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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
mercy_n	heart_n	lord_n	way_n	4,954	5	4.7237	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
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

people after their long Voyage were many of them troubled with the Scurvy and some of them died the first station they tooke up was at Charles Towne where they pitched some Tents of Cloath other built them small Huts in which they lodged their Wifes and Children The first beginning of this worke seemed very dolorous First for the death of that worthy personage Izaac Johnson Esq whom the Lord had indued with many pretious gifts insomuch that he was had in high esteeme among all the people of God and as a chiefe Pillar to support this new erected building He very much rejoyced at his death that the Lord had been pleased to keepe his eyes open so long as to see one Church of Christ gathered before his death at whose departure there was not onely many weeping eyes but some fainting hearts fearing the fall of the present worke For future Remembrance of him mind this Meeter Izaac Johnson Esquire beloved of Christ and his people and one of the Magistrates of New England WHat mov'd thee on the Seas upon such toyle with Lady taking Christs drawing love all strength 's above when way for his hee 's making Christ will have thee example be honoured with 's graces yeilding His Churches aid foundation laid now new one Christ a building Thy Faith Hope Love Joy Meeknesse prove improved for thy Lord As he to thee to people be in Government accord Oh! people why doth Christ deny this worthies life to lengthen Christ onely trust Johnsons turnd dust and yet hee 's crownd and strengthend The griefe of this people was further increased by the sore sicknesse which befell among them so that almost in every Family Lamentation Mourning and woe was heard and no fresh food to be had to cherish them it would assuredly have moved the most lockt up affections to Teares no doubt had they past from one Hut to another and beheld the p●teous case these people were in and that which added to their present distresse was the want of fresh water for although the place did afford plenty yet for present they could finde but one Spring and that not to be come at but when the tide was downe which caused many to passe over to the South-side of the River where they afterward erected some other Townes yet most admirable it was to see with what Christian courage many of these Souldiers of Christ carried it amidst all these calamities and in October the Governour Deputy and Assistants held their second Court on the South-side of the River Where they then began to build holding correspondency with Charles Towne as one and the same At this Court many of the first Planters came and were made free yet afterward none were admitted to this fellowship or freedome but such as were first joyned in fellowship with some one of the Churches of Christ their chiefest aime being bent to promote his worke altogether The number of Freemen this yeare was 110. or thereabout CHAP. XVIII Of the second Church of Christ gathered at Charles Towne in the Mattacusets Bay 1631. AND now the new-come Souldiers of Christ strengthen themselves in him and gather a Church at Charles Towne whose extent at present did reach to both sides of the River and in very little time after was divided into two Churches the Reverend and judicious Mr. John Wilson was called to be Pastor thereof a Man full of Faith Courage and Zeale for the truth of Christ persecuted and hunted after by the usurping Prelates and forced for present to part from his indeared Wife yee honoured by Christ and made a powerfull instrument in his hands for the cutting downe of Error and Schisme as in the sequell of this History will appeare in whose weakenesse Christs power hath appeared The Grave and Reverend Mr. John Wilson now Pastor of the Church of Christ at Soston in New England JOhn VVilson will to Christs will submit In Wildernesse where thou hast Trialls found Christ in new making did compose thee fit And made thy Love zeale for his truth abound Then it 's not Wilson but Christ by him hath Error cut down when it o'retopping stood Thou then ' Gainst it didst shew an holy wrath Saving mens soules from this o're-flowing floud They thee deprave thy Ministrey dispise By thy thick utterance seeke to call Men back From hearing thee but Christ for thee did rise And turnd the wheel-right over them to crack Yea caused thee with length of dayes to stand Steadfast in 's house in old Age fruit to bring I and thy seed raise up by his comman● His Flock to feed rejoyce my Muse and sing That Christ doth dust regard so plentiously Rich gifts to give and heart to give him his Estate and person thou spends liberally Christ thee and thine will Crown with lasting Blisse This as the other Churches of Christ began with a small number in a desolate and barren Wildernesse which the Lord in his wonderfull mercy hath turned to fruitfull Fields VVherefore behold the present condition of these Churches compared with their beginnings as they sowed in teares so also have they Reaped in joy and shall still so go on if plenty and liberty marre not their prosperity This Towne of Charles is situated one the North-side of Charles River from whence it tooke its Name the River being about five or six fathom deepe Over against the Town many small Islands lieing to the Seaward of it and Hills one either side By which meanes it proves a very good harbor for Ships which hath caused many Sea-men and Merchants to sit downe there the forme of this Towne in the frontice piece thereof is like the Head Neck and Shoulders of a Men onely the pleasant and Navigable River of Mistick runs through the right shoulder thereof and by its neare approach to Charles River in one place makes a very narrow neck by which meanes the chiefe part of the Towne whereon the most building stands becomes a Peninsula it hath a large Market-place neer the water side built round with Houses comly and faire forth of which there issues two streetes orderly built with some very faire Houses beautified with pleasant Gardens and Orchards the whole Towne consists in its extent of about 150. dwelling Houses Their meeting house for Sabbath assembly stands in the Market-place very comly built and large the Officers of this Church are at this day one Pastor and one Teacher one Ruling Elder and three Deacons the number of Soules are about 160. wonderfull it is to see that in so short a time such great alterations Christ should worke for these poore people of his their Corne Land in Tillage in this Towne is about 1200. Acres their great Cattell are about 400. head Sheepe neare upon 400. as for their horse you shall hear of them God willing when we come to speak of their Military Discipline CHAP. XIX Of the Third Church of Christ gathered at Dorchester 1631. THe third Church of Christ gathered under this

to cast downe many a strong fort erected by the Sectaries but the Lord Christ would not suffer this blow to be given intending all people by way of restitution for their slanderous reports cast upon his New England Churches as being the inlet to Errours shall honour them with this victorious co●quest given them by Christ herein yet willing they would their brethren in England might win the prize by out-stripping them more abundantly in length bredth and height which the same God is able to performe that hath been thus abundantly good to us About this time the Churches of Christ began to be diligent in their duty and the civil government in looking after such as were like to disturb the peace of this new erected government some persons being so hot headed for maintaining of these sinfull opinions that they feared breach of peace even among the Members of the superiour Court but the Lord blessing them with agreement to prevent the wofull effects of civill broyles those in place of government caused certain persons to be disarmed in the severall Townes as in the Towne of Boston to the number of 58. in the Towne of Salem 6. in the Towne of Newbery 3. in the Towne of Roxbury 5. in the Towne of Ipswitch 2. and Charles Towne 2. others there were that through the help of the faithfull servants of Christ came to see how they had beene m●sled and by the power of Christ in his Word returned againe with an acknowledgement of their sinne but others there were who remained obstinate to the disturbing of the civill power and were banished of whom you shall heare farther hereafter Some of the Churches of Christ being more indulgent waited long ere they fell upon the work and here you must tak notice that the Synod Civil Government and the Churches of Christ kept their proper place each moving in their own sphear and acting by their own light or rather by the revelation of Jesus Christ witnessed by his Word and Spirit yet not refusing the help of eacg other as some would willingly have it some of the Churches prosecuting the Rule of Christ against their hereticall Members were forced to proceed to excommunication of them who when they saw whereto it would come they would have prevented it with lying but the Lord discovered it and so they were justly separated from the Churches of Christ for lying which being done they fell to their old trade againe CHAP. VIII Of the planting the fourth Colonie of New Englands godly Government called New-Haven THe Lord Christ having now in his great mercy taken out of the way these mountains that seemed in the eye of Man to block up his Churches further proceedings they had now leisure to welcome the living stones that the Lord was pleased to adde unto this building and with thankfull acknowledgment to give him of his owne for his mercyes multitude whose was the work in planting not onely more Churches but another Colony also for the honoured Mr Eaton being accompanied with many worthy persons of note whom the Lord had furnished with store of substance for this wildernesse-work although they would willingly have made their abode under the government of the Mattachusets yet could they finde no place upon the Sea-coasts for their settling the Lord intending to enlarge his peoples border caused them after much search to take up a place somewhat more southwardly neare the shalles of Cape-cod where they had very flatt water yet being entred in they found commodious harbour for shipping and a fit place to erect a Towne which they built in very little time with very faire houses and compleat streets but in a little time they overstockt it with Chattell although many of them did follow merchandizing and Maritime affairs but their remotenesse from the Mattachusets Bay where the chiefe traffique lay hindred them much Here did these godly and sincere servants of Christ according to the rule of the Word gather into Church Estate and called to the office of a Pastor the reverend judicious and godly Mr John Davenport of whom the Author is bold to say as followeth WHen Men and Devils 'gainst Christs flock conspire For them prepar'd a deadly trapping net Then Christ to make all men his work admire Davenport he doth thee from thy Country fet To sit in Synod and his folk assist The filthy vomit of Hels Dragon deepe In earths womb drawn blest they this poyson mist And blest the meanes doth us from error keep Thy grave advice and arguments of strength Did much prevaile the Erronist confound Well hast thou warr'd Christ drawes thy dayes in length That thou in learn'd experience maist abound What though thou leave a city stor'd with pleasure Spend thy prime dayes in heathen desart land Thy joy 's in Christ and not in earthly treasure Davenport rejoice Christs Kngdome is at hand Didst ever deem to see such glorious dayes Though thou decrease with age and earths content Thou live'st in Christ needs then must thy joy raise His Kingdome 's thine and that can ne'r be spent This Church and Town soon procur'd some Sisters to take part with her and among them they erected a godly and peaceable Government and called their frontier towne New haven of which the Government is denominated being inhabited by many men eminent in gifts for the populating thereof and managing of affaires both by Sea and Land they have had some shipping built there but by the sad losse of Mr. Lambertons ship and goods also they were much disheartned but the much honoured Mr. Eaton remaines with them to this very day THou noble thus Theophilus before great Kings to stand More noble far for Christ his war thou leav'st thy native land With thy rich store thou cam'st on shore Christs Churches to assist What if it wast thou purchast hast that Pearl that most have mist Nay rather he hath purchast thee and whatsoever thou hast With graces store to govern o're his people he thee plac't Our State affaires thy will repaires assistant thou hast bin Firm league to make for Gospels sake four Colonyes within With Sweads French Dutch and Indians much Gods peoples peace this bred Then Eaton aye remember may the Child that 's yet unfed This government of New-haven although the younger Sister of the foure yet was she as beautifull as any of this broode of travellers most minding the end of her coming hither to keep close to the rule of Christ both in Doctrine and Discipline and it were to be wished her elder Sister would follow her example to nurture up all her children accordingly here is not to be forgotten the honoured Mr Hopkins who came over about this time a man of zeale and courage for the truths of Christ assisting this blessed work both in person and estate for the which the Author cannot forget him being oft in commission for the good of all the united Colonyes HOpkins thou must although weak dust for this great work

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

in the Field of the enemies of Christs people in point of-Reformation ANd now to follow our first simile of a Souldier the Lord Christ having safely landed many a valiant Souldier of his on these Westerne shores drawes hither also the common enemies to Reformation both in Doctrine and Discipline But it was for like end as the Lord sometime drew Sisera the Captaine of Jabins army to the River Kishon for their destruction onely herein was a wide difference there Sisera was delivered into the hands of a Woman and here Sisera was a woman their weapons and warre was carnall these spirituall there Jabin was but a man here Jabin was the common enemy of mans salvation In the yeare 1636. the Angels of the severall Churches of Christ in N. England sounding forth their silver Trumpets heard ever and anon the jarring sound of ratling Drums in their eares striking up an alarum to the battell it being a frequent thing publikely to oppose the pure and perfect truths of Christ delivered by the mouth of his Ministers and that by way of question as the Pharises Sadduces and Herodians did Christ But to bring this disorderly worke of theirs into some order for assuredly could the Author come up to relate the full of the matter in hand it would through the mercy of Christ make much for the good of Gods people the World throughout and helpe to discover the last I hope but most subtile practises of Satan to hinder the Restauration of the purity of Christs Ordinances in his Churches in all places As also used by him and his instruments to divert the hands of those to whom it belongs from pulling downe Antichrist to which end he stirreth up some of his instruments well educated in the Masking schoole of Hippocrisy to take upon them this long Voyage giving them in charge by all meanes to carry it more close then his Jesuites had done and for their paines they should have the honours to be counted such as were of a sharper fight and deeper discerning then any others Satan knowing right well that at the fall of Antichrist hee must be chained up for a thousand years strives with all the wicked craft his long experienced maliciousnesse could possibly invent to uphold the same having already perswaded many that his Kingdome was wholy ruinated with our English Nation and so diswaded them a long time from further prosecuting against him But Antichrists Kingdome as it plainly appeares by Scripture consists chiefly in two parts his deceaveible Doctrines and his Kingly power The first of these being in measure abolished the latter was still retained by the Prelacy and some Lording Presbytery in greater or lesser measure as they could attaine unto it Now Satan who is daily walking to and fro compassing the Earth seeing how these resolved Souldiers of Christ in New England with indefatigable paines laboured not onely the finall ruine of Antichrist in both but also the advance of Christs Kingdome in seting up daily Churches according to his first institution Wherefore he sets upon a new way to stop if it were possible this worke of Reformation and seeing no other way will serve he stirs up instruments to cry down Antichrist as much as the most I and more too but by this project they should leade people as much out of the way on the other hand and in the Doctrinall part of Antichrists Kingdome fall to more horrid Blasphemies then the Papist as God willing you shall heare some of them did namely the Gortenist who most blasphemously professe themselves to be personally the Christ and as for the other part of his Kingdome namely the power or Dominion of the beast this they should with all violence batter downe also but it must be none other then to make way for their owne exaltation and pay them their wages in the former page promised them as also withall to overthow the authority Christ hath ordained to be continued in his Churches in and under him and furthermore to lock up the Sword of Civill Government for ever especially in matters that concerne the foure first Commands of God a cunning way to save the beasts head whole You have now heard of the intention you shall now see their actions The Lord Christ in his boundlesse mercy give all his people eyes to see and hearts to believe that after they have in measure escaped the filthy pollutions of the beast they may not againe be intangled with these damnabled Doctrines stealing away their hearts by degrees under a seeming shew of pulling down Antichrist The Embassadors of Christ Jesus having full liberty to deliver their masters minde Preach unto all the Doctrine of Free grace beseeching them to be reconciled unto God in Christ and that the revealed will of God is that all should be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth and that God hath given his onely begotten Son That whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting Life Yet withall minding them that Faith is the gift of God and none can come unto Christ but such as the Father drawes and withall that the whole will not see any need of the Phisicians but the sick adding also that none can come to the sight of his sicknesse or dead condition but by the Law of God unlesse they be quicker sighted then the Apostle They indevour also to build up others in their holy Faith that they might come to see the Love of God in Christ which passeth knowledge and to this end they shew them the fruits of Faith which worketh by love and that love will be obedient to all the commands of Christ who saith if you love me keepe my Commandements And further that Faith purifies the heart and that a constant supply must be had from Christ With these and the like sound and wholsome truths the Ministers of Christ feeds their severall flocks in New England drawing their Doctrines plainly from their Text and substantially backing them with store of Scripture and undeniable reason and then delivering to every Man his portion But this good old way would not serve the turne with certaine Sectaries that were hither come who like cunning Sophisters seeing the bent of the peoples hearts after so many mercies received was to magnifie the rich Grace of God in Christ they began to tell the people yet very privately that the most if not all the Ministers among them Preached a Covenant of workes either course or fine and with a what doe you say to this They begin to spread their Errors and Herefies laying the foundation of them as nere the truth as possible they can the easier to deceive but in the prosecution to be sure they ran far enough from it but to begin First they quarrell with the Doctrine of Faith in Christ and say a Soule is justified without it CHAP. XL. Of the cunning policy of Satan in that machevillian Principle divide and overcome and of the two first dividing

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 fi●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 wo●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