The Illustrious Providences in New England, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
Concerning Remarkable Judgements. Quakers judicially plagued with spiritual Iudgments. Of several sad Instances in Long-Island. And in Plimouth Colony. That some of the Quakers are really possessed with Infernal Spirits. Proved by a late wonderful Example of one at Balsham near Cambridge in England. Of several who imprecated vengeance upon themselves. The woful end of Drunkards. And of those that have designed evil against the Churches of Christ in New-England.
THose memorable Iudgements which the Hand of Heaven has executed upon notorious Sinners, are to be reckoned amongs Remarkable Providences. Lubricus his locus & difficilis. He undertakes a difficult province that shall relate all that might be spoken on such a Subject, both in that it cannot but be gravaminous to surviving Relations, when such things are published, also in that men are apt to misapply the unsearchable Judgements of God, which are a great deep, as Iob's Friends did; and wicked Papists have done the like, with respect to the untimely death of famous Zuinglius. We may not judge of Men meerly by outward accidents which befal them in this World, since all things happen alike unto all, and no man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them. We have seen amongst our selves, that the Lords faithful Servants have sometimes been the Subjects of very dismal dispensations. There hapned a most awful providence at Farmington in Connecticot Colony, Dec. 14. 1666. When the House of Serjeant Iohn Hart taking fire in the night, no man knows how, (only it is conjectured that it might be occasioned by an Oven) he and his Wife, and six Children were all burned to death before the Neighbours knew any thing of it, so that his whole Family had been extinguished by the fatal Flames of that unhappy night, had not one of his Children been providentially from home at that time. This Hart was esteemed a choice Christian, and his Wife also a good Woman. Such things sometimes fall upon those that are dear unto God, to intimate, if this be done to the green tree, what shall be done to the dry, that is fit for nothing but the fire. Nevertheless, a Judgement may be so circumstanced, as that the displeasure of Heaven is plainly written upon it, in legible Characters. On which account it is said, that the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of Men, Rom. 1. 18. Sundry Learned Men have published whole Volumns profitable to be read, on this Subject, e. g. Goulartius his Historical Collections. Honsdorsius in his Historical Theater; which is inlarged by Lonicerus. Chassalion his memorable Histories of the Judgements of God. And amongst our English Writers, D. Beard in his Theater of Gods Judgements, with Dr. Taylor's Additions; and Mr. Clark in his two Volumns of Examples, have said enough to convince Atheists that there is a God, and that there is a Judgement. Yea, the divine providence in Remarkable Punishments inflicted upon very wicked men has been so conspicuous and glorious, as that the Gentiles of old could not but take notice of it. The Poet could say, Raro antecedentem scelestum deseruit pede paena claudo. And whereas Epicures did object that evil men sometimes escape punishment a long time; Plutarch (whose works Beza esteemed to be amongst the most excellent of Humane Writings) has a notable Treatise, the design whereof is to vindicate divine Justice in this matter. Many Remarkable Example to our present purpose, have hapned in New-England, and more than I shall at present take notice of. All wise men that are acquainted therewith, observe the blasting rebukes of providence upon the late Singing and Dancing Quakers, in signal Instances, two or three of which may be here Recorded, that so others may hear and fear and do no more so wickedly.
The first instance, shall be that which concerns the unhappy man that was Murdered in Long-Island, of which a good hand in those parts, in a Letter bearing Date, Decemb. 12. 1681. writes as follows. There went down about a MonethMonth since three mad Quakers, called Thomas Case's Crew, one man named Denham, belonging to Newer-snicks, and two Women with him belonging to Oyster-Bay; these went down to South-hold, where they meet with Samuel Banks of Fairfield, the most Blasphemous Villain, that ever was known in these parts. These joyning together with some other Inhabitants of South-hold, of the same spirit; there went into their company a young Merchant, named Thomas Harris, who was somewhat inclining to the Quakers before; (he belonged to Boston) they all got about him, and fell a Dancing and Singing, according to their Diabolical manner. After some time, the said Harris began to act like them, and to Dance, and sing, and to speak of extraordinary raptures of joy; and to cry out upon all others as Devils, that were not of their Religion; which also they do frequently: when the said Harris manifested these signs of Conversion, as they accounted it; they solemnly accepted of him as one of their company; and Banks or Denham (for I have forgotten which of the two) gave him this promise, that hence forward his Tongue should be as the Pen of a ready Writer, to declare the praises of their Lord. After this, the young man who was sober and composed before, ran up and down, Singing Ioy, and calling such Devils as should say any thing in way of opposition: and said his Father was a Devil that begat him. Quickly after he went from the Town of South-hold, to a Farm belonging to that Town, to the house of a Quaker of the same spirit, and went to bed before the rest of the Family, and when a young man of the same house went to go to bed to him, he told him that he must get up, and go to South-hold that night, where he had left Banks and the rest; the young man endeavoured to perswade him to lie still till day, but he would not, but gat up, and went away; after some time he was missed, and enquiry made for him, but he could not be heard of, only his Hat, and Gloves, and Neck-cloth was found in the Road from the Farm to the Town. And two dayes after, Banks looking into a Bible, suddenly shut it again, crying out, his friend Harris was dead; the next day he was found by the Sea side, about a quarter of a mile from the place, where his hat and other things were found, but out of the road, with three holes like stabs in his throat, and no Tongue in his Head, nor the least sign thereof, but all was clear to his Neck-bone within, his mouth close shut, one of his Eyes hanging down upon his cheek out of his head, the other sunk so deep in his head that at first it seemed quite out, but was whole there. And Mr. Ioshua Hobart, who was one of them to view his dead Body, told me that there was no sign of any Tongue left in his Mouth, such was the end of that Tongue which had the promise of being as the Pen of a ready Writer. Further the night after he was buried, Captain Young (who is high Sheriff and chiefly concerned in looking after the business) as he told me himself, being in bed, in the dead of the night, was awakened by the voice of this Harris, calling to his Window very loud, requiring him to see that justice was done him; This voice came three times in that night; the next night when he was asleep, it came into his house, close to his Bed-side, and called very loud, asking him if he heard him, and awaked him. Thus concerning that Tragical Story.
An intelligent and credible person living upon that Island, in a Letter, Dated September 4. 1683. adds as follows; There was about four years since, by some of the same crew, another attempt made amongst us, which was also attended with the like providence, though not so fatal an issue; There was a young Woman, a Daughter of a Quaker among us, who was howled into their Society, as Harris was, and quickly fell to railing on others, and then to raving, being in a dreadful condition, so that several persons of their Gang watched with her, and she was made wonderful strong to outstrive them, and to break away from them. One of their own party newly in favour with them, told me that he was by in the night when they watched with her, and in the very darkness of the night, they heard a very doleful noise, like the crying of a young Child in the yard or field near the house, which filled the Auditors with some fearful Apprehensions, which when the young Woman heard, she violently brake from her Attendance, saying, the Lord calls me, and I must go, so in the dark she got from them, to the cry-ward as they supposed, and it was a good space of time before they could find her, and then she was as one affrighted, and bereaved of understanding, and continued so a space of time, sometimes ridiculous to behold, sometimes very awful, till such times as Justice Wood of Huntington, by the use of means recovered her, which her Quaking Friends notwithstanding their brags could not do; so that I heard her Husband say, that he was convinced that the Devil was among them. This Providence was at that time fearful among us, yet since, both that Woman and her Husband are railing Quakers, and do Hum and Revile as the rest of them, though several forsook their Society upon this account. Thus Hee:
That which was perpetrated by this woful Generation of Quakers, no longer since than this last Summer in Plimouth Colony, is horrid to be related. Yet inasmuch as the publication of it, will make appear unto all Mankind, that Quakers are under the strong delusions of Satan; I think my self bound to acquaint the World, that not many Moneths ago, a Man passing under the name of Ionathan Dunen (alias Singleterry) a Singing Quaker, drew away the Wife of one of Marshfield to follow him; Also one Mary Ross falling into their company, was quickly possessed with the Devil, playing such Frentick and Diabolical tricks, as the like hath seldom been known or heard of. For she made her self naked, burning all her Clothes; and with infinite Blasphemy said that she was Christ, and gave names to her Apostles, calling Dunen by the name of Peter, another by the name of Thomas, declaring that she would be dead for three dayes, and then rise again; and accordingly seemed to die; and while she was pretendedly dead, her Apostle Dunen gave out, that they should see glorious things after her Resurrection. But that which she then did, was, she commanded Dunen to Sacrifice a Dog. The Man and the two Women Quakers Danced naked together, having nothing but their shirts on. The Constable brought them before the Magistrates in Plimouth, where Ross uttered such prodigious Blasphemy as is not fit to be mentioned, Dunen fell down like a dead Man upon the floor, and so lay for about an hour, and then came to himself. The Magistrates demanding the reason of his strange actings, his Answer was, that Marry Ross bid him, and he had no power to resist. Thus when Men will not receive the Truth in the love of it, the righteous Judgement of God sends upon them the efficacy of Error, that they shall believe a lie. That the Quakers are some of them undoubtedly possessed with Evil and Infernal Spirits, and acted in a more than ordinary manner by the inmates of Hell, is evident, not only from the related Instances, but by other awful Examples which might be mentioned. They are indeed to be pitied, in that they themselves know not that an Evil Spirit doth possess and act them. Yet others should from that consideration dread to come among such Creatures, lest haply the Righteous God suffer Satan to take possession of them also. Memorable and marvelous is that Relation published the last year, by Dr. Henry More, in his addition to Mr. Glanvils Collections, Page 58. &c. wherein a true and faithful account is given of a Man whose Name is Robert Churchman, living at Balsham in Cambridge-shire, who was for some time inveigled in Quakerisme, and then an Infernal Spirit spake in him, pretending to be an Angel of Light. Inasmuch as there is (so far as I have heard) but one of those Books in this Countrey; I suppose it will be a service for the Truth, and may (if the Lord please to add his blessing) tend to reclaim some from the error of their way, and to deterr those from Quakerisme who have through the temptations of Satan any inclinations thereunto, if that notable History should be more divulged; I shall therefore here insert it. And thus it was, Dr. Templar (the Minister in Balsham) perceiving that Robert Churchman was in danger of being poysoned and seduced by the papers which the Quakers had been dispersing in that place, desired him, that when any of their Books came to his hands, he might have the perusal of them. Which being granted, he suggested that it would be very convenient that the person who had given him that Book should be present when they considered it together. This also was consented to. When the Quaker came, a special subject of the Discourse was, Whether the Scripture is to be owned as a Rule: This the Quaker denied, asserting that the Rule was within them. Hereupon Dr. Templar desired Churchman to take notice, that the Quakers did not own the Scriptures to be their Rule, which before this Conference he would not believe concerning them. The next time he met with his Brother Thomas Churchman, he acquainted him with the Conference which had been in Dr. Templars House, and said for his part he would not be of that Religion which did disown the Scripture to be the Rule. Not long after, the Wife of the forementioned Quaker coming to his House to visit his Wife, he met her at the door, and told her she should not come in, intimating that her visit would make division betwixt them. After some Parley the Quakers Wife spake unto him in these words, Thou wilt not believe unless thou see a sign, and thou mayest see some such. Within a few nights after, Robert Churchman had a violent Storm upon the room where he lay, when it was very calm in all other parts of the Town, and a voice within him, as he was in Bed, spake to him, and bid him Sing Praises, Sing Praises; telling him, that he should see the Glory of the New Ierusalem; about which time … glimmering Light appeared all about the room. Toward the morning the Voice commanded him to go out of his Bed naked, with his Wife and Children. They all standing upon the Floor, the Spirit making use of his Tongue, bid them to lie down and put their Mouthes in the dust▪ which they did accordingly. It likewise commanded them to go and call his Brother and Sister, that they might see the New-Ierusalem, to whom he went naked about half a mile.
When he had delivered his Message, that which spake within him to denounce wrath against them, and declare that Fire and Brimstone would fall upon them, as it did upon Sodom and Gomorrah, if they did not obey; and so he returned to his own house. Where upon the Floor of a low room, he stood-about three or four hours. All that while he was acted in a very unusual manner, sometimes the Spirit within forced him to Sing, sometimes to Bark like a Dog. When his Brother and Sister who followed him were very importunate with him to resist it, it bid him to kill them, making use of these words, These my Enemies which would not that I should Reign over them, bring them and slay them before my face. It made him to utter with great readiness; many places of Scripture, which he had no knowledge of before. The drift of what was spoken, was to perswade him to comply with the Quakers, and it named some which lived in the Neighbouring Towns. About three or four hours being thus spent, he came to himself, and was able to give a perfect account of what had be fallen him.
Several nights after, the same trouble returned upon him. His Wife was tortured with extraordinary pains; the Children which lay in the room, complained that their Mouthes were stopped with Wool as they were in Bed. The disturbance was so great, that he had thoughts of leaving his House for a time, and made it his desire to be at Dr. Templars; who prevailed with him not to be so sudden in his removal, but to make some further Trial. It pleased God upon a continuation with him in Prayer every day in the house, that he was at last perfectly free from all molestation. The Quakers hearing of his condition, gave it out, that the power of God would come upon him again, and that the Wound was but skinned over by the Priest. Which made Dr. Templar the more importunate with him to keep close to the Publick Worship of God, and to have nothing to do with them or their Writings. Which direction he followed till November 1661. and then perusing one of their Books, a little after upon the tenth day of that MonethMonth his troubles returned. A voice within him began to speak to him after the former manner. The first Sentence which it uttered was, Cease thou from Man, whose breath is in his Nostrils, for wherein is he to be accounted. The design which he discerned it did aim at, was to take him off from comeing to the Church (where he had been that day) and from hearing the Word of God It suggested several other Scriptures in order to the perswading of him to a compliance with the Quakers, and told him, that it would strive with him as the Angel did with Iacob, until the breaking of the Day, at which time it left him. The two next nights it gave him the same molestation, saying, it must be with him as it was with David, who gave no sleep to his eyes, nor slumber to his eye-lids, until he found a place for the Lord, an habitation for the mighty God of Iacob. Upon Wednesday at night he was very peremptory in his resisting of it. When it began to solicit him, he replied, that he saw it was a Spirit of delusion, which he would not obey. Upon which the Spirit deno…nced a Curse against him in these words, Go ye Cursed into everlasting fire, and so left him with a very great heat in his Body. After this, he was in his own apprehension in a very comfortable condition, and while he was considering what had hapned, a voice within him speake to him, saying, That the Spirit which was before upon him was a Spirit of Delusion, but now the true Spirit of God was come into him. It acquainted him, that the Doctrine of the Trinity was true, and that God had an Elect People, and that those whom the Father Elected the Son hath Redeemed, and when Christ Redeemeth, the Holy Ghost Sanctifieth, and told him that the Minister of the Town would further instruct him about the truth of these things. Upon Thursday morning about break of day, it set him upon his knees as he was in bed, and bid him Farewel. The same day it came upon him in the field as he was going to, and coming from the Market, & pressed upon him to believe that it was the good Spirit which he was acted with, which he still doubted of. One night that week amongst many Arguments which it used to that purpose, it told him if he would not believe without a sign, he might have what sign he would. Upon that Robert Churchman desired, if it was a good Spirit, that a Wier-Candlestick which stood upon the Cup-board might be turned into Brass, which the Spirit said he would do. Presently there was a very unsavoury smell in the Room, like that of the snuff of a Candle newly put out; but nothing else was done towards the fulfilling of the promise. Upon the Lords Day following, he then attending the publick Worship of God, it came upon him. When the Chapters were named, he turned to them in his Bible, but was not able to read. When the Psalm was Sung, he could not pronounce a syllable. Upon Monday morning his Speech was wholly taken away from him. When the Minister in that place came to him, and asked him how it was with him, he moved his head towards him, but was not able to speak; the Minister waited an hour or two in the Room, hoping that his Speech might have returned unto him, and that he might have gained from him some account of his condition. But finding no alteration, he desired those who were present to joyn with him in Prayer. As they were Praying Churchman's Body was with much violence thrown out of Bed, and then with great vehemency he called to the Minister Dr. Templar to hold his tongue. When Prayer was done, his Tongue was bound as before, till at last he broke out into these words: Thine is the Kingdom, Thine is the Kingdom; which he repeated (as was judged) above an hundred times. Sometimes he was forced into extream Laughter, sometimes into Singing, his hands were usually imployed in beating his Breast. All of them who stood by, could discern unusual heavings in his Body. This Distemper did continue towards the morning of the next day, and then the voice within him signified to him that it would leave him, … him get upon his Knees in order to that end, which he did, and then presently he had a perfect command of himself.
When Dr. Templar came to him, he gave a sober account of all the passages of the day before, having a distinct remembrance of what the Spirit forced him to do, and what was spoken to him by those that stood by. In particular he told the Doctor that he was compelled to give him that disturbance in Prayer, before-mentioned; the Spirit using his Limbs and Tongue, as it pleased, contrary to the inclination of his own mind.
Upon the Thursday following, the Spirit began to rage after its former manner, as Dr. Templar was at Prayer with him, it was very discernable how it wrought upon his Body, forced him to grate his Teeth, and draw his Mouth awry. He told the Minister after he had done, that it bid him to denounce woe against him. It pleased God upon continuance in prayer with him, at last to release him of all his trouble, and so far to make it advantagious to him and to his Wife, and some others, which were too much by-assed with the Principles of the Quakers, that now they have a perfect dislike of that way, and do diligently attend upon the publick Worship of God.
Thus concerning this strange but true Relation. We may by this judge whose Servants the singing Quakers are; and what Spirit doth powerfully breath in, and act those miserable and deluded Enthusiasts.
But I shall say no more to the Quakers at present; only pray that such of them as have not sinned unto Death, may have their eyes opened, and (if possible) be delivered out of the snares of Satan, by whom they are taken Captive at his will.
It hath been by many observed, that Men addicted to horrid Cursings and Execrations, have pulled down the imprecated vengeance of Heaven upon themselves. Sundry very awful Examples of this kind have lately hapned: I shall here mention one or two.
The hand of God was very Remarkable, in that which came to pass in the Narraganset Countrey in New-England, not many weeks since. For I have good Information, that on August 28, 1683. A Man there (viz. Samuel Wilson) having caused his Dog to mischief his Neighbours Cattle, was blamed for his so doing. He denied the fact with Imprecations, wishing that he might never stir from that place if he had so done. His Neighbour being troubled at his denying the truth, reproved him, and told him he did very ill to deny what his Conscience knew to be truth. The Atheist thereupon used the Name of God in his Imprecations; saying, He wished to God he might never stir out of that place, if he had done that which he was charged with. The words were scarce out of his mouth before he sunk down dead, and never stirred more; a Son in Law of his standing by and catching him as he fell to the ground.
A thing not unlike to this hapned (though not in New-England yet) in America, about a year ago. For in September 1682. A man at the Isle of Providence belonging to a Vessel whereof one Wollery was Master, being charged with some deceit in a matter that had been committed to him, in order to his own Vindication, horridly wished that the Devil might put out his eyes, if he had done as was suspected concerning him. That very night a Rhume fell into his Eyes, so as that within a few dayes he became stark blind. His company being astonished at the Divine hand which thus conspicuously and signally appeared; put him ashore at Providence, and left him there. A Physitian being desired to undertake his Cure, hearing how he came to lose his sight, refused to meddle with him. This account I lately received from credible persons, who knew and have often seen the Man whom the Devil (according to his own wicked wish) made blind, through the dreadful and righteous judgement of God.
Moreover, that worse than bruitish sin of Drunkenness, hath been witnessed against from Heaven by severe and signal Iudgements. It was a sign of the fearful Wrath of God, upon that notorious Drunkard, at a place called Seatucket in Long-Island; who as he was in Drink, fell into the Fire (the People in the House then being in Bed and asleep) and so continued for some considerable time, until he received his Deaths wound. At his first awakening he roared out Fire! Fire! as if it had been one in Hell, to the great astonishment of all that heard him. One in the House flung a pail of Water on him to quench his Clothes, but that added to his torment; so he continued yelling after an hideous manner, Fire! Fire! and within a day or two died in great misery. And though this Drunkard died by fire, it is Remarkable that many of those who have loved drink, have died by water, and that at the very time when their understandings have been drowned with Drink. It is an awful consiration, that there have been at several times above forty persons in this Land, whom death hath found in that woful plight, so that their immortal Souls have gone out of Drunken Bodies, to appear before God the Judge of all.
That Remarkable Iudgement hath first or last fallen upon those who have sought the hurt of the People of God in New-England, is so notorious, as that it is become the observation of every Man. This Israel in the Wilderness hath eat up the Nations his Enemies, he hath broke their Bones, and pierced them through with his Arrows. Some Adversaries have escaped longer unpunished than others; but then their ends have been of all the most woful, and tragical at last. I shall instance only in what hath lately come to pass, with respect unto the Heathen who rose up against us, thinking to swallow us up quick, when their Wrath was kindled against us. Blessed be the Lord, who hath not given us a prey to their Teeth. The Chieftains amongst them were all cut off, either by Sword or Sickness in the War time, excepting those in the Eastern parts, whose Ring-leaders outlived their fellows; but now God hath met with them. There were in special two of those Indians, who shed much innocent Blood, viz. Simon and Squando. As for bloody Simon, who was wont to boast of the Mischiefs he had done, and how he had treacherously shot and killed such and such English-men, he died miserably the last Winter, Another Indian discharging a Gun hapned to shoot Simon, so as to break his Arm. After which he lived two years, but in extremity of pain, so as that the Indians when enquired of, how Simon did; their usual Answer was Worse then Dead. He used all means that Earth and Hell (for he betook himself to Powaws) could afford him for his recovery, but in vain. Thus was the wickedness of that Murtherer at last returned upon his own head.
Concerning Squando, the Sachem of the Indians at Saco; the Story of him is upon sundry accounts Remarkable. Many years ago he was sick, and near unto death, after which he said, that one pretending to be the English-mans God, appeared to him in form of an English Minister; and discoursed with him, requiring him to leave off his drinking of Rum, and religiously to observe the Sabbath day, and to deal justly amongst Men, withal promising him that if he did so, then at death his Soul should go upwards to an happy place; but if he did not obey these commandments, at death his Soul should go downwards, and be for ever miserable. But this pretended God said nothing to him about Iesus Christ. However, this Apparition so wrought upon Squando, as that he left his Drunkenness, and became a strict observer of the Sabbath day; Yea, so as that he alwayes kept it as a day of Fast, and would hear the English Ministers Preach, and was very just in his dealing. But in the time of the late Indian War, he was a principal Actor in the bloody … in that part of the Countrey. … year the pretended English-mans God, appeared to him again, as afore, in the form of a Minister, requiring him to kill himself, and promising him that if he did obey, he should live again the next day, and never die more. Squando acquainted his Wife, and some other Indians with this new Apparition, They most earnestly advised him not to follow the murderous Counsel which the Spectre had given. Nevertheless, he since hath Hanged himself, and so is gone to his own place. This was the end of the Man that disturbed the Peace of New-England.