A Sermon Preached at Plymouth 9 December 1621, Title page – Dedication
A SERMON PREACHED AT PLIMMOTH IN NEVV-ENGLAND December 9. 1621. In an aſſemblie of his Maieſties faithfull Subiects, there inhabiting.
VVHEREIN IS SHEVVED the danger of ſelfe-louelove, and the ſweetneſſe of true Friendſhip.
TOGETHER VVITH A PREFACE, Shewing the ſtate of the Country, and Condition of the SAVAGES.
ROM. 12. 10.
Be affectioned to louelove one another with brotherly louelove.
Written in the yeare 1621.
LONDON Printed by I. D. for IOHN BELLAMIE, and are to be ſold at his ſhop at the two Greyhounds in Corne-hill, neere the Royall Exchange. 1622.
TO HIS LOVING FRIENDS, THE ADVENTVRERS FOR NEVV-ENGLAND; TOGETHER WITH ALL WELL-WILLERS, And well-wiſhers thereunto, Grace and Peace, &c.
NEW ENGLAND, ſo call'd, not onelyonly (to auoyd nouelties) becauſe Captaine Smith hath ſo entituled it in his Deſcription, but becauſe of the reſemblance that is in it, of England the natiue ſoile of Engliſh-men; It being much what the ſame for heate and colde in Summer and Winter, it being Champion ground, but not high mountaines, ſomwhat like the ſoile in Kent and Eſſex; full of Dales, and meddow ground, full of ryuers and ſweete ſprings, as England is. But principally, ſo farre as we can yet find, it is an Iland, and neere about the quantitie of England, being cut off from the maine land of America, as England is from the maine of Europe, by a great arme of the Sea, which entreth in fortie degrees, and runneth vp North weſt and by Weſt, and goeth out either into the South Sea, or elſe into the Bay of Canado. The certaintie whereof, and ſecrets of which, we hauehave not yet ſo found as that as eye-witneſſes we can make narration thereof, but if God giuegive time and meanes, we ſhall ere long, diſcouer both the extent of that Riuer, together with the ſecrets thereof; and alſo try what territories, habitations, or commodities, may be found, either in it, or about it.
It pertaineth not to my purpoſe to ſpeake any thing, either in prayſe, or diſprayſe of the country, ſo it is by Gods prouidence, that a few of vsus are there planted to our content, and hauehave with great charge and difficultie attained quiet and competent dwellings there. And thus much I will ſay for the ſatisfaction of ſuch as hauehave any thought of going thither to inhabit; That for men which hauehave a large heart, & looke after great riches, eaſe, pleaſure, dainties, and iollitie in this world (except they will liue by other mens ſweat, or hauehave great riches) I would not aduiſe them to come there, for as yet the country will afford no ſuch matters: But if there be any, who are content to lay out their eſtates, ſpend their time, labours, and endeuours, for the benefit of them that ſhall come after, and in deſire to further the Goſpell among thoſe poore Heathens, quietly contenting themſelues with ſuch hardſhip and difficulties, as by Gods prouidence ſhall fall vponupon them, being yet yong, and in their ſtrength, ſuch men I would aduiſe and encourage to goe, for their ends cannot faile them.
And if it ſhould pleaſe God to puniſh his people in the Chriſtian countries of Europe, (for their coldneſſe, carnality, wanton abuſe of the Goſpel, contention, &c.) either by Turkiſh ſlauery, or by Popiſh tyrannie, which God forbid, yet if the time be come, or ſhall come (as who knoweth) when Sathan ſhall be let looſe,Reu. 12. 14. 15 to caſt out his flouds againſt them, here is a way opened for ſuch as hauehave wings to flie into this Wilderneſſe; and as by the diſperſion of the Iewiſh Church thorow perſecution,Act. 11. 20. 21. the Lord brought in the fulneſſe of the Gentiles, ſo who knoweth, whether now by tyrannie, and affliction, which he ſuffereth to come vponupon them, he will not by little and little chaſe them, even amongſt the Heathens,Luk. 2. 32. that ſo a light may riſe vp in the darke, and the kingdome of heauen be taken from them which now hauehave it,Math. 21. 43. and giuen to a people that ſhall bring forth the fruit of it. This I leaue to the iudgement of the godly wiſe,Amos 7. 14. being neither Prophet nor ſonne of a Prophet, but conſidering Gods dealing of olde,2 King. 17. 23. and ſeeing the name of Chriſtian to be very great, but the true nature thereof almoſt quite loſt in all degrees & ſects, I cannot thinke but that there is ſome iudgement not farre off, and that God will ſhortly, euen of ſtones, rayſe vp children vntounto Abraham.Math. 3. 5.
And who ſo rightly conſidereth, what manner of entrance, abiding, and proceedings, we hauehave had amongſt theſe poore Heathens ſince we came hither, will eaſily thinke, that God hath ſome great worke to doe towards them.
They were wont to be the moſt cruelleſt and trecherouſeſt people in all theſe parts, euen like Lyons, but to vsus they hauehave beene like Lambes, ſo kinde, ſo ſubmiſſiue, and truſtie, as a man may truely ſay many Chriſtians are not ſo kinde, nor ſincere.
They are very much waſted of late, by reaſon of a great mortalitie that fell amongſt them three yeares ſince, which together with their owne ciuill diſſenſions and blouddie warres, hath ſo waſted them, as I thinke the twentith perſon is ſcarce left aliue, and thoſe that are left, hauehave their courage much abated, and their countenance is deiected, and they ſeeme as a people affrighted. And though when we came firſt into the countrie, we were few, and many of vsus were ſicke, and many dyed by reaſon of the colde and wet, it being the depth of winter, and we hauing no houſes, nor ſhelter, yet when there was not ſixe able perſons amongſt vsus, and that they came daily to vsus by hundreths, with their Sachems, or Kings, and might in one houre hauehave made a diſpatch of vsus yet ſuch a feare was vponupon them, as that they neuer offred vsus the leaſt iniury in word or deede. And by reaſon of one Tiſquanto, that liues amongſt vsus, that can ſpeake Engliſh, we hauehave daily commerce with their Kings, & can know what is done or intended towards vsus amongſt the Savages; Alſo we can acquaint them with our courſes and purpoſes, both humane and religious. And the greateſt Commander of the countrie call'd Maſſaſoit, commeth often to viſite vsus, though hee liue fiftie myles from vsus, and often ſends vsus preſents, he hauing with many other of their gouernours promiſed, yea, ſubſcribed obedience to our Soueraigne Lord King IAMES, and for his cauſe to ſpend both ſtrength and life. And we for our parts, thorow Gods grace, hauehave with that equitie, juſtice, and compaſſion, carried our ſelues towards them, as that they hauehave receiued much fauour, helpe, and ayde from vsus, but neuer the leaſt iniury, or wrong by vsus. Wee found the place where we liue emptie,They offer vsus to dwell where we will. the people being all dead & gone away, and none liuing neere by 8. or 10. myles; and and though in the time of ſome hardſhip wee found (trauelling abroad) ſome 8. Buſhels of Corne hid vp in a Caue, and knew no owners of it, yet afterward hearing of the owners of it, we gaue them (in their eſtimation) double the value of it. Our care alſo hath beene to maintaine peace amongſt them, and hauehave alwayes ſet our ſelues againſt ſuch of them as vſed any rebellion, or trecherie againſt their gouernours, and not onelyonly threatned ſuch, but in ſome ſort payd them their due deſerts; and when any of them are in want, as often they are in the Winter, when their corne is done, wee ſupply them to our power, and hauehave them in our houſes eating and drinking, and warming themſelues, which thing (though it be ſomething a trouble to vsus) ye becauſe they ſhould ſee and take knowledge of our labours, orders, and diligence, both for this life and a better, we are content to beare it, and we find in many of them, eſpecially, of the younger ſort, ſuch a tractable diſpoſition, both to Religion and humanitie, as that if we had meanes to apparell them, & wholly to retaine them with vsus (as their deſire is) they would doubtleſſe in time proue ſeruiceable to God and man, and if euer God ſend vsus meanes we will bring vp hundreths of their children, both to labour and learning.
But leauing to ſpeake of them till a further occaſion be offered; If any ſhall maruell at the publiſhing of this Treatiſe in England, ſeeing there is no want of good bookes, but rather want of men to vſe good bookes, let them know, that the eſpeciall end is, that wee may keepe thoſe motiues in memory for our ſelues, & thoſe that ſhall come after, to be a remedie againſt ſelfe-louelove the bane of all ſocieties. And that alſo we might teſtifie to our Chriſtian Country-men, who iudge diuerſly of vsus, that though we be in a Heathen Country, yet the grace of Chriſt is not quenched in vsus, but we ſtill hold, and teach the ſame points of faith, mortification, and ſanctification, which we hauehave heard and learned in a moſt ample and large maner in our owne country. If any ſhall thinke it too rude and vnlearned for this curious age,1 Cor. 2. 4. let them know, that to paint out the Goſpell in plaine and flat Engliſh, amongſt a company of plaine Engliſh-men (as we are) is the beſt and moſt profitableſt teaching; and we will ſtudy plainneſſe, not curioſitie, neither in things humaine, nor heauenly. If any error, or vnſoundneſſe be in it, (as who knoweth) impute it to that frayle man which endited it,Chap. 8. 2. which profeſſeth to know nothing as he ought to know it. I hauehave not ſet downe my name, partly becauſe I ſeeke no name, and principally, becauſe I would hauehave nothing eſteemed by names, for I ſee a number of euils to ariſe thorow names, when the perſons are either famous, or infamous, and God and man is often iniured; if any good or profit ariſe to thee in the receiuing of it, giuegive God the prayſe, and eſteeme me as a ſonne of Adam, ſubiect to all ſuch frailties as other men are.
And you my louing Friends the Aduenturers to this plantation; as your care hath beene, firſt to ſettle religion here, before either profit or popularitie, ſo I pray you, goe on, to doe it much more, and be carefull to ſend godly men, though they want ſome of that worldly policie which this world hath in her owne generation,Luk. 16. 8. and ſo though you looſe, the Lord ſhall gayne. I reioyce greatly in your free and readie mindes to your powers, yea, and beyond your powers to further this worke,Pro. 3. 9. that you thus honour God with your riches, and I truſt you ſhall be repayed againe double & treble in this world, yea, and the memory of this action ſhall neuer die, but aboue all adding vntounto this (as I truſt you doe) like freeneſſe in all other Gods ſeruices, both at home and abroad, you ſhall finde a reward with GOD, ten thouſand fold ſurpaſſing all that you can doe or thinke, be not therefore diſcouraged, for no labour is loſt, nor money ſpent, which is beſtowed for God, your ends were good, your ſucceſſe is good, and your profit is comming, euen in this life, and in the life to come much more; And what ſhall I ſay now, a word to men of vnderſtanding ſufficeth, pardon I pray you my boldneſſe, reade ouer the enſuing Treatiſe, and judge wiſely of the poore weakling,Pſal. 42. 1. and the Lord, the God of Sea and Land, ſtretch out his arme of protection ouer you and vsus, and ouer all our lawfull and good enterpriſes, either this, or any other way.
Plimmoth in New-England. December 12. 1621.