together on this Occasion; and my Testimonies found a great Acceptance, and beyond my Expectation.

26 d. 11 m. Thursday. I preached the Lecture, on Gal. 2. 20. Living by the Faith of the Son of God; and the excellent Methods to fill a Life with Acknowledgments of a Glorious CHRIST, and have Thoughts of Him in all Manner of Conversation.

29 d. 11 m. I preached on, Psal. 25. 8. The Goodness and Faithfulness of God; particularly appearing, in showing Sinners the Way to Blessedness: and what is the Way,

5 d. 12 m. [February.] I preached on Tit. 2. 14. The redeemed, becoming a purified, and peculiar People. And I administred the Eucharist.

H

BOSTON, 16 d. 10 m. [December.], 1709.

Sir, You have alwayes allow'd me, all possible Freedom with you; and I have alwayes practis'd it.

I continue to do so. And I Entreat that by your obliging Hand, there may be convey'd the Little Books, of the Golden Street, unto those, unto whom I have directed them.

The Books of Sober Considerations I Entreat you, to disperse where you think, there may be most occasion for them.

The other paper of PROPOSALS, I am desired by a Nameless Gentleman (I could never Learn, who; tho' when I saw the Second Leaf, I could Easily call to Mind, who was the Author of what fell into the Hands of the unknown Gentleman;) to scatter; and I Leave this Parcel of them, unto your Discretion, for the Dispersion of them.

I pray the glorious Redeemer to multiply His Blessings, on your person and Family. I am, Syr, Ever and heartily your Servt.

BOSTON, 4 d. 2 m. [April.], 1709[10].

SIR, If I prove Troublesome, tis your most obliging Invita

tion, that has made me so.

We suppose the Fleet not yett sailed.

I humbly entreat you, Sir, to make this Packet, (unto my Brother,)

find Mr Emerson; unto whose care I committ it, as being partly indeed for his Service; that is, to recomend him unto what my Brother may do for him.

If you meet not with Mr Emerson I pray, lett Mr Stoddard have it; who has already a Cargo of my providing.

We have no manner of Newes; that is to say, public.

Ever now and then, we discover New Roxburisms but those whether committed here, or at Piscataqua, (when you take People in their way,) must not as yett be talk'd of.

I don't understand, that the publication of Mr Stoddard's pretended Answer goes forward.1

I pray your Acceptance of an Opening Temple,2 and wish you a part in it. I am, Syr, Your hearty Servt,

Co. MATHER.3

TO SAMUEL PENHALLOW.

M.H.S.

BOSTON. 22 d. 3 m. [May.], 1710.

MY HONOURED FRIEND,- After a thousand Obligations which you have heretofore laid upon me, you have by your late kind Presents, entred pretty far into another Chiliad. Should I write you as many Letters of Thanks, as I have obligations, I should make you but an ill Requital, and but oppress and injure you with a Load of Acknowledgments. In one word, I thank you, I love you, I wish I could serve you.

I proceed unto the next Part of my Duty; which is to inform you, That the Arrival of our Ingenuous, Generous, and prosperous Friend, Capt. Wentworth, surprizes us with a large Cargo of Intelligence. I will offer you nothing, that you may expect from our public Newes Letter.

But, we may every day expect the Dragon, as a Forerunner, of Six Men of War, with a thousand Marines, of whom etc. Col. Nicolson is General, to pursue an Expedition, first against Port-royal. The

4

1 Solomon Stoddard's An Appeal to the Learned, a reply to Increase Mather, and printed this year.

2 The Temple Opening, printed in 1709.

8.60 "9 d. 2 m. [April.] 1710. This Day a Confession of William Perry, expressing a Repentance of his Error and Evil, in withdrawing from the Communion of the Church, was offered unto the Church, and accepted." Cotton Mather's MS. Records of the Second Church, II.

Arrival of our Mast-fleet, and the Maqua's, may perhaps, a little retard, and alter, some of the Motions and Measures, but the thing will go on; and you will foresee that it is like to be a Summer of extreme Distress unto us.

The Parlaiment, were willing to exert a Trial of skill, on the High-flyers in the Nation; and impeached one Sacheverel before the House of Lords, for some fiery Sermons, which he published. He had a long Trial of ten Dayes; And the Friends of his Cause in the House of Lords, were so many, that a very easy Sentence was passed upon him; of three years suspension from the preaching Part of his priestly Function. Immediately an High-Church Mob was raised, by some Incendiaries; who did horrid Things, and pull'd down six Presbyterian Meeting-houses, (Burgesses, Bradburies, etc.) and were proceeding to pull down the Bishop of Salisburies House, and endless Outrages; But the City Trained Bands suppressed the formidable Tumult. Almost all Men of Thought, expect a Civil War; at least, as soon as Opportunity shall be given for it, by a Peace with France; which now is diverted, until some further Decisive Action.1

What remains is, to comfort you, concerning a Good Friend of ours, in whose Welfare we have both reckoned our selves Concerned. Mr Emerson is returned. And I cannot learn any other, but that he has behaved himself honourably, and come off with a very good Reputation. Several eminent Persons write unto me concerning him; and all of them, very respectfully. He is, you know, of a vivid, and active Genius; and of an hearty Inclination to Do Good. So far as I can understand, he has done it; and has endeavoured all good Offices to the Publick as he has had opportunity. I beleeve, his Friends, (as well as his Talents,) to be such, that, if his own Flock do not give him a very agreeable Reception, he may soon, much mend his Condition and Serviceableness, on the other side of the Atlantic. It will be some Difficulty for him, to reach Piscataqua, till he hath spent a little Time here, in doing and settling some Affairs, of Consequence to others as well as himself, here; for there are many who rely upon him, for his Guidance, and Advice, and Management in their Affairs. If he don't hurry home, his Conduct must not be censured.

I will add no more at this Time. I commend you to the Pro

1 The story is briefly told in the Dictionary of National Biography, L. 81.

tection and Comunion of our only Saviour. And I am, Syr, Your very obliged Servt.

Co. MATHER.1

TO SAMUEL PENHALLOW.

M.H.S.

BOSTON I d. II m. [January.], 1710-11.

MY HONOURED FRIEND, It is not in flourishing and flattering Words, but in very speaking Matter of Fact, that I continually declare, my Esteem for your Person and Conduct, and my entire Satisfaction in your good Affection to me.

Tis from hence, that I ever presume upon such Points of a Friendship and Freedom with you, as I do not with any Person in your Province, nor with many in the whole world.

I readily subscribe this Testimony, that I find you a Constant, Faithful, and useful Friend.

And I now address you with a Request which I would make to none but such a Friend.

On the astonishing Exemple of outrageous wickedness among the Sailors and Strangers lately broke into your Neighbourhood, and the Quick and Strange Destruction brought by the Judgments of God upon some of them, I Entertained a great Auditory, with a Lecture on the Last Thursday.

The publication of the Sermon is desired; and I am willing to grant the Desire.

But it ought to be accompanied with an Expressive and Punctual Relation of the horrid Matter, and such an one, as being well attested, may be Relied upon. The Least material Mistake, may be a great Inconvenience.

Now, no Man more able than you, to furnish me. Write me then, this week, a Letter that shall give me the Story with all the Circumstances, which you think proper to have Exposed unto the world. Yea, and such a Letter, as may (except you forbid me,) be joined with my Sermon. For truly, Syr, I am not ashamed of appearing very publickly in your Company, if you are not afraid of appearing in mine. And thus much for that Affayr.2

1 "4 d. 4 m. [June.], 1710. David Norton, having been overtaken with a scandalous Degree of Drunkenness, the Church this day accepted his pœnitent and ingenuous Confession." Cotton Mather's MS. Records of the Second Church, II. "This must refer to Compassions called for, but there is no letter from Penhallow in it.

My dear, and youngest Sister, Jerusha Oliver, is now lying dead (in Childbed of her first Child,) and to-morrow to be interr'd. She was an Exemple of shining Piety from her Infancy and has left admirable Memorials of it, with her Pen, whereof she was a considerable Mistress. I mention this; because your Good Affection, makes the Concerns of our Family your own.1

God continue to you, your excellent and amiable Consort; and give you much Comfort in all your Children. May the Knowledge and Image and Service of a glorious Christ, exceedingly Beautify them all. I am, Syr, Your very obliged Servt,

CO. MATHER.

Tis to be feared, Capt Hobby can continue but a little while.

1 Mather printed a tract about the Christian experiences of Mrs. Oliver, entitled Memorials of Early Piety, 1711.