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
the people in the several Colonies to make a yearly contribution toward it which by some is observed but by the most very much neglected the Government hath endeavoured to grant them all the priviledges fit for a Colledg and accordingly the Governour and Magistrates together with the President of the Colledg for the time being have a continual care of ordering all matters for the good of the whole This Colledg hath brought forth and nurst up very hopeful plants to the supplying some Churches here as the grrcious and godly Mr. Wilson son to the grave and zealous servant of Christ Mr. John Wilson this young man is Pastor to the Church of Christ at Dorchester as also Mr. Buckly son to the reverend M. Buckly of Concord 〈◊〉 also a second son of his whom our Native Country hath now at present help in the Ministery and the other is over a people of Christ in one of these Colonies and if I mistake not England hath I hope not only this young man of N. E. nurâ—â—ng up in learning but many more as M. Sam. and Nathaâ—â—â—l Mathers Mr. Wells Mr. Downing Mr. Bâ—rnard Mr. Alâ—â—â— Mr. Bruster Mr. VVilliam Ames Mr. Iones Another of the first fruits of this Colledg is imployed in these Western parts at Mâ—vis one of the summer Islands beside these named â—â—me help hath been had from hence in the study of Physick 〈◊〉 also the godly Mr. Sam. Danforth who hath not only stuâ—ed Divinity but also Astronomy he put forth many Almaâ—â—ks and is now called to the office of a teaching Elder in the Church of Christ at Roxbury who was one of the fellows of this Colledg the number of Students is much encreased of late so that the present year 1651. on the twelfth of the sixth moneth ten of them took the degree of Batchelors of Art among whom the Sea-born son of Mr. Iohn Cotton was one some Gentlemen have sent their sons hither from England who are to be commended for their care of them as the judicious and godly Doctor Ames and divers others This hath been a place certainly more free from temptations to lewdness then ordinarily England hath been yet if men shall presume upon this to send their most exorbitant children intending them more especially for Gods service the Justice of God doth sometimes meet with them and the means doth more harden them in their way for of late the godly Governors of this Colledg have been forced to expell some for fear of corrupting the Fountain wherefore the Author would ye should mind this following verse You that have seen these wondrous works by Sions Savier don Expect not miracle left means thereby you over-run The noble Acts Jehovah wrought his Israel to redeem Surely this second work of his shall far more glorious seem Not only Egypt but all Lands where Antichrist doth raign Shall from Jehovahs heavy hand ten times ten plagues sustainâ— Bright shining shall this Gospel come Oh glorious King of Saints Thy blessed breath confounds thy foes all mortal power faints The ratling bones together run with self-same breath that blows Of Israels sons long dead and dry each joynt there sinew grows Fair flesh doth cover them veins lifes feuntain takes there platâ— Smooth seamless coats doth cloath their flesh and all their structure grace The breath of Life is added they no Antinomians are But loving him who gives them life more zealous are by far To keep his Law then formerly when righteousnesse they sought In keeping that they could not keep which then their dowufâ— brought Their ceremonies vanisht are on Christ's all their desires Their zeal all Nations doth provoke inkindled are loves fires VVith hast on horseback bringing hometheir sons daughters they Rejoyce to see this glorious sight like Resurrections day Vp and be doing you young plants Christ calls his work unto Polluted lips touch'd with heav'ns fire about this work shall go Prostrate in prayer parents and you young ones on Christ call Suppose of you he will make use whereby that boast shall fall So be it Lord thy servants say who are at thy disposing VVith outward word work inward grace by heavenly truths disclosing Awake stand up from death to life in Christ your studies enter The Scriptures search bright light bring forth upon this hardship venter Sound doctrine shall your lips preach out all errors to confound And rid Christ's Temple from this smoke his glory shall abound Precipitant doth Dâ—gon fall his triple head off out The Beast that all the world admires by you to death is put Put hand to mouth with vehement blast your silver Trumpets sound Christ calls to mind his peoples wrongs their foes hee 'l now confoâ—nd Bestrong in God and his great might his wondrous works do tell You raised are unwonted ways observe his workings well As Jordans streams congeal'd in heaps and Jerico's high walls With Rams horns blast and Midians Host with pitcher breaking falls Like works your faith for to confirm in these great works to come That nothing now too hard may seem Jehovah would have don The rage of Seas and hunger sharp wants of a desart Land Your noble hearts have overcom what shall this work withstand Not persecutors pride and rage strong multitudes do fall By little handfuls of least dust your Christ confounds them all Not Sâ—tan and his subtil train with seeming shew reforming Another Gospel to bring forth brings damned errors swarming Your selves have seen his paint waesht off his hidden poysons found Christ you provides with Antidotes to keep his people sound There 's nought remains but conquist now through Christ's continued power His hardest works have honors most attend them every hour VVhat greater honor then on earth Christ's Legat for to bo Attended with his glorious Saints in Church fraternity Christ to behold adorning now his Bride in bright array And you his friends him to attend upon his Nuptial day VVith crowned heads as Conquerors triumphant by his side In 's presence is your lasting joy and pleasures ever bide Mr. Henry Dunstar is now President of this Colledg fitted from the Lord for the work and by those that have skill that way reported to be an able Proficient in both Hebrew Greek and Latine languages an Orthodox Preacher of the truths of Christ very powerful through his blessing to move the affection and besides he having a good inspection into the well-ordering of things for the Students maintenance whose commons hath been very short hitherto by his frugal providence hath continued them longer at their Studies then otherwise they could have done and verily it 's great pity such ripe heads as many of them be should want means to further them in learning But seeing the Lord hath been pleased to raise up so worthy an instrument for their good he shall not want for incouragement to go on with the work so far as a rustical rime will reach COuld man presage prodigious works at hand Provide he would for 's
manifested not only to our own shipping but strangers as the Mary Rose blown up in Charles River and sunk in a moment with about thirteen men slain therein As also one Capt. Chadwicks Pinnace and about four men slain therein beside what hath been formerly said touching our own shipping B The Rod of God toward us in our Maritine affairs manifested not only to our own shipping but strangers as the Mary Rose blown up in Charles River and sunk in a moment with about thirteen men slain therein As also one Capt. Chadwicks Pinnace and about four men slain therein beside what hath been formerly said touching our own shipping C Of the Lords hand against our Land affairs as is heretofore expressed and also in the suddain taking away many mens estates by fire and chiefly by a most terrible fire which happened in Charles-Town in the depth of Winter 1650. by a violent wind blown from one house to another to the consuming of the fairest houses in the Town Vnder the preâ—ance of being unequally rated many men murmure exceedingly and withdraw their shoulders from the support of Government to the great discouragement of those that govern 1651. Pride and excess in apparrel iâ— frequent in these daies when the Lord calls his people to humiliation and humble acknowledgment of his great deliverances and that which is far worse spiritual pride to shew our selves to be somebody often step â—ut of our ranks and delight in new fangled doctrines C Of the Lords hand against our Land affairs as is heretofore expressed and also in the suddain taking away many mens estates by fire and chiefly by a most terrible fire which happened in Charles-Town in the depth of Winter 1650. by a violent wind blown from one house to another to the consuming of the fairest houses in the Town Vnder the preâ—ance of being unequally rated many men murmure exceedingly and withdraw their shoulders from the support of Government to the great discouragement of those that govern 1651. Pride and excess in apparrel iâ— frequent in these daies when the Lord calls his people to humiliation and humble acknowledgment of his great deliverances and that which is far worse spiritual pride to shew our selves to be somebody often step â—ut of our ranks and delight in new fangled doctrines C Of the Lords hand against our Land affairs as is heretofore expressed and also in the suddain taking away many mens estates by fire and chiefly by a most terrible fire which happened in Charles-Town in the depth of Winter 1650. by a violent wind blown from one house to another to the consuming of the fairest houses in the Town Vnder the preâ—ance of being unequally rated many men murmure exceedingly and withdraw their shoulders from the support of Government to the great discouragement of those that govern 1651. Pride and excess in apparrel iâ— frequent in these daies when the Lord calls his people to humiliation and humble acknowledgment of his great deliverances and that which is far worse spiritual pride to shew our selves to be somebody often step â—ut of our ranks and delight in new fangled doctrines C Of the Lords hand against our Land affairs as is heretofore expressed and also in the suddain taking away many mens estates by fire and chiefly by a most terrible fire which happened in Charles-Town in the depth of Winter 1650. by a violent wind blown from one house to another to the consuming of the fairest houses in the Town Vnder the preâ—ance of being unequally rated many men murmure exceedingly and withdraw their shoulders from the support of Government to the great discouragement of those that govern 1651. Pride and excess in apparrel iâ— frequent in these daies when the Lord calls his people to humiliation and humble acknowledgment of his great deliverances and that which is far worse spiritual pride to shew our selves to be somebody often step â—ut of our ranks and delight in new fangled doctrines C Of the Lords hand against our Land affairs as is heretofore expressed and also in the suddain taking away many mens estates by fire and chiefly by a most terrible fire which happened in Charles-Town in the depth of Winter 1650. by a violent wind blown from one house to another to the consuming of the fairest houses in the Town Vnder the preâ—ance of being unequally rated many men murmure exceedingly and withdraw their shoulders from the support of Government to the great discouragement of those that govern 1651. Pride and excess in apparrel iâ— frequent in these daies when the Lord calls his people to humiliation and humble acknowledgment of his great deliverances and that which is far worse spiritual pride to shew our selves to be somebody often step â—ut of our ranks and delight in new fangled doctrines C Of the Lords hand against our Land affairs as is heretofore expressed and also in the suddain taking away many mens estates by fire and chiefly by a most terrible fire which happened in Charles-Town in the depth of Winter 1650. by a violent wind blown from one house to another to the consuming of the fairest houses in the Town Vnder the preâ—ance of being unequally rated many men murmure exceedingly and withdraw their shoulders from the support of Government to the great discouragement of those that govern 1651. Pride and excess in apparrel iâ— frequent in these daies when the Lord calls his people to humiliation and humble acknowledgment of his great deliverances and that which is far worse spiritual pride to shew our selves to be somebody often step â—ut of our ranks and delight in new fangled doctrines D An over-eager desire after the world hath so seized on the spirits of many that the chief end of our coming hither is forgotten and notwithstanding all the powerful means used we stand at a stay as if the Lord had no farther work for his people to do but every bird to feather his own nest D An over-eager desire after the world hath so seized on the spirits of many that the chief end of our coming hither is forgotten and notwithstanding all the powerful means used we stand at a stay as if the Lord had no farther work for his people to do but every bird to feather his own nest E The Lords taking away by death many of his most eminent servants from us shewes that either the Lord will raise up another people to himself to do his work or raise us up by his Rod to a more eager pursuit of his work even the planting of his Churches the world throughout The Lord converts and calls forth of their graves men to fight his battels against the enemies of his truth E The Lords taking away by death many of his most eminent servants from us shewes that either the Lord will raise up another people to himself to do his work or raise us up by his Rod to a more eager pursuit of his work even the planting of his Churches the world throughout The Lord converts and calls forth of their graves men to fight his battels against the enemies of his truth Aso Mr. William Leveriry Pastor of Sandwich Church is very serious therein and with good success Mr. Nathaneel White Mr. Patrick Copeland Mr. William Golding Rev. 17.14 * Yea every Officer hath his own proper Regiment
Princes and all that are in authority to cast downe their Crownes at the Feet of Christ and take them up againe at his command to serve under his Standard as nursing Fathers and nursing Mothers to the Churches and people of Christ when your feete are once safely set on the shores of America you shall set up and establish civill Government and pray for the prosperity thereof as you love the peace of his Churches who hath called you to this service he hath for that end shipped among you some learned in the Law of God and practised in rules of good reason or common Lawes proper to our English Nation Be sure you make choyce of the right that all people Nations and Languages who are soonly to submit to Christs Kingdome may be followers of you herein as you follow the Rule of Christ your Magistrates shall not but open the Gates for all sorts But know they are Eyes of Restraint set up for Walles and Bulworks to surround the Sion of God Oh for Jerusalem her peace see that you mind it altogether you know right well that the Churches of Christ have not thrived under the tolerating Government of Holland from whence the Lord hath translated one Church already to the place whither you are now to goe and further it is well known loose liberty cannot indure to looke Majesticall authority in the face And also you shall finde erronious persons will contend with authority for upholding truth irrationally denying it any power to condemne deceiveable Doctrines and that upon this very ground because Tyranny hath inforced error heretofore be not borne downe with a multitude neither let any flatter for preferment which to prevent honour shall be very chargeable among you yet let not any deny to beare the burden and cumber of governing this people of Christ for assuredly although their recompence fall short from man it shall not be forgotten with the Lord. Lastly CHAP. VI. How the People of Christ ought to behave themselves in War-like Discipline YOu shall with all diligence provide against the Malignant adversaries of the truth for assure your selves the time is at hand wherein Antichrist will muster up all his Forces and make war with the People of God but it shall be to his utter overthrow See then you store your selves with all sorts of weapons for war furbrish up your Swords Rapiers and all other piercing weapons As for great Artillery seeing present meanes falls short waite on the Lord Christ and hee will stir up friends to provide for you and in the meane time spare not to lay out your coyne for Powder Bullets Match Armes of all sorts and all kinde of Instruments for War and although it may now seeme a thing incredible you shall see in that Wildernesse whither you are going Troopes of stout Horsemen marshalled and therefore fayle not to ship lusty Mares along with you and see that withall dilligence you incourage every Souldier-like Spirit among you for the Lord Christ intends to archieve greater matters by this little handfull then the World is aware of wherefore you shall seeke and set up men of valour to lead and direct every Soulder among you and with all diligence to instruct them from time to time Feare not the misse of men to fill your Townes and compleat your companies for although at first struglings for truths advance there may but a small number appeare of sound judgement yet shall you not prefer any to Office whose zeale is not strong for the truth for now the minde of Christ is to put out the Name of Ammaleck from under Heaven I meane such at have persecuted the Churches and People of Christ in their low condition and assuredly unsound Saules will spare such as should not be saved from destruction Then be strong and of a good courage all you that are to fight the Lords Battaile that your Faith faile not at sight of the great Armies of Gog and Magog and as for you who shall be preferred to highest places in his New England Regiments cause your Captaine and other inferior Officers to be diligent in their severall places that you may lend helpe to your Countreymen that ere long be will see a necessity of contending for the truth as well as your selves in choyce of Military Officers Let faithfulnesse to the cause in hand courage activity and skill have the prehemency of honours for although it may seeme a meane thing to be a New England Souldier yet some of you shall have the battering and bearing down sealing winning and wasting the over-topping Towers of the Hierarchy Lieutenants Ensigne and Serjeants exceed not your places till Experience Skill and true Valour promote you to higher honour to which you shall be daily aspiring As the worthy incouragement of a Souldiers labour let Militay discipline be had in high esteeme among you Gentlemen Corporalls and fellow-Souldiers keepe your weapons in a continuall readinesse seeing you are called to fight the Battails of your Lord Christ who must raigne till hee hath put all his enemies under his Feet his glorious Victories over Antichrist are at hand never yet did any Souldier rejoyce in dividing the spoyle after Victory as all the Souldiers of Christ shall to see his judgement executed upon the great Whore and withall the Lambs bride prepared for him who comes Skipping over trampling down the great Mountaines of the Earth whose universall Government will then appeare glorious when not onely the Assyrian Babilonian Persian Grecian and Roman Monarchies shall subject themselves unto him but also all other new upstart Kingdomes Dukedomes or what else can be named shall fall before him Not that he shall come personally to Reigne upon Earth as some vainly imagine but his powerfull Presence and Glorious brightnesse of his Gospell both to Jew and Gentile shall not onely spiritually cause the Churches of Christ to grow beyond number but also the whole civill Government of people upon Earth shall become his so that there shall not be any to move the hand not dog his tongue against his chosen And then shall the time be of breaking Speares into Mattocks and Swords into Sithes and this to remaine to his last comming which will be personally to overcome the last enemies of his Saints even death which hee will doe by the word of his Mouth audibly spoken the World throughout Then all you who are now or shall hereafter be shipped for this Voyage minde the worke of Christ and not some following raigne titles of honour others eying the best Grasse-platts and best Situation for Farmes and large Accommodations crouding our Gods people from sitting down among you Wherefore above all beware of covetousnesse all you that will be admitted into these selâ—ct Bands of Christ Jesus remember Achan whereas Rams Hornes could overthrow the high and strong walles of Jericho before his theft committed after it the little number of the men of Ai could put the Host of the living God
that heare it Thus it befell as they were discoursing in the Bote they had built for shelter all of a sudden an Indian came in among them at whose speech they were all agast he speaking in the English Language Much welcome Englishmen their wonder was the greater because upon those Costes they supposed no English had so much as set foote and verily Christ had prepared him on purpose to give his people intertainment the Indian having lived in England two year or thereabout after which he returned home and at this time had wandred into those parts in company of other Indians all this and the condition of the neere adjoyning Indians hee soon discovered unto them at which they were transported beyond themselves very much what with joy and the mixture of their former feare and affection intervening with the other surprised all their senses of a sudden that long it was ere each party could take its proper place yea and beyond all this Christ Jesus by the power of his blessed Spirit did now work upon all their faculties both of Soule and Body the great impression of his present Providence might not soon be washed off with the following incumbred cares of a Defart Wildernesse but to contract they made use of the present opprotunity and by the instrumentall meanes of this Indian became acquainted and reconciled with most of the Neighbouring Indians And afterward planted a Church of Christ there and set up civill Government calling the Name of the place Plimoth under this jurisdiction there are ten Churches at this very day this being the first place any English resorted unto for the advancement of the Kingly Government of Christ in this Westerne World CHAP. IX Of the first preparation of the Marchant Adventurers in the Mattachusets NOw it will be time to returne againe to England to speake further of the people that wee left in way of preparation who in the yeare 1628. sent forth some store of servants to provide against the wants of a Desart Wildernesse amongst whom came over a mixt multitude insomuch that very little appeared of the following worke onely the much honoured Mr. John Indicat came over with them to governe a fit instrument to begin this Wildernesse-worke of courage bold undanted yet sociable and of a chearfull spirit loving and austere applying himselfe to either as occasion served And now let no man be offended at the Authors rude Verse penned of purpose to keepe in memory the Names of such worthies as Christ made strong for himselfe in this unwonted worke of his John Endicat twice Governour of the English inhabiting the Mattachusets Bay in N. England STrong valiant John wilt thou march on and take up station first Christ cal'd hath thee his Souldier be and faile not of thy trust Wilderness-wants Christs grace supplants thē plant his Churches pure With Tongues gifted and graces led help thou to his procure Vndanted thou wilt not allow Malignant men to wast Christs Vineyard heere whose grace should cheer his well-beloved's tast Then honoured be thy Christ hath thee their Generall promoted To shew their love in place above his people have thee voted Yet must thou fall to grave with all the Nobles of the Earth Thou rotting Worme to dust must turn and worse but for new birth The place picked out by this People to settle themselves in was in the bosome of the out-stretched arme of Cape Anne now called Gloster but at the place of their abode they began to build a Town which is called Salem after some little space of time having made tryall of the Sordid spirits of the Neighbouring Indians the most bold among them began to gather to divers places which they began to take up for their owne those that were sent over servants having itching desires after novelties found a reddier way to make an end of their Masters provision then they could finde meanes to get more They that came over their own men had but little left to feed on and most began to repent when their strong Beers and full cups ran as small as water in a large Land but little Corne and the poore Indians so far from relieving them that they were forced to lengthen out their owne food with Acorns and that which added to their present distracted thoughts the Ditch betweene England and their now place of abode was so wide that they could not leap over with a lope-staffe yet some delighting their Eye with the rarity of things present and feeding their fancies with new discoveries at the Springs approach they made shift to rub out the Winters cold by the Fire-side having fuell enough growing at their very doores turning down many a drop of the Bottell and burning Tobacco with all the ease they could discoursing betweene one while and another of the great progresse they would make after the Summers-Sun had changed the Earths white furr'd Gowne into a greene Mantell Now the vernall of thirty nine being come they addrest themselves to coste it as far as they durst for feare of loosing themselves or falling into the hands of unknown Indians being kept in awe by a report of a cruell people not far of called the Tarratines All this while little like-lihood there was building the Temple for Gods worship there being only two that began to hew stones in the Mountaines the one named Mr. Bright and the other Mr. Blaxton and one of them began to build but when they saw all sorts of stones would not fit in the building as they supposed the one betooke him to the Seas againe and the other to till the Land retaining no simbole of his former profession but a Canonicall Coate CHAP. X. Of the first Church of Christ gathered at Salem in the Mattachusets Government THis yeare 1629. came over three godly Ministers of Christ Jesus intending to shew his power in his peoples lowest condition as his manner is thereby to strengthen their Faith in following difficulties and now although the number of the faithfull people of Christ were but few yet their longing desires to gather into a Church was very great And therefore addressed themselves to finde out the blessed Rules of Christ for preserving herein who through the assistance of his Blessed Spirit found that the Word of God penned by the Apostles in many Epistles written to particular Churches consisting of such as are beloved Saints by calling appearing so in the judgement of Charity being tryed by the rule of the word not scandalous in their Lives for the society of such they sought and in these beginnings found very few seven being the lest number a Church can be gathered or conceived by just consequence from the Word of God Having fasted and prayed with humble acknowledgement of their own unworthinesse to be called of Christ to so worthy a worke they joyned together in a holy Covenant with the Lord and one with another promising by the Lords Assistance to walke together in Exhorting Admonishing and
Rebuking one another and to cleave to the Lord with a full purpose of heart according to the blessed Rules of his Word made known unto them and further they seeing by light of Scripture the Lord Christ ascended up on high to give gifts unto men not onely extraordinary as Apostles c. before the Canon of the Scripture was perfected but also ordinary as Pastors and Teachers and that such are to be fitted with gifts according for so mighty a worke as is the Feeding and Ruling the Flock of Christ Wherefore they Elected and Ordained one Mr. Higgingson to be Tracher of this first Church of Christ set up in those parts a man indued with grace apt to teach and mighty in the Scriptures Learned in the Tongues able to convince gain-sayers aptly applying the word to his hearers who departed this life not long after of whom it may be said The Reverend Mr. Higgingson first Pastor of the Church of Christ at Salem in New England WHat Golden gaine made Higginson remove From fertill Soyle to Wildernesse of Rocks 'T was Christs rich Pearle stir'd up thee toile to love For him to feed in Wildernesse his flocks First Teacher he here Sheepe and Lambs together First crownd shall be hee in the Heavens of all Christs Pastors here but yet Christ folke had rather Him here retaine blest he whom Christ hath call'd They also called to the Office of an Exhorting Elder Mr. Scelton a man of a gratious Speech full of Faith and furnished by the Lord with gifts from above to begin this great worke of his that makes the whole Earth to ring againe at this present day The Reverend Mr. Scelton first Pastor of the Church of Christ at Salem in New England 1630. SCelton for Christ did leave his Native soile Christ Grace first wrought for him or he had never A Pastor been in Wildernesse to toile Where Christ his Flock doth into Churches gather For five yeares space to end thy war-faire thou Must meete with wantes what wants can be to him Whose Shepheard's Christ Earths fullnesse hath for you And Heavens rich Crowne for thee with 's conquest win This Church of Christ being thus begun the Lord with the Water spouts of his tender Mercy caused to increase and fructify And now let every Eare listen and every heart admire and inlarge it selfe to the astonishment of the whole man at this wonderous worke of the great Jehovah That in thrice seven yeares after the beginning of this Worke wrought such fearfull Desolations and wonderfull Alterations among our English Nation and also in this dismall Desart wasting the naturall Inhabitant with deaths stroke and that as is former touched the Mattachusets who were a populous Nation consisting of 30000 able men now brought to lesse then 300. and in their roome and place of abode this poore Church of Christ consisting at their beginning but of seven persons increased to forty three Churches in joyne Communion one with the other professing One God One Christ and one Gospell and in those Churches about 7750. Soules in one profession of the Rules of Christ and that which makes the worke more admirable in the Eyes of all beholders mens habitations are cut out of the Woods and Bushes neither can this place be entered by our English Nation but by passing through a dreadfull and terrible Ocean of nine hundred Leagues in length CHAP. XI Of the Glorious beginnings of a thorough Reformation in the Churclses of Clorist FUrther know these are but the beginnings of Christs glorious Reformation and Restauration of his Churches to a more glorious splendor than ever Hee hath therefore caused their dazeling brightnesse of his presence to be contracted in the burning Glasse of these his peoples zeale from whence it begins to be left upon many parts of the World with such hot reflection of that burning fight which hath fired many places already the which shall never be quenched till it hath burnt up Babilon Root and Branch and now let the Reader looke one the 102. Psalme the Prophet Isaia 66. Chapter take this sharpe Sword of Christs Word and all other Scriptures of like nature and follow on yee valiant of the Lord And behold the worthies of Christ as they are boldly leading forth his Troopes into these Westerne Fields marke them well Man by Man as they march terrible as an Army with Banners croud in all yee that long to see this glorious sight see ther 's their glorious King Christ one that white Horse whose hooses like flint cast not only sparkes but flames of fire in his patâ—es Behold his Crown beset with Carbunkles wherein the names of his whole Army are written Can there be ever night in his Presence whose eyes are ten thousand times higher than the Sun Behold his swiftnes all you that have said where is the promise of his comming Listen a while hear what his herauld proclaimes Babylon is sallen is fallen both her Doctrine Lordly rabble of Popes Cardinalls Lordly-Bâ—shops Friers Monks Nuns Seminary-Priests Jesuits Ermites Pilgrims Deans Prebends Arch-Deacons Commissaries Officialls Proctors Somners Singing-men Choristers Organist Bellows-blowers Vergers Porters Sextons Beads-men and Bel-ringers and all others who never had name in the Word of God together with all her false Doctrines although they may seeme otherwise never so contradictory as Arians who deny the God-head of Christ and Gortenists who deny the Humanity of Christ Papists who thinke to merit Heaven by the Workes of the Law Antinomians who deny the Law of God altogether as a rule to walke by in the obedience of Faith and deny good works to be the Frutit of Faith Arminians who attribute Gods Election or Reprobation to the will of Man and Familists who forsake the revealed Will of God and make men depend upon strong Revelations for the knowledge of Gods Electing Love towards them Conformitants oâ— Formalists who bring in a forme of worship of their owne and joyne it with the worship God hath appointed in his Word Seekers that deny all manner of worship or Ordinances of Christ Jesus affirming them to be quite lost and not to be attained till new Apostles come CHAP. XII Of the voluntary banishment chosen by this People of Christ and their last farewell taken of their Country and Friends ANd now behold the severall Regiments of these Souldiers of Christ as they are shipped for his service in the Western World part thereof being come to the Towne and Port of Southamptan in England where they were to be shipped that they might prosecute this designe to the full one Ship called the Eagle they wholy purchase and many more they hire filling them with the seeds of man and beast to sow this yet untilled Wildernesse withall making sale of such Land as they possesse to the great admiration of their Friends and Acquaintance who thus expostulate with them What will not the large income of your yearly revenue content you which in all reason cannot chuse but be more
about 198. Ships passing the perillous Ocean of all which I heare of but one that ever miscarried yet shall you here see some of the great dangers they were in the Ship this Author came in a foggy morning anon by breake of day was ready to be steamed by a Pirate but being unready for sight they passed by others by a fog have been delivered from farther chase of them so that of this great number never did any Pirate make one shot at them according to best intelligence Their deliverance from leakes also hath been no lesse wonderfull some so neare sinking that the loving affection betweene Husband and Wife hath caused them to fould each other in their Armes with Resolution to die together and make the Sea their Grave yet not ceasing to call on the Lord their present helpe in time of need who is minded to manifest his great care for this his people to all that shall come to hear thereof And therefore directs to meanes for freeing their ships being now ready to founder in the depthlesse Ocean And further as if these deliverances were too little to expresse the tender care Christ hath of his to free them from all dangers those that occupy their businesse in the deepe and see the Wonders of God upon the waters are taken with great astonishment to behold the extraordinary hand of the most High in transportation of this people in that their Ships all of a sudden are brought so neer the ground and yet strike not their Pilots missing ofttimes of their skill on those unwandered Coasts but their Jehovah hee misses not to be an exact Pilot in the most thickest foggs and darkest nights for thus it befell The night newly breaking off her darknesse and the day-light being clouded with a grosse vapor as if nights Curtaines remained halfe shut the Sea-men and Passengers standing on the Decks suddenly fixed their eyes one a great Boat as they deemed and anon after they spied another and after that another but musing on the matter they perceived themselves to be in great danger of many great Rocks with much terror and affrightment they turned the Ship about expecting every moment to be dasht in pieces against the Rocks But he whose providence brought them in Piloted them out againe without any danger to their great Rejoycing And assuredly so extraordinarily eminent and admirable to the eyes of many beholders was the wonderfull workes in magnifying the Rich grace toward this his people in prefering them that many Masters of Ships left their See imployment for a time and chose rather to suffer the wante of a Wildernesse with the people of God than to increase their Estates in a full-fed Land and verily so taken they were that they fell down at Christs Feet and were placed by him as living stones Elect and Pretious in his Churches also many other Seamen were brought to seeke after Christ in his Ordinances by which it appeares some great worke by some far surpassing all this hath Christ ere long to doe that hee thus fitteth Instruments Then all you that occupy shipping prepare for his service who will assuredly prove the best owner that ever you went to Sea for Furthermore the condition of those persons passed the Seas in this long and restlesse Voyage if rightly considered will more magnifie the grace of Christ in this great Worke. First such were many of them that never before had made any path through the Waters no not by boat neither so much as seene a Ship others so tenderly brought up that they had little hope of their Lives continuance under such hardships as so long a Voyage must needs inforce them to indure others there were whose Age did rather call for a quiet Couch to rest them on than a pinching Cabbin in a Reeling Ship others whose weake natures were so borne downe with Disease that they could hardly craule up the Ships-side yet ventured their weake Vessells to this Westurne World Here also might you see weakly Women whose hearts have trembled to set foote in Boate but now imboldened to venter through these tempestuous Seas with their young Bâ—bes whom they nurture up with their Breasts while their bodies are tossed on the tumbling Waves also others whose Wombes could not containe their fruâ—t being ready for the Worlds-light travailed and brought forth upon this depthlesse Ocean in this long Voyage lively and strong Children yet living and like to prove succeeding Instruments in the Hands of Christ for furthering this worke among other Sea-borne Cotten now a young student in a Colledge in Cambridge being Son to that Famous and Renowned Teacher of Christ M. John Cotten by all this and much more that might be said for allmost every one you discourse withall will tell you of some Remarkeable Providence of God shewed toward them in this their Voyage by which you may see the Worke of Christ is not to bee laid aside because of difficulties CHAP. XVII Of the first leading of these People of Christ when the Civill Government was Established BUt to goe on with the Story the 12 of July or thereabout 1630. these Souldiers of Christ first set foote one this Westerne end of the World where arriveing in safety both Men Women and Children On the North side of Charles River they landed neare a small Island called Noddells Island where one Mr. Samuel Mavereck then living a man of a very loving and curteous behaviour very ready to entertaine strangers yet an enemy to the Reformation in hand being strong for the Lordly Prelaticall power one this Island he had built a small Fort with the helpe of one Mr. David Tompson placing therein foure Murtherers to protect him from the Indians About one mile distant upon the River ran a small creeke taking its Name from Major Gen. Edward Gibbons who dwelt there for some yeares after One the South side of the River one a point of Land called Blaxtons point planted Mr. William Blaxton of whom we have formerly spoken to the South East of him neare an Island called Tompsons Island lived some few Planters more these persons were the first Planters of those parts having some small Trading with the Indians for Beaver-Skins which moved them to make their aboade in those parts whom these first Troopes of Christs Army found as fit helpes to further their worke At their arrivall those small number of Christians gathered at Salem greatly rejoycing and the more because they saw so many that came chiefly for promoting the great Work of Christ in hand the Lady Arrabella and some other godly Women aboad at Salem but their Husbands continued at Charles Town both for the settling the civill Government and gathering another Church of Christ The first Court was holden aboard the Arrabella the 23. of August When the much honoured John Wintrope Esq was chosen Governour for the remainder of that yeare 1630. Also the worthy Thomus Dudly Esq was chosen Deputy Governour and Mr. Simon Brodestreet Secretary the
worthy worke begun Art thou back-bore Christ will send more and raise instead thy son His Fathers gon young Richard on here valiantly doth War For Christ his truth to their great Ruth Heathens opposers are To study thou thy mind dost how and daily good promote Saltingstall why then dost thou fly let all Gods people note That thou wilt stand in thy own Land Christ there theÌ„ strengthen thee With grace thee heate that thy retreate may for his glory be At ending day he thee array with Glory will not faile Breaking graves bands with his strong hands and free dust from death's goale Among these Troopes of Christs Souldiers came at this time the godly servant of Christ Mr. Roger Harlackenden a young Gentleman valiant in Faith and appointed by Christ to assist his people in this Desart he was chose to the Office of a Magistrate as also to be a choise Leader of their Military Forces which as yet were but in a strange posture And therefore till the yeare 1644. at which time the Countrey wis really placed in a posture of War to be in a readinesse at all times there shall not be any thing spoken concerning their Military Discipline the continuance of this Souldier of Christ was but short the Lord taking him to rest with himselfe HArlackenden among these men of nose Christ hath thie seated In warlike way Christ thee aray with zeal and love well he ated As generall belov'd of all Christ Souldiers honour thee In thy young yeares courage appeares and kinde benignity Short are thy days speÌ„t to his praise whose Church work thou must aid His work shall bide silver tride but thine by death is staid The number of Ministers that came over this yeare was about eleaven and many other like faithfull servants of Christ among whom arrived those two Reverend and laborious servants of his Mr. Norton and Mr. Shepheard of whose narrow escape you have heard the last yeare Mr. Norton was called to the Office of a Teaching Elder at the Towne of Ipswich to the Church of Christ there where Mr. Warde as yet remained in Office Also the learned labours of this Souldier of Christ are obvious to our Countreymen hee Preaching there the blessing of God hath not onely built up many in the Knowledge of Christ but also been the meanes of converting diverse soules turning them from the power of Satan to Faith in Christ whom the Lord long continue you shall further hear of Christs gratious assisting of him in the first and last Synod holden here at Cambridge and in the meane time let no man be offended that the Author quickens up his own dull effections in telling how largely the Lord hath bestowed his Graces upon these Instruments of his although sinfull dust and ashes THou Noble Norton who art honoured by Thy Christ with learned Arguments doth fill Thy mouth with might new errors to destroy And force deceivers silently to yeild Weake dust waite on thy Christ for further strength Who doth his Davids make as Angels bright To trample down his enemies at length All breake or bow unto his Kingdomes might Illettered Men and Women that doe love Preheminence condemne thy learned skill But Christ hath given his blessing from above Vnto thy workes the World with light to fill Christs faithfull servants met in Synod take Thee for their Pen-men Scriptures light to cleere With Scripture shew what Government Christ gave To 's Churches till himselfe againe appeare Here my indeared Reader I must mind thee of the industrious servant of Christ Mr. John Wilson who this yeare landed the third time upon this American shore from his Native Country where now againe by the Divine Providence of Christ hee narrowly escaped the Hunters hands being cloathed in a Country-mans habit passing from places to place declared to the people of God what great Workes Christ had already done for his people in New England which made many Christian soules long to see these admirable Acts of Christ although it were not to be injoyed but by passing through an Ocean of troubles Voyaging night and day upon the great deep which this zealous servant of Christ had now five times passed over at this time came over the Sage grave reverend and faithfull servant of Christ M. Richard Mather indued by the Lord with many Heavenly gifts of a plaine and upright spirit apt to teach full of gratious expressions and Resolvedly bent to follow the truth as it is in Jesus hee was anon after his comming called to Office in the Church of Christ at the Towne of Dorchester to assist in the Worke of the Lord with Mr. Marareck whose worke not long after was ended by death leaving Mr. Mather alone to continue the same WIth cheerfull face Mather doth toile indure In wildernesse spending the prime of 's age To build Christs Churches and soules health procure In battell thou dost deepe thy selfe ingage Marvell not Man that Mather through an host Of enemies doth breake and fighting stands It 's Christ him keepes of him is all his boast Who power gives to do and then commands With gratious speech thy Masters Message thou Declarest to all and all wouldst have submit That to his Kingdome every knee might bow But those resisthis sword shall surely hit Till age doth crown thy head with hoary hairs Well hast thou warr'd till Mathers young againe Thy son in fight his Fathers strength repairs Father and Son beate down Christs foes amaine CHAP. XXXIII Of the beginning of the Churches of Christ to be planted at Canectico and first of the Church of Christ removall to Hartford 1635. THis yeare the servants of Christ who peopled the Towne of Cambridge were put upon thoughts of removing hearing of a very fertill place upon the River of Canectico low Land and well stored with Meddow which is greatly in esteeme with the people of New England by reason the Winters are very long This people seeing that Tillage went but little on Resolved to remove and breed up store of Cattell which were then at eight and twenty pound a Cow or neare upon but assuredly the Lord intended far greater matters than man purposes but God disposes these men having their hearts gone from the Lord on which they were seated soone tooke dislike at every little matter the Plowable plaines were too dry and sandy for them and the Rocky places although more fruitfull yet to eate their bread with toile of hand and how they deemed it unsupportable And therefore they onely waited now for a people of stronger Faith than themselves were to purchase their Houses and Land which in conceipt they could no longer live upon and accordingly they met with Chapmen a people new come who having â—â—â—ught their possessions they highed them away to their new Pâ—aâ—tâ—tion With whom went the Grave and Reverend servant of Christ Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone for indeed the whole Church removed as also the much honoured Mr. Haynes divers other men of
note for the place being out of the Mattacusets Patten they erected another Government called by the Indian name Canectico being farther incouraged by two honourable personages the Lord Say and Lord Brookes who built a Forrest at the mouth of the River and called it Say-brook Forrest passing up the River they began to build a Towne which they called Hartford where this Church of Christ sat down their station there went to these parts also the Reverend Mr. Wareham and divers from the Towne of Dorchester The place of setling themselves and erecting a Towne was far upon the River the part next the Sea being very Rocky but on the banke of this River they planted the good Towne of Hartford and established civill Government of their gathering into a Church you have formerly heard Onely here minde the gratious servant of Christ Mr. Wareham whose long labours in this worke are exprest WIth length of dayes Christ crowned hath thy head In Wildernesse to mannage his great War 'Gainst Antichrist by strength of him art lead With steady hand to sling thy stone from far That groveling in his gore may lie smit downe This mighty Monster that the Earth hath taken With 's poysons sweet in cup of Gold drunke down Dead drunke those lie whom Christ doth not awaken But Wareham thou by him art sent to save With 's word of truth Christ to their soules apply That deadly sin hath laid in rotting Grave Dead live in Christ here and Eternally CHAP. XXXIV Of Cambridge second Church being the 11. of Christ gathered in the Mattacusets and of further supply for Salem Church THese people and Church of Christ being thus departed from New-towne the godly people who came in their roomes gathered the eleaventh Church of Christ and called to the Office of a Pastor that gratious sweete Heavenly minded and soule-ravishing Minister Mr. Thomas Shepheard in whose soule the Lord shed abroad his love so abundantly that thousands of souls have cause to blesse God for him even at this very day who are the Seale of his Ministrey and hee a man of a thousand indued with abundance of true saving knowledge for himselfe and others yet his naturall Parts were weake but spent to the full as solloweth NO loungr Hawke poore Patridge to devoure More eager is then Prelates Nimrod power Thomas to hunt my Shephard sweet pursue To seas brinke but Christ saves his soule for you Sending thee Shepheard safe through Seas awaie To feede his stock unto thy ending day Where sheepe seek Wolves thy bosome lambs would catch But night and day thou ceasest not to watch And Warne with teares thy flock of cheaters vile Who in sheepes cloathing would the weak beguile With dropping dewes from thy lips Christ hath made Thy hearers eyes oft water springing blade With pierced hearts they cry aloud and say Shew us sweet Shepheard our salvations way Thy lovely speech such ravishment doth bring Christ gives thee power to heale as well as sting Thou gates sets ope for Christ thy King to enter In hearts of many spirits joy to center But mourne my Muse hang downe thy head with woe With teares sighs sobs lament thy Shepheard so Why hee 's in Heaven but I one Earth am left More Earthly ' cause of him I am bereft Oh Christ why dost thou Shepheard take away In erring times when sheepe most apt to stray The many Souldiers and Officers of Christ that came over this yeare moved some wonder in the mindes of those whom he had beene pleased to give a great measure of discerning yet here they fell abundantly short deeming almost an impossibility of improving their Talents in this Wildernesse the Indian-people being uncapable of understanding their Language the English congregations that were already set downe being fully furnished with Teaching Elders and that which was most strange they were perswaded they should meet with no enemies to oppose them as if Christ would lead them forth into the Field in vaine But Christ Iesus having the hearts of all Men opened before him soon shewed them their worke and withall made roome for them to set downe I and many more beside yea and beyond expectation made this poore barren Wildernesse become a fruitfull Land unto them that waited on him for the accomplâ—shing thereof feeding them with the flower of Wheat as in its time and place God willing shall be shewed although it pleased him this yeare to visit them and try them againe with a great scarcity of Bread by reason of the multitude that came brought somewhat shorter Provisions then ordinary which caused them to be in some straites But their Lord Christ gives cut a Word of command to those who occupy their businesse in the great deepe to furnish from Ireland some Ships laden with food for his people Also hee commands the Winds and the Seas to beare up these Ships and blow them forth on their way till they arrive among his people in New England whose appetities were now sharpe-set for Bread One poore man among others deeming hee had found out some forsaken Barnes of the Indians whose manner it to lay up their Corne in the Earth lighteh one a grave where finding bones of the dead instead of Corne hee was taken with feare of this as a sad omen that hee should then die for want of food but in this hee proved no true Prophet for the Lord was pleased to bring in seasonable supply and the man is living at this very day This yeere came over the Famous servant of Christ M. Hugh Peters whose courage was not inferiour to any of these transported servants of Christ but because his native Soile hath had the greatest share of his labours the lesse will be said of him here hee was called to Office by the Church of Christ at Salem their former Pastor the Reverend M. Higging son having cnded his labours resting with the Lord. WIth courage bold Peters a Souldier stout In Wildernesse for Christ begins to war Much worke he finds mongst people yet hold out With fluent tongue he stops phantastickjar Swife Torrent stayes of liberties large vent Through crooked wayes of error daily flowing Shiloes soft streames to bath in would all bent Should he while they in Christian freedome growing But back thou must thy Talents Christs will have Improved for him his glory is thy crowne And thou base dust till he thee honour gave It matters not though the world on thee do frown CHAP. XXXV Of the Twelfth Church of Christ gathered at Concord YEt further at this time entered the Field two more valiant Leaders of Christs Souldiers holy men of God Mr. Buckly and M. Jones penetrating further into this Wildernesse then any formerly had done with divers other servants of Christ they build an Inland Towne which they called Concord named from the occasion of the present time as you shall after heare this Towne is seated upon a faire fresh River whose Rivulets are filled with fresh Marsh and her streames
what a spirit of giddinesse they were given up to and some of them to strong delusions even to most horrid and damnable blasphemies having itching eares or rather proud desires to become Teachers of others when they grosly erred in the first Principles of Religion themselves There was a man in one of the farthest Townes of the Mattacusets Government where they had no Ministers for the present he being much desirous to shew himfelfe some body in talking to as many as hee could get to hear him one the Sabbath day missing some of his Auditors he meets with one of them some few dayes after they passing over the water together where were you quoth he on the Sabbath day that you were not at the meeting we had a notable piece of Prophecy quoth the man that was missing who was it that Preached The other replying not his Wife being in presence answered it was my husband nay wife quoth he thou shoulds not have told him teach him to stay at home another time By this and divers other such like matters which might be here inserted you may see how these Sectaries love the preheminence and for this end seeke to deprive the Ministers of Christ invâ—igling as many as they can in the head that they take to much upon them just like the rebellious Korath Dathan and Abiram scoffing at their Scholler-like way of Preaching wherein the grosse dissimulation of these erronious persons hath appeared exceedingly as for instance first of a Woman even the grand Mâ—stâ—is of all the rest who denied the Resurrection from the dead shee and her consorts mightily rayling against learning perswading all they could to take heed of being spoyled by it and in the meane time shee her selfe would dispute forsooth and to shew her skill that way here is a falacy quoth she in this syliogisme as also one of the Gortonists as shallow a pated Scholler as my selfe far from understanding Latine much lesse any other Language the Scriptures were writ in yet when hee would hold out some of the best of his false Doctrines as namely that there were no other Devills but wicked men nor no such thing as sin Quoth he that place in the fourth Psalme where men commonly read stand in awe and sin not in the originall it is read stand in awe and misse not But to go on at this time there were many strange Revelations told both of Men and Women as true some of them said as the Scripture so that surely had this Sect gone on awhile they would have made a new Bible and their chief Mistris when she was shipt for N. England what will you say quoth she and it hath beene revealed to me that we shall be there in six weekes and one of the femall Gortonists said she was a Prophâ—tesse and it was revealed unto her that shee must prophecy unto the People in the same words the Prophet Ezekiel did as also a lusty big man to defend this tenent held forth to his Pastor before the whole Congregation that the spirit of Revelation came to him as he was drinking a pipe of Tobacco The fourth dividing way to bring in their Heresies was to devide betweene Christ and his Ordinances and here they plaid their game to purpose even to casting down of all Ordinances as carnall and that because they were polluted by the Ordinance of man as some of these Sectaries have said to the Minister of Christ you have cast off the crosse in Baptisme but you should do well to cast off Baptisme it selfe as also for the Sacrament of the Lords Supper for to make use of Bread or the juce of a silly Grape to represent the Body and Bloud of Christ they accounted it as bad as Negromancy in the Ministers of Christ to peâ—forme it But seeing there will be occasion to bring in a bedroule of these Blasphemies in the yeare 43 and 44 take the lesse here onely minde that these persons being first bewildred in the deniall of Infants being Baptized could neither finde right faith to be Baptized into nor yet any person rightly constituted to Baptize remaining Seekers they came to this but yet here must not be omitted the slights these Erronists had to shoulder out the Officers Christ hath ordained and set up in his Churches and verily in this point they sided directly with the Papist and Prelates although in most of the other they went directly out of the way on the other hand Ignorance say the Papist is the Mother of devotion it s better say the Protestant Prelates to have a blind siâ— John one that cannot tell how to Preach provided he will conforme to our Ceremonies than to have one that will Presch constantly and not conforme also these Erronist shewing themselves to be whelps of the same litter Cry out against a learned Presbitery as the onely way to captivate liberty and herein the transformed Devill came to shew his Hornes for why his errors would not take where the people were followers of their seeing guids and if it be well noted here is the Master-piece of all their knavery the which comes in after this manner The Lording Prelacy Popes Cardinalls Bishops Deanes c. Were ordinarily brought up at the University to learning and have most tyrannically abused it usurping over the People of Christ and exercised most inhumane and barbarous cruelty upon them as also the Presbyterian Kirke by these Provinciall Classes men of learning having robbed the particular Congregations of their just and lawfull priviledges which Christ hath purchased for them Each Congregation of his being invested with full power to Administer all the Ordinances he hath ordained in and toward their owne Members and further learned men in some places feeding the people for their Tith-sake in a Parishioniall way desire the upholding thereof lest their fat Benefices should grow leane Now the Redemption of the people of Christ out of all these bondages being full of difficulty to attaine as is abundantly witnessed in the great hardship Gods people have undergon in this Wildernesse-worke as also much more by that bloudy war so long continved in our Native Country and the two adjacent Kingdomes This makes a very faire bottome for those to build upon who would have the sluce of authority in the Officers of Christs Churches plucked up that so their errors might flow in like a floud And therefore they impannell a Jury of their own Sectaries to passe upon all such as put a higher esteem upon their Pastors and Teachers in point of discerning the holy things of God then upon other men who returne in their Verdit as finding them guilty of the crime above expressed either as party or privy abetters unto them upon this the Vote goes for advancing such men as will let them out line enough for such as will worke without wages and give to every man liberty to exercise a large conscience provided it be his own and as for authority they would
all the thundering Bulls excomunicating Lordly censures and shamefull penalties of all the Lording Churches in the World and such shall be and is the efficacy of this intire love one to another that the withdrawing of any one Church of Christ according to the Rule of the word from those that walke inordinatly will be more terrible to the Church or Churches so forsaken then an Army with Banners yea and it may be added because civill Government is like to turne nurse in more places then one this royall Law of love shall become the Law of Nations and none will suffer their subjects to rebell against it but to our beloved brethren in England on the other hand the Reverend Mr. Burroughs Mr. Goodwin c. This seemeth you have apprehended our Churches and civill Government to be too strict in dealing with persons for their sinfull opinions I wish the offenders be none of your intelligencers who to be sure will make the worst of things I know you are in charity with us And therefore a few words will satisfie which I hope you want not from your good friends our Reverend Elders who could wish you as much happinesse as our selves to expell error before it grew to that height to cry downe the sound and wholesome truths casting durt on our Orthodox and godly Ministery I wish you open your mouths wide enough to be filled with this blessing the Lord hath done great and unexpected things for you and why not this one and twenty yeares experience hath taught us that Errors and Heresies are not broached and held out here by tender consciences such as are weak in the Faith but by such as think them Scholers of the upper forme such as would teach the most ablest Christian among us another Gospell and further we finde our Erronist wanting a common enemy to contend withall as you have fallen foule of our godly Magistrates and Ministers and will not suffer us quietly to injoy the Ordinance of Christ for which wee hither camâ— buzzing our people in the eare with a thing they call liberty which when any have tasted a smack of they can no more indure to hear of a Synod or gathering together of able and Orthodox Christians nor yet of communion of Churches but would be independant to purpose and as for civill Government they deem Religion to be a thing beyond their Sphere CHAP. XLV Of the civill Government in N. England and their nurture of the people upon their tender knees THe vernall of the yeare 1637. being now in his prime and as the season of the yeare grew hotter so the minds of many were hot in the eager pursuite of their selfe conceited opinions and verily had not authority stept in it was much to be doubted they would have proceeded from words to blowes great hold and keepe there was about choice of Magistrates this yeare the choyce being retarded by a paper call'd a Petition but indeed a meere device to hinder the election till the erronious party were strengthened their number increasing daily but the Lord Christ gratiously providing for the peace of his people toward the end of the day the honoured John Winthrope Esquire was chosen Governour and Thomas Dudly Esq Deputy Governor the number of free-men added this year was about 1 25. Here according to promise the Reader shall have an accoumpt of the civill Government of this little Common-wealth as their whole aime in their removall from their Native Country was to injoy the liberties of the Gospell of Christ so in serving up civill Government they daily direct their choice to make use of such men as mostly indeavour to keepe the truths of Christ pure and unpsotted and assuredly they can digest any wrongs or injuries done them in their estates or trade better then the wresting of their right in the freedome of the Gospell out of their hands and this the Erronist knowing right well to save their heads whole perswade men it is not for civill Government to meddle with matters of Religion and also to helpe out with their damnable Doctrines they report it in all places where they be come that New England Government doth persecute the people and Churches of Christ which to speake truth they have hitherto beene so far from that they have indeavoured to expell all such beasts of prey who will not be reclaimed that here might be none left to hurt or destroy in all Gods holy Mountaine and therefore are ready to put the Churches of Christ in minde of their duty herein yea and sometimes going before them in their civill censures that they may not onely professe the truth but also hate every false way not that they would compell men to believe by the power of the Sword but to indeavour all may answer their profession whether in Courch Covenant or otherwise by knowing they beare not the Sword in vaine Neither doe they exercise civill power to bring all under their obedience to a uniformity in every poyne of Religion but to keepe them in the unity of the spirit and the bond of peace nor yet have they ever mixed their civill powers with the authority peculiarly given by Christ to his Churches and Officers of them but from time to time have laboured to uphold their priviledges and only communion one with another The chiefe Court or supreame power of this little Common-wealth consists of a mixt company part Aristocracy and part Democracy of Magistrates that are yearly chosen by the major Vote of the whole body of the Free-men throughout the Country and Deputies chosen by the severall Townes they have hitherto had about 12. or 13. Magistrates in the Colony of the Mattacusets the other Colonies have not above five or six they have hitherto beene Volunteers governing without pay from the people onely the Governor of the Mattacusets hath some yeares 100 l. allowed him and some years lesse many of the Magistrates are already remembred yet with some of the first came hither Mr. Simon Brodestreet in this short Meeter is he remembred NOw Simon yong step in among these worthies take thy place All day to toile in vinyard while Christ thee upholds with grace Thee wisdom grave betime he gave and tongue to utter it That thou mightst be a blessing free and for this calling fit Thy counsell well advis'd dost tell with words ordered compleat Thy memory doth amplifie meeting with matters great Broad liberty do thou deny Brodstreet Christ would thee have For 's truth contend strong reason spend it from aspersion save He furnish't thee with these gifts free to last he must them make Still adding more to thy old store till he thee to him take The Lord was pleased to furnish these his people with some able instruments in most of their Townes that were skill'd in Common-wealth work out of which they chose their Deputies whose number was ordinarily between 30. and 40. some of them there will be occasion to speake of among their Military
truth able through his mercy to weld that bright Weapon of his Word prepared by the spirit for this purpose to bring to the block these Traytours to his truths one by one and behead them before your eyes and for this very end they are to gather together as one Man in a Synodicall way with a decisive power to undoe all the cunning twisted knots of Satans Malignity to the truths of Christ opening the Scriptures by the power of his spirit cleering Scripture by Scripture that nothing but the pure Word of God may take place and that you may assuredly believe the Lord hath purposely called his Servants and Souldiers to this place by his Providence to cut off this cursed spirit of Errours and Heresies which hath but at first dog'd all Reformed Churches of Christ There are for your further aid herein many more of these sincere Souldiers floating upon the great Ocean toward you who will be with you before this Synod is set that you may declare it in the Eares of all posterity to be the very Finger of God in catching the proud in their owne craftinesse who had hatch't their devices thus to cast all the Ministers of Christ except some one or two under this censure of being prejudiced against their persons and for the little remnant to labour with flattery to blinde their eyes that at least they might not be against them Seeing they could not procure them to take their part to be sure when the grossenesse of their Errors were made known they would not by this meanes having their hopes exalted in their owne apprehensions at least to gaine the most of the people on their side The Lord casts them downe from the proud Pinacle of their Machiavilian Plot by bringing in more men of courage uninterested yea unknown to most of their persons but for their errors as strong to confute them as any and more fit to wipe off the fiâ—me from the eyes of some of their brethren which these Erronists by their Syccophancy had clouded The time for the meeting of this Synod was to be in the seventh month following commonly called September the civill government well approving of their desires herein were very willing to further them all they could and in the 〈◊〉 time it was the worke of these valiant of the Lord to search out not for men and Womens persons but their errors which they gathered up from all parts willing all that would or could defend them to use their best meanes like as John when he was to execute the judgements of the Lord upon Ahabs bloudy household would have had his servants defend their Masters Children if they could onely you must understand there was but 70. Sons and here was 80. Errors of which you shall further hear when the time comes CHAP. IV. Of the abundant mercies of Christ in providing liberall supply for his New England People in regard of their outward man Food Rayment and all other necessaries and conveniencies NOw for the hardships on the left hand they had as good an answer as in the former their Christ had not saved their lives from the raging Seas to slay them in the Wildernesse with Famine your life is much more pretious in the eyes of the Lord then food and your bodies then rayment yea the Lord of Heaven who hath honoured you so far as to imploy you in this glorious worke of his knowes you must have these things and it was not you deare hearts that chose this place but the Lord as seeing it most fit to doe his worke in knowing that had you met with a Rich Land filled with all plenty your heart would have beene taken off this worke which he must have done But to strengthen your Faith in this point also you shall see hee who commanded the Fruits to spring out of the Earth when none were can much more cause this corner of the Earth to be fruitfull to you and this you shall attaine by meanes although hee have caused the Foules of the Aire and Grasse of the Field to depend upon him in a more immediate manner yet you hath he taught to Sow Reape carry into Barnes and Spin and indeed herein the Lord hath answered his people abundantly to the woâ—der of all that see or hear of it And that whereas at their 〈◊〉 comming it was a rare matter for a man to have foure or five Acres of Corne now many have four or five score to prevent men from Sacrificing to their Nets the Lord hath taught them to labour with more ease to great admiration also inlarg'd it for it was with sore labour that on man could Plane and tend foure Acres of Indians Graine and now with two Oxen hee can Plant and tend 30. B sides the Lord hath of late altered the very course of the Heavens in the season of the weather that all kinde of graine growes much better then heretofore Insomuch that Marchandizing being stopped at present they begin question what to do with their Corne. CHAP. V. Of the wonderfull deliverance wrought by the Lord Christ for his poore New England Churches in freing them from the fear of their Malignant adversaries who forc't them to this Wildernesse ANd now to the third and great distresse which lay behind them by reason of their back friends the Lording Bishops and other Malignant adversaries being daily exasperated against them and in especiall at this time by one Merton who named himselfe the Host of Merrimount who wanted not malice could he possible have attained meanes to effect it But the Lord Christ prevented both him and his Masters whom with slattery he sought to please with scurrillous deriding the servants of Christ to bring them into contempt yet the Lord prevented all and delivered this wretched fellow into his peoples hands againe after all this who dealt as favourably with him as David did with Shimmei Besides this the evill usage that many of the beloved servants of Christ had from the hands of those in office at their departure declared plainely that there were some who would willingly have pursued them to bring them under bondage againe herein their answer was that they should stand still and see the salvation of the Lord who was now resolved to fight for them against his and their implacable enemies although more mighty than they and indeed all meanes of resistance in the hand of man being so small that it could not possible bee discerned by any morcall eye yet will the Lord worke by means and not by miracle when the Lord called forth Joshua to fight with Amaleck his Moses must be in the Mount at Prayers seeing this answer deeply concernes the dearly beloved of our Lord Christ remaining in England let them listen to the answer Also how came it to passe that the Lord put it into your hearts to set upon a Reformation was it not by prayer attained You are not excluded although the Churches of Christ here are for
to cast downe many a strong fort erected by the Sectaries but the Lord Christ would not suffer this blow to be given intending all people by way of restitution for their slanderous reports cast upon his New England Churches as being the inlet to Errours shall honour them with this victorious coâ—quest given them by Christ herein yet willing they would their brethren in England might win the prize by out-stripping them more abundantly in length bredth and height which the same God is able to performe that hath been thus abundantly good to us About this time the Churches of Christ began to be diligent in their duty and the civil government in looking after such as were like to disturb the peace of this new erected government some persons being so hot headed for maintaining of these sinfull opinions that they feared breach of peace even among the Members of the superiour Court but the Lord blessing them with agreement to prevent the wofull effects of civill broyles those in place of government caused certain persons to be disarmed in the severall Townes as in the Towne of Boston to the number of 58. in the Towne of Salem 6. in the Towne of Newbery 3. in the Towne of Roxbury 5. in the Towne of Ipswitch 2. and Charles Towne 2. others there were that through the help of the faithfull servants of Christ came to see how they had beene mâ—sled and by the power of Christ in his Word returned againe with an acknowledgement of their sinne but others there were who remained obstinate to the disturbing of the civill power and were banished of whom you shall heare farther hereafter Some of the Churches of Christ being more indulgent waited long ere they fell upon the work and here you must tak notice that the Synod Civil Government and the Churches of Christ kept their proper place each moving in their own sphear and acting by their own light or rather by the revelation of Jesus Christ witnessed by his Word and Spirit yet not refusing the help of eacg other as some would willingly have it some of the Churches prosecuting the Rule of Christ against their hereticall Members were forced to proceed to excommunication of them who when they saw whereto it would come they would have prevented it with lying but the Lord discovered it and so they were justly separated from the Churches of Christ for lying which being done they fell to their old trade againe CHAP. VIII Of the planting the fourth Colonie of New Englands godly Government called New-Haven THe Lord Christ having now in his great mercy taken out of the way these mountains that seemed in the eye of Man to block up his Churches further proceedings they had now leisure to welcome the living stones that the Lord was pleased to adde unto this building and with thankfull acknowledgment to give him of his owne for his mercyes multitude whose was the work in planting not onely more Churches but another Colony also for the honoured Mr Eaton being accompanied with many worthy persons of note whom the Lord had furnished with store of substance for this wildernesse-work although they would willingly have made their abode under the government of the Mattachusets yet could they finde no place upon the Sea-coasts for their settling the Lord intending to enlarge his peoples border caused them after much search to take up a place somewhat more southwardly neare the shalles of Cape-cod where they had very flatt water yet being entred in they found commodious harbour for shipping and a fit place to erect a Towne which they built in very little time with very faire houses and compleat streets but in a little time they overstockt it with Chattell although many of them did follow merchandizing and Maritime affairs but their remotenesse from the Mattachusets Bay where the chiefe traffique lay hindred them much Here did these godly and sincere servants of Christ according to the rule of the Word gather into Church Estate and called to the office of a Pastor the reverend judicious and godly Mr John Davenport of whom the Author is bold to say as followeth WHen Men and Devils 'gainst Christs flock conspire For them prepar'd a deadly trapping net Then Christ to make all men his work admire Davenport he doth thee from thy Country fet To sit in Synod and his folk assist The filthy vomit of Hels Dragon deepe In earths womb drawn blest they this poyson mist And blest the meanes doth us from error keep Thy grave advice and arguments of strength Did much prevaile the Erronist confound Well hast thou warr'd Christ drawes thy dayes in length That thou in learn'd experience maist abound What though thou leave a city stor'd with pleasure Spend thy prime dayes in heathen desart land Thy joy 's in Christ and not in earthly treasure Davenport rejoice Christs Kngdome is at hand Didst ever deem to see such glorious dayes Though thou decrease with age and earths content Thou live'st in Christ needs then must thy joy raise His Kingdome 's thine and that can ne'r be spent This Church and Town soon procur'd some Sisters to take part with her and among them they erected a godly and peaceable Government and called their frontier towne New haven of which the Government is denominated being inhabited by many men eminent in gifts for the populating thereof and managing of affaires both by Sea and Land they have had some shipping built there but by the sad losse of Mr. Lambertons ship and goods also they were much disheartned but the much honoured Mr. Eaton remaines with them to this very day THou noble thus Theophilus before great Kings to stand More noble far for Christ his war thou leav'st thy native land With thy rich store thou cam'st on shore Christs Churches to assist What if it wast thou purchast hast that Pearl that most have mist Nay rather he hath purchast thee and whatsoever thou hast With graces store to govern o're his people he thee plac't Our State affaires thy will repaires assistant thou hast bin Firm league to make for Gospels sake four Colonyes within With Sweads French Dutch and Indians much Gods peoples peace this bred Then Eaton aye remember may the Child that 's yet unfed This government of New-haven although the younger Sister of the foure yet was she as beautifull as any of this broode of travellers most minding the end of her coming hither to keep close to the rule of Christ both in Doctrine and Discipline and it were to be wished her elder Sister would follow her example to nurture up all her children accordingly here is not to be forgotten the honoured Mr Hopkins who came over about this time a man of zeale and courage for the truths of Christ assisting this blessed work both in person and estate for the which the Author cannot forget him being oft in commission for the good of all the united Colonyes HOpkins thou must although weak dust for this great work
prepare Through Ocean large Christ gives thee charge to govern his with care What earthen man in thy short span throughout the world to run From East to West at Christs behest thy worthy work is done Vnworthy thou acknowledge now not unto thee at all But to his name be lasting fame thou to his work doth call CHAP. IX Of the planting the fourteenth Church of Christ under the governmen of the Mattachusets Bay called Dedham THe latter end of this yeare 't was the Towne of Dedham began an inland Towne scituate about ten miles from Boston in the County of Suffolk well watred with many pleasant streames abounding with Garden fruits fitly to supply the Markets of the most populous Towne whose coyne and commodities allures the Inhabitants of this Towne to make many a long walk they consist of about a hundred Families being generally given to husbandry and through the blessing of God are much encreased ready to swarme and settle on the building of another Towne more to the Inland they gather into a Church at their first settling for indeed as this was their chiefe errand so was it the first thing they ordinarily minded to pitch their Tabernacles neare the Lords Tent To this end they called to the office of a Pastor the reverend humble and heavenly-minded Mr. John Allen a man of a very courteous behaviour full of sweet Christian love towards all and with much meeknesse of spirit contending earnestly for the faith and peace of Christs Churches ALL you so slâ—te Christs sanctifying grace As legall workes what Gospel-work can be But sinne cast out and spirits work in place They justifyed that Christ thus reigning see Allen thou art by Christs free spirit led To warre for him in wildernesse awhile What doe for Christ I man thou art in 's stead Sent to beseech in 's Vineyard thou must toyle John Allen joy thou sinfull dust art taken To spend thy dayes in exile so remote Christs Church to build of him that 's ne'r forsaken Nor thou for now his truths thou must promote He guides thy tongue thy paper pen and hands Thy hearts swift motion and affections choice Needs thou thus lead must doe what he commands And cry aloud when he lifts up thy voice Seven yeares compleat twice told thy work hath bin To feed Christs flock in desart land them keep Both thou and they each day are kept by him Safe maist thou watch being watcht by him ne'r sleeps This Church of Christ hath in its bosome neere about 70. souls joyned in Covenant together and being well seasoned with this savoury salt have continued in much love and unity from their first foundation hitherto tanslating the close clouded woods into goodly corn-fields and adding much comfort to the lonesome travellers in their solitary journey to Canectico by eying the habitation of Gods people in their way ready to administer refreshing to the weary CHAP. X. Of the planting of the fifteenth Church of Christ at the Towne of Waymoth THe Twone and Church of Christ at Waymoth had come in among the other Townes before this as being an elder Sister but onely for her somewhat more then ordinary instability it is battered with the brinish billows on the East Rocks and Swamps to the Southwest makes it delightfull to the nimble tripping Deere as the plowable places of Medow land is to the Inhabitants This Towne was first founded by some persons that were not so forward to promote the Ordinances of Christ as many others have been they desired the reverend Minister of Christ Mr. Gennors to be helpfull in preaching the Word unto them who after some little space of time not liking the place repaired to the Eastern English but the people of this place after his departure being gathered into a Church they called to office the reverend and godly Mr Newman but many of them unwilling to continue in this Towne as supposing they had found a fitter place for habitation removed into the next Government carrying with them their Pastor by which means the people that were left behinde were now destitute and having some godly Christians among them who much desired the sincere milk of the Word that they might grow thereby upon diligent use of meanes they found out a young man able gifted for the work brought up with the reverend and judicious Mr. Chancie called Mr. Thomas Thatcher Yet againe after some few yeares for want of sufficient maintenance with mutuall consent they parted with him and are forced to borrow help of their Neighbours wherein all of them to the Author is bold to say as followeth OH people reason swayes mans actions here You sanctifyed o're these long seas doth look With heavenly things your earthly toyle to cheere Will lose the end for which this toyle you tooke Christ comes in 's Word let their bright feet abide Your Towne among whose grace and gifts excell In preaching Christ it 's he your hearts hath try'd They want no store that all for him doe sell Gennors dost love thy Christ I hope he 's deare Belov'd of thee he honour'd would thee have To feed his flock while thou remainest here With 's Word of truth thy soule and others save With little flock doth Newman pack away The righteous lips sure might a many feed Remov'st for gaine it's most where most men stay Men part for land why land least helps at need Thatcher what mean'st to leavs thy little flock Sure their increase might thee much profit bring What leave Christs Church it's founded on a rock If rock not left their ebb may suddain spring Pastor and People have you both forgot What parting Paul and Christs deare people had Their loves melt teares it 's ve'mently so hot His heart-strings break to see his folk so sad This yeare came over besides the former for the furthering of this blessed work of Christ Mr. William Tompson Mr. Edm Browne and Mr. David Frisk who were called to office in severall Churches as you shall after hear And now to end this yeare that abounded in the wonder-working Providence of Christ for his Churches in the exaltation of his truths that all may take notice the Lord cast in by the by as it were a very fruitfull crop insomuch that from this day forward their increase was every yeare more and more till the Country came to feed its owne Inhabitants and the people who formerly were somewhat pincht with hunger eat bread to the full having not onely for their necessity but also for their conveniency and delight CHAP. XI Of the increase of the people of Christ Printing brought over and the sixteenth Church of Christ planted at Rouly FOr the yeare 1638. John Winthrope Esq was chosen Governour and Tho Dudly Esq Deputy Governour the number of Freemen added were about 130. The peace of this little Common-wealth being now in great measure settled by the Lords mercy in overthrowing the Indians and banishing of certaine turbulent spirits The Churches
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
cruelty toward him as their manner is and by this means the English prevented another war both with English and Indians which was very neer joyning in battel Not many years after the Indian Sachim upon this advise caused Miantonemo to be led forth as if he would remove him to a more safer place of custody and by the way caused him to be executed the Indians his kindred and subjects were much grieved at his death yet took it quietly at present but the lesser Princes his Neighbours rather rejoyced he having tyrannized over them and enforced them to subject to his will right or wrong CHAP. XXIV Of the proceeding of certain persons called Gortonists against the united Colonies and more especially against the Matrachusets and of the hlasphemous doctrines broached by Gorton deluding a company of poor ignor an t people therewith FOr not long before those persons that we spake of who incouraged Miantonemo to this war and with the help of him enforced Pomham and Socananocho to set their hands to a writing which these Gortonists had framad to take their land from them but the poor Sachems when they saw they were thus gull'd of their land would take no pay for it but complained to the Mattachusets Government to whom they had subjected themselves and their lands As also at this time certain English inhabiting those parts with the Indians good leave and liking desired to have the benefit of the Mattachusets Government as Dover formerly had done to whom this Government conâ—escended in hope they might encrease to such a competent number of godly Christians as that there might be a Church of Christ planted the place being capable to entertain them in a comfortable measure for outward accommodation but hitherto it hath been hindred by these Gortonists and one of Plimoth who forbad our people to plant there These person thus submitting came at this time also to complain of certain wrongs done them by these Gortoxists who had thus in croached and began to build on the Indians land upon these complaints the Governor and the honored Mr. Dudly issue forth their Warrant to summon them to appear they being then about five or six persons without any means for instructing them in the wayes of God and without any civil Government to keep them in civility or humanity which made them to cast off most proudly and disdainfully any giving accompt to man of their actions no not to the chiefest in authority but returned back most insolent scornful scurrilous speeches After this the Government of the Mattachusets sent two messengers on purpose to perswade them to come and have their cause heard assuring them like justice in their cause with any other but Samuel Gorton being the ring-leader of the rout was so full gorged with dreadful and damnable errors the which he had newly insnared these poor souls with that soon after the departure of the messenger he layes aside all civil justice and instead of returning answer to the matter in hand he vomits up a whole paper full of beastly stuff one while scoffing and deriding the ignorance of all beside himself that think Abraham Jsaac c. could be saved by Christ Jesus who was after born of the Virgin Mary another while mocking at the Sacraments of Baptism and the Lords Supper in an opprobrious manner deriding at the Elements Christ was pleased to institute them in and calling them Negromancers that administer them at all and in a word all the Ordinances of the Gospel abominable Idolatry he called and likened them to Molock and the Star of the Idol Rempham his paper was thrust full of such filthiness that no Christian ear could hear them without indignation against them and all was done by him in a very scornful and deriding manner upbraiding all that use them in the mean time magnifying his own glorious light that could see himself to be personally Christ God-Man and so all others that would believe as he did This paper he got to be subscribed with about twelve or thirteen hands his number of Disciples being encreased for assuredly the man had a very glosing tongue but yet very deceitful for when he had but a few with him then he cried out against all such as would rule over their own species affirming that the Scripture termeth such to be Gods of the world or divels but after his return from England having received some incouragement from such as could not look into the depth of his deceits being done at so large a distance he getting into favour again with those who had formerly whipt him out of their company turns divel himself the godly Governors of the Mattachusets seeing this blasphemous Bull of his resolved to send forty persons well-appointed with weapons of war for apprehending of him who accordingly with some waiting did apprehend him and the rest of his company except two or three which ran away without any hurt to any person although he gave out very big words threatning them with bloud and death so soon as they set foot on the ground and yet this brazenface'd deceiver published in print the great fear their women were put unto by the souldiers whereas they came among them day by day and had it not been that they intended peaceably to take them they would never have waited so long upon their worships as they did but being apprehended and standing to that they had written yet would they willingly have covered it with some shifts if they could the greatest punishment they had was to be confin'd to certain Towns for a few moneths and afterward banished but to be sure there be them in N. E. that have Christ Jesus and his blessed Ordinances in such esteem that the Lord assisting they had rather lose their lives then suffer them to be thus blasphemed if they can help it and whereas some have favoured them and endeavoured to bring under blame such as have been zealous against their abominable doctrines the good God be favourable unto them and prevent them from coming under the like blame with Ahab yet they remain in their old way and there 's somewhat to be considered in it to be sure that in these daies when all look for the fall of Antichrist such detestable doctrines should be upheld and persons suffered that exceed the Beast himself for blasphemy and this to be done by those that would be counted Reformers and such as seek the utter subversion of Antichrist To end this year or rather at the beginning of it the Lord caused another Earthquake much less then the former it was on the fifth of the first moneth called March in the morning CHAP. XXV Of the planting the twenty fourth Church of Christ at the Town of Readding and the twenty fifth Church of Christ in the Mattachusets Government called Wenham THis year was chosen to the place of Governor John Endicut Esquire and Iohn Winthrope Esquire Deputy Governor the number of freemen added about 145. this
year The Town of Readding had her foundation stone laid about this time this and the Town of Wooburn were like the twins in the womb of Tamar Readding thrusting forth the hand first but Wooburn came first to the birth this Town is well watered and scituate about a great pond besides it hath two mills the one a Saw-mill the other a 〈◊〉 mill which stand on two several streams it hath not been â—o fruitful for children as her Sister hath her habitation is fallen in the very center of the country they are well stocked with cattel for the number of people they have they gathered into a church and ordained a Pastor from among themselves at the same time a young man of good abilities to preach the Word and of a very humble behaviour named Mr. Green he having finished his course departed this life not long after whose labours are with the Lord after him succeeded in the place one Mr. Hoph a young man one of the first fruits of N. E. a man studious to promote the truths of Christ they are both remembred in this following verse ON earths bed thou at noon hast laid thy head You that for Christ as Green here toy I have taken When nature fails then rest it in earths dead Till Christ by 's word with glory thee awaken Young Hoph thou must be second to this man In field incounter with Christ's foes shalt thou Stand up and take his bright sword in thy hand Error cut down and make stout stomacks bow Green 's gone before thy warfare's now begun And last it may to see Romes Babel fall Byweakest means Christ mighty works hath done Keep footing fast till Christ thee hence do call The next Town and church of Christ planted in this colony was between Salem and Ipswitch Salem the eldest of all the Sisters was very helpful to this her little Sister nourishing her up in her own bosom till she came of age being beneficial to her besides in giving her a good portion of Land this Town is called Wenham and is very well watered as most in land Towns are the people live altogether upon husbandry New England having train'd up great store to this occupation they are encreased in cattel and most of them live very well yet are they no great company they were some good space of time there before they gathered into a Church-body the godly and reverend Mr. John Fisk went thither with them at first setting down as a planter among them yet withal he became helpful in preaching the Word unto them when they were but a few in number they afterward call'd him to the office of a Pastor with whom he now remains labouring in the Word and Doctrine with great industry of whom it may be thus said TO wade through toyl of Wilderness thou hast Dâ—ubled thy work thy wages troble are Christ hath thee call'd and in his vineyard plac't He 'l bear thee up above all saiâ—ting far Sions strong Mount must now again be built Thy faith oh Fisk the Lord hath holpen much With dreadful sighâ— the Pâ—â—lars power hath spilt All pride he 'l stain by his almighty touch His truths unstain'd by liberty keep thou To please the most authority must fall What Christ hath given if safely keep with you Till he to thee for thine accompt do call CHAP. XXVI Of the military affairs the forts of Bostoa and Charles the Castle erected anew by the six neerest Towns with the manner of putting the Country in a posture of war to be ready upon all occasions THese souldiers of Christ Jesus having made a fair retreat from their Native country hither and now being come to a convenient station resolved to stand it out the Lord assisting against all such as should come to rob them of their priviledges which the Lord Christ had purchased for them at a very high rate and now out of the riches of his grace was minded to give them yet would he have them follow him into this Wilderness for it although the chiefest work of these select bands of Christ was to mind their spiritual warfare yet they knew right well the Temple was surrounded with walls and bulworks and the people of God in re-edifying the same did prepare to resist their enemies with weapons of war even while they continued building This people no less diligent to make use of such means as the Lord afforded them ordered and decreed That all the souldiers belonging to the 26. bands in the Mattachusets Government should be exercised and drill'd eight daies in a yeare and whosoever should absent himself except it were upon unavoidable occasion should pay 5. s. for every daies neglect there are none exempt unless it be a few timerous persons that are apt to plead infirmity if the Church chuse them not for Deacous or they cannot get to serve some Magistrate or Minister but assuredly the generalicy of this people are very forward for feats of war and many have spent their time and estates to further this work the Town of Boston hath afforded many active Charles Town hath not been inferiour unless it be in number This year the Court appointed certain persons to spend their skill in putting the people possessing this desolate desart in a ready posture of drawing their forces together upon any suddain accident that might befall them to mannage guide order and direct all things as may be best for the good of the whole they being a poor and mean people laboured to avoid high titles yet order they knew was necessary therefore ordained they only one General Officer in time of war under the name of Major General the Governor and Magistrates for the time being are the standing Councel for peace or war and either they or the General Court may appoint any to the office of a General the first Major-General was the much honored Tho. Dudly Esquire whose faithfulness and great zeal and love to the truths of Christ caused the people to chuse him to this office although he were far stricken in years the Government is divided into four Counties which to shew they would their posterity should mind whence they came they have named Suffolk Middlesex Essex and Northfolk each containing a Regiment over whom the chief Commander is only a Serjeant-Major the first chosen to this office over the Regiment of Suffolk was Major Edw. Gibbons who hath now the office of Major-General also he is a man of a resolute spirit bord as a Lion being wholly tutor'd up in N.E. Discipline very generous and forward to promote all military matters his Forts are well contrived and batteries strong and in good repair his great Artillery well mounted and cleanly kept half Canon Culverins and Sakers as also field-pieces of brass very ready for service his own company led by Capt. Lievtenant Sarag are very compleat in their arms and many of them disciplin'd in the military garden beside their ordinary trainings the Captains under him are Caps
neighbourly together excepting Spring-field Thus are these people with great diligence provided for these daies of war hoping the day is at hand wherein the Lord will give Antichrist the don-christ the double of all her doings and therefore they have nursed up in their Artillery garden some who have since been used as instruments to begin the work but that which gives the greatest hope concerning this particular is this that these times afford more souldiers depending on the Lord Christ through faith for deliverance and true valour then any age since Antichrist began to fall without which all these preparations were but as so many traps and snares to catch a people in and to the which these Commanders and souldiers are daily exhorted and therefore let all people know that desire the downfal of New-England they are not to war against a people only exercised in feats of war but men who are experienced in the deliverances of the Lord from the mouth of the Lion and the paw of the Bear and now woe be to you when the same God that directed the stone to the forehead of the Philistine guides every bullet that is shot at you it matters not for the whole rabble of Antichrist on your side the God of Armies is for us a refuge high Shela VVonder working Providence OF Sions SAVIOUR in New-England BOOK III. CONTAINING The passages of Gods providence toward this wandering Race of Jaacobites in these latter seven years from the year 1645. till toward the latter end of 51. CHAP. I. Of planting the twenty sixth Church of Christ at the Town of Haverhil and of preparation for a second war with the Indians THis year that antient honored and trusty souldier of the truth Thom. Dudly Esquire was chosen Governor and the honored John Winthrop Esquire was chosen Deputy Governor John Endicut Esquire to the office of Major-General You have heard in the former book of the fortifying of the Castle and placing a Captain therein which was not finished till this year the number of freemen added was 56. The Town of Haverhil was built much about this time lying higher up then Salisbury upon the fair and large river of Merrimeck the people are wholly bent to improve their labour in tilling the earth and keeping of cattel whose yearly encrease incourages them to spend their days in those remote parts the constant penetrating farther into this Wilderness hath caused the wild and uncouth woods to be fil'd with frequented wayes and the large rivers to be over-laid with Bridges passeable both for horse and foot this Town is of a large extent supposed to be ten miles in length there being an over-weaning desire in most men after Medow land which hath caused many towns to grasp more into their â—ands then they could afterward possibly hold the people are laborious in the gaining the goods of this life yet are they not unmindful also of the chief end of their coming hither namely to be made partakers of the blessed Ordinances of Christ that their souls might be refreshed with the continual income of his rich grace to which end they gathered into a Church-body and called to office the reverend M. VVard son to the former named M. VVard of Ipswitch WIth mind resolv'd run out thy race at length Yound Ward begin whereas thy father left Left hath he not but breaths for further strength Nor thou nor he are yet of hope bereft Fruit of thy labours thou shalt see so much The righteous shall hear of it and rejoyce When Babel falls by Christ's almighty touch All'â— folk shall praise him with a cheerful voice They prosper shall that Sions building mind Then Ward cease not with toyl her stones to lay For great is he thee to this work assign'd Whose pleasure is heavens Crown shall be thy pay This year although divers Indian Sachems not long before had desired to subject themselves and lands unto this Government yet the sons of old Canonicus having not inherited their fathers prudence with his subjects and land fell to hot contention with their own neighbours and native inhabitants although they were forbidden by the united Colonies and prosecuted so that they would not stick to wage war with the English also which the Commissioners perceiving they raised an Army of horse and foot out of the Colonies and appointed as Commander in chief over them Major-General Edward Gibbons the reverend Mr. Tompsoâ— one of the Elders of the Church at Braintree was to accompany them and to preach the Word of God unto them during the time of the war but the Indians hearing of this preparation against them sent a certain number of their chief Nobility to treat with the Commissioners of the united Colonies about a peace who then sitting at Boston gave them audience the Indians coming into their presence could speak no more English but peace peace the English were very desirous of an opportunity to shew them mercy and yet would they should not despise them in gaining it upon such easie terms as might cause them to move war again and therefore allotted them to pay some part of the charge of the war intended and therefore appointed them to give four of their sons for hostages till they had wholly paid it the Indians gladly accepted of the terms and accordingly brought their children Here the Reader should be minded of the admirable acts of the Lord Christ in awing these multitudes of Heathens for they were the most populous of any that are in these parts but it is reserved for another place in this history the Indians being slow in their performance had their hostages returned home before the Wapom was paid yet their two Princes Posicus and Mexanimo did upon the sending certain armed men to demand the remainder send the sum demanded CHAP. II. Of the planting of the twenty seventh Church of Christ at the Town called Springfield and of the earnest seeking the the Lord by all the Churches of N. E. for his gracious assistance in the work of Reformation ABout this time one Mr. Pinchin sometime a Magistrate having out of desire to better his estate by trading with the Indians setled himself very remote from all the Churches of Christ in the Mattachusets Government upon the river of Canectico yet under their Government he having some godly persons resorting unto him they there erected a Town and Church of Christ calling it Springfield it lying upon this large navigable river hath the benefit of transporting their goods by water and also fitly seated for a Bever trade with the Indians till the Merchants encreased so many that it became little worth by reason of their out-buying one another which hath caused them to live upon husbandry this Town is mostly built along the river side and upon some little rivelets of the same There hath of late been more then one or two in this Town greatly suspected of witchcraft yet have they used much diligence both for the finding them
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
work as for Tanners and Shomakers it being naturalized into these occupations to have a higher reach in mannaging their manifactures then other men in N. E. are having not chang'd their nature in this between them both they have kept men to their stander hitherto almost doubling the price of their commodities according to the rate they were sold for in England and yet the plenty of Leather is beyond what they had their counting the number of the people but the transportation of Boots and Shoes into forraign parts hath vented all however as for Tailors they vave not come behind the former their advantage being in the nurture of new-fashions all one with England Carpenters Joyners Glaziers Painters follow their trades only Gun-smiths Lock-smiths Black-smiths Naylers Cutlers have left the husbandmen to follow the Plow and Cart and they their trades Weavers Brewers Bakers Costermongers Feltmakers Braziers Pewterers and Finkers Ropemakers Masons Lime Brick and Tilemakers Cardmakers to work and not to play Turners Pumpmakers and Wheelers Glovers Fellmungers and Furriers are orderly turn'd to their trades besides divers sorts of Shopkeepers and some who have a mystery beyond others as have the Vintners Thus hath the Lord been pleased to turn one of the most hideous boundless and unknown Wildernesses in the world in an instant as 't were in comparison of other work to a well-ordered Commonwealth and all to serve his Churches of which the Author intends to speak of three more which came to be gathered in the compass of these years CHAP. VII Of the three last Churches that were gathered in the compass of these years namely Haverhil Malâ—en and another Church gathered in the Town of Boston THis year 1648. John Winthrope Esquire was chosen Governor and Thomas Dudly Esquire Deputy Governor and John Endicut Esquire Major General all three as they were the former year the number of freemen added were about 94. about this time there was a Town founded about one or two mile distant from the place where the goodly river of Merrimeck receives her branches into her own body hard upon the river of Shawshin which is one of her three chief heads the honored Mr. Simon Broad street taking up his last setling there hath been a grrat means to further the work it being a place well fitted for the husbandmans hand were it not that the remoteness of the place from Towns of trade bringeth some inconveniencies upon the planteas who are inforced to carry their corn far to market this Town is called Andover and hath good store of land improved for the bigness of it they soon gathered into a Church having the reverend Mr. Whodbridg to instruct them in the wayes of Christ till he returned to England and since have called to office the reverend Mr. Deynes for whose further incouragement the promises of the Lord for protecting providing increaseing and continuing even the very least of his Churches going on according to his precepts are abundantly manifested in his Word THon Sister young Christ is to thee a wall Of flaming fire to hurt thee none may come In stipp'ry paths and dark wayes shall they fall His Angels might shall chase theiâ— countless sum Thy Shepheard with full cups and table spread Before thy foes in Wilderness thee feeds Increasing thy young lambs in bosom bred Of Churches by his wonder-working deeds To countless number must Christ's Churches reach The day 's at hand both Jew and Gentle shall Come crowding in his Churches Christ to preach And last for aye none can cause them to fall About this time the Town of Malden had his first foundation stones laid by certain persons who issued out of Charles-Town and indeed had her whole structure within the bounds of this more elder Town being severed by the broad ipreading river of Mistick the one from the other whose troublesome passage caused the people on the North side of the river to plead for Town-priviledges within themselves which accordingly was granted them the soyl is very firtile but they are much straitned in their bounds yet their neerness to the â—hief Market Towns makes it the more comfortable for habitation the people gathered into a Church some distance of â—ime before they could attain to any Church-Officer to admiâ—ister the Seals unto them yet in the mean time at their Sabâ—th assemblies they had a godly Christian named M. Sarjant who did preach the Word unto them and afterwards they â—ere supplied at times with some young Students from the â—olledg till the year 16â—0 one Mr. Marmaduke Mathews â—oming out of Plimouth Patten was for some space of time â—ith a people at the Town of Hull which is a small Portâ—own peopled by fishermen and lies at the entrance of the â—ays mouth where this Mr. Mathews continued preaching â—he lost the approbation of some able understanding men â—ong both Magistrates and Ministers by weak and unsafe â—pressions in his teaching yet notwithstanding he was calâ— to the office of a Pastor by the brethren of this Church of â—rist at Maldon although some Neighbour-churches were satisfied therewith for it is the manner of all the Churches Christ here hitherto to have the approbation of their Siâ—-churches and the civil Government also in the proceedings of this nature by the which means Communion of Churches is continued peace preserved and the truths of Christ sincerely acknowledged yet the Author will not miss to mind him in the following Meeter MAthews thou must build gold and silver on That precious stone Christ cannot trash indure Unstable straw and stubble must be gone When Christ by fire doth purge his building pure In seemly and in modest terms do thou Christs precious truths unto thy folk unfold And mix not error with the truth lest thou Soon leave out sense to make the truth to hold Compleating of Christs Churches is at hand Mathews stand up and blow a crrtain sound Warriours are wanting Babel to withstand Christs truths maintain 't will bring thee honors crown'd The last Church that compleated the number of 30. was gathered at Boston by reason of the popularity thereof beinâ— too many to meet in one assembly the North-east part of thâ— Town being separated from the other with a narrow streaâ— cut through a neck of land by industry whereby that part iâ— become an Island it was thought meet that the people in habiting the same should gather into a Church-body anâ— build a Meeting-house for their assembly the which they havâ— already done but not as yet called any one to office for sinâ—â— the people of Christ in some other places both in Englanâ— and elswhere have through the goodness of God obtaine like liberty with our selves the Ministers of Christ have haâ— their labours taken up in other places as well as herâ— which hath caused this Church as yet to be destituâ— the beginning of this year was sad to the people of N. â—â— by reason of the death of their honoured Governoâ—â— John Winthrope Esquire whose
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
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
very good marks-men with their Bowe and Arrows Their Boyes will ordinarily shoot fish with their Arrowes as they swim in the shallow Rivers they draw the Arrow halfe way putting the point of it into the water they let flye and strike the fish through the like they do to Birds lesser and great onely the Geese and Turkies being strong of wing somtimes flee away with their Arrowes sticking in them this is all the trade they use which makes them destitute of many recessaries both in meat drink apparell and houses As for any religious observation they were the most destitute of any people yet heard of the Divel having them in very great subjection not using craft to delude them as he ordinarily doth in most parts of the World but kept them in a continuall slavish fear of him onely the Powawes who are more conversant with him then any other sometimes recover their sicke folk with charmes which they use by the help of the Divell and this makes them to adore such one of them was seen as is reported to cure a Squaw that was dangerously sick by taking a snakes skin and winding it about her arm the which soon became a living snake crawling round about her armes and body another caused the sick patient for healing to pass bare footed through many burning coals those that cannot cure them they call Squantams powwons but if the patient live he is had in great admiration and then they cry Much winnit Abbamocho that is very good Divell for Squantam is a bad Divel and Abbamocho is their good Divell It hath been a thing very frequent before the English came for the Divell to appear unto them in a bodily shape sometimes very ugly and terrible and sometimes like a white boy and chiefly in the most hideous woods and swamps they report that sometimes he hath come into their wigwams and carryed away divers of them alive and since we came hither they tell us of a very terrible beast for shape and bigness that came into a wigwam toward the North-east parts remote from any English plantations and took away six men at a time who were never seen afterward The English at their first coming did assay and endeavour to bring them to the knowledge of God and in particular the reverend grave and godly Mr. John Wilson who visited their sick and instructed others as they were capable to understand him But yet very little was done that way till in process of time they by continuall coming to the English became better able to understand them and now of late yeers the reverend Mr. Eliot hath been more then ordinary laborious to study their language instructing them in their own Wigwams and Catechising their Children As also the reverend Mr. Mayhewe one who was tutored up in N. Eng. and called to office by the Church of Christ gathered at a small Island called Martins Vineyard this man hath taken good pains with them but the particulars of our godly Ministers labours together with the good hand of our God upon their indeavours being already published no further need be spoken CHAP. XI Of the gratious goodness of the Lord Christ in planting his Gospel in the purety of it in Virginia and of the first Church gathered there according to the rule of the Gospel ABout the yeer the Lord was pleased to put it into the heare of some godly people in Virginia to send to N. E. for some of the Ministers of Christ to be helpfull unto them in instructing them in the truth as it is in Jesus The godly Mr. Philip Bennit coming hither made our reverend Elders acquainted with their desires who were very studious to take all opportunities for inlarging the kingdome of Christ and upon serious consideration the reverend Mr. Knowls of Watertowne and Mr. Tompson of Braintree were sent unto them who ariving there in safety preached openly unto the people for some good space of time and also from house to house exhorted the people dayly that with full purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord the harvest they had was plentifull for the little space of time they were there till being opposed by the Governour and some other malignant spirits they were forced to returne to N. E. again It were much to be desired that all people would take notice of the hand of God against this people after the rejection of these Ministers of Christ and indeed it was none other but the thrusting Christ from them and now attend to the following story all you Cavaliers and malignant party the world throughout take notice of the wonderworking providence of Christ toward his Churches and punishing hand of his toward the contemners of his Gospel Behold yeâ— dispisers and wonder Oh poor Virginia dost thou send away the Ministers of Christ with threatning speeches No sooner is this done but the barbarous inhumane insolent and bloody Indians are let loose upon them who contrive the cutting them off by whole Families closely carying their wicked counsells till they had effected their desires their bloody designe taking place for the space of 200 miles up the River the manner of the English Plantations there being very scattering quite contrary to N. E. people who for the most part desire society The manner of the Indians proceeding was thus they divided themselves into severall companies and beset the English houses a little before break of day waiting for the first person that should open the doore and come forth whom they cruelly murdered beating out their brains and then forthwith entred the house and slew all they found within sometimes firing the houses and leaving the living children miserably to be consumed with their dead Parents in the fearfull flames some people fleeing from this barbarous massacre as they passed by a fired house heard a pitifull out-cry of a poor Child crying I burn I burn although they could willingly have made haste away yet the miserable out-cry of this poor babe caused them to haft to the house and rescue it forth the flames that was even almost ready to scorch it this cruell and bloody work of theirs put period to the lives of five or six hundred of these people who had not long before a plentifull proffer of the mercies of Christ in the glad tidings of peace published by the mouth of his Ministers who came unto them for that end but chusing rather the fellowship of their drunken companions and a Preist of their own profession who could hardly continue so long sober as till he could read them the reliques of mans invention in a common prayer book but assuredly had not the Lord pittied the little number of his people among this crooked generation they had been consumed at once for this is further remarkable in this massacre when it came toward the place where Christ had placed his little flock it was discovered prevented from further proceeding and the Lord by this means did so
proud of this thy exaltation For thou wast dung and dogs filth when Christ wrought In thee his work and set thee in this station To stand from him thy strength is dayly brought Yet in him thou shalt go triumphant on Not thou but Christ triumphs his foes upon You people whom he by the hand did lead 〈…〉 Seas with watry wall Apply your selves his Scriptures for to read In reading do for eyes enlightned call And you shall see Christ once being come is now Again at hand your stubborn hearts to bow Though scattered you Earths Kingdoms are throughout In bondage brought cheife by those make some shew Of Jewish rights they Christ with you cast out Christ well their Cords for you in sunder hew Through unbeliefe you were to bondage brought Believe that Christ for you great work hath wrought He will your heart not member circumcise Oh search and see this is your Jesus sure Refuse him not would God you were so wise None but this King can ought your hope procure Once doting on an Earthly Kingdom you Mist of your Christ be sure be wiser now The day 's at hand he will you wiser make To know Earths Kingdoms are too scant and base For such a price as Christ paid for your sake Kings you shall be but in a higher place Yet for your freedom Nations great shall fall That without fear of foes him serve you shall You are the men that Christ will cause subdue Those Turkish Troops that joyned Jews have been His Gentile Churches cast down Babels crue Then you that brood of Mahumetts shall win Destroy his seed ' mongst Persians Turkes and Moores And for poor Christians ope the Prison doors Your Nation prov'd too scant for his possession Whose pretious blood was made a price for sin And Nations all who were in like transgression Some of the whole Christ to his Crown will win And now makes way for this his work indeed That through the world his Kingdom may proceed Now Nations all I pray you look about Christ comes you neer his power I pray embrace In 's word him seek he 's found without all doubt He doth beseech with teares Oh seek his face Yet time there is the Battel 's but begun Christ call thy folke that they to thee may run Place them in thy strong Armies newly gather'd Thy Churches Lord increase and fill withall Those blessed ones are given thee by thy Father The wickeds Rod off from their backs recall Breake off their yokes that they with freedom may Tell of thy workes and praise thee every day Lord Christ go on with thy great wonders working Down headlong cast all Antichristian power Vnmaske those men that lye in corners lurking Whose damned doctrines dayly sâ—ates advance For why thy Folke for this are dayly longing That Nations may come in thy Churches thronging What greater joy can come thy Saints among Then to behold their Christ exalted high Thy Spirits joy with ravishment stirs strong Thy Folke while they thy Kingdomes glory eye Angels rejoyce because their waiting is In Saints assembly where thy name they bliss Thy workes are not in Israels Land confined From East to West thy wondrous works are known To Nations all thou hast thy grace assigned Thy spirits breathings through the World are blown All Languages and tongues do tell thy praise Dead hear thy voyce them thou dost living raise Oh blessed dayes of Son of Man now seen You that have long'd so sore them to behold March forth in 's might and stoutly stand between The mighties sword and Christs dear flocke infold Vndanted close and clash with them for why ' Gainst Christ they are and he with thee stands by No Captive thou nor Death can on thee seize Fight stand and live in Christ thou dayly dost He long ago did lead as Captives these And ever lives to save thee where thou goest His Father still and Spirit shall with thee Abide and crowne thy Head with lasting glee For thy words sake and according to thine own heart hast thou done all these great things to make thy servant know them 2 Sam. 7. 21. FINIS Courteous Reader These Books following are Printed for Nathaniel Brooke and are to be sold at his Shop at the Angel in Cornehill 1. TImes Treasury or Academy for Gentry excellent grounds both Divine and humane for their accomplishment in arguments of discourse habit fashion with a Ladies love-Lecture and Truths triumph summing up all in a character of Honour by Ri. Braithwait Esq 2. Morton of the Sacrament in folio 3. Physiogmony and Chiromancy Metoposcopy the Symmetricall proportions and signall Moles of the body the subject of Dreames to which is added the Art of Memory by Ri. Sanders Student folio 4. Theatrum Chemicum Britannicum containing severall poeticall peeces of our famous English Philosophers which have written the Hermetique misteries in their antient Language by Elias Ashmole Esq 5. Chiromancy or the Art of Divining by the lines engraven in the hand of man by dame Nature Theologically practically in 19. Genitures with a learned discourse of the soul of the World and universall spirit thereof by Geo. Wharton Esq 6. Catholick History collected and gathered out of Scripture Councels and antient Fathers Moderne writers both ecclesiasticall and civill in answer to Dr. Vane's Lost Sheep returned home by Ed. Chiseuhall Esq 7. Planometria or the whole Art of Survey of Land shewing the use of all Instruments but especially the plain Table whereunto is added an Appendix to measure regular Solids as Timber Stone usefull for all that intend either to sell or purchase 8. An Arithmetick in number and species in two Books 1. Teaching by precept and example the operation in Numbers whole and broken by Decimals and use of the Logarithms Napyers bones 2. The great Rule of Algebra in Species resolving all Arithmeticall questions by supposition with a Canon of the powers of numbers fitted to the meanest capacity by Jonas Moore late of Durham 8. 9. Tactometrica or the Geometry of Regulars after a new exact and expeditious manner in Solids with sundry usefull experiments Practicall Geometry of Regular-like Solids and of a Cylinder body for liquid vessell measure with sundry new experiments never before extant for gauging a work very usefull for all that are imployed in the Art Metrical by John Wiberd Doctor in Physick 10. An Astrologicall discourse with Mathematicall Demonstrations proving the powerfull and harmonicall influence of the Planets and fixed Stars upon Elementary Bodies in justification of the Validity of Astroligy by Sir Christopher Heydon Knight 11. Magick and Astrology vindicated in which is contained the true definitions of the said Arts and the justification of their practise proved by the authority of Scripture and the experience of antient and modern Authors by H. Warren 12. An Astrologicall judgement of Diseases from the Decumbiture of the ficke also the way of finding out the cause change and end of a disease also whether the sick be