N00594:322
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.
§. 8. Mr. Cotton welcomed Mr. Davenport, as Moses did Jethro, hoping that he would be as Eyes unto them in the Wilderness. For by the Cunning and Malice of Satan, all things in this New-English Wilderness, were then Surprised, into a deal of Confusion, on the Occasion of the Antinomian ⟨p. 11⟩Opinions then spread abroad; but the Learning and Wisdom of this Worthy •an, in the Synod then Assembled at Cambridge, did contribute more that a Little to dispel the Fascinating Mists which had suddenly disordered all our Affairs. Having done his part in that Blessed Work, (as we have else where more fully related) He, with his Friends, who were more fit for Zebulon's Ports, than for Issachars Tents, chose to go farther Westward; Where they began a Plantation, and a Colony, since distinguished by the Name of NEW-HAVEN; and Endeavoured, according to his Understanding, a yet stricter Conformity, to the Word of God, in Settling of all Matters, both Civil and Sacred, than he had yet seen Exemplified in any other Part of the World. There, the Famous Church of New haven, as well as the other Neighbouring Towns, Enjoyed his Ministry, his Discipline, his Government, and his Universal Direction, for many years together; Even, till, after the Restoration of K. Charles II. Connecticut, and New haven, were by One Charter Incorporated. And here, with what Holiness, with what Watchfulness, with what Usefulness he discharged his Ministry, it is Worthy of a Remembrance, among all that would propose unto themselves a Worthy Example. Nevertheless, all that I shall here preserve of it, is this One Article. A Young Minister, once Receiving of Wise and Good Counsels, from this Good and Wise and Great Man, he Received ⟨p. 12⟩this among the rest, That he should be much in Circulatory Prayer: for indeed, Ejaculatory Prayers, As Arrows in the Hand of a Mighty Man, so are they, Happy is the man that has his Quiver full of them! And it was Believed, by some Curious Observers, That Mr. Davenport himself, was well used unto that Sacred skill of, Walking with God, and, Having his Eyes ever towards the Lord, and, Being in the Fear of the Lord all the Day Long, by the use of Ejaculatory Prayers, on the Innumerable Occasions, which every Turn of our Livers does bring for those Devotions. He was not only Constant in more Settled, whether Social, or Secret, Prayers;