A88924:326
Decennium luctuosum An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…
Decennium luctuosum An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath had with the Indian salvages, from the year, 1688. To the year 1698. Faithfully composed and improved. [One line of quotation in Latin]
printed by B. Green for Samuel Phillips, 1699
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
A Worthy and a Godly Gentleman, at this Time, Living in Rotterdam, and well-acquainted, with both Mr. Daniel, and Mr. John Sadler, Sends this to Mr. Increase Mather, in New-England; with a Letter Dated, 26. March. 1698.
A Worthy and a Godly Gentleman, at this Time, Living in Roterdam, and well-acquainted, with both Mr. Daniel, and Mr. John Sadler, Sends this to Mr. Increase Mather, in New-England; with a Letter Dated, 26. March. 1698.
Reader, I am not Ignorant, that many Cheats and Shams, have been Imposed upon the World, under the Notion of Communications from the Invisible World; and, I hope, I am not becoming a Visionary. But Fancies, and Juggles, have their Foundation laid in Realities: there would never have been Impostures of Apparitions, and of Communications from the Invisible World, if there never had been Really some such things, to be Counterfeited and Imitated. Wise men ⟨p. 192⟩therefore, will count it a Folly in its Exaltation and Extremity, to Deride all Instances, of Strange Things arriving to us, from the Invisible World, because that Some Things have been Delusions. No, 'tis a Wisdom, that is pleasing to God, and useful to the World, for a due Notice to be taken, of Rare Things; wherein we have Incontestable Proofs, of an Invisible World, and of the Interest it hath in Humane Affairs. The Narrative of Mr. Sadler, is advantaged with such Incontestable Proofs, and contains in it such Notable passages, that, I believe, I do well to lay it before Serious Men; and, I believe, no Serious Men, will play the Buffoon upon it. By no means pretend I to pass any Judgment upon this Remarkable Narrative; by no means do I presume to tell what I think it, any more than this, that it is Remarkable. Nevertheless, for the Caution of unwary Readers, I will annex the words of an Excellent Writer upon Divine Providence.
REader, I am not Ignorant, that many Cheats and Shams, have been Imposed upon the World, under the Notion of Communications from the Invisible World; and, I hope, I am not becoming a Visionary. But Fancies, and Juggles, have their Foundation laid in Realities: there would never have been Impostures of Apparitions, and of Communications from the Invisible World, if there never had been Really some such things, to be Counterfeited and Imitated. Wise men