The Planting of the Massachusetts Colony, Title page – Dedication
A NARRATIVE Of The Planting of the Maſſachuſets COLONY Anno 1628. With the LORDS Signal Preſence the Firſt Thirty YEARS.
Alſo a Caution from New-Englands APOSTLE, the GREAT COTTON, How to Eſcape the Calamity, which might Befall them or their POSTERITY.
And Confirmed by the EVANGELIST NORTON With Prognoſticks from the FAMOUS Dr. OWEN.
Concerning the Fate of theſe Churches, and Animadverſions upon the Anger of God, in ſending of Evil Angels among us.
Publiſhed by Old Planters, the Authors of the Old Mens Tears
Pſalm 78.2.3, 4. I will utter dark ſayings of Old. Which we have heard and known and our Fa…hers have told us, &c.
Jer. 6.16. Thus ſaith the Lord, ſtand ye in the ways and …ie; and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, & walk …herein, and ye ſhall find reſt for your ſouls; but they ſaid, …e will not walk therein.
…oſton Printed and Sold by Benjamin Harris, at the ſign of the BIBLE over-againſt the …lem-A…ch…r 160….
To the Honourable Simon Broadſtreet Eſq Late GOVERNOUR of the Maſſachuſets-Colony.
Honoured Sir;
THE Long Experience of your being the on… Surviving Antiquary of us Nov-Angle the Prime Secretary and Regiſter of our civil a… ſacred Records, and the Bifronted Janus who ſaw t… Cloſure of the Old, and the Overture of this Ne… Albion World. One who in your Juveni strength ingaged your All, to Raiſe and Bu… up the Arduous & Hazzardous Structure, of th… then deſpiſed and deſpicable Fabrique; ſo as its o… ſervers ſaid of it, what will theſe Feeble me Build, if a Fox go up, he ſhall even break dow… the ſtone-wall: of which themſelves, and all is Spectators muſt now ſay, Lo, what hath Go… done?
That the Great GOD did then ſelect and adap… Your Perſon, and Enrowle your Name among th… Nurſing Fathers of this his Out caſt Sion, whoſ… Names are imbalmed to Eternity: that you have through nine hard Apprentiſhips, of above ſixty years durance, in the ſervice of your Generation, and faithful diſcharge of that truſt for ſo long a ſeaſon …, as hath Rendred you a MOOT-MAN, … be dignified with the highest Honour, this peo… were capable to confer,
Whither ſhould this narrow Narrative go, to …ake its addreſs for Patronage, and Avowry of its …erity, but to Your Honours feet, there to Prostrate, …nd ſubmit it ſelf to the touch and teſt of the Ly…an Stone thereof, its ſubstance being extracted out … the Records, and the reſt founded upon the Pubſhers certaine knowledge and obſervation.
As for the Cenſure of the whole or part, to be the …elyrious dotage of Bis Puerile and Superannuated …rains, let ſuch pleaſe to ſatisfy themſelves with …eir own Speculations.
But for Your Venerable Self, that the Ancient of …ays, and the God of the Spirits of all fleſh, would …aſe to renew Your Age as the Eagles, ſo as …u may be Our New-England Neſtor, that the …cays of Your outward may be made up, by recruits … freſh Anointing from above upon Your Inner man, …at Your Dayes may be prolonged, to remain in the …ſt of thoſe who actually are, Our Fathers, Our …athers, the Chariots of our Iſrael; and the …orſemen thereof, and until you are become a full …pe Sheaf, fit to be ſafely laid up in Your Lord, … Maſters Garner. Is the Daily Prayer of,
Your Honours Humble, and Obliged Servant, J. S.