Selected quad for the lemma: city_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
city_n	great_a	time_n	year_n	9,128	5	4.5915	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A51414	New-Englands memoriall, or, A brief relation of the most memorable and remarkable passages of the providence of God manifested to the planters of New-England in America with special reference to the first colony thereof, called New-Plimouth : as also a nomination of divers of the most eminent instruments deceased, both of church and common-wealth, improved in the first beginning and after-progress of sundry of the respective jurisdictions in those parts, in reference unto sundry exemplary passages of their lives, and the time of their death / published for use and benefit of present and future generations, by Nathaniel Morton ...	Morton, Nathaniel, 1613-1685.	1669 (1669)	Wing M2827; ESTC R16332	139,372	220

God but minding most the positive and practical part of Divine Institutions they entred into Covenant To walk with God and one with another in the enjoyment of the Ordinances of God according to the Primitive Patern in the Word of God But finding by experience they could not peaceably enjoy their own liberty in their Native Country without offence to others that were differently minded they took up thoughts of removing themselves and their Families into the Netherlands which accordingly they endeavoured to accomplish but met with great hinderance yet after some time the good hand of God removing obstructions they obtained their desires arriving in Holland they setled themselves in the City of Leyden in the year 1610 and there they continued divers years in a comfortable condition enjoying much sweet society and spiritual comfort in the wayes of God living peaceably among themselves and being courteously entertained and lovingly respected by the Dutch amongst whom they were strangers having for their Pastor Mr. John Robinson a man of a learned polished and modest spirit pious and studious of the Truth largely accomplished with sutable Gifts and Qualifications to be a Shepherd over this Flock of Christ having also a fellow-helper with him in the Eldership Mr. William Brewster a man of approved Piety Gravity and Integrity very eminently furnished with gifts sutable to such an Office But notwithstanding their amiable and comfortable carrying on as hath been said although the Church of Christ on Earth in holy Writ is sometimes called Heaven yet there is alwayes in their most perfect state here in this lower world very much wanting as to absolute and perfect happiness which is onely reserved for the time and place of the full enjoyment of Celestial Glory for although this Church was at peace and in rest at this time yet they took up thoughts of removing themselves into America with common consent the Proposition of removing thither being set on foot and prosecuted by the Elders upon just and weighty grounds for although they did quietly and sweetly enjoy their Church-liberties under the States yet they foresaw that Holland would be no place for their Church and Posterity to continue in comfortably at least in that measure that they hoped to finde abroad and that for these Reason following which I shall recite as received from themselves First Because themselves were of a different Language from the Dutch where they lived and were setled in their way insomuch that in ten years time whiles their Church sojourned amongst them they could not bring them to reform the neglect of Observation of the Lords-day as a Sabbath or any other thing amiss amongst them Secondly Because their Countrymen who came over to joyn with them by reason of the hardness of the Country soon spent their Estates and were then forced either to return back to England or to live very meanly Thirdly That many of their Children through the extreme necessity that was upon them although of the best dispositions and graciously inclined and willing to bear part of their Parents burthens were oftentimes so oppressed with their heavy labours that although their Spirits were free and willing yet their Bodies bowed under the weight of the same and became decrepid in their early youth and the vigour of Nature consumed in the very bud And that which was very lamentable and of all sorrows most heavy to be born was that many by these occasions and the great licentiousness of Youth in that Country and the manifold temptations of the place were drawn away by evil examples into extravagant and dangerous courses getting the reins on their necks and departing from their Parents Some became Souldiers others took upon them farre Voyages by Sea and other-some worse courses tending to dissoluteness and the destruction of their Souls to the great grief of their Parents and the dishonour of God and that the place being a place of great licentiousness and liberty to Children they could not educate them nor could they give them due correction without reproof or reproach from their Neighbours Fourthly That their Posterity would in few generations become Dutch and so lose their interest in the English Nation they being desirous rather to enlarge His Majesties Dominions and to live under their Naturall PRINCE This hath been graciously answered since by moving the hearts of many of his Servants to be very instrumental in this work with some good success hopes of a further blessing in that respect Fifthly and lastly and which was not the least a great hope and inward Zeal they had of laying some good Foundation or at least to make some way thereunto for the propagating and advancement of the Gospel of the Kingdome of Christ in those remote parts of the World yea although they should be but as stepping-stones unto others for the performance of so great a Work These and such like were the true Reasons of their removal and not as some of their Adversaries did upon the rumour thereof cast out slanders against them as if the State was weary of them and had rather driven them out as Heathen Histories have feigned of Moses and the Israelites when they went out of Egypt then that it was their own free choice and motion I will therefore mention a particular or two to evince the contrary And first Although some of them were low in their Estates yet the Dutch observing that they were diligent faithful and careful of their engagements had great respect to them and strove for their custome Again secondly the Magistrates of the City of Leyden where they lived about the time of their coming away in the publick place of Justice gave this commendable Testimony of them in reproof of the Walloons who were of the French Church in the City These English said they have lived now amongst us Ten years and yet we never had any Suit or Accusation against them or any of them but your Strifes and Quarrels are continuall The Reasons of their Removal above-named being debated first in private and thought weighty were afterwards propounded in publick and after solemn dayes of Humiliation observed both in publick and in private it was agreed That part of the Church should go before their Brethren into America to prepare for the rest and if in case the major part of the Church did chuse to go over with the first then the Pastor to go along with them but if the major part stayed that he was then to stay with them They having imployed sundry Agents to treat with several Merchants in England who adventured some considerable Sums in a way of valuation to such as went personally on in the Voyage the Articles of Agreement about the premises being fully concluded with the said Merchants and sundry Difficulties and Obstructions removed having also obtained Letters Patents for the Northern parts of Virginia of King James of Famous Memory All things were got ready and provided a small Ship was bought and fitted

out in Holland of about sixty Tun called The Speedwell as to serve to transport some of them over so also to stay in the Country and attend upon Fishing and such other affairs as might be for the good and benefit of the Colony when they came thither Another Ship was hired at London of Burthen about Ninescore called The May-flower and all other things got in a readiness so being prepared to depart they had a solemn day of Humiliation The Text of Scripture was Ezra 8.21 the Pastor teaching a part of the day very profitably and sutably to the present occasion the rest of the time was spent in pouring out of Prayers unto the Lord with great fervency mixed with abundance of tears and the time being come that they must depart they were accompanied with most of their Brethren out of the City unto a Town called Delfs Haven where the Ship lay ready to receive them so they left that goodly and pleasant City which had been their resting place above eleven years but they knew that they were Pilgrims and Strangers here below and looked not much on these things Hebr. 11.16 but lifted up their eyes to Heaven their dearest Country where God hath prepared for them a City and therein quieted their spirits When they came to the place they found the Ship and all things ready and such of their Friends as could not come with them followed after them and sundry came from Amsterdam to see them shipt and to take their leaves of them One night was spent with little sleep with the most but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse and other reall expressions of true Christian love The next day the wind being fair they went on Board and their friends with them where truely-doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting to hear what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them what tears did gush from every eye and pithy speeches pierced each others heart that sundry of the Dutch strangers that stood on the Key as spectators could not refrain from tears yet comfortable and sweet it was to see such lively and true expressions of dear and unfeigned love But the Tide which stayes for no man calling them away that were thus loth to depart their Reverend Pastor falling down on his knees and they all with him with watery cheeks commended them with most fervent Prayers unto the Lord and his blessing and then with mutual imbraces and many tears they took their leaves one of another which proved to be the last leave to many of them Thus hoysing Sail with a prosperous gale of wind they came in short time to Southampton where they found the bigger Ship come from London This was about the second of July 1620. being ready with all the rest of their Company meeting each other with a joyful welcome and mutual congratulation At their parting their Pastor Mr. John Robinson wrote a Letter to the whole Company which I thought meet here to insert being so fruitfull in it self and sutable to their occasions Loving Christian Friends I Do heartily and in the Lord salute you as being those with whom I am present in my best affections and most earnest longings after you though I be constrained for a while to be bodily absent from you I say Constrained God knowing how willingly and much rather then otherwise I would have born my part with you in this first brunt were I not by strong necessity held back for the present Make account of me in the mean time as a man divided in my self with great pain and as Natural bonds set aside having my better part with you And although I doubt not but in your godly wisdomes you both foresee and resolve upon that which concerneth your present state and condition both severally and joyntly yet have I thought it but my duty to adde some further spur of provocation unto them who run already if not because you need it yet because I owe it in love and duty And first as we are daily to renew our Repentance with our God especially for our sins known and generally for our unknown trespasses so doth the Lord call us in a singular manner upon occasions of such difficulty and danger as lieth upon you to a both narrow search and careful reformation of your wayes in his sight lest he calling to remembrance our sins forgotten by us or unrepented of take advantage against us and in judgement leave us to be swallowed up in one danger or other whereas on the contrary sin being taken away by earnest Repentance and the pardon thereof from the Lord sealed up to a mant Conscience by his Spirit great shall be his security and peace in all dangers sweet his comforts in all distresses with happy deliverance from all evil whether in life or death Now next after this heavenly peace with God and our own Consciences we are carefully to provide for peace with all men what in us lyeth especially with our Associates and for that watchfulness must be had that we neither at all in our selves do give no nor easily take offence being given by others Woe be to the world for offences for although it be necessary considering the malice of Satan and mans corruption that offences come yet woe unto the man or woman either by whom the offence cometh saith Christ Matth. 18.7 and if offences in the unseasonable use of things in themselves indifferent be more to be feared then death it self as the Apostle teacheth 1 Cor. 9.15 how much more in things simply evil in which neither honour of God nor love of man is thought worthy to be regarded Neither yet is it sufficient that we keep our selves by the grace of God from giving of offence except withall we be armed against the taking of them when they are given by others for how imperfect and lame is the work of Grace in that person who wants Charity to cover a multitude of offences as the Scripture speaks Neither are you to be wherred to this grace onely upon the common grounds of Christianity which are that persons ready to take offence either want Charity to cover offences or Wisdome duely to weigh humane frailties or lastly are gross though close Hypocrites as Christ our Lord teacheth Mat. 7.1 2 3. as indeed in my own experience few or none have been found which sooner give offence then such as easily take it neither have they ever proved sound and profitable Members in Societies who have nourished this touchy humour But besides these there are divers Motives provoking you above others to great care and conscience this way as first there are many of you strangers as to the persons so to the infirmities one of another and so stand in need of more watchfulness this way lest when such things fall out in men and women as you expected not you be inordinately affected with them which doth require at your hands much Wisdome and

year James Pierce a young man that belonged to Boston coming on Fishing and upon occasion putting into Plimouth Harbour it pleased God that a storm of Thunder and Lightning arose and by a blow thereof he was slain of a sudden being much scorched and burnt thereby although his Clothes were made fast and close about him so strange was this great work to the wonderment of all that beheld it 1661. THis Year Mr. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. William Collier Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas VVillet Major Josias VVinslow Capt. Thomas Southworth Capt. VVilliam Bradford Mr. Thomas Hinkley 1662. MR. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. William Collier Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet Major Josias Winslow Capt. Thomas Southworth Capt. VVilliam Bradford Mr. Thomas Hinkley This Year upon occasion of some suspition of some plot intended by the Indians against the English Philip the Sachem of Pocanaket otherwise called Metacom made his appearance at the Court held at Plimouth August 6. did earnestly desire the continuance of that amity and friendship that hath formerly been between the Governour of Plimouth and his deceased Father and Brother and to that end the said Philip doth for himself and his successors desire that they might for ever remain subject to the King of England his heirs and successors and doth faithfully promise and engage that he and his will truely and exactly observe and keep inviolable such conditions as formerly have been by his Predecessors made and particularly that he will not at any time needlesly or unjustly provoke or raise War with any of the Natives nor at any time give sell or any way dispose of any Lands to him or them appertaining to any strangers or to any without our privity or appointment but will in all things endeavour to carry peaceably and inoffensively towards the English And the said Court did then also express their willingness to continue with him and his the abovesaid friendship and do on their part promise that they will afford them such friendly assistance by Advice and otherwise as they justly may And we will require our English at all times to carry friendly towards them In witness whereof the said Philip the Sachem hath set to his Hand as also his Uncle and Witnessed unto by sundry other of his chief men Witness John Sausamen The mark of Francis the Sachem of Nauset The mark of Philip aliàs Metacom This year on the 26 of January at the shutting in of the Evening there was a very great Earthquake in New-England and the same night another although something less then the former And again on the 28 of the same moneth there was another about Nine of the clock in the morning Forasmuch as I have had special occasion several times in this History to mention divers Earthquakes that have been in New-England they being great and terrible works of God and are usually ominous to some strokes and visitations of his hand unto places and peoples where they are and sometimes the Lord in the very acting of his power in them hath declared his severity to the children of men to their great overthrow and confusion I thought it necessary before I pass on a little to point at some few particulars to work and induce us to a profitable remembrance of them it being very considerable that is said by a useful Author in taking notice of the Wisdome of God in preparing the Earth to be a fit Habitation for man to dwell in addeth withall That as if man were not alwayes worthy to tread upon so solid a foundation we see it oft-times quake and shake and rock and rend it self as if it shewed that he which made it threatned by this trembling the Impiety of the world and the ruine of those that dwell on the Earth In order unto that which I have nominated in this behalf and more principally intend let us take notice That Writers have rendred the cause of Earthquakes to be That when it happeneth that Air and windy Spirits and Exhalations are shut up in the Caverns of the Earth or have such passage as is too narrow for them they then striving to break their prisons shake the Earth and make it tremble They speak likewise of the several kindes of them as First When the whole force of the Wind driveth to one place there being no contrary motion to let or hinder it many Hills and Buildings have been rushed down by this kinde of Earthquake especially when the Wind causing it was strong for if it be a feeble Wind it onely looseneth or unfasteneth Foundations if less feeble then without further harm the Earth onely shakes like one sick of an Ague Secondly The second kinde is a swelling of the Earth the which when the Wind is broken out of its prison the Earth returns to its place again Thirdly A third kinde is A gaping rending or cleaving of the Earth one part from another so that sometimes whole Towns Cities Rocks Hills Rivers and some parts of the Sea hath been swallowed up and never seen more Fourthly A fourth kinde is Shaking that causeth sinking and is farre different from the former Thus was the Atlantick Ocean caused to be a Sea as Plato affirmeth who lived 366 years before Christ was born for now the Earth splitteth not but sinketh this being in such places where though the surface of the ground be solid yet it hath but a salt foundation which being moistened by water driven through it by the force of the shaking Exhalation is turned into water also Fifthly A fifth kinde of Earthquake is contrary to the former for as before the ground sinks down so now it is cast up like as in the second kinde already mentioned onely this is the difference that now it returneth not to its place again but remains a great Mountain And note that if such a Rising be in the Sea it not onely causeth overflowings but produceth likewise many Islands such as were never seen before These particulars are treated of at large by approved Authors and here onely hinted to the intent that we may take notice of the special Providence of God to New-England in this behalf that we have not as yet felt the misery of the worst of the kindes of Earthquakes forenamed nor swallowed up in them but those we have been sensible of have been rather gentle Warnings unto us to shake us out of our earthly-mindedness spiritual security and other sins lest the Lord do come against us with Judgements of this kinde in the sorest and worst sort of them or otherwise by removing the present blessing of godly Government from us Notwithstanding that which hath been said the Efficient Cause is Supernatural as either principally God or instrumentally the Angels although naturally the Wind shut up within the Pores and Bowels of