N00162:122
An earnest exhortation to the inhabitants of New-England, to hearken to the voice of…
An earnest exhortation to the inhabitants of New-England, to hearken to the voice of God in his late and present dispensations as ever they desire to escape another judgement, seven times greater that any thing which as yet hath been. / By Increase Mather; teacher of a church in Boston in New-England. ; [Eight lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by John Foster, 1676
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.
June 15. This day was seen at Plymouth the perfect form of an Indian Bow appearing in the air, watch the Inhabitants of that place (at least some of them) look upon as a Prodigious Apparition. The like was taken notice of, a little before the Fort Fight in the Narragansett Country. Who knoweth but that it may be an Omen of ruin to the enemy, and that the Lord will break the bow and spear asunder, and make wars to cease unto the ends of the earth? Nor is this (may I here take occasion a little to digress, in order to the inserting of somethings, hitherto not so much observed, as it may be they ought to be) the first Prodigy that hath been taken notice of in New England. It is a common observation, verified by the experience of many Ages, that great and public Calamities seldom come upon any place without Frodigious Warnings to forerun and signify what is to be expected. I am slow believe Rumours of this nature, nevertheless some things I have had certain Information of.
June 15. This day was seen at Plimouth the persect form of an Indian Bow appearing in the aire, watch the Inhabitants of that place (at least some of them) look upon as a Prodigious Apparition. The like was taken notice of, a little before the Fort Fight in the Narraganset Countrey. Who knoweth but that it may be an Omen of ruine to the enemy, and that the Lord will break the bow and spear asunder, and make warrs to cease unto the ends of the earth? Nor is this (may I here take occasion a little to digress, in order to the inserting of somethings, hitherto not so much observed, as it may be they ought to be) the first Prodigy that hath been taken notice of in NewEngland. It is a common observation, verifyed by the experience of many Ages, that great and publick Calamityes seldome come upon any place without Frodigious Warnings to forerun and signify what is to be expected. I am slow believe Rumors of this nature, nevertheless some things I have had certain Information of.
It is certain, that before this War brake out; viz. on Sept. 10. 1674. In Hadly, Northampton, and other Towns there bouts, was heard the report of a great piece of Ordinance, with a thinking of the earth. and a considerable Echo, whenas there was no ordinance really discharged at or ne•• any of those Towns at the time. Yea no less then seven years before this war there were plain prodigious Notices of it. For,