N00594:245
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.
But he was most set upon the Main Business of this New-Plantation; which was, To Settle, and Enjoy the Ordinances of the Gospel, and Worship the Lord Jesus Christ according to His own Institutions; and accordingly, He, with the Governor, and others that came with him on the same Account, con••ined into a Church-State, with all Convenient Expedition.
But he was most set upon the Main Business of this New-Plantation; which was, To Settle, and Enjoy the Ordinances of the Gospel, and Worship the Lord Jesus Christ according to His own Institutions; and accordingly, He, with the Governour, and others that came with him on the same Account, con••ined into a Church-State, with all Convenient Expedition.
§. 11. Mr. Wilsons Removal to New-England, was rendered the more Difficult, by the Indisposition of his Dearest Consort thereunto; but he hoping, that according to a Dream, which he had before his coming hither, That he saw here a little Temple, rising out of the Ground, which by Degrees increased into very high and large Dimensions, the Lord had a Temple to build in these Regions; Resolved never to be Discouraged from his Undertaking Wherefore, having first sent over an Encouraging Account of the Good Order, both Civil and Sacred, which now began to be Established in the Plantation, he did himself Return into England, that he might further pursue the ⟨p. 17⟩Effect thereof; and accordingly he made it his Business, wherever he came, to Draw as many Good men, as he could, into this Country, with him. His Wife remained unpersuadable till upon Prayer with Fasting before the Almighty Turner of Hearts, he Received an Answer, in her becoming Willing to accompany him over an Ocean into a Wilderness. A very sorrowful Parting they now had from their Old Friends in Sudbury, but a Safe, and a Quick Passage over the Atlantic; and whereas the Church of Boston, observing that he Arrived not, at the Time expected, had set apart a Day of Humiliation on his Behalf, his Joyful Arrival before the Day, caused them to turn it into a Day of Thanksgiving. But Mrs. Wilson being thus persuaded over, into the Difficulties of an American Desert, I have heard, that her Kinsman, Old Mr. Dod, for her Consolation under those Difficulties, did sent her a Present, with an Advice, which had in it, something of Curiosity. He sent her, at the same Time, a Brass Counter, a Silver Crown, and a Gold Jacobus; all of them severally wrapped up: With this Instruction unto the Gentlemen who carried it; That he should first of all Deliver only the Counter, and if She Received it with any Show of Discontent he should then take no further Notice of her […] but if She gratefully Resented that Small Thing, for the sake of the Hand it came from, he should then go on to deliver the