N00446:18
The triumphs of the reformed religion, in America. The life of the renowned John…
The triumphs of the reformed religion, in America. The life of the renowned John Eliot; a person justly famous in the church of God, not only as an eminent Christian, and an excellent Minister, among the English, but also, as a memorable evangelist among the Indians, of New-England; with some account concerning the late and strange success of the Gospel, in those parts of the world, which for many ages have lain buried in pagan ignorance. / Written by Cotton Mather. ; [Two lines from Luke]
Boston: printed by Benjamin Harris for Joseph Brunning i.e, 1691
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.
The Introduction.
'Twas a very surprising as well as an undoubted Accident which happened within the memory of Millions yet alive, when certain Shepherds upon Mount Nebo, following part of their straggling Flock, at length came to a Valley, the prodigious Depths and Rocks whereof, rendered it almost inaccessible; in which there was a Cave of inexpressible sweetness, and in that Cave was a Sepulchre▪ that had very difficult Characters upon it. The Patriarchs of the Maronites thereabouts inhabiting, procured some learned Persons to take Notice, and make Report of this Curiosity, who found the Inscription of the Grave-stone to be in the Hebrew Language and Letter, Moses, the Servant of the Lord, The Jews, the Greeks, &c. the Roman Catholics, thereabouts, were all together by the ears for the possession of this Rarity, but the Turks as quickly laid Claim unto it, and strongly guarded it. Nevertheless, the ⟨p. 2⟩Jesuits found a way by Fricks and Bribes to engage the Turkish Guards into a Conspiracy with them for the Transporting of the enclosed and renowned Ashes into Europe; but when they opened the grave, there was no Body, nor so much as a Relic there. While they were under the confusion of this Disappointment, a Turkish General came upon them and cut them all to pieces; therewithal taking a course never to have that place visited any more. But the Scholars of the Orient presently made this a Theme which they talked and wrote much upon; and, whether this were the true Sepulchre of Moses, was a question upon which many Books were published The world would now count Me very absurd, if after this I should say that I had found the Sepulchre of Moses, in America; but I have certainly here found Moses himself; we have had among us. One appearing in the Spirit and Power of a Moses; and it is not the Grave, but the Life of such a Moses, that we value our selves upon being the owners of.