The Triumphs of the Reformed Religion in America, Introduction
The Introduction.
'TWas a very ſurpriſing as well as an undoubted Accident which happened within the memory of Millions yet alive, when certain Shepherds upon Mount N…bo, following part of their ſtraggling Flock, at length came to a Valley, the prodigious Depths and Rocks whereof rendred it almoſt inacceſſible; in which there was a Cave of inexpreſſible ſweetneſs, and in that Cave was a Sepul…h…e that had very difficult Char…cters upon it. The Patriarchs of the Maronites thereabouts inhab ting, procured ſome learned Perſons to take Notice, and make Report of this Cu…ioſity, who …und the Inſcription of the Grave-ſtone to be …n the Hebrew Language and Letter, Moſes, the Servant of the Lo…d, The Jews, the Greeks, & …he Roman Catholicks, thereabouts, were all together by the ears for the poſſeſſi…n of this Ra…ity, but the Lu…k… as quickly ſaid Claim unto …t, and ſtrongly guarded it. Nevertheleſs, the Jeſuits found a way b… Pricks and Bribes to engage the Turkiſh Guards into a Conſpiracy with them for the Tranſporting of the incloſed and renouned Aſhes into Europe; but when they opened the grave, there was no Body, nor ſo much as a Relique there. While they were under the confuſion of this Diſappointment, a Turkiſh General came upon them and cut them all to pieces; therewithal taking a courſe never to have that place viſited any more. But the Scholars of the Orient preſently made this a Theme which they talk'd and wrote much upon; and, whether this were the true Sepulchre of Moſes, was a queſtion upon which many Books were pub…ſhed. The world would now count Me very abſurd, if after this I ſhould ſay that I had found the Sepulch…e of Moſes, in Amer…ca but I have certainly here found Moſes himſelf; we have had among us, One appearing in the Spi…it and Power of a Moſes; and it is not the Grave, but the Life of ſuch a Moſes, that we value our ſelves upon being the owners of
Having implored the Aſſiſtence and Acceptance of that God whoſe Bleſſed Word has told us, The Righteous ſhall be had in everlaſting Remembrance; I am attempting to write the Life of a Righteous Perſon concerning whom all things, but the meanneſs of the Writer, invite the Reader to expect nothing ſave what is truly Extraordinary. 'Tis the Life of One who has better and greater thi…gs to be affirmed of him, than could ever be reported concerning any of thoſe famous men, wh…ch have b…en celebrated by the Pens of a Plutarch, a Pliny, a L…eritus, an Eunapius, or in any pagan Hiſtories. 'Tis the Life of One whoſe Character might …ery agreeably be look'd for among the Collections of a Dorotheus, or the Orations of a Nazianzen; or is worthy at leaſt of nothing leſs than the exquiſite Style of a Melchior Adam to E…ernize it. If it be, as it is, a true Aſſ…rtion, That …e leaſt Exerciſe of true Faith or Love towards God in Chriſt, is a more glorious thing than all the …riumphs of a Caeſar, there muſt be ſomething very conſiderable, in the Life of One, who ſpent ſeveral ſcores of years in ſuch Exerciſes, and of One in the mention of whoſe A…chievements we may alſo recount, that he fought the Devil in (once) his American Territories, till he had recovered no ſmall party of his old Subjects and Vaſſals out of his cruel Hands; it would be as unreaſonable, as unprofitable, for poſterity to bury the Memory of ſuch a Perſon in the Duſt of that Obſcurity and Oblivion, which has covered the Names of the Hero's, who dy'd before the Days of Ag…memnoi….