Gods Promise to His Plantation, Title page – To the reader
GODS PROMISE TO HIS PLANTATION.
2 Sam. 7.10. Moreover J will appoint a place for my people Iſrael, and I will plant them, that they may dwell in a place of their owne, and move no more.
As it was delivered in a Sermon, By IOHN COTTON, B. D. and Preacher of Gods word in Boston.
PSALME 22.27.30.31.
All the ends of the world ſhall remember and turne unto the Lord, and all the kindreds of the Nations ſhall worſhip before thee.
A ſeede ſhall ſerve him, it ſhall be accounted to the Lord for a generation.
They ſhall come, and ſhall declare his righteouſneſſe unto a people that ſhall be borne, that he hath done this.
LONDON, Printed by William Jones for John Bellamy, and are to be ſolde at the three Golden Lyons by the ….
To the Chriſtian Reader:
ALTHOVGH no good Chriſtian, or indeede ingenuous man, can doe any thing leſſe, than approove of ſuch endeavours, as aime at the glory of God, and a Common good, eſpecially when they are mannaged by a cleare warrant from Gods word. Yet for aymes and ends that men put to their actions being hidden in their hearts, there is no way to declare them, but by an honeſt profeſſion of them, which is ſufficient where wee are entertained but with that common charity one man is bound to yeeld another; But for the grounds and rule an action is wrought by, and the praiſe of it in that reſpect, there is another iudgement than that of charity to guide us by, namely, by proving it by the touchſtone of Gods word.
Now becauſe many may either not know, or doe not conſider upon how full a ground and warrant out of the word of God that undertaking (which was the occaſion of this Sermon) hath hitherto proceeded, J thought good (Courteous Reader) leave being with ſome difficultie obtained of the Reverend Authour) to preſent unto thy view and conſideration, that which may in part give thee ſatisfaction in this particular.
Ere long (if God will) thou ſhalt ſee a larger declaration of the firſt riſe and ends of this enterpriſe, and ſo cleare and full a iuſtification of this deſigne, both in reſpect of that warrant it hath from Gods word, and alſo in reſpect of any other ground and circumſtance of weight, that is conſiderable in the warrant of ſuch a worke, as (J hope) there will eaſily be removed any ſcruple of moment, which hitherto hath beene moved about it.
If thou haſt any doubts yet unreſolved, rather be intreated to underſtand from us, what may be the anſwer of them, than to diſcourage any man by them: ſo ſhalt thou be a helper and a friend, whereas otherwiſe (it may be againſt thy will) thou ma…ſt be an enemie to a worke (for ought thou yet knoweſt) God is the Authour of.
Jt is hoped; there is none but will finde cauſe to approve of the worke, and of them that ingage themſelves in it; But eſpecially they who any way, at leaſt by ſilence (a ſeeming applauſe) approved the Plantations of Virginia, St. Chriſtophers, Bermudas, this having ends inferiour to none of them, and men (not to compare but to give due honour to all employed in ſuch noble enterpriſes) promiſing as much by their uſefulneſſe, induſtrie, love to their Countrie, piety, and other qualifications as thoſe did.
It is enough they adventure, that hazard their perſons, families and eſtates, for that worke, which it may appeare to thee ere long thou art bound as well as they to further.
Now it were iniurious, if not impious, not onelyonly to denie the right and benefit of thy prayers to ſuch, but alſo to loade them with cauſeleſſe aſperſions (though but in thy thoughts) for that, for which thou haſt great cauſe to praiſe God for thē, who hath ſtirred up their ſpirits to that which hath beene a maine meane of peopling the world, and is likely to be of propagating the Goſpell. For the furtherance of which worke in the hands of thoſe that ſincerely intend it, let as fervent prayers paſſe from thee to the throne of grace for them, as J am confident, (thy occaſions being made knowne unto them) would be put up from them in thy behalfe.
Thine I. H.