The Redeemed Captive Returning to Zion, Floating text – Letter 2
Some Contemplations of the Poor, and deſolate State of the Church at Deerfield.
THE Sorrows of my heart, enlarged are,
Whilſt I, my preſent State, with paſt compare▪
I frequently, unto Gods Houſe did go,
With Chriſtian Friends, his Praiſes forth to ſhow.
But now, I Solitary ſit, both ſigh and cry,
Whilſt my Flocks Miſery, think on do I.
Many, both Old & Young, were ſlain out-right,
Some in a bitter Seaſon, take their …light.
Some burnt to Death, and others ſtifled were,
The Enemy, no Sex, or Age would ſpare.
The tender Chidren, with their Parents ſad,
Are carry'd forth as Captives, ſome unclad.
Some Murdered in the Way, unburyed left,
And ſome thro' Famine, were of Life bereft.
After a tedious Journey, ſome are Sold,
Some kept in Heathen hands, all from Chriſt fold;
By Popiſh rage, and Heath'niſh crueltie,
Are baniſhed. Yea ſome compell'd to be;
Preſent at Maſs. Young Children parted are,
From Parents, and ſuch as inſtructors were.
Crafty deſigns are us'd by Papiſts all,
In ignorance of Truth, them to inthrall,
Some threatned are, unleſs they will comply,
In heathens hands, again be made to lye.
To ſome, large Promiſes are made, if they,
Will Truths renounce, and chuſe their Popiſh way.
Oh Lord! mine eyes on Thee, ſhall waiting be,
Till Thou again turn our Captivitie.
Their Romiſh Plots, Thou canſt confound; and Save,
This little Flock, this Mercy I do crave,
Save us, from all our Sins, and yet again,
Deliver us from them who Truth diſdain.
Lord! for thy Mercy ſake, thy Cov…nant mind;
And in thy Houſe, again reſt let us find.
So we thy Praiſes forth will ſhew, and ſpeak,
Of all thy Wondrous Works, yea we will ſeek,
Th' advancement of thy great and glorious Name,
Thy Rich, and Sovereign Grace, we will proclaim.
THE Hearts of ſome were ready to be diſcouraged & ſink, ſaying, They were out of ſight, and ſo out of mind. I endeavoured to perſwade them, we were not forgotten, that undoubtedly many Prayers were continually going up to Heaven for us. Not long after came Capt. Livingſton, and Mr. Sheldon, with Letters from His Excellency our GOVERNOUR, to the Governour of Canada, about the Exchange of Priſoners; which gave a revival to many, and raiſed expectations of a return. Theſe viſits from New-England to Canada ſo often, greatly ſtrengthened many who were ready to faint; and gave ſome check to the deſigns of the Papiſts to gain Proſelytes. But Gods time of deliverance was not yet come, as to ſome particular Perſons, their Temptations & Tryals were increaſed; and ſome abuſed becauſe they refuſed a compliance with their Superſtitions. A young Woman of our Town met with a new Trial. For on a day, a French man came into the room where ſhe was, and ſhewed her his Beads, & boaſted of them, putting them near to her; She knock'd them out of his hands on the floor; for which ſhe was beaten, and threatned with Death, and for ſome dayes impriſoned. I pleaded with God His over-ruling this firſt Eſſay for the deliverance of ſome, as a pledge of the reſt being delivered in due time. I improved Capt. de Beauville who had alwayes been very friendly, to interceed with the Governour for the return of my Eldeſt Daughter; and for his purchaſing my Son Stephen, from the Indians at St. Francois Fort; and for liberty to go up and ſee my Children and Neighbours at Mont-Royal. Divine Providence appeared to a moderating my Affliction, in that Five Engliſh Perſons of our Town were permitted to return with Capt. Livingſton, among whom went my Eldeſt Daughter. And my Son Stephen was redeemed and ſent to live with me: he was almoſt quite Naked, and very Poor; he had ſuffered much among the Indians. One of the Jeſuits took upon him, to come to the Wigwam and Whip him, on ſome complaint that the Squaws had made, that he did not Work enough for them. As to my Petition for going up to Mont-Royal to ſee my Children, and Neighbours, it was denyed; as my former deſire of coming up to the City before Capt. Livingſtons coming was. God granted me favour as to Two of my Petitions, but yet brought me by His Grace to be willing, that He ſhould glorify. Himſelf in diſpoſing of me and mine as He pleaſed and knew to be moſt for His glory: And almoſt always before any remarkable favour, I was brought to lye down at the foot of God, and made to be willing that God ſhould govern the World, ſo as might be moſt for His own Honour, and brought to reſign all to His holy Sovereignty. A frame of Spirit when wrought in me by the Grace of God, giving the greateſt content and ſatisfaction; and very often a fore-runner of the Mercy ask'd of God, or a plain demonſtration, that the not obtaining my requeſt was beſt for me. I had no ſmall refreſhing, in having one of my Children with me for four Months▪ And the Engliſh were many of them ſtrengthned with hopes, that the treaty betwixt the Governments would iſſue in opening a do…r of eſcape for all.
In Auguſt, Mr. Dudley and Capt. Vetch arrived, & great incouragements were given as to an Exchange of all in the Spring of the year: and ſome few again were ſent home; among whom I obtained leave to ſend my Son S…phex. Upon Mr. Dudley's and Capt. Vetch's Petitioning, I was again permitted to go up to Quebeck; but diſputing with a Mendicant …yar, who ſaid, He was an Engliſh-man ſent from France, to endeavour the Converſion of the Engliſh at Quebeck; Who arrived at Canada whilſt our Gentlemen were there: I was by the Prieſts means ordered again to return to Chat…uvich…, and no other reaſon given, but becauſe I… diſcourſed with that Prieſt, and their fear I ſhould prevent his ſucceſs amongſt the Captives. But God ſhew'd His diſlike of ſuch a Perſecuting Spirit: for the very next day which was September 20 O. S. October 1ſt N. S. the Seminary, a very famous building, was moſt of it burnt down; occaſioned by a Joyners letting a Coal of fire drop down among the Shavings. The Chappel in the Prieſts Garden, and the Great Croſs were burnt down; the Library of the Prieſts burnt up: This Seminary and another Library had been burnt but about Three years before. The day after my being ſent away by the Prieſts means from Quebeck at firſt, there was a Thunder-Storm, and the Lightning ſtruck the Seminary in the very place where the fire now began.
A little before Mr. Dudley's arrival, came a Souldier into my Land-lords houſe Bure-foot, and Bareleg'd, going on a Pilgrimage to Saint Anne. For ſaid he, My Captain who dyed ſome years ago appeared to me, and told me, he was in Purgatory; and told me I muſt go a Pilgrimage to Saint Anne, doing Penance, and get a Maſs ſaid for him, and then he ſhould be delivered. And many believed him, and were much affected with it; came and told …e of it, to gain my Credit of their deviſed Purgatory: the Souldier told me, The Prieſts had counſelled him to undertake this Pilgrimage. And I am apt to think, ordered his calling in at my Lord-lords, that I might ſee and ſpeak with him. I laught at the conceit, that a Souldier muſt be pitch… upon to be ſent on this errand; but they were much diſpleaſed, and lamented my obſtinacy, in that I would not be reclaimed from a denyal of Purgatory, by ſuch a Miraculous Providence.
As I was able, I ſpread the caſe before God, beſeeching of him to diſappoint them of their expectations, to Proſelyte any of the Captives by this Stratagem; and by the goodneſs of God it was not very Serviceable: for the Souldiers Converſation was ſuch, that ſeveral among the French themſelves judged it to be a Forgery. And tho the Captain ſpoken of was the Governours Lady's Brother, I never more heard any concernment or care to get him out of Purgatory.
One of the Pariſh where I lived, told me, That on the Twenty-ſecond of July, 17…5. He was at Quebeck, at the Mendicant Fryars Church, on one of their Feaſt Days, in honour of a great Saint of their Order, and that at Five a Clock Maſs in the Morning, near Two hundred Perſons preſent. A great Grey Catt brake or puſh'd aſide ſome Gla…s, and entred into the Church, and paſs'd along it near the Altar, and put out Five or Six Candles, that were burning; and that no one could tell which way the Catt went out: and he thought it was the Devil.
When I was in the City in September, I ſaw two Engliſh Maids who had lived with the Indians a long time. They told me, that an Indian had dyed at the place where they were; and that when ſundry of his Relations were together in order to his burial, the Dead aroſe, and informed them, That at his Death he went to Hell, and there he ſaw all the Indians that had been Dead ſince their embracing the Pepiſh Religion; and warned them to leave it off, or they would be Damned too, and lay down Dead again. They ſaid, the Indians were frightned, & very Melancholly; but the Jeſuit to whom they told this told them, It was only a deluſion of the Devil to draw them away from the true Religion; Adding, That he knew for certain that all thoſe Indians who had been Dead ſpoken of by that Indian, were in Heaven, only one Squaw was gone to Hell who dyed without Boptiſm. Theſe Maids ſaid alſo, That many of the Indians much Lamented their making a War againſt the Engliſh, at the inſtigation of the French.
The Prieſts, after Mr. Dudley's going from Canada, was ready to think their time was ſhort, for gaining Engliſh Proſelytes, and doubled their diligence and wiles, to gain over Perſons to their Perſwaſion. I improved all opportunities I could, to Write to the Engliſh, that in that Way I might be Serviceable to them. But many or moſt of my Letters treating about Religion were intercepted, and burnt. I had a Letter ſent down to me by order of the Governour, that I had a liberty of Writing to my Children and Friends, which ſhould be continued; provided I Wrote about indifferent things, and ſaid nothing in them about the points in controverſy between them and us: And if I were ſo hardy as to Write Letters otherwiſe, they ſhould endeavour to prevent their being delivered. Accordingly, I found many of them were burnt. But ſometimes notice would be given to the Engliſh, that there were Letters written, but that they were burnt; ſo that their Writing was ſomewhat uſeful tho' never peruſed by the Engliſh, becauſe they judged thoſe Letters condemned Popery. Many of our Letters Written from New-England, were never delivered, becauſe of ſome expreſſions about Religion in them. And as I ſaid before, after Mr. Dudley's departure from Quebeck, endeavours were very vigorous to ſeduce. Some were flattered with large Promiſes, others were threatned, and beaten, becauſe they would not turn. And when two Engliſh Women, who had alwayes oppoſed their Religion were ſick in the Hoſpital: they kept with them Night and Day, till they dyed; & their friends kept from coming to viſit them: after their death they gave out, that they dyed in the Romiſh Faith, and were received into their Communion. Before their Death Maſſes were ſaid for them; & they buried in the Church-yard with all their Ceremonies. And after this, Letters ſent into all parts to inform the Engliſh, that theſe two Women turn'd to their Religion, before their Death, and that it concerned them to follow their Example, for they could not be more obſtinate than theſe Women were in their Health, againſt the Romiſh Faith, and yet on a Death bed imbraced it. They told the Engliſh who lived near, That our Religion was a dangerous Religion to dye in. But I ſhall hereafter relate the juſt grounds we have to think theſe things were falſehoods.
I was informed, there was an Engliſh Girl bid to take and wear the Croſs, and Croſs her ſelf: She refuſed; they threatned her, and ſh…wed her the Croſs, At length, She had her choice, either to Croſs her ſelf, and take the Croſs, or be Whipt, ſhe choſe to be Whipt▪ and they took up her Clothes, and made as tho' they would correct her; but ſeeing her chuſing indeed to ſuffer rather than comply, they deſiſted and tyed the Croſs about her Neck. Some were taken & ſhut up among their Religious, and all ſorts of mean▪ uſed to gain them.
I received a Letter from one of my Neighbours, wherein he thus bewails. I obtained leave of my Maſter, to go to the Macqua-Fort to ſee my Children, that I had not ſeen for a long time: I carried a Letter from my Maſter; to ſhew that I had leave to come. When I came to the Fort, I heard one of my Children was in the Woods. I went to ſee a Boy I had there, who lived with one of the Jeſuits; I had juſt askt him of his Welfare; he ſaid his Maſter would come preſently; he durſt not ſtay to ſpeak with me now, being in ſuch awe of his Maſter. On which I withdrew, and when his Maſter came in, I went and askt leave of him to ſpeak with my Child, and ſhewed him my Letter. But he abſolutely refuſed to let me ſee or ſpeak with him; and ſaid, I had brought no Letter from the Governour, and would not permit me to ſtay in the Fort, tho' I had Travelled on foot near Fifty Miles for no other errand than to ſee and ſpeak with my Children.
The ſame Perſon with another Engliſh man laſt Spring, obtained leave of the Governour General, to go to the ſame Fort on the ſame errand, & carried Letters from the Governour to the Jeſuits, that he might be permitted to ſpeak with his Children. The Letter was deliver'd to the Jeſuits; who told him, his Son was not at home, but gone a Hunting. Whenas he was hid from them, as he heard afterward, ſo the poor man loſt his labour a ſecond time. Theſe men ſay, that when they returned to Mont-Royal, one Laland, who was appointed as a ſpy, always to obſerve the motions of the Engliſh, told them, that one of the Jeſuits had come in before them, and had told the Governour that the Lad was gone out a Hunting. And that the Engliſh man who accompanyed this poor man, went out into the Woods in hopes of finding the Lad; and ſaw him, but the Lad run away, and that he followed him & call'd after him, but he would not ſtop; but holding but a Gun threatned to ſhoot him down, if he followed him, and ſo he was diſcouraged, and turn'd back. And ſays Laland, You will never leave going to ſee your Children & Neighbours, till ſome of you are kill'd. But the men told him, it was an abſolute lye, let who would report it; for they had neither ſeen the Lad, nor did they go into the Woods to ſearch after him. They judge this was told to the Governour, to prevent any Engliſh for the future going to ſee their Children and Neighbours. Some of ours ſay, they have been little better than abſolutely promiſed, to have their Children who are among the Salvages, in caſe they themſelves would imbrace Popery. And that the Prieſts had ſaid, They had rather the Children ſhould be among the Indians, as they did, than be brought out by the French, and ſo be in a readineſs to return for New-England.
A Maid of our Town was put into a Religious houſe among the Nuns, for more than two years, and all ſort of means, by flatteries, threatnings, and abuſive carriages uſed to bring her to turn. They offered her Money, which when refuſed, eſpecially the latter part of the time, they threatned her very much; ſent for her before them, commanded her to Croſs her ſelf. She refuſed, they hit her a box on the Ear; bid her again, ſtill ſhe refuſed. The ordered a rod with Six branches full of knots to be brought; and when ſhe refuſed, they ſtruke her on the hands, with their renewing their Commands; and ſhe ſtood to her refuſals, till her hands were fill'd with Whales, with the blows. But one ſaid, Beat her no more, we will give her to the Indians, if ſhe wont turn. They pinch'd her Arms till they were black & blue; and made her go into their Church, and becauſe ſhe would not Croſs her ſelf, ſtruke her ſeveral blows with their hands on her face. A Squaw was brought in and ſaid, She was ſent to fetch her to the Indians: but ſhe refuſed; the … went away and ſaid, She would bring her Husband with her to Morrow, and … ſhould be carried away by force. She told me, She remembred what I told her one day, after the Nuns had threatned to give her away to the Indians; that they only ſaid ſo to affright her, that they never would give her away. The Nuns told her, She ſhould not be permitted any more to ſpeak to the Engliſh; and that they would afflict her without giving her any reſt, if ſhe refuſed: but God preſerved her from falling. This poor Girl had many Prayers going up to Heaven for her daily, and by name, becauſe her Trials were more known to ſome of the Engliſh, than the Trials of others, who lived more remote from them.
Here might be an Hiſtory by it ſelf, of the Trials and Sufferings of many of our Children, and Young ones, who have been abuſed, and after Separation from grown Perſons, made to do as they would have them.
I ſhall here give an account of what was done to one of my Children, a Boy between Fifteen and Sixteen years of Age, Two hundred Miles diſtant from me, which occaſioned grief and ſorrow, that I want Words to utter; and yet kept under ſuch awe, that he never d…rſt Write any thing to me, for fear of being diſcovered in Writing about Religion. They threatned to put him to the Indians again, … he would not turn; telling him, He was never bought out of their hands, but only ſojourned with them, but if … would turn, he ſhould never be put into their hands any more. The Prieſts would ſpend whole day…s in urging of him. He was ſent to School to learn to Read and Write French; the School-maſter ſometimes flattered him with Promiſes, if he would Croſs himſelf, then threatned him if he would not. But when he ſaw flattering Promiſes of rewards, and threatnings were ineffectual, he ſtruke him with a ſtick he had in his hand; and when he ſaw that would not do, he made him get down on his Knees about an hour, and then came and bid him make the ſign of the Croſs, and that without any delay; he ſtill refuſed. Then he gave him a couple of Strokes, with a Whip he had in his hand; which Whip had three Branches and about twelve great knotsty'd in it. And again bid him make the Sign of the Croſs; and if it was any Sin, he would bear it himſelf: and ſaid alſo, You are afraid you ſhall be changed if you do it: but (ſaid he) You will be the ſame, your Fingers wont be changed. And after he had made him ſhed many Tears, under his abuſes and threatnings, he told him, He would have it done: And ſo thro' Cowardiſe and Fear of the Whip, he made the Sign. And did ſo for ſeveral days together with much ado, he was brought to Croſs himſelf. And then the Maſter told him, He would have it done without his Particular bidding him. And when he came to ſay his Leſſon and Croſs'd not himſelf, the Maſter ſaid, Have you forgot what I bid you do. No Sir, ſaid he, Then the School-maſter ſaid, Down on your Knees; and ſo kept him for an hour and half, till School was done: and ſo did for about a Week. When he ſaw this would … do, … took the Whip, What wont you do it (ſaid he) I will make you: and ſo again, frighted him to a complyance. After this, Commanded him to go to the Church: when he refuſed, he told him, he would make him. And one Morning ſent four of the biggeſt Boys of the School, to draw him by force to Maſs. Theſe, with other ſeverities and witty ſtratagems were uſed; and I utterly ignorant of any attempt made upon him, to bring him to change his Religon. His fear was ſuch, that he never durſt Write any of theſe things, leaſt his Letters ſhould fall into their hands, and he ſhould again be deliver'd to the Indians. Hearing of an opportunity of Writing to him by one of the Pariſh where I was, going up to Mont-Royal, I Wrote a Letter to him, and had by him a Letter from my Son; which I ſhall here inſert.
Honoured Father,
I Have received your Letter bearing date January 11th. 1705, 6. for which I give you many thanks, with my Duty, and my Brothers. I am ſorry you have not received all the Letters I have Writ to you; as I have not received all yours. According to your good Counſel, I do almoſt every day read ſomething of the Bible, and ſo ſtrengthen my faith. As to the Captives newly brought, Lancaſter, is the Place of two of them, and Marlborough that of the third; the Governour of Mont-Royal has them all three. There is other News that will ſeem more ſtrange to you. That two Engliſh Women, who in their Life time were dreadfully ſet againſt the Catholick Religion, did on their death-bed imbrace it. The one Abigail Turbet, the other of them Eſther Jones, both of them known to you. Abigail Turbet ſent for Mr. Meriel the Sabbath before ſhe dyed. Said (many a time upon ſeveral following days) That ſhe committed her Soul into his hands, & was ready to do whatever he pleaſed. She deſired him to go to the Chappel St. Anne, & there to ſay a Holy Meſs for her, that ſhe might have her Sins Pardoned, and the Will of the Lord accompliſhed upon her. Her Couſin Mrs. Badſton, now Stilſon, askt her. Whether ſhe ſhould be willing to do as ſhe ſaid; She anſwered, yes. And upon the Tueſday ſhe was taken into the Catholick Church, in the preſence of John Laland, and Madam Grizalem, an Engliſh Women, and Mrs. Stilſon, alſo with many French People beſides. She was anointed with Oyl on the ſame day; according to her Will then, upon the Wedneſday an Image of Chriſt Crucifyed, was brought to her, ſhe cauſed it to be ſet up over againſt her at the Curtains of her bed, and look…d continually upon the ſame; and alſo a little Crucifix brought unto her, ſhe took it, and kiſſed it, and laid it upon her Stomack. She did alſo make the ſign of the Croſs upon her ſelf, when ſhe took any Meat or Drink. She promiſed to God that if ſhe ſhould recover, ſhe would go to the Maſs every day: She having on her hand a Crucifix, ſaying, Oh my Lord that I ſhould have known thee ſo late! She did alſo make a Prayer to the Virgin Mary, the two laſt days of the Week. She could utter no Word, but by kiſſing the Crucifix endeavouring the Croſſing her ſelf, ſhe gave an evidence of her faith; ſhe dyed Saturday the 24th. of November, at three a Clock in the afternoon. The next day, the Prieſt did commend that Womans Soul to the Prayers of the Congregation in the Maſs, in the afternoon ſhe was honourably buried in the Church-yard next to the Church, cloſe to the body of the Juſtice Peſe Wife; all the People being preſent at her Funeral. The ſame day in the Evening, Mr. Meriel with an Engliſh Woman, went to Eſther Jones; ſhe did at firſt diſdain, but a little after ſhe confeſs'd, there were Seven Sacraments, Chriſts Body preſent, the Sacrament of the Maſs, the Inequality of Power among the Paſtors of the Church; and being returned to wait by her all Night long, he read & expounded to her ſome part of the Catholick Confeſſion of Faith to her ſatisfaction. About Midnight he ask'd her, Whether ſhe might not confeſs her Sins; I doubt not but I may, ſaid ſhe: And two hours after, ſhe made unto him a fervent confeſſion of all the Sins of her whole Life. When he ſaid, He was to offer Chriſt to his Father for her; She liked it very well. The Superiour of the Nuns being come in to ſee her, ſhe now deſired that ſhe might receive Chriſts Body before ſhe dyed. She did alſo ſhow Mrs. Stilſon, a great mind to receive the Sacrament of Extream… Unction, and ſaid, That if ever ſhe ſhould recover and get home, ſhe would have reproached the Miniſters, for their neglecting that Sacrament ſo plainly commanded by St. James. In the afternoon, after ſhe had beg'd pardon for her wavering, and the Catholick Confeſſion of Faith was read aloud to her, in the hearing of Mr. Craſton, Mrs. Stilſon, and another Engliſh Woman, and ſhe owned the ſame; about Seven a Clock the ſame day ſhe ſaid to Mr. Dubiſon, Shall not they give me the holy Communion! But her Tongue was then ſo thick that ſhe could hardly ſwallow any thing. She was then anointed with Holy Oyl: but before, ſhe ſaid to Mr. Meriel, Why have you not yet, Sir, forgiven my Sins? In the Night following, that Prieſt, and Mr. Dubiſon were continually by her; and ſometimes Praying to God in her name, and Praying to the Virgin Mary, and oother Saints. She ſaid alſo, I believe all: I am very glad Chriſt was offered to his Father for me. Six or Seven hours before ſhe dyed, a Crucifix was ſhow'd to her by Mr. Dubiſon, ſhe took it and laid it upon her heart, and kiſs'd it; and then the Nuns hanging it with a pair of Beads upon her Neck. A little before ſhe dyed, Mr. Dubiſon askt her to Pray for him in Heaven; ſhe promiſed him: ſo ſhe gave up the Ghoſt, at Ten of the Clock the 27th. of November, whilſt the high Maſs was ſaying; ſhe was ſoon commended to the Prayers. On the fourth day of the Week following was buried; after the Maſs had been ſaid for her: ſhe was laid by Abigail Turbet.
Jan. 23d. 1705, 6.
I Have her tranſcribed the Letter in the very words of it without the leaſt alteration: the ſame for ſubſtance was ſent to ſeveral other Captives. When I had this Letter, I preſently knew it to be of Mr. Meriels compoſing; but the Meſſenger who brought the Letter, brought word that my Son had imbraced their Religion. Afterwards when ſome blamed him for letting me know of it, becauſe (they ſaid) they feared my Sorrow would ſhorten my days. He told me, he thought with himſelf that if he was in my caſe, he ſhould be willing to know the worſt, and therefore told me as he would have deſired to have known if in my place. I thank'd him, acknowledging it a favour to let me know of it: But the News was ready to Over-whelm me with Grief and Sorrow. I made my complaint to GOD, and Mourned before Him; Sorrow and Anguiſh took hold upon me. I ask'd of God to direct me what to do, and how to Write, and find out an opportunity of conveying a Letter to him; and committed this difficulty to his Providence. I now found a greater oppoſition to a Patient, Quiet, Humble, Reſignation to the Will of God than I ſhould otherwiſe have known, if not ſo tryed. Here I thought of my Afflictions and Tryals; my Wife and Two Children kill'd, and many of my Neighbours; and my ſelf, ſo many of my Children and Friends in a Popiſh Captivity, ſeparated from our Children, not capable to come to them to inſtruct them in the Way they ought to go; and cunning crafty Enemies, uſing all their ſubtilty to inſinuate into Young ones, ſuch Principles as would be pernicious. I thought with my ſelf how happy many others were, in that they had their Children with them, under all advantages to bring them up in the Nurture and Admonition of the Lord. Whileſt we were ſeparated one from another, and our Children in great Peril of Imbracing damnable doctrines. Oh! that all Parents who Read this Hiſtory would Bleſs God for the advantages they have of Educating their Children; and faithfully improve it! I Mourned when I thought with my ſelf that I had one Child with the Macqua's, a ſecond turn'd to Popery, and a little Child of Six years of Age, in danger from a Child to be inſtructed in Popery; and knew full well that all endeavours would be uſed to prevent my ſeeing or ſpeaking with them. But in the midſt of all theſe God gave me a ſecret hope, that He would magnify His Power and free Grace, and diſappoint all their crafty deſigns. When I look'd on the right hand and on the left, all refuge failed, and none ſhewed any care for my Soul. But God brought that Word to uphold me; Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above what we can ask or think. As alſo that, Is any thing too hard for God? I Pray'd to God to direct me; and Wrote very ſhort the firſt time, and in general terms, fearing leaſt if I ſhould Write about things in controverſy, my Letters would not come to him. I therefore addreſs'd him with the following Letter.
Son Samuel.
YOurs of January 23d. I received, and with it had the Tidings that you had made an abjuration of the Proteſtant Faith, for the Romiſh: News that I heard with the moſt diſtreſſing, afflicting, ſorrowful Spirit that ever I heard any News. Oh! I pitty you, I mourn over you day and night! Oh I pitty your weakneſs, that thro' the craftineſs of man you are turned from the Simplicity of the Goſpel … perſwade my ſelf you have done it through ignorance Oh! why have you neglected to ask a Fathers Advice in an affair of ſo great importance as the change of Religion! God knows that the Catechiſm in which I Inſtructed you, is according to the Word of God; and ſo will be found in the Day of Judgment. Oh! conſider and bethink your ſelf what you have done! And whether you ask me or not, my poor Child I cannot but Pray for you, that you may be recovered out of the Snare you are taken in. Read the Bible, Pray in Secret; make CHRIST'S Righteouſneſs your only Plea before GOD, for Juſtification: Beware of all Immorality, and of Prophaning God's Sabbaths. Let a Fathers Advice be ask'd for the future, in all things of weight and moment. What is a man profited if he gain the whole World, and loſe his own Soul? Or what ſhall a man give in exchange for his Soul? I deſire to be humbled under the Mighty hand of God thus afflicting of me. I would not do as you have done for Ten thouſand Worlds. My heart akes within me, but I will yet wait upon the Lord; to Him will I commit your caſe day and night: He can perform all things for me and mine; and can yet again recover you from your fall. He is a God forgiving iniquity, tranſgreſſion and ſin: to the Lord our God belong forgiveneſſes though we have rebelled. I charge you not to be inſtrumental to enſnare your poor Brother Warham, or any other, and ſo add Sin to Sin. Accept of my Love, and dont forſake a Fathers advice, who above all things deſires that your Soul may be Saved in the day of the Lord.
WHat I mournfully Wrote, I followed with my poor Cryes to God in Heaven to make effectual, to cauſe in him a conſideration of what he had done. God ſaw what a Proud heart I had, & what need I had to be ſo anſwered out of the Whirlwind, that I might be humbled before Him. Not having any anſwer to my Letter for ſome Weeks. I Wrote the following Letter, as I was enabled of God, and ſent to him by a faithful hand; which by the bleſſing of God was made effectual for his good, and the good of others, who had fall'n to Popery; and for the eſtabliſhing and ſtrengthening of others to reſiſt the Eſſays of the Adverſary to Truth. God brought good out of this evil, and made what was deſigned to promote their intereſt, an occaſion of ſhame to them.