the long peace and concord that we had enjoyed and hoping to fish better in troubled waters when their bait might be taken in and the hook not easily discerned would willingly have been ringing the Changes in this Jurisdiction also pretending a great zeal for liberty of Conscience but endeavouring to introduce such a liberty of Will as would have proved prejudicial if not destructive to Civil and Church societies and at the same time there arrived in the said Colony many of that pernicious sect called Quakers whose Opinion are a composition of many errors and whose practices tend greatly to the disturbance both of Church and State many unstable people amongst us were leavened with their errors and proved very troublesome to this as well as other Colonies in New-England But the Lord many times delighteth to appear in the Mount of his Peoples miseries distresses and troubles that his power and wisdom may appear when they are weakest and that they may know that their salvation is from him At such a time when the condition of this Colony was such as hath been declared God was pleased to minde it even in its low estate and when he had taken to himself not only our Moses but many of the Elders and Worthies of our Israel he hath not hitherto left us without a Joshua to lead us in the remaining part of our pilgrimage When the usual time for the renewing of our Election of such as should govern us came Mr. Thomas Prince was by unanimous vote chosen Governour and although mens spirits were so distempered as I have related and it might have been expected that they would have been much divided in their choice yet God who disposeth the lot that is cast into the lap so disposed that all their votes centered there a good demonstration that he was chosen of God for us and by his blessing made an Instrument of much peace and settlement in this place and to this people in these times of trouble and confusion The Lord also directing the Freemen of this Jurisdiction at the same time in their Election to the choice of a discreet and able Council to be assistant unto our said honoured Governor in this so weighty Work divers of them being descended of several of the honour'd Magistrates deceased not only bearing their Names but having a large measure of their Spirit bestowed on them befitting them for such Work so as through the goodness of God those storms that seem'd to threaten the subversion of our All and did at first prevaile to the disturbing and shaking of many Towns and Churches and to the great discouragement of the Ministers in divers places do seem to be pretty well blown over such uncomfortable jarrs as have been sometimes thought uncureable seem to be throughly reconciled and healed our Towns for the most part supplied with godly and able Ministers and we sit under our Vines and Figtrees in peace enjoying both Civil and Religious Liberties For which goodness of the Lord let his holy Name be praised and may he grant us so to improve our present opportunities as he may have some suitable returns and we may have cause to hope in his grace for the continuance of such favours This Year that much honoured and worthy Gentleman Mr. Theophilus Eaton Governour of New-Haven deceased who was very Eminent both on a Religious and Civil account His death proved a great blow to that Jurisdiction and was seconded not long after with the loss of another precious man amongst them viz. Mr. Francis Newman In this year 1657 in the moneth of November Mr. Garret set sail on a Voyage for England from Boston in whose Ship amongst many considerable Passengers there went Mr. Thomas Mayhew junior The loss of Mr. Garrets Ship of Martins-Vineyard who was a very precious man he was well skill'd and had attained to a great proficiency in the Indian Language and had a great propensity upon his Spirit to promote Gods glory in their Conversion whose Labours God blessed for the doing of much good amongst them in which respect he was very much missed amongst them and bewailed by them as also in reference unto the Preaching of Gods Word amongst the English there The loss of him was very great Many other sad losses befell sundry others in the Country by the loss of that Ship both in their Estates and dear Relations to the great grief and sadning of the hearts of many 1658. THis year Mr. Thomas Prince was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth Were Elected his Assistants in Government Mr. VVilliam Collier Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas VVillet Capt. Josias VVinslow Lieut. Tho Southworth Mr. William Bradford Mr. Thomas Hinkley This Year there was a very great Earthquake in New-England Also Mr. Ralph Partridge died in a good old Age having for the space of fourty years dispensed the Word of God with very little impediment by sickness His pious and blameless life became very advantagious to his Doctrine he was much honoured and loved by all that conversed with him He was of a sound and solid judgement in the main Truths of Jesus Christ and very able in Disputation to defend them he was very singular in this That notwithstanding the pausity and poverty of his Flock he continued in his Work amongst them to the end of his life He went to his grave in peace as a shock of Corn fully ripe and was honourably buried at Duxbury In whose Remembrance one who was a true Admirer of his worth presented these at his Funerall NOt Rage but Age not Age but Gods Decree Did call me hence my Saviour Christ to see And to embrace and from his hand receive My Crown of Glory Oh who would not leave A flattering World nay Friends or what 's most dear The Saints Communion that 's enjoyed here At once to have God Christ Saints Angels all To make compleat and sum our Joyes totall Now I behold Gods Glory face to face Now I sit down with Christ who 've run my Race Now I sing praise to God and to the Lamb Now I Companion to the Angels am Now I behold with greatest joy my Sons And Daughters all I mean Converted ones Which I was instrumentall in my place To bring to God but all of his Free-grace How am I Changed that of late was weak Above the force of Satan now to break How am I Changed Son of sorrow late But now triumphing in my heavenly state How was I vex'd with pains with griefs molested How in a moment am I now Invested With Royal Robes with Crowns with Diadems With Gods Eternall Loves Such precious Gems He hath in store for them his Saints that are For such indeed he counts his Jewels rare Oh Brethren Sisters Neighbours Country Friends I 'me now above you Hark to them God sends As yet surviving in their worthy Charge Whose work it is Gods Vineyard to enlarge God and my Conscience your experience knows Whiles I was
the fourth of the United Colonies in New-England Called by the Dutch Rocabert and by the Indians Quinnapiuk called New-Haven where they erected a Church of Christ which continue in Gospel Order until this day in an amiable and exemplary manner notwithstanding they have met with divers losses and crosses both of eminent and useful Instruments as also of a great part of their estates as in special by the loss of Mr. Lambertons ship Of which said Plantation and Colony I have little to insert for want of more full and certain intelligence About this time there arose great troubles in the Country especially at Boston by the broaching of Antinomian and Familistical Opinions the chief sect-leader thereof was one Mrs. Hutchinson these carried on their abominable Tenets with such subtilty under a pretence of advancing free-grace and crying up the Covenant of Grace and down the Covenant of Works as they took away by their assertions Grace from the Covenant yea so close was this mystery of Iniquity carried on as that some of the prudentest of the Orthodox party could not discern it at the first but at length the folly of those that were principal therein was made manifest unto all men the evil consequences thereof faced very sadly so as it influenced into their Civil State and caused great disturbance but by Gods blessing on the improvement of the faithful endeavours of his Servants the Messengers of the Churches who were called together as a Synod to help in the case together with the prudence and industry of sundry principal ones amongst them both in Church and State at other times a right understanding of some few things in difference amongst the sincere and godly was procured The Ring-leaders of the Faction being thus detected were censured not only by the Church but by the Civil power and were also condemned to exile who not knowing where they might sit down safely made requests unto the Government of Plimouth that they might be at an Island that they had not hitherto improved called by the Indians Aquetnet and by the English inhabiting it Road-Island which the Government of Plimouth aforesaid considering they were their Country-men and fellow Subjects that were thus distressed and destitute of habitation although they had their errors in as great dislike as those from whence they came yet pittying them in their present straights granted their request so these having there seated themselves and finding that it was a very fruitful and pleasant place such indeed as that Colony or Jurisdiction hath not any the like left within their Patent they soon drew many more unto them not only to fill up that Island but have also seated two more Towns on the Main therein as is judged incroaching upon the just rights of the aforesaid Colony of Plimouth and have of late through mis-information obtained a Patent not only for the places forementioned but have also extended it into the heart and bowels of the known possessed rights of the said Colony endeavoring to requite their kindness as sometimes it is said the Hedge-hog did by the friendly Coney But it is our great happiness that as God takes notice from on high of the unrighteousness and oppression of the sons of men so he hath given us a gracious Prince who mindes the peace of His meanest Subjects from whose Justice and Prudence we do confidently expect relief and on that assurance do resolve by Gods help to contain our selves from seeking to vindicate our wrongs in such a way as their injurious dealings might provoke unto This Year there was a hideous Monster born at Boston in New-England of one Mrs. Mary Dyer a Co-partner with the said Mrs. Hutchinson in the aforesaid Heresies the said Monster as it was related to me It was without Head but Horns like a Beast Scales or a rough skin like the fish called the Thornback it had Leggs and Claws like a Fowl and in other respects as a Woman Childe the Lord declaring his detestation of their Monstrous errors as was then thought by some by this prodigious Birth Not long before these Troubles there arrived at Boston one Samuel Gorton who from thence came to Plimouth and upon his first coming thither gave some hopes that he would have proved an useful Instrument but soon after by little and little discovered himself to be a proud and pestilent Seducer and deeply leavened with blasphemous and Familistical Opinions and observing such Fictions to be spread by some of his Spirit already in the Country he takes his opportunity to begin to sowe such seed at Plimouth whereby some were seduced in special one John Weeks and his Wife who in some short time became very Atheists looking for no more happiness then this world affords not onely in practice such but also in opinion But the said Gorton falling into some Controversie with one Mr. Ralph Smith was summoned to the Court held at Plimouth the fourth of December 1638. to Answer the said Mr. Smiths Complaint and there he carried so mutinously and seditiously as that he was for the same and for his turbulent carriages towards both Magistrates and Ministers in the presence of the Court Sentenced to finde Sureties for his good Behaviour during the time he should stay in the Jurisdiction which was limited to fourteen dayes and also Amerced to pay a considerable Fine In some short time after he departed to Road-Island and in like manner or worse demeaned himself there so as they were forced to Sentence him to suffer Corporal Punishment by Whipping and they Banished him likewise off the Island And from thence he with divers of his Accomplices went to Providence and there he and they carried so in outrage and riotously as they were in danger to have caused Bloodshed so as the Inhabitants some of them viz. Mr. Roger Williams and others were constrained to sollicite the Government of the Massachusets for aid and help them against their Insolencies And for that end some of them desired to come under their Jurisdiction and were accepted Moreover several of the poor Neighbouring Natives were so injuriously wronged by them the said Gorton and his Company they seeking to bereave them of their just Rights of Lands by surreptitious wayes in special Pomham and Sokanoko The Answer of Mr. E Winslow to Gortons pamphlet entituled Simplicities defence against the seven headed policy wil give the Reader a full particular inteligence concerning all the transactions of those matters and likewise of their damnable Errours two petty Sachems living not farre off from Providence who were bereaved of their just Rights in Lands by improving the Tyranny of Miantonimok the then chief Sachem of the Narrhagansets for the procuring thereof which necessitated the said under-Sachems to make their Appeal to the Court of the Massachusets for help in their oppressed condition subjecting themselves and their Lands unto their Jurisdiction likewise which caused the said Government to Require their Appearance at Boston to Answer
Law I made Bridl ' SEe how God honoured hath this Worthy's Name To make it spell his Virtue and proclame His rare Endowments us'd for God and Us Now such as honour God hee 'll honour thus Both Just and Gentle Merciful and Just And yet a Man and yet compos'd of Dust Yes God within these slender walls can finde A Noble Virtuous Studious Active Minde God was the Guider of his Childhood Youth God did preserve him ever in the Truth And gave him grace to own Him when but yong Whom afterward he made a Champion strong For to defend his People and his Cause By Wisdome Justice Prudence and by Laws And most of all by his own good Example A Patern fit to imitate most ample If we should trace him from the first we finde He flies his Country leaves his Friends behinde To follow God and to profess his Wayes And here encounters Hardships many dayes He is content with Moses if God please Renouncing Honour Profit Pleasure Ease To suffer Tossings and Unsettlements And if their Rage doth rise to Banishments He weighs it not so he may still preserve His Conscience clear and with Gods People serve Him freely ' cording to his minde and will If not in one place hee 'll go forward still If God have Work for him i' th' Ends of th' Earth Safe Danger Hunger Colds nor any Dearth A howling Wilderness nor Salvage men Discourage him hee 'll follow God agen And how God hath made him an Instrument To us of quiet Peace and Settlement I need not speak the eldest youngest know God honour'd him with greater Work then so To sum up all in this still he went hence This man was wholly God's His Recompence Remains beyond expression and he is Gone to possess it in Eternall Bliss Hee 's happy happy thrice unhappy we That still remain more Changes here to see Let 's not lament that God hath taken him From Troubles hence in Seas of Joyes to swim Let 's not lament his gracious Life is ended And he to Life of Glory is attended Nor let us grieve that now Gods Work is done In making him a happy blessed one But let 's bewail that we have so neglected Duty to God or men have disrespected With earnest Lamentations let 's lament And whiles we may let 's seriously Repent That we have not improved as we might For God and for our selves this worthy wight And now that God hath Moses ta'ne away Let 's pray that he would give us Joshua To go before the Camp and to subdue God's and his People's foes whatever Crew Oppose our Journeys to that Land of Rest Which till obtain'd we 're never truely blest And for our better progress in this course Let now our great Necessity enforce Each man to study Peace and to improve His greatest strength to re-unite in Love The Hearts and the Affections of us all Lest by our fault Gods Work to th'ground should fall W hy mourns the People thus for me since I I n Heavens dwell shall to Eternity L et not so many Tears fall from my Friends L ive holy happy God will recompense I nto your bosomes all your love again A nd your affections whiles I did remain M ongst you but now you must refrain B Ear up your hearts dear hearts when thoughts of me R un in your mindes with this The time will be A nd every hower brings it on apace D ear friends when we for ever shall imbrace F arewell but for a season then farewell O ur next Embraces shall the rest excell R est happy Children Friends and Tender Wife D eath but begins the godly's happy Life A few Verses more added by one that was well acquainted with the Worth of the said Mr. William Bradford THe Ninth of May about Nine of the Clock A precious one God out of Plimouth took Governour Bradford then expir'd his breath Was call'd away by force of cruel Death A man approv'd in Town in Church in Court Who so behav'd himself in godly sort For the full space of Thirty seven years As he was means of turning many fears Away from thee poor Plimouth where he spent The better part of time that God him lent Well skill'd he was in Regulating Laws So as by Law he could defend the Cause Of poor distressed Plaintiff when he brought His Case before him and for help besought Above all other men he loved those Who Gospel-truths most faithfully unclose Who were with Grace and Learning fully fraught Such as laboriously the Gospel taught Willing also to own in his due place The meanest Saint expressing gifts of grace Sweet Brewster he is gone some time before Wise Winslow whose death we lament so sore And faithful Standish freed from horrid pain To be with Christ in truth the greatest gain Now blessed holy Bradford a Successor Of blessed holy Bradford the Confessor Is gone to place of Rest with many more Of precious ones whom I might name great store And Commendation of each one have given But what needs that their Names are writ in Heaven And now dear Lord let us our time improve To be with thee in Prayer much above Oh save thy People help in time of need When all means fails be thou in room and stead Of other helps who fail when needed most When greatest need they then give up the ghost And let thy Servants their time still imploy That in the end they may attain such joy As may a fruit of true Believing bee That we with Christ may reign Eternallie This Worthy Gentleman was interred with the greatest solemnities that the Jurisdiction to which he belonged was in a capacity to perform many deep sighs as well as loud volleys of shot declaring that the People were no less sensible of their own loss who were surviving then mindful of the worth and honour of him that was deceased you might now easily discern a heavy heart in the mournful countenance of every sober minded and considerate man for as you have heard in the three or four Years last past God was pleased greatly to weaken this poor tottering Colony of Plimouth by taking away several of the most usefull Props thereof both in Church and Civil State some others who had been of singular use now stooping under the infirmities of old age could not be so serviceable as in times past and others removed so far from the center of the Government that they could not without great difficulties attend their publick concerns nor could possibly so constantly as our necessities required which did greatly aggravate our troubles we were become weak when we had need of greatest strength had lost many of our Chieftains when we stood in need of the best conduct and guidance for besides the troubles and changes that then attended our Native Country and might call for great circumspection in our walking in relation unto them we had also at this very time some amongst us that growing weary of
God but minding most the positive and practical part of Divine Institutions they entred into Covenant To walk with God and one with another in the enjoyment of the Ordinances of God according to the Primitive Patern in the Word of God But finding by experience they could not peaceably enjoy their own liberty in their Native Country without offence to others that were differently minded they took up thoughts of removing themselves and their Families into the Netherlands which accordingly they endeavoured to accomplish but met with great hinderance yet after some time the good hand of God removing obstructions they obtained their desires arriving in Holland they setled themselves in the City of Leyden in the year 1610 and there they continued divers years in a comfortable condition enjoying much sweet society and spiritual comfort in the wayes of God living peaceably among themselves and being courteously entertained and lovingly respected by the Dutch amongst whom they were strangers having for their Pastor Mr. John Robinson a man of a learned polished and modest spirit pious and studious of the Truth largely accomplished with sutable Gifts and Qualifications to be a Shepherd over this Flock of Christ having also a fellow-helper with him in the Eldership Mr. William Brewster a man of approved Piety Gravity and Integrity very eminently furnished with gifts sutable to such an Office But notwithstanding their amiable and comfortable carrying on as hath been said although the Church of Christ on Earth in holy Writ is sometimes called Heaven yet there is alwayes in their most perfect state here in this lower world very much wanting as to absolute and perfect happiness which is onely reserved for the time and place of the full enjoyment of Celestial Glory for although this Church was at peace and in rest at this time yet they took up thoughts of removing themselves into America with common consent the Proposition of removing thither being set on foot and prosecuted by the Elders upon just and weighty grounds for although they did quietly and sweetly enjoy their Church-liberties under the States yet they foresaw that Holland would be no place for their Church and Posterity to continue in comfortably at least in that measure that they hoped to finde abroad and that for these Reason following which I shall recite as received from themselves First Because themselves were of a different Language from the Dutch where they lived and were setled in their way insomuch that in ten years time whiles their Church sojourned amongst them they could not bring them to reform the neglect of Observation of the Lords-day as a Sabbath or any other thing amiss amongst them Secondly Because their Countrymen who came over to joyn with them by reason of the hardness of the Country soon spent their Estates and were then forced either to return back to England or to live very meanly Thirdly That many of their Children through the extreme necessity that was upon them although of the best dispositions and graciously inclined and willing to bear part of their Parents burthens were oftentimes so oppressed with their heavy labours that although their Spirits were free and willing yet their Bodies bowed under the weight of the same and became decrepid in their early youth and the vigour of Nature consumed in the very bud And that which was very lamentable and of all sorrows most heavy to be born was that many by these occasions and the great licentiousness of Youth in that Country and the manifold temptations of the place were drawn away by evil examples into extravagant and dangerous courses getting the reins on their necks and departing from their Parents Some became Souldiers others took upon them farre Voyages by Sea and other-some worse courses tending to dissoluteness and the destruction of their Souls to the great grief of their Parents and the dishonour of God and that the place being a place of great licentiousness and liberty to Children they could not educate them nor could they give them due correction without reproof or reproach from their Neighbours Fourthly That their Posterity would in few generations become Dutch and so lose their interest in the English Nation they being desirous rather to enlarge His Majesties Dominions and to live under their Naturall PRINCE This hath been graciously answered since by moving the hearts of many of his Servants to be very instrumental in this work with some good success hopes of a further blessing in that respect Fifthly and lastly and which was not the least a great hope and inward Zeal they had of laying some good Foundation or at least to make some way thereunto for the propagating and advancement of the Gospel of the Kingdome of Christ in those remote parts of the World yea although they should be but as stepping-stones unto others for the performance of so great a Work These and such like were the true Reasons of their removal and not as some of their Adversaries did upon the rumour thereof cast out slanders against them as if the State was weary of them and had rather driven them out as Heathen Histories have feigned of Moses and the Israelites when they went out of Egypt then that it was their own free choice and motion I will therefore mention a particular or two to evince the contrary And first Although some of them were low in their Estates yet the Dutch observing that they were diligent faithful and careful of their engagements had great respect to them and strove for their custome Again secondly the Magistrates of the City of Leyden where they lived about the time of their coming away in the publick place of Justice gave this commendable Testimony of them in reproof of the Walloons who were of the French Church in the City These English said they have lived now amongst us Ten years and yet we never had any Suit or Accusation against them or any of them but your Strifes and Quarrels are continuall The Reasons of their Removal above-named being debated first in private and thought weighty were afterwards propounded in publick and after solemn dayes of Humiliation observed both in publick and in private it was agreed That part of the Church should go before their Brethren into America to prepare for the rest and if in case the major part of the Church did chuse to go over with the first then the Pastor to go along with them but if the major part stayed that he was then to stay with them They having imployed sundry Agents to treat with several Merchants in England who adventured some considerable Sums in a way of valuation to such as went personally on in the Voyage the Articles of Agreement about the premises being fully concluded with the said Merchants and sundry Difficulties and Obstructions removed having also obtained Letters Patents for the Northern parts of Virginia of King James of Famous Memory All things were got ready and provided a small Ship was bought and fitted
the Complaints of those oppressed English and Indians But notwithstanding they several times sent to them with all gentleness and courteous expressions they neither appeared nor sent satisfying Reasons for their absence but in stead thereof many insolent proud railing opprobrious Returns so that the said Government saw there was no remedy but to send force to constrain them to come which they accordingly performed and Committed the said Gorton and several of them to Ward and during the time of their Imprisonment they carried still very proudly and audaciously towards all in place of Authority sparing not to reproach abuse and traduce the most Honourable and Reverend both in Church and State and which is yet worse spared not blasphemously to fly upon the Lord Jesus himself his Word and Ordinances in such a manner as scarce in any Age any Hereticks or Apostates have done the like Not onely abandoning and rejecting all Civil Power and Authority except moulded according to their own Fancies but belching out errours in their Familisticall Allegories if I may so call them as to speak with holy reverence they rendred the Lord Christ no other then an Imagination Horrible Familism and Blasphemy as if they were spoken by and differ little from the cursed doctrine of their grand Leader Henry Nicols shunning not blasphemously to say That Christ was but a shadow and resemblance of what is done in every Christian That Christ was Incarnate in Adam and was that Image of God wherein Adam was created and That his being born afterwards of the Virgin Mary and suffering was but a manifestation of his suffering in Adam That Man 's losing Gods Image was the Death of Christ That Christ is the Covenant properly and That Faith and Christ are all one They call the holy Word and Sermons of Salvation Tales the Lords-Supper An Abomination and A Spell Baptism Vanity and Abomination the Ministers of the Word Necromancers and by other opprobrious terms villifie and traduce them Much more might be spoken and mentioned of this stuff which they have not been ashamed to divulge but a little is enough save but to give the Reader to see the Lords goodness towards his poor people in New-England that hath delivered us and saved us of his grace from their pernicious destructive wayes and hath so detected their folly as it is made manifest to all men In fine the said Gorton and his fellow-Prisoners were several of them Sentenced to remain in durance in several Towns of the Jurisdiction of the Massachusets for six Months and afterwards Banished He was a subtile Deceiver courteous in his carriage to all at some times for his own ends but soon moved with passion and so lost that which he gained upon the simple To shut up what I have to say concerning him which is sad He is since become a sordid man in his life as he hath been declared to be in his cursed Principles and Opinions and hath not shunned to say and affirm That all the felicity we are like to have we must expect in this life and no more and therefore advised one with whom he had some speech to make much of her self for she must expect no more but what she could enjoy in this life or words to the same effect Thus evil men and deceivers grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 2 Tim. 3.13 1638. THis Year Mr. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen Assistants in Government Mr. William Bradford Mr. Edward Winslow Captain Miles Standish Mr. John Alden Mr. John Jenny Mr. John Atwood Mr. John Brown This year three men were Executed for Robbing and Murthering an Indian near Providence which besides the Evidence that came against them they did in substance Confess against themselves and were Condemned by Legal Tryal Some have thought it great severity to Hang three English for one Indian but the more Considerate will easily satisfie themselves for the Legality of it and indeed should we suffer their Murtherers to go unpunished we might justly fear that God would suffer them to take a more sharp Revenge By such Arguments was the Government of Plimouth moved by the Government of the Massachusets to do Justice in the case And here may be noted That the Massachusets refused this Tryal as being committed in the Jurisdiction of Plimouth and they of Road-Island having Apprehended them delivered them to the aforesaid Jurisdiction of Plimouth on the same grounds This Year about the second of June there was a great and fearful Earthquake It was heard before it came with a rumbling Noise or low murmure like unto remote Thunder It came from the Northwards and passed Southwards as the Noise approached near the Earth began to quake and it came at length with that violence as caused Platters Dishes and such like things which stood upon Shelves to clatter and fall down yea people were afraid of their Houses and it was so as that some being without doors could not stand but were fain to catch hold of Posts and Pales to prevent them from falling About half an hour after or less came another Noise and shaking but not so loud nor strong as the former It was not onely on the Land but at Sea also for some Ships that were on the Sea-coast were shaken by it so powerful is the mighty hand of the Lord as to cause both the Earth and Sea to shake Nâ—hum 1.3 4 5.6 and the Mountains to tremble before him His way is in the Whirlwind and the storm and the Clouds are the dust of his feet the Rocks are thrown down before him Who can stand before his indignation and who can abide in the fierceness of his anger 1639. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Chosen Governour of Plimouth were Chosen Assistants Mr. Thomas Prince Captain Miles Standish Mr. John Alden Mr. John Brown Mr. William Collier Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Jenny This Year HARVARD COLLEDGE was Erected at Cambridge in New-England which was so called in Remembrance of a worthy Gentleman who liberally Contributed towards the Charge of the Erecting of it This Year the great Sachem Woosamequen sometimes called Massasoiet and Mooanam his Son came into the Court held at Plimouth in New-England on the Five and twentieth day of September in their own proper persons and desired that the ancient League and Confederacy formerly made with the Government of Plimouth aforesaid wherein he acknowledged himself Subject to the King of England and his Successors may stand and remain inviolable And the said Woosamequen and Mooanam his Son for themselves and their Successors He that here is called Mooanam is the same that afterwards was called Wamsuâ—â—a it being usuall for the Indians to change their Names did faithfully promise to keep and observe the Covenants and Conditions therein expressed and contained which on their parts are likewise to be kept and observed And the said Woosamequen and Mooanam his Son did then also promise
Joy depart bid Merriment be gone Bid Friends stand by sit sorrowful alone But ah what sorrow can be to suffice Though Heaven and Earth were filled with our cries The Clouds were turned into drops of tears The Mourning for to last an Age of Years 'T were all too little to lament his death Whose life so precious was for Heaven and Earth Job wish'd his day might quite forgotten me Which brought him forth this world's light first to see O let not the day numbred be i' th Year That took this Light out of our Hemisphere A fatal day a day of sad presage To us survivers of this present Age The hour of thy decease when Sun went down When light turn'd dark when heavens began to frown 'T is ominous to us who saw his light That Grace provok'd should turn our day to night And Gospels light which shineth from on high Should clouded be and darkned in our skie O happy dayes when such Lights shine on Earth O bitter dayes when they are hid beneath This is our grief He which late shin'd on high Is hid in grave and now beneath doth lye Let Hartford sigh and say I 've lost a Treasure Let all New-England mourn at Gods Displeasure In taking from us one more gracious Then is the Gold of Ophir precious Sweet was the savour which his grace did give It season'd all the place where he did live His Name did as an Ointment give it's smell And all bare witness that it savour'd well Wisdome Love Meekness Friendly Courtesie Each Moral Virtue with rare Pietie Pure Zeal yet mixt with mildest Clemency Did all conspire in this one Breast to lye Deep was his Knowledge Judgement was acute His Doctrine solid which none could confute To Minde he gave light of intelligence And search'd the corners of the Conscience To Sinners stout which no Law could bring under To them he was a Son of dreadful Thunder When all strong Oaks of Bashan us'd to quake And fear did Lebanus his Cedars shake The stoutest Hearts he filled full of fears He clave the Rocks they melted into tears Yet to sad Souls with sense of Sin cast down He was a Son of Consolation Sweet peace he gave to such as were centrite Their darkness sad he turn'd to joyous light Of Preaching he had learn'd the rightest Art To every one dividing his own part Each Ear that heard him said He spake to me So piercing was his holy Ministrie His Life did shine Times Changes stain'd it not Envy it self could not there finde a spot Had he surviv'd to finish Works begun 'T had been a Blessing to all Christendome Then should the world have known what God had show'd him And what themselves for all his Works had ow'd him But this unthankfull Age is now cut short Of that rich Treasure ' cause they car'd not for 't O that his love may turn us yet to prize The blessings yet enjoy'd herein be wise Lest that which he not long ago foretold Be now in us fulfil'd as 't was of old That wantonness of Churches would bereave Them of their Ministers without their leave God plaguing this his messengers contempt With this soul-stroying Plague and Punishment But whatsoever wrath doth us abide Whatever plague for sin doth us betide Yet thou O blessed Saint art now at rest I' th bosom of thy Christ which is the best Bathing in rivers of divine pleasure Which is at Gods right hand most sweet and pure Tasting the fruit of all thy labours spent To honour God which was thy whole intent From God thou camest forth who sent thee hither And now hath call'd thee back to live together Him didst thou serve while life and breath did last With him now blest while life and breath is past Sense of our loss would call thee back again But out of love we bid thee there remain Till we yet left behinde our course fulfil To meet thee on the top of Zion hill When thou and we shall both rejoyce together So fast united as no death shall sever Both to sing praises to our heavenly King Who hath us saved from deaths poisonous sting And will restore our bodies from the grave Which them to dust of death consumed have Making them shine like brightness of the Sun With Glory ne'r to end when once begun Let Heaven and Earth Angels and Men him praise Sounding his Glory past all length of dayes P. B. 1648. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth And were chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. William Thomas 1649. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown And Mr. William Thomas This Year Mr. John Winthrop Governour of the Jurisdiction of the Massachusets deceased the twenty sixth day of March about ten of the clock The death of Mr. Winthrop He was singular for Piety Wisdom and of a publick spirit he brought over a great estate into the Country and partly by his liberality partly by the unfaithfulness of his Baily spent the most part of it so as when he died he was but low in that respect and yet notwithstanding very much honoured and beloved of the most and continued in the place of Governour for the most part until his death which was much lamented by many He was a man of unbyassed Justice patient in respect of personal wrongs and injuries a great lover of the Saints especially able Ministers of the Gospel very sober in desiring and temperate in improving earthly contentments very humble courteous and studious of general good His body was with great solemnity and honour buried at Boston in New-England the third of April 1649. This year some parts of the Country was much troubled with numerable hosts of Caterpillers An innumerable company of catterpillers in some parts of the Country which destroyed the fruits of the earth in divers places and did eat off the leaves of the trees so as they looked as bare as if it had been winter and in some places did eat the leaves from off the Pease straw and did not eat the Pease It pleased God to give them a check and a rebuke so as they hurt but in some places and of his goodness in short time removed them This Year August 25. that faithful and eminent servant of Christ Mr. Thomas Shepard died who was a soul-searching Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of the Church of Christ at Cambridge By his death not only that Church and people but also all New-England sustained a very great loss he not only preached the Gospel profitably and very successively but also hath left behinde him divers worthy works of special use in reference unto the clearing up the state of the
soul to God-ward the benefit thereof those can best experience who are most conversant in the improving of them and have Gods blessing on them therein to their souls good His body was honourably buried at Cambridge in New-England Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for their works follow them Rev. 13.13 This Year there passed an Act of Parliament in England for the promoting and propagating the Gospel of Jesus Christ amongst the Indians in New-England in reference unto the furtherance and advancement of so good a work a Corporation of sixteen Select men were appointed consisting of a President Treasurer and Assistants called by the name of the President and Society for the propagation of the Gospel in New-England to receive such sums of money as from time to time was or should be collected and raised by the liberal contributions of such as whose hearts God was pleased to stir up to so glorious a work and it was by the same Parliament Enacted that the Commissioners for the United Colonies of New-England for the time being by themselves or such as they shall appoint shall have Power and Authority to receive and dispose of the said monies brought in paid to the said Treasurer for the time being or any other Monies Goods or Commodities acquired and delivered by the care of the said Corporation at any time whose receipt or receipts of such Person or Persons so Authorized by them shall be a sufficient discharge to the said Corporation and Treasurer The particulars of such Orders and Instructions with which the said Act is invested the Reader may be more amply satisfied in by the perusal thereof as it is extant bearing date July 27. 1649. Moreover let the Reader take notice of the special favour of Almighty God in moving the heart of the Kings Majesty since his Restitution to his Crown and Regal Dignity particularly of his Royal Favour to countenance this work and to secure what hath been and what may be given toward this work by a legal settlement which before was wanting so as the said glorious design hath been vigorously carried on both in Old England and in New by such active and faithful Instruments as God hath raised up and improved therein with some considerable success The work coming on to such perfection as that the Holy Bible is Translated and Printed in the Indian Language whereby the glad tidings of the Gospel is and may be communicated to them with the greater facility some souls also of them being gained as may be hoped to believe on the Lord Jesus for life everlasting and daily hopes of further and greater success in that behalf for which unspeakable riches of his grace let his Holy Name have all the praise throughout all ages The Principal Instruments improved in Preaching the Gospel of Christ unto the Indians are Mr. John Eliot Senior Mr. John Eliot Junior Mr. Thomas Mayhew Mr. Pierson Mr. Brown Mr. James Mr. Cotton Besides divers of their own Nation whose Names and number I know not 1650. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. Edward Winslow Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown and Mr. William Thomas This Year there was more then ordinary mortality in the Country especially about Boston and mostly amongst their Children since which time New diseases the fruits of new sins several diseases have been in the Country more frequently then formerly as namely gripings in the bowels with violent Vomiting and Purging which hath taken away many as also a disease in the Mouth or Throat which hath proved mortal to some in a very short time as also great distempers of Colds c. which ought to be awakening dispensations together with others to cause us to consider and examine whether we have not provoked the Lord with some general and unwonted sins inasmuch as he is pleased to exercise the Country oft-times with unwonted afflictions and punishments 1651. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet This Year Mr. William Thomas expired his natural life in much peace and comfort he served in the place of Magistracy in the Jurisdiction of Plimouth divers Years Mr. William Thomas his death he was a well approved and a well grounded Christian well read in the Holy Scriptures and other approved Authors and a good lover and approver of Godly Ministers and good Christians and one that had a sincere desire to promote the common good both of Church and State He died of a Consumption and was honourably buried at Marshfield in the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth 1652. THis year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth And Were Chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Capt. Myles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet Lieut. Thomas Southworth This Year that blessed Servant of God Mr. John Cotton died Of Mr. Cottons Life Mr. Norton hath Penned a Book whereunto I refer the Reader for more full relation of the same he was sometimes Preacher of Gods Word at Boston in Lincolnshire and from thence came over into New-England in the Year 1633 and was chosen Teacher of the first Church of Christ at Boston for which Function and Office he was greatly enriched with gifts abilities being an able expounder and faithful applier of the Word of God furnished also with wisdom and prudence to go before the Church in the ordering of the affairs thereof endowed also with meekness of spirit whereby he was fitted to compose such differences as did at any time arise amongst them he was very patient also in respect unto personal wrongs or injuries done unto himself yea towards his sharpest Antagonists An influence of good not only flowed from him unto the Church over whom he was set but also into all the Churches in New-England as necessity required A Comet seen at the time of Mr. Cottons sickness and went out soon after his death About the time of his sickness there appeared in the Heavens over New-England a Comet giving a dim light and so waxed dimmer and dimmer until it became quite extinct and went out which time of its being extinct was soon after the time of the period of his life it being a very signal testimony that God had then removed a bright Star a burning and shining light out of the heaven of his Church here unto Coelestial glory above He was buried at Boston in New-England with great Honour and Lamentation in the Year above written Upon whose never enough deplored death were made these Verses following A Funeral Elegie upon the death of the truely Reverend Mr. John Cotton late
what was truely Congregationall A Pillar of our Church and State was he But now No more no more his face we see Who thought more fit of all his Tribe to stand Before our King for favour for our Land Lately but now translated is to Rest This Agent of New-Englands Interest VVhen last he Preach'd he us the Patern gave Of all that Worship Christ in 's Church would have God then him up into the Mount did call To have the Vision Beatificall As Thomas to the Twelve said Come let 's go And die with him I 'd almost said so too I 'le yet awhile in Tears sowe that I may VVith him in joyful Reapings live for ay A Tomb now holds his Souls beloved Shrine Of th' Holy Ghost a Temple most divine And well New-Englands Heart may rent at this VVonder not Reader I so greatly miss Fit words his Worth our loss and grief to fame VVhen as no Epitaph can declare the same T.S. Not long after viz. in the moneth of July followed the death of that Eminent Servant of God Mr. Samuel Stone who was another Star of the first Magnitude in the Firmament of New-England He was a learned solid and judicious Divine equally able for the Confirmation of the Truth and Confutation of Errours His Ministry was with much Conviction and Demonstration and when he set himself to Application very Powerful He was Teacher to the Church of Hartford fourteen years together with Mr. Hooker and sixteen years after him Thirty years in all He died on the 20th of July and was honourably buried at Hartford A Threnodia upon our Churches second dark Eclipse happening July 20. 1663. by Deaths Interposition between us and that Great Light and Divine Plant Mr. Samuel Stone late of Hartford in New-England LAst Spring this Summer may be Autumn styl'd Sad withering Fall our Beauties which despoyl'd Two choicest Plants our Norton and our Stone Your Justs threw down remov'd away are gone One Year brought Stone and Norton to their Mother In one Year April July them did smother Dame Cambridge Mother to this darling Son Emmanuel Northampt ' that heard this one Essex our Bay Hartford in Sable clad Come bear your parts in this Threnodia sad In losing One Church many lost O then Many for One come be sad singing men May Nature Grace and Art be found in one So high as to be found in few or none In him these Three with full-fraught hand contested With which by each he should be most invested The Largess of the Three it was so great On him the Stone was held a Light compleat A Stone more then the Eben-ezer fam'd Stone splendent Diamond right Orient nam'd A Cordiall Stone that often cheared hearts With pleasant Wit with Gospel rich imparts Whet-Stone that Edgefi'd th' obtusest Minde Load-Stone that drew the Iron Heart unkinde A Ponderous Stone that would the Bottom sound Of Scripture-depths and bring out Arcan's found A Stone for Kingly David's use so fit As would not fail Goliah's Front to hit A Stone an Antidote that brake the course Of Gangrene Errour by Convincing force A Stone Acute fit to divide and square A Squared Stone became Christs Building rare A Peter's Living lively Stone so Reared As ' live was Hartfords life dead death is feared In Hartford old Stone first drew Infant-breath In New effus'd his last O there beneath His Corps are laid near to his darling Brother Mr. Hooker Of whom dead oft he sigh'd Not such another Heaven is the more desireable said he For Hooker Shepard and Haynes Company E. B. 1664. THis Year Mr. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. William Collier Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet Major J sias Winslow Capt. Tho. Southworth Capt. William Bradford Mr. Thomas Hinkley This year a Blazing-Star or Comet appeared in New-England in the Ninth Tenth Eleventh and the beginning of the Twelfth Moneth Concerning which it hath been observed That such was its motion that in all likelihood it was visible to all the Inhabitants of the Earth and that also in its motion the Blaze of it did turn to all the quarters of the World and that by its turning according to the several Aspects it had to the Sun it was no fiery Meteor caused by Exhalation but that it was sent immediately by God to awake the secure World I willingly close with that which Mr. Samuel Danforth hath Religiously observed as to the Theological Application of this strange and notable Appearance in the Heavens That indeed by the Testimony of the Sacred Scriptures and the common Histories of former Ages Comets do usually precede and portend great Calamities and notable Changes To adde a few more Instances to those the said Author hath well observed When the Emperour Jovian attained to the Empire succeeding the Apostata Julian under whom the Church suffered much Persecution and that under him both Church and Commonwealth were like to have had a flourishing time had he not been taken away by sudden death Socrates lib. 4. Cap. 22. Then also appeared a Comet shewing that further trouble was yet to be expected to the Church Again other Authors make mention of a strange Comet that was seen in the year of Christ 410 being like a Two-edged Sword which portended many Mischiefs and Calamities that happened both in the East and West and such great slaughters of men were about those dayes as no Age ever afforded the like All Europe was in a manner undone no small part of Asia was affrighted and Africa also was not void of those Evils as War Famine Drought and Pestilence all of them strove as it were to trouble the whole World Also in the Years 1400 1401 1402 1403 Comets appeared and great Calamities followed sundry unheard-of Diseases were felt Rivers dried up and Plagues were increased Reade Carion lib. 5. pag 854. Tamerlain King of the Scythians and Parthians with an innumerable Host invaded Asia calling himself The Wrath of God and Desolation of the Earth Also in the Year 1529 appeared four Comets and in the Years 1530 1532 and 1533 were seen in each year one Lanquet saith That there were three within the space of two years upon which these and the like Calamities followed viz. A great Sweating Sickness in England which took away great multitudes of people The Turk in the quarrel of John Vnavoyda who laid Claim to the Crown of Hungaria entred the said Kingdome with Two hundred and fifty thousand fighting Souldiers committing against the Inhabitants thereof most harsh and unspeakable Murthers Rapes Villanies and Cruelties Great Famine and Dearth in Venice and the Countries thereabouts which swept away many The Sweating Sickness in Bâ—abant and in a great part of Germany Great Wars likewise about the Dukedome of Millain between the Emperour Charles the Fifth and Francis the French King About that time also all Lusitania or Portugal was struck with an
Earthquake insomuch that at Vlisippo or Lisbon above a Thousand Houses were thrown down and Sixty more so shaken that they were ready to fall with many other Evils that befell those parts about that time And to observe what hath fallen out since this last Comet appeared will not be unuseful either in Europe or in America Since the writing hereof there have been sad engagements betwixt the two Nations and much Blood spilt In Europe the great Contest between our own Nation and the Dutch which hath threatned bloody War and what will be in the conclusion is known onely to God Besides other Contests between the Dutch and some other of their Neighbours as also the Pestilence very hot both in England and Holland In America the late and sad blow that our Countrymen at the Isle Christophers received from the French And as to our selves in New-England although through the mercy of our good God there is no breaking in nor going out into Captivity nor complaining in our streers yet we have been threatned with Invasion by Forreign Force and sometimes in expectation thereof as also we are not to slight the hand of God in his late sore Strokes in taking away so many by Thunder and Lightning to the great amazement and terrour of many as also Gods continued strokes in Drought Blasting and Mildew with which much of the Fruits of the Earth have been destroyed All which considered ought to induce us to search and try our wayes and to enter into a strict and serious examination of our hearts and lives and having found out what those sins are that are most provoking to the Majesty of Heaven we may reform them whether in Church in State in Family or in Persons that so he may not stir up all his wrath Psal 78 38. but yet may delight over us to do us good from the beginning of the year to the end thereof This year it pleased God to smite the Fruits of the Earth viz. the Wheat in special with Blasting and Mildew whereby much of it was utterly spoiled and became profitable for nothing and much of it worth little being light and empty This was looked at by the judicious and conscientious of the Land as a speaking Providence against the Vnthankfulness of many for so great a mercy and their Murmuring expressed in their words by slighting and undervaluing terms of it as also against Voluptuousness and abuse of the good Creatures of God by Licentiousness in Drinking and Fashions in Apparel for the obtaining whereof a great part of this principal Grain was oftentimes unnecessarily expended This so sad a Dispensation with other particulars occasioned the observation of some dayes in a way of Humiliation before the Lord somewhat more frequently then ordinary Let it also be observed That yet in judgement he remembred mercy by affording a plentiful Harvest of other sorts of Grain so as the Country suffered not in respect of the want of Bread this year but had plenty thereof This year also His Majesties Commissioners viz. Colonel Richard Nicolls Sir Robert Carre Knight George Cartwright Esq and Samuel Maverick Esq Arrived at Boston in New-England in the moneth of July The tenour of whose Commission was in special To reduce the Dutch at the Manhato's to His Majesties Obedience which in some short time was accomplished and the Place and Jurisdiction thereof surrendred up unto His Majesties said Commissioners who styled it by the Name of New-York and placed a Government over it of His Majesties Subjects the aforesaid honourable Colonel Richard Nicolls being Governour in chief there And whereas they were likewise Commissionated To hear and determine such Differences as might be amongst the Colonies in respect unto the Bounds of their Jurisdictions Some such Differences were by them heard and in special betwixt Plimouth and Road-Island and such Settlement therein concluded as they were capacitated unto As also sundry Propositions were by them made to several of the respective Jurisdictions which together with the Agitations concerning them and the Answers unto them are elsewhere extant They likewise presented the honoured Governour of the Jurisdiction of Plimouth as to that Colony with a gracious Letter from His Majesty The Contents whereof are as followeth To Our Trusty and Well beloved Our Governour and Council of New-Plimouth greet CHARLES REX TRusty and well-beloved We greet you well We need not inlarge upon Our Care of and Affection to that Our Plantation of New-Plimouth when We give you such a Testimony Manifestation of it in the sending of those Gentlemen persons well known unto Us and deserving from us Our trusty and well-beloved Colonel Richard Nicolls Sir Robert Carre Knight George Cartwright Esq and Samuel Maverick Esq our Commissioners to visit you and other our Plantations in those parts of New-England and to give us a full and particular Information and account of your present state and condition and how the same may be advanced and improved by any further Acts of Grace and Favour from us towards you and that both you and all the world may know and take notice That we take you into our immediate protection and will no more suffer you to be oppressed or injured by any foreign Power or â—ll Neighbours then we would suffer our other Subjects that live upon the same Continent with us to be so injured and oppressed And as our Care and Protection will we doubt not be sufficient with Gods blessing to defend you from foreign force so our Care and Circumspection is no less that you may live in peace amongst your selves and with those our other Subjects who have planted themselves in your neighbour Colonies with that Justice Affection and brotherly Love which becomes Subjects born under the same Prince and in the same Country and of the same Faith and Hope in the Mercies of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And to the end there may be no Contentions and Differences between you in respect of the bounds and Jurisdiction of your several Colonies the hearing and determining whereof we have referred to our Commissioners as the Right appears by clear Evidence and Testimony before them or that they can settle it by your mutual Consent and Agreement otherwise in cases of difficulty they shall present the same to us who will determine according to our own Wisdome and Justice The Address you formerly made to us gave us so good satisfaction of your Duty Loyalty and Affection to us that we have not the least doubt that you will receive those Commissioners in such manner as becomes you and as may manifest your respect and affection towards us from whom they are sent They will let you know the resolution we have to preserve all your Liberties and Priviledges both Ecclesiastical and Civil without the least violation which we presume will dispose you to manifest by all wayes in your power Loyalty and Affection to us that all the world may know that you do look upon
Age when the Lord took him to himself He was Interred with much Honour and Lamentation In the time of his languishing Sickness he was visited by the Elders round about especially on the Sixteenth of May the day after the Court of Election when there being a general meeting of all the Elders of the Churches at his house they requested Mr. Wilson because they knew not whether ever they should have the like opportunity to hear him speak again and having been from the first a Pillar amongst them and of much Experience in his observation of the state of things That he would solemnly declare to them what he conceived to be those sins amongst us which provoked the displeasure of God against the Country He then told them That he had divers times and long feared these sins following as chief among others which God was greatly provoked with viz. 1. Separation 2. Anabaptism 3. Corahism This latter he did explain thus viz. when people rise up as Corah against their Ministers or Elders as if they took too much upon them when indeed they do but Rule for Christ and according to Christ yet saith he it is nothing for a Brother to stand up and oppose without Scripture or Reason the Doctrine and word of the Elder saying I am not satisfied c. And hence if he do not like the Administration be it Baptism or the like he will then turn his back upon God and his Ordinances and go away c. And saith he for our neglect of baptizing the Children of the Church those that some call Grandchildren I think God is provoked by it 4. Another sin I take to be The making light of and not subjecting to the Authority of Synods without which the Churches cannot long subsist And so for the Magistrates being Gallio like either not caring for these things or else not using their Power and Authority for the maintenance of the Truth and Gospel and Ordinances of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ and for the bearing thorough witness against the contrary Should the Lord leave THEM hereunto how miserable a people should we be At night the Assembly being dismissed with Prayer Mr. Wilson did being desired by them so to do in a solemn manner bless the Elders making a short Prayer saying I am not like long to be with you the Lord pardon us and heal us and make us more Heavenly and take us off from the world and make us burning and shining Lights by our heavenly Doctrine and Example And I beseech the Lord with all my heart to bless you and to bless his Churches and to bless all his People and to bless all your Families and to bless your Wives and to bless all your Children and your Childrens Children and make us all more and more meet for our Inheritance and bring us all to it in his good time c. These words with some few other he spake with great affection and with tears and all the Ministers wept with him and they took their leave of him even as Children of their Father who having blessed them was about to die Upon the Death of that Reverend Aged Ever-honoured and gracious Servant of Christ Mr. John Wilson Pastor of a Church in Boston Interred August 8. 1667. AH now there 's none who does not know That this day in our Israel Is fall'n a great and good man too A Prince I might have said as well A man of Princely Power with God For Faith and Love of Princely spirit Our Israels Chariots Horsemen good By Faith and Prayer though not by Merit Renown'd for Practick Piety In Englands both from Youth to Age In Cambridge Inns-Court Sudbury And each place of his Pilgrimage As humble as a little Childe When yet in reall worth high-grown Himself a Nothing still he styl'd When God so much had for him done In Love a None-such as the Sand With largest heart God did him fill A bounteous Minde an open Hand Affection sweet all sweetning still Love was his Life he dy'd in Love Love doth embalm his Memory Love is his Bliss and Joy above With God now who is Love for ay A comprehending Charity To all where ought appear'd of good And yet in Zeal was none more high Against th'apparent Serpents Brood To Truth he ever constant was In Judgement wondrous Orthodox In Truth 's Cause never fearing face As if he were another Knox. The Prelates and their Impositions Did never him Conformist make But to avoid those Superstitions Great Worldly Hopes did he forsake When in New-England Errours winde From sundry other Quarters blew No one could him Conforming finde Nought from the Line of Truth him drew Firm stood he ' gainst the Familist And Antinomian spirit strong He never lov'd the Separ'tist Nor yet the Anabaptists throng Neither the Tolerator's strain Nor Quakers Spirit could he brook Nor bow'd to the Morellian Train Nor Childrens Right did over-look Nor did he slight Our Liberties In Civil and in Church-concerns But precious were they in his eyes Who stood among their fixed friends Grave Saint in England twice did give This farewell word to him While you Shall in that place New-England live No hurt shall happen thereunto Strange word and strangely verify'd He this day goes to 's Grave in peace What Changes sad shall us betide Now he is gone we cannot guess What Evil are we hastening to Lord spare thy People but awaken When such away do from us go That yet we may not be forsaken He a first Corner-stone was laid In poor New-England's Boston's Wall Death pulls this out the breach is wide Oh let it not now tumble all Hee 's now at Rest and reigns in Bliss In Conflicts we are left behinde In Fears and Straits How shall we miss His Faith Prayer Zeal and peaceful Minde Lord pour a double portion Of his sweet gracious pious Spirit On poor Survivers let each one Somewhat thereof at least inherit Gaius our host ah now gone Can we e're look for such another But yet there is a Mansion Where we may all turn-in together No moving Inne but Resting-place Where his blest Soul is gathered Where good men going are apace Into the Bosome of their Head Ay thither let us haste away Sure Heaven will the sweeter bee If there we ever come to stay For him and other such as hee J. M. Upon the Death of that most Reverend Man of God Mr. John Wilson Pastor of the first Church in Boston in New-England whose decease was Aug. 7. 1667. JOHN Wilson Anagr. John WILSON Oh change it not no sweeter Name or Thing Throughout the World within our ears shall ring VVHo so of Abr'am Moses Samuel reads Or of Elijah or Elisha's deeds Would surely say their Spirit and Power was his And think there were a Metempsychosis Yea like John Baptist in the Wilderness So was our John in Patmos here no less John the Divine resembling therefore rather And of New-Englands Prophets was the Father John
the Earth as is before-noted If the Effects of them usually are such Exod. 19.18 Psal 29 6. 104.32 Matth. 28.2 Psal 18.15 Zech. 14.4 Rev. 6.12 14. Mat 27 51. Acts 16.25 as by them is sometimes a discovery of the Channels of Water and Foundations of the World the Removing of Mountains from one place to another the Cleaving of Rocks and opening of Graves and of Gates yea the throwing down of many famous Buildings and Cities and some swallowed up and many thousands of people destroyed thereby the turning of plain Land into Mountains the throwing down of Mountains and raising up of Islands in the Sea the breaking out of Rivers where there were none before the discovery of burning Mountains where there were none seen before Famine and Pestilence of which particulars divers instances might be produced out of the Sacred Scriptures and several other Authors Ought we not then to fear and tremble before so great a God who as one saith by his Handmaid Nature doth so terribly shake the Earth as no Land can be sure no place so strong that can defend us Nay the more strong the more dangerous for the higher the greater the fall Let us therefore say with the Wise-man Eccles 3 14. I know that whatsoever God doth shall stand for ever nothing can be put to it nor any thing taken from it and God doth it that men should fear before him This Year Mr. John Brown ended this life in his younger Years travelling into the low Countries he came acquainted with and took good liking to the Reverend Pastor of the Church of Christ at Leyden as also to sundry of the Brethren of that Church which ancient amity induced him upon his coming over to New England to seat himself in the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth in which he was chosen a Magistrate in which place he served God and the Country several Years he was well accomplished with abilities to both civil and religious concernments and attained through Gods grace unto a comfortable perswasion of the love and favour of God to him he falling sick of a Feaver with much serenity and spiritual comfort fell asleep in the Lord and was honourably buried at Wannamoiset near Rehoboth in the spring of the Year abovesaid 1663. THis Year Mr. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were chosen to be his Assistants in Government Mr. William Collier Mr. John Alden Capt. Thomas Willet Major Josias Winslow Capt. Thomas Southworth Capt. VVilliam Bradford Mr. Thomas Hinckley This year Mr. Samuel Newman Teacher of the Church of Christ at Rehoboth changed this life for a better He was sometimes Preacher of Gods Word at Weymouth in the Jurisdiction of the Massachusets and from thence removed to Rehoboth where he continued in the Work of the Ministry untill the end of his dayes He was a lively dispenser of the Word of God and of a pious life very hospitable and at the close of his life very full of joy and comfort and with chearfulness of spirit resigned himself up to the Lord and his Spirit into arms of his blessed Redeemer desiring that the holy Angels might do their office in transporting his Soul into everlasting bliss and happiness He fell asleep in the Lord on the the fifth of July 1663. This year also it pleased God to put a speedy period to the life of Mr John Norton who was a burning and a shining Light and although the Church of Boston in a more special manner felt the smart of this sudden blow yet it reflected upon the whole Land He was singularly endowed with the Tongue of the Learned inabled to speak a word in due season not onely to the wearied Soul but also a word of Counsel to a people in necessity thereof being not onely a wise Steward of the things of Jesus Christ but also a wise Statesman so that the whole Land sustained a great loss of him At his first coming over into New-England he arrived at Plimouth where he abode the best part of one Winter and Preached the Gospel of the Kingdome unto them and ever after to his dying day retained a good affection unto them From thence he went to Boston and from thence to Ipswich in New-England where he was chosen the Teacher of their Church and after the death of worthy Mr. Cotton he was sollicited and at length obtained to return to Boston and there served in that Office untill his death He was chosen by the Jurisdiction of the Massachusets together with the much honoured Mr. Simon Bradstreet to go over into England as Agents in the behalf of that Jurisdiction unto His Majesty and the Privy-Council upon Business of greatest Trust and Concernment and soon after his Return it pleased God suddenly and unexpectedly to take him away by death on the fifth day of April 1663. His Body was honourably buried at Boston On whose much lamented death take this following Elegie An Elegie on the Death of that Eminent Minister of the Gospel Mr. John Norton the Reverend Teacher of the Church of Christ at Boston who exchanged this life for a better April 5. 1663. ASk not the reason why Tears are our meat And none but Mourners seen in ev'ry street Our Crown alas is faln from our head We finde it off Woe to us NORTON's dead Our breach is like the Sea no healing's known To comfort Sions daughter is there none Oh teach your daughters Wailing every one Their Neighbours deepest Lamentation Oh that mine eyes a Fountain were of Tears I 'd day and night in Mourning spend my years My Father Father Israels Chariots thou And Horsemen wer 't Sons of the Prophets now Weep since your Master from your head is taken This Father of the Muses hath forsaken His Study here not liking our dark Roome Doth chuse those Mansions in his Fathers Home The Schoolmen's Doctors whomsoe're they call Subtile Seraphick or Angelicall Dull Souls their Tapers burnt exceeding dim They might to School again to learn of him Lombard must out of date we now profess Norton the Master of the Sentences Scotus a Dunce to him Should we compare Aquinas here none to be named axe Of a more heavenly strain his Notions were More pure sublime Scholastical and cleare More like the Apostles Paul and John I wist Was this our Orthodox Evangelist And though an Exile from his Native Land As John in Patmos was yet here the hand Of Christ leads forth more clearly to espy The New-Jerusalem in her bravery Who more Acute in Judgement was then he More famous too for Heavenly Policie He was a wise and faithful Counsellor One of a thousand an Interpreter Mighty in Word and Prayer who could have Whate're almost from Heaven he did crave On him with things without which I 'le not name The care of all the Churches daily came He car'd thus naturally Oh hear that Rod Which us bereav'd of such a Man of God! Zealous for Order very Criticall For