N00594:28
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.
As for the other three Worthies who have taught the Word of God in this Place, they had their peculiar Excellencies.
Mr. Wilson (like John the Apostle) did Excel in Love: and he was also strong in Faith. In the Time of the Pequod-War, he did not only hope, but had assurance, that God would make the English Victorious. He declared that he was, as certain of it, as if he had with his Eyes seen the Victories obtained▪ which came to pass according to his Faith. I well remember, that I heard him once say, that when one of his Daughters was Sick, and given up as Dead, past recovery, he desired Mr. Cotton to Pray with that Child, and (said he) Whilst Mr. Cotton was Praying I was sure that Child should not then Die but Live. That Daughter did Live to be the Mother of many Children; Two of which are now Useful Ministers of Christ: and She is still Living, a Pious Widow, another Anna, Serving God Day and Night. When Mr. Norton was called from the Church of Ipswich to Boston, Mr. Nathanael Rogers (that Excellent man who was Son to the Famous Mr. Rogers of Dedham in Essex, and Pastor of the Church of Ipswich in N. E.) opposed Mr. Nortons removal from Ipswich. Some saying, that Mr. Wilson would by his Argument ⟨p. 9⟩or Rhetoric or both, get Mr. Norton from them at last; Mr. Rogers replied, That He was afraid of his Faith, more than his Arguments. Sometimes he was transported with a Prophetical Afflatus, of which there were marvellous Instances. His Conversation was both pleasant and profitable; in that he could relate many Memorable Providences, which he himself had the certain knowledge of. Whilst I am Writing this, there comes to my mind one very Pleasant and yet very Serious Story, which he told me▪ •nd I do not Remember that ever I met with it •any where but from him. It was this. There was one Mr. Snape, a Puritan Minister, who was by the Bishops, cast into Prison for his Non-conformity; when his Money was spent, the Jailer was unkind to him: but one day as Mr. Snape• was on his knees at Prayer, the Window of his Chamber being open, he perceived something was thrown into his Chamber, but resolved he would finish his Work with God, before he would divert to see what it was. When he arose from his knees, he saw a Purse on the Chamber floor, which was full of Gold, by which he could make his Keeper better natured than he had been. Many such passages, could that good man relate.