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A85452 America painted to the life. A true history of the originall undertakings of the advancement of plantations into those parts, with a perfect relation of our English discoveries ... 1628. to 1658. declaring the forms of their government, policies, religions, manners, customes, military disciplines, warres with the Indians, the commodities of their countries, a description of their townes, and havens, the increase of their trading with the names of their governours and magistrates. More especially an absolute narrative of the north parts of America, and of the discoveries and plantations of our English in New-England. Written by Sir Ferdinando Gorges .... Publisht ... by his grand-child Ferdinando Gorges Esquire, who hath much enlarged it and added severall accurate descriptions of his owne. Gorges, Ferdinando, Sir, 1556?-1647.; Gorges, Ferdinando, 1629-1718. 1658 (1658) Wing G1300; Thomason E969_3 181,058 245

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advantagious both to you and yours then all that Rocky Wildernesse whither you are going to run the hazard of your life Have you not here your Tables filled with great variety of Foode your Coffers filled with Coyne your Houses beautifully built and filled with all rich Furniture or otherwise have you not such a gainfull Trade as none the like in the Towne where you live Are you not inriched daily Are not your Children very well provided for as they come to years nay may you not here as pithily practise the two chiefe Duties of a Christian if Christ give strength namely Mortification and Sanct fication as in any place of the World What helps can you have there that you must not carry from hence With bold resolvednesse these stout Souldiers of Christ reply as Death the King of terror with all his dreadfull attendance inhumane and barbarous tortures doubled and trebled by all the infernall furies have appeared but light and momentany to the Souldiers of Christ Iesus so also the Pleasure Profits and Honours of this World set forth in their most glorious splend or and magnitude by the alluring Lady of Delight proffering pleasant embraces cannot intice with her Syren Songs such Souldiers of Christ whose aymes are elevated by him many Millions above that brave Warrier Vlysses Now seeing all can be said will but barely set forth the immoveable Resolutions that Christ continued in these men Passe on and attend with teares if thou hast any the following discourse while these Men Women and Children are taking their last farwell of their Native Country Kindred Friends and Acquaintance while the Ships attend them Many make choise of some solitary place to eccho out their bowell-breaking affections in bidding their Friends farwell deare friends sayes one as neare as my owne soule doth thy love lodge in my brest with thought of the heart burning Ravishments that thy Heavenly speeches have wrought my melting soule is poured out at present with these words both of them had their farther speach strangled from the depth of their inward dolor with breast-breaking sobs till leaning their heads each on others shoulders they let fall the salt-dropping dews of vehement affection striving to exceede one another much like the departure of David and Jonathan having a little eased their hearts with the still streames of Teares they recovered speech againe Ah! my much honoured friend hath Christ given thee so great a charge as to be Leader of his People into that far remote and vast Wildernesse I oh and alas thou must die there and never shall I see thy Face in the flesh againe wert thou called to so great a taske as to passe the pretious Ocean and hazard thy person in Battell against thousands of Malignant Enemies there there were hopes of thy return with triumph but now after two three or foure moneths spent with daily expectation of swallowing Waves and cruell Pirates you are to be Landed among barbarous Indians famous for nothing but cruelty where you are like to spend your days in a famishing condition for a long space Scarce had he uttered this but presently hee lockes his friend fast in his armes holding each other thus for some space of time they weepe againe But as Paul to his beloved flock the other replies what doe you weeping and breaking my heart I am now prest for the service of our Lord Christ to re-build the most glorious Edifice of Mount Sion in a Wildernesse and as John Baptist I must cry prepare yee the way of the Lord make his paths strait for behold hee is comming againe hee is comming to destroy Antichrist and give the whore double to drinke the very dregs of his wrath Then my deare friend unfold thy hands for thou and I have much worke to doe I and all Christian Souldiers the World throughout then hand in hand they leade each other to the Sandy-banks of the brinish Ocean when clenching their hands fast they unloose not til inforced to wipe their watery-eyes whose constant streames forced a watery-path upon their Cheekes which to hide from the eyes of others they shun society for a time but being called by occasion whose bauld back-part none can lay hold one They thrust in among the throng now ready to take Ship where they beheld the like affections with their own among divers Relations Husbands and Wives with mutuall consent are now purposed to part for a time 900 Leagues asunder since some providence at present will not suffer them to goe together they resolve their tender affections shall not hinder this worke of Christ the new Married and betrothed man exempt by the Law of God from war now will not claime their priviledge but being constrained by the Love of Christ lock up their naturall affections for a time till the Lord shall be pleased to give them a meeting in this Westerne World sweetly mixing it with spirituall love in the meane time many Fathers now take their yong Samuells and give them to this service of Christ all their Lives Brethren Sisters Unkles Nephewes Neeces together with all Kindred of bloud that binds the bowells of affection in a true Lovers knot can now take their last farewell each of other although naturall affection will still claime her right and manifest her selfe to bee in the body by looking out at the Windowes in a mournefull manner among this company thus disposed doth many Reverend and godly Pastors of Christ present themselves some in a Seamans Habit and their scattered sheepe comming as a poore Convoy loftily take their leave of them as followeth what dolefull dayes are these when the best choise our Orthodox Ministers can make is to take up a perpetuall banishment from their native soile together with their Waves and Children wee their poore sheepe they may not feede but by stoledred should they abide here Lord Christ here they are at thy command they go this is the doore thou hast opened upon our earnest request and we hope it shall never be shut for Englands sake they are going from England to pray without ceasing for England O England thou shalt finde New England prayers prevailing with their God for thee but now woe alas what great hardship must these our indeared Pastors indure for a long season with these words they life up their voyces and wept adding many drops of sale liquor to the ebbing Ocean Then shaking hands they bid adue with much cordiall affection to all their Brethren and Sisters in Christ yet now the Scorne and Derifion of those times and for this their great enterprise counted as so many crackt braines but Christ will make all the Earth know the wisdome he hath indued them with shall over-top all the humane policy in the World as the sequell wee hope will shew Thus much shall suffice in generall to speak of their peoples farewell they tooke from time to time of their Country and Friends CHAP. XIII Of the charges expended by this poore
would beare it but now the Lords blessing that way hath exceeded all peoples expectation cloathing the Earth with plenty of all kinde of graine Here minde I must the Reader of the admirable acts of Christs Providence toward this people that although they were in such great straites for foode that many of them eate their Bread by waight and had little hopes of the Earths fruitfullnesse yet the Lord Christ was pleased to refresh their spirits with such quickning grace and lively affections to this Temple-worke that they did not desert the place and that which was more remarkable when they had scarce houses to shelter themselves and no doores to hinder the Indians accesse to all they had in them yet did the Lord so awe their hearts that although they frequented the Englishmens places of aboade where their whole substance weake Wives and little ones lay open to their plunder during their absence being whole dayes at Sabbath Assemblies yet had they none of their food or stuffe diminished neither Children nor Wives hurt in the least measure although the Indians came commonly to them at those times much hungry belly as they use to say and were then in number and strength beyond the English by far Yet further see the great and noble Acts of Christ toward this his wandering people feeling againe the scarcity of foode and being constrained to come to a small pittance daily the Lord to provide for them causeth the Deputy of Ireland to set forth a great Ship unknowne to this people and indeed small reason in his own apprehensions why he should so do but Christ will have it so This Ship ariving being filled with food the godly Governors did so order it that each Town sent two men aboard of her who tooke up their Townes allowance it being appointed before hand what their portion should be to this end that some might not by all and others be left destitute of food In the vernall of the yeare 1634. This people being increased and having among them many pretious esteemed instruments for furthering this wonderous worke of Christ they began to thinke of fortifying a small Island about two miles distant from Boston to Sea-ward to which all the Vessells come in usually and passe To this end the honoured Mr. John Winthrope with some 8. or 10. persons of no●e tooke boate and arrived on the said Island in a warme Sun shineday just at the breaking up of Winter as they deemed but being they were sulden surprised with a cold North-west storme which is the sharpest winde in this Country freezing very vehemently for a day and a night that they could not get off the Island but were forced to lodge there and lie in a heape one upon another on the ground to keepe themselves from freezing This yeare 1634. the much honoured Thomas Dudly Esquire was chosen Governor and Mr. Roger Ludlow Deputy Governor the Freemen added to this little Common-wealth this year were about two hundred and foure about this time a sincere servant of Christ Mr. Stone was added to the Chureh of Christ at New-towne as a meet helpe to instruct the People of Christ there with the above named Mr. Hooker and as he hath hetherto bin through the blessing of God an able instrument in his hands to further the worke So let him be incourraged with the Word of the Lord in the spirit of his might to go on THou well smoth'd Stone Christs Work-manship to be In 's Church new laid his weake ones to support With 's word of might his foes are foild by thee Thou daily dost to godlinesse exhort The Lordly Prelates people do deny Christs Kingly power Hosanna to proclaime Mens mouths are stopt but Stone poore dust doth try Throughout his Churches none but Christ must raignt Mourne not Oh Man thy youth and learning 's spent In desart Land my Muse is bold to say For glorious workes Christ his hath hither sent Like that great worke of Resurrection day CHAP. XX IX Of the Lords remarkable providence toward his indeared servants M. Norton and Mr. Shepherd NOw my loving Reader let mee lead thee by the hand to our Native Land although it was not intended to speake in particulars of any of these peoples departure from thence purposing a generall relation should serve the turne yet come with mee and behold the wonderous worke of Christ in preserving two of his most valiant Sou'diers namely Mr. John Norton and that soule ravishing Minister Mr. Thomas Shepheard who came this yeare to Yarmouth to ship themselves for New England where the people of God resorted privately unto them to hear them Preach during the time of their aboade the Enemies of Christs Kingdome were not wanting to use all meanes possible to intrap them in which perilous condition they remained about two months waiting for the Ships readinesse in which time some persons eagerly hunting for Mr. Thomas Shepheard began to plot for apprehending of him with a Boy of sixteene or seventeene yeares of Age who lived in the House where hee Lodged to open the doore for them at a certaine houre in the night But the Lord Christ who is the Shepheard of Israel kept a most sure watch over his indeared servants for thus it befell the sweet words of grace falling from the of lips of this Reverend and godly Mr. Thomas Shepheard in the hearing of the Boy the Lords working withall hee was perswaded this was an holy man of God and therefore with many troubled thoughts began to relate his former practise although hee had a great some of money promised him onely to let them in at the houre and time appointed but the Boy the more neere the time came grew more pensive and sad insomuch that his Master taking notice thereof began to question him about the cause of his heavinesse who being unwilling to reveale the matter held of from confessing a long time till by urgent and insinuating search of his godly Master with teares hee tells that on such a night hee had agreed to let in Men to apprehend the godly Preacher The good Man of the house forthwith gave notice thereof unto them who with the helpe of some well-affected persons was convay'd away by boate through a back Lane the men at the time appointed came to the house where finding not the doore open when they lifted up the Latch as they expected they thrust their staves under it to lift it from the hookes but being followed by some persons whom the good man of the house had appointed for that end yet were they boulstred out in this their wicked act by those who set them one worke Notwithstanding they were greatly ashamed when they mist of their end But the Lord Christ intending to make his New England Souldiers the very wounder of this Age brought them into greater straites that this Wonder Working Providence might the more appeare in their deliverance for comming a shipboard and hoiseing saile to accomplish their
praise of all his glorious Acts. About this time did the valiant in faith and Reverend Pastor Mr. John Wilson returne to England and surely the power of Christ hath notably appeared in this weake sorry man You must needs see the Author will flatter no man yet will he not be wanting to tell the noble Acts of Christ Jesus in making men strong for himselfe here is one borne up in the armes of his mercy often through the perillous Seas night and dayes yea weeks and months upon the great deepe and now having with his owne eyes beheld the manifold troubles these poore were in yet at this very time hies him back to his Native soile where his indeared Wife did yet remaine purposely to perswade her to east her cares upon the Lord as he himself had already done and then assuredly the wants of a Wildernesse would never hurt her at the departure of this holy Man of God many of his peoples hearts waxed very sad and having looked long for his returne Their eyes now began to faile in missing of their expectation they according to their common course in time of great straites set and appointed a day wholy to be spent in seeking the pleasing Face of God in Christ purposing the Lord assisting to afflict their soules and give him the honour of his All-seeingness by a downe right acknowledgement of their sinnes but the Lord whose Grace is alwayes undeserved heard them before they cried and the afternoone before the day appointed brought him whom they so much desired in safety to shore with divers other faithfull servants of Christ ready armed for the Battell the day was turned to a day of rejoycing and blessing the Lord even the mighty God of Iacob the God of Armies is for us a refuge high Shela The yeare 1633. the honoured John Winthrope Esquire was chosen Governour againe and Thomas Dudly Esq Deputy Governour the number of Freemen added or Souldiers listed was 46. the Winters Frost being extracted forth the Earth they fall to tearing up the Roots and Bushes with their Howes even such men as scarce ever set hand to labour before men of good birth and breeding but comming through the strength of Christ to war their warfare readily rush through all difficulties cutting down of the Woods they inclose Corne fields the Lord having mitigated their labours by the Indians frequent fiering of the woods that they may not be hindered in hunting Venson and Beares in the Winter season which makes them thin of Timber in many places like our Parkes in England the chiefest Corne they planted before they had Plowes was Indian Graine whose increase is very much beyond all other to the great refreshing of the poore servants of Christ in their low beginings all kinde of Gardens Fruits grew very well and let no man make a j●st at Pumpkins for with this fruit the Lord was pleased to feed his people to their good content till Corne and Cattell were increased And here the Lords mercy appeared much in that those who had beene formerly brought up tender could now contentedly feed on bare and meane Diet amongst whom the Honoured and upright hearted in this worke of Christ Mr. Increase Nowell shall not be forgotten having a diligent hand therein from the first beginning INcrease shalt thou with honour now in this thy undertaking Thou hast remain'd as yet unstained all errors foule forsaking To poore and rich thy Justice much hath manifested bin Like Samuel Nathanaell Christ hath thee fram'd within Thy faithfulnesse people expresse and Secretary they Chose thee each year by which appeare their love with thee doth stay Now Nowell see Christ call'd hath thee and work thou must for him In beating down the triple Crown and all that his foes ben Thus doest thou stand by Christ fraile man to tell his might can make Dust do his will with graces fill till dust to him he take CHAP. XXVII Of the gratious goodnesse of God in hearing his peoples prayers in times of need and of the Ship-loades of goods the Lord sent them in HEre againe the admirable Providence of the Lord is to be noted That whereas the Country is naturally subject to drought even to the withering of their summers Fruits the Lord was pleased during these yeares of scarcity to blesse that small quantity of Land they planted with seasonable showers and that many times to the great admiration of the Heathen for thus it befell the extreame parching heare of the Sun by reason of a more constant clearnesse of the Aire then usually is in England began to scorch the Herbs and Fruits which was the chiefest meanes of their livelyhood they beholding the Hand of the Lord stretched out against them like tender hearted Children they fell down on their knees begging mercy of the Lord for their Saviours sake urging this as a chiefe argument that the malignant adversary would rejoyce in their destruction and blaspheme the pure Ordinances of CHRIST trampling down his Kingly Commands with their owne inventions and in uttering these words their eyes dropped down many teares their affections prevailing so strong that they could not refraine in the Church-Assembly Here admire and be strong in the Grace of Christ all you that hopefully belong unto him for as they powred out water before the Lord so at that very instant the Lord showred down water on their Gardens and Fields which with great industry they had planted and now had not the Lord caused it to raine speedily their hope of food had beene lost but at this these poore wormes were so exceedingly taken that the Lord should shew himselfe so neere unto their Prayers that as the drops from Heaven fell thicker and faster so the teares from their eyes by reason of the sudden mixture of joy and sorrow and verily they were exceedingly stirred in their affections being unable to resolve themselves which mercy was greatest to have a humble begging heart given them of God or to have their request so suddenly answered The Indians hearing hereof and seeing the sweet raine that fell were much taken with Englishmens God but the Lord seeing his poore peoples hearts were to narrow to beg his bounties exceeds toward them at this time as indeed hee ever hitherto hath done for this Wildernesse-People not onely giving the full of their requests but beyond all their thoughts as witnesse his great worke in England of late in which the prayers of Gods people in New England have had a great stroke These people now rising from their knees to receive the rich mercies of Christ in the refreshed fruits of the Earth Behold the Sea also bringing in whole Ship-loades of mercies more being filled with fresh forces for furthering this wonderfull worke of Christ and indeed this yeare came in many pretious ones whom Christ in his grace hath made much use of in these his Churches and Common-wealth insomuch that these people were even almost over-ballanced with the great income of their
live and as for her part shee had attained it already a company of legall Professors quoth she lie poring on the Law which Christ hath abolished and when you breake it then you breake your joy and now no way will serve your turne but a deepe sorrow These and divers other expressions intimate unto men that here I shall finde little increase in the Graces of Christ through the hearing of his word Preached and other of his blessed Ordinances Oh cunning Devill the Lord Christ rebuke thee that under pretence of a free and ample Gospell shuts out the Soule from partaking with the Divine Nature of Christ in that mysticall Union of his Blessed Spirit creating and continuing his Graces in the Soule my deare Christ it was thy worke that moved me hither to come hoping to finde thy powerfull presence in the Preaching of the Word although administred by sorry men subject to like infirmities with others of Gods people and also by the glasse of the Law to have my sinfull corrupt nature discovered daily more and more and my utter inabillity of any thing that is good magnifying hereby the free grace of Christ who of his good will and pleasure worketh in us to will and to doe working all our works in us and for us But here they tell me of a naked Christ what is the whole life of a Christian upon this Earth But through the power of Christ to die to sinne and live to holinesse and righteousnesse and for that end to be diligent in the use of meanes at the uttering of this word he starts up from the greene bed of his complaint with resolution to hear some one of these able Ministers Preach whom report had so valued before his will should make choyce of any one principle though of crossing the broade Seas back againe then turning his face to the Sun he steered his course toward the next Town and after some small travel ●●ee came to a large plaine no sooner was hee entred thereon but hearing the found of a Drum he was directed toward it by a broade b●aten way following this rode he demands of the next man he met what the signall of the Drum ment the reply was made they had as yet no Bell to call men to meeting and therefore made use of a Drum who is it quoth hee Lectures at this Towne The other replies I see you are a stranger new come over seeing you know not the man it is one Mr. Shepheard verily quoth the other you hit the right I am new come over indeed and have been told since I came most of your Ministers are legall Preachers onely if I mistake not they told me this man Preached a finer covenant of workes then the other but however I shall make what hast I can to heare him Fare you well then hasting thither hee croudeth through the thickest where having stayed while the glasse was turned up twice the man was metamorphosed and was faine to hang down the head often least his watry eyes should blab abroad the secret conjunction of his affections his heart crying loud to the Lords ecchoing answer to his blessed spirit that caused the Speech of a poore weake pale complectioned man to take such impression in his soule at present by applying the word so aptly as if hee had beene his Privy Counseller cleering Christs worke of grace in the soule from all those false Doctrines which the erronious party had afrighted him withall and now he resolves the Lord willing to live and die with the Ministers of New England whom hee now saw the Lord had not onely made zealous to stand for the truth of his Discipline but also of the Doctrine and not to give ground one inch CHAP. XLIIII The Congregationall Churches of Christ are neither favourers of sinfull opinions nor the Lords over any or many Churches or mens Consciences ANd here Christian Reader the Author according to his former practice must minde thee of the admirable providence of Christ toward his New England Churches in preserving them from these erronious spirits that have hitherto in all places dog'd the sincere servants of Christ when ever they have set upon a through Reformation as stories doe abundantly testify which thing the reverend Calvine and divers others have declared But seeing the boasting Prelates in these times are ready to say their Lordly power kept these errours under its plaine otherwise for Satan saw while people were under their yoake of humane inventions they were far enough from exalting the Kingdome of Christ And therefore he reserved these errours for his last shifts and further you shall see in the following story that the Lord Christ reserved this honour for those whose love hee had inlarged to follow him in a dezart wildernesse even with the sharpe sword of the Word timely to cut off the heads of this Hidra but yet there are two sorts of persons in our Native Country whom the Elders and Brethren here do highly honour in Christ and prefer before themselves namely the godly Prebyterian party and the Congregationall sincere servants of Christ both which the Author could wish that with bowells of compassion sweet simpathising affection of Brethren knit together in that transcendent love of Christ which couples all his distanced flockes together they would seriously ponder this History which through the Authors weakenesse wants much of measure but nothing of the truth of things so far as a shallow capacity can reach Of the first sort named I could wish the Reverend Mr. Ruterford Mr. Bayle Mr. Rathbone Mr. Paget Mr. Ball c. would but informe themselves further by the truth of this History supposing they cannot chuse but in a good measure be satisfied already with the pacificatory and meeke answers of as many Reverend and godly Elders of ours Now that I would they should take notice of is that the Churches of Christ in New England and their Officers have hitherto been so far from imbracing the erronious Doctrines of these times that through the powers of Christ they have valiantly defended the truth and cut down all deceiveable Doctrine the like hath not been done for many ages heretofore Reverend and beloved in Christ could your eyes but behold the efficacy of loving counsell in the Communion of congregationall Churches and the reverend respect honour and love given to all Teaching Elders charity commands me to thinke you would never stand for Classicall injunctions any more neither Diocesan nor Provinciall authority can possible reach so far as this royall Law of love in communion of Churches verily its more universall then the Papall power and assuredly the dayes are at hand wherein both Jew and Gentile Churches shall exercise this old Modell of Church Government and send their Church salutations and admonitions from one end of the World unto another when the Kingdomes of the Earth are become our Lord Christs Then shall the exhortation of one Church to another prevaile more to Reformation then
came to a very sad end for thus it came to passe in the latter place The Indians in those parts forwarned them of making their abode there yet this could be no warning to them but still they continued being amongst a multitude of Indians boasted they were become all one Indian and indeed this woman who had the chiefe rule of all the roast being very bold in her strange Revelations and mis-applications tells them though all nations and people were cut off round about them yet should not they till on a day certaine Indians coming to her house discoursing with them they wished to tye up her doggs for they much bit the man not mistrusting the Indians guile did so the which no sooner done but they cruelly murthered her taking one of their daughters away with them another of them seeking to escape is caught as she was getting over a hadge and they drew her back againe by the haire of the head to the stump of a tree and there cut off her head with a hatchet the other that dwelt by them betook them to boat and fled to tell this sad newes the rest of their companions who were rather hardened in their sinfull way and blasphemous opinions than brought to any sight of their damnable Errours as you shall after hear yet was not this the first loud speaking hand of God against them but before this the Lord had poynted directly to their sinne by a very fearfull Monster that another of these women brought forth they striving to bury it in oblivion but the Lord brought it to light setting forth the view of their monstrous Errors in this prodigious birth This yeare although the estates of these pilgrim people were much wasted yet seeing the benefit that would accrew to the Churches of Christ and Civil Government by the Lords blessing upon learning they began to erect a Colledge the Lord by his provident hand giving his approbation to the work in sending over a faithfull and godly servant of his the reverend Mr John Harverd who joyning with the people of Christ at Charles Towne suddainly after departed this life and gave near a thousand pound toward this work wherefore the Government thought it meet to call it Harverd Colledge in remembrance of him Ip Harverd had with riches here been taken He need not then through troublous Seas have past But Christs bright glory hath thine eyes so waken Nought can content thy soule of him must tast Ohtast and tell how sweet his Saints among Christ ravisht hath thy heart with heavenly joyes To preach and pray with teares affection strong From hearts delight in him who thee imployes Scarce hast thou had Christs Churches here in eye But thou art call'd to eye him face to face Earths scant contents death drawes thee from for why Full joy thou wouldst that 's onely in heavens place CHAP. XIII Of the coming over of the honoured Mr. Pelham and the planting of the seaventeenth Church of Christ at the Towne of Hampton THis yeare 1639. John Winthrope Esq was chosen Governour and Thomas Dudly Esq Deputy Governour the number of freemen added were about 83. This yeare came over the much honoured Mr. Herbert Pelham a man of a courteous behaviour humble and heavenly minded HArbertus hye on valiant Why lingerst thou so long Christs work hath need of hasty speed his enemies are strong In wildernesse Christ doth thee blesse with vertues wife and seed To govern thou at length didst bow to serve Christs peoples need To thine own soyle thou back dost toyle then cease not lab ring there But still advance Christs Ordinance and shrink no where for fear Much about this time began the Town of Hampton in the Country of Northfolk to have her foundation stone laid scituate neare the Sea-coast not farre from the famous River of Merimeck the great store of salt marsh did intice this people to set downe their habitations there for as yet Cowes and Cattell of that kinde were not come to the great downfall in their price of which they have about 450. head and for the form of this Towne it is like a Flower-de-luce two streets of houses wheeling off from the maine body thereof the land is fertile but filled with swamps and some store of rocks the people are about 60. Families being gathered together into Church covenant they called to office the reverend grave and gracious Mr. Doulton having also for some little space of time the more ancient Mr. Batchelor of whom you have heard in the former Book to preach unto them also here take a short remembrance of the other DOulton doth teach perspicuously and sound With Wholsome truths of Christ thy flock dost feed Thy honour with thy labour doth abound Age crownes thy head in righteousnesse proceed To batter downe root up and quite destroy All Heresies and Errors that draw back Vnto perdition and Christs folk annoy To warre for him thou weapons dost not lack Long dayes to see that long'd for day to come Of Babels fall and Israels quiet peace Thou yet maist live of dayes so great a sum To see this work let not thy warfare cease CHAP. XIV Of the planting the eighteenth Church of Christ at the Towne of Salsbury FOr further perfecting this Wildernesse-work not far from the Towne of Hampton was erected another Towne called Salsbury being brought forth as Twins sometime contending for eldership This being seated upon the broade swift torrent of Merrimeck a very goodly River to behold were it not block● up with some suddaine falls through the rocks over against this Towne lyeth the Towne of Newberry on the Southern side of the River a constant Ferry being kept between for although the River be about half a mile broad yet by reason of an Island that lies in the midst thereof it is the better passed in troublesom weather the people of this Towns have of late placed their dwellings so much distanced the one from the other that they are like to divide into two Churches the scituation of this Towne is very pleasant were the Rivers Navigable farre up the branches thereof abound in faire and goodly medowes with good store of stately Timber upon the uplands in many places this Towne is full as fruitfull in her Land Chattell and Inhabitants as her Sister Hampton the people joyned in Church relation or brotherhood nere about the time the other did and have desired and obtained the reverend and graciously godly M. Thomas Woster to be their Pastor WIth mickle labour and distressed wants Woster thou hast in desart's depth remain'd Thy chiefest dayes Christs Gospel there to plant And water well such toyle shall yeild great gaine Oh happy day may Woster say that I Was singled out for this great work in hand Christ by distresse doth Gold for 's Temple try Thrice blest are they may in his Presence stand But more thou art by him reserved yet To see on earth Christ's Kingdom 's exaltation More yet thou art
out and for the Lords assisting them against their witchery yet have they as is supposed bewitched not a few persons among whom two of the reverend Elders children These people inhabiting this Town having gathered into a Church-body called to the office of a Pastor the reverend M. Moxon who remaineth with them at this very day of whom as followeth AS thou with strong and able parts art made Thy person stout with toyl and labour shall With help of Christ through difficulties wade Then spend for him spare not thy self at all When errors crowd close to thy self and friends Take up truths sword trifle not time for why Christ call'd his people hither for these ends To tell the world that Babels fall is nigh And that his Churches through the world shall spread Maugre the might of wicked men and devils Then Moxon thou need'st not at all to dread But be aveng'd on Satan for his evils Thy Lord Christ will under thy feet him tread This year the great troubles in our native country encreaseing and that hearing prophane Esau had mustered up all the Bands he could make to come against his brother Iacob these wandering race of Jacobites deemed it now high time to implore the Lord for his especial aid in this time of their deepest distress and the rather being incouraged hereunto from former deliverances and wonderful mercies received the which they now presented before the Lord with the several branches and inlarged bounties thereof to refresh their frozen affections and move a melting heart in their barren brests that began to dry up with a lazy lethargy and therefore thrusting themselves on to the work by the loving invitation of that godly Government the Lord in his mercy had peaceably placed among them each Church in their own proper place meeting together in daies of solemn seeking of the Lords pleasing countenance in Christ the Lord in his mercy helping them after a serious acknowledgment of their own unworthiness by reason of their sinful provocations of the Lord to anger against them aggravated in that they were committed immediately upon the receipt of a multitude of marvellous mercies they acknowledg unto the Lord in the audience of the great Congregation the manner of his wonderful providence extended toward them that as Iacob professes I came over this Jordan with my staff and now have I gotten two Bands so they came over this boysterous billow-boyling Ocean a few poor scattered stones newly raked out of the heaps of rubbish and thou Lord Christ hast now so far exalted them as to lay them sure in thy Sion a building to be the wonder of the world orderly are they placed in five and forty several Churches and that in a Wilderness where civility scarce ever took place much less any Religion and now to the Lord earnestly they cry to be delivered from the cruel hands of those that would destroy both young and old the bird and her young together and as Iacobs fear was the seed of Christs Church in the posterity of Israel should be cut off and therefore pleaded the promise of the Lord in the multiplying of his seed so these people at this very time pleaded not only the Lords promise to Israel but to his only Son Christ Jesus Lord hast thou not said Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost ends of the earth for thy possession and now Lord are not these the Churches of Christ which thou hast planced for his possession and that as Rachel and Leah built the house of Israel so now shall these and the like Sister-churches spread the whole earth the Lord Christ raigning as King and Lord for ever over them Then why do the Heathen rage and the people imagin a vain thing seeing the rime of the Lords arising to have mercy upon Sion is come ●ea his appointed time is at hand and he who walks in the midst of his golden Candlesticks whose eys are as a flaming fire will not suffer his Churches to be trodden under feet of that Antichristian Lordly prelacy any longer nor yet defiled with any transformed Saint-seeming Angels of light with their painted doctrines Thus did this poor people plead with the Lord not only for themselves but for their dearly beloved brethren in England I and all that are Christs chosen people the world throughout and although they were not unmindful from day to day of them yet this year 1645. the Lord was pleased to stir up their affections in more then an ordinary manner what success their prayers have had let all that love and long to behold the beauty of Christ shining on and in his beloved Bride declare the loving kindness of the Lord toward his Churches and let all the Churches of Christ though never so ●● more the one from the other yet joyned together in one ●hith and one Christ be frequent in prayer one for another ●ongregate together at the Throne of the Lord be present in ●pirit though absent in body these Mew-England Churches ●●● neer one hundred miles distant one from another and yet communicate counsel care love joy grieve with and for ●ne another dismiss some and commend others as occasi●n serves to the Christian care and watchfulness from one Church to another and why may not this be practised the world throughout even from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum CHAP. III. Of the opposition the Government of the Mattachusets Colony met withal by certain persons under the name of Petitioners IN place of Governor was chosen for this year Iohn Winthrop Esquire and for Deputy Governor Thomas Dudly Esquire the number of freemen were about 72. At the Court of Election there was a Petition drawn and presented to the Court by a Doctor of Physick with seven hands to it the persons were of a Linfiwolsie disposition some for Prefacy some for Presbytery and some for Pl●bsbytery but all joyned together in the thing they would which was to stir up the people to dislike of the present Government one while envving against the constitution of the Government as not popular enough another while against the Laws or orders of this little Common-wealth as two strict and then to provoke at least the p●●●●●ous they tell them of great expence of the publike Treasury and intolerable taxations the matter they petitioned for was a bottom to build their quarrel upon under the name of a Presbyterian Government and this they supposed would suit well with their Bill of complaint which they intended for England not that they cared for a Presbyterian Church for had they so done they might have found out one in the country before they petitioned but because they supposed that the Parliament in England would establish that way only and therefore bore themselves bold upon it that although their seditious and scandalous words and practises should incur a penalty as none could deem any other unless it be such as are all for