An earnest exhortation to the inhabitants of New-England, to hearken to the voice of…

In these two last months of May & April, besides the Sword of War, in respect of the Heathen, the Sword of the Lord hath been drawn against this Land, in respect of Epidemical Diseases, which sin hath brought upon us; Sore and (doubtless) Malignant Colds prevailing every where. I cannot hear of one Family in New-England that hath wholly escaped the Distemper, but there have been many Families wherein every one in the House was sick and ill-disposed. So as that there have been many sick and weak, and some are fallen asleep, yea some eminent and useful Instruments hath the Lord removed, and made breaches thereby upon divers of the Colonies New England.

In these two last months of May & April, besides the Sword of War, in respect of the Heathen, the Sword of the Lord hath been drawn against this Land, in respect of Epidemical Diseases, which sin hath brought upon us; Sore and (doubtless) Malignant Colds prevailing every where. I cannot hear of one Family in New-England that hath wholly escaped the Distemper, but there have been many Families wherein every one in the House was sick and ill-disposed. So as that there have been many sick and weak, and some are fallen asleep, yea some eminent and useful Instruments hath the Lord removed, and made breaches thereby upon divers of the Colonies NewEngland.

Connecticut is deprived of their Worthy and public-spirited Governor Winthrop. This Colony of Massachusetts hath been bereaved of two ( viz. Major Willard, and Mr. Russel) who for many years had approved themselves faithful in the Magistracy. And the death of few such is as much as if thousands had fallen: yet many other righteous and useful ones are gone, leaving us behind in the storm. And amongst the common people, not a few have been carried to their Graves in these two last months. We have heard of no less then eight in one small Plantation, buried in one week, wherein also twenty persons died this spring. And in another little Town nineteen persons have died within a few weeks. We in Boston have seen (a sad and solemn spectacle) Coffins meeting one another, and three or four put into their Graves in one day. In the month of May about fifty persons are deceased in this Town. By which things, God from Heaven speaks to us and would give us to understand, that if the Sword will not reform us, be hath other Judgements in store, whereby he can suddenly and easily bring us down. The Lord help us to apply our hearts unto Wisdom, and make us thankful, in that he hath been entreated graciously and wonderfully to restore Health unto us again.