to the whole Court aforesaid That he nor they shall nor will needlesly or unjustly raise any quarrels or do any wrong to other Natives to provoke them to War against him and That he nor they shall not Give Sell or Convey any of his or their Lands Territories or Possessions whatsoever to any person or persons whomsoever without the privity and consent of the Government of Plimouth aforesaid other then to such as the said Government shall send or appoint All which Conditions the said Woosamequen and Mooanam his Son for themselves and their Successors did then faithfully promise to observe and keep And the whole Court in the Name of the whole Government for each Town respectively did then likewise Ratifie and Confirm the aforesaid ancient League and Confederacy and did also further promise to the said Woosamequen and Mooanam his Son and their Successors That they shall and will from time to time defend the said Woosamequen Of this see pag. 24. and Mooanam his Son and their Successors when need and occasion shall require against all such as shall unjustly rise up against them to wrong or oppress them unjustly 1640. MR. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of Plimouth were Elected Assistants Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Mr. John Brown Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly and Mr. Edmond Freeman 1641. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. Edward Winslow Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown and Mr. Edmond Freeman 1642. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Elected Assistants to him in Government Mr. Edward Winslow Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. William Thomas and Mr. Edmond Freeman In reference unto the three years last specified although I have no special Providence to take notice of particularly to assign to each of them save the continuance of Gods mercy and goodness in the Annual Election of godly and able Magistrates in the Jurisdiction of Plimouth as is before-noted yet notwithstanding we are to take notice of the continued Peace and Plenty with which not onely these three years restrictively considered but also for many years together both before and after them New-England was so marvellously gratiated But that which is more that about these times the Lord was pleased of his great goodness richly to accomplish and adorn the Colony of Plimouth as well as other Colonies in New-England with a considerable number of godly and able Gospel-Preachers who then being dispersed and disposed of to the several Churches and Congregations thereof gave Light in a glorious and resplendent manner as burning and shining Lights Which mercy and transcendent favour had not Sin and Satans envy interposed might have rendred them greatly happy and prosperous it being observed That where Gospel-dispensation flourisheth there Prosperity in other respects may usually be expected In reference unto the honour of God and due respects unto such worthy Instruments I thought meet to nominate some of the speciallest of them viz. Mr. Charles Chauncy Mr. William Hook Mr. Nicholas Street Mr. John Laythrop Mr. John Mayo Mr. John Reyner Mr. Ralph Partridge Mr. Samuel Newman Mr. William Leverich Mr. Richard Blinman Mr. Edward Bulkly Mr. John Miller Mr. Marmaduke Matthews With some others that might be named These some of them stayed not long ere they removed some into the Neighbour-Colonies some into Old-England and others to their Eternal Rest whereby the said Jurisdiction was wanting in a great measure for some time of such a Blessing Howbeit the Lord hath since graciously raised up a supply to divers of the said Congregations and more may be expected according to his Promises 1643. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth And were chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Edward Winslow Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. Edmond Freeman And Mr. William Thomas This Year about the eighteenth day of April died Mr. William Brewster the Ruling Elder of the Church of Christ at Plimouth concerning whom I could say much of mine own knowledge but I shall content my self only to insert the honourable Testimony that Mr. William Bradford deceased hath left written with his own hand concerning him Saith he My dear Friend Mr. William Brewster was a man that had done and suffered much for the Lord Jesus and the Gospels sake and hath born his part in weal and woe with this poor persecuted Church above thirty six years in England Holland and in this Wilderness and done the Lord and them faithful service in his place and calling and notwithstanding the many troubles and sorrows he passed through the Lord upheld him to a great age he was four score and four years of age when he died The dea h of Mr. William Brewster he had this blessing added by the Lord to all the rest to dye in his bed in peace amongst the midst of his friends who mourned and wept over him and ministred what help and comfort they could unto him and he again recompensed them whiles he could his sickness was not long and until the last day thereof he did not wholly keep his bed his speech continued until somewhat more then half a day before his death and then failed him and about nine or ten of the clock that evening he died without any pangs at all a few hours before he drew his breath short and some few minutes before his last he drew his breath long as a man fallen into a sound sleep without any pangs or gasping and so sweetly departed this life unto a better I would now demand of any What he was the worse for former sufferings what do I say worse no he was the better and they now added to his honor 2 Thess 1.5 6 7. It is a manifest token saith the Apostle of the righteous Judgement of God that we may be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God for which we also suffer seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompence tribulation to them that trouble you and to you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels 1 Pet. 4.14 and if you be reproached saith the Apostle Peter for the Name of Christ happy are ye for the Spirit of God and of Glory shall rest upon you what though he wanted the riches and pleasures of the World in this life and Pompous monuments of his Funeral yet the memorial of the Just shall be blessed Prov. 10.17 when the name of the wicked shall rot with their Marble Monuments He was well educated in learning as at inferiour Schools so also at the Vniversity and from thence went to the Court and there served Mr. Davison a
with you I was one of those That labour'd faithfully Gods Vineyard in Sowing his Seed and plucking up of Sin Now is the Harvest to my self indeed The Lord grant a supply of one to feed Your Souls with heavenly food and one to lead In wayes of God untill his Courts you tread Next to Gods love my Flock love one another And next to Christ preserve love to thy Brother Let ever precious be in your esteem Gods holy Word and such as slight it deem Of Serpents brood whatever they pretend By no means to such Blasphemies attend Decline all wanderings lest from all you stray If stept aside return in this your day Keep close to God so he that is Most High Shall you preserve as Apple of his Eye And give you peace on Earth Tranquillity Mansions in Heaven to Eternity VVhere we that Death doth for a time now sever Shall meet embrace and shall not part for ever R un is his Race A nd his work done L eft Earthly place P artridge is gone H e's with the Father and the Son P ure joyes and constant do attend A ll that so live such is their end R eturn he shall with Christ agen T o Judge both just and sinful men R ais'd is this Bird of Paradise I oy Heaven entred breaks the ice D eath under foot he trodden hath G race is to Glory straitest Path E ver enjoyes Love free from wrath This year on the last day of July it pleased God that by Thunder and Lightning one John Philips of Marshfield in the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth was suddenly slain Also in the moneth of August it pleased God to take away by death Mr. VVilliam Paddy who was a precious Servant of Christ endued with a meek and quiet Spirit of a courteous behaviour to all men and was very careful to nourish an intimate Communion with God He was Instrumental in his place for common good both in the Church being sometimes by Office a Deacon of the Church of Christ at Plimouth and in other respects very officious as occasion did require He having a great Temporal Estate was occasioned thereby to have abundance of business upon him but when he was to put off this his earthly Tabernacle he laid aside all his earthly Incumbrances and Occasions even as one would have taken off a garment and laid it down and without any trouble of Spirit on that behalf prepared himself for his Journey to the Everlasting Mansions prepared for him by his Lord and Master in the highest Heavens whereof he was well assured as to the like effect he spake some words to Mr. Norton near unto the period of his life and so falling asleep in the Lord he was buried at Boston with honour and great lamentation in the year and moneth above-mentioned One who was well acquainted with his Worth and gracious Endowments presented this following as a Testimoniall of his good respects of him W eep not dear Wife Childeren nor dear Friends I live a life of Joyes that never ends L ove God and fear him to end of your dayes L ive unto him but die to sin alwayes I n heavenly place of Bliss my Soul doth rest A mong the Saints and Angels I am blest M uch better here then in the world at best P raising my God is now my great imploy A bove such troubles as did me annoy D id but my friends know what I here possess D oubtless it would cause them to mourn the less Y our Souls with mine ere long shall meet in bliss 1659. THis Year Mr. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. William Collier Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet Major Josias Winslow Lieut. Thomas Southworth Mr. VVilliam Bradford Mr. Thomas Hinkley Having noted before That in the Year 1657. there arrived in the Colony of New-Plimouth many of that pernicious Sect called Quakers the Reader may take notice That by this time and for some years after New-England in divers parts of it abounded with them and they sowed their corrupt and damnable Doctrines both by word and writings almost in every Town of each Jurisdiction some whereof were That all men ought to attend to the Light within them to be the Rule of their Lives and Actions and That the holy Scriptures were not for the inlightning of man nor a setled and permanent Rule of life They denied the Manhood of the Lord Jesus Christ and affirmed That as Man he is not in Heaven They denied the Resurrection from the dead They affirmed That an absolute Perfection in Holiness or Grace is attainable in this life They placed their Justification upon their Patience and Suffering for their Opinions and on their righteous life and retired demurity and affected singularity both in word and gesture As to Civil account they allowed not nor practised any civil respect to man though superiours either in Magistratical consideration or as Masters or Parents or the Ancient neither by word nor gesture They deny also the use of Oathes for the deciding of Civil Controversies with other abominable Opinions Dreams and Conceits which some of them have expressed tending to gross Blasphemy and Atheism This efficacy of Delusion became very prevalent with many so as the number of them increased to the great endangering of the subversion of the whole both of Church and Common-wealth notwithstanding the endeavours of those in Authority to suppress the same had not the Lord declared against them by blasting their Enterprizes Contrivements so as they have of late withered away in a great measure sundry of their Teachers and Leaders which have caused them to erre are departed the Country and we trust the Lord will make the folly of the remainder manifest to all men more and more Errour is not long-lived the day will declare it Let our deliverance from so eminent a danger be received amongst the principal of the Lords gracious Providences and merciful loving kindnesses towards New-England for the which let present and future generations celebrate his Praises This year that Learned and godly Servant of God Mr. Henry Dunster fell asleep in the Lord. He was sometimes President of Harvard Colledge at Cambridge in New-England in which he approved himself to the satisfaction of such as were in those Affairs concerned Afterwards he came into the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth and lived awhile in the Town of Scituate and was useful in helping to oppose the abominable Opinions of the Quakers fore-mentioned and in the defending of the Truth against them He deceasing in the said Town of Scituate his Body was embalmed and removed unto Cambridge aforesaid and there honourably buried 1660. THis Year Mr. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. William Collier Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet Major Josias Winslow Capt. Tho Southworth Capt. VVilliam Bradford Mr. Thomas Hinkley This
out in Holland of about sixty Tun called The Speedwell as to serve to transport some of them over so also to stay in the Country and attend upon Fishing and such other affairs as might be for the good and benefit of the Colony when they came thither Another Ship was hired at London of Burthen about Ninescore called The May-flower and all other things got in a readiness so being prepared to depart they had a solemn day of Humiliation The Text of Scripture was Ezra 8.21 the Pastor teaching a part of the day very profitably and sutably to the present occasion the rest of the time was spent in pouring out of Prayers unto the Lord with great fervency mixed with abundance of tears and the time being come that they must depart they were accompanied with most of their Brethren out of the City unto a Town called Delfs Haven where the Ship lay ready to receive them so they left that goodly and pleasant City which had been their resting place above eleven years but they knew that they were Pilgrims and Strangers here below and looked not much on these things Hebr. 11.16 but lifted up their eyes to Heaven their dearest Country where God hath prepared for them a City and therein quieted their spirits When they came to the place they found the Ship and all things ready and such of their Friends as could not come with them followed after them and sundry came from Amsterdam to see them shipt and to take their leaves of them One night was spent with little sleep with the most but with friendly entertainment and Christian discourse and other reall expressions of true Christian love The next day the wind being fair they went on Board and their friends with them where truely-doleful was the sight of that sad and mournful parting to hear what sighs and sobs and prayers did sound amongst them what tears did gush from every eye and pithy speeches pierced each others heart that sundry of the Dutch strangers that stood on the Key as spectators could not refrain from tears yet comfortable and sweet it was to see such lively and true expressions of dear and unfeigned love But the Tide which stayes for no man calling them away that were thus loth to depart their Reverend Pastor falling down on his knees and they all with him with watery cheeks commended them with most fervent Prayers unto the Lord and his blessing and then with mutual imbraces and many tears they took their leaves one of another which proved to be the last leave to many of them Thus hoysing Sail with a prosperous gale of wind they came in short time to Southampton where they found the bigger Ship come from London This was about the second of July 1620. being ready with all the rest of their Company meeting each other with a joyful welcome and mutual congratulation At their parting their Pastor Mr. John Robinson wrote a Letter to the whole Company which I thought meet here to insert being so fruitfull in it self and sutable to their occasions Loving Christian Friends I Do heartily and in the Lord salute you as being those with whom I am present in my best affections and most earnest longings after you though I be constrained for a while to be bodily absent from you I say Constrained God knowing how willingly and much rather then otherwise I would have born my part with you in this first brunt were I not by strong necessity held back for the present Make account of me in the mean time as a man divided in my self with great pain and as Natural bonds set aside having my better part with you And although I doubt not but in your godly wisdomes you both foresee and resolve upon that which concerneth your present state and condition both severally and joyntly yet have I thought it but my duty to adde some further spur of provocation unto them who run already if not because you need it yet because I owe it in love and duty And first as we are daily to renew our Repentance with our God especially for our sins known and generally for our unknown trespasses so doth the Lord call us in a singular manner upon occasions of such difficulty and danger as lieth upon you to a both narrow search and careful reformation of your wayes in his sight lest he calling to remembrance our sins forgotten by us or unrepented of take advantage against us and in judgement leave us to be swallowed up in one danger or other whereas on the contrary sin being taken away by earnest Repentance and the pardon thereof from the Lord sealed up to a mant Conscience by his Spirit great shall be his security and peace in all dangers sweet his comforts in all distresses with happy deliverance from all evil whether in life or death Now next after this heavenly peace with God and our own Consciences we are carefully to provide for peace with all men what in us lyeth especially with our Associates and for that watchfulness must be had that we neither at all in our selves do give no nor easily take offence being given by others Woe be to the world for offences for although it be necessary considering the malice of Satan and mans corruption that offences come yet woe unto the man or woman either by whom the offence cometh saith Christ Matth. 18.7 and if offences in the unseasonable use of things in themselves indifferent be more to be feared then death it self as the Apostle teacheth 1 Cor. 9.15 how much more in things simply evil in which neither honour of God nor love of man is thought worthy to be regarded Neither yet is it sufficient that we keep our selves by the grace of God from giving of offence except withall we be armed against the taking of them when they are given by others for how imperfect and lame is the work of Grace in that person who wants Charity to cover a multitude of offences as the Scripture speaks Neither are you to be wherred to this grace onely upon the common grounds of Christianity which are that persons ready to take offence either want Charity to cover offences or Wisdome duely to weigh humane frailties or lastly are gross though close Hypocrites as Christ our Lord teacheth Mat. 7.1 2 3. as indeed in my own experience few or none have been found which sooner give offence then such as easily take it neither have they ever proved sound and profitable Members in Societies who have nourished this touchy humour But besides these there are divers Motives provoking you above others to great care and conscience this way as first there are many of you strangers as to the persons so to the infirmities one of another and so stand in need of more watchfulness this way lest when such things fall out in men and women as you expected not you be inordinately affected with them which doth require at your hands much Wisdome and
Joy depart bid Merriment be gone Bid Friends stand by sit sorrowful alone But ah what sorrow can be to suffice Though Heaven and Earth were filled with our cries The Clouds were turned into drops of tears The Mourning for to last an Age of Years 'T were all too little to lament his death Whose life so precious was for Heaven and Earth Job wish'd his day might quite forgotten me Which brought him forth this world's light first to see O let not the day numbred be i' th Year That took this Light out of our Hemisphere A fatal day a day of sad presage To us survivers of this present Age The hour of thy decease when Sun went down When light turn'd dark when heavens began to frown 'T is ominous to us who saw his light That Grace provok'd should turn our day to night And Gospels light which shineth from on high Should clouded be and darkned in our skie O happy dayes when such Lights shine on Earth O bitter dayes when they are hid beneath This is our grief He which late shin'd on high Is hid in grave and now beneath doth lye Let Hartford sigh and say I 've lost a Treasure Let all New-England mourn at Gods Displeasure In taking from us one more gracious Then is the Gold of Ophir precious Sweet was the savour which his grace did give It season'd all the place where he did live His Name did as an Ointment give it's smell And all bare witness that it savour'd well Wisdome Love Meekness Friendly Courtesie Each Moral Virtue with rare Pietie Pure Zeal yet mixt with mildest Clemency Did all conspire in this one Breast to lye Deep was his Knowledge Judgement was acute His Doctrine solid which none could confute To Minde he gave light of intelligence And search'd the corners of the Conscience To Sinners stout which no Law could bring under To them he was a Son of dreadful Thunder When all strong Oaks of Bashan us'd to quake And fear did Lebanus his Cedars shake The stoutest Hearts he filled full of fears He clave the Rocks they melted into tears Yet to sad Souls with sense of Sin cast down He was a Son of Consolation Sweet peace he gave to such as were centrite Their darkness sad he turn'd to joyous light Of Preaching he had learn'd the rightest Art To every one dividing his own part Each Ear that heard him said He spake to me So piercing was his holy Ministrie His Life did shine Times Changes stain'd it not Envy it self could not there finde a spot Had he surviv'd to finish Works begun 'T had been a Blessing to all Christendome Then should the world have known what God had show'd him And what themselves for all his Works had ow'd him But this unthankfull Age is now cut short Of that rich Treasure ' cause they car'd not for 't O that his love may turn us yet to prize The blessings yet enjoy'd herein be wise Lest that which he not long ago foretold Be now in us fulfil'd as 't was of old That wantonness of Churches would bereave Them of their Ministers without their leave God plaguing this his messengers contempt With this soul-stroying Plague and Punishment But whatsoever wrath doth us abide Whatever plague for sin doth us betide Yet thou O blessed Saint art now at rest I' th bosom of thy Christ which is the best Bathing in rivers of divine pleasure Which is at Gods right hand most sweet and pure Tasting the fruit of all thy labours spent To honour God which was thy whole intent From God thou camest forth who sent thee hither And now hath call'd thee back to live together Him didst thou serve while life and breath did last With him now blest while life and breath is past Sense of our loss would call thee back again But out of love we bid thee there remain Till we yet left behinde our course fulfil To meet thee on the top of Zion hill When thou and we shall both rejoyce together So fast united as no death shall sever Both to sing praises to our heavenly King Who hath us saved from deaths poisonous sting And will restore our bodies from the grave Which them to dust of death consumed have Making them shine like brightness of the Sun With Glory ne'r to end when once begun Let Heaven and Earth Angels and Men him praise Sounding his Glory past all length of dayes P. B. 1648. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth And were chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. William Thomas 1649. THis Year Mr. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Mr. William Collier Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown And Mr. William Thomas This Year Mr. John Winthrop Governour of the Jurisdiction of the Massachusets deceased the twenty sixth day of March about ten of the clock The death of Mr. Winthrop He was singular for Piety Wisdom and of a publick spirit he brought over a great estate into the Country and partly by his liberality partly by the unfaithfulness of his Baily spent the most part of it so as when he died he was but low in that respect and yet notwithstanding very much honoured and beloved of the most and continued in the place of Governour for the most part until his death which was much lamented by many He was a man of unbyassed Justice patient in respect of personal wrongs and injuries a great lover of the Saints especially able Ministers of the Gospel very sober in desiring and temperate in improving earthly contentments very humble courteous and studious of general good His body was with great solemnity and honour buried at Boston in New-England the third of April 1649. This year some parts of the Country was much troubled with numerable hosts of Caterpillers An innumerable company of catterpillers in some parts of the Country which destroyed the fruits of the earth in divers places and did eat off the leaves of the trees so as they looked as bare as if it had been winter and in some places did eat the leaves from off the Pease straw and did not eat the Pease It pleased God to give them a check and a rebuke so as they hurt but in some places and of his goodness in short time removed them This Year August 25. that faithful and eminent servant of Christ Mr. Thomas Shepard died who was a soul-searching Minister of the Gospel and Pastor of the Church of Christ at Cambridge By his death not only that Church and people but also all New-England sustained a very great loss he not only preached the Gospel profitably and very successively but also hath left behinde him divers worthy works of special use in reference unto the clearing up the state of the
Teacher of the Church of Christ at Boston in New-England ANd after Winthrop's Hooker's Shepard's Hâ—rse Doth Cotton's death call for a mourning Verse Thy will be done yet Lord who dealest thus Make this great death expedient for us Luther pull'd down the Pope Calvin the Prelate slue Of Calvin's Lapse chief cure to Cotton's due Cotton whose Learning Temper Godliness The German Phoenix lively did express Melancthon's all may Luthers word but pass Melancthons all in our great Cotton was Then him in flesh scarce dwelt a better one So great 's our loss when such a Spirit 's gone Whil'st He was here Life was more Life to me Now He is not Death hence less Death shall be That Comets great Mens deaths do oft forego This present Comet doth too sadly show This Prophet dead yet must in 's Doctrine speak This Comet saith else must New-England break VVhat ere it be the Heavens avert it far That Meteors should succeed our greatest Star In Bostons Orb Winthrop and Cotton were These Lights extinct dark is our Hemisphere In Boston once how much shin'd of our glory We now lament Posterity will story Let Boston live who had and saw their worth And did them Honour both in life and death To him New-England trust in this distress Who will not leave his exiles comfortless J. N. Upon the TOMB of the most Reverend Mr. John Cotton late Teacher of the Church of Boston in New-England HEre lies magnanimous Humility Majesty Meckness Christian Apathy On soft Affections Liberty in thrall A Noble Spirit Servant unto all Learnings great Master-piece who yet would sit As a Disciple at his Schollars feet A simple Serpent or Serpentine Dove Made up of Wisdome Innocence and Love Neatness Embroider'd with it self alone And Civils Canonized in a Gown Embracing old and young and low and high Ethicks imbodyed in Divinity Ambitious to be lowest and to raise His Brethrens Honour on his own Decayes Thus doth the Sun retire into his bed That being gone the Stars may shew their head Could wound at Argument without Division Cut to the quick and yet make no Incision Ready to Sacrifice Domestick Notions To Churches Peace and Ministers Devotions Himself indeed and singular in that Whom all admired he admired not Liv'd like an Angel of a Mortal Birth Convers'd in Heaven while he was on Earth Though not as Moses radiant with Light Whose Glory dazell'd the beholders sight Yet so divinely beautifi'd youl 'd count He had been born and bred upon the Mount A living breathing Bible Tables where Both Covenants at large engraven were Gospel and Law in 's Heart had each its Colume His Head an Index to the Sacred Volume His very Name a Title Page and next His Life a Commentary on the Text. O what a Monument of glorious worth When in a New Edition he comes forth Without Errata's may we think hee 'll be In Leaves and Covers of Eternitie A man of Might at heavenly Eloquence To fix the Ear and charm the Conscience As if Apollos were reviv'd in him Or he had learned of a Seraphim Spake many Tongues in one one Voice and Sense Wrought Joy and Sorrow Fear and Confidence Rocks rent before him Blinde receiv d their sight Souls levell'd to the dunghil stood upright Infernal Furies burst with rage to see Their Pris'ners captiv'd into Libertie A Star that in our Eastern England rose Thence hurry'd by the Blast of stupid foes Whose foggy Darkness and benummed Senses Brook'd not his daz'ling fervent Influences Thus did he move on Earth from East to West There he went down and up to Heaven for Rest Nor from himself whilest living doth he vary His Death hath made him an Ubiquitary Where is his Sepulchre is hard to tell Who in a thousand Sepulchres doth dwell Their Hearts I mean whom he hath left behind In them his Sacred Relique's now Enshrin'd But let his Mourning Flock be comforted Though Moses be yet Joshua is not dead I mean Renowned NORTON worthy hee Successor to our MOSES is to bee O happy Israel in AMERICA In such a MOSES such a JOSHUA B. W. 1653. MR. William Bradford was Elected Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth were Chosen his Assistants in Government Mr. Thomas Prince Captain Miles Standish Mr. Timothy Hatherly Mr. John Brown Mr. John Alden Captain Thomas Willet Lieut. Thomas Southworth Mr. Thomas Dudley who was a principal Founder and Pillar of the Colony of the Massachusets in New-England and sundry times Governour and Deputy Governour of that Jurisdiction died at his house in Roxbury July 31. in the seventy seventh Year of his age he was a person of quick understanding and solid Judgement in the fear of the Lord he was a lover of 1 Justice 2 Order 3 the People 4 Christian Religion the supream virtues of a good Magistrate 1. His love to Justice appeared at all times and in special upon the Judgement seat without respect of persons in Judgement and in his own particular transactions with all men he was exact and exemplary 2. His zeal to Order appeared in contriving good Laws and faithfully executing them upon criminal offenders Hereticks and Underminers of true Religion He had a piercing Judgement to discover the Wolf though cloathed with a sheep-skin 3. His love to the People was evident in serving them in a publick capacity many Years at his own cost and that as a nursing Father to the Churches of Christ 4. He loved the true Christian Religion and the pure Worship of God and cherished as in his bosom all godly Ministers and Christians he was exact in the practice of Piety in his person and family all his life in a word he lived desired and died lamented by all good men The Verses following were found in his Pocket after his death which may further illustrate his Character and give a taste of his poetical fancy wherein it is said he did excel DIm Eyes deaf Ears cold stomack shew My dissolution is in view Eleven times seven near liv'd have I And now God calls I willing die My Shuttle's shot my race is run My Sun is set my Deed is done My Span is measur'd Tale is told My Flower is faded and grown old My Dream is vanish'd Shadow 's fled My Soul with Christ my Body dead Farewel dear Wife Children and Friends Hate Heresie make blessed ends Bear Poverty live with good men So shall we meet with joy agen Let men of God in Courts and Churches watch O're such as do a Toleration hatch Lest that ill Egg bring forth a Cockatrice To poyson all with Heresie and Vice If men be left and otherwise combine My Epitaph's I dy'd no Libertine This Year Mr. John Laythrop did put off his Earthly Tabernacle He was sometimes Preacher of Gods Word in Egerton in Kent from whence he went to London and was chosen Pastor of a Church of Christ there he was greatly troubled imprisoned for witnessing against the errours of the times during the
it falleth suddenly upon us This year the Lord threatned the Country with that infectious and contagious Disease of the Small Pox which began at Boston whereof some few died but through his great mercy it is stayed and none of late have died thereof This year the Lord likewise threatned and in some measure executed his displeasure upon the Country by Drought but through his mercy hath of late sent plenty of Rain for the recovering of the fruits of the earth Although it is to be observed That soon after a day of Humiliation was observed by some Congregations for the blessing of Rain in the Drought above-mentioned that sad stroke by the Thunder and Lightning at Marshfield fell out so that we may say with the Psalmist unto the Lord By terrible things in Righteousness thou hast answered us O God of our Salvation Also this year there hath been some ground of fear of Invasion by Forreign Enemies but hitherto the Lord hath kept us This year much of the Wheat is destroyed with Blasting and Mildew as also some other Grain by Worms and the Drought aforementioned but the Lord hath sent much Rain for the recovery of the remainder through his great mercy This year about the middle of July Mr. Thomas Prince Governour of the Jurisdiction of Plimouth Captain Thomas Southworth Mr. John Eliot senior Mr. John Eliot junior Mr. Samuel Arnold Mr. John Holmes Mr. William Brinsmead and Mr. Thomas Cushman gave meeting to Mr. Richard Bourn of Sandwich in reference to the taking notice of what proficiency the Indians under the Instruction of the said Mr. Bourn have attained unto A special Manifestation of Gods goodness towards some poor Salvages in the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth in the knowledge of God in Christ and their interest in him by Faith and to make such Professions or Confessions as they should openly make thereof to the glory of God and the satisfaction of the Saints in order unto their joyning into Church-fellowship And the Lord was pleased to come in unto some of them so as they gave good satisfaction unto the said honoured and judicious persons forenamed then assembled in reference to the premises So that it was concluded by them That what had passed from the Indians in that behalf should be drawn up in writing and Copies thereof exhibited to the Churches of the Jurisdiction of Plimouth such of them as are neighbouring near unto them and if nothing should be then objected that then in due and convenient time they should be permitted and encouraged to enter into Church-fellowship as aforesaid Now although I doubt not but the Passages of these things will be in due time published by a better Pen yet I have made bold here to insert so much as I have been informed of them in regard that they are the first-fruits of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth that have come on to so good perfection in this kinde This year in the moneth of December it pleased God to take unto himself by death that worthy Servant of Christ Mr. William Thompson who was a lively dispenser of the Word of God and very affectionate in the delivery thereof It pleased God to bless his Labours to the Conversion of many Souls He was sometimes together with Mr. Knowles sent unto Virginia by the Elders of the Churches of the Massachusets being requested by a Message sent by some of Virginia for some help in Preaching Gods Word amongst them The fruit and benefit of whose Labours therein still remaineth upon the Souls of some eminent in this Land He was Elected and Ordained to be Pastor of the Church of Christ at Braintry in New-England in which Office he served Christ many years untill old Age coming upon him and the prevailing of his Melancholly distemper did in a manner wholly disable him from that Service and Satan taking advantage thereby he was under sad desertions and trouble of Spirit At which time the Reverend Elders and others of the aforesaid Jurisdiction of the Massachusets were very officious for his Recovery and in sense of his sad condition offered up many Prayers to God for him and in Gods good time they received a gracious answer so as in his weakness and sickness it pleased God to come in unto his Soul and to remove the Cloud of darkness that was upon his Spirit so that with much peace and comfort he fell asleep in the Lord and his Body was honourably buried at Braintry Mark the upright man and behold the just for the end of that man is peace 1667. MR. Thomas Prince was Chosen Governour of the Jurisdiction of New-Plimouth Chosen Assistants to him in Government Mr. John Alden Major Josias VVinslow Capt. Thomas Southworth Capt. VVilliam Bradford Mr. Thomas Hinkley Mr. John Freeman Mr. Nathaniel Bacon This year on the last day of November being the last day of the next week there was heard several loud Noises or Reports as if it had been Guns discharged in the Air first one distinctly and in a short time as it had been a Volley of Shot discharged It was especially heard and observed at Nantasket and related by sundry of them of good Credit In the Spring following in the beginning of March there appeared a Sign in the Heavens in the form of a Spear something thicker in the middest then at either end of a whitish bright colour it was seen several nights together in the West about an hour within the night it stood stooping and the one end pointing to the setting of the Sun and so setled downward by little and little untill it quite vanished and descended beneath our Horizon God awaken us that we be not heedless spectators of his wonderful Works This year on the seventh of August it pleased the Lord to call home to himself the Reverend Ancient and godly Pastor of the Church of Boston Mr. John Wilson He was a truely Reverend and holy Man of God he came to New-England in the year 1630. He was instrumental in the first beginnings of the Church of Boston having been the Pastor of it three years before Mr. Cotton Twenty years with him Ten years with Mr. Norton and Four years after him Thirty seven in all And in all the Changes of Times that passed over him he was full of Faith and Prayer and eminent for Sincerity and Humility being ever low in his own eyes and for the grace of Love he had largeness of heart as the sand of the Sea to do good to all He was very charitable where there was any signs and hopes of good and yet withall very zealous against known and manifest evils He was Orthodox in his Judgement and very holy in his Conversation Very few that ever went out of the world so generally beloved and reverenced as this good man He was a good man indeed and full of the holy Ghost He lived to a good old age and was full of dayes and full of honour being in the Seventy ninth year of his