allay their spirits of malignity toward his people they gathered in a Church in presence of the very governour himself and called to office one Mr. Harrison who could not long continue among them by reason of their fresh renewed malignity who had formerly an evill eye toward them and could no better refraine from oppressing them then Pharoah after he had rest from the plagues under which he was After the departure of Mr. Harrison one Mr. Duren became an help unto them but he and his people also were forced to remove many hundred miles up into the country where they now remain but assuredly the Lord hath more scourges in store for such as force the people to such sufferings and therefore let this Church of Christ continue in the way of his truth according to the rules of his Gospel and without doubt the Lord will preserve and continue them let the adversaries of his Truth be never so potent As also about this time the Lord was pleased to gather a people together in the Isle of Bermoodas whose hearts being guided by the rule of the word they gathered into a Church of Christ according to the rules of the Gospel being provided with able persons indued with gifts from the Lord to administer unto them the holy things of God and after they began to be opposed their reverend elder Mr. Goulding came into these parts and from hence he went to England but this little flock of Christ not long after being banished from thence went to one of the Southern Islands where they endured much hardship and which the Churches of Christ in these parts understanding about six or eight of them contributing toward their want gathered about 800 l. to supply their necessity the which they shipped in a small vessell hired for that end and sent by the hands of two brethren both corne and other necessaries they arriving in safety by the blessing of God upon their labours were well welcomed by their brethren who abundantly blessed the Lord for them and with godly and gratious expression returned a thankfull acknowledgement of the present good hand of the Lord Christ in providing for them so that as this book began with the wonderworking providence of Sions Saviour in providing so wonderfull gratiously for his Churches the World throughout so it here endeth with the same and it were to be desired that the Churches of Christ in Europe would gather up the wonderfull providences of the Lord toward them also and more especially those in our native Country for assuredly it would make much for the magnifying of his glorious works in this day of his power and although the malignant and antichristian party may say they can shew the like wonders as Jannes and Jambres that with-stood Moses yet were the worke of Christ for his poor Churches within these few yeers gathered together by some able instrument whom the Lord might be pleased to stir up for that end and laid open the view of all they would be forced to confess this is the very finger of God and no doubt but they would be a great strengthening to the faith of those who are appointed of the Lord for the overthrow of Antichrist the Lord helping for assuredly the time of his having mercy upon Sion is come CHAP. XII Of the time of the fall of Antichrist and the increase of the Gentile Churches even to the prevoking of the twelve Tribes to submit to the kingdom of Christ IT hath been the longing expectation of many to see that notable and wonderfull worke of the Lord Christ in casting down that man of sin who hath held the whole world of those that profess any Christ under his Lordly power while the true professors of Christ have hardly had any appearance to the eye of the world first take notice the Lord hath an assured seâ— time for the accomplishment of this work which is set down in his word although more darkly to be under stood wherefore the reverend Ministers of Christ for these many yeers have studied and laboured for the finding it out and that holy man of God Mr. John Cotton among many other hath diligently searched for the Lords mind herein and hath declared some sudden blow to be given to this blood-thirsty monster but the Lord Christ hath unseparably joyned the time meanes and manner of this work together and therefore all men that expect the day must attend the means for such hath been and is the absurdity of many that they make semblance of a very zealous affection to see the glorious work of our Lord Christ herein and yet themselves uphold or at least side with those that uphold some part of Antichrists kingdome and therefore the lordly Prelacy may pray for his fall till their lungs are spent and their throats grow dry But while they have a seeming shew and hardly that to oppose his doctrines they themselves in the mean time make use of his power to advance themselves to honour aâ— also in these dayes there are divers desperate blasphemous and erronious persons whose consciences and their own self-will are unseparable companions these are very hot in their own apprehensions to prosecute the work but in the mean time they not only batter down the truths of Christ and his own Ordinances and Institutions but also set up that part of Antichrists kingdom which hath formerly had a great blow already even his deceiveable and damnable doctrines for as one badg of the beast is to be sull of blasphemies so are they and these take unto themselves seven spirits worse then the former making the latter and worse then the beginning as this story may testifie and some stories in our native country much more But to come to the time of Antichrists fall and all that expect it may depend upon the certainty of it yea it may be boldly said that the time is come and all may see the dawning of the day you that long so much for it come forth and fight who can expect a victory without a battel the lordly Prelates that boasted so much of these great atcheivements in this work are fled into holes and corners Familists Seekers Antinomians and Anabaptists they are so ill armed that they think it best sleeping in a whole skin fearing that if the day of battell once go on they shall fall among Antichrists Armies and therefore cry out like cowards If you will let me alone and I will let you alone but assuredly the Lord Christ hath said He that is not with us is against us there is no room in his Army for toleratorists But some will say We will never believe the day iâ— come till our eyes behold Babylon begirt with Souldiers I pray be not too hasty hath not the Lord said Come out of her my people c. surely there is a little space left for this and now is the time seeing the Lord hath set up his standerd of resort now Come forth
by him prepared fit To help it on among our English Nation CHAP. XV. Of further supply for the Church of Christ at Waterton And a sad acceidnt fell out in Boston Towne THe Lord intending to strengthen his poore Churches here and after the overthrow of these damnable Errors to trample Satan under their feet he manifesteth his mindefulness of them in sending over fresh suplpyes againe and againe although weak and sory men in themselves yet strong in the Lord and the power of his might the last that this yeare is to be named is the reverend judicious and godly-affected Mr John Knowles who was desired of the Church of Christ at Waterton to be a two-fold cord unto them in the office of a teaching Elder with the reverend Mr. Phillips of whom you have heard in the former Book WIth courage bold and arguments of strength Knowles doth apply Gods word his stock unto Christ furnisht hath to shew his bountyes length Thee with rich gifts that thou his work mayst do New England is too scant for thy desire Inkindled is Christs truths abroad to spread Virginia may his grace to them admire That thee through Seas for their instruction led Thy labours Knowles are great far greater hee Not onely thee but all his valiant made Forth sinfull dust his Saints and Warriers be He thee upheld thy strength shall never fade John come thou forth behold what Christ hath wrought In these thy dayes great works are yet behinde Then toyle it out till all to passe be brought Christ crowne will thee thou then his glory minde To end this yeare 1639. the Lord was pleased to a send a very sharp winter and more especially in strong storms of weekly snows with very bitter blasts And here the Reader may take notice of the sad hand of the Lord against two persons who were taken in a storme of snow as they were passing from Boston to Roxbury it being much about a mile distant and a very plaine way One of Roxbury sending to Boston his servant maid for a Barber Chirurgion to draw his tooth they lost their way in their passage between and were not found till many dayes after and then the maid was fonnd in one place and the man in another both of them frozen to death in which sad accident this was taken into consideration by divers people that this Barber was more then ordinary laborious to draw men to those sinfull Errors that were formerly so frequent and now newly overthrowne by the blessing of the Lord upon the endeavour of his faithfull servants with the word of truth he having a fit opportunity by reason of his trade so soone as any were set downe in his chaire he would commonly be cutting of their haire and the truth together notwithstanding some report better of the man the example is for the living the dead is judged of the Lord alone CHAP. XVI The great supply of godly Ministers for the good of his People in New England FOr to govern and rule this little Common wealth was this year chosen the valiant Champion for the advance of Christs truh Thomas Dudly Esq and Richard Bellingham Esq Deputy Governour the freemen added to the former were about 192. this yeare the reverend Mr. Burr a holy heavenly-minded man and able gifted to preach the Word of God was exercised therein for some space of time in the Church of Christ at Dorchester where they were about calling him to the office of a teaching Elder but in a very littie time after his coming over he departed this life yet minde him you may in the following Meetre WEll didst thou minde thy Work Which caus'd thee vonter Through Ocean large thy Christ in 's Word to preach Exhorting all their faith on him to center Soules ravisht are by him in thy sweet speech Thy speech bewrayes thy heart for heaven doth look Christ to enjoy Burr from the earth is taken Thy words remaine though thou hast us forsook In dust sleep sound till Christ thy body waken There are divers others of the faithfull Ministers of Christ that came over for to further this his work somewhat before this time as the godly and reverend Mr. Rayner who was called to office in the Church of Christ at Plimoth and there remaines preaching the Word instantly with great paines and care over that flock as also the reverend and faithfull servant of Christ Jesus Mr. William Hook who was for some space of time at the Church in Taunton but now remaines called to office in the Church of Christ at Newhaven a man who hath received of Christ many gracious gifts fit for so high a calling with very amiable and gracious speech labouring in the Lord and here also the Reader may minde how the Lord was pleased to reach out his large hand of bounty toward his N. England people in supplying them abundantly with Teachers able and powerfull to break the bread of life unto them so long as their desires continued hot and zealous but after here grew a fulnesse in some even to slight if not loath the honey comb many returned for England and the Lord was pleased to take away others by death although very few considering the number but let N. England beware of an after-clap provoke the Lord no longer But seeing this yeare proved the last of the yeares of transportation of Gods people only for enjoyment of exercising the Ordinances of Christ and enlargement of his Kingdome there being hopes of great good opportunity that way at home it will be expediene onely to name some others in the Southwest parts among the lesser Colonyes and so passe on to the story And first not to forget the reverend Mr. Eaton a man of love and peace and yet godly zealous he came over with those who planted the Colony of Newhaven spending his labours in the Lord with them in Plimoth Plantation also here is to be minded the reverend Mr. Chancie a very able Preacher both learned and judicious as also the reverend able and pious M. Huet who came over this year or rather as I suppose the yeare before who did spend his time and labour with a people that came over with him at length the greatest part of them they settled downe in the Government of Canecticoe where they planted the Towne of Windsor and Church of Christ there where this gracious servant of Christ continued in his labours till the Lord laid him in his bed of rest somewhat before this time came over the reverend Mr. Smith being another of that name beside the former he laboured in the Word and Doctrine with a people at Withersfield in those parts also Mr. Henry Whitefield another Minister of the Gospel of Christ of reverend respect who being returned for England the latter of his labours the Lord assisting will sufficiently testifie his sincerity for the truth and labours of love in the Lord here may also be named the reverend Mr. Peck Mr. Saxton
building more pollished stones then thy selfe make it matter of rejoycing and not of envy And further because the Preaching of the word is to be continued with all diligence here are likewise inbarked with you faithfull servants of Christ to attend on the Tables of the Churches plaine-dealing men yea indued with wisdome from above by which they are inabled to mannage and improve the Churches Treasury not greedily given to hoord up for themselves but by their own example leading others to liberality and hospitality having the Earth in low esteeme and Faith in exercise when Cattell and Corne fayle not given to magnifie their own gifts but boldly maâ—â—â—ayning such sound truths as their Teaching Elders have cleared up from the word of God And CHAP. IV. How the People in Christs Churches are to behave themselves NOw you his People who are pickt out by his provide to passe this Westerne Ocean for this honorable service beware you call not weake ones to Office in this honorable Army nor Novices lest they be lifted up with pride You see how full you are furnished for the worke give no eare to any Braggadociaes who to extoll themselves will weaken the hands of those whom Christ hath made strong for himselfe Yea such will be the phantasticall madnesse of some if you take not heed that silly Women laden with diverse lusts will be had in higher esteeme with them then those honoured of Christ indued with power and authority from him to Preach Abuse not the free and full liberty Christ hath given you in making choyce of your own Officers and consent in admitting into his Churches and casting out such Members as walke disorderly you are to walke in all humility lest in injoyment of such freedoms as you formerly have not exercised you exceede the bounds of modesty and instead of having your moderation knowne to all your imbecility and selfe-exaltation bee discovered by many in admission of others into Church society Remember your selves were once Aliens from the Covenant of Grace and in Excommunication consider how your selves have been also tempted in sincerity and singlenesse of heart let your words be few do nothing be had in high esteeme among men And thinke it no imputation of a weake dicserning to be followes of those are set over you in the Lord as they follow Christ Let your Profession outstrip your Confession for seeing you are to be set as lights upon a Hill more obvious then the highest Mountaine in the World keepe close to Christ that you may shine full of his glory who imployes you and grub not continually in the Earth like blind Moles but by your amiable Conversation seeke the winning of many to your Masters service Beware of a proud censorious spirit make it no part of your Christian communication to be in continuall discourse of others faults Let all things be done in love and looke not for more smoothnesse in stones as yet unplaced in Christs building then is in thy selfe who hast been long layd therein wait with patience and cast not off as Reprobates such as cannot presently joyne with you in every poynt of Discipline and yet hold fast to sound and wholesome Doctrine if you will be a people to his prayse who hath called you seeke the turning of many to Righteousnesse purge out all the sowre Leven of unsound Doctrine for the minde of Christ is to build up his Churches and breake them down no more And therefore be sure there be none to hurt or destroy in all his holy Mountaine and as he hath pressed you for his service that by passing through the Flouds of Persecution you should be set at liberty and have power put into your hands Then let none wrest it from you under pretence of liberty of Conscience men of perverse judgements will draw Disciples after them but let your consciences be pure and Christs Churches free from all Doctrines that deceive And all you who are or shall be shipped for this worke thinke it not enough that you injoy the truth but you must hate every false way and know you are called to be faithfull Souldiers of Christ not onely to assist in building up his Churches but also in pulling downe the Kingdome of Anti-Christ then sure you are not set up for tollerating times nor shall any of you be content with this that you are set at liberty but take up your Armes and march manfully on till all opposers of Christs Kingly power be abolished and as for you who are called to sound forth his silver Trumpets blow lowd and shrill to this chiefest treble tune For the Armies of the great Jehovah are at hand See you not his Enemies stretched out on tiptoe proudly daring on their thresholds a certaine signe of their sudden overthrow be not danted at your small number for every common Souldier in Christs Campe shall be as David who slew the great Goliah and his Davids shall be as the Angels of the Lord who slew 185000. in the Assyrian Army Finally all you who are now sent forth by Christ your Jehovah to enter upon a Blessed Reformation if ever you will have the honours to be provokers of his ancient People Israel who are againe suddenly to be honoured by him in believing kindle the fire of jealousy in their brests by your Holy Heavenly and humble walking have you not the most blessedest opertunity put into your hands that ever people had then CHAP. V. What Civill Government the People of Christ ought to set up and submit unto in New England FAyle not in prosecution of the Worke for your Lord Christ hath furnished you with able Pilots to steere the Helme in a godly peaceable Civill Government also then see you make choyce of such as are sound both in Profession and Confession men fearing God and hating bribes whose Commission is not onely limitted with the commands of the second Table but they are to looke to the Rules of the first also and let them be sure to put on Joshuas resolution and courage never to make League with any of these seven Sectaries First the Gortonists who deny the Humanity of Christ and most blasphemously and proudly professe themselves to be personally Christ Secondly the Papist who with almost equall blasphemy and pride prefer their own Merits and Workes of Supererogation as equall with Christs unvaluable Death and Sufferings Thirdly the Familist who depend upon rare Revelations and forsake the sure revealed Word of Christ Fourthly Seekers who deny the Churches and Ordinances of Christ Fifthly Antinomians who deny the Morrall Law to be the Rule of Christ Sixtly Anabaptists who deny Civill Government to be proved of Christ Seventhly The Prelacy who will have their own Injunctions submitted unto in the Churches of Christ These and the like your Civill Censors shall reach unto that the people of and under your Government may live a qulet and peaceable life in all godlinesse and honesty and to the end that you may provoke Kings
of its dead Mother seeking to draw living nourishment from her dead breast Their dead they left oft-times unburied wherefore the English were forced to dig holes and drag their stinking corps into them Thus did the Lord allay their quarrelsome spirits and made roome for the following part of his Army This yeare came over more supplies to forward the worke of Christ CHAP. XXVI Of the gratious provisions the Lord made for his people THe yeare 1632. John Winthrope Esquire was chosen Governour againe and the antient Thomas Dudly Esquire was Deputy Governour a man of a sound judgement in matters of Religion and well read bestowing much labour that way of whom as followeth The honoured aged stable and sincere servant of Christ zealous for his truth Thomas Dudly Esq foure times Governour of the English Nation in the Mattacusets and first Major Generall of the Millitary Forces WHat Thomas now believe dost thou that riches men may gaine In this poore Plot Christ doth allot his people to sustaine Rich Truth thou 'lt buy and sell not why no richer Jem can be Truths Champion in campion Christ's grace hath placed thee With civill Sword at Christs Word early cut off wilt thou Those Wolvish sheep amongst flocks do creep and damned doctrine low To trembling age thou valiant sage one foot wilt not give ground Christs Enemies from thy face flies his truth thou savest sound Thy lengthened dayes to Christs praise continued are by him To set by thee his people free from foes that raging bin Wearied with yeares it plaine appeares Dudly not long can last It matters not Christ Crown thee got it s now at hand hold fast This yeare was the first choise of Migistrates by free-men whose number was now increased fifty three or thereabout to declare the manner of their Government is by the Author deferred till the year 1637. where the Reader may behold Government both in Churches and Common-wealth to be an institution of the Lord and much availeable through his blessing for the accomplshment of his promises to his people This year these fore-runners of the following Army of Christ after the sight of many of the admirable Acts of his providence for them begun to take up steddy resolution through the helpe of him to wade through the Ocean they were farther like to meete withall and therefore began to plant the yet untilled Earth having as yet no other meanes to teare up the bushy lands but their hands and howe 's their bodies being in very ill temper by reason of the Scurvy a Disease in those dayes very frequent to undergoe such extremity but being prick'd on with hungers sharpe gode they keepe doing according to their weake abilities and yet produce but little food for a long season but being perswaded that Christ will rather raine bread from Heaven then his people should want being fully perswaded they were set on the worke at his command Wherefore they followed on with all hands and the Lord who hath the Cattell of thousand Hills and the Corne of ten thousand Vallies the whole Earth and fulnesse of it did now raise up fresh supplies to be added to these both of men and provision of food men no lesse valiane in Faith then them the former amongst whom was the Reverend Mr. Welds and Mr. James who was welcomed by the people of Christ at Charles Towne and by them called to the Office of a Pastor where hee continued for some yeares and from thence removed to New haven upon some seed of prejudice sowne by the enemies of this worke But good Reader doe thou behold and remember him farther in the following Liues THy Native soile Oh James did thee approve Gods people there in Lincolneshâ—â—e commend Thy courteous speech and worke of Christian love Till Christ through Seas did thee on Message send With learned skill his mind for to unsold His people in New England thou must feed But one sad breach did cut that band should hold Then part wilt thou least farther jars should breed Yet part thou wilt not with Christs Truth thy crowne But my Muse waile that any souldier should In fighting slip why James thou fallest not downe Back thou retreats their valiant fighting hold Fast on thy Christ who thine may raise with thee His bands increase when leaders he provides Thy Son young student may such blessing be Thy losse repayre and Christ thee crown besides Although the great straites this Wildernesse people were in for want of food was heard of among the godly people in England yet would they not decline the worke but men of Estates sold their possessions and bought plenty of food for the Voyage which some of them sent before hand by which meanes they were provided for as also the Lord put it into the hearts of such as were Masters and Undertakers of Ships to store their Vessells so well that they had to spare for this peoples need and further Christ caused abundance of very good Fish to come to their Nots and Hookes and as for such as were unprovided with these meanes they caught them with their hands and so with Fâ—sh wild Onions and other Herbs were sweetly satisfied till other provisions came in here must labouring men a little be minded how ill they recompenced those persons whose estates helpe them to food before they could reape any from the Earth that forgetting those courtesies they soon by excessive prises took for their worke made many File-leaders fall back to the next Ranke advancing themselves in the meane time About this time the Church of Christ at Roxbury being a diligent people early prevented their Brethren in other Churches by calling the Reverend Mr. Welds to be their Pastor of whom you may see somewhat farther in the following lines TO worke oh Welds in wildernesse betime Christ thee commands that thou his folke should's follow And feede his flock in Covenant bandcombine With them through him his glorious name to hallow Seven yeares thou stoutly didst wade through with toile These desare caros back by advice againe Thou didst returne unto thy native soile There to advance Christs Kingdome now remeine In Pulpit and with Pen thou hast the truth Maintained and clear'd from scandalous reproach Christs churches here and shew'd their lasting Ruth That dare ' gainst Christ their own inventions broach Then sage in age continue such to be Till Christ thee crowne his gifts to thee are free This yeare of sad distresses was ended with a terrible cold Winter with weekly Snowes and fierce Frosts betweene while congealing Charles River as well from the Towne to Sea ward as above insomuch that men might frequently passe from one Island to another upon the Ice Here Reader thou must be minded of an other admirable Act of Christ for this yeare in changing the very nature of the seasons moderating the Winters cold of late very much which some impute to the cutting downe the woods and breaking up the Land But Christ have the
present possessed mercies yet they addresse themselves to the Sea shore where they courteously welcom the famous servant of Christ grave godly and judicious Hooker and the honoured servant of Christ M John Haynes as also the Reverend and much desired Mr. John Cotton and the Retoricall Mr. Stone with divers others of the sincere servants of Christ comming with their young and with their old and with their whole substance to doe him service in this Desart wildernesse Thus this poore people having now tasted liberally of the salvation of the Lord every way they deeme it high time to take up the Cup of thankfulnesse and pay their vowes to the most high God by whom they were holpen to this purpose of heart and accordingly set apart the 16. day of October which they call the eighth Moneth not out of any pevish humor of singularity as some are ready to censor them with but of purpose to prevent the Heathenish and Popish observation of Dayes Moneths and Yeares that they may be forgotten among the people of the Lord this day was solemnly kept by all the seven Churches rejoycing in the Lord and rendering thanks for all their benefits Here must not be omitted the indeared affections Mr. John Wilson had to the worke in hand exceedingly setting forth in his Sermon this day the Grace of Christ in providing such meet helps for furthering thereof really esteeming them beyond so many Ship-loading of Gold manifesting the great humility Christ had wrought in him not complementing but in very deede prefering the Reverend Mr. John Cotton many hundreds before himselfe whom they within a very little time after called to the Office of a Teaching Elder of the Church of Christ at Boston where hee now remaines of whom at followeth WHen Christ intends his glorious Kingdome shall Exalted be on Earth he Earth doth take Evon sinfull Man to make his worthies all Then praise I Man no Christ this Man doth make Sage sober grave and learned Cotten thou Mighty in Scripture without Booke repeat it Annatomise the sence and shew Man how Great mysteries in sentence short are seated Gods Word with 's word comparing oft unfould The secret truths Johns Revelations hath By thee been open'd as nere was of old Showes cleere and neere ' gainst Romes whore is Gods wrath Then Churches of Christ rejoyce and sing John Cotten hath Gods minde I dare believe Since he from Gods Word doth his witnesse bring Saints cries are heard they shall no longer grieve That song of songs 'twixt Christ and 's Church thou hast Twice taught to all and sweetly shewed the way Christ would his Churches should in truth stand fast And cast off mans inventions even for aye Thy labours great have met with catching cheats Mixing their Brasse with thy bright Gold for why Thy great esteeme must cover their ill feates Some soile thou gett'st by comming them so nie But i'ts wipt off and thou Christs Champion left The Faith to fight for Christ hath arm'd thee well His worthies would not thou shoulds be bereft Of honours here thy Crown shall soon excell These people of God having received these farther helps to instruct and build them up in the holy things of Christ being now greatly incouraged seeing the Lord was pleased to set such a broad Seale to their Commission for the worke in hand not onely by his Word and Spirit moving thereunto but also by his Providence in adding such able instruments for furthering this great worke of Reformation and advancing the Kingdome of Christ for which they spent this day of rejoycing and sure the Lord would have all that hear of it know their joy lay not in the increase of Corne or Wine or Oyle for of all these they had but very little at this time yet did they not spare to lend such aâ— they had unto the poore who could not provide and verily the joy ended not with the day for these active instruments of Christ Preaching with all instancy the glad Tidings of the Gospell of Iesus Christ rejoyced the Heart of this People much CHAP. XX VIII Of the Eighth Church of Christ gathered at Cambridge 1633. AT this time those who were in place of civill Government having some addition Pillars to under-prop the building begun to thinke of a place of more safety in the eyes of Man then the two frontire Towns of Charles Towne and Boston were for the habitation of such as the Lord had prepared to Governe this Pilgrim People Wherefore they rather made choice to enter farther among the Indians then hazard the fury of malignant adversaries who in a rage might pursue them and therefore chose a place scituate on Charles River betweene Charles Towne and Water-Towne where they erected a Towne called New-Towne now named Cambridge being in forme like a list cut off from the Broad-cloath of the two fore-named Towns where this wandering Race of Jacobits gathered the eighth Church of Christ This Town is compact closely within it selfe till of late yeares some few stragling houses have been built the Liberties of this Town have been inlarged of late in length reaching from the most Northerly part of Charles River to the most Southerly part of Merrimeck River it hath well ordered streets and comly pompleated with the faire building of Harver Colledge their first Pastor was the faithfull and laborious Mr. Hooker whose Bookes are of great request among the faithfull people of Christ Yee shall not misse of a few lines in remembrance of him COme Hooker come forth of thy native soile Christ I will run sayes Hooker thou hast set My feet at large here spend thy last dayes toile Thy Rhetorick shall peoples affections whet Thy Golden Tongue and Pen Christ caus'd to be The blazing of his golden truths profound Thou sorry worme its Christ wrought this in thee What Christ hath wrought must needs be very sound Then looke one Hookers workes they follow him To Grave this worthy resteth there a while Die shall he not that hath Christs warrier bin Much lesse Christs Truth cleer'd by his peoples toile Thou Angell bright by Christ for light now made Throughout the World as seasoning salt to be Although in dust thy body mouldering fade Thy Head 's in Heaven and hath a crown for thee The people of this Church and Towne have hitherto had the chiefest share in spitituall blessings the Ministry of the Word by more then ordinary instruments as in due time and place God willing you shall farther heare yet are they at this day in â— thriving condition in outward things also both Corne and Cattell Nâ—ate and Sheepe of which they have a good flocke which the Lord hath caused to thrive much in these latter dayes then formerly This Towne was appointed to be the seate of Government but it continued not long this yeare a small gleane of Rye was brought to the Court as the first fruits of English graine at which this poore people greatly rejoyced to see the Land
light To Gods word goe it 's that must triall be Hath cruell sword not het one thy side right Increase in love and thou wilt Justice see With humble holy learned men converse Thee and thy flock they would in one unite And all the fogs of selfe conceit disperse Thee and thy sons the Lord Christ guide aright Some other of the Ministers of Christ arrived this yeare 1635. As Mr. Flint Mr. Carter and Mr. Walton and some others of whom we shall speake by the Lord assistance in due time and place in the meane time here is to be remembred Mr. Thomas Flint a sincere servant of Christ who had a faire yearly Revenue in England but having improved it for Christ by casting it in the common Treasury as it appeares in the former part of this History he waites on the Lord for doubling his Talent if it shall seeme good unto him so to doe and the meane time spending his person for the good of his people in the Office of a Magistrate AT Christs commands thou leav'st thy lands and native habitation His folke to aid in Desart straid for Gospells Exaltation Flint Hardy thou wilt not allow the underminding Fox With subtill skill Christsvines to spill thy sword shall give thē knocks Yet thou base dust and all thou hast is Christ's and by him thou Art made to be such as we see hold fast for ever now CHAP. XXXVIII Of the placing down of many Souldiers of Christ and gathering the Church of Christ at Sanowitch in Plimouth patten and further supply for the Churches of Ipswich and Linne THis yeare 1636. Sir Henry Vaine was chosen Governour and John Winthrope Esquire Deputy Governour the number of Freemen added were about eighty three This yeare came over the much honoured Mr. Fenwick a godly and able instrument to assist in helping to uphold the civill Government of the second and third Colonies here planted by the Divine Providence of the most high God hee having purchased the Plantation of Saybrooke Fore became a good incourager to the Church of Christ at Hartford where the reverend Mr. Hooker and Mr. Stone were Officers In remembrance of whom a few lines take here FEnwick among this Christian throng to wildernesse doth fiee There learn'd hast thou yet further how Christ should advanced be Who for that end doth back thee send their Senator to sit In native soile for him still toile while thou hast season fit His Churches peace do thou not cease with their increase to bring That they and thee in lasting Glee may Hallelujaeh sing The beginning of this yeare was spent in accommodating these new come Guests in the former yeare whose numbers was neer about three thousand and now they began to be perswaded they should be a setled people not minding the present dangers they were in as you shall hear anon onely in the meane time take notice of further supply the Lord Christ was pleased to send before the cattell increased to its strength among whom the aged and long continned Souldiers of Christ Jesus Mr. Partrich as also Mr. Nathaniel Rogers an able disputant whose mouth the Lord was pleased to fill with many arguments for the defence of his truth Mr. Samuel Whiting who hath also with keeping to the patterne of sound and wholesome Doctrine much stopped the spreading Leaven of the Pharises Mr. Partrich was called to Office at a Towne then named Dukes Berry in Plimoth Government scituated upon the Sea-coast where the people of Christ being gathered into a Church Ordained him to be their Pastor IN thine owne soile well rooted in the truth Thou didst stand fast by Prelates power unbow'd But Laude layes load on Gods solke to his Ruth By whom thou mayst no longer be alow'd Then Partrich thou thy wings begins to spread Of Faith and Love to flie these long Seas o're To wildernesse where thou Christs Lambes hast fed With 's sincere Milke this fourteene yeare and more But now with age thy Almon Tree doth flourish Yet spreading like the Palme Tree dost thou stand I' th house of God Christ Roote thy Boughs do nourish And for thy head he hath a Crowne in 's hand Mr. Nathaniel Rogers being landed after a long and tedious Voyage at Sea was welcomed by the Church of Christ at Ipswitch where the Reverened and Judicious Mr. Nathaniel Ward although a very able Preacher and much desired yet for some naturall infirmity himselfe being best privy unto desired to be unbound of his ingagement with his people in point of Office that being left to his liberty hee might Preach more seldom in whose stead the Church called to Office this Reverend and Holy Man of God Mr. Nathaniel Rogers whose labours in this Westerne World have been very much a very sweet heavenly minded man of whom the Author is bold to say as followeth THrough boystrous Seas thy brittle frame of Man It safely is in Christ's sweet armes infold No wonder then thou weake dust stotly can Preach Christs in 's truths why he doth thee uphold Why Rogers lee thee over-Sea hath fett Against the day of Battell now at hand No sooner are thy feet one those shores set But Leaders do Christ truth withstand Vndaunted thou these Westerne Fields dost enter Filld with the spirits ready sword at hand Ingage thou wilt thy selfe ' mongst hardships venter Valiant thou foughtst under thy Christ's command And yet with all men wouldst have peace thy aime If deepe to wound and sweetly then to say Come to my Christ hee 'l heale your wounds againe Canst but submit hee 'l never say thee nay With learned Method thou Gods Word divides Long labouring that each soule may take his part Thy gratious speech with grave impression bides Thus Christ by thee is pleas'd to win the heart My Muse lament Nathaniel is decaying Why dost thou grutch him Heaven such toile hath had In Christ his Vineyard rather be thou praying That in Christs armes he resting may be glad Mr. Samuel Whiting was well welcomed by the Church of Christ at Cawgust which Towne being now of age to receive an English name was called Linne where this Reverend man now hath his aboade THy ardent Love the countlesse Oceans measure Quench cannot for thy love on him is set Who of true love hath aie the depthlesse Treasure Doth thine increase least thou should'st his forget Love Christ in 's truths my Whiting thou hast done Thou wilt not suffer with their leaven sower False Doctrines ' mongst thy tender flock to run Timely cut off wilt thou all those devour Samuel mourne not thy strength in Desart's spent Rather rejoyce thy Christ makes use of thee Soules to convert his Kingdomes large extent From East to West shall shortly setled be Thine Eyes and Eares have seen and heard great things Done by thy Christ shewes he thy toile accepts Though thy weake flesh weaker to dust hee 'l bring Thy quickned spirit increast in his joy leaps CHAP. XXXIX Of the first appearing
truth able through his mercy to weld that bright Weapon of his Word prepared by the spirit for this purpose to bring to the block these Traytours to his truths one by one and behead them before your eyes and for this very end they are to gather together as one Man in a Synodicall way with a decisive power to undoe all the cunning twisted knots of Satans Malignity to the truths of Christ opening the Scriptures by the power of his spirit cleering Scripture by Scripture that nothing but the pure Word of God may take place and that you may assuredly believe the Lord hath purposely called his Servants and Souldiers to this place by his Providence to cut off this cursed spirit of Errours and Heresies which hath but at first dog'd all Reformed Churches of Christ There are for your further aid herein many more of these sincere Souldiers floating upon the great Ocean toward you who will be with you before this Synod is set that you may declare it in the Eares of all posterity to be the very Finger of God in catching the proud in their owne craftinesse who had hatch't their devices thus to cast all the Ministers of Christ except some one or two under this censure of being prejudiced against their persons and for the little remnant to labour with flattery to blinde their eyes that at least they might not be against them Seeing they could not procure them to take their part to be sure when the grossenesse of their Errors were made known they would not by this meanes having their hopes exalted in their owne apprehensions at least to gaine the most of the people on their side The Lord casts them downe from the proud Pinacle of their Machiavilian Plot by bringing in more men of courage uninterested yea unknown to most of their persons but for their errors as strong to confute them as any and more fit to wipe off the fiâ—me from the eyes of some of their brethren which these Erronists by their Syccophancy had clouded The time for the meeting of this Synod was to be in the seventh month following commonly called September the civill government well approving of their desires herein were very willing to further them all they could and in the 〈◊〉 time it was the worke of these valiant of the Lord to search out not for men and Womens persons but their errors which they gathered up from all parts willing all that would or could defend them to use their best meanes like as John when he was to execute the judgements of the Lord upon Ahabs bloudy household would have had his servants defend their Masters Children if they could onely you must understand there was but 70. Sons and here was 80. Errors of which you shall further hear when the time comes CHAP. IV. Of the abundant mercies of Christ in providing liberall supply for his New England People in regard of their outward man Food Rayment and all other necessaries and conveniencies NOw for the hardships on the left hand they had as good an answer as in the former their Christ had not saved their lives from the raging Seas to slay them in the Wildernesse with Famine your life is much more pretious in the eyes of the Lord then food and your bodies then rayment yea the Lord of Heaven who hath honoured you so far as to imploy you in this glorious worke of his knowes you must have these things and it was not you deare hearts that chose this place but the Lord as seeing it most fit to doe his worke in knowing that had you met with a Rich Land filled with all plenty your heart would have beene taken off this worke which he must have done But to strengthen your Faith in this point also you shall see hee who commanded the Fruits to spring out of the Earth when none were can much more cause this corner of the Earth to be fruitfull to you and this you shall attaine by meanes although hee have caused the Foules of the Aire and Grasse of the Field to depend upon him in a more immediate manner yet you hath he taught to Sow Reape carry into Barnes and Spin and indeed herein the Lord hath answered his people abundantly to the woâ—der of all that see or hear of it And that whereas at their 〈◊〉 comming it was a rare matter for a man to have foure or five Acres of Corne now many have four or five score to prevent men from Sacrificing to their Nets the Lord hath taught them to labour with more ease to great admiration also inlarg'd it for it was with sore labour that on man could Plane and tend foure Acres of Indians Graine and now with two Oxen hee can Plant and tend 30. B sides the Lord hath of late altered the very course of the Heavens in the season of the weather that all kinde of graine growes much better then heretofore Insomuch that Marchandizing being stopped at present they begin question what to do with their Corne. CHAP. V. Of the wonderfull deliverance wrought by the Lord Christ for his poore New England Churches in freing them from the fear of their Malignant adversaries who forc't them to this Wildernesse ANd now to the third and great distresse which lay behind them by reason of their back friends the Lording Bishops and other Malignant adversaries being daily exasperated against them and in especiall at this time by one Merton who named himselfe the Host of Merrimount who wanted not malice could he possible have attained meanes to effect it But the Lord Christ prevented both him and his Masters whom with slattery he sought to please with scurrillous deriding the servants of Christ to bring them into contempt yet the Lord prevented all and delivered this wretched fellow into his peoples hands againe after all this who dealt as favourably with him as David did with Shimmei Besides this the evill usage that many of the beloved servants of Christ had from the hands of those in office at their departure declared plainely that there were some who would willingly have pursued them to bring them under bondage againe herein their answer was that they should stand still and see the salvation of the Lord who was now resolved to fight for them against his and their implacable enemies although more mighty than they and indeed all meanes of resistance in the hand of man being so small that it could not possible bee discerned by any morcall eye yet will the Lord worke by means and not by miracle when the Lord called forth Joshua to fight with Amaleck his Moses must be in the Mount at Prayers seeing this answer deeply concernes the dearly beloved of our Lord Christ remaining in England let them listen to the answer Also how came it to passe that the Lord put it into your hearts to set upon a Reformation was it not by prayer attained You are not excluded although the Churches of Christ here are for
their Lordly power is the onely means of suppressing Error Secondly the Godly and Reverend Presbyterian Party who had they made their eye-witnesses of this worke they had assuredly saved themselves much labour which I dare presume they would have spent worthily otherwayes then in writing so many books to prove the Congregationall or Independant Churches to be the sluce through which so many flouds of Error flow in nay my deare and reverend brethren might not so much work of yours in writing and ours in answering have been a meanes to have stopt the height of this overflowing floud and through the Lords assisting have setled Peace and Truth in a great measure throughout the three Nations Thirdly those who with their new stratagems have brought in so much old error for although they had a party here yet verily they durst not bring their New Light to the Old Word for fear it would prove but Old Darknesse as indeed they doe But here might they have seene the Ministers of Christ who were so experienced in the Scripture that some of them could tell you the place both Chapter and Verse of most sentences of Scripture could be named unto them with Scriptures light cleering up the truths of Christ clouded by any of these Errors and Heresies as had not been done for many Ages before and verily this great work of Christ must not be lightly over-past the Author of this History passeth not for the shrewd censures of men nor can it be any matter of disparagement to the reverend and highly honoured in Christ remaining in England that their fellow brethren have done so worthily here it is well knowne to all our English Nation that the most able-preaching Ministers of Christ were most pursued by the lording Clergy and those that have spent all their dayes even from a child in searching the Scriptures the Lord Christ preparing them by his blessed spirit for this very work Besides their continued practice in studying and preaching the wayes of truth and lastly their meeting with the opposition of so many crafty close couched errors whose first foundation was laid cheke by joule with the most glorious heavenly and blessed truths to dazle the eyes of the beholders and strike terrour into the hearts of those should lift up their hands against them for feare they should misse them and hit their stroke upon the blessed truth and also to bring up a slanderous and evil report on all the able Orthodox Minâ—stâ—rs of Christ that withstand them perswading men they withstand the holy heavenly and blessed truth which they have lodged there which this Synod did with strong undenyable arguments fetch from Scripture to overthrow and pluck up by the roots all those Errors which you have heard mentioned in the former Book the which they divided for the more full answering of them Among all those valiant Champions of the Truth whom you have heard named to some six some five some foure c. it had assuredly been worth the work to have related the particular manner of putting to the sword every one of them but besides the length of the discourse there must have been a more able Pen-man but however they were so put to death that they never have stood up in a living manner among us since but sometimes like Wizards to peepe and mutter out of ground fit for such people to resort unto as will goe from the living to the dead But blessed be the Lord Christ who girded his people with strength against this day of battaile and caused the Heavens to cleere up againe in New-England after these foggy dayes The fourth and last sort of persons whose presence I could most of all the other three former have desired was those whose disease lay as chiefly in despising all Physitians and that upon this ground for one because some for filthy lucre sake have nourishâ— Diseases rather then cured them Many pamphlets have come from our Countreymen of late to this purpose namely scurrillously to deride all kind of Scholarship Presbytery and Synods Experience hath taught Gods people here that such are troubled with some sinfull opinion of their owne that they would not have touched but had they been at this Synod they must per force have learned better language or their speech and their knowledge would fall foule one of the other here might they have beheld the humility of the most learned of these servants of Christ condemning the high conceitednesse of their ignorance and then also the framing of Arguments in a Schollar like way did the Lord assisting cleare up the truths of Christ more to the meâ—nest capacity in one hour then could be clouded again in sâ—aven yeare by the new notion of any such as boast so much of their unlettered knowledge diversity of languages although a correcting hand of God upon the whole world when they joyned together in that proud Edifice yet now is it blest of God to retaine the purity of the Scriptures if any man should goe about to corrupt them in one language they should remain pure in another and assuredly the Lord intending to have the wayes of the Gospel of Christ to be made more manifest at this time then formerly not by tradition of our forefathers or by mans reason but by the revealed will of God in the holy Scripture did accordingly prepare Instruments for this work earthen vessels men subject to like infirmities with our selves sorry men and carrying about with them a body of sinne and death men subject to erre yet these did the Lord Christ cause to be train'd up in Learning and tutor'd at the Universities and that very young some of them as the revererend Mr. John Cotten at 13. yeares of age The mighty power of God sanctifyed and ordained them for this work and made them a defenced city an iron pillar a wall of brass against all the opposers of his truth and now coupled them together in this Synod to draw in Christs yoke and warre with the weapons he had furnished them withall and cause the blessed truths of Christ to shine forth in their splendour and glory farre more after the dispersing of this smoak which of a long time hath filled the Temple and hindered the entring in of those great number of Converts which shall flow in at the fall of all antichristian Errors and verily as the Lord Christ had called forth this little handfuâ—l to be a model of his glorious work intended thoughout the whole world so chiefly in this suppressing of Errours Sects and Heresies by the blessed word of his truth causing his servants in this Synod muâ—â—ally to agree and by his gracious providence break in pieces a contrived plot of some who by mis-reports insinuating jealousies and crafty carriage of matters to the wrong mark with a writing of thrice twenty strong would have drawne away one of the valiant Souldiers of Christ from this worthy worke who both then and since hath been very helpfull
year The Town of Readding had her foundation stone laid about this time this and the Town of Wooburn were like the twins in the womb of Tamar Readding thrusting forth the hand first but Wooburn came first to the birth this Town is well watered and scituate about a great pond besides it hath two mills the one a Saw-mill the other a 〈◊〉 mill which stand on two several streams it hath not been â—o fruitful for children as her Sister hath her habitation is fallen in the very center of the country they are well stocked with cattel for the number of people they have they gathered into a church and ordained a Pastor from among themselves at the same time a young man of good abilities to preach the Word and of a very humble behaviour named Mr. Green he having finished his course departed this life not long after whose labours are with the Lord after him succeeded in the place one Mr. Hoph a young man one of the first fruits of N. E. a man studious to promote the truths of Christ they are both remembred in this following verse ON earths bed thou at noon hast laid thy head You that for Christ as Green here toy I have taken When nature fails then rest it in earths dead Till Christ by 's word with glory thee awaken Young Hoph thou must be second to this man In field incounter with Christ's foes shalt thou Stand up and take his bright sword in thy hand Error cut down and make stout stomacks bow Green 's gone before thy warfare's now begun And last it may to see Romes Babel fall Byweakest means Christ mighty works hath done Keep footing fast till Christ thee hence do call The next Town and church of Christ planted in this colony was between Salem and Ipswitch Salem the eldest of all the Sisters was very helpful to this her little Sister nourishing her up in her own bosom till she came of age being beneficial to her besides in giving her a good portion of Land this Town is called Wenham and is very well watered as most in land Towns are the people live altogether upon husbandry New England having train'd up great store to this occupation they are encreased in cattel and most of them live very well yet are they no great company they were some good space of time there before they gathered into a Church-body the godly and reverend Mr. John Fisk went thither with them at first setting down as a planter among them yet withal he became helpful in preaching the Word unto them when they were but a few in number they afterward call'd him to the office of a Pastor with whom he now remains labouring in the Word and Doctrine with great industry of whom it may be thus said TO wade through toyl of Wilderness thou hast Dâ—ubled thy work thy wages troble are Christ hath thee call'd and in his vineyard plac't He 'l bear thee up above all saiâ—ting far Sions strong Mount must now again be built Thy faith oh Fisk the Lord hath holpen much With dreadful sighâ— the Pâ—â—lars power hath spilt All pride he 'l stain by his almighty touch His truths unstain'd by liberty keep thou To please the most authority must fall What Christ hath given if safely keep with you Till he to thee for thine accompt do call CHAP. XXVI Of the military affairs the forts of Bostoa and Charles the Castle erected anew by the six neerest Towns with the manner of putting the Country in a posture of war to be ready upon all occasions THese souldiers of Christ Jesus having made a fair retreat from their Native country hither and now being come to a convenient station resolved to stand it out the Lord assisting against all such as should come to rob them of their priviledges which the Lord Christ had purchased for them at a very high rate and now out of the riches of his grace was minded to give them yet would he have them follow him into this Wilderness for it although the chiefest work of these select bands of Christ was to mind their spiritual warfare yet they knew right well the Temple was surrounded with walls and bulworks and the people of God in re-edifying the same did prepare to resist their enemies with weapons of war even while they continued building This people no less diligent to make use of such means as the Lord afforded them ordered and decreed That all the souldiers belonging to the 26. bands in the Mattachusets Government should be exercised and drill'd eight daies in a yeare and whosoever should absent himself except it were upon unavoidable occasion should pay 5. s. for every daies neglect there are none exempt unless it be a few timerous persons that are apt to plead infirmity if the Church chuse them not for Deacous or they cannot get to serve some Magistrate or Minister but assuredly the generalicy of this people are very forward for feats of war and many have spent their time and estates to further this work the Town of Boston hath afforded many active Charles Town hath not been inferiour unless it be in number This year the Court appointed certain persons to spend their skill in putting the people possessing this desolate desart in a ready posture of drawing their forces together upon any suddain accident that might befall them to mannage guide order and direct all things as may be best for the good of the whole they being a poor and mean people laboured to avoid high titles yet order they knew was necessary therefore ordained they only one General Officer in time of war under the name of Major General the Governor and Magistrates for the time being are the standing Councel for peace or war and either they or the General Court may appoint any to the office of a General the first Major-General was the much honored Tho. Dudly Esquire whose faithfulness and great zeal and love to the truths of Christ caused the people to chuse him to this office although he were far stricken in years the Government is divided into four Counties which to shew they would their posterity should mind whence they came they have named Suffolk Middlesex Essex and Northfolk each containing a Regiment over whom the chief Commander is only a Serjeant-Major the first chosen to this office over the Regiment of Suffolk was Major Edw. Gibbons who hath now the office of Major-General also he is a man of a resolute spirit bord as a Lion being wholly tutor'd up in N.E. Discipline very generous and forward to promote all military matters his Forts are well contrived and batteries strong and in good repair his great Artillery well mounted and cleanly kept half Canon Culverins and Sakers as also field-pieces of brass very ready for service his own company led by Capt. Lievtenant Sarag are very compleat in their arms and many of them disciplin'd in the military garden beside their ordinary trainings the Captains under him are Caps
very good marks-men with their Bowe and Arrows Their Boyes will ordinarily shoot fish with their Arrowes as they swim in the shallow Rivers they draw the Arrow halfe way putting the point of it into the water they let flye and strike the fish through the like they do to Birds lesser and great onely the Geese and Turkies being strong of wing somtimes flee away with their Arrowes sticking in them this is all the trade they use which makes them destitute of many recessaries both in meat drink apparell and houses As for any religious observation they were the most destitute of any people yet heard of the Divel having them in very great subjection not using craft to delude them as he ordinarily doth in most parts of the World but kept them in a continuall slavish fear of him onely the Powawes who are more conversant with him then any other sometimes recover their sicke folk with charmes which they use by the help of the Divell and this makes them to adore such one of them was seen as is reported to cure a Squaw that was dangerously sick by taking a snakes skin and winding it about her arm the which soon became a living snake crawling round about her armes and body another caused the sick patient for healing to pass bare footed through many burning coals those that cannot cure them they call Squantams powwons but if the patient live he is had in great admiration and then they cry Much winnit Abbamocho that is very good Divell for Squantam is a bad Divel and Abbamocho is their good Divell It hath been a thing very frequent before the English came for the Divell to appear unto them in a bodily shape sometimes very ugly and terrible and sometimes like a white boy and chiefly in the most hideous woods and swamps they report that sometimes he hath come into their wigwams and carryed away divers of them alive and since we came hither they tell us of a very terrible beast for shape and bigness that came into a wigwam toward the North-east parts remote from any English plantations and took away six men at a time who were never seen afterward The English at their first coming did assay and endeavour to bring them to the knowledge of God and in particular the reverend grave and godly Mr. John Wilson who visited their sick and instructed others as they were capable to understand him But yet very little was done that way till in process of time they by continuall coming to the English became better able to understand them and now of late yeers the reverend Mr. Eliot hath been more then ordinary laborious to study their language instructing them in their own Wigwams and Catechising their Children As also the reverend Mr. Mayhewe one who was tutored up in N. Eng. and called to office by the Church of Christ gathered at a small Island called Martins Vineyard this man hath taken good pains with them but the particulars of our godly Ministers labours together with the good hand of our God upon their indeavours being already published no further need be spoken CHAP. XI Of the gratious goodness of the Lord Christ in planting his Gospel in the purety of it in Virginia and of the first Church gathered there according to the rule of the Gospel ABout the yeer the Lord was pleased to put it into the heare of some godly people in Virginia to send to N. E. for some of the Ministers of Christ to be helpfull unto them in instructing them in the truth as it is in Jesus The godly Mr. Philip Bennit coming hither made our reverend Elders acquainted with their desires who were very studious to take all opportunities for inlarging the kingdome of Christ and upon serious consideration the reverend Mr. Knowls of Watertowne and Mr. Tompson of Braintree were sent unto them who ariving there in safety preached openly unto the people for some good space of time and also from house to house exhorted the people dayly that with full purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord the harvest they had was plentifull for the little space of time they were there till being opposed by the Governour and some other malignant spirits they were forced to returne to N. E. again It were much to be desired that all people would take notice of the hand of God against this people after the rejection of these Ministers of Christ and indeed it was none other but the thrusting Christ from them and now attend to the following story all you Cavaliers and malignant party the world throughout take notice of the wonderworking providence of Christ toward his Churches and punishing hand of his toward the contemners of his Gospel Behold yeâ— dispisers and wonder Oh poor Virginia dost thou send away the Ministers of Christ with threatning speeches No sooner is this done but the barbarous inhumane insolent and bloody Indians are let loose upon them who contrive the cutting them off by whole Families closely carying their wicked counsells till they had effected their desires their bloody designe taking place for the space of 200 miles up the River the manner of the English Plantations there being very scattering quite contrary to N. E. people who for the most part desire society The manner of the Indians proceeding was thus they divided themselves into severall companies and beset the English houses a little before break of day waiting for the first person that should open the doore and come forth whom they cruelly murdered beating out their brains and then forthwith entred the house and slew all they found within sometimes firing the houses and leaving the living children miserably to be consumed with their dead Parents in the fearfull flames some people fleeing from this barbarous massacre as they passed by a fired house heard a pitifull out-cry of a poor Child crying I burn I burn although they could willingly have made haste away yet the miserable out-cry of this poor babe caused them to haft to the house and rescue it forth the flames that was even almost ready to scorch it this cruell and bloody work of theirs put period to the lives of five or six hundred of these people who had not long before a plentifull proffer of the mercies of Christ in the glad tidings of peace published by the mouth of his Ministers who came unto them for that end but chusing rather the fellowship of their drunken companions and a Preist of their own profession who could hardly continue so long sober as till he could read them the reliques of mans invention in a common prayer book but assuredly had not the Lord pittied the little number of his people among this crooked generation they had been consumed at once for this is further remarkable in this massacre when it came toward the place where Christ had placed his little flock it was discovered prevented from further proceeding and the Lord by this means did so
of her and he not partakers of her sins now is the time when the Lord hath assembled his Saints together now the Lord will come and not tarry As it was necessary that there should be a Moses and Aaron before the Lord would deliver his people and destroy Pharaoh lest they should be wildred indeed in the Wilderness so now it was needfull that the Churches of Christ should first obtain their purity and the civill government its power to defend them before Antichrist come to his finall ruine and because you shall be sure the day is come indeed behold the Lord Christ marshalling of his invincible Army to the battell some suppose this onely to be mysticall and not literall at all assuredly the spirituall fight is chiefly to be attended and the other not neglected having a neer dependancy one upon the other especially at this time the Ministers of Christ who have cast off all lording power over one another are created field-Officers whose Office is extravagant in this Army chiefly to encourage the fighting Souldiers and to lead them on upon the enemy in the most advantagious places and bring on fresh supplies in all places of danger to put the sword of the spirit in their Souldiers hands but Christ who is their general must onely enable them to use it aright to give every Souldier in charge that they watch over one another to see that none meddle with the execrable things of Antichrist and this to be performed in every Regiment throughout the Army and not one to exercise dominion over the other by way of superiority for Christ hath appointed a parity in all his Regiments c. let them beware that none go apart with rebellious Korah And further behold Kings Rulers or Generals of Earths Armies doth Christ make use of in this day of battell the which he hath brought into the field already also who are appointed to defend uphold and maintain the whole body of his Armies against the insolent beastly and bloody cruelty of their insatiable enemies and to keep order that none do his fellow-Souldier any wrong nor that any should raise a mutiny in the hosts Notwithstanding all this if any shall say they will not believe the day is come till they see them ingage battell with Antichrist Verily if the Lord be pleased to open your eyes you may see the beginning of the fight and what success the Armies of our Lord Christ have hitherto had the Forlorne hopes of Antichrists Army were the proud Prelates of England the Forlorne of Christs Armies were these N. E. people who are the subject of this History which encountring each other for some space of time ours being overpowered with multitude were forced to retreat to a place of greater safety where they waited for a fresh opportunity to ingage with the main battell of Antichrist so soon as the Lord shall be pleased to give a word of Command Immediately upon this success the Lord Christ was pleased to command the right Wing of his Army to advance against the left Wing of Antichrist where in his former forlorn hopes of proud Prelates lay these by our right Wing had their first pay for that they had done to our forlorne before being quite overthrown and cut in peices by the valiant of the Lord in our right Wing who still remain fighting Thus far of the battell of Antichrist and the various success what the issue will be is assuredly known in the generall already Babylon is fallen the God of truth hath said it then who would not be a Souldier on Christs side where is such a certainty of victory nay I can tell you a farther word of encouragement every true-hearted Souldier that falls by the sword in this fight shall not lye dead long but stand upon his feet again and be made partaker of the triumph of this Victory and none can be overcome but by turning his back in fight And for a word of terrour to the enemy let them know Christ will never give over the raising of fresh Forces till they are overthrown root and branch And now you antient people of Israel look out of your Prison grates let these Armies of the Lord Christ Jesus provoke you to acknowledge he is certainly come I and speedily he doth come to put life into your dry bones here is a people not onely praying but fighting for you that the great block may be removed out of the way which hath hindered hitherto that they with you may enjoy that glorious resurrection-day the glorious nuptials of the Lamb when not only the Bridegroom shall appear to his Churches both of Jews and Gentiles which are his spouse in a more brighter aray then ever heretofore but also his Bride shall be clothed by him in the richest garments that ever the Sons of men put on even the glorious graces of Christ Jesus in such a glorious splendor to the eyes of man that they shall see and glorifie the Father of both Bridegroom and Bride OH King of Saints how great 's thy work say we Done and to do poor Captives to redeem Mountaines of mercy makes this work to be Glorious that grace by which thy works are seen Oh Jesu thou a Saviour unto thine Not works but grace makes us this mercy find Of sinners cheife no better men they be Thou by thy work hast made thy work to do Thy Captaines strength weak dust appears in thee While thou art brought such wondrous works unto Then Christ doth all I all is done for his Redeemed ones his onely work it is Doth Christ build Churches who can them deface He purchast them none can his right deny Not all the world ten thousand worlds his grace Caus'd him once them at greater price to buy Nor marvell then if Kings and Kingdomes he Destroy'd when they do cause his folke to flee Christ is come down possession for to take Of his deer purchase who can hinder him Not all the Armies earthly men can make Millions of spirits although Divels grim Can Pope or Turke with all their mortall power Stay Christ from his inheritance one hour All Nations band your selves together now You shall fall down as dust from bellows blown How easie can our King your power bow Though higher you in mens accompt were grown As drop in bucket shall those waters be Whereon that Whore doth sit in high degree Christs wrath is kindled who can stand before His anger that so long hath been provoked In moment perish shall all him before Who touch'd Mount Sinai and it soundly smoaked New-England Churches you are Christs you say So sure are all that walk in Christs way No such need fear fury of men or Divels Why Christ among you takes his dayly walk He made you gold you keeps from rusting evils And hid you here from strife of tongues proud talke Amongst his he for their defence doth bide They need no more that have Christ on their side Man be not
opportunity of further travell after they have thus found out a place of aboad they burrow themselves in the Earth for their first shelter under some Hill-side casting the Earth aloft upon Timber they make a smoaky fire against the Earth at the highest side and thus these poore servants of Christ provide shelter for themselves their Wives and little ones keeping off the short showers from their Lodgings but the long raines penetrate through to their great disturbance in the night season yet in these poore Wigwames they sing Psalmes pray and praise their God till they can provide them houses which ordinarily was not wont to be with many till the Earth by the Lorde blessing brought forth Bread to feed them their Wives and little ones which with sore labours they attaine every one that can lift a hawe to strike it into the Earth standing stoutly to their labours and teare up the Rootes and Bushes which the first yeare beares them a very thin crop till the soard of the Earth be rotten and therefore they have been forced to cut their bread very thin for a long season But the Lord is pleased to provide for them great store of Fish in the spring time and especially Alewives about the bignesse of a Herring many thousands of these they used to put under their Indian Corne which they plant in Hills five foote asunder and assuredly when the Lord created this Corne hee had a speciall eye to supply these his peoples wants with it for ordinarily five or six graines doth produce six hundred As for flesh they looked not for any in those times although now they have plenty unlesse they could barter with the Indians for Venison or Rockoons whose flesh is not much inferiour unto Lambe the toile of a new Plantation being like the labours of Hercules never at an end yet are none so barbarously bene under the Mattacusets especially but with a new Plantation they ordinarily gather into Church-fellowship so that Pastorâ— and people suffer the inconveniences together which is a great meanes to season the sore labours they undergoe and verily the edge of their appetite was greater to spirituall duties at their first comming in time of wants than afterward many in new Plantations have been forced to go barefoot and bareleg till these latter dayes and some in time of Frost and Snow Yet were they then very healthy more then now they are in this Wildernesse-worke men of Estates speed no better than others and some much worse for want of being inured to such hard labour having laid out their estate upon cattell at five and twenty pound a Cow when they came to winter them with in-land Hay and seed upon such wild Fother as was never cut before they could not hold out the Winter but ordinarily the first or second yeare after their comming up to a new Plantation many of their Cattell died especially if they wanted Salt-marshes and also those who supposed they should feed upon Swines flesh were cut short the Wolves commonly feasting themselves before them who never leave neither flesh nor bones if they be not seared away before they have made an end of their meale as for those who laid out their Estate upon Sheepe they speed worst of any at the beginning although some have sped the best of any now for untill the Land be often fed with other Cattell Sheepe cannot live And therefore they never thrived till these latter dayes Horse had then no better successe which made many an honest Gentleman travell a foot for a long time and some have even perished with extreame heate in their travells as also the want of English graine Wheate Barly and Rie proved a sore affliction to some stomacks who could not live upon Indian Bread and water yet were they compelled to it till Cattell increased and the Plowes could but goe instead of Apples and Peares they had Pomkins and Squashes of divers kinds their lonesome condition was very grievous to some which was much aggravated by continuall feare of the Indians approach whose cruelties were much spoken of and more especially during the time of the Peqot wars Thus this poore people populate this howling Desart marching manfully on the Lord assisting through the greatest difficulties and sorest labours that ever any with such weak means have done CHAP. XXXVII Of the Thirteenth Church of Christ gathered at Hingham 1636. AT this time also came to shore the servant of Christ Master Peter Hubbord whom the Lord was pleased to make use of for feeding his people in this Wildernesse being called to Office by the Church of Christ at the Town of Hingham which is scituate upon the Sea coasts South-east of Charles River being a place nothing inferiour to their Neighbours for scituation and the people have much profited themselves by transporting Timber Planke and Mast for Shipping to the Town of Boston as also Ceder and Pine-board to supply the wants of other Townes and also to remote parts even as far as Barbadoes They want not for Fish for themselves and others also This Towne consisted of about sixty Families the forme is somewhat intricate to describe by reason of the Seas wasting crookes where it beates upon a mouldering shore yet have they compleat streetes in some places the people joyned in Church covenant in this place were much about an hundred soules but have been lessened by a sad unbrotherly contention which fell out among them wasting them every way continued already for seven yeares space to the great griefe of all other Churches who held out the right hand of fellowship unto them in Brotherly communion which may the Lord helping demonstate to all the true Churches of Christ the World throughout although they be distanced by place or Nation yet ought they never to take up such an Independent way as to reject the advise and counsell of each other for although the Lord Christ have compleated his commission in giving full power to every particular Church to exercise all his Ordinances in and toward their owne body yet hath the Lord so dispensed his gifts that when the one want the other shall abound both in spirituall and temporall that by giving and receiving mutuall love may be maintained the intire truthes of Christ continued the Churches of Christ supported superiority of any may be avoided and all such as raise discord among Brethren may be retarded the downfall of Antichrist and restauration of that antient people of the Lord furthered through the Unity of Christs Churches the World throughout this Church I hope will give signall to others the Lord assisting that they split not upon the Rock Of their Pastors I shall say no more but this at present OH Hubbard why do'st leave thy native soile Is 't not to war ' mongst Christ's true worthies here What wilt give out thou 'lt loose thy former toile And starve Christs flock which he hath purchast deare What would's thou have speake plaine truth bides the