The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, Title page – Preface
THE Soveraignty & Goodneſs OF GOD, Together, With the Faithfulneſs of His Promiſes Diſplayed; Being a NARRATIVE Of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandſon.
Commended by her, to all that deſires to know the Lords doings to, and dealings with Her.
Eſpecially to her dear Children and Relations,
The ſecond Addition Corrected and amended.
Written by Her own Hand for Her private Uſe, and now made Publick at the earneſt Deſire of ſome Friends, and for the benefit of the Afflicted.
Deut. 32.29,
See now that I, even I am he, and there is no God with me: I kill and I make alive, I wound and I heal neither is there any can deliver out of my hand.
CAMBRIDGE, Printed by Samuel Green, 1682.
The Preface to the READER.
IT was on Tueſday, Feb. 1. 1675. in the afternoon, when the Narrhaganſets quarters (in or toward the Nipmug Country, whither they are now retyred for fear of the Engliſh Army lying in their own Country) were the ſecond time beaten up by the Forces of the united Colonies, who thereupon ſoon betook themſelves to flight, and were all the next day purſued by the Engliſh, ſome overtaken and deſtroyed, But on Thurſday, Feb. 3. The Engliſh having now been ſix dayes on their march, from their he…d quarters, at Wickford, in the Narrhaganſet Country, toward, and after the Enemy, and proviſion grown exceeding ſhort, inſomuch that they were fain to kill ſome Horſes for the ſupply, eſpecially of their Indian friends, they were neceſſitated to conſider what was beſt to be done: And about noon (having hitherto followed the chaſe as hard as they might) a Councill was called, and though ſome few were of another mind, yet it was concluded by far the greater part of the Councill of War, that the Army ſhould deſiſt the purſuit, and retire: the Forces of Plimouth and the Bay to the next Town of the Bay, and Connecticut Forces to their own next Towns: Which determination was immediately put in execution. The conſequent whereof, as it was not difficult to be foreſeen by thoſe that knew the cauſleſs enmity of theſe Barbarians, againſt the Engliſh, and the malicious and revengefull ſpirit of theſe Heathen: ſo it ſoon proved diſmall.
The Narrhaganſets were now driven quite from their own Countrey, and all their proviſions there hoarded up, to which they durſt not at preſent return, and being ſo numerous as they were, ſoon devoured thoſe to whom they went, whereby both the one and other were now reduced to extream ſtraits, and ſo neceſſitated to take the firſt and beſt opportunity for ſupply, and very glad, no doubt of ſuch an opportunity as this, to provide for themſelves, and make ſpoil of the Engliſh at once; and ſeeing themſelves thus diſcharged of their purſuers, and a little refreſhed after their flight, the very next week on Thurſeday, Feb. 10. they fell with mighty force and fury upon Lancaſter: which ſmall Town, remote from aid of others, and not being Geriſoned as it might, the Army being now come in, and as the time indeed required (the deſign of the Indians againſt that place being known to the Engliſh ſome time before) was not able to make effectual reſiſtance: but notwithſtanding utmoſt endeavour of the Inhabitants, moſt of the buildings were turned into aſhes; many People (Men, Women and Children) ſlain, and others captivated. The moſt ſolemn and remarkable part of this Trajedy, may that juſtly be reputed, which fell upon the Family of that reverend Servant of God, Mr. Joſeph Rolandſon, the faithfull Paſtor of Chriſt in that place, who being gone down to the Councill of the M…ſſachuſets to ſeek aid for the defence of the place, at his return found the Town in flames, or ſmoke, his own houſe being ſer on fire by the Enemy, through the diſadvantage of a defective Fortification, and all in it conſumed: his precious yoke-fellow, and dear Children, wounded and captivated (as the iſſue evidenced, and following Narrative declares) by theſe cruel and barbarous Salvages. A ſad Cateſtrophe! Thus all things come alike to all: None knows either love or hatred by âll that is before him. It is no new thing for Gods precions ones to drink as deep as others, of the Cup of common Calamity: Take juſt Lot (yet captivated) for inſtance beſide others. But it is not my buſineſs to dilate on theſe things, but only in few words introductively to preface to the following ſcript, which is a Narrative of the wonderfully awfull, wiſe, holy, powerfull, and gracious providence of God, towards that worthy and precious Gentle woman, the dear Conſort of the ſaid Reverend Mr. Rowlandſon, and her Children with her, as in caſting of her into ſuch a waterleſs pit, ſo in preſerving, ſupporting, and carrying thorow ſo many ſuch extream hazards, unſpeakable difficulties and diſconſolateneſs, and at laſt delivering her out of them all, and her ſurviving Children alſo. It was a ſtrange and amazing diſpenſation, that the Lord ſhould ſo afflict his precious Servant, and Hand maid: It was as ſtrange, if not more, that he ſhould ſo bear up the ſpirits of his Servant under ſuch bereavments, and or his handmaid under ſuch captivity, travels and hardſhips (much too hard for fleſh and blood) as he did, and at length deliver and reſtore But he was their Saviour, who hath ſaid, When thou paſſeſt through the Waters, I will be with thee, and thorough the Rivers, they ſhall not overflow thee: When thou walkeſt through the fire, thou ſhalt no… …e burnt, nor ſhall the flame kindle upon thee, Iſa. 93. ver. 2. and again. He woundeth and his hands make whole. He ſhall deliver thee in … troubles, yea in ſeven there ſhall no evil touch thee: In Famine he ſhall redeem thee from Death, and in War from the power if the ſword, Job 5.18, 19, 20. Methinks this diſpenſation doth bear ſome reſemblance to thoſe of Joſeph, David and Daniel; yea, and of the three Children too, the Stories whereof do repreſent us with the excellent textures of divine providence, curious pieces of divine work: and truly ſo doth this, and therefore not to be forgotten, but worthy to be exhibited to, and viewed, and pondered by all, that diſdain not to conſider the operation of his hands.
The works of the Lord (not only of Creation, but of Province alſo, eſpecially thoſe that do more peculiarly concern his dear ones, that are as the Apple of his Eye, as the Signet upon Hi Hand, the Delight of his Eyes, and the Object of his tendereſt Care) and great, ſought out of all thoſe that have pleaſure therein. And of theſe verily this is none of the leaſt.
This Narrative was penned by the Gentlewoman her ſelf, to be to her a memorandum of Gods dealing with her, that ſhe might never forget, but remember the ſame, & the ſeverall circumſtances thereof, all the dayes of her life. A pious ſcope which deſerves both commendation and imitation: Some friends having obtained a ſight of it, could not but be ſo much affected with the many paſſages of working providence diſcovered therein, as to judge it worthy of publick view, and altogether unmeet that ſuch works of God ſhould be hid from preſent and future Generations: And therefore though this Gentlewomans modeſty would not thruſt it into the Preſs, yet her gratitude unto God made her not hardly perſwadable to let it paſs, that God might have his due glory, and others benefit by it as well as her ſelf. I hope by this time none will caſt any reflection upon this Gentlewoman, on the ſcore of this publication of her affliction and deliverance. If any ſhould, doubtleſs they may be reckoned with the nine lepers, of whom it is ſaid, Were there not ten cleanſed, where are the nine? but one returning to give God thanks. Let ſuch further know that this was a diſpenſation of publick note, and of univerſall concernment, and ſo much the more, by how much the nearer this Gentlewoman ſtood related to that faithfull Servant of God, whoſe capacity and employment was publick in the houſe of God, and his name on that account of a very ſweet ſavour in the Churches of Chriſt, who is there of a true Chriſtian ſpirit, that did not look upon himſelf much concerned in this bereavment, this Captivity in the time thereof, and in his deliverance when it came, yea more then in many others; and how many are there, to whom ſo concerned, it will doubtleſs be a very acceptable thing to ſee the way of God with this Gentlewoman in the aforeſaid diſpenſation, thus laid out and pourtrayed before their eyes.
To conclude whatever any coy phantaſies may deem, yet it highly concerns thoſe that have ſo deeply taſted, how good the Lord is, to enquire with David, What ſhall I render to the Lord for all his benefits to me. Pſal. 116.12. He thinks nothing too great; yea, being ſenſible of his own diſproportion to the due praiſes of God he cals in help. Oh, magnifie the Lord with me, let us exalt his Name together, Pſal. 34.3 And it is but reaſon, that out praiſes ſhould hold proportion with our prayers: and that as many hath helped together by prayer for the obtaining of his Mercy, ſo praiſes ſhould be returned by many on this behalf; And foraſmuch as not the generall but particular knowledge of things makes deepeſt impreſſion upon the affections, this Narrative particularizing the ſeveral paſſages of this providence will nor a little conduce thereunto. And therefore holy David in order to the attainment of that end, accounts himſelf concerned to declare what God had done for his ſoul, Pſal. 66.16. Come and hear, a…l ye that fear God, and I will declare what God hath done for my ſoul, i. e. for his life, ſee v. 9, 10. He holdeth our ſoul in life, and ſuffers not our feet to be moved, for thou our God haſt proved us, thou haſt tryed us, as ſilver is tryed. Life-mercies, are heart-affecting-mercies, of great impreſſion and force, to enlarge pious hearts in the praiſes of God, ſo that ſuch know not how but to talk of Gods acts, and to ſpeak of and publiſh his wonderfull works. Deep troubles, when the waters come in unto thy ſoul, are wont to produce vowes: vowes muſt be paid, It is better not vow, than vow and not to pay. I may ſay, that as none knows what it is to fight and purſue ſuch an enemy as this, but they that have fought and purſued them: ſo none can imagine what it is to be captivated, and enſlaved to ſuch atheiſticall proud, wild, cruel, barbarous, bruitiſh (in one word) diabolicall creatures as theſe, the worſt of the heathen; nor what difficulties, hardſhips, hazards, ſorrows, anxieties and perplexities do unavoidably wait upon ſuch a condition, but thoſe that have tryed it. No ſerieus ſpirit then (eſpecialiy knowing any thing of this Gentlewomans piety) can imagine but that the vows of God are upon her. Excuſe her then if ſhe come thus into publick, to pay thoſe vows. Come and hear what ſhe hath to ſay.
I am confident that no Friend of diviné Providence will ever repent his time and pains, ſpent in reading over theſe ſheets, but will judg them worth peruſing again and again.
Hear Reader, you may ſee an inſtance of the Soveraignty of God, who doth what he will with his own as well as others; and who may ſay to him, What dofl thou? Here you may ſee an inſtance of the faith and patience of the Saints, under the moſt heart-ſinking tryals; here you may ſee, the promiſes are breaſts full of conſolation, when all the world beſides is empty, and gives nothing but ſorrow. That God is indeed the ſupream Lord of the world, ruling the moſt unruly, weakening the moſt cruel and ſalvage, granting hir People mercy in the ſight of the unmercifull, curbing the luſts of the moſt filthy, holding the hands of the violent, delivering the prey from the mighty, and gathering together the out caſts of Iſrael. Once and again you have heard, but hear you may ſee, that power belongeth unto God; that our God is the God of Salvation, and to him belong the iſſues from Death. That our God is in the Heavens, and doth what ever pleaſes him. Here you have Sampſon Riddle examplified, and that great promiſe, Rom. 8.28. verified, Out of the Eater comes forth meat, and ſweetneſs out of the ſtrong; The worſt of evils working together for the beſt good. How evident is it that the Lord hath made this Gentlewoman a gainer by all this affliction, that ſhe can ſay, 'tis good for her, yea better that ſhe hath been, then that ſhe ſhould not have been, thus afflicted.
Ob how doth God ſhine forth in ſuch things as theſe;▪
Reader, if thou getteſt no good by ſuch a Declaration as this, the fault muſt needs be tbine own. Read therefore, Peruſe, Ponder, and from hence lay up ſomething from the experience of another, againſt thine own turn comes, that ſo thou alſo through patience and conſolation of the Scripture mayeſt have hope.
PER AMICAM.
A Narrative of the CAPTIVITY AND REST AƲRATION OF Mrs. Mary Rowlandſon.
ON the tenth of February 1675. Came the Indians with great numbers upon Lancaſter: Their firſt coming was about Sun-riſing; hearing the noiſe of ſome Guns, we looked out; ſeveral Houſes were burning, and the Smoke aſcending to Heaven. There were five perſons taken in one houſe, the Father, and the Mother and a ſucking Child, they knockt on the head; the other two they took and carried away alive. Their were two others, who being out of their Gariſon upon ſome occaſion were ſet upon; one was knockt on the head, the other eſcaped: Another their was who running a…ong was ſhot and wounded, and ſell down; he pegged of them his life, promiſing them Money (as they told me) but they would not hearken to him but knockt him in head, and ſtript him naked, and ſplit open his Bowels. Another ſeeing many of the Indians about his Barn, ventured and went out, but was quickly ſhot down. There were three others belonging to the ſame Gariſon who were killed; the Indians getting up upon the roof of the Barn, had advantage to ſhoot down upon them over their Fortification. Thus theſe murtherous wretches went on, burning, and deſtroying before them,
At length they came and beſet our own houſe, and quickly it was the dolefulleſt day that ever mine eyes ſaw. The Houſe ſtood upon the edg of a hill; ſome of the Indians got behind the hill, others into the Barn, and others behind any thing that could ſhelter them; from all which places they ſhot againſt the Houſe, ſo that the Bullets ſeemed to fly like hail; and quickly they wounded one man among us, then another, and then a third, About two hours (according to my obſervation, in that amazing time) they had been about the houſe before they prevailed to fire it (which they did with Flax and Hemp, which they brought out of the Barn, and there being no deſence about the Houſe, only two Flankers at two oppoſite corners, and one of them not finiſhed) they fired it once, and one ventured out and quenched it, but they quickly fired it again, and that took. Now is that dreadfull hour come, that I have often heard of (in time of War, as it was the caſe of others) but now mine eyes ſee it. Some in our houſe were fighting for their lives, others wallowing in their blood, the Houſe on fire over our heads, and the bloody Heathen ready to knock us on the head, if we ſtired our: Now might we hear Mothers & Children crying out for themſelves, and one another, Lord, What ſhall we do? Then I took my Children (and one of my ſiſters, hers) to go forth and leave the houſe: but as ſoon as we came to the dore and appeared, the Indians ſhot ſo thick that the bulletts rattled againſt the Houſe, as if one had taken an handfull of ſtones and threw them, ſo that we were fain to give back. We had ſix ſtout Dogs belonging to our Garriſon, but none of them would ſtir, though another time, if any Indian had come to the door, they were ready to fly upon him and tear him down. The Lord hereby would make us the more to acknowledge his hand, and to ſee that our help is alwayes in him. But out we muſt go, the fire increaſing, and coming along behind us, roaring, and the Indians gaping before us with their Guns, Spears and Hatchets to devour us. No ſooner were we out of the Houſe, but my Brother in Law (being before wounded, in defending the houſe, in or near the throat) fell down dead, wherat the Indians ſcornfully ſhouted, and hallowed, and were preſently upon him, ſtripping off his cloaths, the bulletts flying thick, one went through my ſide, and the ſame (as would ſeem) through the bowels and hand of my dear Child in my arms. One of my elder Siſters Children, named William, had then his Leg broken, which the Indians perceiving, they knockt him on head. Thus were we butchered by thoſe mercileſs Heathen, ſtanding amazed, with the blood running down to our heels. My eldeſt Siſter being yet in the Houſe, and ſeeing thoſe wofull ſights, the Infidels haling Mothers one way, and Children another, and ſome wallowing in their blood: and her elder Son telling her that her Son William was dead, and my ſelf was wounded, ſhe ſaid, And, Lord let medy with them; which was no ſooner ſaid, but ſhe was ſtruck with a Bullet, and ſell down dead over the threſhold. I hope ſhe is reaping the fruit of her good labours, being faithfull to the ſervice of God in her place. In her younger years ſhe lay under much trouble upon ſpiritual accounts, till it pleaſed God to make that precious Scripture take hold of her heart, 2 Cor. 12.9. And be ſaid unto me my Grace is ſufficient for thee. More then twenty years after I have heard her tell how ſweet and comfortable that place was to her, But to return: The Indians laid hold of us, pulling me on way, and the Children another, and ſaid, Come go along with us; I told them they would kill me: they anſwered, If I were willing to go along with them, they would not hurt me.
Oh the dolefull ſight that now was to behold at this Houſe! Come, behold the works of the Lord, what diſſolations he has made in the Earth. Of thirty ſeven perſons who were in this one Houſe, none eſcaped either preſent death, or a bitter captivity, ſave only one, who might ſay as he. Job 1.15. And I only am eſcaped alone to tell the News. There were twelve killed, ſome ſhot, ſome ſtab'd with their Spears, ſome knock'd down with their Hatchets. When we are in proſperity, Oh the little that we think of ſuch dreadfull ſights, and to ſee our dear Friends, and Relations ly bleeding out their heart-blood upon the ground. There was one who was chopt into the head with a Hatchet, and ſtript naked, and yet was crawling up and down. It is a ſolemn ſight to ſee ſo many Chriſtians lying in their blood, ſome here, and ſome there, like a company of Sherp torn by Wolves. All of them ſtript naked by a company of hell-hounds, roaring, ſinging, ranting and inſulting, as if they would have torn our very hearts out; yet the Lord by his Almighty power preſerved a number of us from death, for there were twenty-four of us taken alive and carried Captive.
I had of ten before this ſaid, that if the Indians ſhould come, I ſhould chuſe rather to be killed by them then taken alive but when it came to the tryal my mind changed; their glittering weapons ſo daunted my ſpirit, that I choſe rather to go along with thoſe (as I may ſay) ravenous Beats, then that moment to end my dayes; and that I may the better declare what happened to me during that grievous Captivity I ſhall particularly ſpeak of the ſeverall Removes we had up and down the Wilderneſs.