Decennium luctuosum. An history of remarkable occurrences, in the long war, which New-England hath…

Two of our MINISTERS▪ have been Struck down into the Earth by the Indian Dragons. They that have used nothing but the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, for the Saving of all about them, have had the Destroyers coming upon them, and have been Waited for of the Sword. I assure my self, that the rest will be so wise, as to Observe these things, and Observe how to fulfil our Ministry, with a very Excited Watchfulness. May all our Settled Pastors, upon such a thing befalling our Brethren, Resolve with themselves; Am unworthy I spared? I will ⟨p. 219⟩do more for my Lord, and more for my Flock, and more for all the Churches, than ever I did.

We will pass on, There have been some Rich men, that were finely Situated, and had all things Richly to Enjoy: But this War has reduced them to such Necessity, that within Less than One year, they have come to Beg their Bread: All their Treasures have been Treasures of Snow; One Summer has melted all away to Nothing. I Remember, the Jewish Talmuds tell us, of a Gentlewoman, who had a Thousand Thousand pieces of Gold▪ given with her, at her Marriage, by her Father Nicodemus, for her Portion; and yet she was reduced unto such penury, that she picked Barley-Corns out of the Cattle's Dung for her Food. Have not we seen almost such Vicissitudes? Rich men, If you are Wise, (which the Rich are not always!) You will Observe these things, and upon the Observation say, Well, What man in his Right Wits, will now set his Heart upon such Transitory, as all Sublunary Vanities! Oh! my Soul, Do thou make sure of a Better and a Lasting Substance in Heaven; for Earthly Riches, take themselves Wings, and flee away towards Heaven.

We will pass on, There have been some Rich men, that were finely Scituated, and had all things Richly to Enjoy: But this War has reduced them to such Necessity, that within Less than One year, they have come to Beg their Bread: All their Treasures have been Treasures of Snow; One Summer has melted all away to Nothing. I Remember, the Jewish Talmuds tell us, of a Gentlewoman, who had a Thousand Thousand pieces of Gold given with her, at her Marriage, by her Father Nicodemus, for her Portion; and yet she was reduced unto such penury, that she pick'd Barley-Corns out of the Cattles Dung for her Food. Have not we seen almost such Vicissitudes? Rich men, If you are Wise, (which the Rich are not alwayes!) You will Observe these things, and upon the Observation say, Well, What man in his Right Wits, will now set his Heart upon such Transitory, as all Sublunary Vanities! Oh! my Soul, Do thou make sure of a Better and a Lasting Substance in Heaven; for Earthly Riches, take themselves Wings, and flee away towards Heaven.