before God before Jesus Christ and the Elect Angels that he should observe those things namely the Canons he had before appointed about Church Order and Officers that he should mind those things without preferring one before another doing nothing by partiallity there must be no partial dealing no preferment of one Commandment of Christ before another Deacons must not be kept in place with rejection of the Elders that Ruled well nor others debarr'd of their double Honour especially those who laboured in the Word and Doctrine and the Holy All-wise God knowing that the Churches would Apostatize and that Antichrist whose Mystery of Iniquity then wrought would in special manner run encounter to Scripture Purity and pollute the Sanctuary Streams of Church Oâ—dinances and Officers especially Ruling Eldeâ—â— because of their pragmaticalness with the Teâ—ching Elders about Church Rule he jumbleâ— and made one Officer of Teaching and Rulinâ— Elders prudentially to avâ—id Seism and calleâ— hem both Presbyters or Priests mean whilâ— he courted and carressed the Deacons whoâ— he distinguished some he called Sub-Deaconâ— to attend the Vestry to help on the Surplicâ— and hâ—ly Garments of the Priests or Presbyters others he advanced to hear Auricular Confessâ—ons and say Mass but prudently considerinâ— that the Care and Trust of the Church Stocâ— and Treasury was committed unto them eâ—pecially when iâ— was augmented with that caâ—led Constantines Gift concerning which History tells us of a voice heard in the Heavens Hodie venerum effunditur c. This day poyson iâ— powred into the Churches That Man of Sin fore seeing how useful Deacons might be to hiâ— Clergy he advanced the Gravest of them to be Arch Deacons and to be of the number oâ— Cardinals so called because they are the Cardines Hooks or Hindges that the Scarlet Whoreâ— Chair or Seat hangs on This cursed Conclave are the only Elected and Electors of the Pope their work on High Festivals is to Vest their Pontifex Maximus in his Pontificalibus of Purple and Scarlet decked with Jewels and Gold vastly exceeding all Imperial State and the Splendor of Jadduâ— the 〈…〉 to Alenander to confirm him in his Conâ—est of the World Whilst at the High Altar â—e is Offering up the Blasphemous Sacrifice â—â—ese Arch-Deacons attend upon him as other â—eacons at the Lords Supper Let the Candid â—eader pass by this digression designed to shew what a fine Thred this Mystery of Iniquity at â—irst spun but now the Son of Perdition Sits â—s God in the Temple of God whom Christ will destroy with the Brightness of his Coming c. Christ renews and doubleth the same Charge â—n the same Epistle as it were Adjuring and Conjuring Timothy and in him all the Churchâ—s In the sight of God as they look to answer it at that Great Day and before Jesus Christ who made a good Confession before Pontius Pilate that they keep his Commandment without spot and unrebukable until the Appearing of Jesus Christ How should all these Obtestations and Injunctions make all New-England Church-Members and Officers dreadfully to quake and tremble under the consideration of what Guilt we lay under by breach of this Command Moreover the King of Saints and Lord of Heaven and Earth having Magnified and Exalted this People above any in the lower world with Charter Priviledge to im-body themselves into Spiritual Corporations founded upon Divine Institutions and directed by Scriptural Regulations by which Charter of Right they are Impowred to Assemble and Incorporate themselves to Chuse and Appoint their own Officers acting the whole in his Sacred Majesties Name and Solely by his Authority thaâ— agreeing together he hath pass'd under thâ— great Seal of Heaven and given his Royal Parolâ— Oath and Amen to bind or loose in heaven whatsoever they shall bind or loose on earth the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven are giveâ— to this Church Confessing and Professing Chrisâ— to be the Son of the living God the gates oâ— hell shall not prevail against it yea he whosâ— Name is I AM is in the Midst of two or three assembled in his Name Authority but if they by their factions or fractions cannot agree oâ— thro their sullen wilfulness do Nonuser Desuser Refuser any of these Sacred Statutes which they by Scripture Charter are oblidg'd to act by they forfeit their Franchise may expect a Divinâ— Quo-warrant to be sued out by their King against them WHO REQUIRED THIS AT YOUR HANDS THIS IS NOT THE FEAST FAST OR DUTY THE LORD REQUIRES By not observing all things he haâ—h Commanded they forfeit the challenge of his promised Presence with them if they refuse any Officer which he hath instated in the Churches they expose themselves to the Forfeiture of the said Charter And he who knoweth not what a Deluge of Superstitions was by this door of neglect let into the first Churches he is not so vers'd in divine and humane Church History as the time of the fulfilling Prophesy we are cast into calls for our crying out The Temple of the Lord will not free us from being Dischurched more then Jerusalem was she was seat to Shilo N. England needs not to Travel into Asia to learn it every poor French Refugee who hath set his Foot in N. England Preacheth it unto us whose Churches have yielded more Faithful Martyrs then all the other Reformed Churches in Europe their care of Supplying the Poor Churches out of the Large Treasury and by the Liberality of the Richer was Exemplary and the Providing Maintenance to the Widows and Orphans of their Deceased Pastors was Presidential it was the special Work of their National Synods and doth condemn us Christ that knows their Charity Service Faith and Patience after their Re reformation will make this Thyatiras last works to be more than her first Oh that we might apply our Hearts to these things that they may sink into our Souls Kings out of their Natural Clemency may abate from the Severity of Law but if contempt be added it aggravates the Offence Our case is such as only Soveraign Grace can Cure God hath oft wrought for his Names Sake Let us Plead it with him Lord we are callâ—d by thy Name Leave us not Let us not be abhorr'd for thy Names Sake Let not the Throne of Thy Glory be further Disgraced before Popish and Pagan Adversaries It 's said that none but Parliaments Laxness â—o maintain their just and legal Proprietie◠〈◊〉 undo the Body Polittck of a Nation so noâ—â— can undo our Spiritual Corporations but their Members giving up their due just Church Power and Priviledge into the bands of some Diotrephes as befel the Primitive Churches As we began with a caution from our great Cotton so we shall draw to a conclusion with the Animadversion of the great Congregational Champion Dr. Owen who in the Vindication of these Churches from Scism chaâ—g'd upon them by Dr Stilling sfleet the said Reverend Man who there and in his other Elaborate Works upon that Subject doth
1000 besides about 140 Slain the other day but leave it to such whose Lot it will be to draw it up our Pequod and Narraganset Wars lasted about three years whose Narrative is faithfully Published by two persons of Worth to the Honour of God King and Country Lâ—s thought no English Pen will hardly Undertake this That the Great God is Departing from us his â—wful Removes demonstrate should be quite leave us we need none to Judge between us but our selves to Justifie him and Condemn us we are the Luxuriant Branches of the Noble Vine here planted but Degenerated into that of Sodom and Gomorrah whom after all Culturing to bring us unto our Pristine Fruitfulness by Impoverishing us by pruning oâ—ffour Superfluous Branches by Losses at Sea by Defeating our great Canada Design by Gods own Immediate Hand Starving and Freezing to Death the Flower of our Hopeful Youth the Lord from Heaven and the Stars in their Courses Fighting against us yea Cruel Cannibals Scalping and Fleaing of our Bodies burning us as Sacrifices to Habamoch but all this tends only to the killing of our Bodies but when as the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah is Rowz'd up and Roareth upon us who can but fear it exceeds bruitish stupidity if we do not Tremble more especially when as the Devourer out of the Bottomless Pit is let Loose upon us the Compendium of all Calamity and the quintessence of Wrath Anger and Indignation is come upon us to the utmost as if now we were to be made an Execration to God his Holy Angels and good men at the dreadful Claps of this tremendous Thunder whole Flesh is not shattered in pieces How should the ghastly sight of the Tophet and Invisible World within us and of the innate Immate 〈…〉 â—akes â—elf and sin more abominably vile and loath â—ome then Hell or Devil Who can hide from the Wrath of the Lamb Whose Grace upon the Knee in the Ministry of his Hoâ— Word so oft hath besought us and ours to be Reconciled unto him but we would not we have with our contempt provoked him to deliver us up into the hand of him who hath the Power of Death Let 's consider the Instruments Implied in this Suparlative Plague the Devil is come down against us the Inhabitants of this Earth having great Wrath he is the Do-evil he is the Recorded Liar Tempter Accuser and Murderer of Souls and Bodies and what not They are Spirits no more discerned by us and as unseen as our Souls yet so near piercing and contiguous as the Air Heat or Cold and it 's only want of Divine Permission if not Commission that every one of us hath not had the experience of all this they are Fallen Angels Apostate from their Heavenly First State should not this bring to Remembrance both our Personal Fall in our First Fathers and our Relative Apostacy from our Church-State First Love and First Works Our Fathers were Clothed with the Sun the Apostolical Discipline and Doctrine were their Crown the Moon was under their Feet but we are turned topsy turvy Heads and Heels have changed places a little from Heaven was greater encouragement then a great deal from Earth as then was the reply of a young Preacher to one who questioned him how he could be contented with such poor Fare and mean Maintenance in a â—mall Village we fear that Christ Jesus Indigitates â—t our Churches Apostacy and at our Falling from â—ur First Love And doubtless God calls us now being Alarmed by these Spirits to try our particular Estates whaâ— Spirit we are of Whâ—tâ—â—r of new and Heaven-born State and also our Worship whether it be Spiritual such as he who is a Spirit the Father of Spirits seâ—k â—eth he found our Fathers such of his own Making or they would not have run the riskâ— of Transplanting themselves or brought us their Children â—hiâ—her Again are we true Worshippâ—rs Principled in thâ— Truth of what we believe and practice from the Word of Truth can we give a bettâ—r account of ouâ— Church Covenant and Fellowship then a B got Papist can of Mass or his Auricular Confession theiâ— Fathers did so and â—o did ours it was the Custome of the place they lived iâ— and 〈◊〉 is ouâ—s let us minâ— whether by these Hellish Emissaries God doth noâ— loudly call upon us to consider of these things Let 's ponder upon the Subjâ—cts or Persons upoâ— whom this Great Wrath is fallen they are chiefly thâ— Members of our Churches or their Hâ—arers and Dâ—pendants none of the Episcopal Antipedobaptistâ— or Quakers perswasion have been complained of be Accusers or Accused Afflicters or Afflicted thâ— Devil setting up his Chappel so near to Christ Church declareth his Malice and especially again us it hath been well noted by a Minister of Note that the Devil now contents not himself to imital Jewish or Popish Modes our he will take up the Râ—formed and Congregational Way a single Parse wiâ— not serve his turn but he will have Pastor an Teacher if he can't find a Deacon he will not waâ— two Widows or Deaconesses his old Diabolism wâ—â—â— not do now to Baptise and give Names to the Witâ— and her Imps but he brings up a new Dernoâ—iunifâ—â— every Witch shall have her so call'd Spectre attend upon her and to be her Envoye to Torme such as they never knew or saw whereas it hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 old saying Ignoti nulla Cupido No Love to a person unknown and consequently as little hatred Sauls Evil Spirit acting his Eyes to Malignity against David â—ympathised with his hand to murder him but now between sight and touch a vast antipathy But that which we in our short Reading may make our flâ—sh to tremble the joynts of â—ur Knees to be loosâ—d and our very Arfcries and Heart-strings to break in lunder at the very sound of â—t that these Cursed Fiends who in the day of our Lords Humiliation when as he devested his Glory and took upon him â—he Form of a Servant a Poor Carpenter to make new and mend old Houses did then beseech him to give them leave to enter into 〈◊〉 parcel of Swine and that he would not Torment â—hem before their time That this Glorious and Gloâ—ified Lord Who by Death slew him who had the 〈◊〉 ower of Death that is the Devil and upon and in is Resurrection made Triumph over all Deviâ—s having â—ed them Captive spoiling Principalities and Powers â—ade shew of them openly after God hath highly Exalted â—im even to Sit at his Right hand and given him a Name above every Name That in the Name of Jesus very knee in Heaven Earth and Hell should bow that 〈◊〉 open defiance of all this now they should insult â—ver Storm and basely affront the Lord of Heaven â—arth and Hell the Scriptures tell us That the Devils Believe and Tremble and this we do and must â—elieve but that a Damned Crew of Devils or â—itches at the Devils Table with Red Bread and
ways of Subsistence which â—he first Planters Deserted and not a few did leave all their worldly hopes to come into this Desert unknown Land and smoaky Cottaâ—es to the Society of Cursed Cannibals as they have proved to be and at best wild Indians what less then a Divine Ardour could inflame a People thus Circumstanced to a work so contrary to Flesh and Blood Infinite Wisdom and Prudence contrived and directed this Mysterious Work of Providence Divine Courage and Resolution managed it Superhumane Sedulity and Diligence-â—tended it and Angelical Swiftness and Dispatch finished it Its Wheels stirr'd not â—it according to the HOLY SPIRITS moâ—on in them yea there was the Involution of a Wheel within a Wheel Gods Ways were 〈◊〉 Great Depth and high above the Eagle or mans Cockle-shell is infinitely unable to Emptie this Ocean Let us Commemorate their Exodus or Departure from our Nation These Prudent Undertakers sent forth their Forlorn Hope in two Ships Laden with Passengers and Servants two years before they mov'd with their main Body and Pattent Government which were fully Furnished with a Pastor and Teacher Worthy Higgison and Skelton and all Materials for Compleaâ—ing of a Church of Christ according to Divine Institution Who safely Arriving according to their predeterminate Design of Inlargement of Christ's Kingdom and His Majesty of England's Dominion Firstly they set up their Standards Dethroning Satan they cast him out of Heaven which beyond time memorial he had in the Natives Consciences and by Turf and Twig they took possession of this his large Continent and set up the first Church in these Parts in a place they then called Salem at which Convention the Testimony which the Lord of all the Earth bore unto it is wonderfully memorable by a Saving Work upon a Gentleman of Quality Major General Gibbins who afterwards was the Chieftain and Flower of New-England's Militia and an Eminent Instrument both in Church and Commonwealth he being the younger Brother of the House of an Honourable Extract his Ambition exceeding what he could expect at home Rambled bither Before one Stone was laid in thâ— Structure or our Van-Currier's Arrival he waâ— no Debauchee but of a Jocund Temper and one of the Merry Mounts Society who chosâ— rather to Dance about a May pole first Erected to the Honour of Strumpet Flora than to heaâ— a good Sermon who hearing of this Meeting though above Twenty Miles distant from it and desirous to see the Mode and Novel of a Churches Gathering with great studiousness he applyed himself to be at it where beholding their orderly procedure and their method of standing forth to declare the Work of Gâ—â— upon their Souls being pricked at the Heart he sprung forth among them desirous to be one of the Society who though otherwise welâ— acomplished yet divinely illiterate was therâ— convinc'd and judged before all the secretâ— of his heart being made manifest fell down and Worshipped God to their astonishment saying That God was in them of a Truth the Verity hereof as long since it hath been affirmed by old Planters so by his own Manuscript found after his Death it 's confirmed he about that time Lamenting his Christless Estate which evidenceth that it ought to be said of that Sion This man was Born there One winterafter these good spies had viewed this Land who sent letters of the prosperous good hand of Providence upon them the taste of the fruits of this Countrie was sweeter and more welcome to their Principalls in England then the Grapes of Eschol were to Israel of â—â—ld The Leaders of this People upon serious depate drew up a Determination to settle the Corporation and government upon the Place and Deputy to abide there which being effected and Divinely directed in such a Choice of the Governour the Famous Pattern of Wisdom Justice and Liberality and of a Deputy Governour who by his Experience at Home and Travels Abroad with his Natural and Acquired Aâ—bilities was a Gentleman qualified above others for the chief Rule and Government wherein according to his just Deserts he shared more than others the Fame whereof being come Abroad in the Nation to such whose hearts God had touched this being upon the wing there wanted not Number of Persons of all Occupations skill'd in all Faculties needful for the Planting of a Collony who filled up a Fleet of Eleven Ships of considerable Burthen besides their Attenders some of them about Four Hundred Tuns the rest noâ— much inferiour some carrying near Two Hundred Passengers the rest proportionably the Wheels of Providence were lifted up very high and also were radiantly magnificent These Tarting Travellers Removal carrying so great a Resemblance of Departure into another World they were not stupid Stoicks but abounded with that which Grace doth no destroy but direct What showers of melting Tears dropt into the Bosomes of each other whose Souls as Jonathan and David clave one to another yet alleviated with consideration though they were Absent in Body yet Present in Spirit and of their mutual access to the Throne of Grace and of Meeting at the Assembly of the First-born and Spirits of Just Men made Perfect Some of their choice Friends as the Reverend Mr. Cotton and others went along with them from Boston in Lincolnshire to South-hampton where they parted and he Preacht his Farewel Sermon That so many Eminent Persons some of Noble Extract should upon Sea-Bridges pass over the largest Ocean in the Universe by the good hand of their God upon them having sought of him a right way for themselves Little Ones and Substance yea above Three Thousand in one Year and that above Three Hundred Ships since that time all Laden with Jewels of Invaluable Value far above the Gold of Ophir that each individual one should have a Caelestial Convoy under the Flaming Swords of Flying Cherubims turning every way to keep them in their way so as they all at their Port safely Arrived Not one Foundered in the Sea Split upon Rocks were suckt in by Sands Over-set by sudden Gusts nor Taken and Plundered by Pirates on Robbers except one called the Angel Gabriel whose Tutular Guardiau Ship failed if any Aboard put trust therein she was Laden with Passengers for Boston but put in at Pemiquid where the Ship and whole Cargo perished but not one Soul of Seamen or Passengers miscarried they met with an Hurricane before or since not known in this Country Raised by the Power of him who holds the Wind in his Hand and Commissioneth the Prince of the Air by Raising Stormy Winds to fulfil his Word it 's said the Tide rose Twenty Foot perpen dicular above its ordinary height The same time another great Ship Laden with Passengers was wonderfully preserved when as ready to be Split in pieces upon Rocks at the Isle of Shoals at the Prayer of the distressed Saints Aboard God caused the Winds to Vere a Point or two about the Compass so as she cleared them they were
Our Fathers Cryed unto God who heard them and they were Saved this Pequod Amalecks Name according to Gods Oath hath been ever since blotted out from under our Heaven Thus was the Lord his Peoples Banners The Dragons old indefatigable Malice appeared in a most subtile Stratagem contrived by letting out of his Mouth a Flood to Drown the Woman and Male Child fled into this Wilderness to be fed which made this little World groan to see it self surrounded with Familestical Antinomian Heresies Errors this chiefly befel Boston and its Vicinity which Church Glorying in their Candlestick being furnished with two such Burning and Shining Lights a Pastor and Teacher who for Love and Light Out-shined all others and in the Gifts of Knowledge and Utterance of divers of their Brethren the Serpents subtilty shew'd it self in a Multitudinarism of Questions started under pretence of seeking Light Error cloath'd it self under disguise of Truth by pretext of Magnifying Grace it was turned into Wantonness and all this under the Umbrage of their â—eacher who tho' he had Sown only good â—eed in Gods Field yet the Enemy came and â—wed Tares as he upon a Fast-Day in Boston Church before the Country vindicated himâ—elf that whilst men slept this mischief was â—one which was the Subject of that days Dispurse and he discriminated between them â—penly declaring what good Seed he had â—own and its dissimilitude from the Tares which the Enemy had Sown proving by Jerom Authentick Authors That the Tares in Judea were so like the Wheat that until the Harvest without great difficulty they could be distinguished thus Hells Cataracts were set open â—nd a multitude of Errors then were broached â—o the hazard of the ruine of the Churches with many Heresies destroying the Foundation â—ut as of old when Arrianism prevailed the Earth helpt the Woman so many took opporunity to greaten their outward Estates whatever befel them upon any other account oh That men would praise the Lord for his Goodness and for the Work of this Sions Saviour in delivering from this Master-plot of Hell who designed the ruine of these Churches and People but by Divine Benediction upon the measures taken by Magistrates in the Court and the Elders and Churches in the Synod that was prevented which threatned the Destruction of all but chiefly of Boston The Churches and People of New-England had for a considerable time Enjoyed Peace and â—est Trade at Home and Traffick Abroad they greatned their Estate by Building small Vesselt and some considerable Ships Transporting of Timber for the Indies and Islands tho' not without Alarms from the Indians and other Afflictive Providences the Lord took us into his Fatherly Hand by Droughts Blasts upon English Grain yea by Feavers and Small pox and with one great Fire but in the interim being without any Adversary or such evil Occurrent they lookt at it as a Duty incumbent upon them to draw up a Plat Form of Discipline and Church Covernment which might be laid as a Foundation for the Generations to come And the rather because the Way they practised was questioned by some whether it was agreeable to the Rule of Gods Word whereupon a â—â—ill was drawn up by the General Court for Assembling of a Synod after debate it was agreed unto and accordingly a Synod of Elders and Brethren according to the first President of a Synod or Council Recorded in the Sacred Leaves of the Acts and Monuments of the Apostles who Assembled at Jerusalem these did Convene to whom we may assign as hath been Observed by one of Note in the Churches of Christ That as these had shewn more Love and Zeal to Communion with God in his Pure Worship in their Hazardous Undertakings into these Parts So God did more for them in shewing them the Scriptural Way of Church Government as a Divine Favour and Boon vouchsafed unto them then he did to any other which Ligâ—â— hath not been hid in a Bushel but resplended not onâ—â— into our Nution but into all the Reformed Churchâ— Concerning these men it may without arrâ—gancy be affirmed tho' they were of lowâ— stature then our first Refoâ—mers who are 〈◊〉 immortal Name yet having the advantage 〈◊〉 standing upon their Gigantine Shoulders theâ— had opportuniâ—y of seeing further then thoâ—â— Giants did some of them made discovery 〈◊〉 the Papal Antichrist and of his Tyranny ovâ—â— Kings Princes and Prelates others threâ— down the Episcopal Usurpation over their Feâ—low Presbyters and reduced them to their Prâ—mitive Parity and the Church Discipline theâ— Establiâ—hed especially the Later at Geneva considering the vast Number in their Churcâ— Bodies consisting from Eight to Twelve Thoâ—sand Members in one Congregation so as theâ— had from two to five Pastors in one Church â— in divers six Ruling Elders the publick Management of Discipline upon Offenders in 〈◊〉 vast an Auditory Assembly would have tendeâ— to the Scandal of the Reformation have hiâ—dred the progress of Protestantism they prâ—dently concluded to commit it into the privaâ— hands of the Classies viz. Pastors and Ruliâ—â— Elders of each Church if need required fâ—â—ther consideration to be Tryed by the Colâ—â—quoy of the Neighbour Churches viz. the Pastors and Elders there to be Represented 〈◊〉 for a result of it to be determined by the Syâ—â—◠〈◊〉 the Province which if not there accomplisht 〈◊〉 be finally concluded by the National Synod 〈◊〉 all the Churches could there have been a â—ore prudential way of Church Government â—â—ched upon then that which they practised â—â—d doubtless God accepted the sincere desires 〈◊〉 his Servants hearts to the Conversion and â—dification of many thousands in their most â—oly Faith but our Reformers circumstances â—ere vastly different our number fewer those â—ninently qualified for further Reformation â—ey being a select choice Company withâ—it offence it may be said of the Cream and â—ower of our Nation not only for Morality but â—e Piety having been both Ministers People â—â—der Sufferings for the Trucâ— Worship of â—od both Confessors and Pâ—ofessors and in â—rvour of Spirit brought into this solitary â—ace where they had opportunity of the Viâ—ns of God freed from Temptations â—hich populous places might have exposed â—em unto and from the Baits of Honours â—rofits which other places might have presented 〈◊〉 They after near two years seeking of God â—â—d serious searching out his Will with Unaâ—mity of heart and mind agreed in that â—hich then was and now is called the Plat-â—orm of Church Discipline as for their Conâ—ssion of Faith they wholly agreed with that â—â—t forth by the Assembly of Divines at Westâ—â—nstee After full Answer was given to every Objection which every individual person couâ—â— make both in Churches and Towns both 〈◊〉 them having had the consideration of it put uâ—â—to them the Plat Form above mentioned waâ— accepted of and declared by the Generaâ— Court and all the Churches as being foâ— the substance of it what they had hithertâ— practised in all
the Chuâ—ebes as before is oâ—â—served and being that which was agreeing 〈◊〉 the Word of God and the principles of thâ— Congregational Way first practised in oâ—â— Churches for a good time since this Plat foâ—â— hath been Printed here and in England anâ— published Abroad to the World there being nâ—â— difference between us and the other Reformed Churches whether the Church of England thâ— French or Dutch Churches but only in point oâ— Church Government as to points of Faith anâ— Doctrine we all agree in one this we thoughâ— needful to inlarge upon humbly fearing thâ— Lords present Controversy with us doth it great measure Center here viz. our deviating and receeding from that which gave us thâ— Name of New England viz. the Plat-Form and agreed practice of our Churches according to the Word of God The Ravening Wolves of Heresy and the wild Boars of Tyranny being chained up from Devouring the Lords poor I lock and from Rooting up his Heritage The unreconcileable Adversary le ts loose his Foxes with Fire brands at their Tails teâ—â—urn up this peoples standing Corn which no â—aking he sent forth his Foxes the little Foxes â—o spoil this Vine in the time of its tender Grapes but the Keeper of this Vineyard neither slumbering nor sleeping took and destroy'd them â—he Watch'd Warded and every momen Watered it and none did hurt it much less threw down the Stone-Wall thereof thoâ— many an hard push and shuff was made at it 〈◊〉 our Jerusalem was then a Burthensome Stone their Governours like a Torch of Fire in a Sheaf many an Ebenezar Stones of help diâ— our Fathers then set up for which the Lords Sacro sanct Name was Celebrated This preceeding Relation is but as a few Clusters of Ephraims Grapes compared with the redundancy of Abiezer our Fathers Helpers Vintage so many unimaginable and unutterable â—acts of Favour and preventing Mercies were in the Revolution of twenty five or about thirty years space vouchsafed to our Fathers as would fill a large Volume yet not without mixture of Fatherly Corrections to evince Paternal Respects unto them as their own words writ into our Nation testify that they were by the Dew from above and Caelestial Influences kept alive and cherished as to the sequel we shall leave it to such Sprightly and Accurate Wits to perform who shall espouse it 〈◊〉 knowing that tract of time will admit liberty of freer Discourse about Matters then this Age will bear the Relator being in hazard of having his Teeth dasht out by Truth liftinâ— up her heeles if he come too near her as hat been Experienced and Recorded by our Natâ—â—ons Great Historiographer This was the time of our Fathers Love of theiâ— Espousals and Kindness of their Youth they werâ—â—hen Holiness unto the Lord and the First Fruits oâ—â—is Increase God Rode upon the Heavens foâ— their help they dewlt safely tho' solitarily 〈◊〉 our Issachar Rejoyced in their Tents and ouâ— Lebulon in his Going forth but have we brought Sacrifices unto the Holy Mountain though we have sucked of the abundance and treasures of â—he Sea to the enriching of divers This Tribe â—ath aboundantly multiplied to the admiration of all Beholders So as a noted Belgian one of the East India Company who above twenty years since haveâ—ng heard of the fame of thiâ— place purposely â—ame over to take a view of it and past through â—ll the parts of it and made a particular remark â—pon our sea trade and the incredible number â—f small Vessâ—ls he then saw besides some Ships â—f considerable Burthen belonging to us Nor is to be forgotten the answer made to a Messenger of the Nations an Attendant upon â—he French Court sent hither by Lewis leâ—rand to demand the fulfilling of the Articles â—ade at Breda between the two Crowns who â—ere to his astonishment saw what he could â—ot have believed to him it was told That â—od had founded this Sion and that the poor â—f his People did trust in him at his departure with wonderment he said Lo what hath God â—one and if his Masters servants did know how â—â—e poor of this Country lived he would not â—ave one left It might be then said who so happy as new New England by the Lord their shield and Sword of their Excellency as our Report hath passed through Holland and France so that Spain is no stranger to it C. Allin appeareth by the Discourse which the Governour of Cuba had with a Prisoner of Note of ours falling into his hands concerning our being a People eminent for great Moâ—ality and Reformation but mind you said he â—ow your Children will prove and what will beâ—ome of them a Speech becoming a Gentleman well Versed in Sacred and Civil History Thus far of the Light and white side of the Pillar which attended us in this our Wilderness Pilgrimage the black and dark side remains â—nd we hope thus far we have cleared our Fathers from being the procurers and peccant causes of these dismal days now befallen us they according to Divine Institution walked with God they did Justice and Judgment and then it was well with them The Lord took delight in our Fathers and they in him we have left the Lord he hath forsaken us they Walkt with him we contrary unto him he Subdued their Pequod and Narraganset Enemies before them gave their Country into our hands but now the Sceâ—â— of Affaiâ—s is turned we are made a Spoil 〈◊〉 our Haters to our Popish and Pagan Neigâ—â—bours a Derision we are sold and scattered 〈◊〉 mong the Heathen can we say All this 〈◊〉 befallen us yet have we not forgotten thee nâ—â— have we done falsely in thy Covenant this wâ—â—â— fear is our mortal wound viz. the forgetâ—iâ—â— of our Fathers and of our God we have deaâ— falsely in our own and their Covenant whâ—â— stipulated for us this is the quarrel which thâ— Holy God is now avenging Hath Chittim 〈◊〉 Canada chang'd their Gods Do we thus Requiâ— the Lord Oh Foâ—lish People and Unwise O poor New-England especially Boston iâ— the Day of it poor to a proverb of being thâ— lost Town in our first Founding those of â—ther Towns enquired how the Mean Onâ— lived here the Rich had their Farms Abroaâ— to Subsist by but as for the poor how coulâ— they subsist The Answer was their Ministry was so sweet unto them and the Bread of Lifâ— so savoury to their Souls that they forgot theiâ— Boâ—ily Food so welcome was Christian Society to them that he who had but an Acre of Lanâ— for his House Lot parted with one half of iâ— to a desirable Neighbour he that had but halâ— an Acre did the like Thus were we increastâ— so as instead of a desolate place where ouâ— Fathers found no Town to dwell in they Criâ—ed unto the Lord hungry and thirsty who leâ— them forth by a right way that we are become 〈◊〉 small City of Habitation God gave some â—f them then a particular Faith upon Psalm