Decennium luctuosum An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…

¶ Reasonable Expectations.

I. Where Schools are not Vigorously and Honourably Encouraged, whole Colonies will sink apace into a Degenerate and Contemptible Condition, and at last become horribly Barbarous: ⟨p. 194⟩And the first Instance of their Barbarity will t•• that they will be undone for want of Men, but not see and own, what it was that undid them.

III. Where the Pastors of Churches in a Vicinity, despise or neglect Formed Associations for mutual Assistance in their Evangelical Services, Woe to him that is alone. 'Tis a sign, either that some of the Pastors want Love to one another, or that others may be conscious to some Fault, which may dispose them to avoid Inspection; but fatal to the Churches will be the Tendency of either.

III. Where the Pastors of Churches in a Vicinity, despise or neglect Formed Associations for mutual Assistence in their Evangelical Services, Wo to him that is alone. 'Tis a sign, either that some of the Pastors want Love to one another, or that others may be conscious to some Fault, which may dispose them to avoid Inspection; but fatal to the Churches will be the Tendency of either.

IV. Where Churches, have some Hundreds o• Souls under their Discipline; but the single Pastors, are not strengthened, with Consistories o• Elders, or, an Agreeable Number of wise and good and grave men chosen to join with th• Pastor, as their President, in that part of hi• Work, which concerns the Well Ruling of the ⟨p. 195⟩Flock, there Discipline will by Degrees be utterly Lost; The Grossest Offenders, will by degrees, and through' parties, be scarce to be dealt withal.

IV. Where Churches, have some Hundreds o• Souls under their Discipline; but the single Pastors, are not strengthened, with Consistories o• Elders, or, an Agreeable Number of wise and good and grave men chosen to join with th• Pastor, as their Praesident, in that part of hi• Work, which concerns the Well Ruling of the ⟨p. 195⟩Flock, there Discipline will by Degrees be utterly Lost; The Grossest Offenders, will by degrees, and thro' parties, be scarce to be dealt withal.

V. Where Pastors, do not Quicken Orderly Private Meetings of both Elder and Younger Christians, for Exercises of Religion, in their Neighbourhood, the Power of Religion will observably Decay, among those Christians; the Seed sown in the Public, will not so much prosper, for want of being watered in private: And when the Pastor shall fall sick, there will not be so much as one company of Christians in all his Flock, that can come together, to pray for his Life.

V. Where Pastors, do not Quicken Orderly Private Meetings of both Elder and Younger Christians, for Exercises of Religion, in their Neighbourhood, the Power of Religion will observably Decay, among those Christians; the Seed sown in the Publick, will not so much prosper, for want of being watered in private: And when the Pastor shall fall sick, there will not be so much as one company of Christians in all his Flock, that can come together, to pray for his Life.

VI. Where Churches professing a Great Reformation, shall in their Constitution cease to Represent unto the World, the Holiness of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of His Heavenly Kingdom; they will become Loathsome to that Holy Lord; their Glory is gone, and their Defence goes with it: the dreadful Wrath of Heaven, will Astonish the World, with the Things which it will do unto them.

VII. Where Churches are Loth to give unto Councils regularly upon Complaints Enquiring into their Administrations, an Account thereof, 'tis much to be suspected, that they are Chargeable with Male-Administrations; and if the Advice of Regular Councils come once to be trod under foot, by any Particular Churches, all ⟨p. 196⟩serious men will be afraid of joining to such Unaccountable Societies.

VIII. Where a mighty Body of people in a Country, are violently set upon running down the ancient Church State in that Country, and are violent for the Hedge about the Communion at the Lords-Table to be broken down, and for those who are not Admitted unto the Communion, to stand on equal Terms in all Votes with them that are; the Churches there are not far from a tremendous Convulsion, and they had need use a marvellous Temper of Resolution with Circumspection to keep it off.

IX. Where Churches are bent upon Backsliding, and carried away with a strong Spirit of Apostasy, whatever Minister shall set himself to withstand their Evil Bents, will pull upon himself an inexpressible contempt and hatred; Be his merits never so Great, a Thousand Arts will be used for to make him Little; He had need be a man of Great Faith and Great Prayer; But God will at length Honour such a man, with wonderful Recompenses.

IX. Where Churches are bent upon Backsliding, and carried away with a strong Spirit of Apostasy, whatever Minister shall set himself to withstand their Evil Bents, will pull upon himself an inexpressible contempt and hatred; Be his merits never so Great, a Thousand Arts will be used for to make him Little; He had need be a man of Great Faith and Great Prayer; But God will at length Honour such a man, with wonderful Recompences.

X. Where a Fountain shall become Corrupt, there the Streams will no longer Make Glad the City of God.

XI. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have with much expense, lately sent unto several of our Southern Plantations: If it be Rejected, there are Terrible Things to come upon them; ⟨p. 197⟩'twere better to have Lived in Sodom, than in one of those Plantations.

XI. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, we have with much expence, lately sent unto several of our Southern Plantations: If it be Rejected, there are Terrible Things to come upon them; ⟨p. 197⟩'twere better to have Lived in Sodom, than in one of those Plantations.

XII. God prepare our dear Brethren, in Connecticut, for certain Changes that are Impending over them.

XII. God prepare our dear Brethren, in Connectecut, for certain Changes that are Impending over them.

Finally; There was a Town called, Amyciae, which was Ruined by Silence. The Rulers, because there had been some false Alarms, forbade all people under pain of Death to speak of any Enemies approaching them: So, when the Enemies came indeed, no man durst speak of it, and the Town was Lost. Corruptions will grow upon the Land; and they will gain by Silence: 'Twill be so Invidious to do it, No man will dare to speak of the Corruptions; and the Fate of Amyc•e will come upon the Land.

Finally; There was a Town called, Amyciae, which was Ruined by Silence. The Rulers, because there had been some false Alarms, forbad all people under pain of Death to speak of any Enemies approaching them: So, when the Enemies came indeed, no man durst speak of it, and the Town was Lost. Corruptions will grow upon the Land; and they will gain by Silence: 'Twill be so Invidious to do it, No man will dare to speak of the Corruptions; and the Fate of Amyc•e will come upon the Land.

Reader, I called these things Prophecy; But, I wish, I be not all this while Writing History.

Reader, I call'd these things Prophecy; But, I wish, I be not all this while Writing History.