appointed to leave their posterity an able Minister as also to stir them up to prepare for the great work of the Lord Jesus in the overthrow of Antichrist and calling of the Jews which in all likelyhood is very suddainly to be performed as also in stirring up all the young ones that remain to consider for what â—nd the Lord hath spared their lives when he cut off others by death namely to prosecute the work that he hath given them to do in the power of his might with the greater zeal and courage THis year the honored and much desired servant of Christ John Endicut Esquire was chosen to be Governour of the English inhabiting the Colony of the Mattachusets and the antient honored and long continued Champion for the truth as it is in Jesus Tho. Dudly Esquire was chosen Deputy Governour by the major Vote of these wandering Jacobites with heart and good will the honored Major-General Edward Gibbous continued in place this year the Government shewed their desire to be assisting to the State of England in making orders for establishing their Edict for these Western parts of the world among out N. E. people the Lord in his infinite wisdom saw meet to continue his correcting hand among his N. E. Churches somewhat more then ordinary in a sore disease of which many in comparison of what used to do and yet not so many as ordinarily use to do in other plantations of this Western world and whereas the former year young children died most this year those of grown years died also and although so small a sickness might not be taken notice of in other places yet the rareness of it in so healthy a country as is this cannot but speak loud in the ears of Gods people who desire to hear the rod and who hath appointed it and perceive plainly many of them that the Lord will have us to know that if his own people tread in the same steps of riot and excess in the plenty he hath given them with the men of this world he will lay the same sicknesses and diseases upon them and further they perceive according to the ordinary dispensation of his providences toward them he hath some further great work to do with his N. E. people that he is beginning again to a waken rouze up and quicken them with the rod of his power For thus they begin to reason with themselves when the Lord was pleased to expose them their wifes and little ones to the troubles of a tempestuous Sea in so long a voyage and the wants of a barren Wilderness in great penury of food he brought forth by his mighty power and stretched-our arm the glorious fabrick of his New-E Churches and therefore now again they look for some further extraordinary great work of his if he shall once again be pleased to refine them in this furnace of his and would the Lord Christ would confirm our brethren in England in like faith by our example yea and far beyond many degrees as the Wonder-working providence of Sions Saviour toward them hath more abundantly exceeded and that as this in three seven years is comprised though very weakly in this little book there 's in one seven year would require volumes and as this is wonderful there is almost miraculous and wonderful to the whole world as if the Lord Christ did intend to make his power known more abundantly then ever the sons of men saw Kings and Kingdoms strengthened with affinity and consanguinity the valiant of the world men skil'd in feats of war as Goliah from a child fierce and pampered horses whose necks are covered with strong neighing and cunning Engeniers men skilful to destroy with all the terrible engins of war together with swarms of souldiers flocking together to swallow up the poor remnant of Gods people all these hath the Lord caused to fall before your eyes and our ears have heard the noyse of this great fall and beloved countrymen and our dear brethren in Christ step into the closet of your own hearts with us and see if there will not be some things in this following verse that may suit your condition as well as ours that having sown in tears we may reap with joy the glorious harvest of our Lord Christ which is hard at hand for assuredly the Lord is tyed neither to us nor you but may if it please him cast off both and raise up new instruments for his following work but if he be pleased to give us melting hearts for our former miscarriages and renew us with a more zealous courage and earnest contending for the faith it is very like he hath more glorious works by far for us yet to do CHAP. IX Of the wonder-working providences of Christ wrought for his people among our English Nation both in our Native country and also in N. E. which should stir us up to mourn for all our miscarriages much the more FRom silent night true Register of moans From saddest soul consum'd in deepest sin From heart quite rent with sighs and heavy groans My wailing muse her woful work begins And to the world brings tunes of sad lament Sounding nought els but sorrows sad relent Sorry to see my sorrows cause augmented And yet less sorrowful were my sorrows more Grief that with grief is nor with grief prevented Yet grief it is must ease my grieved sore So grief and sorrow care but how to grieve For grief and sorrow must my cares relieve The wound fresh bleeding must be stauch'd with tears Tears cannot come unless some grief proceed Grief comes but slack which doth increase my fears Fear left for want of help I still shall bleed Do what I can to lengthen my lifes breath If Christ be wanting I shall bleed to death Thou deepest searcher of each secret thought Infuse in me thy all-affecting grace So shall my work to good effect be brought While I peruse my ugly sins a space Whose staining filth so spotted hath my soul That nought can wash but tears of inward dole How soon my soul hast thou the Lord forgot Who thee and thine through troublous Seas hath lead On earth thy parts should praise him suddain rot Why dost neglect his glorious Kingdom spread Thy eyes have seen the Mountains mov'd with 's hand And sunk in Seas to make his Sion stand No wonder then thy works with Eastern wind On Seas are broke and thy best Seamen slain Sith thou thy gain and not Christs work dost mind Lord stay thy hand I see my works are vain Our ships they shall thy Gospel forth convey And not bring home strange errors here to stay Instead of home-oppression they shall now Thy Saints abroad relieve by Sea them send No riot shall our Merchantmen allow Time in exchange walks not in Taverns spend Godly grief and good purpose comes from thee Lord Christ command and then to work go we Oh thou my soul how weak's thy faith
allay their spirits of malignity toward his people they gathered in a Church in presence of the very governour himself and called to office one Mr. Harrison who could not long continue among them by reason of their fresh renewed malignity who had formerly an evill eye toward them and could no better refraine from oppressing them then Pharoah after he had rest from the plagues under which he was After the departure of Mr. Harrison one Mr. Duren became an help unto them but he and his people also were forced to remove many hundred miles up into the country where they now remain but assuredly the Lord hath more scourges in store for such as force the people to such sufferings and therefore let this Church of Christ continue in the way of his truth according to the rules of his Gospel and without doubt the Lord will preserve and continue them let the adversaries of his Truth be never so potent As also about this time the Lord was pleased to gather a people together in the Isle of Bermoodas whose hearts being guided by the rule of the word they gathered into a Church of Christ according to the rules of the Gospel being provided with able persons indued with gifts from the Lord to administer unto them the holy things of God and after they began to be opposed their reverend elder Mr. Goulding came into these parts and from hence he went to England but this little flock of Christ not long after being banished from thence went to one of the Southern Islands where they endured much hardship and which the Churches of Christ in these parts understanding about six or eight of them contributing toward their want gathered about 800 l. to supply their necessity the which they shipped in a small vessell hired for that end and sent by the hands of two brethren both corne and other necessaries they arriving in safety by the blessing of God upon their labours were well welcomed by their brethren who abundantly blessed the Lord for them and with godly and gratious expression returned a thankfull acknowledgement of the present good hand of the Lord Christ in providing for them so that as this book began with the wonderworking providence of Sions Saviour in providing so wonderfull gratiously for his Churches the World throughout so it here endeth with the same and it were to be desired that the Churches of Christ in Europe would gather up the wonderfull providences of the Lord toward them also and more especially those in our native Country for assuredly it would make much for the magnifying of his glorious works in this day of his power and although the malignant and antichristian party may say they can shew the like wonders as Jannes and Jambres that with-stood Moses yet were the worke of Christ for his poor Churches within these few yeers gathered together by some able instrument whom the Lord might be pleased to stir up for that end and laid open the view of all they would be forced to confess this is the very finger of God and no doubt but they would be a great strengthening to the faith of those who are appointed of the Lord for the overthrow of Antichrist the Lord helping for assuredly the time of his having mercy upon Sion is come CHAP. XII Of the time of the fall of Antichrist and the increase of the Gentile Churches even to the prevoking of the twelve Tribes to submit to the kingdom of Christ IT hath been the longing expectation of many to see that notable and wonderfull worke of the Lord Christ in casting down that man of sin who hath held the whole world of those that profess any Christ under his Lordly power while the true professors of Christ have hardly had any appearance to the eye of the world first take notice the Lord hath an assured seâ— time for the accomplishment of this work which is set down in his word although more darkly to be under stood wherefore the reverend Ministers of Christ for these many yeers have studied and laboured for the finding it out and that holy man of God Mr. John Cotton among many other hath diligently searched for the Lords mind herein and hath declared some sudden blow to be given to this blood-thirsty monster but the Lord Christ hath unseparably joyned the time meanes and manner of this work together and therefore all men that expect the day must attend the means for such hath been and is the absurdity of many that they make semblance of a very zealous affection to see the glorious work of our Lord Christ herein and yet themselves uphold or at least side with those that uphold some part of Antichrists kingdome and therefore the lordly Prelacy may pray for his fall till their lungs are spent and their throats grow dry But while they have a seeming shew and hardly that to oppose his doctrines they themselves in the mean time make use of his power to advance themselves to honour aâ— also in these dayes there are divers desperate blasphemous and erronious persons whose consciences and their own self-will are unseparable companions these are very hot in their own apprehensions to prosecute the work but in the mean time they not only batter down the truths of Christ and his own Ordinances and Institutions but also set up that part of Antichrists kingdom which hath formerly had a great blow already even his deceiveable and damnable doctrines for as one badg of the beast is to be sull of blasphemies so are they and these take unto themselves seven spirits worse then the former making the latter and worse then the beginning as this story may testifie and some stories in our native country much more But to come to the time of Antichrists fall and all that expect it may depend upon the certainty of it yea it may be boldly said that the time is come and all may see the dawning of the day you that long so much for it come forth and fight who can expect a victory without a battel the lordly Prelates that boasted so much of these great atcheivements in this work are fled into holes and corners Familists Seekers Antinomians and Anabaptists they are so ill armed that they think it best sleeping in a whole skin fearing that if the day of battell once go on they shall fall among Antichrists Armies and therefore cry out like cowards If you will let me alone and I will let you alone but assuredly the Lord Christ hath said He that is not with us is against us there is no room in his Army for toleratorists But some will say We will never believe the day iâ— come till our eyes behold Babylon begirt with Souldiers I pray be not too hasty hath not the Lord said Come out of her my people c. surely there is a little space left for this and now is the time seeing the Lord hath set up his standerd of resort now Come forth
present possessed mercies yet they addresse themselves to the Sea shore where they courteously welcom the famous servant of Christ grave godly and judicious Hooker and the honoured servant of Christ M John Haynes as also the Reverend and much desired Mr. John Cotton and the Retoricall Mr. Stone with divers others of the sincere servants of Christ comming with their young and with their old and with their whole substance to doe him service in this Desart wildernesse Thus this poore people having now tasted liberally of the salvation of the Lord every way they deeme it high time to take up the Cup of thankfulnesse and pay their vowes to the most high God by whom they were holpen to this purpose of heart and accordingly set apart the 16. day of October which they call the eighth Moneth not out of any pevish humor of singularity as some are ready to censor them with but of purpose to prevent the Heathenish and Popish observation of Dayes Moneths and Yeares that they may be forgotten among the people of the Lord this day was solemnly kept by all the seven Churches rejoycing in the Lord and rendering thanks for all their benefits Here must not be omitted the indeared affections Mr. John Wilson had to the worke in hand exceedingly setting forth in his Sermon this day the Grace of Christ in providing such meet helps for furthering thereof really esteeming them beyond so many Ship-loading of Gold manifesting the great humility Christ had wrought in him not complementing but in very deede prefering the Reverend Mr. John Cotton many hundreds before himselfe whom they within a very little time after called to the Office of a Teaching Elder of the Church of Christ at Boston where hee now remaines of whom at followeth WHen Christ intends his glorious Kingdome shall Exalted be on Earth he Earth doth take Evon sinfull Man to make his worthies all Then praise I Man no Christ this Man doth make Sage sober grave and learned Cotten thou Mighty in Scripture without Booke repeat it Annatomise the sence and shew Man how Great mysteries in sentence short are seated Gods Word with 's word comparing oft unfould The secret truths Johns Revelations hath By thee been open'd as nere was of old Showes cleere and neere ' gainst Romes whore is Gods wrath Then Churches of Christ rejoyce and sing John Cotten hath Gods minde I dare believe Since he from Gods Word doth his witnesse bring Saints cries are heard they shall no longer grieve That song of songs 'twixt Christ and 's Church thou hast Twice taught to all and sweetly shewed the way Christ would his Churches should in truth stand fast And cast off mans inventions even for aye Thy labours great have met with catching cheats Mixing their Brasse with thy bright Gold for why Thy great esteeme must cover their ill feates Some soile thou gett'st by comming them so nie But i'ts wipt off and thou Christs Champion left The Faith to fight for Christ hath arm'd thee well His worthies would not thou shoulds be bereft Of honours here thy Crown shall soon excell These people of God having received these farther helps to instruct and build them up in the holy things of Christ being now greatly incouraged seeing the Lord was pleased to set such a broad Seale to their Commission for the worke in hand not onely by his Word and Spirit moving thereunto but also by his Providence in adding such able instruments for furthering this great worke of Reformation and advancing the Kingdome of Christ for which they spent this day of rejoycing and sure the Lord would have all that hear of it know their joy lay not in the increase of Corne or Wine or Oyle for of all these they had but very little at this time yet did they not spare to lend such aâ— they had unto the poore who could not provide and verily the joy ended not with the day for these active instruments of Christ Preaching with all instancy the glad Tidings of the Gospell of Iesus Christ rejoyced the Heart of this People much CHAP. XX VIII Of the Eighth Church of Christ gathered at Cambridge 1633. AT this time those who were in place of civill Government having some addition Pillars to under-prop the building begun to thinke of a place of more safety in the eyes of Man then the two frontire Towns of Charles Towne and Boston were for the habitation of such as the Lord had prepared to Governe this Pilgrim People Wherefore they rather made choice to enter farther among the Indians then hazard the fury of malignant adversaries who in a rage might pursue them and therefore chose a place scituate on Charles River betweene Charles Towne and Water-Towne where they erected a Towne called New-Towne now named Cambridge being in forme like a list cut off from the Broad-cloath of the two fore-named Towns where this wandering Race of Jacobits gathered the eighth Church of Christ This Town is compact closely within it selfe till of late yeares some few stragling houses have been built the Liberties of this Town have been inlarged of late in length reaching from the most Northerly part of Charles River to the most Southerly part of Merrimeck River it hath well ordered streets and comly pompleated with the faire building of Harver Colledge their first Pastor was the faithfull and laborious Mr. Hooker whose Bookes are of great request among the faithfull people of Christ Yee shall not misse of a few lines in remembrance of him COme Hooker come forth of thy native soile Christ I will run sayes Hooker thou hast set My feet at large here spend thy last dayes toile Thy Rhetorick shall peoples affections whet Thy Golden Tongue and Pen Christ caus'd to be The blazing of his golden truths profound Thou sorry worme its Christ wrought this in thee What Christ hath wrought must needs be very sound Then looke one Hookers workes they follow him To Grave this worthy resteth there a while Die shall he not that hath Christs warrier bin Much lesse Christs Truth cleer'd by his peoples toile Thou Angell bright by Christ for light now made Throughout the World as seasoning salt to be Although in dust thy body mouldering fade Thy Head 's in Heaven and hath a crown for thee The people of this Church and Towne have hitherto had the chiefest share in spitituall blessings the Ministry of the Word by more then ordinary instruments as in due time and place God willing you shall farther heare yet are they at this day in â— thriving condition in outward things also both Corne and Cattell Nâ—ate and Sheepe of which they have a good flocke which the Lord hath caused to thrive much in these latter dayes then formerly This Towne was appointed to be the seate of Government but it continued not long this yeare a small gleane of Rye was brought to the Court as the first fruits of English graine at which this poore people greatly rejoyced to see the Land
doe daily bring Wolves to be came but they cannot breake them of their ravening nature and I would your Royalist would learne of them to know that as your Lord Bishops Deanes Prebends c. be right whelps of the Roman litter so let them be never so well cam'd they will retaine their nature still to Lord it over all kinde of Civill Government But woe and alasse that ever any of our Countrymen should be so blind that after they are delivered from so great a bondage by such Wonder Working Providence of the Lord Christ Ever and anon to indeavour to make a Captaine over them that they may returne againe into Egypt as appeares by the plots which have beene discovered and broken in pieces by the right hand of the most high and yet for all this their's such a hankering after somewhat of the Prelaticall greatnesse by the English Clergy and the Scottish Classis that many of them could afford to raise arother war for it But brethren I beseech you be more wiser lest when you are growne hot in your quarrell the Malignant party come and set you agreed stablish peace in righteousnesse and let the word be your rule heare one another with meekenesse and the Lord will cleare up the whole truth unto you in his due time And now to declare plainly how far the Lord hath beene pleased to make use of any of his people in these Westerne pares about this Worke for to say truth they have done nothing in holes and corners but their workes are obvious to all the World if he sufferings of the Saints be pretious in the eyes of Christ so as to provoke him in displeasure to cut off the occasioners thereof then thus his poore unworthy people here have had a great stroake in the downfall of their adversaries to the present possessed truths of Christ for this wildernesse worke hath not beene carried on without sighthings that have come before him and Groanes that have entred his eares and Teares treasured up in his bottles againe if the ardent and strong affections of the people of God for his glorious comming to advance his Kingdome in the splendor and purity of his Gospell as co cry with the holy Prophet Oh that he would broake the Heavens and come down be regarded of the Lord Christ so as to remove with his mighty power the very Mountaines out of the way and hurle them into the deepe Then hath these weake wormes instrumentally had a share in the great desolation the Lord Christ hath wrought For this History will plainely declare with what zeale and deepe affection and unresistable resolutions these Pilgrim people have endeavoured the gathering together his Saints for the edifying the Body of Christ that he may raign both Lord and King for ever Yet againe if the prayers of the faithfull people of God availe any thing for the accomplishment of his promises in the destruction of Antichrist for the subduing of Armies without striking one stroake Then assuredly these Jacobites have wrestled with the Lord not onely with that good King Jeâ—oshaphat proclaiming one Fast but many Fasts they their Wives and little ones standing before the Lord Oh our God wile thou not judge them for we have no might c. Lastly if the Lord himselfe have roared from Sion as in the dayes of the Prophet Amos so from his Churches in New England by a great and terrible Earth quake which happened much about the time the Lordly Prelates were preparing their injunctions for Scotland taking rise from the West it made its progresse to the Eastward causing the Earth to rise up and downe like the waves of the Sea having the same effect on the Sea also causing the Ships that lay in the Harbor to quake the which at that very time was said to be a signe from the Lord to his Churches that he was purposed to shake the Kingdomes of Europes Earth and now by his providences brought to passe all men may reade as much and more as if he should have said to these his scattered people yet now againe united in Church Covenant the Lord is now gathering together his Armies and that your faith may be strengthened you shall feele and heare the shakings of the Earth by the might of his power yea the Sea also to shew he will ordaine Armies both by Sea and Land to make Babilon desolate Things thus concurring as an immediate answer of the Lord to his peoples prayers and endeavours caused some of this little handfull with resolute courage and boldnesse to returne againe to their native Land that they might the Lord accepting and assisting them in their endeavours be helpfull in advancing the Kingdome of Christ and casting down every strong house of sinne and Satan It matters not indeed who be the instruments if with the eye of faith these that go forth to fight the Lords Battailes can but see and heare the Lord going out before them against their enemies with a sound in the tops of the Mulbery Trees Here are assuredly evident signes that the Lord Christ is gone forth for his peoples deliverance and now Frogs Flies Lice or Dust shall serve to destroy those will yet hold his people in bondage notwithstanding the Lord will honour such as hee hath made strong for himselfe And therefore hee causeth the worthies in Davids time to be recorded and it is the duty of Gods people to incourage one another in the worke of the Lord then let all whose hearts are upright for the Lord ponder well his goings in his Sanctuary that their hands may be strengthened in the work they goe about onely be strong and of a good courage CHAP. VI. Of the gratious goodnesse of the Lord Christ in saving his New-England people from the hand of the barbarous Indians LAstly for the frontispiece of their present distresse namely the Indian war they with much meeknesse and great deliberation wisely contrived how they might best helpe their fellow brethren hereupon they resolved to send a solemne Embassage to old Cannonicus chiefe Sachem of the narrow Ganset Indians who being then well stricken in yeares had caused his Nephew Miantinemo to take the Government upon him who was a very sterne man and of a great stature of a cruell nature causing all his Nobility and such as were his attendance to tremble at his speech the people under his Government were very numerous besides the Niantick Indians whose Prince was of neare aliance unto him They were able to set forth as was then supposed 30000. fighting men the English sought by all meanes to keepe these at least from confederating with the Pequods and understanding by intelligence that the Pequots would send to them for that end endeavoured to prevent them Fit and able men being chosen by the English they hast them to Cannonicus Court which was about fourescore miles from Boston The Indian King hearing of their comming gathered together his chiefe Counsellors and a great number
advantagious both to you and yours then all that Rocky Wildernesse whither you are going to run the hazard of your life Have you not here your Tables filled with great variety of Foode your Coffers filled with Coyne your Houses beautifully built and filled with all rich Furniture or otherwise have you not such a gainfull Trade as none the like in the Towne where you live Are you not inriched daily Are not your Children very well provided for as they come to years nay may you not here as pithily practise the two chiefe Duties of a Christian if Christ give strength namely Mortification and Sanct fication as in any place of the World What helps can you have there that you must not carry from hence With bold resolvednesse these stout Souldiers of Christ reply as Death the King of terror with all his dreadfull attendance inhumane and barbarous tortures doubled and trebled by all the infernall furies have appeared but light and momentany to the Souldiers of Christ Iesus so also the Pleasure Profits and Honours of this World set forth in their most glorious splend or and magnitude by the alluring Lady of Delight proffering pleasant embraces cannot intice with her Syren Songs such Souldiers of Christ whose aymes are elevated by him many Millions above that brave Warrier Vlysses Now seeing all can be said will but barely set forth the immoveable Resolutions that Christ continued in these men Passe on and attend with teares if thou hast any the following discourse while these Men Women and Children are taking their last farwell of their Native Country Kindred Friends and Acquaintance while the Ships attend them Many make choise of some solitary place to eccho out their bowell-breaking affections in bidding their Friends farwell deare friends sayes one as neare as my owne soule doth thy love lodge in my brest with thought of the heart burning Ravishments that thy Heavenly speeches have wrought my melting soule is poured out at present with these words both of them had their farther speach strangled from the depth of their inward dolor with breast-breaking sobs till leaning their heads each on others shoulders they let fall the salt-dropping dews of vehement affection striving to exceede one another much like the departure of David and Jonathan having a little eased their hearts with the still streames of Teares they recovered speech againe Ah! my much honoured friend hath Christ given thee so great a charge as to be Leader of his People into that far remote and vast Wildernesse I oh and alas thou must die there and never shall I see thy Face in the flesh againe wert thou called to so great a taske as to passe the pretious Ocean and hazard thy person in Battell against thousands of Malignant Enemies there there were hopes of thy return with triumph but now after two three or foure moneths spent with daily expectation of swallowing Waves and cruell Pirates you are to be Landed among barbarous Indians famous for nothing but cruelty where you are like to spend your days in a famishing condition for a long space Scarce had he uttered this but presently hee lockes his friend fast in his armes holding each other thus for some space of time they weepe againe But as Paul to his beloved flock the other replies what doe you weeping and breaking my heart I am now prest for the service of our Lord Christ to re-build the most glorious Edifice of Mount Sion in a Wildernesse and as John Baptist I must cry prepare yee the way of the Lord make his paths strait for behold hee is comming againe hee is comming to destroy Antichrist and give the whore double to drinke the very dregs of his wrath Then my deare friend unfold thy hands for thou and I have much worke to doe I and all Christian Souldiers the World throughout then hand in hand they leade each other to the Sandy-banks of the brinish Ocean when clenching their hands fast they unloose not til inforced to wipe their watery-eyes whose constant streames forced a watery-path upon their Cheekes which to hide from the eyes of others they shun society for a time but being called by occasion whose bauld back-part none can lay hold one They thrust in among the throng now ready to take Ship where they beheld the like affections with their own among divers Relations Husbands and Wives with mutuall consent are now purposed to part for a time 900 Leagues asunder since some providence at present will not suffer them to goe together they resolve their tender affections shall not hinder this worke of Christ the new Married and betrothed man exempt by the Law of God from war now will not claime their priviledge but being constrained by the Love of Christ lock up their naturall affections for a time till the Lord shall be pleased to give them a meeting in this Westerne World sweetly mixing it with spirituall love in the meane time many Fathers now take their yong Samuells and give them to this service of Christ all their Lives Brethren Sisters Unkles Nephewes Neeces together with all Kindred of bloud that binds the bowells of affection in a true Lovers knot can now take their last farewell each of other although naturall affection will still claime her right and manifest her selfe to bee in the body by looking out at the Windowes in a mournefull manner among this company thus disposed doth many Reverend and godly Pastors of Christ present themselves some in a Seamans Habit and their scattered sheepe comming as a poore Convoy loftily take their leave of them as followeth what dolefull dayes are these when the best choise our Orthodox Ministers can make is to take up a perpetuall banishment from their native soile together with their Waves and Children wee their poore sheepe they may not feede but by stoledred should they abide here Lord Christ here they are at thy command they go this is the doore thou hast opened upon our earnest request and we hope it shall never be shut for Englands sake they are going from England to pray without ceasing for England O England thou shalt finde New England prayers prevailing with their God for thee but now woe alas what great hardship must these our indeared Pastors indure for a long season with these words they life up their voyces and wept adding many drops of sale liquor to the ebbing Ocean Then shaking hands they bid adue with much cordiall affection to all their Brethren and Sisters in Christ yet now the Scorne and Derifion of those times and for this their great enterprise counted as so many crackt braines but Christ will make all the Earth know the wisdome he hath indued them with shall over-top all the humane policy in the World as the sequell wee hope will shew Thus much shall suffice in generall to speak of their peoples farewell they tooke from time to time of their Country and Friends CHAP. XIII Of the charges expended by this poore
would beare it but now the Lords blessing that way hath exceeded all peoples expectation cloathing the Earth with plenty of all kinde of graine Here minde I must the Reader of the admirable acts of Christs Providence toward this people that although they were in such great straites for foode that many of them eate their Bread by waight and had little hopes of the Earths fruitfullnesse yet the Lord Christ was pleased to refresh their spirits with such quickning grace and lively affections to this Temple-worke that they did not desert the place and that which was more remarkable when they had scarce houses to shelter themselves and no doores to hinder the Indians accesse to all they had in them yet did the Lord so awe their hearts that although they frequented the Englishmens places of aboade where their whole substance weake Wives and little ones lay open to their plunder during their absence being whole dayes at Sabbath Assemblies yet had they none of their food or stuffe diminished neither Children nor Wives hurt in the least measure although the Indians came commonly to them at those times much hungry belly as they use to say and were then in number and strength beyond the English by far Yet further see the great and noble Acts of Christ toward this his wandering people feeling againe the scarcity of foode and being constrained to come to a small pittance daily the Lord to provide for them causeth the Deputy of Ireland to set forth a great Ship unknowne to this people and indeed small reason in his own apprehensions why he should so do but Christ will have it so This Ship ariving being filled with food the godly Governors did so order it that each Town sent two men aboard of her who tooke up their Townes allowance it being appointed before hand what their portion should be to this end that some might not by all and others be left destitute of food In the vernall of the yeare 1634. This people being increased and having among them many pretious esteemed instruments for furthering this wonderous worke of Christ they began to thinke of fortifying a small Island about two miles distant from Boston to Sea-ward to which all the Vessells come in usually and passe To this end the honoured Mr. John Winthrope with some 8. or 10. persons of noâ—e tooke boate and arrived on the said Island in a warme Sun shineday just at the breaking up of Winter as they deemed but being they were sulden surprised with a cold North-west storme which is the sharpest winde in this Country freezing very vehemently for a day and a night that they could not get off the Island but were forced to lodge there and lie in a heape one upon another on the ground to keepe themselves from freezing This yeare 1634. the much honoured Thomas Dudly Esquire was chosen Governor and Mr. Roger Ludlow Deputy Governor the Freemen added to this little Common-wealth this year were about two hundred and foure about this time a sincere servant of Christ Mr. Stone was added to the Chureh of Christ at New-towne as a meet helpe to instruct the People of Christ there with the above named Mr. Hooker and as he hath hetherto bin through the blessing of God an able instrument in his hands to further the worke So let him be incourraged with the Word of the Lord in the spirit of his might to go on THou well smoth'd Stone Christs Work-manship to be In 's Church new laid his weake ones to support With 's word of might his foes are foild by thee Thou daily dost to godlinesse exhort The Lordly Prelates people do deny Christs Kingly power Hosanna to proclaime Mens mouths are stopt but Stone poore dust doth try Throughout his Churches none but Christ must raignt Mourne not Oh Man thy youth and learning 's spent In desart Land my Muse is bold to say For glorious workes Christ his hath hither sent Like that great worke of Resurrection day CHAP. XX IX Of the Lords remarkable providence toward his indeared servants M. Norton and Mr. Shepherd NOw my loving Reader let mee lead thee by the hand to our Native Land although it was not intended to speake in particulars of any of these peoples departure from thence purposing a generall relation should serve the turne yet come with mee and behold the wonderous worke of Christ in preserving two of his most valiant Sou'diers namely Mr. John Norton and that soule ravishing Minister Mr. Thomas Shepheard who came this yeare to Yarmouth to ship themselves for New England where the people of God resorted privately unto them to hear them Preach during the time of their aboade the Enemies of Christs Kingdome were not wanting to use all meanes possible to intrap them in which perilous condition they remained about two months waiting for the Ships readinesse in which time some persons eagerly hunting for Mr. Thomas Shepheard began to plot for apprehending of him with a Boy of sixteene or seventeene yeares of Age who lived in the House where hee Lodged to open the doore for them at a certaine houre in the night But the Lord Christ who is the Shepheard of Israel kept a most sure watch over his indeared servants for thus it befell the sweet words of grace falling from the of lips of this Reverend and godly Mr. Thomas Shepheard in the hearing of the Boy the Lords working withall hee was perswaded this was an holy man of God and therefore with many troubled thoughts began to relate his former practise although hee had a great some of money promised him onely to let them in at the houre and time appointed but the Boy the more neere the time came grew more pensive and sad insomuch that his Master taking notice thereof began to question him about the cause of his heavinesse who being unwilling to reveale the matter held of from confessing a long time till by urgent and insinuating search of his godly Master with teares hee tells that on such a night hee had agreed to let in Men to apprehend the godly Preacher The good Man of the house forthwith gave notice thereof unto them who with the helpe of some well-affected persons was convay'd away by boate through a back Lane the men at the time appointed came to the house where finding not the doore open when they lifted up the Latch as they expected they thrust their staves under it to lift it from the hookes but being followed by some persons whom the good man of the house had appointed for that end yet were they boulstred out in this their wicked act by those who set them one worke Notwithstanding they were greatly ashamed when they mist of their end But the Lord Christ intending to make his New England Souldiers the very wounder of this Age brought them into greater straites that this Wonder Working Providence might the more appeare in their deliverance for comming a shipboard and hoiseing saile to accomplish their
with Fish it being a branch of that large River of Morrimeck Allwifes and Shad in their season come up to this Towne but Salmon and Daice cannot come up by reason of the Rocky salles which causeth their Meddowes to lie much covered with water the which these people together with their Neigbour Towne have severall times assayed to cut through but cannot yet it may be turned another way with an hundred pound charge as it appeared this Towne was more populated once then now it is some faint-hearted Souldiers among them fearing the Land would prove barren sold their possessions for little and removed to a new Plantation which have most commonly a great prize set on them the number of Families at present are about 50. their buildings are conveniently placed chiefly in one straite streame under a sunny-banke in a low levell their heard of great Cattell are about 300. the Church of Christ here consists of about seventy soules their teaching Elders were Mr. Buckly and Mr. Jones who removed from them with that part of the people who went away so that onely the reverend grave and godly Mr. Buckly remaines RIches and honours Buckly layes aside To please his Christ for whom he now doth war Why Buckly thou hast Riches that will bide And honours that exceeds Earths honour far Thy bodies worne and dayes in Desert spent To feede a few of Christs poore scattered sheepe Like Christ's bright body thy poore body rent With Saints and Angells company shall keepe Thy Tongue and Pen doth to the World declare Christs covenant with his flock shall firmly stand When Heavens and Earth by him dissolved are Then who can hold from this his worke at hand Two Bucklies more Christ by his grace hath taken And sent abroad to mannage his great wars I'ts Buklies joy that Christ his sons new making Hath placest in 's churches for to shine as Stare This holy and sincere servant of Christ was put upon the greater tryall by reason he and his were tenderly brought up and now by the provident hand of Christ were carried far into this desart-land where they met with some hardships for a long time till the place was well peopled they lived barely CHAP. XXXVI Of the laborious worke Chrsts people have in planting this wildernesse set forth in the building the Towne of Concord being the first in-land Towne NOw because it is one of the admirable acts of Christ Providence in leading his people forth into these Westerne Fields in his providing of Huts for them to desend them from the bitter stormes this place is subject unto therefore here is a short Epitome of the manner how they placed downe their dwellings in this Desart Wildernesse the Lord being pleased to hide from the Eyes of his people the difficulties they are to encounter withall in a new Plantation that they might not thereby be hindered from taking the worke in hand upon some inquiry of the Indians who lived to the North-west of the Bay one Captaine Simon Willard being acquainted with them by reason of his Trade became a chiefe instrument in erecting this Town the land they purchase of the Indians and with much difficulties traveling through unknowne woods and through watery scrampes they discover the fitnesse of the place sometimes passing through the Thickets where their hands are forced to make way for their bodies passage and their feete clambering over the crossed Trees which when they missed they sunke into an uncertaine bottome in water and wade up to the knees tumbling sometimes higher and sometimes lower wearied with this toile they at end of this meete with a scorching plaine yet not so plaine but that the ragged Bushes scratch their legs fouly even to wearing their stockings to their bare skin in two or three houres if they be not otherwise well defended with Bootes or Buâ—kings their flesh will be torne that some being forced to passe on without further provision have had the bloud trickle downe at every step and in the time of Summer the Sun casts such a reflecting heate from the sweet Ferne whose scent is very strong so that some herewith have beene very nere fainting although very able bodies to undergoe much travell and this not to be indured for one day but for many and verily did not the Lord incourage their naturall parts with hopes of a new and strange discovery expecting every houre to see some rare sight never seene before they were never able to hold out and breake through but above all the thirsting desires these servants of Christ have had to Plant his Churches among whom the forenamed Mr. Jones shall not be forgotten IN Desart's depth where Wolves and Beares abide There Jones sits down a wary watch to keepe O're Christs deare flock who now are wandered wide But not from him whose eyes ne're close with sleepe Surely it sutes thy melancholly minde Thus solitary for to spend thy dayes Much moâ—e thy soule in Christ content doth finde To worke for him who thee to joy will raise Leading thy son to Land yet more remote To feede his flock upon this Westerne wast Exhort him then Christs Kingdome to promote That he with thee of lasting joyes may tast Yet farther to tell of the hard labours this people found in Planting this Wildernesse after some dayes spent in search toyling in the day time as formerly is said like true Jacob it s they rest them one the Rocks where the night takes them their short repast is some small pittance of Bread if it hold out but as for Drinke they have plenty the Countrey being well watered in all places that yet are found out their farther hardship is to travell sometimes they know not whether bewildred indeed without sight of Sun their compasse miscarrying in crouding through the Bushes they sadly search up and down for a known way the Indians paths being not above one foot broad so that a man may travell many dayes and never find one But to be sure the directing Providence of Christ hath beene better unto them than many paths as might here be inserted did not hast call my Pen away to more waighty matters yet by the way a touch thus it befell with a servant maide who was travelling about three or foure miles from one Towne to another loosing her selfe in the Woods had very diligent search made after her for the space of three dayes and could not possible be found then being given over as quite lost after three dayes and nights the Lord was pleased to bring her feeble body to her own home in safety to the great admiration of all that heard of it This intricate worke no whit daunted these resolved servants of Christ to goe on with the worke in hand but lying in the open aire while the watery Clouds poure down all the night season and sometimes the driving Snow dissolving on their backs they keep their wee cloathes warme with a continued fire till the renewed morning give fresh
light To Gods word goe it 's that must triall be Hath cruell sword not het one thy side right Increase in love and thou wilt Justice see With humble holy learned men converse Thee and thy flock they would in one unite And all the fogs of selfe conceit disperse Thee and thy sons the Lord Christ guide aright Some other of the Ministers of Christ arrived this yeare 1635. As Mr. Flint Mr. Carter and Mr. Walton and some others of whom we shall speake by the Lord assistance in due time and place in the meane time here is to be remembred Mr. Thomas Flint a sincere servant of Christ who had a faire yearly Revenue in England but having improved it for Christ by casting it in the common Treasury as it appeares in the former part of this History he waites on the Lord for doubling his Talent if it shall seeme good unto him so to doe and the meane time spending his person for the good of his people in the Office of a Magistrate AT Christs commands thou leav'st thy lands and native habitation His folke to aid in Desart straid for Gospells Exaltation Flint Hardy thou wilt not allow the underminding Fox With subtill skill Christsvines to spill thy sword shall give thē knocks Yet thou base dust and all thou hast is Christ's and by him thou Art made to be such as we see hold fast for ever now CHAP. XXXVIII Of the placing down of many Souldiers of Christ and gathering the Church of Christ at Sanowitch in Plimouth patten and further supply for the Churches of Ipswich and Linne THis yeare 1636. Sir Henry Vaine was chosen Governour and John Winthrope Esquire Deputy Governour the number of Freemen added were about eighty three This yeare came over the much honoured Mr. Fenwick a godly and able instrument to assist in helping to uphold the civill Government of the second and third Colonies here planted by the Divine Providence of the most high God hee having purchased the Plantation of Saybrooke Fore became a good incourager to the Church of Christ at Hartford where the reverend Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone were Officers In remembrance of whom a few lines take here FEnwick among this Christian throng to wildernesse doth fiee There learn'd hast thou yet further how Christ should advanced be Who for that end doth back thee send their Senator to sit In native soile for him still toile while thou hast season fit His Churches peace do thou not cease with their increase to bring That they and thee in lasting Glee may Hallelujaeh sing The beginning of this yeare was spent in accommodating these new come Guests in the former yeare whose numbers was neer about three thousand and now they began to be perswaded they should be a setled people not minding the present dangers they were in as you shall hear anon onely in the meane time take notice of further supply the Lord Christ was pleased to send before the cattell increased to its strength among whom the aged and long continned Souldiers of Christ Jesus Mr. Partrich as also Mr. Nathaniel Rogers an able disputant whose mouth the Lord was pleased to fill with many arguments for the defence of his truth Mr. Samuel Whiting who hath also with keeping to the patterne of sound and wholesome Doctrine much stopped the spreading Leaven of the Pharises Mr. Partrich was called to Office at a Towne then named Dukes Berry in Plimoth Government scituated upon the Sea-coast where the people of Christ being gathered into a Church Ordained him to be their Pastor IN thine owne soile well rooted in the truth Thou didst stand fast by Prelates power unbow'd But Laude layes load on Gods solke to his Ruth By whom thou mayst no longer be alow'd Then Partrich thou thy wings begins to spread Of Faith and Love to flie these long Seas o're To wildernesse where thou Christs Lambes hast fed With 's sincere Milke this fourteene yeare and more But now with age thy Almon Tree doth flourish Yet spreading like the Palme Tree dost thou stand I' th house of God Christ Roote thy Boughs do nourish And for thy head he hath a Crowne in 's hand Mr. Nathaniel Rogers being landed after a long and tedious Voyage at Sea was welcomed by the Church of Christ at Ipswitch where the Reverened and Judicious Mr. Nathaniel Ward although a very able Preacher and much desired yet for some naturall infirmity himselfe being best privy unto desired to be unbound of his ingagement with his people in point of Office that being left to his liberty hee might Preach more seldom in whose stead the Church called to Office this Reverend and Holy Man of God Mr. Nathaniel Rogers whose labours in this Westerne World have been very much a very sweet heavenly minded man of whom the Author is bold to say as followeth THrough boystrous Seas thy brittle frame of Man It safely is in Christ's sweet armes infold No wonder then thou weake dust stotly can Preach Christs in 's truths why he doth thee uphold Why Rogers lee thee over-Sea hath fett Against the day of Battell now at hand No sooner are thy feet one those shores set But Leaders do Christ truth withstand Vndaunted thou these Westerne Fields dost enter Filld with the spirits ready sword at hand Ingage thou wilt thy selfe ' mongst hardships venter Valiant thou foughtst under thy Christ's command And yet with all men wouldst have peace thy aime If deepe to wound and sweetly then to say Come to my Christ hee 'l heale your wounds againe Canst but submit hee 'l never say thee nay With learned Method thou Gods Word divides Long labouring that each soule may take his part Thy gratious speech with grave impression bides Thus Christ by thee is pleas'd to win the heart My Muse lament Nathaniel is decaying Why dost thou grutch him Heaven such toile hath had In Christ his Vineyard rather be thou praying That in Christs armes he resting may be glad Mr. Samuel Whiting was well welcomed by the Church of Christ at Cawgust which Towne being now of age to receive an English name was called Linne where this Reverend man now hath his aboade THy ardent Love the countlesse Oceans measure Quench cannot for thy love on him is set Who of true love hath aie the depthlesse Treasure Doth thine increase least thou should'st his forget Love Christ in 's truths my Whiting thou hast done Thou wilt not suffer with their leaven sower False Doctrines ' mongst thy tender flock to run Timely cut off wilt thou all those devour Samuel mourne not thy strength in Desart's spent Rather rejoyce thy Christ makes use of thee Soules to convert his Kingdomes large extent From East to West shall shortly setled be Thine Eyes and Eares have seen and heard great things Done by thy Christ shewes he thy toile accepts Though thy weake flesh weaker to dust hee 'l bring Thy quickned spirit increast in his joy leaps CHAP. XXXIX Of the first appearing
Principles by which many errors were brought in ANd verily Satane policy here as in all places where the Lord Christ is acknowledged was to keepe men from that one right way by the which hee applies himselfe to the soule no marvell then if so many Errours arise like those fained heads of Hidra as fast as one is cut off two stand up in the roome and chiefly about the uniting of a soule to Christ by Faith Their Errors in this point they reported to be the judgement of the Reverend and Judicious Mr. John Cotten But hee having spoken for himselfe in his answer to Mr. Baily I forbeare onely this by the way take notice of these subtill Projectors the Erronist I meane who perceiving this holy man of God Mr. Cotten was and yet is in great esteeme with the people of God for the great grace Christ hath bestowed upon him in his deepe discerning the mysteries of godlinesse as also discerning some little difference bâ—tweene him and the other Elders about this point commene upon it and in large at their pleasure and then in daily venting their deceivable Doctrines like subtill Logicians bring in this as their strongest argument in the last place I 'le tell you Friend Neighbour Brother if you will forbeare to speake of it till you hear farther this is the judgement of Mâ— Cotten when he it may be had never heard of it or at least wise when they brought this their bastardly brat to him they put another vizard on the face of it but that you may understand their way of broaching their abominable errors it was in dividing those things the Lord hath united in his worke of conversion continued carrying on a Soule to Heaven in these foure Particulars First in dividing betweene the word and the word under pretence of a legall Gospell perswading the people their Ministers were legall Preachers teaching them little better then Popery and unfit for Gospell Churches denying them to be any Ministers of Christ that Preach any preparation worke by shewing men what the Law requires Here 's nothing sayes one of them but Preaching out of the Law and the Prophets truly sayes another of them I have not heard a pure Gospell Sermon from any of them but sure they were both troubled with the Lethargy or read not the Gospell themselves for they may finde the Apostles yea and Christ himselfe Preached good Gospell sure out of the Law and the Prophets Secondly in separating Christ and his Graces in manifesting himselfe to be in the Soule and this they say makes much for the magnifying of Free-grace and indeed they made it so free that the soule that receives it shall never taste any of it by their consent but remaine still a dry branch as before these legall Pharises sayes one of them tell us of a thing they call inherent grace and of a man being made a new creature but I am sure the best of them goe on in their legall duties and performances still sorrowing for sinne hearing of Sermons observing duty Morning and Evening and many such like matters Tush man sayes another of them you shall hear more then this I was discoursing with one of their Scholasticall Preachers Disciples a professed convert and yet when he came to pray he beg'd for forgivenesse of his sins I asked him why he used that vaine repetition since hee did believe he was justified by Christ already and hee made me an answer not worth repeating but when I told him God could see no sinne in his people no more then I could see that which was covered close from my eye sight hee told mee I spake little lesse then blasphemy so ignorant are these men and their learned guides also who perswade them the more they have of the in-dwelling of the Spirit of Christ the better they shall be inabled to these legall duties Nay quoth the other I can tell you more then all this they make it an evidence of their good estate even their sanctification and yet these men would make people believe they are against Popery By this discourse of theirs you may see the manner how these Erronious and Hereticall persons batter off the fruit from the goodly branches of Christs vines make bare the flourishing trees planted in the house of the Lord and yet professe themselves to be Scholars of the upper forme that have learned as far as their Masters can teach them but let me tell you friends you 'l prove but trewants if you fall thus to Robbing of Orchards and its an offence far beyond petty Larceny to rob Christs Garden let your pretenees be what they will can it possible be for the magnifying of Christs Grace that the branches growing upon his root shouâ—d remaine fruitlesse no assuredly herein God is glorified that his people bring forth much fruit yet many of these new Gospellers had another plea hypocrites have a seeming shew of Saints graces by which they deceive themselves and others And therefore because Felons and Traytors coyne counterfeit Gold therefore true Gold should not passe for current but the intent of the Author is to prosecute the History these errours being consuted already by the able servants of Christ whom the Lord in his mercy brought hither for that purpose CHAP. XLI Of the two latter dividing Principles under which these Erronists fought THe third dividing tenent by which these persons prosecuted their errors at this time was betweene the Word of God and the Spirit of God and here these Sectaries had many prety knacks to delude withall and especially to please the Femall Sex they told of rare Revelations of things to come from the spirit as they say it was onely devised to weaken the Word of the Lord in the mouth of his Ministers and withall to put both ignorant and unlettered Men and Women in a posture of Preaching to a multitude that they might be praised for their able Tongue Come along with me sayes one of them I 'le bring you to a Woman that Preaches batter Gospell then any of your black-coates that have been at the Ninneversity a Woman of another kinde of spirit who hath had many Revelations of things to come and for my part saith hee I had rather hear such a one that speakes from the meere motion of the spirit without any study at all then any of your learned Scollers although they may be fuller of Scripture I and admit they may speake by the helpe of the spirit yet the other goes beyond them Gâ—ntle Reader thinke not these things fained because I name not the parties or that here is no witnesse to prove them should I so do neither of both is the cause I assure you but being somewhat acquainted with my own weakenesse should the Lord withdraw the light of his word and also I verily believe some of them are truly turned againe to the truth the which I wish to all yet by relating the story all men may see
Men but see here the Wonder-working Providence of Sions Saviour appears much in gathering together stones to build up the walls of Jerusalem that his Sion may be surrounded with Bulworkes and Towres with a whispering word in the eares of his servants he crosses the Angles of England from Cornewall to Kent from Dover to Barwick not leaving out Scotland and Wales Wise men are perswaded to the worke without arguing like Elisba when Elias cast his mantle on him so these men make no stop but say suffer me onely to sell my inheritance and I will away for New England And now I could wish our Brethren in England would not be angry with us for making such hast Brethren you know how the case stood with our Ministers as it was with Gideon who could thresh out no Corne but hee must doe it secretly to hide it from the Midianites who spread the Land like Grashoppers no more could they thresh and cleane up any Wheate for the Lords Garner but the Prelates would presently be upon their backs and plow long furrowes there and you may believe it if you will for it is certaine many had not this little number gone forth to blow their Trumpets and breake their Pitchers making the brightnesse of their Lamps appeare surely the host of the Midianites had never been put to flight and if still any of our Brethren shall contend with us wee answer with Gideon the Lord hath delivered into your hands the chiefe Princes of Midian and what were we able to do in comparison of you yet shall we not cease to follow on the worke of Reformation although weake and faint till the Lord be pleased to free his Israel from all their enemies and verily England hath not wanted the Prayers of the poore people of Christ here And also some of our chiefe helpes both for Church-worke Military and common-wealth-worke yet through the Lords mercy we still retaine among our Democracy the godly Captaine William Hathorn whom the Lord hath indued with a quick apprehension strong memory and rhetorick volubillity of speech which hath caused the people to make use of him often in publick service especially when they have had to do with any forrein Government Mr. Nathaniel Duncan learned in the Latine and French tongue a very good accountant Wherefore he is called to the place of Auditor Generall for the County Mr. John Glovar a man strong for the truth a plaine sincere godly man and of good abilities Captaine Daniel Gogkin who was drawen hither from Virginia by having his affection strongly set on the truths of Christ and his pure Ordinances being indued by the Lord with good understanding Captaine William Tinge sometime Treasurour for the County but being absent for some space of time in England Mr. Richard Russell was chosen in his roome Mr. Edward Rawson a young man yet imployed in Common-wealth affaires a long time being well beloved of the inhabitants of Newbery having had a large hand in her Foundation but of late he being of a ripe capacity a good yeoman and eloquent inditer hath beene chosen Secretary for the Country Mr. William Hubbard of Iphshwich a learned man being well read in state matters of a very affable and humble behaviour who hath expended much of his Estate to helpe on this worke although he be slow of speech yet is hee down right for the businesse Captaine Vmphry Atherton one of a cheerfull spirit and intire for the County Mr. Edward Jackson one who cannot indure to sâ—e the truths of Christ trampled under foot by the erronious party Eleazar Lusher one of the right stamp and pure mettle a gratious humble and heavenly minded man Mr. Joseph Hill a man active for to bring the Lawes of the County in order Mr. Whipple one whose godly sincerity is much approved Mr. Francis Norton one of a cheerfull spirit and full of love to the truth Mr. Robert Paine a right godly man and one whose estate hath holpe on well with the worke of this little Common-wealth Mr. William Torry a good penman and skild in the Latine tongue usually Clarke of the Deputies the Survayor Generall of the Armies of the Country John Johnson of an undanted spirit Mr. William Parker a man of a pregnant understanding and very usefull in his place Many more would be named but for tediousnesse neither will it please the men more to be named then not for all are very willing to acknowledge their inability for the worke and the best are not without many imperfections The Authors end in naming some few is for none other end but to make good the title of this Book to incourage all the servants of Christ for time to come wholely to rely upon him when they go about any difficult work which may tend to the glory of his Name Who could have told these men being scattered abroad throughout the Island of Great Brittaine they should meete on a Wildernesse nine hundered Leagues remote and there keep Court together to study the preservation of Christs poore scattered flockes nay brethren when you first tooke book in hand to learne your Letters you would have been very dull pates but for this worke assuredly how you came by large inheritances some of you and estates of hundreds and thousands your selves best know but believe it the Lord intended it for this very work The Earth is the Lords and the fulnesse of it then let none of the people of Christ mourn that they have spent their wealth in this Wildernesse if it have holpe on the worke rather rejoyce that Christ hath betrusted thee to be Steward for the King of Kings that in so noble an achievement the worthiest worke that the memory of our selves and our fore-fathers can reach unto And brethren as for the good parts and gifts the Author hath commended you for but for the edifying of the body of Christ and assisting his people in this work you had been empty of all good And now seeing it is the opinion of many in these dayes of Reformation that all sorts of Sectaries that acknowledge a Christ should be tolerated by civill Government except Papist and this Government hath hitherto and is for future time resolved to practice otherwise the Lord assisting having met already with more blasphemous Sectaries then are Papists wherefore it will not be amisse if our Countrymen be acquainted with the one and twenty yeares experience of this Wildernesse worke in point of Government First it is their judgment and that from Scripture taught them that those who are chose to place of government must be men truly fearing God wise and learned in the truths of Christ if so as hitherto it hath been New Englands practice then surely such will be utterly unfit to tolerate all sorts of Sectaries as because they have taken up Joshuas resolution to serve the Lord a man cannot serve two Masters much lesse many Masters Then surely such as would have all sorts of sinfull
two sticks together Their food is ready drest at all times parching Indian Come in their fire they pound it to meale and with foure or five spoonfull of it cast into their mouths and a sup or two of water which they take up with a leafe of a Tree this is their common repast and indeed their chiefe viaticum Thus furnisht for the war they troope away without any goodly equâ—page to effect as they suppose some great designe but within some few Miles of the Towne of Hartford they were discovered by one of the English who having with him a good Horse hastens away to give intelligence of their approach and by the way meeting with foure or five persons hee advises them to haste away with all speed for the Peaquods were at hand the weaker Seâ— among them being at this time not so credulous as they should have been began to dispute the case with him demanding what Peaquods they were and questioning how they should come there The horseman deeming it now no time for words when the battell followed him so hard at the heeles rod on his way and soone after the sudden approach of the Indians forced them with feare to Seale to the truth of this evill tidings and some of them with their dearest bloud three Woemen-kinde they caught and carried away but one of them being more fearfull of their cruell usage afterward then of the losse of heâ— life at present being borne away to the thickest of the company resisted so stoutly with scratching and biting that the Indian exasperated therewith cast her downe on the Earth and beate out her braines with his Hatchet the other two maids they led away and returned their Commission reaching no farther at present having taken these two prisoners they did not offer to abuse their persons as was verily deemed they would questioned them with such broken English as some of them could speak to know whether they could make Gunpowder Which when they understood they could not doe their prize proved nothing so pretious a Pearle in their eyes as before for seeing they exceeded not their own Squawes in Art their owne thoughts informed them they would fall abundantly short in industry and as for beauty they esteeme black beyond any colour Wherefore their Sqawes use that sinfull art of painting their Faces in the hollow of their Eyes and Nose with a shining black out of which their tip of their Nose appeares very deformed and their cheeke bone being of a lighter swart black on which they have a blew crosse died very deepe This is the beauty esteemed by them but yet their pride was much increased by this hostile Act of theirs and the English were more and more contemned of them notwithstanding the Dutch who traded with these Indians procured the Maides liberty againe CHAP. II. Of the couragious resolutions the Lord indued these his People withall being invironed with many deepe distresses AFter this Message delivered these brood of Travilers being almost Non-plus't in their grave and sollid Counsells deem it now high time to follow their old way of making their complaint to the supreame judge of all the World by way of Petition who they knew right well stood not as an idle spectator beholding his peoples Ruth and their Enemies rage But as an Actor in all actions to bring to naught the desires of the wicked but period to their power divert their stroaks from his to their own heads bring glory to his Name and good to his people from their most wicked malignity having also the ordering of every weapon in its first produce guiding every shaft that flies leading each bullet to his place of setling and Weapon to the wound it makes yet he most righteous and holy in all his actions to this great Lord Peramount had these poore afflicted people accesse through the intercession of their Lord Christ whose worke though very weake to performe they were now about wherefore casting themselves down at his feet in the sense of their owne unworthinesse that desire him to doe his owne worke in them and for them that the Mountaines in the way of Zerubbabil may become a plaine and then laying open the great straites they were in to him who knew them far better then themselves they had this answer returned them which if men dare deny the Lord from Heaven hath and shall further witnesse it But before it be declared let all men lay downe their interest they suppose they may have in procuring it both English and others that the glory of our Lord Christ may appeare in its splendor to the danting of every proud heare and for the perpetuall incouragement of all the Souldiers of Christ even the meanest in his Armies for the day of his high Power is come yea his appointed time to have mercy upon Sion is at hand all you whose eyes of pity so see her in the dust streame down with pear like drops of compassion a little mixture of the unconceiveâ—ble joy for the glorious worke of Christ Now now I now in hand for the exalting of his glorious Kingdome in preparing his Churches for himselfe and with his own blessed hands wiping away the teares that trickel downe her cheekes drying her dankish eyes and hushing her sorrowfull sobs in his sweete bosome This rightly believed and meeting in the soule of any poore Christian will make the narrow affâ—ctions of his body too little to containe the present apprehensions of the Soule And therefore wanting a vacuum to containe the strength of this new Wine wonder not if it vent if it selfe with swift thrilling teares from the most tender part of the vessell And here the Author must needs intreate the charitable Reader to enlarge in the Closset of his own heart for his folly hee confesses in medling so meanly with such waighty matters being blinded by eager affection hee lost the fight of his great inability to the worke When hee first set Pen to Paper as the Lord surrounded his chosen Israel with dangers deepe to make his miraculous deliverance famous throughout and to the end of the World so here behold the Lord Christ having egged a small handfull of his people forth in a forlorne Wildernesse stripping them naked from all humane helps plunging them in a gulph of miseries that they may swim for their lives through the Ocean of his Mercies and land themselves safe in the armes of his compassion CHAP. III. Of the Lords great deliverance of his New England People from the flouds of Errors that were bursting in among them AS for the great Mountaine of proud erronious judgement on your right hand the prayer of Faith shall remove them and cast them into the depth of the Sea and for the strengthning of your faith herein because the Lord will have you depend on him in the use of his meanes not miracle hee hath purposely pitcht out for this very worke some of his most orthodox servants and chiefe Champions of his
the present in the Mount and you in the Vally fighting yet surely they had neede of helpe to hold up their hands whereas the nerenesse of the danger to you in the enemies overcoming is a great motive to keepe up yours stedy yet may you say rightly to the Churches of Christ here as Mordachy to Hester the Queene if you hold your peace deliverance shall come another way and thinke not to escape because you are in New England Assuredly the Lord is doing great things and waites for the prayers of his people that he may be gratious unto them and veâ—ily the poore Churches of Christ heere cannot but take notice of the great workes the Lord hath done for you of late which are famous throughout the whole World And should they not take them as an answer of these weake prayers they feare they should neglect to magnify his mercy toward you and them the noble acts of the Lord Christ for the freedome of his people from that into lerable Prelaticall bondage are almost miraculously committed to memory by the able servants of Christ whom hee hath stirred up for that very end yet must you not shut out the valiant souldiers of Christ disciplin'd in this unwonted Wildernesse from having share with you in the worke yet no farther but that Christ may be all in all who hath caused the Midianites to fight against Midian till the true Israelites had gathered themselves together hee it is that hath brought the counsells of the wicked to naught hee it is that hath discovered the secret ploâ—tings of the King of Assyria even in his Bed-chamber Hee it is that hath declared himself to be with your mighty men of valour and assuredly all you valiant Souldiers of Christ both in one England and the other the Lord hath shewed you as great signes and wonders for the strengthening of your faith as was the wetting and drying of the flâ—ece to Gedeon onely beware of setting up an Ephod in the latter end Let the Churches of Christ be set up according to his first institution or you will make double worke for all may see by what is done already there is nothing too hard for him hee will downe with all againe and againe till his Kingdom alone be exalted for the which all the Israel of God fight wrastle pray and here you may see the servants of Christ fighting at 900 leagues distant Oh you proud Bishops that would have all the World stoope to your Lordly power the heathen Romans your predecessors after they had banished John to the Isle of Pathmos suffered him quietly to injoy the Revelation of Jesus Christ there here is a people that have betaken themselves to a newfound World distanced from you with the widest Ocean the World affords and yet you grudge them the purity of Christs Ordinances there No wonder then nay wonder all the World at the sudden and unexpected downfall of these domineering Lords who had Princes to protect them armes to defend them and almost three whole Kingdomes at their command and no enemy of theirs in sight onely there appeares a little cloud about the bignesse of a mans hand out of the Westerne Ocean I but the Lord Christ is in it out of Sion the perfection of beauty hath God shined Our God shall come and shall not keepe silence a Fire shall devour afore him mighty tempests shall be moved round about him Now gather together you King-like Bishops and make use of all the Kingly power you can for the cloud is suddenly come up he rode upon Cherub and did flie And now let the Children of Sion rejoyce in their King for the Lord hath pleasure in his people hee will make the meeke glorious by deliverance And that the whole Earth may know it is the Lords owne worke the Arch-prelate and his complices must begin to war with the Scots and that implacably the Prelates desire a Parliament thinking to establish iniquity by a Law but the iniquity of the Ammorites is already full and all your cunning counsells shall but contrive your owne destruction They remonstrant against all Acts of Parliament that passe without their Vote and by this means wind out themselves for ever voting more they devise how they may have such persons committed to prison at favour not their proceeding But the Lord turned their mischiefe they had conceived upon their own pates and they themselves were sent to prison by halfe a score at a time And such was the unsavourynesse of this seeming salt that it was good for nothing but to Lord it over others their tyranny being taken out of their hands they could not indure to be commanded by any And therefore unfit for the war which they stirred up to recover the people againe under their bondage yet such was the madnesse of some that they loved their servitude so well as to fight for it but surely such had never rightly knowne the service of the Lord Christ which is perfect freedome from all such tyrannous yoâ—ks and verily just it is with the Lord to cause such to be servants unto Shishak that they may know the service of the Lord and the service of the Kingdomes of the Country But however an Army is raised to defend their Lordly dignity Let the Saints be joyfull with glory let the high Acts of God be in their mouths and a two edged Sword in their hands to bind their Kings in chaines and their Nobles in setters of Iron the Charets of the Lord are twenty thousand thousands of Angells the Lord is among them as in Sinai Kings of Armies did flee apace and now you that have borne such a wicked spirit of malignity against the people of Christ can your hearts indure and your hands wax strong in the day that he shall have to doe with you Oh you proud Prelates that boast so much of your taking the Kings part miserable partakers are you in stead of obeying him you have caused him to obey you it s writ in such great capitall letters that a child may read it what was the cause of the first raising war against the Scots which occasioned the Parliament when you saw they would not further the war as you would have them they were soone traytors in your account and prosecuted against with Army after army and was not all this to make the Scots receive your Injunctions a very fayer bottom to build a bloudy war upon that the Prelatticall power might Lord it in Scotland as they of a long time had done in England it was your Pithagorian Phylosophy that caused the King to loose his Life by perswading him his Kingly power lived in your Lordly dignity as a thing subordinate unto it and he so deeply taken with this conceit that it cost the lives of many thousands more then ever hee or his Father would doe for saving or recovering the Paâ—latine Country Experience hath taught the savage Indians among whom we live that they may and
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
by him prepared fit To help it on among our English Nation CHAP. XV. Of further supply for the Church of Christ at Waterton And a sad acceidnt fell out in Boston Towne THe Lord intending to strengthen his poore Churches here and after the overthrow of these damnable Errors to trample Satan under their feet he manifesteth his mindefulness of them in sending over fresh suplpyes againe and againe although weak and sory men in themselves yet strong in the Lord and the power of his might the last that this yeare is to be named is the reverend judicious and godly-affected Mr John Knowles who was desired of the Church of Christ at Waterton to be a two-fold cord unto them in the office of a teaching Elder with the reverend Mr. Phillips of whom you have heard in the former Book WIth courage bold and arguments of strength Knowles doth apply Gods word his stock unto Christ furnisht hath to shew his bountyes length Thee with rich gifts that thou his work mayst do New England is too scant for thy desire Inkindled is Christs truths abroad to spread Virginia may his grace to them admire That thee through Seas for their instruction led Thy labours Knowles are great far greater hee Not onely thee but all his valiant made Forth sinfull dust his Saints and Warriers be He thee upheld thy strength shall never fade John come thou forth behold what Christ hath wrought In these thy dayes great works are yet behinde Then toyle it out till all to passe be brought Christ crowne will thee thou then his glory minde To end this yeare 1639. the Lord was pleased to a send a very sharp winter and more especially in strong storms of weekly snows with very bitter blasts And here the Reader may take notice of the sad hand of the Lord against two persons who were taken in a storme of snow as they were passing from Boston to Roxbury it being much about a mile distant and a very plaine way One of Roxbury sending to Boston his servant maid for a Barber Chirurgion to draw his tooth they lost their way in their passage between and were not found till many dayes after and then the maid was fonnd in one place and the man in another both of them frozen to death in which sad accident this was taken into consideration by divers people that this Barber was more then ordinary laborious to draw men to those sinfull Errors that were formerly so frequent and now newly overthrowne by the blessing of the Lord upon the endeavour of his faithfull servants with the word of truth he having a fit opportunity by reason of his trade so soone as any were set downe in his chaire he would commonly be cutting of their haire and the truth together notwithstanding some report better of the man the example is for the living the dead is judged of the Lord alone CHAP. XVI The great supply of godly Ministers for the good of his People in New England FOr to govern and rule this little Common wealth was this year chosen the valiant Champion for the advance of Christs truh Thomas Dudly Esq and Richard Bellingham Esq Deputy Governour the freemen added to the former were about 192. this yeare the reverend Mr. Burr a holy heavenly-minded man and able gifted to preach the Word of God was exercised therein for some space of time in the Church of Christ at Dorchester where they were about calling him to the office of a teaching Elder but in a very littie time after his coming over he departed this life yet minde him you may in the following Meetre WEll didst thou minde thy Work Which caus'd thee vonter Through Ocean large thy Christ in 's Word to preach Exhorting all their faith on him to center Soules ravisht are by him in thy sweet speech Thy speech bewrayes thy heart for heaven doth look Christ to enjoy Burr from the earth is taken Thy words remaine though thou hast us forsook In dust sleep sound till Christ thy body waken There are divers others of the faithfull Ministers of Christ that came over for to further this his work somewhat before this time as the godly and reverend Mr. Rayner who was called to office in the Church of Christ at Plimoth and there remaines preaching the Word instantly with great paines and care over that flock as also the reverend and faithfull servant of Christ Jesus Mr. William Hook who was for some space of time at the Church in Taunton but now remaines called to office in the Church of Christ at Newhaven a man who hath received of Christ many gracious gifts fit for so high a calling with very amiable and gracious speech labouring in the Lord and here also the Reader may minde how the Lord was pleased to reach out his large hand of bounty toward his N. England people in supplying them abundantly with Teachers able and powerfull to break the bread of life unto them so long as their desires continued hot and zealous but after here grew a fulnesse in some even to slight if not loath the honey comb many returned for England and the Lord was pleased to take away others by death although very few considering the number but let N. England beware of an after-clap provoke the Lord no longer But seeing this yeare proved the last of the yeares of transportation of Gods people only for enjoyment of exercising the Ordinances of Christ and enlargement of his Kingdome there being hopes of great good opportunity that way at home it will be expediene onely to name some others in the Southwest parts among the lesser Colonyes and so passe on to the story And first not to forget the reverend Mr. Eaton a man of love and peace and yet godly zealous he came over with those who planted the Colony of Newhaven spending his labours in the Lord with them in Plimoth Plantation also here is to be minded the reverend Mr. Chancie a very able Preacher both learned and judicious as also the reverend able and pious M. Huet who came over this year or rather as I suppose the yeare before who did spend his time and labour with a people that came over with him at length the greatest part of them they settled downe in the Government of Canecticoe where they planted the Towne of Windsor and Church of Christ there where this gracious servant of Christ continued in his labours till the Lord laid him in his bed of rest somewhat before this time came over the reverend Mr. Smith being another of that name beside the former he laboured in the Word and Doctrine with a people at Withersfield in those parts also Mr. Henry Whitefield another Minister of the Gospel of Christ of reverend respect who being returned for England the latter of his labours the Lord assisting will sufficiently testifie his sincerity for the truth and labours of love in the Lord here may also be named the reverend Mr. Peck Mr. Saxton
supposed in this Colony about fifteen thousand acres in tillage and of cartel about twelve thousand neat and about three thousand sheep Thus hath the Lord in couraged his people with the encrease of the general although many particulars are outed hundreds of pounds and some thousands yet are there many hundreds of labouring men who had not enough to bring them over yet now worth scores and some hundreds of pounds to be sure the Lord takes notice of all his talents and will call to accompt in time This brief survey of things will be of good use when time serves in mean time you shall understand CHAP. XXII Of the manner of planting Towns and Churches in N. E. and in particular of the Church and Town at Wooburn being the three and twentieth Church of Christ in the Mattachusets Government THere was a Town and Church erected called Wooburn this present year but because all the action of this wandering people meet with great variety of censures the Author will in this Town and Church see down the manner how this people have populated their Towns and gathered their Churches that the reverend Mr. Rathbone may be better informed then when he wrote his book concerning the Churches of N. E. and all others that are experienced in the holy Scriptures may lay the actions of N. E. to the Rule and try them by the balance of the Sanctuary for assuredly they greatly desire they may be brought to the light for great is the truth and will prevail yet have they their errings as well as others but yet their imperfections may not blemish the truths of Christ let them be glorified and these his people will willingly take shame to themselves wherein they have miscarried But to begin this Town as all others had its bounds fixed by the General Court to the contenese of four miles squaâ— beginning at the end of Charles Town bounds the grant is to seven men or good and honest report upon condition that within two year they erect houses for habitation thereon and so go on to make a Town thereof upon the Act of Court these seven men have power to give and grant out lands unto any persons who are willing to take up their dwellings within the said precinct to be admitted to al common priviledges of the said Town giving them such an ample portion both of Medow and Upland as their present and future stock of cattel and hands were like to improve with eye had to others that might after come to populate the said Town this they did without any respect of persons yet such as were exorbitant and of a turbulent spirit unfit for a civil society they would reject till they come to mend their manners such came not to enjoy any freehold These seven men ordered and disposed of the streets of the Town as might be best for improvement of the Land and yet civil and religious society maintained to which end those that had land neerest the place for Sabbath assembly had a lesser quantity at home and more farther off to improve for corn of all kinds they refused not men for their poverty but according to their ability were helpful to the poorest sort in building their houses and distributed to them land accordingly the poorest had six or seven acres of Medow and twenty five of Upland or thereabouts Thus was this Town populated to the number of sixty families or thereabout and after this manner are the Towns of New England peopled the scituation of this Town is in the highest part of the yet peopled land neere upon the head-springs of many considerable rivers or their branches as the first rise of Ipswitch river and the rise of Shashin river one of the most considerable branches of Merrimeck as also the first rise of Mistick river and ponds it is very full of pleasant springs and great variety of very good water which the Summers heat causeth to be more cooler and the Winters cold maketh more warmer their Medows are not large but lye in divers places to particular dwellings the like doth their Springs their Land is very fruitful in many places although they have no great quantity of plain land in any one place yet doth their Rocks and Swamps yeeld very good food for cattel as also they have Mast and Tar for shipping but the distance of place by land causeth them as yet to be unprofitable they have great store of iron o're their meeting-house stands in a small Plain where four streets meet the people are very labotious if not exceeding some of them Now to declare how this people proceeded in religious matters and so consequently all the Churches of Christ planted in New-England when they came once to hopes of being such a competent number of people as might be able to maintain a Minister they then surely seated themselves and not before it being as unnatural for a right N. E. man to live without an able Ministery as for a Smith to work his iron without a fire therefore this people that went about placing down a Town began the foundation-stone with earnest seeking of the Lords assistance by humbling of their souls before him in daies of prayer and imploring his aid in so weighty a work then they address themselves to attend counsel of the most Orthodox and ablest Christians and more especially of such as the Lord had already placed in the Ministery not rashly running together themselves into a Church before they had hopes of attaining an Officer to preach the Word and administer the Seals unto them chosing rather to continue in fellowship with some other Church for their Christian watch over them till the Lord would be pleased to provide They after some search meet with a young man named Mr. Thomas Carter then belonging to the Church of Christ at VVater-Town a reverend godly man apt to teach the sound and wholesome truths of Christ having attained their desires in hopes of his coming unto them were they once joyned in Church-estate he exercising his gifts of preaching and prayer among them in the mean time and more especially in a day of fasting and prayer Thus these godly people interest their affections one with the other both Minister and people After this they make ready for the work and the 24. of the 6. moneth 1642. they assemble together in the morning about eight of the clock After the reverend Mr. Syms had continued in preaching and prayer about the space of four or five houres the persons that were to joyn in Covenant openly and professedly before the Congregation and messengers of divers Neighbour Churches among whom the reverend Elder of Boston Mr. Cotton Mr. VVilson Mr. Allen of Charles-Town Mr. Shepheard of Cambridg Mr. Dunster of VVater-Town Mr. Knowles of Deadham Mr. Allen of Roxbury Mr. Eliot of Dorchester Mr. Mather As also it is the duty of the Magistrates in regard of the good and peace of the civil Government to be present at
out and for the Lords assisting them against their witchery yet have they as is supposed bewitched not a few persons among whom two of the reverend Elders children These people inhabiting this Town having gathered into a Church-body called to the office of a Pastor the reverend M. Moxon who remaineth with them at this very day of whom as followeth AS thou with strong and able parts art made Thy person stout with toyl and labour shall With help of Christ through difficulties wade Then spend for him spare not thy self at all When errors crowd close to thy self and friends Take up truths sword trifle not time for why Christ call'd his people hither for these ends To tell the world that Babels fall is nigh And that his Churches through the world shall spread Maugre the might of wicked men and devils Then Moxon thou need'st not at all to dread But be aveng'd on Satan for his evils Thy Lord Christ will under thy feet him tread This year the great troubles in our native country encreaseing and that hearing prophane Esau had mustered up all the Bands he could make to come against his brother Iacob these wandering race of Jacobites deemed it now high time to implore the Lord for his especial aid in this time of their deepest distress and the rather being incouraged hereunto from former deliverances and wonderful mercies received the which they now presented before the Lord with the several branches and inlarged bounties thereof to refresh their frozen affections and move a melting heart in their barren brests that began to dry up with a lazy lethargy and therefore thrusting themselves on to the work by the loving invitation of that godly Government the Lord in his mercy had peaceably placed among them each Church in their own proper place meeting together in daies of solemn seeking of the Lords pleasing countenance in Christ the Lord in his mercy helping them after a serious acknowledgment of their own unworthiness by reason of their sinful provocations of the Lord to anger against them aggravated in that they were committed immediately upon the receipt of a multitude of marvellous mercies they acknowledg unto the Lord in the audience of the great Congregation the manner of his wonderful providence extended toward them that as Iacob professes I came over this Jordan with my staff and now have I gotten two Bands so they came over this boysterous billow-boyling Ocean a few poor scattered stones newly raked out of the heaps of rubbish and thou Lord Christ hast now so far exalted them as to lay them sure in thy Sion a building to be the wonder of the world orderly are they placed in five and forty several Churches and that in a Wilderness where civility scarce ever took place much less any Religion and now to the Lord earnestly they cry to be delivered from the cruel hands of those that would destroy both young and old the bird and her young together and as Iacobs fear was the seed of Christs Church in the posterity of Israel should be cut off and therefore pleaded the promise of the Lord in the multiplying of his seed so these people at this very time pleaded not only the Lords promise to Israel but to his only Son Christ Jesus Lord hast thou not said Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost ends of the earth for thy possession and now Lord are not these the Churches of Christ which thou hast planced for his possession and that as Rachel and Leah built the house of Israel so now shall these and the like Sister-churches spread the whole earth the Lord Christ raigning as King and Lord for ever over them Then why do the Heathen rage and the people imagin a vain thing seeing the rime of the Lords arising to have mercy upon Sion is come â—ea his appointed time is at hand and he who walks in the midst of his golden Candlesticks whose eys are as a flaming fire will not suffer his Churches to be trodden under feet of that Antichristian Lordly prelacy any longer nor yet defiled with any transformed Saint-seeming Angels of light with their painted doctrines Thus did this poor people plead with the Lord not only for themselves but for their dearly beloved brethren in England I and all that are Christs chosen people the world throughout and although they were not unmindful from day to day of them yet this year 1645. the Lord was pleased to stir up their affections in more then an ordinary manner what success their prayers have had let all that love and long to behold the beauty of Christ shining on and in his beloved Bride declare the loving kindness of the Lord toward his Churches and let all the Churches of Christ though never so â—â— more the one from the other yet joyned together in one â—hith and one Christ be frequent in prayer one for another â—ongregate together at the Throne of the Lord be present in â—pirit though absent in body these Mew-England Churches â—â—â— neer one hundred miles distant one from another and yet communicate counsel care love joy grieve with and for â—ne another dismiss some and commend others as occasiâ—n serves to the Christian care and watchfulness from one Church to another and why may not this be practised the world throughout even from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum CHAP. III. Of the opposition the Government of the Mattachusets Colony met withal by certain persons under the name of Petitioners IN place of Governor was chosen for this year Iohn Winthrop Esquire and for Deputy Governor Thomas Dudly Esquire the number of freemen were about 72. At the Court of Election there was a Petition drawn and presented to the Court by a Doctor of Physick with seven hands to it the persons were of a Linfiwolsie disposition some for Prefacy some for Presbytery and some for Plâ—bsbytery but all joyned together in the thing they would which was to stir up the people to dislike of the present Government one while envving against the constitution of the Government as not popular enough another while against the Laws or orders of this little Common-wealth as two strict and then to provoke at least the pâ—â—â—â—â—ous they tell them of great expence of the publike Treasury and intolerable taxations the matter they petitioned for was a bottom to build their quarrel upon under the name of a Presbyterian Government and this they supposed would suit well with their Bill of complaint which they intended for England not that they cared for a Presbyterian Church for had they so done they might have found out one in the country before they petitioned but because they supposed that the Parliament in England would establish that way only and therefore bore themselves bold upon it that although their seditious and scandalous words and practises should incur a penalty as none could deem any other unless it be such as are all for
will cut off from the city of the Lord the wicked doers and if any man can shew wherein any of them derogate from the Word of God very willingly will they accept thereof and amend their imperfections the Lord assisting but let not any ill affected persons find fault with them because they suit not with their own humour or because they meddle with matters of Religion for it is no wrong to any man that a people who have spent their estates many of them and ventured their lives for to keep faith and a pure conscience to use all means that the Word of God allows for maintenance and continuance of the same especially they having taken up a desolate Wilderness to be their habitation and not deluded any by keeping their profession in huggermug but print and proclaim to all the way and course they intend God willing to walk in if any will yet notwithstanding seek to justle them out of their own right let them not wonder if they meet with all the opposition a people put to their greatest straits can make as in all their undertaking their chiefest aim hath been to promote the Ordinances of Christ so also in contriving their Laws Liberties and Priviledges they have not been wanting which hath caused many to maligne their civil Government and more especially for punishing any by a Law that walk conrrary to the rule of the Gospel which they profess but to them it seems unreasonable and savours too much of hypocrisie that any people should pray unto the Lord for the speedy accomplishment of his Word in the overthrow of Antichrist and in the mean time become a Patron to sinful opinions and damnable errors that oppose the truths of Christ admit it be but in the bare permission of them CHAP. VI. Of the Lords wonder-working Providence in fitting this people with all kind of Manufactures and the bringing of them into the order of a Commonwealth ON the day of Election for Governor and Magistrates which are new chosen every year the honored John Winthrope Esquire was chosen Governor and the like honored Thomas Dudly Esquire Deputy Governor John Endicut Esquire was chosen Major-General which is an Officer the Freemen make a yearly choice of all other Military Officers stand for 〈◊〉 of life unless any be put out for misdemeanour the member of freemen added this year were about 85. the Land affording very good â—â—on stone divers persons of good â—ack and quality in England were stirred up by the provident hand of the Lord to venture their estatee upon an hon work which they began at Braintree and profited the owners little but rather wasted their stock which caused some of them to tell away the Kmainder the chief reason being the high price of labour which ordinarily was as much more as in England and in many things treble the way of going on with such a work here was not suddâ—inly to be disterned although the Steward had a very able eye yet experience nath out-stript learning here and the most quick-sighted in the Theory of things have been forced to pay prety mundly to Lady Experience for filling their heads with a sittle of her active after-wit much hope there is now that the owners may pick up their crums again if they be but made partakers of the gain in putting off England commodities at N. E. price it will take off one third of the great price they gave for labour and the price of their iron it is supposed another third is taken of the abundance of wood had for little will surely take off the residue besides land at easie rates and common land free for their use it were to be desired that those Gentlemen who have undertaken the work would consider the place where their works are namely in N. E. where the Lord Christ hath chosen to plant his Churches in to hide his people under the covert of his wings till the tyranny of Antichrist be over-passed and any that have disbursed pence for the furthering of his work shall be repayed with thousands Besides the Gentlemen that govern this Colony are very desirous to be helpful in what they may and had rather take any burthens upon themselves and the Inhabitants that in justice they ought then that those Gentlemen should be any wayes damnified The Lord is pleased also to compleat this Commonwealth abundantly beyond all expectation in all sorts of needful occupations it being for a loâ—g time the great fear of many and those that were endued with grace from above also that this would be no place of continued habitation for want of a staple-commodity but the Lord whose promises are large to his Sion hath blest his peoples provision and satisfied her poor with bread in a very little space every thing in the country proved a staple-commodity wheat rye oats peas barley beef pork fish butter cheese timber mast tar sope plank-board frames of housâ—s clabboard and pipestaves iron and lead is like to be also and those who were formerly forced to fetch most of the bread they eat and beer they drink a hundred leagues by Sea are through the blessing of the Lord so encreased that they have not only fed their Elder Sisters Virginia Barbados and many of the Summer Islands that were prefer'd before her for fruitfulness but also the Grandmother of us all even the firtil Isle of Great Britain beside Portugal hath had many a mouthful of bread and fish from us in exchange of their Madeara liquor and also Spain nor could it be imagined that this Wilderness should turn a mart for Merchants in so short a space Holland France Spain and Portugal coming hither for trade shipping going on gallantly till the Seas became so troublesome and England restrain'd our trade forbidding it with Barbados c. and Portugal stopt and took our ships many a fair ship had her framing and finishing here besides lesser vessels barques and ketches many a Master beside commoa Seamen had their first learning in this Colony Boston Charles-Town Salem and Ipswitch our Maritan Towns began to encrease roundly especially Boston the which of a poor country village in twice seven years is become like unto a small City and is in election to be Mayor Town suddainly chiefly increased by trade by Sea yet of late the Lord hath given a check to our traffique but the reason may be rendred hereafter nor hath this Colony alone been actors in this trade of venturing by Sea but New-haven also who were many of them well experienced in traffique and had good estates to mannage it Canectiso did not linger behind but put forth to Sea with the other all other trades have here fallen into their ranks and places to their great advantage especially Coopers and Shomakers who had either of them a Corporation granted inriching themselves by their trades very much Coopers having their plenty of stuff at a cheap rate and by reason of trade with forraign parts abandance of
become With scatter'd seed of man and beast thou hast Seen thy great God increase thy little sum Towns close compact in desart land hath plac't In Wilderness thy table richly spread Thy poor therein hath satisfi'd with bread While firtil lands with hunger have been pined Thy harvest hath with heaps on heaps come in Oh mourn that thou no more thy God should'st mind His gentle rod to teach thee doth begin Then wonder not that swarms of Locust fly And that earths fruits for want of moysture die A countless crew of Caterpillers craul To rob the earth of her green mantle quite Wolves only wont on lesser beasts to fall On great ones prey by day and eke by night Thy houses are consum'd with much good store By fearful fires which blustering winds blow o're Lord stay thy hand and stop my earthly mind Thy Word not world shall be our sole delight Not Medow ground but Christs rich pearl wee 'l find Thy Saints imbrace and not large lands down plight Murmure no more will we at yearly pay To help uphold our Government each way Not strive who least but who the most shall give Rejoyce will we our hearts inlarged are Those wait on th' Altar shall on Altar live Nor shall our riches their good doctrine mar Oâ—r pride of parts in thought of clear discerning No longer shall disgrace their godly learning Our meaner sort that metamorphos'd are With womens hair in gold and garments gay Whose wages large our Commonwealths work mar Their pride they shall with moderation lay Cast off their cloaths that men may know their rank Axd women that with outward deckings prank The worlds imbrace our longing lust for gain No longer shall us into corners draw Nor our large herds us from Gods house detain From fellowship of Saints who learn thy Law Thy righteous Judgments Lord do make me tremble Nor word nor rod but deep in this dissemble Two Masters Lord we will professed serve How can we Christ united be to thee When from thy Law learn'd we so greatly swarve With watry tears unclued we will be From creature-comforts Christ thou art our stay Work will and deed in us we humbly pray Oh thou my soul and every part in me Lament the Lord his worthies from the earth Takes to himself and makes our earth to be E A mourning place left destituke of mirth Are these the daies wherein that Beast shall fall Lord leave us means though thou be all in all What courage was in Winthrope it was thine Shopheards sweet Sermons from thy blessing came Our heavenly Hooker thy grace did refine And godly Burr receiv'd from thee his frame Philips didst thou indue with Scripture light And Huet had his arguings strong and right Grave Higginson his heavenly truths from thee Maveruck was made an able help to thine What Harver had thou gavest for 's people free Follow Green full of grace to work thou didst assign Godly Glover his rich gifts thou gavest Thus thou by means thy flocks from spoiling savest But Lord why dost by death withdraw thy hand From us these men and means are sever'd quite Stretch forth thy might Lord Christ do thou command Their doubled spirit on those left to light Forth of their graves call ten times ten again That thy dear flocks no damage may sustain Can I forget these means that thou hast used To quicken up my drowsie drooping soul Lord I forget and have the same abused Which makes me now with grief their deaths condole And kiss thy rod laid on with bowels tender By death of mine makes me their death remember Lord stay thy hand thy Jacobs number 's small Powre out thy wrath on Antichrists proud Thrones Here thy poor flocks that on thee daily call Bottle their tears and pity their sad groans Where shall we go Lord Christ we turn to thee Heal our back slidings forward press shall we Not we but all thy Saints the world throughout Shall on thee wait thy wonders to behold Thou King of Saints the Lord in battel stont Increase thy armies many thousand fold Oh Nations all his anger seek to stay That doth create him armies every day CHAP. X. Of the endeavours of this people of Christ to inlarge his Kingdom the world throughout and first of their preaching Christ to the Indians among whom they live THese brood of Travellers having thus through the good hand of their God upon them thus setled these Churches according to the institution of Christ and not by the will of man they now endeavour to be assisting to others The reverend Mr. Hugh Peters and his fellow-helper in Christ Mr. Wells steered their course for England so soon as they heard of the chaining up of those biting beasts who went under the name of spiritual Lords what assistance the Gospel of Christ found there by their preaching is since clearly manifested for the Lord Christ having removed that usurping power of Lordly Prelates hath now inlarged his Kingdom there and that not onely by the means of these men but by divers others both godly and eminent servants of his who never saw New-England and by divers other godly Ministers of Christ who have since gone from hence both young Students and others to the number of twenty or thereabout in the whole besides some who were eminent in the civil Government here both gracious and godly servants of Christ and some who have been Magistrates here to the number of five or six the Lord Christ grant they may all endeavour the advancement of his truths both in Churches and civil Government But before the Author cease to speak of England he is bold to say that the Lord Christ will overturn overturn overturn till he hath caused such a Government to be set up as shall become nursing fathers to his new-planted Churches The Indian people in these parts at the English first coming were very barbarous and uncivilized going for the most part naked although the country be extreme cold cold in the winter-season they are onely clothed with a Deers skin and a little bit of cloth to cover their privy part The Women for the most part are very modest although they go as naked as the Men they are generally very laborious at their planting time and the Men extraordinary idle making their squawes to carry their Children and the luggage beside so that many times they travell eight or ten mile with a burden on their backs more fitter for a horse to carry then a woman The men follow no kind of labour but hunting fishing and fowling in all which they make use of their Bowe and Arrowes to shoot the wilde creatures of the Trees as Squirrells gray and black Rockoones as for Deer they ordinarily catch them in traps with a pole bent down and a Cord at the end which flyes up and stayes their hasty course Bever Otter and Moose they catch with Traps also they are