The History of this Providence might have been mentioned amongst Sea-Deliverances yet considering it was not only so I shall here Record what himself being a godly man did relate of the Lords marvelous dispensations towards him that so others might be incouraged to put their trust in God in the times of their greatest straits and difficulties On the 25. of August in the year 1676. the said Skipper How with his two eldest Sons set sail from New-Haven for Boston in a small Ketch Burden 17 Tun or thereabout After the Dispatch of their Business there they set Sail from thence for New-Haven again on the 10 th of September following but contrary Winds forced them back to Boston where the said How was taken ill with a violent flux which Distemper continued near a Moneth many being at that time sick of the same Disease which proved mortal to some The merciful Providence of God having spared his life and restored him to some measure of health he again set Sail from Boston October 10. By a fair Wind they went forward so as to make Cape Cod but suddenly the Weather became very Tempestuous so as that they could not seize the Cape but were forced off to Sea where they were endangered in a small Vessel by very fearful Storms and outragious Winds and Seas Also his Eldest Son fell sick and died in about eleven dayes after they set out to Sea He was no sooner dead but his other Son fell sick and died too This was a bitter Cup to the good Father It is noted in 1 Chron. 7. 22. that when the Sons of Ephraim were dead Ephraim their Father mourned many dayes and his Brethren came to comfort him This Ephraim when his Sons were Dead his Friends on Shore knew it not nor could they come to comfort him But when his Friends and Relations could not the Lord himself did for they died after so sweet gracious and comfortable a manner as that their Father professed he had joy in parting with them Yet now their outward distress and danger was become greater since the Skipper's two Sons were the only help he had in working the Vessel Not long after another of the Company viz. Caleb Iones Son to Mr. William Iones one of the Worthy Magistrates in New-Haven fell sick and died also leaving the World with comfortable manifestations of true Repentance towards God and Faith in Jesus Christ. Thus the one half of their Company was taken away none remaining but the Skipper himself one Mr. Augur and a Boy He himself was still sickly and in a very weak estate yet was fain to stand at the Helm 36 hours and 24 hours at a time in the mean time the boisterous Sea overwhelming the Vessel so as that if he had not been lasht fast he had certainly been washed over-board In this Extremity he was at a loss in his own thoughts whether they should persist in striving for the New-England Shore or bear away for the Southern Islands He proposed that Question to Mr. Augur they resolved that they would first seek to God by Prayer about it and then put this difficult case to an issue by casting a Lot So they did and the Lot fell on New-England By that time a Moneth was expired they lost the Rudder of their Vessel so that now they had nothing but God alone to rely upon In this deplorable state were they for a fortnight The Skipper though infirm as has been expressed yet for six weeks together was hardly ever dry nor had they the benefit of warm Food for more then thrice or thereabouts At the end of six weeks in the Morning betimes the Vessel was driven on the Tailings of a ledge of Rocks where the Sea broke violently looking out they espied a dismal Rocky Island to the Leeward upon which if the Providence of God had not by the Breakers given them timely warning they had been dashed in pieces And this extremity was the Lords opportunity to appear for their deliverance they immediately let go an Anchor and get out the Boat and God made the Sea calm The Boat proved leaky and being in the midst of fears and amazements they took little out of the Vessel After they came ashoar they found themselves in a rocky desolate Island near Cape Sables where was neither Man not Beast to be seen so that now they were in extream danger of being starved to Death But a Storm arose which beat violently upon the Vessel at Anchor so as that it was staved in pieces and a Cask of Powder was brought ashore receiving no damage by its being washed in the Water also a Barrel of Wine and half a Barrel of Molosses together with many things useful for a Tent to preserve them from cold This notwithstanding new and great distresses attended them For though they had Powder and Shot there were seldom any Fowls to be seen in that Dismal and Desolate place excepting a few Crows Ravens and Gulls These were so few as that for the most part the Skipper shot at one at a time Many times half of one of these Fowls with the Liquor made a Meal for three Once they lived five dayes without any Sustenance at which time they did not feel themselves pincht with hunger as at other times the Lord in mercy taking away their appetites when their Food did utterly fail them After they had been about twelve Weeks in this miserable Island Mr. How 's dear Friend and Consort Mr Augur Died so that he had no living creature but the Lad before mentioned to converse with And on April 2. 1677. that Lad Died also so that the Master was now left alone upon the Island and continued so to be above a quarter of a year not having any living Soul to converse with In this time he saw several Fishing Vessels Sailing by and some came nearer the Island than that which at last took him in but though he used what means he could that they might be acquainted with his Distress none came to him being afraid for they supposed him to be one of those Indians who were then in Hostility against the English The good Man whilest he was in his Desolate Estate kept many dayes of Fasting and Prayer wherein he did confess and bewail his Sins the least of which deserved greater Evils than any in this World ever were or can be subject unto and begged of God that he would find out a way for his Deliverance At last it came into his mind that he ought very solemnly to praise God as well as pray unto him for the great mercies and signal preservations which he had thus far experienced Accordingly he set apart a day for that end spending the time in giving thanks to God for all the mercies of his Life so far as he could call them to mind and in special for those Divine Favours which had been mingled with his afflictions humbly blessing God for his wonderful goodness in preserving him alive
AN ESSAY FOR THE RECORDING OF ILLVSTRIOVS Providences Wherein an Account is given of many Remarkable and very Memorable Events which have hapned this last Age Especially in NEW-ENGLAND By INCREASE MATHER Teacher of a Church at Boston in New-England Psal. 107. 5. Oh that Men would praise the Lord for his goodness and for his wonderful works to the Children of Men. Psal. 145. 4. One Generation shall praise thy works to another and shall declare thy mighty Acts BOSTON IN NEW-ENGLAND Printed by Samuel Green for Ioseph Browning And are to be Sold at his Shop at the corner of the Prison-Lane next the Town-House 1684. THE Preface ABout six and twenty years ago â— Design for the Recording of illustrious Providences was under serious consideration among some eminent Ministers in England and in Ireland That motion was principally set on foot by the Learned Mr. Matthew Pool whose Synopsis Criticorum and other Books by him emitted have made him famous in the World But before any thing was brought to effect the Persons to have been imployed had their thoughts diverted another way Nevertheless there was a M. SS the Composer whereof is to me unknown then written wherein the Subjects proper for this Record and some Rules for the better managing a design of this nature are described In that M. SS I find notable Stories related and attested which elsewhere I never met with Particularly the Sory of Mr. Earl of Colchester and another mentioned in our subseqnent Essay And besides those there are some very memorable Passages written which have not as yet been published so far as I understand There are in that M. SS several Remarkables about Apparitions e. g. It is there said that Dr. Frith who was one of the Prebends belonging to Windsor lying on his Bed the Chamber Doors were thrown open and a Corps with attending Torches brought to his Bed-side upon a Bier The Corps representing one of his own Family After some pause there was such another shew till he the said Dr. his Wife and all his Family were brought in on the Bier in such order as they all soon after died The Dr. was not then sick but quickly Melancholly and would rising at Midnight repair to the Graves and monuments at Eaton Colledge saying that he and his must shortly take up their habitation among the Dead The Relater of this Story a Person of great integrity had it from Dr. Frith's Son who also added My Fathers Vision is already Executed upon all the Family but my self my time is next and near at hand In the mentioned M. SS there is also a marvelous Relation concerning a young Scholar in France For it is there affirmed that this prophane Student having by extravagant courses outrun his means in his discontent walking solitarily a Man came to him and enquired the cause of his sadness Which he owning to be want of Money had presently a supply given him by the other That being quickly consumed upon his Lusts as soon as his Money was gone his Discontent returned and in his former Walk he met with his former Reliever who again offered to supply him but askt him to contract with him to be his and to sign the contract with his Blood The woful wretch consented but not long after considering that this contract was made with the Devil the terrors of his Conscience became insupportable so as that he endeavoured to kill himself to get out of them Some Ministers and other Christians being informed how matters were circumstanced kept dayes of Prayer for him and with him and he was carefully watched that so he might be kept from self-Murder Still he continued under Terror and said he should do so as long as the Covenant which he had signed remained in the hands of the Devil Hereupon the Ministers resolve to keep a day of Fasting and Prayer in that very place of the Field where the distressed creature had made the woful Bargain setting him in the midst of them Thus they did and being with special actings of Faith much enlarged to pray earnestly to the Lord to make known his power over Satan in constraining him to give up that contract after some hours continuance in Prayer a Cloud was seen to spread it self over them and out of it the very contract signed with the poor crearures Blood was dropped down amongst them which being taken up and viewed the party concerned took it and tore it in pieces The Relator had this from the mouth of Mr. Beaumond a Minister of Note at Caon in Normandy who assured him that he had it from one of the Ministers that did assist in carrying on the Day of prayer when this memorable providence hapned Nor is the Relation impossible to be true for Luther speaks of a providence not unlike unto this which hapned in his Congregation This M. SS doth also mention some most Remarkable Iudgments of God upon Sinners as worthy to be Recorded for Posterity to take notice of It is there said that when Mr. Richard Iuxon was a Fellow of Kings Colledge in Cambridge he led a most vicious life and whereas such of the Students as were serious in matters of Religion did endeavour by solemn Fasting and Prayer to prepare themselves for the Communion which was then this was about the year 1636 on easter-Easter-Day This Iuxon spent all the time of preparation in Drunken wild Meetings and was up late and Drunk on the Saturday night Nevertheless on the Lords day he came with others to the Communion and sat next to the Relator who knowing his Disorder the night before was much troubled but had no remedy Church-Discipline not being then so practised as ought to have been The Communion being ended such of the Scholars as had the fear of God in their hearts repaired to their Closets But this Iuxon went immediately to a Drunken-meeting and there to a Cockfight where he fell to his accustomed madness and pouring out a volley of Oaths and Curses while these were between his Lips God smote him dead in the twinkle of an eye And though Iuxon were but young and of a comely person his Carcase was immediately so corrupted as that the stench of it was insufferable insomuch that no house would receive it and his Friends were forced to hire some base Fellows to watch the Carcase till night and then with Pitch and such like Gums covered him in a Coffin and so made a shift to endure his Interment There stood by a Scholar whose name was George Hall and who acted his part with Iuxon in his prophaneness but he was so astonished with this amazing Providence of God as that he fell down upon his knees begging pardoning mercy from Heaven and vowing a Reformation which vow the Lord enabled him to keep so as that afterwards he became an able and famous Minister of the Gospel One strange passage more I shall here relate out of the M. SS which we have thus far made mention of Therein
order to the perswading of him to a compliance with the Quakers and told him that it would strive with him as the Angel did with Iacob until the breaking of the Day at which time it left him The two next nights it gave him the same molestation saying it must be with him as it was with David who gave no sleep to his eyes nor slumber to his eye-lids until he found a place for the Lord an habitation for the mighty God of Iacob Upon Wednesday at night he was very peremptory in his resisting of it When it began to solicit him he replied that he saw it was a Spirit of delusion which he would not obey Upon which the Spirit denoâ—nced a Curse against him in these words Go ye Cursed into everlasting fire and so left him with a very great heat in his Body After this he was in his own apprehension in a very comfortable condition and while he was considering what had hapned a voice within him speake to him saying That the Spirit which was before upon him was a Spirit of Delusion but now the true Spirit of God was come into him It acquainted him that the Doctrine of the Trinity was true and that God had an Elect People and that those whom the Father Elected the Son hath Redeemed and when Christ Redeemeth the Holy Ghost Sanctifieth and told him that the Minister of the Town would further instruct him about the truth of these things Upon Thursday morning about break of day it set him upon his knees as he was in bed and bid him Farewel The same day it came upon him in the field as he was going to and coming from the Market pressed upon him to believe that it was the good Spirit which he was acted with which he still doubted of One night that week amongst many Arguments which it used to that purpose it told him if he would not believe without a sign he might have what sign he would Upon that Robert Church-man desired if it was a good Spirit that a Wier-Candlestick which stood upon the Cup-board might be turned into Brass which the Spirit said he would do Presently there was a very unsavoury smell in the Room like that of the snuff of a Candle newly put out but nothing else was done towards the fulfilling of the promise Upon the Lords Day following he then attending the publick Worship of God it came upon him When the Chapters were named he turned to them in his Bible but was not able to read When the Psalm was Sung he could not pronounce a syllable Upon Monday morning his Speech was wholly taken away from him When the Minister in that place came to him and asked him how it was with him he moved his head towards him but was not able to speak the Minister waited an hour or two in the Room hoping that his Speech might have returned unto him and that he might have gained from him some account of his condition But finding no alteration he desired those who were present to joyn with him in Prayer As they were Praying Churchman's Body was with much violence thrown out of Bed and then with great vehemency he called to the Minister Dr. Templar to hold his tongue When Prayer was done his Tongue was bound as before till at last he broke out into these words Thine is the Kingdom Thine is the Kingdom which he repeated as was judged above an hundred times Sometimes he was forced into extream Laughter sometimes into Singing his hands were usually imployed in beating his Breast All of them who stood by could discern unusual heavings in his Body This Distemper did continue towards the morning of the next day and then the voice within him signified to him that it would leave him 〈◊〉 him get upon his Knees in order to that end which he did and then presently he had a perfect command of himself When Dr. Templar came to him he gave a sober account of all the passages of the day before having a distinct remembrance of what the Spirit forced him to do and what was spoken to him by those that stood by In particular he told the Doctor that he was compelled to give him that disturbance in Prayer before-mentioned the Spirit using his Limbs and Tongue as it pleased contrary to the inclination of his own mind Upon the Thursday following the Spirit began to rage after its former manner as Dr. Templar was at Prayer with him it was very discernable how it wrought upon his Body forced him to grate his Teeth and draw his Mouth awry He told the Minister after he had done that it bid him to denounce woe against him It pleased God upon continuance in prayer with him at last to release him of all his trouble and so far to make it advantagious to him and to his Wife and some others which were too much by-assed with the Principles of the Quakers that now they have a perfect dislike of that way and do diligently attend upon the publick Worship of God Thus concerning this strange but true Relation We may by this judge whose Servants the singing Quakers are and what Spirit doth powerfully breath in and act those miserable and deluded Enthusiasts But I shall say no more to the Quakers at present only pray that such of them as have not sinned unto Death may have their eyes opened and if possible be delivered out of the snares of Satan by whom they are taken Captive at his will It hath been by many observed that Men addicted to horrid Cursings and Execrations have pulled down the imprecated vengeance of Heaven upon themselves Sundry very awful Examples of this kind have lately hapned I shall here mention one or two The hand of God was very Remarkable in that which came to pass in the Narraganset Countrey in New-England not many weeks since For I have good Information that on August 28 1683. A Man there viz. Samuel Wilson having caused his Dog to mischief his Neighbours Cattle was blamed for his so doing He denied the fact with Imprecations wishing that he might never stir from that place if he had so done His Neighbour being troubled at his denying the truth reproved him and told him he did very ill to deny what his Conscience knew to be truth The Atheist thereupon used the Name of God in his Imprecations saying He wished to God he might never stir out of that place if he had done that which he was charged with The words were scarce out of his mouth before he sunk down dead and never stirred more a Son in Law of his standing by and catching him as he fell to the ground A thing not unlike to this hapned though not in New-England yet in America about a year ago For in September 1682. A man at the Isle of Providence belonging to a Vessel whereof one Wollery was Master being charged with some deceit in a matter that had been committed to him in order to
Another Affliction also befel him which was this his only Knife wherewith he cut up the Sea-Dogs and Sea-Mews having a bloody cloth about it was carried away as he thought by some fowl of Prey so that not being able to kill any more he was reduced to this extremity with much difficulty to get out of the Boards of his Hutt a great 〈◊〉 which he made shift so to sharpen upon the Stones that it served him instead of a Knife When Winter came on he endured the greatest misery imaginable for many times the Rock and his Hutt were so covered with Snow that it was not possible for him to go abroad to provide his Food which extremity put him upon this Invention he put out a little stick at the crevice of his Hutt and baiting it with a little Sea-Dogs fat by that means he got some Sea-Mews which he took with his hand from under the Snow and so kept himself from starving In this sad and solitary condition he lived for about eleven Moneths expecting therein to end his dayes when Gods gracious providence sent this Ship thither which delivered him out of the greatest misery that ever man was in The Master of the Ship commiserating his deplorable condition treated him so well that within a few dayes he was quite another creature and afterwards he set him a shore at Derry in Ireland and sometimes after he saw him at Dublin where such as heard what had hapned unto him gave him Money wherewithal to return into his Native Countrey of England Thus far is that â—â—ation I have seen a Manuscript wherein many memorable Passages of Divine Providence are Recorded And this which I shall now mention amongst others About the Year 1638. A Ship fell foul upon the Rocks and Sands called the Rancadories sixty Leagues distant from the Isle of Providence Ten of the floating Passengers got to a spot of Land where having breathed awhile and expecting to perish by Famine eight of them chose rather to commit themselves to the mercy of the waters two only stood upon the spot of Land one whereof soon died and was in the Sands buried by his now desolate Companion This solitary Person in the midst of the roaring Waters was encompassed with the goodness of Divine Providence Within three dayes God was pleased to send this single person who now alone was Lord and Subject in this his little Common-wealth good store of Fowl and to render them so tame that the forlorn man could pick and chuse where he list Fish also were now and then cast up within his reach and somewhat that served for Fewel enkindled by Flint to dress them Thus lived that Insulary Anchorite for about two years till at last having espied a Dutch Vessel he held a rag of his Shirt upon the top of a stick towards them which being come within view of they used means to fetch him off the Said-spot of Sand and brought him to the Isle of Providence The Man having in so long a time conversed only with Heaven lookt at first very strangely and was not able at first Conference promptly to speak and answer CHAP. III. Concerning Remarkables about Thunder and Lightning One at Salisbury in New-England struck dead thereby Several at Marshfield One at North-Hampton The Captain of the Castle in Boston Some Remarkables about Lightning in Rocksborough Wenham Marble-head Cambridge And in several Vessels at Sea Some late parallel Instances Of several in the last Century Scripture Examples of Men slain by Lightning THere are who affirm that although terrible Lightnings with Thunders have ever been frequent in this Land yet none were hurt thereby neither Man nor Beast for many years after the English did first settle in these American Desarts But that of later years fatal and fearful slaughters have in that way been made amongst us is most certain And there are many who have in this respect been as Brands plucked out of the burning when the Lord hath overthrown others as God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah Such solemn works of Providence ought not to be forgotten I shall now therefore proceed in giving an account of Remarkables respecting Thunder and Lightning so far as I have received credible Information concerning them The Particulars whereof are these which follow In Iuly 1654. A Man whose Name was Partridge esteemed a very godly person at Salisbury in New-England was killed with Thunder and Lightning his House being first set on fire thereby and himself with others endeavouring the quenching of it by a second crack of Thunder with Lightning he being at the door of his House was struck dead and never spake more There were ten other persons also that were struck and lay for dead at the present but they all revived excepting Partridge Some that viewed him report that there were holes like such as are made with shot found in his Clothes and Skin One side of his Shirt and Body was scorched and not the other His House though as was said set on fire by the Lightning in divers places was not burnt down but preserved by an abundance of Rain falling upon it Iuly 31. 1658. There hapned a Storm of Thunder and Lightning with Rain in the Town of Marshfield in Plimouth Colony in New-England Mr. Nathaneel Thomas Iohn Philips and another belonging to that Town being in the Field as they perceived the Storm a coming betook themselves to the next House for Shelter Iohn Philips sat down near the Chimney his Face towards the inner Door A black Cloud flying very low out of it there came a great Ball of Fire with a terrible crack of Thunder the Fire-ball fell down just before the said Philips he seemed to give a start on his Seat and so fell backward being struck dead not the least motion of life appearing in him afterwards Captain Thomas who sat directly opposite to Iohn Philips about six foot distance from him and a young Child that was then within three foot of him through the Providence of God received no hurt Yet many Bricks in the Chimney were beaten down the principal Rafters split the Battens next the Chimney in the Chamber were broken one of the main Posts of the House into which the Summer was framed rent into shivers and a great part of it was carried several Rod from the House the Door before Philips where the fire came down was broken On the 28 of April A. D. 1664. A Company of the Neighbours being met together at the House of Henry Condliff in North-Hampton in New-England to spend a few hours in Christian Conferences and in Prayer there hapned a Storm of Thunder and Rain and as the good Man of the House was at Prayer there came a Ball of Lightning in at the roof of the House which set the Thatch on fire grated on the Timber pierced through the Chamber-floor no breach being made on the Boards only one of the jouyces somewhat rased Matthew Cole who was Son in Law to the said