with good principles, while he had not yet seen two sevens
of years in an evil world; and by that age he had also made such attain-
ments in learning, aa to be admitted into Brasen-Nose Colledge, in Ox-
ford. From thence, when he was but nineteen years old, he was called
unto publick and constant preaching in the city of London, as an assistant
unto another divine ; where his notable accomplishments for a minister,
and his couragious residence with, and visiting of his flock, in a dreadful
plague'time, caused much notice to be quickly taken of him. His degree
of Master of Arts, he took not, until, in course, he was t( proceed
Batchellor of Divinity: and then with universal approbation, he received
both of these laurels together.

§ 3. This pious man was both an hard student, and a gieat preacher.
His custom was to sit up very late at his Ivcuhrations ; whereby, though
he found no sensible damage himself, and never felt his head ach, yet his
counsel was, that other students would not follow his example. But the
eftects of his industry were seen by all men, in his approving himtjolt'
upon all occasions, an universal scholar. As for the sermons wherewith
he fed the church of God, he wrote them for the most part, more largely
than the most of ministers ; and he spoke them with a gravity, an en-
ergy, an acceptableness, whereto few ministers ever have arrived : in-
deed his greatest enemies, when they heard him, would acknowledgi^
him to be among the best of preachers. The ablest men about London
were his nearest friends ; among whom he held a very particular corres-
pondence with Dr. Preston : he, when he dyed, left his notes with Mr.
Davenport, by him to be published ; and accordingly with Dr. Sibs,
you'll find Mr. Davenport signing some of their tiedications.

§ 4. About the year 1626, there were several eminent persons, among
whom were two Doctors of Divinity, with two other divines, and four
la-di!ijers, whereof one the King's Serjant at law, and four citizens, where-
of one the Lord Mayor of L'mdon, engaged in a design to procure n pur-
chase of impropriations, and with the profits thereof to maintain a con-
stant, able, and painful ministry, in those parts of the kingdom, where
there was most want of such a ministry. The divines concerned in this
design, were Dr. Gouge, Dr. Sibs, Mr. Offspring, and our Mr. Davenport;
and such an incredible progress was made in it, that it is judged, all the
impropriations in England ivould have been honestly and easily recover-
ed unto the immediate service of the reformed religion. But Bishop
Laud looking with a je:»!ous eye on this undertaking, lenst it might in

2J)4

THK HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [lioOK III.

time give n necret growth to non-conformity, he obt.iined a bill to be ex-
hibited in the Exchcipicr Chamber, by the King's Attorney-General,
agiiiniitthe Feoff'ef.n, that had the maniigoment of it. Upon this occasion,
I find thia great man writing in his great Bible, the ensuing passages :

• Feb. 11, 10.32. The business of the Jfojfecs being to be heard the
' third time ut the Exchequer, 1 prayed earnestly, that God would assist
' our counsellors, in opening the case, and be pleased to grant, that they
' might gel no advantage against us, to punish us iis evildoers ; promising
' to observe what annwcr he gave. Which seeing he hath graciously
* done, and delivered mcfroin the thing I fearid, I record to these «nds :

* 1. To be more induitrious in my familij. '" "

'2, To check my vnthnnkfvlncss. . m .:

• • 3. To quicken my self to thankfulness.
' '1. To awaken my self to more watdifitlness for the lime to come, iit
• remembrance of his mercy.

' V/ Inch 1 beseech the Lord to grant ; upon whose faithfulness in his
' covenant, 1 cast my self, to be made faithful in my covenant.

' John Davenport.'

The is.'itifi of the business was this : the court condemned their pro-
coedingH as ttangrrmis to the church and state ; pronouncing the gifts,
feriffmrnts, nnAco.itrivances, made to the uses aforesaid, to be illegal, and
so dissolved the same, conliscating their money unto the King's use. Yet
the criminal part referred unto, was never prosecuted in the star-chain-
her ; because the design was generally approved, and multitudes of dis-
creet and devout men, extreamly resented the mine of it.

§ 5. It hiippencd that soon after this, the famous Mr. John Cotton v/ag
i'iiWcn under such a storm of persecution for his non-conformity, as made
it uecegsary for him to propose and purpose a removal out of the liind :
whereupon Mr. Davenport, with several other great and good men, con-
sidering the eminent learning, prudence, and holiness of that excellent
person, could be at no rest, until they had by a solemn conference inform-
ed themselves of what might move him to such a resolution. The issue
of the conference was, that instead of their disswading him from exposing
himself to such sufl'erings, as were now before him. he convinced them of
the truth in the cause for which he suffered ; and they became satistied
both of the evil in sundry matters of n-orship and order, imposed upon
thorn, and of the duty which lay upon them, in their places to endeavour
the rrj'ormalinn of things in tho church, according to the word of God.
Mr. UavcnporCa inclination to nnn-conformity from this time, fell under
the notice and anger of his diocesan ; who presently determined the
marks of his vengeance for him : of which being seasonably and sufBcient-
Jy advertised, he convened the principal persons under his pastoral
charge in Coleman- street, at a general vestry, desiring them on this occasion
to declare, what they would advise ; for acknowledging the right which
they had in him, as their pastor, he would not, by any danger, be driven
from any service, which they should expect or demand at his hands ; but
he would imit.nte the example of Luther, who upon letters from the
"liurch o( Wittenberg, from whence he had withdrawn for his security,
upon the direction of the Duke of Saxtniy, returned unto the couragious
nxcrcisc of his ministry. Upon a serious deliberation, they discharged

»6k

iir.

Book HI. J

THE HISTCIIY ( ,EW ENGLAND.

295

be ex-
General,
jccasion ,
jges :

leard the
luUlassiRt
that they
promising
;racioualy
ese ends :

come, 111
Iness in his

PORT.

their pro-

; the gifts,

illegal, and

's use. Yet

star -chain-

des of dis-

Ills conscientious obligation, by agreeing with him, that it would be best for
liim to resign ; but although he now hoped for something of a quietlife,
liiij hope was disappointed ; for he was continually dogged by raging bu-
flie pursivants, from whom he had no safety but by retiring into Hol-
land.

§ G. Over to Holland he went, in the latter end of the year 1633.
Wiicre the messengers of the church, under the charge of Mr. Paget,
met him in his way to Amsterdam, inviting him to become the collegue
of their aged pastor. But Mr. Davenport had not been long there, be-
fore his indisposition to the promiscuous baptising of children, concerning
whom there was no charitable or tolerable testimony of their belonging
to christian parents, was by Mr. Paget so improved against him, as to
procure him the displeasure of the Dutch classes in the neighbourhood.
The contention on this occasion proceeded so far, that though the Dutch

ministers had under their hands declared We desire nothing more, than

that Mr. Davenport, whose eminent learning, and singular piety is much
approved and commended of all the English our brethren, may be lawfully
promoted unto the minstry of the English church : we do also greatly ap-
prove of his good zeal and care, of his liaving some precedent private exam-
ination of the parents, and sureties uf children to be baptised iti the christian
religion. Yet the matter could not be accommodated ; Mr. Davenport
could not be allowed, except he would promise to baptize the children
of such whose parents and sureties were, upon examination, found never
so much unchristianizcd, ignorant, or scandalous. He therefore desisted
from his publick ministry in Amsterdam, about the beginning of the year
16.'35, contenting himself to set up a catechetical exercise in the family,
where he sojourned on the afternoon of the Lord''s days, an hour after the
publick sermons were over. But some considerable number of people,
at length, resorting to this exercise, a jealousie was pretended by his ad-
versary, that the design of it was to promote such sects, as indeed the
chief design of it Wiis to prevent ; and upon this pretence he was hin-
dered, even from this lesser opportunity of doing service also. The
fuller story of these uncomfortable and unreasonable branglcs, the rea-
der may find in an apologelical discourse of Mr. Davenport's, published for
his own vindication ; wherein he does with a learned pen, handle several
points much controverted in the reformed churches, and shew himself a
divine well studied in the controversies of the present and the former
ages. But the upshot of all was, that he returned back to London ; where
he told his friends, That he thought God carried him over into Holland, on
purpose to bear witness against that promiscuous baptism , xtj/ucft at least bor-
dered very near upon a profanation of the holy institution.

§ 7. He observed, that when a reformation of the church has been
brought about in any part of the world, it has rarely been afterwards
carried on any one step further, than the Jirk reformers did succeed in
their^rst endeavours ; he observed that as easily might the ark have been
removed from the mountains of Ararat, where it first grounded, as a
people get any ground in reformation, after and beyond the first remove
of the reformers. And this observation quickned him to embark in a
design ot reformation, wherein he might have opportunity to drive things
in the first essay, as near to the precept and pattern of scripture, as they
could be driven. The plantation of JVcw-L'ng/and afforded him this op-
portunity, with the chief undertakers whereof he had many consulta-
tions, before he had ever taken up any purpose of going himself into
Ibal part of the world ; and he had, indeed, a very groat stroke in the

'i9Q

THii: HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI,

encournging and enlivening of that noble undertaking. He was one oi'
those by whom the patent for the Massachuset colony was procured ; and
though his name were not among the patentees, because he himself desir-
ed it might be omitted, lest his enemy, the Bishop of London, then of
the King's privy council, should upon his account appear the more
fiercely against it ; yet his purse was in it, his time was in it, and he con-
tributed unto it all manner of assistances : this he did before his going to
Holland. And while he was in Holland, he received letters of Mr. Cotton,
from the country whereto he had thus been a father ; telling him, That
tlie order of the churches, and the common-wealth was now so settled in
New-England, by common consent, that it brought into his mind the new
heaven, and the new earth, wherein dwells righteousness. Wherefore,
soon after his return for London, he shipped himself, with several emi-
nent christians, and their families, for J^ew-England ; where, by the good
hand of God upon them, they arrived in the summer of the year 1637.

§ 8. Mr. Cotton welcomed Mr. Davenport, as JIfosesdid Jethro, hoping
that he would be as eyes unto them in the wilderness. For by the cunning
and malice of Satan, all things ia this JVew-English wilderness, were then
surprised, into a deal of confusion, on the occasion of the Jlntinomian
opinions then spread abroad ; but the learning and wisdom of this worthy
man in the Synod then assembled at Cambridge, did contribute more than
a little to dispel the fascinating mists which had suddenly disordered all
oar affairs. Having done his part in that blessed work, (as we have
elsewhere more fully related) he, with his friends, who were more lit
for Zebulon's ports, than for Issachar's tents, chose to go farther west-
ward ; where they began a plantation and a colony, since distinguished
by the name of New-Haven ; and endeavoured according to his under-
standing, a yet stricter conformity to the word of God, in settling of all
matters, both civil and sacred, than he had yet seen exemplified in any oth-
er part of the world. There the famous church ofJVew-Haven, as well as
the other neighbouring towns, enjoyed his ministry, his discipline, his gov-
ernment, and his universal direction for many years together : even till after
the restoration of King Charles H. Connecticut and New- Haven, were by
one charter incorporated. And here, with what holiness, with whatwatch-
fulness, with what usefulness he discharged his ministry, it is worthy of a
remembrance among all that would propose unto themselves a worthy
example. Nevertheless, all that I shall here preserve of it, is this one
article. A young minister once receiving of wise and good councils
from this good and wise and great man, he received this among the rest,
That he should be much in ejaculatory prayer : for indeed, ejaculatory
prayers, as arrows in the hand of a mighty man, so are they, happy is the
man that has his quiver fnll of them! And it was believed, by some cu-
rious observers,- that Mr. Daveitport himself, was well used unto that
sacred skill of walking with God, and, having his eyes ever towards the
Lord, and being in the fear of the Lord all the day long, by the use of
ejaculatory prayers, on the innumerable occasions, which every turn of
oar lives does bring for those devotions. He was not only constant in
more settled, whether social or itcret prayers ; btitalso in the midst of all
besieging incumbrances, tying the wishes of his devout soul unto the ar-
rows of ejaculatory prayer-^ he would shoot them away unto the heavens,
from whence he still expected all his help. With such a glory, with such
a defence, was JVew-Haven blessed !

§ 9. But his influences were not confined unto his own colony of New-
Haven ; they were extended as far as his general and generous care of all

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENXSLAND.

297

tlie churches, could carry him. And hence, I find him in a particular ipan>
ner, expressing his good afl'ections unto the Jrenio designs and studies,
which were in those days managing by some great men, for the Mstoring
o( communion among the divided churches of the reformation. Perhaps,
I cannot give an exacter character of this eminent person's disposition,
than by my transcribing and my translating of a few passages in a letter
to the famous Dury, by him composed, and by the rest of the ministets ia
his colony subscribed.

Flagrante Schismatis Incendioy Ecclesias, qitas oportebat Arctisnmo Pads
^ Unitntis Vinculo Colligari, misera in settas Invisa Deo Laccrabat £ri-
nuys i usque adeo ut qui muiuam contra communes Hostes opem confirrewt,
prob dolor ! Concertationes Midianiticas invicem agunt ; Sicut enim Juve-
MS qnos ad Dimicandum Abnerus Provocabat, se mutuis Vulneribus Confe-
cerunt ; sic, quorundam Vitio, qui partes potius agunt male Disputantium,
quam bene Evangelizantium, Jurgia, Lites, Animorum Divortia, Schismata
j^ Scandala, in Ecclesiis Evangelicis, Suboriunlur, nan sine gravi Infirmo'
rum Off'endiculo, nee sine summ<j bunorum omnium Marore, ac Jnimicorum

EvangeliccB Vetilatis Oblectamento.

' While the iire of schism has been raging, the hateful fury has mis-
' erably torn to pieces, the churches that should have been held together
' in the strictest bonds of love and unity ; insomuch that they who should
' have united, for mutual help against the common enemy, alus, have even
' fiillen upon one another, as in the day of Midian. As the young men,
' upon the provocation of Abner, wounded one another to death ; thus,
' by the fault of some, who do the part rather of bad wranglers, than of
' good preachers, there do arise in the reformed churches, those broils
' and strifes, and animosities, and schisms, and scandals, which offend the
' weak, and afflict the good, and are no little satisfaction to the enemies of
' gospel-trvih.*

JVwuc Vero, Postquam Gustos Israelis, Deus Pacis, dedit in Corda tot
Ecclesiarum 4* Magistratum, ut Vulneribus istis Medicinam faciendam esse,
Necessarium Judicarint, En ! Bonorum omnium Animi, in Spem erecti,
Malorum istorum Sulutarem Clausulum Expectant, Sr I'otis intimis, Patrem
Misericordiarum Vobiscum invocant, ut Spiritus sui Gratia, Secundum Ver-
bum Suum, Consilia ^ actiones Servorum Suorum dirigere, ad Sancti jVom-

inisSui Gloriam dignetur.^

' But now that the Keeper of Israel, the God of peace, hath put it into
' the hearts of many churches and rulers, to apprehend it necessary, that
'a cure should be sought for these wounds, behold'! the minds of all
' good men do with a raised hope expect an happy close of these mis*
' chiefs ; and with most hearty prayers, do beseech the Father of Mer-
' cies, that he would, by the grace of his Spirit, according to his word,
' please to direct the counsels and actions of his servants, for the glory
' of his own holy name.'

Recte quidemfecisti, Reverende Frater Duraee, quod nos etlam in eodem
Vobiscum Corpore, Siib eodem Capite Jesu Christo, Constitutos^ ad Kegotium

hoc, in Sanctorum Communione Promovendum, fraterne invitasti.

' You have done right well, reverend brother, in that you have, after

' a brotherly manner, unto tlie promoting of this affair, in the commun-

' ion of saints invited us, who belong to the same mystical body, with

your selves, under one head, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dica Vero non est Orthodoxis impingenda, quasi Optatissima Hit Paci,

fjute inter Scissas Evangclicas Ecclesias qnaritur, Offendiculum posuerint,

^' remoram qui JVecessitate Poftulante, ea viiintur Libertate Refutandi

Vol. 1. :3R

298

THE HISTORY OF NKW-ENGLANI). [Book HI.

Errores, quain Pax non debet impedire : adeoque $uo Exemplo futuram

pacem pramuniant, a yillia in Excessu poiitii. Qi/fp/>« quod sincere dt

Errortmi Judicnre, ^ Errores tamen in Fratribus lnjirtni$ Tolerare, Uu
rumque Jiidicainus esse Apostolicm Doctrinif, Consonum. Tolerntio Vero
Fratrum liifinnoyum, non debet esse adsqiie Kedargulione, Sed tantum aO-
absque Kejectione.

^NeverthelesH, 'tis not to be made an article of complaint against the
' orthodox, as if they would hinder or delay the peace desired so nunch
*■ among the reformed churches, because they do, as necessity shall call
' for it, use that liberty of refuting errors, which peace ought to be no bar
' unto ; and by their example, would rescue the future peace from the

' extremes wherewith it would be rendred faulty. For we reckon

' that as well to judge what things are errors, as to bear with such er-
* rors in weaker brethren, are both of them agreeable to what we have
' been taught by the apostles. The toleration of our erroneous breth-
' ren, should not be without rebuking, but it should be without rejecting
' of those brethren.

§ 10. It is a notable expression, and a wonderful concession of that
great Cardinal Bellermine, the last Goliah of the Romish Philistines ;
Kcclesia ex Intentione Fideles tantum Colligit, 4* si nosset Impios Sf incredu-
los, eos aut nutiquam admitteret, aut casu Admissos Excluderet : ' The
' church (he says) intentionally gathers only true believers, and if she
' knew who were wicked and faithless, either she would not admit them
' at all, or if they were accidentally admitted, she would exclude them.'
Our Davenport conceiving it a shame, that any Protestant should protest
for less church purity, than what the confessions of a learned Papist al-
lotved e'er he was aware, to be contended for, did now at Kew-Haven,
make church purity to be one of his greatest concernments and endeav-
ours, it was his declared principle, that more is required of men, in
order to th6ir being members of an instituted church, than that they pro-
fess the christian /ai</t, and ask the visible seals of the covenant in the
fellowship of the church ; all which may be done, by persons notorious-
ly scandalous in their lives, from whom the command is, turn away: but
only such persons may be received as members o( a particular church,
who (according to Mat. xvi. 18, 19.) make such a publick profession of
tlieir/a/</i, as the church may, in charitable discretion judge, has bles-
sedness annexed unto it, and such as flesh and blood hath not revealed,
in pursuance of this principle, he was, like his dear friend, that great
man. Dr. Thomas Goodwin, perswaded, that (as he speaks) there are ma-
ny rules in the word, whereby it is meet for us, to judge zvho are saints; btj
which rules those who are betrusted to receive men unto ordinances in
churches, are to be guided, and so to separate between the precious and the
unclean, as the Priests of old were enabled and commanded by ceremonial
differences, which God then made to typifie the like discrimination of persons.
And therefore, making the marks of a repenting and a believing soul,
given in the, word of God, the rules of his tryals, he used a more than
ordinary exactness in trying, those that were admitted unto the com-
munion of the church : indeed so very thoroughly, and I had almost
said, severely strict, were the terms of his communion, and so much, I
had. well nigh said, overmuch, were the golden snuffers of the sanctu-
ary employed by him in his exercise of discipline towards those that
were admitted, that he did all that was possible, to render the renowned
church of New-Haven, like the JVew-Jerusalem ; and yet, after all, the
Lord gave him to see that in this world, it was impossible to see a church

JJooK in.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

209

of that
islines ;
incredu-
: « The
a if she
lit them
e them/
Id protest
apist al-
x-Haven,
endeav-
men, in
hey pro-
it in the
otorious-
eay: but
;r church,
fession of
jas bles-
•evealed.
lat great
I are mo-
mints; by
mances in
\is and the
•remonial
persons.
ring soul,
lore than
the com-
td almost
much, I
le sanctu-
lose that
•enowned
[r all, the
a chvrfh

state, whereinto there enters nothing which defies. This great man, bath
himself, in one of his own treatises observed it. The queers and brethren
of the churchy are but men, who judge by the outward appearance. Tftere-
J'ore their judgment is fallible, and hath been deceived ; a$ we see in thtt
judgment of the apostles^ and the church at Jarusalem, concerning Ananinn
and Supphira ; and in that of Philip, and the church in Samaria, concern-
ing Simon Magus. Their duty is to proceed, nsjar as men may, by rule,
■stith due moderation and gentleness, to try them, whmtff'er themselves to fel-
lowship, whether they be believers or not; refusing known hypocrites-;
though when they have done all they can, close hypocrites will creep tn. And
now, i might entertain my reader, I hope, with a profitable, I am sure,
with a very prodigious history ; I will on this occasion, relate most
horrible things done in the land, which this good man saw, to confirm his
own observation : but i will take a fitter occasion for it.

§ 11. After this, the remaining days of this eminent person, were
worn away under the unhappy temptations of a wilderness. It so hap-
pened, that the most part of the first church in Boston, the metropolis
of the colony, out of respect unto his vast abilities, had applied them-
selves unto him, to succeed those famous lights. Cotton, and JVorton,
and Wilson, who having from that golden candlestick, illuminated the
whole country, were now gone to shine in an higher orb. His removal
from New-Haven was clogged with many temptations difficulties : (for,
Miraculiinstar, vita Iter si longum, sine Off'ensione, Percurrere:) hut he
broke through them all, in expectation to do what he judged would be a
more comprehensive service unto the churches of JVew-Etigland, than
could have been done by him, in his now undistinguished colony. On
this occasion, if I should mention that lamentable observation of old
Epiphanius, who says, / have known tome confessors, who delivered up their
body and their spirit, for the Lord, and persevering in confession and charity,
obtained great proof of the sincerity of their faith, and excelled in piety, hu-
manity, and religion, and were continual in fastings, and in a word, flour-
ished in vertue ; and yet these very men were blemislud with some vice, as
either they were prone to reproach men, or would swear profanely, or were
over talkative, or were prone to anger, or got gold and silver, or were defiled
with some suchfilth; which nevertheless detract not from the just praises of their
veHue. I must add upon it, that Mr. Davenport was a confessor flourish-
ing in vertue, upon whom they that upon the score of his removal, were
most of all dissatisfied at him, would not yet charge those unhappy blemishes:
and if any good men in the sifting times, did count him either too strait,
or too high, in some of his apprehensions : nevertheless, these things also
detract not from the just praises of his vertue.

§ 12. So rich a treasure of the best gifts, as was in our Davenport,
was well worth coveting by the considerablest church in the land. He
was a most incomparable preacher, and a man of more than ordinary ac-
complishments ; a prince of preachers, and worthy to have been a
preacher to princes : he had been acquainted with great men, and great
things, and was great himself, and had a great fame abroad in the world ;
yea, now he was grown old, like Moses his force was not abated. And
the character which 1 remember that old Pagan historian, Diodorus the
Sicilian, gave of our Moses, every body was ready to give of our Daven-
port, He was a man of a great sotd, and very powerful in his life. But
his removal did seem too much to vcrifie an observation, by the famous
l^r. Tuckney thtis expressed ; It is iH transplanting a tree that thrives in

300

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND. [Bowt »f.

the $oil r for accepting the call of fioston-chnrch, in the year 1667, that
church, and the world, must enjoy him no longer than till the year 1670 :
ivhen on Marek 15, aged seventy two years, be was by apoplexy fetch-
ed away to that glorious world, where the spirits of Cotton and Daven-
port, are together in heaven, as their bodies ace now in one tomb on
earth.

§ 13. His constant and wious employments otherwise, would not per-
mit him to leave many printed effects of his judicious industry, besides
those few already mentioned ; although he were so close and bent a stu-
dent, that the*rude Pagans themselves took much notice of it, and the
Indian salvages in the neighbourhood would call him, So big ttudy man.
Only there is in the bands of the£iilhful, a savory treatise of his, entitu-
led. The Saints Jlnchor-hold ; in the preface whereof, a Dutunvirat* of re-
nowned men ; to wit, Mr. Hook, and Mr. Caryl, give this attestation :

* As touching the author of (liia Treatise, in whose heart the text was
' written by the linger of God, before the discourse was penned by his
' own hand ; his piety, learning, gravity, experience, judgment, do not
' more commend him to all that know him, than this work of his may

* commend itself to them that read it. The christian faith has also been
solidly and learnedly maintained by him, in a discourse long since pub-
lished, for the demonstration of our blessed Jesus, to be the true Mesiias,
Nor would I forget a sermon of his on 2 5am. xxiii. 3, at the anniversa-
ry court of election at Boston, 1669, aAerwards published. And among
the many epistles which he hath prefixed unto the books of other au-
thors, I know not whether his excellent epistle before Mr. Scudder^s Dai-
ly-walk, may not, for the worth of it, be reckoned it self a book, as the
book it self was the directory of his own daily walk. Moreover, there
is published a treatise of his under this title, The Power of Congregational
(yiurches ; in the preface whereof Mr. Nathanael Mather, (at this time
the worthy and well-known Pastor of such a church in the city of Lon-
don) has these very significant expressions concerning htm : Certain it is,
the principles held forth in this treatise, cost the Reverend Author, not only
many sufferings, but also many, very ma,ny sad searchings, and much read-
ing and study, on set purpose, accompanied with manifold prayers and cries
to the Father of Ldghts, for light therein. After all which, he was more con-
firmed in them, and attained to such comfortable clearness therein, as bore
him up with much inward peace and satisfaction, under all his afflictions, on
the account of his perswasion in these points. And so perswaded, lived, and
so died this grave and serious spirited man. There is likewise published,
A discourse about Civil Government, in a jVew Plantation, whose design is
religion : in the title page whereof, the name of Mr. Cotton, is. by a
mistake, put for that of Mr. Davenport. And there was lately transcri-
bed for the press from his notes, a large volume of accurate and elabo-
rate sermons, on the whole book of Canticles. But the death of the gen-
tleman chiefly concerned in the intended impression, proved the death
of the impression itself.

§ 14. To conclude : there will be but an unjust account given of the
things preached and written by this reverend man, if we do not mention
one singular favour of heaven unto him. It is well known, that in the
earliest of the primitve times, the faithful did in a literal sence, believe
the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the rising and reigning
of the saints with him, a thousand years before the rest of the dead live
again : a doctrine, which however ?ome of later years have counted it
heretical; yet, in the days of Irena:us, was questioned by none but such

7, that

1670:

fetch-

Daven-

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not per-

besides

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text was

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nd among

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iver, there

rregatiowl
this t^me

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ertain it it,
r, not only

nuch read-
's and cries
tnorecon-
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lictions, on
, lived, ani
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ie design is
n, is, by a
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the death

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M reigning
L dead live
[counted it
Le but such

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND.

301

ns were counted hereticks. 'Tis evident from Justin Martyr, that Ibis
doctrine of the Chiliad, wm in hia days embraced, among all orthodox
christians ; nor did this kingdom of our Lord, begin to be doubted, until
the kingdom of antichrist began to advance into a considerable figure }
and then it fell chiefly under the reproaches of such men, as were fain to
deny the divine authority of the book of Revelation, and of the second
Epistle of Peter. He is a stranger to antiquity, who does not find and
own the ancients generally of the perswasion, which is excellently summed
np in those words of Lactantius, Veniet Suifimi 4* maximi Dei Filiua. Ve-
rumillt, eum deleverit injustitiam, Judiciumque maximum fecerit, ac Justos,
(jui a Principio fuerunt, ad vitam Refiauraverit, Mille Annis inter Homines
Versabitur, eosque Justissimo Imperio rcget. Nevertheless, at last men
came, not only to lay aside the modesty expressed, by one of the first
considerable .^n<tjtft7/e>tams,. namely Jsrom, when he said. Qu<e licet non
sequamur, tamen condemnare nonpossumus, eo quod multi Virorum Eccle-
msticorum Sr Martyrum, ista dixerint : but also with violence to persecute
the millenary truth as an heretical pravity. So the mystery of our Lord's
appearing in hiskingdom,\ay buried in popish darkness, till the li^t there-
of had a fresh dawn, since the antichrist entred into the last half time of
the period allotted for him ; and now, within the last few sevens of years,
as things grow nearer to accomplishment, learned and pious men, in great
numbers every where, come to receive, explain, and maintain the old
faith about it. But here was the special favour of heaven, to our Du'
venport, that so many years ago, when in both Englands the true notion
of the Chiliad, was hardly apprehended by as many divines of note, ns
there are mouths of J^ilus, yet this worthy man clearly saw into it| and
both preached and wrote those very things, abont the future state, and
coming of the Lord, the calling of the Jews, and the first and second resur'
reclion of the dead, which do now of late years get more ground against the
opposition of the otherwise minded, and find a kinder entertainment among
them that search the scriptures: and whereof he afterwards, when he was
an old man, gave the world a little tast, in a judicious preface before a
most learned and nervous treatise, composed by one that was then a
young man, about the mystery of tlis salvation of Israel. Even, then, so
long ago it was, that he asserted, A personal, visible, powerful, and glori-
ous coming of the Lord Jesus Christ unto judgment, long before the end of
the world.

But thus we take our leave of this renowned man, and leave him rest-
ing in hope, to stand in his lot, at that end.

EPITAPHIUM.'

• ■ -^ ,'■'••'-,' . ,.♦.-. ,1 -

.TOHANNES DaVENPORTUS,

s._W . ».«>■

; ' In Poi^^tum Delatus.
V^ivus Nov-Anglim, ac Ecclesice Ornamentum,

■^ rv^^- Mortuus, Utriusque Triste Desiderium.

W^' .

V".

•♦n 'Ji

^^v/:v' *-v.7i.!¥

1 "

sr ^«5ti.n.

OooK

APPENDIX.

Tke Light of the tVeslern Churches : or the Life of Mr. Thomas iiooKicft,
tlic renowned Pnstor of Hartford Church, and Pillar of Connecticut
Colony, in New-England.

Essayed bv Cotton Matheh.

Qu»d si digna Tua minus est mea Pagina Laude,

' At voluisse sat est.

To the Churches in the Colony of Connecticut.

ALTHOUGH the providence of heaven, ruherehy the bounds of people
are set, hath carried you so far westward, that some have pleasantly said,
the last conflict with antichrist, must be in your colony : yet, I believe, you
do not reckon your selves reftwved beyond the reach of temptation and cor-
ruption. *Tis a great work that you have done, for our Lord Jesus Christ,
informing a colony of evangelical churches for him, where Satan alone had
reigned without contrnul in all former ages : but your icomparable Hooker,
who was one of the greatest in the foundation of that work, was in his day,
well aware, that Satan would make all the hast he could, unhappily to get
all buried in the degeneracies of ignorance, worldliness, and profanity. To
advise you of your dangers, and uphold the life of religion among you, I
presume humbly to lay before you, the life of tfuit excellent man, who for
learning, wisdom, and religion, was a pattern well worthy of perpetual con-
sideration. Having served my own province, with the history of no less than
four famous Johns, all fetched from one church, I was for certain special
causes, unwilling to have it complained, as once it was of the disciples,
Thomas was not with them : wherefore I was willing to make this appen-
dix unto that history, confessing that through want of information I have under-
done in this, more than in any part of the composure ; yet so done, that I
hope the good hand of the Lord, whom I have designed therein to glorifie,
will make what is done, to be neither unacceptable, nor unprofitable unto
his people.

' H- . <•■, Cotton Mather.

^tio-1r,f r«y 'ExxAve-iwq UvnifMt, The LiFE of Mr. Thomas Uooker.

§ 1. When Toa;an's met with his countryman .^nacfcoms, in jJifcerw, he
vave him this invitation, Come along with me, and I will shew thee at once
all the wonders o/* Greece : wherupon he shewed him Solon, as the per-
son in whom there centered all the glories of that city, or country. ^
shall now invite my reader to behold at once the wonders of Ntw-Eng-

B£

BooE in.] THE HISTORY

•
or NEW-KNGLAND.

303

land, and it is one Thomaa Hoooker that he shall behold them : eveiv in
that Hooker, whom a worthy writer would needs call, Saint Hooker, for
the tame reason, (he 8uid^ and with the »amt freedom litat Latimer would
speak ofSaint Bilney, in his commemorations. 'Tis that Hooker, of whom
1 may venture to say, that the famous Romanist, who wrote a book, De
Tribus Thomii ; or, Of three Thomas's ; meaning Thomas the Apostle, 'ITiom-
as Becket, and Sir Thomat More, did not a thousandth part so well sort
his Thomases, as a New'Englainder mighk if he should write a book, Dk
Duobut Thomis, or Of two Thomases ; and with Thomas the Apostle, joyn
our celebrious Thomas Hooker : my oneThdmas, even our ifpostolical //oo/c-
«r would in just ballances, weigh down two of iSVape/ton's robcllioud Arch-
bishops, or bigotted Lord Chancellor*. 'Tis he, whom I mny call, as
Theodoret called Irenaus, The light of the western churches.

§ 2. This our Hooker was born at Marjield, in Leicestershire, about the
year 1586, of parents that were neither unable, nor unwilling to bestow
upon him a liberal education ; whereto the early and lively sparkles of
wit observed in him, did very much encourage them. His natural temper
was cheerful and courteous ; but it was accompanied with such a ttensi-
We grandeur of mind, as caused his friends, without thehelp of astrology, to
prognosticate that he was born to be co-^siderable. The Influence which
he had upon the reformation of some growing abuses, when hevras one of
the proctors in the university, was a thing that more eminently signalised
him, when his more publick appearance in the world was coming on: which
was attended with an advancement unto a fellowship, in Emanuel Col-
ledge, in Cambridge ; the students whereof were originally designed
for the study of divinity.

§ 3. With what ability and fidelity he acquitted himslf in hia fellowship,
it was a thing sensible unto the whole university. And it was while he
was in this employment, that the more effectual grace of God, gave him
the experience of a true regeneration. It pleased the spirit of God very
powerfully to break into the soul of this person, with such n sense of
hia being exposed unto the just wrath of heaven, as filled him with
most unusual degress of horror and anguish, which broke not only his
rest, but his heart also, and caused him to cry out. While I suffer they ter-
rors, O Lord, I am distracted ! While he long had a soul harassed with
such distresses, he had a singular help in the prudent and piteous car-
riage of Mr. Ash, who was the Si/.cr, that then waited upon him ; and
attended him with such discreet and proper compassions, as made him
afterwards to respect him highly all his days. He afterwards gave this
account of himself, That in the time of his agonies, he could reason him-
self to the rule, and conclude that there was no way but submission to God,
and lying at the foot of his mercy in Christ Jesus, and waiting hum-
bly there, till he should please to perswade the soul of his favour : 7iev-
trtheless when he came to apply this rxde unto himself in his own con-
dition, his reasoning would fail him, he was able to do nothing. Having
been a considerable while thus troubled with such impressions for the
spirit of bondage ns were to fit him for the great services and enjoy-
ments, which God intended him ; at length he received the spi^'it of adop-
tion, with well-grounded perswasions of his interest in the new covenant.
It became his manner, at his lying down for sleep, in the evening, to
single out some certain promise of God, which he would repeat and pon-
'ler, and keep his heart close unto it, until he found that satisfaction oi
soul wherewith he could say, I will lay me down in peace, and sleep ; for
'/lOTi, Lord, viakest me dwell in asmtrancr. And he wonld aftornardf

n04

THE HISTOUY OF NEW-ENGLANI). [Book III.

counsel other* to take the iiaiUR couno ; telliog them, That the promiat
vai th« boat, which wa$ to carry a perishing tinntr over «»i/o ilu Lord Jtnu
Chritt.

§ 'I. Mr. Hooker being now well got through the $torm of loul, which
had helped him unto n roost exneriinental acquaintance with the truths of
of the gospel, nnd the way ot cmplo^iit!;, and applying those truths, he
was willing to serve the Church of God in the ministry, whereto he wns
devoted. At his first leaving 4)f the university, he sojourned in the
bouse of Mr. Drake, n gentleman of great note, tiot fur from l/tn^on;
whoiie worthy consort being viiiited with such distreHses uf soul, as Mr.
Hooker himself had pasHcd through, it proved an unspeakable advantage
unto both of them, that he had that opportunity of being serviceable ;
for indeed he no^ had uo tuperiourrdnA scarce any equal, for the skill of
treating a troubled soul. When he Iclt Mr. Drake's tamiiy, he did more
publickly and freauciitly preach about London ; and in a little time he
grew famous for hin niiuioterial abilities, but especially for his notable
faculty at the wise and fit management of wounded spirit*. However, he
was not ambitious to exercise his ministry amons the great ones of the
world, from whom the most of preferment might be expected ; but in
this, imitating the example and character of our blessed Saviour, of
whom /tiH notnd, that according to the prophetic of /«aiaA, by him,
The poor had the gospel preached unto them ; he chose to be where great
numbers oi the poor might receive the gospel from him.

§ 5. About this time it was, that Mr. Hooker grew into a most intimate
acfquaintance with Mr. liogers of Dedham ; who so highly valued him for
his multifarious abilities, that he used and gained many endeavours to get
him settled nt Colchester ; whereto Mr. Hooker d'u\ very much incline, be-
cause of its being so near to Dedham, where he might enjoy the lubovn
and lectures of Mr. Jiogers, whom he would sometimes call, Tlie prince of
all the preachers in England. But the providence of God gave an ob-
struction to that settlement ; and, indeed, it ^as an observation which
Mr. Hooker would somt.'timcs afterwards use unto his friends, That the
providence of God often diverted him from employment in snch places as he
himself desired, and still directed hint to such places, as he had no thoughts
of. Accordingly, Chelmsford in Essex, a town of great concourse, want-
ing one to break the breai of life unto them ; and hearing the fume of Mr.
//bofcer' J powerful ministry, addressed him to become their lecturer:
and he accepted their ufl'cr about the year 1626, becoming not only their
lecturer, but also on the Lord's days, an assistant unto one Mr. Milchel,
the incumbent of the place, who though he were a smaller, yet being a
godly person, gladly encouraged Mr. Hooker, and lived with him in a most
comfortable amity.

§ 6. Here his lecture was exceedingly frequented, and proportionably
succeeded ; and the light of his ministry shone through the whole county
of Essex. There was a rare mixture of pleasure and profit in his
preaching ; and his hearers felt those penetr<iting impressions of iiis
ministry upon their souls, which caused them to reverence him, as o
teacher sent from God. lie had a most excellent faculty at the applica-
tions of his doctrine ; and he would therein so touch the consciences of
his auditors, that a judicious person would say of him. He was the best at
an use that eiwr he heard. Hereby there was a great reformation wrought,
not only in the town, but in the adjacent country, from all parts whereoi
tliey came to hear the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Chrift, in h^i gospel, by
this worthy man dispensed : and some of great quality omong the rest,

111.

Hook III.J THE HISTORY OF NEW-KNGLAHD,

806

romut

which
uthi of
tka, he
he will
in the

, ■■ Mr.

Vintage
cenble \
e skill of
id more
time he

notable
ever, he
>8 of the

; but in
riour, of

by him,
ere great

t intimate
d him for
urs to get
cline, be-

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prince of
ve an ob>
{on which
That iht
\aces at he
\o thoughts
•se, want-
lie of Mr.
[lecturer ■•
inly their
. Milchel,
it being a
in a most

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ole county
It in his

bns of "'*
[lim, as »

applica-
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{the best at

wrought.
U whereot
lospel, by

the rest^

would oAen retort from far to hiiaiiembly ; pnrtiruliuly the tnilv noble
Karl of Wttrwtck, whoie countenance of good tn'oisicrs, pi.^i nred more
praveri to God for him, than moat noble-men in / upland.

When he tirst let np hi* lecture, there wni more profuneneit than de-
cotion in the town; and the multitude uf inns and shopa in the town,
produced one porticulur dii order, of people's filling the streets with un-
Muitablo behaviour, after the publick services of the Lord's day were
over. But by the power of his ministry in publick, and by the pro-
rience of his carriage in private, ho quickly cleared the streets of this
disorder, and the sabbath came to be very visibly sanctified among the
people.

§ 7. The joy of the people in this light was hut for a teaton. The
conscientious non-conformity of Mr. i/ooAc^r, te some rites of the Church
of England, then vigorously pressed, especially upon such able and use-
till ministers, as were most likely to be laid aside by their scrupling of
those rites, made it necessary for him to lay down hiiT ministry in Ckelmi'
ford, when he had been about four years there employed in it. Here-
upon, at the request of several eminent persons, he kept a school in his
own hired hou$e, having one Mr. JoAn Ehot for his usher, at little Bad'
ilow, not fur from Chelmsford ; where he managed his charge with such
discretion, with such authority, and such efficacy, that able to do more
with a word, or a look, than most other men could have done by a se-
verer discipline, he did very great service to the church of God, in the
education of such, as afterwards proved themselves not a little servicea-
ble. I have - in my hands, a manuscript, written by the hands of our
blessed Eliot, wherein he gives a very great account of the little academy
then maintained in the house of Mr. Hooker; and among other things, he
Niiys, To this place I was called, through the infinite riches of Ood's mercy
in Christ Jesus to my poor soul : for here the Lord said unto my dead soul,
live ; and through the grace of Christ, I do live, and I shall live for ever .'
When Icameto tliis blessed family, I then saw, and never before, the power of
t^odlincss, in tts lively vigour, and efficacy.

§ 8. While he continued thus in the heart of Essex, and in the hearts
of the people there, he signalized his usefulness in many other in-
stances.

The godly ministers round about the country, would have recourse
unto him, to be directed and resolved in their difficult cases; and it was
by his means that those godly ministers held their monthly meetings, for
fasting and prayer, and profitable conferences. 'Twas the effect of his
conudtations also, that such godly ministers came to be here and there
settled in several parts of the country ; and many others came to be bet-
ter established in some greet points of Christianity, by being in his neigh-
bourhood and acquaintance. He was indeed a general blessing to the
church of God ! But that which hindred his taking his degree o( Baich-
cllor in Divinity, must also, it seems, hinder his being a preacher of Di-
vinity; namely, his being a non-conformist unto some things, whereof
true divinity could not approve. And indeed that which made the si-
lencing of Mr. Hooker more unaccountable was, that no less than seven
and forty conformable ministers of the neighbouring towns, understand-
ing that the Bishop of London pretended Mr. Hooker''s ministry to^ be in-
jurious or offensive to them, subscribed a petition to the Bishop for his
'continuance in the ministry at Chelmsford; in which petition, though he
was of a perswasion so different from them, yet they testifie in so many
'vords. That they esteem and know the said Mr. Thomas Hooker, to be for

Vor.. 1, ■ .so

.•^'v

30C

'J'liE lIlfciTOKY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

doctrine, orthodox ; Jor lift and convcmaliun , lionest ;for disposition, peacea-
ble, (tnd in no wise lurbulenl or Juclivus. And yet all would not avail :
Bonus vir Hookerus, sed ideo inalus, quia Puritunus.

§ 9. The ground-work of his knowledge, and study of the arts, was in
the tables of Mr. Alexander Richardson , whom he closely followed, ad-
miring him for a man of transcendent abihly, and a most exalted piety ;
and would say of liiin, Th'it In; was a master of so much understanding,
tlutt like, the great army q/' Gideon, he was too many to be employed in doing
wluit was to be d-jne for the church of God. This most eminent Richard-
son leaving the university, lived a private life J" Essex, whither inaDy
stadent!> in ^'^mbridge resorted unlo him, to be illuminated in the ab-
struser parts of learning ; and from him it was, that the incomparable
Doctor Ames imbibed thos« principles both in philosophy, and in divinity,
which after»vards not only gave clearer methods and measures to all the
liberal artt, but also fed the whole church of God with the choicest
marrow. Nevertheless, this excellent man, as he lived, so he died in a
most retired ob&curity ; but so far as a metempsyclMsis was attainable, the
soul of him, I mean the notions, the accomplishments, the dispositions of
that great acul, transmigrated into our most Richardsonian Hooker.

§ 10. As his person was thus adorned with a well-grounded learning,
so his preaching was notably set off with a liveliness extraordinary : inso-
much that I cannot give n fuller, and yet briefer description of him, than
that which I fmd given of Bucholtzer, that pattern of preachers, before
him ; Vivida in eo omnia fuerunt, vivida vox, vividi oeuli, vividtc manus,
gestus omnes vividi : he was all that he was, and he did all that he did,
unto the life! He not only had that which Quintilian calls, A natural
moveublencss of soul, whereby the distinct images of things would come
80 nimbly, and yet so filly into his mind, that be could utter them with
fluent expressions, as the old orators would usually ascribe unto a special
assistance of heaven, [Deum tunc Adfuisse, veretes Oratores aibant] and
counted that men did therein theios i.eoein, or speak divinely ; but the
rise of this lluency in him, was the divine relish which he had of the
things to be spoken, the sacred panting of his holy soul after the glori-
ous objects of the invisible world, and the true zeal o{ religion givingfre
to his discourses. Whence, though the ready and noisy performances of
many preachers, when they are as Plato speaks, theatrou mestoi, or
full of the theatre, acting to the height in the publick for their applause,
may be ascribed unto very mechanical principles ; yet the vigour in tlic
ministry of our Hooker, being raised by a coal from the altar of a most
real devotion, touching his heart; it would be a wrong unto the good
Spirit of our God, if he should not he acknowledged the author of it.
That Spirit accordingly gave a wonderful and unusual success, unto tho
ministry wherein he breathed so remarkably. Of that success there were
many instances ; but one particularly 1 lind mentioned in ClaiVs exam-
ples, to this purpose. A profane person designing therein only an un-
godly diversion and merriment, said unto bis companions, Come, let us go
hear what that bawling Hooker will say to us ; and thereupon with an in-
tention to make si)ort, unto Chelmsford lecture they came. The man
hud not been long in the church, before the quick and powerful word ol
God, in the mouth of his faithful Hooker, pierced the soul of him ; he
came out with an Hwakened and a distressed soul, and by the further
blessing of God upon 3Ir. Hooker'' s ministry, he arrived unto a (rue con-
version ; for which cause he would not afterwards leave that blessed
ministry, but went a thousand leagues to attend it, and enjoy it. Another

[111.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

30-

'.acca-
tvail :

ivus in
d, ad-
piety ;
tiding ,
I doing
'chard-
■ many
the ab-
)arable
ivinilyf
all the
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led in a
ble,tbe
itioDS of
r.

earning,
y : inso-
im, than
s, before
£ mantis,
t he did,
I nature/
jld come
lem with
a special
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; but the
id of the
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lances of
,sTOi, or
applause,
]«r in the
|of a most
the good
Ibor of it.
unto the
liere wert'
;'s exiim-
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I, let us go
ith an in-
JThe man
li word of
him ; he
le further
true con-
it blessed
Another

memorable thing of thifl kind, wn^ this ; it was Mr. Hooker^s manner
once ay^ar to visit his native county : and in one of those visits, he had
un invitation to preach in the great church of Leicester. One of thft
chief burgesses in the town much opposed his preaching there ; and
when he could not prevail to hinder it, he set certain _^(//«rs at work <o
disturb him in the church-porch, or church-yard. But such was the vi*
vacity of Mr. Hooker, as to proceed in what he was about, without either
the damping of his mind, or the <lrowning of his voice ; whereupon the
man himself went unto the church-door ,to overhear what he said. It
pleased God so to accompany some words uttered by Mr. Hooker, as
thereby to procure, first the attention and then the conviction of that
wretched man ; who then came to Mr. Hooker with a penitent confes.sion
of his wickedness, and became indceil so penitent a convert, as to be at
length a sincere professor and prartiser of the godliness, whereof he had
been a persecutor.

§ 1 J. The spiritual court sitting at Chelmsford, about the year 1630,
had not only silenced Mr. Hooker, but aUo bound him over in a bond of
fifty pound to appear before the hi;^h commission, which he could not now
attend, because of an ague then upon him. One of his hearers, namely
Mr. Nash, a very honest yeoman, that rented a great farm of the Earl of
Warwick at Much-WaWwm, was bound in that sum for his appearance ;
but as Paul was advised by his friends, tliat he would not venture into the
theatre at Ephesus, thus Mr. Hookcr*s friends advised him to forfeit his
bonds, rather than to throw himself any further into the hands of his en-
emies. Wherefore, when the day for his appearance came, his honest
surety being reimbursed by several good people in and near Chelmsford,
sent in the forfeited sum into the court ; and Mr. Hooker having, by the
Earl of Warwick, a courteous and private recess provided for his family
at a place called Old Park, for which I find, the thanks of Dr. Hill after-
wards publickly given in his dedication of Mr. Fenuer''s treatise about m-
penitency ; he went over to Holland. In his passage thither, he quickly
had occasion to discover himself, when they were in eminent hazard of
nhipwrack upon a shelf of sand, whereon they ran in the night ; but Mr.
Hooker, like Paul, with a remarkable confidence, assured them, that they
«hould be all preserved ; and they had as remarkable a deliverance. I
have also heard, that when he fled from tho pursevanis, to take his pas-
sage for the Low-Countries, at his last parting with some of his frimids,
one of them said. Sir, what if the 7t'ind should not be fair, when you come
lo the vessel? Whereto he instantly replied. Brother, let us leave thatzmth
Uim, who keeps the wind in the holtoio tf his hand: and it was observed,
that although the wind was cro«s, until hr came aboard, yet it immediately
then came about fair and fresh, and hn was no sooner under sail, but the
oflicer arrived at tiic sea side happily too late now to come at him :
which minds me of what hefel Dr. (>oodxvin, not long after. That great
man lay wind-bound in hourly suspicions that the perse.vnnts would stop
his voyage, and seize his person before tlio wind would liivonr his getting
■mny for Holland, It; this distrcs.-i, humbly ])raying to the Lord .Tesus
(^'hrist, for a more propitious wind, he v'-t said. Lord, if thou hast at this
!ime,nny poor servant of tliine, that rcdnln this 'i.ind, more than I do avoth-
"r, I do not ask for the chousrin;.^ of it ; I ^-nlnnit nnfo it. And imnicdintcly
the wind came about, unto the, ri^ht point ; and carried liirw oicar from
hi? pursuers.

§ 12. Arriving in Holland, ho was invitnl unlo a <el(]omoiit. Vi'ith old
"^h, Paget ; but the old m:ui lu'in'j: «;f^nrrt!A- wiUinir •'h;it Blr. Hooh:r-

JOU

THE HiSTORV Ol' I^EVV-ENGLAND. LBook Iti.

Book J

Hliottld not accept of this invitation, he contrived many ways to render
him lUflpected unto the classia, on a suspicion tliat he favoured the
BrownisU ; unto whom he had, indeed, an extream aversion. The mis-
uaderstandings operated so fur, as to occasion Mr. Hooker's removal from
AiMterdam ; notwithstanding he had so fully expressed himself, when in
his answer to one of Mr. Pagefa questions, he declared in these. words,
To separate from the faithful assemblies and churches in England, as no
churcheff is an error in judgment, and sin in practice, held and maintained
by the Brownists; and therefore to communicate with them in their opinion
or practice, is sinful and utterly unlawful ; and care should be taken to pre'
vent thence, either by encouraging them in their way, or by drawing others
to afurtlier approbation of that way tJian is meet, (joing from Amsterdam,
he went unto Delft ; where he was most kindly received by Mr. Forbs,
an aged and holy Scotch minister, under whose ministry, many English
merchants were then settled. The text whereon he first preached at
his coming thither, was Phil. i. 29, To you it is given not only to believe,
but alio to luff^er ; and after that sermon, Mr. Forbs manifested a strong
desire to enjoy the fellowship of Mr. Hooker in the work of the gos-
pel ; which he did for about the space of two years : 'in all which time
they lived so like brethren, that an observer might say of th"m, as they
said of Basil and Nazianzen, They were but one soul in two bodies; and if
they had been for any little while asunder, they still met with such
friendly and joyful congratulations, a^^ testified a most afiectionate satis-
faction in each other's company.

§ 13. At the end of two years, he had a call to Rotterdam; which he
the more heartily and readily accepted, because it renewed his acquaint-
ance with his invaluable Dr. Ames, who had newly lefl his place in the
Frisian University. ' With him he spent the residue of his time b Hol-
land, and asdisted him in composing some of his discourses, which are,
His Fresh Suit against the Ceremonies : for such was the regard which
Dr. Ames had for him, that notwithstanding his vast ability and experi-
ence, yet when it came to the narrow of any question about the instituted
worship of Ood, he would still profess himself conquered by Mr. Hook-
er'« reason ; declaring, that though he had been acquainted with many
scholars of divers nations, yet he never met with Mr. Hooker's equal, either
for preaching or for disputing. And such was the regard, which on the
other side, he had for Dr. Ames, that he would say. If a scholar was but
well studied in Dr. Ames his Medulla Theologice, and Casus Conscientia:.
so as to understand them thoroughly, they would make him (supposing
bim versed in the scriptures,) a good divine, though he had no more
books in the world. But having tarried in Holland long enough to see
the state of religion in the churches there, he became satisfied, that it
was neither eligible for him to tarry in that country, nor convenient for
his friends to be invited thither after him. I have at this time in my
hands, his letter from Rotterdam to Mr. Cotton, wherein are these words ;
' The state of these provinces to my weak eye, seems wonderfully tick-
' Hah and miserable. For the better part, heart religion, they content

* themselves with very forms, though much blemished ; but the power

* of godliness, for ought I can see or hear, they know not ; and if it were

* thoroughly pressed. 1 fear le^st it will be fiercely opposed. My ague
' yet holds me ; the ways of God's providence, wherein he has walked
' towardu me, in this long lime of my sickness, and wherein 1 have drawn
' forth many wearyish hour?, under his Almighty hand (blessed be his

name) together with pursuit? and banishment, which have wflited npnn

" IS not s;
'''Ore gold in
''od's ordina
. -Again, /sj
'«'>r the si

UooK III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

309

' me, as one wave follows another, have driven me to an amazement :
' his paths being too secret and past finding out by such an ignorant,

■ worthless worm as my self. 1 have looked over my heart and life, ac-
' cording to my measure ; aimed and guessed as well as I could : and
' entreated his Majesty to make known bis mind, wherein I missed ; and

■ yet methinks 1 cannot spell out readily the purpose of his proceediogs ;
' which I confess have been wonderful in miseries, and more than won-
- derful in mercies to me and mine.' Wherefore, about this time, under-
standing that many of his friends in Essex, were upon the wing, for a wil-
derness in America ; where they hoped for an opportunity to enjoy and
practise the pure worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, in churches gathered
according to his direction, he readily answered their invitation to accom-
}>any them in this undertaking. Dr. .^es had a design to follow Mr.
Hooker ; but he died soon after Mr. Hooker's removal from Rotterdam.
(lowever his widow and children afterwards came to New-England ;
where having her house burnt, and being reduced unto much poverty
and affliction, the charitable heart of Mr. Hooker (and others that joined
with him) upon advice thereof, comfortably provided for themo

§ 14. Returning into England in order to a further voyage, he was
ijuickly scented by the pursevants ; who at length got so far up with him,
u3 to knock at the door of that very chamber, where he was now dis-
coursing with Mr. Stone ; who was now become his designed companion
and assistent for the New-English enterprize. Mr. Stone was at that in-
stant smoking of tobacco ; for which Mr. Hooker had been reproving him,
i\s being then used by few persons of sobriety ; being also of a sudden
and pleasant wit, he stept unto the door, with his pipe in his mouth, and
juch an air of speech and look, as gave him some credit with the officer.
The officer demanded, Whether Mr. Hooker were not there ? Mr. Stone
replied with a braving sort of confidence. What Hooker ? Dn you mean
Hooker that lived once at Chelmsford! The officer answered. Yes, hef
Mr. Stone immediately, with a diversion like that which once helped
■ Ithanasius, made this true answer, If it be he you look for, I saw him about
iin hour ago, at such an house in the town ; you had best hasten thither after
kini. The officer took this for a sufficient account, and went his way ;
Imt Mr. Hooker, upon this intimation, concealed himself more carefully
and securely, till he went on board,' at the Downs, in the year 163.3, the
^hip which brought him, and Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Stone to New-England :
where none but Mr. Stone was owned for a preacher, at their first comine;
iboard ; the other two delaying to tak? their turns in the publick wor-
ship of the ship, till they were got so far into the main ocean, that they
might with safety, discover who they were.

§ 15. Amongst Mr. Fenner's works, I find some imperfect and shatter-
0(1, and I believe, injurious notes of a farczvcl sermon upon Jer. xiv. 9,
We are called by thy name, leave vs not: which far ewcl sermon was indeed
Mr. Hooker^s, at his leaving of England. There are in those fragmejiis
of a sermon, some very patheticnl and most prophetical passages, where
iome are thc^e. - ;■ .

■ il -.~^rrfiiS«Af'K!i» ■

It is not gold and prosperity which 7nakes God to be our God ; there i.>
'iwre gold in the West-Indies, than there is in all Christendom ; but it ir
'iod^s ordinances in the vertnc of them, that show the presence of God.

Again, knot England ripe '.' h shn not -a-enryof God? .Yay. sh«i!:fe«'
'^ntfor the slaughter. ,

310

THE IJISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

iiuOK

Once more, Enghmd hnth nccn Iter best flays, and now evil dayit arc be-
falling us.

And, thou, England, xehkli hnsl heenlified up to heaven with means, shall
be abased and brought dorvn to hell; for if the mighty works, which have
been done in thee, had been done in Indin or Turkey, they wotUd have re-
pented e^er this.

. - ' * ' '■'', .■

These passages I quote, <lint I may the more eflectually describe the
apprehensions with which this worthy man took his farewel of his native
oountry.

But there is one strange passage in that sermon, that 1 know not what
well to think of; and yet it is to be thought of. I remember, 'tis a pas-
sage in the life of the reverend old Blackerby, who died in the year
Iti-JC, ' That he would often say it was very probable the English nation
♦ would be sorely punished by the French: and that he believed, Popery
' would come in, but it would not last, nor could it recover its former
' strength.' The notable fulfilment which that passage hath seen, wonid
carry one to consider the unaccountable %vor(ls which our Hooker uttered
in his farevi-el setinon. 'Tis ver^' likely, that the scribe has all along
wronged the sermon ; but the words now referred unto, are of this pur-
port, Tlutt it had been told him from God, thai God xvill destroy England,
and lay if mast ; and that th£ people shoidd be put unto the sw^rd, and the
temples burnt, and many houses laid in ashes. Long after this, when he
lived at Hartford in New-England, his friends that heard that sermon,
having the news of the miseries upon England, by the civil wars,
brought unto them, enquired of him. Whether this were not the time of
God's destroying ETig\i\nd, whereof he had spoken ? He replied, JVo; thin
is not the time ; there will be a time of respite after these wars, and a timr
wherein God will further try England ; and England will further sin against
him, and shew an antipathy against the government of the Lord Jesus Christ
in his church ; his royal power in the governing thereof will be denied and
rejected. There will therefore a time come, when the Lord Jesus Christ zcill
plead his own, and his own cause, and the cause of them who hnve suffered
for their fidelity to her institutions : he will plead it in a more dreadful way.
and break the nation of England in pieces, like a potter's vessel. Then a
7/7(171 shall be precious as the gold of Ophir ; but a small remnant shall be
left : and afterward God will raise up cimrchcs to himself, after his ou-v
heart, in his own time and zcay. God knows, what there may be in this
prediction.

§ 16. Mr. Hooker nm] Mr. CW/o«wcrc, for their different genius, the
Luther and Melancthon of jYcw-Englavd ; at their arrival unto which
country, Mr. Cotton settled with the church of Boston, but Mr. Hooker
with the church o( jYew-Tozcn, having Mr. Stone for his assistant Inex-
pressible now was the joy of Mr. Hooker, to find himself surrounded
with his friends, who were come over the year before, to prepare for
his reception ; with open arms he embraced them, and uttered thesr
words, JN'oro J live, if ynv stand fast in the Lord. But such multitude?
flocked over to Kcw-E>i^land after them, that the plantation of A'ch-
Town became too straight for them ; and it was Mr. Hooker's advice, that
they should not incur the danger of a Sifna, or an Esek, where tliey
might have a Rchobolh. Accordingly in th«> month of June, 16.36, they
removed an hundred miles to the westward, with a purpose to settle upon
the delightful banks of Cnnnecticvt River : and there were about an hun-
dred persons ia tlie first company flint made this rrmovnl : who not brinsr

iioOK HI.

THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

311

iiblu to walk above ten miles i\ dtiy, took up near a fortnight in the jonr-
iicy ; having no pillows to take their nightly rest upon, but such as their
father Jacob found in the way to Padan-Aram. Here Mr. Hooker was
the chief instrument of beginning another colony, as Mr. CoUon, whom
he left behind him, was, of preserving and perfecting that colony where
ho left hiia ; for, indeed each of them were the oracle of their several
colonies.

§ 17. Though Mr. Hooker had thus removed from the Massachuset-bay,
yet he sometimes came down to visit the churches in that bay : but
when ever he came, he was received with an affection, like that which
Paul found amr-^g the Galatians ; yea, 'tis thought, that once there seem-
c.A some intimation froni heaven, as if the good people had overdone in
that atl'ection : for on May 26, 1639, Mr. Hooker being here to preach
that Lord's day in the afternoon, his great fame had gathered a vast mul-
titude of hearers from several other congregations, and among the rest,
tho governour himself, to be made partaker of his ministry. But when
he came to preach, he found himself so unaccountably at a loss, thatafler
ijome shattered and broken attempts to proceed, he made a full stop ;
saying to the assembly, That every thing rehich he zaould have spoken, was
lakcn both out of his mouth, and out of his mind also ; wherefore he de-
sired them to sing a psalm, while he withdrew about half an hour from
them : returning then to the congregation, he preached a most admirable
sermon, wherein he held them for two hours together in an extraordina-
ry strain both of pertinency and vivacity.

After sermon, when some of his friends were speaking of the Lord's
thus withdrawing his assistance from him, he humbly replied, We daily
confess, that we have nothing, and can do nothing, without Christ ; and what
if Christ will make this manifest in us, and on us, before our congregations?
Wkat remains, but that we be humbly contented ? and what manner of dis-
couragement is there in all of this ? Thus content was he to be nullified,
that the Lord might be magnified !

§ 18. Mr. Hooker that had been born to serve many, and was of such
apublick spirit, that I lind him occasionally celebrated in the life of Mr.
.1»g^er, lately published for one, who would be continually inquisitive how
it fared with the church of God, both at home and abroad, on purpose.
that he might order his prayers and cares accordingly : [which, by the
way, makes me think on Mr. Firmhi's words : / look on it (saith he) as
an act of a grown christian, whose interest in Christ is well cleared, and his
heart walking close with God, to be really taken up with the publick interest
of Christ.'} He never took his opportunity to serve himself, but lived a
sort of exile all his days, except the last fourteen years of his life, among
his own spiritual children at Hartford; however, here also he was an
exile. Accordingly, whereever he came, he lived like a stranger in the
world ! When at the Land's-cnd, he took his last sight of England, he
said, Farewel England ! I expect noxv no more to see that religious zeal, and
po;eer of godliness, which I have seen among professors in that land ! And
he had sagacious and prophetical apprehensions of the declensions which
would attend reforming churches, when they came to enjoy a place oi"
Uljcrhi : he said, 2'hat adversity had slain its thousands, but prosperity would
day its ten thousands ! He feared, Tlutt they ri7io had been lively Chris-
tians in the fire of persecution, woidd soon become cold in the midst of uni-
versal peace, except some few, whom God by sharp tryals, would keep in a
faithful, watchful, humble, and praying frame. But under these pre-ap-
prehen!»ioti«} it was his own endeavour to beware of abating his own tirst

312

THE HISTORY OF NEVV-KNGLAND. [Book III

love ! and of so watchful, so prayerful, so fruitful a spirit was Mr
Hooker, that the spirit of prophecy it self, did seem to grant him some
singular afflations. Indeed, every wise man is a prophet ; but one sr*
eminently acquainted with scripture and reason, and church-histoiy, an
our Hooker, must needs be a seer, from whom singular prognostication*)
were to be expected. Accordingly, there were many things prognosti-
cated by him, wherein the future state of New-England, particularly of
Connecticni, has been so much concerned, that it is pity they should be
forgotten. But 1 will in this history, record only two of his predictions.
One was, That God would punish the wanton spirit of the professor$ in I'/mV
country, with a sad want of able men in all orders. Anotiier was. That vi
certain places of great light here sinned against, there would break forth
such horrible sins, as would be the amazement of the world.

§ 19. He was a man of prayer, which was indeed a ready way to be-
come a man of God. He would say, That prayer was the principal pari
of a minister''t work ; Hwas by this, that he was to carry on the rest. Ac-
cordingly, he still devoted one day in a month to private prayer, with
fasting, before the Lord, besides ... publick fasts, which often occurred
unto him. He would say, That such extraordinary favours, as the life oj
religion, and the potoer of godliness, nuist be preserved by the frequent use
of such extraordinary means, as prayer with fasting ; and that if profes-
sors grow negligent of these means, iniquity will abound, and the love of
many wax cold. Nevertheless, in the duty of prayer, he affected strength
rather than length ; and though he had not so much variety in his pub-
lick praying, as in his publick preaching, yet he always had a seasonable
respect unto present occasions. And it was observed, that his prayer
was usually like Jacob's ladder, wherein the nearer he came to an end.
the nearer he drew towards heaven ; and he grew into such rapturous
pleadings with God, and praisings of God, as made some to say. That lib
the master of the feast, lie reserved the best wine until the last. Nor was thr
wonderful success of his prayer, upon special concerns, unobserved by
the whole colony ; who reckoned him the Moses, which turned away the
wrath of God from them, and obtained a blast from heaven upon thcii
Indian Amalekites, by his uplifled hands, in those remarkable deliverance*
which they sometintes experienced. It was very particularly observed..
when there was a battel to be fought between the Narraganset, and tht
.Monliegin Indians, in the year 1643. The Narraganset Indians had corn-
plotted the mine of the English, but the Monhegin were confed«!'rate
with us ; and a war now being between those two nations, much notice
was taken of the prevailing importunity, wherewith Mr. Hooker urged
for the accomplishment of that great promise unto the people of God, 1
tvill blf.ss them that bless thee, but I will curse him that curses thee. And the
effect of it was, that the Narragansets received a wonderful overthrow
from the Monhcgins, though the former did three or four to one foi
number, exceed the latter. Such an Israel at prayer, was our Hooker
And this praying pastor was blessed ; as, indeed, such ministers use to
be, with a praying people : there fell upon his pious people, a double por
lion of the Spirit, which they behejd in him.

§ 20. Tliat reverend and excellent man, Mr. Whitfield, having spent
many years in studying of books, did at length take two or three years to
Ktudy men ; and in pursuance of this design, having acquainted himself
with the most considerable divines in England, at last he fell into the ac-
quaintance of Mr. Hioker ; concerning whom, he afterwards gave this
testimony: ' That he had not thougiit there had been such a man on

OK in

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

313

;as Ml
m some
one 80
toiy, as
lic«tion»>
•ognosti-
ularly ot
lould be
dictions.
ir» tn tlm
, That in
eak forth

ay to bfi-

npul pari

rest. Ac-

lyer, with

I occurred

the life oj

i-equmt use

»/ profes-

the lovtoj

jd strength

in his p«h-

seasonablc

his prayer
to an end.
rapturous

r, Tkatlih

[or was thp

jserved by

;d away thf

J upon their

leliveranceK

L observed.

\iet, and the
fis bad com-
;onfed^atc
inch notice
wlctr urged
of God, J
|e. And the
overthrow

to one foi
[ur Hoohr
Isters use to
{double por

Uing spent
fee years to
l»ted himselt
(into the ac-
Ig gave this
a man on

' earth ; a ntan in whom there shone so many excellencies, at were in
< this incomparable Hooker ; aman in whom lemning arvl wisdom were
' io tempered with zeal, holinese, and watch/vlness/ And the same ob<
•ierver having exactly noted Mr. Hooker, made this remark, and gave this
report more particularly of him, That he had the best command of hia
own spirit, which he ever saw in any man whatever. For though he were
a man of a cholerick disposition, and had a mighty vigour and fervour of
spirit, which as occasion served, was wondrous useful unto him, yet he
had ordinarily as much government of hischoler, as a man has of a mas-
tiff dog in a chain ; he could let out his dog, and pull in his dog, as he
pUased. And another that observed the heroical spirit and courage, with
which this great man fulfilled his ministry, gave this account of him, Ht
was a person who while doing his master'' s work, would put a king in hit
pocket.

Of this there was an instance, when the Judges were in their circuit,
present at Chelmsford, on a fast kept throughout the nation, Mr. Hooker
then, in the presence of the Judges, and before a vast congregation, de-
Glared freely the sins of England, and the plagues that would come for
such sins ; and in his prayer he besought the God of heaven, to set on
the heart of the King, what his own mouth had spoken, in the second
chapter of Malachy, and the eleventh and twelfth verses, [in his prayer
he so distinctly quoted it !] An abomination is committed, Judah hath mar-
tied the daughter of a strange God, the Lord will cut off the man tlutt doetk
this. Though the Judges turned unto the place thus quoted, yet Mr.
Hooker came into no trouble ; but it was long ) efore the kingdom did.

§ 21. He was indeed of a very condescending spirit, not only towards
his brethren in the ministry, but also towards the meanest of uny chris-
tians whatsoever. He was very willing to sacrifice his own apprehen-
sions into the convincing reason of another man ; and very ready to ac-
knowledge any mistake, or failing, in himself. I'll give one example :
there happened a damage to be done unto a neighbour, immediately
whereupon, Mr. Hooker meeting with an unlucky boy, that oflen had his
name up, for the doing of such mischiefs, he fell to chiding of that boy,
as the doer of this. The boy denied it, and Mr. Hooker still went on in
an angry manner, charging of him ; whereupon said the boy. Sir, I see
you are in a passion, Pll say no more to you : and so ran away. Mr.
Hooker, upon further enquiry, not finding that the boy could be proved
guilty, sent for him ; and having first by a calm question, given the boy
opportunity to renew his denial of the fact, he said unto him : Since I
cannot prove the contrary, I am bound to believe ; and I do believe lohat you
say: and then added, indeed J was in a passion, when I spake to you he-
fore ; it was my sin, and it is my shams, and lam truly sorry for it : and I
hope in God I shall be more watchful hereafter. So giving the boy some
good counsel, the poor lad went away extreamly affected with such a
carriage in so good a man ; and it proved an occasion of good unto the
soul of the lad all hig days.

On this occasion it may be added, that Mr. Hooker did much abound in
acts of charity. It was no rare thing for him to give sometimes five
pound, sometimes ten pound at a time, towards the support of widows
aud orphans, especially those of deceased ministers.

Thus also, when the people at Southampton, twenty leagues from Hart-
ford, wanted corn, Mr. Hooker, and some few that joined with them,
5ent them freely a whole bark's load of corn, of many hundred bushels.
Vol. I. 40

314

THE HlSiOltV 01' iNEW-ENGLAND. [Book III,

Book

to relieve Ibem. Thus he hiul thoae thnt Chrysostom calls ivAAiyir^t
itti^TtfffiTVi, unansrverable sylogisins, to dcmonstrule Christianity.

§ 2'i. He had n singular ability, at giving answers to cases of con-
■cickice ; whereof happy was the experience of some thousands : and
for this work he usually set apart, the second day of the week ; where-
in he admitted all sorts of pennons in their discourses with him, to reap
the benetit of the extraordinary experience which himself had found of
Satan's devices. Once particularly, Mr. Hooker was addressed by u
student in divinity, who entring upon his ministry, was, as the most use-
ful ministers, at their entrance thereupon, use to be horridly buffeted
with temptations, which were become almost intolerable : repairing to
Mr. Hooker in the distresses and anguishes of his mind, und bemoaning
hiH own overwhelming fears, while the lion was thus roaring at him,
Mr. Hooker answered, / can compere with any man living for fears ! My
advice to you is, that yoti search out, and anulise the humbling causes of
them, and refer them to their proper places ; then go and pour them out be-
fore the Lord ; and they shall prove more profitable to you than any books
you can read. But Mr. Hooker in his dealing with troubled consciences,
observed that there were a sort of crafly and guileful souls, which be
would find out with an admirable dexterity ; and of these he would say,
as Paul of the Cretians, They must be reproved sharply, that they may be
foundin the faith; sharp rebukes make sound christians, indeed, of some
he had compassion, making a difference; and others, he saved with fear,
pulling them out of the fire.

§ 23. Although he had a notable hand at the discussing and adjusting
of c«introversal points, yet he would hardly ever handle any polemical
divtmVi/ in the pulpit ; but the very spirit of his ministry, lay in the
points of the most practical religion, and the grand concerns of a sinner's
preparation for, implantation in, and salvation by, the glorious Lord Je-
sus Christ. And in these discourses he would frequently intermix most
affectionate warnings of the declensions which would quickly befal the
churches o( J^ew- England.

His advice to young ministers, may on this occasion be fitly mention-
ed. It was, that at their entrance on their ministry, they would with
careful study preach over the whole body of divinity methodically, (even
in the Amesian method) which would acquaint them with all the more
intelligible and agreeable texts of scripture, and prepare them for a fur-
ther acquaintance with the more ditHcult, and furnish them with abili-
ties to preach on whole chapters, and all occasional subjects, which by
the providence of God, they might be directed unto.

Many volumes of the sermons preached by him were since printed :
and this account is to be given of them.

While he was fellow of £manu«^College, he entertained a special in-
clination to those principles of divinity, which concf rned, the applica-
tion of redemption ; and that which eminently fitted him for the handling
of those principles, was, that he had been from his youth trained up in
the experience of those humiliations and consolations, and sacred com-
munions, which belong to the new creature ; and he had most critically
compared his own experience, with the accounts which the quick and
powerful word of God, gives of those glorious things. Accordingly he
preached first more briefly on these points, whilst he was a catechist in
Emanuel'C oWege, in a more scholastic way ; which was moi^t agreeable
to his present station ; and the notes of what he then delivered were so
esteemed, that many copies thereof were transcribed and preserved.

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW.ENGLAND.

916

Afterwards he preached more lorgely on those pointtt, in a more popu-
lar way at Chelmnford, the product of which were those books ofprtpa-
rationfor Christ, contrition, humiliation, vocation, union with Christ, ond
communion, and the rest, whicli go under his name ; fur many wrote af-
ter him in short-hand ; and some were so bold as to publish many of
them, witiiout his consent or knoivludge ; whereby his notions rame to
be deformedly misrepresented in multitudes of passages ; amopg which
I will suppose that crude passage, which Mr. Giles Firmin, in his Htal
Christian, so well confutes, That if the smtl be rightly humbled, it is content
to bear the state of dumuatvm. But when he came to New-England, ma-
ny of his church, which had been his old Estsex hearers, desired him
once more to go over the points of God^s regenerating works up<m the
soul of his elect ; until, at lust, their desires prevailed with him to re-
sume that pleasant subject. The subject hereby came to have h third
concoction in the head and heart of one, as able to digest it, as most men
living in the world ; and it was his design to perfect with his own hand
his composures fur the press, and thereby vindicate both aulhir and mat'
ti-r, from the wron:;s done to both, by surreptitious editions heretofore.
He did not live to finish what he intended ; yet a worthy minister, name-
ly, Mr. John Higginson, one richly able himself to have been an author
of a not unlike m.itter, transcribed from his manuscripts, near two hun-
dred of these excellent sermons, which were sent over iato England,
that they might be published ; but by what means I know not, scarce
half of them have sncn the light unto this day. However, 'tis possible,
the valuableneas of those that are published, may at some time or other
awaken some enquiries after the unknown hands wherein • the rest are
as yet concealed.

§ 24. But this was not all the service which the pen of Mr. Hooker did
for the church of God ! it was his opinion, that there were two great
reserves of enquiry, for this age of the world; the. first, wherein the
spiritual rule of our Lord's kingdom does consist, and after what manner
it is internally revealed, managed and maintained in the souls of his peo-
ple ? The second, after what order the government of our Lord's king-
dom is to be externally managed and maintained in his churches ? Ac-
cordingly, having done his part for delivering the former subject from
Pharisaical formality , on the one hand, and (eom familistical enthusiasm
on the other, he was by the solicitous imjMurtunity of his friends, pre-
vailed withal to compose a treatise on the o%p> subject also. Upon this
occasion, he wrote his excellent book, which is entituled, Jl Stir-vey of
Church Discipline ; wherein, having in the name of the other ministers
in the country, ns well as his own, professed his concurrence with holy
and learned Mr. Rutherford, as to the number and nature of church-offi-
cers ; the right of people to call their own officers ; the unfitness of
scandalous persons to be members of a visible church ; the unwarrant-
Kbleness of separation from churches for certain defective circumstances ;
the lawfulness, yea, needfulness of a consociation among churches ; and
calling in the help of such consociations, upon emerging difficulties ;
and the power of such consociations to proceed against n particular
church, pertinaciously offending with a sentence of non-communion :
he then proceeds to consider, a church congregational comphathj consti-
tuted with all its officers, Itavi'ig fidl power in its self to exercise all church
discipline, in all the censures thereof ; and the interest, which the consent
of the people is to have in the exercise of this discipline. The first fair
and full copy of this book was drowned in its passage to England, with

.^10

THE HISTORy OF NEW-ENGLANU. [Book III.

many serious and eminent cliristians, which were then buried by ibip-
wruck in the occnn : for which cun^c (here whh another copy sent after-
wurds, which through the |)i'c-inuturc death of the author, was n«t bo
perfect m the former ; but it was n reth^ction, which Dr. Goodniin mnde
upon it, The destiny which hath attrnded tnis book, hath visited my thoughts
with an apprcheimon of something like omen to the cause it self: that after
the overwneliiiing if it with a flood of obloquies, and disadvantages and mis-
representations, and injurious opyressiims cast out after it, it might in the
titne, which God alone hath put in his own power, be again emergent. He
adds, / have looked for this ; that this truth and all that should be said of it,
was ordained as Christ of whom every truth is a ray, to be as rt seed corn,
ivhich unless it fall to the ground and die, and this perhaps together with
some of the persons that profess it, it brings yet forth much fruit. Howev-
er, the ingenious Mr. Stone who was collegue to Mr. //ooA;£r, accompani-
ed this book, with u little epigram, wliereof these ^vere the concluding
disticks.

If any to this platform can reply .. ■ ■ .-,-(, r

With better reason, let this volume die ;
But better arguments, if none can give,
Thtn Thomas Hooker's policy shall live.

§ 25. In his administration of church discipline there were several
things as iiriilable, as observable. As he was an hearty friend unto the
consociation of churches ; and hence all the time that he lived, the pastors
of the neighbouring churches held their frequent meetings for mutual
consultation in things of common concernment ; so, in his ow i (>articu-
lar church, he was very careful to have every thing done with a chris-
tian moderation and unanimity. Wherefore he would have nothing pub-
lickly propounded unto the brethren of the church, but what had been
lirst privately prepared by the elders ; and if he feared the happening
of any debate, his way afnrehand was, to visit some of the more noted
and loading brethren, and having engaged them to second what he should
move unto the church, he rarely missed of a full concurrence : touhich
purpose he would say, The elders must have a church in u rhurch, if they
would preserve the peace of the church: and he would say, the dcbutipg
matters of difference, first b^^-ethc zcholc body of the church, will doubtless
break any church tnpieces,]lfi deliver it up unto loathsome contempt. But
if any difficult or divided agitation was raised in the church, about any
matter offered, he would ever put n stop to that publick agitation, h\/
delaying the vote until another mooting ; before which time, he would
ordinarily by private conferences, gain over such as wiire unsatisfied.
As for the admission of communicants unto the Lord's table, he kept the
examination of them unto the elders of the church, as properly belong-
mg unto their work und charge ; and with his elders he would order
them to make before the whole church a profession of a repenting faith,
as the}' were able, or willing to do it. Some, that could unto edifica-
tion do it, he put upon thus relating the manner of their conversion to
God ; but usually they only answered unto certain probatory questions,
which were tendered them : and so after their names had been for a few
weeks before signified unto the congregation, to learn whether any ob-
jection or exception could be made against them, of any thing scandalous
m their conversations, now consenting unto the covenant, they were
acfmitted into the church communion. As for ecclesiastical censures.

Hooi III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

1*11^

he was very watchful to prevent all proceeduret unto them, as far as
was consistent with the rules of our Lord ; for which cause (except in
grosser abominations) when offences happened, he did his utmost, that
the notice thereof might be extended no further, than it was when they
first were laid before him ; and having reconciled the offenders with sen-
•lible and convenient acknowledgments of their miscurriHgcs, he would
let the notice thereof be confined unto such as were atbrehnnd there-
with acquainted ; and hence there was but one person admonished in, .'
and but one person excommunicated from the church of Harlford, in
all the fourteen years, that Mr. Hooker Tived there. He was much
troubled at the too frequent censures in some other churclics ; and he
would say, ' Church censures arc things, wherewith neither we, nor .
■our father's have been acquainted in the practice of them ; and there-
•fore the utmost circumspection is needful, that we do not spoil the or-
'(linances of God, by our management thereof.' In this point he Was
like Beza, who defended the ordinance of excommunication against Eras-
tus ; aud yet, he with his collcgues, were so cautelous in the use of it,
that in eleven years, there was but one excommunication passed in all
Geneva.

§ 26. He would ssy , that he shmild esteem it a favour from God, if he
might live no longer than he shoidd be able to hold up lively in the work of
hii place ; and that- when the time of his departure should come, God would
shorten the time : and he had his desire. Some of his most observant
hearers observed an astonishmg sort of a cloud in hi.s congregation, the last
Lord's day of hi:, publick ministry, when he also administred the Lord's
Supper among them ; and a most unaccountable heaviness and sleepi-
ness, even in the most watchful christians of the place, not unlike the
drowsiness of the disciplus, when our Lord was going to die ; for which,
one of the elders publickly rebuked them. When those devout people
afterwards perceived that this was the last sermon and sacrament
wherein they were to have the presence of the pastor with them, 'tis in-
expressible how much they bewailed their unattentiveness unto his fare-
■i'd dispetisations ; and some of them could enjoy no peace in their own
soul9, until they had obtained leave of the elders to confess before the
whole congregation with many tears, that inadvertency. But as for Mr.
Hooker himself; an epidemical sickness, which had proved mortal to
many, though at tirst small or no danger appeared in it, arrested him.
In the time of his sickness he did not say much to the standers by ; but
being asked, that he would utter his apprehensions about some important
things, especially about the state of Kew-England, he answered,/ have
not that work now to do; I have already declared the counsel of the Lord:
and when one that stood weeping by the bed side said unlo him, Sir, you
arc going to receive the rcwai-d of all your labours, he replied, Brother, I
iim going to receive mercy! At last he closed his own eyes with his own
hands, and gently stroaking his own forehead, with a smile in his counte-
nance, he gave a little groan, and so expired his blessed soul into the
arms of his/eZ/ow servants, the holy angels^ on July 7, 1647. In which
last hours, the glorious peace of soul, which he had enjoyed without any
interruption for near thirty years together, so gloriously accompanied
him, that a worthy spectator then writing to Mr. Cotton a relation there-
|if, made this reflection, Trttly Sir, the sight of his death, will make me
have more pleasant thottghts of death, than ever I yet had in my life !

") 27. Thus lived and tliiis died one of the first three. He, of whom
llio {Treat Mr, Cntfon %nyo tlii«! rharacter, that he did. Jlgmen durerc Sr do-

THt HIST6RV OF NEWENOLAND. (Booic III.

minari t'n Coneionibut, gmtia Spiritu$ Sunrti ^ virtute pUni$ : and that he
WM, yir Solertii 4" Accerrimi judkU ; and at length uttered bis lanienta
tions in a funeral tiegy, whereof some lines were these.

'Twas of Geneva's worthies snid with wonder,
(Those rvorthie* three) Farel was wont to thunder,
yiret like rnin on tender grasn to show'r,
But Calvin, lively oracles to pour. -\

A]\ these in Hooker*$ Spirit did remain,
A son of ihundtr, nnd a show'r of rain ;
A pourer forth of lively oracles,
In saving soul, the summ of miracles.

This was he, of whom his pnpil Mr. Jlsh, gives this toslimony ; /'or
his great abilitifs and glorious services, both in this and in the oikr England,
1u deserves a place m the first rank of them, whose lives an oflat,' ncordtd.
And this was he, of whom his reverend contemporary, Mr. tlzekiel Rogers,
tendered this for an epitaph ; in every line whereof, methinlcs the writer
deserves a reward equal to what Virgil had, when for every line, referring
to Marcellus in the end of his sixth JEntid, he received a sum not much
less than eighty pounds in money, or as ample a requital as cardinal Rich'
lieu gave to a poet, when he bestowed upon him two thousand Sequins
for a witty conceit in one verse of but seven words, upon his coat of arms.

America, although she do not boast
Of all the gold and silver from that coast,
Lent to her sister Europe's need or pride ;
(For that repaid her, with much gain beside.
In one rich pearl, which heaven did thence ntford,
As pious Herbert gave his honest word ;)
Yet thinks, she in the catalogue may come
With Europe, Africk, Asia, for one tomb.

But as Ambrose could say concerning Theodosius, Nun Totus receisit;
reliquit nobis Liberos, in quibus eum debemus agnnscere, ^ in quibus turn
Cernimus fy Tenemus ; thus we have to this day among us, our dead
Hooker yet living in his worthy son, Mr. Samuel Hooker, an able, faithful,
useful minister, at Farmington, in the Colony of ConnectictU.

., ; , EPITAPHIUM. ; , :.

Thomas Hooker.

Heu ! Pittas; Heu .' prisca Fides.

Or, for a more extended Epitaph, we may take the abridgcmciil
of his Life, as offered in some lines of Mr. Elijah Corlet, that memorable
old school-master in Cambridge., from whose education our colledge and
country has received so many of its worthy men, that he is himself o'oWAi/
to have his name celebrated in no less a paragraph of our church history,
than that wherein I may introduce him, endeavouring to celebrate the
name of our great Hooker, unto this purpose.

K HI.

liooK III] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLANI).

310 ,

hat he
iuenla

ny ; fc
England,
rtcordtd.
4 Hogtn,
he writer
referring
not much
final Rich-
id StqutM
t of arms.

iSn m«a cum veitri$, valuiment vota, Nov Aogli,

Hookerus Tarda vi$erut Mira Qradu.
To, Reverende Senex, Sic te diUximut omnti,

Ipta Invi$a forent ut tibi Jura poli.
Mortt Tua Injhndum Cogor Renmare dolorem,

i^uippe TuHvideat Terra Nov-Angla tuam.
DigituB ercB, Aquilu n'mt/is, Renovane Juventam,

Kt Fato in Ttrrit Condidiorefrui,
Tu Domua Emnnuel, &iror Augustitsima, Mater

MUle Prophetarum, Tu milti Tcitis em.
Te Testem apello, quandam ChelmBfordia, Cwlit

Proxitna ; Tepraco Suatulit Hie Tuus,
Non tulil ,ha:c Ctihlcas, Arcis Fhubique SacerdoM,

JVarn pnpulo Sperni lie sua lacra videt,
Vidit «J" ex Rostris Oenti priedicere vatem

Bella, quod in Chrislum Tola Rebellis erat.
Qtiem Patria exegitj'erui Hottis Episcopus ; Hostts

Hunc tninutt in fiatuvis, vexat amara Febris,
Po$t various casus, Quassata Nov-Anglia, tandem

Ramifer' inde Tibi Diva Columba venit.
Hie Tuos Caetus Ornat, pascilque F'ideles,

Laudibus Innumerii addit ^ Hie Tuts.
Dulcis Amicus erat, Pastorque Insignis, ^ Alius

Dotibus, Eloquio, Moribus, Ingenio.
Prob Pudor! Lreptum te vivi vidimus, 4" non

Excessura AnimcB Struximus Insidias I
Insidias precibus, Lacrymisque perrennibus, unde

Semita Calestis sic tibi clausa foret,
Sed Frustra hac meditor ! —
Lustra per Hookerus ter quinque Viator, erat ; jam

Calcstem patriam Possidet Hie svam.

\s receifid

Uibns turn

our dead

I, faithful,

\ ■ \

jridgcmcnt
.jiemorablc
plledge and

\rch hiitory<
iebrate the

♦ '■

■i' ' '■

... (,.

.ii, ;

MI^^^I»S^'

'"-■t

.^*«w;

SEPHER JEREIM, i. e. LIBER DEUM TIMENTIUM

OR,
DEAD ABEL'S YET SPEAKING, AND SPOKEN OF.

IN THE HISTORY OF

Mr. F'rancis Higgikson,

Mr. John Avery,

Mr. Jonathan Burr,

Mr. George Philips,

Mr. Thomas Shepabd,

Mr. Peter .Pruoden, and several

others of New-Haven colony.
Mr. Peter Bulklv,
Mr. Ralph Partridge,
Mr. Henry Dunster, «
Mr. Ezekiel Rogers,
Mr. Nathanael Rogers,
Mr. Samuel Newman,
Mr. Samuel Stone,
Mr. William Thompson,

Mr. John Warham,^
Mr. Henry Flint,
Mr. Richard Mather,
Mr. Zechariah Symhes,
Mr. John Allin,
Mr. Charles Cuauncey,
Mr. John Fisk,
Mr. Thomas Parker,
Mr. James Noyes,
Mr. Thomas Thacher,
Mr. Peter Hobart,
Mr. Samuel Whiting,
Mr. John Sherman,!
Mr. Thomas Cobbet,
Mr, John Ward.

EHiiaent Ministers of the Gospel in the Churches of New-England.

By Cotton Mather.

THE SECOND PART. , *
Solus Honor Merito qui datur, ille datur.

Thus shine, ye glories of your ace, while we
Wait to fill up your martyrologie.

Bono estate Jlnimo, {Dilecti Fratres') appropinquat Tempus quandS erit No-
minum (eque ac Corparum Resurrectio.

Wilkinson. Concion. ad Academic.

INTRODUCTION.

WHEN the incomparable Hevelius was preparing for the world, his
new, and rare, and most accurate Selenography, his design was, to advance
into the heavens, the names of the most meritorious astronomers, by naming
from them the several distinguishable parts of the planet, "'jhich was to be
described by him ; <o that in the mooo, there would now hare been teen, an

4--i^^

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

321

England

- ,t\ -y'. itufcy

do erii JVo-
lemic.

Oceanus Coperniceus, an Oceanus Tychonicus, a Mare Kepplerianum,
a Lacus Gallilnei, a Palus Moestlini, an IdsuIb Scheiveriana, a Peniniaula
Gassendi, a Mons Mersenni, a Vallia BuUialdi, a Sinus Wendelini, a Pro-
montorum Crugerianum, a Desertum Linnemanni, and otiier such denomi-
nations. But upon second thoughts , he taw tfiat this could not be done without
envy and offence ; for there were certain places more eminent than others,
and lie miglU happen to assign them unto such persons as were less eminent
in the opinions of mankind abo%it their merits : wherefore- he chose rather
geographical denominations, for the Maculae Lunares, which were now to be
distinguished.

Reader* there is a number of divines now before us, demanding their
places in our Church-History ; their souls arc in the heavens; their names
also should be there. I was thinking to have ranked them according to their'
merits ; I would have assigned their places, according to their eminencies
in the church of God. But finding that this attempt would have be^.t in-
vidious ; I will have them to take their places, as in the)iistory of lives uses
to he done. Secundum Annorum Emortualim Seriem, according totheyeats
wherein they died.

What I write, shall be written with all christian veracity, and fidelity.
Heaven forbid, that I should indulge my pen, in such flourishing flatteries,
as fill the lives of the Lutheran divines, in the collections that vVitten has
made of the Memoria: Theologorum nostri ssculi Clnrissimorum, reno-
vatae. Heaven forbid, that I should in any one instance deserve to be
thought a writer of such legends, as they generally {and it may be sometimes
iinrighteuusly) liave reproached the lives of the ancients, written by Simeon
Metaphrastes : for I will now confess to my reader, one thing that has en-
couraged me, in my endeavour to preserve the memory of these worthy men.

I read in Prov. x. 7, The memory of the just is blessed ; or, fur a
blessing : and I know the common glosses upon it. But I have met with a
note of Dr. Jermyn'fl thereupon, which I will now count as worthy to hr
transcribed, as I have heretofore counted it worthy to be pondered.

The very remembring of them Uailh Ae] shall bring a blessing to such
as io remember them. God will oless those that honour the memory of
his servants : and besides, the memory of them will make them imitated,
which is a blessing that wijl be rewarded with blessedness.

I will add, that examples do strangely charm us into imitation. When
holiness is pressed upon us, we are prone to think, that it is a doctrine cal-
fulatedfor angels and spirits, whose dwelhng is not with flesh. But when
we read the lives of them that excelled in holiness, though they were persona
e/ like passions with our selves, the conviction is wonderful and powerful.
Header, behold loud calls to holiness, from those who saidi not, Ite illuc ;
^mt, Venite hue, when the rails were uttered.

world, his

to advance

by naming

Vi was to be

\ensetn, <"»

Vol. ].

'.'-i. ' i > " I

sas

THK HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Booa III

,M,,^:i^.i«' '1<X

' -'W

i<.t!»

»V'>//'- -v.'.'

CHAPTEU I.

V ..i-yv

./(inu« JVov-AngUcanui. The Life of Mr. Francis HiaoiNsun.

Semper Honor, Komenque Tuum,Laudesgue Manebunt.

§ 1. Without recourse to any fabulous, whether E^t/z^d'an or Grecian
•haiDfl of antiquity, we have other intimations enough, that our father
JVoah, after a new world began to be peopled from him, did remove with
bis eldest son Japhet, from his own, and his old country of Ogyge, or
Palestine, into the country which is now called Italy. And it is particu-
larly remarkable, that his great grandson Dodanim, removing with a col-
ony of his increasing posterity, into Epirus, he built a city, which with
the whole province, was called by the name of Dodona; where he built
a city, which with the whole province, was called by the name of Do-
dona; where he built a temple, in which the people did assemble to
worship God, and hear the precepts of the Patriarch preached upon.
But it was not long before a fearful degeneracy overtaking the posterity
of these planters, they soon left and lost the religion of their progeni-
tors ; and in that very place where Dodanim had his church, there suc-
ceeded the Dodoniean oracles. Now among the memorable names, which
in other monuments of antiquity, besides those of Tuscany, exposed by
Inghiramius, we And put upon our illustrious father JVuah, one is that of
JanuB, which at lirst they pronounced Janes, from the Hebrew word, |1^
Jajin, for rvine, which was the true original of it ; and so his famous
vineyard was therein commemorated. For which cause Cato also tells
us, Janus primus invenil Far «$• Finum, <$• ob id ductus fuit Priscus Oeno-
trius : and Jlntinrlius Syracusanus, mentions the Oenoirii, which AoaA car-
ried with him. Of this Janus, the Thuicians employed a ship, as a me-
murinl ; they had a ship on his coins, doubtless with an eye ti< the ark ot
J^oah ; but there was also on the reverse^ as Ovid relates, Altera Forma
liiceps ; and this double face was ascribed unto Janus, because of the
view which he had of the two worlds, the old and the new. The cove-
nant which God established with JVoa/t, was by after-ages referred unto,
when they feigned Janus to be the president of all covenant and concord;
nnd the figure which JVoah made among mankind was confessed by them,
tvhen thev gave Janus the sir-name of Pater, as being so to all the heroes,
who obtained a place among the gods. Moreover, the mythical writers
tell us, that in the reign of this Janus, all the dwellings of men were
hedged in with piety and sanctity ; in which tradition the exemplary right-
Musneis of J^oah seems to have been celebrated : and hence in their old
rituals, he was called Cerus, Manus, which is as much as to say, Sanctus
4" Bonus. But without pursuing these curiosities nay further, 1 will now
lay before my reader the story of that worthy man ; who when 'tis con-
sidered, that he crossed the sea with a renowned colony, and that having
seen an old world in Europe, where a flood of iniquity and calamity Cui
ricd all before it, he also saw a new world in America ; where he appear?
the first in n cotalogue of heroes, and where he with his people were
admitted into the coveiiant of God ; whereupon an hedge of piety sni
sanctity continued about thai people as long as he lived ; may therefore
be called the AToah, or Janus of New-England. This was Mr. Franeif
HigginsoHf

Ill

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW^F.NGLAND.

Si'o

§ 2. If in the history of the church for more ihaa four thousand
years, coutained in the scriptures, there ii* not recorded either the birlli'
day of any one saint whatever, or the birth-day of him that is the Lord
of all saints ; 1 hope it will be accounted no defect in our history of thi«
worthy man, if neither the day, nor tlic place of his birth csn be recov-
ered. We will therefore begin the history of his life, where we find
that he began to live.

Mr. Francis Iliggimou, after he had l)ecn educated at £mcfrtuc/-CoI-
ledge, that seminary of Puritans in Cambridge, until ho was Master of
Arts: and after that, the true Emanuel, bur Lord Jesus Christ, had by
the work of regeneration upon his heart, instriv^ted him in the better and
nobler arts, o( living unto God; he was by the special providence of
heaven, made a servant of our Emanuel, in the ministry of the gospel,
at one o( the five parish-churches in Leicester. The main scope of hie
ministry, was now to promote, first, a thorough conversion, and then a
godly conversation, among his people : and besides his being as the famous
preacher in the xeitderness was, a voice, and preaching lectures of Chris-
tianity by his whole christian, and most courteous and obliging behaviour,
he had also a most charming voice, which rendred him unto his hearers,
in all his exercises, another Ezekiel : for, Lo, he was unto them, as a very
lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well upon an in-
<itruinent: and from all parts in the neighbourhood they docked unto him.
Such WAS the divine presence with, and blessing on the ministry of this
good man, in this place, that the influence thereof on the whole town,
was quickly become a matter of observation : many were turned from
darkness to light, and from Satan to God; and many were built up in their
most holy faith ; and there was A notable revival of religion among thera^
And such were his endeavours to conform unto the example of our Lord
Jesus Christ, our grand Exemplar^ in the whole course of his ministry,
that we might easily have written a book of those conformities.

§ .3. For some years he continued in his conformity, to the rites then
required and practised in the Church of England ; but upon his acquaint-
ance with Mr. Arthur Hildersham, and Mr. Thomas Hooker, he set himself
to study the controversies, about the evangelical church-discipline, theC
agitated in the church of God : and then the more he studied the scrip-
ture, which is the sole and full rule of church-administrations, the more
he became dissatisfied with the ceremonies, which had crept into the
worship of the Lord Jesus Christ, not only without the allowance of
scripture, but also without the countenance of the earliest antiquity.
From this time he became a conscientious non-conformist ; and therefore
he was depri.ed of his opportunity to exercise his ministry, in bis par-
ish-church : nevertheless, his ministry was generally so desirable «nto
the people, that they procured for him the liberty to preach a constant
lecture, on one part of the Lord's day ; and on the other part, as an as-
sistant unto a very aged parson, that wanted it. He was now maintained
by the voluntary contribution of the inhabitants ; and though the rest of the
ministers there continued conformists, yet they all freely invited him unto
the use of their pulpits, us long as they could avoid any trouble to them-
iielves by their so doing : by which means he preached successively in
three of the parish-churches, after that he had been by non-conformity
made incapable. He preached also at Belgrave, a mile out of the town ;
but under God, the chief author of these more easie circumstances unto
such a non- conformist, was the generous goodness and candour of Dr.
Williams, the Bishop of Lincoln, to whose diocess Leicester belonged.

Ji4

THE HrSTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND, [Book HI.

It continued until the fray between that Bishop, and Laud, the Bishop
of London, who set himself to extirpate and extinguish all the non-con-
fonnist$, that were Willtams* favourites, among whom one was Mr. Hig-
gifison.

§ 4. The signal blessing of God, which accompanied the ministry oi
Mr. Higginson, in Leicester, was followed with two very contrary conse-
quences. On the one side, a great multitude of christians, then called
Puritans, did not only attend the worship of God more publickly in their
assemblies, and more secretly in their families, but also they frequently
had their private meetings, for prayer (sometimes with fasting) and re-

Seating of sermons, and ntaintaining of profitable conferences, at all which
[r. Higginson himself was often present : and at these times, if any of
their society were scandalous in their conversation, they were personally
admotiished, and means were used with them to bring them unto repent-
ance. On the other side, there was a profane party, filled with wolvish
rage against the flock of the Lord Jesus Christ, and especially against
this good man, who was the pastor of the flock : whose impartial zeal in
reproving the common sins of the time and place, did more than a little
add unto the exasperations of that party ; but also divers of them (urned
persecutors hereupon, yet many remarkable providences laid a restraint
upon them, and the malignants were smitten with a dread upon their
minds, That the judgments of God would pursue those, that should go to
harm such a follower of him that is good.

§ 5. Even the Episcopal party of the English nation, among whose
thirty nine articles, one is, That the visible church is a congregation of (aiAh'
ful men, where the word of Christ is duly preached, and the sacraments be
rightly administred; have concluded it, as a godly discipline in the primi-
tive church, that notorious sinners were put to open penance. And in the
rubric before the commtmion, have ordered ministers to advertise all no-
torious evil ''.crs, and such as have wronged their neighbours byword
or deed, or such as have malice and hatred reigning between them, that
they should not presume to come to the Lord^s table, till they have openly de-
dared themselves to have truly repented. Under the encouragement
"hereof, Mr. Higginson, before he became a non-conformist, professed this
principle. That ignorant and scandalous persons are not to be admitted
unto the Lord's Supper : and as far as he could, he practised what he pro-
fessed. Wherefore he did catechise and examine persons about their fit-
ness for the communion ; and if any persons were notoriously scandalous,
he not only told them of their sins in private, but also in publick de-
clared, that they were not to be admitted unto the Lord^s Supper, until
the congregation had some testimonies of their serions repeiUance.
V It was a good courage of old Cyprian, to declare : If any think to join
themselves unto the church, not by their humi'iation and satisfaction, when
they have scandalized the brethren, but by their great words and threats, Ut
them know, that the church of God will oppose them, and the tents of Chriit
will not be conquered by them. AnH no less was the good metal in our
Higginson. Accordingly after a sermon on (hose words of our Saviour,
Give not that which is holy unto dogs, unto this purpose applied, going to
administer the fjord's Supper unto the communicants, now come into the
chancel, he espied one that was known unto them all, to be a common
drunkard and swearer, and a very vicious person ; he told that man be-
fore them all. That he was not willing to give the Lord's Supper unto him,
until he had professed his repentance, unto the satisfaction of the congrega-
tion: and therefore he desired the man to withdraw: the sinner with-

« Uf.

Bishop
m-con-
r. Hig-

islry ot
conse-

I called
in their
quenily
and re-

II which
f any of
rsonally

repent-
wolvish
y against
I zeal in
1 a little
m turned
restraint
pon their
mid go to

mg whose

n ©/"faith-

'aments he

the primi-

Vnd in the

ise all no-

» byword

them, that

openly d«-

iiri^emeDt

jfessed this

le admitttd

lat be pro-

]t their fit-

^candalous,

tublick de-

rper, until

nee.

link to join
'iion, whm
threats, let
\ts of Christ
stal in our
ir Saviour,
, going to
ic into the
a common
(at man be-
unto hinif
congrega-
Inner with-

Book III.] THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND.

325

rlrew, bat went out full of such passion and poison against Mr. Hfggin^
jon, and horror in his own conscience, that he fell sick upon it; and
while he lay sick he was visited, as well by good people, that endeavour-
ed his conversion, as by bad people that bad been his old companions;
and now threatmed what they would do against Mr. Higgmson. The
wretch continued in an exorbitant frame for a few days, and at last roar-
ed out, That he was damned, and that he was a dog, and that he was going
to the dogs for ever. So he cried, and so he died : and this was known to
all people.

§ 6. There were many such marvellous judgments of God, which
came like ^re from heaven, to restrain and revenge the wron^ which
were offered unto this faithful witness of our Lord Jesus Christ. Par-
ticularly, there was a pious gentlewoman, the wife of a very profane gen-
tleman, dwelling in another parish, who would frequently go to attend
upon Mr. Higginson's ministry, both in the publick and private exercises
of our holy religion ; whereat her husband, after many other expres-
sions of his deep displeasure, vowed, that he would be revenged on
Higginson; and accordingly he resolved upon a journey to London, there
to exhibit a complaint against this good man, at the High-Commission
Court : but when he had got all things ready for' his journey, just as he
was mounting his horse, he was by an immediate hand of heaven, smitten
with an intolerable torment of body, and horror of conscience, and was
led into his bouse, and laid upon his bed ; where within- a few hours,
death did his office upon him.

§ 7. And unto the remarkable appearances of heaven, on the behalf of
this faithful man, may be enumerated that which befel a famous Doctor
of Divinity, prebend of a cathedral, and chaplain to his Majesty, who
then lived in Leicester : this gentleman preached but very seldom ; and
when he did at all, it was after that fashion, which has been sometimes
called gentleman-preaching ; after a flaunting manner, and with such a
vain ostentation of learning, and afiectation of language, as ill became the
oracles of God ; the people generally flocking more to the more edifying
ministry of Mr. Higginson, than to these harangues. Our Doctor so ex-
treamly resented it, that both publickly and privately, on all opportunies, ^
he expressed his indignation against Mr. Higginson, and vowed. That he
■would certainly drive him <Mit of the town. Now it so fell out, that the
Sherifi" appointed this Doctor to preach at the General Assizes there, and
gave him a quarter of a year's time to provide a selmon for that occasion :
but in all this time, he could not provide a sermon linto his own satisfac-
tion; insomuch, that a fortnight before the time was expired, he expres-
sed unto some of his friends, a despair of being well provided : where-
fore his friends perswaded him to try ; telling him, that if it came to the
worst, Mr. Higginson might be procured to preach in his room ; he was
always ready. The Doctor was wonderfully averse unto this last pro-
posal ; and therefore studied with all his might, for an agreeable sermon ;
but he had such a blast from heaven upon bis poor studies, that the very
night before the Assizes began, he sent his wife to the devout lady Cave,
who prevailed with Mr. Higginson to supply his place the day ensuing ;
which he did, with a most suitable, profitable, and acceptable sermon;
and unto the great satisfaction of the auditory. When the lady Cave had
let it be known, how this thing, which was much wondred at, came about,
the common discourse of the town upon it, so confounded the Doctor,
that he left the town, vowing, That he would never come into it again. Thiip
Mr. Higginson was left in the town ! but I pray, who was driven out ?

«f'

326 , , THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

§ 8. We lately styled Mr. Higginson sl faithful man: and itinumer-
able were the instances, wherein he so approved himself, particularly
there was a time when many courtiers, lords, and gentlemen coming in
a frolick to Leicetter, which was counted a puritanical town, resolved,
that they would put n trick upon it. Wherefore, they invited the Mayor
and JildermeH, whereof divers were esteemed puritans, unto a collation;
and overcome them to drink a number of healths, with the accustomed
ceremonies of drinking upon their knees, till they all became shamefully
and extreamly drunk. This business becoming the common discourse of
the town, Mr. Higgimon, from a text chosen to the purpose, in the audi-
ence of the Mayor and Jildermen themselves, demonstrated the sinfulness of
health-drinking, and of drunkenness, and the aggravation of that sinfulness,
when it is found in magistrates, whose duty 'tis to punish it in other men :
therewithal admonishing them to repent seriously of the scandal which they
had given. This faithfulness of Mr. Higginson was variously resented ;
some of the people disliked it very much, and some of the Aldermen were
so disturbed and enraged at it that they breathed out threatnings till they
were out of breath : but the better sort of people generally approved it, as
a conformity to that rule, them that sin before all, rebuke before all, that
others may fear ; and several of the Alderman confessed their sin with a ve<
ry penitent and pertinent ingenuity. The issue was, that Mr. Higginson
was brought into no trouble ; and the God of Heaven so disposed the
hearts of the Mayor and Aldermen, that after this, upon the death of old
Mr. Sacheverel, they chose Mr. Higginson to be their town-preacher, unto
which place there was annexed a large maintainance, to be paid out of
the town treasury. In answer hereunto, Mr Higginson thanked them for
their good will ; but he told them, that he could not accept of it, because
there were some degrees of conformity therein required, which he could
not now comply withal ; nevertheless there being divers competitors for
the place, about whom the votes of the Alderman were much divided,
he prevailed with them to give their votes for a learned and godly con-
formist, one Mr. Angel ; who thereby came to be settled in it. There
were also made onto him, several offers of some of the greatest and rich-
est livings in the country thereabouts ; but the conscientious disposition
to non-conformity, now growing upon him, hindred his acceptance of them.

§ 9. W hile Mr Higginson continued in Leicester, he was not only a
good man full of faith, but also a good man full of work. He preached
constantly in the pari^ churches ; and he was called, while a conformist,
frequently to preach visitation sermons, assize sermons, and funeral
sermons : and as well theti, as aftervoards, he was often engaged in
fasts, both in publick and private, both at home and abroad ; and
many repaired unto him with cases of conscience, and for help about
their interiour state. Besides all this, he was very serviceable to the
education of scholars, either going to, or coming from the university ;
and such, as afterwards proved eminently serviceable to tbe church of
God ; whereof some were Dr. Seaman, Dr. Brian, Mr. Riclutrdson,
and Mr. Howe, all of them LeicestersMre men, who would often say, how
much they owed unto Mr. Higginson. And he was very useful in for-
warding and promoting of contributions, for the relief of the proteslant-
exiles, which came over from the ruined Bohemia, and the distressed
Palatinate, in those times ; and many other pious designs. But when
(as he that writes the life of holy Mr. Bains expresses it) the hour and
power of darkness was come from Lambeth, or when the Bishop o( Lon-
don, prevailed, and the Bishop of Lincoln retired, the blades of the Lav-
dian faction about Leicester appeared, informed and articled against Mr.

•■«#ii

OOK III.

anuBier-
ticularly
oming in
esolved,
e Mayor
'.oUation ;
lustomed
amefally
:oui'8e of
the audi-
fulness of
lofalnesg,
tier men :
bich Ibey
resented ;
men were
till they
)ved it, as
e all, that
withave*
lligginson
posed the
ath of old
cher, unto
»aid out of
d them for
t, because
I he could
^etitors for
divided,
;odly con-
There
and rich-
lispositioD
;e of tbein.
tot only a
preached

■onformuU
id funeral
[ngi^ed in
lad ; and
lelp about
lie to the
jiversity ;
church of
[ichardsvn,

say, how
iful in for-
)rottitanU
distressed

ut when

hour aw'J
IP cflion*

the Im-
[ainst Mr.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

3^7

Higgintotit so that he lived in contiDual expectation to be dragged away

by the pursevnnts, onto the High Commisiion Court, where a sentence of

perpetual impriiontMnl was the best thing that could be looked for.

§ 10. Now behold the interposing and seasonable providence of hea>'

A considerable number of wealthy and worthy merchants, ob-

ven!

taining a charter from K. Charles 1. whereby they were incorporated by
the name of, The Govemour and Company of the Massachutet-Bay in JVew-
Kngland ; and intending to send over ships with passengers for the 6e>
thinning of a plantation there, in the beginning of the year 1629. And
resolving to send none upon their account, but godly and hontst men,
professing that religion, ivhich they declared was the end of this planta-
tion : these were informed of the circumstances whereto Mr. Higginton
was now reduced ; and accordingly they dispatched a couple of messen-
gers unto him, to invite him unto a voyage into New-England, with kind
promises to support him in the voyage. These two messengers were
ingenious men ; and understanding ihni purtevanti were expected every
hour, to fetch Mr. Higginson up to London, they designed for a while to
act the parts of pursevants : coming therefore to his door, they knocked
roundly and loudly, like fellows equipped with some authority ; and saidt
Where is Mr, Higginson ? we must speak with Mr. Iligginsop ! insomuch
that his affrighted wife ran up to him, telling him that the pursevant$ were
come, and praying him to step aside out of their way, but Mr. Higginson
said, JVo, / mil go flown and speak with them ; and the will of the Lord be
done! When the messengers were come into the hall, they held out
their papers unto him, and with a certain roughness nnd boldness of ad-
dress told him, Sir, we come from London, and ortr business is to fetch you
lip to London, as you may see by these papers! which they then put into
his hands ; whereat the people in the room were contirmed in their
opinion, that these blades were pursevants; and Mrs. Higginson herself
said, / thought so: and fell a weeping. But when Mc. Higginson had
lookt upon the papers, he soon perceived, that they were letters from
the governour and company inviting him to New-England ; with a copy of
the charter, and propositions for managing their design of establishing
and propagating reformed Christianity in the new plantation : whereupon
he bad them welcome ! nnd there ensued a pleasant conversation betwixt
him, and his now undisguised friends. In answer to this invitation, Mr.
Higginson, having first consulted heaven with humble and fervent suppli-
cations, for the divine direction about so great a turn of his life, be ad-
vised then with several ministers ; especially with his dear friend Mr.
Hildersham, who told hira, That were he himself a younger man, and un-
der his case and call, he should think he had a plain invitation of heaven
vnto the voyage ; and so he came unto a resolution to comply thereivithnl.
§ 11. When Mr. Higginsonh resolution came to be known, it made so
much noise among the Puritans, that many of them receiving satisfac-
tion unto the many enquiries which they made on this occasion, resolved,
that they would accompany him. And now it was not long before bis
farewel sermon was to be preached !. before he knew any thing about an
offer of a voyage to New-England, In his meditations aboiit the state of
England, he had strange and strong apprehensions that God would short-
ly punish England with the calamities of a war, and he therefore com-
posed a sermon upon those words of our Saviour, LuAiexxi. 20, 21, When
you see Jerusalem compassed with armies, then flee to the mountains. Now
after he was determined for New-England, he did, in a vast assembly,
preach <fct's for hin farewel sermon i and therein having roentioneO untc

328

1 1

THE HISTORY, OF NEW-KNGLAND [Book 111.

them, what he took to be the provoking sins of England in general, and
of Leiceiter in particular, he plainly told them, that he was perawaded,
Ood would chatttise England with a war, in the sufferings whereof (ai-
cetter would have a more than ordinary share. I^low this prediction was
afterwards accomplished, is known to mankind ; and it was especially
known to Leicester, which being strongly fortified and garrisoned, and
having the wealth of all the country about, brought into it, was besieged,
and at length carried by storm ; and the town was horribly plundered,
and e'<"'en hundred people were slain in the streets.

But Mr. Higginaon having ended this his prophetical sermon, he gave
thanks to the magistrates, and the other christians of the place, for all
the liberty, countenance, and encouragement, which they had given unto
his ministry : and he told them of his intended removal to New-England,
the principal end of which plantation, he then declared, was the propa-
gation of religion ; and of the hopes which he had, that New-England
might be designed by heaven, as a refuge and shelter for the uon-cot^orm-
itts against the storms that were coming upon the nation, and a region,
where they might practise the church-reformation, which they had beeu
bearing witness unto. And so he concluded with a most affectionate
prayer for the King, the church, the state, and peculiarly for Leicester.
the seat of his former labours. And after this he took his journey, with
bis family, for London ; the streets as he passed along being filled with
people of all sorts, who bid him farewel, with loud prayers and cries for
hit welfare.

§ 12. When he came to Londony he found three ships ready to sail for
Jiew-England, with two more, that were in a month's time, to follow al-
ter them : filled with godly and honest passengers, among whom there
were two other non-conformist ministers. They set sail from the Isle of
fVight, about the first of May, 1629, and when they came to the Land's
End, Mr. Higgiason calling up his children, and other passengers unto
the stern of the ship, to take their last sight of England. He said. We
tcill not say as the separatists were wont to say at their leaving of England.
Farewel Babylon ! farewel Rome ! but we will say, farewel dear Eng-
land! i^trewel the Church of God in England, and all the christian
friends there ! We do not go to New-England as separatists from the Church
of England ; thongh we cannot but separate from the corruptions in it : but
we go to practise the positive part of church reformation, and propagate tht
jTospel in America. And so he concluded with a fervent prayer for the
King, and church, and state, in England ; and for the presence and bless-
ing of God with themselves, in their present undertaking for New-Eng-
land. At length by tht, good hand of God upon them, they arrived, af-
ter a comfortable passage, unto Salem harbour on the twenty-fourth oi
June ensuing. if « v.

§ 13. Mr. Htgginson being in this voyage associated with Mr. Skeltmi,
a minister of the like principles with himself, they were no sooner got
on shore, but they likewise associated in pursuing their principles and
intentions of religion, which were the end of their coming hither. Accor-
dingly, layingliefore the chief of the people their desires, and their de-
signs of settling a reformed congregation in the place, after a frequent
converse about the methods of it, they came unto a Searty cor..:urreDce,
to take a day in the following August for it. In order hereunto Mr.
Higf^nson drew up a confession of faith with a scriptural representation
of the covenant of grace applied unto their present purpose, whereof
thirty copies were taken for the thirty persons, which were to begin the

BoQK III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

32y

working o( gathering the church. The day was kept n« a fast ; wherein,
after the prnyers and sermons of the two minister!^, ^ese thirty persons
did solemnly and severally profess their consent unto tlie confession and
covenant then read unto them ; and they proceed -then to chuse Mr.
Skelton, Mr. Higginson their teachers, and one Mr. Houghton, for a ru-
ling elder. And after this, many others joined unto the church, thus
gathered { but none were admitted, of whose good conversation inChritt,
therd W'ts not a satisfaclory testimony. By the same token, that at this
lirsl church gathering, there fell out a remarkable matter which is now
to be related. At a time when the church was to be gathered at Salem,
there was about thirty miles to the southward of that place, a plantation
of rude-, lewd, mad, English people, who did propose to themselves a
gainful trade with th^e Indians, but quickly came to nothing. A young
gentleman belonging to that plantation being at Salem, on the day when
the church was gathered, was at what he saw and heard, so deeply affect-
ed, that he stood up expressing with much affection, his desire to be ad-
mitted into their number, which when they demurred about, he desired
that they would at least admit him to make his profession before them.
When they allowed this, he expressed himself so agreeably, and with so
much ingenuity and simplicity, that they were extreamly pleased with it ;
and the ministers told him, that they highly approved of his profession^
but inasmuch as he was a stranger to them, they could not receive him
into their communion, until they had a further acquaintance with his con-
versation. However, such was the hold which the grace of God now
took of him, that he became an eminent christian, and a worthy and use-
ful person, and not only afterwards joined unto the church of Boston, but
also made a great figure in the commonwealth of JVew- England, as the ma-
jor-genera/ of all the forces in the colony ; it was Major-general Gibbons.
§ 14. The church of Salem no\v being settled, they enjoyed many
smiles of Heaven upon them ; and yet there were many things, that
lookt like/rotains: for, they were exercised with many difficulties, and
almost an hundred of good people died the first winter of their being
here ,* among whom was Mr. Houghton, an elder of the church. Mr.
Higginson also fell into an hectic-fever, which much disabled him for
the work of his ministry ; and the last sermon nnAer the incurable growth
of this malady upon him, was upon the arrival of many gentlemen, and
some hundreds of passengers to New-England, in the beginning of the
ensuing summei-. He then preached on those words of our Saviour,
Matth. xi. 7, What -went you out into the wilderness to see ? From whence,
he minded the people of the design, whereupon this plantation was erect-
ed, namely, religion : and of the streights, wants, and various trials,
which in a: wilderness they mu^t look to meet withal ; and of the need
which there was for them to evidence the uprightness of their hearts, in
the end of their coming hither. After this, he was confined unto his
bed, and visited by the chief persons of the new-colony, who much be-
moaned their loss of so useful a person, but comforted him with the con-
sideration of his faithfulness to the Lord Jesus, in his former sufferings
and services, and the honour which the Lord had granted him, to begin
a work of church-reformation in America. Ho replied, I have been but an
unprofitable servant ; and all my own doings I count but loss and dung : all
my desire is to win Christ, and be found in him, not having my own right-
eousness ! And he several times declared, That tliough the Lord called him
away, he wasperswaded God would raise up others, to carry on thd work
that was begun, and that there would yet be many churches of the Lord Jesus

or,.

♦v

»«

330

'J'M£ HfSTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III

Chritt in thin witdemtss. He likewiue udded, that though ht $hould leavt
his deiolate wife and eight children, whereof the eldest but about fourteen
years old, in a low condition, yet he left them with hit God, and he dovbted
not but the faithful God would graciously, provide for them. So, in the
midst of many prayers, he fell asleep ; h» in the month ofJivgust, IGiiO,
and in the fuity-third year of his age, and his funeial was attended with
all possible solemnity.-

§ 15. Reader, prepare to behold and admire and adore the /Hithful-
ness of our God, in providing for the children of them, that faithfully
have served him. He moved the hearts of many charitable christians,
who yet were spending on the stocks, which they brought out of Eng-
land with them, to provide as comfortably for the widow and ofl'-spring
of this deceased minister, as if he had lell them somq thousands of pouads.
And his two sons, who hud been brought up at the grammar-school in
Leicester, had a particular tast of this liberality, in the provision which
was thus made for their having such a learned education, as might fit
them for the service of the church in the ministry of the gospel.

One of these, Francis by name, wan for a time a school-master at our
Cambridge ; but ha%'ing attained as much learning as New-England could
then afford, he whs desirous to visit some European university ; and be-
ing recommended unto Roterdam, some Dutch merchants, out of respect
unto an hopeful scholar o{ JVew- England, contributed fourscore pounds
in money to itssist his juvenile studies at Leyden. Ailewards having vi-
sited some other universities in those parts, he returned into England ;
where he declined a settlement in some other, which he thought more
opinionative, and so more contentious and undesireable places, to which
he was invited, and settled at Kerby-Steven in Westmoreland, hoping to do
most good among the ignorant people there. But it pleased the God of
Heaven to permit the first out-breaking of that prodigious and compre-
hensive heresy Quakerism in that very place ; and a multitude of people
heing bewitched thereinto, it was a great affliction unto this worthy man ;
but it occasioned his writing the iirst book that ever was written against
that sink of blasphemies, entituled, The Irreligion of Northern Quakers.
This learned person was the author of a Latin treatise, /Je qtiinq, maxi-
mis Lumiitibus : De Luce Incrcata ; De Luce creata ; De Lumine JVatu-
ra. Gratia 4* Gloria ; and having illuminated the house of God in that
part of it, where our Lord had set him to shine, he went away to the
light of glory, in the fifty -fifth year of his age.

The other named John, has been on some laudable accounts another
Origen ; for the father ofOrigen would kiss the uncovered breast of that
excellent youth, whilst he lay asleep, as being the temple where the
spirit of God was resident, and as Origen, after the untimely death of
his father, had his poor mother with six other children to look after ;
whereupon he taught first a grammar-school, and then betook himself
unto the study of divinity ; thus this other Higginson after a pious child-
hood, having been a school-master at Hartford, and a minister at Say-
brook, and afterwards at Guilford, became at length in the year 1659, a
pastor, and a rich and loni; blessing, succeeding his father in his church
at Salem. This reverend person has been always valued for his useful
preaching, and his holy living ; and besides his constant labours in the
pulpit, whereby his own flock has been edified ; the whole country has,
by the jitress, enjoyed some of his composures, and by his hand, the com-
posures of some others also, passing the press, have beet> accompanied.
Having formerly born his testimony to, The cause of God, and his people

Book III.] TH£ HISTORY OF NEVV-£NGLAND. Wi

in New-England, in h sormon so entituled, which he preached on (he
greatest anniversary solemnity, which occurred in the land, nameiyi the
anniversary tieclion ; wlifn he thought, that the advances of old age up-
on him directed him to Hue in the hourly cipectation of death, he put)*
lislied a most savoury book, on Our dying {iaviour$ Legacy of Peace to
his disciples in a troublesome world ; zvith a Discourse on the Duty of Chris-
tianSy to be witnesses unto Christ ; unto wkick is added, tome Help to Self'
Examination.

Nevertheless, this true Simeon is yet wailing for the consolation of Is'
rael. This good old man is yet alive ; (in the year 1696) arrived un-
to the eightieth year of his devout age, and about the dixtieth year of
his publick work, and he, that /rem a chUd knew the hdy scriptures, does
at tliose years wherein men use to be twice children, continue preaching
them with such a manly, pertinent, judicious vigour, and with so little
decay of his intellectual abilities, ns is indeed a matter of just admiration.
But there was a famous divine in Germany, who on his death bed whea
gome of his friends took occasion to commend his past painful, faithful,
and fruitful ministry, cried out unto them [.flufi:rte Iguem adhuc enitn.
puleus habeo !] Ok ! bring not the sparks of your praises near me, as long
as I have any chaff left in me! And 1 am sensible that 1 shall receive the
like check from this my reverend father, if I presume to do him the^u*-
fice, which a few months hence will be done him, in all the churches ;
nor would I deserve at his Kands, the blow which Consiantine gave to
him, who Imperatorem ausus est, in Os Beatum dicere.

§ 16. At the same time, that Mr. Francis Higginson was persecuted
for his non'Conformity in Leicesiersiiire, there was one Mr. Samuel Skel»
ton, who underwent the like persecution in Lincolnshire ; and by means
hereof they became /e//orv-(rave//er9 in their voyage to NeW'England,
mi fellow labourers in their service here. All the remembrance that I
can recover of this worthy man is, that he survived his coUeagiie, a good '
and faithful servant of our Lord, well doing, until Aug. 2, 1634, and re-
tired from an evil world, then to partake With him in the joy of their
Lord.

< *,

EPITAPHIUM.

'• '" Jacet sub hoc Tumulo, Mortuus,
' .■• Faanciscus Higqinsonus :

.facer et 4* ipsa Virtus, si mori posset.

Abi Viator.
Et sis hvjus Ordinis Franciscanu^.

•■.}

CHAPTER II.
The Death of Mr. John Averv.

Thb divine oracles have told us, Tliat the judgments of God are a
^reat deep : and indeed it is in the deep, that we have seen some oflbose
,/u%men<» executed.

3Sf

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book lU.

It has been remarked, (hnt there miscarried but one vttiel of nil those
great fleets which brought passengers unto JV>w-/'Jng/an(/ upon the pious
and holy designs of the tirst settlement ; which vessel also was but a
piniace ; nevertheless richly laden, as having in it Mr. Avery.

Mr. Avery, a worthy minister, coming into Aew-ICngtaudf was invited
unto Marble-head ; but there being no church there, and the finhermen
being there generHlly too remiss to form a church, he went rather to A«w<
berrtj, intending there to settle.

Nevertheless, both the magistrates and the ministers of the country
urging the common good, that would arise from his being at Jtlar6/e-A<ad,
he embarked in a pinnace, with two families, his own and his cousin
Mr. Anthony Thacher's, which, with some others then aboard, made ip nil
twenty-three souls ; designing in a few hours to have reached the port.

But on August 14, 1635, in the night, thnre came on as mighty a storm
as perhaps was ever known in these parts of the world ; a storm which
drove the vessel upon a rock, and so tore it, that the poor people sat
presently up to the middle in water, expecting every moment the wavts
of death to be rolling over them.

The vessel was quickly broken all to pieces, and almost the whole
company drowned, by bemg successively washed otT the rock ; only Mr.
Thacher, having been a considerable while tossed hither and thither, by
the violent seas, was at laxt very strangely cast alive upon the shore;
where much wounded, he fuund his wife a sharer with him in the like
deliverance.

While these distressed servants of God were hanging about the rock,
and Mr. Thachcr had Mr Avery by tl.i hand, resolving to die together,
and expecting by the stroke of the next wave to die, Mr. Avery lift up
his eyes to heaven, saying, IVe knom not what the pleasure of God is; I
fear we have been too unmindful of former deliverances : Lord, I cannot
challenge d promise of the preservation of my life ; but thou hast promised
to deliver us from sin and condemnation, and to bring us safe to heaven,
through the all-sufficient satisfaction of Jesus Christ ; this therefore I do
cliallenge of thee. Which he had no sooner spoken, but he was by a
wave sweeping him off, immediately wafted away to heaven indeed : be-
ing well furnished with those unperishable things : whereto refers the
advice of the famous Duke of Bavaria, Hujusmodi comparandce sunt opes,
qua nobiscum possunt simul evatare in Navfragio.

The next island was therefore called Thacherh Woe, and that rock
Avery's fall.

Who can without shedding tears, almost enough to make a sensible ad-
dition unto the lake Lemon, call to mind the fate of the incomparable
Hottinger, upon that lake, in the year 1667 7 That incomparably learn-
ed and godly man, being by the States-General of the United Provinces,
after much importunity, prevailed withal, to come unto Leyden, the boat
wherein he was, with his wife and three children, and a kinsmani and
another person of quality, unhappily overset, by striking on an unseen
^ock, a little way off the shoar. He, with the two gentlemen, got safe
out of the water; but seeing his wife, and three children, in extream dan-
ger of drowning, they went into the water again to save them, and there
he, with one of the gentlemen, (and his three children) were drowned
- themselves. iUit eight days before this lamentable accident, he found
this verse written on the Doctor''s chair, at his ascending it for the pub-'
lick exercises ; whereof the writer could never be found :

iiooK HI] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. ^fk

■'-■— ■ Carmina jam Moritn$, Canit Exequialia Cygnui, ~ -?

Reader, from Ilottinger, now rciurn to Avery. Compare the manner
ul their death ; and never forget the memorable man-iong, which Avery
uot eig/i/ <fayf, but scarce eight aecondt of a minute, before hiwexpira**
tton, lang in the ears of heaven.

What nu applied once to thninger^ shall now be borrowed for Jilver^,

.IS AD

EPITAPHIUM.

yirlutetn quit non post Te aectetur eundo,
Virtutum quandd gloria tatita mantt.

And add,

-Tutum tenet Anchora portum,

JVunc hilaris Fentos ridety Tumidasque procellas.

, rt%.,iy ^.-^f

CHAPTER HI.

Natus ad Exemplar. The Life of Mr. Jonathan Burr.
Exetnplo monatrante Viatn.

^ 1. When the interests of David were carried into a wilderness, the
reipects and regards by his Jonathan, had thereunto were such, that he
at last uttered this exclamation thereupo" Thy love to me was wonderful !
The interests of our Jesus, the true Duvid, being lodged very much in
an American wilderness, there was a Jonathan, whose love thereunto was
iodeed so wonderful, that it carried him through the many waters of the
Atlantiek ocean, to be serviceable thereunto ; and this was Mr. Jonathan
Burr,

§ 2. He was born at Redgrave, in Suffolk, about the year (604 ; de-
scended of godly parents, who gratilied the inclinations of this their
Don, with a learned education. But although literature did much adorr
his childhood, religion did so much more ; for he had from a child known
the holy scriptures, which made him wise unto salvation. It ia noted, that the
rod of Aaron was made of nn almond-tree ; of which 'twill be no Plimj-
ism to observ? (though Pliny observe it,) that it flowers the first of ail
fms, even in January, in the more southern countries, and bears in
March; which has been sometimes employed as an intimation, how
quickly those that are designed for the ministry, should blossom towards
lieaven, and be young Jeremiahs, and Johns, and Timothies. Thus did
our Jonathan. EVen in his very childhoo.'l, so studious he was, as to
leave his food for his bmk, but withal so pious, that he could neither
inorning nor evening dare to go without prayers to God for his blessing.
And as it was his endeavour, whilst a school-boy, to be errry day in the
fear of ihe Lord, so he would on the Lord's day discover a singular meas-
ure of that fear; not only by abstaining from the liberties which others
i^f his age then use to take, to pass th$ time mcay, hot aUo by devoting

.334

T«E HISTORY OF NEW.fiNGLAND. [Book III.

the time to the exerciaes of devotion. Uia father, observing ibis disposi-
tion of the child, hoped, as well be might, that whatever was expended
in fitting him fur service, would be well repaid, in the service which might
be done by him for the church of God ; and therefore after due prepara*
tions for it, he sent him unto the university.

§ 3. After he had spent three or four years in academical studies, the
death of his father fetched him sooner than he would have gone, into
the country ; where, though he kept a scAooZ, yet he pursued the design
of accomplishing himself with every part of learning, that when those
of his years were to take their degrees of Mastership, he was one of the
moderators, which place he discharged with great acceptation. Bui he
afterwards would say, that the awful and humbling providence of God, in
the death of his father, which hindred him from those employments and
preferments in the university, for which he had a particylar fondness, had
an effect upon him, for which he bad reason to admire the wisdom of
he-iven ; inasmuch as it reduced him to that modest, gracious, carefal
frame, which made him the fitter for the work of turning many to right-
eousne^r.

§ 4. Having for a while attended that work at Horninger, near Bury in
Suffolk, he afterwards undertook the charge of Reckingshal, in the same
county, wherein he did most exemplarily express the spirit of a minister
of the J^ew Testament. He would therein be sometimes ready to envy
the more easie condition of the husbandmen; but in submission and
obedience unto the call of God, he now set his hand unto the plough of
the Lord Jesus Christ : and therefore in the form of a solemn covenant,
he obliged himself unto the most conscientious discharge of his minis-
tepial duties ; in which discbarge he would always beg of God, that what-
ever exhoitation he gave unto others, might tirst be shaped in his own
experience: and yet sometimes he would complain unto his friends : Alasy
I preach not what I am, but what I ought to be.

§ 5. This gracious man, was indeed a very humble man, and bis An-
mility carried him even into a dejection, of spirit ; especially when by
importunities he bad been prevailed upon to preach abroad. . Once par-
ticularly, there was a person" of quality, for whose conversion many
prayers had been put up to God, by those who hoped that God might
have much honour from a man of honour brought unto himself. Mr.
Burr prealbhing at a place, far from his own congregation, had a most
happy success in the conversion of this gentleman, who not only ac-
knowledged this change, with much thankfulness, both to God, and the
instrum.ent ; but also approved himself a changed man, in the whole
frame of his after-conversation. And yet coming home, from the preach-
ing of that sermon, Mr. Burr had a particular measure of his lowly and
modest reflections thereupon ; adding, / shall conclude, it is of God, if
any good be done by any thing preached by such an unworthy instrument.

§ 6. Hence on the Lord's day, after he came home from his publick
work, it was his manner presently to retire, and spend some time in
praying to God, for the pardon of the sins, which accompanied him in
his work, and in praising of God, for enabling him to go, in any meas-
ure, through it ; with petitions for the good success of his labours.

He then would come down to his family-worship, wherein he spent
some hours instructing of the family, and performing of other duties : and
when his wife desired him to abate of his excessive pains, his answer
would be, Tm better (o be worn out with work, than to be eaten out with
rmt. It was indeed his joy, to be spending his life unto the uttermost for

9011111.

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

335

lies, the
)De, into
ie design
en those
ae of the
But he
f God, in
lenta and
loess, had
irisdom of
8, careful
y to right-

ar Bury in
I the same
a minUter
Jy to envy
lission and
plough of
D covetumty
his minis-
that what'
in his own
nds: Jlto)

God, and for his people ; yea, he would say, though he should have no
temporal reward$. Accordingly, when any that had been benefited by
his ministry, sent him any tokeni of their gratitude, he would (like Luther)
beg of God. That he might not have his portion in such things : and he dew
sired of his grateful friends, that if they had gotten any good of him,
they would give unto Ood alone the glory of it. Moreover, ifhe had under*
stood, that any had gained in the concern of their souls, by his labours,
he would mention it, in some of his privater devotions, with this expres-
sion, Lord, of thine own have I given, take thtn the glory unto thy self: as
for me, let my portion be in thy self, and nit M (he things of this world.
But when he was debarred of his liberty to preach, he was even like
ajish out of the water ; and his very body languished through a sympathy,
with the resentments of his mind ; saying, That his preaching was his life ;
and ifhe were laid aside from that, he should quickly be dead.

§ 7. It was not on the Lord''s day only but every day, that this good
man was usualljr, in the fear of the Lord all the day long. He might say.
with the psalniist. When I awake, lam still with God : for at his first awak-
ing, he tvodld bless God for the mercies of the night, and then pray,
that lie might so number his days, as to apply his heart to wisdom : and if
he awaited in the night, it would commonly be with some thanksgivings
unto heaven. Rising in the morning, he would repair to his beloved
stvdy, where he began the day mth secret prayer before the Lord : after
this he would rend a chapter in the Old Testament, spending some time in
serious and solemn, and heart teaTc\\\ng meditations thereupon : he would
then come down into his/ami/^ ; where, with his prayer», he would then
read and expound, and ap^ily the same chapter unto his own folks, and
such of the neighbours as would come in, to enjoy his meditations, at
the usual season of them. Retiring then to his study again, he would
continue there, till called unto his dinner ; and if none came to speak
with him after dinner, he would, after ?omc diversion for a while with
his children, return to his study, where he would then have a time to pray
with his wife; but if at any time he were invited unto a dinner abroad, he-
would have a time for that service in the forenoon, before his going out.
As the evening drew on, after the like manner, he would read a chapter
in the JVetv Testament, making his /ar/it7y partakers of his reflections, with
bis prayer upon it. And before his going to bed, he usually walked up
and down the room, for half an hour, or more, pondering upon something,
which his wife desiring to know, What it was ? He replied, Seeing thou
art so near me, if it may do thee good, Vll tell thee : First, he said, he call-
ed himself unto an account, how he had spent the day ? and what sinful
commissions, or omissions, he had been overtaken with ; for which, he
Ihea, begged pardon of God. Secondly, he reckoned up the particular
merct'es he bad received in the day, rendring of praises to heaven for those
mercies. Lastly, he made his petitions to God, that he might be prepar-
ed for sudden death : unto which third article in his thoughts, that which
i^ave more special occasion was, the sudden death of his brother, an em-
inent and excellent christian, whom, he said, he coufd never forget.

§ 8. When he travolind abroad, he thought long to be at home again,
through his dissatisfaction at his not having elsewhere, so convenient sea-
sons for his communion with God. And when he took any journeys
ivith his friends, it was his manner to enquire, What good had been
done, or gained therein ? Jind what good examples had been seen ? and what
goorf instructions had been heard ? and that there might be no'loss of time
in th« journeys, h« ivould be fnll of profitable discourse, especially by

33C

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III

way of oceational re/lection, upon things that then occurred unto observa-
tion. What he was in a journey, the same he was at the table ; even
like the Jlre, (what was once writ of Athenodorus) 'Ej^a^rm x»*r» r»
w»f»u'H4tm. So that they who would bear no part in a gracious com-
munication, would be dunUt, where-ever he came ; and some of the rougb-
e«t and rudest hearers, would have tears fetched from their eyes, at the
soul-melting expressions that passed from his mouth. Moreover, at a
fea$t he would eat more sparingly than at another time, giving us his rea-
son for his temperance, the advice of the wise man : Put a knife to thy
throat : and he would say, Where there are many varieties, there aremany
tenmlationi.

§ 0. It was his wont, before the Lord's Supper, to keep a day of so-
lemn fatting and prayer alone, with his wife, as well to prepare them-
selves for tliat sacred ordinance ; as to obtain the manifold blessings of
hcnven upon his family and neighbourhood. Such was his piety. And
as for his charity, he seldom visited the poor, but with spirituals, he
communicated also temporals unto them : for which, vrhUn some of his
friendi intimated, that he mighi err, in reserving no more for himself, he
would answer, / often think of those words, he .that soweth sparingly, shall
reap sparingly. It was also remarkable, to see how much his own per-
sonal joyi, and griefs, were swallowed up in the simpathy which he had,
with the condition of the whole church abroad : when he heard it was
■well with the church, he would say, Blessed be God, that it goes well with
them, whatever becomes of me ! But if ill, none of his own private pros-
perity kept him from feeling it, as a true member of that mystical body.
Finally, all the graces which thus rendred him amiable to those that
were about him, were attended with such Mosaic meekness, as made him
yet further amiable : he would be zealous, when he saw dishonour cast
on the name of God, but patient under injury offered unto himself If
he were informed, that any thought meanly of him, he would not be
moved at it, but say, I think as meanly of my self, and therefore may veell
be content, that others think meanly of me : and when evil hath been char-
ged on him; he has replied. If men see so much, what does God see? Dis-
graceful and unworthy speeches bestowed upon him, he would call, his
gains ; but it was his trouble to find himself applauded. His friends
might indeed have said of him, as Luther of Melancthon, Mihi plane vi-
dttur taltem in hoc errare, quod Christum ipse fingat longius abesse a Corit
sua, qudm sit reverd, certe nimis ATullus in hoc est noster Jonathan.

& 10. This bright star must move westward. He, with many fellow-
sunerers for the testimony of Jesus, being silenced in England; and fore-
seeing n dismal storm a coming upon the nation, till the overpassing
whereof he saw many praying saints directed unto America, for cham-
bers of safety ; and willing to forego all worldly advantages, for the en-
joyment of gospel ordinances, administred without the mixtures o( humane
inventions; he removed into New-England, having his three chiidrea
with him, and his wife big with a fourth, in bis remove ; where arriving,
it refreshed him not a little, to see the escaped people of God, with
harps in their hands, there singing the song of Moses. He came into
New-England, at a time, when there was not so much want of lights, as
of golden candlesticks, wherein to place the lights ; but he was not long
there, before he was invited by the church of Dorchester, to be an as-
sistant unto the well-known Mr. Richard Mather.

§ 11. The evil one, disturbed at the happiness o( Dorchester, xer)
strongly endeavoured a mimnderstondin^ between Mr. Mather and Mr.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW.ENGLAND.

337

Burr; and the tnitunderstanding did proceed so far, as toprodace aj>ar-
oxi'sm.

It wag judged by some of the brethren in the church, that Mr. Burr
had exprefsed himself erroneously in certain points, then much agitated
throughout the country ; and Mr. Mather, upon their desire, examining
the propositions which this good man had written, thought he copld not
altogether clear them from exceptions. Hereupon grew such aliena-
tions, that they could not be well re-united, without calling in the help
of neighbouring churches in a council ; which council directing both Mr.
Mather and Mr. Burr, to acknowledge what misunderstandings were then
discovered in this business, those two good men set apart a dny for the
reconciliation ; and with such exemplary expressions of humility and af-
fection, rectified all that had been out of joint, that God was exceedingly
glorified, and the peace of the church efiectually restored and maintained.

§ 12. This true Barnabas was not only to give the churches of JVew>
England a consolatory visit, in his passage unto glory, that he might leave
them an examp!e of that love, patience, holiness, and fruitfulness, which
would make (hem an happy people. Though he had not persecution to
try him in this wilderness, yet he was not without his trials : for, as 'tis
well observed in the -'•^-'ourse, De Duplici Martyrio, which goes under
the name of Cyprian • S. -^'c^ff Tyrannus, si Tortor, si Spoliator, non deerit
concupiscentia. Martyr," I'eriam, quotidianam nobis exhibens. The
next year after he came, o '.w- England, he was taken sick of the small-
pox ; out of which he nevertheless recovered, and came forth as gold
that had been tryed in the fire. He then renewed and applied the coroenant
of grace, by the suitable recognitions of the following instrttment.

' I Jonathan Burr, being brought in the arms of Almighty God over
' the vast ocean, with my family and friends, and graciously provided for
' in a wilderness ; and being sensible of my own unprofitableness and
' self-seeking ; yet of infinite mercy, being called unto the tremendous
' work o( feeding souls, and being of lipite with my family delivered out
' of n great affliction of the small-pox ; and having found the fruit of that
' affliction ; God tempering, ordering, mitigating the evil thereof, so as I
' have been graciously and speedily delivered ; I do promise and vnw to
* Hint, that hath done all things for me ; First, That I will aim only at his
' glory, and the good of souls, and* not my self and vain glory : and that,
' Secondly, I will walk humbly, with lower thoughts of my self, considering
' what a poor creature I am ; a puff of breath, sustained only by the
^ power of His grace; and therefore, ThircUy, I will be more watchful
■ over my heart, to keep it in a due frame of holiness and obedience, with-
' out running out so far to the creature ; for 1 have seen, that he is mine
' only help in time of need ; Fourthly, that I will put more weight upon
' that firm promise, and sure truth, that God is a God hearing prayer ;
' Fifthly, th.;t I will set up God, more in my family, more in my self, wife,
' children and servants ; conversing with them in a more serious and con-
' stant manner ; for this, God aimed at, in sending his hand into my family
' at this time. v

Memento Moti.

' /« Meipso Nihil ; in C'hristo Omne.^

Nor was his heavenly conversation afterwards disagreeable to these grate-
ful resolutions of his devout soul. By the same token, that the famous
Mr. Thomas Hooker, being one of his auditors, when he preached in a
Vol. I. .43 ,

338

THE HlSTOIiy OF NEW-ENGLAND. [iiooK III.

great audience at CAaWe^tovun, had this expression about him. Surely,
this man wont be lot^ out of heaven, for he preaches as if he were there al-
ready. And the most experienced christians in the country, found Mill
in his ministry, as well as in his whole behaviour, the breathing of such a
spirit, as was very greatly to their satisf iction. They could not but call
him, as Dionysius was once called, Ilirttw reif 'a&^mh, the bird of heaven.
Had it not been old Adatn's world, so innocent, so excellent, so heavenly
a person, could not have met with such exercises as he and others like
him, then sometimes did, even from their truest brethren.

§ 13. Having just been preaching about the redemption of time, he fell
into a sickness often days continuance ; during which time, he express-
ed a wonderful patience, and submission, upon all occasions. His wife
perceiving his willingness to die, asked him, whether he were desirous to
leave her and his children ? Whereto his answer was. Do not mistake me,
I am not desirous of that ; but I bless God, that now my icill is the Lord's
will : if he will have me to live yet with my dear wife and children, lam wil-
ling. I will say to you my dear wife and children, as the apostle says. It is
better for you, that I abide with you ; but it is better for me to be dissolved
and to be with Christ. And perceiving his wife's disconsolation, he ask-
ed her, if she could not be willing to part with him; whereupon, when she
intimated how hard it was, he exhorted her to acquiesce in that God,
who would be better than ten husbands : addinsf, our parting is but for a
time, I am sutc we shall one day meet again. Bei>'>g discouraged by find-
ing himself unable to put on his clothes, one of his friends told him, his
work was now to lie still : at which he complained, / lie slugging a bed,
when others are at work ! But being minded of G</S's will, that it should
be so, that quieted him. Observing how diligently his wife tended him,
he said unto her, Don't spend so much time with me, but go thy way and
spend some time in prayer ; thou knowest not what thou mayst obtain from
God ; I fear lest thou look foo much upon this affliction. A day or two be-
fore his death, he blessed his children ; and the night before he died,
he was overheard sometimes to say, I will wait until my change conie;
and Why art thou so loath to die ? A few hours before his death, it was
observed, that he had a sore conflict with the angel of death, who was
now shooticg his last arrows at him ; and when one of the standers-by
said, 37/,c sting of death is taken axvay ; the Lord Jesus Christ has overcome
death for you ; this is one of Satan's la:t assaults ; his work is now almost
at an end ; thovgh he be a subtil enemy, and would if it were possible, de-
ceive the very elect ; he presently laid hold on that last expression, if it
were possible ; said he, Blessed be God there is no possibiiity ! After this,
he requested the company might withdraw, that so he might have an op-
portunity to pray for a while by himself ; but seeing the company loth to
leave the room, he prayed in Latin as long as he had strength to do it.
When he was to appearance just expiring, he called for his wife ; and sted-
fastly fixing his eyes upon her, he said, Cast thy care upon God,forhe careth
for thee. About half an hour after this, when death had been for some
while drawing the curtains about him, his last words were those unto
his wife, Holdfast, holdfast ! So he finished his pilgrimage, on Awgvst
9, 1641.

§ 14. Unto thai vertuous gentlewoman his wife, he expressed himself
with great confidence, That God would certainly provide well for her ;
and that gentlewoman, shortly after being honourably and comfortably
married unto another gentleman of good estate, namely, Richard Dum-
iner, Esq. once a magistrate of the colony, lived with him near forty

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

339

years ; and was more than forty years afier alive to testify her experi->
ence of the accomplishment, which God had given unto that fiiith <^her
dying husband : who at bis death commended his family to God, in
strains not unlike thoAe of the dying rf'tt/erus;

CHRISTE, tibi soli mea pignora Viva relinquoy
QfiorwH post Mortem Tu Pater esto steam. , ,■

Qi« euuctis Vita: miserum inejngiter Annis

Pavisti, TMrgam dans Mihi semper opem ; .1^.

Tu quoq; Pasce ineos defende, tuere, doceq;
Et tandem ad Culi gaudla transfer. .Amen.

EPITAPHIUM. 'l

Mortwus hie Jacet, qui in Omnium Cordibus Vivit.

Omnes Virtutes, qua Vivunt post Funera,

In Unius Burri Funere invenerunt Sspulchirum.

To make up his epitaph, 1 will borrow a line or two from the tomib-
stone of Volkmarus.

Hie Jacet Exutis nimium cito Bunnius Annis, ,^

Adjuga Suggesius, Magne Matherk, Tui
Si magis Annosam licuisset condere Vitam,

Ac Scriptis Animum notificare Lihris,
Tot Verbis non esset opus hoc Sealpere Saxuvt,

Sufficerent Qitatuor, Burrius hie situs est.

CHAPTER IV.
The Life of Mr. George Philips.

Vita Ministri est Censura 4* Cynosura.

§ 1. Not only the common sign-posts of every town, but also some
ikiaous orders of knighthood in the most famous nations of Europe, have
entertained us with traditions of a certain champion, by the name of St.
George dignified and distinguished. Now whilst many do with Calvin,
reckon this notable St. George, with his brother St. Kit, among the
Larva and fables of the romantic monks ; others from the honourable
mention of him in so many liturgies, do think there might be such a man ;
but then, he must be no other, neither better nor worse, in the most
probable opinion of Rainolds, than George the Arrian bishop of Alexan-
dria, the antagonist and adversary ofAthanasius; of this memorable
trooper, the Arrians feigned miracles, and with certain disguises, injipo-
sed the fame of him upon the orthodox. But the churches o{ J^ew-Eng-
land being wholly unconcerned with any such a St. George, and wishing
that they had been less concerned with many quakers, whose chief apos-
tles have been so many of them called Georges, but in effect so many
^ons, there was one George \yho was indeed among the first saints

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. IBook Hi.

of New-England ! and that excellent tnan of our land was Mr. George
Philips.

§ 2. He was born at Raytnundt il the county of Norfolk ; descended
of honest parenta, who were encouraged by his great proficiency at the
graoauiar- school, to send him unto the university ; where his good tn*
tendon, strong memory, and »o\\A judgment, with the blessing of God up-
on ail, attained a degree of learning that may be called eminent. The
diligent reading of the fathers, while he was yet himself among young
men, was one of the things that gave a special ornament unto that skill
in theology, whereto he attained ; but that which yet further fitted him
to become a ditine, was his being made partaker of the divine nature, by
the sanctification of all his abilities for the service of God, in a true re-
generation.

§ 3. Devoting himself to the work of the miitistry, his employment be-
fel him at Boxford in Essex ; whereof he found much acceptance with
good men ; as being a man mighty in the scriptures. But his acquaint-
ance with the writings and persons of some old non-conformists had in-
stilled into him such principles about church-government, as were like to
make him unacceptable unto some, who then drove the world before
them. Some of these principles he had intimated in his publick preach-
ing ; whereupon some of his unsatisfied hearers repaired unto old Mr.
Rogers of Dedham, with some intimations of their dissatisfaction. But
Mr. Rogers, although he had not much studied the controversy, yet had
80 high a respect for Mr. Philips, that he said, he believed Mr. Philips
would preach nothing -without some good evidence for it from the word of
God, and therefore they should be willing to regard whatever Mr. Philips
flight, from that word, make evident unto them. And as for Mr. Philips,
the more he was put upon the study and searching of the truth, in the
matter controverted, the more he was confirmed in his own opinion of it.

§ 4. When the spirit of persecution did at length with the extreamest
violence, urge a conformity to ways and parts of divine worship, consci-
entiously scrupled by such persons as our Mr. Philips. He, with many
more of his neighbours, entertained thoughts of transporting themselves
and their families into the desarts of America, to prosecute and propa-
gate the glorious designs of the gospel, and spread the light of it in those
goings down of the sun^ and being resolved accordingly to accompany the
excellent Mr. Winthrop in that undertaking, he with many other devout
christians, embarqned for JVetv-Eng'/ane^, where they arrived in the year
1630, through the good hand of God upon them. Here, quickly after
his landing, he lost the desire of his eyes, in the death of his desirable con-
sort, who, though an only child, had cheerfully left her parents, to serve
the Lord Jesus Christ, with her husband, in a terrible wilderness. At
Salem she died, entering into the everlasting peace ; and was very so-
lemnly interred near the Right Honourable the lady Arabella ; the sister
of the Earl of Lincoln, who also took Kew-England in her way to
heaven.

§ 5. Mr. Philips, with several gentlemen, and other christians having
chosen a place upon C^arZes -River, for a town which they called Water-
Town, they resolved that they would combine into a church-fellowship
there, as i\\e\v first work; and build the house of God. before they could
build many bowses for themselves ; thus they sought, first, the kingdom oj
God ! And indeed, Mr. Philips being better acquainted with the true
church-discipline, than most of the minijtters that came with him into the
country, their proceedings about the gathering and ordering of theiT

Book III.] THE HISTORY UF NEW-ENGLAND. J41

church, were methodical enough, though not made in all tbingi i j»3W«m
tor all the rest. Upon a day aet apart for solemn fatting and prUyer,
the very next month after they came ashore, they entred into this holy

July 30, 1630.

< We whose names are hereto subscribed, having through God's mer-

< cy. escaped out of pollutiona of the world, and been taken into the so-

' ciety of his people, with all thankfuh«s8 do hx^eby both with heart and

' hand acknowledge, that his gracious 'oe d fatherly care, toward

* U9 : and for further and more full aeclaratio' ;reof, to the present
'and future ages, have undertaken (for the promoting of his gf4)ry and
' the church's good, and the honour of our blessed Jeaua, in our n^ore
' full and free subjecting of our selves and ours, under his gracious gtw-
' ernment, in the practice of, and obedience unto all his holy ordinances
' and orders, which he hath pleased to prescribe and impose upon us) a
' long and hazardous voyage from east to west, from Old England in Eu-
' rope, to JVeW'Engtand in America ; that we may walk before him, and
- stroe him without /ear in holiness and righteousness, all the days of our
' lives : and being safely arrived here, and thus far onwards peaceably

■ preserved by his special providence, that we may bring forth our inten-

* tiuns into actions, and perfect our resolutions, in the beginnings of some
■just and meet executions; we have separated the d«y above written

■ from all other services, and dedicated it wholly to the Lord in divine
' employments, for a day of afflicting our souls, and humbling our selves
'before the Lord, to seek him, and at his hands, a way to walk in, by
^fasting and 'prayer, that we might know what was good in his sight : and

■ the Lord was intrented of us.

' For in the end of that day, after the finishing of our publick duties,
' we do all, before we depart, solemnly and with all our hearts, personal-

* ly, man by man for our selves and ours (charging them before Christ
' and his elect angels, even them that are not here with us this day, or
' are yet unborn, that they keep the promise unblameably and faithfully
' unto the coming of our Lord Jesus) promise, and enter into a sure cove-
' nant with the Lord our God, and before him with one another, by oath
' and serious protestation made, to renounce all idolatry and superstition,
' will-worship, all humane traditions and inventions whatsoever, in the
' worship of God ; and forsaking all evil ways, do give our selves wholly
' unto the Lord Jesus, to do him faithful service, observing and keeping
' all his statues, commands, and ordinances, in all matters concerning our
' Tfformation ; his worship, administrations, ministry, and government;

* and in the carriage of our selves among our selves, and one towards
' auOther, as he hath prescribed in his holy word. Further swearing to
' cleave unto that alone, and the true sense and meaning thereof to the
' utmost of our power, as unto the most clear light and infallible title,

* and all-sufficient canon, in all things that concern us in this our way. In
' witness of all, we do exanimo, and in the presence of God, hereto set
' our names or marks, in the day and year above written.

About forty men, i!?hereof the frst was that excellent Knight Sir
Richard Saltonstal, then subscribed this instrument, in order unto their
coalescence into a church- estate ; which I have the more particularly re-
cited, because it was one of the first ecclesiastical transactions of this
nature managed in the colony. But in nfter time, they that joined nnto

,, TliE HiSTOKV OV N EW-KNOLAW D. LUook ill.

the church, subscribed u form of the covenant, aomewhat altered, with a
confe$$iun qfj'aith annexed UDto it.

§ 6. A church uf believers being thus gathered at Watertovm, this
reverend wan continued for divers years among them, faithfully discharg-
ing the duties of his ministry, to the Jlock, whereof he was made the (yveV'
seer ; and as a faithful steward giving to every one their miat in due season.
Herein he demonstrated himself to be a real divine : but not in any thing
more, than in his most intimate acquaintance with the divine oracles of
the scripture : being fully of Jeromes perswasion, JIma Scientiam Scrip-
turarum, ^ Vitia Carnis non ainabis. He had so thoroughly perused and
pondered them, that he was able on the sudden to turn unto any text.
without the help of Concordances ; and they were so much his delight,
that as it has been by some of his family affirmed, he read over the whole
Bible six times every year : nevertheless he did use to say, That every
time he read the Bible, he observed or collected something, which he never
did before. There was a famous prince of Transylvania, who found the
time to read over the Bible no less than twenty-seven times. There
was a famous King of Arragon, who read over the Bible fourteen times,
with Lyra's Commentaries. A religious person, who was a close prisoo-
«r, in a dark dungeon, having a candle brought him, for the few minutes
in the day when his poor meals were to be eaten, chose then to read a
little of his Bible, nnd eat his necessary food, when the candle was gone.
Yea, the Emperour Theodosius wrote out (he New Testament with his
own hand ; and Bonaventure did as much by the Old ; and some have,
like Zuinglius and Beza, lodged vast paragraphs of it in the memories.
Among such memorable students in the scriptures, our Philips deserves
to have some remembrance : who was fully of the opinion expressed by
Luther, If the letters of Princes are to be read three times over, surely then
God^s letters {as Gregory calls the scriptures) are to be read seven times
thrice, yea, seventy times seven, and if it could be a thousand times over;
and he might say with Ridley, giving an account of how much of the Bi-
ble he had learnt by heart, Thougli in time a great part of the study de-
parted from me, yet the sweet smell thereof I trust I shall carry with me tv
heaven. Indeed being well skilled in the original tongues, he could see
further into the scriptures than most other menj and thereby being
made wise unto salvation, he also became a man of God, thoroughly fur-
nished unto all good works.

§ 7. Hence also, he became an able disputant ; and ready upon all
occasions, to maintain what he delivered from the word of God ; for
which cause his hearers counted him, the irrefragable Doctor; though
he were so humble and modest, as to be very averse unto disputation,
until driven thereto by extream necessity. One of his hearers after
some conference with him about infant-baptism, and several points of
church-discipline, obtained a copy of the arguments in writing for his fur-
ther satisfaction. This copy the man sends over to England, which
an Anabaptist there published with a pretended confutatian ; whereby
the truth lost notliing, for Mr. Philips hereupon published a judicious
treatise, cntituled, A Vindication of Infant-Baptism, whereto there is
added another, Of the Church. This book was honourably received and
mentioned, by the eminent assembly of London ministers ; and a preface
full of honour was thereto prefixed by the famous Mr. Thomas Shepard ;
notwithstanding the difference between him and Mr. Philips, upon one
or two points, whereabout those two learned neighbours managed a con-
^oversy with so much reason, and yet candor and kindness, that if all

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

343

theological controvermi, had been so handled, wc need not so much wish,
Liherari ab liaplacabilibut Tiuologoruvi Odiit. '

^ 8. Aboat fourteen years continued he in his ministry at Watertofom ;
in v?hich time bis ministry was bjessed, for the conversion of many unto
God, and for the edi/ication and confirmation of many that were convert-
ed. He was, indeed, a good man, and full of faith, and of the Holy
Ghoit : and for that cause he was not only in publick but in private also,
very full of holy discourse on all occasions ; especially on the Lord's
day ut noon, the time intervening between the twu exercises, he would
spend in conferring with such of his good people, as rc:iorted unto his
house, at such a rate, as marvellously tninis:ered grace unto the hearers ;
Dot wanting any time then, as it seems, for any further preparations, than
what he had still aforehand made, for the publick sermons of the af-
ternoon.

§ 9. He laboured under many bodily infirmities : but was especially
liable unto the cholick ; the extremity of one fit whereof, was the wind
which carried him afore it, into^the haven of eternal rest, on July 1, in
the year 1644, much desired and lamented by his church at Watertowi%.;
who testified their affection to their deceased pastor, by a special care to
promote and perfect the education of his eldest son, whereof all the
country, but especially the town otRowly, have since reaped the benefit.

EPITAPHiUM.

Hie Jacet Georoius Philiffi.
Fir Incomparabilis, nisi Samvf.<.em genuisset.

upon aH
Jod ; for
; thoMgh
iputatioD,
ers after
points of
r his fur-
I, which
whereby
judicious
) there is
>ived and
a preface
Shepard ;
ipon one
ed a con-
bat if »"

CHAPTER V.
Pastor Evangelicus. The Life of Mr. Thomas Shepabo.
-JVec Mireris,

Jlnimam tarn Subito in CWlum avolasse, nam ticem
Jllarum sibi supplerunt Preces ma Sf susjnria.

§ 1. It was the gracious and savoury speech uttered by one of the
greatest personages in England, and perhaps in all Europe, unto a grave
minister : / have (said he) passed through many places of honour and
(rust, both in church and state, more than avy of my order in England, /or
stmnty years he/ore. But were I assured that by my preaching, I had con-
verted but one soul unto God, I shtmld herein take more comfort, than in all
the honours and offices that have ever been bestoiced upon me. Let my rea-
der now go with me, and I will show him one of the happiest men, that
Pver we saw j as great a converter of souls, as has ordinarily been known
in our days.

§ 2. Amongst those famous, whereof there were diverse, ministers of
.Yew-England, which wftre born in or near the first lustre of King James'
reign, one of the least inconsiderable was our Mr. Thomas Shepard;
whose father Mr. William Shepard, called him Thomas, because his birth
was J^ov. 6, Anno 160"., as near as could be guessed, at the very hour.
ivhen the blow should have been given in the execrable gun-povi'der trea-

344

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Dock 111.

«on; avillnny, concerning which he said, Thii child of his would hardly
be able to believe, that ever svch a vnckedncH could be attempted by the $ons
of men. His father hod sit daughters und three sons, whereof this Thom-
as born in Towcester, near Northampton, was the jronngest ; and as hn
lived a prudent, so he died a pious man, while his youngest son was but a
youth. Our Thomas had in his childhood, laboured under the discour-
agements, first of n bitter step-mother, and then of a cruel school-master,
till Ood stirred up the heart of his elder brother, to become a father unto
him, who, for the use of his portion, brought him up.

§ 3. Bending his mind now to study, he became fit for the university,
at nfteen years of age; where he was placed under the tuition of Mr.
Cockrel, a Northamptonshire man, fellow of Immanuel Colledge.

But when he hud been upwards of two years in that col'edge, (his
young man, who had been heretofore under more ineffectual operations
of the divine word upon him, was now more effectually called unto a
saving acquaintance with him, that is our true Immanuel. The ministry
of Mr. Chaderlon and Mr. Dickinson, struck his heart with powerful con-
victions of his miseries in his nnregeneracy ; and while he shook off
those convictions, it pleased God that a devout scholar walking with him,
fell into discourses about the miseries of an unregenenite man, whereby
the arrows of God were struck deeper into him. At another time, fnll*
ing into a pious company, where they conferred about, the wrath of God,
and the extremity and eternity of it, this added nnto his awakenings ; and
though profane company afterwards caused him to loose much of the
.sense, which he had of these things, yet when Dr. Preston came thither,
his' first sermon on that [Be renewed in 'he spirit of your mind] so renewed
the former impressions, which had been upon him, that he soon approv-
ed himself a person truly renewed in his own spirit, and converted unto
God. From this time, which was in the year 1C24, he set himself espe-
cially on the work of daily meditation, which he attended every evening
before supper ; meditating on, the evil of sin, the terror of God^s wrath^
the day of death and judgment, the beauty of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the
deceitfulness of his own heart, until he found the transforming influence of
those things upon his own soul ; a course which afterwards, he would
mightily commend unto others that consulted him ; and he rested not un-
til coming to see, that in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, there was laid tip
the full supply of all spiritual wants, he found the grace of God enabling
him to accept of that precious Lord, and rejoice in that rvisdom, and
righteotisness, and sanctijication, and redemption, which He is made unto
us : whence afterwards, drawing up a catalogue of the divine favours un-
to him, he had therein these passages among the rest, which are from
thence now transcribed. The Lord is the God that sent, I think, the best
ministers in the world to call me ; Dr. Preston ai d Mr. Goodwin. The
words of the first, nt the first sermon he made, v:hen he came into the col-
lege, as master of it ; and dtVt. ; that he preached at that time, did open my
heart, and convince me of my unbelief, and my total emptiness of all, and
enmity against all good. And the Lord made me honour him highly, and
love him dearly, though many godly men spake against him. And he is the
God that in these ordinances convinced me of my guilt and filth of sin, espe-
cially self seeking, and love of honour of men in ali'l did ; and humbled me
■utuler both, so as to make me set an higher price upon C hrist, and grace,
and loath my self the more, and so I was eased of a world of discourage-
ment. He also showed me the rvorth of Christ, and made my soul satisfied
wilh him, and cleave to him, heravsp God had made him rightr.ousTiess ; and

UooK HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND.

Mi}

hence al$o revenled hit free justification^ and gave me nup'tort and rest up-
on and in his promises made to them that receive him as Lord and King ;
which I found my heart lung unwilling to. And this was the ground, or
rather occasion of many horrid temptations of Atheism, Judaism, Familism,
I'opery, Despair, as having sinned the unpardonable sin ; yet the Ijord. at
last, made me yield up my self to his condemning will, as good; which govt
me great peace and quietiuss of heart, through the blood and pity of Christ.
I have met withalikindsoftemptalionstbut after my conversion. I was
never tempted io Arminianism, my own experience so sensibly confuting the
ireedom of will.

§ 4. One Dr. Wilson, having n purpose, with a most noble and pioua
charity, to maintain a lecture, the ministers of Esse-^, in one of iheir
monthly /as<j), propounded unto Mr. Shepard, the Hervice of (hit lecture
to be attended in the great town ofCoggeskal. But the people of EarV$
Coin, on that very day, when the ministers were together in Tarling at
prayer, for the direction of heaven in this matter, so aflcctionately ail-
dressed them, for the benefit of this lecture, that it was granted unto
flitm, fur the thr«ie years ensuing. Mr. Shepard, having proceeded Mas-
itr of Arts at Cambridge, accepted now an invitation to EarVs Coin ; and
at the end of three years the inhabitants were so loath to let him go,
that they gathered among themselves a convenient salary to support him
ii\\\ amongst (hum : though his lecture were gone. At EarVs Coin then
he tarried, and prevailed for the lecture to be settled the next three
years in Tomcester, the place of his nativity ; and for Mr. Stone to be
fimployed in the labour of it : which was to him an extreame satisfaction.

§ 5. Although Mr. Shepard were but a young man, yet there was that
majesty and energy in his preaching, and that holiness in his life, which.
WHS not ordinary. And God made him a rich blessing, not only to Cuhf
but unto all the towns round about ; wherein there were many convert-
ed unto God, and sundr?/ were so aflected unto this instrument of their
conversion, that they afterwards went a thousand leagues to enjoy his
ministry. But when Dr. Laud becomes Bishop cf London, Mr. Shepard
must no longer be preacher at Coin : he was quickly silenced, for none
but that fault, which was then known by the name of Puritanism : and
being silenced, he withdrew to the kind family of the Harlackind€n''a,
wlicre applying himself more exactly to the study of the ceremonies in
the worship of God then imposed, the more he studied them, the less
he liked them. Among other things that signalized him, after his ac-
quaintance with Mr. Harlackindcn, I find one memorable passage re-
ported by Mr. Woodcock, with sufficient evidence, in Mr. Baxter^s book .
about, the worlds of spirits. In the chamber of a toumb house, where
two of Mr. Harlackiaden''s men did use to lie, there was always, at two ,
» clock in the morning, the sound of a great bell tolling. Mr. Harlack-
iiiden would once lie there, between his two servants, to satistie himself
about it. At the usual time came the usual sound, which threw the gen-
tleman into no little consternation. But Mr. Shepard, with some chris-
tians^ h;»ving spent a night in prayer at this place, the noise never gave
any disturbance after.

Once and again after this, finding the resolution of the bishop to ruinc
him, if he did not leave the country, he seasonably received letters of
Mr. Ezekiel Rogers, minister of Rowly, in Yorkshire, encouraging him to
visit those parts, and accept employment in the house of Sir Richard
Darly^ of Buttercrambe, in that county. Driven to follow this counsel,
his journey proved as troublesome in all the winter- rircumstances of it,
Vol. I. 41

■^■'iKwp;

THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENOI.AND. [Hook IU,

ii> a tnivcller could have wished for ; am) nfter h<! htu) fiwnm for hi« liff ,
by misMinK liit« way over some overtlownbrid^iirm, he matlc it late on >S'(M-
urdatj-night, before he ci<mo to York ; but there having refreshed him-
•elf, he went on to lintUrcrnmbe that niffht, whicii wuh ubnutHcvfn milcr
further, where wet, and cold, and late, lie that night arrived.

§ 6. It added unto Iiih discouragcmcntri, when un the lirst night of hi»
arrival, he foand gro!i.t frofnnitir.n prevailing both in the fnmily, and in
the neighbourhood ; but Ood (|uirt<ly made liim iuNtrumentuI to n blr«ii«d
change in both. The profnitent persons thcreuboutu wore soon touched
with the eflicacy of hia tninitlni, aii(l Ium ronfcrcncc ; uiul prayer withjoit-
ing, as well as other eyernnu of lUiiiiion. sticccitdcd in the room of their
former tiildntsttn. liuth Sir tluhard, and all liiM sons, as well as many
Others there, had cause to ble^s (lod, that ever they saw the face of thiK
holy man : and as a testimony oflheir alVection for him, they encouraged
his marriage with tlie knii^ht's ne.nr kinswoman, who upon this account
also enlarged her portion, about the year 1G3I.'. But iiishop A>«/ here,
would not allow him any liberty ior his ministry, without a aubicription,
which his better infonned conscience could not make ; and this occa-
sioned his removal upon a call, unto a town of Northtimherhnd, called
Heddon ; where his labours were prospered nnto the souls of many peo-
ple. One of the houses which he then hired, was haunted with n devil.
M was commonly conceived <ipon the departure of a noted tvitch, who
had been the lormer inhabitant ; and the house was troubled with
■trange noises, till the earnest prayers of this man of God procured a
deliverance from so extream a trouble. But thither also the zeal of the
bishop reached him, and forbad his preaching there any more ; no, nor
durst the more ingenuous Pr. Morton, the bishop of Durham, afford him
any countenance or connivance, inasmuch as the primate o( England hoA
looked with so hard an eye upon him.

§ 7. While he was thus denyed the liberty of preaching the truths of
thegotipel, as much as in the remotest corners of the land, the removal
of Mr. Cotton, Mr. Hooker, Mr. Stone, and Mr. Weld into JVew- England,
had awakened many pious people, all England over, to think of the like
removal ; and several of his friends already gat into JVew-England, as
well as others, that were now going thither, invited him to accompany
them in the condition of that plantation. Wherefore he considered with
himself, thu he could not propose to himself the peaceable exercise of
his ministry in any part ot England ; that his most intimate friends had
many ways expressed their desires of his going with them into another
country ; that many eminent ministers, and excellent christians, had al-
ready transplanted themselves ; that he could not with a safe conscience
comply with the ceremonies, and mixt communion at home ; that it was
his duty to seek the enjoyment of divine ordinances in a further measure,
than was there attainable ; and tlutt it would be n sud thing for him, in
case of mortality, to leave his wife and son, in the midst of the northern
barbarities ; which considerations now disposed him for New-England.
So having preached his farewel sermon at Newcastle, he came from
thence in a disguise to Ipswich, and from thence to Earl's Coin : longing
to be in a country, where he might not lose any more precious time,
through the inconv&uiences of t/Mse<t/emen^

§ 8. Mr. Shepard, and Mr. Norton coming now together unto Yar-
mouth, to tike shipping for New-England, they were much way -laid by
pursevants, employed for the trepanning and entrapping of them ; and
these pursevants had proceeded so far, as by a sum of money to obtain

III.

Book IU.J THK HISTORY OF NEW-JiNGLANDi

d4f

science
it was
ensure,
him, in
northern
ngland.
lie from
longing
s time,

to Yar-

-laid by

ID ; and

obtain

a promite from a boy, belonging to the hoiue, where they iceDteil Mr.
SlupariVi quarters, that he would open the dour fur thcoi, to tuke bipi ut
a ciTlain hour of the night. Hut behoL the watchful providence of God,
over hit fuithiul servantH ! The gracious and serioua words of Mr.
.'ihtpard, in the hearing of this unlucky buy, struck him with horror to
lluiik, that he should be so wicked, ns to betruy such an holy man.
Whereupon the convinced boy, did with tears discover the whole plot,
unto his godly master, who forthwith convoyvd Mr. Shepard, out ot the
ivav, and confounded the Betters tbut would hare culchcd him.

9 9. It was the latter end of the year UJ.'Vt, when tailing was nam dan-
iftrous, that Mr. Sliepard shipped himself, in a ship of about four hundrecL
tun ; comniandcd by a very able seaman, but under a perpetual entail and
.lertet of diiiiislers, nAer some injustice had been used about her. They
iet sail from Ilarwick, upon the edge of the winter ; but uAer several
deliverances from several diHtrenses, within a few hours of their first set*
ting out, the winda drove them again back into Yarmouth road ; where
there arose one of the most fearful storms that evrr was known. They
thought they had lost all their anchors, and with their anchors all their
hopes ; and though thousands from Yarmouth walls did pity them, yet none
could relieve them: however, the compassions of an eminent officer,
then amongst the npectators, were a little distinguished, when he scolT-
ingly said ; Jlsjhr a poor collier (here in the road, he pitied him very much ;
but as fur the Puritans in tiie other ship, he was iiot concerned, their faith
•Middsave them. In this extremity, Mr. Shepard, with all the mariners
in one ^art of the ship, and Mr. Norton, with two hundred passengers in
the other, poured out their most fervent pruyera unto Almighty God ;
whereupon the wind immediately so abated, that the ship stayed ; and
they found, though the upper part of the vessel nil broken, yet their last
imchor unbroken, and themselves delii^cred from so great (f death.

§ 10. The next day, which was the Lord's day, he went ashore to Yar-
mmth, where one o{hi» first works, was to bury his first-barn son} though
he durst not himself be present at the burial, because his danger from the
horrid mancatchers nshure, had less of mercy , and more of horror in it, than
wMt he escaped from the merciless and horrible waves of the sea. Mr.
Bridge of Norwich, now kindly invited him thither ; whither, when ^r*.
came, the worthy Madam Corbet freely offered him a great house of hrr/,
then standing empty at Bastwick ; and there he spent all the winter, in
the company, and with the assistance of Mr. H \ luckinden, n friend that
loved him at all times. In the :}pring he went tip to London ; where by
a removal from the lodgings, which he took at his fir^t arrival thtce, he
again very narrowly escaped those, to xvhom audi a shepherd vhv: uii abom-
ination.

The perils ivherein he was continually, /rrtm his own country-nun, com-
pelled hiojt once more to encounter the perils at set' ; so tluit in .July fol-
lowing, he sailed from Gravesend, in a bottom too decayed and feeblQ
indeed, for such a voyage ; but yet well accommodated with the society
of Mr. Wilson, Mr. Jones, and other christians, which more signifirantly
made good the name of the ship, The Defence. In their first storm, the
vessel sprang a leak, which let in the water faster, than both pumps were
able to turn it out ; a leak eighteen inches long, and an inch wide : but
il was, though with much dilliculty found and stopped, jyst as they were
upon diverting into Ireland for their safety. Being thus again delivered,
they got into .Hew-Kngland, and on Oct. 3, they were set ashore at Bos-

348

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

ton; from whence, wi'.hin a day or two, his friends at Cam&ridge gladly
fetched him.

§ 11. Mr. Hooker, with hia congregation at Cam6r{<fge, now remov-
ing to Hartford, upon Connecticut river, many comfortable dwellings,
and considerable demesnes, were hereby somewhat prepared for sale to
the good people, which Mr. Shepard brought over with him, who were
loth to lose any more of their short lives, by more tedious removals.
Accordingly, taking up their station at Cambridge, Mr. Shepard, with
several of his good people, did on the first of the ensuing Febrtuiry, in
a vast assembly, wherein were present the magistrates of the colony,
^vith the ministers and messengers of the neighbouring churches, keep
a day of prayer ; in the close of which day, they made a confession of
their faith, with a declaration of what regenerating impressions the
grace of God had made upon them ; and then they entred into their
covenant, whereby they became a church ; to which Mr. Cotton, in the
name of the rest, gave the right hand of fellowship. However, the or-
dination of Mr. Sliepard, unto the pastoral charge of this chur(^h, wns
deferred, until another day wherein there was more time to go through
the other solemnities, proper to such a great occasion.

§ 12. Within a year after the gathering of the church at Cambridge,
and the ordaining of Mr. Shepard in that church ; the country was
miserably distracted by a storm of Antinomian and Familistical opinions
then raised. The mother opinion of all the rest was, That a christian
should not fetch any evidence of his good state before God, from the sight
of any inherent qualification in him ; or from ariy conditional promise
made unto such a qualification. From the womb of this fruitful opinion,
and from the countenance hereby given to immediate and unwarranted
revelations, 'tis not easie to relate, how many monsters, worse than
African, arose in these regions of America : but a synod assembled at
Cambridge, whereof Mr. Shepard wa? no small part, most happily
crushed them all. The vigilancy of Mr. Shepard was blessed, not
only for the preservation of his own congregation from the rot of
these opinions, but also for the deliverance of all the flocks, which
our lord had in the wilderness. And it was with a respect unto this
vigilaocy, and the enlightning and powerful ministry of Mr. Shepard,
that when the foundation of a colledge was to be laid, Cambridge rather
than any other place, was pitched upon to be the seat of that happy
seminary : out of which there proceeded many notable preachers, who
were made such, very much by their sitting under Mr. SheparcPs
ministry.

§ 13. It has been a question of some curiosity, what might be the
distemper of Hezekiah whereof he recovered so remarkably, and mi-
raculously ? Now whe.1 I consider the chattering, whereto the sick
prince was brought by Iiis disease, and the cataplasm which -he used of
thine;s discr sive and emollient, I incline, with Bartholinus, to think,
that his distemper might be a malignant quinsie, whereof usually
the sick are either killefj, or (like Hezekiah) cured on the third
day. Such a distemper arrested our holy Shepard, when in the
course of nature, and in the wish of good men, he might have yet
lived with us, fur much more than Mteen years; yea, twice fifteen
more, would scarce have carried him further than the common age of
man. Returning home from a council at Rowly, he fell into a quinsie,
with a symptomatical fever, which suddenly stepped a silver trumpet,
from whence the people of God bad often hoard the joyful sound. AmoDg

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

349

other pRMBges uttered by him, when he lay a dying, he addressed those
that were about him, with these words : Oh love the Lord Jesus very
dearly ; that little part that J have in him, is no small comfort to me now.
tie died, August 25, 1649, when he was forty-three years, and nine
months old ; and lefl behind him of three wives, which he successively
married, three sons, who have since beto the shepherds of three several
hurches in this country.

§ 14. *Tw a gooA saying, JVon Annis sed Factis vivunt mortales. Ac-
cordingly, we will over-again measure the short life of Mr. Shepard, by
the great work which he did in it : in all' of which, the motto of Weber
was the design of our Shepard, Jlutori Vita Vivendum deo.

Now besides the other frequent and constant labours of his ministry,
which -left their impressions on the souls of multitudes, where-ever he
came, the press has preserved some of his labours for the surviving,
generation : and the published composures of this laborious person, are
of two sorts ; namely, the more doctrinal, and the more practical ;
though indeed he was of such a spirit, as always to gain the point, of
mixing both in the same discourses.

§ 15. Among his composures of the more doctrinal sort, the bell seems
tobeboru by his elaborate and judicious treatise, entituled, Theses Sabbo'
tic<E ; wherein he hath handled the morality of the sabbath with a degree
of reason, reading, and religion, which is truly extraordinary. It wa6
Ills observation, If any state would reduce the people under it, unto all sort
of superstition anaimpiety, let them erect a dancing sabbath ; and if the God
of this world would have all professors enjoy a total immunity from the law
of God, and all mxinner of licentiousness allowed them without check of con-
science, let him then make an eVery-day sabbath. And it was an extreme
grief unto his devout soul, to see the extreme ignorance and profaneness,
wherewith many in the English nation decried the sacred observation of
the Lord^s day as a novelty no older than Perkins, and as the stratagem of
a few old disciplinarian Puritans. Wherefore as the most comprehensive
service to be done for the true power of godliness, which he saw would
rise and /a// with the sabbath, he did in these learned theses maintain the
morality, and advise the sanctification of that sacred rest. Having thus man-
ifested his concern for the fourth commandment, he manifested a concern
for the second also ; by a discourse, wherein besides a more full opening
of sundry particulars concerning liturgies, the power of the keys, the mat-
ter of the visible church, there is more largely handled the controversie
concerning the Catholick visible church ; tending to clear up the old way
of Christ, in the churches of New-England. That which inspired him,
with Mr. John Allin of Dedhan, to write this discourse, was especially
a two fold consideration, expressed among other things, in the fair porch
of this book, about the temple of God. One thing that moved bim, was
his desire of reformation ; whereof he says. We freely confess, that we
think the reformation of the church doth not only consist in purging out cor-
rupt worship, and setting up the true, but also in purging the churches from
nuch profaneness and sinfulnrss, as is scandalous to the gospel, and trjxkes
the Lord weary of his own ordinances.

About the way of attaining which reformation, he adds, 'Tts true ;
n'here there is no church-relation, but a people are ready to begin a new
rnnsdluting of churches, reformation is to be sought in the first constittttion :
this is OuT case • But where corrupted churches (such as we conceive
the congregation of England generally to be) are to be reformed; there we
conceive, tJiat such congregations should be called by able ministers unto re-

360

THE HISTOUy OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

pentance for former evils, and confessing and bewailing their sins, renew a
solemn covenant with God, to reform themselves, and to submit unto the dis-
r.ipline of Christ, By which means such as refuse so to do, exclude them-
selves, and others, by the severity of discipline should be purged out, if falling
into sin they remain impenitent in the same.

Another thing that moved him, was his regard for J^ew-England,
whereof his words there must never be forgotten ; and the reason of my
transcribing them, is, because the Church History of my country, is' briefly
comprised in them, saith he, ' Tne Lord knows how many longings and
' pantings of heart have been in many after the Lord Jesus, to see hia go-

* ings in the sanctuary, as the one thing their souls desired and requested of
' him, and that they might dwell in his house for ever : the fruit of which
' prayers, and desires, this liberty of jYewEngland, hath been taken to
' be, and thaniifully received of God. Yea, how many serious consulta-
' tions with one another, and with the faithful ministers, and other emi-
' nent servants of Christ, have been taken about this work, is not unknown
'to some ; and surely all the persons, whose hearts the Lord stirred up
' in this business, were not rash, weak spirited, inconsiderate of what they
' left behind, or of what it was to go into a wilderness. But if we were

' able to recount the singular workings of divine providence, for the

* bringing on this work, to what it is come unto, it would stop the moatl)»
' of all ; whatever many may say or think, we believe after- times m\l
' admire and adore the Lord herein, when all his holy endsy and the ways he
' has used to bring them about, shall appear. Look from one end of the
' heaven unto another, whether the Lord hath assayed to do such a work

* as this, in any nation ! to carry out a people of his own, from so flour-
' ishing a state, to a wilderness so far distant, for such ends, and for sucha
' work ; yea, and in few years hath done for them, as he hath here done,
'for his poor despised people. When we look back and consider, what
' a strange poise of spirit, he hath laid upon many of our hearts, we
' cannot but wonder at our selves, that so 7nany, and some so weak and
' tender, with such cheerfulness and constant resolutions, against so many
< perswasions of friends, and discouragements from the ill report of this
' country, the straits, wants, and trials of God's people in it, yet should

* leave our accommodations, and comforts, forsake our dearest relations,
' parents, brethren, sisters, christian friends and acquaintances ; over-
' look all the dangers and difficulties of the vast ncas, the thoughts where-

* of was a terror to many ; and all this, to go into a wilderness, where wc
' could forecast nothing but care and temptations, only in hopes of enjoying
' Christ in his ordinances, • the fellowship of his people. Was this from
' a stupid sencelesness, or desperate carelessness, what became of us, or

* ours ? or want of natural affections to our dear country, or nearest re-
' lations ? No surely, with what bowels of compassions to our dear
' country ; with what heart-breaking affections to our dear relations, and
' christian friends, many of ns at least, came away, the Lord is witness.

* What shall we say of the singular providence of God, bringing so many
' ship- loads of his people through so many dangers, as upon eagles^ wings,

* with 80 much safety from year to year? the fatherly care of our God,
' in feeding and cloalhing so many in a wilderness, giving such heallhful-

* nets, and great increase of posterity ? What shall we say of the work
'it self of the kingdom of Christ? and the form of a commonwealth
' erected in a wilderness, and in so few years brought to that state, that
' scarce the like can be seen in any of our English colonies, in the richest
' places of this America, after many more years' standing ? That the

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

351

' Lord hath carried the spirits of so many of his people, through all
' their toilsome labours, wants, difficulties, losses, with such a measure
' of cheerfulness and contentment. But above all, we must acknowledge

< the singular pity and mercies of our God, that hath done all this, and

' much more, for a people so unworthy, so sinful, that by murmuriugt of
' many, unfaithfulness in promises, oppressions, and other «vt/s, which arc
' found among us, have so dishonoured his Miijesty, exposed his work
' here to much scandal and obloquy, for which we have cause for ever to

< he ashamed, that the Lord should yet own us, and rather correct us in
' mercy, than cast us ofl' in displeasure, ahd scatter us in this wilderness ;
' which gives us cause to say, ' Who is a God like our God, that pardons
' iniquities, and passes by the transgressions of the remnant of his heritage ^
' even because he delighteth in mercy /'

Having almost written the life of Mr. Shepard ; yea, of many other
\m fellow exiles, in transcribing this passage, i may now go on to add,
that there has been directed now unto the whole English world, a most
cscellent letter of Mr. Shepard, about, the church-membership of children,
und their right to baptism. This letter, like that of the glorious martyr
Philpot, written at the like time, for the like end, recited in Foxe\^ Acts
and Monuments, was written by him, not three months before bis going to
that Lord, whose charj^e had been. For Httle children to be considered as
belonging to the kingdom of heaven : and it was written to one that was'
Ihen wavering about the point of infant-baptism, but hereby recovered
and established. The son of this reverend person published this letter,
with hopes, that it might have a better effect, than the famous letter of
Elijah had upon Jehoram, whinli many think written before his transla^
lion, and concealed until a fit season, afterwards, appeared, for the pre-
senting of it. But I shall conclude the catalogue of his doctrinal tracts,
with the mention of another letter of his, printed at London in the year
1615, under the title of J^'ew-England^s Lamentations, for Old England's
Errors. sf

§ 16. But composures of a more practical sort, were those to the %vri-
ting ivhereof he had a more lively disposition of mind. And amonp;
these, to pass by the sermon of his, printed under the title of. Wine for
(iospel Wantons, or Cautions againsi Spiritual Drunkenness. In which
sermon, about as long as fifty years ago, he uttered his complaint of this
lenour, Do not we see great unaetledness in the covenant of God, walking
'jcilh God at peradvcntures, and hanckeri7igs after the whoredoms of the
'Jiiorld, at this day? and divisions and distractions? nothing done without
division and contention 1 certainly something is amiss ? And to pass by n
treatise of his, printed under the title of, Subjection to Christ, in all his
Ordinances and Appointments, the best means to presej-ve our liberty. There
are especially three of his books, which huvo becu niore considered.
The first and least of those books, is called, The Sincere Convert: which
the author would commonly call, his ragged child ; and once, even after
\t9 fourth edition, wrote unto Mr. Giles Jurmin, thus concerning it : IViat
'ahich is railed. The Sincere Convert : / have not the Look : I once saw it.
It was a collection of such notes in a dark town in England, which one pro-
I'uring of me, published them without my w///, or my privity. I scarce
Kfiofc zuhat it contains, nor do I like to sec n ; considering the majiy ^^Xjnajtt
'jipographica, most absurd ; and the confession of him that published it, that
'icomes out much altered from what was first written. The many injudi-
t^ious readers, which that useful bo ik has found, amons: devout and serious
Pfi"ple,and the woful horrors which have thereby been raised in many

332

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

godly souU, oblige me to add the censure of Mr. Giles Firming whosf
words in bis Real Christian are : ' In short, as to that book, for the gene-
' ral part of it, the book is very solid, quick, and searching, it cuts very
' sharply. It is not a book for an unsound heart to delight in : 1 mean, in
' those places where he agrees, both with the scriptures, and with other

* able divines, and of these makes use ; but for the other passages which
' do not agree with either (as there are some things in it) 1 will let them
' go, as being none of Mr. l^epard's, and not trouble my self with them ;.
' and wish no christian that is tender and sincere, to trouble himself with
*■ them. This I put in, because I hear that book hath caused much trou-

* ble in gracious christians : had it been to christians in name only, unsound

* believers, hypocrites, I should not have troubled my self about it, for I

< know it is not for their tooth.' But this book was followed with a se-
cond and larger, culled, ITie Sound Believer; which in a more distinct,
correct,, and most judicious treatise of evangelical conversion, discovers
the work of >,he Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, in reconciling of a sinner
unto God. And, as in the preface to that book, he gives that reason for
his writing it, ' I considered my weak body, and my short time of sojourn-
' ing here, and that I shall not speak long to children, friends or God's
' precious people ; / am sure not to many in England, to whom I owe al-
' most my whole self, and whom I shall see in this world no more ; I have

< been therefore willing to take the season, that I might leave some part of

* God's precious, iruth on record, that it might speak (Oh ! that it might be
' to the heart) among whom I cannot, and when I shall not be :' so the
next book of his occurring to our notice, is a posthumous one. And that
is a volume in folio, opening and applying the parable of the ten virgim:
hnd handling the dangers incident unto the most Nourishing churches or
christians ; which book is from the author's notes, a transcript of ser-
mons preached at his lecture, from June 1626, to May 1640, Whereol
the venerable names of Greenhil, Calamy, Jackson, Ash, Taylor, have sab-
scribed the testimony. That though a vein of serious, solid and hearty piety
run through all this author^ s works, yet he hath reserved the best wine till the
last. These were the works of that man, whose death in the Lord has
now carried him to a rest from his labours.

§ 17. As he was a very studious person, and a very lively preacher;
and one who therefore took great pains in his preparations, for his pub-
lick labours, which preparations he would usually tinish on Saturday, by
two a clock in the afternoon ; with respect whereunto he once used
these words, God will curse that /nan's labours, that lumbers up and down
ill the world all the ztieek, and then upon Saturday in the afternoon goes tohis
study ; when as God knows, that time were little enough to pray in and weef
in, and get his heart into a fit frame for the duties of the approaching Sab-
Imth. So the character of his daily conversation was a trembling walk
with God. Now to take true measures of his conversation, one of the
best glasses tliatcan be used, is the diary, wherein hedid himself keep
the remembrances of many remarkables that passed betwixt his Godani
himself; who were indeed a siijicient theatre to one another. It would
give some inequality to this part of our church-history, if all the holy me-
moirs left in the private writings of this walker with God, should hert be
transcribed : but 1 will single out from thence a few passages, which
might be more agreeably and profitably exposed unto the world.

§ 18. We will begin with what his eminent successor Mr. Mitchel en-
tred in his own diary, as reported by Mr. Shepard unto himself; which
runs in these Latin terms, Olim Cantabrigiie, Ego florrore 4" Ttnebris of

Book IH.J THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

353

[reacher ;
. his pub-
irday, by
[nee used
ind dowi
roes iohii
and Txeef
thing Sai-
ling wo/fc
le of the
self keep
God and
It would
holy me-
1 hefe be
js, which

jitchel en-

which

tiebris op-

pletm, An ad Mensam Domini accederem, tnaxime Dubitavi ; Tandem
autem accessi utcunq;. Cutnvero Panis ^ Vinwrn jam essent Communican-
da, mihi Exeundem putavi ; tantO. confusione fid oppressus ! Sed Dtus me
ibi retinuit, ac tandem hue me adegit, ut. Licet, ego nihil passim in accipi-
endo Christo ; ad ilium tamen respicercm, ul IHe me prehenderet <$• ad me
veniret. Sfatim, tarn perspicue, sensi Christum Hlucescentem Animo, quam
solem Orientem sentire possum. Hoc ianlopere me evexit, 4" de vita fidei
hac usq; Erudivit, ut non possuin non magnipendire. Mr. MitcheL hsiH
thisof Mr. S/ic/jard, Aug. 13, 1G46.

§ 19. How experimentally acquainted he himself was with ihe practice
and import of the doctrine wherein he chiefly insisted, in his preaching
unto others, will be illustrated from this most edifying record in his diary.

* April 10. I had many thoughts which cp.me in, to press me to give
' up my self to Christ Jesus, which was the dearest thing I had: and I
< saw, that if when I gave my self to Christ, he would give himself to me
« again, it would be a wonderful change ; to have the bottomless Foun-
' tain of all good, thus communicated unto me ! Thus, two or three days,

* I was exercised about this ; and at last, (which was the day wherein I

* fell sick on the sabbath) in my study I was put to a double question ;
' First, Whether Christ would take me, if I gave my self to him ? Then,
' Whether I might take him again upon it ? And so I resolved to seek
' an answer to both, from God in meditation. So on the Saturday, April
'11,1 gave myself to the Lord Jesus, thus. First, I acknowledged all I
' was, or had, was his own ; as David spake of their offerings, I acknow-
' ledged him the owner of all. Secondly, I resigned not only my goods and
' estate, but my child, wife, church and self nnto the Lord ; out of love, as
' being the best and dearest things, which I have. Thirdly, I prized it
' as the greatest mercy, if the Lord will take them ; and so I desired the
' Lord to do it. Fourthly, I desired him to take all for a threefold end ;
' to do with me what he would ; to love me ; to honour himself by me,

* and all mine. Fifthly, Because there is a secret reservation, that the
' Lord shall do all for the soul that giveth up it self to the Lord ;
'but 'tis that God may please mi/ will and love me, and if he doth
' not, then the heart dieth ; hence I gave np my will also, into
' the Lord's hands, to do with it what he please. Sixthly, My many
' whorish lusts I also resigned, but that he would take iAeWrall away.
'And Seventhly, that he would keep me also from all sin and evil.
'Thus, r gave my self unto the Lord ; but then I questioned. Will the
'• Lord take me ? In answer whereto, First, I saw that the Lord desired and
'commanded me \ogive him ,ny ''"art. Secondly, I saw, that this was
^pleasi'ig to him, and the contrary displeasing. Thirdly, I saw, that it
' was ft for him to take me, and to do what he will with me. But then
' 1 questioned, Will the Lord receive, and do me good everlastingly ? Be-
' cause I gave up my friends and the whole church to the Lord also, as I
' did my self ; and will the Lord take all them ? For answer, here I saw
' the great privilege of it, and the wisdom of God in committing some
' men's souls to the care of one godly man of a publick spirit, because
' he, like Moses, commends them, gives them, returns them all to the
' Lord again ; and so a world of good is communicated for his sake. The
'third question was. But might I take the Lord? and my answer was, If
' the Lord did apprehend and take me to himself, then I might take him,

' for I had no other to lav hold on.

Vor. I

#1!^

ftj-

364

THK IIISTOKV of f^EW-ENGLAND. [Book ill

■ § 20. 01' whut thoughts and what /rames he Honietimes had in bis prep-
arations, ibr ihe Lord's tabic, we wiil recite but one expressive meditu-
Uon.

*July 10, 1641. On the evening of this day, before the sacrament, I
'saw it ray duty to sequester my self from :dl other things, for the Lord

* the next day And now I saw my blessedness did not lie in receiving

* of good and comfort from God, but in holding forth the glory of God, and
' his virtves. For 'tis, 1 saw an ama/.ing glorious object, to tee God in the
'creature! God speak. God act, the Deity not being the creature, and

* turned into it ; but tilling of it, shining through it ; to be covered with
' God as with a cloud, or as a glass lanthorn to have his beams penetrate

* through it. JVothing is good but God, and I am no further good than as I

* hold forth God. 'I'he devil overcame Eve to damn her self, by telling
*■ her, that she should be like God. Oh ! that is a glorious thing ! and
' should not 1 be holy, ami be like him ? Moreover, I found my heart drawn

* more sweetly to close with God, thus as my end, and to place my happi-
' ness therein. Also, I saw it was my misery, to hold forth sin and Satan
' and self in my course. And 1 saw one of these two things must be done.
' Now because my soul wanted pleasure, 1 purposed then to hold forlh
' God, and did hope it should be my pleasure so to do, as it would be my
' pain to do otherwise.

§ 21. How watchful he was in the discharge of his ministry, let
this his meditation intimate.

' August 16. I saw, on the sabbath, four evils which attend me in my
' ministry. First, Either the devil treads me do\vn by discouragement and

* shame ; from the sense of the meanness of vyhat I have provided in
' private meditations, and unto this 1 saw also an answer; to wit, that
' every thing sanctitied to do good, its glory is not to be seen in it self,
' but in the Lord's sanctifying of it : or, from an apprehension of the
' unsavouriness of penples^ spirits, or their unreadiness to hear in hot or

* cold times. Secondly, or carelesness possesses me ; arising, because I

* have done rvell, and been enlarged, and have been respected formerly,
' hence it is no such matter, though I be not always alike ; besides, 1
' have a natural dulness and cloudiness of spirit, which does naturally
' prevail. Thirdly, Infirmities and weakness, as want oi light, want oUife,
' want of a spirit of power to deliver what I am affected with for Christ ;
' and hence 1 saw many souls not set forward nor God felt in my min-
' istry. Fourthly, Want of success, when I have done my best. I saw
' these, and that i was to be humbled for these. I saw also many other
' sins, and how the Lord might be angry. And this day, in musing thus,
' I saw, that when I saw God angry, I thought to pacify him by abstain-
' ing from all sin, for the time to come. But theu 1 remembred, First,
' that my righteousness could not satislie, and that this was resting on my
' own righteousness. Secondly, 1 saw I could not do it. lliirdly, I saw
\ righteousness ready made, and already tinished, fit only for that pur-
I pose. And I saw that God's afflicting me for sin, was not that I should
' go and satisfy by reforming, but only be humbled for, and separated
' from sin, being reconciled and made righteous by faith in Christ, which

* I saw a little of that night. This day also I found my heart unto-

* ward, sad and heavy, by musing on the many evils to come ; but I saw,
' if I carried four things in my mind always, I should be comforted. First,
' that in my self, I am a dying condemned wretch, but by Christ recon-
' ciled and alive. Secondly, In my self and in all creatures finding in-
' sitj/iciency, and do rest but God all-sufficient, and enough to me. Third-

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

355

ne in my

ment and
/idled in
jwit, that
it self,
of the
hot 01-
?cause I
rmerly,
eaides, 1
laturally
itof/»/c,
Christ ;
I my min-
I saw
iny other
ling thus,
abstain-
|d, First,
igon my
ly, I saw
that pur-
I should
eparated
it, which
Irt unto-
iit 1 saw,
first,
,t recon-
(ling »'«-
Third-

' /y, Feeble and unable to do any thing my golf ; but in Christ able to

< do all things. Fourthly, Although i enjoyed all these but in part, in
' this world, yet I should have them nil perfectly shortly in heaven ;

< where God will show himHelf fully reconciled, sulhcient and efficient,

< and abolish all sins, and live in me perfectly.

§ 22. How sensible he was of the least fuilings in himself, and how
desirous to mend those failings, maybe gathered from the ensuing brief
meditations.

' December 1. A small thing troubled me. Hence I saw that though

< the Lord had made me that night attain' that part of hvmiliation, that I

' deserved nothing but misery, yet I fell short in this other part ;
' namely, to submit unto God in any crossing providence, or commnnd-
' ment ; but 1 had a spirit soon touched and provoked. 1 saw also, that
' the Lord let sin and Satan prevail there, thai I might see my sin and
be more humbled by it, and so get strength against it.

' .. ....: ,- '..-)!.''■ .,.,:■• ; Again. ■''• '■ "- • ■■

' March 19. I said, as pride was my sin, so shame should be my pan-
' ishment. And many fears I had of Eli's punishment, for not reproving
' sin, when 1 snw it, and that sharply ; and here 1 considered, that the
' Lord may, and doth sometimes make one good man a terrour and dread-
' ful example of outward miseries, that all others may fear that be
- godly, lest his commands should be slighted, as he did Eli.

Once more.

' October 10. When I saw the gifts and honour attending them in
' another, I began to affect such an excellency ; and I saw hereby that
' usually in my ministry, I did aifect an excellency, and hence set upon
' the work : whereas the Lord hereupon humbled me for this, by Ict-
' ting me see this was, a diabolical pride ; and so the Lord made me
' thankful for seeing it and pat me in mind to watch against it.

§ 23. Of how humble and of how publick a spirit be was, we will
inform our selves, especilly from two meditations, which he wrote on such
days of prayer, r.s he was used unto.

The first was this,

' JVov. 3. On a fast day at night, in preparation for the duty, the Lord
' made me sensible of these sins in the churches. 1. Ignorance ofthem-
' selves ; because of secret evils. 2. Of God ; because most men were
' full of dark and doubtful consciences. 3. Not caring for Christ, dearly,
'only. 4. Neglect of duties ; because of our place of security. 5. Stand-
'ing against all means, because we grow not better. G. Earthlincss;
' because we long not to be with Christ. And I saw sin, as my greatest
'evil, because I saw my self was not better than God. 1 was vile, but he
' was good only, whom my sin did cross ; and I saw what cause I had'
' to loath my self, and not to seek honour unto my self. Will any desire
' his dunghill to be commended 1 will he grieve, if it be not ? if he
'judge so indeed of it. So my heart began to fall off from it ; and the
' Lord also gave me some glimpse of my self, and a good day and time it
* was to me .

' On the end of the/asf , \ first went unto God, 1 rested upon him as suffi-
'cient ; secondly, waited on him as efficient ; and said, Now Lord, do for
'thy churches and help in mercy ! In the beginning of the day, I began to
' consider, zvhcthor all the country did not fare the worse for my sins ? t

THE HISTORY OF NEW-LNGLAND. [Kook ill.

' saw it was so, and this wao an liumbling thought to me ; and 1 thought,

* it'evcry one in particulur, thought so and was humbled, it would do well.
' I consider also, that if repentance turn away judgments, then, if thequea-
' tion be, Who they are that bring judgments ? the answer would be. They
' that think their sim so small as thai God is not angry with them at all.

Tlte second was this.

April 4. Preparing for -a fast,
' May not I be the cause of the churcKs sorrows, which are renewed
' upon us ? for, what have the sheep done ?

* 1. My heart has been long lying out from the Lord. The LordyJnt

* sent a terrible storm at sea, to awaken me ; and the deliverance from it

* was so sweet, that I could not but think my life after that, should be
*■ only heavenly, as being pulled from an apparent death to live a new life.
' Then, immediately upon this my child was taken away from me ; my
'■firsi-born, which made me remember, how bitter it was to cross the
' Lord's love. Thirdly, 1 set my face to JVew- England, where consider-
' ing the liberties of God's house, 1 resolved and thought it fit to be wholly

* for the Lord, in all manner of holiness, at bed, at board, every where.
' Fouttliy, Then the Lord took my dear wife from me, and this made me
' resolve to delight no more in creatures, but in the Lord, and to seek
' him. Fifthly, The Lord then tbreatned blindness to my child ; and this

* made God's will afflicting sweet to me, but much more commanding

< and promising : and then I could do his will, and leave those things to
' hiujHclf. But oh ! how is my gold become dim ? and how little have I

* answered the Lord \ considering my ship resolutions. I have wanted
' remembrance, heart and strength or will to do any of these things.

* And therefore, 1 have not cause to blame the Lord ; for he has per-
' swaded my heart to this ; but my own concupiscence and vile nature,

< which Lord ! that I might mourn for ! that thou mayst restore comforts

* to mc ! Apostacy from God is grievous, though it be in a little degree ;

< to serve Satan without promise ! to forsake the Lord against promih>' *

< What evil have 1 found in the Lord ? This brings more disgrace upon
« the Lord, than if there had never been any coming to him.

< II. The people committed to me : they are not pitied so much nor

* prayed lor, nor visited, as ought to hav-e been j nor have 1 shewed so

* much love unto them.

< III. The family, I have not edified nor instructed, nor taken all occa-
' sions of speech with them.

' IV. The gospel, I have preached, has not been seen in its glory ; not
' believed, not affecting.

•V. Not seeking to Christ for supply ; so that all hath been dead

* works, and fruit o( pride, walking daily without Christ, and without ap-

* proving my self unto him. And hence, though I do his work, I don't

* mind him in it ; His command. His presence, nor yet endeavour to

* grow somewhat every day.

* My not lamenting the falls of professors, and the condition of the
' country, who are not indeed the glory of God in the world, nor the holy

* people. Is it not hence, that many pillars in the church have fallen, as
'if the Lord would /lot betrust such precious vessels to my care ? and

< hath not the sorrow lain upon me? and hence universal mortality?
•When HezekialCs heart was lifted up, then wra//t came not only on him?

< J)ut on all the rest :

lOK 111.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

J57

.bought,
do well,
ae ques-
}e, They
tall.

renewed

Lord/rj(
:e from it
bould be
I new life.
me ; my
cross the
coDsider-
be wholly
py where.
} made me
id to seek
; and this
mtnanding
! things to
;tle have I
te wanted
'e things,
has per-
e nature,
comfork
lie degree ;
promih*' '
race upon

much nor
ihewed so

!D all occa>

rlory ; not

been dead
lithout ap-
Vk, 1 don't
leavour to

|0D of the
or the holy
> fallen, as
pare? and
nortality ?
■y en hiO)

' And I have now had a long lickneis^ at if the Lord would delight no
■ more in me to use me. Oh ! my God, who thall be like to thee inpatdon-
' ing and subduing mine iniquities.

Behold, reader, the language of an holy soul !

But 1 will now take my leave of Mr. Shepurdh memory, with one dis-
tick, in the funeral elegy, which Mr. Peter bulkly made on him : a com-
prehensive.

'.<-' EPITAPH.

J^ominis, Officiiq; fuit Concordia Dvhis;
"' > Officio Pastor Nomine Pastor er at. «

- v:.^

CHAPTER VI.

Prudentius. The Life of Mr. Peter Prudden, and several other Di-
vines, famous in the colony of JVew- Haven.

That greatest of peace-makers, the Son of God, has assured us, BlesS'
ed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God. I am
dure then, 'tis a blessed child of God, whose name is now before us ;
{Prudden shall we call him ? or, Prudevt,) who besides his other excel-
lent qualities, was noted for a singular faculty to sweeten, compose and
qualify exasperated spirits, and stop or heal all contentions. Whence it
was that his town of Milford enjoyed peace with truth all his days, not-
withstanding some dispositions to variance, which afterwards broke forth
among them.

God had marvelloiisly blessed his ministry in England, unto many
about Herefordshire, and near Wales ; from whence when he came into
Stw-England, there came therefore many considerable persons with
him.

At their arrival in this country, they were so mindful of their business
here, that they gathered churches, before the* had erected houses, for
ihe churches to meet in. There were then two famous c/iurcAcs gath-
ered at JVew-Haven ; gathered in two days, one following upon the oth-
er ; Mr. Davenporfs and Mr. Prudden'' s • and this with one singular-
circumstance, that H mighty barn was the place, wherein the duties of
that solemnity were attended. Our glorious Lord Jesus Christ himself
being horn in a stable, and laid in one of those moveable and four-squar-
ed little vessels wherein they brought meat unto the cattel, it was the
more allowable, that a church, which is the mystical body of that Lord,
should thus be born in a harn. And in this translation, I behold our Lord,
'siithhisfan in his hand, purging his floor, and gathering her reheat into thff
garner.

That holy man, Mr. Philip Henry, being reproached by his persecu-
tors, that his meeting place had been a barn, pleasantly answered, JN'o
new thing, to turn a threshing-floor into a temple. So did our christians
at New-Haven.

The next year Mr. Prudden, with his church, removed nnto Milford ;
where he lived many years an example of piety, gravity.and bi)i!ino; zeal,
"gainst the growing evils of the times.

,)60 , THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. fBooK HI.

And though he had n numcrouH family, yet such tvaa his diicretion, thiit
without much distraction, he provided comfortably for them, notwith-
standing the difficult circumstances, wherewith an infant-plantation wax
encumbred.

He continued an able and faithful servant of the churches, until about
the Jifty-sixth year of his own age, and ihc fifty sixth of the present ago ;
when his death was felt by the colony as i\ie fall of a pillar, which mad^,
>he whole fabrick to shake.

Like that ofPiccart, now let our Prudden lie under this

■ EPITAPH. !,, .

Dogmate non taniumfuit Jluditoribus Idem
Excmplo in Vitd ; jam quoque morte prvcit.

But our pen having flown as far off as the colony of JVcw-Haven, it may
not return, without some remarks and memoirs, of three other worthy
divines, that were sometimes famous in that colony. The reader must
excuse my ignorance of the tirst circumstances, if he find them to be horn
men in our history.

\it Mr. BtACKMAN, > k . , .'.^.4(

Mr. PlERSON,

Mr. Denton.

(. ».,

».

: It

: . CHAPTER VH. ; ., >^

The Life of Mr. Adah Blackman. •,,. , •

Among those believers who first enjoyed the name ofcliristians, there
were several famous teachers, whereof one (^Acts xiii. 1.) had the name of
A'Vger. And in the primitive churches oi New -En gland also, there was
among our famous teacher-i^ a good man, who wore the same sir-name,
this was our Mr. Blackman, concerning whom, none but a Romanist
would have used that rule : .

Hie JViger est, hunc tu Romans, caveto.

For he was highly esteemed in the protestant country, where he spent
the latter days of his life.

He was a useful preacher of the gospel, first in Leicestershire, then in
Derbyshire : but coming to .\czi<. England, from the storm that began to
look black upon him, he u;)s attended with a desirable company of the
faithful, who said unto him, Entrent xis not to leave you, or to return from
following after yoti : for whither you go, we will go ; and your God shall
be our God.

JVew-F^ngland having received this holy man, who notwithstanding his
name, was for his holiness, J JVazarite purer than snow, whiter than
milk. Tt was first at Guilford, and afterwards at Stratford, that he cm-
ployed his talents ; and if a famous modern author be known by the name
of Jt/amws Adamandiis, our .Ham Blackman, was by the affections of his
people so likewise called.

Book HI. J THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

35»

It was hi* opinion, thnt r8 for our bodies, th«« for our spirils also, Ci«
bus simplex eat Optimus : and accordingly he studied plain preaching,
which was entertained by hiH people with a pritfitnble hearing. And an
Luther \\oa\A Hay, he ia the ablest preacher, Qui pneriltUr, Trivialiter,
Populariter , simpliriHsime docet : so our Hooker, for the sake of the sa-
cred and solid simplicity, in the diricourses of this worthy man, would
Hiiy, If I might have my choice, I would choose to live and die undir Mr.
Bluckman*M ministry.

There was u great person among the .reformers in Germany, who ' ,id
almost the same name with our Hlackman; that was Mrlancthon, and in-
deed this good person was a Melancihon, among ihe reformers o{ Neu-
Haven ; in this happier than he, thnt his lot was casi among a pious peo-
ple, who did not administer so frequent occasiont as the Germans did for
the complaint, Thai old Adam mas ton hard for his young name sake.

For a close, I may apply to him the ingenious epitaph o( Deza upon

Mclanhthon.

- .1' , - -

Cut Nivcus toto Regnabat pectore Candor ;
' " ' Unnmcui Crelum, cura laborqitefuit :

M'um Rugitus, <jud sit dictus Ratione Melancthon ?
Scilicet Euxinum, quA Ratione vacant.

[For this is a well known sen, called Euxine, or harhoroua, because
there are no good harbors in it.]

CHAPTER VIII.
The LiFt of Mr. Abraham Pierson.

It is reported by Pliny, and perhaps 'tis but a Plinyism, that there is
;i fish called Lucerna, whose tongue doth shine like a torch, if it be a fa-
ble, yet let the tongue of a minister be the moral of that fable ; now such
nn illuminating tongue, was that of our Pierson.

He was a Yorkshire man, and coming to JVevu-England, he became a
member of the church at Boston ; but afterwards thus employed, to-
wards the year 1640. The inhabitants of Lyn, straitned at home, look-
pd out for a new plantation ; so going to Long-Island, they agreed both
with the Lord Starling''s agent, and with the Indian proprietors, for a
situation at the west-end of that island : where the Dutch gave them such
disturbance, that they deserted their place for another at the east-end of
it. Proceeding in their plantation, by the accession of near an hundred
families, they called Mr. Pierson to go thither with them ; who with
seven or eight more of their company, regularly incorporated themselves
into a church state before their going ; the whole company also entring
at the same time, with the advice of the government of the Massachuset-
Bay, into a civil combination, for the maintaining government among
themselves. Thus was there setled a church at Southampton, under the
pastoral charge of this worthy man ; where he did with a laudable dili-
:^ence undergo two of the three hard labors, Docentis and Regentis, to
make it become (what Paradise was called.) an island of the innocent.

It was afterward found necessary for this church to be divided Up-
'^n which occasion Mr. Pierson referring his case to council, his removal

360

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111

was directed unto Brainford, over upon the main, and Mr. Fordham came
to flcrve, and to feed that part of the flock, which wat leA at Southamp-
ton; but where-ever he came, he shone.

He left behind him the chaructcr of a pious and prudent man ; and n
true child of Abraham, now safely lodged in Sinu-Abraha.

EIMTAPniUM.

' Terris discensit, anspiratif Gaudia cceli,

Piersonus Patriam scandit ad Asfra tuam.

CHAPTER IX.
The Life of Mr. Richard Denton.

Tne apostle describing the/a/se mtm'jters of those primitive times, he
calls them, clouds without rvater, carried about of winds. As for the trwt
ministers of our primitive limes, thej? were indeed carried about of winds;
though not the winds of strange doctrines; yet the winds of hard suffer-
ingSy did carry them as far as from Europe into America ; the hurricano's
of persecution, whereon doubtless the prince of the power of the air had
his influence, drove the heavenly clouds, from one part of that heaven,
the church, unto another. But they were not clouds without water,
where they came ; they came with shofwers of blessing, and rained very
gracious impression? upon the vineyard of the Lord.

Among these clouds was ovt pious and learned Mr. Richard Denton, a
Yorkshire man, who having watered Halifax in England, with his fruit-
ful ministry, was by a tempest then hurried into JVew-England, where
first at Weathersfield, and then at Stamford, his doctrine dropt as the rain,
his speech distilled as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and
as the showers upon the grass.

Though he were a little man, yet he had a great soul ; his well-accom-
plished mind, in his lesser body, was an Iliad in a nut-shell.

I think he was blind of one eye ; nevertheless he was not the least
amongthe seers of our Israel; he saw a very considerable proportion of
those things which eye hath not seen.

He was far from cloudy in his conceptions and principles of divinity ;
whereof he wrote a system, entitnled, Soliloquia Sacra ; so accurately,
considering the fourfold state of man, in his, I. Created Purity. 11.
Contracted Deformity. III. Restored Beauty. IV. Coelestial G/orf
That judicious persons, who have seen it, very much lament the church-
es being so much deprived of it.

At length he got into heaven beyond clouds, and so beyond storms;
waiting the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the clouds of heaven, when
he will have his reward among the saints,

EPITAPHIUM.

Hie Jacet, iffruitur Tranquilla sede RichardiH
.' Dentonus, cujus Fama perennis erit.

Incolajam cceli velut Astra micantia fulget, '-' -> '''-i , -■; ••>>
Qui mvhis Fidei Liimina darn dedit.

nooK IJI.] THE HISTOUY OF NllW-KNOLAND. 301

.... ,

CIIAFTER X.

The Life of Mr. Pctcr Bui.ki.v.

Ipse Aipectui Doniviri deUctut, Sitn.

§ I. It liaH bneri a matter ofHOuic reflection, Unit among tlie pretended
»ucce«8or» ofSaint Peter, there never was niiy Pope, tl)at would pretend
unto the name of /*e/er ; hut ifaii) of them luul been christened by tlial
name at the/on^ they aftervvarda changed it, tvhen they came unto the
chair. No doubt, as Raphael. UrUne, the famouH painter, being taxed,
for making tiic face in the picture ot Peter tuo red, replied, He did it on
purpose, that he might rc|iresent the apONtle blushing in heaven, to see
what succcsaurs he had on earth: go these infamous apostates, might
bhish to hear themselves called I'cter, while they are conscious UDtu
themselves, of their being strangers to all the vcrtues of that great apos-
tic But the denomination of Pctcr, might hi.> with an everlasting agrec-
abloneas claimed by our eminent Uulkly, who, according to the spirit and
rounsel of Peter, fed the flock of Gad among uj, taking the oversight thereof,
not by constraint , but mill ingly ; not for filthy lucre, Lut if a willing mind.

§ 2. He «vas descended of an honourable family, in Bedfordshire ;
where for many successive generations, the names o( Edward and Peter,
were alternatively worn by the heirs of the family. His father was
Edward Bulkly, D. D. a faithful minister of the gospel ; the same whom we
fiiui making a supplement unto the last volume of our books of martyrs.
He was born at Woodhil, (or Odel) in Bedford-shire, January 31st, 1682.

His education was answerable unto his original ; it was learned, it was
acnteel, and which was the top of all, it was very pious: at length it made
him a Batchellor of Divinity, and Fellow of Saint John's Colleilge in
Cambridge : the colledge whereinlo he had been admitted, about the
'ixteenth year of his age ; and it was while he was but a junior batchellor
ilmt he was chosen a fellow.

§3. When he came abroad in the world, a good benclke befel him,
aildcd unto the estate of a gentleman, left iiim by bis father ; whom
he succeeded in his ministry, at the place of his nativity ; whicli one
would imagine temptations enough to keep him out of a wilderness.

Nevertheless, the concern ivhich his renewed soid had for the pure
mrship of our Lord Jesus Cijrist, and for the planting of evangelical,
'hunches to exercise that worship, caused him to leave and sell all, in
hopes of gaining the pearl of great price, among those that first peo-
pled Ncw-Hngland, upon those glorious ends. It was not long that he
continued in conformity to the ceremonies of the Church of England ;
liut tlie '^ood Bii^hop of Lincoln connived at his nmi-conformity (as he
lid at iiis fcither's,) and he lived an unmolested nun-conformist, until he
had been three prentice-ships of years in his ministry. Towards the
hiUcr end of this time, his mini.sliy had a nutable success, in the con-
version of many uuto God ; and this was one occasion of a latter end
I'or this time. \\ [\g\\ S'w Kathanael Brent WA'i Arch-Bishop Laud's ixea-
';ral, as Arch-Bishop Laud was another^s, complaints were made against
Air. Bulkly, for his con-conformity, and he was therefore silenced,

§ 4. To jYcw-England he therefore came, in the year 1635 ; and
there having been for a while, it Cambridge, he carried a good num-
ber of planters with him, up further into the n-nods, where they

Vol. 1.

'nil: iiiSTora of new-england, [Book hi.

gathered the tewlj'th church, then (ortned in the colony, and called the
town by the natue of Concord,

Here he Lnricd a great estate, while he raised one still, for almost
every person wlioin he cm|ilo)'e(l in the atlairs of hi» husbandry. He
had many, and godly ^^^rvant8, whom after they had lived with him a
iit number of years, he f<liU dismissed with bestowing farms upon them,
and so took others after the like manner, to succeed them in f/jei'r ser-
vice, and his kindnci<s. Thus he cast his bread both upon the waters,
and into the earth, not expecting tiie return of this his charity to a re-
ligions })lantation, until after inunij daijs.

§ 5. He was a most oxcoiient scholar, a very well-read person, and one,

who in his advice to young students, gave demonstrations, that he knew

what would go to make n scholar. But it being essential unto a scholar, to

love a scholar, so did he ; and in token thereof, endowed the library of

•i/nruarti-Colledge, with no small part of his own.

And he was therewithal a most exalted christian ; full of those devo-
tions, which acconjpany -A conversation in heaven; especially, so an exuct
a sabbath keeper, that if at any time he had been asked, ifhelhcr he had
strictly kept the sabbath? he would have replied, Ckristianus sum, inter-
mittere nan paisum. And conscientious even to a degree of scrvpiilosity.
That scrujmlosity appeared particularly in his avoiding all nore/ites of ap-
parel, and the chitting of hair so close, thai of all the famous name-sakes
he had in the v*'orl(l, he could have least born the sir-name of that well
known author, I'etrus Crinitus.

§ 6. It was observed, that his neighbours hardly ever came into his
company, but whatever business he had been talking of, he would let fall
.t^ome holy, serious, divine, and useful sentences upon them, e'er they
parted : an example many ways worthy to be imitated, by every one that
is called, a minister tf the gospel.

In hir> ministry ho was another Farel, Quo JVemo tonuit fortius ; he wa?
very laborious, and hecause he was through some intirmities of body,
not so able to visit hir' llock, and instruct them from house to house, he
added unto his oilier publick labours on the Lord's days, that of constant
( atochisins; ; wherein, after all the unmarried people had answered, all
tlu! people of the whole assembly were edified, by his expositions and
applications.

His first sermon was on Rom. i. 16. I am not ashamed of the gospel
of Christ. At Odel he preached on part of the prophecy of Isaiah, and
j)art of /ona/i, and a great part of the gospel of Matthew, and of Luke;
ihc Epistleti to the Philippiuns, and of Peter and of Jude ; besides ma-
ny other scriptures. At Concord he preached over the illustrious
truths, about tht person, the natures, the offices of Christ. [What would
he have said, if hu had lived unto this evil day, when 'tis counted good
advice for a minister of the gospel, not to preach much on the person of
Christ '/] the greatest part of the book of Psalms ; the conversion oiZachr-
ns; /'aw/'s commission, iu ^c<sxxvi. 18. His death found him handhng
the commandments ; and John xvi. 7, 8, 9. He exponnded Mr Perkins
liis six principles, whereto he added a seventh, and examined the young
people, what they uriderstood and remembered of his exposition.

Moreover, by a sort of winning, and yet prudent/(im!.';an7j/, he drew
jit;rsons of all ages in his congregation to comc and sit with him, when he
could not go and sit with them ; whereby he had opportunity to do (h«
part of a faithful pastor, in considering the slate of his flock.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF ^EVV-ENGLAND.

Siirli was liis pious con(l);ct Unit he was luul much in reverence by his
i)co[»lo ; ami u'hiMi ut uny tinrn;, lie was either hasty in speaking to such
IS wore about liitn, whcr lo hi' was tlisposed by his bodily paiiia, or se-
vere in preachinff ajj[aiiist f^nme thiiijfs, that others thought were no way
moinentous, whereto the gre:it cxaclnoss of his piety inclined him; yet
those little atingineisci took not away the interest wkich he hafl in theii*
hearts ; they knowinq him to be a just man, and an holy, observed him.

And the observance which his own people had for him, was also paid
Iiini from all sorts of people throughout the land ; hut especially from
'.he ministers of the country, who would still address him as a father, »
prophet, a counsellor, on all occasions

§ 8. Upon hi» importunate pressing a piece of charity, disagreeable to
the will of the ruling elder, there was occasioned an unhappy discord in
the church of Concord ; which yet was at hivt healed, by their calling iff
the help of a council, nnd the ruling cider's abdication. Of the tempta-
tions which occurred on these occasions), Mr. Bulk/y would say. He there'
kj came, 1. To knozt, more of God. 2. To know more tf himself . 3. Ttf
'■mw more of men. Peace being thus restored, the small things in the 06-
finiiUig of the church there, increased in the hands of their faithful Bulkly,
until he was translated into the regions, which afford nothing \ ut concord
;ind glory ; leaving his well-fed fluck in the ^vildernets, unto the pastoral
care of his worthy son Mr. Edward Bulkly.

§ 9. It is remarked, that a man^i whole religion is according to his ac-
fiaintance with the new covenant. If then, any person would know what
Mr. Peter Bulkly was, let him read his judicious atid savory treatise of the
gospel covenant ; which has pass^4 thrxjugh several editions, with much
acceptance among the people of God. Quickly after his first coming in-
to this country, he preached many sermons on Zech. ix. 11. The blood of
thy covenant. The importunity of his congregation prevailed with him,
to preach this doctrine of the covenant over again in his lectures, and fit
it for the press. He did accordingly ; and of that book the well-known
Mr. Shcpard of Cambridge, has given th"s testimony. The church of God
is bound to bless God, for the holy, judicious, and learned labours, of thin
(i^ed, experienced, nnd precious servant of Jesus Christ, who hath taken
much pains to discover, and that not in TiHirds and allegories, but in the
demonstration and evidence of the .spirit, the great mystery of godliness rorapt
up ill the covenant ; and hath now fully opened many knotty questio7is con-
cerning the same, which happily have not been orouglit so full to light until
now ; which cannot but be of singular and seasonable use to prevent aposta-
tes from the simplicity of the covenant and gospel of Christ.

^ 10. Having oftercd this particular account of a hook, which is to be
recjconed among t\ie first-born i)t' /^exv- England, I may not forbear doing
my (jountry the service of cxti-acting from it one paragraph, wiiich wr-
iLMy reckon the dying charge of a .Moses to an Israel in a wilderness,
' And thou, New-England, whicii art oxalt<ul in priviledges of the gos-
pel, above many other people, know thou the time of thy visitation, and
• consider the great things the Lord hath done for thee. The gospel hath
•free passafj^e in all plaris where thou dwellcat ; Oh! that it might be
■ j^lori/ii'd also by thco. ! Thou enjoycst many faithful witnesses, which
' have testified tiuto thee, the gospel of the grace <f God. Thou hast
' many bright stars shining in thy firmament, to give thee the kno-ddedge
' of salvation from on high, to gtiide thy feet in the way of peace. l>e not
' liiirli- minded, because of thy priviledges, but/eor because of thy danger.
The more thou hast cointnitjled unto thee, the more thon must account

■ V-
r

3G4

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLANU. [Book HI.

* for. No people^ s account will be heavier than thine, iflhon do not walk

* worthy of the means of thy salvation. The Lord looks for more from
' thcc, than from other people, more zeal for God, more love to his truth,
' mote justice and equity in thy ways : thou shouldest be a special pco-
' pie, an only people, none like thee in all the earth. Oh ! be so, in
' loving the gospel, and the ministers of it, having them in singular love
'fur their work''s sake.

' Glorifie thou the word of the Lord, which has glorified thee. Take
' heed, least for neglect of either, God remove thy candlestick out of the

* midst of thee ; lest being now, as a city upon an hill, which many seek
' unto, thou be left like a beacon upon the top of a mountain, desolate and
' forsaken. If we walk unworthy of the gospel brought unto us, the

* greater onr mercy hath been, in the enjoying of it, the greater will our
'judgment be for the contempt.'

§ 11. His first wife was the daughter of Mr. Thomas Men, oi Gold-
ington : a most vertuous gentlewoman, whose nephew was the Lord
Mayor of London, Sir Thomas Allen. I.{y her he had nine sons, and two
dnughtiMs. After her death, he lived eight years a widdower, and then
married a vertuous daughter of Sir Richard Chitrn'ood ; by whom he
had three sons, and one daughter.

Age at length creeping on him, he grow mucii afraid of oiit-living his
work; and his fear he thus expressed, in a sliorl £!piVram, composed
March 26, 1G57. «#

' • ' Pigra saiectulis jam vsnit inulilis wtas, *•

JVil aliud nunc sum fjv am fere poinlus incrs. • \' ,

Da tamen, JUme Deus, dum vivam, vivcre landi >

.lEternum sancti Nomines us(fue Tui. *

Ke vivam [moriar jtotius !) nil utile Agendo : y

•*' •' .' Finiat opto magis,miirs properata Dies. * T--.-"'I.*"iW''
f^'el doceam in Sancto Cirtu tua verba salutis,
' ' ■' Cwlestive canam Cantica sacra Choro.
''■'"I '■ I Seu vixutm, moriarve, tmts sim, Christc, quoduni • * ■ ' - '.*,s*«
Dcbita Vita mea est, dehifa morsque tibi. ■'■■■

He was ill, as well as old, when he writ these verses ; but God
granted him his desire. He recovered, and preached near two years
after this, and then expired, .Warc/t 9, 1658-9, in the seventy-seventh
year of his age.

§ 12. The Epigram newly mentioned, invites me to remember, that
he had a competently good stroke at Latin poetry ; and even in his old
age, affected sometimes to itnprove it. Many ot his composure are
yet in our hands. One was written on his birth-day, June 31st, H!;Vl.

Ultimus iste Dies Menses, mihi primus habctur ; "• ->

' Quo capi liicem cernerc primus erat. '<*■'■■'

■ - >■ Septuaginta duos Annas exinde peregi. >■"
' "■',' Atque tot Annorum est Ultimns isle Dies.

Prvetcrito Veteri jam nunc novus incipit Annus '

'^^•'- O utiuam tnihi sit niensnova, vita noi^a. ^i

Another of them was v,iitten on an Earthquake, Oct. 29, 16513.

Ecce Dei rata p llus puvifucla ireiniscit, • ■ r

Terra 'i .••• ,7.1,/ts mota est sedibus ipsa suis.

■•■»fs''

■i-'K-

Book III. J THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

J^utant Fulcra Orbis, mundi compago solut&est ;"

Ex vultu frati conlremit ille Dei.
Coniremuit tellus, imia concussa Cavernis,

Pondcribus quanquam sit gravis ilia suis.
Evomit ore putrea magno cwnmurmure vento^,

Quos in visccribus clauserat ante suis.
Ipsa (remit Tellus scchrum gravitate virnrwn ,

Sub sceleris nostri pondere Terra tremit.
.'» nos quam duri ! Sunt ferrea pectora nobis

JVon ctenim geinimus cuui gemit otnne solum.
Qtti's te non 7nctuit, meluit quern Fabrica mundi

Queinquc iiment cwli, terruque tota tremit
Motibus a Tantis nunc tandem terra quiescat,

Sed cessent potius crimina nostra precor.

The rest we will bury with him, under tbia

., ,v • ^ • EPITAPH.

Obiit jam qui jamdudum ohierat Bulklaeus ;
Nee Patriam ille mutavit, nee pena vitam :
■ • Ed ivity quo ire consueverut, 4' ubijam erat.

:,%^-^^*i»

CHAPTER. XI. .

The Like of Mr. Ralph Partridge.

When David was driven from his friends into the wilderness, hti ma»j«
this pathetical representation of his condition, ^Twas as when one dolh
hunt a Partridge in the mountains. Among the many worthy persoi s
who were persecuted into nn American wilderness, for their fidelity (.)
the ecclesiastical kingdom of our true David, there was one that bore
the natne, as well as the state, of an hunted partridge. What befel him,
was, as Bcde saHh of what was done by Foslix, Juxta notninis st... 'acra-
mentum.

This was Mr. Ralph Partridge, who for no fault but the delicacy of his
i^ood spirit, being distressed by the ecclesiastical setters, had no defence,
neither of-bcak, nor claw, but -a flight over the ocean.

The place where he took covert, was the colony of Plymouth, and the
town of Duxbury in that colony.

This Partridge had not only the innocency of the dove, conspicuous in
his blameless and pious life, which made him very acceptable in his
conversation ; but also the loftiness of an eagle, in the great soar of his in-
tellectual abilities. There are some interpreters, who understanding
'hmch (ifficers by the living creatures, in the fourth chapter of the JJpoc-
"^ypse, will have the ttaclier to be intended by the eagle there, for his
quick insight into remote and hidden things. Tlie church of Duxbury
!iM such an eagle in their Partridge, when they enjoyed such ateachcr.

By the same token, wheruthe Platform of Church- Discipline was to be
'Composed, the Synod at Cambridge appointed three persons to draw up
''•!ich of them, a model of church- government, according to the "d'onl of God,
into the end. tliat out of those, the synod might form what should be

366

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

tBooK III

found most agreeable ; which three persons were Mr. Cotton, and Mr.
.Mather, and Mr. Parlridgc. So that in the opinion of'that reverewl as-
sembly, this person did not couie f:ir behind the first three, for some of
his accomplishments.

After he had been forty years a faithful and painful preacher of tlic
i^ospcl, rarely, if ever, in all that while interrupted in his work, by any
hodily sickness, he died in a good old age about the year 1658.

There was one singular instance of a weaned spti-it, whereby he sig-
nalized niuiov^If unto the churches of God. That was this: there was ;i
time, when most of the ministers in the colony oi' Plymouth, left Ihe co-
lony, upon the discouragement which the want of a competent mainten
ance among the needy and froward inhabitants, gave unto them. Never-
theless Mr. Partridge was, notwithstanding the paucity and the puvertij
of his congregation, so afraid of being any thing that looked like a bird
wandring from his nest, that he remained wilh his poor people, till '.<:
took wing to become a bird of paradise, along with the winged seraphim.
of heaven. . ,; ,<•

, . . ^. El'lTAPHlUM.

, ., Avolavit! ^.

' *' \ i

CHAPTER XIl. >v

f suites. The Life of Mr. Henky DuNSTEK. '

Notwithstanding the veneration \vhich we pay to the Jiames 'aui,
:x>orks of those reverend men, whom we call the fathers, yet even the Ro-
man Catholirks themselves confess, that those/a«/iers were not infallible,
.indradius, among otiiers, in his defence of the council o( Trent, has this
passage, There can be nothing devised more stiperstitious, than to count all
(hings delivered by the fathers, divine oracles. And, indeed, it is pliiiii
enough, that those excellent men, were not without errors and frailties.
of which, 1 hope, it will not he the part of a cliam to take some liltli!
notice. Thus Jeroin had his erroneous opinion o{ Peter'' s being unjustly
reprehended ; and was fearfully asleep in the other matters, wherein he
oj>posed Vigilantius. Augustin was for admitting the iV(/an(s of christians
unto the Lord's supper : and al.ts ! how lawchoi Babylon is there in his
host hook, De Civitate Dei. Hilary dcnici' the soul- sorrows of our Lord
in his passion, if yon will believe the report of Bcllarmine. Clemens Alex-
andrinus aflirmed, that our Lord neither eat nor drank from the necessi-
ties of human life ; and that he and his apostles after tiieir death, preached
unto the damned in hell, of whom there were many converted. Origen
taught many things contrary unto the true faith, and frequently con-
founded the scriptures with false expositions. TerluUian fell into Mon-
tanisin, and forbad all second marriages. How little agreement was there
between Epiphonins and Chrysostom, Iremms and Victor, Cornclim uni!
Cyprian? And indeed, that I may draw ne;ir to my present |nirjiO!f^,
the erroneous opinion of rebaptism in Crfrian, is well known lo llit'
world.

Wherefore it may not be wondred at, if among the Arsifalhers of JVcrt-
England, there were some things, not altogether so agreeable to the

Book IW.J THE HISTORY OF NEW-EiVGLAND.

307

Origen
litly con-
Into Mo:i-
Ivas t'lievo
lic/iH.5 unii
I inirpoir'^,
Ivu 10 tlif

IS of JV'c-'-
le to tbc

principles, whereupon 'he country was in the main egtablished. Bui
among tliose of our /a</ters, who differed somewhat from his brethren,
was that learned and worthy man Mr. Henry IJunster.

He was the president of our Harvard College in Cambridge, and an
nble man : [as we may give some account, when tlie history of that col-
lege comes to be offered.]

But wonderfully falling into the errors of Jlntipncdobaptism, the over-
■seern of the college became solicitous, that the students there might not
be unawares ensnared in the errors of their president. Wherefore they
laboured with an extreme agony, either to rescue the good man from his
oti)/i mistake ; or to restrain him from imposing them upon the hope of the
flock, of both which, finding; themselves to despair, they did as quietly a^
they could, procure his removal, and provide him a successor, in Mr.
(.hirles Chauncey.

He was a very good Hebrician, and for that cause, he bore a great pari
in the metrical version of the Psalms, now used in our churches. But
after some short retirement and secession from all publick business, at
Snituatc in the year 1659, he went thither, where he boars his part in
everlasting and caslestial hallelujahs. It was justly counted an instance
of an excellent spirit, in Margaret Meering ; that though she had been ex-
communicated by the congregation of protestants, whereof Mr. Bough
ivas pastor, and she seemed to have hard measure silso in her excom-
munication ; yet when Mr. Rough was imprisoned for the truth, she was
very serviceable to him, and at length suffered martyrdom for the t.*ath
with him. Something that ivas not altogether unlike this excellent spirit
was instanced by our Dunster. For, he died in such harmony of affec-
tion with the good men, who had been the authors of his removal from
Cambridge, that he, by his will, ordered his body to be carried unto
Cambridge for its burial, and bequeathed legacies to those very persons.

Now I know not where, better than here, to insert that article of our
church-history, which concerns our metrical translation of the Psalms
now sung in our churches

About the year 1639, the Xc-oi'-English reformers, considering that
their churches enjoyed the other ordinances of heaven in their scriptur-
al purity, were willing tha tfhe ordinance of The singing of psalms,
should be restored among Ihem, unto a share in thai purity. Though
they blessed God for the religious endeavours of them who translated
the Psalms into the meetre usually annexed at the end of the bible, yet
they beheld in the translation so many detractions from, additions to, and
■jariations of, not only the text, but the very sense of the psalmist, that
itwas an offence unto them. Resolving then upon a new translation, the
chief divines in tiie country, took each of them a portion to be transla-
led: among whom were Mr. V/elds and Mr. Eli^Jt of Rcxbury, and Mr.
Mather of Doi cluster. These, like the rest, were of so different a ge*:
•us for their poetry, that Mr. Sheparu oi'Cainbridge, on the occasion ad-
'Iressed them to this purpose.

You Woxh'iy pjcis, keep clear of the crime.

Of missing to give us very good rhimc.
.indyo)t of DoTchesier, your verses lengthen, '

But :i>ith the text's own words, you it-ill th':in fitrengthen.

The Psalms thus turned into meelrc were printed at Cambridge, in the
year 16 10. But afterwards, it was thought, that a Utile move of art wa?

.'.(38

THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLANl). [Book III.

to be employed upon them : and for that csiuse, they were committed un-
to Mr. Dumler, who revised and refined this translation ; and (with some
assistance from one Mr. Richard Lyoi., who being sent over by sir Henry
Mildrnay, as an attendant unto his son, then a student in Harvard College,
now resided in Mr. Dnnster's house :) he brought it into the condition
wherein our churches ever since have used it.

Now, though 1 heartily join with those gentlemen, who wish that the
poetry hereof were mended ; yet I must confess, that the Psalms have
never yet seen a translation, that I know of, nearer to the Hebrew ori-
f^inal : and 1 am willing to receive the exciise which our translators
themselves do offer us, when they say ; If the verses are not always so el-
i:suvt, as some desire or expect, let them consider, that God's altar needs
not our polislnngs ; we have respected rather a plain translation, than to
smooth our verses with the sweetness of any paraphrase. We have attend-
ed conscience rather than elegance, fidelity rather than ingenuil7j ; that so
•e may sing in Zion the Lord';s songs of praise, according unto his own will,
mtil he bid us enter into our master's joy. to sing eternal hallelujahs.

Reader, when the reformation in France began, Clement Marot, und
Theodore Bcza, turned the Psalms into French mcetre ; and Lewis Guadi-
wti set melodious tunes unto them. The singing hereof charmed the
: r.uls of court and city, town and country. They were sung in the Lo-
vre itself, as well as in the protestant churches : ladies, nobles, princes,
yea. King Henry himself sang them. This one thing mightily contribii
ted- unto the downfal of Popery, and the progress of the gospel. All
ranks of men practised it ; a gentleman of the reformed religion, would
not eat a meal without it. The popish clergy raging hereat, the cardinal
of Lorram got the profane and obscene odes of the pagan poets to be
turned into French, and sang at the court : and the Divine Psalms were
thus banished from that wicked court.

Behold, the reformation pursued in the churches o( J^ew-England, by
the Psalms in a new meetre : God grant the reformation may never be lost,
while the Psalms are sung in our churches.

But in this matter, Mr. Dunster is to be acknowledged. And if unto
the christian, while singing of Psalms on earth, Chrysostom could well
say, MfT' 'Ayy(A«» hi(, 'ufur' 'AyytAwv 'vfuii7( Thou art in a consort with an-
gels ! how much more may that now be said of our Dunster ^

From the epitaph of Henricus Rentzius, we will now furnish our Hennj
Dvnster, with an

EPITAPH. . '.

Profxo, Pater, Set Ills ; Sanui, Fovi, Colniq; ••
■ Sacra, Scholam, Christum ; Face, Rigore, Fide. . *•

'' Famam, Jinimam, Corpus : Dispergit, Recreat, AhJif i
Virtus, Christi.is, Humus ; Lands, Sab'h. Sunt.

,;■ <■#■

■»'f" f '!»?■'■

iokIU.

that the
r/is have

brew ori-
anslators
lays so el-
tar needs
I, than to
ve attend'

( ; that SCI

i own will,
hs.

iarot, and
xis Guadi-
armed the
in the Lo-
s, princes,
f contiibu
)spel. All
;ion, would
he cardinal
hoets to be
\alms were

Book 111.) THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

CHAPTER XHI.
The Life of Mr. Ekekicl Rooers.

_}.%-*4

Siin Doctore Ecclesioe, ad i¥virD»piT»¥ mrlir, accesserit nmni S'twrut, and
Polila EruditiOy ad Erudiditionem i'vfmfA.it ifM*i*'vTnui, ac Facundia ; nm
hie Talis Omnibus AbsohUis videbitvr.

F ., .., . - Melc. Adam, in Vita Hatteri.

§ 1. It is among the greater Prophets of Israel, that we find an Ezc'
kid; who had in his very name, 7Vje For(j<u(/e o/"Gorf. And it is not
among the smaller Prophets of Kew-Eugland, that we have also seen an
Ezekiel ; one inspired with a divine fortitude, for the work of a witjiiess
prophesying in the sackcloth of a wilderness. This was our famous Eze-
kiel Rogers, of whom we have more to say, than barely that he was born
in the year 1590, and that he died in the year 16^0.

§2. His father was Mr. /?ic/iard iiogcrs, of Weathersjield in England,
the well known author of the book, that is known by the name of The
Seven Treatises. Of that Richard we will content our selves with one
pithy passage, mentioned by his grandson, Mr. William Jenkyns, in his
exposition upon Jude, ' That blessed saint, saith he, was another Enoch
' in his age ; a man whose walking with God appeared by that incompara-
ble directory of a christian life, called The Seven Treatises, woven out
of scripture, and his own experimental practice ; he would sometimes
' say, That he should be sorry, if every day were not to him as his last day.*
It is his Ezekiel Rogers, whereof we are now to give an account. The
early sparklings of wit, judgment and learning, in him, gave bi«) father
no little satisfaction, and expectation of his proficiency ; and at thirteen
years of age, made him capable of preferment in the university ; where
iie proceeded Master of Arts at the age of twenty. Removing thence to
be chaplain in a Atmily, famous for both religion and civility, namely the
family of Sir Francis Barrington, at Hatfield Broad Oak in Essex, he there
had opportunity not only to do good, by his profitable preaching, but al-
so to get good, by his conversation with persons of honour, who con-
iimially resorted thither, and he knew and used his opportunity to the
utmost.
§3. Both in praying and preaching, he had a very notable faculty ;
Iwas accompanied with strams o( oratory, 'vhich made his ministry very
Mceptable. Hence, after five or six years residence in this worshipful
family, Sir Francis bestowed upon him the benefice of Rowly in York-
'are ; in hopes, that his more lively ministry might be particularly suc-
''essful in awakening those drowsy corners of the north : and accord-
ingly the church there, standing in the centre of many villages, there wa«
now a great resort unto the service therein performed.

5 4. Nevertheless Mr. Rogers had much uneasiness in his mind about
his own experience of those truths which ho preached unto others ; he
feared, that notwithstanding his pathetical expressions, wherewith his
hewers were affected, he was himself, in his own soul, a stranger lo that
r'U'/i, and rtpentence, and conversioti, which ho pressed u(>on them. This
consideration very much perplexed him ; and his perplexity was the
"^lealer, because he could not hear of any experienced minister in ttiose
'trts of the kingdom, to whom he might utter the trouble that was upon
Voi . f. ~ 17

t»r.af, >i'«J.v»j

ji ■> * '

370

THE HISTOKi OF NEW-ENGLAND. liooK HI.]

him. At last, hoping that either from his brother of Wcalhers/ield, or
hi»i co«in, o( Dcdhain, he might receive some fatisfaction, he toolc ujour-
ne)* into Essex on purpose to be by them resolved of his doubts. Hn de-
«igu was to have cnme at his famous kinsman before his lecture begun ;
hut missing of tlwt, he gat into the assembly before the beginning of
the sermon ; where he found that by the singular Providence of God,
his doubts were as punctually and exactly resolved, as if the excellent
preacher had been acquainted with his doubts before-hand.

§ 6. Being now rtatii-fied of his own eff'eciual vocatiou , he went on in hjg
ministry with a very signal blessing of Heaven upon it, unto the fjf'ectml
vocation of many more : his ministry was mach fregucnted, and remarka-
bly successful. In the exercise whereof, he once had opportunity to
preach in the stately mmi'sier of York, on a public occasion, which he
served and suited notably. Dr. Mathews was then the Arch-Bishop of
York, who permitted the use of those Lectures, which Arch-Bishop
Grindal had erected ; whereby the light of the gospel was marvellously
diffused unto many places that sat in the region and the shadow of death.
All the pious ministers in such a precinct, had a meeting once a month,
in some noted place, when and where several of them did use to preach
one after another ; beginning and concluding the whole exercise with
prayer. Mr. Rogers bore his part in these lect%tres, as long as Dr. Mat-
thews lived ; from one of which, an accuser of the brethren, went once un-
to the Arch-Bishop with this accusation, that one of the ministers had made
this petition in his prayer, May the .ilmighty shut Heaven against the A'ch-
Bishop''s grace ; whereat the Arch-Bishop instead of being offended, as
the pick-thankly reporter hoped he would have been, fell a laughing
heartily and answered, Those good men know well enovgh, that if I were
gone to Heaven, their exercisfs would soon be put dowtt. And it came to
pass accordingly !

§ 6, In delivering the word of God, he would sometimes go beyond
the strength, which God had given him ; for though he had a lively spir-
it, yet he had a crazy body : which put him upon s{»dy'\n^ physick, where-
in he attained unto a skill considerable. But the worst was this, that
riding far from home, some violent motion used by him in ordering of
his horse, broke a vein within him ; whereupon he betook himself to
his chamber, and there kept private, that his friends might not persecute
him, with any of their unseasonable kindness. But in two month's time
he obtained a cure, so that he returned unto his family and his employ-
ment : God would not suffer that»/ow?/t to be stopped, which had so ma-
ny testimonies to bear still for his truth and ways !

§ 7. At last, the severity wherewith subscription was then urged, jnit
a period unto the twenty years' public ministry of our useful /lO^ers al-
though theman, who suspended him, shewed him so much respect, a?
to let him enjoy the profits of his living, two years after the suspension,
and let him also put in another as good as he could get. He employed
one Mr. Bishop to supply his place in the ministry, from which a Bishop
had confined him ; nevertheless this good man also was quickly silenced,.
because he would not in publick read the censure which was passed upon
Mr. Rogers.

§ 8. Many prudent men in those times, foreseeing the storms that were
likely in a few years to break upon the English nation, did propose J^''ew-
England for their hiding-place. And of these, our Mr. Rogers was one,
who had been accompanied by Sir Wiliiam Constable and Sir Matthew
Boiinton also in his voyage hither, if some singular providences had not

Hook III.] THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLAND.

oil

hindered them. Hither did the good bund of God bring him, with ma-
ny of his Yorkihire friends, in the year 1638. Ships having been by his
didcretioii and influence brought from London unto Hull, to take in the
j)nssenger9. Arriving at Ncw-Kn^land, he was urged very much to set-
tle with his Yorkshir 6 (oWiixi New -Haven ; but in consideration of the
dcpcndance, that several persons of quality had on him to chuse a meet
place for their entertainment in this wilderness, when they should come
liithcr after him, he wns advised rather to another place, which he was
profered very near his reverend kinsman, Mr. Nathanael Rogers o( Ipa-
•jiicli. The towns af Ipszu'icli and Kewberry were willing, on easy terms,
to part with much of their land, that they might admit a third plantation
in the middle between them ; which was a great advantage to Mr. Eze-
kiel Rogers ; whd called the town Rowly, and continued in it about the
same number of years, that he had spent in that Rowly, from whence he
came on the other side of the Jltlantic ocean.

§ 9. About five years after his coming to Aew-Engtandf he was cho-
sen to preach at the Court of Election at Boston ; wherein though the
occu!<ion and the auditory were great, yet he shewed his abilities to be
areater ; insomuch, that he became famous through the whole country.
And what respect all the churches abroad paid him, he much more found
in his own church at home ; where he was exceedingly successful, and
approved in his ministry, in which the points of regeneration and union
with the Lord Jesus Clirist by /oirA, were those whereon he most in-
sisted.

In the management of those points, he had a notable faculty at pene-
trating into the souls of his hearers, and manifesting the very secrets of
Mr hearts. His prayers and sermons would make such lively represen-
(dtions of the thoughts then workini; in the minds of his people, that it
would amaze them to see their own condition so exactly represented.
And his occasional discourses with his people ; especially with the young
ones among them ; and most of all, with such as had been, by their de-
oens^d parents, recommended unto his watchful care ; were marvellous-
ly profitable. He was a Tree of Knowledge, but so laden with fruit, that
he stoopt for the very children to pick off the apples ready to drop into
their mouths. Sometimes they would come to his house, a dozen in an
evening ; and calling them up into his study, one by one, he would ex-
limine them, How they walked with God ? How they spent their time ?
What good books they read ? Whether they prayed without ceasing ?
And he would therewithal admonish them to take heed of such tempta-
'I'ojisand corrtiptions, as he thought most endangered them. And if any
tUffsrences had fallen out amongst his people, be woald forthwith send
lor them, to lay before him the reason of their differences ; and such was
his interest in them, that he usually healed and stopt all their little con-
tentions, before they couid break out into any open j^ames.

§ 10. After ten or twelve years most prosperous attendance on his
ministry in Rowly, some unhappy griefs befel him, which were thus oc-
casioned. It was thought pity, that so great an ability, as that where-
with Mr. Rogers was talented, should be confined into so small an audit-
ory, as that whereto his Lord's day labours were confined ; and he was
pfeiswaded therefore to set up a lecture, once in a fortnight, whereto the
inhabitants of other towns resorted, with no small satisfaction. A most
(ixcellent young man was, upon this increase of hi? labours, obtained for
his assistent : but through the devices of Satan, there was raised a jeal-
'«s?/ in the hearts of many among the people, that their old pastor was

372

I'HE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLANt). [Book 11

not real andfocard enuiigh.in prnsecutini; the settlement of that asst'^t-
ent ; and this j<' ousy broke forth into almost unaccountable dif -'.linfac-
Horn between Inninnd them ; which though they were nflcrwavLJ!) c:;red,
yet the cure was in somr regards too jxillintive.

§ II. Tt)c rest of this {?ood man's time in the world was winttr ; he
saw more nii^hts tlian days, and in vicissitudes of utHiction, the cloudi re
turning after the rnin. He buried h\<tjirst wife, ami all the children he
hud by that wifo. He then marri< d i virgin daughter of the vvell-knoivh
Mr. Johit H'ilson, m hopes of is^tue by her ; but CJod also took her away,
with tl)t>. child she had conceived by him.

After this, tie married once more a person, in years agreeable to him ;
but that very iiit;lit a tire burnt his dweUi ; house to the ground, with all
the goods ihat he had under his roof. Having rebuilt his house, he re-
ceived 1 fall from his horse, which gave to his right arm such a bruise,
as made it i'\ or after useless iMito him ; upon which account he was now
put upon learning to write uiib his left hand,

Pollebat mira Dexterilate tamen,

Thus having done the will of God, he was put upon further trial ofhis
patience ! But there was this comfortable in lii-* trial, that the good spir
it of God enabled him to bear his crosses chcarfully, and rejoice in /it's
tribulations.

§ 12. The natural constitution of his body was but feeble and crazy:
nevertheles, by a pvudent attendance to the rules of health, his life was
lengthened out co\ .^idv^rably : brt at last a lingring sickness ended his
days, Jau'iarij 23, UiO(<, in the seventieth year of his age. His books
wherewith lu' liud recruited his library, after the fire, which consumed
the good library, tidt he had brought out of £ng/a7t(2, he bestowed upon
Harvard College.

His lands, the greatest part of them, with his house, he gave to the
town and church of Rawly.

§ 13. Bbcaus'i it will give some illustration unto our church history, as
well as notably describe the excellent and exemplary spirit of this good
man, and it hath been sometimes noted. Optima Historia, est Historia
Epislolaris ; I will here insert one of his letters, written (with his left
hand) unto a worthy minister 'n Charlestown, the 6th of the 12th month
1667.

Dear Brother,
' Though I have now done my errand in the other paper, yet methioks.
I am not satisfied to leave you so suddenly, so barely. Let us hear
from you, I pray you ; how you do. Doth your ministry go on com-
fortably ? find you fruit of your labours ? are new converts brought in?
Do your children ain\/amibi grow more godly ? 1 find greatest trouble and
grief about the rising generation. Young people are little stirred here ,
but they strengthen one another in evil, by example, by counsel. Much
ado 1 have with my own family ; hard to get a servant that is glad of
catechising, or family-duties : I had a rare blessing of servants in Yorl-
shire ; and those that I brought over were a blessing ; but the young
brood doth much afflict me. Even the children of the godly here, and
elsewhere, make a woful proof. So that, / tremble to think, what will
become of this glorious work that we have begun . hen the ancient fhall If
gathered unto their fatfu rs. 1 fear grace and b '" will die with thpm.

B.'OK III.) THE HISTORY OF NEW-KNGLAND.

37.}

if the Lord do not also show some signs of displeasure, even in o?()'

• days.-— We grow worldly every when: ; mcthinks I see little '

godlinett, but all in a hurry about the world ; every one for himself,
little care o(publick or common good.

■ It hath been God's way, not to send $>weeping judgments, when the
chief magiitratea are godly and grow mure so. 1 bosrcch uH tliu Bay-
' ministers f to call earnestly upon magistrates (thut arc often among them^
tell them, that their godliness will be our urotection : if they fail, I shall
fear some sweeping judgment shortly. The clouds seem to !<■ gather-
ing.

' I am hastning home, and grow very asthmatical, and i-hreiithed.

' Oh ! that I might see some signs of good to the general Ho ing,

'to send mc away rejoicing ! Thus 1 could weary you n. " and

■ my left hand ; but 1 break ofl'suddenly. O, good brollic. , ui ' 'od,
' I am near home ; and you too are not far. Oh ! the weight of glory,

■ that is ready waiting for us, (Sod^s poor exiles I We shall nit next to the
' martyrs and confessors. O, the embraces wherewith Christ will embiaco
' us ! Cheer up your spirits in the thoughts thereof; and let us bn zeal-
•ons for our God and Christ, and make a conc/usion. Now the Lord
' bring us well through our poor pilgrimage.

Your affectionate brother.

EPITAPH.

A resurrection to Immortality..

is here expected,

for what was mortal,

of the Reverend

EZEKIEL ROGERS. ' '

Put off, /cMMory 23, 16G0. )- -

When preachers die, what rules the pulpit guvt
Of living, are still preached from the grave.
The faith and life, which your dead pastor taughl
Now in one grave with him, sirs, bury not.

Abi, Viator.

A Morluo disce Vivere ut Moritnrus /

E Terris disce Cogitare de Calis, at.

EZ. ROGERS.

- CHAPTER XIV. :-\rr

''-1
Eulogrus. The Life of Mr. Natiunael RoGF.Ra, •">- '

'? * =
In JESU mca. Vita meo, mea Clausida Vitw ' ^ '■'■■:■'
• '? Est, S,' in hor, JESU Vita perennis erit. .. c-. •^.

§ 1. It is a reflection, carrying in it somewhat of curiosity ; that as iu
.he Old Testament, God saw the ^jfirst sjwiers under a tree, so in the JWr%

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S74

1 1

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book IIJ.

Te$tatnent, Christ saw one oi ihe Jlrst believers under a tree, with a par-
ticular obserTation. The sinner hid himself among the trees of the gar-
den, assisted with Jig -leaves, but it was a false covert and shelter where-
to he trusted ; the Most High oiscovered him. The believer also hid
himself under afig-tre, where nevertheless, the shady leaves hindred
notour Lord from seeing of him. The sinner when he was discovered,
expressed his /ear, saying, I heard thy voice and J was afraid. The believ-
er seen by our Lord, expressed his/at</(, saying, Master, thou art theSon
of God. The name of this believer was JVathatiael. At the beginning of
the law under the Old Testament, you have nature in an Jldam under a
tree ; at the beginning of the gospel, under the New Testament, you have
grace under a tree in a JVathanacL Truly, at the beginning o( JVew- Eng-
land also, amopg the Jlrst believers, that formed a church for our God in
the country, there was a famous J^athanael, who retired into these Ameri-
can woods, that he might serve the King of Israel : this was our J^athan-
ael Rogers. One of the first English arch-bishops assumed the name of
Deus dedit, and the historian says, be answered the name that he assumed.
Our Nathanael was not in the rank of arch-bishops ; but as was hit
name, a gift of god, so was he !

§ 2. Cornelius Tacitus, who is by the great Budaus called, the wicked-
fst of all writers, reports of the Jews, that they adored an ass's head;
because by a direction from a company of asses, errorem sitimque depecle-
rant ; and this report, received by him from a railing Egyptian, became
so received, that no defence against it would be allowed. That excel-
lent company of divines, which led the people of God, unto the sweet wa-
fers of his institutions, in the wilderness oi New-England, wheidinto they
were driven, have been esteemed no better than a company of asses, by
the Romishly affected writers of this age. But those heads, which are
justly admired (though not adored) among that people, had more of an-
gels, than of asses in them : the Engish nation had few better christians
than most, and it had not many better scholars thnn some, who then retir-
ed into these ends of the earth. Now among all those great men who
Kubmitted themselves unto all the littlenesses of a wilderness, there is a
very high rank to be assigned unto one, who is now to be described.

He was the second son of that famous man, Mr. John Rogers of
Dedham ; and born while his father was minister of Haveril, about the
year 1598. He was educated at the grammar school in Dedham, till
he was near fot)rteen years old, and then he was admitted into Emanuel
College in Cambr'dge. There he became a remarkable and incompara-
ble proficient in all academick learning ; but some circumstances of
his father would not permit him to wait for preferments, after he was
become capable of employments in other places. His usual manner then,
was to be an early and exact student ; by which means he was quickly
laid in with a good stock of learning ; but unto all his other learning,
there was that glory added, the fear of God, for the crown of all ; the
principles whereof were instilled into his young soul, with the coun-
sels of hiu pious mother, while he yet sat on her knees, as well as his
holy father, when he came to riper years. From his very childhood
he was exemplary for the success which God gave unto the cares of his
parents, tc principle him whith such things, as rendred him wise unto
salvation.

§ 3. Having from his youth been used unto the most religious exer-
cises, not only sncial, but also secret, nevertheless the hurries of avoca-
iion carried him abroad one morning before he had attended his usual

r*-

OOK llj.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

676

1 a par-

the gar-
where-

aUo hid

hindred

:overed,

le 6e/tev-

rt thtSon

inning of
under a

^ou have

'ew-Eng-

r God in

je Ameri'
Kathan-
name of
assumed.

f was hit

ie wicked'

is'9 /lead;

le depecle-

^, became

liat excel-

Eiweet via-

iinto they

asses, by

which are

re of nn-

christians

len retir-

men who

here is a

[bed.

rs of
labout the
f/jam, till
Emanuel
Icompara-
lances of
he was
|ner there,
quickly
learning,
all; the
Ihe coun-
11 as his
[hildhood
!S of his
ise unto

lus cxer-

\{ avoca-

lis usual

devotions in his retirements ; but his horse happening to stumble in a
plain road, it gave him a bruising, bloody, dangerous/a/Z; which awaken-
ed him so to consider of his omission in the morning, that for the rest of his
life, he was wondrous careful to omit nothing of his daily duties : where-
in at length he so abounded, that as Carthusian speaks, Dulcissimo Deo
totus immergi cupis, ^ inviscerari. i

§ 4. Though he were of a pleasant and cheerful behaviour, yet be
was therC^Tithal sometimes inclined unto mtlanchollif ; which was attend-
ed with, and perhaps productive of some dejections in his own mind,
iilrout his interest in the favour of God. Whence even after he had
been a preacher of some standing, he had sometimes very sore despond-
encies and objections in his own soul, about the evidences of his ownre-
generatton ; he would conclude, that no grace of God- had ever been
wrought in him. Whereupon a minister, that was his near friend, gave
him once that advice. To let all go for lost, and begin again upon a new
foundation ; but upon his recollecting himself, ue found that be could
not forego, he might not renounce all his former blessed experience.
And so his doubts expired.

§ 5. The first specimen that he gave of his ministerial abilities, was
as a chaplain in the house of a person of quality ; whence after a year
or two thus fledged, he adventured a flight unto a great congregation at
Backing, in Essex, . under Dr. Barkham ; not without the wonder of
many, how the son of the most noted Puritan in England, should come
to be employed under an Episcopal Doctor, so gracious with Bishop
Laud ; but this Dr. Barkham was a good preacher himself, and he was
also willing to gratifie his parishioners, who were many of them reli-
giously disposed : hence, though the Doctor would not spare a tenth-part
of his revenues, which from his divers livings, amounted unto near a
thousand a year, to one who did above three quarters of his work, yet
he was otherwise very courteous and civil to our Mr. Rogers, whom
his parishioners handsomely maintained out of their own purses, and
shewed what a room he had in their hearts, by their doing so.

§ G. All this while, Mr. Rogers had, like his father, applied his thoughts
only to the main points of repentance from dead works, nad faith towards
God ; and he had never yet looked into the controverted points otdiscipline.
Indeed the disposition of his famous father towards those things, 1 am
^Villing to relate on this occasion ; and I will relate it in his own words,
which I will faithfully transcribe, from a MS. of his now in my handp :
'If ever 1 come into trouble, [he writes] for want of conformity , I re-
' solve with my self, by God's assistance, to come away with a clear
' conscience, and yield to nothing in present, until I have prayed and
' fasted, and conferred : and though the liberty of my ministry be precious,
' yet buy it not with a guilty conscience. 1 am somewhat troubled somc-
' times at my subscription, but 1 saw sundry men of good gifts, and good
' hearts, as 1 thought, that did so. And I could not prove that there was
' any thing contrary to the word of God ; though I misliked them much,
' and 1 knew them unprofitable burthens to the church of God. But if I be
' urged unto the use of them, 1 am rather resolved never to yield thereto.
' They are to me very irksome things ; yet seeing I was not able to
' prove them flatly unlawful, or contrary to God's word, I therfore thought
' better to save my liberty with subscribing, (seeing I did it not against
' my conscience) than to lose it, for not yielding so far. Yet this was
' some small trouble to me, that 1 did it, when I was in no special peril
' of any present trouble ; which yet 1 thought I were as good do of mr

376

THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND. [Book IH.

* self, as when I should be urged to it. But it may be, I might not have

< been urged of a long time, or not at all ; but might have escaped by

* friends and money, as before j which yet I feared : but it was my weak-

< ness, as I now conceive it ; which I beseech God to pardon unto me.

* Written 1627. This I smarted for 1631. If 1 had read this, it may

* be, I had not done what I did.'

Reader, in this one passage thou hast a large history, of the- thoughts
and fears, and cares, with which the Puritans of those times, were exer-
cised.

But Mr. Hooker, now lecturer at Chelmsford, understanding that this
young preacher was the son of a father, whom he most highly respected,
he communicated unto him the grounds of his own dissatisfaction, at the
^ceremonies then imposed. Quickly after this, the Doctor of Backing be-
ing present at the funeral,of so ae eminent person there, he observed that
Mr. Rogers forbore to put on the surplice, in the exercise of his minis-
try on that occasion ; which inspired him with as much disgust against
his curate, as his curate had against the surplice, it self. Whereupon,
though the Doctor were so much a gentleman, as to put no publick qffronl
upon Mr. Rogers, yet he gave him his private advice to provide for him-
self, in some other place.

§ 7. See the providence of our Lord ! about that very time, Jlssington,
in Si^olk, being void by the death of the fbk-mer incumbent, the patroo
thereof was willing to beetow it upen the son of his honoured friend in
Dedham; whither he now removed, afler that Rocking had for four or
five years enjoyed his labours. The inhabitants of Bromly, near Colchtt-
ter, were at the same time extreamly discontented at their missing of him.
However, see again the providence of our Lord ; the Bishop ofJVorwick
let him live quietly five years at Assington, which the Bishop ofLondm
would nothave doneat Bromly. This was the chargenowbetrusted with our
Rogers ,* concerning whom, I find an eminent person publishing unto the
world, this account : Mr. Nathanael Rogers, a man so able and so judi-
cious, in soul-work, that I would have betrusted my soul with him, as soon ai
with any man in the Church of Christ.

§ 8. Here his ministry was both highly respected, and greatly pros-
pered, among persons of all qualities, not only in the town it self, but in
the neighbourhood. He was a lively, curioi*, ^'^rid /)reacAer,' and by
his holy living, he so farther preached, as to gi . e i life unto all his oth-
er preaching. He had usually, every Lord's a greater number of
hearers than could croud into the church ; and of these many ignoraiU
ones were instructed, many ungodly ones were converted, and many sor-
rowful ones were comforted. Though he had not his father's notable
voice, yet he had several ministerial qualifications, as was judged, beyond
his father ; and he was one prepared unto every good work ; though be
was also exercised with bodily infirmities, which his labours brought up-
on him. 'Tia a thing I find observed by Mr. Firmin, John Rogers was not
John Chrysostom ; and yet God honoured no man in those parts oi England,
with the conversion of i^ouls more than him. And good Bishop Brownrig
would say, John Rogers will do more good with his wild notes, than we
shall do with our set musick. But our Nathanael Rogers, was a fisher of
nun, who came with a silken line, and a golden hook, and God prospered
him also He was an Apollo, who had his harp and his arrows ; and the
arrows his charming and piercing eloquence, which had 'v<J/ci( x«( Bii(*t,
in it were arrows in the hand of a mighty man. He not only knew how
to build the temple, but also how to carve it : and be could say with

Book III;] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

377

Lactantius, (bis very names-sake) Vtllem mibi dari Eloquentiam, vel quia
magit credunt Homines. Vtritati ornata vel ut ipsi mis Armia vincantur.
§ 9. But a course was taken to extinguish these lights, as fact as any
notice coul'' he taken of them. It was the resolution of the Hierarchy,
that the ministers who would not conform to their impositions, must be
silenced all over the kingdom. Our Mr. Rogers perccivbg the approach-
es of the storm towards himself, did out of n particular ctrcumsp«ction in
hici own temper, choose rather to prevent than to receive the censures of
the ecclesiastical courts ; and therefore he resigned his place to the pat-
ron, that so some godly and learned conformist, might be invested with
it : nevertheless, not being free in his conscience, wholly to lay down
the exercise of his ministry, he designed a removal into ffew-England ;
ifhereurnto he was the rather moved, by his respect unto Mr. Hooker,
for whom his value was extraordinary. Reader, In all this, there is no
reproach cast upon this excellent Rogers. Kamryfui Tdimvrn 'tymint* 'trrn.
§ 10. He had married the daughter of one Mr. Crane of Cogeahal, a
gentleman of a very considerable estate, who would gladly have mention-
ed this his worthy son-in-law, with his family, if he would have tarried
in England ; but observing the strong inclination of his mind unto a JV«a;-
English voyage, he durst not oppose it. Now, though Mr. Rogers were
a person very unable to bear the hardships of travel, yet the impression
which God had made upon his heart, like what he then made upon the
hearts of many hundreds more, perhaps as weakly and feebleasAe, car-
ried him through the enterprize with an unwearied resolution ; which
resolution was tried, indeed, unto the utmost. For whereas the voyage
from Gravesend unto Boston, uses to be dispatched in about nine or ten
weeks, the ships which came with M". Rogers, were fully twenty-four
wuks in the voyage ; and yet in this tedious passage, not one person
did miscarry. After they had come two thirds of their wa^, having
reached the length of J^ewfound-land, their wants were so multiplied,
and their winds were so contrary, that they entered into a serious de-
hate, about returning back to England : but upon their setting apart a
(lay foi- solemn fasting and prayer, the weather cleared up ; and in a lit-
tle time they arrived at their desired port ; namely, about the middle
of M'ovember, in the year 1636.

§ 11. It was an extream discouragement unto him, at his arrival, to
find the country thrown into an horrible combustion, by the Eamitistical
opinions, which had neWly made such a disturbance, as to engage all per-
sons on one side or the other of the controversies, all the country over.
Bat God blessed the prayers and pains of his people, for the speedy stop-
ping of that gangreen ; and setled the country in a comfortable peace, by
it Synod convened at Cambridge the next year ; whereto our Mr. Rogers,
»nd Mr. Patridge, who came in the same ship with him, contributed not a
little by their judicious discourses and collations.

§ 1 2. His first invitation was to Dorchester ; but the number of good
men who came hither, desirous of a settlement under his ministry, could
not be there accommodated ; which caused him to accept rather of an
invitation to Ipswich, ivhere he was ordained pastor of the church, co
Feb. 20, 1638. At his ordination preaching on 2. Cor. ii. 16. Who is
"u^ctent for these things : a sermon so copious, judicious, accurate, and.
elegant, that it struck the hearers with admiration. Here was a renown-
od church consisting mostly of such illuminated christians, that their pas-
tors in the exercise of their ministry, might (as Jerom said of that brave
woman Marcella) Sentire se non tam Discipulos habere guam Judices. Hi?
Vor,. I. -IP.

ifi

THE IIISTORY of NEW-ENGLANy). tBooic III.

colleague iicre, was the cclebrious J^orton ; andglorioua was the church
of Ipswich now, in two such extraordinary persons, with their different
gilta ; but united he.irts, carrying on the concerns of the Lord's king-
dom in it. While our humble Rogers was none cf those, who do, t<k
rit '«iJtiA^» A«/mr^7«7«(. 'i»vlSt 'afumftiTUi i»fu^ttf, Think the brightness of
their brethren to shadow and obscure themselves. But if JVorton were ex-
cellent, there are persons of goo<\judginirnt, who think them afelyes bound
in justice to say, that Rogers came not short of Norton, in his greatest
excellencies.

§ 13. While he lived in Ipswich, he went over the live last chapters
of the epistle to the Ephesians, in his ministry ; the twelAh chapter to
the Hebrews ; the fourteenth chapter of //os«o ; the doctrine of self-denial
and walking with God ; and the tiAy-third chapter of Isaiah ; to the
great satisfaction of all his hearers, with many other subjects more occa-
sionally handled. It was counted pity that the public bhould not enjoy
some of his discourses, in all which he was, '« rSi Ufutrrm 'maAm r«i
'uKfiSwrm : but his physician told him, that if he went upon transcrib'
ing any of his composure, his disposition to accx'racy would so deeply
eogiige him in it, as to endanger his life : wherefore he left few monu-
ments of his ministry, but in the hearts of his people, which were many.
B4it though they were so many, that he did justly reckon that well-in-
structed, and well-iqclined people, his crown, yet in the paroxism of tempt-
ation among them, upon Mr. Norton's removal, the melancholy heart of
Mr. Rogers, thought lor a while, they were too much a crown of thorns
unto him.

$ 14. It belongs to his character, that he feared God above many, and
walked with God, at a great rate of holiness : though such was his re-
scrvedness, that none but his intimate friends knew the particularities of
hi^ walk, yet such as were indeed intimate with him could observe, that
he was much in fasting, and prayer, and meditation, and those duties
wherein the power of godliness is most maintained : and as the graces of
a christian, so the gifts of a minister, in him, were beyond the ordinary
attainments of good men. Yea, I shall do a wrong unto his name, ifl do
hot freely say, that he was one of the greatest men, that ever set foot on
the American strand. Indeed, when the Apostle Paul makes that jast
boast, / teas not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles : he does not
speak (as we commonly take it) in respect of such as were true apos-
tles, but in reference to those false apostles, who had nothing to set
them out, but their own lofty words, with an unjust slight of him. Where-
as our blessed Rogers, I may without injury or odium, venture to com-
pare with the very best of the true ministers, which made the best dajfs
of New-England, and say, he came littli, if at all behind the very chiefest
of them all.

§ 1 5. He was much troubled with spitting of blood ; wherein he would
comfort himself with the saying of one Mr. Price, upon such an occasion,
That though be should spit out his own blood, by which his life was to be
maintained, yet he should never, Expuere Sanguinem Christi, or lose the
benefiis of Christ's blood, by which he was redeemed. He was also sub-
ject unto the Flatus Hypocondriacus, even from his youth j wherewith
'when he was first surprized, lie thought himself a dyivg man ; but a good
physician, and a long experience, convinceJ him, that it was a more
chronical distemper. And while ho was under the early discouragements
of this distemper, I find the famoiiK Mr. Cotton, in a letter dated .March
0. 1631, thus encouraging of him : _„ .

Book HI.] THE HISTORT OF NEVV-ENGLAND.

379

< I bless the Lord with you, who supporteth your fethle body, to do
- him service, and mean while perfecteth the power of his grace is your
•weakness. You know who said it, Unmortified strength postethhard to
• Hell, but sanctified weakness creepethfast to Heaven. Let not your spirit
' faint, though your body do. Your soul is precious in God's sight ; your
' hairs are numbered, and the number and measure of yonr fainting Jits,
' and wearisome nights, are weighed and limited by his hand, ft^bo hath
' given you his Lord Icaus Christ, to take vpon him your infirmities, and
' hear your sicknesses.^

Nor was it this distemper which at last ended his days ; but it was a
flood of rheum, occasioned partly by his disuse of tobacco, whereto he-
had formerly accustomed himsell, but now left it off, because he found
himself in danger of being enslaved unto it ; which he thought a thing be- 1
low a christian, and much more a minister. He had often been seized
with tits of sickness in the course of his life : and Lis last seemed no
more threatening than the former, till the last morning of it. An epi* '
demical sort of cough had arrested most of the families in the country ;
which proved most particularly fatal to bodies, before laboring with rheu-
matic indispositions. This he felt ; but in the whole time of his illness,
he was full of heavenly discourse and counsel, to those that came to visit
bitn. One of the last things he did, was to bless the three children of
his only daughter, who had purchased his blessing by her singular duti-
fnlness unto him. It is a notable passage in the Talmuds, that the inhab-
itants of Tsippor expressing an extreme unwillingness to have the death
of R. Judah (whom they surnamed The Holy,) reported unto them, he
that brought the report, thus expressed himself, Holy men and angels
took hold of the tables of the covenant, and the hand of the angels prevailed t
so that they took away the tables ! And the people then perceived the
meaning of the parabolizer to be, that holy men would fain have
detained R. Judah still in this world ; but the angels took him away.
Reader^ I am as lothe to tell the death of Rogers the Holy ; and the in-
habitantt'Of Ipswich wei e as lothe to hear it : but I must say, the hand
of the angels prevailed, on July 3, 1655, in the afternoon, when he had
uttered those for his last words, My times are in thy hands.

§ 16. He was known to keep a diary ; but he kept it with so much
reservation, that it is not known, that ever any one but himself did read
one word of it : and be determined that none ever should ; for he order-
ed a couple of his intimate friends to cast it all into the fire, without ever
looking into the contents of it.

Surely, with the loss of so incomparable a person, the survivors must
lament the loss of those experiences, which might in these rich papers,
have kept him, after a sort, still alive unto us ! but as they would have
proved him an incarnate seraphim, so the other seraphim, who carried
him away with them, were no strangers, to the methods, by which he had
ripened and winged himself, to become one of their society.

1 cannot find any composures of this worthy man's offered by .the press
unto the world ; except one, and that is only a letter which he wrote
from jYew-England, unto a member of the honorable House of Commons,
at ^Fes/mtMS<er, in the year 1643. Wherein observing. That Ecclesiam
ud Mundi JVbrinam Regnoruin 4' statuum componere, est mere Domum Ta-
ptiibus accommodare ; he pathetically urged, that tlie Parliament would
confess the guilt of neglecting, yea, rejecting motions of reformation in
former Parliaments, and proceed now more fully to answer the ju?t ex-
pectatiopa of Heaven. But I have in ray hands, &hr\e( manuscript, writ-

380

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111

ten in a neat Latin style, whereof he was an incomparable master. 'Tie
a vimlicHiion of Ihe Conij^rtgiitl mat church'government ; and there is one
patis.^u in it, by transcribing wlieruof, 1 will take the leave to address
the prciient age

J^on rard Kefurmationem impe'lit DifficuUat Reformandi, ir Eccletias
vcrtt Disciplince Cuvjurmea teddendi, Jehoihaphat excelsa non amovebat
quia Populus non Cotnparuverat Animum Deo. ' Ji'on defuerunt (tnjuiV

* Bucerus) irtra has Tri^inta Annas, qui yideri voluerint Juttam Evange-

* lii Pradicatioiiein plane ainplecti, atq ; Religionis Christi rite C'onstittun'

* doB pneapuam Curuin auscij.ere, propter quam etiam non parutn peridita-

* ri aunt. Ventin perjjauci adhuc rtfperti sunt, qui s« Chrtali Kcaugelio ir

* Regno omnino auljeciasent. Multo vero minua permiaawnfuitjidea, pro-

* batiaq ; ^cdtsiurum Miniiiria, nee adeo multi Minialrorum volviaaent id
' aihi coiicedi, ut qui Privutia Admonitionibua non acquieviaaent,atq ; a nut-

* nifeslia paccutia suig recipfre ae noluiaaent, eoa una cum Ecdeaivc Seniori-
' bua, ad hoc elcita, nomine totius Ecclesice, ad Pmnitentiam Vocaaaent SfLi-
' gaaaent ; eoxq ; qui ^ hoc Salutia sua: Remedium reapuiaaent, cum asaenav
' Eccleaitr. pro Kthnicia 4" Publicania habendoa Publice pronunciaaaent.'
' CvJHs Rationem etiatn puauit Peter Martyr ; ' Videniur aliqui aubvereri
' TwnuUus. ^ Turbas, quod auce Tranquilitati conaulant, ailiq ; fingant

* atq ; somnicnt, quondam Tranquilitatem in Eccleaia, quam imposaibile est
*ut habeunt,ai, GregemChriatirectepaaci voluerint.' -Hinc Regula Pru-
dentijB pro Reguld rrvRcepii proponitur ; 4" Q^uaritur potius quid fieri cor-
venienter possit, quam quid debeat. Fallit hoec Regula ; cum multa Deus
efficiat per Zelotas {quoavocant) fuce Politicis Impoaaibilia Viaa fuerint;
Pu^a Iiezekiam, Josiam, & Ed vardum 5ejr/um, A ngliiB Regem. Cumvi-
dcaa unum Ezram Cinere ^ Cilicio fietu Sf Jejunio, tarn Spiasum ^ Ar-
dvum Opua auperaaao, quo Cariaaimaa Conjugea, ^ liberoa deaiderariatimos,
c Maritorum Gremio, 4" Paternis Genibua, revulait ^ ablegavit; eorumq ;
non tantum infimm Plebis ; etiam Manus ipsorum Pprincipum ti Antisti-
turn, prima fuit in Praevaricatione ista : Quia inquam,Jidelia Miniateradeo
'•Ajy«T<9-7«{ eat, ut in repurganda Eccleaia, nihil non andeat, cum Bono Deo?
Magna quidem est Veritatia if Sanctitatia, Via 4* Majeatas : Fidelia ,4" ^•
cax eat Asaiatentia Spiritus, iis qui Zelo accenai Gloria: Dei aedulo mcum-
bunt. Tempori quidem aliqando eat cedendum ; aed Operi Dei non est $u-
persedendum.

God will one day cause these words to be translated into Engliah !
' In the mean time, go thy way, Nathanaei., until the end } for thort shah
reat — and on thy reating place I will inscribe the words of Luther upon
his J^esenua, for thy

EPITAPH.

ji^

O Nathanaei., Si mihi datum esset Donurn

Miraculoaum Excitandi Mortuoa,
Et ai ullum unquam Excitassem,
TE nunc Excitorem.

^' And for the same use borrow the words, in the epitaph of Brentins.
the younger.

^''

Morte Pia rapitur, Cceliq; Jit Incola : Semper
Audiet, O magno digna propago Patre.

Hook III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

381

APPENDIX.

The invaluable diary of Mr. JS'atKanael Rogers is lost : sometbinc of
h'la father's is not so : we will do something towards repairing our loss
out of that : some secret papers of old Mr. John Rogers, are ?i»llen into
my hands : I will make them as publick as I can ; and I will annex them
to the life of his excellent son, because that son of his, did live o?er the
life of his renowned father. Thw, father and son shall live here togeth-
er ; and by offering the reader an extract of some observable memoriah
for a godly life, contained in reserved experiences of Mr. John Rogers of
Dedham, I shall also describe the very spirit of the old Puritans, in the
former age, by the view whereof 1 hope there will more be made in that
age which is to come. Sirs, read these holy memorials, and let it not be
said of us, according to the complaint which the Ihlmuds thus utter ; Si
priacifuerunt Filii Regnum, nos sutnus Filii Hominwn Vulgarium ; 4r si
prisci fuerunt Homines Volgares, nos sumus velut Asini. Let it not be
said, as it uses to be by the Jewish Rabbi's, Elegantior eat Sermofamilia-
ris Patrum, quam Lex Filiorum. .

SIXTY MEMORIALS FOR A GODLY LIFE.

A COVENANT.

I. I HAVE Brmly purposed, (by God's grace,) to make my whole life, u
meditation of a better life, and godliness in every part ; that I may from
point to point, and from step to step, with more watchfulness, walk with
the Lord.

Oh ! the *nBnite gain of it ! No small help hereto, is daily meditation
-and often conference. Therefore, since the Lord bath given me to see in
some sort, the coldness of the half -service, that is done to his miijesty,
by the most, and even by my self, I renew my covenant more firmly with
the Lord, to come nearer unto the practice of godliness, and oftener to
have my conversation in heaven, my mind seldomer, and more lightly set
upon the things of this life, to give to my self less liberty in the secret-
est and smallest provocations to evil, and to endeavour aAer a more con-
tinual watch from thing to thing, that as much as may be, I may walk with
the Lord for the time of my abiding here below.

A FORM OF DIRECTION.

II. This resolutely determine, That God be always my glory, through
the day : and, as occasion shall be offered, help forward such as shall re-
pair to me, or among whom, by God's providence, I shall come : and
these two being regarded, that 1 may tend my own good, going forward,
(my own heart, I mean, calling and life, and my family and charge) look-
ing for my change, and preparing for the cross, yea, for death it self :
and to like little of mine estate, when I shall not sensibly find it thus with
me : and whiles God affordeth me peace, health, liberty, an heart de-
lighting in him, outward blessings with the same, to beware that godlinesa
seem not pleasant to me, for earthly commodity, but for itself: if in thiii
course, or any part of it, I should halt, or mislike, not to admit of any
such deceit: and for the maintenance of this course, to take my part in

382

THK HISTORY 01?' NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

nil the good helpi, appointed by Uod for the same ; nb thcHc : firat, to 6e-
gin the dny with meditiition, thnnk«giving, confession and prayer : to

{lut on my armour : to watch and pray nft and earnestly in the day, for
loldiug fiiflt tins roiirse : to hearten on my self hereto by mine own ex-
petience (who have ever seen, that it goetb well with those, which walk
ajier this rule, 1 Pet. iii. 13. Qal. vi. 16,) and by the example of others.
(Heb. xiii. 7.) And for the better helping my self forward, still in this
course, my purpose and denire is, to learn humility and meekne$a more and
more, by God's chastisements, and encourage my self to this course of
life, by his daily blessings and mercies ; and to make the same use of all
exercises in my family. And faithfully to peruse and examine the seve-
ral parts of my life every evening, how this course hath been kept of
me, where ithiith to keep it still, where it hath not, to seek pardon and
recovery ; and all behaviour that will not stand with this, to hold nie
from it, as from bane,

A FORM FOR A MINISTER'S LIFE.

III. In solitariness to be least solitary : in company, taking or doing ot'
good ; to wife, to family, to neighbours, to fellow-ministers, to all with
whom I deal, AiiW; amiable, yet modest; lofw in mine own eyes; oft
with the sick and afflicted : attending to reading ; painful for my ser-
mons ; not easily provoked unto anger ; not carried away with conceits
hastily ; not wandring in fond dreams, about ease and deceivable plea-
sures; not snared in the world, nor making lawful liberties my delight ;
helpful to all that need my help, readily, and all those that I ought to re-
gard : and all this, with continuance, even all my days.

IV. Chief corruptions to be watched against, be, sourness, sadness,
timorousness, forgetfulness, fretting, and inability to bear wrongs.

V. I am very backward to private visiting of neighbours' houses, which
doth much hurt : for thereby their love to me cannot be so great as it
would be ; and I know not their particular wants and states so well, and
therefore cannot speak so fitly to them as 1 might.

VI. A minister had need look, that he profit by all his preaching /itm-
self, because he knows not what others do : many, he knows, get no good ;
of many more he is uncertain : so that if he get no good himself, his la-
bour and travail shall be in vain.

VII. Begin the day with half an hour's meditation and prayer. And
let me resolutely set my self to walk with God through the day : if any
thing fall out amiss, recover again speedily, by humble confession, hear-
ty prayer for pardon, with confidence of obtaining. And so proceed.

VIII. Oh ! mildness, and cheerfulness, with reverence, how sweet a com-
panion art thou !

IX. Few rare and worthy men, continue so to their end ; but one
way or other, fall into coldness, gross sin, or to the world : therefore be-
ware.

X. Count not the daily direction, nor christian life, to be bondage ;
but count it the sweetest liberty, and the only way of true ;>eacc. When-
soever this is counted hard, that state that is embraced instead thereof,
shall be harder.

XI. Worldly dealings, are great lets to fruitfulness in study, and cheer-
ful proceeding in our christian course.

XII. One can never go about study, or preaching, if any thing lie heavy
on the conscience.

Hook III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND.

36'J

XIII. The wont day wherein • man keepi hit watch, and holdtto the
diiily rules of directionH, is freer from danger, and brings more safety
thnn the beat dnv, wherein this is not known or practised.

XIV. I am oft, 1 confess, ashamed of my self, when I have been in
company, and seen gifts of knowltdge, in many careless unconacionable,
and odd ministers ; which (with better reasons) hath stirred up a desire
oflimes in me, that 1 could follow my studies. Vet I would never have
been willing to have changed with them : for what is all knowUdge,
without a sanctified and comfortable use of it, through love ; and without
fruit of our labour, in doing good, and winning and building up of souls,
or at least a great endeavour after it.

XV. Many minister* set their minds much upon tki$ world, cither pro-
fit, or preferment, for which they venture dangerously, and some of
them are soon snatched away. Therefore God keep me ever from set-
ting my foot on such a path, as hath no continuance, and is not without
much danger in the end.

XVI. It is good for a man to delight in that, wherein he may be bold
to delight without repentance : and that is, to be always doing, or seek-
ing occasion to do some good. The Lord help me herein.

XVII. When God hedgeth in a man with many mercies, and gives him
a comfbrtable condition, it is good to acknowledge it often, and be highly
thankful for it. Else God may soon bring a man so low, as he wuuld
think that state happy, that he was in before, if now he had it again.
Therefore, God make me wise.

XV III. Right good men have complained, that they are oR-times in
very bad case, their hearts disordered and distempered very sore, for
want of taking to themselves a certain direction for the gove^-jment of
their lives.

XIX. Idle and unprofitable talk of by'matters, is a canker that conso-
meth all good, and yet our heart much lusteth after it : therefore resolve
firmly against it.

XX. A necessary and most comely thing it is, for a minister to carry
himself so wisely and amiably unto all, as be may do good unto ftll sorts;
to bring back them that be^^llen off, in meekness and kindncjs, to pass
by an offence in those that have wronged him, which is an high point of
honour, and not to keep from them, arid estrange himself from their ac-
quaintance, and so suffer them to fall further, to be lowly towards the
meaner sort of christians ; to keep the credit of his ministry with all.

I am perswaded, if my light did shine more clearly, and mine exam-
ple were seen more manifestly, in these and such things (which are of
DO small force to perswade the people) that both my ministry would be
of more power, and that I should draw them also to be better.

XXI. Look> that I lie not down in, bed, but in peace with God any
night, and never my heart rest, until it relent truly, for any thing that
hath passed amiss in the day.

XXII. It is good for a minister, not to deal much with his people
about worldly matters, yet not to be strange to them : nor to be a stumb-
ling-block unto the people, by wor/(f/tness, or any other fault, else he
deprives himself of all liberty and advantage of dealing with them for
their errors.

XXIII. fiu^etings o/* Satan, though they be grievous, yet they are a
very good medicine against pride and security.

XXIV. ChrisVs death, and God's mercy, is not sweet, but where
sin is sour. • ""■ -'— - . •--^<'--.

THE HISTORY OV NEW-ENGLANt). [Boole III.

XXV. It in an hard thing for a man to keep the ruUi of daily dirtttion,
«( timeM of ficAiMM or pain. Let a mao labour to keep out ertV, when
he wanta^fneii, nlmngth, and oreauion, to do good, and that ia a good
portion for a nick body. AUo in sickness Ihnt is sore and sharp, if tl
man can help himself with $hort and oft praytri to Ood, for patience,

contentment, meekness, »nd obedienc«> to his holy hand, it is well, though
he can't bend the mind much, or ear.iCstly upon any thing.

XXVI. Innoctnre is n very good fence and fort against trnpo/unc*,
in false accusations, or great afflictions. Let them that be guilty fret
and vex themselves, and shew bitterness of stomach against such ai
speak ill of them ; but they that look carefully to their hearts and ways,
(without looking at men's eye,) let them be still, and of a meek and quiet
spirit.

XXVII. Besides the use of the daily direction, and following strictly
the rules thereof, yet there must be now and then the use of /eating,
to purge out weariness, and commonness, in the use of it.

XXVIII. 'Tis a rare thing for any man, so to use prosperity, as that
his heart be drawn the nearer to God. Therefore we had need in
that estate, to watch diligently, and labour to walk humbly.

XXIX. Oh, frowardness ! how unseemly and hurtful a thing to a man'«
self and others ! Amiable cheerfulness, with watchfulness and sobriety, it
the best estate, and meetest to do good, especially to others.

XXX. Follow my' calling : lose no time at home or abroad ; but be
doing some good : roiud my going homeward : lot my life never be
pleasant unto me, when I aoi not fruitful, and fit to be employed in do-
ing good, one way or other.

XXXI. It is a great mercy of God to a minister, and a thing much to
be desired, that he be well moved with the matter that he preaches to
the people ; either in his private meditation, or in his publick delivery,
or both : better hope there is then, that the people will be moved
therewith : which we should ever aim at.

XXXII. If the heart be heavy at any time, and wounded, for any thing,
shame our selves, and be humbled for our sin, before we attempt any
good exercise or duty.

XXXIII. It's a very good help, and most what a present remedy, when
one feels himself dull, and in an t7/ condition, straightway to con/ess it to
God, accuse himself, and pray for quickning. God sends redress.

XXXIV^. There is as much need to pray to be kept in old age, mi
unto the end, as at any time. And yet a body would think, that he that
hath escaped the danger of his younger, should have no great fear in hit
latter days, but that his experience might prepare him against any thing.
However, it is not so : for many that have done well, and very com'
mendably for a while, have shrewdly fallen to great hurt. This may
moderate our grief, when young men o( great hopes be taken away.

Oh ! how much rather had I die in peace quickly, than live to disgraet
the gospel, and be a stumbling-block to any, and live with reproach !

XXXV. What a sweet lite is it, when every part of the day, hath
some work or other allotted unto it, and this done constantly, but with-
out commonness, or customariness of spirit in the doing it.

X,XXVI. When a man is in a drowsie unprofitable course, and is not
humbled for it, God oil lets him fall into some sensible sin, to shame him
with, to humble his heart, and drive him more thoroughly to God, to be-
wail and repent of 6o//f.

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NKW-ENGUND. 388

XXXVn. A true godly man, hath never his lift joyful unto him, any
lorif^cr thnn his conversation is holy and hvuveiily. Oh I let it be so
with mo !

\XXVin. It is some comfort fur a man, whose heart im out of order,
if li« i>ee(/t it, and that with hearty tnitlake, and cannot be content until it
bo bettered.

XXXIX. I have seen of others, (wliirh I denirc to die, rather than it
iliould be verilied of me !) that many ministers did never seemgrosly to
depart from God, until they j;rew veutthy i\n(\ great.

XL. How. much bettor in it to reniat uiii, when we be tempted thereunto,
tbiui to repent of it at\cr wc have committed it ?

XLI. VVhatsoevcr ii jnttijied inan doth by direction of Oorf's word,
and fur which he hnth either precept or promise, he pleases God in it,
and may be comfortable, in whatsoever falls out thereupon. Butwher*
ignorance, rnshnes, or our own will carry us, we offend.

XLIl. Let no man boast of the grace he hath had ; for we stand not
now by that, but it must be daily nourished ; or else a man shall becom*
n$ olhtrtnen, and fall into noisome evils : for what are we but a lump of
8io of our selves ?

XLIII. If God in mercy arm us not, and keep us not in compass. Lord
what stuff will break from us ! for what a deal of poison is in our hearts,
if it may have issue ! and therefore what need of watchfulness continually?

XLlV. The 7vorst day, (commonly) of him that knowcth, and endear-
oureth to walk by the daily direction, is freer from danger, and passed in
greater safety, than the be$t day of a godly man, that knows not this di-
rertion.

XLV. Many shew themselves forward christians in company abroad,
that yet where they should shew most fruits, ^is at home) are too se-
cure ; either thinking they arc not marked, or it they be, do not much
regard it. This ought not to be.

XLVl. Be careful to mark what falls out in the day, in heart, or life ;
and be sure to look over all at night, that hath been amiss in the day :
that so I muy lie down in peace with God, and conscience. The contra-
ry were a woful thing, i i would cause hellisk unquietness. Be sure
lliercfore, that none of the malicious subtleties of the devil, nor the
naughtiness of my own heart, do carry me further than at night, I may
sleep with quiet to God-ward.

XLVIl. When God saith, Deut. xii. 7, That/us may rejoyce before him,
•n all that they put their hands unlo : it's a great liberty, and enjoyed of
\»Hfew. No doubt, many of our sorrows come through our owadefaull,
which we might avoid. And as for godly sorrow, it may stand with thi*
rejoicing. If therefore we may in all things rejoice, then from one thing
to another, from our walking to our sleeping : first, in our first thoughts
nf God in the morning ; then in our prayer ; after in our calling, and
while we are at it ; then at our meat, and in company, and alone, at hnmt
and abroad, in prosperity, and adversity, in meditation, in dealings, ando/'-
flairs : and lastly, in shutting up the day in examination, and viewing it
over. And what hinders ? if we be willing and resolved to do the will
of God, throughout the day, but that we may rejoice before hinin all we
jmt our hand unto.

XLVl II. He that makes conscience of his ways, and to please God his
only way, is to take him to a daily direction, and some set rules, thereby
looking constantly to his heart all the day : and thus, for the most part,
he may live comfortably ; either not falling into any thing that should

Vot. L 49

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book Ul.

much disquiet him, or soon returning by repentance to peace again. But
if a man tie not himself thus to rules, his heart will break from him, and
be dispjuised one way or another, which will breed continual wound un^
to bis conscience, and so he shall never live any time together in peace.
The cause why many christians also give themselves great liberty, in not
accusing themselves for many offences, is the want of some certain direc-
tion to follow in the day.

XLIX. When we feel unfitness to our ordinary duties, we either be-
gin to be discouraged, or else yield to corruption, and neglect our du-
ties : neither of both which should be, but without discouragement wc
should resist our untowardness, and shake it off, and ilee to God by pray-
er, evenforce our selves to pray for grace, and fitness to pray ; and be-
ing earnest, and praying in faith, we may be assured, that we shall obtain
life and grace.

L. When the mind is distracted any way, unsettled, unquiet, or out of
order, then get alone and muse, and see what hath brought us to this
pass ; consider how irksome a state this is, and unprofitable, pray to
God, and work with thy own heart, until it be brought in frame. An
hour or two alone, shall do a man more good, than any other courses or
duties.

LI. Aim (it it be possible) to spend one afternoon in a week, in vis-
iting the neighbours houses, great use there is of it : their love to me
.will be much increased ; much occasion will be ministered unto me, for
direction to speak the more fitly in my ministry. I am exceedingly
grieved, that 1 am so distracted with journeyings about, that I caanot
bring this to pass.

Lll. I never go abroad, (except I season my mind with good medita-
tions by the way, or read, or confer) but besides the loss of my time, neg-
lecting my ordinary task at home, at my study, I come home weary in
body, unsettled in mind, untoward to study. So that I have small cause
to rejoice in my goings forth, and I desire God to free me more and more
from them : so may I also attend my own neighbours more diligently,
which is my great desire ; and the contrary hath been, and is my great
burthen.

LIIl. I have ever observed, that my journeyings and distractions of di-
vers kinds, in these my later times, and by too of ten preaching in my youn-
ger years, 1 have been held from using means to get knowledge, and grow
therein : which I counted ever the just punishment of God upon me, for
the neglect of my young time, when I should and might have furnished
my self.

LIV. When I am in the best estate my self, I preach most zealously
and profitably for the people.

LV. It breeds an incredible comfort and joy, when one hath got pow-
er over some such corruption, as in former times hath used to>get the
mastery over him. This is a good provocation to strive hard so to do, and
a cause of great thankfulness when it so comes to pass.

LVI. If we be at any time much dejected for sin, or otherwise disqui'
eted in our minds, the best way that can be, is to settle and quiet them by
private meditation and prayer. Prubatum est.

LVII. The humble man is the strongest man in the world, and surest to
stand, for he goes out of himself for help. The proud man is the weak-
est man, and surest to fall : for he trusts to his own strength.

LVIII. It is good in all the changes of our life, whatsoever they be, to
hold our own, and be not changed therewith from our goodness ; as Mm'

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

387

hamy wheresoever he came (after hia calling) still built his altar to the
true God, and called upon his name : he changed his place, but never
changed his God.

LIX. Our whole life under the gospel should be nothing but thankfid-
ness and fruilfulness. And if we must judge our-selves for our inward
lustre and corruptions of pn'(ie, dulness in good duties, earthliness, impa-
tience. If we make not conscience of, and be not humbled for these,
God will and doth, oft give us up to open sins, that stain and blemish our
profession.

LX. The more we judge our selves cZatVi/, the less we shall have to
do on our sick-beds, and when we come to die. Oh ! that is an unfit time
for this ! we should have nothing to do then, but bear our pain wisely,
and be ready to die. Therefore, let us be exact in our accounts every
iayl

Reader, having thus entertained thee with the memorials of the famous
Mr. John Rogers, I will conclude them with transcribing a remark, which
I find in a book published by Mr. Giles Firmin, 1681.

' Some excellent men at home conformed, but groaned under the bur-
'den ; as, I remember, Mr. John Rogers of Dedham, an eminent saint ;
' though he did conform, i never saw him wear a surplice, nor heard him
' use but a few prayers ; and those, I think, he said memoritiir, he did
' not read them ; but this he would in his preaching, draw his finger
' about his throat, and say, Let them take me and hang me up, so they will
' but remove t>:?se stumbling blocks otit of the church. But how many thou-
' sands of choice christians plucked up their stakes here, forsook their
' dear friends and native countr}', shut up themselves in shi|.n, (to whom
' a prison for the time, had been more eligible) went remote into an how-
' ling wilderness, there underwent great hardships, wat<(r was their com-
' mon drink, and glad if they might have had but that which they had
' given at their doors here, (many of them :) and all this suffering was to
' avoid your impositions, and that they might dwell in the House of God,
' and enjoy all things therein, according to his own appointment.'

CHAPTER XV.

Bibliander Nov-Anglicus. The Life of Mr. Samuel Newmaa'.

J^ulla Tuas unquam Virtutes nesciet JEtas ;
JVbn Jus in iMudes Mors habet Atra Tuas.

§ 1. None of the least services, which the pens of ingenious and
industrious men havedone for the Church ofGod, hath been in the writing
of Concordances for that miraculous Book, where, Qtiicquid docetur est
Feritas ; Quicquid prcecipitur, Bonitas ; ^uicquid promitlitur, Fa:licitas.
The use of such concordances is well understood by all that search tlie
scriptures, and think thereby to have eternal life : but most of all by those
Bezaleels, whose business 'tis (as one speaks) to cut and set in gold the
diamonds of the divine word.

And therefore there have been many concordances of the Bible since
that origen first led the way for such composures, and divers languages ;
whereof, it may be, the Maximat ^ absolutissimie Concordanlioe, most
'^ompleat, have been those that were composed by the two Stephens, Ro-

388

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. Look HI.)

hert the father nnd Henry the son ; these, as their name signifies a crown,
to in this work of theirs, like Demosthenes in his oration, Dei Corona,
have carried away the garland from all that went afore them.

Notv, in the catalogue of concordances, even from that of R. Isaac
Kathans, in Hebrew, to all that have in many other derived languages im-
itated it, there is none to be compared unto that of Mr. Samuel Newman,
in English, Indeed, first Maibcck in a concordance, which pointed unto
chapters, but not unto verses; then Cotton, who though no clergy'vum
himself, yet by his more, but yet not quite perfect cimcordance and his
diligence, obliged all clergy-men ; and afterwards Bernard, who yet (no
more than his name's sake) saw not all things ; and then Downham,
Wickens, Bennet, and how many more ? have done verfuously f but thou,
Newman hast excelled them all ! It hath been a just remark, sometimes,
made by them, who are so wise as to observe these thiiigs, that the Lord
Jesus Christ, in his holy providence, hath chose especially to make the
names of those persr ■;§ honourable, who have laboured in their works,
especially to put ^otowr upon the sacred scriptures. And in conformity to
that observation, there are dues to be now paid unto the memory of Mr.
Samuel Newman, who lhi\t the scripiures might be preserved for the
memory, as »vell as the understanding of the christian world, first compiled
in England, a more elaborate concordance of the Bilde than had ever yet
been seen in Europe; and after he came io New- England, made that
concordance yet more elaborate, by the addition of not only many texts,
that were not in the former, but also the marginal readings of all t!ie
texts that had them, and by several other contrivances so made the
whole more expedite, for the use of them that consulted it.

§ 2. The life of Mr. Samuel Newman, commenced with the cen-
tury now running ; at Banbury, where he was born of a family, more
eminent and more ancient for the profession of the true Protestant re-
ligion, than most in the realm of England. After his parents, who had
more piety and honesty, then worldly greatness to signalize them, had
bestowed a good education upon him, and after his abode in the univers-
ity of Oxfii'-d, had given more perfection to that education, he became
an able m,inister of the New-Testament. But being under the conscien-
i^itious dispotions of real Christianity, which was then called Puritanism,
the persecution from the prevailing Hierarchy, whereto he therefore
became obnoxious, deprived him of liberty, for the peaceable exercise
of his ministry. Whence it came to pass, that although we might other-
wise have termed him a presbyter of one town by ordination, we must
now call him an CDaHge/is< of luany, through persecution : for the Epis-
copal molestations compelled him to no less than seven removes, and as
many places may now contend for the honour of his ministry, as there
did for Homer''s nativity. But an eighth remove, whereto a wearine.«s
of the former seven drove him, sh.dl bury in silence the chiims of all
other places u.'.to him; for after the year l(J3o, (in 'which year, with
many others, as excellent christians, as any breathing upon e/irth, he
crossed the water to America) he must be styled, a New-England man,

§ 3. After Mr. AW/n^ii's arrival at New- England, he spent a year
and half at Dorchester, five years at Weymouth, and nineteen years at
Rehoboth, which name he gave unto the town, beo.iuse his flock, which
were before straitned for 'vuit of j'oo»i, now might say. The Lord hath
made room for us, and rtc shall he fruitful in the land: nor will it he
wondered at, if one so well-versed in the scripture, could think of none
^\}t a scriptvrc-tiame, for tlie place of his habitation. How many straiti

Book III.] THE HiSTOV F NEW-ENGLAND.

he afternrards underwent («t Rjuuhotk, in the dark-day^ when he was
almoBt the only minister, whose invincible patience held out, under the
iicandalous neglect and contempt of the ministry, which the whole col*
ony of Plymouth^ was for a while bewitched into, it is beat known unto the
compassionate Lord, who said unto him, / know thy works, and haw thou
hast born and hast patience, and for my name''s sake hast laboured, and hast
ml fainted. But uo doubt, the straits did but more effectually recom-
mend Heaven to him as the only Rehoboth ; whether he went July 5,
in the year of our Lord 1663, when by passing through nine sevens oi'
years, he was come to that which we call, the grand Clirnacterical.
Nor let it be forgotten, that in this memorable and miserable year,
each of the three colonies of JVew-England was beheaded of the minis-
ter from whence they had most of their influences ; JVorton went from
the Massachuset colony. Stone went from Connecticut colony, and JVewman
from Plymouth colony, within a few weeks of one another.

§ 4. He was a very lively preacher, and a very preaching liver. He
loved his church as if it had been hi» family, and he taught h.i» family, as
if it liad been his church. He was an hard student ; and as much toyl and
mjl, as his learned name's sake JVeander employed in illustrations and
commentaries, upon the old Greek, Pagan poets, our JVewman bestowed
in compiling his concordances of the sacred scriptures : and the incoropara-
hle relish which the sacred scriptures had with him, while he had them
thus under his continual rumination, was as welt a mean, as a sign of his
arriving to an extraordinary measure of that sanctity, which the truth
produces. But of hia fa mity-disicipline there was no part more notable
than this one ; that once n year he kept a solemn day of humiliation with
his family ; and once a year, a day of thanksgiving; and on these days, he
would not only enquire of his houshold, what they had met withal to be
hunhled, or to be thankful for, but .nlso he would recruit the memoirs of
hiii diary ; by being denied the sight whereof, our history of him is ne-
cessarily creepled with much imperfection.

But whether it were entred in that diary or no, there was one re-
markable which once befel him, worthy of a mention in this history.
He was once on a journey home from Boston to Rehoboth : but hearing
of a lecture at Dorchester by the wjiy, he thought with himself. Perhaps
hliall not be out nf my way, if I go so far out of my way, as to take that
lecture. There he found Mr. Mather at prayer ; the prayer being end-
ed, Mr. Mather would not be satisfied except he would preach. Accord-
ingly after the singing of a psalm, he preached an excellent sermon ;
and by that sermon, a poor sinner, well known in the place, was re-
markably converted unto God, and became a serious and eminent chris-
tian.

§ 5. Hospitality was an essential of his character ; and I can tell when
he entertained angels not nnaivares. 'Tis doubtless, a faulty piece of
insensibility, among too many of the faithful, that they do little consider
the guard of holy angels, wherewith otir Lord Jesus Christ wonderfully
supplies us against the mischief and malice of wicked spirits. Those
holy angels, are, it may be, /k'o hundred and sixty times mentioned in (he
sacred oracles of Heaven ; and we that read so much in those oracles,
are so carthUj-mindcd, as to take little notice of thom. 'Tis a marvel-
lous tiling, that as one says, the rMtivcs of Heaven do not grudge to at-
tend upon those, who are only the dcnisons thereof; and that as the an-
'^ient expresses it, we rn;iy sen the whole Heaven at work for our salvation,
''od the Father sending his Son to redeem us, both the Father aiid the

390

THE HISTORY OF WEW-ENOLAND. IBook HI.

Son sending their Spirit to guide us, the Fiither, Son and Spirit sending
their angels to minister for us. Now of the whole angelical ministra-
tion concerned for our good, there is, it may be, none more considerable
than the illustrious corivoy and conduct, which they give unto the spititi
of believers, when being expired, they pass through the territories q/'<^
prince of the power of the air, unto the regions, where they must (rttend
until the rcsurrectioH. What Elijah had at his translation, a chari-
ot of angels, does, in some sort, accompany all the saints at their expira-
tion ; they are carried by angels unto the feast with Abraham, and angeh
do then rceive them into everlasting habitations. The faith of this mat-
ter hus therefore tilled the departing souls of many good men, with
a joy unspeakable and full of glory : thus the famous Lord Mornay,
when dying, said, I am taking my flight to heaven; here are angels that
stand ready to carry my soul into the bosom of my Saviour ; thus the
famous Dr. Holland, when dying, said, O thou fiery chariot, which canuii
down to fetch up Elijah, you angels, that attended the soul of Lazarus,
hear me into the bosom of my best beloved : thus we know of another^
that when dying, said, O that you had your eyes opened to see what I see!
J see millions of angels ; God has appointed them to carry my soul up to
Heaven, where I shall behold the Lord face to face. And now, let my
reader accept another instance of this dying and most /tve/^ expectation !
Our Newman, towards the conclusion of his days , advanced more and
more towards the beginning oth'ia joys : and h joyful as well as a prayer-
ful, watchful, anA fruitful temper of soul, observably irradiated him. At
length, being yet in health, he preached a sermon on these words in Job
xiv. I 'i, Jill the days of my appointed time will I wait, until my change
come: which proved his last. Falling sick hereupon, he did in the af-
ternoon of a following Lord''s day, ask a deacon of his church to pray with
him ; and the pious deacon having fmished his prayer, this excellent tnaD
turned about, saying, Jind now ye angels of the Lord Jesus Christ, come,
do your office ! with which words he immediately expired his holy soul,
into the arms o( angels : the spirit of this just man, was immediately with
the innumerable company of angels.

§ 6. The believing sinner, then has the forgiveness of sin effectually
declared and assured unto him, when the holy spirit of (jod, with a spe-
cial operation (which is called. The seal of the Holy Spirit) produces in him
a solid, powerful, wonderful, anH well-grounded perswasion o( it; and
when he brings home the pardoning love of God unto the heart, with such
immediate and irresistible efficacy, as marvellously moves and melts the
heart, and overwhelms it with the inexpressible consolations of a pardon.
The forgiveness of sin, may be hopefully, but cannot he joyfully, evident
unto us, without such a special operation of the Holy Spirit, giving evi-
dence thereunto. When we set ourselves to argue our justification,
from the marks of our sanc/t/im<io7i, that we can find upon ourselves,
we do well; we work right; we are in an orderly way of proceeding.
But yet, we cannot well see our sauctiftcation, except a special operation
of the spirit of God, help our sight ; and if we do see our sanclification,
3'et our sight of our juJifccation will be no more than feeble, except a
special operation of ths spirit of God shall comfort us. Our own argu-
ment may make us a little easy ; and it is our duty to be found in that ra-
tional icay of arguing ; but this meer argument of our own, will not bring
VIS to that joyful peace of soul, that will carry us triumphantly through
the dark valley of the shadow of death, and make us triumph over our
doubts, our fears, and all our discouragement?. At last, the .SpmY of

Book 111.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

391

God, he will come in gloriously upon our hcnrts, and cause us to re-
ceive the pardon of our sins, offered freely through Chrint unto us ; apd
then, we shull rejoice with joy unspeakable and full <>/ glwy. Neverthe-
less, whenever the forgiveness of our sins, is hy a special operation of the
Holy Spirit revealed unto us, the symptoms of a regenerate soul, do al-
ways accompany it. Though the marks of sanctijicalion are not enough,
to give us the full joy of onr justification ; yet they give us the proof of
it. When a special operation of the Holy Spirit, gives us to see our justi-
fication, it will give us to see our sancti/ication too.

In writing this, 1 have written a considerahle article of our churcli'his-
tory : for it was this article, that perhaps more than any whatsoever, ex-
ercised the thoughts and pens of our churches, for many years together.
But the mention hereof, serves particularly to introduce a few more
memoirs of our holy ATewman.

All good christians do sometimes examine themselve.^ about their inte-
riour state : and they that would be great christians, must often do it.
Though the reserved papers of our JVewman, are too carelessly lost, yet
I have recovered one, which runs in such terms as these.

' Jiotes, or marks of grace, I find in my self; not wherein I desire to
' glory, but to take ground of assurance, and after our apostles^ rules,
' to make my election sure, though I tind them but in weak measure.

' 1. I find, I love God, and desire to love God, principally /or himself.

' 2. A desire to requite evil wtih good.

'3. A looking up to God, to see him, and his hand, in all things that
' befal me.

' 4. A greateT fear of displeasing God, than all the world.

' 5. A love to snch christians as I never saw, or received good from.

' 6. A grief, when I see God's commands broken by any person.

' 7. A mourning for not finding the assurance of Grid's love, and the
' sense of his favour, in that comfortable manner, at one time, as at anoth-
' er ; and not being able to serve God as I should.

' 8. A willingness to give God the glory of any ability lo.do good.

' 9. A joy, when I am in christian company, in godly conference.

' 10. A grief, when I perceive it goes ill with christians, and the con-
' trary.

' 1 1 . A constant performance of secret duties, between God and my self,
' morning and evening.

' 12. A bewailing of ^uch sins, which none in the world can accuse
' me of.

' 13. A choosing oi svjfering to avoid sin.

But having thus mentioned the self-examination, which this holy man
accustomed himself unto, 1 know not but this may be a very proper op-
portunity, to observe, that tha holiness of our primitive christians, in this
land, was more than a little expressed and improved, by this piece of
Christianity. And that 1 may serve this design of Christianity, upon the
devout reader, I will take this opportunity to digress, (if it be a digres-
sion) so far, as to recite a passage 1 lately read in a paper, which a pri-
vate christian, one of our godly old men, who died not long since, (name-
ly Mr. Clap, once the captain of our castle) did, at his death, leave
behind him.

That godly man had long been labouring under doubts and fears, about
liis interionr state before God. At last be was one day considering with

392

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III

himself, what wua his most beloved sin. HerewithnI he coniridered,
whether in case the Lord would assure him, that all »in should be for
ever pardoned unto him, and he should arrive safe to heiiven in the is-
sue, yet he should not in the mean time have that one sin mortified, and

be delivered from the reign and rage of that one sin, Whether

this >vould content him ? Hereunto he found and said, before the Lord,
that this woiild not content him. And hereupon the Spirit of God imme-
diately irradiated his mind, with a strange and a strong assurance of the
divine love unto him. He was dissolved into a flood of tears, with as-
Tjurance, that God had loved him with an everlasting love. And from
this time, the assurance of his pardon, conquered his doubts and fears,
I think, all the rest of his days.

Our too defective history of our Kerumun, I will conclude, as Blahos'
lius did in his history of Jo/ianncs Cornu : Longvm estet Elogia hujus viri
narrare. Sed perfectior llistoria, vt de aliia vires, ild ^ de isto, consum-
matur, Sr quotidie augelur in Vit& eternd ; Q^uam da nobis, O Domine De-
us, in glorid cnm gaudio legendam. Amen.

EPITAPHIUM.

Mortuus est Neandeu Nov-Anglus,

Qui ante mortem dedicit mori,

Et ohiit ed morte, qua: potest esse, Ars bene moriendi.

•i '•*,*.?>

M* T.--

f CHAPTER XVI. ^ «?s -t

Doctor Irrefragabilis. The Life of Mr. Samuel Stone.

.tVfi'A-

§ 1. If the church o( Rome do boast of her Cornelius d fjopide, who
hath published learned commentaries upon almost the whole Bible, the
Protestant and reformed church of JVew -England, may boast of her Sam-
uel Stone, who was better skilled than the other in sacred philology, and
whose learned sermons and writings were not stuffed with such trifu
and fables, and other impertinencies, as lill many pages in the compo-
sures of the other.

§ 2. In his youth, after his leaving of the University of Cambridge,
where Emanuel-CoWeAge had instructed him with the light, and nourished
him with the cup of that famous university, he did, with several other
persons, that proved famous in their generation, sit at the feet of a most
excellent Gamaliel ; attending upon that eminently holy man of God.
whom I will venture to call. Saint Blackerby. That Reverend Richard
Blackerby, whose most angelical sort of life, you may read among the last
of SainwcZ C/ar/t's collections, was a tutor to Mr. Stone; and you may
reasonably expect, that such a scholar, should have a double portion of
the spirit, which there was in such a tutor.

§ 3. Having been an accomplished, industrious, but yet persecuted
minister of the gospel, in England, he came to New-England, in the
same ship that brought over Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Hooker. A ship, which
in those three worthies, brought from Europe a richer loading, than the
richest that ever sailed back from America in the Spanish Flota,; even
that wreck which had on board, among other treasures, one entire table
of ^old, weighing above three thousand and three hundred pound. In-

UoOK m.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

393

deed the foundation o( JS'ew- England had a precious ^'em laid in it, when
Mr. Stone arrived in these regions.

But the circumstances of this removal, require to be related with more
of particularities. The judicious christians that were coming to jVea;-
Eiigland with Mr. Hooker, were desirous to obtuin a collegue for him,
and being disappointed of obtaining Mr. Cotton for that purpose, (who ne-
vertheless took it very kindly, that Mr. Hooker had sent them unto him)
they began to think, that a conple of such great men might be more ser-
viceable asunder, than together. So their next agreement was, tu pro-
cure some able and godly young man, who might he an ansistanl unto Mr.
Hooker, with something of a disciple also ; and those three, Mr Shepardf
Mr. M'orton, and Mr. .Stone, were to this end proposed ; and Mr. Stone,
then a lecturer at Torceater in Northamptonshire, was the person upon
whom at length it fell, to accompany Mr. Hooker into America.

§ 4. From the JSTew-English Cambridge, he went colle^uft to Mr. Hook-
it, with a chosen and devout company of christians, who gathered ,i fam-
ous church, at a town which they called Har>fo;'d, upon the well-known
river Connecticut. There he continued feeding the flock of our Lord,
fourteen years, with Mr. Hooker, and sixteen years after him ; till be
that was born at Hartford in England, now on July 20, 1663, died in
Hartford o( New-England ; and went unto the Heavenly Society, where-
of he would with some longing aa}'. Heaven is the more desirable, for
such company as Hooker, and Shepard, and Hains, who are got there be-
fore me.

§ 5. His way of living was godly, sober and righteous, and like that
great apostle who was his name-sake, he could seriously and sincerely
profess, Tjord, thou knowest all things ; thou knowest that I love thee. But
there were two things, wherein the power of godliness uses to be most
remarkably manifested and maintained ; and he was remarkable for both
of these things ; namely, frequent fastings, and exact Sabbaths. He
wonld, not rarely, set apart whole days for fasting and prayer before the
Lord, whereby he ripened his blessed soul for the inheritance of the saints
inlight. And when the weekly Sabbath came, which he still began in
the evening before, he would compose himself unto a most heavenly
frame in all things, and not let fall a word, but what should be grave, se-
rious, pertinent. Moreover, it was his custom, that the sermon which he
wa.s to preach on the Ijord's day in his assembly, he would the night be-
fore, deliver to his own family. A custom which was attended with sev-
eral advantages.

§ 6. Being ordained the teacher of the church in Hartford, he appre-
heDdin<!; himself under a particular and peculiar obligation, to endeavour
the edification of his ]>eople, by a more doctrinal way of preaciiing : ac-
cordingly, as he had the art of keeping to his hour, so he had an incom-
parable skill at filling of that hour with nervous discourses, in the way
ohnminon-place and proposifion, handling the points ofdiinnity, which he
would conclude with a brief and close rt/)/)/ico<tf>w : and then he would
in his prayer, after sermon, put all into such pertinent confessions, |»eti-
tions, and thanksgivings, as notably digested his doctrine into devotion.
He was a man of principles, and in the management of those principles,
he was both a Load-Stone and a Flint-Stone.

§ 7. He had a certain pleasancy in conversation, which was the effect
snd symptom of his most ready wit ; and made ingenious men to be as
'^nttous of hi» familiarity, as admirers of his ingenuity. Possibly he might
think of what Suklas reports roncerning Macnrim, that by the pleasancy

Vor. J. ryf)

304

THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLAND. [Book III

of Ills discourses on hII occiieions, he drew iniiny to Ihe ways of Go<].
Me might be inclined, like Dr. Sdinntoii, who Hiiid, I have used myself Ui
be cheerful in company, tlial so stamlers-hii might be the more in love with
rtligion, seeing it consistent tvilkckfeyfitlncss. Ho.uce facetious turns were
almost natural to him, in his converiiiitioti with such, as had the scnce to
comprehend the viibtlelirs of his rei)iirti(i3. But still under such a re-
serve, as to csca|)e the sentence of the ranon of the council of Carthage,
Clericum scurrilfm ^' verbis turpibus Joculaturem, ab officio Rctrahendum
esse censcmus,

§ 8. Reader, what should be the meaning of this ? our Mr. Stone, about,
or before the year 1(J5(), when all things were in a profound calm,dehv-
ered in a sermon his pre>apprehensions, that churches among them would
come to be broken by scliism, and sudden censures, and an^ty removrs:
and that e'er they were aware, these mischiefs would arise among them ;
in the churches, prayers against prayers, hearts against he^rts, tnan
against tears, tongues against tongues, and fusts against/as's, and horrible
prejudices and underminings. Many years did not pass, before he saw
in his oivn church, all of this accomplished He little thought that his ovrn
church, must be the stage of these tra'j^cdies, when he told some of hi?
friends, That he should never want their love. He did live to undergo
what we are now going to signifie :

• Towards the latter end of his time, this present evil world, was made
yet more evil unto him, through an unhappy diff'ereHce, which arose
between him and a ruling elder in the church, whereof be was himself a
teaching elder. They were both of them godly men ; and the true orig-
inal of the misunderstandi7ig between men that were of so good an under-
standing, has been rendred almost as obscure as the rise of Connecticut-
river. But it proved in its unhappy consequences, too like that river in
its great annual inundations ; for it overspread the whole colony of Con-
necticut. Such a monstrous enchantment there was upon the minds even
of those who were christians, and brethren, that in all the towns rounti
about, the people generally made themselves parties, either to one sido
or the other, in this quarrel ; though multitudes of them, scarce ever
distinctly knew, what the quarrel was :- and the factions insinuated them-
selves into the smallest, as well as the greatest affairs of those towns.
From the ^firc of the altar, there issued tlmndrings and lightnings, and
eart/t^j/afces, through the colony. As once in Constantinople, afire tlint
began in the church consumed the Senate-house. Thus the fire which
began in the church more than a little afl'ectcd the Senate-house in Con-
necticut : and the people also were many of them as fiercely set against
one another, as the Combites in the poet were against the Tentyritcs. A
world of sin was doubtless committed, even by pious men o'kthis occa-
sion, while they permitted so many things contrary to the law of charily,
and so much mispcnding of their time, and misplacing of their zeal, as
must needs occur in their woful variance. Alas ! how many of Solomons
wise proverbs were explained and instanced in the follies of these con-
tests! Indee<l, for the composing of these branglcs, there was the help
of council called in ; but every council fetched from the neighbourhood,
was thought prejudiced; for which cause, at last, a coH?/cr7 was desired
from the churches about Boston, in the Massachvscts Bay, whose mes-
sengers took the pains, thus to travel more than an hiindred miles for
the pcicijication of these animosities ; and a sort of pacification was there-
by attained ; but yet not without the dismission and removal of many
virtuous people, further up the river ; whereby some other chHrchos

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

ranie to be gathered, which nre now iiiinous in our Israel. 'Tis not easy
to compreheitdy and i wish no such fulthful servant of God may experience
it ; how much the spirit of Mr. Stone, was worn by the continual drop'
ping of this contention. — Gutta cavat Lapidem. But the dust of mortality
being thrown upon those good men, they have not only left stinging one
another, but also they are together hived with unjarringlinie, in the land
that flows with what is better than 7nitk and honey. As for Mr. Stone, if
it were metaphorically true (what they proverbially said) of Beza, that
he had no gall, the physicians that opened him after his death, found it
literally true in this worthy man.

§9. In his rhHrcli-discipline, he was, perhaps, the exactest of that
which we call Congregational, and being asked once to give adescriptioa
oi'the Congregational church-government, he replied, It was a speaking
Aristocracy in the face of a silent Democracy.

§ 10. He was an extraordinary person at an argument ; and as clear,
nnd smart a disputant, as most that ever lived in the world. Hence,
when any scholar came to him with any question, it was his custom to bid
him take which part the querist himself pleased, either positive or neg-
ative, and he would most argumentatively dispute against him ; whereby
having disputed one another into the naiTMtv ofthecase,hc would then
give the enquirer the most judicious and satisfying determination of bis
pro(/eni, that could be imagined. Yea, what Ctcero says of one, might
almost be said of him, J^ullam unquam in Disptitationihus rem defendit,
^uam nonproharit ; nullum oppugnavit, quern non everterit.

§ 11. The world has not been entertained with many of his compo-
sures. But certain strokes of Mr. Hudson and Mr. Cowdry, fetched one
8park out of this well compacted Stone ; which was, Jl Discourse about
the Logical J^otion of a Congregational Church ; wherein some thought,
that as a Stone from the sling of David, he has mortally wounded the
head of that Goliah, a national political chtirch. At least, he made an es-
say, to do what was done by the Stone of Dohan, setting the bounds be-
tween church and church, as that between tribe and tribe.

Moreover 1 lind in a book, which a late author hath written on Free-
.^race, this passage ; Might the world be so liappy, as to see a very elab-
orate confutation of the Antinomians, written by a very acute and solid per-
m, a great disputant, viz. Mr. Stu7ie of New-England, a Congregational
divine, it would easily appear, that the Congregational are not Antinomian.
And Mr. Baxter, in one of bis last works, does utter his dying wishes,
t'ur the resurrection of that buried manuscript.

But one of the most elaborate things written by Mr. Stone, or indeed
in this land, is his Body of Divinity ; wherein the reader has in a Rich»
ardsonian method, curiously drawn up the doctrine of the Protestant, and
Keformed, and J^exv-English churches ; and the marrow of all that bad
been reached, by the hard and long studies of this great student in theol-
ogy. This rich treasure has often been transcribed by the vast pains of
our candidates for the ministry ; and it has made some of our most con-
siderable divines. But all attempts for the printing of it, hitherto proved
ibortive.

^•^ i}-', .-^ ..A^t^-

vv - . : EPITAPHIUM. i^' ' - '■' ->*
:'^ "^:'- quern JVubilaFlctaCoronant. v' v , •

tHm THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. [Book IH.

CHAPTER XVH.
The Life of Mr. William Thumpbon.

§ 1. There is no experienced minister of the gospel, who hath not in
the cdHesi of tempted souls, often hud this experience, that the ill caseb of
their liisteaipered bodies, are the frequent occasion and original of their
temptulioiis. There are many men, who in the very constitution of their
bodies, do afford a bed, wherein busy and bloody devils, have a sort of a
loogiiii., provided for them, 'i'he mass of blood in them, is disordered
with dome tiei'> acid, uud their brains or bowels have some juices or fer-
ments, or vapours about them, which are most unhappy engtnei for c/evtb
to tvork upon their souls withal. The vitiated humours in many pet-
sous, yield the steams, whereiuto Satan dues insinuate himself, till he has
gained a sort of possension in them, or at least, an opportunity to ihoot
into the mind, as many ^cry darts, as may cause a sad life unto them;
yea, 'tis well if self murder be not the sad end, into which these hurried
people are thui^ precipitated. New-England, a country where sple-
netic inaUdies are prevailing and pernicious, perhaps above any other,
bath itflbrded numberless instances, of even pious people, who havecon-
trai-.tcd those melancholy indispositions, which have unhinged them from
all service or cointbrt ; yea not a few persons have been hurried there-
by to lay violent hands upon themselves at the last. These are among
the unseorchable judgments of God!

§ 2. Mr. William Thompson was a reverend minister of the gospel,
vihofelt in himself, the vexations of that melancholy, which personi in
his office do so often see in others. He was a very powerful and suc-
cessful preacher ; and we find bis name sometimes joined in the title-page
of several books, with his countryman, Mr. Richard Mather, as a writer.
Nor was New-England the only part of America, where he zealously
published the messages and mysteries of Heaven, after that the English
Hierarchy had persecuted him from the like labours in Lancashire, over
into America ; but upon a mission from the churches of New-England,
he carried the tidings of salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ into Virgin'
ia : where he saw a notable fruit of his labours, until that faction there,
which called it self, the Church of England, persecuted him irom thence
also. iSaton, who had been after an extraordinary manner irritated by
the evangelic labours of this holy man, obtained the liberty to sift him ;
and hence, after this worthy man had served the Lord Jesus Christ, in
the church of our New-£ng)ish Braintree, he fell into that Balneum dia-
boli, a black melancholy, which for divers years almost wholly disabled
him for the exercise of his ministry ; but the end of this melancholy,
was not 80 tragical, its it sometimes is with some, whom yet because of
their exemplary lives, we dare not censure for their prodigious deaths.
It is an observation of no little consequence, in our christian warfare,
that for all the fierce temptations of the devil upon us, there is a time
limited ; an hour of temptittion. During this time, the devil may grow
the more furious upon us, the more we do resist him. We must renst
until the time, which is prefixl by God, but unkmwn to us, is expired:
9nd then, we shall find it a law in the invisible world strictly kept unto,
that if the resistance be carried on to such a period, though perhaps with
many intervening foyle, the devil will be gone ; yea, whether he will
or no, we must be gone. There is a law for it, which obliges him to r

Book III] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND.

397

flight, and a flight that carries t fright in it ; tfear from an appreheniion
that God, witb his good angeli, wi|i come in, with terrible cbastiseoMnts
upon him, if he presume to continue his lemptatiotu one moment longer,
than the time that had been allowed unto him. All this, may be implied,
in that passage of the apostle, Reiitt the devil and h* will flee from you.
And as our Lord, being twice more furiously tempted by the devil,
drew near to God, with extraordinary prayer; but when the time
for the ten^tation was out, God by bis fingeU then sensibly drew near
unto him, with fresh consolations : to this, uo doubt, the apostle refers,
when he adds, Draw nigh to Ood, and he ehall draw nigh to you. Accord-
ingly) the pastors and the faithful, of the churches in the neighbourhood,
kept resitting of t',e devil^ in his cruel assaults upon Mr. l^hompion, bv
continually drawing' near to Ood, with ardent supplications on his behalf:
and by praying a/way*,without fainting without cean'ng, they saw the
ievil at^length^ce/rom him, and God himself draw near unto him, with
unutterable joy. The end of that man is pecue !
§ 3. A short flight of our poetry shall tell the rest.

)t , i

REMARKS

On the bright and the dark eide, of that American pillar, the Reverend
Mr. William Thompson ; pastor of the church at Braintree. WiiO
triumphed on Dec. 10, 1666.

But may a rural pen try to set forth
'' • Such a great father*» ancient grace and worth !
1 undertake a no less arduous theme,
Than the old sages found the Chaldee dream.
'Tis more than Tythei of a profound respect,
That must be paid such a JnelchUedeck. ""- -^^ ^

f* - ■
, >•• ■ '

;-.tr!,. «i

Oxford this lights with tonguet and arts doth trim ;
And then his northern town doth challenge him.
Hia time and strength he centered there in this ;
To do good works, and be what now he is.
His fulgent virtues there, and learned atradns.
Tall comely presence, life unsoil'd with stains,
Things most on Worthies, in their stories writ.
Did him to moves in orbs of service fit. f* /■' -^

Things more peculiar yet, my muse, intend,
Say stranger things than these ; so weep and end.

When he forsook first his Oxonian cell,
Some scores at once from popish darkness fell ;
So this reformer studied ! rare flrst fruits !
Shaking a crab'tree thus by hot disputes,
The acid juice by mimcle turn'd wine, '• ; ';

And raia'd the spirits of our young divine.
Hearers, like doves, fiock't with contentious wing.
Who should be first, feed most, moat homeward bring;.
Laden with honey, like Hyblaan bees.
They knead it into combs upon their knees.

i«r IV »■■

•/•'.■■

.«■••*«■

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLANl). (Bouk III.

n .1

Why he from Europe' $ plcaaant garden fled,
In the next uge, will oe with horrour ■nid,
Brainlree wu of thi« jtwel then poitett,
Until himteir, he labovr'd into re$t.
Hii inventory then, with Johns, was took ;
A rough coal, girdle with the sacred book.

When Reverend KnowUt and he,8aird hand in h^nd,
To Christ espousing the Virginian land,
Upon a ledge of cruggy rocks near stav'd,
His Bible in his bosom thrusting sav'd ;
The Bibie, the best of cordial of his heart,
Come floodt, come jlaine$, (cry'd he) weHl never part,
A constellation of great converts there,
Shone round him, and his Heavenly glory were.
GooKiNs was one of these : by Thmnpson's pains,
Christ and Nkw-Enolano, a dear Oookins gains.

With a rare skill in hearts, this doctor cou'd
Steal into them words that should do them good.
His balsams from the tree of life distilPd,
Hearts cleaps'd and beal'd, and with rich comfortH tiird.
But here's the wo ! balsams which others cur'd,
Would in his own turn hardly be cndur'd.

Apollyon owing him a cursed spleen
Who an Apollos in the church had been.
Dreading nis traffick here would be undone
By num'rous proselytes he daily won,
Accus'd him oi imaginary faults,
Afid push'd him down so into dismal vaults :
Vaults, where he kept long Ember-weeks of grief,
Till Heaven alarmed sent him in relief.
Then was a Daniel in the h'oni' den,
A man, oh, how belov'd of God and men !
By his bed-side an Hebrew sword there lay.
With which at last he drove the devil away.
Quakers too durst not bear his keen replies,
"Bnt fearing it half drawn, the trembler flies.
Like Lazarus, new raised from death, appears
The saint that had been dead for many years.
Our Nehcmiah said. Shall such as I
D^ert my flock, and like a coward fly !
Long had the churches begg'd the saint's release ;
Releas'd at last, he dies in glorious peace.
The night is not so long, but phosphorus ray
Approaching glories doth on high display.
Faith's eye in him discerned the morning star.
His heart ieap'd ; sure the sun cannot be far.
In extasies of joy, he ravish'd cries.
Love, love the lamb, the lamb ! in whom he dies.

tui'i

Dor. to, 166fi.

Book III.) THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

But the Churchea of Ntw-England hnving HmI another ioatan<'0 of afflic-
tion liko thnt which cxercifled our Thimpson. I nhall chur thia place
to intro<luce it. Lives have been aomei mes bent writt«;n in the wajr
of paraUel. To Mr. William Thompton, i<iiall now (horefore be- par-
allelnd, our Mr. John Warluim.

CHAPTER XVIII.
The Life of Mr. John Warhau.

When the time o( reformalion wna come on, one of the more effectual
thinga, done towarda that reformalion in England, about the middle of
the former century, waa to aend about the kingdom certain itinerant
preachert, with a licenae to pre<ich tho. fundamentals of religion, inatead
of the atiiff, with which the aoula of the people had been formerly fnm-
ii^hed. Upon thia occasion, it ia a pasaagc mentioned by the famous Dr.
Burnet : Many complaints were made of those that vere licensed to preach ;
and that they might be able to justijic themselves, they begin generally to
rvrite and read their sermons : and thus did thia custom begin ; in which,
what is wanting in the heat and force of delivery, is much made up by the
strength and solidity of the matter : and it has produced many volumes of as
excellent sermons, as have been preached in any age.

The custom of preaching with notes, thus introduced, hna been decri-
ed by many good men, besides /ana(tcA-«, in the present age, and many
poor and weak prejudices agninat it have been pretended. But hear the
words of the most accomplished Mr. Baxter, unto some gninsayers : It is
not the want of our abilities, that 7nakes us use our notes ; but it is a regard
Hutfl our work, and the good of our hearers. I use notes as much as any
man, wtun I take pains ; and as little as any man, when I am lazy, or bu-
sie, and have not leisure to prepare. It is easier unto us, to preach three
sermotis without notes, than one with them. He is a simple preacher, that is
not able to preach a day, without preparation, if his strength woiUd serve.
Indeed I would have distinction made between the reading o( notes, and
the using o( notes. It is pity that a minister should so read his notes, as
to take away the vivacity, and efficacy of his delivery ; but if he so use
his notes, as a lawyer does the minutes whereupon he is to plead, and car-
ry a full quiver into the pulpit with him, from whence he may with one
cmtofhh eye. after the lively shooting of one arrow, fetch out the next,
it might be a thousand ways advantageous.

I suppose the iirst preacher that ever thus preached with notes in our
.Yew-England, was the Reverend fVarham: who though he were some-
times faulted for it, by some judicious men, who had never heard him,
yet when once they came to hear him, they could not but admire the no-
table energy of his ministry. He was a more vigorous preacher than the
most of them who have been applauded for, never looking in a book in
their li-oes. His latter days were spent in the pastoral care and charge of
the church at Windsor, where the whole colony of Connecticut consider-
ed him as a principal pillar, and father of the colony.

But I have one thing to relate concernina; him, which I wonid not
mention, if I did not by the mention thereof, propound and expect the
iiflvantage of some, that may be my renders. Know then, that though
I'lr JVarham were as pious a man as mo«t that were out of Heaven, yel

400

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

•Satan often threw him into those deadly pangs of melancholy, that oiatfe
him despair of ever getting thither. Such were the terrible tempt<uiotu,
and horrible buffetings, undergone sometimes by the soul of this holy
man, that when he has administred the Lord^s Supper to bis flock, whom
he durst not starve by omitting to administer that ordinance ; yet he has
forborn himself to partake at the same time in the ordinance, through the.
fearful dejections of his mind, which perswaded him that those blessed
soult did not belong unto him. The dreadful darkness which overwhelm-
ed this child of light in his life, did not wholly leave him till his death.
It is reported, that he did even set in a cloud, when he retired unto the
glorified society of those righteous ones, that are to shine forth, as the sun
in the kingdom ofilieir Father : though some have asserted, that the cloud
was dispelled, before he expired.

What was desired by Joannes Mrthesius, may now be inscribed on our
Warham, for an

EPITAPH.

Securus recubo hie mundi pertcesus iniqui ;
Fit didici Sf docut, vulnera, Christe, tua.

I * I

> ■<.

CHAPTER XIX.
The Life of Mr. Henrv Flint.

' :';'

- ■:,- ■-.)

Altkough there is a most sensible and glorious demonstration of the
Divine Providence over human affairs, in the stupend variety o( human fa-
ces, that among so many millions of men, their countenances are distin-
guishable enough to preserve the order of human society, and conversa-
tion thereon depending ;' yet there have been some notable instances of
resemblance in the world. They are not only twins, which have some-
times had this resemblance, in such a degree, as to occasion more diver-
sion, than the two Sosia''s in Plaufus' Amphytrio; but some other per-
son^ have been too like one another to be known asunder, without crit-
ical observations of accidental circumstances. I will not mention the
several examples of /t/;cwess reported by Pliny, because there is frequent-
ly as much likeliness between a Plinyism and a fable. But Mersennus
gives us the names of two men so extreamly alike, that their nearest rela-
tions wore thereby most notoriously imposed upon. Yea, this likeness
has proceeded so far, that Polystralus, and Hippoclides, two philosophers
much alike, were both born in the same day ; they were school-fellows,
and of the same sect ; they both died in a great age, and at the very
same instant. Further yet, the two famous brothers at Riez, in France,
perfectly alike, if one of them were sick, or sad, or sleepy, the other would
immediately be so too. And the story of the three Gordians, the one
exactly like Jlugustus, the second exactly like Pompey, the third exactly
likfc Scipio ; he that has read Pezelins, doubtless will remember it.

I know not whether any of these likenesses are greater, than what it was
the desire and study, and in a lesser measure, the attainment of that holy
and worthy man, Mr. Henry Flint, the teacher of Brain-tree, to have un-
to Mr. Cotton, the well-known teacher of Boffon. Having trpins onco

'%>

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

4Q1

born uato h'un, he called the one John, the other Cotton, and hit Aon^ttr-
ing imitation of that great man, was as if he had beon a twin to John Cottan
hiiDuelf. In his exemplary life, he was John Cotton to the life ; and in all
the circamstances of his ministry, he propounded John Cotton for his pat-
tern ; as apprehending that h$ followed Jesui Christ.

You may be sure, he that copied after such an excellent person, must
write fair, though he should happen to fall any thing short of the
original.

Wherefore, having already written the life of John Oitton, I need say
nothing more of Henry Flint ; but they are now both of them gone, where
the harmony is become yet more agreeable.

He that was a solid stone, in the foundations of J\'ew -England, is gone
to be a glorious one, in the walls of the New-Jerusalem. ^

He died April 27, 1668, and at his death deserved the epitaph once al-
lowed unto Mentzer.

.d-'. • , EPITAPHIUM. ,

' . Flintsus semper Meditatus Gaudia Cteli,
V Nunc tandem Cali Gaudia Leetus habet.

:i-r'ia'f

; CHAPTER XX.

The LiFK of Mr. Richard Mather. ..- j
Florente verba, omnia Florent in Ecclesia. Luther.

^ i. It is a memorable passage, which Doctor Hall, after a personal
examination of it, ventures to relate, as most credible, [in his book of
angels,] that a certain cripple called John Trelille, having been sixteen
ye^rs a miserable cripple, did upon three monitions in a dream to do so,
wash himself in S. Matiurn's well, and was immediately restored unto the
use of his limbs, and became able to walk, and work, and maintain him-
self.

Reader, if thou hast any febleness upon thy mind, in regard either of
})itty, or thy perswasion about the church-order of the gospel, I will car-*
ry thee now to a well of a S. Mathern; which name, 1 suppose, to be
the Cornish pronunciation of that, which was worn by the good man, whose
history is now going to be offered.

In the night whereon our Lord was born, there was a glorious light,
with an host of angels gloriously singing over Bethlehem ; and the birth of
the great and good Shepherd, was thus revealed unto the shepherds of that
country. The magicians in the east, whether they had by their conver-
sations with the invisible world, a readier ej/eto discern such objects, or
whether it were only the sovereign and gracious /)rom<{enc« of God, which
tl\ua directed them, they probably saw that glory of the Lord. Possibly
to them at a distsnce, it might seem a new star hanging over Judaea ; but
afler two years of wonder and suspense about it, they were informed by
Ood, what it signified ; and when they came near the place of the Lord's
nativity, it is likely that this glory, once again appeared, for their fullest
satisfaction. T%is, till I see a better account, must be thai which I shall
take about, the star of the wise men in the East. But I am now to add.

Vol, I. 51

•jm

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI

thnt Til all ages, there have heen stars to lend men ui.to the Lord Jesus
Christ : angelical men employed in the ministry of our Lurd, have been
those hnppy stars; nnd we in the West, have been so happy, as to see
some of the^r«< magnitude ; among which one wsjs Mr. Richard Mather.
§ 2. It was at a small town, called Lowton, in the county of Lancasiu, ,
Jlnnn 1596, that so gmat ar/ion, as Mr. Richard Mather was borii, ol pa-
rents that were of credible and ancient families. And these his parents,
though by some disasters, their estate uas not a little sunk bclon the
-means of their ancestors, yet were willing to bestow a liberal educaiion
on him; upon occasion whereof Mr. JVia()ter afterwards thus expressed
himself: By what principles and motives my parents were chiefly induced
to keep meat school, I have not to say, nor dv I certainly know : but this I
must needs say, that this was the singular good providence of Godtowatds
me, (who hath the hearts ofaUmenin his hands) thus to incline tlie hearts of
my parents; for in this thing the Lord of Heaven shewed me sw.h favour,
as had not been shewed to many my prcdecasors and contemporaries in that
place. They sent him to school at Winwick, where they boarded him in
the winter ; but in the summer so warm was his desire of learning, that
he travelled every day thither, which was four miles from his father's
house. Whilst he was thus at school, Multu tulit fccitque Puer — be met
with an extremity of discouragement from the Orbi.ium harshness and
fierceness of the pmdagoguc; who though he had bred many line scholars,
yet for the severity of his disoipiinc, came not much behind the master
of Junius, who would beat him eight times a diiy, whether he were in a
fault, or no fault. Oui young Mather, tired under this captivity, at last
frequently and earnestly importuned of his father, that being taken from
the school, he might be disposed unto some secular calling ; but when
he had waded through his difficulties, he wrote this reflection thereupon :
God intended better for me, than I would have chosen for my self} and there-
fore, my father, though in other things indulgent enough, yet in this uovU
niver condescend to my request, but by putting me in hope, that by his speak-
ing to the master, thivgs wotdd be amended, would still over rule me to go
on in my studies ; and good it was for me to he over ruled by him, and Ai's
discretion, rather than to be left to my own aj/'ections and desire. But, 0,
that all school-masters would learn wisdom, moderation, and equity, to-
wards their scholars ; and seek rather to win the hearts of children by right-
eotis loving and courteous usage, than to alienate their minds by partiality,
and undue severity; which had been my utter undoing, had not the good
providence of God, and the wisdom and authority of my father prevented.

§ 3. Yea, and here Almighty God made use of his otherwise cruel
school-master, to deliver this hopeful young man from an apprenticeship
unto a Popish merchant, when he was very near falling into the woful
snares of such a condition ; which mercy of heaven unto him was ac-
companied with the further mercy of living under the ministry of one Mr.
Palin, then preacher at Leagh: of whom he would long after say. That
though his knowledge of that good man znas only in his childhood, yet the re-
membrance of him was even in his old age comfortable to him; inasmuch
as he observed such a penetrating efficacy in the ministry nfthat man, aswas
not in the common sort of preachers.

§ 4. There were at this time, in Toxteth Park near Liverpool, a well-
-disposed people, who were desirous to erect a school among them, fo/
the good education of their posterity. This people sending unto the
flchool-master of Winwick, to know whether he had any scholar that he
oould recommend for a master of their new school. Richard Mather was

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGtAND.

409^

by him recouitnended «)nto that service ; and at the peratvasion of hi»
friends to attend that service, he laid aside hix desire, and bis design of
going to the university : not unsensible of what hath been still observed,
Scholas esse Theologtoe pediste q^na9, ac temijutria Rtipublioce. Now as it
cannot justly be reckoned any blemish unto him, that at ffteett yean of
age he was a school master, who carried it with such wisdom, kindness, and
grave reservation, as to be lorved tvaA feared by his young folks, much
above the most that ever used ib.e. fei^nla ; jso it was* many wnys advanta-
gcoas unto him, to be thus employed. Hereby he became a more accu-
•rate §t>ainmarian, than divines too often are ;. and at his leisure hours he
to studied, as to become a notable prolicient in the other liberal arts.

Moreover, it was by moans hereof, that he experienced an effectual
conversion of soul to God, in his tender years, even before his going to
Oxfird ; and thus he was preserved from the temptations and corrtvptiona^
which undid many of his contemporaries in the university. That more
thorough and real conversion, in him, was occasioned by observing a dif-
ference between his own walk, and th6 most exact, watchful, fruitful,
and prayerful conversation of some in the family, of the learned and pious
Mr. Edward Aspinwul, of Toocteth, where he sojourned. This exempla->
ry walk of that holy man, caused many sad fears to arise in his own soul,
that he was himself out of the way ; which consideration with his hearing
of Mr. Harrison, then a famous minister at Hyton, preach about regtne-
TOiiont and his reading of Mr. Perkins' book, that shows, how far a repro-
bate may go in religion ; were the means whereby the God of Heaven
brought him into the state of a new creature. The troubles of soul, which
attended his new hi>th, were so exceeding terrible, that he would often
retire from his appointed meals unto secret places, to lament his mise-
ries ; but aAer some time, and about the eighteenth year of his age, the
good Spirit of God healed his &ro/;en /tear/, by pouring thereinto the evan-
gelical consolat'Ons o{ His great and precious promises.

§ 5. After this, he became a more eminent blessing, in the calling,
wherein God had now disposed him ; and such notice was taken of him,
that many persons were sent unto him, even from remote places, for
their education ; whereof, not a few went well accomplished, from him
to the university But having spent some years in this employment, ho
judged it many ways advantageous for him to go unto the university him-
self, that he might there converse with learned men and books, and more
improve himself in learning, than he could have done at home. Accord:
ingiy, at Oxford, and particularly at Brazen -JVose-College in Oxford, he
now resided, where together with the satisfaction of seeing his old scho-
lars, who had by his education, been fitted for their being there, he had
the opportunity further to enrich himselt by study, by conference, by
disputation, and other ncademical entertainment ; as considering, that
the lamps were to be lighted, before the incense was to be burned in the
Simctiiary. And here, he was more intimately acquainted with famous
Dr Woral, by whose advice, he read the works, of Peter Ramus, with a
singular attention and aifection ; which advice, he did not afterwards re-
pent that be had followed.

§ 6. But it was not very long before the people of Toxteth sent after
him, that he would return unto them, and instruct, not their children as
a schoolmaster, but themselves as a minister : with which invitation, he
at last complied ; and at Toxteth, November 13, 1618, he preached
his^^rs^ sermon, with great acceptance in a vast assembly of people :
but such was the strenj;th of his memory, that what he had prepared tbi-

4.04

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

one, contained no less than $ix long discouraet. He was after tbii or*
dained with many others, by Dr. Morton, the Bishop of ChttUr, who af-
ter the ordination was over, singled out Mr. Mather from the rest, say-
ing, / hav« iomething to say betwixt you and me alone. Mr. Mather was
now jcaioiu, that some informations might have been exhibited against
him for his Puritaninn, instead of which when the Bishop had him tdone,
what he said unto him was, / have an earnest request utUo you^ sir, and
you must not deny me : Uis, that you would pray for me ; for I knmo (said
he) the prayers of men that fear God will avail much, and you I believe are
such a one. And being so settled in Toxteth, he married the daughter of
Edmund Holt, Esq. oi' Bury, in Lancashire^ September 29, 1624, which
vei'tuoiis gentlewoman, God made a rich blessing to him, for thirty years
togetiier ; and a mother of six sons, most of whom afterwards proved
famous in their generation.

§ 7. He preached "every Lord's day twice at Toxteth, and every fort-
night he held a Tuesday lecture, at Prescot : besides which, he ofteD
preached upon the hdy'days, not as thinking that any da^ was now holy,
except the christian weekly sabbath, but because there was then an op-
portunity to cast the net of the gospel among much fish, in great assem-
blies, which then were convened, and would otherwise have been worse
employed. In this, he followed the examples of the apostles, who
preached most in populous places, and this also on the Jewish Sabbaths,
which yet were so far abrogated, that they charged the faithful to let no
man judge them in imposing the observation thereof upon them.

He preached likewise very frequently at funerals, as knowing, that
though /unera/ sermons are wholly disused in some reformed churclus, aat!
have been condemned by some decrees of councils, yet this was chiefly
because of the common error committed in the lavish praises of the dead
on such occasions, which therefore he avoided, instead thereof, only
giving counsels to the living. Indeed, the custom of preaching ntfunerais
may seem eAnical in its original ; for Publicola made an excellent ora-
tion in the praise of Brutus, with which the people were so taken, that
it became a custom, for famous men^ after this, at their death, to be ko
celebrated ; and when the women among the Romans parted with their
ornaments, for the public weal, the senate made it lawful for women also
to be in the like manner celebrated. Hinc mortuos Laudandi Mosjluxit.
qucnt nos hodie servamus, if Polydore Firgil may, as he sometimes may be
believed. But the M adgehurgensian centuriators tell us that this rite
was not practised in the church, before the beginning of the apostacy.
However, this watchful minister of our Lord, made h\s funeral-speeches to
be but a faithful discharge of his ministry in admonitions concerning the
last Ihitigs, whereby the living might be edified. But thus in his publtck
ministry, he went over the 'i4th chapter in the second of Samuel; the
first chapter of Proverbs; the first and sixth chapters of Isaiah; the
twenty second and twenty third chapters of Luke ; the eighth chapter of
the Romans ; the second Epistle to Timothy ; the second Epistle of John,
and the Epistle ofJude.

§ 8. Having spent about fifteen years, thus, in the labours of his minis*
try, his lecture at Prescot in fine, gave him to find the truth of QmWi/itfjri
observation, JVfa^norn Famam 4r Magnam Quientem, eodem Tempore, Ne-
mo potest Acquirere. Through the malice of Satan, and the envy of the
Satanical, there were now brought against him, those complaints for his
non conformity to the ceremonies, which in August, 1633, procured htni
to be suspended. The suspemlon continued upon him, till the Xow.tnher

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

ibllowin?, bat then by the interceNion of aome gentlemen in Lafuashire,
mA the influence of Simon Biby, a near alliance of the Bishop's visitor,
he was restored. After his rettoraiion^ he more exactly than ever, 8tu«
died the points of church-ditcipline ; and the effect of his most careful
studies was, that the Congregational way, assorted by CartwriglU, Parker,
Baines and Atne$, was the pitch of Reformation, which he judged the
scriptures directed the servants of the Lord humbly to endeavour. But
this liberty was not longer lived than the year 1634, for the Arch-Bishop
ofYork now was that gentleman whom Kmg James pleasantly admonish-
ed of his preaching Popery, because of some unacceptable things in his
conduct, which taught the people to pray for a blessing on his dead prede-
cessor ; and lu now sending his visitors, amocg whom the famous Dr.
Cousins was one, into Lancashire ; where they kept their court at Wi'
^(in, among other hard things, they passed a sentence of suspension upon
Mr. Mather, meerly for his non conformity. His judges were not willing,
that he should offer the reasons, which made him conscientiously so dispo-
ed, as then he was, but the glorious Spirit of God enabled him, with much
wisdom, to encounter what they put upon him ; insomuch, that in his
private manuscripts, he entred this memorial of it. In the passages of
that day, I have this to bless the name of God for, that the terrour of their
^reatening words, of their pursevants, and of the rest of their pomp, did not
ttrri/ie my mind, but that I could stand before them vcithout being daunted
in the least tneasure, but answered for my self such words of truth and so-
berness, as the Lord put into my mouth, not being afmid of their faces nt
all ; which supporting and comforting presence of the Lord, I count not much
less mercy, than if I had been altogether preserved out oftJuir hands. But
all means used afterwards, tc get off this unhappy suspension, were inef-
fectual ; for when the visitors had been informed, that he had been a
minister ^Ceen years, and all that while never wore a surp/m, one of
them swore. It had been belter for him, that he had gotten seven bastards.

§ 9. He now betook himself to a /irtvctfe Jt/e, without hope of again
eujoying the liberty of doing any more public work, in his native lanti ;
but herewithal foreseeing a storm of calamities like to be hastened on
the land, by the wrath of Heaven incensed, particularly at the injustice
used in depriving the truly conscientious of their liberty, his wishes be
came like those of the deprived psalmist, 0, that I had wings like a dove !
lo, then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness ; I would has-
ten my escape from the windy storm and tempest.

New-England was the retreat which now offered it self unto him :
and accordingly, he drew up some arguments for his removal thither,
which avgtiments were indeed, the very reasons, that moved the first fa-
thers of ATeW' England unto that unparalleled undertaking of transporting
their families with themselves, over the Atlantic ocean. ^f

I. A removal from a corrupt church to a purer.

II. A removal from a place, where the truth and professors of it ate
persecuted, unto a place of more quiet and safely.

III. A removal from a place, where all the ordinances of God cannot
be enjoyed, unto a place wher.'^ they may.

IV. A removal from a church, where the discipline of the Lord Jesus
Christ is wanting, unto a chtirch where it may be practised.

V. A removal from a place, where the ministers of God are unjustly
inhibited from the execution of their, fbnctions, to a place where tbot
may more freely execute the same.

4U(i

THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLANP. [Book HI.

VI. A removnl from a place, where there are fenrful signs of detoh'
Hon, to a place where one may have weli grounded hope of God's pro*
tection.

Such a removal, he judged that unto KervEngland now before him.

These considerations were presented unto many ministers and chris-
tians of Loncas/tiVe, at several meetings, whereby they were perswaded,
and even his own people of Toxteth, who dearly loved him and prized
him, could not gain-say it, that by removing to Ncxso- England, he would net
go out of his reay. And hereunto he was the more inclined by the letters
of some great persons, who had already settled in the country ; 'among
whom the renowned //ou/:^r was one, who in his letters thus expre^ed
himself. In a Txord, if I may speak my own thoughts freely and fully, thovgh
there arc very many places where menmay receive and expect more earthly,
commodities, yet do I hcleive there is no place this day upon the face of tht
earth, rstlurc a gracious heart and a judicious head, may receive more spir-
itual good to himself, and do more temporal and spiritual good to others.
Wherefore being t^atisiled in his design for New-England, after extraor-
dinary supplication for the smiles of Heaven upon him in it, he took his
leave of his friends in Lancasnire, with affections on both sides like those,
wherewith Paul bid farewell to his in Ephcsus ; and in Jlprit, 1636, he
made his journey unto Bristol, to take ?hip there ; being forced as once
Brentius was, to change his apparel, that he might escape the pursevants,
who were endeavouring to apprehend him.

§ 10. On .¥ay 23, 1635, he set sail from Bristol for New-England:
but when he came upon the coasts of New-England, there arose an hor-
rible hurricane, from the dangers whereof his deliverance was remarka-
ble, and well nigh miraculous. The best account of it, will be from his.
own journal ; where the relation runs in these words :

vm*fc^-, 'V. •.:,,. ...,t . . -.:. ... .: • August 15, 1635.

' The Lord had not yet done with us, nor had he let us see all his
' power and goodness, which he would have us take the knowledge of.
' And therefore about break of day, he sent a most terrible storm of rain,

* and easterly wind, whereby we were, I think, in as much danger as ever

• people were. When we came to land, we found many mighty trees

* rent in pieces, in the midst of the bole, and others turned up by the

* roots, by fierceness thereof. We lost in that morning three anchors
' and cables ; one having never been in the water before ; two were

* broken by the violence of the storm, and a third cut by the sea-men in
' extremity of distress, lo save the ship, «md their, and our lives. And
' when our cables and anchors were all lost, we had no outward means

• of deliverance, but by hoisting sail, if so be we might get to sea, from
' among the islands and rocks, where we were anchored. But the Lord let

• us see that out sails could not help us neither, no more than the cbk'
' and anchors ; for by the force of the wind and storm, the sails were rer.
' asunder, and split in pieces, as if they had been but rotten rags ; so

♦ that of divers of them, there was scarce left so much as an hand's-

* breadth, that was not rent in pieces, o.' blown away into the soa ; so

* that at that time, all hope that we should be saved, in regard of any out-

• ward appearance, was utterly taken away ; and the rather, because we

• seemed to drive with full force of wind, directly upon a mighty rock,
' standing out in sight above watef ; so that we did but continually wait,

• when we should hear and feel the doleful cnislung of the ship upon
' the rock. In thi-i extremity and appearance of death, as distress and
' •'li«^ra''ti'in ivo'ilt! svfTcr iis, wc cried unto the LonI, and he uas pleas--

Book Iir.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

40;

' ed to have compastion upon iia ; for by his over-ruling providence, and
' bis own itnnaedinte good hand, he guided the ship past the rock, asswa*
' ged the violence of the sea, and of the "wind, it was a day much to
' be remembered, because on that day the Lord granted us as wonderful

< a delivernnce as, I think, ever any people hud felt. The sea men con-
' fessed they never knew the like. The Lord so imprint the memory
' of it in our hearts, that we may be the better for it, and be careful to

< please him, and to walk upri|rhtly before him aa long as we live. And

< I hope we shall not forget the passages oT that morning, until our dying .

* day. In all this grievous storm, my fear was the less, when I consid*
' ered the clearness of my calling from God this way. And in some meas-

* ure (the Lord's holy name be blessed for it,) he gave us hearts con-

< tented and willing, that he should do with us, and ours, what he pleased,
' and what might be most for the glory of his name ; and in that we rest*
' ed our selves. But when news was brought us into the gun-room,
' that the danger was past. Oh ! how our hearts did then relent and melt

* within us ! we burst out into tears of joy among our selves, in love un-
' to the gracious God, and admiration of his kindness, in granting to his

< poor servants such an extraordinary and miraculous deliverance, his

< holy name be blessed for evermore.'

The storm being thus allayed, they came to an anchor before Boston,
August 17, 1635. Where Mr. Mather abode for a little while, and with'
bis virtuous consort, joined unto the church in that place.

§ 11. He quickly had invitations from several towns, to bestow him- .
Belt' upon them ; and was in a great strpU, which of those invitations to
accept. But applying himself unto cout.se/, as an ordinance of God, for
his direction, Dorchester was the place, whereto a council, wherein Mr.
Cotton and Mr. Hooker, were the principal, did advise him. Accordingly
to Dorchester he repaired ; and the church formerly planted there, being
transplanted with Mr. Warham to Connecticut, another church was now
gathered here, .^ugus^ 23, 1636, by whose choice Mr. Mather was now
become their teacher. Here he continued a blessing unto all the church-
es in this wilderness, until his dying day, even for near lipon four
and thirty years together. He underwent not now so many changes, as
he did before his coming hither ; and he never changed his habitation
ader this, till he went unto the house eternal in the Heavens ; albeit his
old people of Toxteth vehemently solicited his return unto them, when
the troublesome Hierarchy in England was deposed.

§ 12. Nevertheless, if Luther'' s three tutors for an able divine, study
and prayer, and temptation, as Mr. Mather could not leave the two first,
so the last would not leave him ; the wilderness whereinto he was come,
he found not without its temptations. He was for some years exercised
with spiritual distresses, and 'eternal desertions, and uncertainties about
his everlasting happiness ; which troubles ot Ms mind he revealed unto
that eminent person Mr. JVorton, whose well-adapted words, comforted
his weary soul. It was in these dark hours that a glorious light rose unto
him, with a certain disposition of soul, which I find in his private papers
thus expressed : My heart relented with tears at this prayer, that God
would not deny me an heart to bless him, and not blaspheme him, that is so
holy, just, and good ; though I should be excluded fromhis presence, and go
down into everlasting darkness Jind discomfort. But when these terrible
temptations from within were over, there were several and successive
afflictions, which he did from abroad meet withal : of all which afilictions,
tlie most calamitous was, the death of his dear, good, and wise consort.

408

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Doos III.

by whose discreet management of his affairs, he had been so released
from all secular incumbrances, as to be wbollj at libertjr, for the sacred
employment of his ministry. However, after he had continveid in big
widowhood a vear and half, the state of bis family made it necessary for
him to apply himself unto a *econd marriage ; which he made with the
pious widow of the most famous Mr. John Cotton ; and her did God make
« blessing unto him the rest of his days.

§ 13. My describing his general manner of life, after he came to
New-England, shall be only a tramcribmg of those voo«, which thoogh
he made before his coming thither, yet he then renewed. In his private
papers, wherein he left some records of the days which he spent some-
times in secret humUiations, and aupplicationi, before the God of Heaven,
and of the atturaneet which with the tears of a melted soul, in those
days, he received of blessings obtained for himself, his children, bif
people, and the whole country, I find recordmg the ensuing instrument.

* Promiuiones Deo facta, per me, '
' Richardum Matherum.

21 D. 6M. 1633.

Pra/. livi. 13, 14.
P«a/. cxix. 106.
Ptal. Ivi. 12.
JVeA. ix. 33, with x.
tec.

^*3^ VV) ulf

I. Touching iYt^ Ministry.

* 1. To be more painful and diligent in private preparations, for preach-

* ing, by reading, meditation, and prayer ; and not slightly and super-
<ficially. Jer. zTviii. 10. Ecel. ix. 10. 1 Ttin. iv. IS, 15.

* 2. In and after preaching, to strive seriously against inward pride,

< and vain-glory.

' 3. Before and after preaching, to beg by prayer the Lord's blessing
' on his word, for the good of souls, more carefully than in time past.

< I Cor. iii. 6. Acts xvi. 14.

II. Touching the Family.

* 1. To be more frequent in religious discourse and talk, Deut. vi. 7.

* 2. To be more careful in catechising children. Gen. xviii. 19. Prm.

* xxii. 6. Eph. vi. 4. And therefore to bestow some pains this way,
' every week once ; and if by urgent occasions it be sometimes omitted,
' to do it twice as much another week.

III. Touching My self.

* 1 . To strive more agamst worldly cares and fears, and against the

* inordinate love of earthly things. Mat. vi. 25, &c. Psal. I v. 22.

* 1 Pet. V. 7. Phil. i^. 6.

* 2. To be more freqUent and constant in private prayer. Mat. vi. 6. and

< xiv. 23. Psal. Iv. 17. Dan. vi. 10.

* 3. To practise more carefully and serioudly, and frequently the duty
' of self-examination. Lam. iii. 40. Psal.'vr. 4. Psal cxix. 59 ; especially

* before the receiving of the Lord's Supper. 1 Cor. xi. 28.

< 4. To strive against carnal secunfy, «nd excessive s/eeping. Prm.

* vi. 9, 10, and Prov. xx. 13.

* 5. To strive against vain jangling, and mispendiog precious time.
' Eph. v. 16. .

Book 111.] THE rflSTORY OF NEWENGLAND. *' ' 4^9

IV. Touching 0(/(fr*. ;

' 1. To be morfi careful nnt] zciilous, (o do good unto their souls, by
' private exhortations, rcprooft, iiHtniclions, conferences of (jlod's
'word. Prov. x. 21, and xv. 17. Lfiv, x'lx. 17. Psal. xxxvii. 30. ~

* 2. To be ready to do olTicos of love and kindness, not only, or prin*^
' cipally, for the praise of men, to purchase comcnciidalion for a good
^neighbour, but rather out of conscience lo the conainundtnent of Qod.

' Phil. ii. 4. 1 Cor. x. 24. Jkb. xiii. 16.

* Renewed with a profession of disabilities in my self, for pcrfurmance,

* and of desire to fetch power from Christ, thereunto to live upon
' him, and act from him, in all spiritual duties.
15.- D. 6. M. 1G3C.

Richard Mather.

§ 14. His way of /jr«acft««g was very plain, studiously avoiding ob-
scure and foreign terms, and unnecessary citation of Latin sentences ;
and aiming to shoot his arrows, not over the heads, but into the hearts of his
liearers. Yet so scripiuralty,iinA so powerfully did he preach his /)^am
sermons, that Mr. Hooker would say, My brother Mather is a mighty man ;
and indeed hesaw agreat successof his labours, in both Englands, convert-
ing many souls unto God. his voice was loud and big, and uttered with
a deliberate vehemency, it procured unto his ministry an awful and
very taking majesty ; nevertheless, the substantial and rational matter
deUvered by him, caused his ministry to take yet more, where>ever he
came. Whence, even while he was a young man, Mr. Gelltbrand, a
famous minister in Lancashire, hearing him, enquired, what his name
was? when answer was made, that his name was Mather ; he replied,
M'ay, his name shall be Matter 'jfor believe it, this man hath good substance
in him. He was indeed a person eminently yucftctoui, in the opinion of
such as were not in controversies then managed, of his own opinion ;
by the same token, that when Dr; Parr, then Bishop in the Isle of
Man, heard of Mr. Mather'' s being silenced, he lamented it, saying, If
Mr. Mather be silenced, I am sorry for it ; for he was a solid man, and
fhe Church of God hath a great loss of him. And it was because of his
being esteemed so judicious a person, that among the ministers of JVew-
England, he was improved more than the most, in explaining and main-
taining the points of Church-Goverment then debated. The discourse
about the Church-Covenant, and the answer to the thirty two questions,
both written in the year 1639, though they pass under the name of the
ministers of Kew-England, Mr. Mather was the sole author of thnm.
And when the Platform of Church- Discipline was agreed by a Synod of
these churches, in the year 1647, Mr. Jlf«</)er's model was that out of
which it was chiefly taken.

And being thereto desired, he also prepared for the press, a very
elaborate composure, which he entituled,'a Plea for the churches of
New-England. ■

Moreover, to defend the Congregational, in those lesser punctilio's,
wherein it seems to differ from the Presbyterian rvay of church-government ;
he printed one little book in answer to Mr. Herl, and another in answer to
Mr. Rutherford ; and yet was he so little Brownistically affected, that be-
iiides his apprehension of so vicious and infamous a man, as Brownh not
being likely to be the discoverer of any momeDtous truth in religion, he

Vot. I. 52

416 , ^ i'llE HISTOKY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

«vrote a treatise to prove, that whatever priviledge and liberty may belong
to the fraternity, the rule of the church belongs only to its preebytery.
Furthermore, when the propositions of the Hynnd, in 1662, were opposed
by Mr. Davenport, Mr. Mather was called upon to answer him ; which
he did, and therein, as in his former amaert, he gave such instances of
a close regard unto the truth, and the cause, without the least expression
or disrespect unto the persons answered, that »» my reverend friend Mr.
UiggintoH hath said sometimes to me, He waa a pattern for all an^ereri to
the end of tht world.

But as he judged that a preacher of the gospel '>hould be, he wa$ a very
hard student : yea, so intent was he upon nia beloved studies, that the
morning before be died, he importuned the friends that watched with
him to help him into the room, where he thought his usual works and
books expected him ; to satisfie his importunity, they began to lead him
thither; but Anding himself unable to get out of his lodging- room, be
said, / see I am not able, I have not been in my study several days ; and is
it not a lamentable thing, that I should lose so much time ? He was trvix,
abundant in his labours ; for though he was very frequent in hearing ih
word from others, riding to the lectures in the neighbouring towns, till his
disease disabled him, and even to old age writing notes at those Iccturec^
as the renowned Hildersham likewise did before him ; yet be preached
for the most part of every Lord's day twice ; and a lecture once a fort-
night, besides many bccasional sermons both in publick and private i
and many cas«i of conscience, which were brought unto him to be discuss-
ed. Thus his ministry in Dorchester, besides innumerable other texts of
scripture, went over the book of Genesis, to chap, xxxvlii the sixteenth
Psalm ; the whole book of the prophet Zechariah ; Mat'.'i o^s gospel to
chap, XV. the fifth chapter in the tirst Epistle to the Theualonvins ; and
the whole second Epistle of Peter ; his notes wheron he reviewed and
renewed, and fitted fur the press before his death.

He also published a treatise of justificatiim, whereof Mr. Cotton and
Mr. WUson gave thip testimony: Thou shall find this tittle treatise to be
like Mary's box of spikenard, which washing the paths of Christ toward us,
(as that did his feel) will befit to perfume not only (he whole house of God
with the odour of his grace, but also thy soul with the oyl of gladness, above
what creature comforts can afford. The manner of handling thou shaltjind
to be solid, judicious, succinct, and pithy, fit (by the blessing of Christ) to
make wise unto salvation. And besides these things, he published cate-
chisms, a lesser and a larger, so well formed, thataLu</ter himself would
not have been ashamed of being a learner from them.

NevertheleflA, after all these works, he was m Naziamen saith of
Athanasius, ''f^nkrtu r«?( ''^«({, r««-f(»«f It tmc ^fmiuwr As low in his
thoughts, as he was high in his works. He never became twice a child
through injirmity, but waa always one, as our Saviour hath commanded
us, in humility.

§ 15. A Jerom would weep at the death of such a roan, as portending
evil to the place of his former, useful, holy life : but such an occasion
of tears, the death of Mr. Mather must at last give to his bereaved peo-
ple. Some years before his death, [having sent over unto his old flock
m Lancashire, a like testimony of his concernment for them] be composed
and published, A Farewell Exliortatioii to the church and people of Dor-
chester, consisting of seven directions, wherein his flock might read the
design and spirit of his whole ministry among them ; on a certain Lord*s
40|f,iie did, hjf the hands of his deacons, pat these little books into the

Book III.) THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. •

411

hnndfl of his congregnlion, that so wbenerer h« should by death tak« his
fnrewel of them, they might still remember how they had been exhorted.
But old age came now upon him, wherein though his hearing was decay-
ed, and (as with great Zanehy) the $ight of one of liis eyes : yet upon all
other accounts he enjoyed an health both of body and $pirit, which was
very wonderful, and agreeable as well to his hardy comtitution, as to the
HtnpU and whoUome diet, whereto he still accustomed himself. He nev>
er made use of any physician all his days ; nor was ho ever sick of nnv
acute disease, nor in hfty years together, by any sickness detained so much
as one Lord^s day from his publick hbours. Only the two last years of
his life, he felt that which has been called Flagellum Sludioiorum, namely,
the stone which proved the tombstone, whereby all his labours and sor-
rows were, in fine brought unto a period.

§ 16. A council of neighbouring churches being assembled at Boston,
April 13, I6G9, to advise about some differences arisen there, Mr. Ma-
ther, for his age, grace and wisdom, was chosen the Moderator of that
reverend assembly. For divers days, whilst he was attending this con-
sultation, he enjoyed his health better, than of some later months ; but
as Lather was at a Synod surprised with a violent fit of the stone, which
caused him to return home, with little hope of life, so it was with this
holy man. On April 16, lodging at the house of his worthy son, a min-
ister in Boston, he was taken very ill with a total stoppage of un'ne, where-
in according to Solomon's expression nf it. The wheel was broken at the cis-
tern. So his Lord found him about the blessed work of Vl peace maker ;
and witli an allusion to the note of the German Phcenix, Mr. Shepard of
Charlestown, put that stroke afterwards into his Epitaph :

Vixerat in Synodis, Moritur Moderator in Illis.

Returning by coach, thus ill, unto his house in Dorchester, he lay p:i-
tiently expecting of his change ; and, indeed was n pattern of patience.
to all spectators, for all survivors. Though he lay in a mortal extremi-
ty of pain, he never shrieked, he rarely groaned, with it ; and when he
W!i3 able, he took delight in reading Dr. Goodwin's discourse about pa-
tience, in which book he read until the very day of his death. When
they asked him, how he did ? his usual answer was. Far from well, yet far
better than mine iniquities deserve. And when his son said unto him. Sir,
God hath shewed his great faithfulness unto you, lutving upheld you now
for the space of more than fifty years in his service, and employed you therein
without ceasing, which can be said of very few men, on the face of the earth ;
he replied. You say true ; I must acknowledge, the mercy of God hath been
great towards me, all my days; but I must also acknowledge that I have had
many failings, and the thoughts nfthem abascth me, and worketh patience in
m '. So did he, like Austin having the Penitential Psalms, before him, un-
til he died, keep up a spirit of repentance, as long as he b'ved. Indeed
this excellent man did not speak much in his last sickness, to those that
were about him, having spoken so much before. Only his son perceiving
the symptoms of death upon him, said, Sir if there be any special thing,
which you would recommend unto me to do, in case the Lord shovld spare
me on earth, after you arc in Heaven, I would intreat you to express it ; at
which, after a little pause, with lifted eyes and hands, he returned, .4 spc-
cial thing which I would commend to you, is, care concerning the rising gen-
eration in this country, that they be brought under the government of Christ
inhis church, and that when grownup, and qualified, they have baptism, for^

412 ^ TIIK I/ISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLAND. [Book 111.

their children. I must confess, I have betn ihfeclive, as to practice ; yet I
have nublickly dtclftred mtjjml'jment, and manifested my dttiret to prac-
tice that VL-hich I think ought to be attended ; but the dissenting of some in
our church, discouraged me. I have thought, that persons might have right
to baptism, and yet not to the fjord's Supper ; and I see no cause to alter my
judgment, as to that purltcular. ,'lnd I still think, that persons <jualijieit,
according to the fifth propoaition of the late Synod- Book, have right to baptism
for their children. His (loloiirs continued on iiirn, till Jlpril S2, at ni((ht ;
when ho quietly Itreutiiod furth liis hut ; aft(!r lie hud been about seventy
three yearH, n citi^cn of the world, and fifty years u minialer in the church
ofGod.

§ 17. The presage tvhicli he had upon hiH mind, ofhia own approaching
dissolution, wa» like thiit in .Imbrose tunong the unciontH, and in (Jesner,
Melanctlton, and Saudford, among the inodum divines ; «vhence the Inst
of the texts, whereon he insisted, in Ww public ministry, waa that in 2
Tim. iv. 6, 7, 8, The lime of my departure is ut hand — I have Jinished my
course. And the last before that, was that in Job xir. 14. Jill the days of
my appointed time will livnit, till my change come. And for a private con-
ference, he had prepared a sermon on tlioau \vord«i, in 2 Cor. v. 1. For
we knoxv, that if our earthly honnr. of litis tabernacle vcf re dissolved, we have
a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the Heavens ;
but by his removal from thiH house to th:tt, he wao prevented in the
preaching of the seriyioii. J low ready he was forthe/us( end ofhisidHyi
thus expected, is u little expri'sged in certain passages of his last ■will ;
the whole, of uhich if 1 shuuUI here transcribe it. after the example of
Beza, writing the life of Ca/vm, and /iun/to^tus writing the life of Humus,
and other such examples, it would be no ungrateful entertainment, but
1 shall only offer that one paragraph, wherein his words were :

Concerning death, as I do believe, it is appointed for all men once to die ;
so because (sec a great deal of unprofitableness in my own life, and because
God hath also let me see such vanity and emptiness eveti m the best of those
comforts, which this life can afford, thai [think I may tivly say, that I have
seen an end of all perfection : therefore if it were the will of God, I nhould
be glad to be removed hence, where the best, that is to be had, doth yield
such little satisfaction to my suul, and to be brought into his presence, in
glory, that there / might find, (for there / know it is to be had) that satis-
fying and all-sufficient contentment, in him, which under the sun is not to be
enjoyed ; in the mean time I desire to stay (he Liird''s leisure. But thou,
Lord, how long !

Thus lived, and thus died Richard Mather ; able to make his appeal
unto an evil world, at his leaving of it. i.-. .. , ;,

A'ulluin Turbavi ; l)incordes Pacificavi :
Iaksus stistiTiui ; nee mihi Cotnplacui.

§ 18. The special favour of God, which was granted unto some of the
ancients, that their sons after them succeeded in the ministry of the gos-
pel ; and which was particularly granted unto the haj)py fathers of Gre-
gory J^azianzen, Gregory JVysscn, Basil and Hillary ; this was enjoyed by
many of those good men, that planted our New-English churches, but by
none more comfortably, tha-i by Mr. Mather. It is mentioned as the fe-
licity of the blessed Vetterus a Bohemian pastor in the former century,
that he gave the church no less than four sons to be worthy ministers of
the gospel. Such was the felicity of our Mother. Many years before

onces : whei

Book III.J TIIL HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND.

413

he died, he hnd the comfort of seeing four t(m$ that were pr^acbert of
no meHit conviderution RiMotik; lltr |t«oplc of Ood ; it was counted the
sinKiilnr huppineia of thu great Kocniui AUtellua, that he expired in- the
nrm»of hit four (on«, who wei nil of them eminent persons ; at happy
WiMOur Mathtr ; and in ti chnstian account, much mart happy. And
since bit death, our common Lord, hat been served by Mr. tinmuel Ma-
liter, paotor of n church in Dublin, Mr. JVaihanael Mather, pastor after
him of the some church, but before that, o( Barnstable, and then of Ro*
ttrilam, and since that of a church in London ; Mr Eleazer Mather, pas-
tor of a church at our JVorlhampton ; and Mr. Increase Mather, teacher
of » church in Boston, and president of Harvard Colledge. Now because
this mighty man, and the youngest but one of these arrnivs in his hand,
were not only lovely and meful in their Ures, but also, in their deaths not
divided (for he died about three months niler his father) it will be pity to
i{ii;i'(ie them, in the history of their lives : and therefore of this Mr. EU-
(iicr Mather, we will here subjoin some small account.

§ 19. Mr. Eleazer Mather, (born May 13, l(i37,) having passed
tlirough his education in Ilarvard-Colledge, and having by the living and
lively proofs of a renewed heart, hs well as a wellinstkucted head, re-
commended himself unto the service of the churches, the church of
Northampton became the happy owner of his talents. Here he laboured
lor eleven years in the vineyard of our Lord ; and then the t-welve hours
of his day's labour did expire, not without the deepest lamentations of
all the churches, us well as his own ; then sitting along the river of Con-
ntcticut. As he was h very zealous preacher, and accordingly saw many
tea/sof his ministry, so he was a very pious walker ; and as he drew to-
wards the end of his days, he grew so remarkably ripe for Heaven, in an
holy, watchful, fruitful disposition, that many observing persons did prog-
nosticate his being not far from his end. He kept a diary of his experi-
ences ; wherein the last words that ever he wrote were these :

Jtrtv, to, 1G69.

' This evening, if my heart deceive me not, I had some sweet work-
' iiio;s of soul after God in Christ, according to the terms of the covenant
' of grace. The general and indefinite expression of the promise, was an
' encouragement unto me to look unto Christ, that he would do that for
' me, which he has promised to do for some, nor dare I exclude my self ;
' but if the Lord will help me, I de.<)ire to lie at his foet, and accept of
' s^racc, in his own wriy, and with his own time, through his power ena-
' biing of me. Though I am dead, without strength, help or liope in my
' self, yet the Lord requireth nothing at my hands in my own strength ;
' but that by his power, 1 should look to him, to work all his works in me
^ and for me. VVhcn I find a dead heart, the thoughts of this are exceed
■ ing sweet and reviving, being full of grace, and discovering the very
' heart and love of Jesus. ^

He died Jidy 24, 1669, aged years, about thirty-two.

" ' Sic Rosa, sic Violw, prima Moriuvlvr in Herba,

Candida, nee Toto, fJlia, Mense nitent.

§ 20. The dying words of hi? fither unto his brother, about the rising
generation, caused him, in the few sabbaths now left, before his own
'/car/t, to preach several sermons upon the methods that should be taken
I'T the conveying and securing of religion, with the good presence of God

414

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book Iff.

unto that generation, fon 1 Kings viii. 57.] The notes which he left
written of those pungent sermons, were nftcrwards printed, and reprint-
ed, with n preface of his brother^s : and when unto the other signs of
churches left by God, therein mentioned ; namely, the people's being
abandoned unto nJli^lUy spirit ; and an ill use made of temporal prosperi-
ty ; a spirit of division and contention, turning religion it self into /oc((on;.
tfio efficacious and victorious operations of the Holy Spirit, withdrawn
from ordinances ; he added, the death of such men, as are chief means
of continuing the presence of God unto a people ; he therein gave unto
u.«( (00 true an interpretation, of the sad providence, which was just goin^
by death to remove him, from this people unto a better world.

■¥.►,1'

Vf EPITAPHFUM. "

RicHARDUS hie dormit Mathkrus. ' '

Lcctatus Genuisse Pares.
Incertum est, Utrum Doctior, an Melior,

Jinima <^ Gloria, non queunt humari.

■' •■, .ST

But that nothing may be wanting to his epitaph, I will transcribe the
epitaph which the Reverend old Mr. John Bishop, the pastor of Stamforir
provided for him. j

f.,>.

'' ^' In Pium, Voctum,Sf Fraclarum,

' " I>orccs<rcnse;n Matherum.

Sjwcfir«s Terns, nosier ./acfl^cccc Matherus ;

Religionis Honos, qui tvlit ejus onus.
Quicqnid erat Synodis, Sacris de rebus agendum.

We {Dei adjulu) scepius Actor erat. '" '

Ma;pius hie in magnis, non parvam rebus iisdem "

Temporibus Variis contribuebat opem :
Consilis Sulidis, Doctrina, Dexteriiate,

Judicio Claro, cuinq; labore gravi.
JVam Doclvs, Prudens, Pius, Impiger, atq; peritus,

In Sacris, nee non promptus ad omne Bonum.
Omnia per Christum poluit, credensq; precansq;,

Tantafuit Fides, Vis quoq; tanta precum.
Hinc mihi Sublaio Charo Fi Mortis Amico,

Ilrrc Amnr atq; Dolor, composnere mens.

.)i -f

'^■4^

, *•« -

T. Errstopiwy.

CHAPTER XXI. ' • ''

Tiie Lui: of lAJr. Zaciiariah Symmes. "■* .""''

§ 1. Tin; Empcrour Pvohus having an honour for the memory of his
friend Aradion, honouieci him with a tomb two hundred foot Jroad. But
our value for the memorii of the divines that formerly served our church-
es, must not be measured by the breadth of our history concerning them.
We cannot gire much brro'Ith to Mic room. \Yhich wc dedicate in thb

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

415

our history, unto the memory of our Symmes, beciiuse wc have not re-
ceived very large informations concerning him. Nevertheless, accord-
ing to the French prorerb, Un minialre ne doit Scavoir que sa Bible, A
minister should know nothing but his Bible ; here was one worthy the Uitme
n{^ minister ; for he knew his Bible well, and he was a preacher of what
he knew, and a sufferer for what he prf-ached.

§ 2. Readtr, we shall not confound ourselves with fabhs and endless
genealogies, but wc shall truly edify our selves, if we enquire so far into
the genealogy of Air. Zacliariah Symmes, as to recite a passage written by
Mr. William Symmes, the father of our Zachariah, in a book which was
made by a godly preacher, that was hid in the house of Mr. William
Spimes, the father of William, from the rage of the Marian persecution.
' I note it as a special mercy of God, (writes he, in a leaf of that book)
<that both my father and mother were favourers of the Gospel, and ha-

< ted idolatry, under Queen Mary's persecution. I came to this book by
'this means: going to Sandwich in Kent, to preach the first or second
' year, after I was ordained minister. Anno 1587, or 88, and preaching
' in Saint Mary's, where Mr. Pawson, an ancient godly preacher, was

< minister, who knew my parents well and me too, at school ; he, after I
' had finished my sermons, came and brought me this book lor a present,
'acquainting me with the abovementioned circumstances. And then he
'adds, I charge my sons Zachariah and William, before Him, that shall
'judge the quick and the dead, that you never defile your selves with

' any idolatry or superstition whatsoever, but learn your religion out of
■God's holy wcrd, and worship God as he himself hath prescribed, and
not after the devices and traditions of men. Scripsi. Dec. 6, 1602.

§ 3. Descended from such ancestors, our Zachariali, was born April
5, 1599, at Canterbury, and the savoury expressions in the letters yet ex-
tant, which he wrote while he was a youth iu the university of Cam'
bridge, intimate, that he was new-born, while yet a child.

After his leaving the university, he was employed for a while in the
houses of several persons of quality, as a tutor to their children, but not
without molestation from the Prelates for his comcientious non-conformity
to certain rites in the worship of God, then imposed on the consciences of
the faithful. When he had passed through these changes, he was cho-
sen in the year 1621, to be a lecturer atAtholines, in the city of London :
and after many troubles from the Bishops-Courts, for his dissent from
things, whereto his consent had never been required by the great Shepherd
and Bishop of our souls, he removed from thence in the year 1625, to
Dunstable, where his troubles from the Bishops-Courts continuing, he at
length transported himself, with his family into an American wilderness.
New-England, and Charles-town in JVew-England, enjoyed him all the
rest of his days, even until February 4, 1670 ; when he retired into a
better world.

§ 4. His epitaph at Charles-town, where he was honourably interred,
DQentions his having lived furty nine years and seven months with his
rertuous consort, by whom he had thirteen rhildi'en, five sons, and eight
daughters, and annexes this distich.

A prophet lies under this stone ; , i

His words shall live, though he be gone. i. ^ .; f ,■ .,,t

But as that eminent person ordered this clause for his own epitaph, ia-
*te««| cf other glories and memoirs, which use to adorn a monumept, Here

416

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111.

lies the friend of Sir Philip Sidney. Thus the epitaph of this eminent
person, might h»ve mentioned one thing more, which might have gone
in the room of many other testimonies, to the'ability, and integrity, and
zeal, that signalized him ; Here lies the friend of Mr. Jeremiah Burroughs.
For we have still to shew the letters, which that greiit man sent unto
OUT Symmes, after his coming to A'ea>-/JngZan</ ; letters wherein he com-
pares the love between them, unto that between David and Jonathan;
as having baen a sort of sworn brothers to each other, ever since their
living together at the University.

CHAPTER XXH.
The Life of Mr. John Almn.

♦u;.„.

-Sequitur quern Vita perennts ;

' ' - Vivus enim Semper, qui bene vixit, erit.

§ 1. Why is the dead relation of father Abraham called, his dead, no
less than eight several times, in one short chapter ? It seems, though
death has dissolved our old relation to our dead friends, yet it has not re-
leased us from all our duty to them ; they are still so far ours, that we
owe something unto their memory. Reader, we are entertaining our
selves with our dead ; but if we do nothing to keep alive their memory
with us, we may blush to call them ours.

Among these, one is Mr. John Jlllin. But if there were such an offi-
cer in use among us, as once was among the Grei-ks, to measure the mon-
uments of dead persons, according to their i;er<«cs, he would greatly com-
plain of it, that I have been able to recover no more memoirs of a person,
whose vertues and merits were far from the smallest size, among those
who did worthily in Israel.

§ 2. He was born in the year 159G. ^ ' 'i^^

Having passed his cursus, in the tongues and arts, until he was, its
Theodorit says of Innocent, 'Ay;t<v««« x«( vvnvtt Kao-f^Hfiact, Ingenii ^ pru-
dential ornamentis egregie Jnslrucius : he became a faithful preacher of
Christ, choosing rather to dig in that rock of Zion, than in a rock of dia-
monds.

It is an ancient observation, that there were three things done by the
Holy Spirit of God, on and for the prophets, which were employed in
publick service for him : one was to give them courage against the rngc
of adversaries. Another was, to give them tt^m/o/n, for to regulate their
conduct. A third was, to give them vertue and holiness, tliat their own
consciences might not sting them, when they were to bestow aculeate re-
bukes upon the vices of other men.

This observation, which is as useful as ancient, was made by them
that considered those words of the prophet Micah : I am full of, (1)
pon'er, by the Spirit of the Lord. And of, {2) judgment, .find of {'i) ver-
tue. With all of these excellencies, did the Holy Spirit of God, in :i gra-
cious measure adorn our Alii a. But when the evil Spirit raised a storm
of persecution upon the Puritans, in the English nation, these excellencies
could not shelter this worthy man, from the injuries of it ; but rather ex
pose him thereunto. Leaving of England, \vhereof he might have taken
th«t farewel ;

.Yon caro Patrid, me caret ilia magis.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

417

lie chose an American wilderness, for his country : and cheerfully non-
fortned his getUeel spirit, unto the difficulties of such a wilderness : be-
ing only of Austin's taiad, about the banished christians, Miserrimum ea-
sel, si alicubi duci potcrant, ubi Deum suum non invenissent.

^ 3. He was a sufficient scholar, and (which is the way to become so)
a diligent student ; but yet his experimental acquaintance with Christiani-
ty, taught him to be of the mind, which the learned Suarez expressed,
when he did use to say. That he esteemed more that little pittance of time,
'which he constantly set apart every day, for the private examination of his
own heart, than all the other part of the day, which he spent in voluminous
controversies. His accompliii>hments were considerable ; and being a
very humble mun, he found, that sanctified knowledge grows mofst luxuri-
ant in tha fat v(dleys of humility: being a very patient man, he found
that the dew of Fleaven. which falls not in a stormy or cloudy night, was
always falling on a soul ever serene, with the meekest patience. He
was none of those low-built thatched cottages, that are apt to cutch fire :
but like an high-built castle, or palace, free from the combustions of
passion. He was indeed one of so sweet a temper, that his friends ana-
^rammatised, John Allin, into this :

In Honi All.

§ 4. His polemical abilities, were discovered, in a treatise called, A De-
fence of the JWne Positions ; wherein (being of Calvin'' s mind, ink is too
dear and costly with us, if we doubt to spend ink in writing, to testifie those
things, which martyrs of old sealed with their blood :) he, with Mr. Shepard
of Cambridge, handle the points of church-reformation ; at what rate, not
my pen, but our famoOs old Mr. Cotton^: in his preface to a book of Mr.
Norton's may describe unto us. '

Shepardus, una cum Allinio Fratre,[Fratrum dulce par) uti eximidpie-
teieflorent amho, 4* Eruditione non mediocri, atque etiam Mysleriorum
Pietatis prcedicatione (^per Christi Gratiam) efficaci admodum, iia egregiam
novarunt Operam in abstrusissimis Disciplince nodis fcelicitur enodandis.
Verba horum Fratrum, uti auaviter spirant Pietatem, Feritatem, Charita-
ttm Christi ; ita speramus fore (per Chisti Gratiam) ut multi, qui a Disci-
plinA Christi alieniores erant, adore horum unguentorum Chisti effusorum
dtlebati atque delincti, ad amorem ejus 4* pellecti ^ pertracti, earn avidius
arriplunt atque amplexentur.

Moreover, another judicious discourse of his, in defence of the Synod
hold nt Boston, in the year 1662, has declared hia principles about church-
discipline, as well as bis abilities to maintain his principles. The person
against whom he wrote this defence, was that very person, whose life
shall be the very next in our history ; for, r • >:>

Hi Motus Animorum, atque hcee certamina tanta,
Pulveris exigui Jactu compressa quiescunt.

*/- •»■•

§ 5. When the holy church of Dedham was gathered, in the year 1638,
he became their pastor ; and in the pastoral care of that church he con-
unued, until Aug. 26, 1671 : when after ten days of easie sickness, he
(lied, as Myconius well expresses it, Vitaliter mori; in the seventy-fifth
year of his age.

Now, according to that nfJerflm, Lacrymm Atiditorum Tuoe sint Lnudes ;
heboid, reader, the praises of this excellent maa. His flock published

Vol. I.

THE HlbTORY OF NEWENGLANl). [Book III.

the two liirtt Kermons that ever he preached ; one whereof was on Cant,
viii. 6. Who is this that comes vpfrom the wilderness, leaning on her be-
loved i* 'J'he other on ./o/t»» xiv. 22. Peace I leave with yon. But they
write their preface with tear* ; and with fearful praises they celebrate
him, as one altogether above their praises : and '» constant, Jaithful, dili-
gent steward in the house of God ; a man of peace and truOi, and a burn-
ing and a shining light. Adding, The rratcn is fallen from our heads .
Oh.' that itwerexvith us as in times pant ! which desire of theirs, has been
happily answered, in two most worthy successors. '

The character once given to Vhilippus Gallns, may very justly be now
made the epitaph of our John Jlllin.

.1 EPITAPH lUM ' ■■ " ' .

^ . f. ^ ■-, -..f .' , .. ,, "i ,.• --■', ,. , -,

• . Johannes Allinius. ' .r * ■ *

'.) ' ; , '<•' ■ ■-■<'

■• - \ •' Vir Sinc'rns, Amans pttcis,paticnsque Laborum, ■'. •

• \- il, ,. Perspicuus, Simplex, Doctrina purus Amalor. '' *•' ''■ i*'-

CHAPTER XXIII.

Cadmus Jhnericanus. The Life of Mr. Charles Chakcev.

' ' Suadet Lingua, Jubet Fita, "' "

§ 1. There was a famous person, in times, by chronolgoical compu-
tation, as ancient as the days of Joshua, known by the name of Cadmus;
who cr/. riad not only people, but letters also, from Phaniiia into Battia.
The Grecian fable of a serpent, in the story of Cadmus, was only de-
rived from the name of an Ilivite, which by his nation belonged unto
him ; for an fllvite signifies a serpent, in the language of Syria. This
renowned Cadmus, was indeed a Gibeonite, who having been well treat-
ed by Joshua, and by Joshua not only continued in the comforts of life,
but also instructed and employed in the service of the true God, he
retained ever after most honourable sentiments of that great command-
er. Yea, when after ages, in their songs, praised Jipollo for bis vic-
tory over the dragon Pytho, they uttered but the disguised songs of Ca-
naan, wherein this Ca'imMs had celebrated the praises of Joshua, for
his victory over Og the King of Bashan, Cadmus having been (as
one of the Greek poets writes of him) educated in Hebron or Dehir, the
universities of Palestine, was fitted thereby to be a leader in a great un-
dertaking ; and when the oppression of Ctishanrishathaim, caused a num-
ber of people to seek out new seats, there were mnny who under the
conduct of Cadmus, transported themselves into Greece, where the
notions and customs of an Israelitish original, were therefore a long
while preserved, until they were confounded with pagan degeneracies.
There is reason to think, that a colony of Hebrews themselves did now
swarm out into Peloponnesus, where the book of Maccabees will help us
to find Lacedemonians (or Cadmnnians, that is. the followers of Cadmus,
in their true etymology) of the stock of Moruham; and we know that
Strabo tells us. that Cadmus had Arabians (and the Israelites, were by
such heathen writers accounted so) in his company. Accordingly, wher

ijrezi' ; in his

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAlsu.

we read, that a college among the old Greciam was called academiaf we
mtiy soon inform our selves, that it was at tirst called Cadmia or Cadmea,
in commemoration of Cadmus, the Flupnician ; to whom those parts of
the world were first beholden, for such nurseries of good literature
and religion. ,,a. i

These reseiirches into antiquity, had not, in this place heen laid be-
fore my reador, if they nut!;ht not havu servud ji« nn introduction unto
this piece of Kew-Eiiglish history ; that wjien sonie ecrlesiaslical oppres-
sions drove a colony of the truest Isru/lllvs into the remoter parts of
the world, there was an academy quickly founded in that colony : and
our Chancey was the Cudmus of that academy ; by who ■ vast labour
and learning, the knowleds^e of the Lord Jesus Christ, scr.ed by all the
human sciences, hath been conveyed unto posterity.

It is now fit, that a few memoirs of that reverend man should fdl our
pages.

§ 2. Mr. Charles Chancey was an llartfordshire man ; born in the
year 1589, of parents that were both honourable and religious. Be-
ing sent from thence to Westminster-school, his hopeful prolicienc in
good literature, within a short while, ripened him for the university.
And it was one thing which caused hina to have the more feeling resent-
ments of the famous Powf/ey-rZof, the TcpoH whereof will makearioue
as long as the fifth, of November is in our kalendar ; that at the time
when that^/o( should have taken its horrid effect, he was at that school,
which mu»t also have been blown up, if the Parliament-house had per-
ished. The university of Cambridge, was that which afterward instruct'
ed and nourished this eminent person, and fitted him for the service
wherein he had opportunity afterwards to demonstrate that he was in-
deed such a person. The particular college whereof he was here a
member, was Trinity College ; by the same token, that in the Lachrymic
Cantabrigienses, published by the Cantabrigians, on the death of Q,ueen
Ann, I find him in that style composing and subscribing one of the most
witty Latin /josms in that whole collection. Here he proceeded Batc/i-
elour of Divinity : and having an intimate acquaintance with that great
m;m Ur. Usher, whom all men have confessed worthy of the character,
wherewith foetus mentions him, f^astte Lec<ion('s<$* eritditionis Theologus,
inq ; Jlntiquiiate Ecclesiastica Fersatissimvs, he had hereby an opportu-
nity farther to advantage himself with the ancient monuments in King
Jan s' Library.

§ 3. By the head of the houses he was chosen Hebrew professor ; but the
Vice-Chancellour Dr. Williams, preferrins;a kinsman of his own to that
place, at the same time he put our Mr. Chancey into the place of Greek-
professor ; and as one well known to be an accurate Grecian, it %vas he
ihat afterwards was the C. C. the l^ir Doctissimus 4" Piissimus, whose
'iViitpiFif, you have at the beginning of Leigli's Critica Sacra upon the JVeta-
Testument. He was indeed a person incomparably well skilled in all the
learned languages ; especially in the Oriental ; and eminently in the He-
brev; ; in his obtaining whereof, his conversation with a Jew for the space
of a year, was no little advantage to him. I know that the Hebrew tongue,
as an exception to the general rule, Difficilia qua: Pulchra, is more easily
(litalncd, than any that 1 have yet observed ; and hence we see even our
English women, sometimes in a little while, and wilhn little pains, grown as
expert at it as the ladies Pausa or Blasilla, by ./flrowi therefore celebra-
ted ; and, 1 have wished that many in the world, were more moved by
thosp words of a vvnrthy author, Avuimspondere, ilhs qui StnJiis Hebrai-

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Look Hi

cis, tantum Temporis Impenderent, quantum Tubulo JSficotiana imbibendo,
(fuo nunc pars buna Studioaorum pro Hydragogo uti consuevil) turn Mane,
tuitt Veyperi, impendi sotet, progesius in hujusce Linguoe Cognitione, haud
Vulgarci brevt esse faciuroa, adeo u( mirentur, te esse turn doctot, ante-
qt*atn Didicirmt. iNevertheless, tliis tongue is as easily forgotten. But
being once aitained and therewithal preserved and improved, good men
will iind as our Mr. Chancey <1id that the conjunct profit and pleasure of
it <veie inexpressible , and that the talents wherewith it would furnish
tbein to do so many services for the Church of God, were such as to
m-'ke tiiciii join with Luther, in his protestation, That he would not part
with his knowledge of tht Hebrew, for many thousands (f pounds ; or to
approve the (usual) modest words of Melancthon. Scio me vix primis
Labris degu-tus-e llebyaHus Literas ; sed tamen hoe Ipsum, quod didici
quantulwncunq ; est propter Judicium de Religione, Omnibus Mundi Reg-
nis, omjuumq; op bus Iji-nge Antepono.

§ 4. When he left the university, he became a diligent and eminent
preacher of the gospel at Marston ; but after sometime, he removed
himself to IVare, where the hand of the Lord was teith him, and many be-
lieved, and turntd tmto the Lord. Here it was that the successes of his
faithful ministry, in the instruction of the ignorant, and the conversion of
the ungodly, became a matter of much observation.

But when Satan wanted a Shibboleth for the discovering and extinguish
ing such an holy ministry, throughout the nation, the miserable Arch-
Bishop Laud, served him with a licence for sports on the Lord's day ;
whereby the people were after an horrid manner invited unto the pro-
fanation of that sacred rest ; and indeed of every thing sacred with it.
Then it was that our Mr. Chancey hearing the drums beat for dances and
frolicks on the Lord's day, was, like other good men, afraid that God
would break the rest of the kingdom, and cause drums to be beaten up
for marches and battels on that very day. But when he was inhibited
from attending of other exercises, on the afternoons of the Lord's day,
he set himself to catechise as many as he could, both old and young;
which, as the bishop in sheeps cloathing said, was as bad as preaching.
And by such methods, he still continued serving the interests of the gos-
pel.

§ 5. But about this time there arose a storm of must unreasonable,
but irresistible |jcrsec«<ton, upon those milliliters, who were well-wish-
ers to the progress of the Protestant reformation in the kingdom ; and Mr.
Chancey was one of those who suil'ered in it. In Mr. Rnshu'orth's collec-
tions for the year 1629, 1 find this passage.

' Mr. Charles Chancey, minister of Ware, using some expressions in
' his sermon, that Idolatry was admitted into the church ; that the preaching
'^ of the gospel would be suppressed ; that there is much Atheism, Poperij-

• Arminianism and Heresy, crept into the church : and this being looked

• upon to raise a fear among the people, that some alteration of religion
' would ensue ; he was questioned in the High Commission ; and by order
'of that court, the cause was referred to the Bishop of London, beiiift
' his ordinary ; who ordered him to make a snhmiKsioii iu Latin.

This worthy man bf ing by the terrors and censures of that infamoin
court, suddenly surprised unto a sort of snlmimon , which gave too good
an acknowledgment of the constitution, whereiuto the Luudian faclwr'
was then precipitating the Church of England, he no sooner got a little
out oi' {he temptation, but he signalized his repentance of that submission.
with a zeal not unlike that of the blpwed f'ramner na;ain?t his own n'shJ

Book 111.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

42}

hand, for subscribing his recantation. Although he vita not long without
the faith of his having this his too sudden compliance with the demandu
of his persecutors, /orgiven tn Htaven, yet he never forgave himself as
long as he lived on earth ; he would on all occasions express himself ex-
treamly dissatisfied, as well at the ill things then advanced in the Church
of England, as at himself also for ever in the least, consenting to those
things. Those memorable Puritans which were driven into Anurica, all
of them had a dislike of the deformities, which they saw yet cleaving to
the Church of England ; but 1 question, whether any disliked them with
i>uch fervent exprestiions of indignation, as our Mr. Chancey, who thus
took the revenges of a deep repentance upon his own confoi'mity to them.
And (ew suffered for non-conformity more than he by Jincs, by gaols, by
necessities to abscond, and at last by an exile from his native country.
Yea, though he bad lived a very exact life, yet when he came to die,
more than forty years after this, he lefl these words in his Inst will and
testainent. In regard of corrupt nature, I do acknowledge my self to be a
child of wrath, and sold under sin, and one that hath been polluted with in-
numerable transgressions and mighty sins, which as far as I know and can
call to remembrance, I keep still fresh before me, and desire with mourning,
and self abhorring still to do, as long as life shall last ; and especially my
so many sinful compliances with and conformity unto vile human inventions,
and will-worship and hell-bred superstition, and patcheries sticht into the
nervice of the Lord, (which the English Mass book, 1 mean, the Book of
Common Prayer, and the ordination of Priests, ^c. are fully fraught
•Mthal.)

§ 6. There was once a Parliament in England, whereto a speech of
no less a man than the Lord Digby, made a complaint, that men of the best
cmscience were then ready to fly into the wildernessfor religion : and it »va3
complained in an elegant speech of Sir Benjamin Rudyard's, A great mul-
titude of the King''s subjects, striving to hold communion with us, but seeing
how far we were gone, and fearing how much farther we would go, were
forced tofly the Land, very many into salvage wildernesses, because the land
would not bear them : do not they tliat cause tfiese things, cast a reproach
upon the government. And in a notable speech of Mr. Fiennes, a certain
number of ceremonies in the judgment of some men, unlawful, and to be re
jected of all churches, in the judgment of all other reformed churches, and
in the judgment of our own church. 6uHndifierent, yet what difference,
yea what distraction have these indifferent ceremonies raised among us ?
What hath deprived us of so many thousands of christians, which d-'sired,
and in all other respects deserved to hold communion with us ; I say, n-hnt
hath deprived us of them, and scattered them into I know not what places and
corners of the world, but these indifferent ceremonies ? It was then that
Mr. Pym, in the name of the House of Commons, impeaching A. B. Laud,
before the House o( Lords had these expressions. You have tke King* a
loyal subjects banished out of the kingdom, not as Elimelech, to seek for bread
in foreign countries, by reasmi of the great scarcity which was in Israel ;
hit travelling abroad for the bread of life, because they could not have it at
home, hy reason of the spiritual famine ofGinVs zvnrd. caused by this man,
and his partakers : and by this means j/oti have the industry of many thou-
sands of his majestifs subjects carried out of the land. And at last the
whole House of Commons put this article in the ri>monstrtnce, which
they then made unto t'lo King. The Bishops and their Courts did impov-
tnsh many thousands ; and so afflict and trouble others, that grea! nvml^.r'!.

i'ii

Tim HISTORY OF NEVV-ENOLAND. [Book 111.

to avoid their miieries, departed out of the kingdom, iome into Now-Englund
and other parti of Aincnca.

Uiit it 18 now time to tell my render, that in the tranxportations, ihui
rensonubly un«l purliuincutarily cuinplaiiicd of, one of the most convidcr-
able pertions rcinovin)! into Jlnurica, was Mr. Charles i'hancty ; who ar-
rived at I'lytnoutk in jVcw-tlm^land, a lew days beforu the great earth-
quake which happened VtinMar^ I, H\3Q.

§ 7. Atler he had spent HOino time in the ministry of the K^^i^pol, with
' 'r. Jieyner o( I'/yinouth, he rumovuti nnto a town a little northward of
it, called Hcituair, where he remiined for three and three liincu three yv/Mi,
cultivating the vineyard of the Lord in that place. Of thix his minis-
try at tu-iluate, lot me preserve at leant, titis one rememlirance : having
hill ordination renewed at hisi entrance upon this new relation, he did at
(hat Holemnily preach upon those words, in Frov ix. 3, H'ixdom hath
sent forth her maidens; and in his discourse, making a most aflVctionatc
rellcction upon his former compliances with (he temptations of the High
Commission Cou>l, he said tvith tears, Jllus, rhrislinns, I am no viaiden ;
tny soul halh been defiled with false •worship ; howwondrousis the free-grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ, that I shmdd still be employed among the maidens
of reisdom !

Afterwards, npon an invitation from his old people at Ware, to return
unto them, he purppscd a removal with his family back to tlngland ; but
when he came to Hoston in order thereunto, the overseers of Ilarvoid-
CoUcdf^e at Cambridge, which now wanted a President, by their vehement
importunity, prevailed with him to accept the government of that socie-
ty ; wherein worthily (7tMjm^' their way, and silling chief , and dwelling as
a King in the midst of his army, he continued unto the day of his death.
From this time 1 behold him »s another Elijah, shedding his benign influ-
ences on the school of the prophets ; and with immense labours instructing,
directing and feeding the hope ofVieflock in the wi/deruess. At his instal-
ment, he concluded his excellent oration, made unto a venerable assembly,
then tilling the Colledge-llall with such a passage as this, unto the students
there, Dodiorem, certe I'xvsidein, S{ huir. Oneri acStatUmi mnltisModisAp-
fiorem, vnbis facile licet Invenire sed Amantiorem, 4' vestri Boni Studiom-
rem, iion Iniirineliif. And certainly he was as good as his word. How
learnedly he now conveyed all the liberal arts unto those that sat at his
feet; how iriUily he moderated their disputations, and other exercises ;
how constantly he expounded the scriptures to them in the Colledge-Hall ;
how Jluent/y he expressed himself unto them, with Latin of a Terenlian
phrase, in all his discourseij ; and how carefully he inspected their nuin-
j/cr.v, and was above all things concerned for them, that they might an-
swer a note which he gave thorn [IVhen you are your selves interested in
the Lord Jesus Christ, and his righteousness, yon will befit to be teacliers (f
others : Isiiiah cries. Now send me ! wlmn his sins tvere pardoned: bid
icilhout this, yon are fit fcr nothing :] will never be forgotten by m««t/of
our most worthy men, who were made such men, by their education under
him : for we shall find as many of his disciples in our catalogue of gradu-
ates, as there were in \.\yA\. cnllcdge oi believers, nt Jerusalem, whereof we
read in the tirst chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. But If theie were
any disadvantages of an has/y temper, sometimes in his con.luct, they still
^vere presently so corrected with his holy temper, that this did but invite
persons to think the more of that Elias to whom we have compared
lii-ii ; iir.i' therefore, as thoy were forgotten by every one, in the very
day olthem, they arc, at thisdav, much more to be so : Mr. UrianOakrs

nooK lll.j THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

483

that preached hiH funeral iiermon, well naiil, Th- mention thereof was to
he wrnppetlnp in Elijiiirs mantle. Hut if the .„o\c. country were scnHi- -
bit' of the blcsning which nil New-Knf^hvtd enjoyed in our Chancey now
at Cambriili^e ; the church of Cnmbridffe, to whom he now joined, and
preached, had a very particular cause to bo no. And to indeed they
were ; hy the same token, that when he had been above a year or two
ia the town, the church kc|)t n whole day of tiianksoivinu to tiod,
for the mercy, which they enjoyed in his beinc there.

§ 8. He wnfl a inoflt indefatigable student, which with the blessing of
God, rendered him a most incomparable scholar. Me rose very early,
nhout four a clock, both winder and summer; and he Hct the scholars an
example of diligence, hardly to be followed. Rut Uene Orame, est Bene
Slitdnisae : by interweaving of constant prayers into his holy studies, he
made them indeed holy ; and my reader shall cotint, if he pleases, how
oft in a day he addressed Heaven with solemn devotions, and judge
whether it might not be said of our Charles, as it was of Charles the Great,
(which is indeed the way to become great) Carohts plus cum Deo,quam
cum Hominibus loquitur; when 1 have told, that at his first getting up in
II morning, he commonly spent near an hour in secret prayer, before his
minding any other matter ; th m visiting the co//e(/gc-^a//, he expounded
a chapter, (which was first read from the Hebrew) of the Old Testament,
with a short prayer before . and u long one after his exposition : he then
did the like upon another chapter, with a /iru^cr before, and aAer, in his
family : about eleven a clock in the forenoon, he retired again about three
quarters of an hour (or secret prayer. At four a clock in the afternoon
he again did the like. In the evening he expounded a chapter, (which
was first read into the Greek) of the JVew-Testament, in the colledge-hall,
with a (brayer in like manner before and after ; the like he did also in
his family : and when the bell rang for nine at night, he retired for an-
other hour uf secret prayer before the Lord. But on the Lord's days
morning, instead of his accustomed exposition, he pre<iched a sermon up-
on a text, for about three quarters of an hour, in the colledge hall. Be-
sides all this, he often set apart whole days for prayer viilh fasting alone
by himself; yea, and sometimes he spent whole nights in prayer, before
the Heavenly Father who sees in secret. Many days of prayer with fast'
ing, he also kept with his religious consort : and many sech days he also
kept with hiifumi/y, calling in the company and assistance of three or
four godly neighbours : besides what he did more publickly among the
people of God. Behold, how near this good man approached unto the
strictest and highest sense of praying always.

Chrysostom tells us, that Christ and Paul commanded us to make our
prayers, Bp»j^ti*( k»i WKiat, xeu f| "oinym htt?uiifui,r»n, short and frequent,
and with little distances between them. And Cassianus mentions it, as the uni-
versal consent of ancients, f/itViMs censcni Breves Orationes, sed creberri-
viasfieri. The prayers of our Chancey were such for their frequency,
whatever they might be semetimes for their brevity. Moreover, 'twas
his constant practice, not only on the Lord's days in the evenings, h\ii ev-
ery day, morning and evening, after he had expounded a chapter, to ex-
amine his children and servants with some fit questions thereupon. On
the Lord's djiys, once a fortnight, he preached publickly in the fore-
noons : but when he did not so, he had the morning sermon repeated at
Doon, and the aflernoon sermon repeated at night, and both the sermons
repeated once more in the evening, before the next Lord's day : at

424

THE HISTORY OV NEW-ENQLANl). [Book Hi

which timet he utill took occasion to reinforce the more notable truths,
. occurring in the sermona, with pertinent applications of bis own.

At this rate this eminent person ran the race that was set before him .
anit though one would have thought, that so laborious a race must have
been quickly run, yet if that may be an encouragement unto diligent fol-
lowers, let them know tliat fourscore years of age dispatched it not ; he
continued a green olive tree in the house of God, long aAer he was gray head-
ed (or age ; and in his old age he did not luaveoiT to bring forth /rut<, unto
the praise of God, I fitid that the law of redemption, in the last chapter of
Levtticus. (in Hos. 3. 2. alluded unto) valued a man above sixty, but at
fifteen shekel*; whereas a man between twenty and sixty, was valued at
(an hoiiur of barley, or) no less thaa fifty shekels. But the worth of our
Chancey at eigfUy, continued much what as it was when he was under
tixty ; and he was. a person of great worth and use unto the lost. Indeed
it was bis laudable ambition to be so. Whence, after age had enfeebled
him, the fellow^ of the colledge once leading this venerable old man,
to preach a sermon in a winter-day, they, out of affection unto him, to
discourage him from so difficult an undertaking, told him, Sir, you'll cer-
tainly die in the pulpit. But he laying hold on what they said , as if they
had offered him the greatest encouragement in the world, pressed the
more vigorously through the snow-dryi^ and said, How glad should I be,
if what you say might prove true !

§ 9. He kept a diary, the loss of which I cannot but mention with
regret ; nevertheless 1 can report thus much of it, that it was methodiz-
ed under the heads of sins and mercies. Under the head of «tn*, he took
notice of his failings, as if he had spoken a passionate word, pr been
dull and cold in his duties, and the like. Under the head of mercies, he
took notice of the special and more signal /avour*, which Heaven bestow-
ed upon him. He was also very much in meditation, and in that one im-
fiortant kind and part of it self-examination ; especially in his preparations
or the Lord's table. From his diary we have recovered a little i:elatiog
thereunto ; and for a specimen, the reader shall here have a few of hit
notes, which he entitled, l-

SELF-TRIALS BEFORE THE SACRAMENT.

Trial of my Part in Oirist.

1. I am subject to the commandment of believing on bis person.
3. I rest and rely upon him only for salvation.

3. I resolve by God's help, to leave all for him.

4. All my hopes are in him, and he is my peace.

5. By his spirit given me.

6. That I walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit,

7. By many tokens of A» /ove to me.

Trials of my Faith. : a . a

1. By the grow<A of it.

2. By the life of it. '^ :'" .

3. By the fruits of it. ,(; ^ j;..^..

Trial of my Repentance.

By the nature of it : that is, change of mind, and my purpose to turn
from all fin to God ; dying daily to sin.

Book lll.J THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.
Trial of my Uprighinta townrds God.

49ri

1. My care to keep his cormnandments.

2. That his coinmandtnents are not grUvoM to me.

.3. Desire of union witii him, Hiid cleaving to him with full purpois
of heart.

Trial of my Brnlherlfj love.

I. Not to suffer »tVi upon any one.

'2. To love nil the smuts for truth's sake.

3. Love of the Godly dad.

By reciting; those quiilitications of n christian, by which this exem<
pliiry christim would examine himself, i have described how exempla-
rily he himself was qualitied.

§ 10. His conduct of himself in his ministry (wherein he preached
over the whole Gospel of John, the Acts of the Apostles, the three
Epiiitles of John and largely handled the doctrine of Self-denial, Faith,
Justijication, Adoption, Sancdjication, and many other occasional snbjects)
will be most exactly apprehended from the council which I (iad him
writing to another miniHtc, in a letter dated Dec. 20, 1665.

' Inyour ministerial work (saith he) let me give you a few directions.

' 1 Be much in prayer to God : thereby you shall find more succour and
'success, inyour ministry, than by all your study.

• 2. Preach much about the misery of the state of nature, the prepar-
' atives to conversion ; the nature of conversion, or effectual calling ; the
' necessity of union and communion with Christ ; ths nature of sar-
'ingand justifying/ai<A,and the fruits thereof love and good works, and
' sanctijication.

' 3, Eexplain the words •( your text clearly ; bring clear proof of
' parallel scriptures ; let your reasons be scripture-reasons ; but be most
' ill application ; which is spent in five uses, refutation of error, infor-
'mation of the truth, correction of manners, exhortation and instruction
'in righteousness. All which you find in 2 Tim. iii. 16, 17. And
' there is a fftli use, viz. of comfort, 1 Cor. xiv. 3.

'4. Preach not Ai^/i notions. ReaA Ames^ Medulla ; and the expli-
' cation of 1 Cor. ii. 1 , 2. Neither use any dark Latin words, or any
' derived thence, which poor people can't understand, without cxplain-
' in«; of them, so that the poorest and simplest people may understand
' all.

' 5. I advise you being once in office to catechise every Lord's day in
' the afternoon, so as to go through the catechise once in a year.

' Finally, be very careful of scriptural rides tn God's ministers, '0^»-

Thus did he advise, without occasion to m>ike confession of the poet^
fvliich of all is the most unhappy for the preacher.

-Monitis sum, minor ipse meiis.' '

.>•»

He was, indeed, an exceeding plain preacher, frequently saying, Artis
Vol. I 54

Tin: insTOi-.v of nkw-kngland. [Bo»jk in

fit Cflare Artrm; hiuI yot ii more Uarntil, Jiiiil a moru lively |)reiiclicr
liiiM rai'civ l)i>cii hcanl. lie woiiltl tlirrrtorc mention it, as a )iipii<t nml
pi'iulviit roiiiphiint of Uevoreiui Mr DoJ, 'I'ltat loo many mttilttcn dial
like uHnkilftil archer* ; iliei/ ilmot over the licaih, unti iniich tnnre over liir
heard nf their hearer*, luid luisn their tnarii, tihilf they noar no hi^h by hand-
lint^ thip point* ; or hy uaim; of ahunire and dark expremom, or phrutes,
ni their preachinif. Hut lor the |tr«Ntrliin|{ of our Chutuey, the Hariie uc-
coiuit may hi> ^iviMi ot'it, that I'hotins, );ivi't< about the preaching of Wr/um-
rt.iMM .• In Sermoiiil'Ui ulnijiie in Itoculione ('larn» est, 4* Hrcvii, ^ Simplrx,
Jhuttts tniiicn Ji- .lllu*. iV* Arniimentati'niihm, oinniovehemens, Ji'inhia 'Jun-
ta Lilierias, ul Admirahlit nit.

§ 1 1. In the lollfc-ilaro whrrrof ho was president, he did the part, T«
^iXMitfMwh KM <piX»ii»t irmhv1y,An inntructor iuspired with the love of God,
and iiie love of suuls. liul if the rea<lcr expect any further account of
this revcriind man, what he wan, what he thought, and what he preached,
let him give himnelf the c(///]y//i^ y){«((jiHre of reading, what he pr/n/e(i.
But of his printed composureM, the more considerable were hiti,twenty-
eix Kcrmons \i[ton justification, publislied in the year 1Cjj9. On the mo-
tive which he mentioni.i in the preface thereunto. My particular em-
ployment (saith he) wherein I hope, that my desire is to serve the Lord in
truth, and to seek the great hcn<fit of youth and students, mho are to be train-
ed up, '£» Diitirim ri nv^m, that is, in the doctrine of the Lord, that may
put a right understanding into them, hath moved me to represent this doc-
trine of ju!>tillcittion as a standard of truth and salvation to them ; which
they should holdfast, and as the Lord shall call them thereunto hold forth,
in their generations. It had been an u.sual thing with him. solemnly to
caution scholars against those doctrines, which exalt man, and debase Chriitt :
and he thought particularly with Luther, Jlmisso Articulo juslificationi$,i,'
amissa est simul iota Doctrina Christiana.

And agreeably to that caution, we have liim, in this his most judicious
treatise, maintaining,

• That justificittion is a judicial proceeding, whoroin the sentence of
' God absolves, and acquits the sinner from the guilt of sin, and accepts
' him as a just person, unto eternal life.

' TlxixtlUc justification of a sinner before God, in the rfecree of it, in the

* purch'ise of it, and in the application olit, is to be ascribed unto the/ref
' grace of God, and yet there is also a glorious concurrence of strict jus-
' tice thereunto.

' That the Son of God condescending to be the surety of his chosen, took
' their debt upon himself, and by suffering the full punishment which was

* due for their sins, made that satisfaction unto the justice of God, where-
' upon we receive the remission of sins, which without snch a satisfaction

* had been impose ibie.

* That none of the ajlictions which befal the faithful, are proper pun-
' ishments for sin, but the corrective dispensiions of a careful father, and
' the sanative dispeniiations of a prudent /tm/er.

' That yet many godly men smart for their boldness in sin : and when
' Paul writing to saints, tells them. If you live after the flesh, you shall die :
' he speaks not only of temporal, but of eternal death: for though 'tis not
^ possible for S'lints to die eternally, 'tis as possible for them to die eter-
' nally, as to siW eternally.

' That we are not justified by faith, as it i? a work in us, nor is our act
' of believing, any part of the matter of that righteousness, wherein we
» etaod righieom before God. Bnt faith does only justitie us relatively.

Book III] THE HISTOKY OF NEWKNGLAND.

4itT

or nn it biw rofurcnce to it;* olijcrt the Lord Jcmm ChriHt, nnd hi* righte'

• oHSHM*, or m it rrccivt'8 tlic inerct/ of (Snd in the Lord Jesim Christ ;

■ or iw the be«i;){nr'« hand reci-ivirii; » bHgof^old ciiriclieth liim ; it in but a
' passive in$trHinenl ; and the words of Jainet, That a man i» juntified b}/

• work$, 'ind not by faith alone ; do not oppotie the other words oT I'mii,
' but only nognrt, that n justifying;; J'nith, is in this oppoiied unto a taUo and

■ a doad faith, it will certainly be etTectiiul tu produou good worka in tbt;
' boliovcr.

' That believers, notwithstanding the for'^ivrness of their sins, onght
' ol\**n to ronew nil the the expressions of repentance for their sins, and
' still to be fervent and instant in prayer for pardon ; inasmuch as wk

■ have need of havint; remission afresh applied unto us ; and we also

• need the joys and fruits of our pardon, and the grace to make a right
' «.« thereof.

' That the whole obedience of the Lord Josus Christ, both active and
'passive, belongs to t\mt perfi-ct righteousness which is required in order
' [ojuslificatiDH ; and this righteousness (fdud is conveyed unto believers,

• by way of imputation : it is reckoned and accounted theirs upon their
' apprehending of it ; which imputation is a gracious act of God the Fn-

■ ther, whereby as a judge, he accounts the sins of the believer unto the
- surety, as if he had committed the same, and the riu;bteoiisness of the
' Lord Jesus Christ unto the believer, a^if he hud performed that obcdi-

• ence.

' That still it follows not, that every believer is a Redeemer, and Saviour
' of others, as the Lord Jesus Christ himself is ; it is the righ tcouf^nes
' of the surety, and not the ^uretijhip it self, that is imputed unto the bt«
' liever : the suretiship is proper unto our Lord, and because the ver-
' tue which is in the head, is communicated unto the members, 'tis frivo-

■ lous thence to urgne, that every member is thereby made an head, and
' has the influence of our head upon the rest.

' That as Adamv/M the common rxot of all mankind, andsohis^ri/ sin
' is imputed unto nil his posterity , iltus our Lord Jesus Christ is the
' common root of all ihe faithful, and his obedience is imputed unto them
•all.'

This was the old faith o( J^ew- England, about that most important ar-
ticlfi oi justification ; an article wherein all the duties and comforts of
ir holy religion arc, more than a little concernp'l. And i thought 1
cnukl not make a fitter present unto the sons of my mother, than by thus
layiiij; before the scholars of Ilarvard-Colledgc , an abstract of what the
venerible old FresiV/«n< of that colledge left as a legacy unto them.

All that I shall add upon it, is, that as 'tis the observation of our Dr.
Oxeen, in his most judicious book of justification : I am not satisfied that
any ofthoic, who at present oppose this doctrine, do in holiness and righte-
ou^ness, and the exercise of all christian graces, surpass those who in the last
ogs, both in this and other nations, firmly adhered unio it, and who con-
stuntly testified unto that effectual infiueiice, which it had into their walking
before God ; nor do I know th'tt any can be named amongst us in theform-
tr d'^es, who were eminent in holiness, and many such there v>ere, who did
nnt cordicdly assent unto that, which we plead for. And it doth not yet ap- .
pear in general, that an attempt to introduce a doctrine contrary vrito it, has
lutil any great succesa in the reformation of the lives of men. So our holy
Chancey was an eminent instance to contirm something of this observa-
tion. Albeit he were so elaborately solicitous to exclude good works
from any share in the antecedent condition of our justification ; yetthero.

- 428

THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND. [Book HI,

Mrere few men in the world, who more praclically and accurately ac-
knowledged the necessity of good works in all the justilied : and bo afraid
was he of defiling his own soul, and of disturbing his own peace, by the
admission of any known sin, that though he made so many stated suppli-
cations every day, yet if he had fallen iulo any misbecoming passion, or
any sensible distemper, or disorder nf heart in the day, it occasioned his
immediate retirement, for another prayer extraordinary before the Lord.
§ 11. I remember, that upon the article in the praises of a good man,
[Psal. i. 3,] tie biingsjorth his fruit in kis season, there is a notable gloss
of Jliffi Ezra, to this purpose ; Anima Rationalis plena Sapientiiz, in Tem-
pore Scnectutii oppoifuno, sejaratur a Corpnre, sicut Frttctus ab Aibnre, 8f
iuin moritur ante Diem. Such a tree was our Chancey, and such was his
fate. This eminent soldier of our Lord Jesus Christ, after he was come
to be fourscore years of nge, continued still to endure liardness as a good
soldier of the Lord Jesus Christ ; and sliil professtul, with the aged Poly-
carp, That he was not willing to leave the service of the Lord, that had
more than fourscore years been a good master to him. W hen his friends
pressed him to remit and abate his vast labours, he would reply, Oportet
Imprralorein Stantem mori ; according he stood beyond expectation, direct-
ing in the learned crtjrtp, where he had hcen n commander . At length
on the commencement in the year lG71,he made tA farewel oration,
wherein he took a solemn farewel of his friends, and then sent for his
children, upon whom he bestowed a solemn blessing, with fervent prayers,
commending them to the grace of God. So like aged 11. Simeon, once
('tis by some thought] the president of a college at Jerusalem, he kept
waiting and longing for his caW, to depart in peace! Accordingly the
rndof this year proved the end of his days : when illness growing upon
him, the reverend Mr. Urian Oakes, after his requested supplications,
asked him to give a sign of his hopeful and joyful assurances, if he yet
had them, of his e.itering into eternal glory ; whereat the speechless old
man lifted up his hands, as high towards Heaven, as he could lift them,
and so his renewed and ripened £on2 tlew thither Feb. 19, 1671, in the
eighty-second year of his age, and the seventeenth year of his president-
ship, over IlarvardColledge. He left behind him no less than six sons ;
every of which had received the laurels of degrees, in the colledge ; and
some of them from the hand of their aged father. Their names were
Isaac, Ichabod, Barnabas, Kathanael and Elnathan, (which two were twins)
and Israel. All of these did. while they had opportunity, preach the
gospel ; and most, if not all of them, like their excellent father before
them, had an eminent skill in physick added unto their other accomplish-
ments ; which like him, they used for the good of many ; as indeed it is
well known, that until two hundred years ago, physick in England, was
no profession diii^tinct from divinity ; and accordingly princes had the same
persons to be their physicians and their confessors. But only two of them
are now living ; thefirst an<l the /as/ ; the one in England, the other in
JS''ew- England ; Isaac now a pastor of a church in London, and an author
of several well known treatisos : Israel now a pastor of a church in our
Strafford, where he is at this day a rich blessing to the colony of Connec-
ticut. The happy mother of these worthy son?, was Catharine the daugh-
ter of Robert Eyre, FiSq. who dying a little before her consort, had her
holy life quickly after published ; namely, by the publication of the di-
rections for an holy life., which her pions father left as a legacy for his
children : directions, whereof 1 shall say hut this, that as they express the
frue spirit of Puritanism, so they comprise the wiscs-t, the fruitfullest,

Book HI.] THE HISTOIIY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

-'■^^

the exactest and the holiest rules of living, that ever I saw together in any ,
short human composure ; and the reprinting of them would not only give
a description ol the heavenly conversation endeavoured hy our great
Charles Chanceij, whom we have hitherto been considering, but also pro-
cure the admiration, if not imitation of them that read it.

§ 12. J^eio- England having enjoyed such a privilege, and such npresi-
tlent as our Chancey, governing a college, 1 will conclude this account
thereof with certain passages which this reverend man published in a
sermon, on Jlmos ii. 11,/ raised up of your sons for prophets, and of your
young men for JVazarites, preached at Cambridge the day after one of the
commencements,

• God hath wonderfully erected schools of learning, and means of edu-
' cation for our children, that there might be continually some comforta-
' ble supply and succession in the ministry. Is it 7iol so, O ye people of

* God in h'ew-England ! But then let me testify against you in the Lord's
' name, for great unihankfulness to the Lord, for so great a mercy. '1 he
' great blessing of a painful ministry is not regarded by covetous earth
' rvorms ; neither do the schools of learning, that afford oyl to the lamps,
' come into their thoughts, to praise the Lord for them. Or, some little
' good they apprehend in it, to have a minister to spend the sabbath, and
' to baptize their children, and schools to teach their children, and keep
' them out of harm's way, or teach them to write and read, and cast ac-
' counts ; but they despise the angeVs bread, and count it light stuff, in
« comparison of other things, yea, there be many in the country, that ac«
' count it their happiness to live in the wast howling wilderness, without
' any ministry or schools, and means of education for their posterity ; they
' have much liberty, they think by this want. Surely their practice about
' their children, is little better than the merciless and unnatural profane-

* ne.^s of the Israelites, that sacrificed their sons and their daughters unto
'devils ! And many make wicked returns of these blessings, and fearfully
' abuse them, and seek what they can, to weary out ministers, and pull
' down schools of learning, or which is all one, deny or withold mainten-
' nnce from them ; as good as to say, 7Ja.se them, rase tliem to the founda-
' tions ! But how exceeding hateful unto the Lord, is this unthankful-
' ness ? Do you thus requite the Lord, ye foolish people and unwise ?

' But then let scholars mainly intend, labour, and study, for this ; to be
'prophets and J^azarites: and therefore \cl speaking to edification, exhor-
tation, and comfort be aimed at in all your studies : and behave your
' selves as being set apart in peculiar manner for the Lord. To use the
'vessels of the temple, to quaff and carouse in, was a Babylonish practice.
' You should have less to do with the world, and worldly delights, and be
'less cumbrcd than others with the affairs of this life.'

All that we will add of this good old man, shall be the epitaph, which
is now to be read on his tomb-stone in Cambridge.

Conditum

hie est Corpus,

C.xaoLi Chaunc.i:i,

S. S. Theologiae Barcalaur.

Collesii Harvardini Nov-Angl.
Per W'll. Annorum Spaciuai, ^ ' ,

Ti^psidis Vigilantisisimi,

430

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

Viri riane Integerrimi,

Concionatoris Exiinii,

I'ietute

f'aritcr ac Libera!! Eiiriditiouti

Ornntissimi.

Qui Obiit in Domino, Feb. XIX.
An. Dom. M.DC.LXX.L

Et /Etiisis sua3, LXXX. H.

[Book 111.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Luous, The Life of Mr. Jons Fisk.

'I«Tfaj y«a Mnw woAA«» ^ctiiree|(«f VaAmd'

§ 1 . Amonc; the most famous preachers and writers of the gospel, witli
which the primitive church was blessed, there was Luke, the beloved phy-
sician ; of whom Jerom elegantly SJiys, Quomodo Jlpostoii de Fiscatoribus
piscium, Fiiicatores liominuinfacti sunl,ita de Medico Corporum in Medi-
cum (''ersisest Animarnm ; cvjus Liber quotiescunq; legitur in Kcclesiis,lo-
ties Medicina non ccisat : th;it blessed scholar and collegue, of the Apos-
tle Faul, wiio (as Jtrom also tells us) according to the opinion of some,
intends the volume which had been penned by this Luke, as often as he
uses that expression in his epistles, according to my gospel.

And among the first pteachers and writers, which rendered the primi-
itive times otWcn'- Ens^land happy, there was one who might likewise be
called, a beloved physician ; one to whom there might also be given the
eulogy, which the ancients think was given to Luke, a brother whose praise
was i)i the gospel, thmughout all churches.

This was Mr. John Fish

§ 2. Mr. John Fisk was born in the parish of Sf. Jamfs, (called for dis-
tinction, one of the nine parishes) in the county o{ Suffolk, about the year
1601 , of pious and worthy parents, yea, oi grand- parents, and great grand-
parents, eminent for zeal m the true religion. There were six brothers
in the infamous reign of C^uecn Mary, whereof three were Papists, and
three were Proteslunts, I may say, Furitans ; and of the latter (whereof
none were owned by {ho former) two were sorely persecuted. For one
of these brethren, the pursevant, having a kindness, gave him a private
and previous notice of his coming with un prder to seize lym ; whereup-
on the good man, tir^t called his family to prayer, ha«tned away to hide
himself in a ditcii, vith bis godly iclfe. which had a ^uckin<!: child at her
breast. The pursevunt bein;; near at hand, a thorn in the hedge gave
such a mark to the child's facf, as never went out; whereat the child
beginning to roar, (he motlier presently clapt it to the breast, whereby it
was quieted at onco, and thcro, was no discovery then, oi^ after, made of
theae confessors. Andlher of these brethren, from whom our Fisk was
descended, was then (to avoid hurtling) hid many months in a wood-pile ;
and afterward.-, for lialf a year in a cellar, where he diligently employed
himself in profitable manufarlures, by candle light, after such a manner
as to remain likewis^e nndiscovcred : but his many hardships brought

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

that excessive bleeding upon him, that shortned liis days, and added unto
the cry of the souls under the altar.

§ 3. Oar John wus the eldest of/our children, all of whom afterwards
came to jVew- England with him, and left a potiterity, with whom God es-
tablished his holy covenant: His parents having devoted him unto the
service of the Lord Jesus Christ, tliey sent him iirst unto a grammar'
school, two miles from the place of their abode, whither his diligent loul
was instead of wings, every day to carry him. His education at the
Hcliool, having fitted him for the univertity, he went unto Cambridge, where
he was admitted, into (as I think) Immanuel College, in which he resided,
until he became a graduate. Some time after this, being both by art and
by luart, well prepared for it, he applied himself unto the work to which
he had been devoted ; namely, the preaching of ilu: gospel ; but the ti-
lencers grew so hard upon him for his non-conformity, that upon the ad-
vice of his friends, he set himself to .study physick, and upon a thorough
examination, he obtained a licence^for public practice. When be was
about eight and twenty years of age, he married a vrrtnous young gen-
tlewoman ; several hundreds of pounds of whose patrimony were deni-
ed her upon the displeasure of /ter father, at her coming to Kew-Eng-
land.

But upon tht; uv 'th uf his father, who had committed unto him the care
of his mother h;\d l''o sisters, and his youngest brother, he tliou.nlit
it his duty to rerr < i (o New-England, where he saw an opportunity
of returning unto ': ^«iiet exercise of his ministry. He, and that ex-
cellent man Mr. John JlUin, came aboard in a disguise, to avoid the fury
of their persecutors ; but after they were past the Lands- End, they en-
tertained the passengers with two sermons every day, besides other agree-
able devotions, which filled the voyage with so much of religion, that
one of the passengers being examined about his going to divert himself
with an hook and line, on the Lord's-day, he protested, that he did not
know when the Lord^s day wag ; he thought every day was a sabbath day ;
for, he said, they did nothing but pray and preach all the week long,

§ 4. Mr. Fisk arrived at New-England in the year 1637, having had
nothing to render the voyage uncomfortable, but only that his aged
mother died quickly after he came aboard, and his only infant quickly
after he came ashore. He came well stocked with servants, and all
sorts of tools for husbandry and carpentry, and with provisions to support
his family in a wilderness for three years together; out of which, he
charitably lent a considerable quantity to the country, which be then
found in the distresses of a war with the Pequot Indians. He now so-
journed about three years at Salem, where he was both a preacher to
the church, and a tutor unto divers young scholars (whereof the well-
known Sir George Downing was one) as he was afterwards unto his own
children, when the want of grammar-schools at hand made it necessary.
From thence he removed unto a place adjoining thereunto, which is now
called IVenham: where on October 8, 1644, a church was gathered, of
which he continued the pastor, in that place, for more than twice seven
years : contented with a very mean salary, and consuming bis own fair
estate for the welfare of the nexo plantation.

§ 5. About the year 1656, he removed, with the major part of bis
church to another new town, called Chelmsford ; and there he spent the
remainder of his days. Of the afflictimis which now disciplinedhvca, one
of the saddest was the loss of his concordance; I mean, of his godly and
Worthy consort, who by her incomparable expertness in the scriptures.

432

THE HISTORV or NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111,

had rendred any other concordance of the Bible useless unto his library.
This vertuoui woman lost her sight for some years before she died ; nn<
der which disaster a most exemplary patience was produced in her, by
her view of, the things which are not seen and are eternal : and at length,
after many adraouitions unto her friends to im'prove tiieir stg/(( well whilst
they had it, she had on February 14, 1671, her eyes optned, by their be-
ing closed ; and was by death carried feomfaith unto immediate and ever-
lasting sight : after which he murried again.

§ 6. Twenty years did he shine in the golden candlestick o( Chelmsford ;
a plain, but an able, painful, and useful preacher of the gospel ; rarely,
if ever, by sickness hindred from the exercise of his ministry. As Mar'
cilius Ficinus having written one book, De Sanitate Tuenda, and another
book, De. Faletudine Restituenda, concluded his course with writing his
book, De Vita Calitus Comparanda : thus, our Mr. Fisk, now superseded
his care and (skill of dispensing medicines for the body, by doing it for the
soul. But although he did in his ministry, go through an exposition of
almost all the scripture in both Testaments, and unto his hordes day ser-
mons, added a monthly lecture on the tveek-day, besides his discourses at
the private meetings of the faithful, and his exact and faithful cares to keep
up church- discipline, yet none of his labours were more considerable
than his catechetical. It is by the excellent Owen excellently well ob-
served. That unless a man has some good satisfaction concerning the spirit'^
ual condition of those that are committc'. uv'o his charge, he can never ap-
prove himself among them, a workman that ueedeth not to be ashamed,
rightly dividing the word of truth : and the work of the ministry is not by
any means' more evacuated, and rendered ineffectual, than when men have
not a certain design to deal with their hearers according to what they are
perswaded, that their spiritual estate doth require. Our Fisk thereforcj
did by most laborious catechising, endeavour to know the state of his flock,
and make it good: and hence, although he did himself compose and pub-
lish a most useful catechism, which he entituled. The Olive Plant watered;
yet he chose the assembly's catechism for his publick expositions, wherewith
he twice went over it, in discourses before his afternoon-sermons oi. the
sabbath.

§ 7. Towards the end of his life, be began to labour especially under
two maladies, either of which were enough to try the most consummate
patience of any man living ; these were, first the stone, and then the gout ,-
which at last were followed with convulsions, that brought his laborious
life unto an end : and gave him the experience of Streithergerus' motto,
Qui non est Crucianus non est Christianus. Yea, for a complication of
maladies, his condition became not unlike the blessed Calvin^s, of whom
the historian relates. That he was troubled with as many infirmities, as
in different subjects might have supplied an hospital.

On the second Lord's day of his confinement by illness, after he had
been many Lord's days carried unto the church in a chair, and preached,
as in the primitive times they still treated, sitting, he was taken with con-
vulsions, which renewed so fast upon him, that within a few days he did,
on January 14, 1676, see a rest from his labours: having first after this
manner blessed his four children, two sons and two daughters, who were
by his bed-side waiting for his blessing : You are as a shock of corn bound
up, or as twins inade beautiful by the covenant of grace. You have an in-
terest in the sure mercies of David ; those you have to live upon. Study to
emulate one another ; but in the best, in the best. Provoke one another to
love. The God of your forefathers bless yoti alf. And added unto hi?

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

433

younger son, the present worthy pastor of Braintree, concerning his
wife and his two children, then absent, The God of Mraham, bciacy and
Jacob, bless you, and your posterity after you.

IVe will now leave him uttering the words of Weinrichius, in hi|

EIMTAPH. 1

Fixi. 4" quern dederas cursurn mUti, Christe, peregi ;
Pettesus Vita, auaviter opto mori.

CHAPTER XXV.

Skholasticus. The Life of Mr. Thomas PARKEit.

§ 1. It may without any ungrateful comparisons be asserted, that one!
•f the greatest scholars in the English nation, was that renowned Robert
Parker, who was driven out of the nation for his non-conformity to its
unhappy ceremonies in the worship of God. It was the honour of
that great man, to be the father of such learned books, as that of his
De Politia Ecclesiastica, and that Of the Cross ; as well aafostor father to
that of Sandford^s De Discensu Christi ad Inferos ; yea, to be in some sort
the father of all the non-conformists, in our age, who yet would not call
any man their/a<?ter. But let it not be counted any dishonour unto him,
that he was also the natural father of our Thomas Parker.

§ 2. This Mr. Tliomas Parker was the only son of his father, who
being vety desirous to have him a scholar, committed him unto perhai)ia
a godly, but a very severe master. Under this hard master, though
he was well nigh discouraged by the dulness, which he apprehended in
his oWn capacity, yet the consideration of his father's desire, made
him, with an early piety, to join his prayers unto his pains, that he
might have his education prospered ; and God so prospered him, that
he arrived unto a desirable degree of knowledge, both in the tongues,
and in the arts

§ 3. He had been admitted into Magdalen Colledge, in Oxford ; but
after the exile of his father, he removed unto Dublin, in Ireland ; where
he found from Dr. Usher the same favourable aspect, which that emi-
nent person did use to cast upon young students that were ingenious, :
and from thence he went after his father into Holland, where Dr. Ames
favoured him with his encouragements and assistances, in the prose-
cution of his honest studies now at Leyden.

§ 4. As his diligence wasiadefatii;,ible, so his proficiency was propor-
tionable : and he was particularly considerable there, for his disputa-
tions upon the points then most considerably controverted. It was at
the age of twenty two, that he drew up his most judicious and approv-
ed Theses, De Traductione Peccatoris : which are bound up with Dr.
Jlines, his Opuscula, in some editions of his answer to Grevinchovius.
Those most accurate Theses, being thus published, as the composure of
another, our humble Parker, though instigated thereunto, did yet refuse
to do himself the justice, of publishing himself some other way, to be
the author of them. This neglect of his, he said, was, to chastize the
vanity of his own yotmg mind, which had been too much pleased with the

Vol. I. ■ 55

494

THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLANT). [Book Ilf.

accuracy of hit own early performance in those theses. But the author
of the theses afterwards came to be well known, by the providence of
God, when whole booh CHino .0 be written by learned men upon them ;
whereof one w»8 entituled, Parkerua Iltustratus.

But before this age of twtnty-two, he proceeded master, with the
general applause of all, and the specinl esteem of Maccavius, a man
renowned in the Belgick aniversities. In the diploma then p;iven him,
they testiAe, Ilium non sine magnd Jldmiratione audiverimus , — and Se
PhUusophice Artiumque Uheralium peritissimum declaraverit.

§ 5. Maccovius would hereupon have had Sibrandus Lubberlus, the
moderator of the Classis there, to have ordained our Parker » presbyter,
as an acknowledgment of his exceeding worth ; hut though Lubbertus
could not but acknowledge it, yet out of a secret grudge, he would not
allow of the ordination. Whereupon Maccovius rode unto the states
at Leodin, with complaints of l.ubbertus for so ill a thing, as letting such
a person as this Parker go away under any cloud of disrespect ; and
the states thereupon wrote unto Lubbertus to admit him : but the hast
of his return into England prevented it.

§ 6. Residing at Aewberry in England, he applied him«clf with an
invincible industry unto the study of school divinity : in which profound
and knotty study, he found such ensnaring temptations, that he afterwards
laid it all aside, for the knowledge of Jesus Christ crucified. The wise
Bullinger would with too much reason say. Unus Seneca plus sinceriora
Theologia posteritate reliquit, quam omnesfereomnium Scholcuticorum Libri.
The great Chamier would with a like reason say, Solere se Scholasticos
consulere, Hon aliter, quam si quis aliquando palatium invisens, post Avla-
rum, cubiculorum ^ ccenaculorum magnificentiam etiam Latrinas non de*
dignetur inspicene, sed paueis, obfatorem. 'J'he learned Whitaker would
flay of the school-men. Plus habent Jlrgutiarum quam Scientia plus Scientiie
quam Doctrina, plus Doctrina quam usus, plus usus quam ad salutem. Our
Parker conversed indeed with the school-nun, until he almost became one
of them himself: but not such an one as Lmthcr meant, when he said,
Qui Theologum Scholasticum videt, videt Septem peccata mortalia : for he
grew sick of all the learning that he had got from the school-men ; and would
oileti say, Jill the use I now make of all my school-learning is this : I have
so much to deny for the sake of my Lord Jesus Christ. Nor was he insensible
of what Sir Walter liawleigh observed concerning the school-men, that
they taught their followers rather to shift, than to resolve by their dis-
tinctions^

§ 7. From thence removing with several devout christians out of
Wiltshire into JVeW'England, he was ordained their pastor, at a town, on
his, and their account, called JVewberry; where he lived many years, by
the holiness, the humbleness, the charity of his life, giving his people a
perpetual and most lively commentary upon his doctrine.

§ 8. The strains which his immoderate studies gave unto'his oi^ns of
sight, bronght a miserable defluxion of rheum upon his eyes ; which
proceeded so far, that one of them swelled until it came out of his head,
and the other grew altogether dim some years before his death. Under
this extreme loss he would, after a christian and pleasant manner, give
himself that consolation : Well, theyHl he restored shortly, at the resurrec-
tion.

The Jews upon the dim sight of Eli, have an observation, that none
are mentioned in the scripture, as afilicted with failure of sight, but such
a« were afflicted citbeiciA their children^ or in their pupils. Our Parker

Book III.] THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND.

4it

had no children to afflict him, and his pupils were such as to comfort
him ; yet failure of sight was bis calamity.

§ 9. In the latter part of his life, he bent himself unto the study of
the icripture'prophecies ; bein;;, as has been said by Dr. Uiher, instigated
thereunto. It was with an assiduous conjunction of medilationt, and sup-
plications, thKt he followed this delightful study, till he had written seve-
ral volumes, a great part of them in Latin; whereof no part was ever
published, but one upon Daniel, which he wrote in Englith. If sOme of
bis expositions upon those diffi""'.! part"' of the scripture, have been
since confuted by some great '.or o disliked them, we d; ,

more accounts than one, consider him, 8 » Horner of New-Engu u;
and add,

^liqxiando Bonus Dormitat Homerut.

§ 10. He went unto the immortah, in the month of Jipril 1677, about
the eighty second year of his age ; and after he had lived all his days a
single man, but a great part of his days engaged in apocalyptical sfiidies,
he went unto the apocalyptical virgint, v/ho follow the Lamb whithersoever
he goes.

He was a person of a most extensive charity ; which grain of his tem-
per, might contribute unto tiiat largeness in his principles, about church-
government, which exposed him unto many temptations, amongst bis neigh-
bours, who were not so principled. He would, indeed, express himself
dissatisfied at the edge, which there was in the writings of his father,
against the Bishops ; and he did himself write a preface unto a book ;
whereupon Mr. Charles Cliancey bestowed a short answer, which begins
with this shtrter censure.

*■ Let it not be an offence lo any christian, that there hath been found
' one like to Urijah the priest, that would set up the altar of Damascus
' among us, to thrust out the brazen altar of the Lord's institution ; viz.
' Mr. Thomas Parker, who has published a book, pleading for Episcopacy ;
' wherein is found, IIwAdf A«7i{Wt, a colt kicking against his dam.

Such a difference in apprehension, and in affection too, did on that oc-
casion discover it self, between those good men, who are now joyfully
met, Ubi Luthi Luthero cum Zuinglio, optimejam Convenit.

Yet the alienation between them, was not so great as that between
Theoclus, and Pollinis, who being burnt in one funeral fire, after they
had killed one another, the very flame of that fire divided itself; the
flame of their funeral fire would not be united. Chancey and Parker are
united in our church-history ; the funeral respects which are here paid
unto both of them, agree very well together. Now,

That which the learned, pious, and sweet-spirited Bucholtzer, provi-
ded for himself, we will now assign unto this our sweet-spirited Parker
(who spent his life much in chronological studies, like that great Bucl^
oltzer,) for an . -V

EPITAPH.

-i*

1/ic, Pie Christe i Tuo recubat quasita eruort-,
;;¥^ Inq; Tuo Gremio, Parvula dormit Ovis.
Reddidit hcec Animam balanti Voce Fidelem ;
Hnic Pastor dices, Intret Ovile rnenm.

438

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111.

AN APPFNDIX,
/

Containing Memoirs of Mr. James Noves.

Wher we had thun finished our Menmra of Mr. Parker, our lecond
thoughta told us, that some of Mr. J\fuyes must acnompany them. Sending
therefore to my excellent friend. Mr. Nicholaa Noycs, the present minis-
ter of iSa/em, for some account, concerning a person so nearly related un-
to him, he favoured me with the following relation. And though he
were plctised in his letters to tell me, ' that he had sent me only a rude
< immethodical jumble of things, intending that 1 should serve my occa-
* sions out of them, for a composition of my own.' Yet I find, that I shall
not give my readers a better satisfaction, any way, than by transcribing
the words of my friend. The account in his own words, is too elegant,
and expressive, to need any alterntion.

' Mr. J-vmi'v A"' yes was born, 1608, at Choulderton'm IViltshire, of god-
ly and worthy parents. His father wns minister of the same town, a
very learned man, the school-master of Mr. Thomas Parker. His moth-
er was sister to the learned Mr. Robert Parker, and be had much of his
education and tutorage under Mr. Thomas Parker. He was called by
him, from Brazen-jYose-College in Oxford, to help him in teaching the
free school at Ntleberry ; where they taught school together, till the
time they came to New-England. He was converted in his youth, by
the ministry of Dr. Twiss, and Mr. Thimas Parker, and was admired
for his piety and his vertue in his younger years. The reason of his
coming to JVew-England, was, because he could not comply with the
ceremonies of the Church of England. He was married in England
to Mrs. Sarah Brown, thew eldest daughter of Mr. Joseph Browu oi' South-
ampton, not long before he came to Kew-En^land. which was in the
year 1634. In the same ship canje Mr. Thomas Parker, Mr. James
JSfoyes. and a younger brother of his, Mr. JVicofas Noyes, who then was
.» single man : between which three, was a more than ordinary endear-
ment of affection, which was never shaken or broken, but by death.
Mr. Parker and Mr. James JVoijes, and others that came over with them,
faste^d and prayed together many tunes, before they undertook this voy-
age ; and on the sea, Mr. Parker and Mr. A'cycs preached or expound-
ed, one in the forenoon, other in the afternoon, every day during the
voyage, unless some extraordinary thing intervened, aud were abund-
ant in prayer.

* When they arrived, Mr. Parker was at first called to preach at /jp«-
■wich, and Mr. A'oyes at Mislick, at which places they continued nigh a
year. He had a motion made unto him to be minister at Watertown ;
but Mr. Parker and others of his brethren and acquaintance, setthng at
Newberry, and gathering the tenth of the churches in the colony, and
calling Mr. JVoyrs to be the teacher of it, he preferred that place ; be-
ing lothe to be separated from Mr. Parker, and brethren that had so of-
ten fasted and prayed together, both in England and on the Atlantic
sea. So he became the teacher of that church, and contmued painful
and successful in that station something above twenty years, without
any considerable trouble in the church. Isotwithstanding his princi-
ples as to discipline, were something differing from many of the breth-
ren, there was such condescension on both parts, that peace and order
was not interrupted. He was very much loved and honoured in New-
berry; his memory is precious there to this day, and his catechism

Book III.] TH£ HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

* r which ifl a publick and standing testimony of his underslanding and or-

< thodoiy in the principles of religion) is publickly and privately used in
' that church and town hitherto. He was very well learned in the
' tongues, and in Greek excelled most. He was much read in the /a/Aerv
' and the schiwltmn. And he was much esteemed by bis brethren in the
'ministry. Twice be was called by Mr. Wilton and others, to preach,

* in the time when the Aalinomian principles were in danger of prevail-
' ing ; which he did with good success, and to the satisluction of those
'thiit invited him. Mr. Wilton dearly lorved him ; and it so happened

* once at Newherrys that he preached in the forenoon about holiness so
' holi/y and ably, that Mr. Wilson was so affected with it, as to change bis

* own text, and pitch upon Mr. Koycs\ for the afternoon ; prefacing his

< discourse, with telling the auditory, that his brother Noyes* discourse
' about holiness in the forenoon had so much impression upon bis mind,
' he knew not how in the afternoon to pursue any other argument. His
' conversation was so unquestionably godly, that they who differed from

* him in smaller matters as to discipline held a most amicable correspond-
' ence with him, and had an high estimation of him. Although be was
' very averse to the ceremonies of the Church of England, accounting
'them needless, many ways offensive and hurtful at the best, and the
'rigorous imposition of them abominable and intolerable, so that he left
' England for their sake ; yet he was not equally averse to Episcopacy,
' but was in opinion for Episcopus Prases, though not for Episcopus
' Princeps. His own words testify this, for so he wrote ; It seemeth he
' that was called, Antistes Praepositus, the Bishop, in a Presbytery, by pro-
' cess of time was only called Bishop, though all elders are also according
'to their office essentially Bishops, and differing only in gradual jurisdic-
' tion. He no ways approved of a governing vote, in the fraternity, but
' took their consent in a silential way. He held Ecclesiastical councils so
' far authoritative and binding, that no particular elder, or society,
' might seem to have independency and sovereignty, or the major part of
' them have liberty to sin with impunity. He was faqually afraid of cer-
' emonies and o( schism ; and when he fled from ceremonies he was afraid
'of being guilty of schism. For that reason he Wtis jealous (if not too
'jealous) of particular church-covenants ; yet he accounted them adjuncts
' o( the covenant of grace. He held profession of faith, and repentance,
' and subjection to the ordinances, to be the rule of admission into church-
'fellowship ; and that such as show a willingness to repent, and be baptised
'in the name of the Lord Jesus, without known dissimulation, are to be
' admitted thereto ; and that it depended more on God's providence, than
' his ordinances, to render church members sound in the faith ; and that
' God took into covenant some that were vessels of wrath, as for other

* ends, so to facilitate the conversion of their elect children. He was as
' religious at home as abroad, in his family and in secret, as he was pub-
' lickly ; and they that best knew him, most loved and esteemed him.
' Mr. Parker and he kept a private fast once a month, so long as they

* lived together, and Mr. Parker after his own death, till his own depnr-
' ture, Mr. JVoyes bitterly lamented the death of K. CharUs I. and both
' he and Mr. Parker too had too great expectations of K. Charles 11. but
' Mr. Parker lived to see his expectations ofCharles the second frustra-
'ted. He bad a long and tedious sickness, which he bore patiently and
' chearfully ; and he died joyfully in the forty-eighth year of his age,
'October 22, 1656. He left six sons and two daughters, all of which

lived to be married, and have children, though since one son and one

438

THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND. [Booe 11^

* daughter be dead. He hath now living 6fly-t)x children, grand-children,
' and great-grund-children. And his brother that came over with him a
' single man, is through the mercy of Gnd, yet living; and bath of chil-
' dren, grand-children, and great-grand-childrent above an hundred ;

* which is an inslance of divine favour, in making the/umi7te< of Mt uv'
' vanti in the wildernets like a flock. There was the greatest amity, inli-

* mncy, unanimity, yea, unity imaginable between Mr. Parker, and Mr
' Koyei. So uhshiiken was their friendship, nothing but death was able
'to part them. They taught in one *c4o'>/ ,- came ever in on« lAtp ; were
' pastor and teacher of om church ; and Mr. Parker continuing always in
' celibacy, they lived in one houte, till death separated them for a time ;

* but they arc both now together iu one Heaven, as they that best knew
' them have nil posaible reason to be perswuded. Mr. Parker continu-
' ed in his house, as long as he lived ; and us be received a great deal
' of kindness and respect there, so be showed a great deal of kindness
' in the educating of his children, and was very liberal to that family do-
' ring his life, and at his death. He never forgot the old friendship, but
' shewed kindness to the dead^ in shewing kindness to the living.

' Mr. Parker miA Mr. Noyet, were excellent singers, both of them ; and
' were extraordinary delighted in singing of psalvu. They sang four
' times a day in the publick worship, and always just after evening-prayer
' in the family, where rending the scripture, expounding, and praying,

* tvere the other constant exercises. Mr. Parker and Mr. JVoye«, were
' of the same opinion with Dr. Owen, about the sabbath; yet in practice,

* were strict observers of the evening after it. Mr. Parker, whose prac-

< tice I myself remember, was the strictest observer of the sabbath, that

* ever I knew. 1 once asked bin , seeing his opinion was otherwise, as
' to the evening belonging to the sabbath, why his practice differed from
' his opinion .' He answered me, Because he dare not depart from the foot-

* steps of the flock, for his private opinion.

' Being got into some passages of Mr. Parker's life before I am aware,
' I will insert a few more : and you may make what use of them you
' please. He kept a school, as well as preached, a* Newbury in New-
^England. He ordinarily had about twelve or fourteen scholars. He

< took no pay for hii> pnins, unless any present were freely sent him. He
' used to siiy, He lived for the churches sake, and begrutched no pains that

* were for its beuetit ; and by his good will he was not free to teach any
' but such as were designed for the ministry by their parents ; for he

* would say. He coufd not bestow his time and pains unless it were for the
' beneflt of the church. Though he were blind, yet such was his memory,
' that he could in his old age, teach Latin, Greek and Hebrew, very arti-
' ticially. He seldom corrected a scholar, unless for lying and flghting,
*■ which were xmpardonable crimes in our school. He promoted learn-
' ing in his scholars, by something an unupua' way ; encouraging them to
' learn lessons, and make versea, besides and above their stinted tasks,
' for which they had pardu.is in store, that were kept on record in the
' school, and were for lesser school-faults, such as were not immoralities,
' and sins against God, crossed out ; but be always told them, they must
' not think to escape unpunished for sin against God, by reason of them ;

* though for some lesser defects about their lessons, they were accepted.
' I heard him tell Mr. Millar the minister, that the great changes of his

* life had been siguided to him before-hand by dreams. And I heard him

* say, that before a fiery temptation of the devil befel him, he had a very
' terrible representation in <i dream, of the devil assaulting of him. and
' be wrestled with him. and had more than tnce like to have prevailed

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

' against him ; but that when be was most likely and most near io be
' overcome, he was afresh animated and strengthened to resist him ; till
' at length the devil seemed to break abroad like a 6asb of lightning,
' and then disappeared ; ond that not long after, the most dismal tempta-
' tion of Satan befel him that ever he was sensible of, and that all the pas-

* sages of that temptation answered the foremnntioned representation ;
' and that the hazards of it, and his freih supplies when almost vanquish-
' ed, and hi* deliverance was so remarkable, thut every day he had lived
' since that time, he had given thanks to Uod particularly for his as^ist-
' unce of him in that temptation, and his deliverance out of it : though it
' were twenty years before the time of his now telling me concerning it.
' Mr. Parker excelled in liberty of speech, in praying, preHching, and
' singing, having a most delicate sneet voice ; yet he had all along an im-
' pulse upon his spirit, that he should have the pa!sey in his tongue, before
' he died His voice held extraordinarily, until very old age ; and I think
' the more, bccuuse his teeth held sound and good until then ; his custom
' bein| to wash his mouth, and rob his teeth every morning. Some few
' years before his death, he began to complain of the tooth-ache, and then

' he quickly began to lose his teeth ; and now be said, 7%e davghter$ of

* his murick began to fail him. And about a year and half before he died,
' that which he had long feared befel him, viz. the palsey in hit tongue ;
' and so he became speechless, and thus continued until death ; having
' this only help leil him, that he could pronounce letters, but not syllables
' or words. He signified his mind, by spelling his words, which was in*
' deed a tedious way, b it yet a mercy so far to him and others. Our-
' ing that time, which was in our first Indian war, when the Indians broke
' in upon many towns, and committed horrible outrages, and tormented
' such as they took captives, one night he fell into a dreadful tentation,
' lest the Indians should break in upon Newbury, and the inhabitants

' might generally escape by fighting or flying, but he being old and blind, '
' and grown decri pit, he must of necessity fall into their bands ; and that
'being a minister, they would uri;e him by torture to blaspheme Christ,
' and that he should not have grace to hold out against the tentation of
' Indian torture ; and with the very fear of this, he was for the most part
' of the night in such agonies of soul, that he was on the very brink of
' desparation ; but at length, God helpt him, by bringing to his mind,
' two places of scripture : that in Isa. li. 12, 13, /, even I, am he thatcom-
^ forts thee ; who art thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man that shall
^ die, and forgettest the Lord thy Maker! And that in Rom. viii. 35,36,
' Who shall separate us from the love of Christ ? Shall tribulation or dis-

' tress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? For

' thy sake we are killed all the day long ; JWxy tn all these things, we are

' more than conquerors through him that hath loved us. Sleep departed
' from him that night, by reason of the horrour of that tentation ; and the
' joy that came towards morning he was wonderfully affected with ; and
' in the morning early, he pronounced all this to me letter by letter,
'and glorified God. Once hearing some of us laughing very freely,
'while, I suppose, he was better busied in his chamber above us, he
' came down, and gravely said to us. Cousins, I wonder you can be so mer-
' ry, unless you are sure of your salvation ! He was a very holy and hea-
' renly-minded man, and as much mortified to the world, as almost any
' in it. He scarce called any thing his orwn, but his books and his cloaths..
' When he was urged, to vindicate himself to be the author of the The-
' m de Traduttione P^eatTia ad Vitam, he utterly refused it ; sayings

440

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. (Dook Id.

* bcinff yoiini; iit the time when he made them, he wns afraid he had not
' 8u fully iiinicd ut the glory of God, as he ought to have done. But a
' while at\er, one unbeknown to him in Holland, reprinted them, with

* the name o( the author, and set him forth with more advantage, than
^ would have been mode«t or proper fur himaelf to have done ; giving

* him hnpartntal as well wipersonul honour ; and saying, that his futher

* WM, Pater dipius tali Filio ; and that ho wan, Filiui dignus tali I'alre.
' Thus he that humblelh himself shall be exalted.

' Mr. fViUon once, on occasion of his adibacy, said to him, That it
^ there could be anger in Heaven, his father would chide him, when he
' came there, because he had not, like him, a son to follow him. But he

* had many spiritual children, that were the seals of his ministry : he mt

* also a fiither to the fatherless ; and many scholurs were little less be-
' holden to him for their education, than they were to their parents for

* theif generation.

' The occasion of his calibacy was this : at the lime that he meilititted

* marriage, he whs asHaulted with violent temptations to infidelity ivfhkh
' made hirn regHrdlet*s of every thing, in comparison of contirming his

* faith, about the truth of the scriptures. This occasioned his faUingin-

* to the study of the prophecies, which proved a means of confirming his
' faith ; but he fell so in love with that study, that he never got out of
} it, until his death : .md the church had doubtless had much benefit by

< his profound studies in that kind, could the bishops have been peiMwa-

* ded to license his books ; which they refused, because he found thu

< Pope to be prophesied of, where they could not understand it. Kis

* whole life, besides what was necessary for the support of it, by food,
' and sleep, was prayer, study, preaching, and teaching school. I once
' heard him say, he felt the whole frame of his nature giving way, which
' threatened his dissolution to be at hand : but he thankedGod, he was nnt

' * amazed at it.

* To conclude, all I intend concerning Mr. Parker, or Mr. JVoyej, 1

* shall give you Mr. Parker's character of Mr. Koyes, who best knew
'* him, and whose testimony of him is very credible.'

♦ Mr. James JVoyes, my worthy collegue in the ministry of the gospel,
' was a man of singular qualifications, in piety excelling, an implacable

* enemy to all here^ie and schism, and a most able warriour against the
' same. He was of a reaching and ready apprehension, a large inven-
' tion, a most profound judgment, a rare, and tenacious, and comprehen-
' sive memory, fixed and unmovable in his grounded conceptions ; sure

* in words and speech, without rashness ; gentle and mild in all expres-

* sions, without all passion, or provoking language. And as he was a no-

* table disputant, so he never would provoke his adversary, saving by

* the short knocks, and heavy weight of argument. He was of so loving,
' and compassionate, and humble carriage, that I believe never any were
' acquainted with him, but did desire the continuance of his society and

* acquaintance. He was resolute for truth, and in defence thereof, had
• • no respect toany persons. He was a most excellent counsellor in

' doubts, and could strike at an hair's -breadth, like the Benjamites, and

* expedite the entangled, out of the briars. He was courageous in dan-
;• gers, and still was apt to believe the best, and made fair weather in a

* storm. He was much honoured and esteemed in the country, and his

* death was much bewailed. 1 think he may be reckoned among thegreat-
■^ est worthies of this age.'

Book III.] i Hj^ USSTOKY QF MJSW-ENCILANP.

CHAPTER XXVI.

The Lirr. of Mr. Thomas Tiuchga.

Firtutem Firtui parial ; De lumine Lvwen prodtat.

§ t. Athanasivs writittg the life cf hiH Anionius, dcgcribea him a«
propounding to his own observation anti imitation, the various excelUnciet
of the good men whom he conversed withitl : ther* x*t*"t or good carriage
of one ; the r« wfH rmt *fvx«< nn}****, or prayerfulneu, of another ; th«
r« 'm*fyn%i, or Unity, of h third ; the r* <pi>Mi4f0W»t . or humanity of a fourth;
Rtteiidingto one ri ''wyfvwn/fri, or keeping of his watchfulnt$$ } to t moth-
er rS piJaXi^itli, or loving of learning : rcmarkmg of one, r«» U* »^ifhfim,
in hia patience ; of another, u* 'ir tnrnmtn»i x'*M*»fiim, in his /</ id'ngi and
kard»hipi : regnrding the r«» wfm*T>irm, or tnaniuetvde, of one ; the r^
lumftivpuMy or longanimity nf another : but, Tmr«» •/«« r** 'i/f r» xf'""^**
\vriSiim MM Tii» «-^ *«AAirAU< '«y«TD*, thept«(^ ol'them all, toward the Lord
Je»U8 Christ, and thu clarify of them all, towards one onother.

Such excellencies of good men have been set before my reader, in the
Lives that wc have written of several such good men, who were the
excellent on the earth. But if my reader would see a inany of those ex-
eelUnciet meeting together in one man, there are not many, in whom I
could more hopefully promise him such a sight, than in our excellent Mr.
Thomae Thacher: who is now, therefore, to be cpnsidered.

§ 2. Mr. Thomat Thacher was born ./Hay 1, 1€20, the son of Mr. Peter
Thacher ^ a reverend minister at Salisbury, in England : one, whom, in a
letter of Dr. Twiss to Mr. Mede, at the end of bis workii, we find joined
with fimious Mr. fVliite of Dorchester, in a conversation, wherein the
learned exercises of that great man, made a grateful entertainment.
And because it may bo some satisfaction unto good men, to see instnncei
multiplied, for the confirmation of a matter mentioned by Mr. Baxter, in
his proof of tn/an< baptism, where he says. As large experience as I have
hadin my ministry, of the slate of souls, and the way of conversion, / dare
say, I have met not with one of very many, that would say, that they knew
the time when they were converted : and of those that would >^ o, by
reason that they then found some more remarkiible change, yet i/ -,; uiscov-
ered such stirrings and workings before^ that many, I had cause to think,
'sere themselves mistal'en. / was once in a meeting of very many chris-
tians, the most eminent for zeal and holiness of most in the hmd, of whom
divers were ministers, and some at this day as famous, and ct muchfollowed
as any I know in England ; and it was there de^In.d, that every one
shotdd give in the manner of their conversion, that it might be observed,
what was God^s ordinary way ; and there was but one, that I remember, of
tliem all, that could conjecture at the time of their first conversion. It shall
here be noted, that this was the experience of our Thacher The re-
generating and verticordious grace of heaven, took ndvantaste from his
religious education, insensibly, as it were, to steal into the heart of this
young disciple.

He afterwards affirmed, that he was never able to determine the
time, when the spirit of God first began to convince him, and renew him ;
only he could say with the reverend blind man, I was blind, but now I
»ee. When Thacher was a child, the Lord loved him, and this child also
loved the Lord : he was an Ahijah, that whil^ he was (x cAt/j), had manj

Vol. I. '66

449

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111.

good things in him to:i}ards the Lord God of hit father^ he was a TVmotAy,
that while he was a child, knew the holy scripttire$ : he was a Samuel, that
in his childhood was visited by the Holy Spirit : he was a Josiah, thiit
while he was yet young, sought after the Lord : and so much remarked
was his early piety, that while he was in his earliest minority, they would
say of him, There goes a Puritan. It might indeed be said of him, as they
report of St. Nicholas, that he led a life, Sanctissime, ab ipsis Incuna bulis
Inchoatam. And it might be said by him, as it was by the blessed ancient
in his confessions, Domine, puer capi rogare tc Auxilium^r Jtefttgium tne-
um, ^ rogavi parvus, non parvo affectu.

§ 3. Having been well educated at the grammar school, he bad the
I'ffer of his father to perfect his education at the university, either of
iJamhridge or Oxford. But considering the impositions of things, to him
appearing unwarrantable, tvhereto he then must have exposed himself,
he conscientiously declined his father's offer, and chose rather to venture
over the AtlatUic ocean, and content himself with the meannesses of
Jlmerica, than to wound bis own conscience for the academical priviledges
of England.

When his parents discerned his inclination, they permitted his remo-
val io New-England : intending themselves, within a year or two, with
' their family, to have removed thither after him : which intention was
prevented by the death of his mother, before it could be effected.

He arrived at Boston, June 4, 1635. In which year he was won-
derfully preserved from a shipwreck, with his uncle, wherein a wor-
thy minister, one Mr. Avery, lost his life, as elsewhere we have related.
A day or two before that fatal voyage from Newberry to Marblehead, our
young Thacher had such a strong, and sad impression upon his mind, about
the issue of the voyage, that he, with another, would needs go the jour-
ney by land, and so he escaped perishing with some of his pious and
precious friends by sea.

§ 4. 'Tis well known, that in the early days of Christianity, there were
n3 colledges, (except we will say the Cattchetick Lecture at Alexandria was
one) for the breeding of young ministers ; but the bishop of evehy church
took the care to educate and elevate some young men, who might be pre-
f-ic?d thereby to succeed in their place, when they should be dead and
gon3. And in the early days of New-England, they were for a little
vrhile obliged unto such a method of providing young men for the ser-
vice of the churches. Thus our Thacher, by the good providence of
God, was now cast into the family, and under the tuition of that rever-
end man, Mr. Charles Chancey; who was afterwards the President of
Harvard-Colledge, in our Cambridge. Under the conduct of that emi-
nent scholar, he became such an one himself; and his indefatigable stu-
dies were so prospc --ed,that he became Aligtiis in Omnibus, without the
blemish usually, but sometimes unjustly annexed unto it, Nullus in Singu-
lis. He was not unskilled in the tongues, especially in the Hebrew,
whereof he did compose a Lexicon ; but so rcjiprized it, that within
one sheet of paper, he had every considerable word of the language.
.And he was as well skilled in the arts, especially in logic, whereof he
gave demonstr8.Hon, in his being a most irrefragable disputant, on some
great occasions.

Moreover, it was his custom, once in three or four years time, at snb-
cesive hours, to go over the tongues, and arts, atsuch a rate, that his good
s?.ill in them continued fresh unto the last. And to all his other accom-
plisluDeats, tliere was this added, that he was a most incomparable scribe:

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

443

he not only wrote all the sorts of hands in the best copy-books then e«<
tant, with a singular exactness and acuteness, but there are yet extant
monuments ofSyriac, and other orienta' characters of his writing, which
are hardly to be imitated. He had likewise a certain mechanic geniua,
which disposed him in his recreations unto a thousand curiosities, espe-
cially the ingenuity of clock-work , wherein at his leisure, he did things t»
admiration.

§ 5. On May 11, 1643, he was married unto the daughter of that ven-
erable man Mr. Ralph Partridge, the minister of Vuxbury. The coo>
sort, whom the favour of Heaven, thus bestowed upon him, was e per-
son of a most amiable temper ; one pious, and prudent, and every way
worthy of the man to whom she became a glory. By her he received
three sons and one daughter } and when she had continued three sevens of
years with him, she went after a very triumphant manner to be for ever
with the Lord, Jane 2, 1664, uttering those for her dying words. Come,
Lord Jesus, come quickly : "mhy are thy chariot-wheels so long a coming ?

§ 6. Having, as a candidate of the ministry, by his most commendable
preaching and living, abundantly recommended himself unto the service
of the churches, he was invited by the church of Weymouth to take the
pastoral charge of them ; whereto he was ordained, Jan. 2, 1614. And
here he did for many yeais fulfil his ministry, not only with elaborate
and affectionate sermons, twice every Lord's day, and in a lecture once a
fortnight ; but also in catechising the lambs of his flock, for which he like-
wise made a Catechism. These, also, he would at 6t seasons call to an
account concerning their proficiency under the means of grace ; and such
as he found ripe for an admission unto the highest mysteries, at the table
of the Lord, he would encourage to put themselves upon the publick and
usual probation, in order thereunto, but such as he found short,he would
suitably, faithfully, and fervently advise unto the preparations,- wherein
they appeared hitherto defective. And God crowned these methods and
labours of his holy servant, with observable successes ; which were seen
in i)ie great growth of the church, whereof he had the oversight. But
onn exct^licncy that shined above the other glories of his ministry, was
that excellent spirit of prayer, which continually breathed in him. It has
bnen used among the arguments for men to be much in prayer, thiit the
dignity of Wie person praying is thereby much augmented ; and Chrysos-
torn, in his t>'iok, De Deo Orando, says. The very angels cannot but hon-
our him. wh'tm they see familiarly, and frequently to be admitted unto the
audience, and as it were, discourse with the Divine Majesty. Now, though
this honour have all the saints, yet our Thacher had more than ordinary
shitre of this honour ; he was a person much in prayer, and as he waH
much in paryer, so he had an eminency above most men living, for his co*
pious, hisfluent, his fervent manner of performing that sacred exercise.

It was an Heaven upon earth, to be present at the notable salleys of a
raised soul, a lively faith, and a tongue, toucht with a coal from the altar,
with which, in his prayers, he did Calum TunderCy 4* Misericordiam Ex-
torqnere.

§ 7. After the death of his first wife, he married n second in Boston,
which, with a concurrence of many obliging circumstances, occasioned
his removal thither. And it was afterwards found, that He who holds th<e
stars in his right hand, had a purpose of service to be done for his name,
in that populous town, by the talents of this his good and faithful servant.
For in the month of May, 1669, a third church swarming out from the
j!r«(dn Boston, which afterwards made one of the ino.st considerable con-.

444

I'HE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

gregations in the colony, this worthy {icrson was chosen the pastor of
that church : and installed in the ]iu8torat charge thereof, Feb. 16, 1669,
wherein he continued until he died. From this time, 1 behold him in the
metropolis of the English Jhiicrica,not only dispensingboth light and tcarmth
unto bis own particul >.r tlocik, but also as l^e had opportunity, expressing
a care of all the churches. And foi the comfort of those worthy ministers,
who commonly havt> 'tif>ir spirits bvjfeted with strong temptad'ons and sore
dejections, befnr6 their performing uny special service of their ministry,
ni mention one passage, that may a little describe how this worthy man
became so useful : be would say to his son ; Son, I never preach a ser-
mon, till I cannot preach at all!

§ 8. As he was in his whole behaviour a serious, holy, and useful man,
fto in his government of hta family, he so well ruled his own house, as to
give particular demonstrations of his abilities to take care of the Church
of God. His domei<tu:ks boih loved him, and yeored him ; and he was
most conscientiously and exemplarily careful, about their interiour as
well as temporal welfare. This appeared especially in the management
of hie family worship ; wherein be usually read a portion of the scriptures,
both morning and evening, and he would raise doctrines from every verse
with hrie{ confirmations, and close applications thereof as he went along.
Yen, sometimes one might hear from him thus, in one family exposition,
as entertaining a variety of truth, notably and pungently expressed, as in
several publick sefnions : and he has told his worthy son, for his encour*
agement unto such exercises, that he had found us much advantage by
them, as by most of his other studies of divinity ; adding that he looked
upon it as the Lord's gracious accomplishment of that word. Shall I hide
any thing from Abraham ? I know Abraham, that he will teach his house !

§ 0. He was one very watchful over the souls of his people, and care-
ful to preserve them from errors as well as vices : but of all errors, he
discovered an antipathy unto none more, than that sink of all errors,
QJUAKEHISM. It was in his time, namely, about the year 1652, thatthere
appeared a new sect of people in the world, which from the odd motions
of their bodies, that attended especially their ^rat pei-version, were call*
ed Quakers ; and it was not long after their first appearance, that M'ew-
England began to be troubled with them. Their spirit of the hat, and
their fopperies ofthou and thee, in their language to a single person, were
the least of those things which gave our Thacher a dissatisfaction at them ;
that which caused him to employ a most fervent zeal against those here-
ticks, was the hoi-rible end of their heresies, to lead men into a pit of
darkness, under a pretence of the light, and annihilate all the sensible ob-
jects, of our holy rcngion, under a pretence of advancing the spiritual;
so that we must have no bible, no Jesvs, no Baptism, no Eucharist, no
ordinances, hilt what shall be evaporated into dispensations, allegories, and
meer mystical notions : when he saw that quite contrary to the tendency
and character of every truth, u-liich is to abuse the creature, the main de-
sign of Quakerism is to exalt vian, and find that in man himself, which
may be instead oi Saviour, Scripture, Heaven, righteousness and all institu-
tions unto him, he could not but adore the justice and vengeance of God,
in permitting such a spiritual plague tohe inflicted on places, where the
gospel had been more eminently sinned against ; but he set himself with
the more o( a pastoral diligence to defend his own flock from the conta-
gion : and hence, when he heard of any 6ooA;sleft by the Quakers in any
houses of his neighbourhood, he would presently repair to the houses,
and obtain those venomous pamphlets from them : for which, that the

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND.

445

wolvet barked more at him than at many other men, and would sometimes
come with their/aces hideously blacked, and their garments fearfully torn,
into his congregation, whereby the neighbours were frighted unto the
danger of their lives, is not at all to be wondred at. In this his pastO'
ral care, he met with some experitncnts, that were extraordinary ; where-
of one shall here be related, li has here sometimes been remarked,
that a very sensible possession of the devil has attended the 6rc>t arrest of
Quakerism, on the minds of men, and the seducers, have with a real and
fToper witchcraft, by certain ceremonte* conveyed it unto them. Agree-
ably hcreuuto, and inhabitant of Weymouth having bought certain Bibles
at Boston, lodged the night following at a tavern, where two QuoAieri lodg-
ed with him. The Quakers fell to disgracing and degrading the Bibles,
wherewith he had furnished himself, as a dead letter, and advised him to
hearken to the light within, which would sufficiently direct him to Heav-
en ; and the effect of their enchantments was, that before morning, the
poor man was as very a Quaker as the best of them. In the mornmg he
was carrying back hid Bibles to the book-sellers, as books now become
altogether use/ess ; and resolving to keep no dead letter any longer in his
hands ; but in the way, he was met by Mr. Thacher, who seeing the man
look wild and strange, and of an energumen countenance, over^per-
swaded him to go aside with him, that he might enquire a little further
to his condition. He carried the poor man into a neighbour's house,
and privately there talked with him, and prayed with him, and by the
wonderful blessing of Heaven, immediately recovered him from the er-
ror of his way: the man was never any more a Quaker, but ever after
this, wonderfully thankful unto God, and unto this his servant, for his
recovery.

§ 10. The last that 1 shall mention of the excellencies that signalized
this worthy man shall be his claim to the accomplishments of an excellent
physician. He that for his lively ministry was justly reckoned among
the angels of the churches, might for his medical acquaintances, experien-
ces, and performances, be truly called a Raphael. Ever since the days
ai Luke the evangelist, skill in physick has been frequently professed and
practised, by persons whose more declared business was the study o( di-
vinity. To bay nothing of such monks as JEgidius Atheniensis, or Constan'
iinus Afer, or Johannes Damascenus, or Trusianns F'orentinus, and to say
nothing of Henry Bochelt, a Bishop, or of Albicus, an Arch Bishop, or of
iMdovicus Patavinus, a Cardinal, or of John xxii, a Pupe, nil of whom were
notable physicians, our English nation has commonly afforded eminent
physicians, who were aho ministers of the gospel.

But I suppose the greatest frequency of the angelical conjunction, has
been seen in these part* o( America, where they are mostly the poor to
whom the gospel is preached, by pastors whose compassion to them in
their poverty, invites them to supply the want of able physicians among
them, and such an universally serviceable pastor was our Thacher.
They were the priests of Egypt, of Greece, and of i?ome, who reserved in
the archives of their temples the stories and methods of the cures, wrought
on the recovered persons, who brought thither their thankful sacrijiccs ;
and by the priests were directions hence comn^unicated unto such as
wanted cures for the like distempers. As the art of healing was first
brought into some order by the hands of officers that have been set
apart for the care of soxds ; thus, that art has been pappily exercised by
the hands of church-officers in all ages, who have admitiistred unto the
"ouh of people the more effectually, for being able to administer unto

446

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. [fiooK lit.

their bodies. And a singular artist herein was our Thacher ; who, know>
iiig that every rank of generous men had at some time or other afforded
perHOoa eniioent tor skill in phyaick ; yea, that it had been studied by
, no less than snch crowned heads as Mithridatet and Hadrianus, and Con-
atantinus Pogonatus, he thought it no ways misbecoming him, to follow
the example. How many hundreds in this way fared the better for him,
I cannot say ; but this I can say, that as King Zamolxes of Hiraeia, who
was of old a renowned physician, would give this as the reason why tbe
Greeks had the diseases among them, so much oncured, because they neg-
lected their touh, the chief thing of all: so our Thacher was blessed of
God in his faiiiiful endeavours to make natural and spiritual health ac-
company each other in those that were about him.
* § II. But, Contra yim Mortis Nothing will exempt from the ar-
rest of death. It happened that this excellent man preached for my fa-
ther, a sermon on the 1 Pet. iv. 18, The righteous scarcely saved; the last
words of which sermon were, When a saint comes to die, then often it is
the hour and power of darkneess with him ; then is the last opportunity that
the devil has to vex the people of God ; and hence they then sometimes have
the greatest of their distresses. Do not thiiik him no godly man, that then
meets with doxibts and fears ; our Lord Jesus Christ then cries out. My God,
my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? God help us. tlutt as we live by faith,
so we mny walk in it. And these proved the last words that ever he ut-
tered in ...'.y sermon whatsoever. For visiting a sick person, aAer his
going out of the assembly, he got some harm, which turned into h fever,
whereof he did, without any hour and power of darkness upon his own
holy mind, expire on October 15, 1678. He left behind him two wor-
thy sons, iVfr. Peter Thacher, who is at this time the pastor of the church
at Milton, and one from whose pious labours, not the English only, but
even the Indians also receive the glad tydings of salvation; and Mr.
Rdph Thacher, minister of the word at Matha's Vineyard. And he like-
wise left one printed nff'-spring of his mind ; for as the reverend prefa-
cer thereto observes, Whien the Lord knew that Boston, yea, that New-
England would have cause for many days of humiliation, he therefore stirred
up the heart of his servant aforehand to give instructions and directions,
6oncfrning the acceptable perjormance of so great a duty, he did in the
year 1674, preach on the nature of a sacred /ast; and some of bis hear-
ers, who wrote after him, when he preached, afterwards published it
vnder tbe title of, Jifait of God's cliusing.

§ 12. The church of this worthy man at Weijmouth, has been enter-
tained tvith one curiosity, which by way of appendix to his life, is not un-
worthy to be related.

One Matthew Prat, wliosc religious parents had well instructed him iD
his minority, when he was twelve years of age, became totally deaf
through sickness, and so hath over since continued. He was taught af-
ter this to write, as he had been before to read ; and both his reading
and his writing he retaineth perfectly, but he has almost forgotten to
speak ; speaking but imperfectly, and scarce intelligibly, and very seldom.
He is yet a very judicious christian, and being admitted into the com-
munion of the church, he has therein for many years behaved himself,
unto the extream siitisfaction of good people, in the neighbourhood. Sa-
rah Prat, the wife of this man, is one also who was altogether deprived
of her hearing, by sickness, when she was about the third year of her age ;
but having utterly lost her hearing, she .has utterly lost her speech also,
and no douljt. all roinf^mbrance of every thing that refers to languagfi

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

447

Mr. Thacher made an euajr to leach her the use ndetters, but it succeed-
ed not : however, she has a most qiiick apprehension of things, by her
eye, and she discounes by »igni, whereat some of her friends are so ex-
pert, as to maintain a conversation with her upon any point whatever,
with as much freedom and fulntuy as if she wanted neither tongue, nor
tar, for conference. Her children do learn her tignt from the breast :
and speak sooner by her eyei and hands, than by their lips. From her
iofaDcy, she was very sober and modest ; but she had no knowledge of a
Deity, nor of any thing that concerns anolher life, and world. Never-
theless, God of his infinite mercy has revealed the Lord Jesus Christ, and
the great mysteries of salvation by him, unto her, by a more extraordinary
and imiitediate operation of his own spirit upon her. An account of her
experiences was written from her, by her husband ; and the elders of the
church employing her husband, with two of her sisters, who are notably
skilled in her way of cotnmunicalion, examined her strictly hereabout ;
and they found that she understood the unity of the divine essence, the
<nni<y of persons in the Godhead, the j}er«ona/ vnton in our Lord, the
mystical union between our Lord and his church ; and that she was ac-
quainted with the impressions of grace upon a regenerate soul. She was
under great exercise of mind, about her internal and eternal state ; she
expressed unto her friends desire of help ; and she made use of the Bible,
and other good books, and with tears, remarked such passages as were
suitable to her own condition. Yea, she once, in her exercise, wrote
with a pin upon a trencher, three times over, M, poor soul ! and there-
with before divers pei-sons, burst into tears. At a sermon she would en-
quire ailer the text, which being shewn her, she would look and muse
upon it : and she strangely knows the names of those with whom she is
acquainted ; insomuch that if they be names found in the scripture, she
will turn and find, and point them there. It seems that written words are
a lort of hieroglyphicks unto her.

She was admitted into the church with the general approbation of the
faithful, nor would the most judicious casuists in the world, a Luther, a
Mtlancthon, a Gerhard, an AUing, a Baldwin, have scrupled her admis-
sion to the sacred mysteries : and her carriage is that of a grave, gracious,
holy woman.

The wonderful circumstances of this couple, may justly be added
unto the entertainments for the curious, which we have in the young
man and maid, mentioned by Cameraritts, who though deaf and dumb,
could read and write, and cypher, and know a man's meaning by the
motion of his lips. And the person mentioned by Platerus, who though
born deaf as well as dumb, yew could express his thoughts in a table-book,
and comprehend what was written by others in it, and with edification
attend upon the ministry of Oecolampadius : and both Mr. Crisp of Lon-
don, and Genne^ Lowes of Edinburgh, who though naturally deaf, and
by consequence dumb, could yet sec what people spoke, by seeing them
when they spoke : and in a word, the exquisite sence of the mutes in
the Ottoman Court, related by Rycaut, in his history of that empire.

An Epitaph must now be sought for this worthy man : and because
the nation and quality of the author, will make the composure to be-
come a curiosity, I will here, for an Epitaph, insert an elegy, which
was composed upon this occasion, by an Indian youth, who was then a
student of /fantorrf-CoUedge. (His name, Wiis Eleazar.) . ^

448 " THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. {Book III.

-^**r,i*ni+^v?»«{T!»r4 V <in obitum Viri vere Roverendi. ni* ^.^ .

■**

♦>. • •

>»» .

'to

■Y. ■

r. r

D. Thohje Thachbri,

Q,ui Ad ;

Dom. exhac Vita migravit, 18, 8, 1678.

Tenfabo lUuatretn, trisH memortare dolore,

Qmm Lacrymis r$pet»nt Temporal no$tra, Firum.
Memnona sic MaUr, Mater ploravit AchiUem,

Justis cum Lacrymis, cumque Dolore gravis
Mens stitpet, ora silent, justum nuncpalmo recusat

Qfit:ium : Quid f Opem Tristis Apollo negat ?
Ast Thachere Tuus coaabor dioere laudes,
it ^' Laudes FirtuHs, qua super Astra voktt.
Conwfiis Rerum Dominis, Gentiqua togala

Nota fidt virtus, ac tua Sancta Fides.
Vivis post Funus ; Ftelix post Fata ; Jaces Tu ?

Sed Stellas inter Gloria nempe Jaces.
Mens Tua jam calos repetit ; Victoria porta est :

Jam Thus est Christus, quod meruitque tuum.
Hie Finis Crucis ; magnorum hac meta malorum ;

Ufierius non quo progrediatuf erit.
Crux jam cassa manes ; requiescunt ossa Sepult^o ;

Mors moritttr ; Vita Vita Beafa rediL
Quum tuba per Densas sonitum dabit ultima JVuhes,

Cum Domino Reditns Ferrea Sceptra geres.
Coles turn scandes, ubi Patria Vera piorum ;

Pravius hanc Patriam nunc tibi Jeaus adU.
Jllic vera Qjuies ; illicsinejinevoluptas ;

Gaudia 8f Humanis non referenda sonis.

MtxfitiT' ii»i»%s mtivfiHirit «4«*«t«/{*

Eleazar, Jtidus Senior Sophista.

i^<:0«^i^*iiffvO!; m4;-k.i

-?-: >'«*

CHAPTER. XXVll.
The Life of Mr. Peter Hobart.

4.-

4 § 1. It was a saying of Alphonms {whom they sir-named, the wtse.King
of Arragon) that among so many things as are by men possessed or pursued,
in the course of their lives, all the rest are baubles, besides, old wood to
bum. old wine to drink, ofd friends to converse with, and old books to
rend. Now there having been Protestant and reformed colonies here
formed, in a new world, and those colonies now growing old, it will cer-
tainly be no unwise thing for them to converse with some of their old

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

449

friends, among which one was Mr. Peter Hobart, wboaa thorefore a new
book shall now present unto my readers.

"^ 2. Mr. Peter Hobart was born at, or near Hingham, a market town,
in the county of Norfolk, about the latter end ot' tiie ^ear 1604. iliu
parents were eminent for piuty, and even from tlielr youth/earec/ God
above many; wherein their zeal was more conspicuous, by the impiety
of the neighbourhood, among whom there were but three or four in the
whole town, that minded serious religion, and these were suthciently
maligned by the irreligious for their Puritanism, These parents of our
Hobart, were such as had obtdined each other from the God of Heaven,
by /joac-like prayers unto him, and suoh as afterwards besieged Heaven
with a continual importunity for a blessing upon their childriMi ; whereof
thesecood was this our Peter. This their son was like another iSiam»e/ from
his infancy dedicated by Ihem unto the ministry, aiui in under thereunto,
sent betimes unto a grammer school ; whereto, such was his desire of
learning, that he went several miles on foot, every morning, and by his
early appearance there, still shamed the sloth of others. He went af-
terwards unto the free-school at Lyn, from whence when he was by his
master judged fit for it, he was admitted into a coUedge in the Universi-
ty of Cam6ridg« ; where he remained, studied, protited, until he proceed-
ed Batchellorof Arts ; giving ail along an example of sobriety, gravity,
aversion from all vice, and inclination to the service of God.

§ 3. Retiring then from the university, he taught a grammar school ;
but he lodged in the house of a conformist minister, who though he were
no friend unto Puritans, yet he employed this our young Hobart some-
times to preach for him, and when asked, fVhal his opinion of this young
man was? He said, / do highly approve his abilities ; he will make an able
preacher : but I fear he will be too precise. When the time for it came, he
returned unto the university, and proceeded Master of Arts : but the
rest of his time in England was attended with much unseitlement of his con-
dition. He was employed here and there, as godly people could obtain
permission from the parson of the parish, who upon any little disgust
would recal that permission : and yet all this while, by the blessing of
God upon his own diligence and discretion, and the frugality of his ver-
tuous consort, he lived comfortably. The last place of his residence in
England, was the town oi Haverhil, where he was a lecturer, laborious
and successful in the vineyard of our Lord.

§ 4. His parents, his brethren, his sisters, had not without a great
affliction to him, embarked for New-England ; but some time after this,
the cloud of prelatical impositions and persecutions grew no black upon
him, that the solicitations of his friends, obtained from him a resolution
for New-England also, where he hoped for a more settled abode, which
was most agreeable to his inclination. Accordingly in the summer of the
year 1635, he took ship, with his wife and four children, and after a voy-
age by constant sickness rendred very tedious to him, he arrived a Charles-
toian, where he found his desired relations got safe before him. Several
towns now addressed him to become their minister ; but he chose with
his father's family, and some other christians, to form a new plantation,
which they called Hingham ,* and there gathering a church, he continued
a faithful pastor, and an able preacher, for many years. And his old peo-
ple at Haverhil indeed, in some time afler, sent most importunate letters
unto him, to invite his return for England: and he had certainly return-
ed, if the. letters had not so miscarried, that before his advice to them,
there fell out some I'cmarkable, and invincible hindrances of his removal.

Vol. I. 57

4Stli

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLANU. [Book III

$ C. Not long after this, he lind (a» his own Gxpreision for it vfaa) hi$ heart
rent out of his breait, by the death of his conaort ; but bia christian, patient,
and submissive resignation, was rewarded by his oiarriage to a second,
that proved a rich blessing unto him- His house was also edified and
beautified with many children, on whom, when he looked, he would say
sometimes with much thankfulness ; Behold^ thu$ thall tite man be bte$ied,
thalfeareth the Lord! and for whom he employed many tears in his pray,
era to God, that they might be happy, and like another Job, offered up
his daily supplications.

His love to learning, made him strive hard that his hopeful sons might
not go without a learned education ; and accordingly we find four or five
of them wearing laurels in the cotalogue of our graduates ; and several
of them are at this day, worthy preachers, of the gospel in our churches.

§ 7. He was mostly a morning student, not meriting the name of
Homo Lectissitnus, as he in the witty epigrammatist, from hia long lying
a bed ; and yet he would improve the darkness of the evening also, for
solemn, fixed, and illuminating meditations. He was much admired
for well studied sermons ; and even in the midst of secular diversions
and distractions, his active mind would be busie at providing materials
for the composure of them. He much valued that rule, sfudy standing;
and until old age, and weakness compelled him, he rarely would study
sitting : which practice of his he would recommend unto other fitudents,
as an excellent preventive of that Flagellum Studiosortttn, the Stone.
And when he had an opportunity to hear a sermon from any ether min-
ister, he did it with such a diligent and reverent attention, as made it
manifest that he worshipped God in doing of it : and he was very care-
ful to be present still, at the beginning of the exercises, counting it a
recreation, to sit and wait for the worship of God.

Moreover, his heart was knit in a most sincere and hearty love to-
wards pious men, though they were not in all things of his ownperswa-
sion. He would admire the grace of God in good men, though they
were of sentiments contrary unto his; and he would say, / can carnj
them in my bosome : nor was he by them otherwise respected.

§ 8. There was deeply rooted in him a strong antipathy to all pro-
fanities, whereof he was a faithful reprover, both in publick and in pri-
vate ; and when his reproofs prevailed not, he would weep in secret placet.

Drinking to excess, and mispence of precious time, in tipling or talking
with vain persons, which he saw grown too common, was an evil so ex-
tremely offensive to him, that he would call it. Sitting at meat in an idol's
temple ; and when he saw that vanity grow upon the more high profes-
sors of religion, it was yet more distastful to him, who in bis own beha-
viour was a great example of temperance.

Pride, expressed in a gaiety, and bravery o( apparel, would also cause
him with much compassion to address the young persons with whom he
saw it budding, and advise them to correct it, with more care to adorn
their souls with such things as were of great price before God : and here
likewise his own example, joined handsomness with gravity, and a moder-
ation that could not endure a show. But there was no sort of men from
whom he more turned away than those, who under a pretence of zeal
for church discipline, were very pragmatical in controversies, and furiously
set upon having all things carried their way, which they would call the
rule; but at the sitme time, were most insipid creatures, destitute of the
life and po'saer of godliness, and perhaps immoral in their conversations.

Book III.] THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND.

451

To these he wouhi apply a Haying of Mr. Cotton*$, That some men are all
diurch, and mt Christ.

§ 9. fie WHS n person that met with many temptationi and afflictions,
which arc better forgotten than remembered ; but he was internally,
and is n )w eternally a gainer by them. It is remarked of the Patriarrh
Jacob, that when he was a very old man, and much older than the moat
that lived after him, he complained, Few and evil have been the days of
the yean of my life : in which complaint, the few is explained by the evil ;
hi8 days were winter-d'iys, nml spent in the darkness of sore calamity.
Winter days are twenty-four hours long as well ns other days ; yea, long-
er, if the equation nftiine should be mathematically considered ; yet we
count l.hcm the shorter days. Thus although our /MarMived unto old
age, he might call his days/ew, because they had been evil. But Mark
this pirfect tnan, and behold this upright one ; for the end of this man was
peace. In the spring of the year 1670, he was visited with a sickness that
seemed the messenger of death ; but it was his humble desire, that by
having his life prolonged a little further, he might see the education of
his own younger children perfected, and bestow more labour also upon
the conversion of the young people in his congregation : / have travelled
in the ministry in this place, thirty-five years, and might it please God so far
to lengthen out my dayn, as to make it up forty, I should not, I thitik, desire
any more. Now the Lord heard this desire of his praying servant, and
added no less than eight years more unto his days. The most part of
which time, except the last three quarters of a year, he was employed
in the pnhlick services of his ministry.

Being recovered from his illness, be proved that he did not flatter
with his lips, in the vows that he had made for his recovery $ for he now
set himself with great fervour to gather the children of his church, under
the saying wings of the Lord Jesus Christ ; and in order thereunto he
preached many pungent sermons, on Eccl xi. 9, 10, and£cc/. xii. 1, and
used many other successful endeavours.

§ 10. Though his labours were not without success, yet the success was
not so general, and notable, but that he would complain, Alas, for the
barrenness of my ministry ! And when he found his lungs decay by old age,
ni fever, he would clap his hands on his breast and say, The bellows are
hurnt, the founder has meUed in vain ! At length infirmities grew so fast
upon this painful servant of our Lord, that in the summer of the year
1678, he seemed apace drawing on to his end ; but aAer some revivals
he again got abroad ; however, he seldom, if ever preached aAer it, but
only administered the sacraments. In this time his humility, and conse-
quently all the other graces which God gives unto the humble, grow ex-
ceedingly, and observably ; and hence he took delight in bearing the
commendations of other men, though sometimes they were so unwisely
ottered, as to carry some diminutions unto himself ; and he set himself
particularly to put all respect and honour upon the ministers that came
in the time of hie weaknesses to supply his place. After and under his
confinement, the singing of psalms was an exercise wherein he took a
particular delight ; saying, That it was the work of Heaven, which he was
-^dlling to anticipate. But about eight weeks before his expiration, he did
with his aged hand ordain a successor ; which when he had performed
with much solemnity, he did afterwards with an assembly of ministers,
and other christians, at his own house, joyfully sing the song of aged
i't'mcon. 'Vhy servant now lettest thou depart in peace. He had now noth-
"ij? to do, but to die ; and he spent his hours accordingly, in assiduous pre-

46? THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLANU. [Book III.

parations ; not without some dark intervnls of temptalion ; but at last
with light arising in darknegi unto him. While hit exttriour wai dteay-
ing, \m interiour wan retiftiing. every day, until the twentieth day of Jan.
1678, when be quietly andHilently reoigned his holy aoul, unto its faitlt-
ful Crtutor.

'-tr
-1

EPITAPHIUM

D. Petri Hobarti,

Ossa sub hoc Saxo. Latitant defossa Sepnlchro,
SpirilUB in Caio, carcere, miiBus agit.

V. CHAPTER XXVI II.

Jl man of God, and an honourable man.

The Life of Mr. Samuel Whiting.

Hi inihi Doctores semper placuere, docenda
Q,uifadunt, plus, quam quifaciinda docent.

§ 1. When the miserable SauZ applied himself to the Witch of Endor,
for the invoking of, and consultinjs; with, some spirit in the invisible world,
he chose that the spirit should rather appear in the shape of the venera-
ble Samuel, than in any other. A dispute is raised among learned
men, on the occasion of the spirit thus raised ; who it should be? for
while sona- think, that beyond the expectation, and unto the astonish-
nieut of the Witch, it was the true Samuel, which now appeared ; in as
much as the apparition is live times over called by the name of Sam-
uel, and the apocryphal Eeclesiasticus affirms of Samuel, that ajter his
death he prophesied : and several of the fathers and of the schoolmen,
herein followed by Mendoza. Delrio, Dr. More, Mr. Glanvil, and others,
are of this opinion : they imagine with Lyra, that God then sent in the
real Samuel, uiilookedfor, as he came upon Balaam, when employed about
his magical impostures : there are more, who judge that it was a spirit
of the same kirw' «itli that, which is described by Porphyrius. t«»7«^«V
^n Tt tuit ira>i»lf«xn changing themselves into multifarious forms, one while
acting 'he pans of ticcmnns, another while of angels, and another while the
souls of the deieised : of which opinion was TertuUian, and the author ot
the QwMf. ^ Resp. ascribed unto Juslin Martyr, and the generality of Pro-
testants : who cannot perswade themselves, that the Lord would have
80 fur countenanced .Vcrromancy, or Psycomancy, as to have let the real
Samvel come, upon the soliritations of an enchantress ; and that the real
Samuel would not have discoursed at the rate of the spectre now exhib-
ited. \

Let the disputants, upon this question, wrangle on ; while we by a
very lawful and laudable art, will fetch another Samuel from the dead :
and by the happy wiagicA: of our pen, reader, we will bring into the view
of the world, a venerable old man, a Samuel who shall entertain us with
none but comfortable and profitable tidings. '^

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

453

§ 2. Mr. Samuel Whitittg drew hit firtt brenth at Bonton, in LinrolnMre,
Nov. 80, A. D. 1697. Hit father a person of good repute thArc, the
eldest ton among many brethren, an alderman, and tometimca a mayor of
the town, had three tont ; the second of thete wan our Samuel ^ who had
') learned education by hit father bestowed upon >iim, first at Boston
school, and then at the university of Cambridge, lie had for his compnn- .
ion in hit education, his cosen fterman, the very ronownod Jlmkony
Ttickney, afterwards doctor, and master of St. John's CoUed);c ; they
were .fcftooZ-fellows at Boston, and chamber mates, nt Camhridi^e ; they
both belonged unto /mmanue^Colledge, and they continue*! U' ilimate
friendship, when they left the seats of the muses, which indeed was not
quenched by the many waters of the Atlantick, when they were a thousand
leagues asunder. It was while he was thus at the university, that the
good Spirit orOod made early impressions of grace upon his young soul ;
Hnd the cares of his pious tutor, (1 think Mr. Yates) to instruct him in
matters of religion, as well as of literature, were blessed for the im-
buing of his mind, with a tincture of early piety ; which was further ad-
vnnced by the ministry of such preachers as Dr. Sibs, and Dr. Preston :
90 that in his age he would give thanks to God for tho divine favours
which he thus received in his youth, and when he was entering into his rest,
where he expected the most intimate communion with our glorious Im-
manuel, and with the spirits of just men made perfect, he could with joy re-
flect upon the anticipations of it, which be enjoyed in the retired walk of
Jmmanuel-Collcdge.

§ 3. H tving proceeded Master of Arts, he removed from Cambridge,
and became a chaplain to Sir /fathanael Bacon, and Sir Hoger Townsend,
where he did for (Aree years together, with prayers, with sermons, with
catechising, and with a grave and wise deportment, serve the interest of
reiigic ', .n a family, which had no less thi«n two knishfs and^ve ladies in
it. He uext removed unto Lyn, in the county of Aorfolk, and spent an-
other three years, as a coUegue in the miniiitry of the gospel, with a rev-
erend and excellent man, Mr. Frice. But the great content which he
took in his present scitu<)tion, and society, and serv4ce, was interrupted
at length by complaints made unto the Bishop of JVorwich, for Uh non-
conformity unto those rites, which never were of any use in the church
of God, but only to be tools, by which the worst of men might thrust out
the best from serving it. Being cited unto the High Commission Court, he
expected that he i^hould lose tho most of his estate, for his being a 7iov-
conformist ; but before the time for his appearance, according to the cit!i-
tion, came, King James died ; and so his trouble at this time was diverf.-
ed. The Earl of Lincoln afterwards interceding for him, the Bishop
was willing to promise, that hn would no farther worry him, in case he
would be gone out of his diocess, where he could not reach him ; and
therefore leaving Lyn, he exercised his ministry at Skirbick, nenr Bos-
ton in Lincolnshire, lor a considerable irAtVe, with no inconfiderable/rujV ;
refreshed with the (lrli;!;htful neighbourhood of his old friends. ;ind espe-
cially those eminent persons Mr. Cotton and Mr Tuckney, to both of whom
he had some affinity, as from both of them, no little affection.

§ 4. Having buried his first wife, by whom he had three children, two
sons, who died in England, and one daughter, afterwards matched with
one Mr. Thomas Weld, in anotiier land ; he married the daughter of Mr.
OliverSt. John, a Bedfordshire gentleman, of 3n honourable family, near-
ly related unto tiic Lord .SV John of Bletsn. This Mr. St. John, was ii
person of incomparable breeding, vertuc and pioty ; such, that Mr,

4u4

THK HISTOKY OP NEW-ENGLAND. [Huia HI

CoUoH, who wn<i wftll acquainted with him, aiutl ofhim, i/« waimtofthf
eompUatttt gentrmtn, witknut q^'cctaHon, that tvtr ht kmw. And thii his
dauKlilcT WHS a ppr«uii of »in((iiiHr piety nnd KniVily ; one it ho by h«r
diicretion freed her huHhuiid from idl »tcular uvocationi ; one who up-
hehl a (hiiijr nnd cunHtant communiun with God, in the devotiuni of her
closet ; one, who not only wrote the »«'rnionii that Rhe heard on the Ijord's
duy$ with much dexterity, but lived tin in, nnd lived on them all the week.
The iiiiuid phruHH for nu excellent woman, among the ancient Jew* wiw,
one who detervea to marry a priest : even fluch an excellent woman, wa«
now married unto Mr. Whiting. This gentlewoman having stayed with
her worthy contort forty-seven years, went in the seventy-third yenr of
his age, unto him to whom her soul had been some scores of years espovs-
td. Mr. Whiting hud by her four sons and two daughterH. I'hree of
the sons lived onto the estate and stature of men ; and had a learned fr)u-
cntion. Satnuel is at this day a reverend, holy and fiitliful miitixter of
the gospel, in the ATew- English town of Hillericu : John was intended for
n physician, but became a preacher, first at Uutterwich, then at Lnerton
in Lincolnshire, where he died a godly conformist : Joseph is, at this day,
a worthy and painful minister of the gospel, at Southampton upon J^ig'
Island.

§ 5. After he had abode several years at Skirbick, soon after Mr. Cot-
ton'« removal, he fell into such trouble, for his non- conformity lo theva-
nites, which men had received by tradition from their Popish /a(/iert, and
this through the complaint of the same unhappy man, it is said, who pro-
cured the trouble of Mr. Cotton, that he found he must be gone: but
New- England offered it self as the most hopeful and quiet, and indeed
the only place that he could be gone unto. The ecclesiastical ikarks
then drove this Whiting over the Atlantic sea, unto the American strand.
Let it not be a matter of wonder, that persons of a conscience rightly in*
formed and inclined, chose rather to undergo an uncomfortable estilt
from the best island under Heaven, to as hard a desart as any upon
earth, rather than to conform to the ceremonies of the English Liturgy,
If the things had been us lawful in the judgment of the sufferers, as tbey
were in the pretences of the iviposers. they were not so fond of miseritt
as to have refused conformity. But it was of old observed, that when
sinful things were commanded, Nihil obstinacius thristiano, nothing if
more obstinate than a christian dissenter ; and it is a commendable obsti-
nacy ! The faithful in TertulHan's time, would undergo any thing rath*
er than use the ceremonies of idolaters, though they might have used
them to another end, and with another mind than they. The ijrst planters
of New-England knew, that the ceremonies retained in the Church of
England, had been first invented and practised by idolaters : and know-
ing that all the abominations of the Popish Mass, originally sprang from
an imposed Liturgy, they thought it no nicety to have declined all compli-
ance with such a thing, though they should not have had as they had,
numberless objections against it. The very words used in the riles then
required, were feared by those good men, as dangerous ; after they read
those words of the Rhemists, While they say, ministers, let us say, priests ;
when they call it, a'communion table, /e( us call it, an altar. Let us keep
our old words, and we shall keep our old things, our religion. But much
more did these good men fear the rites of things themselves ; especially
when they saw them to be not only unscriptural and uninstituted, but al-
so of pernicious consequence to the very vitals of religion. For-this they
had the example of Peter Martyr, who wished, that the reformed churcli-

booK ill.] THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND.

461

e$, keeping up these things would be sensiblet Evangelium iii maiuiUihtii,
non MOtii euejirmum ; that the goitpel CHonot be secure, while the e*rc'
Muni'ti continue : they had the example of Martin Hucer, who complain-
ed, that the ctrtmoniti and the preaching of the uiord, mutually «xpWone
another. Where knowUdge through the preaching of the ginpel prevails,
there the love ofthete withers, and whore the love ofthete prevails, there
knowledge decays : they had the example of the divines of Hamburgh,
who looked upon such ceremoniei to be the Cunieuli, the iecret minee by
which the Papitte would convey themselves under our foundation!, and
overthrow our churches. And if they did then entertain A%ulin*» fear,
/n Multitudine Ceremmtiarum periclitatur Fidea ; 1 wish the event had less
cootirmed it. It is very certain, in the Engliih nation, they served only
a« QUeaditet, to keep tlic pattages of the church, so that no minister, hotv
able or worthy soever could pass, unless he could pronounce that Shib-
boltth. And if the man of Bern, mentioned by Melancthon, who would
rather be martyred thun observe one fa$t in the Popish manner, were to
be commended for his fidelity to Christ, though it seemed such a little
matter, these good men must not be reproached for this, that they would
rather be exiled than to conform to those things, which were like the
pretended indifferent things, imposed in the old German instrument call*
ed the Interim, namely Semtna Corruptela, the seeds of Romith corrup-
tion. It is time for me now, without any further observation, to add
concerning our Whiting. His vertuoua consort was far from discourage
ing him, through any unwillingness in her to forsake her native country,
or expose her own person first unto the hazardi of the ocean, and then unto
the eorrowe of a wildeme$i : but though some of her friends were much
against it, yet she rather forwarded than hindred her husband's inclina-
tion for America. When he shipped himself, he took with him all that
he had ; and whereas he might have reserved his lands in England^
which would have yielded him a considerable annual revenue, and nota-
ble accession to the small salary, which he was afterwards put off with-
al ; yet judging that he never should return to England any more, he
sold all, saying, / am going into the wilderness to a sacrifice unto the Lord^
and I will not leave an hoof behind me.

He took shipping about the beginning of April, 1636, and arrived May
26, after he had been so very sick all the way, that he could preach but
one sermon all the while ; and he would say, t/iat he had much rather have
vndegone six weeks imprisonment for a good cause, than to undergo six
Hetks of such terrible sea-sickness as he had now been tried withal.

But in a sermon after his arrival, he thus expressed his apprehen-
sions and consolations :

' We in this country have left our near and our dear friends : but if
' we can get nearer to God here, he will be instead of all, and more than
' all unto us : He hath all the fulness of all the sweetest relations bound
' up in him. We may take out of God, which we forsook in father, mo-
' ther, brother, sister, friends that hath been as near, and as dear as our
'own soul.'

§ C. When he came ashore, his friends at the J^ew-Engltsh Boston,
with many of whom he had been acquainted in Lincoln- shire, let him
know how glad they were to see him ; and having lodged about a month
with his kinsman, Mr. Adderton Haugh, he removed unto Lyn, the church
there inviting him to be their pastor ; and in the pastoral care of that
flock he spent all the rest of bis days. The year following Mr. Thomas
Cobbet followed him : and soon after his arrival at New-England, be-

456

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

CHtne his collegue, in the service of the church at Lyn. Great was the
love that sweetned the labours, and whole convergatioii and vicinity of
those fellow-labourers ; the rays with which they illuminated the house
of God, sweetly united; they were almost everyday together, and thought
it a long day if they were not so ; one rarely travelling abroad without
the other : and these two angelick men seemed willing to give one ano-
ther as little jostle, as the angols upon Jacob's ladder did unto one anoth-
er, while one was descending, and another ascending there. How litlk
s^t/)en<2s these great servants of the church, were oppressed, but yetcon-
teuted withal, may bb frathcred from this one story.

The ungrateful inhabitants of Lyn, one year passed a town vote, that
they could not allow their ministers above thirty pounds apiece, that
year for their salary : and behold, the God who will not be mocked,
immediately caused the town to lose three hundred pounds, in that one
specie of their rattel, by one disaster.

However, Mr. Whiting found such a ble.ssing of God upon his liltk,
that he would cheerfully say, He questioned whether, if he had abode in
England, zehere his meatis were much more considerable, he could have
brought up three sons at the university there, as he did at ii»vard-Colledge
here. But after they had Jived about a score of years together, Mr. Cob-
bet was, upon the death of Mr. Rogt 's, translated unto Ipswich ; from this
time was Mr. Whiting mostly alone .a his ministry ; arid yet not alone, be-
cause the Heavenly Father was with Ivin. And as he drew near his end,
he had his youngest son for his assistant.

In the sixty third year of his age, A D. 1659, he began to be visited
with the grinding and painful disease of the stone in the bladder, with
which he was much exercised, [and the reader that knows any thing of
it, will say it was exercise enough] until he cnme to be, inhere the weary
are at rest, lie bore his affliction with incomparable patience ; and
he had one favour which he much asked of God, that though small
stones, with great p^ins. often proceeded from him, and he scarce enjoy-
ed one day of perfect ease, after this, until he died ; yet it is not re-
roembred, that he was ever hindred thereby one day from his publick
services. And whereas it was expected, both by himself and others,
that as he grew in years, the torments of his malady would grow upon
him, it proved much otherwise ; the torments and complaints of his
distemper abated, as his age increased- At length a senile atrophy came
upon him, with a wasting Diarrhua, which brought Lyn into darkness,
December 1 1, 1679, in the eighty third year of his peregrination.

§ 7. For his learning he was many ways well accomplished : especially
he was accurate in Hebrew, in which primitive and expressive language,
he took much delight ; and he was elegant in Latin, whereof among other
demonstrations he gave one, in an oration at one of our commencements ;
and much of his vacant hours he employed in history : history, which
made good unto him her ancient character : „

Omnis nunc nostro pendet Prudentiu Sensu, s s

. Miteque nil, nostra, qui caret Arte, sapit.

History, whose great votary Polybius, truly asserts. Nulla hominibusfa-
cilior ad Vit<£ institutionem viva est, ouum Rerum ante gestarum Cogniiio.
And he was no less a man of temper, than of learning : the peculiar
sweetness and goodness of his temper, must be an essential stroke in his
character : he was wonderfully happy in his meek, his composed, his

Hook III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

•157

peaceable disposition : and his meekness of wisdom out-shone all his
other attainments in hsarning ; for there is no humane literature so hard-
ly attained, as the discretion of a man to regulate his anger. Hia very
f.ountenance had an amiable smile continually swectning of it : and his
face herein was but the true image of his mind, which like the upper
regions was marvellously free from the storms of passions.

In prosperity he was not much elated, in adversity he, w^s not much
dejected ; under provocations he would scorn to be provoked. When
ihe Lord would not express himself unto Elijah in the wind, nor in the
earthquake, nor in the tire, but in the still voice, 1 suspect, lest one thing
intended among others, might be an admonition unto the prophet him^
self, to beware of the boistterous, uneven, inflamed efforts, whereto his
natural constitution might be ready to betray him.

This worthy man, as taking that admonition, was for doing every thing
with a still voice. He knew himself to be born, as all men are, with at
least a dozen passions ; but being also nets; born, he did not allow himself
to be hagridden with the enchantments thereof. The philosopher of old,
called our passions, by the just name oCunntirlured dogs ; but these dogs do
often worry the children of God themselves ; even a great Lnther, who
removed the foulest abominations out of the house of God, could not
hinder these dogs from infecting of his own heart : howcjver, this excel-
lent (because cool, therefore excellent) spirited person, kept these dogs
with a strong chain upon them ; and since man was created with a do-
minio nover the beasts of the field, he would not let the tnfM t7( -^vxiis,
hold him in any slavery. He lived as under the eye and awe of the great
God ; and as Ba»il noted. Potest Miles corum Rege suo non irasci, ob solum
jtCgicR majeslatis Eminentiam: thus the fear of God still restrained him
from those ebullitions of wrath which other men are too fearless of. Ab
virulent a pen as ever blotted paper in the English nation, pretends to
observe, That some men will pray with the ardours of an angel, love God
with raptures of joy and delight t be transported with deep and pathetick de-
votions, talk of nothing but the unspeakable pleasures of communion wilk
the Lord Jesus, be ravished with devout and seraphick meditations of Heaven,
and like the blessed spirits there, seen to relish nothing but spiritual delights
and entertainments ; who wlien they return from their transfiguration, to
their ordinary converse with men, are churlish as a cynick, passionate aa
an angry wasp, envious as a sttidiorts dunce, and insolent as a female tyrant ;
proud and haughty in their deportment ; peevish, petulant, and self-willed,
impatient of contradiction, implacable in their anger, rude and imperious
in all their conversation, and made up of nothing but pride, malice, and
peevishness. But if any have ever given occasion for this observation,
there was none given by our Whiting, who would have thought himself
a fish out of his element, if he had ever been at any time any where
htit in the Pacifick Sea, and from this account of his temper, 1 may now
venture to proceed unto his vertue ; by which I intend the holiness of
his renewed heart and life, and the change made by the supernatural
grace of Christ upon him, without which all vertue is but a name, a sham,
H iiction. He wis a very holy man ; as the ancients hath assured us,
■Ima Scicntiam Scripturarum 4* Fitia Carnis non Jimabis : thus by reading
daily several cliapters in both testaments of the scriptures, with serious
Hml gracious reflections thereupon, which he still followed with secret
pniyers he grew more holy continually, until in a flourishing old age, he
was found fit for transplantation. s

Vol. f.

458

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III,

^ His worship in bis family, was that which argued him a true child oi
Mraham ; and his counsel to his children, was grave, watchful, useful,
savoury, and very memorable. And if meditation (which was one of
Luther^a great thiui^s to make a divine) be a thing of no little consequence
to make a Christian, this must he numbered among the exercises whereby
our Whiliiig becaire very much improved in christiunity. Medilation
(which is Mentis- fJiiatio) daily enriched his mind with the dispositional
of Heaven ; and having a -walk for that purpose in his orchard, some of
his flock that sa'-v him constantly taking his turns in that ualk, with hand,
and eye, and soul, often directed heavenward, would say, There doei
our ilear pastor walk ■aaitli, God every day.

In fine, as the Apostle Peter says. They that obey not the word, yet wilh
fear behold the chast couversulioti of them w-'/w do. And as Ignatius de-
scribes the pastor of the Trallians, for one of such a sanctity of life, that
the greatest Atheist would htive been afraid to have looked upon him : even so
the natural conscience ii! the worst of men, paid an homage of reverence
to this holy man, where ever he came.

§ 8. '1 hough he spent his time chiefly in his beloved study, yet he
would sontetimes visit his flock ; but in his visit, he made conscience
of entertaining his neighbours with no discourse but what should be
grove, and "wise, and profitable ; as knowing that, Qmcb sunt in Ore PopuH
Augie, sunt in Ore Ptjsloiis Blasphcmice. And sometimes an occasional
■word let fall by him, hath had a notable efl'ect : once particularly, in a
journey being at an inn upon the road, he over-heard certain people in
the next room, so merry, as to be too loud and rude in their mirth;
wherefore, as he passed by the doer, he looked in upon them, and with
a sweet majesty, only droj-t those words : Friends, if you are sure that
your sins are pardoned, you may be wisely merry. And these words not
only stilled all their noise for the present, but also had a great effect af-
terwards upon some of the company. Indeed, his conversation preach-
ed where-ever he was ; as being sensible of the Jew ish proverb, Pro-
phcta qui transgreditur Propheliam suam propriam Mors ejus est in Man-
ibus Dti : but in the pulpit he laboured especially to approve himself a
preacher. In his preaching his design was, Prodesse magis quam pla-
cere : and his practice was, JVon alta sed apta profcrre. But what a
proper and useful speaker he was, we may gather from what we And him,
when a writer.

There are especially two books, wherein we hiive him yet living
among us. In the fate and fire of Sodom, there was a notable type of
the conflagration, that will arrest this polluted world at the day of judg-
ment : ami the famous prayer of Mraham, (who as R. Bechai imagines,
had some hope, when he deprecated that ruine for the sake of ten right-
eous ones, that Lot, and his wife, and the four daughters which tradition
hath assigned him, and his four sons-in-law, would have made up the
number) on thai occasion, is indeed a very rich portion of scripture.
Now our Whiting \m\)Vmhed a volume o( sermons upon that prayer of
Abraham ; whfr.in he does raise, confirm, and apply thirty-two doctrines,
which ho offered unto the publick (as he says in his preface) as the
words of a dyin^ man ; hoping, that as C'onstanline the Cireat would
stoop so low, as (o kiss Puphnutius^ maimed eye, so the Lord .Jesus
Christ would condescend to put marks of his favour, on (that which he
humbly calls.) a maimed work. But that which encouraged him unto this
publication, was the acceptance which it had, before this, been found
by another treatise ol i.is upon the day of judgment it self. In the fifty-

UooK m.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

eighth

chapter of Isaiah, the Lord promises a time of wondrous light
and joy, unto his restored people, and the consolations of n lasting
sabbatisin: things to be accomplished at the second coming of our Lord.
Now to prepare for that blessedness, those very things be required
which our Lord Jesus Christ afterwards mentioned, in the tveenty-ffth
chapter of Maithew, as the qualitications of those whom he will admit
into his blessed kingdom. There seems, at least, a little reason for it,
that at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, one of the first
tilings will be a glorious translation, wircrein the members of christian
churches will be called before him, and be examined, in order to the de-
termination of their state under the JVew Jerusalem, that is to follow :
either to take their part in the glories of that city, ar.'^ kingdom, for the
thousand years to come, and by consequence what ensues thereupon ; or to
be exiled into the confusions of them that are to be without. Now though
'tis possible, that whole discourse of our Lord, may nextly refer to no
more than this transaction, yet inasmuch as the generality of inter-
preters have carried it unto the more general and ultimate proceedings
of the last judgment, our Whiting did so too ; and he has given ns forty-
two doctrines thereupon, so handled as to suit the edification of all read-
ers. The notes are short, and but the concise heads of what the author
prepared for his weekly exercises; nevertheless Mr. Wilson, and Mv.Mitch'
el, observe in their preface thereunto : That the reader by having much in
a little room, is the better furnished with variety of matter, worthy of
meditation, for want of which many a man does digest little of wh. ' he
reads. They say, 'It is a good saying of one, that the reading of many
' diverse heads, witho^it some interlaced meditatimi, is like eating of mar-
< rore) without bread. But he that shall take time to pause upon what
' he reads (where great truths are but in few words hinted at) with in-
' termixed meditations and ejaculations, suitable to the matter m hand^,
■ will find such truths concisely delivered, to be like marrow and fal-
• ness, whereof a little does go far, and feed much. . , , ,. .

But a little poetry must now wait upon the memory of tl-is worthy man.

ih' c r

UPON THE VERY REVEREND

SAMUEL WHITING.

Mount fame, the glorious chariot of the sun ;
Through the world^s cirque, all you, her heralds, ruii':
And let this great saint's merits be reveal'd.
Which, during life, he studiously conceal'd. ■ i
Cite all the Lrate, fetch the sons of aW, .. .■

In these our dolours to sastain a part. ^ '

Warn all that value worth, and every one • .'

W^ithin their eyes to bring an Helicon. , > ■ i ,

For in this single person we have lost ■■ «. ■

More riches, than an India has engrost. ■ -'•■ ■

When Wilson, that plerophory of love.
Did from our hanks, up to his center move.
Rare Whiting quotes Columbus on this coast,
Producing gems, of which a King might boasi

■>if

♦66 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111.

U.-» More splendid far than ever Aaron wore.

Within his breast, this sacred Father bore.
Sound doctrine f/nm, in his holy cell,
And all perfections Thummim there did dwell.'
His holy vesture was his innocence,
His speech, embroideries of curious sence.
Such aivful gravity this doctor us'd,
As if an angel every word infused.
No turgent stile, but Asiatic store ;
^ Conduits were almost full, seldom run o're

The banks of Time : come visit when you will,
The streams of nectar were descending still :
i* •* ' Much like Septemfluou^ JWVus, rising so, ^ "tss

He watered christians round, and made them grow.
His modest OT/u»pfr» could the conscience reach, *

"'''-■ As well as whirlwinds, which some others preach ; *'

No Boanerges, yet could touch the heart, '

And clench his doctrine by the meekest art,
' His learning and his language, might become

■•' ' A province not inferiour to Rome.

' Glorious was Europe's heaven when »ych as these

' " Stars of his size, shone in each diocess. *

' ■ ' Who writ'st the fathers lives, either make room, '-'

* - ' Or with his name begin your second <ome. " "^
"^ " Ag'd Polycarp, deep Origen, and such ' '

"' ■' Whose tt'or/A your 9!«i7/s; your E)tts not </jem, enrich i •
' Lactantiits, Cyprian, Basil too the great, '

Quaint Jerom, Austin of the foremost seat, ■■ • ' '

' • With .^m&rose, and more of the highest class, "'

In Christ's great scAooi, with honour, 1 let pass ;
-' And humbly pay my debt to fTAi^iwg's ghost,

• ' Of whom both fJng/anrfs, may wiih reason boast. ' '

J^ations foi men of lesser worth have strove.

To have the fame, and, in transports of love,

Built temples, or fixed statues of pure gold, '

And their vast worth to after-ages told.

His modesty forbad so fair a tomb.

Who in ten thousand hearts obtain'd a room.

What sweet coOT/)os«r«s in bis angel's face/
What soft affections, melting gleams of grace !
How mildly pleasant ! by his closed lips,
Rhetorick's bright body suffers an eclipse.
i Should half his sentences be truly numbred.

And weigh'' d in wisdom's scales, 'twould spoil ^ Lombard >
And churches homilies, but homily be,
If venerable Whiting, set by thee.
V ProfoundestJU(Zo-men^ with a meekness rare,

' 7 • Pieferr'd him to the m>derator's chair j ' ' ♦••' ■ i"- '

Where like truth's champion, with his piercing eye.
He silenc'd errors, and made Hectors fly.
K Soft nnsrvers qnell hot passions ; ne'er too soft ■> ■ • »*" ' "'
Where .^o/ui Jtidg-menMs o'lUhron'd aloft, ' * i' • . v ;

Hook III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. 4&h

Church doctors are my yntaeB»e»,th»t here ^ • «' •

Jlffectioni always kept their proper sphere,

Vv ithout those wilder eccentricities ^

Which spot the fairest fields of men most wise.

In pleasant places fall that peoples line.

Who hare hut shadows of men thus divine.

Much more their presence, and heaven-piercing praters,

Thus many years to nind our soul-affairs.

A poorest soil oil has the richest mine ;

This weighty oar, poor Lyn was lately thine.

O wondrous mercy f Ibut this glorious tight

Hath left thee in the terrors of the night.

New-England, didst thou know this mighty one.

His weight and worth, thou'dst think thyself undone .-

One of thy golden chariots, which among

The clergy, rendered thee a thousand strong :

One, who for learning, wisdom, grace, and years, 5

Among the Levites hath not many peers : ' •-•

*■ • One, yet with God a kind of /ieavenif/ ^and, * -'"

Who did whole regiments ofwoes withstand :

One, that pevail'd with Heaven ; one greatly mist
'-'% On eart% ; he gain'd of Christ whate'er he list : .^. r ' m.'
• ■■» One of a world ; who was both born and bred <^

Atmsdom'«/eef, hard by the/oMn<ai"tt's /lead. ' •*

The loss of such an one, would fetch a tear, . • -<. »' ^ '.i

From JViote her self if she were here.

What qualifies our grief, centers in this, p*
Be our loss near so great, the gain is his.

13. Thompson.

We will now leave him, with such a distich, as Wigandus provided
tor bis own

«^' EPITAPH. »..-^ f...i,

InChristo Vixi,Morior, Vivoq; WiiiTtNcus ; " « s^ ^ v'
DoSordes Morti,cmtera,Christe,Tibi. ^- * '•.•■*

CHAPTER XXIX.
The Life of Mr. John Shermait.

■-m- ■ '^

Vetustas judicavit Honestum, ut Mortui Laudarentur. Thncid.

§ 1. That great Mhanasius, whom some of the ancients jnstly called,
Propugnaculum Feritatis, others Lmmen Ecclesia, others, Or6is Oraculum,
is in the funeral oration of Gregory Nazianzen, on him so set forth : To
commend Athanasi us, is to praise vertue it self. My pen is now falling up-
on the memory of a person, whom, if I should not commend unto the
church of God, I should re.r'jsc to praisf vertue itself, witn learning, ■wis-
dom, and all the qualities that would render any person amiable. I shall
proceed then with the endeavour of my pen, to immortalize hi? memorl•^

462

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

that the signification of the name JIthananus, may belong unto him, as
much as the grace for which that great man was exemplary.

§ 2. Mr. John Slurman was born of godly and woMhy parents, Dec.
26, 1613, in the town of Dedham, in the county of Esuex. While he
was yet a child, the instruction of his parents, joined with the ministry
of the famous Rogers, produced in him, that early remembrance of Im
Creator, which more than a little encouraged them to pursue and expect
the good effects of the dedication, which they had made of him, unto the
service of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the work of the gospel. His educa-
tion at school was under a learned master, who so much admired his
youthful piety, industry and ingenuity, that he never bestowed any t/ias-
tisement upon him ; except once for his giving the heads of sermons to iiis
idle school-mates, when an account thereof was demanded from them.
So studious was he, that next unto communion with his God, he delighted
in communion with his book, and he studied nothing mort;, than to be Hn
exception unto that ancient and general complaint, Quern mihi dabis, qrii
Diem wstimct ?

§ 3. Early ripe for it, he went into the university of CamlridgE,
where being admitted into Immanucl-Colledge, and instructed successive-
ly by two very considerable tutors, his proficiency still bore proportion
to his means, but out-went the proportion of his yearn. When his turn
came to be a graduate, he seriously considered the mbscription required
of him ; and upon invincible arguments, became so dissatisfied therewith-
al, that advising with Mr. Rogers, Dr. Preston, and other eminent persons,
who commending his conscientious constderat/on, counselled his remove,
J>e went away under the persecuted character of a Colledge-Puritan.
The same that occasioned his removal from the colledge, in a little time
occasioned also his removal from the kingdom ; for upon mature deliber-
ation, after extraordinary addresses to Heaven for direction, he embark-
ed himself, with several famous divines, who came over in the year
1634, hoping that by going over the water, they should in this be like
men going under the earth, lodged where the wicked wotdd cease from
troubling and the weary be at rest.

§ 4. So much was religion the ^rst sought, of the first come, into this
country, that they solemnly offered up their praises unto Him thatin/iaft-
rts the praises of Israel, before they had provided habitations, wherein to
offer those praises. A day nf thanksgiving was now kept by the christians
of a new hive, here called fVater-Tozvn, under a tree ; on which thanks-
giving, Mr. Sherman preoched h'\s first sermon, as an assistant unto Mr.
Philips : there being pr< ent i'^ny other divines, who wondred exceed-
ingly to hear a subject sv- accurately and exellently handled by one that
had never befo-.e performed any such puulick exercise.

§ 6. He continued noi many weeks at PVater-Town, before he remov-
ed, upon mature advice, unto JVew- Haven ; where he preached occasion-
ally in most of the towns then belonging to that colony : but with such
deserved acceptance, that Mr. Hooker, and Mr. Stone being in an assem-
bly of ministers, that met after a sermon of our young Sherman, pleasantly
said. Brethren, we must look to our selves, and our ministry ; for this young
divine will out-do us all.

Here, though he had an importunate invitation unto a settlement in
Milford, yet he not only declined it out of an ingenuous jealousy, lest
the worthy person who must have been his collegue, should have thereby
suffered some inconveniences, but also for a little while, upon that, and
«onie othsr su<;h accounts, he wholly suspended the exercise of his min-

Book ill.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

Ana

istry. Hereupon the zenloiis aCfectioo of the people to him appeared,
in their chusing him a [nugislratc of the colony,; in which capacity, he
ucrved the publick, with an exemplary discretion and fidelity, until »
fresii opportunity lor the exercise of his ministry, within two or three
years, od'ered it self ; atid then all the importunity used by the govern-
our and assistants, to fasten him among themselves, could not prevail with
him to look back from that plow.

Our land has enjoyed the influences of many accomplished men, who
from canditates of the ministry, have become our magistrates ; but this
excellent man, is the only example among m, who left a bench of our
migistrates, to become a painful servant of the Lord Jesus Christ in the
work of the ministry. Nevertheless, he that beholds Joseph of Arima-
//icea, a counsellour of state, Ambrose the consul of JUt/Zam, George the
Prince of Jinhalt, Chrysostom, a noble Antiochean, John a Imsco, a noble
Po/onum, all becoming the /)/am prcac/ter.^ of the gospel, will not think
th^t Mr. Sherman herein either sufl'ered a degradation, or was without a
pattern.

§ 6. Upon the death of Mr. Philips at Watertown, Mr. Sherman waa ad-
dressed by the church there, to succeed him ; and he accepted the
charge of that church, although at the same time, one of the churches at
Boston, used their endeavours to become the owner of so well talented a
person, and several churches in London also, by letters much urged him
to come over and help them. And now, being in the neighbourhood of
Cambridge, he was likewise chosen a fellow of Harvard Cotledge there ;
in which place he continued unto his death, doing many good offices for
that society. Nor was it only as a fellow of the colledge, that he was a
blessing, but also as he was in some sort apreacher to it : for his lectures
being held for the most part once a fortnight, in the vicinage, for more
than thirty years together, many of the scholars attending thereon, did
justly acknowledge the durable and abundant advantage which they bad
from those lectures.

§ 7. His intellectual abilities, whether natural or acquired, were such
as to render him nfirst-rate scholar ; the skill of tongues and arts, beyond
the common rate adorned him. He was a !!;reat reader, and as Athanasiua
reports of his Antonius vp»rt7xc* '**]»> f*r mttyitfrtt, is ft»j^«v t«» ycypee/K-
jwnwK ifK ^ecurS "Xivltn x*/*^' w«h7« ^i K»\tx,t» mti MiTrev '^j'?* 7»»» y»«|i*?)» *v]f
/3ibA(«ii ymi^ui : He rend with swk iiUeniion, as to lose nothing, but keep ev~
erij thing, of all that he read, and his mind became his library : even such
was the felicity of our Sherman; he read with an unusual dispatch, and
whatever he read became his own. From such a strength of invention
and memory it was, that albeit he wps a curious preacher ; nevertheless,
he could preach without any preparatory notes, of what he was to utter.
He ordinarily wrote but about half a page in octavo, of what he was to
preach ; and he would as ordinarily preach, without writing of owe word
at all. And he made? himself wonderfully acceptable and serviceable
unto his friends, by the hnmelistical accomplishment a, which were produ-
ced by his abilities, in his conversation For though he were not a man
o( much discourse, but ever thought, tv «-«AwAi>y«* Ua-ltn-iXv/nAipict: and when
some have told him, that he had learned the art of silence, he hath, with a
very becoming ingenuity, given them to understand, that it was an art,
which it would hurt none of them to learn, yet his discourse had a rare
conjunction of profit and pleasure in it.

He was witty and yet xvise, and grave, carrying a majesty in his very
countenance ; and much visited for council, in weighty cases ; and wh<4i

,5... . T>. "

464

THK HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111.

he cielivereil bis jtidgment in aaj matter, there was little or nothing to be
•{>ukeo by otherri atler him.

§ 8. It is a remark, which Melchior Adam has in the life of his excel-
lent Fititcm ; lUud mirandum, quod Homo Theologiis, in Mathenintum
stwliiit mUlo niti $e Magiatro, eo usq; progrenui est, ut Editit Scriptis,
l>iacipliH(B iUius Gloriam, magnis Mathaeot Profeatoribus praripueril :
and it might be well applied unto our eminent Sherrtuin, who though he
were »con$ummate divine, and a continual preacher, }ret mnkingthe malh-
ematickt his diveriion, did attain unto such an incomparable skill therein,
that he was undoubtedly one of the best mathenuUiciana that ever lived
in this hemisphere of the world, and it is great pity that the world should
be deprived of the astronomical calculations, which he has left in manu-
script behind him. It seems, that men of great parts may, as it is ob-
served by that great instance thereof, Mr. Boyle, successively apply them-
selves to more than one study. Thus Copernicus the astronomer, eterni-
zed like the very stars, by his new system of them, was a church-man ;
and his learned champion Lansbergius, was a minister. Gassendus was a
doctor of divinity ; Uavius too was a doctor of divinity ; nor will the
names of those English doctors, Wallis, Wilkins, and Barrow, be forgot-
ten so long as that learning which is to be called real, has any friends in
the English nation : and hicciolus himself, the compiler of that volumin-
ous and judicious work, the Almagestum J^ovum, was a professor of The-
ology.

Into the number of these heroes, is our Sherman to be admitted ; who,
if any one had enquired, how he could tind the leisure for his mathemat-
ical speculations ? would have given the excuse of the famous Pitiscu;:

for his answer, Alii Schacchia Ludunt, <$• Talis : Ego Regnala 4* Ci'r-

cino, si quando Ludere datur.

And from the view of the effects, which the mathematical contcmpln-
tions of our >S7iennan, produced in his temper, I cannot but utter the wish
of the noble Tycho Brachc upon that blessed Pitiscus, Optarem plures ejut-
modi Concionatores reperiri, qui Geometrica gnavitur callerent : forte p/«x
esset in iis Circumspecti 4* sulidi Judicii, Rixarum inanium ^ Logomachia-
rum minus : for among other things very valuable to me, in the temper
of this great man, one was a certain largeness of soid, which particularly
disposed him to embrace the Congregational way of church- government,
without those rigid and narrow principles of uncharitable separation,
where with some good men have been leavened.

§ 9. But as our mentioned Pitiscus, when his friends congratulated un-
to him the glory of his mathematical excellencies, with an humble and ho-
ly ingenuity replied. Let us rejoice rather that onr names be written in
Heaven. Thus onr Slierman was more concerned for, and more employ-
ed in an acquaintance with the hcarienly seats of the blessed, than with
the motions of the heavcjili/ bodies. He did not so much use a Jacob's
ftaff in observations, as he was in supplications a true Jacob himself.
He was a person of a most heavenly disposition and conversation ; heaven-
ly in his words, heavenly in hirt thoughts, heavenly in his designs and de-
sires ; few ill tlie world had so much of Heaven upon earth. He was a
most practical commentary upon those words of the psalmist, Mine eyes
are ever towards the Lord : and those of the apostle. Keep yourselves m
the love of God.

A<i the scriplures arc the firmament, which God hath expanded over the
spiritual xvnrld, ho this good man usually spent an hour every rooming,
in entertaining himself with the liglit^- that are shining there. Beside*

liooK 111. J THE HFSTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

4^5

(hi!, with meditations on God, Chritt, and Hfaven, he fell asleep at night ;
and with the like raoditntions he woke and rose in the morning ; and
prayer was therefore the tirst and last of his daily works Yea, had any
one cast a look upon him, not only abroad in company, but also in his
closest reti.rt>7ncnt, they would have seen scarce a minute p.-MS him, with-
out a turn of his eye towards Heaven, whereto his heavtn-toucU'd heart
was Ccirrying of him, with its continual vergencics. And as the stars,
tliey say, m.iy be seen from the bottom of a well, when the day lij^ht in
higher places hinders the sight thereof-; so this worthy man, who saw
more not only of the stars in Heaven , but also of the Heaven beyond the
itars, than most other men, was one, who, in his humility, laid him^^elf
low, even to a fault ; and he had buried himself in the obscurity of his
recesses and retirements, if others that knew his worth, bad not some-
times fetched him forth to more publick action.

The name Descentius, which 1 found worn by an eminent person,
among the primitive christians, 1 thought proper for this eminent person,
when I have considered the condescension of his whole deportment.
And, methought it was an instance of this condescension, that this great
man would sometimes give the country an altnanack, which yet he made
an opportunity to do good, by adding at the end of the composures thoso
holy reflections, which taught good men how to recover that little, but
spreading X\\in%, the altnanack, from that common abuse, of being an en-
'^ine to convey only silly impertinencies, or sinful superstitions, into al-
most every cottage of the wilderness. One o( tho^e reflections 1 will re-
cite, because it lively expressed the holy sence of death, in which the
author daily lived :

Let me intreat one thing of thee, and I will adventure to promise thee a
good year ; the request is in it self reasonable, and may to thee be eternally
profitable. It is only this : duly to prize, and diligently to improve time,
for obtaining the blessed end it was given for, and is yet graciously continu-
ed unto thee, by the eternal God. Of three hundred sixty-flve days, allowed
by the making up of this year, which sliall be thy last, thou knowest not ; but
that any of them may be it, thou ouglitestto know, and so consider, that thou
mayestpass the time of thy sojourning here with fear.

§ 10. Behold him either in the Lord's house, or in his own, of both
which a well government is joined in the demands of the apostle, and we
may behold both of (hem atler an exemplary tnaoocr ordered. In his
ministry he was judicious, industrious, faithful ; a most curious expositor
of scripture, and one that fed us with the fattest marrow of divinity. And
there was one thing in his preaching, which procured it a singular admi-
ration ; this was a natural, and not affected loftiness of stile ; which with
an easie fluency bespangled his discourses with such glittenng figures of
oratory, as caused his ablest hearers, to call him a second Isaiah, the
honey-dropping, and golden-mouthed preacher. But among the success-
es of his conduct in his ministry, there was none more notable than the
peace, which by God's blessing upon his wisdom and meekness, more
than any other things was preserved in his populous town, as long as he
lived, notwithstanding many temptations unto differences, among the
good people there. From thence let us follow him to his family, and
there we saw him with much tliscrGlion, maintaining both fear and love,
in those that belonged unto him, and a zealous care to upl>old religion
among them. The duties of reading, praying, singing, and catechising,
were constantly observed, and sermons repeated. And he wan, above
all, a great lover, and strict keeper of the christian sabbath ; in the very
Vor. I. 50

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book lir.

^fening of which approaching, he would notullow any worldly matter to
disturb, or 'ivert the exercises ofpiety within his gatet,

§ II. H was twice married.- ny \m first wife, the vevluOi'J daugh-
ter of parents therin resembled by iier, be had six children But his
next wife was a young gentlewoman whom he chose from under the
guardianMhip, and with the countenance of J' dwurd Hopkins, Esq. the
excellent governour of Connecticut. She was a person ot good education,
and reputation, and honourably descended ; being the daughter of u Pu-
ritan gentleman, whose name uas Launce, and whose ) mds in C'omtval
yielded him iuurteen hundred pounds a year. He was a parliament*
man, a man learned and pious, and a notable disputant ; but once dispu-
ting agaiTi)<l the Knglish Episcopacy, (as not being ignorant of what is af-
firmed by Contzen the Jesuite, in ! politicks, Ihat were all England
broui^ht once to approve q/'bishops, it were easie to reduce it unto the Church
oj Rome,) he was worsted by such a way of maintaining the argument,
as was thought agreeable , that is, by a wound in the side, from his furi-
ous antagonist ; of which wound at last he died. The wife of that gen-
tleman was daughter to the Lord Darcy, who was Earl of Rivers ; a per-
son of a Protestant, and Puritan religion, though of a Popish family, and
one that after the murder of her former husband, Mr. Launcc, had for
her second husband the famous Mr. Sympson. But by the daughter of
that Mr. Launce, who is yet living among us, Mr. Sherman had no less
than twenty children added unto the number of six, which he had before.

I remember yo/tn Helwigius of late, besides what has been related for-
merly by other authors, brings undeniable attestations of a married cou-
ple, who in one wfdlock were parents io fifty-three children, at thirty-fire
births brought into the worl ' : somewhat short of that, but not short of
wooci'jr, n u. late iiislunce of one mother, that has brought forth no less than
thirty ■niu:' children, the thirty-fifth of whom, was lately discoursed by per-
sons of honou; and credit, from whom I had it. Although Aew-England
has no instances of such a Polytokie, yet it has had instances of what has
been remarkfible : one woman has had not less than twenty-two childreo ;
whereof she buried fourteen sons and six daughters. Another woman has
had no less t'lan twenty-three children, by one husband ; whereof nineteen
lived unto men's and women*s estate. A third was mother to seven-and-
twenty children .: and she that was mother to Sir William Phips, the late
governour of JV^w-England, bad no less than twenty five children besides
him ; sh<^, had one-and-twenty sons, and five daughters. Now into the
catalogue of sach fruitful vines by the sides of the house, is this gentlewo-
man, Mra.' Slierman, to be enumerated. Behold, thus was our Sherman,
that eminent/earer of li,& Lord, blessed of him.

§ 12. He had the rare felicity to grow like the lilly, as long as he lived ;
and enjoy a flourishing, and perhaps increasing liveliness of his faculties,
until he died. Such keenness of wit. such soundness of judgment, such
fulness of matter, and such vigour of language, is rarely seen in old age,
as was to be seen in him, when he was old.

The last sermon which he ever preached, was at Sudbury, from Eph.
ii. 8, By grace ye are saved : wherein he so displayed the riches of the
free grace expressed in our salvation, as to till his hearers with admira-
tion. Being thus at Sudbury, he was taken sick of an intermitting but
malignant /ever ; which yet abated, that he found opportunity to return
unto his own house at Water-Town. But his fever then renewing upon
hfim, it prevailed so far, that he soon expired his holy soul ; which be

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NKW-ENOLAND.

461

(1i<1 with expresiiions o( abanAantfiiith,joy, and resignation, on a Saturday^
evening, entring on his eternal tabbath, Augutt Q, lt>8&, aged seventy*
two.

EPITAPHIUM.

For an epitaph upon this worthy man. Til presume a little to alter the
epitaph by Utenius, bestowed upon Pilimus. ._v

Ut Pauli Pietas, sic Euclidtst Mathesis, ••'
Uno, Shermnnni, conditur, in 'Vnmula.

And annex that of Allcnburg upon Ccesius,

'<'-►' *• Qmi cursum Astrorum vivens Indagine mxtllf'

(^nitsivit, coram nunc ea ccrmit ovune.

•.a

. "'in

tunce, had for

)ul : which he

CHAPTER XXX.
Eusebius. The Life of Mr. Thomas Cobbet.

,• .-".1

Et Eruditis Pietate^ ^ Piis Erudilione Lande entecelletts, itd Secundait
Doctrinaferens, nt Pictatis primas obtineret.

Nazianz. de Basilio.

§ 1. In the old church of Israel we 6nd a considerable sort and sett of
men, that were called, The scribes of the people : whose office it was, not
only to copy out the Bible, for such as desired a copy thereof, with such
exactness, that the mysteries occurring, even in the least vowels and ac>
cents of it, might not be lost, but also to be the more publick preachers of
the law, and common and constant pulpit-men ; taking upon them to be
the expounders, as well as the preservers of the scripture. But one of
the principle scribes enjoyed by the people of New-England, wag Mr.
Thomas Cobbet, who wrote more £00^5 than the most of the divines,
which did their parts to make a Kirjath-Sepher of this wilderness ; in er-
ery one of which he approved himself one of the scrihes mentioned by
our Saviour, from his rich treasure bringing forth instructions, both out
of the New Testament, and out of the Old.

§ 2. Our Mr. ThomarCobbet was born at Newbury, long enough before
our New-England had a town of that name, or indeed had any such thing
as a town at all ; namely, in the year 1608. And although his parents^
who afterwards came also to New-England, were so destitute of worldly
grandtire, that be might say, as divers of the Jewish Rabbi's tell us, the
words of Gideon may be read. Behold, my father is poor, yet this their soa
was greatness enough to render one family memorable. Reader, we are
to describe.

Jngenua de plebe Virnm, sed Vita Fidesq^
' Inculpata fuit.

And remember the words of Seneca,

Ex casa eiiam Virwnmagmnn prodire posse..

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THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [B«A)k HI.

fWhen Cicero was jeered, for tbe niean signification of bis name, he
send, However he would not change.it , but by hit eciiont render (fte name of
Cicero, more illustrioui than that of Caio : and our Cobbet has done enoagh
to make the name of Cobbit venerable, in these American parts of tbe
'World, whether there were the actions of any ancestors or no, to signal-
ize it. A good education having prepared him for it, be became an Ox-
ford schohr, and removing from Oxford in the time of a plague raging
there, he did, liith other young men, become a pupil to f«nou8 Dr.
Twiss at JVewbury. He was, after this, a preacher at a «mall place in
Lincolnshire , from whence^ being driven by a storm of persecution np.
on thn reforming and Puritan part of the nation, he came over unto New-
England, in the bame vessel with Mr. Davenport coming to Neze-Eng-
land, his old friend, Mr. fVhiting of Lyn expressed hb friendship, with
endeavours to obtain and to enjoy his assistance, as a collegue in tbe pas-
toral charge of the church there ; where they continued Fratrum Dul-
ce Par, until upon the removal of Mr. Norton to Boston, and of Mr. Ro-
gers to Heaven, he was translated onto the church of Ipswich ; with
which he continued in the faithful discharge of his ministry, until bis re-
ception of the crown of life, at his death, about the beginning of tbe year
1686. Then 'twas, that he was (to speak Jewisbly,) treasured up.
§ 3. The witty epigrammatist hdth told us, '- • * a

Qui dignAs hsi Vita scripsere Libellos,
lllorum Vtlam scribere non Opus esf» v'

■'■^- ■'»■$'('.

And we might therefore make the story of this worthy man's life, to he
iut an account of the immortal books, wherein he lives after be is dead.
What Mr. Cobbet was, the reader may gather by reading a very savoury
treatise of bis, upon the fifth commandment. But that he might serve
both tables of the law, be was willing to write something upon the first
commandment, as well as the fifth ; and this he did in a lai^e, nervous,
golden discourse of prayer. But that the second commandmient, as well
as the^j^rst might not be unserved by him, there were divers disciplinary
tracts, which he publickly offered unto tbe Church of God. He printed
upon the duty of tbe civil magistrate, in the point of Toleration ; a point
then much debated, and not yet every where decided ; wfaereto he annex-
ed a vindication of the government of New-England, from the aspersions
of some, who thought themsolves persecuted wider it.

He was likewise a Harned and a lively defeader of infant-baptism,
and he gave the world an elaborate composur^on that subject, on the
occasion whereof Mr. Cotton, in his incomparable preface to a book of
Mr. Norton''s, has these passages. Covetus cum persentisceret aliquot ex
Ovibus ' hrisii sibi commissis, Antiprndobaptismi Laqueis atq; Dumetis irreti*
tas, Zelo Dei accensus {4r Zelo quidem secundum Scientiam) imo, ir Misere-
eordia etiam Christi Commotus, erga Errantes Oviculas ; lAbros quospohiit,
€x Anabaptistarum penu, congessit ; Rationum Momenta (Qtia/m ftterant)
in Lance Sancluarii trutinavit ; Testimoniorum Plaustra, qiue ab aliis con-
gesta fuerant, sedulo perqnisivit ; Sf pro eo, quo floret, Disputandi Acumi-
ne, DijuJicandi solertia, solida multa, paucis Compleclendi Dexteritate atq;
Indefcsso Labure, nihil pene Inten/atum reliquit, quod vel ad Veritatcm, in hat
Causa Illustrandam, vel ad Errorum Nebulas Discutiendus, atq; Dispellen-
das. conduceret.

. Reader, to receive so much commemoration from so reverend and re
Downed a pen, is to have one's life, sufficiently written : it is needier*;
for me to proceed any further, in serving the memory of Mr. Cobbet.

Book HI.] THE HiSTORT OF NEW-ENuLAWD.

«ft

§ 4. And yet there is one thing, which my poor pen may not leave un-
mentioned. Of all the booka written by Mr. Cobbet, none deserves more
to be read by the world, or to live till the general burning of the world,
than that of prayer : and indeed prayer, the subject so experimentally,
nnd therefore judtctotti/y, therefore profitahly, therein handled, was not
the least of those things, for which Mr. Cobbet was remarkable. He was
a v«ry praying fium, and bis prayers were not more observable through"
oat /few-En^nd for the ai^umentative, the importunate, and i had almost
said,^ta%/afnt/tor, strains of them, than for the wonderful succeuet that
attended them. It was a good sajring of the ancient, Homineprobo Oran-
te ntAt7 potentiue ; and it was a greeU saying of the reformer, Eiet qeedam
Precum Omnipotentia. Our Cobbet might certainly make a considerable
figure in the catalogue of those eminent saints, whose experiences hav-
ing notably exemplified, the power of prayer, unto the world. That goU
den chain, one end whereof is tied unto the tongue of man, the other endf
unto the ear of God (which is as just, as old, a resembling of prayer) our
Cobb et was always pulling at, and he often pulled unto such marvellous
purpose, that the neighbours were almost ready to sing of him, as Clau'
dian did upon the prosperous prayers of Tkeodosius.

O JVtnu'um DUecte Deo.

A son of this man of prayer was taken into captivity by the barbar-
ous, treacherous hdiah salvageti, and a captivity from whence there
could be little expectation of redemption : whereupon Mr. Cobbei cal-
led about thirty, as many as coaM suddenly convene, of the christians in
the neighbourhood unto his house ; and there, they together prayed
for the yoniif man's deliverance. The old man's heart was now no more
sad ; he believed that the God of Heaven had accepted of their suppli^
cations, and because he believed, tlierefore he spake as much, to those
that were about him, who when they heard him speak did believe so too:
Now within a few days after this, the prayers were aU answered, in
the return of the young man unto his father, with circumstances little
short of miracle ! But indeed the instances of surprising effects follow-
ing upon the prajrer* of this gracious man, were so many, that I must ^u-
percede all relation of them, with only noting thus much, that it was gen-
erally supposed among the' pious people in the land, that the enemies of
New-England owed the wondrous disasters and confusions that still fol-
lowed them, as much to the prayers of this (rue Israelite, as perhaps to.
any one occa».on. Mr; Ktiox^s prayers were sometimes more feared,.
than an army often thousand men ; and Mr. CobbeVs prayers were esteem-
ed of no little aigniiicancy to the welfare of the country, which is now
therefore bereaved of its c/utnots and its horsemen. If J^ew- England haA
its M'oah, Daniel, and Job, to pray wonderfully for it„ Cobbet was one o^
them !

EPITAPHIUM.

Sta viator } Thesaurus Itic Jacet,
Thomas Cobbetvs ;

CUJUB,

^osli Prer.es Potentissimas, ac Mores Probatissimos,
Si es Nov-Anglus.
Mirare, Si Pietatem Colas ;
-^ Sequere, Si Felidtatem Optes.

470

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. [Book III.

CHAPTER XXXI.
The Life of Mr. John Ward.

■4>, -

*■■

».t-

§ 1. SoMB famous persons of old, thought it a greater jf/ory, to have it
enquired ; why $uch a one had not a statue erected for him 7 than to have it
enquired, vhy he had ? Mr. Jiathanael Ward, born at HaverhiL in Etsex,
-about 1570, was bred a scholar, and was first intended and employed for
the study of the law. But afterwards travelling with certain merchants
into PrMttia and Denmark, and having discourse with David Paraus, at
Heidelberg, from whom he received much direction ; at bis return into
England, he became a minister of the gospel, and had a living at Slcmdon.
In the year 1634, he was driven out of Fngland, for his non-conformity;
and coming to J^eW'England, he continued serving the church at Ipswich,
t'U the year 1646. When returning back to England, he settled at Shtr-
field, near Brentwood ; and there he ended his davs, when be was about
eighty-three years of age. He was the author of many composures full
of wit, and sense ; among which, that entituled. The Simple Cobltr
(which demonstrated him to be a subtil statesman) was most considered.
If it be enquired, why this our St. Hilary hath among our Lives no statue
erected for htm? let that enquiry go for part of one. And we will pay
our delrt unto his Worthy son.

§ 2. Mr. John Ward was born, I think, at HaverhU,— on Nov. 6—
1606. His grandfather was that John Ward, the worthy minister of Ha-
verhil, whom we find among the worthies of England, and his fether was
the celebrated Xfathanael Ward, whose wit made him known to more
Englands than one. Where his education was, 1 have not been inform-
ed ; the first notice of him that occurs to me, being in the year 1639,
when he came over into these parts of America ; and settled there in
the year 1641, in a town also called Haverhil. But what it was, every
body that saw him, saw it in the effects of it, that it was learned, ingenu-
ous, and religious. He was a person of a quick apprehension, a clear
understanding, a strong memory, a facetious conversation ; he was an ex-
act grammarian, and expert physician, and which was the top of all, a
thorough divine : but, which rarely happens, these endowments of his
mind, were accompanied with a most healthy, hardy, ar ; constitu-

tion of body, which enabled him to make nothing of vftY, m foot, a
journey as long as thirty miles together.

§ 3. Such was the blessing of God upon his religious education, that
he was not only restrained from the vices of immorality in all his younger
years, but also inclined unto all vertuous actions. Of young persons, he
would himself give this advice ; Whatever you do, be sure to maintain
^me in them ; for if that be once gone, there is no hope that theyUl ever
come to good. Accordingly, our Ward was always ashamed of doing any
>ll thins. He was of a modest and bashful disposition, and very sparing
of speeding, especially before strangers, or such as he thought his belters.
He was wonderfully temperate, in meat, in drink, in sleep, and he was
always expressed, I had almost said, affected, a peculiar sobriety of appa-
rel. He was a son most exemplarily dutiful unto his parents ; and having
paid some considerable debts for hia father, he would afterwards humbly
observe and confess, that God had abundantly recompenced this Lis duti-^
fulness.

Book III.] THE HISTORT OP NEW-ENGLAND.

471

§ 4. Though he had great offen of rich matches, in England, yet he
chose to marry a meaner person^ whom extmplary piety had recommend-
ed. He lived with her for more than forty years, in such an happy har-
mony, that when she died, he professed, that in all this time, he never
had received one displeasing word or look from her. Although she would
80 faithfully tell him of every thing that might jseem amandabU in bim,
that he would pleasantly compare her to an accunng conscience, yet she
ever pleased him wonderfully : and she i"ould oflen pot him upon the
duties of 8ecret/a«(«, and when she met with any thing in reading that
she counted singularly agreeable, she would stiU impart it unto him. For
which causes, when be lost this )iis mate, he caused those words to be
fitirly written on his table-board,

In Lugenda Compare, ViUz Spaciutn Compleat Orbus.

And there is this memorable passage to be added . While she was a maid,*
there was ensured unto her, the revenue of a parsonage worth two hun-
dred pounds per annum, in case that she married a minister. And all
this had been given to our Ward, in case he bad conformed unto the doubt-
ful matters in the Church of England : but he left all the allurements and
eDJoyments of England, chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people
of Qod in a iKildemess.

§ 5. Although he would say, there is no place for fishing like </ie sea^
and the more hearers a minister has, the more hope there is that some of them
will be catched in the nets of the gospel ; nevertheless, through his humility
and reservation, it came to pass, that as, he chose to begin his ministry
in Old England, at a very small place, thus when he came to A*e» Eng-
land he chose to settle with a new plantation, where he could expect
none but small circumstances all his days. He did not love to appear
upon the publick stage himself, and there appeared few there, whom hft
did not prefer above himself: but when he was there, every one might
see how conscientiously he sought the edification of the souls of the plain--
est auditors, before the ostentation of his own abilities. And from the
like self'd^dence it was, that he would never manage any ecclesiastical
affairs in bis church, without previous and prudent comultations with the
best advisers that he knew : he would say, he had rather always foUom
advice though sometimes the advice might mislead him, than ever act witiiout
ndvice, though he might happen to do well by. no advice but his own.

§ 6. This diligent servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, continued under
and against many temptations, watching over his flock at Haverhil,
more than twice as long as Jacob continued with bis uncle ; yea, for as
many years as there are sabbaths in the year. On Nov. 19, 1693, he
preached an excellent sermon, entering the eighty-eighth year of his age ;
the only sermon that ever was, or perhaps ever will be preached in this
country at such an age. He was then smitten with Siparalytic indisposi-
tion upon the organs of his speech, fvhich continuing about a month up-
on him, not without evident proofs of his understanding, and his heaven-
Uness, continuing firm with him to the last ; at last, on Dec. 27, he went
/)ff, bringing up the rear of our first generation.

EPITAPHIUM.

Bonornm Ultimus, at inter Bonos non Uftimus.

MANTISSA.

49S

THE HISTORY OF l^W-ENOLANU. [Boon III.

The Church of God is wroDged, io ihat th« life of the gnuiJthn Chueu
U oot written. He was by bit intention, so inocb a J^*im-Einglandm»n,
that a M'ewEngliih book affords no improper itation for him. Let him
that once wouU have chose to die among the worthies of New-Ett^aud,
be counted worthy to live among them. The most expressive nutMriah
pf his life, that we at fioalon can yet procure, are inscribed on his grave
at London. These must be then transcribed ; beholdt tiie language of
his

EPITAPH.

Johannes Owbn, S. T. P.

A Gro Oxoniensi, Patre Insigni Theologo.

Matre Pia Matrona, Oriundus :
Morum Eleganti&t & Lepore Innocuo,
.! OfflMbus quibusciftn coQversatus est, GratMstmus :

Donorum pari, Gratiarumqw Eminentia
lis potinsimum in Pretio habitus, & Deliciis,
Quibus, sincere, Curat erat, tordiq; Religio ;
Uteris natus, LUeria innutritus, Totusque Deditus^
Ponec Animata plane evasit Bibliotheca :
Authoribus Classicis, qua Gracii, qua Latinit,
Sub Edv^iSUvestro, Schols Privatce Oxonii ModertUore,
Operam navavit satis Felicem ;
Felieioretn adhuc Studiis Philoaophicis,
Magno sub Barlomo, Coli. Reginsia id tempus Socio;
{^Mdis Chrisii ibidem, temporis Oecursu, Ipaemet Deconus,

Et quinquennalis Academiae Kt'ce- Cancellarius :)
Theologies demum \onge felicissitnua incubuit ; Artibus
Pediseqvis, Duce in Auspice, Saocto Cbristi Spiritu ;
(Cujus omnes, in Parta a Christo Redemptione

Applicanda, Partes Theologorum solus Exposuit.)
Triumque, quae Docto prssertim audiunt,
(Alias praBter Orientales) Linguarum Peritus ;
I iPag'iDas Sacral Intus, 6l io Cute,

Spiritu, & Litera, sibi habuit notissimas ;
In Maguis vero fiascentis Ecclesiae Luminibus Verastiseimus ;
Primis longum Degfneris Restitutoribus neutiquaro neglectis ;
Nee melioris Notae Scholasticia Contemptui habitis ;
Tani in Palastra, quam Pulpito, Dominatus est.
In Palaestr^ ; Pontificios, Remonstrantes, Socinistas, Jfostrosque
In Momentoso Justificationia- Afiice JVovaturi entes,
Scriptis J^Tervosissimis Prostravit, Procul javit : > v?^. v-

In Pulpite, maxime Infirmi Corpom, c -i'

Prssen^id minime In&rma : f vii. a Hv, »■;;•'

Gestu, Theatricd procul Gesticulatione, ^

Ad Optimas Decori Regulas Composito :
Sermone, a Contemptibili remotissimo ; Canovo,
Sed non Stridulo ; Suavi, sed prorsus Firili ;

£t .^Mt^ontotts quiddam Sonante :
ari, si non & Superiore, .^nimt Praesenti^ ; v

oncionum, quas, ad verbum, totas Chartis commisit,
Ne vexbum quidemvelcarptim, & stringente oculo
Inter ?r»dK9Xiivox Lectit avit :

•>
»

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

419

Sed omnia, Suo primdtn (mpressa altidi Pectori,
Auditoram Animit, Cordibuiq; potentids ingessit :
Nee Orandif minds, qu4m Perorandi, Donis Instractut ;
Ministri vtri Evangilici Omnes complevit Nameroa :
Cultiis & Regiminis Initituti (uni cum Doctrinft Rcvtlt^A)

Magnus ips«m«l Ztlotet, & Atterior strenuus :
AmpIissimiB denique, cui, Spiritus S. Eum prafecerat, Eeeltiitf

Prudentiiii0iu pariter, ic Figtianti$$imus Pastor.
Cujus PralwlrM Aloltis Unom sufficiat Epitaphio
Author Qftadripartiti in Ep. ad Hthr. Comnuntarii.

Pnracto in Terris Curqu, ti quod acceperat, Ministerio,
Ad Christi in Calo Statum, quern Sero Vite Vespere,
Clariu»t licet eminus, Prospectum Graphic^ linearat,
Propius, PenUiu$que contuendum Aohelos Deceuit.

Alensis Augwti {Non-Conformistii id magis ad hue Fatali) Die xxiv. An^
no Sal. MocLXxxiii. Mtat. Lxni.

Epitaphium ittud ab Indigno Symmista Compositum
UU Latios, quam ut it^ra breves

Tabula Marmores Cancellos clauderetur ;
M etiam Angustius, qu&tn ut Jostom
Drs Admodum Reverendi adimpUret Characterem ;
Nobiliorem, quam neruit, tortium e$t, Sedem,
A Fronte Operis Hujus Operosisrimi
Chartacei Martnereo Perenniorit Monument!^

,iv^4^ .

Vofc. I

«t

l it'-. .-^ '.:i ~i-.,\,'^,: i 4 "

* >.v

'0fHn^tf»6tW9fm*»: Sive, UTHES ^'JIRRATl0^rES.

THE

TRIUMPHS

OF THE REFORMED RELIGION IK

AMERICA: J^

OR,

THE LIFE

OF THE

.*r»''i-

REXOWJ^ED JOHJ^ ELIOT;

A PERSON JVSTLY FABwOUS IN THE CHURCH OF OOD ; NOT ONLY AS AN EMI-
NENT CHRISTIAN, AND AN EXCELLENT MINISTER AMONG THE ENGLISH }
BUT ALSO, AS A MEMORABLE EVANGELIST AMONG THE INDIANS OF
NEW-ENGLAND. WITH SOME ACCOUNT CONCERNING THE LATE
AND STRANGE SUCCESS OF THE GOSPEL IN THOSE PARTS
OF THE WORLD, WHICH FOR MANY AGES HAVE LAIN
BURIED IN PAGAN IGNORANCE.

ESSAYED BY COTTON MATHER,

'Of yap '««»oo-iw XctfurfvraTMv ifyu* xcct iniTi^tit ^tyiutrtn n xArtf rmfilif*
vn Tw aiIk rtOMfiMt : i. e. Existimavi, baud sine scelere fieri putuis-
se, lit factorum splendidissimorum, & utilium Narrationutn gloria. Obit-
viooi traderetur. Theodorit.

Blessed is that servatit, vuJiom his Lord, when he cometh, shall Jind so doing.

THE THIRD*PART.

To the Right Honourable Philip Lord Wharton ; a no less J^oble, than
aged patron of Learning and Vertue.

May it please your Lordship,
If it be considerpd that some evangelical and apostolical histories of
the New Testament, were by the direction of the Holy Spirit himself,
dedicated unto a person of quality, and that the noble person addressed
with oM such d^edication, entertained it with resentmeuts that encouraged
bis dear Lucilius to make a secotid, the world will be satiefyed that 1 do
a thing but reasonable and agreeable, when unto a narrative of many
evangelical aad apostolical affairs, I presi^me to prefix the name of one so

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

475

excellent for love to Ood, aa your lordahip it known to be ; and one upon
this account only, an unmeet subject for the praises of the obscure pen
which now writes that Quw Vituperat ? I do not, I dare not, so far in-
trade upon your honour, as to ask your patroMce tinto all the JVew Eng*
lith principles and practices, which are foaa4in the character of our
celebrated Eliot ; for as the distance of a thousand leagues, has made it
impossible for me to attend the (u«uo/) orders and manners of asking first
your allowance for what I have openly entitled you unto ; so the renown-
ed Eliot is gone beyond any occasions for the greatest humane oalronare.

But that which has procured unto your lordship, the trouble of this
dedication, is, my desire to give you the picture of one aged saint, lately
gone to that general assembly, which the eternal King of Heaven, by the
advances of your own age in <Ae neay of righteoutnesa, does quickly sum-
mon your self unto^he profound respect which our Eliot had for your
honour, will doubtless be answered and requited with your own value
for the memory of such a memorable christian, minister, and evangelic ;
inasmuch as your affections, like his, take not their measures from these
or those matters of doubtful disputation, but from such an univenal piety
and charity, and holiness, as he was an instance of.

No man ever complained of it, that in the works of Chrysostom, we
find seven orations not far asunder, in commendation of Paul : nor is it any
fault that I have now written one, in commendation of a man whom a
Pauline spirit had made illustrious. In describing him, I have made but
little touches upon his parentage and family, because as the truly great
Basil excuses his omission of those things, in his oration upon Qordius
the Martyr, Ecclesia hac tanquatn supervacua dimittit. But I have rela-
ted those things of him, which cannot but create a good esteem for him,
in the breast of your lordship, who are a faithful and ancient witness
againr^ those distempers of the world, whereby (as the blessed Salvian
lamerted it) Cogitnur esse Viles, ut Nobile* habeamur : and raise the
sweetness of your thdughtr upon your approaches ; which may our God
make both slow and sure, unto that state which cannot be moved. But
if I may more ingenously confess the whole ground and cause of this
dedication, I must own, *tis to pay a pari of a debt: a debt under which
you have laid my country, when you did with your own honourable hand,
present unto his majesty, the same account, which I have here again
published, concerning the success of the gospel among the Indians tn New-
England.

My Lord,
In one Eliot you see what r. people it is, that you have counted wor-
thy of your notice, and what a people it is, that with ardent prayers be-
speak the mercies of Heaven for your noble family. Indeed it is im-
possible that a country so full as Kew-England is, of »vhat is truly prim-
itive, should not be exposed unto the bitterest enmity and calunmy of
those, that will strive to entangle the church in a Sardian unreformed-
ness, until our Lord Jesus do shortly make them know, that he has lovedf
what they have hated, maligned, persecuted. But if the God of JV«j»-
England have inclined any great personage, to intercede, or interpose,
for the prevention of the ruines which ill men have designed for such a
country ; or to procure for a people of an ElioVs complexion in religion,
the undisturbed enjoyment and exercise of that religio^ : it is' a thing
that calls for our most sensible acknowledgments.

. -^~,' : .^j.-v ■ jaC •!*

47(r

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

It M Ml odd $up«ntitwH which th« hdiatu of thii country have among
them, that they count it (on the penalty of otherwise never protpering
more) neceisary for them, never to paasby the gravet of certain Umous
pemoni among them, without laying and leaving aome token of regard
thereupon. But we hope, that all true Proteetantt, will count it no more
than what ia equal and proper, that the land which has in it, the grave of
such a remarkable preacher to the Indian*, as our EtioT, should be
treated with such a tove, as a JeruiaUm uses to find from them that are
to prosper.

Upon that score then, let my lord accept a preienf, from, and for a re-
mote corner in the JVew World, where God is praised on your behalf;
a Hmall j^r*«iU made by the hand of a rude American, who has nothing to
recommend him unto your lordship, except this, that he is the son of
one whom you have admitted unto your favours ; and that he is ambi-
tious to wear the title of,

*>'

My Lord,

Your Lord»hip*M most humble,

and mo$t obedient eervant,

COTTON MATHER.

.^.'

a,'

t: '-..,, K

» ^-^M -ffii ■^■^'■I'vfim tjo t

' <

INTRODUCTION.

It was a very anrpriaing ai well as andoabtcd accident which htippen-
ed within the memory of millions yet alive, when (as the learned Horwi-
u$ has given us the relation,) certain shepherds upon mount M'eho, fol*
lowing part of their straggling fiock, at length camq to a valley, the pro*
digioas depths and rocks whereof, rendred it almost inaccessible ; in
which there was a cave of inexpressible sweetness, and in thut cave was
a sepulchre, that had very difficult characters upon it. The patriarchs
of the .Ifaronttei thereabouts inhabiting, procured some learned per*
sous to take notice, and make report of this curiosity, who found the in-
scription of the grave-«tone to be in the Hebrew language and letter }
Moses, the servant of the Lord.

The Jews, the Greeks, and the Roman Catholics thereabouts, were al-
together by the ears, for the possession of this rarity, but the Turk* as
quickly laid claim unto it, and stron(;ly guarded it. Nevertheless, the Jes-
vites found a way by tricks and bribes, to engHgc the Turkish guards into
a conspiracy with them, for the transporting of the inclosed and renown-
ed ashes into Europe ; but when they opened the grave, there was no
hodyt nor so much as a relick there. While they were under the confu-
sion of this disappointment, a Turkish general came upon them, and cut
them all to pieces ; therewithal taking a course never to have that place
visited any more. But the scholars of the Orient presently made this a
theme which they talked and wrote much upon : and whether this were
the true sepulchre of Moses, was a question upon which many books were
published.

The world would now count me very absurd, if after this I should say,
that I had found the sepulchre of Moses, in America : but I have certain*^
here found Moses himself; we have had among us, one appearing in the
spirit of a Moses ; and it is not the grave, but the life of such a Moses^
that we value our selves upon being the owners of.

Having implored the assistance and acceptance of that God, whose
blessed word na#(pld us, The righteous shall be had in everlasting remem-
brance : I am attempting to write the life of a righteous person, concern
log whom all things, but the meanness of the writer, invite the reader io
expect nothing save what is truly extraordinary. It is the life of one
who has better and greater things to be affirmed of him, than could ever
be reported concerning any of those famous men, which have been cele-
brated by the pens of a Plutarch, a Pliny, a Laertius, an Eunapins. or in
any Pagan histories. It is the life of one whose character might very
agreeably be looked for, among the collections of a Dorotheus, or the ora-
tions of a ffaziamen ; or is worthy at least of nothing less than the ex-
quisite stile of a Melchior Adam, to eternize it.

If it be, as it is, a true assertion, that the least exercise oftruefaitii, or
love, towards Ood, in Christ, is a more glorious thing than all ihe triumph*
of a Caesar, there must be something very considerable, in the life of one
who spent several scores of years in such exercises ; and of one, in the
mention of whose atchievements, we may also recount, that he fought t^
devil in (once) his American territories, till he had recovered no s ijj| -
party of bis old subjects and vassals out of his cruej^JMnds ; >t would|||
as unreasonable, as unprofitable, for posterity to burj^PuK memory of such
a person in the dust of that obscurity and oblivion, wbich has covered
the names ef the heroes, who died before the days of Agamemnon.

478

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. [Boob li#.

PRELIMINARY I.
Thn Birth, Age, and Family of Mr. Eliot*

5.-t:

Thb iaipir«cl Mo$est relating the lives of those Anti Diluvian Patriarchs,
in whom the Church of UoJ, and line of Christ was continued, through
the first oijLieen hundred years of time, recites little but their birth, and
their ag$, and their death, and their aoni and daughter$. If those articles
would satisfie the appetites and enquiries of such aa come to read the
life of our Eliot, we shall soon have dispatched the work now upon our
bands.

The age, with the death of this worthy man, has been already termin-
ated, in tne ninetieth year of the present century, and the eighty-sixth
year of his own pilgrimage. And for his birth, it was at a town in Eng-
land } the name whereof I cannot presently recover ; nor is it necessa-
ry for me to look back so fur as the place of his nativity ; any more thin
it is for me to recite the Tertues of Im parentage, of which he said, Vig
ca nostra voco: though indeed the pious education which they gave bin,
caused him in his nge, to write these words : I do see that it wa$agreat
favour ofOod unto me, to season my first times with the fear of God, the
word, and prayer.

The Atlantick Ocean, like a river o{ Lethe, may easily cause us to for-
get many of the things that happened on the other side. Indeed the na-
tivity of such a man, were an honour worthy the contention of as many
places, m laid their claims unto the famous Homer^s : but whatever p/a-
ees may challenge a shxre in the reputation of having enjoyed the Jirtt
breath of our Eliot, it is ^few^ England th^ with most right can call
him her's ; his best breatit, and afterwards his last breath was here ; and
here Hwas, that God bestowed upon him sons and daughters.

He came to Neve-England in the month of Noroembjur, A D. 1631,
among those blessed old planters, which laid the foundtHrons of a remark-
able country, devoted unto the eiercise of the Protestant religion, in its
purest and highest reformation He left behind him in England, a ver-
(uous young gentlewoman, whom he had pursued and purposed a mar-
riage unto ; and she coming hither the year following, that marriage was
consummated in the month otOctober, A- D. 1632.

This wife of his youth lived with him until she became to him also the
staff of his age ; and she leA him not until about three or four yeare before
bis own departure to those heavenly regions, where they now together
see light. She was a woman very eminent, both for holiness and usefulness,
and she excelled most of the daughters that have done vcrtuounly. Her
name was Anne, and gracious was her nature. God made her a rich bles-
sing, not only to her family, but also to her neighbourhood ; and when at
last she died, I heard and saw her aged husband, who else very rarely

i;, yet now with tears over the coffin, before the good people, a vast
oence of which were come to her funeral, say, Here lies my dear,
ful, pious, prudeiU, prayerful wife ; I shall go to her, and she not re-
to me. My reader will of his own accord excuse me, from bestow-
ing any further epitaphs upon that gractowi woman.

By her did God give him six worthy children, children of a character
which may forever stop thft months of those antichristian blasphemers.

Door 111.] THE HISTORY OF NEWENOLAND.

41f

who hufe Mt • falie brand of diinsttr and infamy, on the offipriogof ■
marritd eUrgy. Hit Hnt-born waa a daughter, born Sept. 17, A. C. 1633.
This gentlewoniHn ii yet alive, and one well approved for hjir piety and,
sravitv. His neit waa a inn ; born JIug. 31, A. C. 1036. He bore hia
Jaihtt » name, und had \i\% father'' » grace. He wiia a person of notable ac-!
eomplishmenta, and a lively, xealous, acute preacher, not only to the
Engtuh at New-CambriHge, but also to the Indian$ thereabout. He grevr
10 fast, that he was found ripe for Heaven, many yeara ago ; and upon
hid death- bed uttered such penetrating things as could proceed from none,
bat one upon the borders and confines of eternal glory. It is pity that ,
HO many of them are forgotten ; but one of them, I think, we have cause '
to remember : Well, (said he) my dear friendi, there it a dark day eotnint \
upnn New-England ; and m $o dark a day, I pray, how will you provitu
for your own security^! My counsel to you is, gel an interest in (he bletud
Lord Jesus Christ ; and that will carry you to th» world^s endX His third
was also ■ son, bom Dec. SO, A. C. 1638 ; him he called Joseph. Thia
person hath been a pastor lo the church at Ouil/ord. His fourth was a
Samuel, born June 22, A. C. 1641, who died a most lovely young man,
eminent for learning and goodness, afellow of the colledge, and a candi-
dal of the ministry. His fifth was an Jaron, born Feb. 19, A. C. 1643,
who though he died very young, yet first manifested many good things to-
nardt Iht Lord Ood of Israel. His last was a Benjamin, born Jan. 29, A.
C. 1646. Of all these three, it may be said, as it was of Haran, They
died b^ore their fatlur ; but it may also be written over their graves, Jill
these died in faith. By the pious design of their father, they were all
consecrated unto the service of Ood, in the ministry of the gospel ; but
Qod saw meet rather to fetch them away, by a death, which (therefore) I
dare not call prvemature, to glorify him in another and a better world.
They all gave such demonstrations of their conversion to God, that the
good old man would sometimes comfortably say, I have had six children,
and I bless God for his free grace, they are all either with Christ, or in Christ ,
and my mind is now at rest concerning them. And when soobe asked him,
how he could bear the death of such excellent children, his humble re-
ply thereto was tliis, My desire was that they should have served God on
tarth ; but if God will chuse to hav them rather serve him in Heaven, I have
nothing to object againut it, but his will be done /'His Benjaniin was made
the son of his right-hand ; for the invitation of the good people atRoxbu'
ry, placed him in the same pulpit with his father, where he was his assist-
aat for many years ; there they had a proof of him, that as a son with his
father, he served with him in the gospel. But bis late was like that which
the great Gregory M'aziamen describes in his discourse upon the death of
his honourable brother, his aged father being now alive and present :
My father having laid up in a better world, a rich itdieritance for his chil'
dren, sent a son of his before, to take possession of it.

PRELIMINARY II.

<Vr. Eliot's early conversion, sacred employment, and just removal i^''

America.

But all that I have hitherto said, is no more than an entrance into the
history of pur Eliot. Such an Enoch as he, must have something more

480

THE mSTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

than these things recorded of him ; his walk with God, most be more
largely laid before the world, as a thing that would bespeak us all to be
follmert no less than we shall be admirers of it.

He had not passed many turm in the world, before he knew the mean-
ing of a saving (urn from the vanities of an unregenerate state, unto God
in Christ, by a true repentance ; he had the Singular happiness and
privilege of an early conversion from the ways which original sin disposes
all men unto. One of the principal instruments which the God of Heav-
en used in tingeing, and filling the mind of this chosen vessel, with good
principles, waii that venerable Thomas Hooker, whose name in the church-
es of the Lord Jesus, is as an ointment poured forth ; even that f/ooJter,
who having angled many scores of souls into the kingdom of Heaven, at
last laid his bones in our Jiew England ; it was an acquaintance with htm,
that contributed more than a little to the accomplishment of our Elisha,
for that work unto which the Mo)?t High designed him. His liberal edu-
cation, having now the addition oi religion to direct it, and improve it, it
gave such a hiass to his young soul, an quickly discovered it self in very
signal instances. His first appearance in the world after his education in
the untvernty, wast in the too difficult and unthankful but very necessary
employment of a school-master, which employment he discharged with a
good fidelity. AnA as this first essay of his improvement was no more
disgrace unio him, than it was unto the famous Hieron, Whitaker, Vines,
and others, that they thus began to be serviceable ; so it rather prepar-
ed him, for the further service, which his mind was now set upon. He
was of worthy Mr. Thomas Wilson's mind, that the calling of a minister was
the only one wherein a man might be more serviceable to the Church of
God, than in that of a school-master ; and with Melchior Adam, he reck-
oned, the calling of a school-master, Pulverulentam, ac Molestissimam qui-
dem, sed Deo longe gratissimam Functionem . Wherefore having dedicated
himself unto God betimes, he could not reconcile himself to any lesser
Way of serving his Creator and Redeemer, than the sacred ministry of the
gospel ; but alas, where should he have opportunities for the exercising
of it ? The Laudian, Grotian, and Arminian faction in the Church of Eng-
land, in the prosecution of their grand plot, for the reducing of England
unto a moderate sort of Popery, had pitched upon this as one of their
methods for it ; namely, to creeple as fast as they could, all the learned,
godly, painful ministers of the nation ; and invent certain Shibboleths for
the detecting and the destroying of such men as were cordial friends to
the reformation. 'Twas now a time when there were every day multi-
plied and imposed those unwarrantable ceremonies in the worship of God
by which the conscience of our considerate Eliot counted the second
commandment notoriously violated ; it was now also a time when some
hundreds of those good people which had the nick-name of Purttons put
upon them, transpQrted themselves, with their whole families and inter-
ests, into the desarls of America, that they might here peaceably erect
Congregational Churches, and therein attend and maintain all the pure in-
stitutions of the Lord Jesus Christ ; having the encouragement of royal
charters, that they should never have any interruption in the enjoyment
of those precious and pleasant things. Here whs a prospect which quick-
ly determined the devout soul of our young Eliot, unto a remove into
ffew-England, while it was yet a land not sown ; he quickly listed himself
among those valiant soldiers of the Lord Jesus Christ, who cheerfully
«ncountred first the perils of the Atlantick Ocean, and then the fatigues
of the J^ewEngUsh wilderness, thut they might have an undisturbed com-

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND.

481

munion with him in his appointmeDts here. And thus did he betimes
procure himself the consolutioo of having afterwards and for ever a room
in that remembrance of God, /remember thee, the kindne$i of thy youth,
and4he love of thine etpoutale, when thou wentfM after me into the mlderne$$.
On his first arrival to New-England, he sooo joined himself onto the
church Ht Boston ; 'twas church'Work that was bis errand hither, Mr.
Wilton, the pastor of that church, was gone back into England, that
he might perfect the settlement of his affairs ; and in his absence,
young Mr. Eliot was he that sepplied his place. Upon the return
of Mr. Wilton, that church was intending to have made Mr- Eliot
his coUegue, and their teacher ; but it was diverted. Mr. Eliot had
engaged unto a select numbef of his pious and christian friends in
Et^land, that if they should come into these parts before he should
be in the pastoral care of any other people, he would give him-
self to them, and be for their service. It happened, that these friends
transported themselves hither, the year after him ; and chose their hab-
itation at the town which they called Roxbury. A church being now
gathered at this place, he was in a little while ordained unto the teach-
ing and ruling of that holy society. So, 'twas in the orb of that :;hurch
that we had him as a star fixed for very near three-score years ; it only
remains that we now observe what was Uis magnitude all this while,
and how ))e performed his revolution.

PART I.

Or, ELIOT as a Christian.

ARTICLE. I.

His Eminent Piety.

Such was the piety of our Eliot, that like another Moses, he had upon
his face a continual shine, arising from his uninterrupted communion
with the Father of spirits. He was indeed a man of prayer, and might
say after the psalmist, / prayer, as being in a manner made op of it.
Could the walls of his old study speak, they would even ravish us with
a relation of the many hundred and thousand fervent prayert which
he there poured out before the Lord. He not only made it his daily
practice to enter irAo that closet, and shut his door, and pray to his Father
m secret, but he would not rarely set apart whole days for prayer with
fasting, in secret places before the God of Heaven. Prai/er solemnized
with fasting was indeed so agreeable unto him, that I have sometimes
though the might justly inherit the name of Johannies Jejunator, or John
the Faster, which for the like reason was pat upon one^of the renowned
ancients. Especially, when there was any remarkable difficulty before
him, he took this way to encounter and overcome it ; beins; of Dr.
Preston's mind, That when we would h<ive any great things to be accom-
plished, the best policy is to work by an engine which the world sees nothing
of. He could say as the pious Robertson did upon his death bed, / thank
God, I have loved fasting and prayer, with all my heart ! If one would
have known what that sacred thing, the spirit of prayer, intends, in him
there might have been seen a most Inculent and practical exposition of

VoT. 1. (51

482 , , THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

it. He kept his licart in a frame for prayer, with a marvelloqs coq-
stancy ; and was continually provoking all that were about him there-
unto. When he heard any considerable news, his usual and speedy re-
flection thereupon Would be, Brethren let ua turn all this into prayer {
and he was perpetually jogging the wheel of prayer, both more private-
ly in the meetings, and more publickly in the churches of bis neighbour-
hood. When he came to an house that he was intimately acquainted
with, he would often say. Come, let us not have a visit without a prayer ;
let us pray down the blessing of Heaven on your family before we go. Es-
pecially when he came into a society of ministers, before he had sat
long with them, they would look to hear him urging, £re<^ren, the Lord
Jesus takes much riotice of what is doni and said among his ministers when
they are together ; come, let us pray before we part ! and hence also, his
whole breath seemed in a sort made up of ejaculatory prayers, many
scorej of which winged messengers he dispatched away to Heaven, upon
pious errands every day. By 'hem he bespoke blessings upon almost
every person or affair that he was concerned with ; and he carried
every thing to God with some pertinent Hosannahs or Hallelujahs over
it. He was a mighty and an happy man, that had his quiver full of these
heavenly arrows I and when he was never so straitly besieged by hu-
mane occurrences, yet he f^stned the wishes of his devout soul unto
them, and very dexterously shot them up to Heaven over the head
of all.

As he took thus delight in speaking to the Almighty God, no less did
he in .speaking of him ; but in serious and savoury discourses, he still
had his tongue like the pen of a ready writer. The Jesuits once at J^ola
made a no less profane than severe order, that no man should speak of
God at all ; but this excellent person almost made it an order wherever
he came, to speak of nothing but God. He was indeed sufficiently pleas-
ant and witty in company, and he was affable and facetious rather than
morose in conversation ; but he had a remarkable gravity mixed with it,
and a singular skill of raising some holy observation out of whatever mat-
ter of discourse lay before him ; nor would he ordinarily dismiss any theme
without some gracious, divine, pithy sentence thereupon. Doubtless,
he imposed it as a law upon himself, that he would leave something of
God and Heaven, and religion, with all that should come a near him ; so
that in all places, his company was attended with majesty and reverence ;
and it was no sooner proper for him to speak, but like Mary's opened
box of ointment, he filled the whole room with the perfumes of the gra-
ces in his lips, and the christian hearers tasted a greater sweetness in
his well-seasoned speeches, than the illustrious Homer ascribed unto the
orations of his Nestor,

Whose lip drop''d language than sweet honey, sweeter alundflnce.

') His conferences were like those which Tertullian affirms to have been
common among the saints in his days, Ut qui sciret dominum audire, as
knowing that the ear of God was open to them all ; and he managed his
ruddeno as to manifest that he was bound Heaven-ward, in his whole com-
munication. He had a particular art at spirilualizing of earthly objects,
and raising of high thoughts from very mean things. As, once going with
some feebleness and weariness up the hill on which his meeting-house
now stands, he said unto the person that led him. This is very like the way
to Heaven, 'tis up hill! the Lord by his grace fetch us up! and instantly
<}pying<a bush near him, he as nimbly added, and truly there are thorns

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF T ^-ENGLAND.

4CS

und briars in the way too ! which instan :^: i would not have f>iDgled out
from the many thousands of his occasional reflections, but only that 1 might
suggest unto the good people of Eoxbury, something for them to think
upon, when they are going up to the house of the Lord. It ia enough, that
as the friend of the lamous Ursin could profess that he never went unto
him without coming away, aut doctior aut melior, either the wiser or the
better from him ; so, it in an acknowledgment which more than one i'riend
of our Eliot'' s has made concerning him, / was never with him but I got,
or might have got some good from him.

And hearing/rom the great God, was an exercise of like satisfaction
unto the soul of this good maq, with speaking either to him, or of him.
He was a mighty student of the sacred bible ; and it was unto him as his
necessary food. He made the i>ible his companion, and his counsellor,
and the holy lines of scripture more enamoured him than the profane
ones of Tally, ever did the famous Italian cardinal. He would not upon
easy terms, have gone one day together, without using a portion of the
Bible as an antidote against the infection of temptation. And he would
prescribe it unto others, with his probatum est upon it ; as once particu-
larly a pious woman, vexed with a wicked husband, complaining to him,
that bad company was ell the day still infesting of her house, and what should
she do ? he advised her. Take the holy Bible into your hand, when the bad
company comes, and yhu'll soon drive them out of the house ; the woman
made the experiment, and thereby cleared her house from the haunts that
had molested it. By the like way it was that he cleared his heart of what
he was loth to have nesting there. Moreover, if ever any man could,
he might pretend unto that evidence of uprightness, Lord, I have loved
the habitation of thine house ; for he not only gave something more than
his presence there twice on the Lord^s days, and once a fortnight besides
on the lectures, in his own congregation, but he made his weekly visit.s
unto the lectures in the neighbouring towns ; how oflen was he seen at
Boston, Charlestown, Cambridge, Dorchester, waiting upon the word of God,
io recurring opportunities, and counting a day in the courts of the Ijord
better than a thousand ? It is hardly conceivable, how in the midst of so
many studies and labours as he was at home engaged in, he could possibly
repair to so many lectures abroad ; and herein he aimed, not only at his
own edification, but at the countenancing and encouraging of the lectures
which he went unto.

Thus he took heed, that he might hear, and he took as much heed
how he heard ; he set himself as in the presence of the eternal God,
as the great Constantino used of old, in the assemblies where he came,
and aw\, I will hear what God the Lord will speak ; he expressed a dili-
gent attention, by a watchful and wakeful posture, and by turning to the
texts quoted by the preacher ; he expressed a suitable affection by feed-
ing on what was deUvered, and accompanying it with bands and eyes
devoutly elevated ; and they whose good hap 'twas to go home with
him, were sure of having another sermon by the way until their very
hmrts burned in them. Lactantius truly said, jVb» est vera Religio, qum
cumTemplo relinquitur ; but our £/to( always carried much ot religion
with him, from the house of God.

In a word, he was one who lived in Heaven while he was on earth ; and
there is no more than pure justice in our endeavours that he should live
on earth after he is in Heaven. We cannot say that we ever saw him
walking any whither but he was therein walking wiUi God ; wherever he
fat, he had God by him, and it was in the everlasting arms of God that he

484

t ',

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

tUpt at night. Metboaghts he a little discovered bis heavenly way of
living, w ben walking ooe day in bia garden, be plucked up aweedtbathe
saw now and then growing there, at which a friend pleasantly said unto
him. Sir, you tell us, we must be heaventy-minded ; but he immediately re-
plied, it is true ; and this is no impediment unto that, for were I sure to go
to Heaven to-morrow, I would do what I do to-day. From such a frame of
spirit it was that once in a visit, finding a merchant in bis counting
house, where he saw books of business only on bis table, but all bis
bcok8 o{ devotion on the shelf, he gave this advice unto him, Sir, here is
earth on the table, and Heaven on the shelf; pray don't sit so much at the
table as altogether to forget the shelf; let not earth by any means thrust
Heaven out of your mind.

Indeed 1 cannot give a fuller description of him, than what was in a
paraphrase that I have heard himself to make upon that scripture, Our
conversation is in Heaven. I writ from him as he uttered it.

' Behold, said he, the ancient and eicellent character of a true chris-

* tian ; 'tis that which Peter calls holiness in all manner of conversation ;
' you shall not find a christian out of the way of godly conversation. For,
' first, a seventh part of our time is all spent in Heaven, when we are du-
' ly zealous for, and zealous on the sabbath of God. Besides, God has
' written on the head of the sabbath remember ; which looks both for-

* wards and backwards ; and thus a good part of th6 week will be spent in

* sabbatizing. Well, but for the rest of our time ! Why, we shall have

* that spent in Heaven, e'er we have done. For, secondly, we have ma-

* ny days for both /asfing' and thanksgiving, in our pilgrimage ; and here
' are so many sabbaths more. Moreover, thirdly, we have our lectures

* every week ; and pious people won't miss them, if they can belp it.

* Furthermore, fourthly, we have our private meetings wherein «vepray,

* and sing, .and repeat sermons, and confer together about the things of

* God ; and being notv come thus far, we are -in Heaven almost every

* day. But a little farther, fifthly, we j^rform family-duties every day ;
' we have our morning and evening sacrifices, wherein having read the

* scriptures to our families, we call upon the name of God, and ever now

* and then carefully catechize those that are under our charge. Sixthly,

* we shall also have our daily devotions in our closets; wherein unto
' supplicatiim before the Lord, we shall add some serious meditation up-

* on his word ; a David will be at this work no less than thrice a day.

* Seventhly, we have likewise many scores of ejaculations in a day ; and

* these we have, like M'ehemiah, in whatever place we come into. Eightb-

* ly we have our occasional thoughts, and our occasional talks, upon spir-

* itual matters ; and we have our occasional acts of charity, wherein we

< do like the inhabitants of Heaven every day. Ninthly, in our callings,
'in our civil callings, we keep up Heavenly frames ; we buy and sell,

* and toil ; yea, we eat and drink, with some eye both to the command

* and the honour of God in all. Behold, i have not now left an inch of

* time to be earnal ; it is all engrossed for Heaven. And yet, lest here
' should not be enoujh, lastly, we have our spiritual warfare. We are
' always encountring the eneiries of our souls, which continually raises
' our hearts unto our Helper and Leader in the Heavens. Let do man

* say, 'te's impossible to live at this rate ; for we have known some live
' thus ; and others that have written of such a life, have but spun a web
' out of their own blessed experiences. New-England has example of

* this life : though, alas, 'tis to be lamented, that the distractions of the

< world, in too many professors, do be«:loud the beauty of an Heavenly

he said ; hi

0OOK III .] THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGL AND.

* coQvenatioD. In fiae, our employment Um :» Htantn. In the m«,/a<
< iog, if we uk, Wlurt ami to hi to day ? our aouls must answer, /n
' Heaven. In the evening, if we ask, Where have I been to-ddjft our souls
' raay answer. In Heaven. If thou art a believer, thou art no stranger to

• Heaven while thou liveet ; and when thou diest. Heaven will be no strange
' place to thee ; no, thou hast been there a thousand times before.

In this language have I heard him express himself ; and he did what
he said ; he was a Boniface as well as Benedict ; and he was one of those.

Q,uifaciendo docent, qxmfacienda docent.

It might be said of him, as that writer characterises Origeny Qtiemac/-
modtttn docuity sic vixit, ^ qmnuxdmodwnvixit tic docuit.

ARTICLE II.
Hi» particular Care and Zeal about the Lord's Day.

This was thej9te/y, this the Iwlineu of ow Eliot ; but among the many
instances in which his holiness was remarkable, I must not omit his exact
remembrance of the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

It has been truly and justly observed, that our whole religion fares ac-
cording to our sabbaths, that poor sabbaths make poor christians, and that a
strictness in our tabbc^s inspires a vigour into all our other duties. Our
Eliot knew this, and it was a most exemplary zeal that he acknowledged the
sabbath of our Lord Jesus Christ withal. Had he been asked, Servasti Domi-
nicum ? he could have made a right christian primitive answer thereunto.
The sun did not set, the evening before the sabbath, till he had begun his^
preparation for it ; and when the Lord's day came, yon might have seen
John in the spirit, every week. Every day was a sort o£ sabbath to him,
but the sabbath-day was a kind, a type, a tast of Heaven wifJi him. He
laboured, that he might on this high day, have no words or thoughts but
such as were agreeable thereunto ; he then allowed in himself no ac-
tions, but those of a raised soul. One should hear nothing dropping from
his lips on this day, but the milk and honey of the country, in which there
yet remains a rest for tlie people of God ; and if he beheld in any person
whatsoever, whether old or young, any profanation of (his day, he would
be sure to bestow lively rebukes upon it. And hence also unto the
general engagements of a covenant with God, which it was his desire to
bring the Indians into, he added a particular article, wherein they bind
themselves, mehquontamunat sabbath, pahketeaunat tohsohke pomantamog ;
i. e. to remember the sabbcUh day, to keep it holy, as long as we live.

The mention of this, gives me an opportunity, not only to recommend
our departed Eliot, but also to vindicate another great man, unto the
churches of our Lord Jesus Christ. The reverend and renowned Ower>
in his elaborate exercitations on the Lord's day, had let ftf!l such a paS'
sage as this :

I judge, that the observation of the Lord^a day is to be commensurate un-
to the use of our natural strength, on any other day ; from morning to night.
Tlie Lord's day is to be set apart unto the endu of an holy rest unto God, by
every one according as his natural strength will enable him to employ him-
■ielfin his lawful occasions any other day of the week.

This passage gave some srandal unto several very learned and pioufi
.-nen ; among whom, our Eliot was one ; whereupon with his usual zeal.

486

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

gravity and sanclity, he wrote unto the doctor, his opinion thereabout ;
who retarned nnto him an answer full of respect.'some part whereof I
shall here trnscribe.

* As to what concerns the natural strength of man (saith he) either I

* was under some mistake in my expression, or you seem to be so, in your

* apprehension. I never thought, and I hope, I have not said, for 1 can-

* not (iod it, that the continuance of the sabbath is to be commensurate
' unto the natural strength of man, but only that it is an a//owa6/e mean of
' men's continuance in sabbcth duties ; which I suppose ybu will not de-
' ny, lest you should cast the consciences of professors into inextricable

< difficulties.

' When first I engaged in that work, I intended not to have spoken
' one word about the practical observation of the day ; but only to have
' endeavoured the revival of a truth, which at present is despised and
' contemned among us, and strenuously opposed by sundry divines of the

* United Provinces, who call the doctrine of the sabbath, Figmentvm An-

* glicanum. Upon the desire of some learned men in these paits, it was,
' that 1 undertook the vindication of it. Having now discharged the

< debt, which in this matter I owed unto the truth and church of God,
' though not as I ought, yet with such composition as 1 hope through
' the interposition of our Lord Jesus Christ might find acceptance with
' God and his saints, I suppose I shall not again engage on that subject.

' I suppose there is scarce any one alive in the world, who hath more

* reproaches cast upon him than 1 have j though hitherto God has been
' pleased in some measure to support my spirit under them. I still re-
' lieved myself by this, that my poor endeavours have found acceptance

* with the churclus of Christ : but my holy, wise, and gracious Father,
' sees it needful to try me in this matter also ; and what I have received
' from you (which it may be contains not your sense alone) hath printed
' deeper, and left a greater impression upon my mind, than all the viru-
' lent revilings, and false accusations I have met withal, from rjy profess-
' ed adversaries. 1 do acknowledge unto you, that 1 have a dry and

* barren spirit, and I do heartily beg your prayers, that the Holy One
' would, notwithstanding all my sinfiil provocations, water me from
' above ; but that I should now be apprehended to have given a wound

* unto holiness in the churches, it is one of the saddest frowns in the cloudy
' brows of divine providence.

* The doctrine of the sabbath, I have asjserted, though not as it should
'be done, yet as well as I could ; the observation of it in holy duties un-
' to the utmost of the strength for them, which God shall be pleased to
' give us, I have pleaded for ; the necessity also of a Berious preparation
' for it in sundry previous duties, I have declared- But now to meet
' with severe expressions — it may be it is the will of God, that vigour
' should hereby be given to my former discouragements, and that there is
' a call in it, to surcease from these kinds of labours.'

I have transcribed the more of this letter, because it not only discov-
ers the concern which our Eliot had for the sabbath of God, but also it
may contribute unto the world's good reception and perusal of a goldm
book on that subject, written by one of the most eminent persons which
the English natioo has boon adorned with.

Rook III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

4IT

ARTICLE III.
His exemplary Mortification.

Thus did Eliot endeavonr toii've unto Gqd ; but how much at the same
time did he tite unto all the world ?

It were imposHible to tioish the lively picture of tbi» pious and holy
Eliot, without some touches upob that mort\ficatioH, which accompanied
him all his days ; for never did I see a person more mortifisd unto all
the pleasures of this life, or more unwilling to moult the wings of an
heaven-born soul, in the dirty puddles of carnal and sensual delights.
We are all of us compounded of those two things, the man, and the beaet ;
but so powerful was the man, in this holy person, that it kept the beast
ever tyed with a short tedder, and suppressed the irregular calcitrations
of it. He became so nailed unto the Cross of the Lord Jesus Christ, that
the grandeurs of this world were unto him just what they would be to a
dying man; and he maintained an almost unparalleled ind^erency towards
all the pomps, which mankind is too generally flattered and enchanted
with.

The lust of tkeftesh he could not reconcile himself to the least pamper <
ing or indulging of: but he persecuted it with a continual antipathy, be-
ing upon higher principles than Tully was acquainted withal, of his mind,
JVo'i est digitus nomine hominis, qui unum diem totum velit esse in isto genere
vofuplatis. The sleep that he allowed himself, cheated him not of his
morning hours ; but he reckoned the morning no le^s a friend unto the gra-
ces than the muses. He would call upon students, I pray look to it that
you be morning birds. And for many more than a score of years before
he died, he removed his lodging into his study, on purpose that being
there alone, he might enjoy his early mornings, without giving the distur-
bance of the least noise to any of his friends, whose affections to him else
might have been ready to have called. Master, spare thy self. The meat
upon which he lived was a cibus simplex, an homely but an wholesome
diet. Rich varieties, costly viands, and poinant sauces, came not upon
his own table, and when he found them on other men's, he rarely tasted
of them. One dish, and a plain one was his dinner; and when invited
unito if east, I have seen him sit magnifying of God, for the plenty which
his people in this wilderness were within a few years arisen to ; but not
more than a bit or two of ajll the dainties taken into his own mouth all the
while. And for a supper, he had learned of his loved and blessed patron,
old Mr. Cotton, either wholly to omit it, or to make a small sup or two
the utmost of it. The drink which he still used was very small ; he
cared not for voines or drams, and I believe he never once in all his life,
knew what it was to feel so much as a noxious fume in his head, from any
of them ; good, clear water was more precious, as well as more usual
with him, than any of those liquors with which men do so frequently
spoil their own healths, while perhaps they drink those of other men.
When at a stranger's house in the summer time, he has been entertained
with a glass, which they told him was, of water and wine, he has with a
complaisant gravity replyed unto this purpose, Wine, Uis a noble gener-
ous liquor, and we should be humbly thankful for it ; but as I remember, wa-
ter was made before it ! So abstemious was be ; and he found, that Cktre-
re suavtfalibus istis, his abstinence had more sweetness in it, than any of
the sweets which he abstained from ; and as willing he was to have others

488

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Boor IH.

partake with him in that sweefncM, that when he has thought the coante-
nance of a minister has looked, as if he had made much of hianetf, he
has gone to him with that speech, Study morlificatioH, bnrthtr, itudy tnot-
tification/ and he made all his addresses with a becoming majesty.

The lu$t of the eye, was pot oat bjr him in such a manner, that it was
in a manner all one with him to be rick or poor. It could not be said of
him, that he eought great thingtfor hinuelf ; but what estate he became
owner of, was from the blessing of God upon the husbandry and industry
of some in his family, rather than from any endeavours of his own. Once
when there stood several kine of his own before his door, his wife, to
try him, asked him, Who$e they were ? and she found that he knew noth-
ing of them. He could not endure to plunge himself into secular designs
and affairs, but accounted Saeerdoe in foro as wortbv of castigation m
Mercator m Temjdo ; he thought that minuter and marlut-fMii^ were not
iintfon«, and that the earth was no place for Aaron* b holy mitre to be laid
upon. It was the usage of most parishes in the country, to have an an-
nual rate for the maintenanee of the ministry, adjusted commonly by the
selectmen of the towns ; which though it raised not any exuberant sala-
ries for the ministers, who also seldom received all that the people had
contracted for, nevertheless in many places it prevented sore temptations
from befalling those that were labouring in the word and doctrine ; who
most else oflen have experience the truth of Luther* s observation, Durittr
profeeto 4r mtsere viverent Evangelii Ministri, ti ex Libera populi eoniribu-
tione ettent tuttetUandi. However, for hie part, he propounded that what
stipend he had, should be raised by contribution ; and from the same
temper it was, that a few years before his dissolution, being left without
an assistant in bis ministry, he pressed his congregation to furnish them-
selves with another fostor ; and in his application to them, he told them,
'Tie poeeible, you may think the burden ^ maintaining two ministers may
be too heavy for you ; but I deliver you from that fear ; I do here give back
my salary to the Lord Jesus Christ, and now, brethren, you may fix that up-
on any man that God shall make a pastor for you. But his church with
an handsome reply, assured him, that they would count his very pre-
sence worth a salary, when he should be so superanuated as to do no fur-
ther service for them.

And as for the ppde of life, the life of it was roost exemplarily extin-
guished in him. The humility of his heart made him higher by the head
than the rest of the people. His habit and spirit were both such as declar-
ed him to be among the lowly, whom Gpd has most respect unto. His
apparel was without any ornament except that of humility, which the
apostle elegantly compares to a knot of comely ribbons, in the text where
he bids us to be cloathed with it ; any other flaoting ribbons on those that
came in his way he would ingeniously animadvert upon ; and seeing some
scholars once, he thought a little too gaudy in their cloatbs, Humiliamini.
Juvenes, Humiliamini, was his immediate complement unto them. Had
you seen him with his leathern girdle (for such an one he wore) about his
loins, you would almost have thought what Herod feared, That John Bap'
tist was come to life again. In short, he was in all regards a J^azarite in-
deed ; unless in this one, that long hair was always very loathsome to
him ; he was au acute Ramist, but yet he professed himself a lover of a
Trichotomy. Doubtless, it may be lawful for us to accommodate the
length of our hair unto the modest customs which vary in the Churches of
God ; and it may be lawful foi- them that have not enough of their own
hair for their own health, to supply themselves according to the sober

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND.

48»

modes of the places they live. But the apostle telU us, J^ature Uacheg
us, that if a man have long Aat'r, Hit a shame to him ; where, by nature
can be uieunt, no other than the difference of sex; as the wotd elsewhere
is used.

Thus Mr Eliot thought t^ut for men to wear their hair with a luxuri*
ous, delicate, faeminine prolixity ; or for them to preserve no plain dis-
lioction of their sex, by the hair of their head and lace ; and much more
for men thus to disfigure themselves with hair that is none of their own j
iiad most of al|, for miAt^tea of the gospel to ruffle it in excesses of this
kind ; may prove more than we are well aware, displeasiing to the Holy
Spirit of God. The hair of them that professed religion, long before his
ileath, grew too long for him to swallow ; and he would express himself
continually with a boiling zeal concerning it, until at la's! he gave over,
with some regret complaining, The lust is become insuperable ! 1 know not
whether that horrible distemper prevailing in some European countries
known by the name of Plica Polonica, .vherein the hair of people mat'
ted into ugly and filthy forms, like snakes upon their head», which whoso-
ever cut off, presently fell blind or mad ; 1 say, I know not whether this
disease was more odious in it self, than the sweeter, neater, but prolix
locks of many people «vere to our Eliot He was indeed one priseis more-
bus, as well as Anliquafide ; and he might be allowed somewhat even of
severity in this matter, on that account.

ARTICLE IV.
Hit Exquisite Charity.

He that will write of Eliot, must write of charity, or say nothing. Hi«
charity was a star of the first magnitude in the bright constellation of his
rertues ; and the rays of it were wonderfully various and extensive. -

His liberality to pious uses whether publick or private, went much
beyond the proportions of his little estate in the world. Many hundreds
of pounds did he freely bestow upon the poor ; and he would, with a very
forcible importunity, press his neighbours to join with him in such benen-
cences. It was a marvellous alacrity with which he imbracedall oppor-
tunities of relieving any that were miserable ; and the good people of
Roxbury doubtles, cannot remember (but the righteous God will!) how
oilen, and with what ardors, with what arguments, he became a beggar to
them for collections in their assemblies, to support such needy objects,
as had fallen under his observation. The ppor counted him their/atAer,
and repaired still unto him, with a filial confidence in their necessities ;
and they were more than seven or eight, or indeed than so many scores,
who received the'tt portions of his bounty. Like that worthy and famous
English general, he could not pcrswade himself that he had any thing but
Tchat he gave away ; but he drove a mighty trade at such exercises as he
thought would furnish him with bills of exchange, which he hoped aftef
many days to find the comfort of; and yet after all, he would say like one
of the most charitable souls that ever lived in the world, that looking over
his accounts, he could no where Jind the God of Heaven charged a debtor
there. He did not put oif his charity, to be put in his last will, as many
who therein shew that their charity is against their will ; but he v^as bis
own administrator ; he made his own hands his executors, and his own
eyes his overseers. It has been remarked, that liberal men are often
long-lived men ; so do they after many days find the bread with >yhi$h they

Vol. I. (;•»

THE IJISTOUY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [BaorMf.

have been willing to keep other men alive. The great age of oar Eliot
•VH8 but agreeable to this remark ; and when his age bad unhtted him for
nimoft all emidoyaients, and bereaved him of those gifts and pnits which
once he had been accomplished with, being utked, hoxvludidf he would
sometimes answer, JHai, t hace lost every thing ; my undemanding leaves
mt, tt.y memory fails me, my utterance fails me ; but I thank Uod, my charity
holds out still ; I find that rather grows than fails ! And I miike no quesliun,
that at his death, his happy soul was received, and welcomed into the
everlatting luibitations, by many scores got thither before him, of such as
hi.*) charity had been liberal unto.

But besides these more substantial expressions of his charity, he made
the odours of that grnce yet more fragrant unto all that were about him,
by that pittifulness, and that peaceableiuss, which rendered him yet fur-
ther amiable. If any of his neighbourhood were in distress, he was
like a brother born for their adveristy; he would visit them, and comfort
them with a most fraternal syiXpathy ; yea, His not easy to recount how
many whole days of prayer and Justing he has got his neighbours to keep
with him, on the behalf of those who^e calamities he found himself touch-
ed withal. It was un extreme saiisfuction to him. that his wife had at-
tained unto n considerable skill in physick ond chyrurgery, which enabled
her to dispense many safe, good, and useful medicines unto the /loor that
had occasion for them ; and some hundreds of sick and weak and maimed
people owed praises to God, for the benefit, which therein ihey freely
received of her. The good gentleman her husband, would still bo cast-
ing oyl into tbejlame of that charity, wherein she was of her own accord
abundantly forward thus to be doing of good unto all ; and he would urge
her. to be serviceable unto the worst enemies that he had in the world.
Never had apy man fewer enemies than he ! but once having delivered
something in his ministry, which displeased one of his hearers, the man
did passionately abuse him for it, and this both with speeches nnd with
writings, that reviled him. Yet it happening not long after, that this man
gave himself a very dangerous wound, Mr. Eliot immediately sends his
wife- to cure him ; who did accordingly. When the man was well he
came to thank her ; but she took no rewards ; and this good man made
him stay and eat with him, taking no notice of all the calumnies with
which he had loaded him ; but by this carriage be mollified and conquer-
ed the stomach of hi;} rcviler.

He was also' a great enemy to all contention, and would ring aloud cour-
feu-bell, wherever he saw the^res of animosity. When he heard any
ministers complain, that such and such in their flocks were too difficult
for them, the at^in of his answer still was, Br other r compass them! and
brother, learn the meaning of those three little words, bear, forbear, forgive.
Yea, his inclinations for peace, indeed sometimes almost made him to
sacrifice right itself. When there was laid before an assmebly of minis;
ters a bundle of papers, which contained certain matters of difference
and contention, between some people which our Eliot thought should
rather unite, with an amnesty upon all their former quarrels, he (with
some imitation of what Constuntine did qpon the like occasion) hastily
threw the papers into the fire before them all, and with a zeal for peace
as hot as that fire, said immediatly, Brethren, wonder not at what 1 have
done, I did it on my knees this morning, before I came among you. Such
an excess (if it were one) flowed from hia charitable inclinations to be
found among those peace -makers, which by following the example of that
moXk who is our peace, come to be called, the children of God'. Very wor-

Book FFI.] THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENaLAND.

401

t hily might he be culled an Irenaui, an being all for peace ; and the com-
mcndation which Eniphaniut gives unto the ancient of that name, did
belong unto our Eliot, he was a moit bletted and a mo$t holy tnan. He
disliked all sorts of bravery: but yet with Hn ingenioa,i note upon the
Greek word in Col. iii. 1^. he propounded, that peace might brave it
among u$. In short, wherever he came, it wrfs like another old Joh»,
with solemn and earnest perswasives to love, and when he could my little
else, be would give that churj^e, My.fhildr^n, Inve one another I

Finally, 'twas his charity which dispoKcd hiro to continual appreeatione
for, and benedictions on those that he met withal ; he had an heart full
of good wishes, and a mouth full of kind blessings for them. And he
often made his expreuions v^ry wittily agreeable to the circumstances
which be naw the persons in. Sometimes when he came into a family,
he would call for all tbe young people in it, that so he might very dit-
iinctly lay his holy hands upon every one of them, and bespeak the mer*
cies of* Heaven fur them jill.

ARTICLE V,
■Some special JlttainnuntSy that were the Rffeets of his Piety and Charilji

BvT what was the effect of this exemplary piety and charity in our
Eliot ? U will be no wonder to my reader, if I tell him, that this good
man walked in the light of God's countenance all the day long. I believe
he had a continual assurance of the divine love, marvellously sealing,
strengthening, and refreshing of him, for many lustres of years bfeibre
he died ; and for this cause, the fear of death was extirpated out of
hifl heavenly soul, more than out of most men alive. Had our blessed
Jesus at any time sent his waggons to fetch this old Jacob away, he would
hiive gone without the least reluctancies. Labouring once under a fever
an I ague, a visitant asked him, how he did? and he replyed, Very well,
but anon I expect a paroxism. Said the visitant. Sir, fear not ; but unto
that he answered. Fear ! no, no ; I beenU afraid, I thank Ood, / been't
afraid to die ! Dying would not have been any more to him, than sleep*
ing to a weary man.

And another excellency, which accompanied this courage and comfort
in him wan, a wonderful resignation to the will of God in all events. There
were sore afflictions that sometimes befel him ; especially when he
followed some of his hopeful and worthy sons two or three desirable
preachers of the gospel, to their graves. But he sacrificed them, like
another Abraham ; with such a sacred indiiTerency, as made flU the'Spec-
tittoro to say, this could not be done Txnlhout the fear of God. Yea, he
bore all his trials with an admirable patience, and seemed loth to have
any will of his own, that should not be wholly melted and moulded into
the will of his Heavenly Father. Once being in a boat at sea, a larger
vessel unhappily over run, and over set that little one which had no
small concerns, because Eliofs in the bottom of it ; be immediately
sunk without any expectation of ever going to Heaven any other way ;
and when he imagined that be had but one breath more to draw in the
world, it was this, the will of the Lord be done ! But it was the will of
the Lord, that he should survive the danger ; for he was rescued by
the help that was then at hand, and he that had long been like Mosea in
every thing else, was now drawn out of the waters. Which gives me
opportunity to mention one remarkable that bad seme relation hereunto.

49t

THE HISTORY OF NF.W.r.NGLAND. [Book III

This accident linppcnod in the timo of our Indian wari, when •omc
furioim Englhh people thxt clumour^tl tor the extirpntion of the pray-
ing Indinni, which were in suhjection unto »n, ns well nt the l*agan In-
dians thiit were in ho*ttilitv agiiinut u«, rented n very wicked rate at
our holy KHot, becnuoe of hi* concerunncnt for the Indians, ana one
profane monHtcr henriog how narrowly Mr. Eliot eicaped from drown-
ing, 'tis i>uid, he wished this man of Qod had then been drowned. But
within n few days, that'wofnl man by n strange disaster, was drowned
,ih that very place where Mr. Eliot had received his deliverance.

There wm indeed u certain health of soul whit ^ he arrived unto ; and
he kept in a blcnsed measure clear ot those distemptrs which too often
disorder tho roort of men. But the Qod of Heaven favoured him with
sonicthi(i||( that wa« yet more extraordinary ! By getting and keeping near
to UnH, and by d%vclling under the shadow ofthe Almighty, be contracted a
more fxquisite sense of mind, than what a usual among other professors of
chri^utnity ; he sumetimes felt a lively touch of God upon his refined
ntid exalted spirit, which were not in any paper of ours lanful or easy
to hv. uttered , and he was admitted unto a singular familiarity with
t\\i- fifily One of Israel. Hence it was, that att bodies of a rare and tine
coii'tiliilion, \\\\\ forebode the changes of the weather, so the sublimed
fxxil ot our Eliot often had strange forebodings of things that were to
rfMiK' 1 have been astonished at some of his predictions, that were
bolh of a more personal, and of a more general application, and were
foiiowed with exiict arcomplishments. If he said of any affair, / can>
vol bless it .' it Wtis a tvorHC omen to it, than the Liost inauspicious pre-
H igeA in the world ; but sometimes after he had been with God in prayer
jiho'il !i tiling, hp was able successfully to foretel, I have set a mark vpon
t'r, it wilt do uie// .' I shall nevtr forget, that when Evgland and Holland
uorf plunj$ed into the unhappy war, which the more sensible Protest-
ants every where had but sorrowful apprehensions of, our Eliot being
in the height aud heat of the war, privately asked. What news we might
hokfor*iext? answered unto the suprize of the enquirer, Ournextnews
teiil Of, a peace between the two Protestant nations ; God knows, I pray for
H every day ; aud I am verily perswaded, we shall hear of it speedily ! And
it Ort'ne to psiKfi accordingly.

M is to i>e confessed, that the written word of God, is to be regarded
as the perfect and only rule of our lives ; that in all articles of religion,
itiiit^n speak niit according to this word, there is no light in them; and that
It it no w:)rrnutabie or convenient thing for christians ordinarily to look
fi;r f-uch ii)8|)irati()n8 as directed the prophets that were the pen-men of
tlis scti[.t»in.'.s. Nevertheless, there are some uncommon instances of
f oni.nuinon and fn-ition which in our days the sovereign God here and
tiMM<.. fivcmrs a good man withal ; and they are very heavenly persons,
pt'i>ons wtil purihed from the /acw/encies of sensuality, and persons bet-
tir pji'^cd troin the leaven of envy and malice, and intolerable pride,
than usually those vain pretenders to revelations, the Quakers are, that
am made vriiikt-rs of these divine dainties. Now such an one was our
Eiii't ; ar)rj for this, worthy to be had in everlasting remembrance,
• !(tlt would noi be improper, under this file to lodge the singular and sur-
prjfini^ •uccesses of his /)raycrs / for they were such, that in our distress-
es wo «iili repaired unto him, under that encouragement, Heiiaprophef,
and hf s inli pray for thee, and thou shall live, I shall single out but one,
from the many that might be mentioned,

Uooic lll.l THE IIISTOnV OF NEW-KNOLaND.

There wai a godly gAnllomiin of CharUiteian, one Mr. /otter , who with
hib ton, WM tnken crtplive by Turkiih oncmicH. Murli |)ri«yer wnn «*»•
plojed, both itrivntely nnd pubhckly, by the t^nnA people Ihmt. for 'Se
redemption or thut gentleman ; bat we were ut lat^i informpd, iljxt the
bloody prince, in wlione dominion* he wim now h shive, wns resolved
tlint in hit life time no prisoner Rhould be relented ; and oo tlie dii(re«s-
ed friends of thia priitoiier now concluded, our hope ti toit t Well, upon
thi*. Mr. Eliot, in some of his next pniycm, before ii very solemn con-
gregation, very broadly begged, Heavenly Father, work for ike redemption
of thy poor servant Foster ; and if the prince which d«iam$ him will not, a»
they $ay, di$mi$t him as long at himtflf liven, Lord.wt pray thee to kilhhat
crusl prince ; kill him, and glorify thyself upon him. And now behold
the answer : the poor ciiptivcd ^entlemun quickly return* to us that had
been mourning for him ns n lost niiin, nnd brings us news, thnt the prince
which had hitherto held him, wiis come to an untimely death, by whirk
meani he was now set at liberty.

PART II.

Or, ELIOT as a Minister.
ARTICLE h ' '

His Ministerial Accomplishments.

\ ' t

The Grace of God, which we have seen so illustriously endowing and
adorning of our Eliot, as well qualified him for, as dinposed him to tho
employment wherein he spent about six decads of his years ; which was,
the service of the I^ord Jesus Christ, in the ministry of the gospel, 'i'his was
the work to which he applied himself and he undertook it, 1 belicre,
with as right thoughts of it, and as good ends in it, as ever any man in our
days was acted with. He looked upon the conduct of a church, as a
thing no less dangerous than important, and attended with so many diffi-
culties, temptationd, and humiliations, as that nothing but a call from the
Son of God, could have encouraged him unto the tiuaception of it. He
saw that^esft and blood would find it no very pleasant thing, to be obli-
f(ed unto the oversight of a number, that by a solemn covenant should
be listed among the voluntiers of the Lord Jesus Christ ; that it was no
easy thing to feed the souls of such a people, and of the children and
the neighbours, which were to be brought into the same sheepfold with
them ; to bear their manners with all patience, not being by any of their
infirmities discouraged from teaching of them, and from watching and
praying over them ; to value them highly as thcfiock which God has pur-
chased with^is own blood, notwithstanding till their miscarriages ; and in
all to examine the rule of scripture for the warrant of whatever shall be
done ; and to remember the day of judgment, wherein an account must
be given of all that has been done ; having in the mean time no expecta-
tion of the riches and grandeurs which accompany a worldly domination.
It was herewithal his opinion, that (as the great Owen expresses it) not-
withstanding all the countenance that is given to any church by the publick
magistracy, yet whilst ne are in this world, those who will faithfully dis-
charge their duty, as ministers of the gospel, shall have nrtd to be prepared

494

t t

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

for tufferinga ; and it was in a sense of these things that he gHve himself
up to the SAcred ministry. A stranger to regeneration can be but poor-
ly nccoinplished. fornuch a ministry ; very truly say^ the incomparable
Mated, Impii quidam Homines egregie videntfir callere rutuktytifum, revtra,
tamen ilia CognUio Rerum Theologicarum est atuXnytf, quia fieri nun potest
ut Cognitio vere Theologica, habilet in Corde non Theologo : And however
God may prosper the sermons of such a roan for the advantage of his
church : however the building of the nrk may be helped on by such car-
penters as perish in the fiood; and the Tyrians may do some work about
the temple, who arrive to no worship in the inner-rourts thereof, and as
Austin expressed it, a stone'Cutter may convey water into a garden, with-
out having hiu^self any advantage of it ; nevertheless, the unsanctitied
mini!>ter, how gifted, how able soever he may be, must have it still said
unto him, Thou lackest one thing ! And that one thing our Eliot had. But
the one thing was not all ! as indeed, it would not have been enough.
God furnished him with a good measure oflearning too, which made him
capable to divide the word aright. He was a most acute grammarian ;
and understood very well, the languages which God first wrote his Holy
Bible in. He had a good insight into all the other liberal arts, and made
little systems of them, for the use of certain Indians, whose exacter edu-
ration he was desirous of. But, above all, he bad a most eminent skill
in theology ; and that which profane scoffers reproached, as the disgrace
of the blessed Ailing, all of whose works always weigh down the purest
gold, was the honour of our Eliot, namely to be Scripturarius Theologus,
or one mighty in the word ; which enabled him to convin^te gainsayers,
and on many occasions to show himself, a workman that needed not be
ashamed.

In short, he came in some degree, like another Bezalee?., or Moliah,
ynlo the service of the tabernacle. And from ,one particularity in that
part of his learning, which lay in the affairs of the tabernacle, it was, that
in a little book of his we have those lines, which for a certain cause I
now transcribe ; Oh that the Lord wotdd put it (says he) into ike heart of
some of his religious and learned servants, to take such pains about the He-
brew language, as to JU it for universal use f Considering, that above all
languages spoken by the lip of man it is most capable to be enlarged, and
fitted to express all things, and motions, and notions, that our humane intel-
lect is capable of in this mortal life, considering also, tliatit is the invention
of God himself; and what one is fitter to be the universal language, than
that which it pleased our Lord Jesus to make use of, when he spake from
Heaven unto Paul !

In fine, though we have had greater scholars than he, yet he halh often
made me think of Mr. Samuel Ward's observation. In observing I have ob-
served and found, that divers great clerks have had but little fruit of their
ministry, but hardly any truly zealous man of God {though of lesser gifts)
but have had much comfort (f their labours in their own. and bordering pa-
rishes ; being in this likened by Gregory, to the iron on the sihith's anvil,
sparkling round about . -■ -i >

*W -nti« i*\

ARTICLE n.

b.-v^,^d»f^i^ •>*»'

• ";^ His Family-Government.

Tue Apostle Pau?, reciting and requirina; qualifications of a gospel
minister, gives order, that ho be The hvsband of one rvife, and one thaf ^.

>DboK III] THE HISTORY OF NEWENGLAND.

495

ruleth well his own house, having hie children in eubjectton with all gravity.
It seems, that a man's carriage in biii own house is a part, or at least a tign,
of his due deportment in Ihe house o/Qod ; and then, 1 am siiire, our £li-
oCs was very axemplary. That one wife which was given to him truly
from the Lord, he loved, prized, cherished, with a kindness that notably
represented the compassion which he (thereby^ taught his church to ex-
pect from the Lord Jesus Christ ; and after he had lived wiih her for
more than half an hundred years, he followed her to tlie grave with la-
mentations beyond those, which the Jews from the tigure of a letter in the
text, affirm, that Abraham deplored his aged Sarah with ; her departure
made a deeper impression upon him than wh4t any jcommon affliction
could. His whole conversation with her, had that sweetness, and that
gravity and modesty beautifying of it, that every one called them Zachary
and Elizabeth. His family was a little Bethel, for the worship of God con-
stantly and exactly maintained in it ; and unto the daily prayers of the
family, his manner was to prefix the reading of the scripture ; which be-
ing done, it was also his .manner to make his young people to chuse a cer-
tain passage in the chapter, and give him some obseivation of their own
upon it. By thid method he did mightily sharpen and improve, as well as
try their undestandings, and endeavour to make them wise unto salvation.
He was likewise very strict in the education of his children, and more
careful to mend any error in their hearts and lives, than he could have
been to cure a blemish in their bodies. No exorbitancies or extravagoH'
cies could find a room under his roof, nor was his house any other than
a scliool of piety ; one might have there seen a perpetual mixture of a
Spartan and a christian discipline. Whatever decay there might be upon
family-religion among us, as for our Eliot, we knew him, that he would
command his children, and his household after Aim, that they should keep
file way (\f the Lord.

I*
*

ARTICLE III. n; .
His way of Preaching.

Such was he in his lesser family ! and in his greater family, he manifest-^
ed still more of his regards to the rule of a gospel -ministry. To his con-
gregation, he was a preacher that made it bis care, to give every one their
tneat in due season. It was food and not froth ; which in his publick ser-
mons, he entertained the souU of his people with, he did not starve them
with empty and windy speculations, or with such things as Animum non
darU, quia non habent ; much less did he kill them with such poison as is too
commonly exposed by the Arminian and Socinian doctors that have too
often sat in Moses' chair. His way o{ preaching was \ery plain ; so that
the very lambs might wade, into his discourses on those texts and themes,
wherein elephants might swim ; and herewithal, it was very powerful, his
delivery was always very graceful and grateful ; but when he was to use
reproofs and warnings against any sin, his voice would rise into a warm</<
which had in it very much of energy as well as decency ; he would sound
the trumpets of God against all vice, with a most penetrating liveliness,
and make his pulpit another mount Sinai, for the flashes of lightning
therein displayed against the breaches of the law given upon that fum-
ing mountain. And I observed, that there was usually a special fervour
in the rebukes which he bestowed upon carnality, a carnal frame and life
in professors of religion ; when he was to brand the earthly- mindedne56

^^HE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENOLAND. [Book UL

. of church-members, and the allowance and the indulgence which they
often gave unto themselves in seosuHl delights, here he was a right Bo-
anerges ; he then spoke, as it was said one of the ancients did, Quot ver-
ba tot Fulminay as many thunderbolts us -words

It was another property of his preaching, that there was everrAore
much of Christ in it ; and with Paul, he could say, I determined to Icnoxi;
nothing but Jesus Christ ; havinie that blessed name in his discourses, with
a fiequency like that, with which Paul mentions it in his epistles. As it
was noted of Dr. Bodly, that whatever subject he wr re upon, in the ap-
plication still his use of it would be. to drive men vnto the Lord Jesus
Christ : in like manner, ^he Lord Jesus Christ was the loadstone which
gave a touch to all the sermons of our Eliot ; a glorious, precious, lovely
Christ, was the point of heaven which they still verged unto. From this
inclination it was, that although he printed several English books before
he dyed, yet his heart seemed not so much in any of them, as in that se-
rious and savoury book of ois, entituled, The Harmony of the Gospels in
the Holy History of Jesus Christ. From hence also it was, that be would
give that advice to young preachers, Pray let there be much of .Christ in
your ministry ; and when he had heard a sermon, which had any special
relish of a blessed Jesus in it, he would say thereupon, Oblessed be God,
that we have Christ so much and so well preached in poor New-England i

Moreover, he liked no preaching, but what had been well studied for ;
and he would very much commend a sermon which he could perceive had
required some good thinking and reading iu the author of it. I have
been prrsent, when he has unto a preacher then just come home from
the assembly with him, thus expressed himself Brother, there vas oyl re-
quired for the service of the, sanctuary ; but it must be beaten oyl ; I praise
God, that I saw yoitr oyl so well beaten to day ; the Lord help us always by
good study to beat our oyl, that there may be no knots in our sermons left un-
dissolved, and that them may a clear light be thereby given in the house of
God! And yet he likewise looked for something in a sermon beside and
beyond the meer study of tnan ; he was for having the Spirit of God,
breathing in it and with it ; and he was for speaking thoie things, from
those impressions and with those affections, which might con:.pel the hearer
to say. The spirit of God rvas here ! I have heard him complain. It is a sad
thing, when a sermon shall have that one thing, the Spirit of God, wanting
in it.

■;rf*

ARTICLE IV.

His Cares about the Children of his people. j^:,, ,-. ■

But he remembered, that he had lambs in his flock, aud like another
David he could not endure to see the lion sei/.e upon any of them. IJe
always had a mighty concern upon his mind for little children ; it was an af-
fectionate stroke in one of the little papers which he published for them,
Sure Christ is not 'jsilUngto Inse his lambs ; and I have cause to remember
with what an hearty, fervent, zealous application, he suldressed himself,
when in the name of the neighbour pastors anl churches lie gave me,
tlie right hand of their fellowship, at my or'Huation, and saiM, Brutlier, art
thou a lover of the Lord Jesus Christ ? Then, I pray feed his lambs.

One thing whereof he^vas very desirous for poor children, was the
covenanting of them ; he was very solkilous that the lambs might pass
■wndey the Lord's tylhing rod, and be brought under the bond of Hie cova-

Book III .] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGIL AND.

.'*r

497

rtan^ He very openly and earnestly maintained the cause of infant- hap-
tinn, against a sort of persons risen since the reformation, (amooe which
indeed there are many godly men that were dear to the soni of dnr Eliot)
who forget that in the gospel church state as well as in the Jetvish, the
promise is to believers and their children : and are unwilling to reckon
cMldren among the disciples of Jesus Christ : or to grant, that of such is
the kingdom of Heaven ; or to know, that the most undoubted records of
antiquity, atlirin infant-baptism to have been an usage in all the primitive
churches ; that even before the eaVly days of J\'azianzen,Chrysostom, Ba-
sil, Atkanasius, Epiphanies, in the Greek, and Ambrose, Jerom, Austin, in
the Xutin church, all of which give glorious testimonies for infant-bap'
tism, even Cyprian, before these assures us, that in his days there was
110 doubt of it ; and Origen before him could say, *Twas from the apos-
tles that the church took up the baptism of infants ; and Clemens Romanus
before him could say. That children should be recipients of the discipline of
Christ ; besides what plain evidence we have in IreniBus and Justin Mar-
tyr ; and that the very arguments with which some of the ancients did su-
perstitidusly advise the delay otbaptism, do at the same time confess the
divine right of infants in it. Our Eliot could by no means look upon the
infants of godly men. as unholy and unbelievers, and unfit subjects to have
upoii^them a mark of dedication to the Lord.

Wherefore, when there was brought among us a book of pious Mr.
JVorcott^s, whereby some became disposed to, or confirmed in, a prejudice
against Pa:do baptism, it was not long before Mr. Eliot published a little
answer thereunto ; the first lines whereof presently discovered what a
temper he writ it with ; says he. The book speaks with the voice of a lamb,
and I think the author is a godly, though erring brother ; but he acts thi
cause of a roaring lion, who by all crafty ways, seeketh to devour the poof
lambs of the flock of Christ. And so he goes on to plead the cause
of them that cannot speak for tliemselves. No man could entertain a
person of a different perswasion from himself, with more sweetness and
kindness than he, when he saw, Aliquid Christi, or the fear of God pre-
vailing in them ; he could uphold a most intimate correspondence with
such a man as Mr. Jessey, as long as he lived ; and yet he knew how to
be an hammer upon their unhappy errors.

But having once baptized the children of his neighbours, he did not as
too many ministers do, think, that he had now done with thero^ No,
another thing wherein he was very laborious for poor children was, th^
catechising of them ; he kept up the great ordinance of catechising , both
publickly and privately, and spent in it a world of time. About the end
of the second century, before there had in the least begun to start up new
officers in the church of God, we find there ivere persons called unto the
office of pttblick teaching, who were not pastors, not rulers, hot called
unto the administration of other ordinances ; those in the church of Alex-
andria, were of a special remark and renown for their abilities this way ;
and their (employment ivas to explain and defend the principles of the
christian religion, unto all with whom they could be concerned. Here
was the catechist, with reference unto whom the apostle says, Tm the
catechised communicate unto him in all good things. Now though some
think, a teacher purely as such, hath no right unto further church ad-
ministrations, any more than the Rabbis or doctors among the Jews, had
to qff^er sacrifices in the temple ; yet he who is called to be a teacher, may
at the same time also be called to be an elder, and being now a teaching
elder, he becomes interested in the whole government of the church, het

Vol. I, fi3

iit\f

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. |.Book IH.

haa, the power of all sncred administrations. It is the latter and more
compleat and perfect chairacter, which the churchea of Ntw-Englani
have still acknowledged in their teachers ; and such a teaching elder did
our KUot remember bimscW to he. fie thought himself under a partic-
ulai^ obligation to be that ^cer, which the apostle callH in 1 Cor. iv. Id,
An instructor of the young ; nor was he ashamed, any more than some of
the worthiest men among the ancients were, to be called, a chatechist.
He would observe upon Job. xxi. 16, Thiit the care of the lambs, is one
tliird part of the charge over the Church of God. It would be incredible
if 1 should relate what pains he took to keep up the blessed echoes of
truth, between himself and the young people of his congregation ; and
what prudence he used, in suiting of his catechisms to the age and
strength of bis little catechumens. But one thing 1 must observe, which
iis, that although there may be (as one has con^puted) no less than five
hundred catechisms extant, yet Mr. Eliot gave himself the travail of ad-
ding to their number, by composing of some further catediisms, which
were more particularly designed as an antidote for bis own people,
against the contagion of such errors as might threaten any peculiar dan-
ger to them. And the effect and success of this catechising, bore propor-
tion to the indefatigable industry with which he prosecuted it ; it is a ■well-
principled people that he has lefl behind him. As when certain Jesuits
were sent among the Waldenses to corrupt their children, they returned
with much disappointtpent and confusion, because the children of seven
yea^ old were well-principled enough to encounter the most leaiaed of
them all ; so, if any seducers ^ere let loose to wolve it among the good
people of Roxbury, I am confident, they would hnd as little prey in that
well-instructed place, as in any part of all the country ; no civil penal'
ties would signify so much to save any people from the snares of busy
hercticks, as the unwearied catechising of one Eliot has done to preserve
his people from the gangren of ill opinions.

Ther9 is a third instance of his regards to the welfare of the poor
diildren under his charge ; and that is, his perpetual resolution and ac-
tivity to support a good school in the town that belonged unto him. A
grammar-sc^oo/ he would always have, upon the place, whatever it cost
him ; and he importuned all other places to have the like. I cannot
forget the ardour with which I once heard him pray, in a synod of these
churches, which met at Boston to consider, how the miscarriages which
were among us might be prevented ; 1 say, with what fervour he uttered
an expression to this purpose. Lord, for srhools every where among us !
That our schools may flourish ! That every member of this assembly may go
home and procure a good school to be encouraged in the town where he lives !
That before we die, xvc may be so happy as to see a good school encouraged
in every plantation of the country. God so blessed his endfavours, that
Roxbury could not live quietly without a free school in the town ; and the
issue 01 it has been one thing, which has mnde me almost put the title of
Schola Ulustris upon that little nursery ; that is, that Roxbury has aflford-
ed more scholars, first for the coltedge, and then for the publick, than any
town of its bigness, or if I mistake not, of twice its bigness in all JVew-
England. From the spring of the school at Roxbury, there have run a
large number of the streams, which have made glad this whole city of God.
r perswade my self, that the good people o( Roxbury, will for ever scorn
to begrutch the cost, or to permit the death of a school which God has
made such an honour to them ; and this the rather, because their de-
ceased Eliot has left ibem a fair part of his own estate, for the maintaining

Book III.] THfe HISTORY OP NEt\r.ENGLAN)E).

49y

of the school in Roxbury ; and I hope, or at least, I wish, that the minis-
ters of New-England oiity be as ungninsaydbly importunate with their
people, as Mr Eliot was with his, tor schools which may seasonably tinge
the young sodls of the rising generation. A want of education fOr then),
is the blaciiiest and saddiest of all the bad orAens thtit are upon us.

ARTICLE V,

His Church Discipline.

It yet more endears onto us thje memory of our Eliot, that he was not
only an evangelicc , minister, but also a true New-English one ; be was
a Protestant, and a Puritan, and one very full of that spirit which actea
the tirst planters of this country, in their peaceable succession from the un*
warrantable things elsewhere imposed upon their consciences. The
judgment iimA practice of one that readily underwent all the misery at*
tending the infancy of this plantation, for the Sake Of a true church order,
is a thing which we young people should count worthy to be enquired
after ; and since we saw him so weW behaving himself in the house of God,
it cannot but be worth while to know what he thought about the frame
and form, and constitution of that blessed house.

He was a modest, humble, but very reasonable non-conformist onto the
ceremonies, which have been such unhappy apples of strife in the Church
of England; otherwise the dismal thickets oi America, had never seen
such a person in them.

It afflicted him to see these, and more such as these, things continaed
in the Church oi England, by the artifice of certain persons who were
loth to have the reformation carried on unto those further degrees which
the most eminent of the^rsj reformers had in their holy designs.

We see what was not his opinion ! But let us hear what it Was. \\
WA* his as well as his master, the great Ramus^s principle, that in the rc'
formation of churches, to be now endeavoured, things ought to be reduced un-
to the order wherein we find them at their primitive, original, apostolical
institution. And in pursuance of this principle, he justly espoused that
way of church-government, which we call the congregational ; he was ful-
ly perswaded, that the church state which our Lord Christ hath institu-
ted in the New-Testament, is, In a congregation or society of professed
believers, agreeing and assembling together among themselves, with qficers,
of divine appointment, for the celebration of evangelical ordinances, and
their own mu'ual edification ; for he saw it must be a cruel hardship used
Upon the scriptures, to make them so much as lisp the least inHmatiun of
any other church-state prescribed unto us ; and he could assert, ITiat no
approved writers, for the space of two hundred years after Christ, make any
mention of any other organical, visible, professing church, but that onely
which is congregational. He looked upon the congregational way as a
largess of divine bounty bestowed by the Lord Jesus Christ on his people,
that followed him into this wilderness, with a peculiar zeal foi' commun*
ion with him, in his pure worship here. He perceived in it, a sweet
sort of temperament, between rigid Presbyterianism, and levelling Brown-
so that on the one side, the liberties of the people are not oppress*

ism.

cd and overlaid ; on the other side, the authority of the elders is not
rendred insignificant, but a due ballance is herein kept upon them both ;
and hence he closed with our platform of church-discipline, as being the
nearest of what he had yet seen, to the directions of Heaven.

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [«ook HI.

i, He could not comprehend, that this church'$tate can arise from any
otherybrma/ cause, but the consent, concurrence, confederation of those
concerned in it ; he looked upon a relation unto a church, as not a natur-
al, or a violent, but a voluntary thing, and so that it is to be entred no oth-
erwise than by an holy covenant, or as the scripture speaks, by giving
our lelvei Jirst unto the Lord, and then one unto another. He could not
think, that baptitm alone was to be accounted the cause, but rather the
^ect, of church D)oniber*8hip ; innsmuch as upon the dissolution of the
church to which a man belongs, hid baptism would not become a nullity :
nor that meer profession would render men members of this or that church ;
for then it would be impossible to cut ofi' a corrupt member from that
body politic : nor that nieer cohabitation would make church members ;
for then the vilest infidels would be actually incorporated with us. And
ft covenant, was all thsit he now saw remaining in the inventory.

But for the subjects to be admitted by churches unto all the privileges
of this fellowship with them he thought, they ought to be such as a try-
ing charity, or a cliaritable tryal, should pronounce regenerate He found
the^rs^ churches of the gospel mentioned in the scripture, to be churches
of saints; and that the apostles writin, *'^ them, still acknowledge them
to be holy brethren, and such as were made meet for to be partakers of the
inheritance of the saints in light; and that a main end of church-fellowship ,
is to represent unto the world, the qualifications of those that shall as-
cend into t/te hill of the Lord, and stand in his holy place for ever. He
would therefore have Bona Mens, and Purum pectus, and Vita Innncens,
required, as Lactantius tells us, they were in his days, of all communi-
cants at the table of the Lord : and with holy Chrysostom, he would soon-
er have given his heart-blood, than the cup of the Lord, unto such as had
not the hopeful marks of our Lord's disciples on them. The church-
es of New-England still retain a custom which the great Juntin Martyr,
in the second century, assures us to have been in the primitive church-
es of his time ; namely, To examine those they receive, not only about their
perswasion, but also whether they have attained unto a work of grace upon
their souls. In the prosecution hereof, besides the enquiries of the el-
ders into the knowledge, and belief, and conversation of them that offer
themselves unto church-fellowship, it is expected, though I hope not with
any severity of imposition, that in the addresses which they make to the
churches, they give written, if not oral account, of what impressions the
regenerating ivord of God has had upon their souls. This was a custom
tvhich this holy man had a marvellous esteem and value for ; and I have
taken from his mouth such as these expressions very publickly delivered
thereabouts.

' It is matter, (said he) of great thankfulness, that we have Christ con-
'fessed in our churches, by such as we receive to full communion there.

* They open the works of Christ'io their hearts, and the relation thereof is

* an eminent coji/esnionofourLord ; experienced saints can gather more

* than a little from it. It is indeed an ordinance of wonderful benefit ;

* the Lord planted many vineyards in the first settlement of this country,

* and there were many noble vines in them ; it was their heavenly-minded-

* ness which disposed them to this exerci.e, and by the upholding of it,

* the churches are still filled with noble vines ; it mightily maintains puri-
' ty of churches. It is the duty of every christian, With the mouth con-
'fession is made unto salvation. As among the Jews, usually most men
' did once in their life, celebrate a jubilee; thus, this confession of Christ,

* is methinke, a sort of jubilee ; and every good man among us, is at least

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND.

5d1

' once in his life called onto it. It is a thing that gives great glory to the

* Lord Jesus Christ ; and younger converts are thereby exceedingly edify-

* ed ; and the souls of devout chriitians are hereby very much ingratiated
' one unto another. The devil knows what he does, when he thrusts so
' hard to get this custom out of our churches. For my part, 1 would say

< in this case, 6'et thee behind me, Satan ; thou givest an horrible offence un>
' to the Lord Jems Christ. Let us keep up this ordinance with all ^en-

* tlenesa ; and where we see the least spnrk of grace held forth, let us

< prize it more than all the "wit in the world.'

There were especially two things, which he was loth to see, and yet
feared he saw, fulling in the churches of Nexo-England. One was, a tho-
rough establishment of ruling elders in our churches ; which he thought
sufhciently warranted by the apostle's mention of, elders that rule well, who
yet labour not in word and doctrine. He was very desirous to have pru-
dent and gracious men set over our churches, for the assistance of their
pastors, in the church act« that concern the admission and exclusion of
members, and the inspection of the conversation led by the communicant,
and the instruction of their several families, and the visitation of the af-
flicted in their flock, over which they should preside. Such helps in
governments had he himself been bicsged withal ; the last of which was
the well-deserving Elder Bowles ; and of him, did this good man, in a
speech to a synod of h\\ the churches in this colony, take occasion to say.
There is my brother Bowles, the godly elder of our church at Roxbury,
God helps him to do great things among tis .' Had all our pastors been so
well accommodated, it is possible there would be more encouragement
given to such an office as that of ruling elders.

But the mention of a Synod brings to mind another thing, which he was
concerned, that we might never want ; and that is, a frequent repetition
of needftd synods in our churches. Fur though he had a deep and a due
care to preserve the rights of particular churches, yet he thought all the
churches of the Lord Jesus by their union in what they /?ro/c«s, in what
they intend, and in what they enjoy, so compacted into one body mystical,
as that all the several particular churches every where should act with a
regard unto the good of the whole, and unto the common advice and coun-
cil of the neighbourhood ; which cannot be done always by letters missive
like those that passed between Corinth and Rome in the early days of Chris-
tianity ; but it requires a convention of the churches in synods, by their
delegates and messengers. He did not count churches to be so indepen-
dent, as that they can always discharge their whole duty, and yet not act in
a conjunction v.rith neighbour churches ; nor would he he of any church
that will not acknowledge it self accountable to rightly composed synods,
which may have occasion to enquire into the circumstances of it ; he saw
the main interest and business of churches might quickly come to be utter-
ly lost, ii' synods were not often called ^Ir the repairing of inconveniences,
and he was much in contriving for the rcgqlar and repeated meeting of
such assemblies.

He wished for councils to suppress all damnable heresies, or pernicious
opinions, that might ever arise among us ; for councils to extinguish all
dangerous divisions, and scandalous contentions which might ever begin
to flame in our borders ; for councils to rectify all mule-administrations
in the midst of us, or to recover any particular churches out of any dis-
orders which they may be plunged into : for councils to enquire into the
love, the peace, the holiness maintained by the sevenil churches ; in
fine, for counncils to send forth fit lahovrevs into those parts of our Lord's

sot THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. t»^obK IIY.

harvest, which are without the gospel ot Qod . He beheld an apottoKcal
precept .ind pnttern for such eounciU '; and when such eoimeih convpned
in the name of the Lord }e«\\n Chirst, by the consent of several chnrches
concerned in m<ituHl commuuion, have declared, explained, recommend-
ed the niind of <Jocl from his word unto us, he reckoned a troth to deliv-
ered, ch>tllen<;c(i an observiition from the particular churches, with a ve-
ry great authority.

He therefore printed a Utile book wearing this title. Hie Divine Man-
agement of Gospel Churches by the Ordinance of Councils, constituted in or-
der accortUng to the Scriptvres, which may be a meant of uniting those two
holy and eminent parties, the Presbyterians and the Congregational. It is
a remarkable conre^Hion made by the incomparable Jurieu who is not
reckoned a Congregational man, in his Traile de VUnite de UEglise.,
That the apostolical churches lived not in any confederation for mutual de-
pendence. The grand equipage of Metropolitans, of Primiates, of Exarchs,
of P ttriarchs, was yet unknown ; nor does it any more appear to us, Uiat
the ciiurches then had their provincial, national, and acumenical synods ; ev-
ery chirch was its own mistress, and independent on any other. But on the
other side, our Eliot, who was no Presbyterian, conceived synods to he
the institutions of our Lord Jesus Christ, the apostolical churches them-
selves acknowledging a stamp of divine right upon them.

Such as these were the sentiments of our Eliot ; and his deserved re-
putation in the churches of J^ew- England, is that which has caused me
to foresee some advantage and benefit arising unto the concerns of tb6
gospel, by so large a recitation as I have now made thereof

The re^'ler has now seen, an able minister of the New -Testament.

^ PART HI.

'* Or, ELIOT as an Evanoelis'i'.

' The titles of a christian and of a minister, have rendred our Eliot con-
«iderable ; but there is one memorable title more, by which he has been
signalized unto us. An honourable person did once in print put the name
of an evangelist upon him ; whereupon in a letter of his to that person
afterwards printed, his expressions were, ' There is a redundancy where
' you put the title of Evangelist upon me ; 1 beseech you suppress all
' such things ; let us do and speak and carry all things with humility ; it
' is the Lord who hath done what is done : and it is most becoming the
' spirit of Jesus Christ to lift up hini, and lay our selves low ; I wish
■ that word could be obliterated.' My reader sees what a caution Mr.
Eliot long since entred against our giving him the title of an evangelist;
but his d^ath has now made it safe, and his life had long made it just, for
us to acknowledge him with such a title. 1 know not whither that of an
evangelist, or one separated for the employment of preaching the gospel
in such places whereunto churches have hitherto been gathered, be not
an office that should be cout.iuued in our days ; but this I know, that our
Eliot very notably did the service and business o{ such an officer.

Cambden could not reach the heigh th of his conceit who bore in his
shield a salvage of America, with his iiand pointing to the sun, and this
motto^, Mihi .Icr.cssv, Tlhi Fec^ssii, RonAor, prepare to behold this denee
illustrated !

UooK. III.] THE HISTORY OF NEWKNQLANL).

603.

1|[ The aativeti of th< country now posseMetl by tbe M'ew-Eitgland*rtt
h9() b««n forlorn and wretcbed heathen ever since tbeir first herding \wt» ;
aud though we know not when or how thoie Indiana first became iuhabi-
tantd of this mighty continent, yet we may guesis that probably tbe devil
Jttcoyed those miserable salvage* hither, in hopes that the gonpel of
the Lord Jesus Christ would never come here to destroy or dintiirb his
abiolute empire over them. But our Eliot was in such ill terms with th«
devil, as to alarm him with sounding the iilver trumpetn of Heaven in his
territories, and make some noble and zealous attf^mpts towards outing
him of ancient possessions here. There were, I think, twenty several
nations (if 1 may call them so) of Indiana upon that spot of ground,
which fell under the influence of our Three United Coloniea ; and our Eliot
was willing to rescue as many of them a» he could, from that old upurp-.
ing landlord of America, who is by the wrath of God, the prince of this
world.

I cannot find that any besides the Holy Spirit of God, first moved him
to the blessed work ot evangeli&ing these perishiiig Indiana; it was that
Holy Spirit which laid before his mind the idea of that which was on the
seai of the Maaaacbuset colony ; a poor Indian having a label going from,
hia moutht with a comf, over and hf.li> vs. It was the spirit of our Lord,
Jesus Christ, which enkindled in him a pitty for the dark souls of these
natives, whom the God of this world had blinded, through all the by-past
ages. He was none of those that make, </t« salvation of the heathen, an
article of tbeir creed ; but (setting a^ide the unrevealed and extraordina-
ry steps which the Holy One of Israel may take out of his uaual patha)
he thought men to be lost if our gospel be hidden from them ; and he
was of the same opinion with one of the ancients, who said, Some have
endeavoured to prove Plato a christian till they prove tliemselves little better
than heathens. It is indeed a principle in the Turkish Alcoran, that let a
man's religion be what it will, he shall be saved, if he conscientiously live
vp to the rulfs of it : but our Eliot was no Mahometan. He could most
heartily subscribe to that passage in the articles of the Church of Eng ~
and. ' They are to be held iiccursed, who presume to say, that every
' man shall be saved by the law or sect which he professeth, so. that he
' be diligent to frame his life according to that law, and light of nature ;
' for Holy Scripture doth set out unto us, only the name of Jesus Christ,
' whereby men must be saved.' And it astonished him to see many dis-
sembling subscribers of those articles, while they have grown up to sach
uphrensy, as to deny peremptorily all church-state, and all salvation, to.
all that are not under Diocesan Bishops, yet at the same time to grant
that the heathen might be saved without the knowledge of the Lord Jes-js
Christ.

But when this charitable pitty had once began to flame, there was a
concurrence of many things to cast oyl into it. All the good men in the
country were glad of his engagement in such an undertaking ; the min-
isters especially encouraged him, and those in the neighbourhood kindly
supplyed his place, and performed bis work in part, for him at Roxbury,
while he was abroad lobouring among them that were without. Here-
unto, he was further awakened by those expressions in the royal charter,
in the assurance and protection whereof this wilderness was first people-
ed ; namely, To win and incite the natives of that country to the knowledge
and obedience of the only true God and Saviour of mankind, and the christ-
ian faith, in our royal intention, and the adventurers^ free profession is
the principal end of the plantation. And the remarkable zeal of the.

&04

THE HISTORV Of NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111

Romish miiisiouariea compatiing $ra and land, that they might make pro-
$elyteg, made his devout soul think of it with a further disdain, that we
«bould come Hity whit behind in our care to ewiOf^eUze the Indians,
whom we dwelt among. Lastly, when he had well begun this evangel-
ical buiinesi, the good God, in an answer to his prayers, mercifully stir-
red u|i n liberal contribution among the godly people in England fur the
promoting of it ; by means whereof, n considerable estate and income was
at length entrusted in the hands of an honourable corporation, by whom
it is to this day very carefully employed in the christian service which
it was designed for. And then, in short, inasmuch as our Lord Jesus
had bestowed on us, our Eliot was grealefully and genetuusly desirous
to obtain for him, The heathen for an inderitance, and the utmost parts of
the earth for a possession.

The exemplary charily of this excellent person in this important af-
fair, will not be seen in its due lustres, unless we make some reflections
upon several circumstances which he beheld these forlorn Indians in.
Know then, that thc^e doleful creatures are the veriest mines of mankind,
which are to he. found any where upon the face of the earth. No such
estates arc to be expected among them, as have been the baits which the
pretended converters in other countries have snapped at. One might see
' among them, what an hard master the devil is, to the most devoted of bis
vassals ! These abject creatures, live in a country full ofmines ; we have
already innde entrance upon our iron ; and in the very surface of the
ground among us, it is thought there lies co;)/>er enough to supply all this
world ; besides other mmes hereafter to be exposed ; but our shiftless
Indians were never owners of so much as a knife, till we come among
them ; their name for an Englishman was a Knife-man ; stone was instead
of metal lor their toois ; and for their coins, they have only little h' :id»
with hnloH in them to string them upon a bracelet, whereof some are white ;
an<i of these there go six for a penny ; some are black or blue ; and of
these, go three for a penny ; this •wampam, as they call it, is made of
the shell-fish, which lies upon the sea-coast continually.

They live in a country, whe^e we now have all the conveniencies' of
human life : but as for them, their housing is nothing but a few mati tyed
about poles fastened in the earth, where a good^re is their bed-clothes in
the coldest seasons ; their clothing is but a skin of a beast, covering their
hind-parts, their fore-parts having but a little apron, where nature calls
for secrecy ; their diet has not a greater dainty than their Nokehick, that
is a spoonful of their parched meal, with a spoonful of water, which
will strengthen them to travel a day together ; except we should men-
tion the flesh of deers, bears, mose, rackoons, and the like, which
they have when they can catch them ; as also a little fish, which if
they would preserve, it was by drying, not by salting ; for they had
not a grain of salt in the world, I think, till we bestowed it on them.
Their physick is, excepting a few odd specificks, which some of them en-
counter certain cases with, nothing hardly, but an hot-house, or a powaw ;
their hot-house is a little cave about eight foot over, where after they have
terribly heated it, a crew of them go sit and sweat and smoke for an hour
together, and then immediately run into some very cold adjacent brook,
without the least mischief to them ; it is this way they recover them-
selves from some diseases, particularly from the French ; but in most of
their dangerous distempers, it is a powaw that must be sent for ; that is,
a priest, who has more familiarity with Satan than his neighbours ; this
conjurer comes and roars, and howls, and use9 magical ceremonies over

BdoK III.] THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENOLAND.

fiO^

the sick man, and will be well paid for it, when he has done ; if this don't
effect the cure, the man'i time is come, and there's anend.

They live in a country full of the best tihip-timber under hetivpn : but
never saw a ship, till some cume from Europe liither ; Hnd then they
were scared out of their wits, to see the monster come snilJDg in, and spit*
ling lire with a mighty noise, out of her doHtingitiiiti ; thtty cruits the wa-
ter in canoes, made sometimes uf trees, which llicy bum and hew, till
they have hallowed them ; and sometimes of barks, wliicit they stitch
into a light sort of a vessel, to be easily carried over land , if they over-
set, it is but a little puddling like a dog, and they are soon wiiere they
were.

Their way of living, is infinitely barbarous : the men are most abom-
inably slothful ; making their poor squtws, or wives, to plant and dr(>as,
and barn, and beat their corn, and build their wigwams for thoin : which
perhaps may be the reason of their extnordinury ease in childbirth. In
the mean time, their chief empluyment, when they'll condescend unto any,
is that of hunting ; wherein they'll go out some scores, if not hundreds
of them in a company, driving all before them.

They continue in a place, till they have burnt np all the wood there-
abouts, and then they pluck up stakes ; to follow the wood, which they
cannot fetch home unto themselves ; hence when they enquire about the
English, Why come they hither ? they have themselves very learnedly de-
termined the case, '3W» because we wantedjiring No arts iire understood
among them, unless just so far as to maintain their brutish conversation,
which is little more than is to be found among the very bevers upon our
streams.

Their division of time is by sleeps, and moons, nnd winters ; and by
lodging abroad, they have somewhat observed the motions of the stars ;
among which it has been surprising unto me to find, that they have al-
ways called Charles''s ^atnby the name of Paukunnawaw, or the Bear,
which is the name whereby Europeans also have distinguished it. More-
ov«r, they have little, if any traditions among them worthy of our notice ;
»nd reading and writing is altogether unknown to them, though there is
:i rock or two in the country that has unaccountable characters engrav-
ed upon it. All the religion they have amounts unto thus much ; they
believe, that there are many Goofs, who made and own the several na-
tions of the world ; of which a certain great God in the south-west re-
gions of Heaven bears the greatest figure. They believe, that every re-
markable creature has a peculiar God within in it, or about it : there is
with them, a Sun God, a Moon Gqd, and the like ; and they cannot con-
ceive but that the fire must be a kind of a God, inasmuch as a spark of it
will soon produce very strange effects. They believe that when any
good or ill happens to them, there is the favour or the anger of a God
expressed in it ; and hence as in a time of calamity, they keep a dance,
or a day of extravagant rediculous devotions to their God, so in a time of
prosperity they likewise have a feast, wherein they also make presents
one unto another. Finally, they believe, that their chief God Kautanto-
wit, made a man and woman of a stone ; which, upon dislike, he broke to
pieces, and made another man and woman of a tree, which were the foun-
tains of ail mankind ; and that we all hare in us immortal souls, which if
we were godly, shall go to a splendid entertainment with Kautantowit, but
otherwise must wander about in restless horror forever. But if yow say
to them any thing qf a resurrection, they will reply upon you. / shall
never believe it! And when they have any weighty UDdertaking before

Vol. I. U

Trm HISTORY OF Nnvv-KNai

Asi.

[Book III.

ihMit, il ix an tiaiial thing for thom to hnv« their nsseniblica, whercio aA«r
the uBU};u of some (li.ibuliciil ritfs, a devil ii|)iiciir4 unto them, to inform
them iiiiil adviie them iiboiit their cirruir.^timccD ; and HOtiietimot there
are odd events of their makinK these (ip()liciitioitH to the drvil. For in-
stunce, it ia |mrticuhirly ntVirmed, that the Indium in their wnrit with u«,
iiiiding H aorc inconvenience hy our dogn, wliich would make uaad yell-
ing if in the ni|g;ht they accuted the upproachea of them, they aacrinced
a dog to the devil ; after which no Knifliiih dog would bulk ut an Indian
for divers uiuotha eimuini;. 't'liix \\n» the miserable people, which our
Eliot propounded uiilo liimsclf, to teach and Have ! And he hud a double
work incumbent on him ; he was to make men of them, e'er he could
hope to ace them minis ; they muAt be civilized e'er tlicy could be chrii-
tianized ; ho could not, aa Urtcory once of our nation, sec any thing an'
gtlicat to bcHpeak hia laboura tor their eternal welfare, all among them
was diabolical. To think on ruiaing a number of theae hedioua cienturet
unto the elcvatiom of our holy religion. muAt argue more than common
or little sentiments in the undertaker ; but the faith of an Lliol could
encounter it !

I confuaa, that waa one, I cannot cull it ao much guess na wish, where-
in he was willing a little to indulge himaelf; and that was, that our In-
dians are the posterity oj the dit^persed and rejected laraclitea, concerning
whom our God has proiniacd, that they atiall yet be savrd by the deliverer
coming to turn OKay ungodliness from them. He a.iw the Indians using
many parables in their discourses i much given to anointing of their
heads ; much delighted in dancing, especially after victories, computing
their times by nights and months ; giving dowries for wives, and caoaini;
their women to dtvell by thetnselves, at certain seations, for sebret causes ;
und accustoming themselves to grievous mournings and yellings for tHe
dead ; all which were usual things among the Israelites. The} have (oo
a great unkindness for our swine ; but I suppose that is because our hogs
dovour the clams which are a dainty with them. He alxo saw some learn-
ed men, looking for the lost Israelites among the Indians in .America, and
counting that they had thorow-good reasons for doing so. And a few
small argwnents, or indeed but conjectures, meeting with a favourable dis-
position in the hearer, will carry some conviction with them ; efpeciully
if a report of a Menasseh ben Israel be to back them. He saw likewise
the judgments threatened unto the Israelites of old, strangely fulfilled up-
on our Indians ; particularly that Ye shall eat the flesh of your sons, which
is done with exquisite cruelties upon the prisoners that they take from
one another in their battles. Moreover it is a prophesy in Deuteronomy,
xxviii. 68, The Lord shall bring thee into Egypt again with ships, by the
way whereof I spake unto thee, thou shall see it no more again ; and there
shall ye be sold unto your enemies, and no man shall buy you. This did
our Eliot imagine acconplished, when the captives taken by us in our
late tears upon them, were sent to be sold, in the coasts lying not very
remote from Egypt on the Mediterranean sea, and scarce any chapmen
would offer to take them off. Being upon such as these accounts not un-
'■ willing, if it were possible, to have the Indians found Israelites, they
were, you may be sure, not a whit the les-x beloved for their (supposed)
father'' s sake ; and the fatigues of his travails went on the more chearfully,
or at least, the more hopefully, because of such possibilities.

The_/frs(5<e/) which he judged necessary now to be taken by him, was
to learn the Indian languaise ; for he saw them so stupid and senseless,
that they would never do so much as enquire aAer the religion of thr

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND.

6or

•trungorn now come into tlirir conntry much !«•« would they to fir imi-
tJte ui, HM to lenvf? ufl' tlx'ir IteaMlly way ol' living, that thvy might be par^
takcm of any ii|>iri(ual ail vantage by un : unl«<*a wc could tirtt addroH
them in n lunguaga of their own. hcliolii, new dilTirultiet to be «ur-
mounted by our indeflttiKable Kliot .' liu hires a nntivtt to tench him this
cxoticic language, and with n laborious •-are and iikill. reduce* it into a
grammar which uflerward* he piiblixht 1. There iit a letter or two of
cur alphabet, which the Indiani never had in tlieiri ; though there were
enoui(b of the dug in th<!ir temper, there can scarce be found an K in Iheip
latiifunge ; (any more than in the language of the Chinete, or of the Green-
landert) save that the Indiani to the northward, who have n peculiar dia-
lect, pronounce an K where an N is pronounced by our Indiani ; but if
their a/p/ta6ef he thort, I am sure th» wurdi coni|>ose(l of it are long enough
to tiro the patience of any scholar in the world ; they are SeiijuiptduHa
Verba, of which tlieir hnguo is composed ; one would think, they had
been growing ever nince JJaO'f, unto the dimensions to which they are
now extended. For instance, if my reader will count how many letters
there arc in this one word, J^uinmaichekodtantamooonganunnonaih, when
he has done, tor hix reward I'll tell liini, it signities no more in English,
than our luiti ; and if I wore to translate, our lovei ; it must be nothing
shorter than Noo-womantammooonkanunonnaih. Or, to give my reader a
longer word than either of these, Kummogkodonattootlummooetiteaongan'
nunnonash, is in English, our queition : but I pray. Sir, count the letters !
Nor do we tind in all this language the least affinity to, or derivation from
any European spt^ech that we are acquainted with. I know not what
thoughts it will produce in my reader, when I inform him, that once find-
ing that the Damoni in a possessed young woman, understood the Latin
and Oreek and Hebrew languages, my curiosity led me to make trial of this
Indian language, and the Dcemons did seem as if they did not understand
it. This tedious language our Eliot (the anagram of whose name was
Toile) quickly became a master of; he employed a pregnant and witty
Indian, who also spoke English well, for his assistance in it ; and compil-
ing some discourses by his help, he would single out a word, a noun, a
verb, and pursue it through all its variations : having finished bis gram-
mar, at the close h» writes, Prayers and pains through faith in Christ Jesus
wilt do any thing ! and being by his prayers and pains thus furnished, he
set himself in the year 1646, to preach the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ, among these desolate outcasts.

IT It remains, that 1 lay before the world, the remarkable conduct and
success of this famous man, in his great affair ; and 1 shall endeavour to
do it, by Englishing and reprinting a letter, sent a while since by my
father, unto his learned and renowned correspondent, the venerable Dr.
Leusden at Utrecht : which letter hjis already been published, if 1 mistake
not, in four or five divers languages. I find it particularly published by
(he most excellent Jurieu, at the end of n pastoral letter; and this reflection
Ihen worthily made upon it, Cette Lettre doit opportorune tres grande eon-
elation, a toutes les bonnes antes, qui sont alterees de justice, 4r gut lont en-
Jlammees du zele de lagloire de Dieu. I therefore perswade my self that
the republication of it will not be ungrateful unto many good souls in our
nation, who have a due thirst and zeal for such things as are mentioned
in it ; and when that is done, I shall presume to make some annotations
for the ilh\9tration of sundry memorable things therein pointed at,.

508

THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI

A Letter concerning the success of the Gospel, amongst the i: Vidians in

New-England.

Written by Mr. Increase Mather, Minister of the word of God at Boston,
and hector of the College at Cambridge m New- England, to Dr. John
Leuaden, Hebrew Professor in the University of Utrecht.

Translated out of Latin into English.

WORTHY AND MUCH HONOURED SIR,

Your letters were very grateful to me, (a) by which I understand
that you nnd others in your fumous University of Utrecht desire to be
informed concerning the converted Indians in America : take therefore
a true account of them in a few words.

It is above forty years since that truly godly man, Mr. John Eliot,
pastor of the church at Rocksborough, (about a mile from Boston in JVew-
Eiigland) being warmed with a holy zeal of converting the Americans,
set himself to learn the Indian tongue, that he might more easily and
successfully (6) open to them the mysteries of the gospel, upon account
of which he has been fand not undeservedly) called, the apostle of the
American Indians. This reverend person, not without very great la-
bour, translated the whole Bible into the Indian tongue ; (c) he trans-
lated also several English treatises of practical divinity and catechisms
into their language. Above 26 years ago he gathered a church of con-
verted Indians in a town called ((l)''JVa^tcA;; these Indians confessed
their sins with tears, and professed their faith in Christ, and afterwards
they and their children Were baptized, and they were solemnly joined
together in a church covenant ; the said Mr. Eliot was the first that ad-
ministred the Lord's Supper to them. The pastor of that church now
is an Indian, his name is Daniel. Besides this church at Natick, among
our inhabitants in the Massachusets Colony there are four Indian assem-
blies, (e) where the name of the true God and Jesus Christ is solemnly
called upon ; these assemblies have some American preachers, Mr. Eliot
formerly used to preach to them once every fortnight, but now he is
weakned with labours and old-age j being in the eighty-fourth year of his
age, and preacheth not to the Indians of^ner than once in two months.

There is another church, consisting only of converted Indians, about
fifty miles from hence in an Indian town called Mnshippang : the first
pastor of that church was an English man, who being skilful in the Amer-
ican language, preached the gospel to them in their own tongue. (/)
This English pastor is dead, and instead of him, that church has an In-
dtffln-preacher.

There are besides that, five assemblies of Indians professing the name
of Christ, not fir distant from Mashippavg , which have /niton preachers :
( ff ) John Cotton, paste " the church at Plymouth (son of my vener-
able father in-law John Cotton, formerly the famous teacher of the church
at Boston) both made vory great progress iu learning the Indian tongue,
and is very skilful in it ; he preaches in their own language to the last
five mentioned congregations every week. Moreover of the inhabitants
of Sacnnet in Plymouth Colony, th,.re is a great congregation of those who
for distinction sake are called praying Indians, because they pray to God
in Christ.

Book HI] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

50»

Not far from a promontory called Cape Cod, there are six assemblies of
heatheos who are to be reckoned as cateehumem, amongst inborn there
are six Indian preachers : Samuel Treat, pastor of a church a\ Eastham,
preachetb to those congregations in their own language. There are like-
wise amongst the islanders of Nantucket a church, with a pastor who was
lately a heathen, and several meetings of catechumens, who are instruct-
ed by the converted Indians. There is also another island about seven
leagues long (called Martha^s Fineyard) where are two American church-
es planted, which are more famous' than the rest, over one of which
there presides an ancient Indian as pastor^ called Hiacooms : John Hia-
cooms, son of the Indian pastor, also preachetb the gospel to his coun-
trymen. In another church in. that place, John Tockinosh, a converted
Indian, teaches. In these churches ruling elders of the Indians are
joined to the pastors : the pastors were chosen by the people, and when
they hud fasted and prayed, Mr. Eliot and Mr. Cotton laid their hands on
them, so that they were solemnly ordained. All the congregations (A)
of the converted Indians (both the catechumens and those in church order)
every Lord's day meet together ; the pastor or preacher always begins
with prayer, and without a form, because from the heart ; when the ruler
of the assembly has ended prayer, the whole congregation of Indians
praise God with singing ; some of them are excellent singers : after the
psalm, he that preaches reads a place of scripture (one or more verses
as he will) and expounds it, gathers doctrines from it, proves them by
scriptures and reasons, and infers uses from them after the manner of
the English, of whom they have been taught ; then another prayer to
God in the name of Chvist concludes the whole service. Thus do they
meet together twice every Lord's day. They observe no holy-days but
the Lord^s day, except upon some extraordinary occasion ; and then
they solemnly set apart whole days, either in giving thanks or fasting and
praying with great fervour of mind.

Before the English came into these coasts these barbarous nations
were altogether ignorant of the true God ; hence it is that in their pray-
ers and sermons they use English words and terms ; he that calls upon
the most holy name of God, says, Jehovah, or God, or Lord, and also they
have learned and borrowed many other theological phrases from us. •:•"

In short, ' There are six churches of baptized Indians in New-Eng-
' land, and eighteen assemblies of catechumens, professing the name of
' Christ : of the Indians there are four and twenty who are preachers of
^the word of God, and be.sides, these there are four English ministers,
' who preach the gospel in the Indian tongue.' (t) I am now my self
weary with writing, and I fear lest if I should add more, I should also be
tedious to you ; yet one thing 1 must add (which 1 had almoeit forgot)
that there are many of the Indians' children, who have learned by heart
the catechism, either of that famous divine William Perkins, or that put
forth by the assembly of divines at fVestminster, and in their otvn mother
tongue can answer to all the questions in it.

But I must end, I salute tbe famous professors in your university, to
whom I desire you to communicate this letter, as written to them also.

Farewel, worthy Sir ; the Lord preserve your health for the benefit of
your country, his church, and uf learning.

Boston in New- England,
July 12, 1687.

Yours ever,

INCRE.\SE M.\THER.

m THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

(n) TTie tuece$a of the Go$pel in the East- Indies.

After the writing of this letter, there came one to my banda from the.
ftmouB Dr. Leuaden, together with a new and fair edition of his Hebrvm
Pealter, dedicated unto the name of my absent parent. He therein in-
forms me, that our example had awakened the Dutch to make some no-
ble attempts for the furtherance of the gospel in the iJart-Zncttes; besides
what memorable things were d«ne by the excellent Robert Junius, in
Formosa fifty years ago.

He also informs me, that in and near the island of Ceylon, the Dutch
pastors have baptized about three hundred thousand of the Eastern In-
dians; for although the ministers are utterly ignorant of their language,
yet there are school-masters who teach them, the Lord's Prayer, the Creed,
the Ten Commandments, a Morning Prayer, an Evening Prayer, a Bless-
ing before meat, and another after ; and the minister in his visits being
assured by the master, who of them has learned all of them seven things,
he thereupon counts they have such a perfect number of attainments that
he presently baptizes them.

The pious reader will doubtless, bless God for this ; but he wiil easily
see that one of our converted Indians has cost more pains than tnany of
those ; more thorough work has been made with them.

(b) Mr. Eliot's way of opening the Mysteries of the Gospel^ to our Indians..

It was in the year 1646, that Mr. Eliot, accompanied by three more,
gave a visit unto an assembly of Indians, of whom he desired a meeting
at such a time and place, that he might lay before them the things of their
eternal peace. After a serious prayer, he gave them a sermon which
continued about a quarter above an hour, and contained the principal
articles of the christian religion, applying all to the condition of the In-
dians present. Having done, he asked of them, whether they understood ?
and with a general reply they answered, they understood all. H6 then
began what was bis usual method afterwards in treating with them ;
that is, he caused them to propound such questions as they pleased unto
himself; and he gave wise and good answers to them all. Their qestions
would often, though not always, refer to what he had newly preached ;
and he this way not only made a proof of their profiting by his ministry,
but also gave an edge to what he delivered unto them. Some of their
questions would be a little philosophical, and required a good measure of
learning in the minister concerned with them ; but for this our Eliot
wanted not. He would also put proper questions unto them, and at one
of his first exercises with them, he made the young ones capable of re-
garding those three questions,

Q,. 1 . Who made you and all the world ?

Q. 2. Who do you look should save you from sin and hell ?

Q. 3. Horn many commandmenfs has the Lord given you to keep ?

It was his wisdom that he began with them upon such principles as
they themselves had already some notio:is of; such as that of an Heav-
en for good, and hell for bad people, when they died. It broke his gra-
cious heart within him to see, what floods of tears fell from the eyes of
several among those degenerate salvages, at the first addresses which he
made unto them ; yea, from the very worst of them all. He was verv

Bbtknt] THE HISTORY Of'!ff^J^<3tAND.

&lf

inqaisitive to learn who were the Powawes, that is, the $orcerer$, and te-
dueeri, that maintained the worship of the devil in any of their socie-
ties ; and having in one of his first journeys to them, found out one of
those wretches, be made the Indian come unto him, and said, Whether
do you suppose God, ot Chepian (i. e. the devil) to be the author of ali
good? Theconjurnr answered, Ood. Upon this he added with a stern
countenance, Why do you pray to Chepian then ? And the poor tnan watt
not able to stand or speak before him ; but at last made proniises of re*
formation.

The text which he first preached upon, was that in Ezek. xxxvii. 9, 10,
That by prophesying to the zvind, the wind came, and the dry bones lived :
And it was an observation made by one, who then justly confessed, there
was not much weight in it ; that the word which the Indians use for wind
is wauban, and an Indian of that name was one of the first that here zeal-
ously promoted the conversion of his neighbours. But having thus en-
tred upon the teaching of these poor creatures, it is incredible how
much time, toil, and hardship, he underwent in the prosecution of thiB
undertaking ; how many weary days and nights rolled over him ; how
many tiresome journeys he endured ; and how many terrible dangers he
had experience of. If you briefly would know what he felt, and
whatcatried him through all, take it in his own words in a letter to tht»
Honourable Mr. Winslow, says he, I have not been dry night nor day, from
the third day of the week unto the sixth, but so travelled, and at night pull
off" my boots, wring my stockings, and on with them again, and so continue.
But God steps in and helps. I have considered the word of God in 2 Tim.
ii. 3, Endure hardship as a good i^oldier of Christ.

One of his remarkable cares for these illiterate Indians, was to bring
them into the use of schools and books. He quickly procured the benefit
of schools for them ; wherein they profited so much, that not only very
many of them quickly came to read and write ; but also several arrived
unto a liberal education in our colledge, and one or two of them took
their degree with the rest of our graduates. And for hooks, it was bis
chief desire that the Sacred Scriptures might not in an unknown tongue
be locked or hidden from them ; very hateful and hellish did the policy
o( Popery appear to him on this account : our Eliot was vei7 unlike to
that Franciscan, who writing into Europe, gloried much how many thoti-
sands of Indians he had converted ; but added, that he desired his friends
would send him ■ the book caUed the Bible ; for he had heard of there being
such a book in Europe, whicK^might be of some use to him. No, our Eliot
found he could not live without a Bible himself; he would have parted
with all his estate, sooner than have lost a leaf of it ; and be knew it
would be of more than some use unto the Indians too ; he therefore with
a Vast labour translated the Holy Bible into the Indian language. Be-
hold, ye Americans, the greatest honour that ever you were partakers of!
This Bible was printed here at our Cambridge ; and H is the only Bible
that ever was printed in all America, from the very foundation of the
world. The whole translation he writ with but one pen ; which pen,
had it not been lost, would have certainty deserved a richer case than
Wis bestowed upon that pen, with which Holland ivrit his translation of
Plutftixh. The Bible being justly made the leader of all th« rest, n UttlOk

512 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

Indian library quickly followed : for besides primers, and grammars, and
some other soch composures, we quickly had The Practice of Piety in the
Indian tongues, and the Reverend Richard Baxter's Call to the Unconvert-
ed. He also translated some of Mr. Shepherd's composures ; and such
catechisms likewise as there was occasion for. It cannot but be hoped
that some fish were to be made alive, since the waters of the sanctuarv
thus came unto them.

(d) His gathering of a Church at Natick.

.^hTrb Indians that had felt the impressions of his ministry, were quick-
ly distinguished by the name of praying Indians ; and these praying In-
dians as quickly were for a more decent and English-way of living, and
they desired a more fixed cohabitation. At several places did they now
combine and settle ; but the place of greatest name among their towns,
is thatof JVi <tcA;.

Here it was, that in the year 1651, those that had heretofore lived
like the nnld beasts in the wilderness, now compacted themselves into a
town ; and they first applied themselves to the forming of their civil gov-
ernment. Our General Court, notwithstanding their exact study to keep
tliese Indians very sensible of their being subject unto the English em-
pire, yet had allowed them their smaller courts, wherein they might
govern their own smaller cases and concerns, afler their own particular
modes, and might have their town-orders, if 1 may call them so, pecu-
liar to themselves. With respect hereunto, Mr. Eliot on a solemn faVt,
made a publick vow, that seeing these Indians uiere not prepossessed with
any forms of government, he would instruct them into such a form, as we had
written in the word of God, that so they might be a people ir, all things ru-
led by the Lord. Accordingly he expounded unto them the eighteenth
chapter of Exodus; »nd then they chose rulers of hundreds, of fifties, of
tens ; and therewithal entred into this covenant.

' We are the sons of Adam ; we and our forefathers have a long time

< been lost in our sins ; but now the mercy of the Lord beginneth to find
' us out again ; therefore the grace of Christ helping us, we do give our
' selves, and our children unto God, to be his people. He shall rule us
' in all our affairs ; the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Law-giver,

< the Lord is our King ;' He will save us ; and the wisdom which God
' has taught us in his book shall guide us. Oh Jehovah, teach us wisdom ;
' send thy spirit into our hearts ; take us to be thy people, and let us
' take thee to be our God.'

Such an opinion about the perfection of the scripture had he, that he
thus expressed himself upon this occasion, God will bnng nations into dis-
tress and perplexity, that so they mxty be forced unto the scriptures ; all gov-
ernments will be shaken, that men may be forced at length to pilch upon that
firm foundation, the Word of God.

The little towns of these Indians being pitched upon this foundation,
they utterly abandoned that poligamy which had heretofore been com-
mon among them ; they made severe laws against fornication, drunken-
ness, and sabbath-breaking, and other immoralities ; and they next be-
gan to lament after the establishment of a church-order among them, and
after the several ordinances and privileges of a church-communion. The
churches of New-England have usually been very strict in their admis-
sions to church-fellowship, and required very signal demonstrations of a

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

£13

repenting and a believing aoul, before they thought men fit subjects to be
entrusted with the rights of the kingdom of Heaven. But they cieeined
rather to augment than abate their usual strictness, when the ej^-vni nation
of the /nfitanf was to be performed. A day was therefore oet apart,
which they called, Natootomahteackesuk, or a day of asking questions, when
the ministers of the adjiicent churchef*, assisted with all the best inter-
prcters that could be had, publickly examined a good uumher of the^e
Indians, about their attainments both in knowledge and in vertue. And
notwithstanding the great satisfaction then received, oiii- churches being
willing to proceed surely, and therefore s'owly, in raising them up to a
church-ntatc, which might be comprehended in our consociations, the In-
dians were afterwards called in considerable assemblies convened for
that purpose, to make open confessions of their faith in God and Ch. t,
and of the cflicucy which hla/xord had upon them for their conversion to
bim ; which confessions being taken in writing from their mouths by able
interpreters, were scanned by the people of God, and found much ac-
ceptance with them. «.
I need pass no further censure upon them, than what is given by my
grandfather, the well-known iZicAari/ Matlier, in an epistle ofhi:» publish-
ed on this occasion ; says he, ' There is so much of God's work among

* them, as that I cannot but connt.it a great evil, yea a great injury to
' God and his goodness, for any to make li^^ht of it. To see and hear In-
' dians opening their mouths, and lifting up their hands and eyes, in pray-
' er to the living God, calling on him by his name Jehovah, in the media-
' tion of Jesus Christ, and this for a good while together ; to see and

* hear them exhorting one another from the word of God j to see and
' hear them confessing the name of Christ Jesus, and their own ainful-
' ness ; sure this is more than usual ! And though they spoke in a lan-
' guage, of which many of us understood but little, yet we that were pre-
' sent that day, we saw and heard them perform the duties mentioned
' with such grave and sober countenances, with such comely reverence in
'their gesture, and their whole carriage, and with such plenty of tears
' trickling down the cheeks of some of them, as did argue to us that they
' spake with the holy fear of God, and it much affected our hearts.'

At length was a church-state settled among them : they entred, as our
churches do, into an holy covenant, wherein they gave themselves, first
unto the Lord, and then unto one another, to attend the rules, and helps,
and expect the blessing of the everlasting gospel; and Mr. Eliot, having
a missijn from the church o£ Roxbuiy, unto the work of the Lord Christ
among the Indians, conceived himself sufficiently authorized unto the
performing of all church-work about them ; grounding it on Acts xiii. 1 , 2,
3, 4 ; and he accordingly administred, first the baptism,aad then the sup-
per of the Lord unto them. ^JKi^iC?

(e) The Hindrances and Obstructions that the devil gave unto htm.

Wr find four assemblies of prying Wtans besides that of .Arah'c^, in our
neighbourhood. But why no more ? Truly, not because our Eliot was
wanting in his nff'ers and labours for their good ; but because m-my of
the obdurate infidels would not receive the gospel of salvation. In one
of his letters, I find him giving this ill-report, with such a good reason (or
it ; hyn- Indians are all naught, save one, who sometimes comes to hear the
niord ; and the reason why they are bad, is principally because their lachim

Vol. I. ' 66

514 THE HISTORY OF NEVV-ENGLANU. [Rook III.

is naught, andcareth not toprayvnto God. Indeed the sackims, of the
princes, of the Indians generiUly did all they could that their «ubject»
might not entertain the gospel ; the devils having the suchims on their
side, thereby kept their possession of the people too. 'I'heir pauxtiaws
or clergy-men, did much to maintain the interest of the deviU in this
wilderness ; those children of the devil, and enemies of all righteousness,
did not cease to pervert the right ways if the Lord, but Iheii sachima or
magistrates did more towards it ; for they would presently raise a storm
of persecution upon any of their Kussals that should pray unto the eter-
nal God.

The ground of this conduct in them, was an odd fear, that religioa
would abridge them of the <i/ranny which they bad been used unto ; iley
always like the devil held their people in a most absolute servitude, and
ruled by no lata but their will, which left the poor slaves nothing that
they could call their own. They now suspected that religion would pot
a bridle upon such usurpations, and oblige them to a more equal and
humane way of government ; they therefore some of them, had the im>
pudcnce to address the English, that no motions about the christian reli-
gion might ever be made unto them ; and Mr. Eliot sometimes in the
wilderness, without the company or assistance of any other English man,
has been treated in a very threatening.and barbarous manner by some of
these tyrants ; but God inspired him with so much resolution as to tell
them, I am about the nmrk of the great God, and my God is with me ; so
that I fear neither you, nor all the sachims tn the country ; Pit go on, and
do you touch me, if you dare ! Upon which the stoutest of them have
shrunk and fell before him. And one of theiu, he at length conquered
by preaching unto him a sermon upon the temptations of our Lord ; par-
ticularly, the lemptation fetched from the kingdoms and glories of the
world.

The little kingdoms and glories of the great men among the Indians,
WHS a powerful obstacle to the success of JNr. Eliot's ministry ; and it is
observable, that several of those nations which thus refused the gospel,
quickly afterwards were so devil'driven as to begin an unjust and bloody
war upon the English, which issued in their speedy and utter extirpiitioQ
from the face of God's earth. It was particularly remarked in fhilip
the ring-leader of the most calamitous war that ever they made upon us ;
our Eliot made a tender of the everlasting salvation to that king ; but
the monster entertained it with contempt and anger, and after the Indian
mode of joining signs with words, he took a button upon the coat of tha
reverend man, adding. That he cared for his gospel, just as much as he
cared for that button. The world has heard what a terrible mine soon
came upon that monarch, and upon all his people. It was not long be-
fore the hand which now writes, upon a certain occasion took off the jaw
from the exposed skull of that blasphemous leviathan ; and the renown-
ed Samuel Lee hath since been a pastor to an English congregation, sound-
ing and showing the praises of Heaven, upon that very spot of ground,
where Philip and his Indians were lately worshipping of the devil.

Sometimes the more immediate hand of God, by cutting off the princi-
pal opposers of the gospel among the Indians made way for Mr Eliot's
ministry. As I remember, he relates that an association of profane /n-
dians near our JVeymouih, set themselves to deter and seduce the neigh-
bour Indians from the right ways of the Lord. But God quickly sent the
smallpox among them, which like n great plague soon swept them away,
and thereby engaged the rest unto himself. 1 need only to add, that one

Book III.] THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND.

Bin

attempt made by the devil, to prejudice the Pagans against the gospel,
had something in it extraordibar)'. While Mr. Eliot was preaching of
Christ unto the other Indian*, a Dainon appeared unto a prince ol' the
Eastern'IndiatiB, in a shape that had some resemblance of Mr. Eliot or of
an KiffHsh (ninistcr, pre(Riidin|; to be, the English-man's God. The spec-
tre coiuiaandtid him, to forbear the drinking of rum, and to obstrve the sab-
bath day, and to Heal justly widi his neighbours, all which things had been
inculcrited in Mr. ElioVs ministry ; promising therewithal unto him, that
if he did so, at his death his soul shoulil ascend unto un happy place ;
otherwise descend unto miseries ; but the apparition ail the while, never
said one word about Christ, which was the main subject of Mr. EHoVs
ministry. The saehim received su'ch an impression from the apparition,
that he dealt jusity with all men, except in the bloody tragedies and cru>
cities he afterwards committed on the English in our wars ; he kept the sab-
bath-day like nfast. frequently attending in our congregations ; he would
not meddle with any mm. though usually his country-men, had rather die
than undergo such a piece of self denial ; that liquor has meerly enchant-
ed them. At last, and not long since this Dmnon appeared again unto this
Pagan, requiring him to kill himself, and assuring him that he should
revive in a day or two, never to die any more. He thereupon divers
times attempted it, but his friends very carefully prevented it ; however
at length he found a fair opportunity, for th'i» foul business, and hanged
himself; you may be sure, without he expected resurrection. But it is
easy to see what a stumbling block was here laid before the miserable
Indians.

(f) The Indiah-CAttrcAes at Mashippaug, and elsewhere.

The same spirit which acted Mr. Eliot, quickly inspired others else-
where to prosecute the work of rescuing the poor Indians out of their
worse than Egyptian-inrkneaf, in which evil angels bad been so long
preying upon them. One of these was the godly and gracious Richard
Bourn, who soon "^aw a great effect of his holy labours. In the year !66&,
Mr. Eliot accompanied by the honourable governour, and several magis-
tr.'«tes and ministers of Plymouth Colony, procured a vast assembly at
Mashippaug ; and there a good number of Indians, made confessions touch-
ing the knowledge and belief, and regeneration of their souls, with such
understanding and affection as was extreamly grateful to the pious audito-
ry. Yet such was the strictness of the good people in this affair,- that
before they would countenance the advancement of these Indians unto
church fellowship, they ordered their confessions to be written and sent
unto all the churches in the colony, fir their approbation ; but so approv-
ed they were, that afterwards the messengers of all the churches giving
their presence and consent, they became a church, and chose Mr. Bourn
to be their pastor ; who was then by Mr. Eliot and Mr. Cotton ordained
unto that office over them. From hence Mr. Eliot and Mr. Cotton went
over to an island called JWiar/fta's Vineyard, where God had so succeeded
the honest labours of some, and particularly of the Mayhew^s as that a
church was gathered.

This church', nfteT fasting and prayer, chose one Hiaeooms to be their
pastor, John Tockinosh, an able and a discreet christian to be their teacher ;
,Toshua Mummeecheegs and John J^anaso to be ruling elders ; and these
were then ordained by Mr. Eliot and Mr, Cotton thereunto. Distance
>vf habitation, caused this one church by mutual agreement afterwards to

516

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. (Boo" !»«'

become two; (he pastor and one ruling elder taking one part, and the teach-
er and une i uhng elder, another ; and at J^aniucket another adjacent isl-
and, tvas another church odndiant quickly gathered, who chose an Indian,
John Oibt, to be their minister. These churche$ are bo exact in their ad-
miHuion, and so solemn in their discipline, and so serious in their com-
munion, that some of the cliristian English in the neighbourhood, which
would have been loth to have mixed with them in a civil relation, yet
have gladly done it in a sacred one.

It is needless for me to repeat what my father has written about the
other Indian cc/'q;regution8 ; only there having been made mention of one
Hiaci)om$,*l am willing to annex a passage or two concerning that memora-
ble Indian. Thut Indian tvas a very great instrument of bringing his Pagan
and wretched neighbours, to a saving acquaintance with our Lord Jesus
Christ ; and Uod gave him the honour, not only of so doing much for
some, but hIho oduffiering much from others, of those unhappy salvages.
Once parti'-iilnrly, this Hiacooms received a cruel blow from an Indian
prince, which it' some English had not been there, might have killed him,
for his pruyins^ unto God. And afterwards he. gave this account of his
trial in it ; said he / have two hands ; I had one hand for injuries, and the
oilier for God ; while I did receive wrong with the one, the other laid the
greater hold on God.

Moreover, the powawes did use to hector and abuse the praying /n-
diavs itt such a rate, as terrifyed others from joining with them ; but
oncp when those witches were bragging, that they could kill all the pray-
ing Indians, if they would ; Hiacooms replyed. Let all the powawes in
the inland come together, Pll venture my self in the midst of them ; let them
use all their witchcrafts ; with the help of God, Vll tread vpon them all.
By this courage, he silenced the powawes : but at the same time also he
heartned the people at such a rate as was truly wonderful ; nor could
any of them ever harm this eminent confessor afterward ; nor indeed
any proselyte which had been by his means brought home to God ; yea,
it was observed after this, that they rather killed than cured all such of
the heathen, as would yet make use of their encAan/rnenfs for help against
their sicknesses.

(g) Of Mr. Eliot's Fellow-Labourers in the Indian work.

So little was the soul of our Eliot infected with any envy, as that he
longed for nothing more thaa fellow labourers, that might move and shine
in the same orb with himself; he made his cries both to God and man,
for more labourers to be thrust forth into the Indian harvest ; and in-
deed it was an harvest of so few secular advantages and encouragements,
that it must be nothing less than a divine thrust, which could make any
to labour in it. He saw the answer of his prayers, in the generous and
vigorous attempts made by several other most worthy pre^ichers of the
gospel , to gospelize our perishing Indians. At the writing of my father's
letter there were /our ; but the number of them increases apace among
us. At Martha^s Vineyard, the old Mr. Mayhew, and several of his
8on!), or grandsons, have doni-very worthily for the souls of the /wdtans,
there were fifteen years ago, by computation, about fifteen hundred
seals of there mini^itry upon that one island. In Connecticut, the holy
and acute Mr. Fitch, has made noble essays towards the conversion of
the Indians ; but, I think, the prince he has to deal withal, being an ob-

Book Ill.J THE HISTORY OF N£W-ENQLAND.

OIT

stinate iDfidel, gives unhappy remora^s to the succesies of hii minittry.
And godly Mr. ri*rion, bai in that colony deserved well, if 1 mistake
not, upon the same account, la Ma*$achu»ets we see at th''< day, the
pious Mr. Daniel Gookin, the gracious Mr. Peter Tkateher, the well ac<
complisbed and industrious Mr. Orindal Raw$on, all of tbem bard at
work, to turn these poor creatures from darknen unto light, and from
Satan unto God. In Plymouth we have the most actire Mr. Samuel Treat
laying out himself to save this generation ; and there is one tit. TWpper,
who uses his laudable endeavours for the instruction of them.

'Tis my relation to him, that causes me to defer unto the last place,
the mention of Mr John Cotton, who hath addressed the Indians in their
own language with some dexterity.' He hired an /ndton, after the rate
of twelve -pence per day for fifty days, to teach him the Indian tongue ;
but his knavish tutor having received his whole pay too soon, ran away
before twenty days were out ; however, in this time be had profited so
far, that he could quickly preach unto the natives.

Having told my reader, that the second edition of the Indian Bible was
wholly of his correction and amendment ; because it is not proper for
me to say much of him, I shall only add this remarkable story. An
English minister accompanied by the governour and major-general, and
sundry persons of quality belonging to Plymouth, made a journey to a
nation of Indians in the neighbourhood, with a free c^er of the words
whereby they might be saved. The privce took time to consider of it,
and according to the true English of tcJcing time in such cases, at length
he told them. He did not accept the tender which they made him. They
then took their leaves of him, not without first giving him this plain and
short admonition, If God have any mercy for your miserable people, he will
quickly find a way to take you out of the way. It was presently after this,
that this prince going forth to a battel against aiiotlier nation of Indians,
was killed in the fight ; and the young prince being in his minority, the
government fell into the hands of protectors, which favoured the interest
of the gospel. The English being advised of it, speedily and prospe-
rously renewed the tidings of an eternal Saviour to the salvages, who
have ever since attended upon the gospel : and the young sachim, after
he came to age, expressed his approbation of the christian religion ; es-
pecially when a while since, be lay dying of a tedious distemper, and
would keep reading of Mr. Baxter^s call to the unconverted, with floods
of tears in his eyes, while he had any strength to do it.

Such as these are the persons, whom our Eliot left engaged in the In-
dian-work, when he departed from his employment unto his recompenee.
And these gentlemen are so indefatigable in their labours among the In-
dians, as that the most equal judges must acknowledge them worthy of
much greater salaries than they are generously contented with. But oM
may see then, who inspired that clamorous (though contemptible) perse-
cutor of this country, who very zealously addressed the A. B. of Can'
terhury, that these ministers mi<j;ht be deprived of their little stipends,
and that the said stipends might go to maintain that worship among
us, which the plantation was erected on purpose for the peaceable^
avoiding of.

(h) The Sacred and Solemn Exercises performed in the Indian Congregations.

My father^s account of the exercises performed in the Indian congrega-
tions, will tell us what a blessed fruit our Eliot saw of his labours, befor*

611 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAHD. [rooK HI.

he went unto those rtwardt which God had reieryed in, the Hearens for
him. Some of the Indiamt quickly built for Ihemselrei good and lurse
meeting-liousea after the E.,f(U»h mode, in which alao after the Engliik
mode, they atteiided the thing* of the kingdom of Heaven. And aome of
the Englieh were helpful to tliem u|»on thii account ; among whom I
ought ptirticularly to mention that learned, pious and charitable xentle-
man, the worHhi|»fiil Snmuel Sewal, Esq. who, at his own charge built a
meetirig-hQuse for one of the Indian coni^regations, and gave those In-
dians cauHe to pray for him under that character, he lovtth out nation, for
he hath built ua a eynagogue.

It only remains that I give a touch or two upon the worship which it
attended in the tynagoguet of the Indians. And fir^tt, the very name of
praying Indians will assure us that prayer is one of their devotions : he
sure, they could not be our Eliot's disciples if it were not to. But how
do they pray ? We are told, it is without a form, because from the heart;
which is as I remember, Tertullian''s expression concernmg the prayers
in the assemblies of the primitive christians ; namely, tinemonitore avia
de pectore. It is evident that the primitive christians had no stated litur-
gies among them ; that no forms of prayers were in their time imposed np*
on the ministers of the gospel ; that even about the platform of prayer
given us by our Lord, it was the opinion ofJlusiin himself, notwithstanding
the advances made in his age towards what we count superstitious that our
Lord therein taught not what words we should use in prayer, but what
things we should pray for. And whatever scoffs the profanity of our days,
has abused that phrase and thing withaJ, Gregory J^azianzen in his days,
counted it the honour of his father's publick prayers, that he had them
from, and made them by the Holy Spirit. Our Indvms accordingly find,
that if they study the words of God, and their own ttns and wants,
they shall soon come to that attainment, behold they pray ! They can pray
with much pertinence and enlargement ; and would much wonder at it,
if they should hear of an English clergy, that should read iheir prayers
out of a book, when they should pour out their souls before the God of
Heaven.

Their preaching has much of Eliot, and therefore you may be sure
much of scripture, but perhaps more of the christian than of the scholar
in it. I know not how to describe it better than by reciting the heads of
a sermon, uttered by an Indian on a day of humiliation kept by them, at
a time when great rains had given much damage to their fruits and fields ;
it was on this wise : ^ '

Ji little I shall say, according to thai little I know.

Genesis, viii. 20, 21,
i Jlnd a oah built an altar unto Jehovah; and he took of every clean beast,
and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt-offerings on the attar. And the
Lord smelled a sweet savour, and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again
curse the ground.

' In that Noah sacrificed, h'e showed himself thankful ; in that M'oah
' wor«>hippcd, he shewed himself go(//y. In that he offered clean beasts,
' he showed that God is an holy God. And all that come to God, mu$>t
* be pure and clean. Know, that we must by repentance, purge our
' selves ; which is the work we are to do this day.

' Koah sacrificed and so worshipped. This was the manner of old
f time. 3ut what sacrifices have we now to offer ! 1 shall answer bj that

Hook III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

419

Offer to Qod the taerijict ofrighteoumess, and put your tru$t
1 hete are the true wpiritiial taerijicet which (Jod reqnir-

' ID P««l ir. 6,

' ti the Lord, rhete are the true wpiritiial taerijicet wbich uod reqnir

' eth at onr hnnda, the laerijieet of righteou»nett ; that it, we must look to

* our hearts and ways Uiut they be righteout ; and then we shall be ac-
' ceptable to Uod, when we worship him. But if we be unrighteoua,
' anholy, ungodly, we shall not be accepted, our taerifictt will be stark

* naught Again, we are to put our truit tn the Lord. Who else is there
' for us to trust in ? We must believe in the word of God ; if we doubt of

* God, or doubt of his word, our taerijicet are little worth ; but if we trust
' stedfastly in God, our taerijicet will be good.

* Once more, what taerijicet must we offer ? My answer is, we must
' offer such as Abraham ofifered. And what a aacrijice was that ? We are

* told in Gen. xxii. 12, Now I know that thoufearest me, teeing iJiou hatt

< not witheld thy son, thy only ton from me. It seems he had but one dear-

* ly beloved son, and he offered that son to God ; mid so God said, /
' know thoufearett me ! Behold, a sacrifice in deed and in truth ! such an
' one must we offer. Only, God requires not us to sacrifice our tons, but
' our tint, our dearest tint. God calls us this day to part with all our
' sins, though never so beloved ; and we must not withold any of them
' from him. If we will not part with a//, the tacryfice is not right. Let
' us part with such sins as we loroe hett. and it will be a good saer^ee !

* Qod smelt a sweet savour in Noah's saeryfice; and so will God receive

< our sacrifices, when we worship him aright. But how did God mani-
' fest his acceptance oi NoaVt offer tg : it was by promising to drtmn the

* world no more, but give na fruitful seasons. God has chastised us of

< late, as if he would utterly drown us ; and he has drowned and spoiled

* and ruined a great deal of our hay, and threatens to kill our cattel.
' It is for this that vrefast and pray thiti day. Let us then offer ■ clean
' and pure sacrifice, as JVoah did ; so God will smell a savour of rest, and
' he will withold the rain, and bless us with such fruitful seasons as we ar6
' desiring of him.'

Thus preached an Indian called Jiishokon, above thirty years ago ;
and since that I suppose, they have grown a little further into the JV«w>
English way of preaching : you may have in their sermons, a Kakkootom-
wehteaonk, that is, a doctrine, ■N'ahtootomwehteaonk, or question, a Sampoo*
aonk, or an answer, Wilcheayeuonk, or a reason, with an Ouwoteank, or an
use, for the close of all.

As for holy-days you may take it for granted, our Eliot would not per-
swade his Indianslo any stated one. Even the christian festival itself, he
knew to be a stranger unto the apostolical time ; that the exquisite Vosh-
us himself acknowledges, it was not celebrated in the first or second
century : and that there is a truth in the wordis of the great Cheminitius,
Anniversarium Diem JVatalis ( hristi, celebratumfuiste, apud vetustissimos
nunquam legitur. He knew that if the day of our Lord^s nativity were to
be observed, it should w^* be in December : that many churches for di-
vers ages kept it not in ' December, but in January ; that C^r^sostum him-
self, about four huadred years after our Saviour, excuses the novelty of
the December season for it, and confesses it had not been kept above ten
years at Constantinople : R9, that it should rather be in September, in
which month the Jews kept the feast that was a type of our Lord's Incar-
nation ; and Solomon also brought the ark into the temple ; for our Lord
was thirty years old when he entred upon his public ministry ; and he
continued in ir three years and an half: now his death was in March, and
it is easy then to calculate when his birth ought to be. He knew, that

S«0 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

indeed Qod had hid thiiday a« he did the body of Moie», to prevent idol-
atry ; but that antickriit had ckoie this day, to accoramodute the PaxnnR
in their licentious and their debauched Saturnalia ; and that a Turtutlian
would not itick to fay, Shall w« chrittiam who have nothing to do with the
ftttivalt of the Jew«, which were once of divine inititution, embrace the Sa-
turnalia, 0," the heathen$ ? How do the Gentiles $hntne «», who are more
trtu to their religion, than we are to ouri ? None of them, will obterve the
Lord*! day, for fear lest they should be Christians ; and shall not we then
by observing thetr festivals, fear lest we be made Ethnicks t In tine, it
was his opinion, that for us to have stated holy-days which are not ap-
pointed by the Lord Jesus Christ, is a deep reflection upon the wisdom
of that glorious Lord j and he brought up his Indians in the principles
which the old fValdenses had about such unwarrantable holy-days.

Nevertheless, he taught them to set apart their days for both/a»tin^
and prayer, and (or feasting and prayer, when there should be extraordi-
nary occasions for them ; and they perform the duties of these days with
a very laborious piety. One party of the Indians long since of their
own accord, kept a day nf supplication together, wherein one of them
discoursed upon Psal. Ixvi. 7, He rules by his power for ever, his eyes be-
hold the nations, let not the rebellious ualt themselves. And when one
asked them afterwards, what was the reason of their keeping of such a
day, they replied. It was to obtain five mercies of God.

' First, that God would slay the rebellion of their hearts. Next, that

* they might love God and one another. Thirdly, that they might with-

* stand the temptations of wicked men, so that they might not be drawn

* back from God. Fourthly, that they might be obedient unto the coun-
' oils and commands of their rulers. Fifthly, that they might have their
'sins done away by the redemption of Jesus Christ : and lastly, that
^ they might walk in the good ways of the Lord.' 1 must here embrace
my opportunity to tell the world, that our cautious Eliot was far from the
opinion of those who have thought it not only warrantable, but alsocom*
mendable to adopt some heathenish usages into the worship of God, for
the more easy and speedy gaining of the heathen to that worship. The
policy of treating the Pagan rites as the Jews were to do captives, before
they married them, to shave their hair, and pare their nails, our Eliot
counted as ridiculous as pernicious. He knew that the idolatries and
abominations o{ Popery, were founded in this way of proselyting the bar-
barous nations, which made their descent upon the Roman empire ; and
he looked upon the like methods \vhich the Protestants have used, that
they might ingratiate themselves with the Papists, and that our separa-
tion from them should become the less dangerous and semible, to be the
most sensible and dangerous wound of the reformation. Wherefore as
no less a man than Dr. Henry Moor says about our compliances with the
Papists, which are a sort of Pagans, Their conversion and salvation being
not to be compassed by needless symbolizing with them in any thing, I con-
ceive our best policy ii studiously to imitate them in nothing ; but for all in-
different things, to think rather the worse of them for their using of them.
As no person of honour would willingly go in the known garb of infamous
persons. Whatsoever we court them in, they do but turn it to ovr scorn and
contempt, and are the more hardened in their own wickedness. To act up-
on this principle, is the design and glory of New-England .' And our
Eliot was of this perswasion, when he brought his Indians to a pure,
plain scripture worship. He would not gratify them with a Samaritan
sort of blended, mixed worship ; and he imagined, as well he might, that

Book III.) THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

bil

the upnstic Paul') first EpUtle to tho CoriiUhiana had enouKli in it, for
ever to deter us all from luch unchrintiuo und unhappy temporizing.

(i) Jl Compariunn between what th« Nnw-Englnnders have done for the
con-jcrsion of the Indiaiu, and what hai been done eUewhtrt by the Ko-
roan Cuthoiicki.

It is to be confcascd, that the Roman Cuthoiicki have n clergy so very
nuDDcrous, and ho little encumbred, and are masters of such prodigious
ecclediastial revcnurs, as renders it very easy for th( m to exceed the
Prott;$tanti in their endeavourH to christianize the Pagan salvageii. Nor
would I reproach, but rather applaud their industry in this matter, wish-
ing that we were all touched \\ith an emulation of it. Nevertheless,
while I commend tlieir industry, they do by their clamours against the
reformed churches upon thi^ account, oblii^e me to tax divers very scan-
dalous things in the mistiom which they make pro propaganda fide
throughout the world ; and therewithal to compare what has been done
by that little handful of reformed churches in this country, which has in
divers regards out done the furthest efforts of I'opery.

The attainments which with God's help we have carried up our Indian*
unto, are the chief honour and glory of our labours tvith them. The
reader will smile perhaps, when 1 tell him, that by an odd accident there
are lately fallen into my hands, the manuscripts of a Jesuite, whom the
French employed as a missionary amon<; the western Indians ; in which
papers there are, both a catechism, cor laining the principles which those
heathens are to be instructed in ; and C'lses of conscience, referring to
their conversations. The catechism which io in the Iroquoise language
(a language remarkable for this, that there is not so much as one labial
in it) with a translation annexed, has one chapter about Heaven, and
another about lull, wherein are such thick skulled passages as these.
' Q. How is the soyl made in Heaven ?

• A. 'Tis a very fair soyl, they want neither for meats nor cloths : 'tis
' but wishing and we have them.

' Q. Are they employed in Heaven ?

' A. No, they do nothing ; the fields yield corn, beans, pumpkins, and
' the like, without any tillage.

' Q. fVhat sort of trees are there ?

< A, Always green, full, and florishing.

' Q. Have they in Heaven the same sun, the same wind, the same thunder
' that we have here ?

' A. No, the sun ever shines ; it is always fiiir weather. '^

' Q,. But how their fruits ?

' A. In this one quality they exceed ours ; that they are never wasted ;
' you have no sooner plucked one, but you see another presently hanging
' in its room.'

And after this rate goes on the catechism concerning Heaven. Con*
cerningAeZ/, it thus discourses.

' Q, fVhat sort of a soylM t)Mt of hell?

' A. A very wretched m^f 'tis in fiery pit, in the center of the earth.

' Q. Have they any lighi tn fiell ?

' A. No. 'Tis always dark ; there is always smoke there ; their eyes
' are always in pain with it ; they can see nothing but the devils. .

* Q. What shaped things are the devils ?

Vol. I. m — - ' "

i>2)B THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. [Book III.

' *i. V^ery ill shaped things ; they go about with vizards on, and they
' terrify men.

• Q. What do they eat in hell?

' * j). They are always hungry, but the damned feed on hot ashet and

* serpents there.

• (i. What water have they to drink ?

• A. Horrid water, nothing but melted lead.

• Q. DonU they die in hell ?

• A. No : yet they eat one another, every day ; but anon, God re-
*■ stores and renews the man that was eaten, as a cropt plant in a little time
' repuUuiatea.'

It seems they have not thought this divinity too gross for the barbari-
ans. But I shall make no reflections on it ; only add one or two cases
of conscience, from their directory.

It is one of their weighty cases, * Whether a christian be bound to
' pay his whore her hire or no ? To this father Brutas answers, though
he be bound in justice to do it, yet inasmuch as the barbarians [and you must
suppose their whores to be such] use to keep no faith in such matters, the
christians may chuse whether they will keep any too. But father Pierron,
with a most profound learning answers. He is not bound unto it all ; inas'-
much as no man thinks himself bound to pay a witch, that has enchanted him ;
and this business is pretty much a kin to that. Another of their difficnlt
cases is, * Whether an Indian stealing an hatchet from a Dutch-man, be

* bound to make restitution ? And it is very conscientiounly determined,
' that if the Dutch-tnan be one that lias used any trade with other Indians,

* the thief is not bound unto any restitution ; for it is certain, he gai.ne
' more by such a trade than the value of many hatchets in a year.'

I will tire my reader with no more of this wretched stuff. But let
him understand that the proselyted Indians of New-England have been
instructed at a more noble rate '^ we have helped them to the sincere
milk of the word ; we have given them the whole Bible in their own lan-
guage ; we have laid before them such a creed as the primitive believers
had, with such explications as we embark our own souls upon the assur-
ance of. And God has blessed our education of these poor creatures in
such a measure, that they can pray and preach to better edification (give
me leave to say it) than multitudes of the Romish-clergymen. We could
have baptised many troops of Indians, if we would have used no other
measures with them, than the Roman Catholicks did upon theirs at Mary-
land, where they baptised a great crew of Indians, in some new shirts,
bestowed upon them to encourage them thereunto ; but the Indians in a
week or two, not knowing how to wash their shirts when they were
grown foul, came and made a motion, that the Roman Catholicks would
give more shirts to them, or else they would renounce their baptism.
No, it is a thorough paced Christianity, without which we have not ima-
gined OUT Indians christianized.

Nor have we been acted With a Roman Catholick avarice, nnd falsity,
and cruelty in prosecuting of our conversions ; it is the spirit of an Eliot,
that has all along; directed us. It is a specimen of the Popish avarice
that their missionaries are very rarely emglpyed but where bever and
silver and vast riches are to be thereby gaiiiid ; their ministry is but a
sort of engine, to enrich Europeans with the treasures of the Indies ; thus
one escaped from captivity among the Spaniards told me, that the Span-
ish friars had carried their gospel into the spacious country of California,
but finding the Indiam there to be extremely poor, they quickly gav«

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW.ENGLANI>.

61^3

over the work, because forsooth such a poor nation wat not worth convert-
ing. Whereas the J>few-E7tglander» coaiA expect nothiog from their In-
dians. We are to feed them and cloath them, rather than receive any
thing from them, when we bring them home to God. Again, the Popish
falsity disposes them to so much legerdemain in their applications, as is
very disagreeable to the spirit and progress of the gospel. My worthy
friend, Mynheer Dellius, who has been sedulous and successful in his
ministry among the Maqua^s, assures me, that a French predicator, ha*
ving been attempting to bring over those Indians unto the interest (not
of our Saviour so much as) of Canada, at last, for a cure of their infidel-
ity, told them, he would give them a sign of God's displeasure at them
for it ; the sun should such a day be put out. This terrified them at a sad
rate, and with great admiration and expectation they told the Dutch of
what was to come to pass ; the Dutch replied. This was no more than ev-
ery child among them could foretel ; tluy all knew there would then be an
eclipse of the sun ; but [said they) speak to Monsieur, that he would get the
sun extinguished a day before, or a day after what he spoke of, and if he
can do that, believe him. When the Indians thus understood what a trick
the French-man would have put upon them, they became irreconcileably
prejudiced against all his offers ; nor have the French been since able to
gain much upon that considerable people. The JVew Englanders have
used no such stratagems and knaveries ; it is the pure light ^ truth, which
is all that has been used for the affecting of the rude people, whom it
was easy to have cheated into our profession. Much less have we used
that Popish cruelly, which the natives of America, have by some other
people been treated with. Even a bishop of their ovn, hath published
very tragical histories of the Spanish cruelties upon the Indians of this
western world. Such were those crnoities, that the Indians at length
declared, they had rather go to hell with their ancestors, than to the gatnt
Heaven which the Spaniards pretended unto ; it is indeed impossible to
reckon up the various and exquisite barbarities, with which these exe-
crable Spaniards murdered in less than fifty years no less than fifty miU
lions of the Indians ; it seems this was their way of bringing them into
the sheepfold of our merciful Jesus ! But on the other side, the good
people oi Kew-England have carried it with so much tenderness towards
the tawny creatures among whom we live, that they would not own so
much as on&foot of land in the country, without a fair purchase and con-
sent from the natives that laid claim unto it ; albeit, we had a royal char-
ier from the King of Great-Britain, to protect us in our settlement upon
this continent.

1 suppose it was in revenge upon ua for this conscientiousness, that the
late oppressors of New-England acknowledged no man to have any title
at all unto one foot of land in all our colony. But we did and we do,
think, notwithstanding the banters of those tories, that the Indians had
not by their paganism so forfeited all right unto any of their possessions,
that the first pretended christians that could, might violently and yet hon-
estly seize upon them. Instead of this, the people of New-England,
knowing that some of the English were sufficiently covetous and en-
croaching, and that the In ^^g^ts in streights are easily prevailed upon, to
sell their lands, made a lmpp%a< none shoidd purchase, or so much as re-
ceive any land of the Indialre, without the allowance of the court. Yea,
and some lands which were peculiarly convenient for the Indians, our peo-
ple who were moj^careful of them than they were of themselves, made
u law, that they sh'St^d 7iever be bought out of their h»nd». I suppose after

THE HIStdRY OF NEW-ENGLANT). [Book III.

this it would surprise oiankind, if they should hear such wonderful crea-
tures as oui' late' secretary Randolph affirming, This barbarous people
were never civilly treuted by the late government, who made it their business
to encroach upon iheiir tands, and by degrees to driven them out of aU. But,
how many othor laws we made in favour of tfie IndiatA, it is not easy to
reckon up.'^

It was one of our laws, * That for the further encouragement of the
' hopeful work among them, for the civilizing and christianizing of them,

* any Indian that should be brought unto civility, and come to live order-
' ly in any English plantation, should have such allotments among the
' English, as the English had themselves. And that if a competent num-

' b'er of them, should so come on to civility, as to be capable of a town--.
' ship, the general court should grant them lands for a plantation fg th6y/
' do unto the English.' ' Although we had already brought up theirbkfiatS'
unto our lands. We likewise had our laws, That if any of our cattle ^ti
any damage to their com, we should make them ample satisfaction ;■ and
that we should give them all mariner of assistance, in fencing of their fields.
And because the Indians are excessively given unto the vice of drunken-
ness, which was a vice unknown to them, until the English brought
strong-drink in their way, we have had a severe law against all selling
or giving any intoxicating liquors to them. It were well, if this law were
more severely exefcuted.

By this time I hope, 1 have stopped the calumnious exclamations of
the Roman Catholicks against the churches of the reformation, for neg-
lecting to evangelize the natives of the Indies. But let me take this oc-
casion to address the christian Indians of my own country, into some of
whose hands, it is likely, this little book may come.

% * Behold, ye Indians, what love, what care, what cost, has been used
' by the English here, for the salvation of your precious and immortal
' souls. It is not because we have expected any temporal advantage from

* you, that we have been thus concerned for your good ; no, it is God
' that has caused us to desire his glory in your salvation ; and our hearts

* have bled with pity over you, wh8n we have seen how horribly the
' devil oppressed you in this, and destroyed you in another world. It is
' much that has been done for you ; we have put you into a way to be hap-

* py both on earth while you live, and in Heaven when you die. What
' can you think will become of you, if jfou slight ail these glorious of-

* fers ! Methinl^s you should sHy to your selves, rttoh weh kittinne peh
' quoh humunan mishanantamog nc mohsag wadchanittuonk ! You all be-
' lieve that you? teacher Eliot, was a good and a brave man, and you

* would count it your blessedness to be for ever with him. Neverthe-
' less, I am to tell you, that if you do'nt become real, and thorough, and
' holy christians, you shall- never have a comfortable sight of him any
' more. You know how vbe ha? /erf you, and cloathed you, as well as
' taught you ; jou know how his bowels yearned over you, even as
' though had you had been his children, when he saw any afflictions come
' upon you ; but if he find you among the wicked, in the day of judgment,
•which he so often warned you of. he will then be a dreadful witnsss
' against you, and when the Lord Jesus pasftWrthat sentence on you, De-
' part ye cursed into everlasting fire, rvith thenii^and his angels, even your
'• own Eliot will then say amen unto it all. N'ow to deal plainly with you,
' there are two vices, which many of you are too prone unto, and which
' are utterly inconsistent with a true Christianity. 0|||fe|^f those vices, is
= that of idlcnesss. If you had a disposition to follwran honest calling

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

52^

what should hinder you from growing as conuderable in your estates,
as many of your English neighbours : whereas, you are now poor, mean,
ragged, starved, contemptible and miserable ; and instead of being
able, as your English neighbours do, to support the ordinances of God,
you are beholden to them, not only for maintaining of those blessed or-
dinances among you, but for many other kindnesses And have you in-
deed forgot the comnuindment of God, which has been so oft«n laid be-
fore you, iSt'x days shah thou labour I For shame, apply your selves to
such labour as may bring you into more handsome circumstances. But
the other of these vices, is that of drunkenness. There are godly Eng-
lish neighbours, of whom you should learn to pray ; but there are some
of you that learn to drink, of other profane, debauched English neigh-
bours. Poor creatures, it is by this iniquity that Satan still keeps pos-
session of many souls among you, as much as if you were still in all
your woful heathenism ; and how often have you been told, Drunkards
U not enherit the kingdom of God ? 1 beseech you to be sensible of the
chiefs to which this thing exposes you, and never dream of escap-
the vengeance of eternal Jire, if you indulge your selves in this ac'
cufsmi thing,
' have done, when I have wished, that the gospel of the Lord Jesus
ilways run and be gloiuj' -l auiong yon /'

7%« CoNCto . -'•• or, Eliot Expiring.

By this time, I have doubtless made my reader loth to have me tell
what now remains of this little history ; doubtless they are wishing that
this John might have t,arried unto the second coming of our Lord. But,
BI9S, all-devouring death at last snatched him from us, and slighted all those
lamentations of ours, My father, my father, the chariots of Israel, and the
horsemen thereof !

When he was become a sort of Miles Emeritus, and began to draw near
his end, he grew still more heavenly, more '-lavoury, more divine, and
scented more of the spicy country at which he was ready to put ashore.
As the historian observes of Tiberius, that when his life and strength
were goinnf from him, his vice yet remained with him ; on the contrary
the grace of this excellent man rather increased then abated, when every
thing else was dying with him. It is too usual with old men, that when
they are past work, they are least sensible of their inabilities and inca-
pacities, and can scarce endure to see another succeeding them in any
part of their office. But our Eliot was of a temper quite contrary there-
unto ; for finding many months before his expiration, that he had not
strength enough to edify his congregation with publick prayers and ser-
mons, he importuned his people with some impatience to call another
minister ; professing himself unable to die with comfort, until he could
see a goodsuccesso- ordained, settled, fixed among them. For this cause,
he also cried mightily unto the Lord Jesus Christ, our ascended Lord,
that he would give ^uch a gift unto Roxbnry, and he sometimes called
his whole town together ^|^io with him in a fast for such a blessing.
As the return of their si^p^cations, our Lord quickly bestowed upon
them, a person young in jrears, but old in discretion, gravity and expe-
rience ; and one whom the church of Roxbnry hopes to find, a pastor
after God's oron heatt.

626 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book 111

* It was Mr. Nehemiah Walter , who being by the unanimous vote and
choice of the church there, become the pastor of Roxbury, immediately
found the venerable Eliot embracing and cherishing of him, with the ten-
der affections of a father. The good old man like old Aaron, as it were
disrobed himself, with an unspeakable satisfaction, when he behel<i his
garments put upon a son so dear unto him. After this, he for a year or
two before his translation, could scarce be perswaded unto any publick
service, but humbly pleaded, what none but he would ever have said,
hwould he a wrong to the souls of the people, for him to do any thing among
them, when they were supplied so much to their advantage otherwise. If I
mistake not, the last that ever he preached was on a publick/as( ; when
he fed his people with a very distinct and useful expon'fton upon the eigh-
ty-third psalm ; and he concluded with an apology, begging his hearers
to pardon the poorness, and meanness, and brokemiess, (as he called it) of
his meditations ; but added he, My dear brother het e, will by'nd by mend all.

But although he thus dismissed himself as one so near to the age of
ninety, might well have done, from his publick labours ; yet he wo^^
not give over his endeavours, in a more private sphere, to do good iilttb
all. He had always been an enemy to idleness ; any one that should
look into the little diary that he kept in his Almanacks, would see that
there was with him, no day without a line ; and he was troubled paf^du-
larly, when he saw how much time was devoured by that slavery to to-
bacco, which too many debase themselves unto ; and notv he grew old,
he was desirous that his works should hold pace with his life ; the less
time he saw left, the less was he willing to have lost. He imagined that
he could now do nothing to any purpose in any service for God ; and
sometimes he would say with an air peculiar to himself, J wonder for what
the Lord Jesus Christ lets me live ; he knows that now I can do nothing for
him ! And yet he could not forbear essaying to do something for his Lord ;
he conceived, that though the English could not be benefited by any gifts
which he now fancied himself to have only the ruins of, yet who can tell
but the negroes might ! He had long lamented it with a bleeding and a
burning passion, that the English used their negroes but as their horses or
their oxen, and that so little care was taken 'about their immortal souls ^
he looked upon it as a prodigy, that any wearing the name of chriHians,
should so much have the heart of devils in them, as to prevent and hind-
er the instruction of the poor blackamores, and confine the souls of (heir
miserables slaves to a destroying ignorance, meerly for fear of thereby
losing the benefit of their vassalage ; but now he made a motion to the
English within two or three miles of him, that at such a time and place
they would send their negroes once a week unto him : for he wonlA then
catechise them, ^nd enlighten them, to the utmost of his power in the things
of their everlasting peace ; however, he did not live to make much pro-
gress in this undertaking.

At length, when he was able to do little without doors, he tryed then
to do something within ; and one thing was this. A young boy in the
neighbourhood, had in his infancy fallen into a fire, so as to burn himself
into a perfect blindness ; but this boy being now grown to some bigness,
the good old man took him home to his bouse, with some intentions to
make a scholar of him. He first informed him of and from the scripture,
in which the boy so profited, that in a little time he could even repeat
many whole chapters verbatim, and if any other in reading missed a word,
he would mind them of it ; yea, and an ordinary piece of Latin was be

^,,

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

627

come easy to the lad ; but having bis own eyes closed by death, he
could no longer help the poor child against the want of his.

Thus, as the aged Potycarp could say, Tkete eighty six years have I serv-
ed my Lord Jesm Christ ; and he has been suck a goad master to me all this
while, that I will not now forsake him. Such a Polycarp was our Eliot ; he
had been so many years engaged in the sweet service of the Lord Jesus
Christ, that he could not now give it over : it was his ambition, and iiis
privilege, to bring forth fruit in old age ; and whut veneration the church
of Smyrtui paid unto that angel of theirs, we were upon the like accounts
willing to give unto this man of God.

While he was thus making his retreat out of thia evil world, his dis-
courses from time to time ran uiSon, the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ;
it was the theme which he still had recourse unto, and we were sure to
have something of this, whatever other subject he were upon. On this
he talked, on this he prayed, for this he longed, and especially when any
bad news arrived, his usual reflection thereupon would be, Behold, some
of the clouds, in which we must look for the coming of the Son of Man. At
last, his Lord for whom he had been long wishing. Lord, came! I hove
been a great while ready for thy coming ! at last, I say, his Lord came and
fetched him away into the joy of his Lord.

He fell into some languishments attended with a fever, which in a few
days brought him into the pangs (may I say ? or joys) of death ; and while
be lay in these Mr. Walter coming to him, he said unto him. Brother, thou
art welcome to my very soul. Pray retire to thy study for me, and give me leave
to be gone ; meaning that he should not, by petitions to Heaven for his
life, detain him here. It was in these languishments, that speaking about
the work of the gospel among the Indians, he did afler this heavenly man- .
ner express himself. There is a cloud (said he) a dark cloud upon the work
of the gospel among the poor Indians. The Lord revive and prosper that
work, and grant it may live when I am dead. It is a work, which I have
been doing much and long about. But what was the word I spoke last ? I
recal that word, my doings ! Mas, they have been poor and small, and lean
doings, and Pll be the man that shall throw thefirst stone at them all.

It has been observed, that they who have spoke many considerable
things in their lives, usually speak few at their deaths. But it was other-
wise with our Eliot, who after much speech of and for God in his life-
time, uttered »ome things little short o( oracles onhia death-bed, which tis
a thousand pities, they were not more exactly regarded and recorded.
Those authors that have taken the pains to collect, Apopluhegmata Mo-
rientun:, hay6 not therein been unserviceable to the living ; but the
Apophthegms of a dying EJ.iot must have had in them a grace and a strain
truly extraordinary ; and indeed the vulgar error of the signal sweetness
in the song of a dying swan, was a very truth in our expiring Eliot ; his
last breath Smelt strong of Heaven, and was articled into none but very
gracious notes ; one of the last whereof, was, Welcome joy! and at last
it went away calling upon the standers by, to Pray, pray, pray ! which
was the thing in which so vast a portion of it, had been before employed.

This was the peace in the end of this perfect and %ipright man ; thus
was there another star fetched away to be placed among the rest that
the third heaven is now "enriched with. He had once, I think, a pleas-
ant fear, that the old saints of his acquaintance, especially those two
dearest neighbours of his. Cotton of Boston, and Mather of Dorchester,
which were got safe to Heaven before him, would suspect him to be
gone thQ wrong way, because he staid so long behind them. But they

52a THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

are now together with a blessed Jesus, beholding of hit glory, and cele-
brating the high prniaes of him that has called them into hit tnttrvelloua
light. Whether Heaven was any more Heaven to him, because of his
finding there, so many tainti, with whom be once had his deaireable
intimacies, yea, and so many satVU* which had been the seals of his own
ministry in this lower world, I cannot say ; but it would be Heaven
enough unto him< to go unto that Jttut. whom he had, loved, preached
served, and in whon) he had been long assured,, there does aUfvllneat dwell.
In t^at Heaven 1 notv leave hini : not without Grynceut* pathetical excla-
mations [0 beatum ilium diem /] * Blessed will b« the day, O blessed the
' day of uur arrival to the glorious assembly of spirits, which this great

* saint is now rejoicing with.'

Bereaved ATew-England, where are thy tears, at this ill-boding fune-
ral ? We had a tradition among us, ' That the country could never per-

* ish, as long as Eliot was alive.' But into whose hands must this Hippo
fall, now the .Auatin of it is taken away ? Our EHsIm is gone, and now
who must next year invade the land ? The Jews have a saying, ^ando Lu-
minaria patiuntur Eclipnin, malum signum est mundo ; but 1 am sure, it is
a dismal eclipse that has now befallen onr JVcW'English world. I confess,
many of the ancients fell into the vanity of esteeming the reliques of
the dead saints, to be the lowers and ramparts of the places that enjoyed
them I and the dead bodies of two apostles in the city, made the poet
ery out, >

A Facie Hostili duo propugnacula prcesunt.

If the dust of dead saints could give us any protection, we are not
without it ; here is a spot of American soyl that will afford a rich crop
of it, at the resurrection of the just. Poor New-England has been as
Glastenbury of old wa^ called, a burying place of saints. But we cannot
see a more terrible prognostick, than tombs filling apace with such
bones, as those of the renowned ElioVs; the whole building of this coun-
try trembles at the fall of such a pillar.

For many months before he dyed, he would often chearfully tell us,
' That he was shortly going to Heaven, and that be would carry a deal

* of good news thither with him ; he said, he would carry tidings to the
' old founders of New-England, which were now in glory, that church-
' work was yet carried on among us : that the number of our churches
' was continually encreasing : and that the churches were still kept as
< big as they were, by the daily additions of those that shall be saved.'
But the going of such as he from us, will apace diminish the ocqasions
of such happy tidings.

What shall we now say ? Our Eliot himself used most affectionately
to bewail the death of all useful men ; yet if one brought him the notice
of such a thing, with any despondencies, or said, O Sir, sack an one is
dead, what shall we do ? He would answer, Well, but God lives, Christ
lives, the old Saviour o/" New-England yet lives, and he willreign till all his
enemies are made his footstool. This, and only this, consideration have
we to relieve us ; and let it be accompanied with our addresses to the
God of the spirits of all flesh, that there may t-j Timothies raised up in
the room of our departed Pauls ; and that when our Moseses are gone,
the spirit which was in those brave men, may be put upon the surviving
elders of ovr Israel.

•m.-:i-m" ■ ■ ■ ■ ^^^

B06K in.] TH£ HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLAND..

629

The last thing that ever our EHot put off, wa«, the cart of all the chwreheii
Which with a moat apostolical and evangelical temper be was continually
solicitous about. When the churches of ^few-England were 'inder a
very uncomfortable prospect, by the advantage which men that soof^UL,
the mine of those golden and holy and reformed societies, had obtained
against them, God put it into Ihe heart of one well known in these
churches, to take a voyage into Elt^landt that he migbt-by his mediations
at Whitehall, divert the itomu that were impending over us. ' It is not
easy to express what affection our aged Eliot prosecuted this undertak-
ing with ; and what thank$giving he rendere'5 unto Q"^*^ for any hopeful
successes of it. But because one of the ' ac >nd for ought I
know, the last of his ever setting'pen to paper in thr rid, was upon
this occasion ; I shall transcribe a short letter, which was written by the
shaking hand, that had heretofore by writing deserved so well from the
Church of God, but was now taking its leave of writing for ever. It
was written to the person that was engaging for us, and thus it ran.

' Reverend and beloved Mr. Increase Mather.

* I cannot write. Read J^eh. u. 10. When Sanbcdlat the Horonite,-
' and Tobijah the servant, the Ammonite, heard of it ; it grieved them
' exceedingly, that there waa come a man to seek thm welfare of the
' children of Israel.

* Let thy blessed soul, feed full and fat upon this and other scriptures.
' All other things I leave to other men ; and rest,

* Four loving Brother,

•JOHN ELIOT.

These two or three lines manifest the care of the churches whicb
breathed in this great old man, as long as he had a breath to draw in
the world. And since he has left few like lum for a comprehensive and
universal regard unto the prosperity of all the flocks in this wilderness,
we have little now to comfort us in the loss of one so like a patriarch
among us, but only this, that our poor churches, it may be hoped, hi>ve
still some interest in the cares of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who waUts in
the midst of the golden candlesticks . Lord '• make our churches and keep
them, yet golden candlesticks I Amen.

But I have not obtained the end of this hittory, nor may I let this
history come to an end, until I do with some importunity bespeak the en-
deavours of good men every where, to labour in that harvest which the
blessed Eliot justly counted worthy of his utmost pains and cares.
It was the confession of Themistocles, that the victory of Miltiades would
Dot let him sleep in quietness ; may those of our Eliot raise a like em-
ulation in those that have now seen the life of this evangelical hero !
One Robert Baily (a true son of Epiphanius) many years ago published
a book, wherein several gross lies, by which the name of that John
Qilion, who was known to be one of the holiest men then alive, Was
most injuriously made odious unto the churches abroad, were accom-
panied with some reflections upon poor New-England, whereof this wa^
one. The way of their churches hath most exceedingly hindred the conver-
sion of the poor pagans : of all tiuU ever crossed itiie American seat, (Aey
are noted as m<>9t neglectful of the work of conversion. We have ftow
seen those aspersions and calumnies abundantly wiped away. But hf

Vol. 1. «7

58«

'fWE friSToiiir OP ncw.^ngland. (Dook ihi

Ihut which linfl been the vindieatiom of M'tw- England, be aluo the tfmu-
tdftdh of the worid : let not poor little A'ew-iSnff/aiid, be the only pro-
testaM coudtfy that shall do nnr notable thing lor ik* prapagaHit o^ At
ufirilh, unto'thoae i/a^ eomert of the earth whiik «re jvM ttj eriMf AoAi'io*
tiont. But the jMfdreMe* of 8o mean a person aa my lelf, are like to pre-
vail biit little Hbroad wilti men of leartiingand flgare in the world. How-
e? er, I shall* presume to utter my teithtt in the light of my rcorffr* ; and
it is possible that the great God who de$pi$e$Hot the prayer of the poor,
may oy the influences of his Holy Spirit, upon the Aeorl* of some whose
eyes are upon these lines, give a blessed answer thereunto.

Wherefore, may the people of New- Engl and, who have seen so sen-
sible a difference between the estates of those that sell drink, and of
thosie that preach truth, unto the miserable salvages among them, as that
even thi$ alone might inspire them, yet from a nobler consideration than
that of their own outward pro$perity thereby advanced, be encour^gtid
still to prosecute, first the civilizing, and then the ehrittianizing of the
barbariant, in their neighbourhood ; arid may the New-Englandert be
90 far politick as well as religious, as particularly to make atnuiton of the
gospel unto the mighty nations of the fVestern Indiatu, whom the French
have been of late so studiously, but so unsuccessfully tampering with ;
lest those horrid pagans, who lately (as it is credibly affirmed) bad such
a measure of deviliam and insolence in them, as to shoot a volley of grettt
and small shot ngninst the Heavens, in revenge upon (Ae manin the Heav-
ens, as they called our Lord, whom they counted the author of the heavy
calamities whicb newly have distressed them ; be found spared by our
long-sufl'ering Lord, [ivho^Aen indeed presently tore the ground asunder,
with immediate and horrible thunders from Heaven round about them,
but killed them not !] for a scourge to us, that have not used our ad-
vantages to make a verluous people of them. If a King of the West Sax-
ons long since ascribed all the disasters on any of their affairs, to neg-
ligencies in this »oihr, methinks the JWm'-£ng/ander9 may not count it
unreasonable in this way to seek their own prosperity. Shall we do
what we can that our Lord Jesus Christ may bestow upon America,
(which may hiore justly be called Columba) that salutation, O my dove !

May the several plantations, that live upon the labours of their negroes,
no more be guilty of such a prodigious wickedness, as to deride, neglect,
and oppose all due means of bringing their poor negroes unto our Lord ;
but may the masters of whom God will one day require the souls of the
slaves committed unto them, see to it, that like Abraham, they have cate-
diised servants ; and not imagine that the Almighty God made so many
' thousands of reasonable creatures for nothing, but only to serve the lusts
of Epicures, or the gains of Mammonists ; lest the God of Heaven out of
meer pity, xf not justice, unto those unhappy blacks, be provoked unto a
venseance which may not without horrour, be thought upon. Lord, when
shall we see Ethiopians read thy scriptures with understanding !

May the English nation do what may be done, that the Welch may not
be destroyed/or the lack of knowledge, lesl our indisposition to do for their
souls, bring upon us all those judgments of Heaven, whicb Oildas their
country-man, once told them, that they suffered for their disregards unto
OMfs ; and may the nefandous massacres of the English by the /rtsA, awak-
en the English to consider, whether they have done enough to reclaim
lhe Irish, from the Popish bigottries and abominations, with which they
liavis been intoxicati^d.

Book Uii.| THB HISTOftT OF VEm-WOh^^.

Mftjr the ■«v•ra^ jfocfon'M and compamei, nhof cosQ«nw lie in 4^
Africa, or Atntriea, be pert!VMl«<i» «• jMob once, ■r4 Moxm bin kii
grandfMther .46raAflm was, that they alwrayt owe onto God certain propor-
tioni of their po«MmotM, by the honc»tj»aym«tU« of which little futirtnO,^
they would certaialy <ec«re and tnlargt their enjoymeot oftlie principal ;
bMi that tbey'are under a very particuhir ohligation to comomnicMe of
our $pirilual ihing»y unto those beatheoa, by whose eamal thingt they
are enriched ; and may they therefore make it their study, to employ
some ablA and pious mtMttr^, for the instruction of those ^d«/« qrith
Whom they have to deal, and honoorably support such ministers in that
employment.

Mi^ the poor Gretlu, Amuniam,J\fbfC9vit9it and others, in the eastern
countries, weaving the name of chrHtiani, that have little vreaf&tng and
no printing, aad f«w Bibles or good books, now at last be iuratshed with
Bibles, orihodoK catechisms, and practical treatises by the charity of
iSMgkni ; and m^y our presses provide goo4sto(e of good books for ^em>
ia their own tongues, to be scattered among them. Who knows what
convolrlens might be hastened upon the whole Mahometan viorld by such
an extensive charity. .y .

May sufficient numbers of great, wise, rich, learnedi and gqdly m^n
in the three kingdoms, procure well composed foeiedet, by whose nnited
counsels, the noble design of evangelizing the world, may be mor^ ^ectU'
ally carried on : and if some generous persons will of their own i^c^ord
combine for such consultatiops, who can tell, bi^t like |Ofn« ^tb^r cele-
brated Boeieties heretofore tormed from such small beginnwtP, (bey iqay
soon have that countenance of authority, which m^y produce very glo-
rious effects, and give opportunity to gather vast c^ribt^i^n* from all
well-disposed people, to asstnt and advance this progress of christiani|y.
God forbid, that Popery should expend upon cheating, more than ten tildes
what we do upon lamng the immortal souls of men.

Lastly, may many worthy men, who find their circumstance^ will al-
low of it, get the language of some nationc that are not yet bro.i|gbt home
to God ; and wait upon the divine providence, for God's leading them to,
and owning them in their apostolical undertakings. When they remem-
ber what Ruffinut relates concerning the conversion of tho Iberians, and
what Socrates, with other authors, relates concerning the conversion
wrought by occasion o( Frumentius and JEdesius, in the Inner India, all as
it were by accident, surely it will make them try, what may be done by
design for such things now in our day ! Thus, le| them see, whether while
we at home in the midst of wearisome temptations, are angling with rods,
which now and then catch one soul for our Lord, they shall not be fish-
ing with nets, which will bring in many thousands of those, concerning
whom with unspeakable joy in the day of the Lord, they may say, Behold
I and the children which Ood has given me ! Let them see, whether, sup*-
posing they should prosper no farther than to preach the gospel of the
kingdom in all the world for a witness unto all nations, yet the end which
is then to come, will not bring to them the more happy lot, wherein they
shall stand, that are found so doing.

Let no man be discouraged by the difficulties, which the devil will be
ready to clog such attempts against his kingdom with ; for 1 will take
leave so to translate the words of the wise man. Prom, xxvii. 4. What
is able to stand before zeal ? 1 am well satisfycd, that if men had the wis-
dom, to discerr* the signs of the times, they would be all hands at work, to

^ THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

flpread th« name of oar Jmus into all the corneri of the ttrtb. ChxMt
ft, O my Ood; and Lord Je$iu, cofiu quicUy.

A Copy of a Letter from (A« very Reverend Mr. Richard Baxter, to Mr.
IncrcMe Mather {then in London.)

Written upon the eight of Mr, Eliot's Life in a former Edition.

Dear Brother,
* I Thought 1 had been near dying at 12 o'clock, in bed; but

< your book revived me : 1 lay reading it, until between one and two I
' knew much of Mr. Eliot* t opinions, by many letters, which I had from
^ htm. There was no man on earth, whom I honoured above him. It
' is his evangelical work, that is the apoetotical tucee$rion that 1 plead

< for. I am 6ow dying, I hope, as he did. It pleased me to read from
' him, my case, [my undentanding faileth, my memory faileth, my tonrve
'faUeth, (and my hand and pen fail) but my charity faileth not,] That

* word much comforted me. I am as zealous a lover of the New-Eng-

* land churches, as any man, according to Mr. Noyes, Mr. Jiortone, Mr.

* Miteheh, and the Synod^s model.

'I loved yonr father, upon the letters I received from him. I love
' you' belter for your learning, labours, and peaceable moderation. I
' love your son better than either of you, for the excellent temper that
' appeareth in his writings. O that godliness and wisdom thus inrt-eaee

* in all families ! He hath honoured himself Aa'^ at much as Mr. Eliot:
' I say, but half a$ much ; for deedt excel word*. Ood preserve yoa,
f and Nvm-England I Pray for,

*Your fainting,
August 3, > languishing Friend,

1691. \ RI. BAXTER.'

tf #

.J»...-«vtfi J>

"S« .'Jf*&»t! ^f*', i#* .#liA.

RE MAINS:

OR,

SHORTER ACCOUNTS OF SUNDRY DIVINES,

VICrUL IN THK

CUVMCUES OF XEW'EJ^GJUJfD.

GATHERED BY COTTON MATHER.

THE FOURTH PART.

WHERETO IS MORE LAROELY ADDED,

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF THE REVEREND

MR. JOmU^ BAILBT,

INTRODUCTION.

Reaogr,

Peruse, / pray and ponder these words of the incomparable Turre-
tine.

Siogalarem Dei GrHtiam, noo possumus, quin ^ternis Laudibus, Ce-
lebremas, quod Novissimis hisce saeculis, restitute Evangelii Lace, tot
tantosq; Viros, D.octrin^ & Insigni Pietate Prseditos, ad Opus Refornut'
ticnia Inchoandum & Promovenduon Vocaverit ; qui uberrima Rerum Sa-
crarum Scientil imbuti, & Heroico Spiritu dooati, tanquam [ HillD ^lDi}2^]
Viri Prodigis, Tubas Evangelicae Sonitu, & Veritatis Divins Fuigore,
Tenebras Erroris Crass^ssimas faelicissime fugarunt, .intichritti Regnutn
Concasserunt, Sf. Ecclesiam a Multis saeculis miaere Captivam, and Ty-
raanidis Jugo plusqam ierreo tantum dod oppressam, ^ Babylone Myati-
cSl gloriose Evocarunt.

Thou art prepared then to proceed in what remaios of our History.

Reader, thou knomest the way for a man to become wise, was thus declar-
ed by an oracle, si concolor fieret Mortuis.

And thou wilt not forget that lesson sometimes given ;

' Since we have lired here, and since we are to die, and yet live after
' death, and others will succeed us when we are dead, we are greatly con-
' cerned, to send before us a very good treasure, to carry with us a very
• i^ood conscience, and to /eave behind us a very good example.'

594 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. [Boot Hh

Bthold $ome of them, who did lo I

h hath bttn remarked, that whan Sarah catted her hwhand Lord ; her
tpeech waeall an h*ap of einful injidtlity ; there wa$ Aw one good word m
it : vet the epirit of Uod, long after takes notice of that wora. ' And why
ihonud not we then take notice, of many a good work, occurring ^in-tka live*
ofthoie, concerning whom yet we do not pretend or tuppote, wat they lived
altogether free from intirmitiea ? thair intmnitiea wan but hanaaitiea.

CHAPTER I.

■'' Remains of the first Claisis.

The surviving friends of the reU, mentioned in the Jirrt catalogue of
eonfenore, by whom the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ was brought in-
to this wilderness, hnving supplied me with so few and small informa-
tions concerning them, that I am of the opinion, Praetat nul/a quam Pau-
ca dicere. Let all their vertues then be galaxied icto this one indistinct
lustre, they were faithful servants of Christ, and tufferert for their be*
ing so.

Nor is it unlikely that there might i:i'e some among those good men,
who yet might be, in so little exiraord'rinry, that there might be the same
account gi ren of them, that there was of a certain Bishop of Roma, in the
second century, Nihil privclari de Gvhtmationt ^ faciit ejui eommemorari
point ; and although we New-Englandtrs do dwell in so cold, and so clear
an air, that more of the smalUr stars may be seen by our connderers than
in many other places, yea, and not only the Nebulosa of Cancer it self,
but even the lesser stars which compose that cloud, are considered among
us ; nevertheless, for us to attempt the writing of their lives, would carry
too much/on(/nes5 in it : nor do we forget- that Suum est cuiq; ordivulgus.

Moreover, there were divers of these worthy men, who by removing
hack to England upon the turn of the times, have almost released us finm
such a large account of them, as otherwise might have been expected
from us : and yet some good account of not a few among them, is to be
reported. I remember, Dr. Patin in his travels, tells us, that in a cer-
tain Mus'ieum at Vienna, he saw a cherry-stone, on which were engraved
above an hundred portraitures, with different ornaments of the head upon
them. I must noiv endeavour a tenth part of an hundred portraitures,
with different ornaments of the mind upon each of them ; nevertheless I
am to take up almost as little room as a cherry stone for them all. Par-
ticularly,

Mr. RICHARD BLINMAN. After a faithful discharge of his minis-
try, at Glocester, and at New-London, he returned into England ; and liv-
ing to a good old age, he who wherever he came, did set himself to do
good, concluded his life at the f ity o( Bristol, where one of the last things
he did, was to defend in print the cause of infant-baptism.

Mr. SAMUEL EATON. He was the son of Mr. Richard Eaton, the
vicar of Great Burd-worth in tlushire, and the brother of Mr. Theophilus
Eaton^ the renowned Goveniour of New-Haven. His education was at
the University of Oxford ; and because it will doubtless recommend him
fo find such a pen, as that which wrote the Athma Oxonienses thus char-

«oi>B 111.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-KNGLAND.

AS6

actaritinf of him, reader, (hoa ihalt huve the verjr word* of that writer
oooooraiog bim : Affr h* had Uft the univ**tity, h$ «ntr»d into tht »aer«d
futMioH, took ofdtrt according to Ikt Church of EnglMid, tmd wot bcn^tod
in hit eturUry :■ hut hming been fturitamecdljf educated, he did dtsient m
toiiM partictUavi thererf. Whereupon Jittdint hi$ place too warm for himt
he revolted, and vent into Now-England, and preached among the brethren
there. Bat lot u* have no more ofthia IVood t Mr. ¥^ton wa* a very holy
man, and a penon of great learning and jndicment, and a most incompara-
ble preacher. But upon hie diMoat from Mr. Davenport, about the oar-
roiv terma, and farmn of civil government, by Mr. Davenport, then forced
upon that infant- colony, his brother adviaed him to a removal : and call-
ing at Baeton by the way, when he was on his removal, the church there
were so highly nfiected with his labours, thus occasionally enjoyed among
them, that they would fain have engaged him unto a settlement in that

£lHce. But the Lord Jesus Christ had more service for him in Old-Kng-
ind, than he could have done in A'ow ; and therefore arriving in Et^-
land, be became the pastor of a church at Dueket^field, in the parish of
Stockfort, in Che$hire, and afterwards at Stockport ; and a person of emi-
nent note and use, not onlv in that, but also in the neighbour-county.

After the restoration of K. Charlee II. he underwent first eileneing,
and then much other tuffering, from the pertecution, which yet calls for
a national repentance. He was the author of many booke, and especially
some in defence of the chriitian faith, about the Ood-head ofChriet, against
the Socinian blasphemies : and his help was joined unto Mr. Timothy Tai-
lor i, in writing some treatises entituled. The Congregational Way Juttified.
By these be out-lives his death, which fell out at Denton, in the parish of
Manchester in Lancaihire, (where says our friend Rabihakeh fVood, he had
sheltered hinufllf among the brethren after hie ejection) on the ninth day of
January, 1664, and he was buried in the chapel there.

Mr. WILLIAM HOOK. This learned, holy, and humble man, was
born about 1600, and was ibr some time a collegue with Mr. Davenport,
in the pastoral charge of the church at our M'ew-Haven; on the day of
his ordmation, whereto he humbly chose for his text those words in Judg.
vii. 10, Go thou, with Pharah thy servant ; and as humbly raised bis doc-
trine, That in great tervicee, a little help is better than none ; which he
gave, as the reason of his own being joined with so considerable a-Gideon
as Mr. Davenport. After this returning into Eugland, he was for soote
while, minister at Axmowih in Devonslaire, and then master of the Savoy
on the<Sirand, near London, and eo chaplain to the greatest man, then in
the natiop. He was the author of divers composures that saw the li|:hl ;
whereorperhaps one of the roost memorable ia that about. The Prhele-
ges of the Saints on Earth above those in Heaven. But there was one of his
composures, which did more nearly concern himself, than perhaps his
persecutors did imagine ; and that was about, The Slaughter of the Wit-
nesses : for he bore a part in that slaugluer, when his testimony to the
kingly qffice of the Lord Jesus Christ, in bis church, procured him the
condition of a silenced non- conformist, ivomMayH, 1662, to March 21,
1677, when he died in, or near London, and went from the priviledge's oif
labours among the saints on earth, to those of rewards among the saints in
Heaven! He lies buried in the sleeping-place on the north side of the Aenv
Artillery Garden.

«d6

,THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book Uh

Mr. ROBERT PECK. This light having been by the persecuting -
prelates, put under a bushel, was, by the good providence of Heaven,
fetched away unto J^ew- England, about the year 1638, where the good
people of our Hnigham did rejoice in the light for a teaeon. But within two
or three years, the invitation of his friends at Hingham in England, per-
swaded him to a return unto them ; where, being though a great person
for nature, yet a greater for spirit, he was greatly serviceable for the
good of the church.

Mr. HUGH PETERS. A brief narrative of his life, both befbre and
after his abode, for about seven years, in the charge of the church at Sa-
lem, the reader tiay find at the conclusion of his advice to his daughter,
published under .he title of, A Dying Father^s last Legacy to an only Child :
and indeed, T heartily recommend it unto his reading. The narrative of
his death has also been long since published unto the world : and it re-
ports those to have been amongst his last words. Ohi this is a good
day ! He is come that I have long looked for, and I shall be with him in glory !

Mr. THOMAS PETERS. He came over nnto J^ew-Ensland, in the
time of the civil war ,- and staying but about three years, lie returned
into England. A worthy man, and a writer of certain pieces, which will,
1 suppose, preserve his memory among those that are strangers, as I am
thereunto.

Mr. SAXTON. He was a Yorkshire man ; a studious and a learn-

ed person, a great Hebrfcian. The unsettled condition of the colony,
and some unhappy contention in the plantation, where he lived, put him
upon removing from Scituate, first unto Boston, and so unto England, in
his reduced age. I find in honest Mr. Ryther^s devout book, entituled,
A Plat for Mariners, this passage related concerning him : ' An old Pu-
* ritan minister, [Mr. Saxton, of Leeds, in Yorkshire,] id a storm, coming
' from New-England, when they were all expecting the vessel to sink, be
' said. Oh, who is now for Heaven^ who is bound for Heaven /'

I say nothing, I ecause I know nothing of Mr. Brecy ; but this, be also
returned into Engltnd. But the less of him, the more might be written
of Mr. Giles Firhin, who visited JVew-England in bis younger years, but
afterwards became, in England, an eminent preacher of the gospel, and a
writer, as well as a preacher of it. Among the rest of his books, that
golden one, which is entituled, The Real Christian, does really prove
the title to be his own character j and the rest, as well as that, prove him
to be an able scholar, as well as a real christian. I suppose nim to be
yet living in a fruitful old age, at Rid<^ewel, in Essex : but such demonstra-
tions, he htth still given of his affe,.tions to New-England, on all occa-
sions, that he might have justly resented it, as an injury, if he bad been
wholly omitted in the cp^alogue of them that have deserved well of that
country.

Besides these persons, there are soms other;>. of whom a larger ac-
count might be endeavoured.

Three shall be all that we will offer.

«ookIii.] the history of NEW^ENGLAND.

CHAPTER II.

Mil

The I^iFE of Mr. Thomas Allen^

It was a computation miide in that year, when our colony was just
forty years old, and our land had seen rest forty years, that of ministers
which had then come from England unto us, chiefly in the tenjirst years,
there were ninety four : of which number, thirty one were then alive ;
thirty-six had retired unto Heaven ; twenty-seven hud returned back -to
Europe.

Of those Jlrst comers, who again leffthe country, soon after their^r<(
coming, one was that worthy man Mr. Thomas Mien, who after be had
for some time approved himself a pious and painful minister of the gos>
pel. in our Charlestown. saw cause to return back into England; where
he lived unto a good old age, in the city ofJVorwich.

The name of Allen being but onr pronunciation of the Saxon word, Jll-
wine, which is as much as to say beloved of all expressed the fate of thia
our Allen, among the generality of the well-disposed. And being a tnan
greatly beloved he applied himselfto enquire much into the times, where*
in his predecessor Daniel, was an hard student, when the angel came to
call him so.

Though be staid not very long in this country, yet this country layn
claim especially to two of his composures, which have been servicdable
unto the world. The former of these was printed here ; namely. An in-
vitation unto thirty sinners to come unto their Saviour ; prefaced and aa»
sisted into the Iij;ht by our worthy Higginson. But the latter was print-
ed beyond the sea; and enlituled, A Chain of Scripture Chronology:
wherein the author was disposed like the illustrious Bucholtzer, who be-<
ing weary of controversy betook himself to chronology, saying, Malle se
Computare quam Disputare. This is a most learned and useful piece ;
and all my further account of the author shall be in the words of the fam-
ous Greenhill, in his epistle before it. Says he,

' This work having had its conception in a remote quarter of the world,
' it was latent in his closet, the greatest part of seven years ; as Joash
' sometimes was kept secret in a chamber of the temple, before he was
' brought to public view, by the means of Jehojadah, that good old high
' priest : and it had still been suppressed had not the author heenpressed,
' and charged mth hiding of a tale7U in a napkin, by such another as Je-
' hojadah was [Mr. John Cotton] whose soul is now amongst the saints ia

* Heaven, resting from its manifold labours, and whose name both is, and
' ever will be precious in all the gates of the dAughters ofSion, through all
' ages. When Moses. Daniel and John were in suffering conditions, they
' had much light from God, and gave forth much truth concerniqg the
' church and the times: and many of our reverend, learned, and godly
' brethren, being through the iniquity of the times driven into America,
' by looking up unto God, and by searching of the scriptures, received

* and found much light concerning the church and the times ; and have
' mtde us, and ages to come, beholden to them, by communicating the
' same ; amongst whom now, is this learned and judicious author.'

From the epitaph of Helvicus, the great chronologist, we will presamf
to borrow a tetrastich, for this great student in chronology.

Vol. I

*^ THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

.*4l«w«*M4i?yt EPITAPHIUM.

Angelicoa inter catus, Anitnasq; Beatas;

Spiritvs Allkvi Gaudia Mille Capit :
Ad Litui Sonitum dum Corpus ^ Ossa resurgani,

Totui «t Allenvs Vivificatus ovet.

•A^%'

CHAPTER HI.
The Life of Mr. John Knowlits^

Our blessed Saviour has denounced that righteous and fearful curse,
upon those, who despise the offers of his glorious gospel, Whosoever shall
not receive j^ou, nor hear your words, it shall be more tolerable for Sodom
and GoBBOrrah, in the day of judgment, than for that city. And the excel-
lent Knawles, was an eminent person among those embassadors of Heaven,
in the quarrel of whose entertainment, the King of Heaven., wonderfully
-accomplished that prediction. If New-England bath been in some re-
spects ImmanueVs land, it is well ; but this I am sure of, ImmanueUCol'
lege contributed more than a little to make it so, a fellofv whereof once
-was our Mr. John Knowles.

He was among the^rst comers into JVet!'-£ng/and, joined as a colleague
with Mr. Philips at Watertown. But as he began, so he ended his pious
days ia England; between which there occurred one very remarA^Me
providence, now to be related.

In the year 1641 , one Mr. Bennet, a gentleman from Virginia, arrived
at Boston, with letters from well-disposed people there, unto the minis-
ters of New-England, bewailing their sad condition, for the want of the
glorious gospel, and entreating that they might hence be supplied with
ministers of that gospel. Thene letters were openly read at Boston up-
on a lecture-day ; whereupon the ministers agreed upon setting apart a
day forfastifig and prayer, to implore the direction of God about this bu-
siness ; and then the churches of Watertown, Braintree, and Rowley, ha-
ving each of them two ministers apiece, Mr. Philips of WcUertown, Mr.
Thompson of Braintree, and Mr. Miller o( Rowley, were pitched upon for
the intended service ; whereof the General Court so approved, that it
was ordered, the governour should recommend these persons by his let-
ters to the governour and council at Virginia.

Mr. Philips being indisposed for th voyage, Mr. Knowles went in his
room; and Mr. Miller's bodily weaknesses, caused him also to decline
the voyage. But the two churches of Watertown and Braintree, though they
loved their ministers very well, yet cheerfully dismissed them unto this
great concern ; accounting it their honour that they had such desireable
persons, by whom they might make a mission of the gospel, unto a peo-
pie that saf in the region and shadow of death.

On October 7, 1642, they began their voyage : at Rhode-Island, they
lay long wind-bound ; and they met with so many other difficulties, that
they made it eleveii weeks of dangerous passage, before they arrived
at Virginia : nevertheless, they had this advantage in the way, that they
took in a third minister for their assistance ; namely, Mr. James, then at
Nere-Hmten.

DooK HI.} THE HISTORY OF NEW.ENOLAND. tm

Though their hazardous retardations in their voyage, made them some*
times to suspect, whether they had a clear call of God uoto their under-
takiog, yet the success of their ministry, when they came to Virginia, did
sufficiently extinguish that suspicion. They had little encouragetneta
from the ru/er*of the place, but they had a kind entertainment with the
people ; and in the several parts of the country where they were bestow-
ed, there were many persons by their ministry brought home to God.

But as Austin told mankind, tht devil was never turned christian yet :
the powers of darkness could not count it for the interest, that the light
of the gospel powerfully preached, should reach those dark placet of the
earth. The rulers of that province did not allow of their publick preach-
!|' ing ; but instead thereof, an order was made,. That such as would not

conform to the ceremonies of the Church of England, should by such a day,
depart the country. By which order, these holy, faithful, painful minis*
ters, were driven away from the Virginia coast : but when they retnrn*
ed, as they left behind them, not a few seals of their ministry^ so they
brought with them some, who afterwards proved blessings to JV«w-£»f «^
land.

Well, before the day Bxed for the departure of these ministers came,
the Indians far and near having entred into a contpiracy, to cut off the
English in those territories, executed it in an horrible massacre, where-
by at least three hundred poor English Virginians, were at once barba«
rously butchered, which massacre was also accompanied with a grievou*
mortality, that caused many sober persons to remove out of that colony,
and others to acknowledge the justice of God upon them, for the ill-treats,
which had been given to the ministers of his gospel, and the gospd
brought by those ministers.

After this, did Mr. Knowles remove back to England, where he was a
preacher at the Cathedral, in the city of Bristol, and lived in great credit
and service for divers years.

But when the act of uniformity, made such a slaughter of non-coM/bnnM<*»
IVIr. Knowles was one of the ministers which were silenced by that act.
And after that civil death, he lived in London a coUegue to the famous
Mr. Kentish, and a blessing to the Church of God.

Exercising his ministry in the city of London, he underwent many ^'ev-
ous persecutions, and received as many glorious deliverances. — But when
some of his friends discouraged him, with fears of his being thrown into
prison, if he did hot affect more of privacy, he replied. In truth, I had
rather be in a gaol, where I might have a number of souls, to whom Imighp
preach the truths of my blessed Master, than live idle in my own house, with'
out any such opportunities.

He lived unto a very great age, and staid longer out of Heaven, than
the most of them that live in Heaven upon earth. But in his great age,||he
continued still to do great good ; wherein his labours were so fervent
and eager, that he would sometimes preach till he fell down; and yet have
a youthful readiness in the matter and spirit of his preaching. His last
falling down was a flying up ; and an escape to that land where the wea*
ry are at rest.

^,, EPITAPHIUM.

jj,. Vis Scire, Q«i» Sim ? Nomtn est Knoi.bsius Dixi Satis .'-

.,.,i*a- z:-

•ife

540 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book Hi,

CHAPTER IV.

jE/isAa's bones. Thq Lifp of Mr. Henky Whitpikld.

Cupiditatem Imitandi fecit ; Spem abstulix.

There has been a trite proverb, which i wish indeed were so thread-
bare as to be never used more ;

Angelicws Juvenitf senibui Satanizat in Jlnnis.

which, thongh it were pity it should ever speak English, has been Eng-
lished, Ji young saint, an old devil. I remember Erasmus believer, the
devil himself was the author of that prowrt. This 1 am sure, the pro'
verb was none of So/omon's, who says, Train up a child m the ri'ay that he
ihouldgo, and when h; is old, he will not leave it. indeed a young sinner
may make an old devil ; a young hypociite, a young dissembler, pretend-
ing to saintship, may do so ; but a young saint will certainly make an
old angel.

And ho did our blessed Whitjield. He was a gentleman of good ex-
traction by his birth ; but of a better by his new- birth : nor did his new-
birth come very long after his birth. He did betimes begin his journey
heavenwards ; but he did jot soon tire in that journey ; nor did the ser-
pent by the way, the adder in the path, prevail to make him eome short
home at last.

His father being an eminent larcyer, designed this his youngest son, to
be a lawyer also, and titcrcforc uiTordcd him a liberal education, first at
the university, and then at the Inns of Court. But the gracious and early
operations of the Holy Spirit, on his heart, inclined him rather to be
.preacher of the gospel, and in his inclinations he was encouraged by such
eminent ministers, as Dr Stanton, Mr. Byfeld, and others.

He was very pious in his childhood, and because pious, tl ereforc pray-
erfid ; yea, so addicted unto prayer, that in the very school itt-elf, he would
be sometimes praying, when the scholars about him imagined by his pos-
tures, that he had only been intent upon his book.

As he grew up, he grew exceedingly in his acquaintance with God,
with Christ, and with the exceeding riches of grace displayed in the new
covenant. And he gained such a grounded assurance of his own saving
interest, in that covenant, that he had not for forty years together, fallen
into any miscarriage, which made any considerable breach upon that
assurance.

Okely in Surrey, was the place where the providence of the Lord Je-
sus Christ now stationed him ; where his labours were blessed unto the
good of many, not only in his own town, but in all the circumjacent
country, from whence on holy-days, the people would flock to hear him.
At length, observing that he did more good, by preaching sometimes
abroad, than by preaching always at home, and enjoying then a church-
living of the first magnitude, besides a fair estate of his own, he procured
and maintained another godly minister at Okely ; and by means thereof,
be had the liberty to preach in many places, which were destitute of
ministers, where his labours were successful in the conversion of many
souls unto God. •

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

641

He was one who abounded in liberality and hospitality ; and his house
was always much resorted unto. He was for twenty years, a confonnist ;
but yet a pious non-conformist was all this while very dear unto him :
and such persecuted servants of Christ, as Mr. Cotton, Mr. Hooker, Mr.
Goodwin, and Mr. J^ye, then molested for their non conjormity, were
sheltered under his roof. At last, being present at the conference be-
tween Mr. Cotton, and some other famous divines, upon the controver-
sies of church-discipline, there appeared so much of scriptute and reason
on that .'<ide, that Mr. Whitfield also became a non conformist. But now,
finding it impossible for him, to proceed ia the public exercise of his min-
istry, he obtained a godly successor, he embrared a modest secession, and
he resigned his place with the true spirit of self-denial.

He now sold his personal estate, and came over to New-England^ in the
year 1639, with a multitude of poor people, out of Surrey. Kent, and Sus-
sex, who could not live without his ministry. With these, he began a
new plantation, about twenty miles from New-Haven, and called it Guil-
ford : where he mightily encouraged the people to bear with a christian
patience and fortitude, the difficulties of the wilderness, which they were
come into ; not only by his exhortations, but also by his own exemplary
contentment, with low and mean things, after he had once liv«d in a
more splendid manner, than most other ministers.

His way of preaching was much like Dr. Sibs'' ; and there was a mar-
vellous majesty and sanctity, observable in it. He carried much author-
ity with him ; and using frequently to visit the particular fnmities of his
flock, with profitable discourses on the great concerns of their xnteriour
state, it is not easy to describe the reverence with which they enter-
tained him..

He sojourned eleven years at Guilford, living with his large family of
ten children, mostly on his own estate, which was thereby exceedingly
exhausted. But the inconveniences of New-England, and invitations to
Old, at length overcame him, to return into his native country : and at
the time of parting, the whole town accompanied him unto the water-side,
with a spring tide of tears, because they should see his face no more.

This was in the year 1650.

How highly his ancient friends ihen welcomed him ; how highly the
greatest persons in the nation then respected him ; how faithfully he
then discharged his ministry in the city of Winchester; how many servir
ces he occasionally did for New-England ; and how triumphantly at last
he flew away to Heaven ; must be no part of this history.

But let the excellent words of Lvpirhius in his epitaph, be borrowed
for an epitaph to this rare person ; inasmuch as no words can more live-
lily express the very spirit of all his life.

Dum mihi Vitafuit, Tibi, Christe. Fidelis tit cssem^

Mente Pin Studni, Dogma Sonando Tmim.
Tu mihi D(eHti(E, — Tu Divitiaq; fuidi ;

Tu mihi Defvncto, Gloria, Vita, Salus.

542

THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND. |BooK III.

CHAPTER V.
Remains of the Second Classis.

Of our seemid eatolague are now fallen asleep, Arnold, the author of
a savoury discourse, published under the title of David serving hi$ gen-
eration : BisHOF, Bdlki.y, Carter, Dean, Hanforu [of which worthy
man, let the reader, here in a crotchet, as we go along, refresh himself
with one crotchetly passage : he was near forty years a faithful, painful,
and pious minister at Norwalk, even from the firat settlement of that
plantation : but though he had the comfort of seeing a good and great
success to his ministry there, yet there were times wherein the^re of
contention annoyed the afi'airs of that church exceedingly : and in this
,fire, there once happened such a smoke, that the people naade this one of
their articles to the council against him, that in a certain paper of his^
he had opprobriously called them Indian devils : the council there*
upoki with wonder, calling for the paper, wherein the reproachful terms
was to be looked for, found his expression to have been only thus, Every
individual anfrng them : which occasioned a very joco-serious reflection
upon the ridiculous errors and follies that attend a quarrelsome disposi-
tion ;] HovGH, Newton. And into this catalogue I am content that there
should be received (for the saints of this catalogue already departed have
received him) honest Mr. Nicholas Baker of Sciluute ; who, though he
had but a private education, yet being a pious and zealous man ; or as
Dr. Jirrowsmith expresses it, so good a logician, that he could offer up
to God a reasonable service, so good an arithmetician, that he could wisely
number his days ; and so good an orator, that he perswaded himself to be
zgood christian ; and being also one of good natural parts, especially of a
strong memory, was chosen pastor of the church there ; and in the pas-
toral charge of that church, he continued about eighteen years, until
that horror of mankind, and reproach of medicine, the Stone (undei*
which which he preached patience, by a very memorable example of it ;
never letting fall any word worse than this, which was an usual word
with him, A mercy of God it is no worse !) put an end unto his days.

But he that brings up the rear, is Mr. John Woodbrioge, of whom we
are able to speak a little more particularly.

He was bom at Stanton, near Highworth, in Wiltshire, about the year
1613, of which parish his father was minister ; and a minister so able
and faithful, as to obtain an high esteem among those that at all knew the
invaluable worth of such a minister. His mother was daughter to Mr.
Robert Parker, and a daughter who did so virtuously, that her own per-
sonal character would have made her highly esteemed, if a relation to
such a father had not farther added unto the lustre of her character.

Our John was, by his worthy parents, trained up in the way that he
should go, and sent unto Oxford, when his education and proficiency at
school had ripened him for the university ; and kept at Oxford, until the
oath of conformity came to be required of him ; which neither his father,
nor his conscience approving, he removed from thence unto a course of
more private studies. The rigorous enforcing of the unhappy ceremonies,
then causing many that understood, and regarded the second commandment
in the laws of Heaven, to seek a peaceable recess for the pure worship of
the Lord Jesus Christ in an American desart ; our young Woodbridge,
with the consent of his parents, undertook a voyage to JVew-England

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND.

343

•about the year 1634, and the company and assistance of his worthy ancle
Mr. Thomat Parker, was not the least encouragement of his voyage.
He had not been long in the country, before JVewberry began to be

Elanted ; where he accordingly took up land$, and so seated himself, that
e comfortably and industriously studied on, until the advice of his father's
death obliged him to return into England ; where, having settled his affairs,
he returned again unto Nexo- England, bringing with him his two brothers ;
whereof one died by the way. He had married the daughter of the
Honourable Thomat Uudely, Esq. and the town of Andover then first peep-
ing into the world, he was by the hands of Mr. fVihon and Mr. fVorcenterf
Sept. 16, 1644, ordained the teacher of the congregation there.

Here he continued with good reputation, discharging the duties of his
ministry, until upon the invitation of his friends, he went once mere to
England, in the year 1647, where he soon found employment (bedide»
his being a chaplain to the commissioners treating with the King at the isle
of Wight) first at the considerable town of Andaver, and afterwards at-
Burford St. Martins, in Wiltshire ; at the last of which places, he con-
tinued until the return of Episcopacy first sequestred him, and they being
outed of the school at ATewberry, the infamous Bartholomew -act, caused
him, in the year 1663, (with his now numerous family) to come once
more unto New-England. Here it was not long before the church of
Newberry solicited him to become an assistant unto his aged uncle Mr.
Parker; and in answer to their solicitations, he bestowed his constant,
learned and holy labours upon them.

At last, there arose little differences between him andsoue of the peo-
pie upon certain points of church-discipline, wherein his largeness and
their straitness, might perhaps better have met in a temper ; and these
differences ended not, without his putting an end unto his own ministry
among them ; after which, the remarkable blessing of God upon his own
private estate, abundantly made op to him the publick stipend which he
had parted withal. The country hereupon in token of their value for
him, chose him a magistrate of the colony, that so he mi^ht in yet a more
extensive capacity, be o minister of God unto them for good ; and upon the
alteration of the government, he was made a Justice of Peace, in which
office he continued unto the last.

He had issue twelve children, whereof e/even lived unto the age of meo
and women : and he had the consolation of seeing three sons.^ with two
sons-in-law, improved in the ministry of the gospel, and four grandsons
happily advancing thereunto. A person he was, truly of an excellent
spirit ; a pious disposition accompanied him from his early childhood, and
as he grew in years, he grew in proofs aad fruits of his having been sanc-
tified ft'om his infancy. He spent much of his time in holy meditations,
by which the foretasts of Heaven, were continually feeding of his devout
soul ; and he abounded in all other devotions of serious, heavenly, ex-
perimental Christianity.

He was by nature wonderfully composed, patient, and pleasant; and
he was, by grace much more so : he had a great command of his pas-
sions, and could, and would, and often did forgive injuries, at a rate that
hardly can be imitated. It was rarely or never observed, that worldly
disappointments made any grievous impressions upon his mind ; but as once
when word was brought him, that a sore disaster had befallen many of
his cattel, the messenger was exceedingly surprized, on his beholding
tlie only resentments of this good man thereupon to be in these humble

"y'%.

644 THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. JBook III.

expressions, which were the firttt he uttered, What a mercy it iajhal thin
isthejirst lime that ever I nut witk such a disatter!

This was the frame of mind with tvhich lie still entertained all disaii-
tcrous occiirreiiocs. Only he ivas observably overwhelmed by the death
of his mo»t religious, prudent and faithful consort, when she was Jvly I ,
1G91, Kfty years after his flrst marriage unto her, torn away from the de-
sire of hi eyes. His value for the whole world, was, after a manner ex-
tinguished in this loss, of what was to him the best part of it ; and he
sometimes declared himself desirous to be gone, whenever the Lord of
Heaven should please to call him thither.

At last, about the beginning of March, 1695, the strangury arrested
him ; and he, who had been a great reader, a great scholar, a great chris-
tian, and a pattern of goodness in all the successive stations, wherein the
Lord of Hosts had placed him, on March 17, the day of the christian sab-
bath, after much pain, went unto his everlasting rest; having a few min-
uted before it, refused a glass of offered wine, saying, lamgoing where I
shall hat^e belter I
, His age was about eighty-two.

"• Let him now report the rest himself, in an epitaph, like that on the
tomb of Chrislianus Machabaus.

.if« Quam Vivens Potui tantnm uaerare, Quiete

Mortuus in Solida nunc Smtione fruor .

CHAPTER VI.

Remains of the Third Classis.

Several, in our third catalogue, have upon the late revolutions, re-
turned back to Europe, and several are yet living in service and esteem
among our selves.

Article (I.) But ofthosie that are gone unto the better world, we have
cause jparticularly to remember Mr. Thomas Gilbgiit, whose history is,
it inay be, suffi^ently related in his epitaph, which is at this day to be
read on his tomb in Charlestons n.'

Here it interred the body of that reverend, sincere, zealous, devout and faith-
'yful minister of Jesus Christ, Mr. THOMAS GILBERT, sometime
pastor of the church of Christ, at Chedle, in Cheshire : also,
sometime pastor of the church of Christ at Eling, in Old-Eng-
land : who was the proto-martyr, the first of the minis-
ters that silvered deprivation, in the cause q/" non-
conformity in England : and after, betaking
himself to New-England, became pastor
of the church of Christ, in Tops-
field ; and at sixty- three years
of age, departed this life.
,.- - Interred October

^ - -* .^v :'■ ■■. ': 28^ 1673. . .

JBooK III] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. M^

Omnia prseterunt, praeter amare Deum.

Thete things past for ever, vain world, away ;
But love to (Jod, this, this endures for ay.

Oilberli tiic tenuem, Lectores, Ceruilis, Uinbram,
Longu h&c Clara Magia Stella Micausq; fuit.

Sic fuit in Vit& Gilbertus, eicq; Receasu,
Sicce detur nobis Vivere, sicq; Mori.

Lohere o/* Gilbert, bu{ a shadow flight }
He was a. star of more illustrious light.
Such Gilbert was in life, such in his death ;
God grant we may so live, so yield our breath.

Article (II.) On Dec 28, 1674, died Mr. John Oxenbridge, a successor
to four famous Johns, in the pastoral charge, of the first church in Bos-
ton. He was horn in Daventry, Konhamptonshir'e, Jan. 30, 16U8. Both
Cambridge and Oxford contributed unto his liberal education ; and in on«
of those universities he proceeded Master of Jiits, in the year 1631.
The year following, be became a publick preacher of the gospel ; and
after this, taking successively two voyages to Barmudaz, he at length re-
turned into England, and in the yfftir 1644, became a pastor to a church
in Beverly, t find him after this, a fellow of Eaton-Colledge : but in the
general' shipwrack that befel the non-conformists, A. C. 1662, I find
him swimihtng away to Surrinam, in America From thence be came to
Barbados, in the year 1667, and to New-England, in the year 1669,
where he succeeded Mr. Davenport, and continued until bis Inst remove,
which war to the City of God.

'i'he abilities and inclinations of this worthy man, are discovered in
several of his published composures. In England he published several
discourses on, The Duty of Watchfulness. He also published, A Proposi-
tion of propagating the Gospel by Christian Colonies,in the Continent of Gai-
anai, being some Gleanings of a larger Discourse. That larger discourse
is yet sleeping: but upon perusal of the MSS. I am sensible, that there
is in it a grateful variety of entertainment. After became to New-Eng'
land, be published a sermon, preached at the anniversary election of our
governour and assistants. And he likewise published a sermon about
Seasonable seeking of God.

The piety which breathed in these composures, was but what he main-
tained in his daily walk ; and sometimes he found the leisure to articulate
the breathings of it in writing. We read concerning Balaam, The Lord
put a word in his mouth : it should seem, his heart was not holily affected
with what was expressed by his mouth. But the word was in the heart,
as well as in the mouth of our Oxenbridge ; and his pen also sometimes
transcribed his heart. Once thus particularly,

* Certain late experiments of the grace of God in Christ, to /. O. a ,
' poor worm, who desires to record them, to the praise of his grace.

'Nov. 19, 1666, was a dark day; my bodily spirits being very low
' (though without pain.) and my heart shut up, that 1 could not look op
' to God. This made me to apprehend the sad condition of a soul de-
' serted of God in a time of affliction ; but the Lord suffered not this dark

* maze to continue. For that night he thawed my heart, and opened it

* with some freedom to himself.

Vol. I. ft9

„i-

S-l^

tHE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. IBook ill.

' But what shall I say for the strange and strong conMolationf, with

* which he tilled my soul, on the 20 and 2|st of November? No wuidn

* can exprcHS what 1 have fuitin my he:irt. 1 wuh wholly taken up with

* ^he thoughts of the kindnetis of (iod. i s.iid, What love is like this love {

* and wlw is a God like unto thee ? and what remains for me. b'>' to love
' and to praise thee forever ? Now death was no dark thing to mc,
' neither was any concern of this life considerable. And now 1 hiive suid,

* Who can lay any thiiig to my charge, since CAm< huth »ati*fird by his

* deaths and hath gotten a release by his resurrection, and lives for ever to

* perfect my salvation ? This hatii been a great stay to me in my solitary

* condition ; though bereft of such relations, a precious wife, and two such
' children. But the Lord Jesus liveth for ever, to do all for me, and be
' all to mc. And I do the more admire and adore the great Ood. in his
' condescending so much to so vile a worm, that hath been so full of fears

* and doubts, and hath »o much displeased my Lord Jesus and his Holy
^ * Spirit. That which grieved mc most, of late months, is, the unfixtdness
' • of my thoughts on God : and Oh, that the Lord may, by hw establishing

* spirit, contirm these comforts on me, so that I may enjoy them in death,
*■ and improve them for the good of others in life. I know Hatan is a

* wrangler ; but my Advocate iii able to silence him !'

When the Lord of this faithful servant came to call for him, he wa»
found in his master's work, 'i'owards the close of a sermon, which he
was preaching at Boston lecture, he Was taken with a degree of an Apo-
plexy (as John Cyril, the worthy Bohemian pastor was in the beginning of
the former century, Apoplexia in media ad populmn, condone correptus)
which in two or three days, ended his pilgrimage. Thus he had the
wish of some great men, Oportet Concionatorem, aiitprecantemaut Predi'
ccuttem, Mori.

EPITAPHIUM.

Vixi, Sf quern lederas Cursum, in Te Christc peregi.

; Article fllK) On March 24, 1678-9, expired that excellent man, Mr.

'' Thomas W allev, about the age of sixty-one. 1 can not recover the day

' of his birlh, let it content my reader, that the primitive christians did
happily confound the distinction of the two times mentioned by the wise

' man, a time to be bom, and a time to die, calling the day of a saint's death,

' by the name of their Natalitia.

This man of a thousand, was a well accomplished scholar ; but his ac-
-complisbments especially lay in that which the great Gregory asserts to
be,.^rs Artium,^ Scientia Scientiarum, namely, Animarum Regimen,

He was a christian in whom the graces of Christ very richly adorned,
but most of all, that which has most of Christianity in it, humility ; the
happy vertue which we may address, n ith the acknowledgment once made
unto Falix, By thee zve enjoy great quietness : and by that vertue he was

■ eminently serviceable to make all quiet, wherever he came. He was a
divine, well furnished with the knowledge necessary to master-builder in
the Ch ?ch of God, and particularly knowing in those points of divinity,
^hich ^Vbn Lectio docet, scd Unctio, non Litera, sed Spiritus, non Eruditio,
^ed Exercitatio,

He was -A preacher, who made Christ the main subject of bis preach'
ing ; and who had such a regard for souls, that he thought much of noth-
ipg, by vrhick be might recommend a Christ unto the souls even of the

Book IIl.J THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

menneat, ai well ns of the grcntest : being disposed, like thnt great king
of Frame, who beini; found instructing his kitchen-b«y in th« matters of
religion, nnd being Hsked with wonder the reiwon of it, koswered. The
meoHest has a $oul as precious as my »wn, and bought by the blood of Christ
an well as mine! It may be I cannot give n truer description of this our
Wallkv, than in the words of him that writes the life of the famous
Belgic Walla:u8 : ' He was diligent in visiting his parishioners, whereby
' he reformed many which were given to viciousness. H« satisticd
' doubting consciences, and extricated them out of the snares of Satan.
' He comforted those that were cast down, with the apprehension of

* God's wrath for their sins. }ie ministered relief to widows, orphans.
' and such as were destitute of humane help. His company was never
' grievous.'

His being such a one, did but render him the more likely to be found
a non-conformist, whenttie act of uni/brm% struck deadao many faithful
miniHters of the gospel in the English nation. When the Church of Eng-
land under the neu: form, which its canons after the year IG60, depraved
it into, was pressing its unscriptural rites, our JValley replied, with Tertuli
lian, siideo dicetur, licere, quia 7wn prohibeat, Scripturu, aiquc relorquebi-
tur, iden non licere, quia Scriptura non Jubeat.

If the Church of England, in the days of JVe iv- England^ s first plant-
ing, did 80 want reformation, that these colonies must be planted for the
sake thereof, how much more would the second model of it alTrigbt such
conscientious dissenters as our fVatley, unto congregations that were more
thoroughly reformed ? For, as one writes, ' Though the Church of Eng-
' /anti WIS never so reformed, as Geneva, France, Holland, and other re^
' formed churches ; yet there is as vast a difference between the old
' Church of £ng/an(i and the new one, as between Nebuchadnezzar, when
' sitting on his th -one and glittering in his glory, and Nebuchadnezzar,

* when grazing ^.ong beasts in the field, with his hair like birds' feath-
' ers, and nails like eagles' claws.' The eflect of all uas, that Mr. fVal-
ley w IS driven from the exercise of his ministry in London, to New-Eng-
land ; where he arrived about the year 1G63.

Here he had a great service to do ; for if the Apostle Paul thought it
bese(iming an apostle, to write a part of canonical scripture, about the
agreement of no more than two godly persons [Phil. iv. 2.] certainly it
must be a great service to bring a divided church of godly persons unto
a good agreement. In Thebes, he that could reconcile any quarrelsome
neighbours, was honoured with a gar/an<2. The honour of a gar/am/^
was on that score, highly due to our Walley.

The church of Barnstable had been miserably broken with divisions-
until this prudent, patient, and Holy Wallkv appeared upiong them ;
and,

Quum Pietate Gravem, ac Meritis hunc Forte
Virumjam Conspexere, Silent.

As among the Suevians it was a law, that in a fray, where swords -were
drawn, if any one did but cry ;)coce, they must end the quarrel, or else,
he died that struck the next blow after peace was named. Thus, after
our Walley, with his charming wisdom, cried p^ace, that flock was
happily united ; and he continued in much peace, and with much fame,
feeding of it, all the rest of his days.

1 will now so far discover my self, as to apn'^ad this worthy man, for
two things, which it may be, many gojsd men will count worthy rathpv
of reproach than applatise.

SM THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENOLAND. [Rook 111.

Ono ia this : in my father's prefiice to hit diiconnei on the Acw-Je*

rv$aUtn, I meet with this pnaaage* Thovgh it hath bttn generally thought,
that the (irat reaurrection ipoken of in the Apocalypse, t« to be underttood
only in a my$tical ien$e ; yet tome of the firtt, and eminent teaeher» m
theee churches, believed the first resurrection to be corporal. So did Mr.
Duvcnport, Mr. Hook, and of later yeart, thai man of an excellent $pir it,
Mr. Thomaa Wallcy, pattor of the church in BarnatHble. Thua din our

Eiout chiliaat, Walley, it seems, come to hia thoughts as Joteph Mede
efore him did, and aa in the timea of more illuminHlion learned men
Diuat and will : Pottquam alia omnia frnitra tentaeeem, tundem Ret iptiut
Claritudine per$trictus, paradoxo Succubui.

Another ia this : on a great occaMion, our fValfey declared himaelf in
theae words, It would not coniist with nur profeision of love to Chriit or
iaint$, to trouble those that peaceably differ from the generality of God't
people y in letter thingt ; thote that are like to live in Heaven with ui at latt,
we thould endeavour they might live peaceably with u* here A well bound-
ed toleration were very detireable in all «:hrittian commonwealths, that there
may be no just oceation for any to complain of cruelty or penecution ;
but tt mutt be tuch a toleration, that God may not be publickly blatphemed,
nor idolatry practited. With auch candor did he express himaelf against
the way well decryed by Gerhard, A Verba ad Ferrum, ab Atramento ad
Armamenta, a Pennii, ad Bipennei, confugere.

I caoujt tind any more than one published composure left behind ;
which ia entitutled, Balm in Gilead to heal Sion'a Wounds : being a ser-
mon preached before the General Court of the colony of New-PlymotUk,
June 1, 1669, the day of election there : in which, let it be remembred,
he expressly foretela, that New-England, would e'er long lose her holinets,
her righteousness, her peace, and her liberty.

EPITAPHIUM.

Mors, Qualem Virum Extinxisti !

Sed bene habet ;
Virtus Wall«i Immortalis est.

Article (iV.) The small stay of the Reverend Mr. Samuel Lee in
thia country, where he was pastor of the church at New-Bristol [from
the year 1686, to the year 1691,] will excuse me, if I say little of him ;
and yet the great worth of that renowned man, will render it inexcusable
to say nothing at all.

All that I ahall say is, that if learning ever merited a statue, thia great
man, baa as rich an one due to him, a» can be erected ; for it must be
granted, that hardly ever a more universally learned person trod the
American strand.

Live.O rare Lee, live, if not inourtDor^*, yet in thy own ; ten or twelve
of which, that have seen the light, will immortalize thee. But above
all, thy book De Excideo Antichristi. shall survive and assist i\ie funeral
of the monster, whose nativity is therein, with such exquisite study cal-
culated ; and thy bock entituled, Orbis Mimculum; or the The Temple
of Solomon, shall proclaim thee to be a miracle for thy vast knowledge,
■nd a pillar in the temple of thy God !

In his return for England, the French took him a prisoner, and nnciv-
tlly detaining him, he died in France ; where he found the grave of an

DooE III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENQLANP.

heraiek, and was therein (aAcr some tort, like IFtcik/f/f «ad Burer) made
« mar/yr aAer bit death.

CHAPTER VII.

Ji Oood Man making a Qood End) The Lira and Drath of the Rev«
erend Mr. John Baily, comprised and eipreued in a Sermon, on
the day of his Funeral. Thursday 16 D. 10 M. 1697.

Pulehra tunt Ftrba ex Ore
Ea Facientium, Adag. Judaic.

Rkader,

Wb are not so wite, as the miserable Papiste ! among them, a person
of merit shall at his death, be celebrated and canonized by all men
agreeing in it, as in their common interest, for to applif\id his life. Among
ns, let there be dues paid unto the memory of the most meritorious per-
son after his decease ; many of the survivers are offended, I had almost
said enraged at it : they seem to take it as a reproach unto theroselTes
(and it may be, so it is!) that so much good should be told of any man,
and that all the little frailties and errors of that man, (and whereof no
meer man was ever free !) be not also told with all the unjust aggrava-
tions that envy might put upon them. This folly is as inexpressible
an injury to us all ; as it cannot but be an advantage unto mankind in
general, for interred vertue to be rewarded with a statue

If ever I deserved well of my country, it has been when I have given
to the world the histories and characters of eminent persons, which
have adorned it. Malice will call some of those things romances ; but
that malice it self may never hiss with the least colour of reason any
more, I do here declare, let any man living evince any one material
tnistake in any one of those composures, it shall have the most publick
recantation that can be desired. In the mean time, while some impotent
cavils, nibbling at the statues which we have erected for our worthies,
take pains to prove themselves, the enemies of New- England, and of re-
ligion, the statues will out-live all their idle nibbles ; the righteous xeill be
had in everlasting remembrance, when the wicked who see it and aregrieV'
ed, shall gnash with their teeth and melt away.

A Good Man making a Good End.
Uttered, Thursday 16 D. 10 M. 1697.

I bring you this day a text of sacred scripture, which a faithful servant
of the Lord Jesus Christ, lately gone unto him, did before his going, or-
der for you as his legacy. Give your attention.

'Tis that in Psal. xxxi. 5. Into thine hand I commit my spirit.

That holy and worthy minister of the gospel, whose /«nera/ is this
•lay to be attended, having laboured for the conversion of men unto God,
at length grew very presagious that his labours in the evangelical ministry,
drew near unto an end. While he was yet in health, and not got beyond

550

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book III.

fhe fiAy-foUi'th year of his age, be did, with such a presage upoa bis
mind (having first written on this wise in bis diary. Ok! that Christ'e
death might Jit me for my 07vn !) begin to study a sermon on this very
text, Into thine hand I commit my spirit. But bis great master, who
favoured bim with such a presage, never gave him an opportunity to
finish and utter, what be had began to study. His life had all this while,
been a practical commentary upon hid doctrine ; yea, it was an endeavour
to imitate our blessed Lord Jesus Christ, who is said [Acts i. h]
first to do, and then to teach: and now, behold! bis death must
^expound and apply the doctrine which he would have preached unto
us. He must ^iiow us, how to do that important work of cotnmit'
ling a departing spirit into the hands of God, no otherwise than by
tl>e actual doing of that work himself. While therefore he lay dy-
in^, he asked one of bis dearest relations, Dost thou know ■what I am
doing? She said, no ; he then added, / am rendring, I am rendring f
jiieaiiing, I suppose, his own spirit unto the Lord. But while be was do-
ing ofth.it work, itnd with humble resignation committing hit. own spirit int»
the hands of God, he desired of me, that 1 would preach upon the text,
fibout tviiich he had been under such intentions. Wherefore [if at least
I may be thought woi thy of such a character !] yoo are now to consider
xne, shall 1 say, as executing the will of ihe dead? or, as representing a
man of God. zshom God hath taken. The truths wh'cb we shall now in-
culcat«i, will be such, as you are all along to think, these are the things
tohich a saint now in glory would have to b£ inculcated. And when we
have briefly set those truths before you, we will describe a little that
excellent saint, as from whom you have them recommended : we will
describe him chiefly, with strokes fetched from bis own diaries, out of
-which, in the little time 1 have had since bis death, I have collected a
few remarkables.

Our Psalmist, the illustrious David, now, as we may judge, drew near
unto his end : and we may say of the Psalm here composed by him,
These are among the last xvords of David, the man who 7vas raised up on
high. The sighs of the Psalmist here, collected, seem to have been oc-
casioned by the sufferings, which he underwent, when his own subjects
took up arms ngamst him. Nevertheless, as our psalter is all over the
Book of the Messiah, so this particular Hymn in it, is contrived elegantly
to point out the sufferitigs of our Lord Jesus Christ unto us. In the text
now before us, the Ppalmist apprehending himself in danger of death,
does the great work of a dyivg man: which is, to commit a surviving
gpirit. into the hand of God. But in doing this, he entertains a special
consideration of God, for his encouragement in doing it : this is, Thou hast
redeemed me, O Lord God of truth. It is the Messiah that hath redeemed
us ; it is the Messiah whose tuiine is the Truth; David upon a view of
the Messiah, said, This is the man, who is the Lord God. Wherefore, in
committing our spirits unto God, our Lord Christ is to be distinctly con-
sidered ; and he was. no doubt, by David considered. The power of
God is called his lutnd ; the wisdom of God is called his hand ; but above
all, the Christ of God, who is the power of God, and the wisdom of God,
he is the hand o(God ; by Him it is, that the God of Heaven doth, what
he doth in the world : and he is, for that cause also styled. The arm of
the Lord. It is therefore to the power and wisdom and goodness of God,
in Christ, that our expiring spirits are to be committed.

There was indeed a wonderful time, when our Lord Jesus Christ him-
self made a wonderful v.fc of this very text. We read in Luke xxiii. 46,

UooK III.l THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

551

When Jestia had cried with a loud voice, he said Father, into thy hands J
commend my Spirit ; and having $aid thus, ht gave up the Ghost. Sirs,
Ood uttered Atf voice, at this rato, and the earth trembled at it! And well
it might, for never did there audi an amazing thine occur upon the earth
before. Now, our Lord having said, Into thy hantis I commend my Spirit,
stopped at those words j for he was himself the Redeemer, the Lord (Jod of
Truth. But as for us, we are to consider God, as in our Ltord Jesus
Christ, vihenjte commit our spirits into his hands. An Luther could flay,
Nolo DerimMsolutum, I tremble to have to do, with an absolute Uod ;
that is to'say, a God without a Christ : so, we may all tremble to think
of committing our spirits into the hands of God, any otherwitso. than an he
is, tn Christ reconciling the world unto himself. We are truly told iu Heb.
X. 31, It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. Our
spirits are by sin become obnoxious to the fearful wrath of God ; und
wo to us, if our Spirits fall into his hands, not having his wrath appealed I
Sirs, we commit briars and thorns, and wretched stubble to infinite flames,
if we commit our spirits into the hands of God, not in a Christ, become
our friend. We deliver op our spirits unto a devouring fre, and unto
everlasting burnings, if we approach the Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Al-
mighty any otherwise than through the Immanuel, our Mediator. We
are to commit our'soids unto our faithful Creator : but if he be not oi :r mer-
ciful Redeemer too, then He that made us will not have mercy on us. . When
Hezekiak was, as he thought, a dying, he turned his face to the wall : I
suppose it was to that side of the upper chamber, the praying chamber,
where he lay, that had God^s window in it, the window that opened it
self towards the ark in the temple. When we commit our spirits iuto
the hav-.' wf God, we are to turn our face towards that ark of God, our
Lord Jesus Christ. We have this matter well directed by the words of
the dying martyr Stephen, in Acts vii. 59, He said, Lord Jesus, receive
my spirit.
And now there is a weighty case, that lies before us ; ':*■-, «!tr<D «.^, (^

After what manner should we commit our spirits unto our Lord Jesus Christ,
that so the eternal safety and welfare of our spirits, may be effectually
provided for?

If our faithful Baily were now alive, I do not know any one case, that
he would more livelily have discoursed among you : but 1 know, that be
would have discoursed on this, with a soul full of inexpressible agonies.
He was a man, who bid from a child, been full of solicitous cares about
iiis own soul ; and from hence in part it was, that when be became a
preacher of the gospel, he preached nothing so much, as the cares that
all men should have, about the conversion of their souls unto God, and
the sincerity of their souls before him. There were many great points
of our christian faith, which he still treated with shorter touches, be-
cause his thoughts were continually swallowed up with the vast concern
of not being deceived, about the marks of a regenerate and a sanctified
soul, and hopes of being/ouncJ in Christ at a dying hour. Ue was none
of those preachers, Qu>- luduntin Cathedra, ^ lugent in Gehenna. Those
two words, a soul and eternity, were great words unto him ; and his ve;y
Moul was greatly, and always under the awe of them. Hence the very
spirit of his preaching lay in the points of turning from sin to God in
Christ, and the tryal of our doing sq, and the peril of our not doing it.
Wherefore, as far as alas, one of my sinful coldness in those dreadfid

&62

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND, {Book HI.

points can do it, 1 will set before you in a few roinates, what I apprehend,
nay dead friend would hare fb be spoken, upon these points, in relation
to the case that is now to be considered.

I. Let every mortal man be very sensible, that he hath an immortal
spirit in him, and prize that spirit exceedingly. How shall we commit a
tpirit into the hatids of the Lord Jesus Christy if this thing be not realized
unto us, that zve have a spirit, which will be horribly miserable to all eter-
nity, if the Lord Jesus (Jhrist look not after it !

Could that mouth, which is this day to be laid in the dust, once more
be opened among us, I know what voice would issue from it : with a
very zealous vivacity, 1 know this voice would be uttered, Man. thov.
hast a soul, a soul within thee ; a soul that is to exist throughout eternal
ages ; Ok ! prize that soul of thine at the greatest rate imaginable. I say
then ; we must be sensible, that we have spirits which are distinct from
our bodies, and which will out-live them : spirits which are incorporeal
substances, endued with rational faculties ; and though inclined unto our
humane bodies, yet surviving after them. An infidel Pope of Rome, once
lying on bin deuth-bed, had such a speech as this ; I shall now quickly be
certified and satisfied, whether I have an immortal soul or no ! Woful man,
if he were not until then certified and Hatistied ! God forbid, that there
should be so miich as one Epicurean smne among us, dreaming, that man
is nothing but a meer lump of matter put into motion. Shall a man dare
to think, that he has not a rational soul in him. which is of a very differ-
ent nature from his body.^ Truly, his very thinking is enough to confute
his monstrous unreasonableness : meer body cannot think ; and 1 pray, of
what figure is a rational atom ? The oracles of God have therefore assur-
ed us, that the fathers of our bodies, are not the fathers of spirits ; no,
these have another father i And, that the spirits of men may go from
their bodies; and be caught up to the third Heaven too ! Well ; but when
our bodies crumble and tumble before the strokes of death, are not our
spirits overwhelmed in the mines of our bodies, like Sampson, when the
Philistean temple fell upon him ? No ; they are sparks of immortality,
that shall never be extinguished ; they must live, and move, and think,
until the very Heavens be no more. Among other evidences, that our
spirits are immortal, there is no contemptible one, in the presages, which
the spirits of such good men, as he which is anon to be interred, have
had of their speedy passage in a world of spirits. Our Lord Jesus Christ,
who gave his own blood for the purchase oi our souls, and can tell,
sure ! ivhat it is that he has purchased ; he has expressly told us in
Matth. X. 28, They which kill the body, are not able to kill the soul. Our
blessed Apostle Paul, a mighty student and worker for souls, was not fed
with fancies, when he took it for granted, in Phil i. 2'., that when he
should be dissolved, he should 6e with Christ immediately. Do, try thou
fool- hardy creature, to perswade thy self, that thou hast not an immortal
soul : thou canst not, for thy soul, render thy self altogether, and ever-
more perswaded of it : with very dreadful suspicions, of its immortality,
tvill thy own conscience, a certain faculty of thy soul terrify thee, when
God awakens it. I have known u sturdy disputer against the immortali-
ty of the soul, go out of the world with this lamentable out-cry. Oh! my
soul, my soul ; what shall I do for my poor soul ? Sirs, let this principle
stand like the very pillars of Heaven with every one of us, that we have
immortal souls to be provided for. But if a man have an immortal soul
within him, what will be the natural consequiince of it ? The conse-
quence is plainly this ; that since thisoal is immortal, it should be very

MMB

Book lil.] THE HISTORY OF NEW ENGLAND.

bHA

precioui. It was infinitely reusonahie for the soul to be called, as it was
in Fsat. xxii. 20, J\1y soul, my darling.' Oh f there should be^nothing bo
dear to a man as that soul of his, that shull endure when all other things
are changed : for, O my soul, of thy years there shall be no end. The in-*
terest8 of our spirits arc to be much greater things unto us, than the in*
tereats of our bodies. What will become of our souls ? That, that is a
thing that should lie much nearer to our hearts, than what will become,
of our lives, our names, our estates. We should set an high value oa
our spirits, and often meditate on the text, wiiich was once given to a
great man, for his daily meditation in Matt. xvi. 26, What is a man pro^
Jited, if he gain the whole world . and lose his own soul.

II. Let every man in this world that hath an immortal spirit, be above
all things, thoughtful for the welfare of that i>pirit in another world.
When we commit a spirit iijto the hands of the Lord Jesus Chiist, it is,
that so it may escape that wretchedness, and attain that blessedness in ^
another »vorld, whereof our Lord hath in his word advised us. When
that einbas'^ador of Christ, who is lately gone buck unto him was resident
among us, there was no one thing thnt he more vigorously insisted on
than this ; Oh ! there is nothing so dreadful, as that hell- which every wicked
soul shall be turned into : there is nothing so joyful as that Heaven which i$
prepared for every godly soul : and there is nothing of so much concern-
ment for you, as to flee from that wrath to come, and lay hold on that life
eternal. 1 say accordingly ; there are astonishing dangers, whereto our
souls are exposed by our sins. Our spirits are in danger of being for
ever banished from the communion of the Lord Jesus Christ, into a state ,
of easeless and endless horror ; our spirits are in danger to be plunged
into doleful torments, among the devils that have been our tempters :
our spirits are in danger to be seized by the justice of that God against
whom we have sinned, an'd laid und^r everlasting impressions of his in-
dignation. There are s/Jtrj/s in prison; there is danger lest the ven ■
geance of God chain up our spirits in that fiery prison (It was but a
little before he went unto Heaven, that our Baily in twenty-six discours-
es on Rev. vi. 8, opened the treasures of that wrath among us.) And
we should now be so thoughtful of nothing upon earth, as how to get our .
spirits delivered from this formidable hell. The tittest language for us,
would be like that in Psal. cxvi. 3, 4, The pains of hell are getting hold
on me ; Lard, I beseech thee to deliver my soul. But then there -j a
great salvation, which our Lord Jesus Christ has wrought for us ; and ,
that salvation is, the salvation of the sout. Our spirits may be released '
from the bonds, which the sentence of death, by the law of God passed
upon them, has laid them under. Our Lord Jesus Christ, satisfying of ^
the law, by his death in our stead, hath procured this release for the "
spirits of his chosen. There are the spirits of just men made perfect;
and there is perfect light, and perfect love, and perfect j"oy, among those
glorified spirits. Our spirits may be advanced into the society of angels;
and be with our Lord Jesus Christ in Heaven, the spectators and parta-
kers of his heavenly glory. Now, we should be more thoughtful to
make sure of such a Heaven for our spirits, than to ensure any thing on
earth. We should wish for nothing so much as that in 1 Sam. xxv. 29,
A soul bound up in the bundle of life. There are souls which our Lord
Jesus Christ has bundled like so many slips, to be transplanted into the
sweet garden of Heaven ; say now, O man, with all possible ardpur of
ioul. Oh ! may my soul be one of them !

Vol. I.

S6<i

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book Hf.

Wheo our father Jacob wyi a dying, he seems, upon the ocbMion of
mentioning a serpent, immediately to cuU to mind the mischiefs which
had been done by the old serpent unto our spirits : whereupon he cried
out, Gen. xlix. 18, / have zeaited for thy Salvation [for thy JESUS !]
Lord. That our spirits may not be destroyed in our dying, this, this is
the thing that we should be concerned for ; that they may be saved by a
Jems, from the mischiefs, which the old serpent has brought upon them.

III. When we commit our s/)iVi?s into the hands of our Lord Jesns
Christ, we mu&t Relieve in him, as fully able to sore our spirits unto the
uttermost. It is by faith acted unto the uttermost, that we are to commit
our spirits into the hands of our Lord Jesus Christ : now the acts of this
faith are admirably expressed in 2 Tim. i. 12, I know whom Ihave believ-
ed, and I am perswaded, that he is able to keep that which I have committed
unto him. We would have our spirits preserved from the direful anger
of God, which threatens to swallow them up : say now. Lord Jesus, lam
perswaded, thou art able to preserve me. We would have our spirits en-
riched with the knowledge and image, and favour of God, in his kingdom :
gay now, Lord Jesus, I am perswaded, thou art able to enrich me. We are
therefore to place our faith on the sacrifice which our Lord Jesus Christ
hath offered unto God, on the behalf of his people. We read in Job
xxxiii. 22, When a soul draws near unto the grave, if there be n messenger
with him, an interpreter, then he says, deliver him from going down to the
pit, I have found a ransome. Some of the ancients take that, Angelvs In-
terpres, to be Christ the Mediator. Sirs, when your souls are drawing
near unto the grave, it is high time to believe on that ransome, which One
among a thousand has paid unto God for us. We must believe, that the
sacrifice of the soul of the Messiah, when he was cut off, but not for him-
self, is a valuable sacrifice, a sufficient sacrifice, and a sacrifice which the
wondrous grace of God invites us to depend upon ; and with a firm de-
pendance on that sacrifice, we must plead, O let my soul be delivered from
going down to the pit, since God has found such a ransome for me ! But
while we rely on our Lord Jesus Christ, as he has been sacrificed for us
here below, we must also reply upon him, as he is now above, in the Ho-
ly of holies, interceding for us. And that our faith in committing our
spirits unto our Lord Jesus Christ, may be a truly christian faith. We
must believe him to be no less than the Lord God of Truth ; to be God
as well as man ; to be God and man in one person. That man is a very
foolish man, who will trust his own soul with any one less than the God
who made our soul, and who alone can save it. Our belief must pronounce
our Lord Jesus Christ, the same that his Bible has pronounced him ;
the true God, the great God, and God over all; one who is every where,
and who knows every thing. This article of our faith, which the modern
Jews deny, is indeed so incontestable, that I could presently overwhelm
them with an army of testimonies, from the Babbies among the ancient
Jews, confessing, that the Messiah must be very Jehovah himself. I
beseech you, let no man dure to die in any doubt, whether the Lord Je-
sus Christ, unto whom he commits his own soul, be not more than a
meer man. Believing him to be God, let us believe, that his blood is
price enougli to obtain for us the everlasting happiness of our spirits ;
what can our spirits want that the blood of God cannot obtain ? Let us
believe, that his Holy Spirit can fit our spirits for, and fill our spirits
-tvith eternal glories ; the Spirit of Christ is the Spirit of God : What
can't he do for us ? Let us believe, that he has legions and myriads, and
-nillions of blessed spirits to be our convoy, and safeguard from those

Book III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

VOl}

evil spirits, which are ivaiting to arrest our spirits at our dissolution :
he is God among the thousands of his angels, io his holy place : they will
Ay like swill flashes of lightning to succour us, wheu ever he shall com*
mand them so to do. What shall we say ? When Jacob fell asleep with
his head lying upon a stone, he had a vision of angels concerned for him.
Truly, our Lord Jesus Christ i», the Stone of Israel. If you do not fall
asleep, till you have laid your heads and hopes on that Stone, you shall
then see armies of angels about you, to secure you.

IV. When we commit our spirits into the hand of our Lord Jesus
Christ, we must submit unto all his gracious operations upon our spirits.
We commit our spirits into the band of our Lord Jesus Christ, we say :
well, he then demands of us, as in Mark x. 51, What wilt thou, that I
should do unto thee? And, I pray, tburk it ; if there be any article of
grace always wrought by the Lord Jesus Christ, for the spirits of his
c|pct, which you do not consent unto, he will not receive your spirits ;
no, he will destroy them dreadfully. Some commit their spirits into the
hand of the Lord Jesus Christ, they say ; but they are not willing that
the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ should ever do for them, all that must
done, in all that are brought home unto God. Perhaps they w^ould have
their spirit rescued from the hands of the devils hereafter ; but they do
not heartily commit their spirits into the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ,
for to have all the lust^ that make their spirits like devils, here embitter-
ed, and emdicated. They would have easy spirits, it may be,'biit Oh!
they are loth to have holy spirits. This halving of it, thou hypocrite>
this halving of a Christ, will hang the millstones of damnation about the
neck of thy soul for ever. The Lord Jesus Christ puts this question
unto us. Poor sinner what shall I do for thy spirit ? No man can aright
commit a spirit into the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ, until he have se-
riously pondered on that question. Ponder it Sirs, in the fear of God I
but then let our answer to it, be according to that in 2 Thess. i. 1 1, That
he would fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness in you, and the work of
faith with power. In committing your spirits into the hand of the Lord
Jesus Christ, Oh ! let your hearts, being made willing in the day of his
power, declare themselves willing to have him do for you, all that be if
willingto do. It is the proposal of the Lord Jesus Christ, Shall my obe-
dience to my Father furnish thee with that attonement, and that righteous-
ness whereby thy spirit shall stand without fault before the throne of God?
Reply, Lord, I commit my spirit into thy hand, for thee to justify it. The
proposal of the Lord Jesus Christ unto us is, All the maladies of thy spir-
it, shall I heal them all ? Reply, Lord, I commit my spirit into thy hand,
as into the hand of the Lord my healer ; O let that hand of thine open thisi
blind mind, and subdue this base will, and rectifie all these depraved affec-
tions ; and on all accounts renew a right spirit within me. Man, commit
thv spirit into the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ, with such a disposition ;
and then rest .tssured, that spirit shall never be lost.

V. If you would successfully commit your spirits into the hand of th«>.
Lord Jesus Christ, when you die, you are to do it for your spirits before
you die. Indeed, what should all our life be, but a preparation for death ?
And all of our life truly is little enough. So thought our devout Baity.
It was the counsel which he often gave to his friends, Let not one day pass
you, without an earnest prayer, that you may have a Christ for to stand by
yon in a dying hour. And his own practice was according to that coun-
sel, as is well known to them that lived with him in his family. Sirs,
you are not sure, that when the decretory hour of death overfaiios you,^

556

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. (Book "I.

you shall have one minute of an hour allowed you, to commit your spir-
its into the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ. Is not a wdden death a fre-
quent sight ? There are very niony so suddenly snatched away by the
whirlwind of the vengeance of the Almighty, th"t they have not oppor-
tunity 80 much ns to say, hard have mercy upon me ! And let me tell you,
that a sudden deah is most likely to be the portion of (hose who most
presumptuously put ofl'to a deoih bed, the work of committing their spir*
its into the hand, that can alone befriend them. I have read, that of
old, according to the laws of Persia, a malefactor had liberty, for an
huur before his execution, to ask wlmt he would, and what he asked
Wiis granted him. One that was under sentence of death, being admit-
ted unto the use of this liberty, desired neither one thing nor another,
but only, that he viight s"e tke King^sface ; which being allowed him, he
so plied <hr; King in that hour, that he obtained his pardon : whereupon
the Persi'^.tfi altered their custom, and covered the face of the malefac-
tor, that ; • might never see the King any more. I will not now enquire,
how far 1:. r ii.issage, will illiiHtrate the story of Human; but I will ob-
serve, ih.u iMefuce of God is the name of the Messiah; and in this ob-
Brrv '!*'in, 1 h>ive given you a golden key to come at new treasures in
fic( ."' f f : c..,)ture8. And I will apply it with saying, you have it, may
be,.>>i \p\}'' and no more allowed you to address the /ace of Clod in the
Lord Je^ «' = 'ist. In this hour you may obtain his iiivour and mercy,
and pardoi- i>o not slip this hour, lest it be too late. Or, peradven-
ture (and alas, it ii* but a peradvcnture !) you should upon i death-bed
have space enough to commit your spirits into the hands of the Lord, are
you sure that you shiill then have the grace to do it ? It is a solemn cau-
tion that is given us. in Phil. ii. 12, 13, Work ovt your own salvation with
fear and trembling ; for it is God that works in you, both to will and to do
of his own good pleasure. Even so foar and tremble, to delay committing
your spirus into the hiind of the Lord, so much as one day longer ; you
do not know, that God will please to work in you, for the doing of it,
when your last moments are upon you.

I have read it, as the observation of some vei-y experienced ministers,
that they never handled in their ministry any subjects more successfully
than those which led tliem to discourse against procrastination in tho con-
rorns of their souls. Onr Bailywsis much in making of this experiment. Ma-
ny a irnn inserts that clause in his last will, I bequeath my soul unto God that
gave it. But in the name of God. art thou certain that he will accept of
it? The law says, Legato renunciari potest, and Legatum accipere memo
nolens cogitur ; one may refuse a legac, , vher< I-a no compelling one to
accept it. It is true, onr compassionate Lord will ever accept a poor
soul, whenever it is with a true faith brought unto him. Yea, but it
may be, he will not acceftt of thy sou', inasmuch as thou hast no true
faith to bring it withal : I'aitli, which is not of our selves, it is the gift of
God! wherefore, O man, if thou hast any regard unto thy never dying
soul go thy ways prosontly, and earnesth' commit it unto the Lord be-
fore a dying hour. As the apostle said. This I say, brethren, the time is
short: even so. this I say. my friend, thy time it may be shorter than
rtiou art well aware of. What t^hnli 1 say ' I say. Boast not ihy self of to
morrow. I say, This ni^hi thy soul may he required.

And if thy faithless heart, h.ive the assistances of the divine grace
wilheld from it, when the damp sweats of death are upon thee, there,
is yet another objection, with which the God of Heaven will thunder-
fltrike thy attempts *.o commit thy spirit into his hand. That is this :

Book III.) THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

567

That tpirit of thine, it it thy own to dispose of? Hast thov not already oth-
ertuise disposed of it? It is a rule in law, Amo potest legare, quod suum
jamnon est, no nnan can by willidemiBe, devise, dispose of that, of which
he had made sale before. It is »aid of a very ungodly naan, in 1 Kings
xxi. 25, He sold himself to work wickedness, in the sight of the Lord. Un-
godly sinner, the devil has often bargained with thee, about thy soul ;
he hath said, By deliberate sinning against Heaven, do thou make over thy
soul to nu, and thou shalt have the short pleasures of sin for it. God knows
how often thou hast thus bargained away thy soul to the devil ; and since
thou hast not in all thy life revoked that bargain, then though thou do
at thy death cry unto him. Lord, receive this poor soul of mine ! how
justly may he say, JVb not 1 1 thou hast sold that soul to another; and let
him keep it forever ! There will also be this further to be said, fVhatpow-
er hast thou to dispose of thy spirit ? hast thou any thing at all at thy oxvn
disposal ?

It is a rule in law, Servus non potest Condere Testamentum ; n slave can-
not make a will : he has nothing of his own to dispose of. it is said in
Joh. viii. 34, Whosoever practiseth sin, is the slave of sin. It may be,
thou hast all this while been a very slave ; thy lust is thy lord, a lust of
uncleanness, of drunkenness, of worldliness, it hath utterly enslaved
thee. And, what ? not got out of thiit slavery before thy dim eyes, and
cold lips, and faltering tongue, and failing breath, hath put over thy soul
into the hand of the Lord ! How justly may he say, slave, thou art not
able to do for thy wretched soul, what thou dost now pretend unto. The
Lord Jesus Christ will not cast oif thy soul with such objections, if thou
seek the Lord while he may be found, and call upon him while he is near. I
earnestly testify unto you, the vilest and oldest sinner among you all, may
come and be welcome unto the Lord Jesus Christ, if you will come now,
while it is the acceptable time, now while it is the day of salvation Though
thou art never so bad, yet come and heartily complain to him of all thy
badness, and he will do good unto thy soul !

I am sure my Baily, would have said nothing more heartily than this
among you ; you heard him often say it. Come in to the mercy of my Lord,
for yet there is room! But it is to be feared, that if thou stay till the last
assaults of death are made upon thee, the door of mercy will be shut, and
so when the shrieks are. Lord, Lord, open to me ! all the answers will
be rebukes and fiery thunders.

VI. Often committing our spirits into the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ
while we live, let us endeavour after such characters upon our spirits,
as may assure us, that he will receive us when we die.

Indeed when we iirst commit our spirits into the hand of the Lord
Jesus Christ, we are to bring them with no other characters but those of
ein and hell upon them. If we then commit our spirits into the hand of
the Lord Jesus Christ, under the encouragement of any laudable qualifi-
cations and recommendations in them. Ah! Lord, thou wilt abhor us and
cast us off! In our first believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, he enquires
of us. What spirit is that which thou dost now commit into my hand? our
answer must be, Lord, it is a guilty sprtit, a filthy spirit, a spirit full of
sin and hell, as cve.ritcan hold, and a spirit horribly under the curse of
<Tod.

Sirs, If you answer any otherwise than so, the Redeemer of spirits
will not receive your spirits. But when we commit our spirits into the
hand of our Lord .'esus Christ, in the last actions of our life, it is to be
:fupposed, that we only repeat what we have done before, and that our

.-: .: -M

rrv t ^

068

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book llf.

Lord Jesus Christ has already received our spirits on our doing of it*
Ob ! it is a dreadful thing for a dying man to think, The Lord nevtr yet
received thie poor ioiU of mine ; for I never till now committed it unlo
the Lord ! when such persons commit their spirits into the hand of the
Lord Jesus Christ, under the dimness of the anguish of death, it is as
one Miys, At if one should bequeath vnto an honourable person tome greaty
dith cloutf or some dirty shoe-clout.

It is of unutterable concernment, for every man to get the symptoms
of a received aoul upon him, nofv before his last surrender of a distres-
sed soul : and for a man to be able to tay at the last, Lord, I commit a
poor sinful spirit now into thy hand ; but it is a spirit upon which thy blood
has been sprinkled, and it is a spirit which thy spirit has long since taken pot-
•aession of. Now to render this unquestionable, we are to examine our
selves, whether our spirits have been renewed by the Holy Spirit of Godf
and be restless in our own spirits, till we are sure of such a renovation.
The apostle once concluded, that when our spirits depart from hence,
the Lord Jesus Christ will receive them into an house not made with
hands, eternal in the Heavens : and upon what was it, that he raised this
conclusion ? He sajs, in 8 Cor. v. 6, For He that wrought us, for this
self same thing is God. The Greek word used there, is the same that
the LXX use for the curious works about the tabernacle.

When Bezaleel had neatly wrought a board, for to be set up in the
silver sockets of the tabernacle, he would not throw it away among the
rubbish. Man ! if thou hast a well wrought soul within thee, God will
receive it, and advance and improve it, in his house for ever. A work
of grace produced by the spirit of God, upon the spirits of men, is a
sure token of his purpose to bestow a state of glory upon them, at their
departure from their bodies. The primitive martyrs were bidden in
1 Pet. iv. 19. To commit the keeping of their souls unto God, as unto a
faithful Creator. But it is probable, the new creation experienced by
renewed souls is especially therein referred unto. Has the Spirit of
God made a new creature of the spirit ? This will be a demonstration,
that the Lord Jesus Christ has already received thy spirit, and that
when thou dost again commit thy spirit unto him, he will receive it.
Wncn we do, in our last actions, commit a spirit into the hand of ttie
Lord Jesus Christ, what is it for ? It i» that he may put an upper gar-
ment of glory upon that spirit. But he will demand, tVhtre is the unuer
garment of grace upon it ? If thou art without that garment, he will doom
thy spirit unto outer darkness, that is to say (for outer darkness was the
name of the prison among the Jews) he will make a perpetual imprison-
ment, the portion of thy soul. Wherefore, let us enquire diligently
into the signs of a newborn soul upon us before we come to die. Wo to
us, if we are not bom twice before we die once .'. Why should we incur
this desolation upon our souls, that when at last we go to commit tlif m
into the hand of the Lord, he shall reject them and say, JVo, / know
them not ; tliey arc none of mine ; they are the workers of iniquity !

The more certainly to prevent this desolation, let this one compre-
hensive duty of the new creature, be often renewed with you. Receive
the Lord Jesus Christ into thy soul, when he does command it of thee,
and the Lord Jesus Christ will receive thy soul into Heaven, when thou
dost at last commit it unto him. As Jotham said, in Judg. ix. 7, Hearken
to me, that God may hearken to you : even this do 1 now say to you ; and
I carry it on to this issue : do you hearken to the Lord Jesus Christ,,

Book III.] THE HISTORT OF NEW-ENtiLAND.

when be bids yoa to receire him, and when you prny bim to receive
you. He will (hen hearken to jroa.

The Lord Jesus Christ is often knocking at the door of thy soul :
there would he enter, with all his gracious influences : open to the
Lord, by resigning up thy soul to the sweet influences of bis grace t re-
ply, O come in, thou bUsted of the Lord, why ttandett thou without ? So
when thy last sands are running, thou mayest joyfully think, My Lord
Jetut Chriit will now receive me, more heartily than ever I received him :
if I have had an heart, alai a vile heart ! for him. I am lure he hai an
Heaven for me / Lord I now commit into thy hand, a spirit into which thoi$
hast been received, when thy wondrous grace demanded it for an habitation :
and thou wilt now receive this unworthy spirit of mine into a better habitO'
iion. Think thus, and rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. •

VII. When we come to commit our spirits into the hand of our Lord
Jesus Christ, at and for our Ijst resignation, let us do it very humbly,
but very willingly, but very chearfully.

How humbly ought we to commit our spirits into the hand of the Lord
Jesus Christ ! With bow much loathing and judging of our selves, and
with what shameful reflections on all our past behaviours We are bit-
terly to acknowledge the disorders and corruptions of our own spirits,
when we commit them unto the Lord, and acknowledge the numberless
lerrors whereinto our spirits have betrayed us. When we lift up our
soul unto the Lord, let it be in terms like those in Ezra ix. 6, Omy God,
lam ashamed, and blush to lift up my face to thee, my God ! And therefore,
whatever blessing we may expect for our souls, let us with all possible
self abhorrence found our expectations on the pure mercy of God, in
our Lord Jesus Christ. Most sweetly did our dying Hooker express the
frame of spirit, wherewith a spirit is to be committed into the band of the
Lord : when one that stood weeping by his bed-side said unto him. Sir,
you are going to receive the reward of all your labours, he replied. Broth-
er, I am going to receive mercy! What shall I say ? The frame of spi-
rit necessary in this glorious transaction, I cannot better pamt out uuto
you, than by reciting the words, which I remember 1 once had, from an
eminent old servant of the Lord Jesus Christ, at my taking leave of him:
said he, ' Sir, I am every day expecting my death ; but I desire to die
' like the thief, crying to the crucified Jesus for mercy. I am nothingv

* I have nothing, I can do nothing, except what is unworthy. My eye,

* and hope, and faith, is to Christ on his cross. I bring an unworthi-

* ness, like that of the poor dying thief unto him, and have no more to

* plead than he. Like the poor thief crucified with him, I am waiting to
« be received, by the infinite grace of my Lord, into his kingdom. And
' pray tell me, did not a;;e(i Paul mean something of this, when he said,
' / nm crucified with Christ ?''

Sirs, this is the frame wherewith we are to do what we do. But then
how willingly, how chearfully ! God forbid, that we should commit onr
spirits into his hrinil, as only dragged and forced unto it by unavoidable
death. Our dying Lord said. Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.
When God calls for our spirit, we are to think, ^Tis my Father that calls
for me ; and shall not I go to my Father ?

It was a good speech even of an heathen, Bene Mori est Libenter Mori,
onp thins^ in well dying, is to die willingly. It is a dismal thing for the
spirit of a man to be torn from him, and be pulled away with roaring re-
luctances, with horrid convulsions. Where would be the sense of it. if
g dying man should say, l^ord, into thy hand I ^omtnit my spirit^ but if I

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLANU. [Book IH:

eouil luive my choice, my spirit should never come there ! When we. per-
ceive i!<at call from uur Lur<l Jcaiih Cbritity Go up and die ! let ua freely
vurrcDtlet our spirith unto < r great Lord, and go up and die : he it the
Lord of our lives. Freely . did I say ? yea, and giiully too. When *v«i
have qri^ht coiumitted our spirits into the hand of the Lord, then take
up that conclusion in Psal. xlix. 15, Ciod viiU receive my soul, And then,
let us tvonderfiilly comfort our staves, in the thout;ht8 of that spiritual
world which we are goitiii; into. Think, I shall quickly restfrom sin and
all temptations, and all ajjcctions, and all the mi ed ejf'ects ofsiu. and all
the annoyances of ill spirits for ever, I shall (juickly be lodged autong the
pure spirits that see God, awl serve him diujand night in his temple, and
God shall wipe away all tears from my eyrs. Yea, I shall quickly be u-ith
my Lord Jesus Christ, which is by far the best of all. Oh > rejoice in the.
hope of this glory of Clod ! And let not your joy be interrupted by any
fear of wli it may Fecome of your friends when you shall be dead and
gone. The Lord that calls you to commit your spirits into his hand, calls
you at the same time, to commit your ui.lows, your orphans, and all
your friends, into that Omnipotent Hand : he says, Leave them all with
me, and I'll take the care nf them all !

It was noted of the English martyrs, which dyed at the stake in the
bloody ,.V/orm» pesecution, that none of them went more joyfully to the
stake, than those that had the largest and the dearest families then tu commit
unto the Lord : and afterwards those large families, were wondrously pro-
vided for. The excellent Mr Heron, a minister that had a family of ma-
ny small children in it, when he lay a dying, his poor wife said with
tears, Jllus, what will become of all these children ? he presently and plea-
tfantly replied, Never fear, he that feds the young ravens, wo^nt starve the
young HeruAt ! ?m\ it came to pass arcordingly.

Sirs, thus you are to cmaiiiit your spirits into the hand of the Lord Je«»
sua Christ. •■'• > y

My reverend Bailtcv did so ; luiJ it is as from him, that I do this day
bespeak your doing like him ; yea, not from him only, but from the
Lord Jesus Christ, the God, wkdse he was, and whom he served. If you
would more particularly be told after what manner he did commit his
iwn spirit into the hands of tl'.e Lord, I can faithfully recite you his own
iccount of the transaction. He gives it thus,

• I spent half a day alone in seeking of God ; desiring to give up my

* self unto Gcd in Christ wholly, and to be his in soul and body. The
' particulars I omit. 1 hope, God in Christ, will riccept of me, and enn-

• hie me by his spirit to keep touch with him : for I owned my self whol*

* ly unworthy to enter into covenant, and »Iso unable to keep it ; but Je-

• sus Christ is both worthy and able

It is from one who thus did it, that you are now called upon to do like-
wise.

When you see the coffin of this man of God, anon carried along the
streets, imagine it a mournful pulpit, from whence, being dead, he yet
speaks thus unto you ; Whatever you do, commit your perishing souls into
the hands of the Ijord Jesus Christ, as you have been advised.

That these admonitions may have the more emphasis, a short account
of this worthy man must now be given you.

He was born b'n Feb, 24, 1G43, near Blackbourn in Lancashire; of a
very pious mother, who even before he was born, often as Hannah did
her Samuel, dedicated birn unto the service of the Lord. ■ «•-

Book HI.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

fi61

Of this hia birth'day, in the return of every ycnr, he fitill took much
notice in his diaries : and miulc hia humble iintl useful reflections there-
upon.

Once particularly, I find him thuii entertaining it.

' This is my birth-day, I am ready to any of it, as Jo6 doth of his : but
' I forbear any unadvised words about it : only, I have done little for

* God, and much against him ; for which I am sorry.'

When this day, last arrived unto him, he thus wrote upon it.
' 1 may say with a great sigh, Thii wat my birth-day I O how little
' good have I done all this while ! O what reason have 1 to stand nmnzed

* at the riches of God's forbearance ! Much may happen this yeu< ' Jid,

* carry me through it /'

From a child he did know the holy scriptures, yea, from a chii vga

wise unto salvation. In his very childhood he discovered the feu 4,

upon his young heart ; and prayer to God was one of hia eui i jf
cises.

There was one very remarkable effect of it. His father was a man
of a very licentiouit convertiation ; a gamester, a dancer, a very lewd
company keeper. The mother of this elect vessel, one day took him,
while he was yet a child, and calling the family together, made him to
pray with them. His fitther coming to unde^^tand, at what a rate, the
child had prayed with his family, it smote the soul of him with a great
conviction, and proved the beginning of his conversion unto God God
left not off working on his heart, until he proved one of the most eminent
christians in all that neighbourhood. So he lived ; so he died ; a man
of more than ordinary piety. And it was his manner sometimes to re-
tire unto those very places of his former lewdnesses, where having this
his little son in his company, he would pour out floods of tears in repent-
ing prayers before the Lord.

This hopeful youth having been educated in grammar-learning under
a worthy school master, one Mr. Soger, and in further learning, under
the famous Dr. Harrison, at length, about the age of twenty-two, he cn-
tred on the public employment of preaching the gospel. Tn so doing, he
was not one of those, of whom even the great Papist Bellarmine com-
plains. Qui non valde solliciti esse solent, an ea qua par est pre^ ^ratione
accedant, cum Finis eorum magis sit cibus Corporis, quam Jinimce. He be-
gan at Chester ; but afterwards went over to Ireland, where his labours
were so frequent and fervent, that they gave those wounds nnto his
health, which could never be recovered. About fourteen years of his
time, in Ireland, he spent at Limrick, and saw so many seals of his minis-
try, in that country, that he seemed rather to fish with a net, than with
an hook, for the kingdom of God.

I am not willing to relate, how grievously, and yet how patiently he
suffered long and hard imprisonments, from those men, concerning whom
a comformable divine of the Church of England, very truly says, That they
were Atheists, with the inventions of ceremonies habited like christians, for the
service of the devil, to corrupt and destroy true Christianity : I should re-
late but little of this, because that spirit of persecution has been repent-
ed by an happy act of Parliament.

And yet for the admonition of our inexcusable young men, the tin of
which young men is very great before the Lord .' above that of those, who
have been brought up, as many very godly christians have in those ways
of the Church of England, for a secession from which, this country was
first planted ; young men, who notwithstanding their descent from fathers
Vol. L 71

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THE HISTOiU OF NEVV-ENGLANI). [Book 1H.

nnd grandfalhers, that wore grent sufferers for their non-conformity to
an uniostitiitcd worship of Chfist, and notwitbatttnding their education in
the knowledge of what is required, and wbut is forbidden in the second
commandmeut, and notwithstanding their being urged by no temptation
of persecution, or being tempted by any thing but the vanity of their own
minds, do yet so rebel against the light, us to tuin apostates from the first
principles of JVew-England ; it may be seasonable to repeat so much of
the history of this worthy man, as a liltlefurther to illustrate this article.
' He no sooner begsm to preach the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ,
but his fidelity to that gospel, was tried by an hard imprisonment, which
he underwent because his conscience could not conform to humane in>
Tcntions in the sacred service of Heaven. Yea, while he was yet a young
man, he often travelled far by night in the'winter, as well as in the summer,
that BO he migbtenjoy the ordinances purely administred ini the meetings of
the faithful ; and was laid up sometimes in Lancashire gaol, for being
found at those meetings. When he was at Limrick, the attendance of a
person of great quality, and his lady, (who were nearly related unto the
Puke of Ormond, the lord lieutenant of Ireland) upon his ministry, pro>
voked the bishop to complain unto the lord lieutenant. This gentleman
then profered unto Mr. Baily,ihat if he would conform, he would pro-
cure his being made chaplain to the duke, and having a deanery immedi-
ately, and a bishoprick upon the first vacancy : but he refused the prefer.
Albeit, another eminent non-conformist minister, not far from Limrick, a
godly and an able man, and one who had appeared much against conformi-
ty at the first pressing thereof, did afterwards accept of the aforesaid
chaplainship, and by degrees conformed, and arrived unto several places
of preferment : pretending, that he did it for the sake of opportunities to
preach the gospel. But it was remarkable ! God so disabled him with
distempers after this, that he was very seldom, if ever able to preach
at all.

Mr. Baily went on in the exercise of his ministry, not pursuing any
fiictious designs, but meerly the conversion of men to Christ, and faith,
and holine^ss, which the devil counts the worst of all designs. And now,
although he were so harmless and blameless in his whole conversation,
that he was always much beloved wherever he came, yet another long
impi'isonment wa$< intlicted on him, while the Papists in the neighbour-
hood, had all manner of liberty and countenance. When he was before
the judges, he told them. If I had been drinking and gaming and carous-
ing at a tavern with my company, my lords, I presume that would not have
procured my being thus treated as an offender. Must praying to God, and
preachin<r of Christ, with a company of christians, that are as peaceable
andinoii ^nsive, and serviceable to his Majesty and the government as any of
his subjects, must this be a greater crinte ? The recorder ansM^ered, We will
have you to knozo, it is a greater crime.

While he was imprisoned, his church being divided into seven parts,
visited him one part a day, so that preaching to them, and praying with
them every day, he once in a week served them all. But this, in a little
while gave such offence, that a violent obstruction was given thereunto ;
and though his flock, particularly his dear young men (as he called them)
did pray witRout ceasing, and not without fasting, for his release ; and
humble applications were also made unto the judges at the assizes for it,
yet no release could be granted him, without his giving security, to de-
part the land, within a little time then limited unto him.

BortK CII.] TH£ HISTOftV OF NEW-ENGLAND.

663

(t was not long, before a wrath unto tite attermost came updn the city,
which had thus persecuted this faithful minititcr of Ood ; and that per-
son particularly, who had been the chief inatrumont of his persecution,
was, (as WC huvo been told) within a tvhilc, upon other accounts, bimseif
run into prison, where ho cried out with horror, of the wrongs done by
him to Mr. Baihj, and then running distracted, he died miserably. But
M'tto-Engtand, a country originally a retreat for persecuted non-conform-
iftts, hereupon afibrded unto our Baily an opportunity of labouring near
fourteen years more, in the work which he loved above all things in the
world ; the work of tti; ning the souls of men from darkness to lights andfrotn
Satan to God : wherein for some time^ his younger and godly, and swtiet
naturcd brother, who came over with him, was hie comfortable compan-
ion and assistant ; until he got the start of him in his departure to the
glories of the better world. They we re indeed, /rarrumdu/c4/>ar; a
David and a Jonathan. Death, which for a while parted them, has noW
again brought them together. This Mr. Thomas Baily, died January
21, 1689, as this his brother and colleague notes in his diary ; He died
well, which is a great word ; so sweetly as I never saw the like before i But
as for this elder brother, he was a man of great holiness, and of so ten*
der a conscience, that if he hud been at nny tine innocently chearful,
in the company of his friends, it cost him afterwards abundance of sad
reflection, through fear, lest e'er he had been siware-, he might have
grieved the Holy Spirit of Christ. A savoury book of his about The Chief
End of Man, pub fished among us. has fully described unto us, that savour
of spirit, which was in his daily walk maintained.

Sic Oculos, Sic ille manus,Sic ornferebat. —

The desire of this holy man, was (as himself eitpressed it) to g6i up
unto three things : to patientie under the calamities of life ; to impatience
under the infirmities of life ; and to earnest longings for the next life.

And his desire at another time, he thus expressed. Oh! that I might
not be of the nttmber of them, that live without love, speak without feeling,
and act without life ! Oh ! that God taoitld make me his humble and upright
and faithful servant !

From this holy temper it was- that when some kind presents were
made unto him, he wrote in his diary thereupon ; / liave my wages quick'
ly ; but Oh ! that God may not put me off, with a reward here ! Oh t that
God may be my reward !

We will more particularly note a few notable, wherein the holiness
which irradiated him, will be described untojis.

We might begin with observing, that the holy word of God Wjis very
dear to him, as indeed it is to every holy man. Hence, 1 find this pas-
sage in his diary, Jan. \\. ■ '■I finishtd the reading of the Bible, in my

* family (as formerly) Oh ! it is a dear book ; it is alwajfs ne\v. In the
' beginning of every chapter it iii good to say, Lord^ open my eyes, that I
' may see wonder:, out of thy law ; and when we shut it up to sny, / have

* seen an end of all perfection, but (hy law is exceeding broad. Oh ! how

* terrible are the threatnings ; how precious are the promises ; hoW
' serious are the precepts ; how deep arc the prophecies of this book !
' but we will pass on to some further observations.'

What is holiness but a dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ ? This holy
man was often breathing in himself, and pressing on others, that great
point of dedicating every thing to the service of the Lord. Thus In

■nn

664

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

his diary, there frequently occur such strains as these. ' Oh ! that I
' may glorifie God with all i am, or have ; even with all the faculties of
' my soul, all the members of my body, and in all the places and rela-
< tions that 1 stand in, as man, master, minister, husband, kinsman, and
' neigt)bour. Oh ! 1 stand in need both of a justifying Christ, and a
'sanctifying Christ. When shall I sensibly iind a Christ swaying his

* scepter in my soul !' Thus whatever house he came to live in, it came
under a dedication ; and once upon a remove, he wrote this passage in
his diary. ' I could not but leave my old house, with a prayer in every

* room of it, for pardoning mercy.'

But it was particularly expressed, when one of his children was to he
baptized. He thus wrote upon it. ' I spent some time in offering np

* my self, and ray child unto the Lord, and in taking hold of the cov-

* enant fur my self and him. It is actually to be done to morrow, [in

* baptism.] I prayed hard this day, all this day, that I might he able in
' much faith, and love, and new-covenant obedience to do it to-mor-

* row. It is not easy, though common to offer a child onto God in bapr

* tism. Oh! that's a sweet word, I will be a God to thee, and thy seed

* vfler thee. No m.irvel Mrafiam fell on his face at the hearing of it !'

Hence, when he parted with the greatest enjoyment he had in this
woild, he thus wrote upon it, in his diary ;

♦ If I can but exchange outward comforts for inward graces, it is well

* enough : Oh ! for an heart to glorify God in the fire /'

From this holiness proceeded that watchfulness, which discovered a
mingular fear of God, in his whole conversation. I find him entring in
his diary such passages as these.

At one time.
<' I did not watch my tongue so as I ought; which cost me mnch
' troul/'ie afterwards, and made me walk heavily. It is a mad thing
♦to sin!'

u,»i'-. ' i • • ; At another time.

• I spoke two unadvised words to-day. Though there was no great

* harm in them, yet I was rebuked by my conscience for them. Let
' the Lord forgive them ; and for the future, seta watch before the door
' of my lips. Let my thoughts and words be acceptable in thy sight,
' O Lord.'

. At another time.
IP ' That is a serious word, methinks in Eph. v, 30. I have grieved the
' Holy Spirit, by my unedifying communication. Oh ! that in speaking,
' I might administer grace to the hearer ! Oh ! that honey and milk
' were under my tongue continually.'

At another time.

* I was too forgetful of God, and exceeding in tobacco. The Lord
^ pardon that, and all other sins, and heal this nature, and humble this

* heart.'

At another time.
* This day I have been more cherrful than 1 have been of a long
* time. It hath afflicted me since, fearing it was not suitable. Oh! I
-J ouglit to walk in the midst of my house, in a' perfect way. 1 ought

UooK III.] THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

565

mnch
thing

* every day to be writing copies ; and to leave a stock behind me that

* others may trade for God withal, when I am dead.* And behold, you
see this day, that he did so.

And as holy men use to be full of hearty prayers and wishes for the
good of other men, thus this holy ican has filled many places in his
diaries, with his prayers for the welfare of those, with whom be was
concerned ; from whence we may gather how full his heart was of
blesdings for his neighbours.

Once particularly 1 find him thus writing.

* 1 desired to know of Dr. O. what I was indebted to bim for those ma-

* ny rich things I have had from him : he told me, nothing ; [which was

* a great favour !] only desired my prayers for bim. Oh ! that 1 could
' pray ! Whenever 1 can pray, I will heartily say to God in the name of

* Christ for him, The Lord bless him indeed ! let thy hand be Tvith him, and
' keep him from all evil, that it may not grieve him,''

Moreover, it was not only among the great signs, but aUo among the
great means of his holiness, that he was very solicitous, as well in his
preparation for the table of the Lord, as in his observation of what com-
munion.he enjoyed with the Lord Jesus Christ, at his table.

His diary abounds with passages of this importance ; the expressions
of a careful soul.

The last time of being at the Lord's table, he wrote the ensuing pas-
sages.

' 1 was encouraged to carry my late bad frame to the cross of Christ,
' and to bewail there my late prayerlesness and unthankfMlness. Of

* late it hath troubled me, to think how little I have admired Christ for

* bringing me out of some late plunges of temptation. I now come to

* him for two things ; namely, for pardon ; and also for double power \

* both to receive him, and to shew forth his praises.'

Let me add ; sometimes, as he was able, he would set apart half a day
for extraordinary prayers : he still did so, when there were any extra-
ordinary cares upon him. Thus he records in his diaries.

Jit one time.

* Being of late in so ill a frame, I spent some time, to seek the fair face

' of Jesus Christ ; and I did, on purpose, address my self to him, who is

' the most admirable Saviour. I left my self with him ; my mind, heart,

^ mouth ; especially my conscience. Oh ! how many wonders are to be

* wrought in me ! 1 know, the loving) and wonder-working Jesvs can do
' them all.'

Jit another time.
< I spent some time alone in prayer, from 8 to 3. I was much tired.
Oh ! that I might wait for returns, and never more turn to folly. I
cannot tell how God should admit me near him, considering how 1 have
grieved his Spirit. Having prayed in the morning in the family, I re-
tired ; and first sought at large unto God for help to go through the
day : especially begging repentance, and not only so, but fiith ; that I
might not rest in the bare work ; that Satan might get no advantage af-
ter it ; that I might have reason to desire more such days. Then af-
ter a little meditation and breathing, I went to prayer again, only to
confess my sin before God, and to set my soul as before the Lord ; la-
bouring to judge and loath my self, for all my sin, from first to hist.

i>t>a

THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND. [Book HI.

* Qod helped a little ; but Oh ! Ihat my heart wM broken in piecet, and
' humbled to the dust. After a little more meditation, 1 vrent to prayer
' in \/ay of petition, and that at large. Ob! Lord, hear me, and give

* me the wisdom that I want, t hope God will hear, pity, pardon, and
' help me. After a little more meditation, 1 fell to praise and bless Qod

* for my mercies, by sea and land ; but was somewhat short in this p»rt,
' for ivhich 1 am sorry. At last I concluded all, in praying for the
' Church of God in general, for London, Lanea»hire, and Lirmiek ; and
' for New-England also. Here i brought all my relations to the Lord.
' Oh, Lord, accept of me, and my poor services in Christ. Oh! that i
' may watch afterward, and never more be sensual, unbelieving, proud,

* nor hypocritical. Lord, say AmtnJ*

And that praisea, as well os prayers might not be forgotten with him,
I find him once particularly in his diary, thus expressing himself.

Deeemhet Id, 1691.
* I resolved, through the grace and strength of Jesas Christ, even in
' the midst of all my sorrows and sinkings, despairings and distractions,
' to keep as much of this day as I could in thanksgiving ; which 1 did ;
' but could not go thorow with it, through bodily faintness. 1 spent five
' hours somewhat coi^fortably ; but after that 1 flagged. I resolved to

* do three things. First, to spend some time in praising God for his ex-
' cellencies. God was with me, 1 hope, in that part of it, and I spent my
' self so much therein, that I was disabled for the rest. To help it for*
' ward God brought to hand Mr. Burroughs, of the nature of God ; 1 bless
' God for it. After that, 1 went to prayer ; labouring to exalt God ; (it
' was a good time !) after that 1 sang the 148th Psalm. Secondly, after
' that, 1 set my self to bless God for his benefits and kindnesses to me.

* But being spent, I did not much ; only going to prayer, I made men-
' tion of some mercies ; such as these, viz. for Christ : his covenant of
' grace ; and the promises of it (some of which, were particularly men-
' tioned and pressed :) also my education ; my manifold preservations by
'land and sea; (especially that in Ipiwich Bay:) and manifold tedious
' sicknefses since ; for the long day of God's patience, notwithstanding
' many sins : for my comfortable provisions all along ; for preserving his
' great name, that i have in nothing openly dishonoured it ; for my suc-

* cess and acceptance in my work ; for my dear wife, that I had her so

* long ; and that my brother and my dear wife died both of them glori-

* fying of God : they are in Heaven, and I jfrn out of hell ! that I have

' hitherto been kept from distraction and despair, and kept to my work : .
' that I have any friends (in this strange land) and any in my family to
' mind me and tend me : that 1 have work here, and opportunities of

* seivice : for my soio crosses and losses of late afllictions and tempt;>

* tions, hoping they may work for good. Thirdly, to conclude all, with
' a chearful accepting of Christ, and devoting my self to his service : to
' do for him, that had done all this for me : saying, if God would help

* me to study, be should have all the glory of it.' Thus did he walk
with God.

His ministry was very acceptable to the people, whose good he most
aimed at, wherever he came : great auditories usually flocking thereun-
to, proclaimed it. But that he might not be lifted up, it seemed meet
unto the wisdom of Heaven, to humble him with sore and long tempta-
tions, often recurring to buffet him. In his days, he czvf many disconso-
late hours ; he was tilled with desponding jealousies lest after he hod

[Book III. THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENGLAND.

5G7

pr9adi9d unto othen, he Aould be himnlf a catt'OUM^ f and he oAea in-
treated those, who saw the distresses of hi<> tniDd, ^wt Uuy would by no
means take ■up any prejudice against the sweet and good ways of rtiigion,
from what tliey saw of his disconsolate uneasinesses.

It may be, it will be profitable unto some discouraged minds, to ander-
9tRpd how he expresses himself on such occasions. In sermons on those
words, I am oppressed, undertake for me, he much described it unto us.
{iiit in his diaries it was thus :

At one time.
* I was almost in the siAurbs of hell all day ; a meer Magor Missabib.
I saw death and sin full of terror : I thought 1 never sought the glory
of God : Ah I what » matchless wretch am I ! Oh ! that I could love
above all things, and seek the glory of God, and live contentedly on
him alone ! Oh ! that 1 could see the blood of Christ on my soul, and
at the bottom of my profeattion. Oh! for a sight of the mystery and
majesty of the grace and love of Jesus Christ ; so that all excellencies
might fall down before it!' ,

M another time.

* 1 am in a woful friime ; far from saying, with Dr. Avery, Here I He,

* not knowing what God will do with me, but though I thus lie, God doth not

* terrify me, either with my sin, or witli my death, or mth himself*

At another time.
' If God should yet save my soul, and his tvork in my hand, it would
' be amazing. There is a may be! If these inward troubles hold, I shall
' be forced to lay down my work. O Lord, step in for my relief! O the

* ivorth of the sense of God's love in Christ !'

At another time.

* I am oppressed unto death, and iilled with the angry arrows of God t

* it arisetb not at present from any particular cause, but the sense of my
' woful estiite in general. Oh ! that the issue may yet be peace, and that
' I may not fetch comfort unto my self, botby/ai(&t» Jesus Christ.^

At another time.

* Oh ! that Jesus Christ would undertake for me ! If God marvelloos-
' ly prevent not, I shall lay down my wurk. O Lord, appear. Oh ! for

* one saving sight of the love, and loveliness of Jesus Christ, i wish I

* could say, as my dear tutor Dr. Harrison said. That he could not live q.
' day, without a fresh manifestation of God unto his soul !' #

At another time. ;

' The eclipse nf the moon hst night, made one think, Oh t that I could
' mourn bitterly, who have sinned my self into darkness ! How is the earth
' interposing ! Lord, remove it. Let the Son of Righteousness in his glo-
' ry and strength yet be seen by me !'

At another time.
' 1 have much reason to bless God, for rebuking of Satan. I hate
' been many a time ready to give up all, and lay down my ministry, think-
' ing that God had utterly forsaken me, and hid Jesus Christ from me ;

i^:^m

THE HISTORY Or NEW-ENULAND. [Book HI.

' which I fvbald juntify him in. But by the conHideratioa of the brazen
' terpent, 1 was somewbut recovered.'

Jit another time.
* I WM now supported by the thoughts of a precious Jesus. I should

* forever sink, but for him 1 When 1 look backward or forward, upward
' or downward, 1 die, I sink ; but when 1 look at the sweet Jesvs, I live.

* 1 may resolve with Dr. Preston ; (O thut I could I) saying, I have often

* tryed Qod, and now VU tnut him. It is n good resolution ; Lord, help
' me to it !'

1*1

in- At another time.

* I would gladly think, that Ood it my father. And if so. Oh ! what
' glory is due to the riches of free grace I Oh ! how glorious is that
' grace, and how will it shine through all eternity ! If ever I see my self

* safe at last, 1 must forever cry out, lam wonderfully «aved /'

In fine, one thing that much relieved him in his internal troubles, was

what he had occabion (thus) to write in his diary, a little before his end.

' 1 do more see into the great mystery of our justification by faith,

* meerly of grace. There is no respect it it, unto this or that ; but Jc-
' sus Christ having wrought out a redemption for us, and by his active

* and passive obedience procured a sufficient righteousness, and making a

* tender of it in the gospel, it becomes mine, by my accepting of it, and re-
' lying on it alone for salvation. And shall I not accept of it ? God for-

* bid!

!!%•' I see (saith he) there are two things, wherein I can't easily exceed,

< viz. in ascribing to the grace of God, the freeness and richness of it in
' man's salvation } and in ascribing to the righteousness of Christ in man's

* justification.'

At length, dismal pains of the gout, with a complication of other mala-
dies, confined him for a quarter of a year together. Under the pains of
his confinement, he took an extraordinary contentment in the fifty-third
chapter ofhaiah, which represents the sorrows of our Lord Jesus Christ
whereby all our sorrows are sanctified : ind be would often roll over those
words of our Saviour, elsewhere occurring, They pierced my hands and
my feet. When the remainders of his flock, which waited on him to JVew-
England, visited him, his usual and solemn charge to them was, / charge
you, that I find you all safe at last ! My brethren, God make the charge
of your dead pastor abide upon you. For some time in his last sickness,
his heavenly soul was harrassed with terrible discouragements : under
all of which, it was yet a common expression with him. The master hath
done all things well! But at last, he arrived unto a blessed satisfaction,
that the Lord Jesus Christ had made his peace in Fleaven, and that he
was going into eternal peace. Yea, at the worst, he would say, ThU his
fear was not so much about the end of all as about what he might meet with-
al in the way to that end. He had begun to prepare a sermon for our
south-church, upon those words, fVho is this that comes up from the wilder-
ness, leaning on her beloved ? and he now spoke of it, as expressing his
own condition ; Thus am I going, (said he,) out of the wilderness of all my
temptations, leaning en my blessed Jesus ! When his affectionate friends
were weeping about him, he bestowed this rebuke upon them, Away with
your idols! away with your idols! It was not very long before befell
sick, that he wrote this passage in his diary. * I was affected with what

< I read of Mr. Shewd of Covpntry, who died in the pulpit. [,nrd, let not-

UooK III.] THE HISTORY OP NEW-ENGLAND.

8C9

' mt du m«on/y, hut in dying brinff muf.h glory to lJU«.' And now it ahall
bb BO ! At lut, juBt M he was going to expire, he leeiDed at if be bad
some extraordinary apprehensions of the glory, in which our Lord Je-
sus Christ is above enthroned : be strove to speak unto his vertuous con-
40 -, and anon spoke thas much, O^t / what $hall I tay ? Ht «f aUogulur
lovely ! His worthy sister-in-law, then coming to him, he said, Oh I all
our prai$e$ of him hert, are poor and low thingt ! and then added, Hitglo'
ri(>u» angelt are come for me ! upon the sayiug whereof he closed his own
eyes, about the time when he still opened his Bible for bis publick la-
bours : on the Lord's day, about three in the afternoon ; and be never
opened them ^ny more.

rhis was he whom you are now going to bury ; but I pray you, bury
not with him all the holy counsels and warnings, that we have beard from
him ; remember how you have received and heard.

Hii was one, who took much notice of what was from tbe oracles of
Ooi\, spoken to him, in tbe sermons of other men. He has much re -
pleniblied hiii diuries, with remarks of this importance ; I have heard a
good word to day ! And he would often decline going to feasts, whereto
bi» friendH invited him, that he might go to private meetingi in some oth*
cr pHrts of the town, where he might at the same time feaet on the word
of God. Thus, more particularly.

At one time.

* I heard a very good word. Are ye not carnal ? Ah, Lord,. I am

* carnal. The Lord give me his spirit to make me spiritual ! i was in
' aiauy things justly reproved : let me take it, and be wrought into tbe
' likeuessof this good word.'

At another time.

* To day I hear! a most precious word, with which I was much edified
' and refreshed, viz. Christ is aH, Oh ! that I might never forget it !
' Ob ! that it might be written upon tbe table of my heart ! Let my soul

* feed upon it for ever. It was very seasonable. Though it was a day

* most .intolerably cold : so colu, that there was little writing it ; yet it
' heartily warmed me. I needed a Christ ; Oh ! that I could get him,
' and keep him for ever ! I would make him my all, and ceunt him my
' all. I need a whole Christ : Oh ! that I may prize a whole Christ, and
' improve a whole Christ. I have of late thought, that this may be one
' evidence of my right unto glory, that Christ is more precious to me
' than ever.'

What I say upon it, is ; imitate him in a point so imitable. This
preacher is well worthy to be imitated, as he was an hearer.

You can all testify, that he was none of those eold preachers, whereof
one complains, Ferba vita in quorundavn Doctorum Labiis, quantum ad
Firtutem, ^ ^caciam Moriuntur : Adeo enim tepide, adeo remisse, verba
Dei annunciani, ut Extincta in Labiis Eorum penitus videantur ; unde Si'
cut ipsi Vrieidi sunt, 4* Extincti, sic Frigidos 4* Extinctos relinquunt, 4r
ut'itam nonfacerent Auditores. .

For his preaching, he particularly prescribed unto himself, according
to a memorandum, which 1 found thus entred in bis diary.

' Old Mr. Thomas Shepheard, when on his death-bed, said unto the

* young ministers about him, that their work was great, and called for
' great serioxuness. For his own part, he told them three things. First,
' that the studying of every sermon cost him tears ; he wept in the stu-

Voi.. I. 72.

S10

THE HISTORY OF NEW-ENULAND. (Book III.

' dying of orory Mmoa. Secondlljr, before he {^reached mt ■ermoiit
' he got good by it bimiclf. Thirdly, he alwiys went up into the palpit,
' u if he irere to give up bit eccoantB onto hit matter. OH I that my lovl
' (addt our BaUy) may rtmnAer andpraeU$« aeeordingly .'*

To thit hit preaching, when he taw God gave any tuccett, he wouM
ttill in hit priTtte papert take at thankful notice, at if great richet had
been heaped in upon him. And yet he would add [tuch pataaget I tome-
timea find.]

* Let my toul rejoice. But, Lord, keep me from pride. I desire to
* be humbled for it. Do I not know that God maket oae of whom he
' pleates* and utually of the weakest ! Nojleth shall glory.*

But if the word preached by this hvely ditpenier of it, live not in our
livet, after he is dead, he will himself be, which he often told you, he
feared he should be in the day of God, a w«(ne«* against manv of you.

That we may then meet him with joy, Let u$ rememfrcr Mem, toho
have spoken to us the word of Qod, and follow their faith, considering the
tnd of their conversation.

But be thou sensible, O all my country of New-England, how much
thou art weakened, by the departure of tuch blessings to the world of
the blessed.

Thy Baily could sometimes write such pastaget at this, (I find) in hit
reserved papers.

* There was a day of prayer. God was with me in prayer, helping
< me to plead with him an hfior and half /or Ms poor land, and in some
(taeasure to believe for it. I hope, God will hear and help.'

Such an one taking flight from thee, let thy lamentationi thereupon
be heard ; My Father, my Father !

It.;-

THE END OF VOL. I.

yj; : r--.j*. ' . ; '■_--■«',*:>•'"'■'■■'•

\ -i-. V -;,

■'W

.?i\ iv>v^

tr.

CONTENTS OF VOLUME I.

FAOK

A General Introduction, giving an account of the vf hoU cntaing work. 23

THE FIRST BOOK, ClfTlTVLCO, AHTIdUITIRa. 33

It reports the design where-on, the manner where-»n, and the people
n wheifc 6y, the several colonies of JVew-ftig/anrf were planted.
^ And so it prepares ajield for considerable things to be acted there-
V upon.

The Introduction.

Chap. I. Fenitti tandttn ? or, Discoveries of An%erica, tending to,
and ending in. Discoveries of JVew-England.

Chap. II. Primordia, or, the Voyage to J^ew-England, which
produced the first settlement of New-Plymouth ; with an account
,^ of many remarkable and memorable Providencei, relating to that
Voyage.

Chap. III. Conamur Tenuee Grandia, or, a brief Account of the Df/*-

. Jicultiet, the Deliverances, and other Occurrencet^ through which
the Plantation of Afew-Plymouth, arrived unto the consistency of

■ a Colony.

Chap. IV. Paulo Majora I or, the Estayi and Cautee, which pro-
duced the second, but largest, Colony of JVvw- England ; and the
manner wherein the first church of this Aew Colony was gathered.

Chap. V. Peregrini Deo Curce, or, the Progress of the JV«w Colony ;
with some account of the Persons, the Methods, and the Troubles,
by which it came to something.

Chap. VI. Q^i trans mare Currant, or, the Addition of several other
Colonies to the former ; with some Considerables, in the condi-
tion of these later Colonies.

Chap. VII. Hecatompolis, or, a Field which the Lord hath blessed. An
Ecclesiastical Map of NeW'England. With Remarks upon it.

Appendix.
The Bostonian £6en«xer, or, some Historical Remarks on the state of
Boston, the chief town of New-England, and of the English
America. 84

39
40

THE SECOND BOOK, ENTITULED, ECCLESIARUM CX.YFGI.

It contains the Lives of the Govemours, and the names of the Magis-
trates, that have been Shields unto the churches of New-England.

The Introduction.
Chap. I . Galeacius Secundus. The Life of William Bradford, Esq.

Governour of Plymouth Colony.
Chap. II. Successors.
Chap. III. Patres Conscripti, or, Assistents.
Chap. IV. Nehemias Americanus. The Life of John Winthrop,'E»q.

Governour of the Massadituet Colony.

100
105
107

108

Alt

OdNTKNTH ur vol.. I.

' fAor.

Chnp. V. Succeuon. Among whom, laro^er accouuU are given of
Governour Dudley, md Oovernour Bradnrttl. 120

CIrap. VI. (2^g] l'}p2 i. e. Firi Jlntmolt, or, AtiiitcnU. With Re-
murks. 128

Chap. VII. Publieola Cliriitianu$t or, t\\9 Life of Edward Hopkim,
Eiq. the lint Oovernour of Connecticut Colony. : M

Chap. Vill. SucceMors. 135

Chap. IX. Humilitas flonorata. The Life of TTieophilui Eaton, Eaq.
Oovernour of Aew-//av«nCo!onjr. I3(>

Chap. X. Succctsors. •-* HI

Chap. XI. Hermei Chrisdanus, The Life of John Wintkrop, Eiq.
the first Oovcrnonr of Connecticut and Aew- Haven, united. I4S

Chap. XII. Aatistenta. 147

Appendix.
Pietat in Patriam, or the Life of His Excellency, Sir William Phips,
late Governour of New-England. An History filled with great
variety of memorable matter t. 149

THE THIRD BOOK, BlfTITVLBO, POLVBIV«. 209

It contains the Lives of many Divines, by whose evangelical ministry,
the Churcherof JV(Rv-£ng/and have been illuminated.

The Introduction.
A General History, De fires Ulustribus, dividing into three classes the
Ministers who came out of 0/d England, for the service of .Ye». 21S
The first part, entituled, Johannes in Eremo. 225

The Introduction. 227

Chap. f. Cottonus Rcdivivus, or, the Life of Mr. John Cotton. 232

Chap. II. JVortonus Honoratus, or the Life of Mr. John Norton. 261

Chap. 111. Memoria fVihoniana, or, the Life of Mr. John Wilson. 275
Chap. IV. Purilanismus Nov-Anglieanus, or, the Life of Mr. John

Davenport. 292

Appendix.

The Light of the Western Churches, or, the Life of Mr. Thomas Hooker. 3U2

■ The Second Part, entituled, - •
Sepher Jercim, i. e. Liber Deum Timentium, or, Dead Abels yet speak-
ing, and spoken of. 320

Tlu Introduction. ib.
Chap. I. Janus Nov -.inglicanus, or, the Life of Mr. Francis Higginson. 322

Chap. II. Cygnea Cantio, or, the Death of Mr. Avery. 331

Chap. III. Natus ad Exemplar, or, the Life of Mr. Jonathan Burr. 333

Chap. IV. The Life of Mr. George Philips. 339

Chap. V. Pastor Evangelicus, or, the Life of Mr. Thomas Shepard. 343

Chap. VI. Prudentius, or, the Life of Mr. Peicr Frudden. 367

Chap. VII. Melancthon, or, the Life of Mr. Adam Blackman, .368

Chap. VIII. The Life of Mr. Abralutm Pierson. 359

Chap. IX. The Life of Mr. /iicfeardZ>cn<on. . 360

Chap. X. The Life of Mr. Peter Bulkly. ?' .- ' : ^' > \ ■'• 361

Chw^.W. The Life of Mr. Ralph Partridge. V- \ 363

VAi9^.WL Psaltes. Or,i\ie lAfe of Mr. Henry Dtmter. 366

^ ♦

"'^-"' I I..

CONTRNTfl or TOL. 4.

*1t

Chap. XIII. Tbd Life ofMr. ExMtl Rogart.

Chap. XIV. Eulogiut, or, the Life of Mr. JVaMoMaW Aofm .

MOB.

369
978

Apptndix.
Ad extract from (he Diary of the finnou* old Mr. John Rogtri of

Dtdkam. 381

Chap. XV. Bibliander M'ovAnglieanui, Or, the Life of Mr. Samtul

Jy§wman. 387

Chap. XVI. Doctor lrrefragabili$, or, the Life of Mr. Samuel Stont. 39t
Chap. XVII. The Life of Mr. mUiamThotnpion. 386

Chap. XVIII. The Life of Mr. John Warham. M»

Chap. XIX. The Life of Mr. Henry Flint. 400

Chap. XX. Fulgentiui, or, the Life of Mr. Richard MaUur. 401

Chap. XXI. The Life of Mr. Zaehariah Symmti. 414

Chap. XXII. The Life of Mr. JohnAlltn. 416

Chap. XXIIl. Cadmu$ AtMricanu$, or, the Life of Mr. CharUi

Chauncey. 416

Chap. XXIV. Lueat. or, the Life of Mr. John Fiik. 430

Chap. XXV. Scholaitieu$, or, the Life of Mr. TAoma* ParA;er— With

an Appeadix containiog Memoirs of Mr. Jamti Aoyei. 498

Chap. XXVI. The Life of Mr Thomat Thachtr. 441

Chap. XXVII. The Life of Mr. Peter Hohart. 448

Chap. XXVIII. A man o/Ood, and an hotwurcJtle mant or, the Life

of Mr. Samuel Whiting. 46t

Chap. XXIX. S. Atteriui, or, the Life of Mr. JohnSherman. 461

Chap. XXX. Eutebiw, or, the Life of Mr. Thomae Cobbet. 467

Chap. XXXI. Modeatus, or, the Life of Mr. John Ward. 470

Mantitsa.
The Epitaph of Dr. John Owen. : . * 471

* ' ' ■ ■

The Third Part, Entituled,
'Onn^tfm hifytifntrm, sive, Utiles Narrationea. 474

It contains, the life of the renowned John Eliot ; with an account,
concerning the success of the gospel among the Indiana. A very
entertaining piece of Church Hittory.

The Fourth Part, Entituled, Remains. 038

The Introduction. ib.

Chap. I. Remains of the First Claasis, or, Shorter Accounts of some

useful Divines. 534

Chap. II. The Life of Mr. Thomas Allen. 637

Chap. III. The Life of Mr. John Knorvles. 638

Chap. IV. Elisha's Bones. Or, the Life of Mr. Henry Whitjield. 540
Chap. V. Remains of the Second Qassis. And more largely, the Life

of Mr. John WooMridge. 542-

Chap. VI. Remains of the Third Classis. With more punctual ac-
counts of Mr. John Oxenbridge, Mr. Thomas WcUley, and Mr. Sam-
uel Lee. 544
Chap. VII. A good man making a good end, or, tho Life and Death
niMr.JohnBaily. ^ 64«

i(k-