any before thus they report some persons among them discerning a great thing to move toward them upon the Waters wondering what Creature it should be they run with their light cannowes which are a kinde of Beates made of Birch Rindes and sowed together with the rootes of white Cedar-Trees from place to place stiring up all their Countreymen to come forth and behold this monstrous thing at this sudden news the shores for many miles were filled with this naked Nation gazing at this wonder till some of the stoutest among them manned ouâ— these Cannowes being armed with Bow and Arrowes they approached within shot of the Ship being becalmed they let fly their long shâ—fâ—s at her which being headed with bone some stuck fast and others dropped into the water they wondering it did not cry but kept quietly on toward them till all of a sudden the Master caused a piece of Ordnance to be fired which stroke such feare into the poore Indians that they hasted to shore having their wonders exceedingly increased but being gotten among their great multitude they waited to see the sequell with much amazement till the Seamen fiâ—ling up their salies came to an Anchor mannedout their long bote and went on shore at whose approach the Indians sled although now they saw they were men who made signes to stay their flight that they may have Trade with them and to that end they brought certaine Copper-Kettles the Indians by degrees made their approach nearer and nearer till they came to them when beholding their Vessells which they had set forth before them the Indian knocking them were much delighted with the sound and much more astonished to see they would not breake being so thin for attaining those Vessells they brought them much Bever fraughting them richly away according to their desires this was the first working providence of Christ to stir up our English Nation to plant these parts in hope of a rich Trade for Bever-skins and this made some of our Countrymen make their abode in these parts whom this Army of Christ at their comming over found as fit helps to further their designe in planting the Churches of Christ Who by a more admirable act of his Providence not long after prepared for his peoples arrivall as followeth The Summer after the blazing Starre whose motion in the Heavens was from East to West poynting out to the sons of men the progresse of the glorious Gospell of Christ the glorious King of his Churches even about the yeare 1618. a little before the removeall of that Church of Christ from Holland to Plimoth in New England as the ancient Indians report there befell a great mortality among them the greatest that ever the memory of Father to Sonne tooke notice of chiefly desolating those places where the English afterward planted the Country of Poâ—kanoky Agâ—ssawamg it was almost wholy deserted insomuch that the Neighbour Indians did abandon those places for feare of death fleeing more West by South observing the East and by Northern parts were most smitten with this contagion the Abarginny men consisting of Mattachusets Wippanaps and Tarratines were greatly weakned and more especially the three Kingdomes or Saggamore ships of the Mattachusets who were before this mortality most populous having under them seven Dukedomes or petty Saggamores and the Nianticks and Narrowganssits who before this came were but of little note yet were they now not much increased by such as fled thither for feare of death the Pecods who retained the Name of a war-like people till afterwards conquered by the English were also smitten at this time Their Disease being a sore Consumption sweeping away whole Families but chiefly yong Men and Children the very seeds of increase their Powwowes which are their Doctors working partly by Charmes and partly by Medicine were much amazed to see their Wigwams lie full of deaâ— Corpes and that now neither Squantam nor Abbamocho could helpe which are their good and bad God and also their Powwows themselves were oft smitten with deaths stroke howling and much lamentation was heard among the living who being possest with great feare oftimes left their dead unburied their manner being such that they remove their habitations at death of any this great mortality being an un vonted thing feare them the more because naturally the Country is very healthy But by this meanes Christ whose great and glorious workes the Earth throughout are altogether for the benefit of his Churches and chosen not onely made roome for his people to plant but also tamed the hard and cruell hearts of these barbarous Indians insomuch that halfe a handfull of his people landing not long after in Plimoth-Plantation found little resistance of whom the Author purposes not to speake particularly being prevented by the honoured Mr. Winslow who was an eye-witnesse of the worke onely thus much by the way they were sent to keepe possession for their Brethren and fellow Souldiers who arrived eight yeares after them as in processe of this story will God-willing appeare and verily herein they quit themselves like men or rather Christ for and by them maintaining the place notwithstanding the multitude of difficulties they met withall at their first landing being in doubtfull suspence what intertainment these Barbarians would give them having with prayer supplicated the Lord in the Name of Christ their King and guide in this their undertaking they manned out a Boate to discover what store of the Inhabitants were there Now these men whose courage exceeded the number being guided by the provident hand of the most high landed in some severall places and by making fires gave signes of their approach now the Indians whose dwellings are most neer the water side appeared with their Bowes bent and Arrowes one the string let fly their long shifts among this little company whom they might soon have inclosed but the Lord otherwise disposed of it for one Captaine Miles Standish having his fowling-peece in a reddinesse presented full at them his shot being directed by the provident Hand of the most high God strook the stourest Sachem among them one the right Arme it being bent over his shoulder to reach an Arrow forth his Qâ—iver as their manner is to draw them forth in fight at this stroke they all fled with great swiftnesse through the Woods and Thickets then the English who more thirsted after their conversion than destruction returned to their Bote without receiving any damage and soon after arrived where they left their Brethren to whom they declared the good hand of God toward them with thankfull acknowledgement of this great worke of his in preserving them Yet did they all remaine full of incumbred thoughts the Indians of whose multitudes they had now some intelligence together with experience of spirits and also knew well without commerce with them they were not like long to subsist But hee whose worke they went about wrought so rare a Providence for them which cannot but be admired of all
of his Subjects to give them entertainment resolving as then that the young King should receive their message yet in his hearing they arriving were entertain'd royally with respect to the Indian manner Boil'd Chesnuts is their White-bread which are very sweet as if they were mixt with Sugar and because they would be extraordinary in their feasting they strive for variety after the English manner boyling Puddings made of beaten corne putting therein great store of black berryes somewhat like Currants They having thus nobly feasted them afterward give them Audience in a State-house round about fifty foot wide made of long poles stuck in the ground like your Summer-houses in England and covered round about and on the top with Mats save a small place in the middle of the Roofe to give light and let out the smoke In this place sate their Sachim with very great attendance the English comming to deliver their Message to manifest the greater state the Indian Sachim lay along upon the ground on a Mat and his Nobility sate on the ground with their legs doubled up their knees touching their chin with much sober gravity they attend the Interpreters speech It was matter of much wonderment to the English to see how solidly and wisely these savage people did consider of the weighty undertaking of a War especially old Canonicus who was very discreet in his answers The young Sachem was indeed of a more lofty spirit which wrought his ruine as you may heare after the decease of the old King But at this time his answer was that he did willingly embrace peace with the English considering right well that although their number was but small in comparison of his people and that they were but strangers to the Woods Swamps and advantagious places of this Wildernesse yet withall he knew the English were advantaged by their weapons of War and especially their Guns which were of great terror to his people and also he had heard they came of a more populous Nation by far than all the Indians were could they be joyn'd together Also on the other hand with mature deliberation he was well advised of the Peaquods cruell disposition and aptnesse to make War as also their neere neighbourhood to his people who though they were more numerous yet were they withall more effeminate and lesse able to defend themselves from the sudden incursions of the Peaquods should they fall out with them Hereupon hee demes it most conducing to his owne and his peoples safety to direct his course in a middle way holding amity with both The English returne home having gained the old Kings favour so farre as rather to favour them then the Pequods who perceiving their Neighbouring English had sent forth aid to the Mattacusets government thought it high time to seeke the winning all the Indians they could on their side and among others they make their addresse to old Cannonicus who insteed of taking part with them labours all he can to hush the War in hand laying before them the sad effects of War sometimes proving sad and mournfull to the very Victors themselves but alwayes to the vanquished and withall tells them what potent enemies they had to contend with whose very weapons and Armor were matter of terror setting their persons a side as also that English man was no much hoggery yet and therefore they might soone appease them by delivering into their hands those persons that had beene the death of any of them which were much better than that the whole Nation should perish For the present the Pequods seemed to be inclinable to the old Sachims counsell but being returned home againe among their rude multitude the chief place of cowardly boasting they soon change their minde yet the old Sachim sends the English word he had wrought with them and in very deed the English had rather make choice of Peace then Warre provided it may stand with Truth and Righteousnesse and therefore send forth a band of Souldiers who arriving in the Peaquod Country address themselves to have a Treaty with them about delivering up the murtherers they making shew of willingness so to doe bade them abide awhile and they would bring them and in the mean time they were conversant among the Souldiers and viewing their Armie pointed to divers places where they could hit them with their Arrowes for all their Corslets But their greatest number lying the while at the other side of a great hill and anon appearing on the top of the hill in sight of the English those Indians that were among the English withdrawing toward them no sooner were they come to their Companions but all of a suddaine they gave a great shout and shewed the English a fair pair of heeles who seeing it would not availe any thing to follow them they being farre swifter of foot than the English made their returne home againe This bootlesse voyage incouraged the Indians very much who insulted over them at the fort boasting of this their deluding them and withall they blasphemed the Lord saying English-mans God was all one Flye and that English man was all one Sqawe and themselves all one Moor-hawks Thus by their horrible pride they fitted themselves for destruction The English hearing this report were now full assured that the Lord would deliver them into their hands to execute his righteous judgement upon these blasphemous murtherers and therefore raised fresh Souldiers for the warre to the number of fourscore or thereabout out of the severall towns in the Matachusets and although they were but in their beginnings yet the Lord who fore-intended their work provided for all their wants and indeed it was much that they had any bisket to carry with them in these times of scarcity or any vessels to transport their men and ammunition yet all was provided by the gracious hand of the most high and the Souldiers many of them not onely armed with outward weapons and armour of defence but filled with a spirit of courage and magnanimity to resist not onely men but Devils for surely he was more then ordinaryly present with this Indian army as the sequell will shew as also for their further incouragement the reverend and zealously affected servant of Christ Mr. John Wilson went with the army who had treasured up heaps of the experimentall goodnesse of God towards his people Having formerly passed through perils by Sea perils by Land perils among false brethren c. he followed the warre purposely to sound an alarum before the Lord with his silver trumpet that his people might be remembred before him the Souldiers ariving in safety at the towne of Hartford where they were encouraged by the reverend Ministers there with some such speech as followes Fellow-Souldiers Country-men and Companions in this wildernesse-worke who are gathered together this day by the inevitable providence of the great Jehovah not in a tumultuous manner hurried on by the floating fancy of every high hot headed braine whose actions
of the Vessel was slain the main sail shot through and the Barque also the people some of them returned back again for New-England being sore abashed at this providence that befel them that they would never seek to be governed by liberty again to this very day yet others there are were so strongly bent for the heat of liberty that they indured much pinching penury upon an uninhabited Island til at length meeting some others like-minded with themselves they made a voyage to another Island the chiefest part of their Charter of Freedom was this That no man upon pain of death should speak against anothers Religion where they continued till some of them were famished and others even forced to feed on Rats and any other thing they could find to sustain nature till the provident hand of God brought a Ship to the place which took them off the Island and saved their lives But upon this the Winters discourse ceased and projects for a warmer Country were husht and done CHAP. XXI Of the suddain and unexpected falt of Cattel and the great blessing of God in giving plenty of provision FOr this year 1642. Iohn Winthrope Esquire was chosen Governour and John Endicut Esquire Deputy Governor The number of Freemen added were about 1232. This Spring Cowes and Cattle of that kind having continued at an excessive price so long as any came over with estates to purchase them fell of a suddain in one week from 22 l. the Cow to 6.7 or 8. l. the cow at most insomuch that it made all men admire how it came to pass it being the common practise of those that had any store of Cattel to sell every year a Cow or two which cloath'd their backs fil'd their bellies with more varieties then the Country of it self afforded and put gold and silver in their purses beside Here the Reader it desired to take notice of the wonderful providence of the most high God toward these his new-planted Churches such as was never heard of since that Iacobs sons ceased to be a people that in ten or twelve years planting there should be such wonderful alteration a Nation to be born in a day a Commonwealth orderly brought forth from a few Fugitives all the Forraign plantations that are of forty fifty or a hundred years standing cannot really report the like although they have had the greatest incouragements earth could afford Kings to countenance them staple commodities to provoke all manner of Merchants to resort unto them silver gold precious stones or whatever might incice the eye or ear to incline the motion of man toward them his remove rocky barren bushy wild-woody wilderness a receptacle for Lions Wolves Bears Foxes Rockoones Bags Bevers Otters and all kind of wild creatures a place that never afforded the Natives better then the flesh of a few wild creatures and parch't Indian corn incht out with Chesnuts and bitter Acorns now through the mercy of Christ becom a second England for fertilness in so short a space that it is indeed the wonder of the world but bring already forgotten of the very persons that tast of it at present although some there be that keep in memory his mercies multitude and declare it to their childrens children First to begin with the encrease of food you have heard in what extream penury these people were in at first planting for want of food gold silver rayment or whatsoever was precious in their eyes they parted with when ships came in for this their beast that died some would stick before they were cold and sell their poor pined flesh for food at 6.d per pound Indian Beans at 16 s per bushel when Ships came in it grieved some Master to see the urging of them by people of good rank and quality to sell bread unto them But now take notice how the right hand of the most high hath altered all and men of the meaner rank are urging them to buy bread of them and now good white and wheaten bread is no dainty but even ordinary man hath his choice if gay cloathing and a liquerish tooth after sack sugar and plums lick not away his bread too fast all which are but ordinary among those that were not able to bring their owne persons ever at their first coming there are not many Towns in the Country but the poorest person in them hath a house and land of his own and bread of his own growing if not some cattel beside flesh is now no rare food beef pork and mutton being frequent in many houses so that this poor Wilderness hath not onely equalized England in food but goes beyond it in some places for the great plenty of wine and sugar which is ordinarily spent apples pears and quince tarts instead of their former Pumpkin Pies Poultry they have plenty and great rarity and in their feasts have not forgotten the English fashion of stiring up their appetites with variety of cooking their food and notwithstanding all this great and almost miraculous work of the Lord in providing for his people in this barren desart yet are there here as in other places some that use these good creatures of God to excess and others to hoard up in a wretched and miserable manner pinch themselves and their children with food and will not tast of the good creatures God hath given for that end but cut Church and Commonwealth as short also Let not such think to escape the Lords hand with as little a stroke as the like do in other places Secondly For rayment our cloth hath not been cut short as but of late years the traders that way have encreased to such a number that their shops have continued full all the year long all one England besides the Lord hath been pleased to encrease sheep extraordinarily of late hemp and flax here is great plenty hides here are more for the number of persons then in England and for cloth here is and would be materials enough to make it but the Farmers deem it better for their profit to put away their cattel and corn for cloathing then to set upon making of cloth if the Merchants trade be not kept on foot they fear greatly their corne and cattel will lye in their hands assuredly the plenty of cloathing hath caused much excess of late in those persons who have clambered with excess in wages for their work but seeing it will be the theam of our next discourse after the birds are setled it may be here omitted Further the Lord hath been pleased to turn all the wigwams huts and hovels the English dwelt in at their first coming into orderly fair and well-built houses well furnished many of them together with Orehards filled with goodly fruit trees and gardens with variety of flowers There are supposed to be in the Mattachusets Government at this day neer a thousand acres of land planted for Orchards and Gardens besides their fields are filled with garden fruit there being as is
AMERICA Painted to the Life A True History of the originall undertakings of the advancement of Plantations into those parts with a perfect relation of our ENGLISH Discoveries shewing their beginning progress and continuance from the year 1628. to 1658. declaring the forms of their Government Policies Religions Manners Customes Military Discipline Warres with the INDIANS the Commodities of their Countries a Description of their Townes and Havens the increase of their trading with the names of their Governours and Magistrates More Especially an absolute Narrative of the North parts of AMERICA and of the discoveries and plantations of our English in NEW-ENGLAND Written by Sir FERDINANDO GORGES Knight and Governour of the Fort and Island of Plimouth in DEVONSHIRE one of the first and cheifest promoters of those Plantations Publisht since his decease by his Grand-child Ferdinando Gorges Esquire who hath much enlarged it and added severall accurate Descriptions of his owne A work now at last exposed for the publick good to stir up the heroick and active spirits of these times to benefit their Country and Eternize their names by such honourable attempts For the Readers clearer understanding of the Country's they are lively described in a compleat and exquisite Map Vivit post funera virtus LONDON Printed by E. Brudenell for Nathaniel Brook dwelling at the Angel in Corn-hill 1658. To the READER I Thought it a part of my duty in this my briefe Narration of our Plantations to remember the Originall Vndertaking of those designes in the parts of America by such Noble Spirits of our Nation that first attempted it as well for the justification of the right thereof properly belonging to Kings of our Nation before any other Prince or State as also the better to cleare the claime made thereunto by the Embassadour of France in the behalfe of his Master in the yeare 1624. whereto I was required to make answer as more at large it appeares in the discourse it selfe withall to leave to posterity the particular wayes by which it hath beene brought to the height it is come unte wherein the providence of our Great GOD is especially to be observed who by the least and weakest meanes oftentimes effecteth great and wonderfull things all which I have endeavoured to contract in as short a compasse as the length of the â—ime and the variety of the accidents would give leave as for the truth thereof I pâ—esume it is so publiquely known as malice iâ— selfe dares not onely question it though I know none I thank my God to whom I have given any just cause maliâ—iously to attempt it uâ—lesse it be for the desire I had to do good to all without wronging of any as by the course of my life to this present it may appear If in the conclusion of my undertaking and expence of my fortunes to advance the honour and happinesse of my Nation I have setled a portion thereof to those that in nature must succeed me you may be pleased to remember that the Labourer is worthy of his hire That I have not exceeded others not better deserving that I go hand in hand with the meanest in this great worke to whom the charge thereof was commited by royall Authority That I have opened the way to greater imployments and shal be as a hand set up in a crosse way in a desert Country to point all travellers in such like kind how they may come safe to finish their journeys â—nd leaving an example to others best affected to designes of such like nature to prosecute their intents for further in largement of those began Plantations without trenching or intruding upon the rights and labours of others already possessed of what is justly granted them Especially of such who in some sort may be termed Benefactours aâ— Secondaâ—y donors of what by Gods favour is had or to be had from those springs they first found and left to posterity to bath themselves in but if there be any otherwise affected as better delighted to reap what they have not sown or to possess the fruit another hath laboured for let such be assured so great injustice will never want a wofull attendance to follow close at the heeles if not stayed behind to bring after a more terrible revenge But my trust is such impiety will not be suddenly harboured where the whole work is I hope still continued for the enlargement of the Christian faith the supportation of justice and love of peace in assurance whereof I will conclude and tell you as I have lived long so I have done what I could let those that come after me doe for their parts what they may and I doubt not but the God that governes all will reward their labours that continue in his service to whom be Glory for ever Amen FERDINANDO GORGES VVonder-working PROVIDENCE OF SIONS SAVIOVR Being a Relation of the first planting in New England in the Yeare 1628. CHAP. I. The sad Condition of England when this People removed WHen England began to decline in Religion like luke-warme Laodicea and instead of purging out Popery a farther compliance was sought not onely in vaine Idolatrous Ceremonies but also in prophaning the Sabbath and by Proclamation throughout their Parish churches exasperating lewd and prophane persons to celebrate a Sâ—bbath like the Heathen to Venus Baccus and Ceres in so much that the multitude of irreligious lascivious and popâ—sh affected persons spred the whole land like Grashoppers in this very time Christ the glorious King of his Churches raises an Army out of our English Nation for freeing his people from their long servitude under usurpâ—ng Prelacy and bâ—cause every corner of England was filled with the fury of malignant adversaries Christ creates a New England to muster up the first of his Forces in Whose 〈◊〉 condition little number and remotenesse of place made these adversaries triumph despising this day of small things but in this hight of their pride the Lord Christ brought sudden and unexpected destruction upon them Thus have you a touch of the time when this worke began Christ Jesus intending to manifest his Kingly Office toward his Churches more fully then ever yet the Sons of men saw even to the uniting of Jew and Gentile Churches in one Faith begins with our English Nation whose former Reformation being vere imperfect doth now resolve to cast down their false foundation of Prelacy even in the hight of their domineering dignity And therefore in the yeare 1628. he stirres up his servants as the Heralds of a King to make this Proclamation for Voluntiers as followeth Oh yes oh yes oh yes All you the people of Christ that are here Oppressed Imprisoned and scurrilously derided gather your selves together your Wifes and little ones and answer to your severall Names as you shall be shipped for his service in the Westereâ— World and more especially for planting the united Collonies of new England Where you are to attend the service of the King of Kings upon the
Princes and all that are in authority to cast downe their Crownes at the Feet of Christ and take them up againe at his command to serve under his Standard as nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to the Churches and people of Christ when your feete are once safely set on the shores of America you shall set up and establish civill Government and pray for the prosperity thereof as you love the peace of his Churches who hath called you to this service he hath for that end shipped among you some learned in the Law of God and practised in rules of good reason or common Lawes proper to our English Nation Be sure you make choyce of the right that all people Nations and Languages who are soonly to submit to Christs Kingdome may be followers of you herein as you follow the Rule of Christ your Magistrates shall not but open the Gates for all sorts But know they are Eyes of Restraint set up for Walles and Bulworks to surround the Sion of God Oh for Jerusalem her peace see that you mind it altogether you know right well that the Churches of Christ have not thrived under the tolerating Government of Holland from whence the Lord hath translated one Church already to the place whither you are now to goe and further it is well known loose liberty cannot indure to looke Majesticall authority in the face And also you shall finde erronious persons will contend with authority for upholding truth irrationally denying it any power to condemne deceiveable Doctrines and that upon this very ground because Tyranny hath inforced error heretofore be not borne downe with a multitude neither let any flatter for preferment which to prevent honour shall be very chargeable among you yet let not any deny to beare the burden and cumber of governing this people of Christ for assuredly although their recompence fall short from man it shall not be forgotten with the Lord. Lastly CHAP. VI. How the People of Christ ought to behave themselves in War-like Discipline YOu shall with all diligence provide against the Malignant adversaries of the truth for assure your selves the time is at hand wherein Antichrist will muster up all his Forces and make war with the People of God but it shall be to his utter overthrow See then you store your selves with all sorts of weapons for war furbrish up your Swords Rapiers and all other piercing weapons As for great Artillery seeing present meanes falls short waite on the Lord Christ and hee will stir up friends to provide for you and in the meane time spare not to lay out your coyne for Powder Bullets Match Armes of all sorts and all kinde of Instruments for War and although it may now seeme a thing incredible you shall see in that Wildernesse whither you are going Troopes of stout Horsemen marshalled and therefore fayle not to ship lusty Mares along with you and see that withall dilligence you incourage every Souldier-like Spirit among you for the Lord Christ intends to archieve greater matters by this little handfull then the World is aware of wherefore you shall seeke and set up men of valour to lead and direct every Soulder among you and with all diligence to instruct them from time to time Feare not the misse of men to fill your Townes and compleat your companies for although at first struglings for truths advance there may but a small number appeare of sound judgement yet shall you not prefer any to Office whose zeale is not strong for the truth for now the minde of Christ is to put out the Name of Ammaleck from under Heaven I meane such at have persecuted the Churches and People of Christ in their low condition and assuredly unsound Saules will spare such as should not be saved from destruction Then be strong and of a good courage all you that are to fight the Lords Battaile that your Faith faile not at sight of the great Armies of Gog and Magog and as for you who shall be preferred to highest places in his New England Regiments cause your Captaine and other inferior Officers to be diligent in their severall places that you may lend helpe to your Countreymen that ere long be will see a necessity of contending for the truth as well as your selves in choyce of Military Officers Let faithfulnesse to the cause in hand courage activity and skill have the prehemency of honours for although it may seeme a meane thing to be a New England Souldier yet some of you shall have the battering and bearing down sealing winning and wasting the over-topping Towers of the Hierarchy Lieutenants Ensigne and Serjeants exceed not your places till Experience Skill and true Valour promote you to higher honour to which you shall be daily aspiring As the worthy incouragement of a Souldiers labour let Militay discipline be had in high esteeme among you Gentlemen Corporalls and fellow-Souldiers keepe your weapons in a continuall readinesse seeing you are called to fight the Battails of your Lord Christ who must raigne till hee hath put all his enemies under his Feet his glorious Victories over Antichrist are at hand never yet did any Souldier rejoyce in dividing the spoyle after Victory as all the Souldiers of Christ shall to see his judgement executed upon the great Whore and withall the Lambs bride prepared for him who comes Skipping over trampling down the great Mountaines of the Earth whose universall Government will then appeare glorious when not onely the Assyrian Babilonian Persian Grecian and Roman Monarchies shall subject themselves unto him but also all other new upstart Kingdomes Dukedomes or what else can be named shall fall before him Not that he shall come personally to Reigne upon Earth as some vainly imagine but his powerfull Presence and Glorious brightnesse of his Gospell both to Jew and Gentile shall not onely spiritually cause the Churches of Christ to grow beyond number but also the whole civill Government of people upon Earth shall become his so that there shall not be any to move the hand not dog his tongue against his chosen And then shall the time be of breaking Speares into Mattocks and Swords into Sithes and this to remaine to his last comming which will be personally to overcome the last enemies of his Saints even death which hee will doe by the word of his Mouth audibly spoken the World throughout Then all you who are now or shall hereafter be shipped for this Voyage minde the worke of Christ and not some following raigne titles of honour others eying the best Grasse-platts and best Situation for Farmes and large Accommodations crouding our Gods people from sitting down among you Wherefore above all beware of covetousnesse all you that will be admitted into these selâ—ct Bands of Christ Jesus remember Achan whereas Rams Hornes could overthrow the high and strong walles of Jericho before his theft committed after it the little number of the men of Ai could put the Host of the living God
that heare it Thus it befell as they were discoursing in the Bote they had built for shelter all of a sudden an Indian came in among them at whose speech they were all agast he speaking in the English Language Much welcome Englishmen their wonder was the greater because upon those Costes they supposed no English had so much as set foote and verily Christ had prepared him on purpose to give his people intertainment the Indian having lived in England two year or thereabout after which he returned home and at this time had wandred into those parts in company of other Indians all this and the condition of the neere adjoyning Indians hee soon discovered unto them at which they were transported beyond themselves very much what with joy and the mixture of their former feare and affection intervening with the other surprised all their senses of a sudden that long it was ere each party could take its proper place yea and beyond all this Christ Jesus by the power of his blessed Spirit did now work upon all their faculties both of Soule and Body the great impression of his present Providence might not soon be washed off with the following incumbred cares of a Defart Wildernesse but to contract they made use of the present opprotunity and by the instrumentall meanes of this Indian became acquainted and reconciled with most of the Neighbouring Indians And afterward planted a Church of Christ there and set up civill Government calling the Name of the place Plimoth under this jurisdiction there are ten Churches at this very day this being the first place any English resorted unto for the advancement of the Kingly Government of Christ in this Westerne World CHAP. IX Of the first preparation of the Marchant Adventurers in the Mattachusets NOw it will be time to returne againe to England to speake further of the people that wee left in way of preparation who in the yeare 1628. sent forth some store of servants to provide against the wants of a Desart Wildernesse amongst whom came over a mixt multitude insomuch that very little appeared of the following worke onely the much honoured Mr. John Indicat came over with them to governe a fit instrument to begin this Wildernesse-worke of courage bold undanted yet sociable and of a chearfull spirit loving and austere applying himselfe to either as occasion served And now let no man be offended at the Authors rude Verse penned of purpose to keepe in memory the Names of such worthies as Christ made strong for himselfe in this unwonted worke of his John Endicat twice Governour of the English inhabiting the Mattachusets Bay in N. England STrong valiant John wilt thou march on and take up station first Christ cal'd hath thee his Souldier be and faile not of thy trust Wilderness-wants Christs grace supplants thē plant his Churches pure With Tongues gifted and graces led help thou to his procure Vndanted thou wilt not allow Malignant men to wast Christs Vineyard heere whose grace should cheer his well-beloved's tast Then honoured be thy Christ hath thee their Generall promoted To shew their love in place above his people have thee voted Yet must thou fall to grave with all the Nobles of the Earth Thou rotting Worme to dust must turn and worse but for new birth The place picked out by this People to settle themselves in was in the bosome of the out-stretched arme of Cape Anne now called Gloster but at the place of their abode they began to build a Town which is called Salem after some little space of time having made tryall of the Sordid spirits of the Neighbouring Indians the most bold among them began to gather to divers places which they began to take up for their owne those that were sent over servants having itching desires after novelties found a reddier way to make an end of their Masters provision then they could finde meanes to get more They that came over their own men had but little left to feed on and most began to repent when their strong Beers and full cups ran as small as water in a large Land but little Corne and the poore Indians so far from relieving them that they were forced to lengthen out their owne food with Acorns and that which added to their present distracted thoughts the Ditch betweene England and their now place of abode was so wide that they could not leap over with a lope-staffe yet some delighting their Eye with the rarity of things present and feeding their fancies with new discoveries at the Springs approach they made shift to rub out the Winters cold by the Fire-side having fuell enough growing at their very doores turning down many a drop of the Bottell and burning Tobacco with all the ease they could discoursing betweene one while and another of the great progresse they would make after the Summers-Sun had changed the Earths white furr'd Gowne into a greene Mantell Now the vernall of thirty nine being come they addrest themselves to coste it as far as they durst for feare of loosing themselves or falling into the hands of unknown Indians being kept in awe by a report of a cruell people not far of called the Tarratines All this while little like-lihood there was building the Temple for Gods worship there being only two that began to hew stones in the Mountaines the one named Mr. Bright and the other Mr. Blaxton and one of them began to build but when they saw all sorts of stones would not fit in the building as they supposed the one betooke him to the Seas againe and the other to till the Land retaining no simbole of his former profession but a Canonicall Coate CHAP. X. Of the first Church of Christ gathered at Salem in the Mattachusets Government THis yeare 1629. came over three godly Ministers of Christ Jesus intending to shew his power in his peoples lowest condition as his manner is thereby to strengthen their Faith in following difficulties and now although the number of the faithfull people of Christ were but few yet their longing desires to gather into a Church was very great And therefore addressed themselves to finde out the blessed Rules of Christ for preserving herein who through the assistance of his Blessed Spirit found that the Word of God penned by the Apostles in many Epistles written to particular Churches consisting of such as are beloved Saints by calling appearing so in the judgement of Charity being tryed by the rule of the word not scandalous in their Lives for the society of such they sought and in these beginnings found very few seven being the lest number a Church can be gathered or conceived by just consequence from the Word of God Having fasted and prayed with humble acknowledgement of their own unworthinesse to be called of Christ to so worthy a worke they joyned together in a holy Covenant with the Lord and one with another promising by the Lords Assistance to walke together in Exhorting Admonishing and
live and as for her part shee had attained it already a company of legall Professors quoth she lie poring on the Law which Christ hath abolished and when you breake it then you breake your joy and now no way will serve your turne but a deepe sorrow These and divers other expressions intimate unto men that here I shall finde little increase in the Graces of Christ through the hearing of his word Preached and other of his blessed Ordinances Oh cunning Devill the Lord Christ rebuke thee that under pretence of a free and ample Gospell shuts out the Soule from partaking with the Divine Nature of Christ in that mysticall Union of his Blessed Spirit creating and continuing his Graces in the Soule my deare Christ it was thy worke that moved me hither to come hoping to finde thy powerfull presence in the Preaching of the Word although administred by sorry men subject to like infirmities with others of Gods people and also by the glasse of the Law to have my sinfull corrupt nature discovered daily more and more and my utter inabillity of any thing that is good magnifying hereby the free grace of Christ who of his good will and pleasure worketh in us to will and to doe working all our works in us and for us But here they tell me of a naked Christ what is the whole life of a Christian upon this Earth But through the power of Christ to die to sinne and live to holinesse and righteousnesse and for that end to be diligent in the use of meanes at the uttering of this word he starts up from the greene bed of his complaint with resolution to hear some one of these able Ministers Preach whom report had so valued before his will should make choyce of any one principle though of crossing the broade Seas back againe then turning his face to the Sun he steered his course toward the next Town and after some small travel â—â—ee came to a large plaine no sooner was hee entred thereon but hearing the found of a Drum he was directed toward it by a broade bâ—aten way following this rode he demands of the next man he met what the signall of the Drum ment the reply was made they had as yet no Bell to call men to meeting and therefore made use of a Drum who is it quoth hee Lectures at this Towne The other replies I see you are a stranger new come over seeing you know not the man it is one Mr. Shepheard verily quoth the other you hit the right I am new come over indeed and have been told since I came most of your Ministers are legall Preachers onely if I mistake not they told me this man Preached a finer covenant of workes then the other but however I shall make what hast I can to heare him Fare you well then hasting thither hee croudeth through the thickest where having stayed while the glasse was turned up twice the man was metamorphosed and was faine to hang down the head often least his watry eyes should blab abroad the secret conjunction of his affections his heart crying loud to the Lords ecchoing answer to his blessed spirit that caused the Speech of a poore weake pale complectioned man to take such impression in his soule at present by applying the word so aptly as if hee had beene his Privy Counseller cleering Christs worke of grace in the soule from all those false Doctrines which the erronious party had afrighted him withall and now he resolves the Lord willing to live and die with the Ministers of New England whom hee now saw the Lord had not onely made zealous to stand for the truth of his Discipline but also of the Doctrine and not to give ground one inch CHAP. XLIIII The Congregationall Churches of Christ are neither favourers of sinfull opinions nor the Lords over any or many Churches or mens Consciences ANd here Christian Reader the Author according to his former practice must minde thee of the admirable providence of Christ toward his New England Churches in preserving them from these erronious spirits that have hitherto in all places dog'd the sincere servants of Christ when ever they have set upon a through Reformation as stories doe abundantly testify which thing the reverend Calvine and divers others have declared But seeing the boasting Prelates in these times are ready to say their Lordly power kept these errours under its plaine otherwise for Satan saw while people were under their yoake of humane inventions they were far enough from exalting the Kingdome of Christ And therefore he reserved these errours for his last shifts and further you shall see in the following story that the Lord Christ reserved this honour for those whose love hee had inlarged to follow him in a dezart wildernesse even with the sharpe sword of the Word timely to cut off the heads of this Hidra but yet there are two sorts of persons in our Native Country whom the Elders and Brethren here do highly honour in Christ and prefer before themselves namely the godly Prebyterian party and the Congregationall sincere servants of Christ both which the Author could wish that with bowells of compassion sweet simpathising affection of Brethren knit together in that transcendent love of Christ which couples all his distanced flockes together they would seriously ponder this History which through the Authors weakenesse wants much of measure but nothing of the truth of things so far as a shallow capacity can reach Of the first sort named I could wish the Reverend Mr. Ruterford Mr. Bayle Mr. Rathbone Mr. Paget Mr. Ball c. would but informe themselves further by the truth of this History supposing they cannot chuse but in a good measure be satisfied already with the pacificatory and meeke answers of as many Reverend and godly Elders of ours Now that I would they should take notice of is that the Churches of Christ in New England and their Officers have hitherto been so far from imbracing the erronious Doctrines of these times that through the powers of Christ they have valiantly defended the truth and cut down all deceiveable Doctrine the like hath not been done for many ages heretofore Reverend and beloved in Christ could your eyes but behold the efficacy of loving counsell in the Communion of congregationall Churches and the reverend respect honour and love given to all Teaching Elders charity commands me to thinke you would never stand for Classicall injunctions any more neither Diocesan nor Provinciall authority can possible reach so far as this royall Law of love in communion of Churches verily its more universall then the Papall power and assuredly the dayes are at hand wherein both Jew and Gentile Churches shall exercise this old Modell of Church Government and send their Church salutations and admonitions from one end of the World unto another when the Kingdomes of the Earth are become our Lord Christs Then shall the exhortation of one Church to another prevaile more to Reformation then
of Christ were much edified in their holy faith by their indefatigable pains of their Ministers in their weekly Lectures extraordinary as well as by their Sabboth-Assemblies and continuall visiting of their people from house to house endeavouring to heale the hurts these false deceivers had made with double diligence showring downe the sweet dews of the blessed Gospel of Jesus Christ to the converting of many a poor soul and indeed now were the glorious days of New England the Churches of Christ increase dayly and his eminent Embassadours resort unto them from our native Country which as then lay under the tyranny of the Monarchall Arch-prelates which caused the servants of Christ to wander from their home This yeare the reverend and judicious M. Jos Glover undertook this long voyage being able both in person and estate for the work he provided for further compleating the Colonies in Church and Common-wealth-work a Printer which hath been very usefull in many respects the Lord seeing it meet that this reverend and holy servant of his should fall short of the shores of New England but yet at this time he brought over the zealous affâ—cted and judicious servant of his Master Ezekiel Rogers who with a holy and humble people made his progress to the North-Eastward and erected a Towne about 6. miles from Ipswich called Rowly wanting room they purehased some addition of the Town of Newbery yet had they a large length of land onely for the neere conveniency to the Towne of Ipswich by the which meanes they partake of the continued Lectures of either Towne these people being very industrious every way soone built many houses to the number of about threescore families and were the first people that set upon making of Cloth in this Western World for which end they built a sulling-mill and caused their little-ones to be very diligent in spinning cotten wooll many of them having been clothiers in England till their zeale to promote the Gospel of Christ caused them to wander and therefore they were no lesse industrious in gathering into Church-society there being scrace a man among them but such as were meet to be living stones in this building according to the judgement of man they called to the office of a Pastor this holy man of God Mr. Ezekiel Rogers oâ— whom this may be said Christ for this work Rogers doth riches give Rich graces fit his people for to feed Wealth to supply his wants whilst here he live Free thou receiv'st to serve his peoples need England may mourne they thee no longer keep English rejoice Christ doth such worthyes raise His Gospel preach unfold his mysteries deep Weak dust made strong sets forth his makers praise With fervent zeale and courage thou hast fought ' Gainst that transformed Dragon and his bands Snatcht forth the burning thou poore soules hast caught And freed thy flock from wolves devouring hands Ezekiel mourn not thou art severed farre From thy deare Country to a desart land Christ call'd hath thee unto this worthy warre By him o'rcome he holds thy Crowne in 's hand For the further assisting of this tender flock of Chrst the reverend Mr. John Miller did abide among them for some space of time preaching the Word of God unto them also till it pleased the Lord to call him to be Pastor of the Church of Christ at Yarmouth in Plimoth patten where he remaineth at this very day With courage bold Miller through Seas doth venter To toyl it out in this great Western wast Thy stature low one object high doth center Higher then Heaven thy faith on Christ is plac't Allarum thou with silver trumpet sound And tâ—ll the World Christs Armyes are at hand With Scripture truths thou Errors dost confound And overthrow all Antichristian bands It matters not for th'worlds high reputation The World must fall and Christ alone must stand Thy Crown 's prepar'd in him then keep thy station Joy that Christs Kingdome is so neare at hand CHAP. XII Of the great Earthquake in New England and of the wofull end of some erronious persons with the first foundation of Harverd Colledge THis yeare the first day of the Fourth Month about two of the clock in the after-noone the Lord caus'd a great and terrible Earth quake which was generall throughout all the English Plantations the motion of the Earth was such that it caused divers men that had never knowne an Earth quake before being at worke in the Fields to cast downe their working-tooles and run with gastly terrified lookes to the next company they could meet withall it came from the Westerne and uninhabited parts of this Wildernesse and went the direct course this brood of Travellers came the Ministers of Christ many of them could say at that very time not from any other Revelation but what the word holds forth that if the Churches of New England were Gods house then suddenly there would follow great alterations in the Kingdomes of Europe This yeare the civill government proceeded to censure the residue of thofe sinfull erroneous persons who raised much commotion in this little Common-wealth who being banished resorted to a place more Southward some of them sitting down at a place called Providence others betooke them to an Island about 16. miles distant from the former called Rode Island where having Elbow roome enough none of the Ministers of Christ nor any other to interrupt their false and deceivable Doctrines they hamper'd themselves fouly with their owne line and soone shewed the depthlesse ditches that blinde guides lead into many among them being much to be pittyed who were drawne from the truth by the bewitching tongues of some of them being very ignorant and easily perverted and although the people were not many in all yet were they very diverse in their opinions and glad where they could gaine most Disciples to heare them some were for every day to be a Sabbath and therefore kept not any Sabbath-day at all others were some for one thing some for another and therefore had their severall meetings making many a goodly piece of Preachment among whom there were some of the female sexe who deeming the Apostle Paul to be too strict in not permitting a roome to preach in the publique Congregation taught notwithstanding they having their call to this office from an ardent desire of being famous especially the grand Mistresse of them all who ordinarily prated every Sabbath day till others who thirsted after honour in the same way with her selfe drew away her Auditors and then she withdrew her self her husband and her family also to a more remote place and assuredly although the Lord be secret in all the dispensation of his providences whether in judgement or mercy yet much may be learn'd from all as sometimes pointing with the finger to the lesson as here these persons withdrawing from the Churches of Christ wherein he walketh and is to be found in his blessed Ordinances to a first and second place where they
the people in the several Colonies to make a yearly contribution toward it which by some is observed but by the most very much neglected the Government hath endeavoured to grant them all the priviledges fit for a Colledg and accordingly the Governour and Magistrates together with the President of the Colledg for the time being have a continual care of ordering all matters for the good of the whole This Colledg hath brought forth and nurst up very hopeful plants to the supplying some Churches here as the grrcious and godly Mr. Wilson son to the grave and zealous servant of Christ Mr. John Wilson this young man is Pastor to the Church of Christ at Dorchester as also Mr. Buckly son to the reverend M. Buckly of Concord 〈◊〉 also a second son of his whom our Native Country hath now at present help in the Ministery and the other is over a people of Christ in one of these Colonies and if I mistake not England hath I hope not only this young man of N. E. nurâ—â—ng up in learning but many more as M. Sam. and Nathaâ—â—â—l Mathers Mr. Wells Mr. Downing Mr. Bâ—rnard Mr. Alâ—â—â— Mr. Bruster Mr. VVilliam Ames Mr. Iones Another of the first fruits of this Colledg is imployed in these Western parts at Mâ—vis one of the summer Islands beside these named â—â—me help hath been had from hence in the study of Physick 〈◊〉 also the godly Mr. Sam. Danforth who hath not only stuâ—ed Divinity but also Astronomy he put forth many Almaâ—â—ks and is now called to the office of a teaching Elder in the Church of Christ at Roxbury who was one of the fellows of this Colledg the number of Students is much encreased of late so that the present year 1651. on the twelfth of the sixth moneth ten of them took the degree of Batchelors of Art among whom the Sea-born son of Mr. Iohn Cotton was one some Gentlemen have sent their sons hither from England who are to be commended for their care of them as the judicious and godly Doctor Ames and divers others This hath been a place certainly more free from temptations to lewdness then ordinarily England hath been yet if men shall presume upon this to send their most exorbitant children intending them more especially for Gods service the Justice of God doth sometimes meet with them and the means doth more harden them in their way for of late the godly Governors of this Colledg have been forced to expell some for fear of corrupting the Fountain wherefore the Author would ye should mind this following verse You that have seen these wondrous works by Sions Savier don Expect not miracle left means thereby you over-run The noble Acts Jehovah wrought his Israel to redeem Surely this second work of his shall far more glorious seem Not only Egypt but all Lands where Antichrist doth raign Shall from Jehovahs heavy hand ten times ten plagues sustainâ— Bright shining shall this Gospel come Oh glorious King of Saints Thy blessed breath confounds thy foes all mortal power faints The ratling bones together run with self-same breath that blows Of Israels sons long dead and dry each joynt there sinew grows Fair flesh doth cover them veins lifes feuntain takes there platâ— Smooth seamless coats doth cloath their flesh and all their structure grace The breath of Life is added they no Antinomians are But loving him who gives them life more zealous are by far To keep his Law then formerly when righteousnesse they sought In keeping that they could not keep which then their dowufâ— brought Their ceremonies vanisht are on Christ's all their desires Their zeal all Nations doth provoke inkindled are loves fires VVith hast on horseback bringing hometheir sons daughters they Rejoyce to see this glorious sight like Resurrections day Vp and be doing you young plants Christ calls his work unto Polluted lips touch'd with heav'ns fire about this work shall go Prostrate in prayer parents and you young ones on Christ call Suppose of you he will make use whereby that boast shall fall So be it Lord thy servants say who are at thy disposing VVith outward word work inward grace by heavenly truths disclosing Awake stand up from death to life in Christ your studies enter The Scriptures search bright light bring forth upon this hardship venter Sound doctrine shall your lips preach out all errors to confound And rid Christ's Temple from this smoke his glory shall abound Precipitant doth Dâ—gon fall his triple head off out The Beast that all the world admires by you to death is put Put hand to mouth with vehement blast your silver Trumpets sound Christ calls to mind his peoples wrongs their foes hee 'l now confoâ—nd Bestrong in God and his great might his wondrous works do tell You raised are unwonted ways observe his workings well As Jordans streams congeal'd in heaps and Jerico's high walls With Rams horns blast and Midians Host with pitcher breaking falls Like works your faith for to confirm in these great works to come That nothing now too hard may seem Jehovah would have don The rage of Seas and hunger sharp wants of a desart Land Your noble hearts have overcom what shall this work withstand Not persecutors pride and rage strong multitudes do fall By little handfuls of least dust your Christ confounds them all Not Sâ—tan and his subtil train with seeming shew reforming Another Gospel to bring forth brings damned errors swarming Your selves have seen his paint waesht off his hidden poysons found Christ you provides with Antidotes to keep his people sound There 's nought remains but conquist now through Christ's continued power His hardest works have honors most attend them every hour VVhat greater honor then on earth Christ's Legat for to bo Attended with his glorious Saints in Church fraternity Christ to behold adorning now his Bride in bright array And you his friends him to attend upon his Nuptial day VVith crowned heads as Conquerors triumphant by his side In 's presence is your lasting joy and pleasures ever bide Mr. Henry Dunstar is now President of this Colledg fitted from the Lord for the work and by those that have skill that way reported to be an able Proficient in both Hebrew Greek and Latine languages an Orthodox Preacher of the truths of Christ very powerful through his blessing to move the affection and besides he having a good inspection into the well-ordering of things for the Students maintenance whose commons hath been very short hitherto by his frugal providence hath continued them longer at their Studies then otherwise they could have done and verily it 's great pity such ripe heads as many of them be should want means to further them in learning But seeing the Lord hath been pleased to raise up so worthy an instrument for their good he shall not want for incouragement to go on with the work so far as a rustical rime will reach COuld man presage prodigious works at hand Provide he would for 's
indefatigable paines in thâ— Wilderness-work is not to be forgotten nor indeed â—â— it be his Funeral was very sadly and solemnly performeâ— by a very great concourse of the greater part of this Coloâ— whose mournful looks and watry eyes did plainly demonstrate the tender affection and great esteem he was in with the people CHAP. VIII Of the death of divers personages who were in great este em with the people of new-New-England famous for their godliness and ominent parts both for Magistracy and Ministery and of the correcting hand of the Lord upon his N. E. people A His year after the death of this godly Governour was chosen to succeed in the place 10. Endicut Esq and Tho. Dudly Esq to be Deputy Governor to the place of Major-General Edw. Gibbons and seeing that the Lord is pleased to call this people to mourning the Author will proceed to relate what further occasion this people have had to lament their miscarriages that have caused the rod to be stretched out toward them for of a truth they are no Antinomians The next loss was the death of that famous Preacher of the Lord M. Hooker Pastor of the Church of Christ at Hartford and M. Philips Pastor of the Church of Christ at Watertown and the holy heavenly sweet-affecting and soul-ravishing Minister M. Tho. Shepheard Pastor of the Church of Christ at Cambridg whose departure was very heavily taken by all the people of Christ round about him and now N.E. that had such heaps apon heaps of the riches of Christs tender compassionate mercies being turn'd off from his dandling knees began to read their approaching rod in the bend of hiâ— brows frowns of his former favourable countenance toward them their plenty of all things which shold have cheared their hearts quickned their spirits in elevating both soul and body to a thankful frame through the work of his blessed Spirit on the contrary it brought a fulness on many even to loath the very honey-comb insomuch that good wholesome truths would not down yet had the Lord those that were precious unto him who were not wanting to help one another out of this distemper and with more warmer affections exhort one another Come let us go up unto the house of the Lord and he will teach us his wayes Also the Lord was pleased to awaken us with an Army of caterpillers that had he not suddainly rebuked them they had surely destroyed the husband mans hope where they fell upon trees they left them like winter-wasting cold bare and naked and although they fell on fields very rarely yet in some places they made as clear a riddance as the harvest mans hand and uncovered the gay green Medow ground but indeed the Lord did by some plats shew us what he could have done with the whole and in many places cast them into the high wayes that the Cart-wheels in their passage were painted green with running over the great swarms of them in some fields they devoured the leaves of their pease and left the straw with the full crop so tender was the Lord in his correction this minded all these Jacobites of the end of their coming over but chiefly the husbandman whose over eager pursuit of the fruits of the earth made some of them many times run out so far in this Wilderness even out of the sweet sound of the silver Trumpets blown by the laborious Ministers of Christ forsaking the assembly of the Lords people to celebrate their Sabbaths in the chimney-corner horse kine sheep goats and swine being their most indeared companions to travel with them to the end of their pilgrimage or otherwise to gather together some of their neerest neighbours and make a preachment one unto another till they had learn'd so much that they could away with none other teaching As also the Lord was pleased to command the wind and Seas to give us a jog on the elbow by sinking the very chief of our shipping in the deep and splitting them in shivers against the shores a very goodly Ship called the Seaforce was east away and many N. E. people put to hard shifts for their lives and some drowned as the godly and dearly beloved servant of Christ Mr. Tho Coitmire a very able Seaman and also a good Scholar one who had spent both his labour and estate for the helping on of this Wilderness-work as also another ship set forth by the Merchants of New-haven of which the godly Mr Lamberton went Master neither ship persons nor goods ever heard of another ship also built and set forth by the inhabitants of Cambridg split and cast away neer the same place where the Seaforce was loft as also another Barque mostly set forth by Dorchester men sank in the Sea and never heard of the manner how with divers others which might be here inserted this seemed the sorer affliction to these N. E people because many godly men lost their lives and abundantly the more remarkable because the Lord was pleased to forbid any such things to befal his people in their passage hither herein these people read as in great capital letters their suddain forgetfulness of the Lords former received mercy in his wonderful preservation bringing over so many scores of ships and thousands of persons without miscarriage of any to the wonderment of the whole world that shall hear of it â—ut more especially were the Merchants and traders themselves sensible of the hand of the Lord out against them who were in some of the ships and had their lixes given them for a prey as also Vintners and other men of trade whose gain is increased by Merchants men being so taken up with the income of a large profit that they would willingly have had the Common wealth tolerate divers kinds of sinful opinions to intice men to come and sit down with us that their purses might be filled with coyn the civil Government with contention and the Churches of our Lord Christ with errors the Lord was pleased after all this to let in the King of Terror among his new-planted Churches FOr this year 1650. Tho. Dudly Esquire was chosen Governor and John Eudicut Esquire Deputy Governor Major-General Edward Gibbous continned in his office still the number of freemen added were about 55. Thir year was the first noted year wherein any store of people died the ayt and place being very healthy naturally made this correction of the Lord seem the greater for the most that died were children and that of an unwonted disease here though frequent in other places the Lord now smiting many families with death in them although there were not any families wherein more then one died or very rare if it were otherwise yet were these pilgrim people minded of the suddain forgetfulness of those worthies that died not long before but more especially the little regard had to provide means to train their children up in the knowledg of learning and improve such means as the Lord hath
of her and he not partakers of her sins now is the time when the Lord hath assembled his Saints together now the Lord will come and not tarry As it was necessary that there should be a Moses and Aaron before the Lord would deliver his people and destroy Pharaoh lest they should be wildred indeed in the Wilderness so now it was needfull that the Churches of Christ should first obtain their purity and the civill government its power to defend them before Antichrist come to his finall ruine and because you shall be sure the day is come indeed behold the Lord Christ marshalling of his invincible Army to the battell some suppose this onely to be mysticall and not literall at all assuredly the spirituall fight is chiefly to be attended and the other not neglected having a neer dependancy one upon the other especially at this time the Ministers of Christ who have cast off all lording power over one another are created field-Officers whose Office is extravagant in this Army chiefly to encourage the fighting Souldiers and to lead them on upon the enemy in the most advantagious places and bring on fresh supplies in all places of danger to put the sword of the spirit in their Souldiers hands but Christ who is their general must onely enable them to use it aright to give every Souldier in charge that they watch over one another to see that none meddle with the execrable things of Antichrist and this to be performed in every Regiment throughout the Army and not one to exercise dominion over the other by way of superiority for Christ hath appointed a parity in all his Regiments c. let them beware that none go apart with rebellious Korah And further behold Kings Rulers or Generals of Earths Armies doth Christ make use of in this day of battell the which he hath brought into the field already also who are appointed to defend uphold and maintain the whole body of his Armies against the insolent beastly and bloody cruelty of their insatiable enemies and to keep order that none do his fellow-Souldier any wrong nor that any should raise a mutiny in the hosts Notwithstanding all this if any shall say they will not believe the day is come till they see them ingage battell with Antichrist Verily if the Lord be pleased to open your eyes you may see the beginning of the fight and what success the Armies of our Lord Christ have hitherto had the Forlorne hopes of Antichrists Army were the proud Prelates of England the Forlorne of Christs Armies were these N. E. people who are the subject of this History which encountring each other for some space of time ours being overpowered with multitude were forced to retreat to a place of greater safety where they waited for a fresh opportunity to ingage with the main battell of Antichrist so soon as the Lord shall be pleased to give a word of Command Immediately upon this success the Lord Christ was pleased to command the right Wing of his Army to advance against the left Wing of Antichrist where in his former forlorn hopes of proud Prelates lay these by our right Wing had their first pay for that they had done to our forlorne before being quite overthrown and cut in peices by the valiant of the Lord in our right Wing who still remain fighting Thus far of the battell of Antichrist and the various success what the issue will be is assuredly known in the generall already Babylon is fallen the God of truth hath said it then who would not be a Souldier on Christs side where is such a certainty of victory nay I can tell you a farther word of encouragement every true-hearted Souldier that falls by the sword in this fight shall not lye dead long but stand upon his feet again and be made partaker of the triumph of this Victory and none can be overcome but by turning his back in fight And for a word of terrour to the enemy let them know Christ will never give over the raising of fresh Forces till they are overthrown root and branch And now you antient people of Israel look out of your Prison grates let these Armies of the Lord Christ Jesus provoke you to acknowledge he is certainly come I and speedily he doth come to put life into your dry bones here is a people not onely praying but fighting for you that the great block may be removed out of the way which hath hindered hitherto that they with you may enjoy that glorious resurrection-day the glorious nuptials of the Lamb when not only the Bridegroom shall appear to his Churches both of Jews and Gentiles which are his spouse in a more brighter aray then ever heretofore but also his Bride shall be clothed by him in the richest garments that ever the Sons of men put on even the glorious graces of Christ Jesus in such a glorious splendor to the eyes of man that they shall see and glorifie the Father of both Bridegroom and Bride OH King of Saints how great 's thy work say we Done and to do poor Captives to redeem Mountaines of mercy makes this work to be Glorious that grace by which thy works are seen Oh Jesu thou a Saviour unto thine Not works but grace makes us this mercy find Of sinners cheife no better men they be Thou by thy work hast made thy work to do Thy Captaines strength weak dust appears in thee While thou art brought such wondrous works unto Then Christ doth all I all is done for his Redeemed ones his onely work it is Doth Christ build Churches who can them deface He purchast them none can his right deny Not all the world ten thousand worlds his grace Caus'd him once them at greater price to buy Nor marvell then if Kings and Kingdomes he Destroy'd when they do cause his folke to flee Christ is come down possession for to take Of his deer purchase who can hinder him Not all the Armies earthly men can make Millions of spirits although Divels grim Can Pope or Turke with all their mortall power Stay Christ from his inheritance one hour All Nations band your selves together now You shall fall down as dust from bellows blown How easie can our King your power bow Though higher you in mens accompt were grown As drop in bucket shall those waters be Whereon that Whore doth sit in high degree Christs wrath is kindled who can stand before His anger that so long hath been provoked In moment perish shall all him before Who touch'd Mount Sinai and it soundly smoaked New-England Churches you are Christs you say So sure are all that walk in Christs way No such need fear fury of men or Divels Why Christ among you takes his dayly walk He made you gold you keeps from rusting evils And hid you here from strife of tongues proud talke Amongst his he for their defence doth bide They need no more that have Christ on their side Man be not