time of his imprisonment his wife fell sick of which sickness she died He procured liberty of the Bishop to visit his Wife before her death and commended her to God by Prayer who soon after gave up the ghost at his return to Prison his poor Children being many repaired to the Bishop to Lambeth and made known unto him their miserable condition by reason of their good Father his being continued in close durance who commiserated their condition so far as to grant him his liberty who soon after came over into New-England and setled for some time at the Town of Scituate and was chosen Pastour of their Church and faithfully dispensed the Word of God amongst them and afterwards the said Church dividing a part whereof removing to Barnstable he removed with them and there remained until his death He was a man of an humble and broken heart and spirit lively in dispensation of the Word of God studious of peace furnished with godly contentment willing to spend and to be spent for the Cause and Church of Christ He fell asleep in the Lord Nov. 8. 1653. 1654. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Captain Miles Standish Mr. William Collier Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. John Alden and Capt. Thomas Willet 1655. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Captain Miles Standish Mr. William Collier Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. John Alden and Captain Thomas Willet The death of Mr. Winslow This year that Worthy and Honourable Gentleman Mr. Edward Winslow deceased of whom I have had occasion to make honourable mention formerly in this Discourse He was the Son of Edward VVinslow Esq of the Town of Draughtwich in the County of Worcester He travelling into the Low-Countreys in his Journeys fell into acquaintance with the Church of Leyden in Holland unto whom he joyned and with whom he continued until they parted to come into New-England he coming with that part that came first over and became a very worthy and useful Instrument amongst them both in the place of Government and otherwise until his last Voyage for England being sent on special Imployment for the Government of the Massachusets as is forementioned in this Book and afterwards was imployed as one of the grand Commissioners in that unhappy Design against Domingo in Hispaniola who taking grief for the ill success of that Enterprize on which together with some other Infirmities that were upon him he fell sick at Sea betwixt Domingo and Jamaica and died the eighth day of May which was about the Sixty first year of his life and his Body was honourably committed to the Sea with the usual Solemnity of the Discharge of Fourty two Piece of Ordnance One of the Company who was imployed in taking notice of the Particulars of that Tragedy gave such Testimony of the said Mr. VVinslow as followeth in this Poem The Eighth of May west from ' Spaniola shore God took from us our Grand Commissioner Winslow by Name a man in Chiefest Trust VVhose Life was sweet and Conversation just VVhose Parts and wisdome most men did excell An honour to his Place as all can tell 1656. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were chosen to be his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Mr. Timothy Hatherly Captain Miles Standish Mr. John Alden Capt. Thomas Willet Capt. James Cudworth This Year Captain Miles Standish expired his mortal life He was a Gentleman born in Lancashire The death of Capt. Standish and was Heir-Apparent unto a great Estate of Lands and Livings surreptitiously detained from him his great Grandfather being a Second or Younger Brother from the House of Standish In his younger time he went over into the Low-Countreys and was a Souldier there and came acquainted with the Church of Leyden and came over into New-England with such of them as at the first set out for the Planting of the Plantation of New-Plimouth and bare a deep share of their first Difficulties and was alwayes very faithful to their Interest He growing ancient became sick of the Stone or Strangullion whereof after his suffering of much dolorous pain he fell asleep in the Lord and was honourably buried at Duxbury 1657. THis year Mr. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth Were Chosen his Assistants in Government This Election was on the fifth of June 1657. M William Bradford died the 9th of May in this year before this Election Mr. VVilliam Collier Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas VVillet Capt. James Cudworth Capt. Josias VVinslow Lieut. Tho Southworth This Year it pleased God to put a period to the life of his precious Servant Mr. VVilliam Bradford who was the second Governour of the Jurisdiction of Plimouth and continued in the same place for the most part of his time with little intermission Concerning whom the following Poems made the one by himself and the other by such as were well acquainted with his Worth and Excellency will give a large Testimony thereof Certain Verses left by the Honoured VVilliam Bradford Esq Governour of the Jurisdiction of Plimouth penned by his own hand declaring the gracious dispensation of Gods Providence towards him in the time of his Life and his preparation and fittedness for Death FRom my years young in dayes of Youth God did make known to me his Truth And call'd me from my Native place For to enjoy the Means of Grace In Wilderness he did me guide And in strange Lands for me provide In Fears and Wants through Weal and Woe As Pilgrim past I to and fro Oft left of them whom I did trust How vain it is to rest on Dust A man of Sorrows I have been And many Changes I have seen Wars Wants Peace Plenty have I known And some advanc'd others thrown down The humble poor cheerful and glad Rich discontent sower and sad VVhen Fears with Sorrows have been mixt Consolations came betwixt Faint not poor Soul in God still trust Fear not the things thou suffer must For whom he loves he doth chastise And then all Tears wipes from their eyes Farewell dear Children whom I love Your better Father is above VVhen I am gone he can supply To him I leave you when I dye Fear him in Truth walk in his Wayes And he will bless you all your dayes My dayes are spent Old Age is come My Strength it fails my Glass near run Now I will wait when work is done Vntill my happy Change shall come VVhen from my labours I shall rest VVith Christ above for to be blest By the honoured Major Josias Winstow on the the said Mr. William Bradford as followeth WILLIAM BRADFORD Anagr. I made Law for Bridl ' For
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 the Use and Benefit of present and future Generations By NATHANIEL MORTON Secretary to the Court for the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth Deut. 32.10 He found him in a desert Land in the waste howling wilderness he led him about he instructed him he kept him as the Apple of his Eye Jerem. 2.2 3. I remember thee the kindness of thy youth the love of thine Espousals when thou wentest after me in the wilderness in a Land that was not sown c. Deut. 8.2 16. And thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God led thee this FORTY YEARS in the Wilderness c. CAMBRIDGE Printed by S.G. and M. J. for John Vsher of Boston 1669. To the Reader IT is much to be desired there might be extant A Compleat History of the Vnited Colonies of New-England that God may have the praise of his goodness to his People here and that the present and future Generations may have the benefit thereof This being not attainable for the present nor suddenly to be expected it is very expedient that while sundry of the Eldest Planters are yet living Records and Memorials of Remarkable Providences be preserved and published that the true Originals of these Plantations may not be lost that New-England in all time to come may remember the day of her smallest things and that there may be a furniture of Materials for a true and full History in after-times For these and such-like Reasons we are willing to Recommend unto the Reader this present Narrative as a Useful Piece The Author is an approved godly man and one of the first Planters at Plimouth The Work it self is Compiled with Modesty of Spirit Simplicity of Style and Truth of Matter containing the Annals of New-England for the space of 47 years with special reference to Plimouth Colony which was the first and where the Author hath had his constant abode And yet so farre as his Intelligence did reach relating many Remarkable Passages in the several Colonies and also making an honourable mention of divers of the most Eminent Servants of God that have been amongst us in several parts of the Country after they had finished their course We hope that the Labor of this good man will finde a general Acceptance amongst the People of God and also be a means to provoke some or other in the rest of the Colonies who have had the knowledge of things from the beginning to Contribute their Observations and Memorials also by which means what is wanting in this Narrative may be supplied by some others and so in the issue from divers Memorials there may be matter for a just History of New-England in the Lords good time In the mean time this may stand for a Monument and be deservedly acknowledged as an Eben-Ezer that Hitherto the Lord hath helped us March 26. 1669. John Higginson Thomas Thacher To the Right Worshipful THOMAS PRINCE Esq Governour of the Jurisdiction of New Plimouth With the Worshipfull the MAGISTRATES His Assistants in the said Government N. M. wisheth Peace and Prosperity in this Life and Eternall Happiness in that which is to come Right Worshipfull THe consideration of the weight of Duty that lieth upon us to Commemorize to future Generations the memorable passages of Gods Providence to us and our Predecessors in the beginning of this Plantation hath wrought in me a restlesness of spirit and earnest desire that something might be atchieved in that behalf more or at least otherwise then as yet hath been done Many discouragements I have met with both from within and without my self but reflecting upon the Ends I have proposed to my self in setting out in this Work it hath afforded me some support viz. The glory of God and the good of present and future Generations Being also induced hereunto by the consideration that your selves especially some of you are fully acquainted with many of the particulars both concerning Persons and Things inserted in the following Narrative and can on your own knowledge assert them for Truth Were it so that any other had travelled in this kinde in such a way as might have conduced to a brief and satisfactory intelligence in particulars relating to the premises I would have spared this labour and have satisfied my self in perusal of their Works rather then to have set pen to paper about the same but having neither seen nor heard of any especially respecting this our Plantation of New-Plimouth which God hath honoured to be the first in this Land I have made bold to present your Worships with and to publish to the world something of the very first Beginnings of the great Actings of God in New-England begun at New-Plimouth wherein the greatest part of my intelligence hath been borrowed from my much honoured Uncle Mr. William Bradford and such Manuscripts as he left in his Study from the year 1620 unto 1646 whom had God continued in this world some longer time and given him rest from his other more important Affairs we might probably have had these things from an abler Pen and better digested then now you may expect Certain Diurnals of the honoured Mr. Edward Winslow have also afforded me good light and help and what from them both and otherwise I have obtained that I judged suitable for the following Discourse I have with care and faithfulness related and have therein more sollicitously followed the truth of things many of which I can also assert on my own knowledge then I have studied quaintness in expressions I should gladly have spoken more particularly of the Neighbouring United Colonies whose ends and aims in their Transplanting of themselves and Families were the same with ours viz. The glory of God the propagation of the Gospel and enlargement of His Majesties Dominions but for want of intelligence and that I may not prevent a better Pen I shall onely make mention of some of their Worthies that we have been most acquainted with I shall not insist upon the Clime nor Soyle of the Country its Commodities or Discommodities nor at large on the Natives or their Customes and Manners all which have been already declared by Captain Smith Mr. Higginson Mr. Williams Mr. Wood and others What it is and what my aims at Gods glory and my good affections to the place and people of whom I treat may make it I present your Worships with Humbly craving your favourable aspect and good acceptance of my poor Endeavours and that my self and it
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
night locked and a Watch kept and when need required there was also Warding in the day time and the Company was by the Governour and Captains advice divided into four Squadrons and every one had their quarter appointed them unto which they were to repair and if there should be any cry of Fire a Company was appointed for a Guard with Muskets whiles others quenched the Fire the same to prevent Indian Treachery And herewith I shall end the Passages of this Year 1622. AT the Spring of this Year the English having certified the Indians of the Massachusets that they would come again unto them they accordingly prepared to go thither but upon some rumours which they heard from Hobamak their friend fore-named who feared that the Massachusets were joyned with the Narrhagansets and might betray them if they were not careful and intimated also his jealousies of Squanto by what he gathered from some private whisperings between him and other Indians that he was not really cordial to the English in what he pretended made them cautelous Notwithstanding they sent out their Boat with ten of their principal men about the beginning of April and both Squanto and Hobamak with them in regard of the jealousie between them but they had not been gone long ere that an Indian belonging to Squanto's family came running seeming to be in great fear and told them that many of the Narrhagansets with Corbitant and he thought Massasoiet was coming against them At which they betook them to their Arms and supposing that the Boat was not as yet out of call they caused a Piece of Ordnance to be discharged to call them in again But this proved otherwise for no Indians came After this they went to the Massachusets and had good Trade and returned in safety God be praised But by the former passages and things of like nature they began to see that Squanto sought his own ends and played his own game by putting the Indians in fear and drawing gifts from them to inrich himself making them believe he could stir up war against them when he would and make peace for them when he would yea he made them believe that the English kept the Plague buried in the ground This was said to be a barrel of Gun-powder buried in the ground and could send it amongst whom they would which did much terrifie the Indians and made them more depend on him and seek more to him then to their great Sachem Massasoiet which procured him envy and had like to have cost him his life for after the discovery of these practises the said Massasoiet sought it both privately and openly which caused him to stick close to the English and never after durst go from them until his death They also made good use of the emulation that grew between Hobamak and him which made them both carry more squarely and the Governour seemed to countenance the one and their Captain the other by which they had the better intelligence and it made them both the more diligent About the latter end of May they espied a vessel at sea which at the first they thought to be a French-man but it proved one that belonged to Mr. Thomas Weston a Merchant which came from a ship which he and another had sent out on fishing to a place called Damarels Cove in the Eastern parts of N. E. this boat brought seven men and some letters but no provisions to them of which they were in continual expectation from England which expectations were frustrated in that behalf for they never had any supply to any purpose after this time but what the Lord helped them to raise by their industry amongst themselves for all that came afterwards was too short for the passengers that came with it After this the same year the above-named Mr. Thomas Weston who had formerly been one of the Merchant-adventurers to the Plantation of New-Plimouth but had now broken off and deserted the general concerns thereof sent over two ships on his own particular interest The one named the Sparrow the other the Charity in the one of them came sixty lusty men who were to be put on shore at Plimouth for the ship was to go with other passengers to Virginia these were courteously entertained with the seven men fore-named belonging to the said Weston at Plimouth aforesaid until the ship returned from Virginia which was the most part of that Summer many of them being sick and all of them destitute of habitation and unacquainted with this new beginning at the ships return from Virginia by the direction of the said Mr. Weston their Master or such as he had set over them they removed into the Massachusets Bay he having got a Pattent for some part there yet they left all their sick folk at Plimouth until they were setled and fitted for housing to receive them These were an unruly company and had no good government over them and by disorder fell into many wants as afterwards will appear But before I pass on I may not omit the mentioning of a courteous Letter that came in the vessel above-named in which the above-said seven men came being directed to the Governour of Plimouth with respect unto the whole Plantation from a Captain of a ship at the Eastward who came thither on a fishing voyage the which for the ingenuity of the man and his courtesie therein expressed may not unfitly be here inserted being inscribed as followeth To all his good Friends at Plimouth FRiends Country-men and Neighbours I salute you and wish you all health and happiness in the Lord I make hold with these few lines to trouble you because unless I were 〈…〉 I can do no less Bad news doth spread it self too far yet I will so far inform that my self with many good friends in the South Colony of Virginia have received such a blow that four hundred persons large will not make good our losses Therefore I do 〈◊〉 you although not knowing you that the old rule which I learned when I went to school may be sufficient that is happy is he who other mens harms doth make to beware and now again and again wishing all those that willingly would serve the Lord all health and happiness in this World and everlasting peace in the World to come I rest yours JOHN HVDSTON In the same Vessel the Governour returned a thankful Answer as was meet and sent a Boat of their own with them Although this was not much amongst them all yet it was a very seasonable blessing and supply the being now in a low condition for want of food which was piloted by them in which Mr. Edward Winslow was sent to procure what Provisions he could of the Ship who was kindly received by the aforesaid Gentleman who not onely spared what he could but wrote to others to do the like by which means the Plantation had a good quantity of Provisions This Summer they built a Fort with good
the name of Eastham 1645. THis year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth And Were Elected his Assistants in Government Mr. Edward Winslow Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Capt. Myles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. Edmond Freeman The Commissioners of the United Colonies of New-England were called together this Year before their ordinary time of meeting This meeting was held the 28 of Iuly 1145. partly in regard of some differences between the French and the Government of the Massachusets about their aiding of Monseir Latore against Monseir de Aulney and partly about the Indians who had broken their former agreements about the peace concluded the year before as concerning such conclusions and determinations which passed in this meeting in reference to the premises I shall refer the Reader unto the Acts of the said Commissioners for that Year as they are recorded at large 1646. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Elected his Assistants in Government Mr. Edward Winslow Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly And Mr. Edmond Freeman About the middle of May this Year there came three Men of War into Plimouth Harbour under the command of Captain Thomas Cromwel who had taken several Prizes from the Spaniards by Commission from the Earl of VVarwick they were full of monies silks and other rich goods some of which they left behinde them They were a company of lusty stout men but very unruly and hard to govern notwithstanding the care and vigilance both of such as were in Authority of Plimouth and also of their own Commanders who could hardly restrain them especially from inordinate drinking and quarrelling It proved fatal to one of them who being quarrelling with one of their own company and being commanded by their Captain to forbear he giving very provoking Language and also attempting to draw upon his Captain he took his Rapier from him and struck him on the head with the Hilt of which wound three or four dayes after he died the Captain was tried by a Council of War and acquitted by the largeness of his Commission This Year Mr. Edward VVinslow went for England upon occasion that some discontented persons under the Government of the Massachusets sought to trouble their peace and disturb if not innovate their Government by laying many scandals upon them and intended to prosecute against them in England by Petitioning and Complaining to the Parliament Also Samuel Gorton and his company made complaint against them so as they made choice of Mr. VVinslow to be their Agent to make their defence and gave him Commission and Instructions for that end in which he so carried himself as did well answer their ends and cleared them from any blame and dishonour to the shame of their Adversaries After this he fell upon other imployments in England which detained him there so as he returned not again to New-England any more whose absence hath been much to the weakening of the Government of New-Plimouth who had large experience of his help and usefulness amongst them in Government c. of whom I have more to insert in honour of so worthy a Gentleman in its more proper place 1647. MR. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Elected his Assistants in Government Mr. Edward Winslow Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Mr. Timothy Hatherly Captain Miles Standish Mr. John Brown And Mr. William Thomas This Year the whole Land but more especially the Church and Town of Hartford on Conecticot sustained a great and more then ordinary Loss The Death of Mr. Hooker by the Death of that most eminent Servant of Jesus Christ Mr. Thomas Hooker who in the Month of July in this year changed this Life for a better Concerning whose Piety Learning and singular dexterity in Preaching the Gospel with answerable success the many Souls wrought upon by his Ministry in both Old-England and New do give forth a large Testimony and withall as an addition to the former those Learned and Profitable Works penned by him for the Refutation of Errour and guiding and confirming of the Saints in the Wayes of Christ In which respects with others his Name will live and is Embalmed and doth remain and will be as a precious Oyntment in the Churches and amongst the Saints in present and future Ages This special Servant of Christ as he served his Master with great Zeal Love Wisdome and Sincerity so he ended his Life with much Comfort and Serenity so as it is rare that was said of him That the peace which he had in believing thirty years before his death was firm and not touched by the Adversary untill the period of his life And with much joy and peace in believing he fell asleep in the Lord and was honourably buried at Hartford on Conecticot In whose Memorial I shall here insert the Funeral Elegies of two eminent Divines written upon his Death On my Reverend and dear Brother Mr. Thomas Hooker Late Pastor of the Church at Hartford on Conecticot TO see three things was holy Austins wish Rome in her Flower Christ Jesus in the Flesh And Paul i' th Pulpit Lately men might see Two first and more in Hookers Ministry Zion in Beauty is a fairer sight Then Rome in Flower with all her glory dight Yet Zions Beauty did most clearly shine In Hookers Rule and Doctrine both Divine Christ in the Spirit is more then Christ in Flesh Our Souls to quicken and our States to bless Yet Christ in Spirit brake forth mightily In faithful Hookers searching Ministry Paul in the Pulpit Hooker could not reach Yet did He Christ in Spirit so lively preach That living Hearers thought He did inherit A double Portion of Pauls lively spirit Prudent in Rule in Argument quick full Fervent in Prayer in Preaching powerfull That well did learned Ames record bear The like to Him he never wont to hear 'T was of Geneva's Worthies said with wonder Those Worthies Three Farell was went to Thunder Viret like Rain on tender grass to shower But Calvin lively Oracles to pour All these in Hookers spirit did remain A Son of Thunder and a Shower of Rain A pourer forth of Lively Oracles In saving Souls the sum of Miracles Now blessed Hooker thou art set on high Above the thankless world and cloudy skie Do thou of all thy labour reap the Crown Whilst we here reap the seed which thou hast sown J. C. A Lamentation for the Death of that Precious and Worthy Minister of Jesus Christ Mr. Thomas Hooker who died July 7. 1647. as the Sun was Setting the same hour of the day died blessed Calvin that glorious Light COme sighs come sorrows let 's lament this Rod Which hath bereav'd us of this Man of God A Man of God which came from God to men And now from them is gone to God agen Bid
soul to God-ward the benefit thereof those can best experience who are most conversant in the improving of them and have Gods blessing on them therein to their souls good His body was honourably buried at Cambridge in New-England Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for their works follow them Rev. 13.13 This Year there passed an Act of Parliament in England for the promoting and propagating the Gospel of Jesus Christ amongst the Indians in New-England in reference unto the furtherance and advancement of so good a work a Corporation of sixteen Select men were appointed consisting of a President Treasurer and Assistants called by the name of the President and Society for the propagation of the Gospel in New-England to receive such sums of money as from time to time was or should be collected and raised by the liberal contributions of such as whose hearts God was pleased to stir up to so glorious a work and it was by the same Parliament Enacted that the Commissioners for the United Colonies of New-England for the time being by themselves or such as they shall appoint shall have Power and Authority to receive and dispose of the said monies brought in paid to the said Treasurer for the time being or any other Monies Goods or Commodities acquired and delivered by the care of the said Corporation at any time whose receipt or receipts of such Person or Persons so Authorized by them shall be a sufficient discharge to the said Corporation and Treasurer The particulars of such Orders and Instructions with which the said Act is invested the Reader may be more amply satisfied in by the perusal thereof as it is extant bearing date July 27. 1649. Moreover let the Reader take notice of the special favour of Almighty God in moving the heart of the Kings Majesty since his Restitution to his Crown and Regal Dignity particularly of his Royal Favour to countenance this work and to secure what hath been and what may be given toward this work by a legal settlement which before was wanting so as the said glorious design hath been vigorously carried on both in Old England and in New by such active and faithful Instruments as God hath raised up and improved therein with some considerable success The work coming on to such perfection as that the Holy Bible is Translated and Printed in the Indian Language whereby the glad tidings of the Gospel is and may be communicated to them with the greater facility some souls also of them being gained as may be hoped to believe on the Lord Jesus for life everlasting and daily hopes of further and greater success in that behalf for which unspeakable riches of his grace let his Holy Name have all the praise throughout all ages The Principal Instruments improved in Preaching the Gospel of Christ unto the Indians are Mr. John Eliot Senior Mr. John Eliot Junior Mr. Thomas Mayhew Mr. Pierson Mr. Brown Mr. James Mr. Cotton Besides divers of their own Nation whose Names and number I know not 1650. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. Edward Winslow Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown and Mr. William Thomas This Year there was more then ordinary mortality in the Country especially about Boston and mostly amongst their Children since which time New diseases the fruits of new sins several diseases have been in the Country more frequently then formerly as namely gripings in the bowels with violent Vomiting and Purging which hath taken away many as also a disease in the Mouth or Throat which hath proved mortal to some in a very short time as also great distempers of Colds c. which ought to be awakening dispensations together with others to cause us to consider and examine whether we have not provoked the Lord with some general and unwonted sins inasmuch as he is pleased to exercise the Country oft-times with unwonted afflictions and punishments 1651. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet This Year Mr. William Thomas expired his natural life in much peace and comfort he served in the place of Magistracy in the Jurisdiction of Plimouth divers Years Mr. William Thomas his death he was a well approved and a well grounded Christian well read in the Holy Scriptures and other approved Authors and a good lover and approver of Godly Ministers and good Christians and one that had a sincere desire to promote the common good both of Church and State He died of a Consumption and was honourably buried at Marshfield in the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth 1652. THis year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth And Were Chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Capt. Myles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet Lieut. Thomas Southworth This Year that blessed Servant of God Mr. John Cotton died Of Mr. Cottons Life Mr. Norton hath Penned a Book whereunto I refer the Reader for more full relation of the same he was sometimes Preacher of Gods Word at Boston in Lincolnshire and from thence came over into New-England in the Year 1633 and was chosen Teacher of the first Church of Christ at Boston for which Function and Office he was greatly enriched with gifts abilities being an able expounder and faithful applier of the Word of God furnished also with wisdom and prudence to go before the Church in the ordering of the affairs thereof endowed also with meekness of spirit whereby he was fitted to compose such differences as did at any time arise amongst them he was very patient also in respect unto personal wrongs or injuries done unto himself yea towards his sharpest Antagonists An influence of good not only flowed from him unto the Church over whom he was set but also into all the Churches in New-England as necessity required A Comet seen at the time of Mr. Cottons sickness and went out soon after his death About the time of his sickness there appeared in the Heavens over New-England a Comet giving a dim light and so waxed dimmer and dimmer until it became quite extinct and went out which time of its being extinct was soon after the time of the period of his life it being a very signal testimony that God had then removed a bright Star a burning and shining light out of the heaven of his Church here unto Coelestial glory above He was buried at Boston in New-England with great Honour and Lamentation in the Year above written Upon whose never enough deplored death were made these Verses following A Funeral Elegie upon the death of the truely Reverend Mr. John Cotton late
Teacher of the Church of Christ at Boston in New-England ANd after Winthrop's Hooker's Shepard's Hâ—rse Doth Cotton's death call for a mourning Verse Thy will be done yet Lord who dealest thus Make this great death expedient for us Luther pull'd down the Pope Calvin the Prelate slue Of Calvin's Lapse chief cure to Cotton's due Cotton whose Learning Temper Godliness The German Phoenix lively did express Melancthon's all may Luthers word but pass Melancthons all in our great Cotton was Then him in flesh scarce dwelt a better one So great 's our loss when such a Spirit 's gone Whil'st He was here Life was more Life to me Now He is not Death hence less Death shall be That Comets great Mens deaths do oft forego This present Comet doth too sadly show This Prophet dead yet must in 's Doctrine speak This Comet saith else must New-England break VVhat ere it be the Heavens avert it far That Meteors should succeed our greatest Star In Bostons Orb Winthrop and Cotton were These Lights extinct dark is our Hemisphere In Boston once how much shin'd of our glory We now lament Posterity will story Let Boston live who had and saw their worth And did them Honour both in life and death To him New-England trust in this distress Who will not leave his exiles comfortless J. N. Upon the TOMB of the most Reverend Mr. John Cotton late Teacher of the Church of Boston in New-England HEre lies magnanimous Humility Majesty Meckness Christian Apathy On soft Affections Liberty in thrall A Noble Spirit Servant unto all Learnings great Master-piece who yet would sit As a Disciple at his Schollars feet A simple Serpent or Serpentine Dove Made up of Wisdome Innocence and Love Neatness Embroider'd with it self alone And Civils Canonized in a Gown Embracing old and young and low and high Ethicks imbodyed in Divinity Ambitious to be lowest and to raise His Brethrens Honour on his own Decayes Thus doth the Sun retire into his bed That being gone the Stars may shew their head Could wound at Argument without Division Cut to the quick and yet make no Incision Ready to Sacrifice Domestick Notions To Churches Peace and Ministers Devotions Himself indeed and singular in that Whom all admired he admired not Liv'd like an Angel of a Mortal Birth Convers'd in Heaven while he was on Earth Though not as Moses radiant with Light Whose Glory dazell'd the beholders sight Yet so divinely beautifi'd youl 'd count He had been born and bred upon the Mount A living breathing Bible Tables where Both Covenants at large engraven were Gospel and Law in 's Heart had each its Colume His Head an Index to the Sacred Volume His very Name a Title Page and next His Life a Commentary on the Text. O what a Monument of glorious worth When in a New Edition he comes forth Without Errata's may we think hee 'll be In Leaves and Covers of Eternitie A man of Might at heavenly Eloquence To fix the Ear and charm the Conscience As if Apollos were reviv'd in him Or he had learned of a Seraphim Spake many Tongues in one one Voice and Sense Wrought Joy and Sorrow Fear and Confidence Rocks rent before him Blinde receiv d their sight Souls levell'd to the dunghil stood upright Infernal Furies burst with rage to see Their Pris'ners captiv'd into Libertie A Star that in our Eastern England rose Thence hurry'd by the Blast of stupid foes Whose foggy Darkness and benummed Senses Brook'd not his daz'ling fervent Influences Thus did he move on Earth from East to West There he went down and up to Heaven for Rest Nor from himself whilest living doth he vary His Death hath made him an Ubiquitary Where is his Sepulchre is hard to tell Who in a thousand Sepulchres doth dwell Their Hearts I mean whom he hath left behind In them his Sacred Relique's now Enshrin'd But let his Mourning Flock be comforted Though Moses be yet Joshua is not dead I mean Renowned NORTON worthy hee Successor to our MOSES is to bee O happy Israel in AMERICA In such a MOSES such a JOSHUA B. W. 1653. MR. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet Lieut. Thomas Southworth Mr. Thomas Dudley who was a principal Founder and Pillar of the Colony of the Massachusets in New-England and sundry times Governour and Deputy Governour of that Jurisdiction died at his house in Roxbury July 31. in the seventy seventh Year of his age he was a person of quick understanding and solid Judgement in the fear of the Lord he was a lover of 1 Justice 2 Order 3 the People 4 Christian Religion the supream virtues of a good Magistrate 1. His love to Justice appeared at all times and in special upon the Judgement seat without respect of persons in Judgement and in his own particular transactions with all men he was exact and exemplary 2. His zeal to Order appeared in contriving good Laws and faithfully executing them upon criminal offenders Hereticks and Underminers of true Religion He had a piercing Judgement to discover the Wolf though cloathed with a sheep-skin 3. His love to the People was evident in serving them in a publick capacity many Years at his own cost and that as a nursing Father to the Churches of Christ 4. He loved the true Christian Religion and the pure Worship of God and cherished as in his bosom all godly Ministers and Christians he was exact in the practice of Piety in his person and family all his life in a word he lived desired and died lamented by all good men The Verses following were found in his Pocket after his death which may further illustrate his Character and give a taste of his poetical fancy wherein it is said he did excel DIm Eyes deaf Ears cold stomack shew My dissolution is in view Eleven times seven near liv'd have I And now God calls I willing die My Shuttle's shot my race is run My Sun is set my Deed is done My Span is measur'd Tale is told My Flower is faded and grown old My Dream is vanish'd Shadow 's fled My Soul with Christ my Body dead Farewel dear Wife Children and Friends Hate Heresie make blessed ends Bear Poverty live with good men So shall we meet with joy agen Let men of God in Courts and Churches watch O're such as do a Toleration hatch Lest that ill Egg bring forth a Cockatrice To poyson all with Heresie and Vice If men be left and otherwise combine My Epitaph's I dy'd no Libertine This Year Mr. John Laythrop did put off his Earthly Tabernacle He was sometimes Preacher of Gods Word in Egerton in Kent from whence he went to London and was chosen Pastor of a Church of Christ there he was greatly troubled imprisoned for witnessing against the errours of the times during the
Law I made Bridl ' SEe how God honoured hath this Worthy's Name To make it spell his Virtue and proclame His rare Endowments us'd for God and Us Now such as honour God hee 'll honour thus Both Just and Gentle Merciful and Just And yet a Man and yet compos'd of Dust Yes God within these slender walls can finde A Noble Virtuous Studious Active Minde God was the Guider of his Childhood Youth God did preserve him ever in the Truth And gave him grace to own Him when but yong Whom afterward he made a Champion strong For to defend his People and his Cause By Wisdome Justice Prudence and by Laws And most of all by his own good Example A Patern fit to imitate most ample If we should trace him from the first we finde He flies his Country leaves his Friends behinde To follow God and to profess his Wayes And here encounters Hardships many dayes He is content with Moses if God please Renouncing Honour Profit Pleasure Ease To suffer Tossings and Unsettlements And if their Rage doth rise to Banishments He weighs it not so he may still preserve His Conscience clear and with Gods People serve Him freely ' cording to his minde and will If not in one place hee 'll go forward still If God have Work for him i' th' Ends of th' Earth Safe Danger Hunger Colds nor any Dearth A howling Wilderness nor Salvage men Discourage him hee 'll follow God agen And how God hath made him an Instrument To us of quiet Peace and Settlement I need not speak the eldest youngest know God honour'd him with greater Work then so To sum up all in this still he went hence This man was wholly God's His Recompence Remains beyond expression and he is Gone to possess it in Eternall Bliss Hee 's happy happy thrice unhappy we That still remain more Changes here to see Let 's not lament that God hath taken him From Troubles hence in Seas of Joyes to swim Let 's not lament his gracious Life is ended And he to Life of Glory is attended Nor let us grieve that now Gods Work is done In making him a happy blessed one But let 's bewail that we have so neglected Duty to God or men have disrespected With earnest Lamentations let 's lament And whiles we may let 's seriously Repent That we have not improved as we might For God and for our selves this worthy wight And now that God hath Moses ta'ne away Let 's pray that he would give us Joshua To go before the Camp and to subdue God's and his People's foes whatever Crew Oppose our Journeys to that Land of Rest Which till obtain'd we 're never truely blest And for our better progress in this course Let now our great Necessity enforce Each man to study Peace and to improve His greatest strength to re-unite in Love The Hearts and the Affections of us all Lest by our fault Gods Work to th'ground should fall W hy mourns the People thus for me since I I n Heavens dwell shall to Eternity L et not so many Tears fall from my Friends L ive holy happy God will recompense I nto your bosomes all your love again A nd your affections whiles I did remain M ongst you but now you must refrain B Ear up your hearts dear hearts when thoughts of me R un in your mindes with this The time will be A nd every hower brings it on apace D ear friends when we for ever shall imbrace F arewell but for a season then farewell O ur next Embraces shall the rest excell R est happy Children Friends and Tender Wife D eath but begins the godly's happy Life A few Verses more added by one that was well acquainted with the Worth of the said Mr. William Bradford THe Ninth of May about Nine of the Clock A precious one God out of Plimouth took Governour Bradford then expir'd his breath Was call'd away by force of cruel Death A man approv'd in Town in Church in Court Who so behav'd himself in godly sort For the full space of Thirty seven years As he was means of turning many fears Away from thee poor Plimouth where he spent The better part of time that God him lent Well skill'd he was in Regulating Laws So as by Law he could defend the Cause Of poor distressed Plaintiff when he brought His Case before him and for help besought Above all other men he loved those Who Gospel-truths most faithfully unclose Who were with Grace and Learning fully fraught Such as laboriously the Gospel taught Willing also to own in his due place The meanest Saint expressing gifts of grace Sweet Brewster he is gone some time before Wise Winslow whose death we lament so sore And faithful Standish freed from horrid pain To be with Christ in truth the greatest gain Now blessed holy Bradford a Successor Of blessed holy Bradford the Confessor Is gone to place of Rest with many more Of precious ones whom I might name great store And Commendation of each one have given But what needs that their Names are writ in Heaven And now dear Lord let us our time improve To be with thee in Prayer much above Oh save thy People help in time of need When all means fails be thou in room and stead Of other helps who fail when needed most When greatest need they then give up the ghost And let thy Servants their time still imploy That in the end they may attain such joy As may a fruit of true Believing bee That we with Christ may reign Eternallie This Worthy Gentleman was interred with the greatest solemnities that the Jurisdiction to which he belonged was in a capacity to perform many deep sighs as well as loud volleys of shot declaring that the People were no less sensible of their own loss who were surviving then mindful of the worth and honour of him that was deceased you might now easily discern a heavy heart in the mournful countenance of every sober minded and considerate man for as you have heard in the three or four Years last past God was pleased greatly to weaken this poor tottering Colony of Plimouth by taking away several of the most usefull Props thereof both in Church and Civil State some others who had been of singular use now stooping under the infirmities of old age could not be so serviceable as in times past and others removed so far from the center of the Government that they could not without great difficulties attend their publick concerns nor could possibly so constantly as our necessities required which did greatly aggravate our troubles we were become weak when we had need of greatest strength had lost many of our Chieftains when we stood in need of the best conduct and guidance for besides the troubles and changes that then attended our Native Country and might call for great circumspection in our walking in relation unto them we had also at this very time some amongst us that growing weary of
what was truely Congregationall A Pillar of our Church and State was he But now No more no more his face we see Who thought more fit of all his Tribe to stand Before our King for favour for our Land Lately but now translated is to Rest This Agent of New-Englands Interest VVhen last he Preach'd he us the Patern gave Of all that Worship Christ in 's Church would have God then him up into the Mount did call To have the Vision Beatificall As Thomas to the Twelve said Come let 's go And die with him I 'd almost said so too I 'le yet awhile in Tears sowe that I may VVith him in joyful Reapings live for ay A Tomb now holds his Souls beloved Shrine Of th' Holy Ghost a Temple most divine And well New-Englands Heart may rent at this VVonder not Reader I so greatly miss Fit words his Worth our loss and grief to fame VVhen as no Epitaph can declare the same T.S. Not long after viz. in the moneth of July followed the death of that Eminent Servant of God Mr. Samuel Stone who was another Star of the first Magnitude in the Firmament of New-England He was a learned solid and judicious Divine equally able for the Confirmation of the Truth and Confutation of Errours His Ministry was with much Conviction and Demonstration and when he set himself to Application very Powerful He was Teacher to the Church of Hartford fourteen years together with Mr. Hooker and sixteen years after him Thirty years in all He died on the 20th of July and was honourably buried at Hartford A Threnodia upon our Churches second dark Eclipse happening July 20. 1663. by Deaths Interposition between us and that Great Light and Divine Plant Mr. Samuel Stone late of Hartford in New-England LAst Spring this Summer may be Autumn styl'd Sad withering Fall our Beauties which despoyl'd Two choicest Plants our Norton and our Stone Your Justs threw down remov'd away are gone One Year brought Stone and Norton to their Mother In one Year April July them did smother Dame Cambridge Mother to this darling Son Emmanuel Northampt ' that heard this one Essex our Bay Hartford in Sable clad Come bear your parts in this Threnodia sad In losing One Church many lost O then Many for One come be sad singing men May Nature Grace and Art be found in one So high as to be found in few or none In him these Three with full-fraught hand contested With which by each he should be most invested The Largess of the Three it was so great On him the Stone was held a Light compleat A Stone more then the Eben-ezer fam'd Stone splendent Diamond right Orient nam'd A Cordiall Stone that often cheared hearts With pleasant Wit with Gospel rich imparts Whet-Stone that Edgefi'd th' obtusest Minde Load-Stone that drew the Iron Heart unkinde A Ponderous Stone that would the Bottom sound Of Scripture-depths and bring out Arcan's found A Stone for Kingly David's use so fit As would not fail Goliah's Front to hit A Stone an Antidote that brake the course Of Gangrene Errour by Convincing force A Stone Acute fit to divide and square A Squared Stone became Christs Building rare A Peter's Living lively Stone so Reared As ' live was Hartfords life dead death is feared In Hartford old Stone first drew Infant-breath In New effus'd his last O there beneath His Corps are laid near to his darling Brother Mr. Hooker Of whom dead oft he sigh'd Not such another Heaven is the more desireable said he For Hooker Shepard and Haynes Company E. B. 1664. THis Year Mr. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. William Collier Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet Major J sias Winslow Capt. Tho. Southworth Capt. William Bradford Mr. Thomas Hinkley This year a Blazing-Star or Comet appeared in New-England in the Ninth Tenth Eleventh and the beginning of the Twelfth Moneth Concerning which it hath been observed That such was its motion that in all likelihood it was visible to all the Inhabitants of the Earth and that also in its motion the Blaze of it did turn to all the quarters of the World and that by its turning according to the several Aspects it had to the Sun it was no fiery Meteor caused by Exhalation but that it was sent immediately by God to awake the secure World I willingly close with that which Mr. Samuel Danforth hath Religiously observed as to the Theological Application of this strange and notable Appearance in the Heavens That indeed by the Testimony of the Sacred Scriptures and the common Histories of former Ages Comets do usually precede and portend great Calamities and notable Changes To adde a few more Instances to those the said Author hath well observed When the Emperour Jovian attained to the Empire succeeding the Apostata Julian under whom the Church suffered much Persecution and that under him both Church and Commonwealth were like to have had a flourishing time had he not been taken away by sudden death Socrates lib. 4. Cap. 22. Then also appeared a Comet shewing that further trouble was yet to be expected to the Church Again other Authors make mention of a strange Comet that was seen in the year of Christ 410 being like a Two-edged Sword which portended many Mischiefs and Calamities that happened both in the East and West and such great slaughters of men were about those dayes as no Age ever afforded the like All Europe was in a manner undone no small part of Asia was affrighted and Africa also was not void of those Evils as War Famine Drought and Pestilence all of them strove as it were to trouble the whole World Also in the Years 1400 1401 1402 1403 Comets appeared and great Calamities followed sundry unheard-of Diseases were felt Rivers dried up and Plagues were increased Reade Carion lib. 5. pag 854. Tamerlain King of the Scythians and Parthians with an innumerable Host invaded Asia calling himself The Wrath of God and Desolation of the Earth Also in the Year 1529 appeared four Comets and in the Years 1530 1532 and 1533 were seen in each year one Lanquet saith That there were three within the space of two years upon which these and the like Calamities followed viz. A great Sweating Sickness in England which took away great multitudes of people The Turk in the quarrel of John Vnavoyda who laid Claim to the Crown of Hungaria entred the said Kingdome with Two hundred and fifty thousand fighting Souldiers committing against the Inhabitants thereof most harsh and unspeakable Murthers Rapes Villanies and Cruelties Great Famine and Dearth in Venice and the Countries thereabouts which swept away many The Sweating Sickness in Bâ—abant and in a great part of Germany Great Wars likewise about the Dukedome of Millain between the Emperour Charles the Fifth and Francis the French King About that time also all Lusitania or Portugal was struck with an
the Divine whose Life a Revelation Of Faith and Love and Christ to admiration John the Divine whom Jesus lov'd most dear Sweetned with leaning on his Bosome here This is that John whose Death who doth not moan Hath sure no heart of flesh but one of stone He had the Countries Faith and Love and Zeal Even Grace enough for Church and Common-weal Whereby was propt up all the Fabrick still That else had tumbled down our Sion Hill Of meerly Men deserving glory more You 'll finde nor Martyr nor a Confessor Inspir'd he was with the Prophetick Spirit Of all the Prophets which he did inherit 'Twixt an Apostle and Evangelist His Order standeth in the Heavenly List If Paul himself among us dead had been More tears or sorrow could not have been seen They wept not more for this that they should see His face no more then now we Mourners bee For Heavenly Poems most Angelicall Composing Volumes with delight were all But gathered up in one we should espy Enough to fill an University And were another Psalm-book made by thee Mictam of John their Title it should bee As aged John th'Apostle us'd to bless The People which they judg'd their happiness So we did count it worth our Pilgrimage Vnto him for his Blessing in his Age Yet then no Babe more longing for the Breast Then he to take within the Church his rest To have the sincere Milk of God's good Word Which to his Soul all comfort did afford Not Heat nor Cold nor Rain nor Snow must bar But every where becomes an Auditor Who ever labour'd in the Ministry More given then he to Hospitality To Strangers Widows Fatherless and all To Friends and Foes he was most liberall Of all his Prayers Sermons Travels Pains He is ascended Heaven to reap the gains Oh for a double portion of thy Spirit No richer Treasure would we all inherit Maestus apposuit T. S. 1668. THis Year it pleased God to visit New-England with the manifestation of his displeasure by the death of three Eminent Instruments The first whereof was that worthy Servant of Christ Mr. Samuel Shepard Pastor of the Church of Christ at Rowley in New-England who deceased in the Spring of this year in the midst of his dayes and in the beginning of his Work in the Ministry The second that worthy Man of God Mr. Henry Flint Teacher of the Church of Christ at Braintry in New-England who ended his mortal life the 27 of April in this year a man of known Piety Gravity and Integrity and well accomplished with other Qualifications fit for the Work of the Ministry The third and last but not the least that Super-eminent Minister of the Gospel rightly so called Mr. Jonathan Mitchel Pastor of the Church of Christ at Cambridge in New-England who laid down his Earthly Tabernacle on the Ninth of July in this year Of whose rare Endowments and the great Loss the whole Land sustained by his death take this following brief Account Mr. Jonathan Mitchell was born at Halifax in York-shire in England of pious and wealthy Parents who coming over to New-England brought him over young his Education in Learning was perfected at Harvard Colledge in Cambridge where he attained to such a degree in knowledge that he was soon called to be a Fellow of the Colledge and within few years after his lustre did so shine that the Church at Hartford upon Conecticot River made application to him in order to supply the place of that Eminent Servant of Christ Mr. Thomas Hooker a little before deceased but the Church at Cambridge by the Advice of their Pastor Mr. Thomas Shepard then living not willing to part with so great a Treasure became Competitor with Hartford and gave him a Call to them This loving Strife between the two Churches of Hartford and Cambridge about him was in a short time decided by the awfull hand of God in the death of that Eminent and Glorious Star Mr. Thomas Shepard Pastor at Cambridge which place being wholly destitute and Hartford being supplied with a Teacher namely that Worthy of the Lord Mr. Samuel Stone the Ballance was cast for Cambridge and in the year 1650 he was Called and Ordained their Pastor It was an eminent favour of God to that Church to have their great Breach thus made up with a man so much of the Spirit and Principles of their former Pastor and so excellently qualified with respect to the Colledge for Reason and Prudence requireth that the Minister of that place be more then ordinarily endowed with Learning Gravity Wisdome Orthodoxness Ability sweet and excellent Gifts in Preaching that so the Scholars which are devoted and set apart in order to be Preachers of the Gospel might be seasoned with the Spirit of such an Elijah In which regard this holy Man of God was eminently furnished and his Labours wonderfully blessed for very many of the Scholars bred up in his time as is observed do favour of his Spirit for grace and manner of Preaching which was most attractive He lived Pastor of the Church about Eighteen years and was most intense and faithful in declaring much of the Counsel of God He went through a great part of the Body of Divinity made a very excellent Exposition of the Book of Genesis and part of Exodus and delivered many fruitful and profitable Sermons on the four first Chapters of John and in his Monethly Lectures which were abundantly frequented he Preached of Mans Misery by Sin and Recovery by Christ Jesus and died in the third part of it viz. concerning Mans Obedience in Christ besides many other excellent Truths by him taught upon divers occasions In all his Labours God was wonderfully present with him He was a person that held very near Communion with God Eminent in Wisdome Piety Humility Love Self-denial and of a compassionate and tender heart surpassing in Publick-spiritedness a mighty man in Prayer and Eminent at standing in the Gap he was zealous for Order and faithful in asserting the Truth against all Oppugners of it In a word he was a man whom God had richly furnished and eminently fitted for his Work lived desired and died lamented by all good Christians that knew him It pleased God upon the Ninth of July 1668. in a hot and burning season but much more hot in the Heat of Gods Anger to New-England to take him to Rest and Glory about the 43 year of his Age. His Race was but short but the Work he did was very much The Elegies following may give the Reader a further account of what esteem he was Upon the Death of that truely Godly Reverend and Faithful Servant of Christ Mr. Jonathan Mitchell Pastor of the Church at Cambridge who deceased July 9. 1668. VVHat shall we say Of sad Effects what fear Four Splendent Stars extinguish'd in one year Two Old one Young and this of Middle Age A brightest Light most eyes who did ingage The Lord in 's Temple is Earth silence keep
Dispute not over-bold this Judgement deep A Mourning great each Eye distilling Streams Sad Sighs and Sobs in most men's mouthes their Theams And who can blame it for this we well may If Love if Fear if Temple-shakes bear sway The Wife hath lost her Head four hopeful Stems A Father Cambridge too their Crowning Gems Neighbours a useful Light Elders a Brother Whose Head and Mouth made him to most a Father Sad Cambridge when thou lost thy Thomas dear God pitied thee and gave a right Compeer This Jonathan thy Mitchell one in whom Was Much-of-EL a Michael judg'd by some Right strong in School in Desk of brightest shine Artist good Linguist high Orthodox Divine Of Judgement deep of Memory how large Invention quick grave pleasant who can charge Thee in thy Theory or Practick with dark fail Humble Sincere whose Love-cords did avail Much good by him you Cambridge have receiv'd He gone by you his Relicts see reliev'd A Royal Quaere 't was when Jonathan dead And Royal Act Jonathan's Stems to feed E.B. To the Memory of the Learned and Reverend Mr. Jonathan Mitchell late Minister of Cambridge in N. E. Inhumed July 10. 1668. Quicquid agimus quicquid Patimur venit ex Alto. THe Countries Tears be ye my Spring my Hill A general Grave let Groans inspire my Quill With an Heart-rending Sense drawn from the Cries Of Orphan Churches and the Destinies Of a Bereaved House Let Children weep They scarce know why and let the Mother steep Her lifeless Hopes in Brine The Private Friend O'rewhelm'd with grief falter his Comforts end By a warm Sympathie let Feaverish Heat Roam through my Verse unseen and a Cold Sweat Limning Despair attend me Sighs diffuse Convulsions through my language such as use To type a Gasping Fancy Lastly shroud Religions Splendor in a Mourning Cloud Replete with Vengeance for succeeding Times Fertile in Woes more fertile in their Crimes These are my Muses These inspire the Sails Of Fancy with their Sighs in stead of Gales Reader reade Rev'rend Mitchel's Life and then Confess the World a Gordian Knot agen Reade his Tear-delug'd Grave and then decree Our present Woe and future Miserie Stars falling speak a Storm when Samuel dies Saul may expect Philistia's Cruelties So when Jehovah's brighter Glory fled The Temple Israel was Captive led Geneva's Triple Light made one Divine But here that vast Triumvirate combine By a blest Metempsycosis to take One Person for their larger Zodiake In Sacred Censures Farrels dreadfull Scroul Of Words broke from the Pulpit to the Soul Indulgent Parents when they spare they spoyle Old Wounds need Vinegar as well as Oyle Distastful Cates with Miseries do suit The Paschal Lamb was eat with bitter fruit In Balmy Comforts Virets Genius came From th' wrinkled Alps to wooe the Western Dame And Courting Cambridge quickly took from thence Her last Degrees of Rhetorick and Sense Calvin's Laconicks through his Doctrine spred And Children's Children with their Manna fed His Exposition Genesis begun And fatall Exodus Eclips'd his Sun Some say that Souls oft sad Presages give Death-breathing Sermons taught us last to live One sowes another reaps may truely be Our Grave-Instruction and his Elegie His System of Religion half unheard Full double in his Preaching Life appear'd Happy that place where Rulers Deeds appear I' th' Front o' th' Battel and their Words i' th' Rear He 's gone to whom his Country owes a love Worthy the prudent Serpent and the Dove Religion's Panoply the Sinners Terrour Death summon'd hence sure by a Writ of Errour The Quaker trembling at his Thunder fled And with Caligula resum'd his Bed He by the Motions of a Nobler Spirit Clear'd Men and made their Notions Swine inherit The Munster Goblin by his holy flood Exorcis'd like a thin Phantasma stood Brown's Babel shatter'd by his Lightning fell And with Confused Horrour pack'd to hell The Scripture with a Commentary bound Like a lost Calice in his Heart was found When he was Sick the Air a Feaver took And thirsty Phoebus quaft the Silver Brook When Dead the Spheres in Thunder Clouds Rain Groan'd his Elegium Mourn'd and Wept our Pain Let not the Brazen Schismatick aspire Lot's leaving Sodom left them to the Fire 'T is true the Bee 's now dead but yet his Sting Death 's to their Dronish Doctrines yet may bring Epitaphium HEre lyes within this Comprehensive Span The Churches Courts and Countries Jonathan He that speaks Mitchell gives the Schools the Lie Friendship in Him gain'd an Ubiquity Vivet post Funera Virtus F. D. An Epitaph upon the deplored Death of that Supereminent Minister of the Gospel Mr. Jonathan Mitchel HEre lyes the Darling of his time Mitchell Expired in his prime Who four years short of Fourty seven Was found full Ripe and pluck'd for Heaven Was full of prudent Zeal and Love Faith Patience Wisdome from above New-England's Stay next Ages Story The Churches Gemme the Colledge Glory Angels may speak him Ah! not I Whose Worth's above Hyperbole But for our Loss wer 't in my power I 'de weep an Everlasting Shower J. S. A fourth Minister that died this year was Mr. John Eliot Junior born at Roxbury in New-England Eldest Son of the Reverend Mr. John Eliot Teacher of the Church there He was Educated at Cambridge in the Latine School and in the Colledge untill he became Master of Arts and a few years after was called to be Pastor of a Church within the Bounds of Cambridge upon the South-side of Charles River He was a person excellently endowed and accomplished with Gifts of Nature Learning and Grace of comely Proportion ruddy Complexion chearful Countenance of quick Apprehension solid Judgement excellent Prudence Learned both in Tongues and Arts for one of his time and studiously intense in acquiring more knowledge His Abilities and Acceptation in the Ministry did excell His Piety Faith Love Humility Self-deniall and Zeal did eminently shine upon all occasions He had under the conduct of his Father by his diligence industry and zeal for the good of Souls attained to such skill in the Indian Language that he Preached to the Indians sundry years Travelling many miles in a day once a Fortnight to dispense the Gospel to them The Indians have often said that his Preaching to them was precious and desireable and consequently their loss and the obstruction in that Work much to be lamented In a word there was so much of God in him that all the wise and godly who knew him loved and honoured him in the Lord and bewailed his death which sell upon the 13 day of October 1668. and of his Age about 35 years I Shall close up this small History with a word of Advice to the Rising-generation That as now their godly Predecessors have had large Experience of the goodness and faithfulness of God for the space of near Fourty six years some of them and have passed under various Dispensations sometimes under great Afflictions other-while the Sun shining upon