itself, to be dispersed in Maryland. I considered also, that it was a Blessedness, to do a part in the work of this Day, the pulling down of the Romish Babylon. Accordingly, I entituled this little Peece of Work; THE FALL Of Babylon.1

1

24 d. 5 m. Thursday. This Day was kept as a Fast, thro' the Province; with relation to the miserable Circumstances of our Expedition to Port-Royal.

I enjoy'd gracious Assistences from the Lord, in the Work of the Day.

In my Family, I sett my Children, to consider, what Points they could find in themselves that needed Amendment; and resolve accordingly to amend themselves, and be and do better than formerly; And in the Evening to declare unto me, what Resolutions they have taken up.

I resolved, that if the Lord would hear our Prayers; in the Extremity of Confusion which is now threatning of us, and grant a good Issue and Return of our Expedition, I would sett myself to do some special Thing, for the glorifying of Him, as the Hearer of Prayers, or for the Encouraging of Prayers among His People.

'It is doubtful if there was a separate issue made of the Fall of Babylon, although its separate pagination suggests the possibility.

2

2 Although the English clearly had the advantage in numbers and preparedness before Port Royal, and the French commander there, Subercase, had been taken by surprise, nothing was done. The cause has been laid to the inefficiency of the English commander, Colonel John March, and to his want of confidence in his troops. He retired with his fleet to Casco, to the great disappointment and not a little indignation of the Massachusetts authorities. Three commissioners were thereupon appointed to go to Casco: Elisha Hutchinson, Penn Townsend, and John Leverett. Rumors prevailed that the army at Casco was mutinous and disorderly. Leverett reported (July 8): "We discoursed with the officers of the Army by themselves, and opened our Commission; told them what we expected from them, and what they ought to demand from the Officers under them, and they again from the Souldiers. The Officers expressed their willingness to obey. We have also this day had the Captains with us, who say they are ready to go back to Port Royal, and that they were neither beat off, nor frighted away. We think it not proper to discourse of past matters, though we see they feel the Impression of our people's talk at home." The Leverett Memorial, 133.

"After the army had lay there six weeks they set saill againe for Port Royal, where being arrived they did nothing worth remembering. Where the fault lay,

8 d. 6 m. [August.] Friday. The Lord, after my humble Supplications, and Resignations about it, gave me this Day, a comfortable Journey to Salem, (in Company with my Friend Mr Makemie,)1 where I preached on the Lord's-Day; and returned home on the Munday.

22 d. 6 m. Friday. This Day, I sett apart, for the Services of a secret Fast before the Lord. I enjoyed somewhat more of Impression and Influence from Heaven upon me, this Day, than at many Times. I do this Day obtain Mercy for me, in my Family, and in my Ministry; and prepare for Tidings from England, concerning the Composures I have sent thither. I commend my whole Work, unto the Conduct and Blessing of Heaven; and particularly some Journeyes, that are quickly before me, in the Service of the Churches.

That I might serve the Designs of Christianity in as many Wayes as I could well devise, I fitted for the Press, my Discourses on Manly Christianity.

The Treatise is entituled, MANLY CHRISTIANITY, A brief Essay, on the Signs of Good Growth and Strength, in the most Lovely Christianity.

But I must wait the Lord's Time and Way for the Publication of it; not being at this Instant in a Way for it.2

2 d. 7 m. [September.] Tuesday. The over-ruling Providence of the Lord, carried me to Hull this Day; where a Council of several Churches assembled, for the composing of grievous Contentions. We saw a surprizing and prosper

whether in officers or souldiers, or both, is not my business to enquire. I shall only remark that the disappointment of that design speaks much of divine anger of which we are generally too insensible." John Marshall's Diary, in 2 Proceedings, I. 159. See The Leverett Memorial, 134-143.

1 See p. 599, infra.

"31 d. 6 m. This Day, the church voted that Mr. Timothy Thornton, Mr. John Goodwyn [and] Mr. Robert Cumby, should join with Deacon Barnard, in managing the care of the Seats in the Meeting-house." Cotton Mather's MS. Records of the Second Church, II.

* The minister at Hull was Rev. Zechariah Whitman, ordained September 13,

ing Presence of the Lord with us in our Undertaking. The Differences of that poor People were most happily healed. And my poor Tongue and Hand, were particularly employ'd in this Work. We returned home, the Day following with very great Satisfaction.

10 d. 7 m. Wednesday. This Day, the Glorious Lord carried me to the south Part of Braintree; where a New Church was gathered, and a Pastor was ordained. The Action was carried on, with sensible Effects, and affecting Tokens, of the gracious Presence of the Lord. On this Occasion, I preached in the Great Assembly; and enjoy'd a marvellous Presence of the Lord with me. Oh! sovereign Grace; what shall I render to thee!

The People of the Place afterwards much desired a Copy of my Sermon, that it might be published, and preserved with them (and others) as the perpetual Monitor of their Duty. So I gave it them; entituled, THE TEMPLE OPENING.

16 d. 7 m. Tuesday. The Lord favoured me, with a comfortable Journey to Salem. On the Day following, I preached the Lecture at Beverly; which was the main Design of this Journey. On the Thursday I returned home.

That I might be the more præpared for, and assisted in the Service of the Lecture at Beverly, I was extremely broke, and faint and ill, with an unconquerable Pain in my Stomach. My Illness came on me in the Morning, and greatly distressed me. Yett the Lord graciously carried me thro' my Work; I preach'd with great Flame and Force; and when my Service was finished, my Sickness also was vanished.

The Fatigues of this Journey; and the many Vigils, which I have kept of late, preparatory to my Services; and 1670. He continued to officiate till near the time of his death, which took place November 5, 1726.

1

1 The causes leading to the new or South Church are given in Pattee, History of Old Braintree and Quincy, 206. Hugh Adams was the pastor ordained this day.

some this Week particularly; excuse me from keeping a Fast in my Study, as else I would have done.1

SIR, Many months ago, I sent you, by a Captive-woman (who went by water from hence; I think, her Name was Jurdain;) a Number of Little Books, Entituled, The Negro Christianized; with my Desire to know from you, what Number of Christian Families in your province, you could Learn to have Negroes in them.2 Inasmuch as I have never since heard from you, it makes me suspect, whether my Packetts ever came to your hands; and therefore I now inform you thereof.

It is at present a dull Time for Intelligence, Foreign or Domestic; and so I do at present forbear any further Communication; Hoping, if I Live a few weeks Longer, to Entertain you with Several things that will not be unacceptable.

I heartily pray for your prospering in the Concerns of both worlds; and subscribe, Syr, Your sincere Servt.

Co. MATHER.

Enclosed, is an Extract I made, of the Memorial and Petition to the Q. and Council; which Procured the Destruction of the Illegal Commission against Connecticut, and their Deliverance from their Enemies; and a sore Disadvantage to the Enemy. Send it me again. As also, the Rhode Island papers.

1 "19 d. 8 m. [1707.] John Barnard, having given Scandal, by the Liberty he took, of using the scandalous Game of Cards, when he was lately a Chaplain abroad in the Army, he this Day made his public Acknowledgement, which gave Satisfaction to the People of God.

“7 d. 10m. James Fowle, having been convicted of profane Swearing, in his provoked Passion, his poenitent Acknowledgement, was this day presented to the Church and accepted.

“21 d. 9 m. [1708.] Sarah Bushnel, having been scandalously overtaken with the Sin of Drunkenness, her Confession and Repentance was this Day offered to the Church and accepted." Cotton Mather's MS. Records of the Second Church, II.

• Printed in 1706. See 564, supra.

SIR,You have greatly Renewed and Augmented my Obligations to you, by the Packets which I Lately received from you. I pray that you will persist in such Communicative Goodness, as there shall be opportunity.

You are so well informed, of what passes of Public affairs, abroad in the world; that you need none of my poor Informations.

I shall therefore Confine myself to that Particular Point, wherein you have commanded me to tell what I know. I knew nothing, when I received your Last Letters. But within these three or four Dayes, we understand by Letters from England, that the Point aforesd will be certainly and suddenly accomplished. At Fides, Penes Scriptores.

Our Manner of Proceeding a Year ago, in that unprecedented way of Trying and Judging our Eastern Traders, is mighty Ill resented with the Government in England; and we do not yett know all the Consequences.

That brave man, Mr. Makemie, has after a famous Trial at N. York, bravely triumphed over the Act of Uniformity, and the other Pœnal Lawes for the Ch. of England. Without permitting the Matter to come so far as to Pleading the Act of Toleration, he has compelled an Acknowledgment that those Lawes aforesd, are but Local ones, and have nothing to do with the Plantations. The NonCon[formist] Religion and Interest, is, thro' the Blessing of God on the Agency of that Excellent person, Likely to prevail mightily in the Southern Colonies. I send you, two or three of Mr Makemies Books,1 to be dispersed among such of your People, as may need them.

I, pray, that a glorious Christ, may give you very much to know Him, and Serve Him. I am Syr, Sincerely yours,

Co. MATHER.

1 Francis Makemie had, in 1707, when on his way to Boston, preached a sermon in a private house in New York without a license, for which he was arrested and imprisoned for two months. His narrative of the incident, A Letter to Lord Cornbury, was printed in Boston, in 1707, and is reprinted in Force's Tracts, IV. Since 1684 he had held relations with the Mathers, and never seems to have forfeited their esteem in his somewhat erratic career. Lord Cornbury, not without some truth, described him as "a preacher, a doctor of physic, a merchant, an attorney, a counsellor-at-law, and, which is worst of all, a disturber of governments." He died in Virginia, in 1708.