Our Dying Saviors Legacy of Peace, Title page – To the reader
Our Dying Saviour's LEGACY of PEACE To His Disciples in a troublesome World, from John 14. 27. My Peace I give unto you, &c.
Also a DISCOURSE On the Two WITNESSES: Shewing that it is the Duty of all Christians to be Witnesses unto Christ, from Rev. 11. 3. I will give to my two Witnesses, &c: Unto which is added, Some Help to Self-Examination.
By John Higginson Pastor of the Church in Salem.
2 Pet. 1. 14, 15
Knowing that I must shortly put off this Tabernacle, I will endeavour, that after my decease you may have these things alwayes in remembrance.
Boston, Printed by Samuel Green for John Usher near the Town-House, 1686.
To the Church and People of God at Salem; also at Guilford and Say Brook: Grace unto you, and Peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
WHen the Lord was pleased in the Year 1629- to bring over my Reverend and Godly Father into this Wilderness, as one of the first Ministers to begin the work of God here at Salem; I was then but a Child of thirteen years of age: It seemed good unto God, only wise, to take my Father unto himself in the year following, Then was my good Mother left as a desolate Widow, with eight small Children (my self being the eldest) in a meer Wilderness, with a very small Estate; and in a condition very like unto that Ministers Widow and Children mentioned, 2 King. 4. 2. &c. yet such was the abundant goodness and faithfulness of the Lord our God, who keepeth Covenant and Mercy with his Servants and their Children after them, Deut. 7. 9. that he moved the hearts of many pious Christians (who them lived wholly on the Stock the brought with them) out of their great respect unto my good Father, to express such a charity and liberality to his Widow and Children that my Fathers Family was as well and comfortably provided for, as if he had been in our native land.
Amongst the rest, it pleased God, then and afterwards, to stir up the hearts of the Honoured and godly Magistrates, Mr. Winthrop, Mr. Nowel, and Mr. Dummer and the Reverend and Godly Minister Mr. Wilson, Mr. Cotton, and Mr. Hooker, to take special care of me, that I might be continued in my Learning, and bred up unto the Ministry: and for the end (as David in Relation to Mephibosheth, 2 Sam. 9. 3. &c.) they did shew the kindness of the Lord unto poor Me, for my Fathers sake; and some of them were at a considerable charge for my future Education in Learning (long before there was any Colledg) in the best manner that could be then attained in the day of small things here. (The like care was taken by others, in relation to another of my Brethren, who was also bred up unto the Ministry in the same way.)
When the forenamed Honoured Gentlemen and Ministers saw meet, I was in the Year 1636. sent and employed by them, in the work of the Ministry (in the time of the Pequot War) at Say-Brook Fort, where I continued above four Years: and after I had been sometime a School-Master at Harford, where I enjoyed the publick Ministry, and private helpfulness of the Learned and Godly Mr. Hooker, and Mr. Stone, which was an invaluable mercy to me; I was by the good hand of God settled in the Ministry at Guilford, as an Assistant to that Reverend Pious and aged Minister Mr: Whitfield, where I continued sixteen years after which, in the year 166…. I was by a strong hand of Providence (beyond my own intention) brought unto and settled in the Ministry at Salem, the place of my Fathers Sepulchre, after so many Years to succeed him in that work, which he had laid the Foundation of; and here by the mercy of God I have continued, now almost twenty seven years.
These things I desire to leave upon Record as a thankful Remembrance of the gracious dealings of God with me, in the midst of all the changes of times that have passed over me, in this my Pilgrimage upon Earth: Also, as a due acknowledgment unto the memory of those good men who were Benefactors to me in my low Estate, wishing and praying for a Blessing upon their Posterity, and that New-England may never want such men (like those in the first times) of publick Spirits, caring for the things of Christ, and zealous of good works, especially relating to the propagation of Learning and Religion to after times.
Having been moved by diverse Bretheren at sundry times to leave something behind me, that might be of use when I was gone. I confess I have been long averse from it for several Reasons; yet at last considering that their motion might be of God, and I am now full of dayes, being under the infirmities of Age, and not like to live long, being 70. Years old, which in Scripture-account is the ordinary period of mans life, Psal. 90. 10. I am therefore willing to leave with you my Brethren in the several places where I have lived, and amongst whom I have served the Lord in the Ministry of the Gospel; I say to leave these few Sermons, such as they are, and as they were preached in my ordinary course this last Winter, as my last Legacy to your selves, and to my Relations and Friends: And although in regard of my place and mean way of expressing, much of my weakness may appear; yet in respect of the Subject-matter, the Gospel-truths contained therein, I, hope that through the blessing of God, they may not be altogether unuseful, nor unprofitable to those that shall peruse the same,
I may now say as he did, with the alteration of one word Vixi, & quem dederat cursum Jehova Perdegi. Or in the Apostles words, I have finished my course; the time of my departure is at hand, henceforth I will wait all the dayes of my appointed time, till my great change come. And now when I look back upon my life past: though I cannot but with all thankfulness acknowledge the wonders of Gods mercy to my unworthy self, in this Wilderness for so long a time, and the undeserved kindnesses of many of his People; yet I must needs confess I have been a very unprofitable Servant, and do humbly beg pardon from God in the blood of Christ, for all my sins and failings that have accompanyed me in the course of my Ministry and Conversation: I also crave the forgiveness of his People. My hearts desire and prayer to God for New-England is, That the Lord would continue in those Churches the Truth and Power, and Purity, and Peace, and liberty of the Gospel of Salvation from one Generation to another, till the 2d.coming of Christ; and that the Ministry of the Gospel therein may be constantly blessed to the Conversion, Edification, and Salvation of Souls; and that the blessing of Heaven may go along with this poor Script of mine, that it may be a means of some good, when I shall be gone from hence and be seen no more.
So I commend you to the Grace of God in Christ Jesus, and conclude with that Apostolical Valediction, and Benediction, so often used by the Apostle Paul, in his Epistles to the Churches, and at last expressed by the Apostle John in the last words of Scripture, Rev. 22. last, The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen.
Salem August, 6. 1686. John Higginson.
Christian Reader,
IT is the Wisemans observation, Prov. 25. 25. as cold waters to a thirsty Soul, so is Good news from a far Country: i. e. it is comforting and refreshing. How wellcome then must it needs be to hear good news from Heaven in an evil world? and what better report can there be made to them that have been harrased and almost tired out with manifold troubles, then that of peace? and of all peace there is none like Christ's. The following Treatise being the happy tidings to Gods labouring people, of a peace which Christ having purchased and procured for, bequeathed unto them as a Legacy upon his departure, a peace which as the world cannot give, so neither can it deprive them of; a peace that will settle their souls in quiet amidst all tumults, and keep them unwearied when the Seas roar, and their Waves, rage: It directs them that want it, where they may find it, and how to get it; and those that have it, how to live upon and suck the sweet out of it, and a word spoken in good season, how Good is it, Prov. 15. 23. It is now a shaking time, and there is little peace to be expected in or from the world; but happy those Souls who are got into this Rock.
It Is needless to say any thing in commendation either of the Author, or of his work; Read and Judge: This Reverend Servant of Jesus Christ is an Old Disciple, and one who hath had the experience as of the many tossings and disquietments of an Evil World, so of the joyes of Spiritual Peace, and hath therefore given us a taste of that himself hath had the proof of; and truths that have been felt, carry warmth in the recommending of them to Men. That this may not be labour in vain, and that the Author may yet live to be a further blessing in his Generation, shall be the importunate prayer, of him who is a Well-wisher to Israels Peace.
Samuel Willard.