N00594:140
Johannes in eremo. Memoirs, relating to the lives, of the ever-memorable, Mr. John Cotton,…
Johannes in eremo. Memoirs, relating to the lives, of the ever-memorable, Mr. John Cotton, who dyed, 23.d. 10.m. 1652. Mr. John Norton, who dyed, 5.d. 2.m. 1663. Mr. John Wilson, who dyed, 7.d. 6.m. 1667. Mr. John Davenport, who dyed, 15.d. 1.m. 1670. Reverend and renowned ministers of the Gospel, all, in the more immediate service of one church, in Boston; and Mr. Thomas Hooker, who dyed, 7.d. 5.m. 1647. Pastor of the church at Hartford; New-England. / Written, by Cotton Mather. ; [Three lines of Latin quotation]
Boston : Printed for and sold by Michael Perry, at his shop, under the west end of the Town-House., 1695
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.
First, Let such as Live in this Country Take Heed, how they go about in any Indirect Way or Course to Prejudice the Churches of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Land, or the Government of the Land. If you Do, The Keeper of Israel, who neither Slumbereth nor Sleepeth, will not Take it well at your Hands. He that brought this People hither, and preserved them from the Rage of Persecution, and made this Wilderness an Hiding-place for them, whilst he was Chastising our Nation, with the other Nations round about it, and has manifested his Gracious Presence in the midst of these His Golden Candlesticks, and secured us from the Plots of the Late Arch Bishop, and his Confederates abroad, and from the Plots of the Heathen here at home; there is no Question ⟨p. 72⟩but He will Defend us from the Underminings of False Brethren, and such as are Joined with them. Wherefore, let such know, That this is, in many Respects Immanuels Land, and they shall not Prosper that Rise up against it, but shall be Taken every One of them in the Snares they lay for it. This I speak as a Poor Prophet of the Lord, according to the Word of His Grace now Before us! But in the Second Place, whereas many of our Brethren are Going to England, Let me Direct a Word unto Them also. I desire the Gracious Presence of our God may Go with you, and ••is Angels Guard you, not only from the Dangers of the Seas, while you are thereupon, but also from the Errors of the Times, when you arrive. Nevertheless, If there be any among you, my Brethren, as tis Reported there are, that have a Petition to prefer unto the High Court of Parliament, that may Conduce to the Distraction and Annoyance of the Peace of our Churches, and the Weakening the Government of the Land where we Live, Let Such Know, the Lord will never Suffer them to Prosper, in their Subtle, Malicious, Desperate Undertakings against His People, who are as Tender unto Him as the Apple of His Eye. But if there be any such among You, who are to Go, I do exhort you, and I would advise you, in the Fear of God, that when the Terrors of the Almighty shall Beset the Vessel wherein you are, when the Heavens shall frown ⟨p. 73⟩upon you, and the Billows of the Sea, shall swell above you, and the Dangers of Death shall Threaten you, as I am verily persuaded they will, I would have you then to Consider your Ways.