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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A85452	America painted to the life. A true history of the originall undertakings of the advancement of plantations into those parts, with a perfect relation of our English discoveries ... 1628. to 1658. declaring the forms of their government, policies, religions, manners, customes, military disciplines, warres with the Indians, the commodities of their countries, a description of their townes, and havens, the increase of their trading with the names of their governours and magistrates. More especially an absolute narrative of the north parts of America, and of the discoveries and plantations of our English in New-England. Written by Sir Ferdinando Gorges .... Publisht ... by his grand-child Ferdinando Gorges Esquire, who hath much enlarged it and added severall accurate descriptions of his owne.	Gorges, Ferdinando, Sir, 1556?-1647.; Gorges, Ferdinando, 1629-1718.	1658 (1658)	Wing G1300; Thomason E969_3	181,058	245

Principles by which many errors were brought in ANd verily Satane policy here as in all places where the Lord Christ is acknowledged was to keepe men from that one right way by the which hee applies himselfe to the soule no marvell then if so many Errours arise like those fained heads of Hidra as fast as one is cut off two stand up in the roome and chiefly about the uniting of a soule to Christ by Faith Their Errors in this point they reported to be the judgement of the Reverend and Judicious Mr. John Cotten But hee having spoken for himselfe in his answer to Mr. Baily I forbeare onely this by the way take notice of these subtill Projectors the Erronist I meane who perceiving this holy man of God Mr. Cotten was and yet is in great esteeme with the people of God for the great grace Christ hath bestowed upon him in his deepe discerning the mysteries of godlinesse as also discerning some little difference b●tweene him and the other Elders about this point commene upon it and in large at their pleasure and then in daily venting their deceivable Doctrines like subtill Logicians bring in this as their strongest argument in the last place I 'le tell you Friend Neighbour Brother if you will forbeare to speake of it till you hear farther this is the judgement of M● Cotten when he it may be had never heard of it or at least wise when they brought this their bastardly brat to him they put another vizard on the face of it but that you may understand their way of broaching their abominable errors it was in dividing those things the Lord hath united in his worke of conversion continued carrying on a Soule to Heaven in these foure Particulars First in dividing betweene the word and the word under pretence of a legall Gospell perswading the people their Ministers were legall Preachers teaching them little better then Popery and unfit for Gospell Churches denying them to be any Ministers of Christ that Preach any preparation worke by shewing men what the Law requires Here 's nothing sayes one of them but Preaching out of the Law and the Prophets truly sayes another of them I have not heard a pure Gospell Sermon from any of them but sure they were both troubled with the Lethargy or read not the Gospell themselves for they may finde the Apostles yea and Christ himselfe Preached good Gospell sure out of the Law and the Prophets Secondly in separating Christ and his Graces in manifesting himselfe to be in the Soule and this they say makes much for the magnifying of Free-grace and indeed they made it so free that the soule that receives it shall never taste any of it by their consent but remaine still a dry branch as before these legall Pharises sayes one of them tell us of a thing they call inherent grace and of a man being made a new creature but I am sure the best of them goe on in their legall duties and performances still sorrowing for sinne hearing of Sermons observing duty Morning and Evening and many such like matters Tush man sayes another of them you shall hear more then this I was discoursing with one of their Scholasticall Preachers Disciples a professed convert and yet when he came to pray he beg'd for forgivenesse of his sins I asked him why he used that vaine repetition since hee did believe he was justified by Christ already and hee made me an answer not worth repeating but when I told him God could see no sinne in his people no more then I could see that which was covered close from my eye sight hee told mee I spake little lesse then blasphemy so ignorant are these men and their learned guides also who perswade them the more they have of the in-dwelling of the Spirit of Christ the better they shall be inabled to these legall duties Nay quoth the other I can tell you more then all this they make it an evidence of their good estate even their sanctification and yet these men would make people believe they are against Popery By this discourse of theirs you may see the manner how these Erronious and Hereticall persons batter off the fruit from the goodly branches of Christs vines make bare the flourishing trees planted in the house of the Lord and yet professe themselves to be Scholars of the upper forme that have learned as far as their Masters can teach them but let me tell you friends you 'l prove but trewants if you fall thus to Robbing of Orchards and its an offence far beyond petty Larceny to rob Christs Garden let your pretenees be what they will can it possible be for the magnifying of Christs Grace that the branches growing upon his root shou●d remaine fruitlesse no assuredly herein God is glorified that his people bring forth much fruit yet many of these new Gospellers had another plea hypocrites have a seeming shew of Saints graces by which they deceive themselves and others And therefore because Felons and Traytors coyne counterfeit Gold therefore true Gold should not passe for current but the intent of the Author is to prosecute the History these errours being consuted already by the able servants of Christ whom the Lord in his mercy brought hither for that purpose CHAP. XLI Of the two latter dividing Principles under which these Erronists fought THe third dividing tenent by which these persons prosecuted their errors at this time was betweene the Word of God and the Spirit of God and here these Sectaries had many prety knacks to delude withall and especially to please the Femall Sex they told of rare Revelations of things to come from the spirit as they say it was onely devised to weaken the Word of the Lord in the mouth of his Ministers and withall to put both ignorant and unlettered Men and Women in a posture of Preaching to a multitude that they might be praised for their able Tongue Come along with me sayes one of them I 'le bring you to a Woman that Preaches batter Gospell then any of your black-coates that have been at the Ninneversity a Woman of another kinde of spirit who hath had many Revelations of things to come and for my part saith hee I had rather hear such a one that speakes from the meere motion of the spirit without any study at all then any of your learned Scollers although they may be fuller of Scripture I and admit they may speake by the helpe of the spirit yet the other goes beyond them G●ntle Reader thinke not these things fained because I name not the parties or that here is no witnesse to prove them should I so do neither of both is the cause I assure you but being somewhat acquainted with my own weakenesse should the Lord withdraw the light of his word and also I verily believe some of them are truly turned againe to the truth the which I wish to all yet by relating the story all men may see

note for the place being out of the Mattacusets Patten they erected another Government called by the Indian name Canectico being farther incouraged by two honourable personages the Lord Say and Lord Brookes who built a Forrest at the mouth of the River and called it Say-brook Forrest passing up the River they began to build a Towne which they called Hartford where this Church of Christ sat down their station there went to these parts also the Reverend Mr. Wareham and divers from the Towne of Dorchester The place of setling themselves and erecting a Towne was far upon the River the part next the Sea being very Rocky but on the banke of this River they planted the good Towne of Hartford and established civill Government of their gathering into a Church you have formerly heard Onely here minde the gratious servant of Christ Mr. Wareham whose long labours in this worke are exprest WIth length of dayes Christ crowned hath thy head In Wildernesse to mannage his great War 'Gainst Antichrist by strength of him art lead With steady hand to sling thy stone from far That groveling in his gore may lie smit downe This mighty Monster that the Earth hath taken With 's poysons sweet in cup of Gold drunke down Dead drunke those lie whom Christ doth not awaken But Wareham thou by him art sent to save With 's word of truth Christ to their soules apply That deadly sin hath laid in rotting Grave Dead live in Christ here and Eternally CHAP. XXXIV Of Cambridge second Church being the 11. of Christ gathered in the Mattacusets and of further supply for Salem Church THese people and Church of Christ being thus departed from New-towne the godly people who came in their roomes gathered the eleaventh Church of Christ and called to the Office of a Pastor that gratious sweete Heavenly minded and soule-ravishing Minister Mr. Thomas Shepheard in whose soule the Lord shed abroad his love so abundantly that thousands of souls have cause to blesse God for him even at this very day who are the Seale of his Ministrey and hee a man of a thousand indued with abundance of true saving knowledge for himselfe and others yet his naturall Parts were weake but spent to the full as solloweth NO loungr Hawke poore Patridge to devoure More eager is then Prelates Nimrod power Thomas to hunt my Shephard sweet pursue To seas brinke but Christ saves his soule for you Sending thee Shepheard safe through Seas awaie To feede his stock unto thy ending day Where sheepe seek Wolves thy bosome lambs would catch But night and day thou ceasest not to watch And Warne with teares thy flock of cheaters vile Who in sheepes cloathing would the weak beguile With dropping dewes from thy lips Christ hath made Thy hearers eyes oft water springing blade With pierced hearts they cry aloud and say Shew us sweet Shepheard our salvations way Thy lovely speech such ravishment doth bring Christ gives thee power to heale as well as sting Thou gates sets ope for Christ thy King to enter In hearts of many spirits joy to center But mourne my Muse hang downe thy head with woe With teares sighs sobs lament thy Shepheard so Why hee 's in Heaven but I one Earth am left More Earthly ' cause of him I am bereft Oh Christ why dost thou Shepheard take away In erring times when sheepe most apt to stray The many Souldiers and Officers of Christ that came over this yeare moved some wonder in the mindes of those whom he had beene pleased to give a great measure of discerning yet here they fell abundantly short deeming almost an impossibility of improving their Talents in this Wildernesse the Indian-people being uncapable of understanding their Language the English congregations that were already set downe being fully furnished with Teaching Elders and that which was most strange they were perswaded they should meet with no enemies to oppose them as if Christ would lead them forth into the Field in vaine But Christ Iesus having the hearts of all Men opened before him soon shewed them their worke and withall made roome for them to set downe I and many more beside yea and beyond expectation made this poore barren Wildernesse become a fruitfull Land unto them that waited on him for the accompl●shing thereof feeding them with the flower of Wheat as in its time and place God willing shall be shewed although it pleased him this yeare to visit them and try them againe with a great scarcity of Bread by reason of the multitude that came brought somewhat shorter Provisions then ordinary which caused them to be in some straites But their Lord Christ gives cut a Word of command to those who occupy their businesse in the great deepe to furnish from Ireland some Ships laden with food for his people Also hee commands the Winds and the Seas to beare up these Ships and blow them forth on their way till they arrive among his people in New England whose appetities were now sharpe-set for Bread One poore man among others deeming hee had found out some forsaken Barnes of the Indians whose manner it to lay up their Corne in the Earth lighteh one a grave where finding bones of the dead instead of Corne hee was taken with feare of this as a sad omen that hee should then die for want of food but in this hee proved no true Prophet for the Lord was pleased to bring in seasonable supply and the man is living at this very day This yeere came over the Famous servant of Christ M. Hugh Peters whose courage was not inferiour to any of these transported servants of Christ but because his native Soile hath had the greatest share of his labours the lesse will be said of him here hee was called to Office by the Church of Christ at Salem their former Pastor the Reverend M. Higging son having cnded his labours resting with the Lord. WIth courage bold Peters a Souldier stout In Wildernesse for Christ begins to war Much worke he finds mongst people yet hold out With fluent tongue he stops phantastickjar Swife Torrent stayes of liberties large vent Through crooked wayes of error daily flowing Shiloes soft streames to bath in would all bent Should he while they in Christian freedome growing But back thou must thy Talents Christs will have Improved for him his glory is thy crowne And thou base dust till he thee honour gave It matters not though the world on thee do frown CHAP. XXXV Of the Twelfth Church of Christ gathered at Concord YEt further at this time entered the Field two more valiant Leaders of Christs Souldiers holy men of God Mr. Buckly and M. Jones penetrating further into this Wildernesse then any formerly had done with divers other servants of Christ they build an Inland Towne which they called Concord named from the occasion of the present time as you shall after heare this Towne is seated upon a faire fresh River whose Rivulets are filled with fresh Marsh and her streames

opinions upheld by the civill government must be sure to make choise of the most Atheisticall persons they can finde to governe such as are right Gallios for N. E. hath found by experience that every man will most favour his own way of Profession and labor tooth naile to maintaine it and if any have complied with other that have been of a contrary sinfull opinion to their own it hath been because they would have their own scape scot free but assuredly the Lord Christ will allow of no such wayes for the favouring the professors of his truths nor may any Magistrate doe evill that good may come of it in favouring dangerous and deceiveable doctrines that others may favour the true servants of Christ neither is there any such need for it is their honours if the will of God be so to suffer nor can the people of N. England I meane the better part be perswaded to set up any other to governe but such as are zealous for the maintainance of the truths of Christ yet of late there is a buzzing noise as if it were injury to the Churches for civill power to medle in matters of Religion but to be sure there are many that strive for a Toleration yet the people of Christ who are the naturall Mothers of this Government resolve never to see their living child so divided looking at such a government to be no better to them a living child divided in twaine and therefore desires their loving Countrymen to beare with them in this point and if any notwithstanding shall force it to be so we shall shew our natural affection and leave all to them chusing rather to dwell on the backside of this Desert a place as yet unaccessible knowing assuredly our God will appeare for our deliverance Yet let them also know the Souldiers of Christ in N E. are not of such a pusillanimous spirit but resolve as that valiant Jeptha did to keep in possession the Towns his God had given them so we are resolved the Lord willing to keepe the government our God hath given us and for witnesse hee hath so done let this History manifest for we chose not the place for the Land but for the government that our Lord Christ might raigne over us both in Churches and Common-wealth and although the Lord have been pleased by an extraordinary blessing upon his peoples industry to make the place fruitfull as at this day indeed it is yet all may know the land in it selfe is very sterrill but the upholding of the truths of Christ is chiefe cause why many have hitherto come and further if the servants of Christ be not much mistaken the downfall of Antichrist is at hand and then the Kingdome of the Earth shall become the Kingdome of our Lord Christ in a more peculiar manner then now they are and surely godly civill government shall have a great share in that worke for they are exhorted to fill her double of the Cup shee hath given to them and also know our Magistrates being conscious of ruling for Christ dare not admit of any bastardly brood to be nurst up upon their tender knees neither will any Christian of a sound judgement vote for any but such as earnesty contend for the Faith although the increase of Trade and traffique may be a great inducement to some VVonder-working PROVIDENCE OF SIONS SAVIOVR IN NEVV ENGLAND CHAP. I. The beginning of the relation of the Pequot war and the great straites these wandering Jacobites were in THe great Jehovah minding to manifest the multitude of his Mercies to the wendering Jacobites and make an introduction to his following wonders causeth the darke clouds of calamities to gather about them pres●ging some terrible tempest to follow with eyes full of anguish they face to the right upon the damnable Doctrines as so many dreadfull Engines set by Satan to intrap their poore soules Then casting forth a left hand looke the labour and wants accompaning a Desert and terrible Wildernesse affright them their memories minding them of their former plenty It much aggravated the present misery when with thoughts of retreating they turne their backs about the experienced incumbrances and deepe distresses of a dangerous Ocean hinders their thoughts of flight besides the sterne looke of the Lordly Prelates which would give them a welcome home in a famishing prison Then purposing to put on more stronger resolution facing to the Front behold a Messenger with sorrowfull tidings from their fellow brethren that inhabited the bankes of the River Canectico who having audience informes them of the great insolency and cruell murthers committed by a barbarous and bloudy people called Peaquods upon the bodies of their indeared friends these savage Indians lying to the South-west of the Mattacusets were more warlike then their Neighbouring Nations the Narrowganzet or Niantick Indians although they exceeded them in number also Mawhiggins who were the best friends of the English and a chiefe instrumentall meanes of their sitting down there stood much in feare of these Peaquods which were big swollen with pride at this time facing the English Fort built on the mouth of the River in their large Cannowes with their Bowes and long Shafts the English being then but weake in number and provision were unable to manage the war against so numerous a company being above thirty to one yet their desires being beyond their meanes they made some shot at them forcing them to hast away faster then they willingly would These Indians trusting in their great Troopes having feasted their corps in a ravening manner and leaving their fragments for their Sqawes they sound an alarum with a sull mouth and lumbring voyce and soone gather together without presse or pay their quarrell being as antient as Adams time propagated from that old enmity betweene the Seede of the Woman and the Seed of the Serpent who was the grand signor of this war in hand and would very gladly have given them a large Commission had not his owne power beene limited neither could he animate them so much as to take off the gastly looke of that King of terror yet however at his command they arme themselves casting their qu●ver at their backs with Bowes ready bent they troope up some of them being extraordinarily armed with Guns which they purchast from the Dutch who had assuredly paid deare for this their courteous humour not long since had not some English Volunteers rescued them from the Indians hands the most of them were armed also with a small Hatchet on a long handle they had a small number of Mawhawkes Hammers which are made of stone having a long pike on the one side and a hole in the handle which they tie about their wrists they neede not provisions follow their Camp because they are continually at home but for their mats to shelter them from Ruine or Snow the Woods are as wellcome to them as their Wigwams sire they can make in all places by chafing

their Lordly power is the onely means of suppressing Error Secondly the Godly and Reverend Presbyterian Party who had they made their eye-witnesses of this worke they had assuredly saved themselves much labour which I dare presume they would have spent worthily otherwayes then in writing so many books to prove the Congregationall or Independant Churches to be the sluce through which so many flouds of Error flow in nay my deare and reverend brethren might not so much work of yours in writing and ours in answering have been a meanes to have stopt the height of this overflowing floud and through the Lords assisting have setled Peace and Truth in a great measure throughout the three Nations Thirdly those who with their new stratagems have brought in so much old error for although they had a party here yet verily they durst not bring their New Light to the Old Word for fear it would prove but Old Darknesse as indeed they doe But here might they have seene the Ministers of Christ who were so experienced in the Scripture that some of them could tell you the place both Chapter and Verse of most sentences of Scripture could be named unto them with Scriptures light cleering up the truths of Christ clouded by any of these Errors and Heresies as had not been done for many Ages before and verily this great work of Christ must not be lightly over-past the Author of this History passeth not for the shrewd censures of men nor can it be any matter of disparagement to the reverend and highly honoured in Christ remaining in England that their fellow brethren have done so worthily here it is well knowne to all our English Nation that the most able-preaching Ministers of Christ were most pursued by the lording Clergy and those that have spent all their dayes even from a child in searching the Scriptures the Lord Christ preparing them by his blessed spirit for this very work Besides their continued practice in studying and preaching the wayes of truth and lastly their meeting with the opposition of so many crafty close couched errors whose first foundation was laid cheke by joule with the most glorious heavenly and blessed truths to dazle the eyes of the beholders and strike terrour into the hearts of those should lift up their hands against them for feare they should misse them and hit their stroke upon the blessed truth and also to bring up a slanderous and evil report on all the able Orthodox Min●st●rs of Christ that withstand them perswading men they withstand the holy heavenly and blessed truth which they have lodged there which this Synod did with strong undenyable arguments fetch from Scripture to overthrow and pluck up by the roots all those Errors which you have heard mentioned in the former Book the which they divided for the more full answering of them Among all those valiant Champions of the Truth whom you have heard named to some six some five some foure c. it had assuredly been worth the work to have related the particular manner of putting to the sword every one of them but besides the length of the discourse there must have been a more able Pen-man but however they were so put to death that they never have stood up in a living manner among us since but sometimes like Wizards to peepe and mutter out of ground fit for such people to resort unto as will goe from the living to the dead But blessed be the Lord Christ who girded his people with strength against this day of battaile and caused the Heavens to cleere up againe in New-England after these foggy dayes The fourth and last sort of persons whose presence I could most of all the other three former have desired was those whose disease lay as chiefly in despising all Physitians and that upon this ground for one because some for filthy lucre sake have nourish● Diseases rather then cured them Many pamphlets have come from our Countreymen of late to this purpose namely scurrillously to deride all kind of Scholarship Presbytery and Synods Experience hath taught Gods people here that such are troubled with some sinfull opinion of their owne that they would not have touched but had they been at this Synod they must per force have learned better language or their speech and their knowledge would fall foule one of the other here might they have beheld the humility of the most learned of these servants of Christ condemning the high conceitednesse of their ignorance and then also the framing of Arguments in a Schollar like way did the Lord assisting cleare up the truths of Christ more to the me●nest capacity in one hour then could be clouded again in s●aven yeare by the new notion of any such as boast so much of their unlettered knowledge diversity of languages although a correcting hand of God upon the whole world when they joyned together in that proud Edifice yet now is it blest of God to retaine the purity of the Scriptures if any man should goe about to corrupt them in one language they should remain pure in another and assuredly the Lord intending to have the wayes of the Gospel of Christ to be made more manifest at this time then formerly not by tradition of our forefathers or by mans reason but by the revealed will of God in the holy Scripture did accordingly prepare Instruments for this work earthen vessels men subject to like infirmities with our selves sorry men and carrying about with them a body of sinne and death men subject to erre yet these did the Lord Christ cause to be train'd up in Learning and tutor'd at the Universities and that very young some of them as the revererend Mr. John Cotten at 13. yeares of age The mighty power of God sanctifyed and ordained them for this work and made them a defenced city an iron pillar a wall of brass against all the opposers of his truth and now coupled them together in this Synod to draw in Christs yoke and warre with the weapons he had furnished them withall and cause the blessed truths of Christ to shine forth in their splendour and glory farre more after the dispersing of this smoak which of a long time hath filled the Temple and hindered the entring in of those great number of Converts which shall flow in at the fall of all antichristian Errors and verily as the Lord Christ had called forth this little handfu●l to be a model of his glorious work intended thoughout the whole world so chiefly in this suppressing of Errours Sects and Heresies by the blessed word of his truth causing his servants in this Synod mu●●ally to agree and by his gracious providence break in pieces a contrived plot of some who by mis-reports insinuating jealousies and crafty carriage of matters to the wrong mark with a writing of thrice twenty strong would have drawne away one of the valiant Souldiers of Christ from this worthy worke who both then and since hath been very helpfull

least some one of them not only to prevent the disturbance might follow in the Common-wealth by any who under pretence of Church-Covenant might bring in again those cursed opinions that caused such commotion in this and the other Colony to the great dammage of the people but also to countenance the people of God in so pious a work that under them they may live a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty for this cause was present the honored Mr. Increase Nowel the persons stood forth and first confessed what the Lord had done for their poor souls by the work of his Spirit in the preaching of his Word and Providences one by one and that all might know their faith in Christ was bottomed upon him as he is revealed in his Word and that from their own knowledg they also declare the same according to that measure of understanding the Lord had given them the Elders or any other messengers there present question with them for the better understanding of them in any points they doubt of which being done and all satisfied they in the name of the Churches to which they do belong hold out the right hand of fellowship unto them they declaring their Covenant in words expressed in writing to this purpose The Church-Covenant WE that do assemble our selves this day before God and and his people in an unfeigned desire to be accepted of him as a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ according to the Rule of the New-Testament do acknowledg our selves to be the most unworthy of all others that we should attain such thigh grace and the most unable of our selves to the performance of any thing that is good abhorring our selves for all our former defilements in the worship of God and other wayes and resting only upon the Lord Jesus Christ for attonement and upon the power of his grace for the guidance of our whole after course do here in the name of Christ Jesus as in the presence of the Lord from the bottom of our hearts agree together through his grace to give up our selves first unto the Lord Jesus as our only King Priest and Prophet wholly to be subject unto him in all thing and therewith one unto another as in a Church-Body to walk together in all the Ordinances of the Gospel and in all such mutual love and offices thereof as toward one another in the Lord and all this both according to the present light that the Lord hath given us as also according to all further light which he shall be pleased at any time to reach out unto us out of the Word by the goodness of his grace renouncing also in the same Covenant all errors and Schismes and whatsoever by-wayes that are contrary to the blessed rules revealed in the Gospel and in particular the inordinate love and seeking after the things of the world every Church hath not the same for words for they are not for a form of words The 22. of the 9. moneth following Mr. Thomas Carter was ordained Pastor in presence of the like Assembly Hfter he had exercised in preaching and prayer the greater part of the day two persons in the name of the Church laid their hands upon his head and said We ordain thee Thomas Carter to be Pastor unto this Church of Christ then one of the Elders Priest being desired of the Church continued in prayer unto the Lord for his more especial assistance of this his servant in his work being a charge of such weighty importance as is the glory of God and salvation of souls that the very thought would make a man to tremble in the sense of his own inability to the work The people having provided a dwelling house built at the charge of the Town in general welcomed him unto them with joy that the Lord was pleased to give them such a blessing that their eyes may see their Teachers After this there were divers added to the Church daily after this manner the person desirous to joyn with the Church cometh to the Pastor and makes him acquainted therewith declaring how the Lord hath been pleased to work his conversion who discerning hopes of the P●rsons faith in Christ although weak yet if any appear he is propounded to the Church in general for their approbation touching his godly life and conversation and then by the Pastor and some brethren heard again who make report to the Church of their charitable approving of the person but before they come to joyn with the Church all persons within the Towne have publike notice of it then publikely he declares the manner of his conversion and how the Lord hath been pleased by the hearing of his Word preached and the work of his Spirit in the inward parts of his soul to bring him out of that ●●tural darkness which all men are by nature in and under as also the measure of knowledg the Lord hath been pleased to indue him withal And because some men cannot speak publikely to edisication through bashfulness the less is required of such and women speak not publikely at all for all that is desired is to prevent the polluting the blessed Ordinances of Christ by such as walk scandalously and that men and women do not eat and drink their own condemnation in not discerning the Lords body After this manner were many added to this Church of Christ and those 7. that joyned in Church-fellowship at first are now encreased to 74. persons or therabout of which according to their own confession as is supposed the greater part having been converted by the preaching of the Word in N. E. by which may appear the powerful efficacy of the word of Christ in the mouth of his Ministers and that this way of Christ in joyning together in Church-Covenant is not only for building up of souls in Christ but also for converting of sinness bringing them out of the natural condition to be ingrafted into Christ for if this one Church have so many then assuredly there must be a great number comparatively throughout all the Churches in the Country After this manner have the Churches of Christ had their beginning and progress hitherto the Lord continue encrease them the world throughout The Pastor of this Church hath much encreased with the encreasings of Christ Jesus of whose labours in the Lord as followeth CArtor Christ hath his wayes thee taught and them Hast not with-held his Word but unto all With 's word of power dost cause stout souls to bow And meek as Lambs before thy Christ to fall The antient truths plain paths they fit thee best Thy humble heare all haughty acts puts by The lowly heart Christ learns his lovely hest Thy meekness shews thy Christ to thee is nigh Yet must thou shew Christ makes his bold to be As Lions that none may his truths tread down Pastoral power he hath invested thee With it maintain least he on thee do frown Thy youth thou hast in this

liberty and nothing for Government yet they might bear men in hand it was for petitioning for a Presbyterian Church-Government according to this te●or th● Court being some what flow in censuring them they prepare● a plot wrapping in some few persons more with them lay ing very gross matters to the charge of this Government in their Bill of complaint but being suspected by the honoured Magistrates of this Government their plot was found out and writing publikely read unto them for all which they had a small penalty laid upon them hardly countervail the charge they put the country unto but assuredly it was the Lords gracious goodness to quell their malice against his people and indeed the proud Bishops sped no better or not so well especially some of them nor have any other hitherto prospered who have ma●igned these poor Churches of Christ yet because the Gortonist painted over a far worser cause that those honorable personages in England who had the hearing thereof could not discern the Government thought meet to send over this year the honored M. VVinslow to manifest and declare the naked truth of things having full power and commission from this Government to deal for them in all matters wherein they may be concerned and verily the chief Gortonian might have returned from England hither to have triumphed in his blasphemies over the Churches of Christ and all the united colonies had not the divel shewed his horns in that book he printed wherein he takes upon him a monstrous interpretation of the words of our Lord Christ in John Except ye eat my flesh and drink my blond c. had the book been well perused before their coming over surely they had never return'd with so large a commission as they boast of for the Parliament have punished divers persons for their blasphemies and very like these should not have scaped scotfree CHAP. IV. Of the second Synod holden at Cambridg in N. E. and the images of the Son that appeared THis year the General Court of the Mattachusets Government taking into consideration the many 〈◊〉 in point of doctrine that were daily broached by some of our English Nation although the churches of Christ and the people under this Government were free at least in open profession yet to declare to all the world and render an accompt of their faith and profession wherein they walk it was thought meet that the churches of Christ should meet together in a Synod by their Elders and Messengers to hold forth the doctrine and discipline of Jesus Christ according to the rule of the New Testament with the grounds of Scriptur● from which they hold the same and further to make trial of them by the said rules and none other accordingly at the time appointed they assembled together their disputation was plain and easie to be understood of the meanest capacity clearing up those points that were most dubious they having agreed on all matters with a full concurrence of the assembly did appoint them to be put in print that they might be the better scanned and tried of every particular person in the several congregations or churches many churches approving thereof for the generality others there be that have not yet fully viewed the same the books are extant and shew that the churches of Christ in N. E. are not ashamed to make confession of their faith to all the world and are yet ready to receive any further light shall be made known unto them from the Word of God and none other nor do they receive this because a Synod hath said it but because the Lord hath spoken it by his Spirit and witnessed by the same Spirit to their souls that he hath so done some sorts of persons have been much opposite to this Synod first those that are so inured with the broad beaten path of liberty that they fear to be confined in the straight and narrow path of truth the second are such as have their wills wedded to some singular rare conceited opinion for which they have been admired of many and now they fear their gain will be gone if this spirit be cast out the third and last sort are more honest then the two former and only scared with their big words who tell them of the Popish and Prelatical Synods what a deal of trash and cannon Laws they have brought in and that if they will full to receiving books once they shall have more and more thrust upon them As also if any shall say its only to declare the doctrine and discipline the churches of N. E. hold it s enough quoth they that our faith concerning these things is contained in the Bible and this is all the accompt we need to give to any but for all these scare-crows N.E. hath through the blessing of the Lord received much peace and truth from the former Synod we wish our countrymen and our selves may receive the like and much more from this which ended not with this year This year about the later end thereof appeared two Parelii or Images of the Sun and some other strange apparitions of light about her like a Rainbow with the heels upward which unwonted sights have been interpreted by the provident passages since shewed among those who have had an outside of profession and name to be singular for understanding the mind of God who would overthrow all the Ordinances of Christ under the name of New-light and that there can be no restoration of Religion till new Apostles come This desperate opinion doth so fitly resemble these wonderful apparitions that seemed to be another Sun yet indeed had no light in them but vanished away no man knew how so these opinionists would make men believe they had found out another Sea from their phantastical revelations CHAP. V. Of the great pains and care taken by those in Authority for the compiling of Lawes for this little Commonwealth THis year the General Court appointed a Committee of divers persons to draw up a Body of Laws for the well-ordering of this little Commonwealth and to the end that th●y might be most agreeable with the rule of Scripture in every County there was appointed two Magistrates two Ministers and two able persons from among the people who having provided such a competent number as was meet together with the former that were enacted newly amended they presented them to the General Court where they were again perused and amended and then another Committee chosen to bring them into form and present them to the Court again who the year following passed an Act of confirmation upon them and so committed them to the Press and in the year 1648. they were printed and now are to be seen of all men to the end that none may plead ignorance and that all who intend to transport themselves hither may know this is no place of licentious liberty nor will this people suffer any to trample down this Vineyard of the Lord but with diligent execution

likely to live or die by N. Culpeper 13. Catastrophe Magnatum or the downfall of Monarchy by N. Culpeper 14. Ephemerides for the year 1652. being a year of wonders by N. Culpeper 15. Lux veritatis or Christian Judiciall Astrology vindicated and Daemonology confuted in answer to Nath. Holmes Dr. D. by W. Ramsey Gent. 16. The History of the Golden Ass 17. The Painting of the Antients the beginning progress and consummating of that noble Art and how those antient Artificers attained to their still so much admired excellency sraels redemption or the propheticall History of our Saviours Kingdome on earth by Robert Matton of Exon Colledgo in Olcon 8. 18. An Introduction to the Teutonick Philosophy being a determination of the Originall of the Soul at a Dispute held in the School at Cambridg at the Commencement March 3. 1646. by Charles Hotham Fellow of Peter-house 12. 19. Teratologia or a discovery of Gods wonders manifested in the former and moderne times by bloody rain and waters by I.S. 20. Foos Lachry marum or a fountain of Tears from whence doth flow Englands complaint Jeremiahs Lamentations with an Elegy upon that Son of Valour Sir Charles Lucas by John Quarles 8. 21. Oedipus or a resolver being a Clew that leads to the chiefe Secrets and true resolution of amorous naturall morall and politicall Problems by G. M. 22. The celestiall Lamp enlightning every distressed soul from the depth of everlasting Darkness to the height of eternall Light by Tho. Fettisplace 23. Nocturnall Lucubrations or Meditations divine and morall with Epigrams and Epitaphs by Robert Chamberlain 24. The unfortunate Mother a Tragedy by Tho. Nabs 25. The Rebellion a Comedy by T. R. 26. The Tragedy of Messalina by Nat. Richards 8. 27. The remedy of Discontentment or a Treatise of contentation in whatsoever condition fit for these sad and troublesome times by Joseph Hall late B. of Exon and Norwich 12. 18. The Grand Sacriledge of the Church of Rome in taking away the sacred Cup from the Laity at the Lords Table by the late reverend Daniel Featly D. D. 4. 29. The cause and cure of Ignorance Error Enmity Atheism and Prophaness or a most hopefull way to Grace and Salvation by R. Young 8. 30. A bridle for the Times tending to still the Murmuring to settle the Wavering to stay the Wandring to strengthen the Fainting by John Brinsley Minister of Gods Word at Yarmouth 31. Comforts against the fear of Death wherein are severall evidences of the work of Grace by John Collins of Norwich 32. Jacobs seed or the excellency of seeking God by prayer by Jeremiah Burroughs Minister of the Gospel to the two greatest Congregations about London Stepney and Cripplegate 33. The Zealous Magistrate a Sermon by Tho Threscot 34. Britannia Rediviva or a Soverain Remedy to cure a sick Common-wealth preached in the Minster at Yorke before the Judges August 9. 1649. by J. Shaw Minister of Hull 35. The Princess Royall preached in the Minster in Yorke before the Judges March 24. 1650. by John Shaw Minister of Hull 36. Anatomy of Mortality divided into eight Heads 1. The Certainty of Death 2. Meditations of Death 3. Preparations for Death 4. The right behaviour in Death 5. The Comfort in our own Death 6. The comfort against the Death of Friends 7. The Cases wherein it 's lawfull or unlawfull to desire Death 8. The glorious Estate of Gods Children after Death by George Stronde 37. New Jerusalem in a Sermon for the Society of Astrologers August 1651. 38. Mirrour of Complements fitted for Ladies Gentlewomen Scholars and Strangers with formes of speaking and writing of Letters most in fashion with witty Poems and a Table expounding hard English words 39. Cabinet of Jewels discovering the nature vertue value of pretious Stones with infallible Rules to escape the deceit of all such as are adulterate or counterfeit by Tho. Nicholls 40. Quakers Cause at second hearing being a full answer to their Tenets 41. Divinity no Enemy to Astrology a sermon intended for the Society of Astrologers for the year 1653. by Dr. Tho. Swadlin 42. Historicall Relation of the first planting of the English in New England in the year 1628. to the year 1653. and all the materiall passages happening there Exactly performed The Church of Christ at Plimoth was planted in New England 8. Yeares before any others Doctor Wilson gave 1000 l. to New England with which they stored them with great Guns Mr. Wareham and other of their Teaching Elders you shall reade of when the Can●●k●●●o is planted 1634. Concord the 12. Church 1. Dividing betweene the Word and the Word 2. Christ and his Graces 3. The Word and the spirit 4. Christ and his Ordinances Foure score Errors derived from these four heads and spread abroad in N. England M. Allen a great help against the Errors of the time A The consideration of the wonderful providence of Christ in planting his N. E. Churches and with the right hand of his power preserving protecting favouring and feeding them upon his tender knees Together with the ill requital of his all-infinite and undeserved mercies bestowed upon us bath caused many a soul to lament for the dishonor done to his Name and sear of his casting of this little handful of his and the insulting of the enemy whose forrow is set forth in these four first staffs of verses A The consideration of the wonderful providence of Christ in planting his N. E. Churches and with the right hand of his power preserving protecting favouring and feeding them upon his tender knees Together with the ill requital of his all-infinite and undeserved mercies bestowed upon us bath caused many a soul to lament for the dishonor done to his Name and sear of his casting of this little handful of his and the insulting of the enemy whose forrow is set forth in these four first staffs of verses A The consideration of the wonderful providence of Christ in planting his N. E. Churches and with the right hand of his power preserving protecting favouring and feeding them upon his tender knees Together with the ill requital of his all-infinite and undeserved mercies bestowed upon us bath caused many a soul to lament for the dishonor done to his Name and sear of his casting of this little handful of his and the insulting of the enemy whose forrow is set forth in these four first staffs of verses A The consideration of the wonderful providence of Christ in planting his N. E. Churches and with the right hand of his power preserving protecting favouring and feeding them upon his tender knees Together with the ill requital of his all-infinite and undeserved mercies bestowed upon us bath caused many a soul to lament for the dishonor done to his Name and sear of his casting of this little handful of his and the insulting of the enemy whose forrow is set forth in these four first staffs of verses B The Rod of God toward us in our Maritine affairs