Parentator. Memoirs of remarkables in the life and the death of the ever-memorable Dr.…

IT is now high Time to be Looking Homewards.

As far backwards as the Year, 1689. Things were in such an hopeful tendency towards an Happy Settlement of the Country, that Mr Mather, in his Chamber at London, (in Copthall Court, Throgmorton Street) set apart several whole Days, to Acknowledge the Favours of GOD Hitherto Assisting and Succeeding of him. So, having obtained a Letter from the KING [Dated, Aug 12. 1689.] unto those who were now in the Government here, Signifying His Approbation of what had been done by them in Re-assuming of the Government, and encouraging them to go on until an Orderly Settlement for His Service and their Satisfaction, should be Accomplished; And the Bill for the Restoring of Charters, and particularly those of New-England, having passed in the House of Commons; and there not being then any apparent Hazard, but that it would be carried on unto Perfection; he thought he might Return to New England with Comfortable Tidings. He took his leave of his Friends at London; and ⟨p. 154⟩on Aug. 20 went as far as Graves-End; and the next Day to Deal, where the Ship lay on Board of which he took his Passage. Here he lay Windbound, until Sept. 3. when his Youngest Son, then with him, was taken so Dangerously Sick of the Small Pox, that it was Impossible to leave him in that Condition. The Ship went away without him; and he (with his Restored Son) returned unto London, in the Beginning of October; where it was not long before he found such a Turn of Affairs, as fulfilled what his Friends told him, when they welcomed him upon his Return, That the Gracious GOD had stopped his Voyage in great Mercy to his Country. We have now seen the Great Mercy intended in it: And all things being finished, which concerned the Settlement of the Country, the Earl of Nottingham introduced him once more to the KING at Whitehall, Jan. 3. 1691, 2. in the Evening. After he had Kissed the KINGS hand, His Majesty said to him, Are you going to New England? He answered, With Your Majesties Leave, I am so. If in any thing I may Serve Your Majesties Interest there, I shall count myself Happy, that Your Majesty will Please to lay Your Commands upon me. The KING replied, Sir, I Thank you; I Wish you a Good Voyage. He then said, There is one thing, which I would humbly put Your Majesty in mind of. We have in New-England a COLLEGE, where many an Excellent Protestant Divine has had his Education. The KING said, I know it!