YALE UNIVERSITY
LIBRARY

¦••<¦?»?»¦-

LIVES

CHIEF FATHERS OF NEW ENGLAND.
The Lord our God be with, us, as lie was with our fa
thers : let him not leave us, nor forsaie us. 1 Kings 8: 67.
V O L. V.

THE LIVES

INCREASE MATHER

SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS.

BY ENOCH PONO.

LIBRARY EDITION, 100 COPIES.

BOSTON; 1870.

PREFACE

The first settlers of New England were remarkable
men. They were raised up in Providence, for an
important purpose ; were trained for it by a most
extraordinary discipline ; and bravely, nobly, did they
accomplish their vocation. Their characters, on every
account, are worthy of our study. The knowledge
and the benefits of their example cannot be too widely
extended. I was glad, therefore, when I saw it
announced, more than a year ago, that the lives of
some ofthe chief fathers of New England were to be
published, in a series of volumes, by the Massachusetts
Sabbath School Society. The volumes already pub
lished have been well received, and I only regret that
the one herewith presented to the public, is so little
worthy to have a place among them.
Increase Mather was not a literal Pilgrim, but the
son of a Pilgrim. He was born in this country soon
after its settlement, and here he spent almost the
whole of his long and useful life. For more than
sixty yeais together, he was literally a public man.
He sustained the most important offices, both sacred
and civil ; was called to act in the most trying and
responsible situations, and although we claim for him
no exemption from the infirmities incident to fallen
1#

VI PREFACE.

human nature, yet it may be safely said, that to no
one of her sons is New England, on the whole, more
deeply indebted. A brief sketch of the life of Increase
Mather, was given in a volume, entitled, " The
Mather Family," published in 1843. The present
Memoir, though containing some part of the former,
is yet a very different work. It presents a much more
full and particular account of the venerable Mather,
being extended to not less than four times the same
number of pages.
The first chapter of the present Memoir is chiefly
occupied with biographical notices of Mr. Mather's
father and brothers. My reasons for devoting so much
space to them are, in brief, as follows :
In a series of volumes purporting to contain " The
Lives of the Chief Fathers of New England ;" it
seemed quite indispensable that some account should
be given of Richard Mather ; and I knew not where a
notice of him could be so well inserted, as here.
Then the life of Increase Mather is so intimately
connected with that ofhis father and brothers, that, in
order to a right understanding of the former, the
reader needs, and must have, some acquaintance with
the latter.
It is to be considered, too, that the Mather family
was a remarkable one, moTe especially in its first
generations ; — one which exerted a controlling influ
ence on both the civil and religious affairs of New
England ; and it seemed proper to preface the Memoir
of the more distinguished member of it with a short
introduction to the family in general. At the same

PREFACE.
time, it is hoped that the notices inserted are not
without some interest in themselves, and will not be
Unprofitable to those who read them.
The second Memoir in the volume is that of the
first Provincial Governor, Sir William Phipps. He
was cotemporary with Increase Mather, though a
little younger ; and the two were associated in some
of the more important transactions of their lives. It
is fitting, therefore, that their Memoirs should stand
together. Sir William Phipps was in the strictest sense,
what is sometimes called a self-made man. He com
menced life under the most forbidding circumstances,
and rose by his own exertions to the possession, not
only of a large estate, but of the highest honors to
which, in this country, he could at that time aspire.
And yet he died at the early age of forty-four. The
study of such a life and example cannot but be useful,
more especially to the young. It will not be without
interest, I hope to all.
In conclusion, I would humbly commit the volume
to God, and under him to the Sabbath School Libra
ries, earnestly hoping that it may contribute to make
known the deeds of our worthy ancestors, and to
extend and perpetuate the benefits of their example.
ENOCH POND.
Bangor, April, 1847.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

CHAPTER I.
His Lineage and Family. Brief sketches of the lives of his father,
Rev. Richard Mather, and of his brothers, the Rev. Messrs.
Samuel, Nathaniel, and Eleazer Mather.
It was a star which guided the wise men of the
East to the birthplace of the infant Saviour. In
all ages there have been stars, to lead men to
Christ. Such, preeminently, are learned, pious,
devoted, evangelical ministers. They are burn
ing and shining lights while here below, and
having accomplished their work, and turned
many to righteousness, they go to shine as stars
in the firmament of heaven forever.
Among the stars in the right hand of the
great Head of the Church, which glittered upon
the golden candlesticks, of primitive New Eng
land, none shone with a brighter and more
attractive lustre, than Increase Mather. I pro
pose, in what follows, to make my readers ac-

10 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
quainted with this venerable man ; — but in order
to do it to the best advantage, it will be neces
sary to premise a brief account of his lineage,
and family.
He was the son of Eev. Eichard Mather, long
the faithful and successful minister of Dorches
ter, Mass. Eichard Mather was born in the
small town of Lowton, Lancashire, England,
A. D. 1596. He was early sent to a public
school at Winwick, where he was boarded in
the winter ; but in the summer, (so great was
his desire for learning,) he walked daily four
miles to school, from his father's house. He
suffered much, while at school, from the unrea
sonable strictness and severity of his teacher, —
so much that he often entreated his father to
take him away, and permit him to relinquish his
studies altogether. But to this his father would
not consent, but encouraged him to persevere .
and for his firmness in this instance, the world
is under lasting obligations to the good man ;
and Mr. Mather himself did not cease to re
member him with gratitude and honor, as long
as he lived. " God intended better for me," he
said, " than I would have chosen for myself;
and therefore my father, though in other things
indulgent enough, yet in this would never
condescend to my request, but by putting me in

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 11
hope that, by his speaking to the master, things
would be amended, would still over-rule me to
go on in my studies. And good it was to me
to be overruled by him and his discretion, rather
than to be left to my own affections and de
sires." Let children learn, from this example, to con
fide in their parents' judgment, rather than in
their own. Many an individual besides Eichard
Mather, has found and acknowledged in after
life, the benefit of having been crossed in his
childish wishes, and of having been compelled
to pursue a course of life very different from
that which he would himself have chosen.
It is evidence of the proficiency of young
Mather, and of the confidence which his too
rigid master reposed in him, that he recom
mended him as teacher of a public school at Tor-
teth Park, near Liverpool, when he was only
fifteen years of age. He continued in this
school several years, discharging the duties of
preceptor, with distinguished success, and per
fecting himself, meanwhile, in those branches of
study which he had occasion to teach. It was
while he was here, that he became a subject of
renewing grace. The principal means of his
awakening was that best of all preaching — the
strict and holy example of the Christian with

12 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
whom he boarded. " The exemplary walk of
this godly man," whose name was Aspinwall,
"caused many sad fears to arise in his own
soul, that he was himself out of the way ; which
consideration, with his hearing a Mr. Harrison
preach about regeneration, and his reading Mr.
Perkins' book, showing how far a reprobate may
go in religion, were the means whereby the
God of heaven brought him into the state of the
new creature. The troubles of soul which pre
ceded his new birth were so exceedingly terri
ble, that he would often retire from his meals
into secret places, to lament his miseries. But
after some time, the good Spirit of God healerl
his broken heart, and poured into it the consola
tions ofhis great and precious promises."
From this period, Mr. Mather seems to have
had his mind fixed upon the holy ministry ; and
that he might prepare himself in the best man
ner, for so great a work, he resolved to relin
quish his school, and connect himself with the
University at Oxford. His residence at Oxford
could not have been more than two or three
years ; for in 1618, when he was only twenty-
two years of age, he received an invitation to
return to Torteth, not as a schoolmaster, but as
a minister of righteousness.
He was ordained, together with several others,

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 13
by Dr. Morton, bishop of Chester. When the
ordination was over, the bishop took him aside,
and addressed him in the following remarkable
language : " I have an earnest request unto
you, Mr. Mather, and you must not deny me.
It is that you would pray for me. I know that
the prayers of such as fear God, will1 avail
much, and I take you to be of this number."
In 1624, two years after his settlement at
Torteth, Mr. Mather was married to an excel
lent lady, the daughter of Edmund Holt, Esq.,
of Bury, who was his assistant in labor, and the
partner of his pilgrimage, for more than thirty
years. During his ministry in England, Mr. Mather
was abundant in labors, not only among his own
people, but in the adjoining towns and villages.
He always seized the opportunity which his
attendance at funerals afforded, for imparting
instruction to the living. He frequently preached
upon holidays ; because, as he says, " there was
then an opportunity to cast the net of the gospel
among a multitude of fishes." Great assemblies
were then brought together, which otherwise
would have been worse employed.
Having spent about fifteen years in the dili
gent and faithful performance of duties such as
these, complaints were at length urged against
vol. v. 2

14 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
him for non-conformity ; and in August, 1633,
he was suspended from the ministry. By the
intercession of friends, his suspension was re
moved after a few months ; but it was again
inflicted the next year, and under circumstances
which led him to despair of being ever more
permitted to exercise his ministry in his native
land. About this time, Mr. Mather entered renew-
edly, and more thoroughly than ever before,
upon the study of church polity, assisted by the
writings of such men as Cartwright, Parker,
Baines, and Ames. The result was, that he be
came a decided Congregationalist, and was
henceforth known as the expounder and earnest
defender of Congregational principles.
By the opening of the year 1635, Mr. Mather
had made up his mind to join the goodly num
ber of confessors and pilgrims, who were bidding
adieu to their native land, and migrating to the
distant shores of New England. The reasons
which satisfied him as to the propriety of this
important measure, were the following, as re
corded by himself: " It is right to remove,
1. From a corrupt church to a purer.
2. From a place, where the truth and the pro
fessors of it are persecuted, unto a place of more
quiet and safety.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 15
3. From a place where all the ordinances of
God cannot be enjoyed, unto a place where~they
may. 4. From a church, where the discipline ofthe
Lord Jesus Christ is wanting, unto a church
where it may be practiced.
5. From a place, where the ministers of God
are unjustly inhibited from the execution of
their functions, to a place wheje they may more
freely execute them. ,
6. From a place, where there are fearful
signs of coming desolations, to a place where
one may have a well-grounded hope of God's
protection." Such were the reasons which led to l^Ir.
Mather's removal from England to America ;
and such, for substance, were the reasons which
influenced all the pilgrims. Here is nothing
said about gold and silver, about commercial
enterprises and gains ; but every one of the six
reasons has respect to religion, — its purity, the
liberty of professing and practicing it, and the
anticipated favor of God in the undertaking.
These reasons are enough, of themselves, to
show the nature of the enterprise in which our
fathers were engaged. It was primarily and
chiefly a religious enterprise, — undertaken for
the enjoyment and advancement of religion, and

16 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
the glory of God. And in the success of it, we
have a remarkable illustration of that declara
tion of the Psalmist : " Surely the wrath of
man shall praise thee." During the twelve
years of Archbishop Laud's administration, not
less than four thousand emigrants became plan
ters in America. Neale, informs us, that he had
a list of seventy-seven divines, ordained in the
church of England, who became pastors of
churches in America, before the year 1640.
Among these divines was the Rev. Eichard
Mather. Fleeing in disguise from his persecu
tors, who were in hot pursuit of him, he em
barked at Bristol, in May, 1635, and arrived
wifh his family at Boston, in August of the
same year. Near the end of the voyage, he
encountered a terrible storm at sea, and was on
the point of being swallowed up, but the Lord
graciously preserved him, to be an ornament
and blessing to the infant churches of New
England. Before his arrival, the church which had been
first planted at Dorchester, under the charge of
Eev. Mr. Warham, had removed in a body,
with its pastor, and settled at Windsor, Connec
ticut; leaving the remaining settlers at Dor
chester, in a destitute state. Mr. Mather was
almost immediately called to exercise his minis-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 17
try among them, and after due consultation, he
consented to become their pastor, and here he
continued to the day of his death,- a period of
more than thirty-three years. After the down
fall of the hierarchy, he was earnestly solicited
to return to his former charge in England ; but
he rightly judged that the Lord had called him
to this country, and that it was his duty here to
spend his days.
The preaching of Mr. Mather is represented
as being not only sound, and instructive, but very
direct and plain. He " studiously avoided obscure
and foreign words, and the needless citation
of Latin sentences, aiming to shoot his arrows,
not over the heads, but into the hearts of his
hearers." Yet so scripturally and powerfully
did he preach his plain sermons, that Mr.
Hooker used to say, " My brother Mather is a
mighty man." In both Engiands, he had much
success of his labors in converting Many souls
to Christ. One of Mr. Mather's hearers, speak
ing of events which took place in Dorchester,
soon after his settlement, says : " In those days
did God manifest his presence among us, in
converting many souls, and in gathering his
dear ones into church fellowship by solemn
covenant. Our hearts were taken off from old
England, and set upon heaven. The discourse,
2*

18 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
not only of the aged, but of the youth also, was,
not How shall ioe go to England ? but, How
shall we go to heaven? Have I true grace
wrought in my heart ? Have I Christ, or no ?
O the many tears that were shed in Dorchester
meeting-house, .at such times, both by those
who declared God's work on their souls, and by
those that heard them ! "
At the period of which we are speaking, much
attention was given, both in this country and in
England, to the subject of church government.
Our fathers had little dissension or discussion
about the leading doctrines of the gospel.
These, having settled down upon the good old
scriptural foundation of Calvinism, had scarcely
began to be disputed. The doctrinal articles of
the several reformed churches were remarkably
at agreement. But many points of church gov
ernment and discipline were • still undecided.
The sensa»f the inspired writers in regard to
them had not been satisfactorily ascertained. It
was with reference to these, undoubtedly, that
the famous John Eobinson expected more light
to break forth from the Scriptures, and exhorted
his people to follow that light.
To these points, therefore, the minds of our
forefathers and their cotemporaries were directed,
with a deeply interested attention; and it is

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 19
evidence of the high standing of Mr. Mather
among them, and of the estimation in which he
was held, that his services were in continual
requisition, in resolving and defending points of
this nature. In the year 1639, thirty-two ques
tions, relating to church government, were pro
pounded by the general court of Massachusetts,
for the consideration of the ministers. Their
answer to these questions was drawn up entirely
by Mr. Mather. He was a prominent member
of the synod of 1648, and with his own hand
drew up the substance of the celebrated Cam
bridge Platform, which was then adopted. He
is said to have been a member of every synod
that was convened in New England, during his
residence in the country; and was actually the
moderator of an ecclesiastical council, at the time
of his death. This circumstance led one of his
brethren to write for him the following memo
rial : " Vizerat in Synodis ; moritur moderator
in illis ; — Among Synods he lived ; the modera
tor of one he died.
He was one of three ministers, who prepared
the New England version of the Psalms; — a
work more creditable to his piety and orthodoxy,
than to his poetical inspiration. He wrote an
answer to Mr. Davenport of New Haven on the

20 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
subject of infant baptism,* with which old Mr.
Higginson, of Salem, was so well pleased, that
he said: "Mr. Mather is a pattern to all the
answerers in the world." He was the author of
several other works, chiefly (though not wholly)
on his favorite subject of church order and disci
pline. Mr. Mather was not only an active, but an
eminently studious man. " So intent was he
upon his beloved studies, that only the morning
before his death, he importuned the friends who
were with him to help him into his study,"
where he had not been for several days, and
where, he remarked, " My usual works and my
books expect me. Is it not lamentable that I
should lose so much time ? "
Up to the period of his last sickness, the
health of Mr. Mather had been uninterruptedly
good. He had never been obliged to call a
physician; had never been sick of any acute
disease, nor in fifty years together had he been
detained so much as one Lord's day from his
public labors. His last illness was that distress
ing one, the stone, with which he was attacked
while attending an ecclesiastical council ia

* The question between them did not respect the validity of infant
baptism, but the lawfulness of baptizing any except the children of
church members, in full communion.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 21
Boston. He was able to be removed to his own
house, but never to leave it afterwards. In the
paroxysms of his complaint, he seldom groaned,
but was a pattern of patience to all around him.
He fortified his soul under suffering, by reading
Dr. Goodwin's Discourse upon Patience, which
he continued to do to the day of his death.
When inquired of as to his health, his usual
answer was, Far from well; yet far better than
mine iniquities deserve. He died in peace,
April 22, 1669, aged seventy-three, having been
for more than fifty years a preacher of righte
ousness. It is remarkable that the last sermon which
Mr. Mather preached to his people, being then
in usual health, was from these words : " I am
now ready to be offered, and the time of my
departure is at hand. I have fought a good
fight ; I have finished my course ; I have kept
the faith : Henceforth there is laid up for me a
crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge shall give me at that day."
2 Tim. 4 : 6 — 8. The sermon before the last
was from these words : " All the day of my
appointed time will I wait, till my change come."
Job. 14: 14. A sermon which he had not
preached, but which was prepared just before his
last fatal attack, was from these words : " We

22 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle
were dissolved, we have a building of God, a
house not made with hands, eternal in -the
heavens." 2 Cor. 5: 1. It has long been a
favorite opinion with some, that holy men have
not unfrequently a presage of their approaching
dissolution, before the event actually overtakes
them. How far the facts above stated may go
to confirm such an opinion, I leave for my
readers to decide.
About twenty years previous to his death, Mr.
Mather was called to part with the wife of his
youth, and the mother of his children ; — a most
excellent help-meet, "by whose discreet man
agement of his affairs, he had been so released
from all secular incumbrances, as to be wholly
at liberty for the sacred employments of the
ministry." She died with the following words
on her lips : " Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard,
neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which God hath prepared for them that
love him."
Mr. Mather was united in a second marriage
with the widow of his distinguished ministerial
brother, the Eev. John Cotton, of Boston. This
lady survived him. By his first marriage, he
had six sons, four of whom graduated at Har-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 23
vard College, and were able and faithful minis
ters of Christ.
The eldest of the sons, Samuel Mather, was
born in England, and was brought by his father
to this country, when about nine years of age.
He became hopefully pious in mere childhood,
and is represented as an extraordinary instance,
not only of early developed intellectual ability,
but of " discretion, seriousness, prayerfulness,
and watchfulness." The Arabians have a tradi
tion that when John Baptist was a child, the other
boys asked him to play with them. But he
refused, saying, ' I was not sent into the world
for sport.' Such seem to have been the thoughts
of the child, Samuel Mather, so far as his
thoughts were indicated by his general course of
life. He graduated at Harvard College in the year
1643, at the early age of seventeen, and was the
first of the graduates who was detained there, in
the capacity of tutor. While at Cambridge, he
enjoyed the instructive and powerful ministry of
Eev. Thomas Shepard ; — a privilege which he
greatly prized, and for which, after the decease
of Mr. Shepard, he felt himself called upon to
make some compensation, by publishing a
Memoir of him to the world. In proof of the
estimation in which Mr. Mather was held as a

24 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
tutor, it is stated, that when he read his last
lecture in the College hall, nearly all the stu
dents were in tears ; and thiit when he took his
leave of the college, they actually put on badges
of mourning.
At the formation of the second or North
Church in Boston, Mr. Mather was applied to,
to be their minister. He preached to them
their first sermon, and continued with them
through the winter following ; but having a
strong desire to visit England, which was his
native land, he went thither in the year 1650.
As the hierarchy was now prostrate, there
was nothing in the way of his advancement in
England, where his popularity as a preacher
was even greater than it had been in his own
country. Almost immediately on his arrival,
he was appointed chaplain to the lord mayor of
London, in which situation he became early
acquainted with some of the most eminent min
isters in the land. During his residence in
London, he was so often called upon to preach,
that his health was seriously impaired, and he
was thought to be in danger of losing his life.
After a respite, however, his accustomed vigor
was restored ; and we next hear of his preaching
at Gravesend ; and then at the cathedral in the
city of Exeter. After this, he was appointed

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 25
Chaplain of Magdalen College, Oxford, where
he remained for a considerable time. From
this situation, in which he seems to have been
both useful and happy, he was called to accom
pany the English commissioners on their tour
into Scotland, where he continued his labors for
about two years.
In 1660, in connection with Dr. Harrison, Dr.
Winter, and Mr. Charnock, he went with the
lord deputy, Henry Cromwell, into Ireland. He
was here appointed senior fellow of Trinity
College, Dublin, and joint pastor with Dr.
Winter of the church of St. Nicholas. An
opportunity was here presented for the exercise
of that true Christian liberality, for which Mr.
Mather was ever distinguished ; for when the
lord deputy gave him a commission for the dis
placing of several Episcopal ministers, he re
fused to do it, saying, " I came into this country
to preach the gospel, not to hinder others from
preaching it."
This was a measure of liberality, however,
which was not meted to him again ; for almost
immediately upon the restoration of Charles II. ,
he was himself suspended on a charge of sedi
tion. This charge — a spiteful and malicious
one — was founded on two discourses which he
had preached in opposition to the Episcopal
vol. v. 3

26 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
rites and ceremonies, and especially to the
enforcing of them by the rigors of the law.
When Mr. Mather was notified of his suspen
sion, and of the groundless charge on which it
was based, he said : " If it be sedition to disturb
the devil's kingdom, who rules by his anti-
christian ceremonies, in the kingdom of dark
ness, as the Lord Jesus does by his own ordi
nances in his church, I may say that I did it,
before the Lord, who hath chosen me to be his
minister ; and if this be vile, I will yet be more
vile:' When Mr. Mather could no longer exercise
his ministry in Ireland, he returned to England,
and established himself at Burton Wood, Lan
cashire, where he continued about two years ;
until, with two thousand of his faithful brethren,
he was ejected by the terrible act of uniformity,
in 1662.
- Being denied the privilege of preaching in
England, except on conditions with which he
could not in conscience comply ; Mr. Mather
now returned to his friends in Dublin, where he
founded a Congregational Church, and set up a
meeting in his own hired house. And here he
continued, without further molestation, to the
day ofhis death.
The Mr. Mather of which we now speak, like

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 27
several of the other members of his family,
accomplished much as an author. He had
occasion to go repeatedly into the Popish con
troversy, and write in defence of the Protestant
religion. He preached and published against
what he conceived to be the errors of the estab
lished church, while he was ever disposed to
treat godly ministers and members of that
church with affection and respect. He published
a work, entitled Irenicum, the design of which
was to promote a greater degree of union and
harmony among the three principal denomina
tions of English Dissenters, the Presbyterians,
Congregationalists, and Baptists. This was an
object on which his heart was much set, and to
further which he did not labor altogether in
vain. He wrote also on the prophecies of Script
ure ; and a volume of sermons on the types.
He had a controversy with an individual in
Dublin, on a subject not altogether unlike some
of the marvels of our own times. There was a
man there who affirmed that he had the gift of
healing diseases, by stroking and rubbing the
diseased parts with his hands. Thousands
flocked to him from all parts of Ireland ; some
noblemen, some learned and pious persons, and
even ministers of the gospel. Mr. Mather had
no faith in the impudent quack, and prepared a

28 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
discourse with a view to expose him. This fell
into the hands of some of the king's privy coun
cil in Ireland, by whom it was highly approved
and applauded.
Mr. Mather was an example of fidelity, in all
the relative and social duties. To his honored
father whom he had left in this country, he was
in the habit of sending valuable donations, year
by year, as long as he lived. Of his younger
brothers he was also mindful, and assisted mate
rially in preparing them for usefulness. In the
year 1656, he was married to a sister of Sir
John Stevens, by whom he had several chil
dren, only one of whom survived him. His wife
died in 1668, when they had lived together
about twelve years. Her closing scene was
uncommonly peaceful. While in her last ago
nies, her husband said to her, "You are just
going where there will be no more pain." " Ah,
yes," she replied, " and what is better, where
there will be no sin." When her sister said to
her, " You are going to heaven," she answered,
" I seem to be there already, Come, Lord Jesus,
come quickly."
Mr. Mather survived his companion only
about three years. He died in Dublin, Oct. 29,
1671, at the early age of forty-six, and was
buried in the church of St. Nicholas, of which

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 29
he had formerly been the pastor. The following
epitaph was written for him, but whether actu
ally inscribed on his tombstone, it does not
appear: " Diu vixit, licet non diu fuit." He
lived long, although he did not continue long.
As a preacher, Mr. Samuel Mather stood in
the first rank. His name was known through
out the three kingdoms. .His discourses were
remarkable for clearness of reason, and method,
and for the majesty and authority with which
they were uttered. It used to be said by critics
of those times : " Mr. Charnock's invention ;
Dr. Harrison's expression ; and Mr. Mather's
logic, would make the perfectest preacher in the
world." The second of the sons of Richard Mather, of
which we have any account, was the Rev.
Nathaniel Mather. He was born in England,
and came with his parents to this country when
he was five years old. Like his brother Samuel
he graduated at Harvard College at the age of
seventeen. After he had entered the ministry,
he followed his brother into England, and was
presented by the Protector Cromwell to a living
in Barnstable, in 1656. Here he continued
until 1662, when, with his brother, he had the
honor to be one of that noble band of two thou
sand, who were ejected for non-conformity,
3*

30 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
Scarcely anything has occurred in the whole
history of Christianity, more truly honorable to
religion, than the conduct of these ejected min
isters, on this occasion. In the first place, there
was a vast body of them, including the ablest
and best men in the kingdom. Then they were
in quiet possession of comfortable livings, and
these, in most instances, constituted their whole
living. They were surrounded with families,
wives and children, whose earthly prospects and
comforts all depended on their retaining their
places. They were themselves dependent on
their professional labors for a subsistence, the
most of them not having been trained to any
other employment, nor knowing how to obtain a
livelihood in any other way. And then all that
was required of them was to stretch their con
sciences, more or less, so as to submit to the Epis
copal rites and forms, and give their countenance
to what they conceived to be superstitious and
unwarrantable additions in the public worship of
.God. And yet, their consciences could not be
stretched. They knew how to make sacrifices,
to embrace poverty, to endure hardships and
privations, to gp (if it must be) to prison and
to death; but to play the hypocrite — to trifle
with conscience — to do what they verily believed
would be displeasing to God, ;merely for the

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 31
sake of gaining their bread, — they had no heart.
They preferred to take the spoiling of their
goods, to retire from their livings, to renounce at
once their earthly all, and to cast themselves,
naked and dependent, but yet believing and
confident, upon the grace and providence of
their heavenly Father. Verily, here is evidence
that there was some conscience still remaining
in England, and that the revival of religion,
which preceded and followed the overthrow of
Laud's tyrannical administration, had not been
altogether without fruit.
The firmness of this noble band of confessors
will appear in a stronger light, if contrasted with
what took place in England, a little more than a
century afterwards. In the year 1772, about
two hundred and fifty clergymen of the church
of England, who were Unitarians, petitioned
Parliament, that they might be relieved from
subscribing to the articles of the church, on the
ground that such subscription was against their
consciences. But the House of Commons, re
jected their petition, and the subscription was
enforced, as usual. And now what did these
distressed Unitarian churchmen do ? With the
exception of a single individual, (Mr. Lindsey,)
they clung to their livings, and to the emolu
ments of a church whose doctrines they had

32 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

publicly declared they did not believe ; and Mr.
Lindsey was left to complain, that of the multi
tudes in the establishment who concurred in his
sentiments, only one was found willing to con
tribute towards the expense of erecting him a
chapel. But to return to Mr. Mather. Being no
longer at liberty to preach in England, he passed
over to Holland, and became pastor of an Eng
lish congregation at Rotterdam. Here he
remained until the death of his brother Samuel,
when he was invited to take the charge of his
bereaved and afflicted church at Dublin. He
was afterwards pastor of a Congregational
church in London, and one of the lecturers at
Pinner's Hall. He died July 26, 1697, and was
interred in the burying ground near Bunhill
Fields. On his tombstone, the traveler may
still read a long Latin inscription, prepared by
Dr. Watts, which ascribes to him a high char
acter for genius, learning, piety, and ministerial
fidelity. He was the author of several works, the
principal of which are, a treatise entitled, " The
Righteousness of God by Faith, upon all who
Believe ; " and a little volume of sermons
preached at Pinner's Hall. The sermons were

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 33
taken down in short hand, as they were deliv
ered, and published after his death.
The memorials of the Rev. Nathaniel Mather
have chiefly perished. We have not the means
of forming a judgment respecting him, as we
have in the case of his father and brothers. But
from the several important stations which he
occupied, the circles of piety in which he moved,
the works which he published, and especially
from the character given of him by Dr. Watts,
there can be no doubt that he was a learned,
gifted, devoted and faithful minister of the Lord
Jesus Christ. It was his lot to live in a trying
period — an era of storm, revolution, and conflict ;
but he bore the test, he kept the faith, and has
gone to receive the crown of righteousness,
which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give
him at that day.
The third of the sons of the Rev. Richard
Mather, who went into the ministry, was named
Eleazer. He was born in Dorchester, May 13,
1637, and graduated at Harvard College in
1656. He immediately commenced preaching,
being at the time but nineteen years of age. He
did not follow the example of his brothers, and
seek a field of labor in the cities of the old
world, but rather preferred the rude settlements
of the new. He was the first minister of North-

34 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. th
amp ton, Massachusetts. Having preached to
the people about two years, a church was gath
ered, and he was ordained its pastor, June 23,
1658. He died July 24, 1669, the same year
with his venerable father, and when he had
been settled only eleven years. He is repre
sented as a " very zealous preacher, and pious
walker," who was instrumental in bringing
many souls to the Saviour. His death was
greatly lamented, not only by his own church,
but by all the then infant churches on the Con
necticut river.
As he approached the end of life, " he grew
so manifestly ripe for heaven, in a holy, watch
ful, fruitful disposition," that. many pious per
sons anticipated his speedy removal. The
following are the last words that he wrote in his
diary ; " This evening (July 10, 1669,) I had
some sweet longings of soul after God in Christ,
according to the terms of the covenant of grace.
The general and indefinite expression of the
promise was an encouragement to me to look to
Christ, that he would do that for me, which he
has promised to do for some. Nor do I dare
exclude myself; but if the Lord will help me, I
will live at his feet, and accept of grace in his
own way and time, through his power enabling
me. Though I am dead, and without strength,

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 35
help, or hope in myself, yet the Lord requireth
nothing at my hands in my own strength, but
that, by his power, I should look to him, to work
all his works in me and for me."
When the Rev. Eichard Mather lay dying,
one of his sons said to him : " Sir, is there any
special thing which you would wish me to do, in
case the Lord should spare me on earth, after
you are in heaven ? " To this the venerable
man, with lifted eyes and hands, replied : " A
special thing which I would commend to you is,
care concerning the rising generation in this
country, that they be early brought under the
government of Christ in his church." Acting
on this suggestion of his dying father, Mr.
Eleazer Mather immediately commenced preach
ing a series of sermons for the benefit of the
young. As this was the last of his public labors,
so it was considered by his people as the best.
These " pungent sermons " were published after
his death, and widely circulated among the
youth of New England.
The wife of Eleazer Mather was the daughter
of the Rev. John Warham, first minister of
Dorchester, and afterwards first minister of
Windsor, Connecticut. After his death she was
married to his successor, the celebrated Solomon
Stoddard; and was grandmother of the still

36 LIFE OF INCBEASE MATHER.
more celebrated metaphysician and divine, Jona
than Edwards. The only daughter of Mr.
Mather was married to the Rev. John Williams
of Deerfield. She was carried into captivity,
and cruelly murdered by the Indians, in the
winter of 1704. Deerfield was at this time a
frontier town, and much exposed to the incur
sions of the savages. On the night of February
28th, a party of them broke into the house of
Mr. Williams, murdered two of his children and
a servant before his eyes, and compelled the rest
of his family — himself, his wife, and surviving
children — to set out immediately on their march
for Canada. In wading a small river, the second
day after their capture, Mrs. Williams fell
down from exhaustion, and fatigue. Finding
her unable to proceed further, one of the Indians
despatched her with his tomahawk. Mr. Wil
liams survived his captivity, returned to Deer
field, and continued there till his death, in 1729.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 37

CHAPTER II.
The birth and childhood of Increase Mather. Influence of his
nother. His College life. Narrative of his religious experience.
He commences preaching. Visits England. His studies and labors
there. Returns to New England.
The sixth and youngest of the sons of Richard
Mather, and the fourth df their number who
entered the ministry, was Increase Mather j —
the more especial subject of the present Memoir.
He was born at Dorchester, June 21, 1639", and
received his name, Increase, from the increasing
and prosperous state ofthe colony, at that period.
Like many other eminent ministers, he was
greatly indebted, in early life, to the prayers and
counsels of a pious mother. She used to say to
him, while yet a child, that she desired only two
things on his behalf; one was the grace to love
and fear God ; the other, that he might have the
requisite learning and ability to accomplish
something for God in the world. " My child,"
said she, " if God make thee a good Christian,
and a good scholar, thou wilt have all that thy
mother ever asked for thee." She earnestly
vol. v. 4

38 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
inculcated upon him the lesson of diligence, and
used often to repeat to him that saying of Solo
mon: " Seest thou a man diligent in his busi
ness ; he shall stand before kings ; he shall not
stand before mean men."* His excellent mother
died, when her son was about fifteen years of
age. She exhorted him, at the last, to resolve
upon serving Christ in the work of the ministry,
and encouraged him to form such a resolution
by saying : " They that be wise shall shine as
the brightness of the firmament, and they that
turn many to righteousness as the stars forever
and ever." The impression of this scene and
of this declaration, uttered under these solemn
circumstances, was never effaced from the mind
of her son. It had its influence in the formation
of his character, and was precious to him all his
days. It is evidence qf the capacity and diligence of
young Mather, that he entered Harvard College
when only twelve years of age. When he had
been a member of College about a year, his
parents, fearing that his health might suffer
from the confinement and discipline of college
life, removed him to the family of the celebrated

*This remark of Solomon, Increase Mather remembered and
observed, and it was remarkably fulfilled upon him, as we shall see.
He did literally stand before kings.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 39
John Norton, then of Ipswich, afterwards of.
Boston. Here he remained between one and
two years, pursuing college studies, and keeping
up with his class.
Hitherto, though moral and amiable in his
external deportment, he had made no preten
sions to serious religion. He " had walked," as
he expresses it, " in the vanity of his mind, was
alienated from the life of God, and unmindful of
the great work and end," for which he had been
sent into the world. But in the year 1654, a
little before his mother's death, he became the
subject of a change, the fruits of which proved
it to be saving and eternal. The account of it
must be given in his own words.
" The great care of my godly parents was to
train me up in the nurture and admonition of
the Lord ; whence I was kept from many visible
outbreakings of sin, which else I had been guilty
of, and whence it was that I had many good
impressions of the Spirit of God upon me, even
from my infancy. Nevertheless, I swam quietly
in the stream of impiety and carnal security, for
many years together, till, in the year 1654, the
Lord in mercy was pleased to visit me with a
short but distressing sickness. For this happy
sickness I have many a time blessed the Lord,
and I trust I shall bless him forever ; for it was

40 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
made the means of the first saving awakenings
to my soul. I was brought now to have real
thoughts of death, and could see eternity before
my eyes. My sins, unrepented of, also stared
me in the face. After I was recovered, the
arrows of God still stuck fast in my heart, and I
was in much distress for months together. I
now resolved that I would no more live in any
known sin, and thought there was no sin in my
heart from which I was not truly willing to part.
I also engaged in the practice of duty, and was
constant in my secret devotions, which, before
these distresses of soul, I had many times neg
lected. Nevertheless, my wounded conscience
still remained with me, and God set my sins in
order before me, bringing those to my remem
brance, in all their aggravations, which I had
long forgotten. He showed me the vanities of
my childhood, and made me to possess the ini
quities of my youth, until my heart, sometimes,
was ready to sink and die within me. I now
resolved that I would afflict my soul with fast
ing, as well as praying, and seek more earnestly
unto God' for the pardon of mine iniquities.
This course I took at Dorchester, shutting my
self up, during my father's absence, in his study,
and writing down those particular sins which
pressed most heavily on my conscience, and

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 41
imploring of God that he would pardon them.
At this time I thought, that if the whole world
were mine, I would freely part with it, to have
my hard heart taken from me ; and I pleaded
earnestly that Divine promise which says, " I
will take away from them the heart of stone,
and will give them an heart of flesh." But still
my flinty heart remained unmoved.
*•' Thus my soul continued in the new birth,
and very sore were the pangs of it. Sometimes
I was afraid that I had committed the unpardon
able sin ; but upon discourse with my father
about the nature of that sin, I became satisfied
that I was not guilty of it. Then I thought my
sins were too great to be forgiven ; but after
reading a book of Mr. Hooker's entitled, " The
Doubting soul drawn to Christ,' I saw clearly
that the greatness of sin was no hindrance to the
exercise of forgiving mercy. Being thus rid of
my doubts as to the ability of God to save me, I
was next pressed with doubts as to his willing
ness to do it ; and I was foolishly ashamed to
acquaint any body with my troubles, I was loth
to have any one know that mine iniquities were
gone over my head, as a heavy burthen too
heavy for me.
" At length, when I could hold out no longer,
the hand of God still pressing me sore, I ac-
4#

42 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
quainted my father with some of my soul dis
tresses, stating to him in writing how it was
with me, and begging him to pray for me. I
resolved upon setting apart another day, to be
spent in secret prayer, with fasting, before the
Lord ; and a happy day this was to me ! A day
I shall never forget while I have a being !
" It was the day of our anniversary election,
when the scholars at Mr. Norton's were all
abroad at their diversions, that I took the oppor
tunity of a private chamber, and shutting myself
up, I spent the whole day in pouring out my
complaints before the Lord. Towards the close
of the day, being full of distress and anguish, on
account of my sin, it was put into my heart that
I must go and throw myself down at the feet of
my Saviour, and see whether he_ would accept
of me, or no ; resolving that if he would accept
of me, then I would be his ; but if not, then I
would perish at his feet. So I came before him
with those words of Esther, ' If I perish, I
perish.' Yet I said, ' Lord, if it must be so, I
am resolved to perish at the feet of thy mercy.
It is true, I am a dog, and am unworthy of so
much as a crumb. I have been a great sinner.
Yet I am resolved, the Lord helping me, that I
will not so offend any more ; but I will be thine
thine only, and thine forever.' And while I was

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 43
thus praying and pleading, those words of Christ
were darted into my mind : ' Him that cometh
to me, I will in no wise cast out,' which promise
I pleaded with the Lord. After that, I had some
comfortable persuasion that my sins were for
given, and that the Lord would show me mercy.
And thus I went on happily, and walked with
God. " But after some time, Mr. Norton showed,
that a man might forsake his sins, and have
been in some sorrow of heart for them, and yet
not be truly converted. This word stuck deep
in my heart, and I was afraid that, though I had
been in unspeakable sorrow for my sins, and
thence had forsaken them, yet my conversion
might not be sound. But hearing my father
preach on these words : ' The whole have no
need of a physician, but they that are sick,' I
thought the sermon was preached wholly for
myself. My father showed, that where there
was new and true obedience, and the heart was
changed from the love of sin to the love of God,
it argued conversion; and on examination, I
found it was so with me. My father also an
swered a scruple which was in my heart. I
had feared my faith was not right, because it
was not the preached word, but a season of
affliction, that was the first means of my more

44 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
effectual awakening. But he showed that the
conversion of Manasseh was effected by the
same means.
" Sometime after this, Mr. Mitchell of Cam
bridge preached on these words : ' Behold an
Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile.' He
pressed much to self-examination, laying down
several marks of sincerity ; as when God in
Christ has 'become the rest of the soul ; when
there is no known sin indulged, or duty neg
lected ; and when the heart is for God, chiefly,
wholly, universally. I set myself upon a serious
self-examination by these marks, and found that
my heart went along with the word. So I went
on cheerfully in the ways of God. And if in
anything I have been overtaken in a fault, the
Lord has given me to see it, and mourn for it,
and turn from it."
I have transcribed this narrative at length,
because I deem it "one pf deep and instructive
interest. It is interesting to trace the germs,
the beginnings of true piety, in an individual
who afterwards became so distinguished. It is
interesting to see the way in which a soul is led
to Christ. With considerable variety, it is inter
esting to witness the general uniformity of the
Spirit's operations, in such cases. First, young
Mather is awakened, under near apprehensions

LIFE OF. INCREASE MATHER. 45
of death and eternity. Then, his sins are set in
order before his eyes. Though an outwardly
moral and amiable youth, such as some would
say had almost no sin, he is distressed in view
of his sins, and the impression is constantly
growing upon him, that they are many and
great. Next, he sets himself to an outward
reformation, — breaking off from every known
sin, and scrupulously performing every known
duty, — in hope of making some amends for the
past. Still, his convictions increase upon him ;
and the great adversary, no longer hoping to
divert or quiet him, is bent on driving him to
despair. He has probably committed the unpar
donable sin ; or if not, his sins are • top many
and great to be forgiven. Or if God can forgive
such a sinner, there is no certainty that he will.
At length, despairing of help in himself, or from
any other quarter, he resolves to cast Mmself at
the feet of Christ, and if he must perish, he will
perish there. And here he finds, what every
sinner who does ihe same will find, comfort and
peace. . The Saviour receives him into his gra
cious arms, raises him up, puts a new song into
his mouth, and gives him joy and peace in be
lieving. And though, subsequently he has
occasional seasons of doubt and darkness, yet
his doubts pne after another are dissipated, his

46 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
fears subside, the light increases upon his path,
and he is enabled to go on his way rejoicing.
And now how many thousands are there in the
church of God, who see, in all this, little more
than a transcript of their own experience. They
have been led substantially in the same way.
They know what these convictions and distress ¦
es, these hopes, and fears, and joys mean ; for
they have felt the same.
Again, it is interesting to observe the manner
in which God was preparing this young man for
distinguished usefulness. Unquestionably, the
best adapted instrument which God can employ
for the conversion of sinners, is a converted sin
ner ; — not an angel, who has never sinned, and
who, of course, is not in a situation to sympa
thize with sinners ; — not a sinner unconverted,
who, like a finger-board at the corner of the
street, can only point to a path in which he has
never traveled ; but a converted sinner. Thus
taught the celebrated Mr. Perkins, two hundred
and fifty years ago. " It is meet that they who
are to convert others, should be effectually con
verted themselves. John must first eat the book,
and then prophesy. So ministers of the gospel
must first eat the book of God themselves, which
is truly done, when their minds are not only
enlightened by it, but their hearts are mollified,

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 47
and they are brought into subjection to Christ.
Unless Christ be thus learned, spirittially and
really, ministers will speak the word of God as
men speak riddles, and as the priests in former
times said their matins, when they hardly knew
what they said." Such men as Paul the Apos
tle, and Augustine, of Hippo, and Martin Luther,
and John Bunyan, and Increase Mather, and
George Whitefield, could never have proclaimed
the gospel as they did, and been the instruments
of leading such multitudes to Christ, had they
not first waded the deep waters themselves, and
learned in their own experience the depth of
their necessities, and the efficacy of atoning
blood. Mr. Mather, at the time of his conversion,
was a member of college, whence he proceeded,
at the same time with his brother Eleazer, in
W^>6. The next year he commenced preaching,
when he could not have been more than eighteen
years of age. His first sermon was preached at
Dorchester, under which his venerable father
was so much affected, that he could scarcely
pronounce the blessing, for tears.
It will be recollected that Mr. Mather had two
brothers, settled ministers in Europe ; Samuel
at Dublin, and Nathaniel in England. At the

48 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
earnest request of his elder brother, he concluded
to follow them to that field of labor.
At his departure, his aged father wept over
him, and blessed him, and said : " If I hear well
of you, and if you prove faithful to Christ, the
joy of it will lengthen out my life." His old
friend and counselor, Mr. Mitchell of Cam
bridge, gave him the following parting injunc
tion : " My serious advice to you is, that you
keep out of company, so far as Christianity, and
civility, and occasions will give you leave. Take
this from me : The time spent in your study,
you will generally find spent most profitably,
most comfortably, and most accountably." This
is that Mr. Mitchell of whom Richard Baxter
said : " If there could be convened an oecume
nical council of the whole Christian world, that
man wpuld be wprthy tp be moderator of it."
Mr. Mather sailed from Boston, July 3d, 1657,
and after a voyage of five weeks, was landed in
England. His first year abroad was spent as a
student at Trinity College, Dublin, where he
took his second degree, in 1658. After leaving
Ireland, he went to London, where he made the
acquaintance of the celebrated John Howe, at
this time one of the chaplains of the Protector
Cromwell. By the advice and influence of Mr.
Howe, he was introduced to a congregation at

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 49
Great Torrington, in Devonshire, where he
spent the following winter, preaching the gospel
to a numerous assembly, and with much accept
ance. The next spring, Mr. Mather became chaplain
to the English garrison on the island of Guern
sey. Here he labored to make himself useful,
and observing the Lord's day to be much pro
faned, he preached with such power and success
on the fourth commandment, that a considerable
reformation was effected in the island.
We next hear of him at St. Mary's in Eng
land, preaching in the forenoon in the church,
and in the afternoon at the cathedral. His feel
ings inclined him to settle here ; but as the
Protector was now dead, and Charles II. was
about to be proclaimed, he saw a change of times
at the door. Indeed, he publicly warned his
people, from Rev. 11:7, that further sufferings
were in store for the faithful witnesses of
Christ. After a few months, he returned to his chap
laincy at Guernsey, and here he remained, till
he was driven away by the rigors of conformity.
He must either conform to the revived supersti
tions of the church of England, br leave the
Island. In Dorsetshire, he had the offer of a
living of four hundred pounds a year, if he
vol. v. 5

50 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER,

would but conform, and read the common
prayer; but he refused. In short, all things
around him conspired to admonish him, that
there was no longer a field of usefulness open
for him in England, and that it was his duty to
return to his native land. Wherefore, in June,
1661, he set sail from Weymouth, England, and
arrived at Boston about the first of September.
He came to Dorchester very unexpectedly on a
Saturday evening, to the great joy of his excel
lent father. Here he had the happiness to meet
his brother Eleazer, who had just arrived at the
paternal mansion from his settlement in North
ampton. " The comforted old patriarch," says
Cotton Mather, " had the privilege of having his
two sons in his own pulpit, on the following
day, while he sat shining between them, like
the sun in Gemini."

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 51

CHAPTER III.
Mr. Mather's marriage. His children. His settlement at Boston.
His temptations. His want of pecuniary support. His diary
His plan of study and of life.
Mr. Mather spent the first winter after his re
turn to New England in preaching alternately,
one Sabbath for his father in Dorchester, and
the other for the new church in the North part
of Boston. The following year, he was married
to. Maria Cotton, only daughter of the distin
guished John Cotton of Boston. With this ex
cellent lady he was united more than fifty years,
and became the father of ten children ; three
sons, and seven daughters.
The eldest of these sons, Cotton Mather, was
for many years his father's colleague in the
ministry, and was, indisputably the most learned
man in New England. He was the author of
almost four hundred distinct publications, many
of them considerable volumes.
Nathaniel Mather, the second son of Increase,
died young. He is represented as a very re
markable youth, in respect both to learning and

52 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
piety. A memoir of him was published by
Cotton Mather, which went through several
editions, on both sides of the water. A con
siderable part of the first edition was purchased
by good old Philip Henry, for charitable dis
tribution. To the fourth edition, a highly char
acteristic preface was prefixed by Matthew Mead,
author of the "Almost Christian." "I could
not read the book," says Mr. Mead, " without
great reflection and shame. For, thought I, God
will not gather his fruit, till it is ripe ; therefore,
I live so long. Nor will he let it hang till it is
rotten; therefore, Nathaniel Mather died so
soon. , We are not sent into the world, merely
to fill up a number of years, but to fill up our
measure of grace ; and whenever that is done,
our time is done ; we have lived to maturity.
And so did this dear youth. Though he died
at nineteen, he came to his grave in full age,
and fell like a shock of corn in his season."
Samuel'Mather, the third and youngest son
of Increase, went to England with his father,
when he was a child, and seems never to have
returned. He became "a faithful and useful
minister of the gospel, at Wilney, in- Oxford
shire." He was the author of several valuable
treatises ; among which his " Vindication of the
Doctrine of the Trinity," his "Vindication of

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 53
the Deity of the Holy Spirit," and his " Vindi
cation of the Sacred Scriptures," were the most
considerable. The seven daughters of Increase Mather,
(with the exception of one who died in infancy,)
all lived to be settled in the world, to have fami
lies, and to give decisive evidence of true piety.
The whole family were united in the service of
Christ in this world, and have long since gone
to be forever united around his throne in hea
ven. With this brief account, (by way of anticipa
tion) of the family of Increase Mather, we now
return to his personal history. He was not
inclined, at the first, to be settled over the new
church in Boston, nor could his aversion be
soon or easily overcome. After an invitation
had been extended to him, the people were kept
in suspense for more than two years. At
length, the brethren of the church carried the
matter more publicly and formally to Gpd.
They kept a day of fasting and supplication to
Him who has all hearts in his hand, imploring
that he would turn the heart of the youthful
pastor elect, and incline him to accept their
invitation. This measure was altogether in
accordance with the feelings of Mr. Mather, and
an encouragement to him to comply with the
5*

54 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
people's wishes. He shortly after signified his
consent to their proposals, and in May, 1664,
was ordained their pastor. And in this situa
tion he continued, serving the Lord " with many
tears and temptations, and keeping back noth
ing that was profitable unto them," for more
than sixty years.
In the very commencement of our Saviour'*
public ministry, he was " led of the Spirit into
the wilderness, to be tempted of the devil."
And not a few of his faithful disciples have had
a similar experience. In the beginning of their
ministry, they have suffered bitter temptations
from the great adversary. So it was with John
Bunyan. " Whole floods of blasphemies," says
he, " against. God, and Christ, and the holy
Scriptures, were poured upon my spirit, to my
great confusion and astonishment. These
blasphemous thoughts were such as stirred up
questions in me against the very being of God,
and of his beloved Son ; as whether there were,
in truth, a God, or Christ, and whether the holy
Scriptures were anything more than a cunning
story, a fable."*
Those who are familiar with the memoirs of
the excellent Dr. Payson, will remember that he

* Ivlmey's Life of Bunyan, p. 64.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 55
was sometimes afflicted in a similar way. " O
the temptations that have harrassed me for the
last three months ! I have met with nothing
like them in books. I dare not mention them
to any mortal, lest they should trouble him, as
they have troubled me. But if I should become
an apostate, and write against religion, it seems
to me that I could bring forward objections
which would shake the faith of all the Christians
in the world. What I marvel at is, that the
arch-deceiver has never been permitted to sug
gest them to some of his own scribes, and have
them published. They would, if I mistake not,
make fearful work with Christians for a time,
though God would, doubtless, enable them to
overcome in the end." *
It is recorded of Richard Baxter, that he was
afflicted with the like temptations. And nobto
multiply instances, the same was true, for a
time, of Increase Mather. " The first years of
his ministry," says his son, " were embittered
with such furious and boisterous temptations
unto atheism, as were intolerable to him, and
made him cry out, like Peter in the tempest.
Vile suggestions, and injections, tending to
question the being of that God whom he feared

# Works, vol. I, p. 379.

56 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
and loved, and to whom he continually prayed,
were shot at him, as fiery darts from the wicked
one, and caused him to go mourning because of
the oppression of the enemy. His holy soul
suffered an intolerable anguish from these blasts
of the terrible ones."
The proper inference to be drawn from such
cases of temptation is not that there is any real
force or plausibility in the objections and argu
ments of atheists and infidels. The individuals
tempted would not so decide, so soon as the
delusion had passed away. But the inference
rather is, (so the tempted ones understand it,
and so the Scriptures represent it,) that there is
a mighty malignant spirit, or more properly
legions of them, who " go about as roaring
lions, seeking whom they may devour." For
the trial of God's people, they are permitted to
have access to their minds, and to worry them,
for a time, with their bitter suggestions and
their fiery darts. How else, I ask, are such
suggestions to be accounted for, — so opposed to
the most cherished and established principles of
the children of God, so abhorrent to their feel
ings, so contrary to all their mental associations
and habits, — darted too, as they commonly are,
into their minds, at seasons and under circum
stances when they might least have been ex-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 57
pected, and when they are most painful and
vexatious ? I know not how to account for
facts of this description, — facts of not unfrequent
occurrence, but upon the Scriptural representa
tion as to the existence and agency of evil spirits.
And if the suggestions in question proceed from
such a source, it certainly is no recommenda
tion of them, whether in respect to their reason
ableness or their truth.
Mr. Mather's method of repelling atheistical
suggestions was not so much in a way of rea
soning, as of direct resistance. " It puts too
much respect upon the devil," he said, " to
argue and parley with him, and that, too, on a
point which he himself believes, and for which
he trembles. It is too much of a compliment to
atheism, to pour in elaborate confutations of it.
When we prove anything, we prove what is less
known by that which is more known. But is
there anything more known, than the existence
of a first cause, which, in forming the spirit
of man, has left on that spirit the impress" of
itself?" Instead of trying to reason down atheistical
suggestions, Mr. Mather rejected them with all
possible detestation, as infinitely unworthy to be
listened to, and cherished such thoughts only
as carried in them the devoutest acknpwledg-

53 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
ments of a God, and the most fervant supplica
tions to him. In this way, he seems to have
tired out the adversary. Being thus resisted,
the devil at length fled from him.
These trials, through which Mr. Mather was
called to pass in the early part of his ministry,
were doubtless necessary for him. They were
as necessary as the thorn in the flesh of Paul.
As he was a highly popular preacher, whom
multitudes flocked together to hear, there was
danger of his becoming unduly elated, and thus
falling into a worse snare of the devil than that
which was laid for him. The temptations to
which I have referred, were an effectual means
of keeping him humble. He could not but
wonder that the people of God should have any
esteem for one who was the subject of such
abhorred and detestable thoughts, as were some
times thrust upon himself.
Mr. Mather had trials of another sort in the
early part of his ministry, more nearly resem
bling those of some ministers at the present day.
They arose from the inadequacy of his support.
After he had beensettled a few years, his peo
ple, or a portion of them, grew slack in the
fulfillment of their engagements to him ; in con
sequence of which he was under the necessity
of contracting debts, and involving himself in

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 59

other embarrassments. The following extracts
from his diary in relation to this matter, may
fall under the eyes of some who are suffering
in the same way. As going to develope his relig
ious character, they will be read with interest
by all.
" Extremely grieved and distracted in my
studies with the thoughts of my debts, and the
consideration that my people, (or some of them,)
do not care for my deep sorrows in this respect.
Methinks I could be content to be poor, I care
not how poor, so as I may be in a capacity to
serve God without distraction. But to be in
debt, to the dishonor of the gospel, is a wound
ing, killing thought to me ; so grievous, that if
it be not remedied in a little time, it will bring
me with sorrow to my grave."
Again he writes thus : " Spent this day with
prayer and fasting in my study. I closed all
with this resolution : ' Lord, if thou wilt provide
for me, and answer my prayers, I will love thee,
and thank thee, and serve thee. And if thou
wilt not provide for me, I will yet love thee,
and bless thee, and serve thee. If thou wilt
cast me off, I will not cast thee off. I deserve
that thou shouldest cast me off, but thou, Lord,
never deservest ill at my hands.' "
On another day, he writes as follows : " Mis-

60 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
erably perplexed with the sad thoughts of my
debts, and the unworthy spirit which is in some
of my people, who have no heart to relieve me
in these my sorrows, and think every thing too
much for me ; so that I lose (which most of all
distresses me,) much precious time, and am
exceedingly hindered in the work of the Lord.
The Scriptures direct ministers to show them
selves fathers of patience and long-suffering.
Conscience of this has made me bear this long;
but now I can endure no longer, my grief is so
extreme. O that the Lord Jesus, who hears the
complaints of his people before him, would con
descend to do one of the following things :
Either give a heart to my people to look after
my comfortable subsistence among them ; or
remove me to some other people who will take
care of me, that so I may be in a capacity to
attend to his work, and glorify his name in my
generation ; or give me a sufficiency of grace,
that these sinking discouragements may not
overwhelm me ; or take me speedily to himself,
where no temptation shall keep me from serving
him with freedom of spirit. For thy name's
sake, Lord Jesus, pity, hear and help."
One part of this prayer seems to have been
very soon answered ; for in the next published
extract from his diary, he writes as follows : "I

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 61
am now content to be poor, and in debt, and to
be laid aside as a broken, useless vessel, if the
Lord will have it so. Yea, I am content to be
anything that Christ will have me to be. Now
I am satisfied ; the will of the Lord be done."
And now — the trial having fully answered
its purpose in the hand of the great Head of the
Church, though without any thanks to those
through whose meanness and ingratitude it was
inflicted — the time of his deliverance came.
The Lord so ordered it that several gentlemen
of good estate, and of better spirit, became con
nected with his church, who " were moved with
a just and generous concern, when they learned
how their worthy pastor had been treated, and
who took effectual care that it should be so no
more." The case of Mr. Mather, as here presented,
is an instructive one to us at the present day.
Churches and congregations may learn a lesson
from it. Little do they think, often, of the
sufferings which they inflict upon faithful minis
ters, by their unkindness and neglect. And as
little do they think ofthe injury which indirect
ly comes upon themselves. Their ministers
cannot serve them, as they otherwise would. -
They have not the time, the heart, or the capa
city to do it. And then the judgments of God
vol. v. 6

62 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
often follow in the track of a stinted, cheated,
neglected ministry. People " sow much, and
bring in little. They eat, but they have not
enough. They drink, but they are not satisfied.
They clothe themselves, but they are not warm.
They earn wages, and put them in a bag, but
it is a bag with holes." Hag. 1 : 6.
Ministers also may learn something from the
example of Mr. Mather. He was not angry
with his people for their neglect of him, but
rather pitied them, and prayed for them. " This
day, pouring out my complaints into the bosom
of the Lord Jesus, I begged of him that he
would not punish any of my poor people because
of their neglects of me, but pardon them, and
bless them."
Again, Mr. Mather was not in haste to break
away from his people, and seek another field of
labor. " He had offers of a settlement, where
he might have mended his condition in the
world ; but he generously refused it, from a
fear lest the way of truth should be evil
spoken of." He apprehended, at times, that
the day might come when a removal would be
necessary, but he would himself do nothing to
hasten that day, preferring rather to wait upon
the Lord.
The issue of the trial, as before hinted, is

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 63
also instructive. So soon as it had answered
its appointed purpose, in humbling and silenc
ing the sufferer, and leading him to say with
Paul, " I have learned, in whatever state I am,
therewith to be content," it was kindly and gra
ciously removed, and the day of enlargement
and blessing came.
Something has been said already of Mr.
Mather's diary. This was less full and copious
than that of some Christians of his age ; and
less so in the latter part of his life than in the
earlier. Still, he kept a diary, in which he
noted important occurrences, and recorded some
thing of his religious experience. I shall have
occasion to speak of the diary again, in a subse
quent chapter. At present, I only give some
brief extracts from it, illustrative of his religious
character. Mr. Mather usually kept a day of private
fasting, once a month, in preparation for the
monthly celebration of the Lord's supper. At
the close of one of these days, he writes : " My
heart was moved to believe that God would
accept and answer my prayers, and that for the
following reasons : 1. I drew nigh to him, and
therefore his blessings will draw nigh to me.
2. The things which I asked, and the ends why
I asked them, were for the glory of God, and

64 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
for the honor of his Son Jesus Christ. Not for
my own sake, but for the Lord's sake. 3. Noth
ing but my sins can hinder the answer of my
prayers. But these cannot hinder, because
they are done away in the blood of Christ, who
hath loved me, and given himself for me. Of
this I am sure ; for I feel that my heart loveth
him. 4. Never was there any creature who
did humbly seek unto the Lord for such bless
ings as I have this day prayed for, who was
denied ; and surely I shall not be the first to be
denied. Forever blessed be my reconciled
Father in Christ Jesus, who heareth prayer."
On another of these occasions, he writes : " I
put the answer of my prayers upon the sincerity
of my soul before God, saying, ' O my God, if
I do not sincerely desire to glorify thy name,
then deny my requests, and let me have no
answer. But if I do in sincerity desire to serve
and glorify thee, then have compassion on me,
and deny me not. Upon these terms, let me go,
either with an answer, or with a denial.' 0
my soul, wait thou on the Lord."
May 8th, 1672, was set apart by Mr. Mather,
as a day of special communion with God, on
account of the death of his eldest brother, Sam
uel, the news of which had just reached him.
" In the beginning of the day," he writes, " the

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 65
Lord melted my heart. While I was entreat
ing that the Lord would remember the prayers
which my precious brother had put up for me,
when he was living in the world, and that he
would impart much of that spirit to me, which
he had caused so eminently to rest on my now
blessed, glorified brother ; — while I was thus
praying, my heart was exceedingly melted, and
I had such an inexpressible view of the Divine
glory, that I was afraid I should have fainted in
my study."
The public prayers of Mr. Mather were re
markable for their originality and pertinency, as
well as fervor. Extracts from some of them
are recorded in his diary, — more especially
from those which were offered up at the Lord's
table. " I was this day much affected in ad
ministering the supper of the Lord, particularly
in the last prayer. I said : ' Now, dearest Lord,
if ever there were poor creatures in the world
who had cause to love and bless the Lord, we
are they. We have done thee infinite wrongs ;
but thou hast forgiven us all these wrongs, and
dealest with us as with friends. How can we
but mourn for the wrongs that we have done
thee ? If we had wronged an enemy, and that
in a small matter, we should be grieved for it ;
but we have wronged the Son of God ! Have
6*

66 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
wronged, yea crucified, the Saviour ! It was
our sins which pierced him on the cross ; and
the blood which flowed from his wounded body
has procured our pardon. O our Father, we
have sinned against thee ; but we are sorry for
it, and would do iniquity no more. Father,
forgive us, thou knowest our hearts. Thou
knowest that we could rejoice, if we might
never have so much as one more sinful thought
in our hearts, nor speak so much as one un
profitable word more, whilst we live. Yea, this
is the thing that we would most earnestly beg
of thee. Deny us not, Lord, this most import
ant request. Let thy Spirit dwell in us, and
sanctify us wholly for thyself.' "
We give but another example of these sacra
mental prayers. " I had some quickenings at
the table of the Lord, especially in the last
prayer, saying : ' Our heavenly Father, we
have avouched thee to be our God, and we
believe that thou hast avouched us to be thy
people ; for thou hast given us thy Son, and
thou wilt with him give us all things. Our
Father, we do humbly crave of thee, that, ac
cording to thy covenant of grace, thou wilt for
give us all our iniquities. Thou wilt not im
pute our iniquities to us, if they be our burthen ;
and thou knowest that they are so. We put

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 67
the answer of our prayers upon this, and are
willing to be denied, if it be not so. But thou,
who hast searched all our hearts, knowest that
thou hast created such a spirit within us. We
desire to be delivered from all sin, and to yield
a holy obedience to all thy commands ; though
how to perform, we find not. Father, deal with
us as with thy children.' "
The passages here extracted I am sure will
not be unacceptable to the pious reader. They
indicate a sweetness and brokenness of spirit, a
freedom and intimacy of holy, spiritual com
munion, which has rarely been equalled, in this
world of sin.
It is interesting to know how such a man as
Increase Mather ordinarily spent his time. The
following method of employing it was adopted
in early life, and, with occasional modifications,
was continued to the last :
" Lord's day. Besides my public labors, at
tend to the catechising and personal instruction
pf my family.
" Monday. Forenoon, read comments ; study
sermon. Afternoon, read authors ; study ser
mon. "Tuesday. Forenoon, read comments; study
sermon. Afternoon, endeavor to instruct per
sonally more or less ; read authors.

68 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
"Wednesday. Forenoon, read comments;
study sermon. Afternoon, read authors; pur
sue the sermon.
" Thursday. Forenoon, read comments ;
study sermon. After lecture,* endeavor to
promote among the ministers what shall be of
public advantage.
"Friday. Forenoon, read comments; study
sermon. Afternoon, read authors ; finish ser
mons. " Saturday. Read comments. Prepare for
the Sabbath, by committing my sermons to
memory, &c.
"lam not willing to allow myself more than
seven hours in twenty-four for sleep, and would
spend the rest of my time in attending to the
duties of my personal and general calling."
If the above may be regarded as a fair speci
men of the manner in which our fathers in the
ministry spent their time, then several impor
tant facts may be easily accounted for. It is no
wonder that they were mighty in the Scriptures.
Here is Increase Mather studying the Script
ures six days in the week, from Monday to Sat
urday. A part of every forenoon is employed
in reading comments. These comments were

* Referring to the stated Thursday Lecture.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 69
in different languages, and embraced a vast
range of biblical illustration and remark. By
this course of study, continued through more
than half a century, the language of Scripture
became to him as household words, and the
interpretation of difficult passages was familiar
and easy.
Again ; it is not to be wondered at, that the
reading of our fathers was extensive. Increase
Mather literally fulfilled the apostolic injunction,
" Give thyself to reading." A part of four
afternoons in every week, he read authors. It
is incalculable how many good authors may
have been read in this way ; and how much
the mind may have been enriched ; and how
well prepared to pour forth its treasures in the
stated ministrations of the pulpit.
But especially is it not to be wondered at, that
the sermons of our fathers were so thoroughly
elaborated, and so rich in scriptural, evangelical
instruction. Here was Increase Mather study
ing his sermons every day of the week except
the Sabbath, and for three days in the week,
forenoon and afternoon. He knew what it was
to bring beaten oil into the sanctuary ; nor did
he feel at liberty to serve the Lord, or his peo
ple with that which cost him little or nothing.
In one respect, Mr. Mather was decidedly in

70 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
advance of the ministers of his own age, and
perhaps of any other age in New England. I
refer to his manner of delivery. He was not
only a sound and learned divine, but a graceful
and powerful speaker. He made it an object
and labor through life to be so, and he was so.
He could not consent to be fettered by notes,
or to pour forth in the Lord's name, mere ex
temporary effusions ; and so he incurred the
labor, habitually, of committing his sermons to
memory. Whether or not he was wise in this,
I will not now undertake to say ; but this I do
say, that he was wise in thinking of the manner
of his sermons, as well as the matter of them,
and in studying to make himself an accepta
ble and accomplished preacher, as well as an
instructive one. And well had it been forthe
succeeding ministry of New England, if in this
respect he had been more closely imitated.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 71

CHAPTER IV.
Course of Mr. Mather in the controversy respecting infant baptism.
His views of religious liberty. His opinions respecting the per
sonal reign of Christ. Death of his father and brother. Severe
sickness and recovery.
When Mr. Mather returned from Europe, in
1661, he found the churches and ministers of
New England deeply agitated with a contro
versy respecting the church state of their pos
terity, and the right of those who were not
members in full communion to bring their chil
dren to baptism. The older churches had now
been established from twenty to thirty years, in
which time a generation had risen up, many of
whom did not regard themselves as regenerated
persons. They were, in general, of sober life,
but not having experienced the grace of God in
their hearts, they could not in conscience apply
for admission to the churches, nor if they had
applied, could they have been admitted. The
consequence was, that their children were not
baptized, and were likely to grow up without so
much as a nominal connection with the church

72 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
of Christ. This was a tryingemergency to our
fathers, — one which they had hardly anticipated;
and they were led to look about them and in
quire, " What shall be done ? Will it be safe
to innovate on the established order of the
churches, and admit persons to communion,
without a credible profession of piety ? Or will
it be safe to shut our posterity out of the church,
deprive them of the privilege of Christian ordi
nances, and in this way expose the cherished
vine, which, with so many prayers and tears,
we have planted in the wilderness, to an early
decay and an ultimate desolation ?" These
trying questions were first started in Connecti
cut ; and we cannot well conceive of the feeling
and interest with which they soon forced them
selves upon the attention of the colonies. They
were discussed and decided at a meeting of
ministers in Boston, in 1657. They were also
decided in a general synod, in 1662. In these
decisions, which were substantially the same,
the difficulty was rather evaded than removed.
It was not determined that persons of sober life
who gave no evidence of piety, should be ad
mitted to the church ; nor was it determined
that they could hold no sort of connection with
the church, and that their children must remain
unbaptized. A middle course was suggested

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 73
and adopted ; viz : " that it is the duty of those
who have been baptized in infancy, when grown
to years of discretion, though not yet fit for the
Lord's supper, to own the covenant made on
their behalf by their parents, by entering into it
in their own persons ; and it is the duty of the
church to call upon them for the performance
thereof. And if, being called upon, they shall
refuse to perform this duty, or otherwise con
tinue scandalous, they are liable to be censured
for the same by the church. But if they un
derstand the grounds of religion, and are not
scandalous, and solemnly own the covenant in
their own persons, wherein they give up both
themselves and their children unto the Lord,
and desire baptism for them, we see no reason
why such children are not to be baptized."
Such was the origin of infant baptism, on the
ground of what has been denominated " the
half-way covenant" It was an innovation on
the original platform of the New England
churches, which, though sanctioned by a synod,
and recommended by. the general court, was not
adopted without long controversy. Mr. Mather
was at this time a young man ; but he united
his efforts with those of President Chauncy and
the venerable John Davenport, in opposition to
the measure ; though, through the influence of
vol. v. 7

74 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
his father, and of his particular friend, Mr.
Mitchell of Cambridge, he was afterwards led
to adopt it.
The result of the expedient, however, was
disastrous. Its tendency was to enfeeble- and
secularize the church, while it quieted the con
sciences of many who were living in acknowl
edged impenitence, without hope and without
God in the world. Most persons of sober life,
when they came to have families, " owned the
covenant," and presented their children for bap
tism ; but the number of church members in full
communion, was diminishing. Baptism was
administered to great multitudes, but the Lord's
Supper, the other special ordinance of the gos
pel, was falling rather into neglect.
If on this question of infant baptism Mr. Ma
ther changed his opinions for the worse, I may
notice another instance in which he changed
them for the better ; and in which he seems to
have led the way to a more liberal and scriptur
al mode of thinking than had be/ore prevailed in
New England. As our fathers came to this
land almost entirely from religious considera
tions, — that they might establish churches after
what they conceived to be the Divine pattern,
and maintain the faith and order of the gospel,
so they were very unwilling, more especially in

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 75
the earlier part of the settlement, to be disturbed.
If those who essentially differed from them
sought here an asylum for their peculiarities,
" the world," they said, " is wide. You are1 at
liberty to turn to the right hand, or the left ; but
you must not intrude here, to disturb us. If you
cannot think and walk with us, we prefer you
should walk to some other section of the coun
try." It is perfectly natural, that a feeling such
as this should have prevailed among the early
settlers of New England. Their peculiar cir
cumstances furnished an excuse for it, if they
did not create a necessity. The feeling did not
prevail to the extent that many have pretended ;
still, there was something of it here. " Hence,"
says Cotton Mather, " toleration was decried, as
a Trojan horse, profanely and perilously brought
into the city of God. Plausible outcries were
made about Anti-Christ's coming in at the back
door of toleration. It was also a maxim often
cited, that to tolerate all things, and tolerate
nothing, are both alike intolerable:'
It was natural that Mr. Mather, in the first
part of his ministry, should fall in with these
current and established opinions. It is even
said that he wrote a book, which Was never pub
lished, on the power of the magistrate to restrain
and subdue heretical doctrines. But as he ad-

76 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
vanced in years, his views on this subject under
went a material change. He became entirely
tolerant in his principles, and advocated religious
free'dem, much as it is understood at the present
day. He. insisted " that the man who is a good
neighbor, and a good subject, has a right to his
life and the comforts of it ; and that it is not
his being of this or that opinion in religion, but
his doing of something which directly tends to
the hurt of human society, by which this right
can be forfeited. He saw that a good neighbor
and a good subject has a claim to all his tempo
ral enjoyments before he is a Christian ; and he
thought it very odd that a man should lose this
claim from his embracing Christianity, just be
cause he does not happen to be a Christian of
the uppermost party among the subdivisions.
¦ He saw, in short, that until persecutions be ut
terly banished out of the world, and Cain's club
be taken out of Abel's hand, as well as out of
Cain's, it is impossible to rescue the world from
endless confusions."
It is sometimes thought that the principles of
Christian liberty are of recent discovery. But
where shall we look for a more explicit state
ment and striking illustration of them, than in
the foregoing passages? And yet these were
the settled and recorded principles ef Increase

Mather, almost two hundred years ago ; — prin
ciples on which he uniformly and consistently
acted. At an early period, he assisted in or
daining the pastor of a Baptist church in his
immediate neighborhood; and Cotton Mather,
speaking of the state of things in New England
at a later period, says : " Calvinists with Luther
ans, Presbyterians with Episcopalians, Pedo-
baptists with Anabaptists, beholding one another
to fear God and work righteousness, do with
delight sit down together at the same table of
the Lord ; nor do they hurt one another in the
holy mountain."
As we are now upon the opinions of Increase
Mather, it may be proper to notice a point in
which he agreed, substantially, with his cotem
poraries, but differed from the generality of
Christians at the present day. The opinions
now prevailing in this country in respect to the
Millennium, date not much further back than the
time of President Edwards. It was his discus
sions of the subject, together with those of Doc
tors Hopkins and Bellamy, which changed the
previously received notions of the Millennium,
for those which now so generally prevail. The
first ministers of New England, like many of
the primitive Christians, and of the Protestant
reformers, lived in habitual expectation of the
7#

78 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
second coming of Christ. Some thought, with
Wickliffe, that the Millennium was past, and that
they were living in the very last days of the
world. Others held that the Millennium was
about to be ushered in by the second coming of
Christ, to reign personally and gloriously on the
earth, during the whole of that period. In proof
that such opinions very generally prevailed, I
might adduce many facts. Thus, at the time of
the great earthquake in New England, in the
year 1727, multitudes mistook the roar of it for
the sounding of the last trump, supposing that
Christ had already come. It was followed by a
great awaking in Boston, though not, as we are
informed, by many conversions. Also, during
certain vivid and terrific corruscations of the
Aurora Borealis, which occurred more than a
hundred years ago, many excellent people walked
the streets the whole night, expecting the instant
appearance of the Son of Man.
As might be expected, Mr. Mather adopted
and advocated the current opinions respecting
the speedy coming of Christ, and was, without
doubt, a means of extending and establishing
them. About the year 1668, he wrote a book,
in Latin, which was afterwards published in
Holland, entitled "A Diatribe concerning the
Sign of the Son of Man, and the Second Coming

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 79
of the Messiah;" in which he insists that this
great event " will be at the beginning of that
happy state which is to be expected for the
church on earth, in the latter days."
In the spring of 1669, Mr. Mather was called
to bury his father, and scarcely had this sad of
fice of affection and piety been performed,, when
tidings reached him of the sudden death of his
beloved brother Eleazer. This made it neces
sary for him to take a journey to Northampton,
that he might assist and comfort the desolate
widow and the afflicted people. While here, he
was himself attacked with a violent fever, which
continued many days. During this period, he
was the subject of incessant prayer, and a phy
sician was sent all the way from Boston to his
relief. He recovered slowly, and was but just
able to return to his family and people before
the setting in of winter. He was kept from his
pulpit by continued weakness and indisposition,
till the next spring. During his sickness, he
wrote as follows :
" God was wonderfully gracious to me. He
did not leave me to doubts and fears, but caused
his face to shine upon me. I found myself very
willing to die. When I thought of my wife
and children, my heart gave them up to God,
firmly believing that he would take care pf them.

80 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

I had as much quiet in my mind, as though I
had neither wife nor child to care for. When
I thought of that blessedness which is to be en
joyed in another world, I longed to be there. 0
the presence of God ! The presence of God !
It is sweeter than life itself. My soul knoweth
it." In the spring of the year 1670, we find Mr.
Mather again in the pulpit. His first sermon
was from these words : " Blessed is the man
whom thou chastenest, 0 Lord, and teachest out
of thy law." Still, however, he was feeble in
body, and in a somewhat melancholy and hypo
chondriac' state of mind. On one occasion, he
records his feelings to this effect : " I was in
much distress and anguish of spirit, lest all my
faith should prove but phantasy and delusion. In
this trouble, I betook myself to Christ, and wept
before him, saying, ' Lord Jesus, let me be des
troyed, if thou canst find it in thy heart to des
troy a poor creature, who desires, above all
things, to glorify thy name. Here I am before
thee. Do to me and with me, as thou wilt. If
thou wilt glorify thyself in my confusion, thy
will be done. I have deserved that it should be
so. But O that thou wouldest hear me, and pity
me !' After I had thus fled and cried unto the
Rock of my Salvation, I was revived."

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER, 81
As soon as Mr. Mather was able to engage in
such a labor, we find him preparing and publish
ing a Memoir of his father. He also prepared
for the press and published a volume of his
brother Eleazer's sermons. They were intended
especially for the rising generation, and had a
wide circulation among the youth of New Eng
land.

82 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

CHAPTER V.
Philip's war. Great fire in Boston. SmaU Pox. The reforming
Synod. Mr. Mather's agency in it. Severe fits of sickness. Or
dination of his Son. Is appointed President of Harvard College.
For the next four or five years after Mr. Math
er's recovery from sickness, he seems to have
devoted himself, with more quiet and constancy
than usual, to the concerns of his flock. The
year 1675 was one of great terror and distress
in New England. Instigated by Philip, a chief
of the Narragansetts, most of the Indians in the
country (with the exception of those who had
been converted to Christianity,) entered into a
conspiracy to cut off the white inhabitants, or
drive them from the land. To effect this object,
Philip is said to have had in the field, at one
time, an army of three thousand warriors. And
when it is considered that these savages were
athletic, cunning, treacherous, cruel, perfectly
acquainted with localities, expert in the use of
firearms with which they were now well sup
plied, and capable of enduring hunger and hard
ship to any requisite amount, it will be seen, at

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 83
once, that three thousand of them, under charge
of such a leader as Philip, must have been a
most terrible body to the New England settlers.
As this was the last general war with the Indi
ans, so it was the most bloody and desolating of
them all. It continued nearly two years, in
which time many flourishing towns were re
duced to ashes, and not less than six hundred of
the English settlers, constituting the flower and
strength of several of the districts, either fell in
battle, or were massacred in their dwellings, or
expired under the tortures and hardships of an
Indian captivity.
Mr. Mather warned his people, and the coun
try, of the approaching day of trouble, before it
came ; and when it did come, he made the best
use of it, by bearing solemn testimony against
those prevailing iniquities which had provoked
the judgments of heaven, and in calling his suf
fering fellow citizens to repentance. As the
people were unable, during these years of terror,
to cultivate their fields with safety and success,
the country was threatened with the horrors of
famine, as well as those of war. In this extrem
ity, Mr. Mather, "by his letters, procured a
whole ship's load of provisions from the charity
of his friends in Dublin, and a considerable sum
of money and much clothing, from friends in

84 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
London, to be distributed among the needy and
distressed." Our country is at this time paying
a debt of gratitude, so long ago contracted, by
sending back ship-loads of provisions to the
starving and perishing in Ireland and England.
In the year 1676, (the second year of Philip's
war,) Boston was visited with a distressing fire.
In some unaccountable way, Mr. Mather had a
presentiment of the approach of this calamity,
and warned his people of it, two Sabbaths in
succession. The very night of the second Sab
bath, the fire broke out in his immediate neigh
borhood, his meeting-house and dwelling-house
were both consumed, and whole streets were
laid in ashes. His library, which was in part
consumed, was soon made up to him by the
generosity of friends ; and in less than two years
he was put in possession of a better house than
that he had lost. His flock was scattered for a
time, till a place of worship could be provided;
but " God made it an opportunity for him to
preach every Lord's day in the other churches,
and thus to benefit the whole city with his en
lightening and awakening ministry."
Only two years after, New England was vis
ited with another distressing calamity — the small
pox. As neither vaccination nor inoculation
was then practiced, we can hardly conceive of

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 85
the terror and distress which such a visitation
must have inflicted on the suffering inhabitants.
It was like the plague or the cholera of our "own
times ; and even more distressing, as the disease
was more fearfully contagious. Never before
had Boston seen so dreadful a mortality. " The
cry of the city went up to heaven."
These repeated and sore corrections ltd our
fathers to look around them, and to search their
own hearts and characters, for the cause. They
remembered that long promulged maxim of the
Divine government : "If his children forsake
my law, and walk not in my judgments ; if they
break my statutes, and keep not my command
ments, then will I visit their transgressions with
a rod, and their iniquity with stripes ;" and they
were led very carefully to inquire wherein they
had forsaken the law and the judgments of God,
broken his statutes and commandments, and
thereby exposed themselves to such awful visita
tions. " New England," says Cotton Mather, " was
not become, at this time, so degenerate a country
but that there was yet preserved in it far more
of serious religion, as well as of blameless mo
rality, than was proportionably to be seen in any
country upon the face of the earth. Neverthe
less, the spirit- of the world had begun so far to
vol. v. 8

86 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
operate, that there was a visible, decay of real
and vital piety, and the power of godliness had
sensibly suffered some abatements. Watchful,
fruitful, prayerful Christians, and humble walk
ers with God, were not so many as they had
been, among a people greatly multiplying, and
the holy God might also say, " There are wicked
men _§mong my people."
Wherefore, upon the suggestion of Mr. Mather
and others, the general court convoked a synod,
(commonly called the reforming synod,) to con
sist of pastors and delegates from the several
churches of the colony, whose duty it should be
to consider and report upon the following ques
tions :
1. What are the evils that have provoked the
Lord to bring his judgments upon New England ?
2. What is to be done, that so these evils may
be reformed ?
The churches having first kept a general fast,
that the blessing of God might rest upon the
proposed undertaking, the synod met at Boston,
September 10, 1679. The first day of the ses
sion was spent in prayer and fasting, in the
course of which Mr. Mather and old Mr. Cob
bett of Ipswich preached. . Several days were
then occupied in a free discussion of the ques
tions proposed ; after which a result, drawn up

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 87
by Mr. Mather, was unanimously adopted. On
the day when this result was presented to the
general court, Mr. Mather preached again, on
" the Danger of not being Reformed by these
Things." The result was cordially accepted by
the court, and commended to " the serious con
sideration of all the churches and people in the
jurisdiction." Among the evils enumerated by the synod as
having provoked the judgments of God, were
the following : 1. A great and visible decay of
the power of godliness among professors of relig
ion. 2. Abounding pride. 3. Profaneness. 4.
Sabbath-breaking. 5. Neglecting family gov
ernment. 6. The indulgence of inordinate pas
sions. 7. Intemperance. 8. Violations of
honesty and truth. 9. An inordinate love of the
world. 10. A want of public spirit. 11. Sins
more directly against the gospel. 12. A mani
fest unwillingness to be reformed.
In answer to the second question, viz : What
things are to be done, that so these evils may be
removed; the synod recommend, 1. That the
work of reformation commence with magistrates,
and all those who are in authority. " Moses,
being to reform others, began with what con
cerned himself and his. People are apt to fol
low the example of those that are above them.'

88 LIFE OF INCREASE MAIB1H,
2. The synod recommend a public declaration
of adherence to the Cambridge Platform of
church order and discipline. This recommen
dation was carried into effect in the synod itself;
every member lifting his hand in favor of the
Platform, and not one appearing against it. 3.
The synod enjoin greater strictness and faithful
ness in the admission of members to the church
es; also in maintaining church discipline. 4.
The synod further recommend the most earnest
endeavors for supplying the churches with faith
ful pastors, and for their encouragement and
support in fulfilling the duties of their office. 5.
A reformation may be much promoted by due
care and faithfulness in the establishment and
execution of wholesome laws. 6. Solemn and
explicit renewal of covenant is a scriptural expe
dient for reformation. 7. Effectual care must
be taken to establish and encourage schools of
learning. Finally, " it becometh us to cry
mightily unto God, both in an ordinary and ex
traordinary manner, that he would be pleased to
rain down righteousness upon us."
I have presented this abstract of the doings of
the famous reforming synod, as illustrating not
only the spirit of the times, but the personal
character and history of Mr. Mather. As he
originated the project of a synod, so he was tha

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 89
prime mover and counselor in all its delibera
tions. The result which, as before stated, was
drawn up by his hand, gives evidence of .his
diligence in searching out existing evils, and of
his unsparing fidelity in directing to the most
appropriate remedies.
The synod itself, if it did not accomplish all
that was expected, was of essential service to
the cause of piety. Encouraged and strength
ened by it, ministers were more searching and
faithful in their discourses, and their labors were
followed with a proportionally increased success.
The best effects were also realized from that re
newal of covenant which the synod so earnestly
recommended. The churches first came togeth
er, with their pastors, to consider what God ex
pected of them, and to prepare their minds for
the solemn service in which they were about to
engage. Then, on a day set apart for the ser
vice, and after appropriate sermons and prayers,
the proposed covenant was read to them, and all
united in receiving and adopting it. And as
there was usually a multitude of people present
on these occasions, so there were thousands who
felt and testified that they never saw more con
vincing evidence of the special presence of God,
than was witnessed in these awful solemnities.
The synod of which we have spoken had a
8*

90 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
second session in the spring of the following
year, at which time Mr. Mather was appointed
moderator. It was at this session, that the New
England Confession of Faith was adopted. This
is the same as the Savoy Confession ; and sub
stantially the same, as to the doctrinal parts of
it, with the more celebrated Westminster Con
fession. The reason why our fathers preferred
to adopt a confession already in existence, rather
than 'prepare one for themselves, was, as they
inform us, that by agreeing to the very " words
of their brethren in England, they might, with
one mouth as well as heart, glorify God and our
Lord Jesus Christ."
At a general court held in Boston, May 19,
1680, the result of the second session of synod,
then just closed, was presented for acceptance,
whereupon the following order was passed :
" This court, having taken into consideration the
request that hath been presented by several of
the reverend elders, in the name of the late sy
nod, do approve therepf ; and acccrdingly order,
that the Confession of faith agreed upon, together
with the Platform of discipline consented unto
by the synod at Cambridge in 1648, be printed,
for the benefit of the churches in present and
after times."
Mr. Mather was ill when the second session

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 91
of the synod commenced, of which he was ap
pointed moderator ; but so intent was he on the
business to be done, that for the time he forgot
his sickness ; and so closely did he keep his
brethren to their work, that in two days they
despatched it, and were ready to return to their
homes. On this, Mr. Mather immediately took his
bed, under a dangerous fever, which left him
with a cough, and with symptoms of consump
tion. He was sick a long time, was brought
very low, and his life at times despaired of.
When inquired of whether he expected soon to
die, he answered : "I am not careful about that
matter. I have the consciousness that I have
endeavored to walk before God with a perfect
heart, and to do that which is well pleasing in
his sight. Nevertheless, I do not think I shall
die of this sickness. I have not yet suffered for
my Lord Jesus Christ so much as I have de
sired. Much prayer was offered up by his
church and by other Christian friends, on his
behalf; and upon his recovery, his people did
him the honor to observe a day of public thanks
giving, for so great a favor.
In the year 1681, the Rev. Urian Oakes,
President of Harvard College, died, and Mr.
Mather was appointed his successor. At the

92 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
commencement following, he took the chair and
conferred the degTees ; but as his church were
unwilling to grant him a dismission, the office
was at length declined.
In the year 1684, Mr. Mather had another
severe fit ef sickness, during which (as before,)
much prayer was offered up to God for him, and
he was favored with a calm serenity of mind,
rejoicing in hope of the glory to be revealed.
His first sermon after his -recovery was from Is.
38 : 18, 19. " The grave cannot praise thee.
The living, the living, he shall praise thee, as I
do this day." The leading sentiment of the dis
course was this : " The servants of God, whilst
living in the world, have many opportunities and
advantages to glorify him, which the saints in
heaven have not." Among other particulars,
this was noticed ; " they have the opportunity to
suffer for him."
It was during this year, that Mr. Mather had
the satisfaction of receiving his son, Cotton Ma
ther, as his colleague in the work of the minis
try. The son was ordained May 13, 1684,
when his father preached. Messrs. Allen and
Willard, in connection with his father, imposed
hands, and the venerable Eliot expressed the
fellowship of the churches. The connection
thus formed between father and son was contin-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 93
ued, with the utmost harmony, (except that the
father was occasionally absent,) for alnjost forty
years. »
After the death of President Rogers, in 1685,
Mr. Mather was again requested " to act as Pres
ident of the college, until a further settlement
be made ;" with the understanding that he was
to reside and preach in Boston, and spend a por
tion of his time at Cambridge during the week.
In this way, his official connection with the col
lege commenced ; and it continued without any
material alteration (except that he afterwards
became, not merely the acting, but the actual
President) for a period of about sixteen years.
Up to this time, the classes at Cambridge had
usually consisted of from two, three, or four stu
dents up to eight or ten. But during the presi
dency of Mr. Mather, the number increased, so
that the classes often consisted of more than
twenty. In the year 1682, a new college edifice
was erected, denominated Harvard Hall, which
stood till it was destroyed by fire, in 1764. The
sixteen years of Mr. Mather's presidency was a
deeply interesting period, not only to the college,
but also to the colonies, to both of which he sus
tained the most important relations. A review
of it will be undertaken in the fplbwing chap
ters.

94 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

CHAPTER VI.
The charter of Massachusetts demanded. Mr. Mather dissuades
from surrendering it. Rage of his enemies. The charter taken
away. Death of Charles IL, and accession of James. Provisional
government established. Administration of Sir Edmund Andro..
Mr. Mather sent to England on an agency for the colony.
We have heard already ef the Reforming Synod
of 1679, — of its occasion, and results. It was
hoped that a reformation and return to God so
general and entire would be effected, that the
tokens of his displeasure against the people of
New England might be removed. But it was
soon manifest that his holy hand was stretched
out still, and that trials and perils more formida
ble than any that our fathers had yet encoun
tered were before them.
From the accession of Charles II. to this time,
a period of some ten or twelve years, there had
never been a good understanding between him
and the New England colonies, more especially
that of Massachusetts. From time to time, ho
had been pressing claims upon the colonists,
which they had endeavored to evade, and had

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 95
been making encroachments upon their chartered
liberties, which they were determined to resist.
Prejudiced individuals (foremost among whom
was the notorious Edward Randolph,) were also
filling the royal ears with complaints against the
colonies, and increasing the causes of irritation,
by every method in their power.. At length, in
October, 1683, Randolph came over with a mes
sage from the king, that unless the people of
Massachusetts would make a full submission and
entire resignation of their charter to his pleasure,
a Quo Warranto against it should be prosecut
ed. The question before the people was, wheth
er they should voluntarily surrender their charter,
or have it forcibly taken from them. This ques
tion was submitted to Mr, Mather, who in his
answer demonstrated that they would act the
part, neither of true Englishmen nor of good
Christians, if, by any act of theirs, they became
accessory to the plot then in progress to produce
a general shipwreck of their liberties. This
answer was instantly and widely circulated, and
with great effect ; and in proportion to its effects
was the rage of Eandolph, and those who acted
under his influence. In the fullness of their
spite, they customarily spoke of Mr. Mather as
the Mahomet of New England. Still, the good'
man was not to be terrified or deterred from

96 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
discharging what he believed his duty. Ac
cordingly, when the freemen of Boston came
together to give instructions to their deputies to
the general court, he was desired to be present,
and to favor them with his thoughts on the case
of conscience that was to come before them.
The speech which he made in the town-house
on that occasion is preserved, and is verbatim as
follows : " Gentlemen, as the question is now
stated, whether you will make a full submission
and entire resignation of your charter, and the
privileges of it, unto his majesty's pleasure, I
verily believe we shall sin against the God of
heaven, if we vote an affirmative to it. The
Scripture teacheth us otherwise. We know
what Jephthah said, ' That which the Lord our
God has given us, shall we not possess it V And
though Naboth ran a great hazard by the refusal,
yet he said, ' God forbid that I should give away
the inheritance of my fathers.' Nor woald it be
wisdom for us to comply. We know that David
made a wise choice, when he preferred to fall
into the hands of God, rather than into the hands
of men. If -we make a full submission and en
tire resignation to the king's pleasure, we fall
directly into the hands of men. But if -we do it
not, we still keep ourselves in the hands of God.
We trust ourselves with his providence; and

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 97
who knows what God may do for us ? There
are also examples before our eyes, the consider
ation of which should have weight with us.
Our brethren hard by us, what have they gained
by being so ready to part with their liberties,
but an acceleration of their miseries ?* And we
hear from London, that the loyal citizens would
not make a full submission and entire resigna
tion, lest their posterity should curse them for
it. And shall we, then, do such a thing? I
hope there is not a freeman in Boston that can
be guilty of it. However, I have discharged my
conscience in what I have thus declared to you."
This speech was received with great satisfac
tion by the freemen of Boston. Many of them
were affected to tears, and all came round him
with expressions of gratitude. But Eandolph
and his party were more enraged than ever ; and
one method which they took to injure Mr. Ma
ther, is too strongly characteristic of them to be
wholly passed over. They forged a letter in the
name of Mr. Mather, and caused it to be put into
the hands of Sir Lionel Jenkins, the king's Sec
retary of State, containing severe reflections
upon the Secretary, and praising certain individ
uals who were known to be obnoxious to the

? Referring, doubtless, to the Plymouth colony, which was without
a charter. VOL. V. 9

98 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

king. The forgery, however, was so palpable,
that the secretary treated it with contempt. —
When Mr. Mather heard of it, he wrote at pnce
to the secretary, disclaiming all knowledge of
the letter, and expressing the opinion that Ran
dolph wrote it. This excited the hatred of Ran
dolph the more, and he brought two successive
actions against Mr. Mather for defamation. But
from both of them the good man escaped ; in the
first instance, by being honorably acquitted ; and
in the second, as we shall see, by being sent out
of the country.
But to return to the charter. The people
having refused to surrender it, the process of
quo warranto was urged forward with all the
expedition that was compatible with forensic for
mality. Among other instances of tyrannical
contempt of justice, the summons which required
the colony to defend itself was transmitted so
tardily, that before compliance with it was possi
ble, the space assigned for such compliance had
elapsed. In the year 1684, judgment was pro
nounced against the charter by the English
court of King's Bench, and in July of the fol
lowing year, an official copy of this judgment
was received in Boston.
No sooner had judgment been rendered
against the charter, than Charles began to make

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 99
arrangements fer the new gpvernment of the
colony. " And as if he purposed to consum
mate his tyranny and vengeance by a measure
that should surpass the darkest anticipations
entertained in New England, he selected as the
delegate of his prerogative, a man, than whom
it would be difficult, in all the records of human
wickedness and oppression to find one who has
excited to a greater degree the abhorrence and
indignation of his fellow creatures. The noto
rious Col. Kirke, whose ferocious and detesta
ble cruelty has secured him an immortality of
infamy in the history of old England, was ap
pointed governor of Massachusetts, New Hamp
shire, Maine, and New Plymouth ; and it was
determined that no representative assembly of
the colonists, should be permitted to exist, but
that all the functions of municipal authority
should be vested in the governor, and a council
appointed during the royal pleasure."*
In these days of trial and peril to New Eng
land, the pious ministers and churches had no
resource but in prayer ; and here they had a.
resource and a consolation, of which their ene
mies were ignorant. The following record is
in Mr. Mather's diary of Feb/6th, 1685. " This

* Grahame's Hist, of U. States, vol, I, p. 256,

100 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
day, as I was praying to God for the deliverance
of New England, I was very much moved and
melted before the Lord, so that for sometime I
was not able to speak a word. And then, I
could not but say, and repeat, ' God loill deliver
New England ! God will deliver New Eng
land !' So I rose from my knees with much
comfort and assurance that God had heard me.
Before I prayed, I was very sad, and much
dejected in my spirit ; but after I had prayed, I
was very cheerful and joyful. I will therefore
wait for the salvation of God." Thus wrote
Mr. Mather on the sixth of February ; and in
the course of a few weeks it was ascertained,
than on that very day king Charles died, and
the coming of Kirke on his bloody errand to
this country was entirely defeated. This ruth
less ruffian was thus retained in England, to
contribute by his sanguinary violence there to
bring hatred and exile on Charles' successor.
Verily, there is a God that heareth prayer
And the examples illustrative of this, occurring
in our own early history, are scarcely exceeded
by those recorded in the Scriptures.
Charles II. was succeeded by his brother,
James II. , from whose stern, inflexible temper
and lofty ideas of royal prerogative, the most
gloomy presages of tyranny were derived.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 101
With melancholy solemnity he was proclaimed
at Boston, in April, 1685.
Soon after his accession, he appointed a
provisional government for the provinces of
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Maine, and
New Plymouth, to be composed of a President
and council selected from the inhabitants, whose
functions were to continue till the establishment
of a fixed and permanent system. At the head
of this government was placed Joseph Dudley,
a native of Massachusetts, who hitherto had
enjoyed the favor of the citizens, but who from
this time became, deservedly, an object of sus
picion. It was the misfortune of the provisional gov
ernment to give satisfaction to neither party.
The colonists were indignant, to behold a sys
tem which had been erected on the ruin of their
liberties administered by one of their own native
born citizens ; while the king and his party
(among whom was Eandolph,) thought Dudley
not sufficiently careful to carry out their schemes
of arbitrary power. This government, therefore,
was soon superseded ; and a governor and coun
cil were appointed by the king, who were to
unite in themselves all legislative and executive
authority. Kirke had been found too useful, as
an instrument of terror in England, to be spared
9*

102 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
out of it ; and so Sir Edmund Andros was ap
pointed governor of the colonies. Dudley, the
late President, was one of his council, and the
infamous Edward Eandolph, was his secretary.
The administration of Andros continued a little
more than two years ; and as he and his council
were entrusted with arbitrary powers, so most
arbitrarily did they use them. The writers of
that day, when speaking of the course pursued,
seem to lose all patience, and to labor for words
in which to set forth adequately their sense of
injury and of reprobation. " It would make a
long and black story," says Cotton Mather, " to
tell a tenth part of the vile things done by that
scandalous crew, who then did what they
pleased in the administration of the government.
The honest members of the council were over
looked, brow-beaten, and rendered insignificant.
Three or four finished villains did what they
pleased ; there was no controlling of them."
If any are disposed to abate somewhat from
this representation, on the ground of excited
feeling, we shall find that sober historians of a
later day give us substantially the same account.
" The weight of taxation," says Mr. Grahame,
" was oppressively augmented, and the fees of
all public functionaries screwed up to an enor
mous height. The ceremonial of marriage was

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 103
altered, and the celebration of that rite confined
to ministers of the church of England, of whom
there was only one in the whole province of
Massachusetts. The fasts and thanksgivings
appointed by the churches, were suppressed by
the governor, who maintained that the regula
tion of such matters belonged entirely to the
civil power. He took occasion to remark re
peatedly, and with the most offensive insolence,
in presence of the council, that the colonists
would find themselves mistaken, if they sup
posed that the privileges of Englishmen followed
them to the ends of the earth ; and that the only
difference between their condition and that of
slaves was, that they were not bought and sold.
It was declared unlawful for the people to assem
ble in public meetings, or for any one to quit
the province without a passport from the gov
ernor; and Eandolph, now at the summit of
his wishes, was not ashamed to boast in his
private letters, that he and the governor were
'as arbitrary as the Great Turk.' While
Andros mocked the people with the semblance
of trial by jury, he contrived, by intrigue and
partiality in the selection of jurymen, to wreak
his vengeance on every person who offended
him, and to screen the misdeeds of his own
dependants from the punishment which they

104 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
deserved. And, as if to heighten the discon
tent excited by such tyrannical proceedings, he
took occasion to question the validity of the
existing land titles, pretending that the rights
acquired under the sanction of the old charter,
were tainted with its vices and obnoxious to its
fate. New grants or patents from the governor,
it was announced, were requisite to mend the
defective titles to land ; and writs of intrusion
were issued against all who refused to apply
for such patents, and to pay the exhorbitant fees
that were charged for them."
It was at this juncture that Sir William
Phipps, a native and a devoted friend of New
England, undertook to do something for the
suffering colonists. Being a personal friend of
James II. , and now present at his court, he pro
cured for himself the office of high-sheriff of
New England ; in the hope that, by remedying
the abuses that were committed in the empan-
neling of juries, he might create a barrier
against the tyranny of Andros. But the gov
ernor and his creatures, incensed at this inter
ference, hired ruffians to attack Sir William
Phipps, and soon compelled him to quit the coun
try. In short, our fathers of that day were not
only called to give up their estates, but they

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 105
were led seriously to consider whether their
lives would be long secure.
In the midst of all this distress and alarm,
the people at length determined to send an agent
to England, to lay their case at the feet of their
Sovereign, and to implore protection and relief.
And in looking round for a suitable person to
whom to commit this responsible agency, all
eyes seemed to rest on Mr. Mather. When the
question of his going was submitted to him, he
did as he was wont to do in similar cases :
First, he carried the matter to God ; and, sec
ondly, to his church. The question was brought
before the church in the following terms : " If
you say to me, stay, I will stay ; but if you say,
go, I will cast myself on the providence of God,
and in his name I will go. I know not how to
discern the mind of God, but by your inclina
tions." And to his surprise — such was the
distress of the times, and the urgency of the
occasion — h^ people unanimously consented to
his departure. The probability is, that they had
begun to have fears for his life, if he remained ;
and they hoped that he might be an instrument
of some deliverance to a land, that was in away
to be overthrown and made desolate by stran
gers. But how was Mr. Mather to go ? The gov-

106 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
ernment, with all its facilities and resources,
was in the hands of tyrants, who, so far from
aiding, would certainly frustrate the proposed
agency, if it lay in their power. The govern
ment did exert itself to the utmost to hinder Mr.
Mather from going. It was to stop him, that
the second action was brought against him for
defaming Eandolph in charging upon him the
authorship of the forged letter ; but his friends
secreted him from his pursuers, and at last sent
him out of the country in disguise.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 107

CHAPTEE VII.
Mr. Mather arrives at London. Interviews with king James. Revo
lution in England, and in this country. Interviews with king
William, and queen Mary. Despairs of the restoration of the
former charter. Obtains a new one. Other services in England.
Returns to Boston with Governor Phipps.
Mr. Mather arrived at London, May 25, 1688,
in high hope that he should soon be able to
effect something for his suffering countrymen.
Five days afterwards, he had an interview with
king James, and presented the address of his
constituents, which was graciously accepted.
Mr. Mather had four other meetings with the
king, in the course of as many months, in all
which, he received an abundance of good words
and fair speeches, but nothing more. Indeed,
it is highly probable, that while the king was
putting off Mr. Mather with delusive promises,
saying, " What you desire, sir, is reasonable ;
it shall be done, and done speedily ,*" he was
actually plotting, as he admitted in one of his
letters to the Pope," to set up the Eoman Cath-

108 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
olic religion in the English provinces of North
America." But the intrigues, the deceptions and usurpa
tions of James, were of short continuance. In
November of this same year, (1688,) the happy
revolution commenced, which exiled the reign
ing monarch, and placed William and Mary on
the throne.
This revolution in the mother country, was
immediately followed by the overthrow of An
dros' government in Massachusetts. The peo
ple rose en masse ; took possession of an armed
frigate, which had' been stationed in Boston
harbor, with a view to overawe them ; seized
Andros, Dudley, Eandolph, and some fifty of
their oppressors, and committed them to prison ;
established a temporary government, according
to the provisions of the old charter, to be con
tinued until advices should be received from
England ; replaced the venerable Governor
Bradstreet, and the other magistrates, in the
several offices from which they had been driven ;
and revived throughout, so far as they were
able, the former civil condition of the colony.
Never was revolution more complete and satis
factory ; and all accomplished without violence
— without the shedding of one drop of blood.
In the month following, William and Mary

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 109
were joyfully proclaimed in Boston ; and shortly
after a letter was received from them, express
ing the royal sanction of the late proceedings in
Massachusetts, and authorizing the present mag
istrates to retain the administration of the prov
incial government, until their Majesties, with
the assistance of the privy council, should estab
lish it on a more permanent basis. An order
was at the same time communicated, to send
Andros and the other prisoners to England, that
they might answer to the charges preferred
against them. Two additional agents, Messrs.
Elisha Cook, and Thomas Oakes, were deputed
by the colony to join Mr. Mather in England,
and endeavor, with him, to promote the interests
of the colonies.
Before the arrival of Messrs. Cook and Oakes,
Mr. Mather had two interviews with King Wil
liam, on the subject of a renewal of the vacated
charter. To effect this object, he also contrived
to get a bill before Parliament, which actually
passed the House of Commons. Great interest
was made in the upper house, that when the
bill should be received, it might be regarded
with favor there. But before it could be carried
through, Parliament was dissolved, and Mr.
Mather had the mortification to find, that all his
labor, thus far, had come to nothing.
vol. v. 10

110 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER,.
It was soon evident, from the disposition of
the next Parliament, that no favt>r was to be
expected frpm it for New England. Mr. Ma
ther's next attempt was to bring the matter be
fore the courts, and effect his object through
their instrumentality ; but here again he was
defeated. Despairing now of the restoration of
the former charter, the agents of" the colony bent
all their endeavors to the procuring of a new one,
which should be acceptable to the people. In
this, they were greatly assisted by several of the
nobility ; such as Archbishop Tillotson, Bishop
Burnet, the Earl of Monmouth, and especially
the venerable Lord Wharton, the last surviving
member of the famous Westminster Assembly.
Archbishop Tillotson told the king, that "it
would not look well for him to take from the
good people of New England any of those priv
ileges which Charles I. had granted them."
Lord Wharton said to his majesty ; " If I were
sure to die tomorrow, I would, as I now do, ap
pear in behalf of New England, and solicit your
favor to that religious country. The inhabitants
pf that cpuntry are a gndly, conscientious peo
ple. There are proportionably more good men
there, than in any part of the world. They do
not ask your majesty for money, or for soldiers,
or for any succors of this sort under their heavy

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. Ill
difficulties, but merely for such a charter as
shall secure their ancient privileges." During
the king's absence in Holland, Mr. Mather had
a long and highly satisfactory interview with
the queen, who consented herself to write to her
husband in behalf of New England.
At length, after immense labor, and frequent
disappointments and delays, the promised char
ter was finished, and put into the hands of the
agents of the colony. And now another ques
tion arose : Whether the agents should accept
the charter, or whether they should signify to
the ministers of state, that they rather preferred
no charter at all, than such an one as had been
given them. This question was the more em
barrassing, because the agents were divided in
opinion respecting it.
As very much depended on the judgment of
Mr. Mather, he was careful to act with deliber
ation. He took advice of many judicious per
sons, noblemen, gentlemen, divines, lawyers —
men to be depended on as true friends of New
England, who all said to him: " Take the pro
posed charter, and be thankful for it. If it is
not every thing you wish, it is the best you can
obtain, and altogether safer and better for you
than none." Such was the opinion of Sir Hen
ry Ashurst, and Sir William Phipps, who,

112 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
though not formally connected with the agency,
were as deeply interested for New England as
those who were. Such was the opinion of Mr.
Mather ; and such was supposed to be the opin
ion of a large majority of the people of Massa
chusetts. They had suffered too much from the
mere pleasure of a king, to be willing to trust
it any farther, and preferred a written guaranty
of their rights and privileges, although the in
strument might not be in all respects such as
they would themselves have dictated. With
great deference, therefore, the charter was ac
cepted, though in opposition to the wishes of
Messrs. Cook and Oakes; and as the king
granted to the agents the privilege of nominating
the first governor, they were agreed in propos
ing for this high office that tried friend and na
tive of New England, Sir William Phipps.
I have been thus particular in showing the
agency of Mr. Mather in procuring the provin
cial charter, because, in a civil point of view,
this was, perhaps, the most important transac
tion of his life. Still, the procuring of the char
ter was not all that this indefatigable servant of
the public accomplished, during his residence in
England. He watched over the interests of all
the New England colonies, endeavored to pro
cure the restitution of their charters, and coun-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 113

teracted, so far as possible, the designs of their
enemies. A design was on foot to unite the
colony of Plymouth with New York. This wa*
frustrated through the efforts of Mr. Mather, for
which he received a letter of thanks from the
general court of Plymouth.
In England, as every where else, Mr. Mather
deeply interested himself in the concerns of re
ligion. He was engaged in drawing up the
well known " Heads of agreement between the
Presbyterian and Congregational Churches " of
England, and thus bringing about a closer union
of these two separate bodies of Christians ; —
an object which would not, probably, have been
accomplished, had it not been for his visit to that
country. For the interest which he took in this
matter, he received a vote of thanks from the
General Assembly of Presbyterians in Devon
shire, of which the celebrated John Flaval was
moderator. Meanwhile, he was doing all in his power to
promote the interests of Harvard College. He
presented its claims before the king, and solicit
ed for it the patronage of nobles, and of other
wealthy individuals. He was instrumental, if
not of first turning the thoughts of Mr. Hollis
towards the college, at least of encouraging and
10*

114 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
confirming him in his design of making it the
object of his bounty.
It should be added, that during the four years
Mr. Mather remained in England, he served his
country gratis. " I never demanded," says he,
" the least farthing as a recompense for the time
I spent ; and I procured donations to the prov
ince and the college, at least nine hundred
pounds more than all the expenses of my agency
came to."
Having, with much labor, secured for his na
tive State a charter of government, (the best that
could be secured) and having been honored with
the nomination of the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, and the first Board of Council, who
were to be appointed by the king, Mr. Mather
left England, in company with the new Governor
Phipps, in March, 1692, and arrived at Boston
about the middle of May. The General Assembly
was soon after convened, when " the Speaker, in
the name of the House of Eepresentatives, re
turned him thanks, for his faithful, painful, inde
fatigable endeavors to serve the country." The
House also " appointed a day of solemn thanks
giving to Almighty God through the province,
for granting a safe return to his excellency, the
Governor, and the Rev. Increase Mather, who
have industriously endeavored the service of this

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 115
people, and brought over with them a settlement
of government, in which their Majesties have
graciously given us distinguishing marks of their
royal favor and goodness."
It is not to be disguised, however, that there
was a pretty strong party in the province, who
were dissatisfied with the results of Mr. Mather's
.agency, and with him for his instrumentality in
procuring them. Indeed, it had been the cus
tom ofthe colonists, or of a portion of them, from
the first, to find fault with their agents to Eng
land. The agent not being able to accomplish
all that the people expected or desired, the fault
was laid at his own door. The grounds of the
dissatisfaction with Mr. Mather's proceedings
were various. Some in what had been the Ply
mouth colony were dissatisfied, because they
were now united with Massachusetts. Some
were dissatisfied, that in his nominations to of
fice, their names had been omitted ; showing that
human nature at that period, was not essentially
different from what it is now. But the principal
ground of dissatisfaction was the charter itself.
It was not the old charter, which had been taken
away ; and then it contained some restrictions
on what were conceived to be popular rights,
which, by the former charter were secured ; par
ticularly, the right of electing some of the

116 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
higher officers of government from among them
selves. It admits not of a doubt, however, at the
present day, that Mr. Mather acted wisely, in
this most important business. The restoration
of the former charter could not be obtained ;
and if it could, without important modifications,
it would not have been adapted to the altered
and enlarged state of the colony. And had the
agents returned without a charter, the way had
been open for some second Andros to come and
plunder, and distress the country.
Mr. Mather assumed, indeed, a high respon
sibility, in consenting to act in so important a
matter without the concurrence ofhis colleagues ;
but the more credit is due to him on this account,
and it belongs to posterity to award him this
credit. It is impossible to conceive what New
England might have been called to suffer, —
what had been the fate of its churches, its
schools, and its free institutions, had not the ven
erable Mather, with a far-sighted wisdom, and
an unblanching firmness, seized the favorable
opportunity, and accepted the charter which
King William offered him. By this act, he
lost somewhat of his former popularity, and ex
posed himself to no little reproach from a class
of men — such as will be found, more or less, in

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 117
every free country, — who prefer to find fault
with the doings of others, rather than to incur
responsibility themselves, and are fond of har
anguing, about popular privileges and rights ;
but he met the decided approbation of the wise
and good among his cotemporaries ; while his
torians of a later date, and some who have not
been disposed to mete out to him any thing
more than even justice, have strongly approved
of his conduct in this matter.
The following extract of a letter to the General
Court at Boston, signed by twelve of the dissent
ing ministers of London, among whom were
William Bates, John Howe, Samuel Annesly,
and Isaac Chancy, will show how the conduct
of Mr. Mather was regarded at the time, on the
other side of the water. " Some among you
may wonder that there has been so long delay,
before your charter was finished ; but if you con
sider the torrent of affairs in court, since the
late revolution, it will lessen the wonder. The
truth is, your affairs were so difficult and thorny,
that the rare union of the wisdom ofthe serpent,
and the innocence of the dove, was requisite, in
the commissioners managing of them. A per
emptory refusal of any charter, but of an uniform
tenor with the first, had been like too strong a
medicine, which exasperates the disease, instead

118 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
of curing it. In affairs of great importance, it is
wisdom maturely to deliberate, and consider
conditional events, and by the foresight of incon
veniences that will otherwise follow, to accept of
such things as are best, in all their circumstan
ces. " We must, therefore, give this true testimony
of our much esteemed and beloved brother, Mr.
Increase Mather, that with inviolate integrity
excellent prudence, and unfainting diligence, he
hath managed the great business committed to
his trust. As he is instructed in the school of
heaven to minister in the affairs of the soul, so
he is furnished with a talent to transact affairs
of state. His proceedings have been with that
caution and circumspection which is correspond
ent to the weight of his commission. He, with
courage and constancy, hits pursued the noble
scope of his employment ; and understanding
the true moment of things, has preferred the
public good to the vain conceits of some, that
more might have been obtained, if peremptorily
insisted on.
" Considering the open opposition and secret
arts that have been used to frustrate the best en
deavors for the interest of New England, the
happy issue of these things is superior to our
expectations. Your present charter secures lib-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 119
erty and property, the fairest flowers of the civil
state ; and what is incomparably more valuable,
it secures the enjoyment of the blessed gospel,
in its purity and freedom. Although there is a
restraint of your power in some things that were
granted in your former charter, yet there are
more ample privileges in other things that may
be of perpetual advantage to the colony.
" We doubt not your faithful agent will re
ceive a gracious reward from above ; and we
hope his successful service will be welcomed
with your entire approbation and grateful accept
ance. We now, with ardent affection, recom
mend our dear brother to the Divine mercy, that
through such dangerous seas he may safely
arrive at his desired place. And we earnestly
pray that the blessing of Heaven may be always
upon your colony ; that by the light and power
of the gospel, the prince of darkness may be
expelled from his ancient dominions, and the
kingdom of our Saviour may be established and
enlarged, by the accession of the American
heathen to be his inheritance." Thus far the
London Dissenting ministers, who at that period
felt an interest in New England almost as great
as though they had been members of the colony.
President Quincy, in his late history of Har
vard University, thus speaks of the efforts of

120 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

Mr. Mather, on this occasion. " Whatever
opinions we may be compelled to entertain con
cerning his measures and motives at other times,
his conduct, in this great crisis of his country,
entitles him to unqualified approbation. It is
scarcely possible for a public agent to be placed
in circumstances more trying and critical, nor
could any one have exhibited more sagacity and
devotedness to the true interests of his constitu
ents. By his wisdom and firmness in acceding
to the new charter, and thus assuming a respon
sibility of the weightiest kind, in opposition to
his colleagues in the agency, he saved his coun
try, apparently, from a rebellion, or a revolution,
or from having a constitution imposed by the
will of the transatlantic sovereign, and possibly
at the point of the bayonet." — (Vol. I, p. 123.)
While Mr. Mather was abroad, he rarely
omitted preaching on the Sabbath ; for which he
would accept no compensation, other than to
engage the ministers to perform good offices for
his country. He was particularly attached to
the celebrated Dr. Bates of Hackney, for whom
he preached regularly once a month, and with
whose church he statedly partook of the Lord's
supper. He became intimately acquainted, also, with
Mr. Baxter, now an old man, and had the satis-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 121
faction to visit him on his death-bed. In proof
ofthe estimation in which he was held by Mr.
Baxter, it may be mentioned, that this venerable
man dedicated to him one of his latest publica
tions, and in generous confidence made this re
quest of him : " If, sir, you find errors in any of
my writings, I charge you to confute them, after
I am dead."
During Mr. Mather's absence from Boston,
his ministerial duties were faithfully discharged
by his son and colleague, Cotton Mather. At
the same time, the college, of which he was
president, was committed to the care and instruc
tion of Mr. John Leverett, and Mr. William
Brattle, tutors.

vol. v. 11

122 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

CHAPTER VIII.
Mr. Mather writes on the subject of Witchcraft. Opposes innova
tions in church order. His exertions for Harvard College. His
connection with' it dissolved. His character as President. Fare
well address to the students.
Mr. Mather and Governor Phipps arrived in
this country, in the midst of the famous excite
ment respecting witchcraft. The delusion had
now been in progress several months, many
were suffering from the supposed witches, while
other many had been accused and imprisoned as
the authors of the mischief. One of the first
acts of the new governor was to institute a court
for the trial of the accused*; and one of the first
acts of Mr. Mather was to write a book, with a
view to allay the excitement, to expose false tests
of innocence or guilt, and to refute a kind of
spectral evidence, on which many were likely
to be put to death. I shall have occasion to re
fer to Mr. Mather's agency in this matter, in
another place. Suffice it to say here, that the
publication which he issued was eminently sea
sonable, and was followed with the best results.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 123
Upon the appearance of it, says his son, " the
governor pardoned such as had been condemned,
the confessors came, as it were, out of a dream
wherein they had been fascinated, and many of
the afflicted grew easy."
Mr. Mather was a strenuous supporter of the
established faith and order of the New England
churches ; and when innovations were at any
time attempted, they met from him a determined
resistance. Near the close of the seventeenth
century, an attempt was made to do away with
the established practice of requiring of persons
admitted to the Lord's table a particular account
of their religieus experience. The Eev. Wil
liam Brattle, of Cambridge, was one of the pro
moters of this innovation. It was followed in a
little time by the doctrine, openly promulgated
by Mr. Stoddard and others, that evidence of re
generation is not to be required of candidates for
the holy supper. This, Mr. Mather regarded as
a very dangerous error, and opposed to it the
whole weight of his influence and exertions.
He wrote a preface to his son's life of Mitchell,
in which he not only says, but proves by a vari
ety of argument, that " doctrinal -knowledge and
outward blamelessness are not sufficient qualifi
cations for admission to the church ; but that
practical confessions, or some relation of the work

124 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
of conversion, are necessary." He would not
have churches shut themselves up to this or that
particular manner of obtaining satisfaction. It
may be done orally, or in writing. It may be
done by question and answer, or by a continuous
narrative. But satisfaction should, in some
way, be obtained. " Churches are bound in
duty to inquire, not only into the knowledge and
orthodoxy, but into the spiritual estate of those
whom they receive to full communion in all the
ordinances of Christ." At a later period, Mr.
Mather engaged in controversy with Mr. Stod
dard* on the terms of communion, or of admission
to the church of Christ, showing, with great
clearness and force, the unscriptural character
of the views he advocated, and their dangerous
bearing on the churches of New England.
Time has abundantly verified the correctness
of Mr. Mather's conclusions, in relation to this
subject. The doctrine and practice of Mr.
Stoddard prevailed extensively for a season, till
they were encountered and refuted, a hundred
years ago, by his successor and grandson, Presi
dent Edwards. The churches which then
adopted the Edwardean views, or (which is the
same,) came back to the ground of the early
fathers of New England, together with those
* Mr. Stoddard, it will be recollected, was Mr. Mather's brother-in-
law, having married his brother Eleazer's widow. See chap. I.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 125
which have since sprung out of them, constitute
in general, the Orthodox Congregational church
es of the present day; while those which per
sisted in the Stoddardean views, became,with few
exceptions, first Arminian, and then Unitarian.
About the same time with the controversy
respecting terms of communion, another innova
tion was attempted, if indeed it be another, at
which Mr. Mather was greatly troubled. It was
the abandonment, by particular churches, of
their separate, independent action, in the choice
of their pastors, and their consenting to vote
only in connection with the congregations. In
the year 1697, the church of which Mr. Mather
was pastor, sent " a letter of admonition to the
church in Charlestown, for betraying the liber
ties of the churches, by putting into the hands
of the whole inhabitants, the choice of a minis
ter." The same year, measures were taken for
founding the church in Brattle square, Boston,
expressly excluding the distinct action of the
church in the choice of a minister, and disclaim
ing " the requisition of any public relation of
experiences, or any other examination than by
the pastor," as the condition of being admitted
to the Lord's supper. The Eev. Benjamin
Colman, then a young man, and in England,
was invited to become the first pastor of this
11*

126 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
church ; and so confident were those who in
vited him, that he could not be ordained over it
in this country, that they advised him to obtain
ordination in England.
The leaders in this innovation, were Thomas
Brattle, Esq., of Boston, Eev. William Brattle,
of Cambridge, and Hon. John Leverett, after
wards president of Harvard College. I am the
more particular in mentioning names, because I
shall have occasion to refer to them again. The
transaction was one which not only interested
the feelings, and distressed the heart of Mr.
Mather at the time, but it materially affected
his situation afterwards. At the request and
through the mediation of neighboring minis
ters and others, the members of the new church
consented to modify very considerably their
original plan, so that Mr. Mather met with them
at the dedication of their house of worship, and
even consented to preach on the occasion. Still,
he was not satisfied with their proceedings, and
he took occasion to express his dissatisfaction,
in a treatise, published in the year 1700, enti
tled, " The Order of the Gospel professed by
the Churches of New England, Justified." This
gave rise to a reply, and that to a rejoinder, in
which more heat and bitterness were manifested

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 127
on both sides, than comport with our notions of
clerical decency and propriety.
Mr. Mather, however, was not alone in his
anxieties, at this time. Others besides him were
induced to speak out, and to utter a solemn note
of warning to those who were bent upon depart
ing from the established customs of the church
es. It was at this time, that the venerable
Higginson, of Salem, and Hubbard, of Ipswich,
published their joint "Testimony to the order
of the Gospel in the Churches of New Eng
land," — in which they say : " If any who are
given to change, do rise up, to unhinge the well-
established order of the churches in this land,
it will be the duty and interest of the churches
to examine, whether the men of this trespass
are more prayerful, more watchful, more zeal
ous, more patient, more heavenly, more univer
sally conscientious, and harder students, and
better scholars, and more willing to be informed
and advised, than those great and good men
who left unto the churches what they now en
joy. If they be not so, it will be wisdom for
the children to forbear pulling down, with their
own hands, the houses of God which were built
by their wiser fathers, until they have better
satisfaction. It is not yet forgotten by some
surviving ear-witnesses, that when the Synod

128 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
had finished the Platform of Church Discipline,
(A. D. 1648,) they did, with an extraordinary
elevation of soul and voice, then sing together
The song of Moses, the servant of God, and the
song ofthe Lamb, in the fifteenth chapter of the
Revelations. God forbid, that in the loss of
that holy discipline, there should hereafter be
occasion to sing about breaking down the carved
work of the house of God with axes and ham
mers, or to take up the eightieth Psalm for
our lamentation."
Although the controversy here referred to, so
far subsided, as to occasion no palpable breach
of fellowship between those concerned in it, still,
a degree of coldness and distance was observa
ble, and they seem to have been the objects of
mutual suspicion and jealousy, during the great
er part of their lives.* This was the more un
happy for Mr. Mather, because those whose
measures he had felt constrained to oppose,
were the men chiefly concerned, -at least for a
time, in the direction and government of Har
vard College.
The same year in which Mr. Mather returned

* This controversy, it will be recollected, waa not about doctrines,
but related only to questions of ecclesiastical order and discipline.
Dr. Eliot tells us, that " the friendship between Dr. Colman and
Cotton Mather, was renewed, several years before the latter died,
and then they wondered how they had disagreed so long."

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 129
from England, (1692,) he prepared a charter
for the college, which received the approbation
of the governor, and the sanction of the general
court. It was afterwards vetoed by the king ;
but while it continued in force, and the corpora
tion had authority, under it, to confer honorary
degrees, they conferred on him the degree of
Doctor of Divinity. It is remarkable, that this
degree had never before been conferred in
British America ; nor was it conferred again,
until almost eighty years afterwards, it was
bestowed on the Rev. Samuel Mather, (grand
son of Increase,) and on the Rev. Nathaniel
Appleton, of Cambridge.
Repeated attempts were made, during the
next seven or eight years, to procure a charter
for the college, which should receive the sanc
tion of the king ; and in more than one instance,
President Mather seemed on the point of em
barking for England, with a view to the further
ance of this important object. But for one
cause or another, all these attempts failed, and
the college continued in an unsettled and em
barrassed state.
During the troubles of this period, President
Mather proposed repeatedly to resign his office ;
but the proposition was discouraged and resisted
by the corporation. It was an object with the

130 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER,
General Court to induce him to resign his pas
toral charge, and reside at Cambridge; but he
could not be satisfied that this was his duty.
To gratify the friends of the college, he did
remove to Cambridge for a few months ; but
neither he nor his family seem to have been
happy, nor were his people willing that he
should be taken from them. Consequently, he
soon returned to Boston.
- It was this question of residence, which finally
closed his connection with the college. He
seems not properly to have resigned his office,
but on his refusing to reside at Cambridge, the
duties of it passed out of his hands,* and de
volved on those of Rev. Samuel Willard, who
was appointed vice-president.
That Dr. Mather was faithful and successful
in the office of President, notwithstanding the
many disadvantages under which the office was
sustained, is testified by all who have written
on the subject. Mr. Peirce, in his valuable his
tory of Harvard University, says : " Dr. Math
er's services at the college were assiduous and
faithful, The moral and religious instruction

* The general assembly passed a vote, that no man should act aa
President of the college, loho did not reside at Cambridge. Mr.
Mather did not think it his duty to reside there. Consequently, his
connection with the college ceased.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 131
of the students had his particular attention.
The college appears to have been in a flourish
ing condition, while he was at its head. Its
numbers increased, and it was enriched, in no
small degree, by the hand of munificence."
Page 64.
President Quincy also says : " That Dr.
Mather was well qualified for the office of
President, and had conducted himself in it faith
fully and laboriously, is attested by the history
of the college, the language of the legislature,
and the acknowledgment of his cotemporaries."
Vol. I. p. 116.
He was vigilant and faithful in the govern
ment of college, requiring a strict conformity to
wholesome laws, and firmly resisting all at
tempts al insubordination. He was particularly
concerned for the spiritual welfare ofhis pupils.
He preached to them every week, often ex
pounded to them the Scriptures, advised them
as to what books they should read, and caution
ed them against such as he considered hurtful.
He used frequently to send for them into the
library, and there pray and converse with them
separately, warning them of the terrible conse
quences of continued impenitence, and charging
them to turn from their sins and live. Not a
few of them, we are assured, " will bless God

132 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
all their days for these admonitions, and will
never forget the words that quickened them."
In June, 1701, Dr. Mather preached a fare
well sermon to his pupils, from Colossians 3:
11. " Christ is all, and in all." In the con
clusion of his discourse, he thus addressed them :
" Unto you that are students in the college, and
more especially unto such of you as are (what
most of you are) designed for the work of the
ministry, the advice which I now leave is this :
" 1. Let the glorifying of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and not any worldly considerations,
induce you to devote yourselves to the evangeli
cal ministry. True, it is an honorable calling
upon which you are entering. To be ambassa
dors of the King of kings, is to be in an honora
ble station. But you must not propose the
honors of this world, in what you undertake.
No, but expect rather to be despised and rejected
of men, and to have all manner of indignities
heaped upon you. As little may you propose
the riches of this world. The low and mean
intention of getting a living must not be the
chief thing in your eye. You may, no doubt,
gain much more wealth, by betaking yourselves
to some other employments ; while in that of
the ministry, poverty, narrow and humbling
circumstances, and grievous defraudations from

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 133

an unthankful people, are what you may look
for. You must count it honor enough, and
riches enough, if Christ may have service from
you. The special advantages to serve Christ,
which ministers have above other men, — let
these be the honor and the riches on which
your hearts are mainly set.
" 2. Let your sermons be full of Christ. Ser
mons full of self, and made for the ostentation
of your own learning; are these the sacrifices
with which God is well pleased ? The sermons
of the Apostles were not such. No; they could
say, ' We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus
the Lord.' Paul ' preached those things which
concern the Lord Jesus Christ: , Alas, there
are preachers in this world, who have little of
Christ in their sermons. A morality, without
the gospel of Christ — nothing higher than what
may be met with in a Cicero, a Seneca, an
Epictetus, a Plutarch, is to be found there.
They would think it a disparagement unto their
sermons to have the name of Christ often men
tioned in them. How unlike are such to that
pattern preacher, who has the name of Christ
no less than ten times, in the ten first verses of
his first Epistle to the Corinthians ? There is
matter enough in the very name Christ, to be
the subject of your meditation, all your days.
vol. v. 12

134 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
Do not then neglect to preach on the glories, the
person, the offices, the actions, and the benefits
of Christ, and of the interest he has in every
article of our religion. Know the truth, as it is
in Jesus. Hence,
" 3. Have an eye still to Christ, when you
are preaching on other subjects. Other subjects
are to be preached upon ; but Christ is to be the
end and the aim of all. The evil of sin is to be
preached upon, and so is the misery of man
fallen by sin ; but it must be to lead your hear
ers unto Christ, who alone is mighty to save.
The moral law is to be preached upon, as the
rule of our obedience ; and so are the duties of
piety, equity, and charity. But the example
of Christ, obeying the law, and a leaning upon
him for assistance and acceptance in all we do,
is always to accompany these subjects. Re
member, that the life of your preaching will be
in proportion to what there is of Christ, who is
the Life, shining through it.
" If, my beloved pupils, you do thus glorify
Christ, God, even his eternal Father, will glorify
you. For there is nothing so dear to him, as
the Son of his love. Christ is dearer to the Fa
ther, than all the men on the earth, and all the
angels in heaven. Christ is dearer to him than

LIFE. OF INCREASE MATHER. 135
all the worlds he has ever made ; since it is fer
¦him that he has made them all. God delights
exceedingly to see Christ glorified ; and if this
be what your hearts are set upon, he will re
ward you openly and abundantly. You will
have this reward among the rest — the Holy Spirit
breathing powerfully in your ministry. The
Spirit of truth will glorify me, saith the Saviour."
The blessed Spirit will sadly withdraw from a
ministry that has not a Christ animating it. He
will own and honor that, ministry in which
Christ is truly and faithfully preached.
" And now, my children, what shall I more
say to you ? I hope that, as to many of you (O
that it might be all !) I shall meet you with joy
at the right hand of Christ, in the great day of
his appearing and kingdom. But if any of you
prove so miserable as to die in your sins, and in
a Christless condition, I protest unto you this
day, that I shall testify against you before the
Lord Jesus Christ, that I have called upon you,
both publicly and privately, to make sure of an
interest in him. I am pure, therefore, from the
blood of your souls. If any of you (which may
infinite mercy prevent,) shall die in your sins,
your blood will be upon your own heads."
Thus were the students of Harvard College

136 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
addressed, by their President, almost one hun
dred and fifty years ago. Where shall we look
for words more fitly spoken ? When shall the
members of that venerable seminary be addressed
in like manner again ?

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 137

CHAPTER IX.
Life of Dr. Mather subsequent to his resigning the Presidency. His
habits as a student. His liberality. His gentlemanly manners.
His character as a preacher. His solemn testimony. His humility
and penitence. His last sickness, death, funeral, &c.
Dr. Mather's connection with the college ceased,
as we have seen, A. D. 1701. After this he
lived about twenty-two years, during the greater
part of which time he performed his ministerial
duties much as usual, and continued to take a
watchful interest in every thing which concerned
church and state. In this time also, and in ad
dition to all his other labors, he issued from the
press not far from fifty distinct publications, the
most of them on important practical subjects.
I have said that, during this latter portion of
his life, Dr. Mather exercised his ministry much
as usual. When he had been settled forty-nine
years, he preached a Jubilee sermon ; and as the
servants in Israel were released at the Jubilee,
so he requested a release from any further pub
lic labors. But his people set too high a value
on his services, to consent to such a proposition
12*

138 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.

At a later period, they kindly voted, that " the
labors of the pulpit should be expected from him
only when he found himself able and inclined to
perform them." Still, he actually did preach
frequently and powerfully, to the very last year
of his life.
Dr. Mather was an indefatigable student, all
his days. Indeed, prayer and study may be said
to have constituted his principal business. His
people sometimes complained that they saw so
little of him in their families, and from the fol
lowing account of the manner in which he ordi
narily spent his time, we think their complaints
were not without reason. " In the morning,
repairing to his study, he deliberately read a
chapter, and offered prayer, and then plied what
of reading and writing he had before him. At
nine o'clock he came down, read a chapter, and
made a prayer with his family ; after which he
returned to the work of the study. Coming
down* to dinner, he quickly went up again, and
commenced the afternoon with another prayer;
when he went on with his studies till evening.
The studies of the evening were commenced
with another prayer, and went on till nine
o'clock. Then he came down to his family sac
rifices. From these, he again repaired to the
study, where he continued, often, till after mid-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 139
night. The studies of the day were always
closed with prayer. Sixteen hours of the four
and twenty were commonly spent after this man
ner in the study."
Not a few, on reading this account, will won
der how the subject of it lived to the long period
of eighty-four years. Most ministers, with so
little relaxation and exercise, would have died of
dyspepsia or hypochondria, in one sixth part of
the time. But if Dr. Mather could live and en
joy health, none need wonder at the interest
which continued to be felt in his publications and
pulpit performances. His intellectual machinery
never grew rusty from disuse. He not only
kept up with his age, but kept in advance of it.
Younger men might study as hard, and preach
as well as they could ; he studied harder, and
preached better. To all the advantages of in
tellectual progress and new discoveries and im
provements, in respect to which he was on a par
with them, he added the more important advan
tages of a long experience, which were beyond
their reach. In this way, Dr. Mather continued
to bear fruit in old age ; and his example is one
of great importance to ministers and others, as
they approach the evening of life. Most old
men lay off their armor, and retire from the du
ties of active life too soon. They conclude pre-

140 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
maturely that their work is done, and their
usefulness ended. There is no reason why
clergymen, who enjoy good health, should not
be better ministers, and more useful preachers,
between the ages of fifty and seventy, than be
tween those of thirty and fifty. Let them study,
if not as closely as Dr, Mather, enough at least
to be even with their age, and in advance of it;
let them keep up their interest in the concerns
of the church and world, and their habits of ac
tivity and usefulness ; more especially, let' them
grow, as did the venerable man of whom we are
speaking, in prayerfulness and heavenly mind-
edness ; and there will be little danger of their
becoming stale and neglected. They will, like
him, bear fruit in old age, and their labors will
be appreciated and blessed.
Dr. Mather, like most other ministers, was
little burthened with this world's goods ; but in
the use of what he had, he was truly liberal.
He was so, on strictly Christian principles. He
believed that, as God has reserved a seventh
part of our time to be devoted more especially to
his service, so he has required a tenth part of
our substance. Accordingly, he constantly de
voted a tithe of his income to pious and charita
ble uses. This, he held, was the least which a

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 141
Christian could in conscience do. He often did
much more than this.
That habit of prayerfulness and communion
with God, in which Dr. Mather so uniformly
lived, imparted to him, not sternness and sever
ity of manner, but a remarkable seriousness and
gravity. He lived, and he seemed to live, as
seeing him who is invisible. His very presence
was a rebuke and a check to every thing border
ing upon indecency or levity.
Still, he was distinguished above most men of
his age for ease and gentleness of manner, or for
what may be denominated true Christian cour
tesy. It is required of a bishop, in the Script
ures, that he be "of good behavior." Dr.
Goodwin interprets this to mean, that he " must
not be slovenly, nor of such an, unmannerly car
riage as to bring his calling into contempt. He
must avoid all that rudeness that flows from ill
nature, or ill nurture, and be of such a modest,
comely, pleasing behavior as to render him fit
for the company of gentlemen." Such, pre
eminently, was Dr. Mather. Recluse as he was
at some periods, he had mingled much with the
world at others. He had frequented the best
company, both in this country and in Europe.
It had been his lot to stand before kings. And
it is testified of him that "he was of a very

142 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
pleasing behavior, full of gravity, but exhibiting
the carriage and neatness of a gentleman."
In point of learning, Dr. Mather exceeded all
the New England fathers, with the single ex
ception of Cotton Mather, his son. But though
less learned than his son, and possessing less
exuberance of fancy, he had more sound, practi
cal judgment — more common sense. His pub
lications many of them are still extant. The
style will compare with that of the best authors
of the seventeenth century.
As a preacher, Dr. Mather was at the head of
his profession in this country. I question, in
deed, whether he had many superiors in the
English nation. His discourses were eminently
scriptural. " God's word," he said, " is the food
of souls, and the more there is of that pertinently
introduced, the better fed will be the flock." His
manner in preaching was elevated, often elo
quent, yet always plain to the humblest capacity.
" His aim was, not to shoot over the heads of
his hearers, but into their hearts. He concealed
every other art, that he might the better practice
the one single art of being intelligible.
He used no notes in preaching, to the very
last. He was not opposed to the use of notes,
but only to the servile reading of them. " He
would have more speaking, and less reading, in

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 143
our sermons. He would have the preacher be
so much of an orator, that the appropriate vigor
and address of a sermon might not be lost."
In delivery, he was grave and deliberate, but
not monotonous. He had a commanding voice,
and he used it often with great effect. The em-
phatical clauses and sentences were delivered,
says his son, " with such a tonitruous cogency,
that the hearers were struck with awe, like that
produced by the fall of thunderbolts."
I only add, that Dr. Mather's ministry was a
prayerful one. He continually sought the Di
vine director in the choice of his subjects, and as
to the manner in which he should treat them.
He always went from his knees to the pulpit ;
and the first thing, on his return from the pulpit,
was to give thanks for the assistance he had en
joyed, and ask a blessing on the truths he had
delivered. A few months before Dr. Mather's death, he
prepared a written testimony, as to the design of
the pilgrims in settling this country, and the ob
ligations that were resting upon their descend
ants, to see this design carried out and consum
mated. " I am now," says he, " in the eighty
fourth year of my age, and am every hour wait
ing and longing for my dismission to a better
world. In these very solemn circumstances, I

144 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
am willing to add my testimony ; and I do here
by declare, that the principal design upon which
these colonies were first planted, was to profess,
and practice, and enjoy, with undisturbed liberty,
the holy religion of God our Saviour, as exhib
ited in the sacred Scriptures, and rescued from
the inventions and abuses which the man of sin
has introduced ; also, to set up churches for our
Lord Jesus Christ, that shal] keep themselves
loyal to him, their glorious King; receiving his
word as their only standard and law. It was
equally designed by those followers of the
Lord into this wilderness, that the pure and un-
defiled religion delivered unto us in the Script
ures, and exhibited afterwards in our confession
of faith, should be continually preached, and the
doctrines of grace particularly asserted, by min
isters of good abilities, godliness, and watchful
ness, freely and fairly chosen by the churches
whereof they are the pastors. It belongs also to
these churches to be so constituted, as manifestly
to exhibit the kingdom of heaven unto the world,
both debarring from their communion such ig
norant and scandalous persons as are to be shut
out from the city of God, and admitting all those
(though of different persuasions about lesser
points,) of whom it may be judged, that Christ

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 145
has received them to tlie glory of God. Our
foundation is in these holy mountains.
" It is now the dying wish of one that has
been about three score and six years, after a poor
manner, but I hope with some sincerity, serving
the best of masters in the blessed work of the
gospel, that these churches may standfast in the
faith and order of the gospel, and holdfast what
they have received, that no man take their crown ;
and that the pastors would more distinctly, and
with proper inculcations, from time to time, ac
quaint the churches with their true interest, and
those things which will be for their beauty and
safety. It is also my desire, as one who has
sustained for many years the office of President,
that the tutors in our colleges, from which the
churches expect their supplies, would see to it
that the students are well informed in those
points which it most concerns them to know,
that so the work of God among us may not be
marred, by falling into unskillful and unfaithful
hands. " Indeed, I cannot but go the way of all the
earth rejoicing, that the means which have been
so indefatigably used for drawing away unwary
people into the things that will not profit them,
have hitherto had so little success ; and that the
body of the more sober people throughout the
vol. v. 13

146 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
country continue to discover so strong an aver
sion to those things, from the face of which their
fathers fled into this wilderness. But there may
be danger of another generation rising up, which
will not know the Lord, nor the works done by
him and for him, among his peeple here. I
therefpre, from the suburbs of that glorious world
into which I am now entering, do earnestly tes
tify unto the rising generation, that if they sin
fully forsake the God, the hope, and the religious
ways of their pious ancestors, the glorious Lord
will severely punish their apostasy, and be ter
rible unto them from his holy places.
" The Lord our God be with you, as he was
with your fathers. Let him not leave you, nor
forsake you. And now, Lord, let thy work ap
pear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their
children, and establish thou the work of our hands
upon us ; yea, the work of our hands establish
thou it."
It is a remarkable fact in the experience of
good men, that the more they grow in knowl
edge and in grace, the more they grow in hu
mility, in penitence, and in deep and affecting
views of their own unworthiness. So it was
with Job. " I have heard of thee by the hear
ing of the ear, but now mine eyes seeth thee ;
wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 147
ashes." So it was with Isaiah. " Woe is me,
for I am undone ; for I am a man of unclean
lips." So it was with the apostle Paul. " 0
wretched man that I am ; who shall deliver me
from the body of this death !" The experience
of Dr. Mather was very similar to that here re
ferred to. Though one of the most blameless of
men in all his demeanor, so far as the eyes of
others could follow him, yet through his whole
life, and more especially in the latter part of it,
we hear him complaining of his indwelling cor
ruptions, and of his not keeping his thoughts
and heart as he desired. In . his diary, he con
stantly charges himself with remaining iniqui
ties, unfruitfulness, pride, worldliness, and a
great unmeetness for the service and the king
dom of God. " Alas, how unfruitful am I !
How do I misspend my time ! How do I ever
cumber the ground !" His sins were " such a
sorrow and burthen to him, that they exceedingly
reconciled him to the dying hour, which he al
ways spoke of with sensible transport, when that
advantage of it came to be mentioned : Never
sin any more."
I have said that growing Christians are usu
ally characterized by a growing sense of person
al unworthiness. This fact may seem strange
to some ; still, it is one not hard to be accounted

148 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
for. As the Christian learns more of the extent
and purity of God's law, he discovers more of
the number and magnitude of his transgressions.
As he sees more clearly the beauty and excel
lency of holiness, he feels more deeply the de
filement and the guilt of sin. He finds new
sources of evil opening in his heart, and points
of duty before unobserved, and of course neg
lected, rise up to view and require attention.
And thus, while he is improving in all goodness,
he seems to himself often to be deteriorating.
He seems to remain at a vast and increasing
distance from that point of perfection towards
which he aims.
Dr. Mather's last sickness was a very distress
ing one, affecting the mind as well as the body.
He had pccasipnal seaspns of darkness and de
pression, — the result, doubtless, of disease, —
when doubts and fears obtruded themselves upon
him, lest, peradventure, he should be deceived
at the last. But in times of the greatest dark
ness, " he still discovered such a holy solicitude,
that he might not in anything dishonor God, nor
lose his hold of the blessed Jesus, nor break the
resolution which he had made seventy years
before, and on which he now looked back with
unspeakable consolation, as was altogether to be
preferred to those joys of impulse with which

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 149
some, in their dying moments, are transported."
It has been well determined by the best judges,
" that going to heaven in the way of repentance,
is much safer and surer than in the way of ex-
tasy." Still, the pathway of Dr. Mather through the
valley of the shadow of death was not all dark.
Occasionally the clouds were scattered, and he
was enabled to rejoice, in hope of the glory that
was so soon to be revealed. He very often said,
"The infinite mercy of God, and- the infinite
merit of Christ, keep me above all discourage
ment. " These words of Christ were also a
comfort to him : " Where I am, there shall my
servant be." He delighted to read and ponder
the seventy-first Psalm. "O God, thou hast
taught me from my youth, and hitherto have I
declared thy wondrous works. Now also, when
I am old and gray-headed, 0 God, forsake me
not. I will make mention of thy righteousness,
even of thine only."
During his last sickness, Dr. Mather received
a message from his excellent friend, Mr. Thomas
Hollis of London, inquiring whether he were
yet in the land of the living. To this he re
plied : " Tell him I am not in the land of the
living, but am going to it. This poor world is
13*

150 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
the land of the dying. Heaven only is the true
land of the living."
The last morning of his life, says Cotton Ma
ther, " perceiving that his dying agonies were
now upon him, I did what I could to strengthen
him with such quickening words as the lively
oracles have provided for such occasions. As it
"grew towards noon, I said to him : ' Sir, the
messenger has now come to tell thee, " This day
shalt thou be with me in Paradise." Do you
believe it, sir, and rejoice in the views and the
hopes of it V He replied, 'Oyes, I do 1 1 do ! I
do !' And with these words he died in my
arms." His death occurred August 23, 1723. His
disease, like that of his father, was the stone,
from which, for several successive weeks, he had
suffered intensely. On the seventh day after
his death, he was interred, with all the honors
due to his character, and to the rank he had so
long held in society. Governor Dummer, Chief
Justice Sewall, President Leverett, and three of
the principal ministers, bore the pall. Not less
than fifty ministers, one hundred and sixty stu
dents and alumni of college, and a train of citi
zens and spectators that could not be numbered,
followed him to his grave. The funeral sermon
was preached by Rev. Mr. Foxcroft, one of the

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 151
pastors of the first church, from 2 Chron. 24:
15, 16, " He was full of days, when he died ;
 and they buried him in the city
of David, among the kings, because he had done
good in Israel, both towards God and towards
his house."
Dr. Mather was eighty-four years old when
he died. He had been a preacher sixty-six
years, during almost sixty of which he was pas
tor of the Old North Church in Boston. Dr.
Eliot speaks of him as " the father of the New
England clergy, whose name and character were
held in veneration, not only by those who knew
him, but by succeeding generations." For many
years before his death, he was commonly spoken
of as " the Patriarch," and " the Jehoiada of
New England."
About twenty years before his death, Dr. Ma
ther had a controversy, as we have before seen,
on questions of church order and discipline,
which gave him much uneasiness at the time,
and led to painful forebodings as to the prospect
of New England. But these difficulties at length
subsided, and the evils resulting from them —
owing in great measure, no doubt, to his resist
ance — were far less extensive than he feared.
The churches and ministers of Boston seemed
inclined to rally round the Platform, and cling

152 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
to the established usages of New England.
This was a great consolation to the venerable
Mather, in his last days. " He left the world
rejoicing, that the glorious Lord had seen fit to
entrust his churches here to such pious, painful,
ahd every way desirable hands. He saw a class
of young ministers introduced into the city, whom
he esteemed more precious than so many golden
wedges of Ophir. When he saw given to the
churches a Sewall, a Prince, a Webb, a Cooper,
a Foxcroft, a Waldron, all singularly endeared
to him, and saw others of a like character com
ing on after them, it is inexpressible with what
joy he regarded them, and with what earnestness
he entreated them to walk in the truth, and to
plead for it."

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 153

CHAPTER X.
Increase Mather vindicated, from the charge of promoting witchcraft.
From the charge of injuriously treating the founders of the Brat
tle Street Church. From the charge of injuring Gov. Dudley.
From the charge of being the dupe of his own impressions. From
the imputation of selfish and ambitious motives. From the gen
eral, wholesale charges of President Quincy, and others.
For the first century after Dr. Mather's death,
his character and reputation were unassailed and
untarnished. They were suffered to remain,
much as he had left them, in the hands of his
immediate survivors. But within the last few
years, certain writers in and around Boston, who
have no sympathy with the religion of the Ma
thers, have undertaken to revile and defame him.
With Cotton Mather I have at present nothing
to do, except so far as his acts and character are
identified with those of his father. But in a life
of Increase Mather, it would be unpardonable
not to inquire into the correctness of some of the
principal charges which have been urged against
him. He has been charged, in the first place, with

154 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
an effective instrumentality in producing and
prolonging the excitement in New England re
specting witchcraft. " That both the Mathers,"*
says President Quincy, " had an efficient agency
in producing and prolonging that excitement,
there can be, at this day, no possible question."*
How Increase Mather could have had any
agency in producing the excitement here re
ferred to, it is hard to conceive. The strange
appearances at Salem village, (now Danvers,)
commenced in February, 1692, when Dr. Ma
ther was in England, where he had constantly
resided, and where he had been most intensely
occupied with the important duties of his agency
for nearly four years. How then could he have
been instrumental in producing this excitement?
And the charge of prolonging it is even more
Unfounded than that of producing it. He ar
rived at home May 14, 1692, when the excite
ment was at its highest point. Shortly after
wards, as soon as it could possibly be prepared,
he published his treatise, entitled " Cases of
Conscience respecting Witchcraft, " in which,
" with incomparable reason and reading," he re
futed the received doctrine of spectral evidence,
on the ground of which so many innocent per-

* History of Harvard University, vol. I, p. 62.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 155
sons had been tried and condemned. Immedi
ately upon this, says Cotton Mather, the governor
"pardoned such as had been condemned," and
the accused were, I helieve, in all cases acquit
ted. " The confessors, too, came as it were out
of a dream, wherein they had been fascinated,
and the afflicted, in most instances, grew easy."
It would seem from this account, given by an
eye witness, that instead of contributing to pro
long the excitement, Dr. Mather was a principal
instrument in bringing it to a close.
That he was a believer in witchcraft, there
can be no doubt ; as who in that age, whether
learned or unlearned, physicians, ministers, or
lawyers, were not ? Such was the common
faith of Christendom, and had been so for hun
dreds of years. Persons who have not attended
particularly to the subject can have no idea of
the extent to which the supposed crime of witch
craft has prevailed in different countries, and the
multitude of deaths which it has occasioned. In
the latter part of the sixteenth century, not only
hundreds but thousands were put to death — ma
ny of them by the extremest tortures — in differ
ent parts of Europe, under the imputation of
witchcraft. In the year 1664, Sir Matthew
Hale presided at the trial of two females in Suf
folk, supposed to be witches, both of whom were

156 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
condemned and executed. A few years later,
many were tried and condemned in England,
under the administration of Chief Justice Holt.
The last execution for witchcraft in England
was at Huntingdon, in the year 1716 ; and the
last in Scotland was at Dornoch, Sutherland-
shire, in 1722. The English statute against
witchcraft, making it a capital offence, was not
repealed, until the year 1736. Sir William
Blackstone, the great oracle of British law, who
died no longer ago' than 1780, declared his be
lief in witchcraft in the following terms ; " To
deny the possibility, nay the actual existence of
witchcraft and sorcery, is at once flatly to con
tradict the revealed word of God, in various
passages both of the Old and New Testaments ;
and the thing itself is a truth to which every na
tion in the world hath, in its turn, borne testi
mony, either by examples seemingly well attested,
or by prohibitory laws, which suppose at least
the possibility of commerce with evil spirits."
In New England, at the time of Increase Ma
ther, the belief in witchcraft may be said to have
been universal. The most experienced physi
cians who were called to prescribe for the suf
ferers, and the most eminent ministers who
were invited to pray with them, did not hesitate
to pronounce them bewitched. Even those per-

LIFE OF INCREASE. MATHER. 157
sons who had the least sympathy with the Ma
thers on some subjects, as Thomas and William
Brattle, John Leverett, and Robert Calef, all
agreed with them as to the reality of witchcraft.
Thomas Brattle wrote a book in opposition to
the proceedings of the times, in which he holds
that, not only the afflicted, but most of the con
fessors " were possessed with tlie devil, and there
fore not fit to be regarded, as to anything they
say of themselves or others." There can be no
doubt that Increase Mather adopted the current
belief of the times as to the reality and the sin
of witchcraft. But that he had any instrumen
tality in producing or prolonging the excitement
in New England on that subject, as alleged by
President Quincy, is an entirely groundless ac
cusation. Indeed, he is expressly mentioned by
Mr. Brattle, as one of those who " utterly con
demned" the proceedings pf the ceurts, affirming
that, if persisted in, they would " ruin and undo
poor New England."
Another charge, or rather series of charges
against Dr. Mather, has grown out of his treat
ment of the Messrs. Brattle, Leverett, Colman,
and others, in reference to the founding of the
Brattle Street Church. He is represented as
acting, in this instance, under the influence of
" excited temper and wounded pride ;" as exhib-
vol. v. 14

158 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
iting " great violence and personality, an ill-gov
erned and overbearing spirit." He was roused
" to such a height of indignation, as to lose all
sense of prudence and character, all patience and
self-possession."* But after much attention to
the subject, I can see no sufficient grounds for
these heavy, wholesale accusations. That Dr.
Mather was conscientiously attached to the or
der of the New England churches, as established
by the Cambridge Platform, and was disposed
to discountenance any considerable depattures
from it, there can be no doubt. That he was
especially dissatisfied with those alarming inno
vations which the Brattles and Mr. Leverett
were laboring to introduce, is equally clear.t
He would be led, therefore, not by " excited tem
per or wounded pride," but by the dictates of his
conscience, and the fear of God, to oppose these
innovations, and to discountenance the men who

? Quincy's History, Vol. I. pp. 133—143.
t" These men," says President Quincy, "refused to inquire into
the regeneration of communicants ; denied the necessity of explicit
covenanting with God and the church ; admitted that persons not
communicants might elect pastors ; referred admission to the sacra
ments to the prudence and conscience ofthe minister ; and held that
admission to the pastoral relation might be valid, without the appro
bation of neighboring churches." Vol. I, p. 200. Now whatever
President Quincy may think of these innovations, Dr. Mather cer
tainly deemed them of most alarming import. He saw that, if they
were not discountenanced, these churches of New England, this
" garden of the Lord," as our fathers termed it, would be undone.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 159
insisted on promoting them. He would labor by
all fair means — and I have yet to learn that he
used any other — to counteract the example and
influence of these men, so far as their objection
able measures were concerned, and to keep the
college from falling into their hands.
This was one cause, I have no doubt, which
led President Mather, near the close of his con
nection with the college, to hesitate as to the
duty of resigning his office. He had before
wished, and repeatedly proposed to resign ; but
he now seemed rather to shrink from it, well
knowing into whose hands the institution was
likely to fall. He could not think it right to
leave his flock in Boston, and become a resident
at Cambridge, but was willing to discharge the
office of President, as he had long done to gen
eral acceptance ; and if the legislature would
not consent to this, he preferred that they, not
he, should take the responsibility of closing his
connection with the college.
As little can it be doubted, that those who
differed from him on questions of church order
were exerting, at this time, a secret influence to
get the college out of his hands, hoping and ex
pecting that it might fall into their own. It was
owing in great measure to their influence, that
the legislature pursued the course it did. As

160 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
Cotton Mather tells the story, his enemies
" obtained a vote, that no man should act as
President of the college, who did not reside at
Cambridge ;" well knowing " that Dr. Mather
would not remove his habitation from a loving
people at Boston, to reside at Cambridge, while
the college was as it then was," i. e. without
a charter, and consequently in an unsettled,
embarrassed state ; " and that in this way they
should get the college out of his hands. It
should be borne in mind, that Mr. Leverett was,
at this time, a leading member, and I believe
the speaker, of the House of Representatives.
I will not say that in Dr. Mather's controver
sial publications, growing out of what he hon
estly conceived to be the irregular constitution
of the Brattle street church, there are no expres
sions which we may think unwarrantably
severe. But thus much may at least be said :
the controversy was conducted with more de
cency on his part, than on the other ; and the
severe expressions on both sides are to" be
attributed more, probably, to the fashion of the
age, than to the spirit and character of the men.
And as one very justly remarks, " It is unfair to
take a man out of his own age, and try him by
the standard of another."
It must be said also, in relation to this whole

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 161
controversy, that the points for which Dr. Ma
ther contended, though not strictly points of
doctrine, are yet of a vitally important character.
So he regarded them ; and so they are regarded
by evangelical Christians at the present day.
He. saw that if the principles of Stoddard, and
the Bratdes, and Leverett, and some others, in
regard to the admission of persons to the church,
were generally adopted, the churches would ere
long be filled up with unconverted members, and
the pulpits with unconverted ministers, and that
the vital power of the gospel, if not its most
essential truths, would be lost sight of and dis--
carded. He saw that if the churches gave up
the primitive inestimable right of electing, inde
pendently, their own ministers, very soon they
would have ministers placed over them, from
whose unholy influence they must either flee
away, or under it they must consent to remain
and be corrupted.
The experience of almost a century and a
half has shown that Dr. Mather's conclusions
and forebodings were well founded. With re
gard to many of the Pilgrim churches, the worst
that he feared from the mistakes of his cotempo
raries has been more than realized. And that
the desolations resulting, in part, from the inno
vations then made, had not an earlier and a
14*

162 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
wider spread, is owing, in great measure, to the
resistance • which he opposed to them; so that
now, after the lapse of five generations, we may
look back upon Increase Mather as the man
who, in the face of much obloquy and personal
sacrifice, not only gave to Massachusetts a con
stitution of government, but saved the great
body of her churches from a tide of ruin, which
was beginning to set in, and threatening to roll
over them.
Another of the objections to Dr. Mather
relates to his treatment of Governor Dudley.
On the 12th of September, 1707, Vice President
Willard died ; and in the month following, John
Leverett was elected President of Harvard Col
lege. . There can be no doubt that the election
was displeasing to Dr. Mather. It is now pre
tended that he expected himself to be restored to
the presidency, or at least that the office would
have been given to his son ; and that he was so
angry with Governor Dudley for defeating his
own, or his son's appointment, and favoring the
election of Mr. Leverett, that he immediately
addressed to the Governor a letter, " breathing
a spirit of abuse and virulence, of which the
records of party animosity contain but few
parallels." *

* Quincy's History VoL I., p. 201.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 163
With respect to this letter to Governor Dud
ley, I remark, in the first place, that if President
Quincy's dates are correct, (which there is some
reason to doubt) the letter was written months
before the death of Vice President Willard, or
the election of Leverett, and of course could not
have been prompted by any feelings which the
writer entertained growing out of that event.
The date of the letter, as given by President
Quincy, is "20th of January, 1707;" whereas
Willard died in the September following, and
Leverett was elected in October.
But whatever may be thought as to the cor
rectness of dates, I remark, secondly, there is
not in this letter of Dr. Mather, a single word,
or the remotest allusion, respecting any expecta
tions of the writer as to the presidency, either
for himself, or for his son. Neither does it con
tain the slightest allusion to the election of Mr.
Leverett, or to any influence which the Gov
ernor may be supposed to have exerted in favor
of that event. Indeed, the letter contains but a
single reference to the College in any way ; and
that, as we shall see, is quite distinct and
remote from the subject of the presidency.
But not to dwell on preliminaries, let us come
to the letter itself. And in order to understand
the full purport of it, it wjll be necessary that we

164 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
know something of the history and character of
Governor Dudley. He was the son of Thomas
Dudley, one of the first settlers and Governors of
the Massachusetts colony, and was graduated at
Harvard College in 1665. In his youth, he
seemed to be truly religious, and used to speak
of Dr. Mather as his " spiritual father." He
was educated for the Christian ministry, and
was once talked of as colleague with Dr. Mather
in Boston. He soon engaged, however, in civil
pursuits, after which his religious impressions
seem to have presented no obstacle in the way
of his ambition. He was in high favor with the
oppressors of the colony, at the time when the
charter was taken away. He was the first officer
in the government, before Andros arrived. Un
der him, he was president of the council, and
chief justice, and was deeply concerned in all
the oppressions of those troublous times. In the
subsequent revolution, when Andros and his
creatures were imprisoned, Dudley was kept in
close confinement, and was treated even more
harshly than any of them, as being thought
more inexcusably guilty. Had it not been for
the interposition of Cotton Mather, (for Increase
was then in England), he would probably have
been torn • in pieces by the violence of the mob.
He was ordered to England to give an account

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 165
of himself, in 1689, and the next year he was
made Chief Justice of New York.
While Sir William Phipps was governor of
Massachusetts, Dudley exerted all his influence
and cunning to injure him, hoping to succeed
him in the government, if by any means it
could be got out of his hands. During the short
administration of Lord Bellamont, he was in
triguing to secure favor, in both Old England
and New, that if possible he might be again
seated in the chair of his native state. He had
always professed a great regard for the Mathers ;
when in Boston, he attended frequently if not
statedly, on their ministry ;* and he had now
the address to procure a letter from Cotton
Mather to king William, which had much influ
ence in his favor. He was appointed governor of
Massachusetts in the year 1702, in which situa
tion he continued during the next fourteen
years. " The first seven years," says Eliot,
" were spent in debates with the House of
Representatives, or in private disputes with men
who ceased not to accuse him of artifice and de
ception, of arbitrary conduct, and of enmity even
* In a letter to Increase Mather, dated May 17, 1686, Dudley
says : "For the things of my soul, I have these many years hung
upon your lips, and ever shall ; and in civil things, I am desirous
you may know, withall plainness, my reasons of procedure, and that
they may be satisfactory to you."

166 L.IFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
to those privileges which they had obtained by
the new charter." It was near the close of these
first seven years that Dr. Mather, considering
the relations which had subsisted between him
self and the governor, and the favors which he
had conferred upon him, and being wearied and
disgusted with the course of his administration,
addressed to him the letter of which we speak.
It is a plain, searching and faithful letter, such
as few governors of Dudley's character ever
received, and for which he had much more
reason to be grateful, than to be angry. It is
too long to be published entire, in these pages.
A brief abstract of it is all that I can at present
offer.* In the first place, Dr. Mather expresses his
fears that the governor had been guilty of receiv
ing bribes. And he mentions several instances
of this nature, which had been sworn to by some
of the most respectable men in the province.
Next, he tells the governor of his fears, that
" he had been contriving to destroy the charter
privileges of the province," and introduce an
other government like that of Andros. And
Mr. Bancroft, in his History of the United

* The letter may be found entire in the Massachusetts Historical
Cpllections, Series 1., Vol. III., p. 126. Cotton Mather wrote the
governor a letter at the same time.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 167
States, assures us that this was true. He says
expressly that " Governor Dudley, and for a
season his son also, became the active opponents
of the chartered liberties of New England,
endeavoring to effect their overthrow, and the
establishment of a general government, as in the
days of Andros.*
In the third place, Dr. Mather expresses to
the governor his fears, that he had been hypo
critical, and inconsistent in respect to the college ;
particularly (if I understand him) in his at
tempts to revive, by mere provincial authority,
the old college charter of 1650, which he had
often before represented to be dead, and never to
be revived but by the assent of the king. And
President Quincy is of the same opinion with
Dr. Mather, on this subject. He represents this
act of Dudley, in reviving the old college char
ter, without the assent of the king, as " irrecon
cilable with the duties growing out of the rela-

* Vol. HI., p. 100. Mr. Bancroft further says, that Dudley " tried
to destroy the liberties of Connecticut ; prepared a volume of com-
plaints ; and urged the appointment of a Governor over Connecticut,
by the royal prerogative," p. 70. It was about this time, or a little
earlier, that a letter from his son, Paul Dudley, to the English court,
was intercepted, in which he says : " This country, (New England),
will never be worth living in for lawyers and gentlemen, till the
charter is taken away. My father and I sometimes talk of the
Queen's establishing a Court of Chancery in this country." See
Hutchinson's History, Vol. II., p. 140.

168 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER,
tion in which he stood to the British crown,"
and in contradiction to the " principles which he
had openly asserted and maintained."*
In the fourth place, Dr. Mather says : " I am
afraid that the guilt of innocent blood is still
crying in the ears of the Lord against you ; I
mean the blood of Leisler and Milburn." These
men (Leisler and Milburn) were concerned in
the revolution in New York, at the time of the
accession of William and Mary, and were pub
licly executed, under sentence of Dudley, while
he was Chief Justice of that province. Lord
Bellamont afterwards declared, that " these men
were not only murdered, but barbarously mur
dered." Mr. Bancroft also, in his history, speaks
of their execution as "judicial murder."
Dr. Mather's fifth and last fear for the gover
nor was, that " the Lord is offended with you,
in that you ordinarily forsake the worship of
God, in the holy church with which you are
connected, in the afternoon of the Lord's day ;
and spend the whole time, after the public exer
cise, with some persons reputed very ungodly
men." In conclusion, Dr. Mather says : " How glad
should I be, if I could receive satisfaction, that
my fears of your being faulty in the matters I
* History Vol. I., p. 169.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 169
have faithfully mentioned to you are groundless.
But if it be otherwise, I am under pressure of
conscience to bear a public testimony, without
respect of persons ; and shall rejoice if it may be
my dying testimony. I am now aged, expecting
and longing for my departure out of the world
every day. I trust in Christ that, when I am
gone, I shall obtain a good report of my having
been faithful before him. To his mercy I com
mend you," &c.
Such is the letter of Increase Mather to Gov
ernor Dudley ; a letter which, in the judgment
of President Quincy, " breathes a spirit of abuse
and virulence, of which the records of party ani
mosity contain but few parallels." I have only
to say, that I cannot so regard it ; and I am sure
that this community, when they come to under
stand the subject, will wonder that such lan
guage could have been used respecting it. For
who, I must ask again, was this Governor Dud
ley ? What was his character, in the estimation
both of his cotemporaries, and of those who have
come after him ? Only a year before Dr. Ma
ther's letter was written, a memorial was pre
sented to " the Queen's most excellent Majesty,"
and signed by twenty of the more distinguished
friends of New England, some in this country
and some in London, accusing him of nothing
vol. v. 15

170 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
less than treason ; — the supplying of the open
enemies of his country with provisions and am
munition. Governor Hutchinson says of Dudley : " Am
bition was his ruling passion ; and perhaps, like
Cassar, he had rather be the first man in New
England, than the second in old. Mr. Alden
Bradford represents him as one " covetous both
of power and wealth, and as probably seeking
for the former, as the best means of obtaining
the latter." Mr. Bancroft says : " The character
of Dudley was that of profound selfishness."
He "loved neither freedom, nor his native
land." He " is left without one to palliate his
selfishness." President Quincy says that Dudley
was " vindictive, craving, ambitious."
It was no disgrace to Dr. Mather, that he lost
the favor of such a man ; and that, before quite
abandoning him, he was disposed to deal with
him in a plain and faithful manner. With a
fidelity like that ofthe old prophets in Israel, he
tells the governor some painful truths, and
points him forward to a coming judgment,
which, in the midst of the cares and temptations
of government, he was very liable to forget. On
the whole, I think Dudley had more reason to be
grateful for this letter, than to be angry at it ; —
more reason to thank the writer for his faithful-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 171
ness, than to rail at him (as he did) for his rude
ness and impertinence. And I think this letter
of Dr. Mather one of the last things that should
be seized upon, as furnishing ground of objection
to his character.
It is further objected to Dr. Mather, that he
was to a great and even ridiculous extent, the
dupe of his own impressions, — impressions re
ceived, for the most part, in prayer, and which
he deemed of an almost supernatural character.
The impression of this kind which has been
chiefly dwelt upon, and in the issue of which he
was disappointed, was one which he cherished
from about the year 1693, to the end ofthe cen
tury, with respect to an anticipated return to
England. It was often impressed on him during
this period, that " God would return him to
England, and there give him opportunity, in
some way, greatly to glorify the Lord Jesus
Christ." He seems to have desired such an
event, and in several instances the way was
well nigh opened for the accomplishment of his
wishes. But from various causes, he was dis
appointed. His accusers have seized hold of
these impressions, and made them matter of ridi
cule and reproach. They talk of his " genuflex
ions, and prostrations, and spiritual elevations,"
and " glorious, heart-melting persuasions," in a

172 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
manner which we deem offensive both to piety
and taste ; and finally resolve the whole into
" the natural wishes of his own heart, — the
cravings of an ambitious spirit."*
With regard to the subject here introduced, I
remark, in the first place, that the current
opinions and language of our fathers, in respect
to various things, were so different from ours,
that if we are disposed to take them out of their
own age, and from among their cotemporaries,
and judge of them by our standards, it is not
difficult to make them appear ridiculous. For
example, if all that the apostolic Eliot said and
wrote respecting the abomination of wearing
wigs and long hair, were collected together,
how easy it would be to turn him into ridicule
Or if Governor Winthrop's account of the terri
ble judgment which befell Mrs. Dyer, in conse
quence of her having imbibed the errors of Mrs
Hutchinson, were copied out, and held promi
nently up to the gaze and disgust of modern
eyes, not only the excellent governor, but many
of his cotemporaries, might be made to appear
ridiculous enough. But it may be questioned
whether such a procedure would be fair or gener
ous. And I have the same scruples as to the pro-

* Quincy's History, Vol. I., pp. 81— 109.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 173
priety of ransacking the diaries of the Mathers,
in search of materials for ridicule and reproach,
and especially for turning into ridicule their
more secret and solemn acts of devotion.
But to come nearer to the subject in hand.
While I dissent entirely from much that has
been written, in our own times, in respect to
what has been called " the prayer of faith," as
being not only unscriptural, but of dangerous
tendency, I still believe that there is such a
thing as communion with God in prayer ; yes,
intimate, heart-melting, heart-dissolving com
munion, — such as the venerable Mather some
times enjoyed, when he prostrated himself in
secret before God, and wet his study floor with
tears. I believe, too, that Christians who abound
in prayer have sometimes such sensible assist
ance in their supplications for particular favors,
that they can hardly resist the conclusion, when
they rise from the duty, that the things prayed
for will be bestowed. For they reason thus :
" God would not have afforded me such special
assistance in praying for this or that event, if he
had not intended to hear the prayer, and grant
the request." I see nothing enthusiastical, or
unreasonable in a cpnclusipn such as this;
though, to be sure, we are not infallible in judg-
15*

174 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
ments of this nature, and they should be formed
and followed with much prudence and caution.
I will go further and say, that if holy, spiritual
persons, while engaged in their devotions, should
think that they received remarkable impressions
from God, with respect to certain coming events,
I would not ridicule them. I would not say
that the thing was impossible ; for I know
" there are more things in heaven and earth,
than some men have dreamed of in their philo
sophy." I know, too, that some of the best
Christians on earth have received such im
pressions, " and that the things of which they
were in this way premonished have often
come to pass. Repeated instances of this kind,
some of which have before been noticed, are
alleged to have occurred in the life of Dr. Ma
ther. At the same time I should feel, that even
the best Christians were exceedingly liable to be
deceived in regard to impressions of this nature ;
and consequently, that they should say but little
about them, and more especially that they should
not sutler their duties, — their conduct to be much
influenced by them.
After this general expression of opinion, let us
return to the case of the Mathers. I class them
both together, because they were both alike con
cerned in this matter. In the first place, they

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 175
were both of them eminently persons of prayer.
They observed more private fasts, and vigils,
and spent more time in their secret devotions, —
I believe far more — than was common with
Christians in their own age ; — certainly more
than is common now. And not only so, there
was, if we may judge from their private writ
ings, a spirit, a. fervor in their devotions, a near
ness and intimacy of communion with God,
which has rarely been attained in this world of
sin. These men believed, not only in the duty, but
in the efficacy of prayer. They expected answers
to their prayers. Not unfrequently they had
strong impressions, amounting almost to an assu
rance, that certain events in providence were
about to take place. And in some instances they
did take place. Men may account for such dis
pensations as they will ; of the fact of their oc
currence there can be no reasonable doubt. Still,
Dr. Mather was liable to be deceived by his im
pressions; and in regard to his anticipated
return to England, he certainly was deceived.
Yet I see nothing in this, which should justly
expose him to ridicule or reproach. This par
ticular impression seems to have exerted little or
no influence, — certainly no bad influence on his
conduct. He might have returned to England

176 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
in several instances, if he had been so disposed.
The corporation of college repeatedly desired
him to go to England on an agency for them ;
and in one instance, " the representatives and
the governor voted a concurrence." At a later
period, " the ministers of the province, by their
delegates assembled at Boston, unanimously de
sired him to take a voyage to England, with an
address from them," on the accession of George
I., and "made provision for the expenses of the
voyage."* But in neither of these cases, did
the way in providence seem to him to be open.
His duty was not plain. And until it was plain,
his impression could have no influence to induce
him to go. His recorded feelings in reference
to the whole matter was : " Lord, if it will be
more to thy glory that I should go to England,
than for me to continue here in this land, then
let me go ; otherwise not." " The Lord over
rule this affair to his own glory, and so that I
may see his holy hand pointing me what I should
do." Here, surely, is an unfeigned and entire
submission to the will of God ; — a feeling as un
like as possible to the restless longings of a
selfish mind — " the cravings of an ambitious
spirit."

* Remarkables, tc., p. 194.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 177
I cannot conclude this topic in words more
appropriate than those of Cotton Mather himself.
" Christians, reproach not a particular faith, as
if there never were a gracious work of heaven
in it. But yet be cautioned against laying too
much stress upon it, lest ye find yourselves in
cautiously plunged into a hope that will make
ashamed. A particular faith may be a work of
God ; but the counterfeits of this jewel are so
very fine, that it will require a judgment almost
more than human to discern them. It is best
that you should be content with the ordinary
satisfaction of praying and waiting for the bless
ings of God, in such pious resignation to his
.will, and annihilations of your own, as an uncer
tainty about issues would most probably lead you
to."* Our modern accusers of Dr. Mather charge
him with being influenced, almost perpetually,
by worldly, selfish, and ambitious motives. And
they think themselves fully entitled to do this,
because, in consequence of having access to his
diary, they know the motives by which he was
influenced. " Of the motives and master-
passions of his eventful presidency, we are ena
bled," says President Quincy, " to speak with

* Remarkables, tc, p. 195.

178 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
great certainty." " President Mather and his
son both kept diaries, in which they have re
corded their motives and purposes ; so that in
relation to either, there can hardly be any mis
take."* In reference to this sort of diary evidence, of
which President Quincy has made so much use,
I feel bound, in passing, to offer a few remarks.
And' I ask, in the first place, is it quite fair and
honorable to bring out, in this way, the diaries
of distinguished men? These diaries were
written, npt for the public eye, but for their own
private inspection ; or at most, for the inspection
of some few personal, family friends. Is it
right, then, to lay hold of them, and drag them
out before the public, and turn them to a use for
which they never were intended ? Most men
say things at their own firesides, and in pres
ence of their families, which they would not
wish to have published to the world. And
if some impertinent listener were to treasure
them up, and make them public, who would not
be disposed to complain of the injury? We
know not that President Quincy keeps a diary,
but doubtless he is in the.habit of writing letters,
and maintaining a social, confidential corres-

? Quincy's History, Vol. I, p. 56.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 179
pondence with his friends. And in the course
of this correspondence, he may have written as
few things unsuitable for the public eye, as any
other individual. But would he be willing that,
some hundred and fifty years hence, his private
letters should be collected, and that the whole of
them, or the more objectionable parts should
be spread out to public view? Would he
be willing that his successors in office should
treat him after this manner, and to rest his per
manent reputation on the result of such disclos
ures ?
Almost all ministers, and many others, in the
days of the Mathers were in the habit of keeping
journals or diaries, in which they recorded their
private thoughts, their religious impressions, and
the more important transactions of their lives.
But would it be right for their successors and
descendants, into whose hands these private pa
pers may have fallen, to make an indiscriminate
exhibition of them before the world ? As well
might they strip their venerable ancestors of their
wigs and doublets, and send them into the streets
in shirts and night-caps.
Besides ; the real import of the diaries of
evangelical Christians is not unfrequently mis
understood, especially by those who do not sym
pathize with them in their religieus feelings and

ISO LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
views. Such Christians record, in their closets,
the sense they feel of their many imperfections,
and their great sinfulness in the sight of God ;
and persons who have less conscience of sin than
they, and less sorrow for it, infer from the
record, either that they were gross hypocrites,
or that they had secretly been guilty of abomin
able crimes. Thus Boswell, finding in Johnson's
diary, frequent intimatipns pf his great sinfulness,
and of the depth of his self-abasement, inferred
that he must have been, secretly, a very wicked
man. And Mr. Bancroft has no doubt, from
Cotton Mather's account of his temptations and
repentings, that his conscience troubled him for
the part he had taken against the witches.
I once knew a man who bitterly hated what
he termed " the Evangelicals," and because he
had little else to allege against them, he used to
appeal, for evidence, to their prayers. " Go and
hear the wretches pray. We need no further
evidence of guilt. They confess themselves
to have committed the most abominable crimes."
There was about as much sense and justice in
this kind of reasoning, as in the conclusions that
are sometimes drawn from the humble confess
ions of Christians in their diaries. Because Job
"abhorred himself and repented in dust and
ashes," and Isaiah confessed himself to be " a

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 181
man of unclean lips," and Paul groaned habitu
ally under a conscious burthen of sin, is it to be
inferred that these holy men were hypocrites,
and that they lived in the indulgence of palpable
wickedness ?
But I have not yet done with this species of
diary evidence. When the diary does not treat
of religious experience, but of the common affairs
of life, there is reason to receive the testimony
with much caution and allowance. For what is
this testimony ? It is not that of an individual
under oath. Neither is it the word of one who
is writing a history — writing for posterity, —
stating what he has thoroughly examined, and
knows to be fact. In the sensible language of
the North American Review : " The writer of a
diary puts down his present impressions, which
may be materially erroneous, for want of the ex
planations which a little more time may bring.
Where friendships or dislikes are concerned, or
questions of conduct are at issue, he makes his
record under the influence of feelings which may
bias him from the juster conclusions of a cooler
hour. At all events, if his testimony is to be
produced, when both he, and they who may be
harmed by it, are no more, it is simply the testi
mony of a witness who cannot be cross-examined,
against one accused who cannot speak for him-
vol. v. 16

182 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
self; — a kind of evidence which no acknowl
edged principle or process of justice approves."*
In proof of the justness of these remarks, it may
be observed, that the diaries quoted by President
Quincy not unfrequently contradict one another.
Mather contradicts Sewall, and Sewall Leverett,
and Leverett one, if not both the others. They
all give their honest impressions at the time ; but
these impressions do not always coincide, and
are to be received, as I said, with. much caution
and allowance.
I have offered these remarks, more because
they seemed to be demanded by the general
subject, than because of their necessity in order
to a vindication of Dr. Mather. President
Quincy " is enabled to speak with great certain
ty of his motives and master-passions," because
he has got possession of his diary, or of certain
parts of it ; and under the shelter of such a cap
tion, he proceeds to accuse his venerable prede
cessor of acting from selfish, base, ambitious
motives, in many of the more important transac
tions of his life. Take the following instances
as examples: Dr. Mather is said to have re
canted his first thoughts respecting the half
way covenant, because " the side he had embraced
* For 1841, p. 368.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 183
proved to be neither popular nor prevailing."
He changed his mind on the subject of tolera
tion, for the same reason. It was " love of distinc
tion," in part, which led him to oppose the
usurpations of Andros, — Vol. I, pp. 119 — 121.
Again, when the new charter of government had
gone into operation, and "the Calvinistic lead
ers of the province " which " Increase and Cotton
Mather aspired to become " — " began to realize
that the sceptre they had so long possessed had
passed from their hands," they " sought to pos
sess themselves of such other instruments of
power as were yet within their grasp ;" and
this was the secret of their strong attachment to
the college, — pp. 65, 66. And when the college
charter, which President Mather had exerted
himself to push through the provincial legisla
ture, and under which the corporation had acted
long enough " to gratify him with a doctorate,"
was negatived by the king, President Quincy
thinks it likely that Mather was glad of it; " as
the affairs of the college were thrown into a state
of inexplicable embarrassment," and " the sense
ofthe importance ofhis experience and services
was greatly augmented " — p. 71. His opposition
to the founders ofthe Brattle Street Church was
the result of an " excited temper, and wounded
pride," and a desire to retain his popularity

184 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
with the prevailing sect," — p. 133. He was
compelled, however, for prudential- reasons, so
far " to smother his resentments, as to take part
in the religious services at the dedication of the
church,"— p. 135.
Such is a specimen of the manner in which
President Quincy goes on, through more than a
hundred pages, imputing the basest motives to
Dr. Mather, and representing him as a vile hyp
ocrite, who cared nothing for college, church,
pr country ; whose only concern was, so to con
duct affairs that his own private ends might be
answered, his own wrongs avenged, and the
sense of his own personal importance and influ
ence augmented. And his accuser feels fully
authorized to make such representations, be
cause he has had sight of Dr. Mather's diary,
and is " able tp speak with certainty as to the
motives and master-passions of his eventful
presidency." But where is the evidence from the diary that
such were " the master-passions " by which he
was moved ? Does Mather confess as much as
this ? Does he record it in his diary ? As
President Quincy has been pleased to appeal to
the diary, we may insist that he should abide by
it. He should, at least, so far abide by it, as in
no instance directly to contradict it. And yet

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 185
this he has very frequently done. In many in
stances, he imputes motives to Dr. Mather, the
very opposite of those which the diary affirms.
For example, Dr. Mather, in his diary, continu
ally assigns it as his motive, and his only mo
tive, for desiring to return to England, that he
might there have an opportunity to glorify God,
and serve the cause and the kingdom of Christ.
But President Quincy can see nothing here but
"the natural cravings of an ambitious spirit."
Again, Dr. Mather, in his diary, repeatedly, and
with the utmost apparent sincerity, expresses the
determination to resign his office in college. He
did this in 1695 ; and was prevented from car
rying his determination into effect, only by the
remonstrances of the corporation against it. He
did the same, in three several instances, in 1697.
Under date of August 7th, he says in his diary,
" I am determined to resign my relation to the
college the next week, having desired a corpo
ration meeting for that end." " September 3d.
My discouragements are such, that I am fully
purposed to resign the presidentship." " Sep
tember 15. At college to attend a corporation
meeting, when I intended to resign the presi
dentship ; but it being a stormy day, there want
ed one to make a sufficient number for a
meeting." Yet President Quincy persists in
16*

186 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. I
insinuating, if not asserting, that " these threats
of resigning were intended only for effect, and
that there was no sincerity in them," — p. 96.
Our charge here is, and it is an unanswerable
charge, that having appealed to the diary as the
grand source of evidence by which to decide
upon the motives of his predecessor, President
Quincy persists in imputing to him unworthy
and selfish motives, not only without the evi
dence of the diary, but in direct contradiction
to it. He will appeal to the diary, so long as
any thing there recorded, by being distorted,
perverted, and judged of by our modern standards,
can be turned into matter of ridicule or invective ;
but when the diary assumes another character,
it can be readily dispensed with, or directly con
tradicted. I only remark further, in reference to Presi
dent Quincy's treatment of Dr. Mather, that he
represents him frequently, if not generally, as
being actuated by a wrong spirit, as a disturber
of the churches, as being rather a bad than a
good man. Both to him and his son, "contro
versy was not so much an incident, as an element
of their natures." Their theological zeal was
always at the boiling point. Their controversy
with the innovators of the times was conducted
f neither with temper nor policy," — pp. 132, 137.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 187

" Violent doctrinal dissensions were by them ex
cited and perpetuated " in the churches, through
a long course of years,"* — p. 349. Of Increase
Mather himself it is said, that in his controversy
respecting church order, he " lost all patience
and self-possession," and " was led to the exhibi
tion of great violence and personality," — pp.
133, 139. In a word, the character of Dr. Ma
ther is summed up by President Quincy, in the
following terms : He " was restless, obtrusive,
excitable, boastful of his public services, and
complaining of neglect and ingratitude." His
whole life had been one " series of theological
and political controversy." He " was a partisan
by profession ; always harnessed, and ready,
and restless for the onset; now courting the
statesman, now mingling' with the multitude, ex
citing the clergy in the Synod, the congregation
in the pulpit, and the people in the halls of the
popular assembly," — p. 147.
Of wholesale charges such as these, it would
be useless to go into a particular examination.
The most of them, it is well known, "are false
and slanderous ; and the author of them, so long
as they are permitted to stand unretracted, can

* What " doctrinal dissensions 1" The Congregational ministers
and churches of that period and for a long while afterwards, were
agreed in doctrine.

188 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
in no way escape the imputation of being a li
beller of the holy dead. Increase Mather's
whole life " one series of theological and political
controversy .'" And yet of his eighty-six publi
cations, more than seventy, as we shall presently
see, are of a decidedly practical character. In
crease Mather a disturber of the New England
churches and clergy ! And yet Dr. Eliot des
cribes him as " the father of the New England
clergy, whose name and character were held in
veneration, not only by those who knew him,
but by succeeding generations." It was this
same slandered Increase Mather, who (to usq
the language of the General Court,) by " un
wearied, indefatigable labor arid service, volun
tarily undertaken for the good of his country,
and attended with much difficulty and hazard to
his person," saved Massachusetts from revolu
tion and bloodshed, and gave to her a charter of
government, under which she prospered for al
most a century. This, too, is the man, (and
with some, this is his great and unpardonable
offence,) who, by his resistance to unscriptural
and alarming innovations, kept back the tide of
spiritual desolation from rolling over the church
es of the Pilgrims for a series of years, and
greatly restricted its ravages, when at length it
came; — the man, to whom New England is

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 189
more indebted, ecclesiastically and civilly, than
to any other individual who ever lived in it ;
who, when he died, was " honored with a greater
funeral than had ever been seen in these parts of
the world," and in consequence of whose death,
" the pulpits, throughout the country, rang with
mingled eulogies and funeral lamentations."*
One of the most painful effects of President
Quincy's misrepresentations is the impression
which they left on the mind of the late learned
and estimable Mr. Grahame, author of a History
of the United States. Though not a Puritan by
descent, Mr. Grahame was evidently one in
feeling. He was a Calvinist of the Scottish
church, and seems to have been a truly pious
man. He had a strong sympathy with the early
settlers of New England, and in his History had
spoken in the most favorable terms of the Ma
thers. He calls Increase Mather " the most
eminent theologian, and the most pious and
popular minister of Massachusetts." But after
reading Quincy's History of Harvard Univer
sity, he hardly knew what to say or to think.
We find the following passage in his Journal :
" He (President Quincy) wounds my prejudices
by attacking the Mathers, and other persons of

* Remarkables &c, p. 211.

190 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
a primitive cast of Puritanism, with a severity
the more painful to me, that I see not well how
I can demur to its justice." And in a note, in
the last edition of his History, Mr. Grahame
says : " From President Quincy's History of
Harvard University, it appears to me, much
more clearly than agreeably, that, in the instance
of Cotton Mather, as well as of his father, a
strong and acute understanding, though united
with real piety, was sometimes corrupted by a
deep vein of passionate vanity and absurdity."*
Had Mr. Grahame lived long enough to learn
the real character of President Quincy's History,
and the little credit which is due to it, more
especially on points which conflict with the
author's religious prejudices, his good opinion of
the Mathers would not have been much affected
by such an authority.
But we leave the venerated Increase Mather
to his rest. It will not be disturbed, nor will his
reputation permanently suffer, by any attempts,
at this late day, to tarnish and reproach it. The
shafts of his revilers will recoil and fasten on
themselves, rather than fall with lasting injury
on him.

* Memoir, p. 24. Hist. vol. I, p. 289.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 191

CHAPTER XI.
Abstract of Cotton Mather's Sermon, on the death of his father.
Catalogue of Increase Mather's publications.
I have before stated, that the sermon at the
funeral of Dr. Mather was preached by the Rev.
Mr. Foxcroft, of the first church. But this was
not the only funeral sermon. The ministers of
Boston all delivered discourses on occasion of
his death ; and not only in Boston, but " through
out the country, the pulpits rang with mingled
eulogies and funeral lamentations."
The fact that so many sermons were preached
on the occasion, is proof of the deep veneration
in which the deceased patriarch was held ; and
the sermons themselves, could we have access
to them, would furnish the best means of form
ing a due estimate of his character. But these
discourses, like their authors, have passed away.
They are treasured up in the book of God's ac
count, but (so far as I know, with a single excep
tion) they are no longer accessible to the living.
The exception to which I refer is the sermon of

192 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
Cotton Mather, preached to the Old North
Church, in Boston, September 8th, 1723, the
second Sabbath after his father's death. The
greater part of this discourse is preserved ; and
I know not how I can more appropriately con
clude the Memoir of Increase Mather, than by
presenting my readers with an abstract of it. It
will be interesting, not only on account of the
preacher and the solemn circumstances under
which it was preached, but as exhibiting the
topics on which Increase Mather had chiefly in
sisted, during his long ministry.
The preacher commences in his peculiar,
quaint, characteristic manner, as follows : " My
design this day is, to preach over some thous
ands of sermons ; and yet I design but one short
sermon for you. My design is, to preach over
the sermons of another man ; and yet the ser
mon shall be honestly and entirely my own.
My design is, to give pungency to a ministry of
which God has now deprived us ; and to apply
over again the goads which the late master of
our assemblies had used upon us ; or to clench
the golden nails which, for more than three
score years together, he has been driving into
us. I shall endeavor that the word of the gos
pel, as he preached it to you, may endure for
ever in your affectionate remembrance ; yea,

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 193
more than this, that it may be retained in the
hands of your children after you.
" The advice given to the church at Sardis,
Rev. 3 : 3, may be a very proper introduction
to my undertaking : ' Remember how thou hast
received and heard: "
Doctrine.
A people ought to remember what they have
heard preached unto them, and how they have
received it.
After opening and discussing the doctrine of
the text, the preacher proceeded to make appli
cation of it, as follows :
" In the ministry of your departed pastor,
there were some articles of a more frequent and
cogent inculcation, whereof you will allow me
to be, this day, a remembrancer unto you.
Though he preached over the whole body of
divinity, and occasional subjects without num
ber, yet there were all along some articles which
in the fulfilling of his ministry, he pressed with
a peculiar flame ; and I hope you will apprehend
him speaking to you, in my brief recapitulation
of them.
" 1. Remember how you have received and
heard, that sin is an odious and a dangerous
vol. v. 17

194 life of increase mather.
evil. Your late pastor began his ministry here
with several sermons on Lam. 5:16. ' Wo is
unto us, that we have sinned ; ' wherein he dis
coursed on the woful effects of sin. And al
though few now aliye remember those sermons,
yet this you may all remember, that the un
known and too much unregarded and unla-
mented evil of sin was what his ministry did
exceedingly mind you of. What pains did he
take to convince you, that none but fools make a
mock at sin ; that it is a most vile thing, by sin,
to deny the God above ; and that no sinner can
hope to go unpunished. How vehemently did
he, as with the hammer which breaketh the
rock in pieces, drive this home upon you, that
no sin is to be indulged or harbored, nor so
much as a sinful thought to be allowed a lodg
ment within you. How often has he declared it
unto you, that one known sin, lived in, is incom
patible viith a state of salvation ; that it will be
leak enough to sink the soul that persists in it.
What mighty thunderings have you heard from
this pulpit, as from a flaming mountain, against
those things, for which the wrath of God comes
on the children of disobedience ? What warn
ings was he accustomed to give against those
particular sins, by which he saw that the souls
of men were most endangered? O remember

. LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 195
these things, and from the words of his lips
learn to keep yourselves from the paths of the
destroyer. "2. Remember how you have received and
heard, that a real and sound conversion to God
is the one thing of all others most needful for
you. The sermons which your late pastor
preached, and which have been several times
printed, on Mat. IS : 3. ' Except ye be con
verted, and become as little children, ye shall
not enter into the kingdom of heaven ; ' these
were not the only sermons in which he pressed
upon you the necessity of turning and of living
unto God. That alienation from God which the
fall has brought upon us was so grievous unto
him, that the necessity of regeneration seemed a
thing that could not be too frequently or too
earnestly pleaded for. With what loud calls and
peals did he thunder it in your ears, that you
must have a work of grace wrought in you, and
a holiness, without which no man shall see the
Lord ; that you must have experience of the
new birlh, or good had it been for you if you
had never been born ; that you must become
new creatures, else he that made you will not
have mercy on you, and he that formed you
will show you no favor. And then, like the
angel that hastened the lingerers out of Sodom,

196 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
how zealously, terribly did he call on the delay
ing sinner, ' Fly for thy life .' ' The word with
him was, 'To-day! to-day! to-day!' Can
you forget the piercing sound of it ? The uncer
tain approaches and . surprises of certain death,
and the madness of resisting the Holy Spirit on
whose influences your conversion depends ; how
powerfully, earnestly were you minded of these
things !
" Then, as he had been himself a pattern of
early piety, and in the close of his days, there
was no one thing that so much comforted him
as this, ' I gave myself up to God in my
youth ; ' so he was a most fervent and winning
preacher to the young. Early piety ! how
mightily, how ardently, and with what frequent
excitations, did he plead for this ! 0 children
and youth, remember these things ; and know
that you are deaf to thunder, if you can still
continue in your unregeneracy.
" 3. Remember how you have received and
heard, that persons may go very far, and seem,
very fair, in a profession of religion, and after
all be hypocrites and castaioays. It was with a
singular agony that your late pastor, many years
ago, preached several sermons on Job 27 : 8.
' What is the hope of the hypocrite ? ' And how
often since, and in how many sermons, and

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 197
with what an unparalleled solemnity, has he told
you, that many seem to be religious, whose re
ligion is vain ? That many flatter themselves
with vain expectations to be found among the
blessed of the Lord, who, after all, shall be led
forth with the workers of iniquity ! That many
pass through awakenings, convictions, and con
tritions, and come even to reformations, and
some consolations, who yet, for want of closing
with Christ in all his offices, and for the sake of
some lust from which they are not willing to be
divorced, find themselves miserably deceived at
the last. How pathetically would he bewail the
fate of these poor self-deceivers ! 0 remember
these things, and let us beware that we be not
found among the sinners in Zion !
" 4. Remember how you have received and
heard, that to pray always is the best and surest
means of good. Your late pastor not only
preached (what you have on your shelves) his
discourses on Psalm 32 : 6. ' Every one that is
godly will pray ;' but you have heard it from
him in his preaching a thousand times, that
prayer is the first note of a soul returning to
God; that, without prayer, there is nothing to
be done, and no good to be looked for ; that
prayer is the main engine with which all good
purposes are to be carried on. Prayer was that
17*

198 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
which he himself used with an unceasing assi
duity ; and he preached it, as he used it. He
had witnessed amazing answers to prayers. The
efficacy of prayer was demonstrated and exem
plified to admiration in what he had himself ex
perienced; and this added flame to the heat
with which he would have melted you to run
into the like devotions. How potently have you
heard secret prayer commended to you, as that
to which it is impossible that any child of God
should be a stranger ? How forcibly, and with
what an arrest upon the conscience, have you
heard household prayer demanded of you ? And
with what thunderings and lightnings have you
heard that voice of God ringing in your ears :
' Pour out thy fury upon the families that call
not on thy name.' O remember these things;
and let none of you be those inexcusable work
ers of iniquity, who call not upon God !
" 5. Remember how you have received and
heard, that the table of the Lord is to be seri
ously and thoughtfully prepared for, and wor
thily approached. It was a grief to your late
pastor, to see so many turn their backs upon the
table of the Lord ; thus openly proclaiming that,
after all the means which have been used for
them, the case of their souls is yet in a wretched
uncertainty. He pressed the plain command of

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 199
the Saviour, ' Do this in remembrance of me ; '
and could not see why any should be so afraid
of disobeying the command by coming unsuit
ably, as to shake off all fear of disobedience by
not coming at all. At the same time, he strongly
urged the necessity of preparation. He did not
look on the supper of the Lord as a converting
ordinance. The bread, he said, belonged to none
but the children. How powerfully did he preach
on Matt. 22 : 12. ' How earnest thou in hither,
not having on a wedding garment ? ' A process
of repentance was the first thing to be gone
through with ; and then he proposed an addi
tional preparation, incumbent on those who are
already the children of God. Accordingly, it
was his own custom, for three-score years to
gether, to spend a whole day in secret prayer
and fasting, before the celebration of the holy
supper. O remember these things ; and let
none of you dare come to the table of the Lord
unworthily, and thus eat and drink judgment to
yourselves.' " 6. Remember how you have received and
heard, when the eternity, to which we are all
hastening, has been held up before you. Of
what did your late pastor more frequently re*
mind you, than eternity? That word eternity,
he often said, is enough to break the heart of

200 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
any one, that will solemnly think of it. With
what anticipations of the last trump, and the
final doom, did you hear him preach on Heb. 9 :
27. ' And after death the judgment.' You have
seen him opening the bars of the pit, and setting
before you, in the most awful colors, the second
death ; bringing up the damned from their place
of torment, and showing you the ever burning
lake. You have seen him removing as it were
the screen, and giving you a sight of the fire
that never shall be quenched ; that so, knowing
the terrors of the Lord, you may be persuaded
into the way of understanding, and not go down
to the congregation of the dead.
" You have also seen heaven opened, in the
discoveries which he thence brought to you,
concerning the worship of God above by myriads
of angels, and the spirits of the just made per
fect, with Jesus the Mediator of the new cove
nant, carried on in the true temple above ; —
discoveries ofthe rest from the days of evil, and
the fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore, to
be enjoyed in the blissful mansions. He drew
aside the vail, and showed you the interior of
the holy place, that so he might persuade you to
accompany him in the way to Zion, with your
faces thitherward. O remember these things,

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 205
and flee from the wrath to come ! Remember,
and lay hold on eternal life !
" 7. Remember, especially, how you have
received and heard, concerning a glorious Christ,
the enthroned, the incarnate, the infinite Son of
God. Your late pastor knew very well how to
preach — and he did it more than once — on Col.
3 : 11. ' Christ,is all, and in all.' In his entire
ministry, he made him so, determining to know
nothing but Christ and him crucified. You
never saw him so much in his element, as when
the glories of Christ were to be set before you.
The doctrine of Christ was the grand theme, to
which he advised those who were to become
preachers of the gospel ; and he set an example
in this respect well worthy to be imitated. Re
member what you have so often heard about the
importance of accepting a glorious Christ, with
all his benefits, as offered in the gospel; and
about the way of living on a glorious Christ, in
all that you have to do and suffer, while you are
living in this dying world ; and about the man
ner of living to Christ, as well as on him, if you
would be able to say, ' For me to die shall be
gain.' 0 let the remembrance of these things
make you well established Christians."
" But I have now done. What I have this
day preached to you must be called a sermon to

202 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
bring to remembrance. Like Peter the aged, I
have hoped to stir up your pure minds, by way
of remembrance. It was charged upon the He
brews as a fault : ' Ye have forgotten the exhor
tation which speaketh unto you, as unto chil
dren.' 0 my dear people, on whom the doctrine
of your late pastor dropped as the rain, and dis
tilled as the dew, as the small rain upon the
tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass ;
see to it that this fault shall never be charged
home upon you ! "
I have presented this long extract, both as an
index of the preaching of Increase Mather, and
a specimen of the style and manner of his son.
A few of the expressions have been modernized,
but the plan, the thoughts, and in general the
language, are all his own. And in view of it I
cannot repress the inquiry, When, where, was
any church more soundly instructed, more richly
fed, than was the Old North Church in Boston,
under the ministry of the Mathers ? We talk of
improvements in the manner of preaching; and
in some respects there have been improvements.
But it becomes us to inquire, whether in other
respects, we have not deteriorated, and whether
the effects of the deterioration are not visible
around us. When the great, stirring truths and
facts of the gospel are pressed home upon the

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 203
minds, and the hearts of a people, with the
point, the spirit, the unction of the Mathers,
they always have been followed — they always
will be — with glorious results.
It only remains that I present, as a memorial
of the industry and piety of Dr. Mather, a sim
ple, chronological catalogue of his published
works. Not a few of the publications, whose
titles follow, passed through several editions.
1669.
The Mystery of Israel's Salvation .
1670.
The Life and Death of the Rev. Richard
Mather. 1673.
Woe to the Drunkards. 1674.
The Day of Trouble near.
Important Truths about Conversion.
1675.
The First Principles of New England.
A Discourse concerning Baptism, and the
Consociation of Churches.
The Wicked Man's Portion.
The Times of Men in the Hands of God.
1676.
A History o the War with the Indians ; with
an Exhortation to the Inhabitants.

204 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
1677.
A Relation of the Troubles of New England
from the Indians, from the Beginning.
An Historical Discourse on the Efficacy of
Prayer. Renewal of Covenant, the Duty of Decaying
and Distressed Churches. 1678.
Pray for the Rising Generation.
1679.
A Call to the Rising Generation.
1680.
The Divine Right of Infant Baptism.
The Great Concernment of a Covenanting
People. Heaven's Alarm to the World.
1682.
A Diatribe concerning the Sign of the Son of
Man (in Latin).
Practical Truths, in Several Sermons.
The Church, a Subject of Persecution.
1683.
Cometographia ; or a Discourse concerning
Comets. 1684.
Remarkable Providences.
The Doctrine of Divine Providence.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 205
1685.
An Arrow against Profane and Promiscuous
Dances. 1686.
The Mystery of Christ.
The greatest of Sinners Exhorted.
A Sermon on the Execution of a poor man
for Murder. 16S7.
A Testimony against Superstitions.
1688.
A Letter concerning the Success of the Gos
pel among the Indians, (in Latin).*
1689.
The Unlawfulness of using Common Prayer,
and of Swearing on the Book.
1690.
Several Papers relating to New England.
A Relation of the State of New England.
The Revolution Justified. 1693.
The Blessing of Primitive Counselors, (an
Election Sermon).
Cases of Conscience concerning Witchcraft.
An Essay on the Power of the Pastor for the
Administration of the Sacraments.

* Addressed to Dr. John Leusden of Utrecht.
VOL. V. 18

206 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
1695.
Whether a Man may marry his Wife's Sister.
Solemn Advice to Young Men.
1696.
Angelographia ; A Treatise of Angels.
1697.
A Discourse on Man's not knowing his Time.
The Case of Conscience concerning the Eat
ing of Blood. 1698.
David Serving his Generation : A Funeral
Sermon, for the Rev. John Bailey.
1699.
The Surest Way to the Highest Honor.
A Discourse on Hardness of Heart.
The Folly of Sinning. 1700.
The Order of the Gospel Vindicated.
1701.
The Blessed Hope. 1702.
Remarks on a Sermon of George Keith.
Ichabod : Or, the Glory Departing.
The Excellency of a Public Spirit.
The Righteous Man, a Blessing. Two Ser
mons. 1703.
The Duty of Parents to Pray for their Chil-

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 207
Soul-saving Gospel Truths.
1704.
The Voice of God in Stormy Winds.
Practical Truths, to Promote Holiness.
1705.
Meditations on the Glory of Christ.
1706.
A Discourse concerning Earthquakes.
A Testimony against Sacrilege.
A Dissertation concerning the Right to the
Sacrament. 1707.
Meditations on Death.
A Disquisition concerning the State of Souls
Departed. 1709.
A Dissertation concerning the Future Con
version of the Jews. Confuting Dr. Lightfoot,
and Mr. Baxter. 1710.
A Discourse concerning Faith, and Prayer for
the Kingdom of Christ.
A Sermon on " Be very Courageous ; " at
the Artillery Election.
Awakening Truths, tending to Conversion.
1711.
Meditations on the Glory of the Heavenly
World.

208 LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER.
A Discourse concerning the Death of the
Righteous. The Duty of the Children of Godly Parents.
1712.
Burnings Bewailed.
Remarks upon an Answer to a Book against
the Common Prayer.
Meditations on Sanctification of the Lord's
Day. 1713.
A Plain Discourse, showing who shall, and
who shall not, enter into Heaven.
The Believer's Gain by Death : A Funeral
Sermon for his Daughter-in-Law. 1714.
Resignation to the Will of God. On the
Death of his Consort. 1715.
Jesus Christ, a Mighty Saviour.
1716.
A Disquisition concerning EcclesiasticalCoun-
cils. There is a God in Heaven.
The Duty and Dignity of Aged Servants of
God. 1718.
The Duty of Praying for Ministers. A Ser
mon at the Ordination of his Grandson.

LIFE OF INCREASE MATHER. 209
Sermons on the Beatitudes.
Practical Truths plainly delivered ; an Ordi
nation Sermon. 1719.
Five Sermons on Several Subjects. One on
the Author's Birthday. 1721.
Advice to the Children of Godly Ancestors.
Tracts, on Inoculation for the Small Pox.
1722.
A Dying Pastor's Legacy.
Elijah's Mantle.
Besides these eighty-six publications, Dr.
Mather wrote many fugitive pieces, and " learn
ed and useful Prefaces," which the publishers
of books obtained from him, sufficient, if col
lected, to make a considerable volume.

18*

LIFE OF SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS.

LIFE OF SIR WILLIAM PHIPPS.

CHAPTER I.
His parentage, and circumstances in early life. Becomes a ship-
carpenter, and removes to Boston. His marriage. Exepdition to
Sheepscot. His voyages of discovery in pursuit of wealth. His
final success.
Some of the more striking peculiarities of New
England character — traits which have come
down to us from our Puritan ancestry — are
energy, enterprise, activity, perseverance, in
whatever we think proper to undertake. We
are proverbially a scheming, stirring people,
who, if we do not find business, can make it,
and who, if we cannot live one way, can some
how contrive to live another. It is next to im
possible to starve a genuine Yankee, or by any
adverse change of circumstances effectually to
put him down.
And yet, there are two sorts of characters,

214 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
even among ourselves ; or rather, our people
exhibit the above traits of character in very
different degrees. Some, though of Puritan
stock, and born and bred in New England, are
well nigh destitute of the peculiarities referred
to. They may be social, intelligent, virtuous,
amiable, but they are not enterprising and perse
vering. They may not be palpably indolent or
inefficient, but they are incapable of giving the
right direction to things, and of carving out a
portion foi. themselves.
At the other extreme from the persons here
described, we find a very different exhibition of
New England character. Here are men, whose
inventive resources are well nigh exhaustless,
and whose energy and perseverance are indom
itable. It matters little to them in what condi
tion of life they are placed. If circumstances
favor, they make the most of them ; or if other
wise, they rise above them. If an individual of
this class is given to books, he can study as
effectively at the blacksmith's forge, or by the
kitchen candle, as others can in the best fur
nished apartments. Shut such an one up in
prison, with nought but a jack-knife and a shin
gle, and he will soon have wrought out some
thing which he hopes will sell. Or put him
down on a naked rock in the ocean, and he will

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 215
at once begin to collect earth upon it, prepare
his garden, and make ready for some kind of
commerce with the world.
It is to an individual of this latter class that I
propose to direct attention in the following
pages. Sir William Phipps was (in the corn-
man, popular sense of the terms,) the maker of
his own fortune. Commencing life under the
most forbidding circumstances, he rose, by his
own efforts, to the possession, not only of a
great estate, but of the highest honors to which,
in this country, he could at that time aspire ; —
and all this, without compromising his moral or
Christian character, and without incurring more
than a moderate share of the envy or hostility
of the world. And yet he died at the early
age of forty-four. The study of such a life and
example cannot but be useful, more especially
to my youthful readers. It will not be without
interest, I hope, to all.
William Phipps, was born at Nequasset, (now
Woolwich, Me.,) Feb. 2, 1651, almost two hun
dred years ago. His father, James Phipps, was,
by occupation, a gunsmith. He emigrated from
Bristol, England, at an early period in the set
tlement of this country, and fixed his residence
at the place above mentioned, on the eastern

216 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
bank of the Kennebec river, some twelve or
fifteen miles from its mouth.
There had been for some years, an establish
ment at this place for fishermen and other ad
venturers ; still, the settlement was new, and
the inhabitants (what there were of them) were
rude and uncultivated. They were surrounded
on nearly all sides, by dense forests, of which
wild beasts and wandering Tarratines were the
joint proprietors ; and which — with the exception
of here and there a straggling Frenchman, or a
Jesuit priest — had never been penetrated by
civilized man.
Such was the place selected by James Phipps
as his future home ; and here he became the
father, and that too by one wife, of no less than
twenty-six children, twenty-one of whom were
sons ! ! Of these, William was one of the
youngest ; and as his father died when he was a
child, he was left almost entirely to the manage
ment of his mother. Of the religious character
of this remarkable mother, of her domestic
habits and qualities, of the manner in which
she trained and disposed of her children, of her
subsequent history, and of the time and manner
of her death, we have almost no information.
And as little do we know respecting the other
members of this numerous household. It is

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 217
stated that William was employed, chiefly, till
his eighteenth year, in feeding and tending his
mother's flocks. His business was to guard the
pasture and the fold, and defend his charge
from the inroads of wolves, and bears, and Indi
ans. Meanwhile, it does not appear that he had
ever been to school at all, or had learned so
much as to read or write.
And here let us pause a moment, to contem
plate the condition of this young man, and to
compare it with that of the youth among ourselves.
Hardly any circumstances can be conceived
more discouraging and repellent than his.
He was but one of twenty-six children, of poor
parents, and his mother a widow. Of course,
he had nothing to expect, by way of parental
assistance or patrimony.* It devolved on him
to assist his widowed mother, rather than on
her to do much for him. Then he was entirely
without education, patronage, or powerful friends,
and had enjoyed but few opportunities of be
coming acquainted with the world. In these
circumstances, who could have expected any
thing better of young Phipps, than that he
should grow up in ignorance, become a squatter
and a hunter, live and die a boor, and be forgot
ten ?
But he early manifested that he had a soul
vol. v. 19

218 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
which could not be confined to Nequasset. He
was ignorant of many things, indeed of mpst
things ; but he knew that he lived on the banks
of a noble river, which rolled its waters into the
great sea ; and on that sea he longed to embark,
and to pursue his fortune in other lands. This
desire, however, did not prompt him, as it some
times does inconsiderate youth, to abscond from
the parental roof, and rush upon his course of
adventure in disgrace. He would ship openly
and honorably, or not at all ; and as no opportu
nity of doing this immediately presented, he
concluded, as his next best resource, to appren
tice himself to a ship-carpenter.
For the next four years of his life we are to
contemplate him, therefore, as a laboring me
chanic ; — in an honorable and useful employ
ment, indeed, but one hardly comporting with
his romantic and adventurous disposition. In
one respect, however, he was an example to all
succeeding apprentices. He did not rudely
break his bonds, and desert his master, but
served his time out to the end.
Up to this period, he had scarcely traveled,
(so far as we know,) beyond the precincts of his
native village ; and his friends would fain have
persuaded him to repress his roving spirit, and
quietly settle among themselves. But to this

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 219
he could not consent. He seems to have had a
presentiment that he was made for something
better than could ever be realized in Nequasset.
Accordingly, the next we hear of him is at
Boston, where he worked at his trade about a
year, employing his leisure hours in learning to
read and write, and in acquiring the rudiments
of arithmetic and navigation. In the course of
this year, he received his first permanent relig
ious impressions, under the preaching of Dr.
Increase Mather. Before the end of the year,
he became a husband.
His wife was the widow pf a merchant by the
name pf Hull, and the daughter ef Capt. Rpger
Spencer, pf Sacp. She was older than himself,
and had some fortune ; but for aught that ap
pears, the connection was founded on mutual
affection, and proved a permanently happy one.
His course of life called him often away from
the endearments of home, but he seems to have
been, uniformly, a faithful and devoted husband.
The addition to his pecuniary means acquired
by his marriage, enabled him to enter into busi
ness for himself. He contracted with several
Boston merchants to build them a vessel on the
Sheepscot river, and bring back with him a
load of lumber. This is the first mention of
the Maine lumber trade, which I have been able

220 LIFE OF SIR W-M. PHIPPS.
to discover in our early history. Phipps pro
ceeded to the place of his destination, built his
vessel, launched it, and was just ready to take
in his cargo, when an opportunity presented to
test the kindness and generosity of his disposi
tion, though much to his pecuniary disadvan
tage. Instigated by the French, the Indians of
those parts suddenly took up arms, and com
menced plundering and destroying the white
inhabitants ; and to these defenceless inhabitants
— some of them his former neighbors and family
connections — young Phipps was now as a min
istering angel. He abandoned his lumber, re
ceived them on board his Vessel protected, and
succored them free of charge, and carried them
all safe to Boston. An act like this, in a man
of small resources, just entering into life, is
worthy to be recorded. It served to develope
his spirit and character, and was no doubtful
presage of his future greatness.
Of the next eight or ten years of Capt. Phipps'
life, almost no incidents are recorded. His
home was at Boston, but in what manner he
spent his time, his biographer has not informed
us. Of this we may be sure, however, that' he
was not idle ; for he could not be. His mind
was fruitful in schemes and enterprises, and he
was diligently occupied one way or ariother.

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 221
Under the faithful preaching of the Mathers, he
was, doubtless, acquiring religious knowledge ;
while at the same time he was improving his
education, and growing in a knowledge of the
world. The period in our country's history of which
we now speak was marked with some striking
peculiarities. Men's minds were occupied with
golden dreams, and not a few were rushing upon
untried and absurd methods of procuring wealth.
The success of the Spaniards in their mining
operations led many to believe that the soil of
New England covered vast quantities of gold
and silver ; and mining rods and other strange
expedients were resorted to, to discover, if pos
sible, the hidden treasure.
Piracies, too, were of continual occurrence ;
and if not countenanced, they were connived at,
by some in authority. These were the days of
such men as Joseph Bradish, and Robert Kidd,
both of whom were apprehended in this country,
and executed in England. Many believed that
the pirates had secreted vast sums upon our
shores, and instead of digging for money by the
cultivation of their fields, they had recourse to
dreamers and diviners to disclose to them the
mysterious deposits. The absurd practice of
money-digging commenced about these times ;
19*

222 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
a practice which even now has not entirely
ceased. It does not appear that Capt. Phipps ever
sought to obtain wealth by any such methods.
He had other and more feasible plans in view.
He knew that, for a long course of years, Span
ish vessels had been crossing the ocean, heavily
laden with gold and silver. He knew the usual
track of these vessels. He knew that several of
them had been lost. And it occurred to him that
it would be possible to discover some of these
wrecks, and bring back from the deep a portion
of that wealth which it had swallowed up. This
certainly was a lawful, if not a laudable enter
prise ;- and however it may strike the mind of an
adventurer now, it appeared sufficiently promis
ing, in that age, to engage the attention even of
the government.
Phipps' first voyage of discovery was made in
a small vessel of his own. He succeeded in
finding the wreck he was in search of, but the
amount of treasure recovered from it was scarcely
sufficient to defray the expense of the undertak
ing. Nothing discouraged, however, he prepared to
renew the attempt, and to do it on a much lar
ger scale*. He proceeded to England, and laid
his plans directly before the king, James II.

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 223

The plain, blunt manner of the New England
sailor seems to have commended him to the roy
al favor ; for he was immediately appointed to
the command of the Rose Algier, a ship of eight
een guns and ninety-five men, with instructions
to cruise among the West India Islands.
This expedition proved one of extreme hazard
and difficulty to Capt. Phipps, owing to the mu
tinous and piratical character of his men. They
are represented as " a motley and lawless crew,
unused to the restraints of a ship of war," and
intent only on the acquisition of gold; and
whether this were obtained by might or right, it
mattered little to them. They soon became
wearied with groping after wealth on the bottom
of the ocean, preferring rather to capture it on
the surface. They insisted on commencing a pi
ratical expedition against the Spanish vessels
and towns. On one occasion, they broke out
into open mutiny, drew their swords, and insist
ed that their commander should join them in
their piracy, or lose his life ; but he, to use the
language of Mather, " though he had not so
much of a weapon as an ox-goad or a jaw-bone,
yet like another Shamgar or Sampson, rushed
in among them, and with the blows of his bare
hands felled a part of them, and quelled the
rest." This account will not seem improbable,

224 LIFE OP-SIR. WM. PHIPPS.
when it is recollected that Phipps was a man of
gigantic stature and strength, as well as of the
most undaunted bravery, before whose naked
fists, when he became excited, a whole ship's
crew of smaller and guilty men might be ready
to quail.
On another occasion, Capt. Phipps had an
chored his vessel near a small, uninhabited is
land, that it might undergo some repairs; and
had removed his stores and a part of his guns to
the shore. Under pretence of relaxation, the
greater part of the crew had retired to the woods.
While there, they formed a ring, and entered
into a most solemn agreement that they would
that very night seize the captain and his few
friends, put them on shore and abandon them,
take the vessel and the stores and go to seek
their fortunes in the South seas. But the prov
idence of God interposed to defeat them. They
had sent for the ship's carpenter, acquainted him
with their purpose, and solicited him to join the
conspiracy. He asked for half an hour to con
sider the matter, and in the meantime went to
the vessel, as if to fetch away his tools. Two
or three of the conspirators accompanied him, to
watch his motions. Soon after he came on
board he feigned himself sick, and ran into the
cabin, as if to get some medicine. He here

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 225
found the captain alone, and in few words told
him of the whole design. It was now towards
evening, and Phipps had not more than two
hours in which to prepare to meet his enemies ;
but his plan of operation was instantly formed.
He directed the carpenter to go back to the crew,
and in appearance to join them. He then rallied
his few faithful friends, went on shore to the
tent where he had deposited a part of his guns
and his stores, drew the charges from the guns,
wheeled them round, and brought away all the
ammunition to the ship. He next loaded the
guns which remained on board, and so leveled
them that not one of the men on shore could get
to the ship, or to the stores, without being in
stantly killed.
The mutineers soon made their appearance
from the woods, but when they came near to the
tent of provisions, and saw what had been done
there, they cried out at once, We are betrayed.
And they were confirmed in this, when they
heard the captain calling out to them in a voice
of thunder, to stand off, and saw him preparing
to cut them down with his artillery. Perceiving
that he now had them entirely in his power, and
that he was intending to abandon them, as they
had thought to abandon him, the wretches soon
came to terms. They fell upon their knees,

226 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
protesting that they had nothing against him,
except his unwillingness to join them in their
wicked designs. They humbly entreated for
giveness for the past, gave assurances of good
behavior in future, and begged that they might
be taken on board the ship. When he had suf
ficiently tried them, and secured their arms, he
consented to receive them back; but being now
satisfied that they were not to be trusted, he soon
sailed for Jamaica, and turned them off. In
their place he embarked a few men, just to man
age the ship, and almost immediately returned
to England.
Notwithstanding his want of success in the
immediate object of his expedition, Phipps was
received with favor both by the admiralty and
the king. He had proved himself to be a brave
and a trustworthy commander. He had accom
plished all that, under the circumstances, could
have been reasonably expected. He had defeat
ed the mutinous designs of his crew, and, at the
imminent hazard of life, had saved a national
vessel from becoming a marauder and a pirate.
Before leaving the West Indies, Capt. Phipps
had heard, from an old Spaniard, the story of a
wreck which occurred some fifty years before ;
and had satisfied himself as to the place of its
occurrence. It was on a reef of rocks a few

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 227
leagues tp the nprth of Port de la Plata, which
is one of the ports of Hispaniola. He had even
visited the spot himself, but without the time or
the means for a thorough investigation. He was
extremely anxious, therefore, to return, and to
make one more attempt to recover the lost treas
ures of the deep. He hoped, for this purpose,
to be put again in command of a national ship ;
but in this he was disappointed. The govern
ment was unable or unwilling to undertake any
more adventures of this nature. He next endeav
ored to interest some private individuals in the
enterprise ; and in this he was more success
ful. The Duke of Albemarle, in connection
with a few others, consented at last to fit out a
vessel, and to give him the command of it. A
tender was furnished, to make short excursions
in places where the ship could not go. Various
necessary implements were also provided, some
of which were not only contrived, but construct
ed by Phipps himself. The king's patent was
obtained, giving to the associates an exclusive
right to all the wrecks that might be discovered,
reserving but a tithe as the royal portion.
All things being in readiness, he set sail from
London for Port de la Plata, where he speedily
and safely arrived. Before commencing opera
tions, he constructed, from the trunk pf a huge

228 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
cotton tree, a long boat, capable of carrying some
fifteen or twenty men. In this labor, as in every
other, he bore a part, swinging the adze and the
axe with his own hand. " A number of the
men, with some Indian divers, were now des
patched in the tender to the reef, while the cap
tain and the rest of the crew remained with the
ship. Having anchored the tender at a conve
nient distance, the men proceeded in the boat to
examine the rocks, which, they were well able
to do on account of the clearness and calmness
ofthe sea."
" The reef was of a singular form, rising
nearly to the surface ; but the sides fell off so
precipitously that a ship striking them must
necessarily have bounded , back, and sunk in
deep water. Hoping to find the wreck lodged
on some projecting shelf of the rock, the men
rowed round it several times, and sent down the
divers in different places. At the same time
they hung over the sides of the boat, and strained
their eyes in gazing downwards, to discover, if
possible, some fragment of the ship. All, how
ever, was in vain, and they were preparing to
return to the tender. But just as they were
about to leave the place, one of the men perceiv
ing a curious sea plant, called a feather, growing
in the crevice of the rocks, sent down one of the

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 229
Indians to pluck it. When the diver returned,
he told them that he saw a number of great guns
lying in the same spot. Other divers were im
mediately sent down, and soon one brought up
a large ingot of silver, worth from two to three
hundred pounds sterling. Overjoyed at their
success, they marked the spot with a buoy, and
then returned with the boat and tender to the
ship." That they might the more agreeably surprise
the captain, the men first told him a discourag
ing story, pretending that they had met with no
success. But while they were talking, he
chanced to spy the ingot of silver which they
had placed under the table ; upon which he ex
claimed, in an agony of earnestness, "Why,
what is this ? Whence comes this ?" And
then they told him all the truth. After hearing
their story, Phipps lifted up his hands and said,
" Thanks be to God ! Now we are all made !"
"The whole crew were immediately set to
work, and in the course of a few days they
fished up treasures from the ocean to the amount
of three hundred thousand pounds sterling ; not
less than a million and a half of dollars ! They
first lighted on that part of the wreck where the
bullion was stored, and which was brought up
in solid ingots — called by the sailors sows and
Vol. v. 20

230 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
pigs. But they afterwards fell upon the coin,
which had been stored in bags among the ballast.
" It had remained there so long, that the bags
were found covered with a calcareous incrustation
of considerable thickness ; which being broken
open with irons, the silver dollars showered out
in great profusion." In addition to the silver
thus " brought into the light of the sun, when it
had been rusting under the waters for more than
half a century," they discovered " vast treasures
of gold, and pearls, and jewels" — in short, all
that a Spanish galleon used formerly to be en
riched with.
Captain Phipps and his company were not
alone benefited by the discovery they had made.
" In the course of the search, they were joined
by one Adderley, a shipmaster from Providence,
who had been of some assistance to Phipps in
his former voyage, and who now met him by
appointment in a small vessel. With his few
hands, Adderley contrived, in a day or two, to
load his vessel with silver, to the amount of sev
eral thousand pounds."
The failure of provisions obliged the whole
company to take their departure before the ex
amination of the wreck was complete. The last
day that the men worked, they raised not less
than twenty solid ingots of silver. To secure the

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 231
benefits of whatever might remain, Phipps im
posed an oath of secresy upon Adderley and his
men, and exacted from them a promise that they
would content themselves with what they had
already received. But oaths and promises are
of little account with such men. The secret
was not kept, others visited the spot, and when
Phipps returned, after the lapse of a year or two,
it was found that every article of value had been
taken away.
Captain Phipps' good fortune, (as he doubt
less considered it, and as it proved in the end,)
was the means of bringing him into immediate
trouble with his men. They had, of choice,
enlisted for wages, not wishing to incur any risk
as to the issue of the voyage. And though they
were less grasping and mutinous than his for
mer crew, yet when they saw the vast amount
of treasure which their vessel contained, the
temptation was too great for them. Their plan
was to divide the booty among, themselves, and
then " be gone to lead a short and merry life in
some land, where the arrest of their employers
would not be able to reach them."
In this solemn crisis of his affairs, Captain
Phipps seems to have felt more deeply his need
of Divine help, and to have been more impressed
with religious considerations, than ever before.

232 LIFE OF1 SIR WM. PHIPPS.
" He made his vows," says Mather, " unto Al
mighty God, that if he would carry him safe
home to England, with the treasures he had now
given him, he would forever devote himself unto
the interests of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of his
people, mPre especially in that land which gave
him birth." At the same time, he used all im
aginable obliging arts to make his men true to
him, assuring them, that, in addition to their
wages, ample requitals should be made to them ;
and that, if the proprietors at home would not
agree to this, he would divide his own share
with them. Relying on his word, and won by
his kindness, the crew now declared themselves
content. Still, keeping a most watchful eye
upon them, he thought it prudent to hasten back
to England, not daring to stop so much as to
take in provisions at any nearer port. He
arrived safe in London, with all his treasure, in
the year 1687.
The first thing now was, to make an equitable
division of the profits ; and here the integrity
and generosity of the commander were conspic
uous. According to the conditions of the patent,
the government was entitled to a tenth. The
men, also, received the gratuity which had been
promised them, to their entire satisfaction. The
remainder was so divided among the individuals

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 233
interested, that Phipps' share amounted to only
about sixteen thousand pounds. In addition to
this, however, and in token of satisfaction with
his conduct, the Duke of Albemarle presented
Madame Phipps with a golden cup, worth not
less than a thousand pounds.
There were those about the court who advised
King James to seize the whole cargo, alleging
that there had been some deception in procuring
the patent. But the king indignantly rejected
such infamous counsels. " He avowed his en
tire satisfaction with the conduct of the enter
prise, and declared that Phipps had displayed so
much integrity and talent, that he should not
henceforth want his countenance. In conse
quence of the service done by him in bringing
so much treasure into the country, and as an
earnest of future favors, he conferred on him the
honor of knighthood, and requested him to
remain in England, with the promise of employ
ment " in the navy.

20*

234 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPP;

CHAPTER II.
Sir William Phipps interests himself for New England. Makes a
profession of "religion in Boston. Captures Port Royal and the
Eastern provinces. Fails in an expedition against Canada. Is
appointed Governor of Massachusetts. His reception in Boston.
When Sir William Phipps, — for henceforward
we must speak of him under a new title, — had
honorably discharged his freight, and settled his
affairs in London, he began to think of his late
vow, in relation to service for his native land.
It was true, indeed, that he regarded himself as
having been ill-treated by some of his own
countrymen ; but this did not at all abate his de
sire, or his conscious obligations, to do them
good. The situation of affairs in New England was
at this time deplorable. The original colonial
charter of Massachusetts had been taken away ;
and this outrage had been followed by the ap
pointment, as governor, of Sir Edmund Andros,
— a man well qualified, by his imperious temper
and grasping disposition, to execute the arbitrary
designs of the English court. The governor's

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 235
secretary, and chief counselor was Edward
Randolph, the old and constant enemy of the
colonists, who had done more to disoblige and
injure them, than any other man in the world.
The government of these men continued be
tween two and three years ; and to our venera
ble fathers it was truly a reign of terror. To
use one of Mather's significant comparisons,
" The foxes were now made the administrators
of justice to the poultry." The religious rights
of our ancestors were grossly invaded. The
liberty of the press was taken away. Their
very titles to their freeholds were called in
question. They were led seriously to consider
whether their lives would be long secure. In
their distress and alarm, they contrived to send
the Rev. Increase Mather as their agent to Eng
land, to lay their case directly before the king,
and to implore protection and relief. He arrived
in London in the spring of 1688, where he met
his old parishioner, Sir William Phipps, and in
whom he found a zealous and an efficient
helper. Indeed, the measure of countenance
which Mr. Mather received from king James, is
by some ascribed almost entirely to the influence
of Phipps, who had now a high reputation at
court, and was a personal favorite with the
king.

236 LIFE OF SIE WM. PHIPPS.
The immediate object of both was, to obtain
the restoration of the colonial charter, or to
secure, in some way, the rights and privileges of
the people ; but this they found it impossible to
accomplish. On one occasion, the king inti
mated to Sir William, that whatever request he
might make, would be favorably received. The
latter immediately solicited the restoration of
chartered privileges to his native land ; but the
king replied : " Anything but that, Sir William ;
anything but that."
Unable to succeed in his primary object,
Phipps determined, after consulting with Mi*.
Mather, to apply for the office of sheriff of New
England, hoping in that way to supply the
country with firm and upright juries, and thus
bring some relief to its suffering inhabitants;
more especially to those who were obliged to
defend, in the courts, the titles to their landed
estates. It was not without much difficulty, and
some money, that he obtained this office ; and
-when he arrived in Boston with his commission,
he found it impossible to execute it. The
tyrannical governor, and his more grasping sec
retary, were resolved not ,to be checked in their
career of plunder, by any such influences as he
could command. Instead of yielding to him,
they would fain have arrested him ; and on one

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 237

occasion, went so far as to make an attempt
upon his life. " He was like to have been
assassinated," says Mather, " before his own
door, and in face of the sun."
At the commencement of the following year,
1689, we find Sir William again in England.
The revolution had now taken place, king James
was in exile, and William and Mary were on the
throne. The fallen monarch, through one of his
adherents in London, now offered to recall An
dros, and to bestow on Phipps the government
of New England ; but the latter had too much
wisdom to accept the offer. He was satisfied that
James' power was at an end, and had no doubt
that the revolution in England would be followed
by one equally summary and salutary on the
other side of the water, and so , in fact, it came
to pass. No sooner had the news of king
James' overthrow reached New England, than
the people rose as one man ; took possession of
a frigate which had been stationed in the harbor
of Boston, with a view to overawe them; drove
Andros and his counselors into the fort; and
compelled them, in a few hours, to surrender at
discretion. The old colonial governor, Mr.
Bradstreet, was induced to return to office, the
former magistrates were restored, and the entire
machinery of government was put in operation,

238 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
much as it had been previous to the abrogation
of the charter. Never was revolution more
complete or satisfactory ; the whole having been
accomplished without the shedding of a drop of
blood. Two additional agents were immedi
ately sent to England, through whom a report of
these proceedings were transmitted to the king.
He signified his approbation of what had been
done, and a commission was issued, empowering
the Massachusetts government to act under the
provisions of the old charter, till the principles
on which colonial affairs were in future to be ad
ministered, could be definitively settled. Thus
the political state of New England, was, for the
time, established on its original basis ; and Mr.
Mather and his colleagues, had no longer any
occasion to apply for a redress of present griev
ances, but only for a confirmation of existing
privileges, — a circumstance which much in
creased their prospect of ultimate success.
The presence of Sir William Phipps being no
longer required in England, he improved the
opportunity to return to Boston, where he arrived
in the summer of 1689. And here he remained
for the greater part of a year, in1 the enjoyment
of a quiet home, and of religious privileges, un
der the ministry of his distinguished friend and
pastor, the Rev. Cotton Mather. This opportu-

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIP.PS. 239
nity he improved for accomplishing what he had
long intended and desired, viz., the making of a
public profession of religion. On the 23d of
March, 1690, he received the rite of baptism,
and became a member of the Old North Church
in Boston.
In accordance with what was then the invari
able practice of that church, he was required to
present a written narrative of his religious exer
cises, and experience ; and I extract the entire
paper, not only on account of its intrinsic inter
est, but because it is supposed to be the only
authentic production of Sir William's pen, which
is now extant. The narrative was addressed to
the pastor, Rev. Cotton Mather, and is as fol
lows :
" The first of God's making me sensible of
my sins was in the year 1674, by hearing your
father preach concerning the day of trouble near.
I did then begin to think what I should do to be
saved, and did bewail my youthful days, which
I had spent in vain. I did think that I would
begin to mind the things of God. Being then
some time under your father's ministry, much
troubled with my burden, but thinking of that
Scripture, " Come unto me all ye that labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest," I
had some thoughts of drawing as near to the

240 LIF.E OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
communion of the Lord Jesus as I could ; but
the ruin which the Indian wars brought on my
affairs, and the entanglements which my follow
ing the seas laid upon me, hindered my pursuing
the welfare of my own soul, as I ought to have
done. At length God was pleased to smile on
my outward concerns. The various providences
both merciful and afflictive, which attended me
in my travels, were sanctified unto me, to make
me acknowledge God in all my ways. I have
divers times been in danger of my life ; and I
have been brought to see that I owe my life to
him who has given his precious life for me. I
thank God, he hath brought me to see myself
altogether unhappy without an interest in the
Lord Jesus Christ, and to close heartily with
him, desiring him to execute all his offices on
my behalf. I have now, "for some time, been
under serious resolutions, that I would avoid
whatever I should know to be displeasing to
God, and that I would serve him, all the days
of my life. I believe no man will repent the
service of such a master. I find myself unable
to keep such resolutions, but my serious prayers
are to the Most High, that he would enable me.
God hath done so much for me, that I am sensi
ble I owe myself to him. To him I give my
self, and all that he has given me. I cannot

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 241
express his mercies to me. But as soon as ever
God had smiled upon me with a turn of my
affairs, I laid myself under solemn vows, that I
would set myself to serve his people and
churches here, to the utmost of my capacity. I
have had great offers made me in England, but
the churches of New England, were those
which my heart was most set upon. I knew,
that if God had a people anywhere, it was here ;
and I resolved to rise and fall with them ; neg
lecting very great advantages for my worldly
interest, that I might come and enjoy the ordi
nances of the Lord Jesus here.
" It has been my trouble, that since I came
home, I have made no more haste to get into the
house of God, where I desire to be ; especially
having heard so much about the evil of that
omission. I can do little for God ; but I desire
to wait upon him in his ordinances, and to live
to his honor and glory.
" My being born in a part of the country
where I had not, in my infancy, enjoyed the
first sacrament of the New Testament has been
something of a stumbling block to me. But
though I have had proffers of baptism elsewhere,
I resolved rather to defer it, until I might enjoy
it in the communion of these churches. I have
also had awful impressions from those words of
vol. v. 21

242 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
the Lord Jesus, ' Whosoever shall be ashamed
of me, and of my words, of him shall the Son of
Man be ashamed.'
" When God had blessed me with something
of this world, I had no trouble so great as this,
lest it should not be in mercy ; and I trembled at
nothing more than being put off with a portion
here. That I may make sure of better things,
I now offer myself unto the communion of this
church ofthe Lord Jesus."
This document bears indubitable marks ofthe
sincerity and true piety of its author. There is
manifest in it a deep sense of the Divine good
ness and of his own unworthiness on account of
sin, a simple trust in the Lord Jesus Christ as
the sinner's only hope, and an earnest consecra
tion of the whole soul to him, which no hypo
crite could well counterfeit. Indeed, hypocrisy,
on any subject, could never be charged upon Sir
William Phipps. He was a plain, blunt, out
spoken man, whose faults lay on the side of
frankness, sometimes hastiness of speech, rather
than on the side of concealment.
The circumstances in which Sir William was
now placed, — his'ample fortune, his high stand
ing and reputation, his quiet and comfortable
home, would have satisfied most other men, and
disposed them to a retired and domestic life.

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 243
But such a life had no charms for him, nor
indeed could he reconcile it with his convictions
of duty. In conversation with his pastor, he
frequently expressed his feelings on this wise :
" I have no need to look after any farther ad
vantages for myself in this world ; I may sit
still at home, if I will, and enjoy my ease for
the rest of my life ; but I believe that I should
offend God in so doing : For I am now in the
prime of my age and strength, and I thank God,
I can endure hardship. He only knows how
long I have to live. But I think it is my duty
to venture my life in doing good, before a use
less old age comes upon me. Wherefore, I will
now expose myself where I am able, and as far
as I am able, for the service of my country. I
was born for others, as well as for myself."
There is no reason to question the sincerity
of this language ; and certainly it indicates a
noble and generous mind. It expresses the feel
ings both of the patriot and the Christian. And
circumstances immediately occurred, — indeed,
they were already occurring, which put his pa
triotism to the test.
The French were at this time in possession of
nearly all of what is now termed British Amer
ica, on the North and East of us, and of Louis
iana on the West. Between them and the

244 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
English colonies on every side, were widely
extended and almost unbroken forests, — the pos
session and the abode of various tribes of
Indians. With these Indians, our forefathers
might, in general, have maintained peace, could
they only have been kept from foreign influ
ence ; but French priests and emissaries, who
were among them, were continually instigating
them to violate their treaties with the English,
and to fall upon and plunder their defenceless
villages. Such was the origin of nearly all the
Indian wars of that day ; more especially those
in New Hampshire and Maine. The policy of
the French was, to drive out, and destroy the
English colonists ; to take possession of their
towns and settlements ; to supplant the Protest
ant religion by the Romish ; and to divide with
Spain the whole American continent.
At this very time a destructive Indian War
was raging on the frontiers, and had been so for
several months. Schenectady, in New York,
Salmon Falls, in New Hampshire, and Fort
Pemaquid, in Maine, had successively fallen
into the hands of the enemy. The Indians had
possession of all the eastern and central parts of
Maine, and were pushing their conquests into
the older settlements. Experience had shown
that it was to little purpose to make treaties

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. _245
with these savages ; so long as the French con
tinued to supply them with arms and ammuni
tion, and to encourage them in their wars, they
would not regard any engagements into which
they might enter, but would continue their work
of plunder and death.
A plan was matured, therefore, (of which Sir
William Phipps was in part the contriver, as he
was the leader,) to take forcible possession of
some of the principal French fortresses and
towns, and ultimately to drive them from this
part of North America.
Port Royal was then the capital of the French
province of Acadia, (now Nova Scotia,) and was
defended by a fort. It was conveniently situated
for furnishing supplies to the eastern Indians,
and for affording a shelter to the privateers which
plundered the English shipping, and occasional
ly the smaller settlements on the coast. In
short, it was one of the rallying points from
which issued forth most of the bad influences
with which our fathers, at that period, were
obliged to contend. It was determined, there
fore, by means of a naval armament, to attempt
the capture of Port Royal; and Sir William
Phipps, though not accustomed to military oper
ations, was constituted the commander of the
enterprise. 21*

246 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
In his instructions, which were furnished him
by Governor Bradstreet, he was ordered "to
take care that the worship of God be maintained
and duly observed on board all the vessels ; to
offer the enemy fair terms upon summons, to
which, if they accede, the said terms are to be
faithfully observed ; but if not, you are to gain
the best advantage you may — to assault, kill,
and utterly extirpate the common enemy, and to
burn and demolish their fortifications and ship
ping. Having reduced Port Royal, you are to
proceed along the coast, for the reducing of the
other places and plantations, in the possession
of the French, unto obedience to the crown of
England." Furnished with these instructions, Sir Wil
liam sailed from Nantasket on the 28th of April,
1690, with a fleet of seven or eight vessels, and
an army of about seven. hundred men. He ar
rived at Port Royal on the 11th of May. The
French governor, Meneval, was taken com
pletely by surprise ; nor was the town, though
containing several thousand inhabitants, in a
situation to afford any effectual resistance. The
conquest, therefore, was short and easy. " Sir
William took possession of the place, in the
name of the English government, demolished
the fort, and administered the oath of allegiance

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 247
to those of the French inhabitants who chose to
remain. He then appointed a governor of the town,
with a small garrison, and set sail on his
return, carrying with him a large amount of
property. On his way home, he landed at the
various settlements, and took formal possession
of the coast, from Port Royal to Penobscot.
The whole province of Acadia was thus sub
dued, and remained in the possession of the
English till the peace of Ryswick, in 1697,
when it was restored to the French."
On the return of the armament, a committee
was appointed " to take charge of the property
brought from Port Royal ; to sell the same ; and
from the proceeds, to defray the expenses of the
expedition. Should there be any surplus, the
same is tp be divided inte twp equal parts ; the
one tp be reserved for the use of the colony, and
the other to be applied for the use of the officers
and soldiers who have been engaged in the ser
vice." The surplus thus divided is supposed to
have been considerable.
During the absence of Phipps, the Indians,
under the direction of the Canadians, " had
been carrying on the war with much success in
Maine. In the early part of May, the fort at
Caseo was surprised, and more than a hundred

248 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.

men were taken prisoners. The loss of this
post compelled the weaker garrisons along the
coast to fall back upon Saco, and ultimately
upon Wells, leaving the whole eastern country
either in actual possession of the enemy, or en
tirely defenceless." The news of these disasr
ters caused much alarm at Boston, and led our
forefathers to the determination, if possible, to
get possession of Quebec and the Canadas, as
they were already in possession of Port Royal
and the eastern provinces.
' This enterprise had been talked of before the
return of Phipps and his squadron; but when
his successes came to be known, it assumed a
new interest, and was resolved on without
delay. Every encouragement was given to
induce volunteers to enlist for the service, and
the most strenuous efforts were made to procure
the requisite amount of funds. Letters were
dispatched to England, setting forth the great
importance of the undertaking, and asking as
sistance, more especially in the supply of am
munition and arms. Sir William Phipps was
constituted first in command, and Major John
Walley, second; and by the middle of July, a,
fleet, cpnsisting pf thirty-twp. vessels, having on
board some 2200 men, was in readiness tp de
part. An arrangement had been made with the

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 249
governors of New York and Connecticut, by
which a land expedition from these colonies
was to invest Montreal, at the same time that
Phipp's armament appeared before Quebec.
Perhaps no warlike expedition in the early
history of our country was ever more wisely
planned than this. Nor had there ever been
one, in regard to which public expectation was
more raised and intense. And certainly no one,
either before or since, ever proved a more de
cided failure, and all this without seriously im
plicating either the skill or the bravery of the
commander. The principal causes of the fail
ure were the following :
In the first place, the expedition was delayed,
waiting for supplies from England (which never
came) till the proper season for cpmmencing it,
for that year, was past. Then there was a
further delay, from contrary winds, from the
difficulty of procuring pilots, and from the ne
cessity, at the last, of proceeding without them.
Besides, the promised co-operation from New
York and Connecticut was not realized. Their
troops, after commencing their march, became
disheartened and turned back, leaving the entire
French force in Canada, which otherwise would
have been divided, to concentrate itself at Que
bec. In addition to all this, a malignant fever

250 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHI P Pi
and the small-pox broke out in the fleet, and
made painful ravages among the troops.
Notwithstanding all these hindrances and dis
couragements, Sir William persevered, and on
the 5th of October appeared before Quebec.
The next day he sent an officer on shore, with
a summons to the governor to surrender; which
summons was haughtily and indignantly an
swered. As soon as it could be done, about
thirteen hundred of the troops — all who were
able, and could be spared from the ships — were
landed under the direction of Major Walley;
but they had to encounter the most formidable
difficulties from cold and storm, from the unan
ticipated number and force of the enemy, and
more especially from the cowardice and incom
petency of their leader. This last circumstance
was a sufficient cause of their defeat, if there
had been no other. Sir William, with some
his larger ships, sailed up the river and bom
barded the town; but the houses being built
mostly of stone, with sides too thick for'a ball
to penetrate, the firing caused but little injury.
The army remained on shore some three or
four days, defending themselves as best they
could against the combined force of the ele
ments, and the bullets of the French and In
dians, but making no effective advances towards

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 251
the capture of the place. At length, there
seemed to be no alternative but to return to
their ships ; and the expedition was reluctantly
abandoned. The return of the fleet, at that inclement
season of the year, was peculiarly disastrous.
Owing to violent storms, it was found impossi
ble to keep the ships together. One vessel was
never heard of after they separated. Another
was burnt at sea. Four of them were blown so
far from the coast, that they did not reach
Boston for several weeks after the rest of the
fleet, when they had been given up as lost.
The fate of one was so very peculiar as to re
quire a more particular description. It was
commanded by Capt. John Rainsford, contained
sixty men, and was wrecked, on the night of
the 28th of October, on a desolate island, in the
gulf of St. Lawrence. For several days, the
crew hoped to get off; but despairing of this at
last, they went ashore with their provisions, and
made such preparations as they could for spend
ing the cold, long winter on the island. They
built " nine small chimney-less things, which
they called houses," and also a shelter for their
stores. Having not more than a supply of pro
visions for a' month, and expecting to remain on
the island six or seven months, they were

252 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
obliged to put themselves upon the shortest al
lowance possible. They established laws for
their little community; maintained the daily
worship, of God in their houses ; and " observed
the Lord's day with more solemn exercises of
religion." Before the middle of winter, more than half
of their number had died. In addition to the
rest of their troubles, they had those among
them who would not be satisfied with the daily
allowance of provisions, but were continually
pilfering from the common stock. In particular,
says Mather, " there was a wicked Irishman,
who had such a voracious devil within him,
that after divers burglaries upon the storehouse,
he at last stole and eat with such a pamphagous
fury, as to cram himself with no less than
eighteen stolen biscuits at one meal; and he
was fain to haye his belly rubbed and bathed
before the fire, lest he should have burst." As
a measure of necessity, in order to their own
preservation, the company had serious thoughts
of putting this wretch to death ; but it does not
appear that they did so.
These men continued together till the 25th of
March, when five of their number took a boat
which had been saved from theirvessel, and
committed themselves to the waves, with the

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 253
intention, if possible, of getting to Boston, and
then of returning for the rest of the crew. In
this open boat, exposed to storms, winds, ice
bergs, and all sorts of perils, these five men
were confined no less than forty-five days;
when, on the ninth of May, they actually came
into Boston, greatly to the surprise and joy of
their friends, who had put on mourning for them
as dead. A vessel was immediately sent to the
relief of the survivors, which brought them in
safety to their homes.
As remarked already, the defeat of this Cana
dian enterprise can in no way be attributed to
want of capacity or courage on the part of the
commander-in-chief; nor was it so considered
by our fathers at the time. It seems to have
been peculiarly the work of Providence, and
that, too, a mysterious Providence. In view of
it, Sir William Phipps said, " that though he
had been used to diving in his day," (alluding
to the manner in which he had recovered so
much treasure from the ocean,) " the things
which had befallen him in this expedition were
too deep to be dived into." For had only one of
three or four contingencies been ordered differ
ently, the result might have been as happy as it
was now disastrous. If, for example, the troops
from New York and Connecticut had fulfilled
vol. v. 22

254 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
their engagements in attacking Montreal, or if
mortal sickness had not invaded the fleet, and
destroyed or disabled great numbers of the sol
diers, or if the second officer in command, who
had the entire direction of the land forces, had
exhibited the same capacity and bravery as the
leader — more especially, if the expedition had
not been delayed by contrary winds and storms,
giving the enemy opportunity to concentrate his
forces and strengthen his fortifications — in all
probability Quebec might have been easily
taken. Indeed, La Hontan, a French writer
who was on the spot, affirms, that had Sir
William arrived before Quebec only one week
earlier, he might have taken it without striking
a blow ; as there were then but two hundred
regular troops in the place, which was open and
exposed in every direction.
The disastrous failure of this expedition threw
the government of the colony into great embar
rassment. The people were distressed, not only
by the loss of property and of friends, but by an
onerous public debt, which they had not the
ability to pay. It was at' this time, and under
•hese circumstances, that the first experiment
was made in this country of paper money.
" Bills of credit were issued, which the faith of
the government was pledged to redeem. The

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 255
nptes were pf varipus denpminatipns, from two
shillings up to ten pounds sterling ; and as no
greater amount was issued than would be
brought into the treasury in two years by taxes,
and as express provision was made that these
notes should be received, even at five per cent.
advance, in payment of taxes, it was hoped that
the paper would circulate, as of equal value with
gold or silver." And so in fact it would, had the
government of the country been in a more set
tled state. But as the existing government was
merely a provisional one, which might be abol
ished or changed at any time by the king, it
was thought that the faith of the government
was not a sufficient security.
Numerous expedients were resorted to, to keep
up the credit of these notes. To this end, Sir
William Phipps set a noble example, in consent
ing to receive a large amount of them, at par, in
exchange for gold and silver. Still, the credit
of the bills fell, so that the holders of them did
not receive, in some instances, more than four
teen shillings to the pound. They were all re
deemed, ultimately, by the government at their
full value ; but the holders of them, at the time
of redemption, were in general capitalists, and
not the poor soldiers, who ought in justice to
have received the benefit.

256 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
But it is time that we return to Sir William
Phipps. He arrived in Boston, with the remains
of his fleet, on the 19th of November ; defeated
indeed as to the grand object of his Canadian
expedition, but still not in despair as to final suc
cess. In fact, the word despair seems to have
had no place in his vocabulary, as the thing it
self had no place in his heart. He immediately
resolved upon a voyage to England, with a view
to lay before the king in person, " the consider
ations in favor of another attempt to wrest from
the French all their North American possess
ions." He accordingly embarked in the depth
of winter, and after a tedious passage arrived
at Bristol, whence he hastened on to London.
" He there offered the king his services in the
command of a second expedition ; and in a pa
per which he presented, strongly set forth the
importance and feasibility of the scheme." The
reasons which he urged were, in substance, as
follows: 1, The success of the design wpuld
give the English the exclusive benefit of the fur
trade, and secure from further injury the Hud
son's Bay Cornpany, several of whose factories
had recently fallen into the hands of the enemy.
2, It would also secure the Newfoundland fishe
ries, and materially increase the amount of that
business. 3, It would afford the greatest en-

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 257
couragement, and might be necessary even to the
existence of the American colonies. For, if the
French were allowed to retain their possessions
in the country, the constantly increasing influ
ence of the priests would finally enlist all the
Indians on their side, and by this means the
English might be at length extirpated.
These were all sound arguments, but the
English government was not then in a situation
to undertake the enterprise. After the lapse of
another half century, it was undertaken and car
ried through ; although at an expense of blood
and treasure an hundred-fold greater than would
have been necessary, had the representations of
Phipps and the colonists been listened to, at the
proper time.
But though Sir William failed of the immedi
ate object which led him to England, the event
proved that Divine providence had sent him
there for another object. The Rev. Mr. Mather
and his associates were still there, endeavoring
to procure the restoration of the former colonial
charter. But this was found to be impractica
ble. The question then was, whether to accept
a new charter, such as they might be able to se
cure, or to return without any, trusting to the
king's clemency to continue the existing provis
ional government. On this question, the agents
22*

258 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
"of the colony were divided among themselves ;
Mr. Mather and Sir Henry Ashurst being in fa
vor, of a charter, and the other members of the
agency opposing it. Sir William Phipps arrived
in London just at the time when this question
was agitated, and united his influence with that
of Mr. Mather. The colony had suffered so
much under the late king, that they were un
willing to trust the mere word of a king any
further. And this was understood to be the
sentiment of a majority of their constituents at
home. Henceforward, therefore, the efforts of the
agents were chiefly directed to the negotiating
and procuring of a new charter. In this, they
were essentially aided by Sir William Phipps.
Nor did they fail to enlist the good offices of the
queen, who consented to write to the king in
Holland on their behalf.
About the first of September, the instrument
was completed ; and Mr. Mather was desired to
nominate a candidate for the office of governor.
On this question his mind had long been made
up. The fact that Sir William Phipps was a
native of New England, that he possessed a
high rank and a large estate, that he had already
served the crown in several important capacities,
and had obtained the favor of the king without

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 259
forfeiting his popularity at home, — these several
considerations clearly pointed him out as by far
the most suitable person for the office. His
name was accordingly presented to the council ;
and when Mr. Mather, a few days afterwards,
obtained an audience of the king, he addressed
him in the following terms : " In the behalf of
New England, I do most humbly thank your
majesty, that you have been pleased, by a char
ter, to restore English liberty unto your subjects
in that country, to confirm them in their proper
ty, and to grant them some peculiar privileges.
I doubt not but that they will demean themselves
with such dutiful affection and loyalty to your
majesty, that you will see cause to enlarge your
favors towards them. And I do most humbly
thank your majesty, in that you have been
pleased to give leave unto those that are con
cerned for New England to nominate their gov
ernor. Sir William Phipps has accordingly
been nominated at the council board. He hath
done a good service for the crown, by enlarging
your dominions, and reducing Nova Scotia to
your obedience. I know that he will faithfully
serve your majesty, to the utmost of his capaci
ty; and if your majesty shall think fit to confirm
him in that place, it will be a further obligation
on your subjects there."

260 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.

In consequence of this nomination, a commis
sion was prepared, under the great seal, by
which Sir William Phipps was appointed Cap
tain-general and Governor?in-chief of the Prov
ince of Massachusetts Bay in New England.
Under this title were included, by the new char
ter, not Only the old colony of Massachusetts,
but also the Plymouth colony, the Provinces of
Maine and Nova Scotia, and all the country
lying between them, as far north as the St.
Lawrence river. By his commission, he was
also constituted Captain-general of the colonies
of Connecticut and Rhode Island.
Sir William, with Mr. Mather, was admitted
to kiss the king's hand, on the third of January,
1692. Early in the spring they embarked in
the None-Such frigate for New England, and
arrived at Boston in May of the same year. The
General Court were soon called together, when
they passed a resolve, appointing a day of solemn
thanksgiving to Almighty God, " for granting a
safe arrival to his excellency, the governor, and
the Rev. Mr. Increase Mather, who have indus
triously endeavored the service of this people,
and have brought over with them a settlement
of government, in which their majesties have
graciously given us distinguishing marks of the
royal favor and goodness."

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 261
On the Monday following his arrival, frov.
Phipps was inaugurated. The ceremonies and
services of the occasion were as follows : He
was conducted from his own house to the town-
house by a large military escort, and by the
principal gentlemen of Boston and vicinity. The
services were opened with prayer^-by Rev. Mr.
Allen, one of the ministers of Boston. The
charter was next read ; then the governor's
commission ; after which the venerable governor
Bradstreet resigned the chair. The commission
of Lieutenant-governor Stoughton was also read.
The whole was concluded with a public dinner
from which the governor was escorted back to
his house.

262 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS,

CHAPTER III.
Governor Phipps' administration. His measures for the suppression
of witchcraft. His dealings with the Indians. Encounters oppo
sition and enemies. Is summoned to England. His sudden death.
Hia general character.
As Sir William Phipps was the first governor
under the new charter, it may well be supposed
that, at his very entrance upon office, many
things would require attention. Magistrates
were to be appointed, laws to be framed, and the
entire government to be organized and put in
operation, according to the provisions of the new
constitution. In all these important matters, the
governor demeaned himself as a true son of
New England. The spirit which he manifest
ed was kind and conciliatory, willing to forego
the full exercise of his prerogative, and to con
sult the wishes of those for whom he ruled.
Thus, at the first meeting of the council for the
appointment of civil officers, instead of nomina
ting them himself, as he might have done, he
permitted them to be nominated by the members

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 263
present, himself only voting on the question of
their approval. To the representatives, also, he
was" accustomed to use language such as this :
" Gentlemen, you may make yourselves as easy
as you will. Consider what may have any ten
dency to your welfare, and be sure that whatev
er bills^ou offer me, consistent with the honor
and interest of the crown, I shall pass them
readily. I do but seek opportunities to serve
you. Had it not been for this, I should never
have accepted the government of the Province.
And whenever you have settled such a body of
good laws, that no person coming after me may
make you uneasy, I shall not desire one day
longer to continue in the government." In ac
cordance with these declarations, says Mather,
the governor "passed every act for the welfare
of the province which was proposed to him ; and
instead of ever putting them upon buying
his assent to any good act," (as more than one
of the royal governors afterwards did) " he was
much more .forward to give it, than they were to
ask it.J'
Sir William Phipps entered upon his govern
ment in the very midst of the excitement respect
ing witchcraft. At the time of his arrival,
Justices Corwin and Hathorne had been for

264 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
months holding their witch courts at Salem,
and the jails were filled with suspected or. in
dicted persons. What the governor's particular
views of the subject were, we have no means of
knowing. The probability is, that he had never
given much attention to it, and that he fell in
with the prevailing opinions. But wh#ther he
did so, or not, it was necessary for him, as chief
magistrate, to take s.ome decisive action in re
gard to it ; and I know not whether, under exist
ing circumstances, he could have pursued a more
satisfactory course than he did.
With the advice and consent of council, a
commission, was issued to seven ofthe principal
citizens and jurists of the colony, viz.: Lieut.
Governor Stoughton, Maj. Saltonstall, Maj.
Richards, Maj. Gedney, Mr. Wait Winthrop,
Capt. Sewall, and Mr. Sergeant, constituting
them a court, to try the accused persons at Sa
lem. The judges first assembled, June 2d, and
tried and condemned one, who was executed on
the tenth. The court then adjourned, to June
30th ; and in the meantime, the governor and
council asked advice of the ministers of Boston
and the vicinity, as to the course to be pursued.
After due deliberation, the ministers gave their
advice, under the following particulars :

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 265
1. They express their sympathy with those
who are " suffering by molestation from the in
visible world," and " think that their condition
calls for the utmost help of all persons, in their
several capacities."
2. They thankfully acknowledged the success
which has followed the efforts of the magistrates
"to defeat the withcrafts," and pray for a full
and perfect discovery of all this mysterious wick
edness. 3. They recommend " a very critical and ex
quisite caution, lest, by too much credulity for
things received only upon the devil's authority,
there be a door opened for a long train of mis
erable consequences."
4. The rulers are exhorted not to proceed, in
any case, upon mere presumption, and to show
"an exceeding tenderness towards those that
may be complained of, especially if they have
been persons of an unblemished reputation."
5. The next advice is, that the primary exam
ination of suspected persons may be without
noise, company or excitement, and that there
" may be nothing used as a test for the trial of
the suspected, the lawfulness whereof may be
doubted by the people of God."
6. The ministers recommend to the magis-
vol. v. 23

266 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.

trates not to convict, or so much as commit per
sons, on what was called " the spectral evidence ;"
inasmuch as it is an undoubted thing that a de
mon may appear, even to ill purposes, in the
shape of an innocent and virtuous man. They
also pronounce any " alteration made jn the
sufferers by a look or touch of the accused," to
be insufficient evidence of guilt.
7. The ministers further suggest, whether
" another rejection of the testimonies commonly
relied on, whose whole force 'and strength is from
the devils alone, may not put a period unto the
progress of the terrible calamity begun upon us,
in the accusation of so many persons, whereof
some, we hope, are clear of the great transgress
ion laid to their charge."
8. Having given the above directions, sugges
tions and cautions, the ministers "humbly
recommend to the government the speedy and
vigorous- prosecution of such as have rendered
themselves obnoxious, according to the direc
tions given in the laws of God, and the whole
some statutes ofthe English nation."*
By those who seem inclined to traduce the
ministers of that day, (and more especially Cot-
* This paper of advices may be found entire, in Hutchinson's Hist.
of Mam., Vol. II., p. 52.

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 267
tpn Mather, by whpm these advices are said tp
have been drawn up,) this last article is almost
the only one quoted or referred to. It is quoted
often, as though it stood alone, without any re
striction or qualification ; as if the ministers were
only anxious to have the judges make all due
despatch, and condemn and hang the suspected
witches as fast as possible. But this, it will be
seen, is altogether an unjust view of the case.
These advices of the ministers are to be taken
and judged of, as a whole ; and as a whole, they
were manifestly framed and designed with a
view to reprove much of the previous proceed
ing, particularly that of the Salem justices, and
to prevent, so far as. possible, the like proceed
ings in future. They do, indeed, " recommend
the speedy and vigorous prosecution of those
who have justly rendered themselves obnox-
ipus ;" but the recpmmendation is accompanied
with such cautions, restrictions, and qualifica
tions, that, had they been duly regarded, there
probably had not been another individual con
victed. If the trials had been conducted with
that "exceeding tenderness" towards the ac
cused, which the ministers recommended ; if the
" spectral evidence," together with all improper
tests, had been set aside ; if all testimony of ev-

268 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
ery kind, which rested only on the devil's au
thority, had been rejected, the judges might have
proceeded as vigorously as they pleased, — the
more vigorously the better ; for by this means
the jails had been the sooner emptied, and the
accused persons had been set at liberty.
From persons who believed in the reality of
witchcraft, and that the proper witch is deserv
ing of death, (as all these ministers most seri
ously did,) I see not how better advice than
that which they proffered to the magistrates on
this occasion, could reasonably have been ex
pected. And happy had it been for all con
cerned, if 'the judges had been content to follow
it. But they would not. At least, some of
them would not, particularly chief justice Stough
ton. He seems to have been fully satisfied, at
least for a time, as to the validity1 of the " spec
tral evidence," and other branches of the devil's
testimony ; and consequently the work of hang
ing went on.
The court had several sessions during the
summer, and nineteen persons in all were exe
cuted. Happily, the trials were adjourned from
September to January ; in which time opportu
nity was furnished for consideration, and for the
delusion more fully to develope itself ; and when

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 269
the court came together again, nearly all who
were put upon trial were acquitted, and those
who were not put on trial were, by order of the
governor, discharged. " Such a jail delivery,"
says Hutchinson, " was made at this court, as
was never known at any other time in New
England." The conduct of Governor Phipps was such, at
this trying period, as to procure for him not only
the thanks of his own countrymen, but the fa
vorable notice of the Queen. " She did him the
honor," says Mather, " to write unto him very
gracious letters, wherein her Majesty commend
ed his proceedings in these mysterious matters."
A story is told of lady Phipps, in this connec
tion, which is. quite too good to be omitted.
During her husband's absence, her interposition
was requested in behalf of a woman, who had
been committed by one of the justices on a
charge of witchcraft, by a formal warrant, under
his hand and seal. The poor woman was in
close confinement, expecting her trial at the next
assize, which was near at hand. Madam Phipps
believed the case to be one in which the forms
of law might well be dispensed with. She
signed a warrant with her own hand for the
woman's discharge, which order was obeyed by
23*

270 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
the keeper, and the woman was set at liberty.
It was not long after this, that lady Phipps her
self was suspected, if not accused, of witchcraft.
The history of this delusion is not one to be
merely deplored, or laughed at. It is an in
structive history, and particularly so at the pres
ent day. We live in an age of marvels, some
of them claiming to be well attested, and chal
lenging the belief of the community. But if we
compare the wonders of this age with those of
Salem and the vicinity, in 1692, we shall find
that the latter have even stronger evidence in
their favor, than the former. The latter were
attested, in some instances, by hundreds of wit
nesses, and were recorded by grave men on the
page of history. And now, if any one asks
whether I believe the witch stories of 1692, I
answer, that I as much believe them, as I do
that sleep-walkers in our day visit the moon and
the planets, hold converse with their inhabitants,
receive letters from the spiritual world, and per
form other feats equally strange and unaccount
able. The evidence in favor of the witch stories
is greater, I repeat, than that for the marvels of
our own times ; and the faith of those who have
full confidence in the latter, ought not to mis ¦
give or stagger at the former.

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 271
But to return from this digression. The
delusion under which our fathers labored res
pecting witchcraft, was as short-lived, as it was
violent. The people were soon awakened by a
sense of their common danger ; and though a
few individuals here and there, continued to
urge prosecutions, the juries refused to convict.
And one of the last public acts of Sir William
Phipps was to issue a general pardon to all who
had been convicted or accused of the offence.
At an early period in his administration, the
new Governor was called to contend with a
class of enemies more tangible, if not more
formidable, than witches and demons. An In
dian war had broken out again on the Eastern
frontier, and was raging in different parts of
Maine. To Testore confidence to the settlers,
and to afford the best means of restraining and
repelling the enemy, it was determined to erect
a strong fortress, at some central point along the
coast. The site selected for this purpose was on
the Pemaquid river, near the mouth, at the
Southern extremity of what is now Bristol,
Maine. A fort had previously existed there,
which the Indians had destroyed ; but a
more permanent one was -now to be erected.
For this purpose the Governor, attended by

272 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS,

ijor Church and four hundred and fifty men,
embarked at Boston, in August, 1692, and
shortly after arrived at Pamaquid. The fort
was in a quadrangular form, and the walls were
of stone. It was named Fort William Henry ;
and was of great service both to the settlers and
the government. The war with the Indians was
now pursued with so much vigor, that in the
course of a few months, they were inclined to
peace. A treaty was formed and signed at Pe-
maquid, in August of the following year.
While the peace continued, Governor Phipps
took all proper measures to conciliate the good
will of the Indians, and induce them to break off
their connection with the French. For this pur
pose, he made several voyages from Boston to
Pemaquid, and had repeated interviews with
their principal chiefs. On one occasion, he took
an Indian preacher with him, for the purpose of
instructing them in Protestant Christianity.
But the artifices of the Jesuits were as various
as they were contemptible, and their influence,
in the end, proved too strong for him. The
chiefs would receive the Governor's presents,
and make fair promises ; but on the first favor
able opportunity, would renew their depreda
tions.

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 273
As a specimen of the kind of instruction which
the Catholic priests of that day afforded the In
dians, I may notice the following : The Indians
were taught, says Mather, that the blessed vir
gin, the mother of our Saviour, was a French
lady ; and that the soldiers who crucified him
were Englishmen. Hence, to destroy an En
glishman was regarded by them as a meritorious
service. Governor Phipps' administration was short ;
and though one of great service to the country,
it was not altogether peaceful or pleasant to him
self. That party in the Province who were
averse to the new charter, would naturally op
pose the man by whose influence, in a consider
able degree, the charter was procured, and who
was the first to administer the government under
it. These men were the persevering, unrelent
ing demagogues of the times ; and they lost no
opportunity of thwarting the Governor's meas
ures, impugning his motives, and resisting his
authority and influence.
In connection with these, there was a clique
of selfish, interested individuals at the English
court. More especially, the infamous Joseph
Dudley was there, intriguing and plotting against
the Governor, that he might effect his removal,

274 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
and have his place. Dudley had been a princi
pal counselor and minister of Sir Edmund An
dros, and by this means had made himself so
odious in New England, that he was obliged to
flee his country. But he was now scheming
and planning to return, and that, too, not as a
private citizen, but as the chief magistrate ;- — a
design, which, after a while, he accomplished,
much to the discomfort of all good men.
But Governor Phipps' troubles arose, not
alone from the machinations of his enemies, but
in part, (for the truth must be told) from his own
indiscretions. He had been bred a sailor, not a
governor ; and his habits were better adapted to
the control of a literal ship, than to the direction
of the ship of state. His heart was kind and
generous — this no one could doubt ; but his tem
per was hasty, and unused to restraint, and this
led him, in a few instances, to say and do things
which were not becoming the dignity of his
station. His first quarrel was with one Brenton, col-
lecter pf the port of Boston, who refused to obey
his orders, and whom he chastised with his own
hands. He had a similar difficulty with Cap
tain Short, of the None-Such Frigate, which
was stationed at the time at Boston. The Gov-

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 275

ernor had ordered Short to sail for St. John's,
to intercept a French man-of-war which was
expected there. Short reluctantly obeyed the
order, and proceeded on his voyage, but with so
much hesitation and delay, that the Frenchman
escaped out of his hands. The Governor
meeting him in the street soon after his return,
accused him of negligence and cowardice, and
(after some hard words on both sides) used his
cane over his head.
Such methods of discipline in a New England
Governor, however great may have been his
provocation, were certainly undignified and un
justifiable, and his enemies did not fail to make
the most of them. Both Brenton and Short
soon made their appearance in England, where
they preferred complaints against him, and
united with Dudley and others in requesting
that he might be displaced. The king, however,
would not recall or censure him before he was
heard, and sent him an order to come to Eng
land and make his defence. Accordingly, he
left Boston in the month of November, 1694,
carrying with him an address from the house of
representatives, praying that the Governor might
not be removed.
On his arrival in London, he was arrested by

276 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
Dudley and Brenton, in actions of twenty thous
and pounds damages. This proceeding on the
part pf Dudley seems tp have been pne pf pure
spite. He had received ne injury from the
Governor, and his design could only have been
to embarrass his situation, and perhaps to ingra
tiate himself with the opposition at home.
These actions, however, seem to have given
his Excellency no great trouble ; nor indeed had
he any difficulty in so far vindicating himself to
his Sovereign, as to have (to use the language
of 'Mather,) " all human assurance " of being
permitted, in a few weeks, to return to his gov
ernment. Accordingly, he seems to have dismissed,
almost entirely, his own personal affairs, and to
have occupied himself, during his stay in Lon
don, with various designs for the public good.
One was, a plan " for supplying the English
navy with timber and naval stores from the
Eastern parts of New England. The concep
tion," says Mr. Bowen, " was plausible, and no
person was better fitted than himself to carry it
into execution."
Another thing which he had in mind, and of
which, for years, he had never lost sight, was
the reduction of Canada. Hitherto, Divine

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 277
providence had defeated all his endeavors for the
accomplishment of this important object; and
the present moment seemed a favorable one to
urge it personally upon the English government,
and to concert measures for carrying it into
effect. He had still another plan which he was in
tending to accomplish, even if it required the
resignation of his government. He knew that
the ship, having on board the Spanish Gover
nor Bobadilla, together with a. vast amount of
gold and silver, had been cast away somewhere
in the West Indies, and he supposed that he
had gained such information as would enable
him to discover the wreck. He was proposing,
therefore, to secure a patent in his own name,
and to make one more attempt to possess him
self of the treasures of the deep.
But the designs of his fertile and busy brain
were all suddenly arrested by mortal sickness.
He took a violent cold, in the month of Febru
ary, 1695, which resulted in a malignant fever,
and this, in a few days, carried him to his
grave. He died in the 45th year of his age,
and was honorably interred in the church of St.
Mary Woolnoth, London.
Sir William Phipps left no children. His
vol. v. 24

278 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
estate was chiefly inherited by the Hon. Spen
cer Phipps, a nephew whom he had adopted
into his family, and whose name frequently
occurs in the history of the colony. His widow
afterwards married a Mr. Sergeant, who was a
member of the Board of Council in the year
1702. I have already said,, that Sir William Phipps
was a man of great stature. Mather says, that
" he was thick as well as tall, and strong as
well as thick ; able to conquer such difficulties
of diet and travel, as would have killed most
men alive." He is said to have been of a
comely, manlyj countenance, indicating (what
he certainly possessed) a generous mind.
His residence in Boston was at the head of
what was, originally, " Green Lane." Out of
compliment to him, and to commemorate his
agency in procuring the provincial charter, this
Lane was afterwards called "Charter Street."
The house remained standing, at the corner of
Charter and Salem Streets, until within a few
years, when it was pulled down to make way
for modern improvements.
The faults of Sir William Phipps were
chiefly such as sprung from his want of early
education, and from his habits and associates in

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 279
middle life. That he had many virtues, in ref
erence to which he may safely be held up as an
example, all respectable authorities agree.
His most prominent characteristics were those
at which I hinted in the commencement of this
memoir, viz., enterprise, energy, and persevering
industry. It was these, rather than good luck,
as it is sometimes called — rather than any
unsought, unlooked for interpositions, which
raised him from poverty to affluence, and from
the humblest walks of life to that high and hon
orable station which he finally occupied.
But these properties alone could never have
thus exalted him. He might have had all these,
and if he had lacked honor, honesty, and strict
Puritan integrity, he had only been the more
accomplished villain. He would have the sooner
involved himself in infamy and ruin. In all his
eventful history, Sir William Phipps is not
known to have been chargeable with one mean,
dishonest, or dishonorable transaction.* He

*The only exception to this statement, of which I have any
knowledge, relates to his conduct at the taking of Port Royal. It
has been said, that the town was not captured, but surrendered ;
and that, according to the terms of capitulation, private property
teas to be respected. In reply to this, I need only say, that there is
no evidence, aside from the word of Meneval, the French governor,
that there was any stipulation in regard to private property. And

280 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
violated no contracts. He would not raise ex
pectation only to disappoint it, or encourage
confidence to betray it. He would descend to
no base, hypocritical artifices to supplant a rival,
or to rid himself of burthensome obligations. His
faults, as I before stated, all lay in the opposite
direction. He was, through life, a frank, hon
est, open-hearted, out-spoken man; and these
were the traits of character which inspired pub
lic confidence, and retained it. It was these
traits, in common with those to which I before
referred, which changed the untutored shepherd
boy into the skillful artisan, the bold ship-master,
the successful military chieftain, the Provincial
Governor ; — which made him, in short, what for
a time he certainly was, the first man in his
country. The Rev. Dr. Mather, who was his intimate

if there was none, the habitual rapacity of the French and Indians
fully justified Phipps, at least according to the notions of that age,
in all that he did. There were stipulations in regard to the disposal
of the prisoners, and these were satisfactorily complied with. It is
remarkable that good old governor Bradstreet, and his council, make
no complaint of Capt. Phipps, in relation to this matter. Indeed, if
he erred, they were participes criminal, partners of his guilt.
They shared the spoils, and expected to, if any were acquired. It is
remarkable, too, that Hutchinson utters not a note of censure on the
subject. The presumption, therefore, is, that no stipulation was
entered into, which was not fulfilled.

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 281
friend and pastor, has mentioned several other
traits of character, in which Sir William Phipps
was worthy of all imitation. One of these was
a. forgiving spirit. " I never saw three men in
the world," says he, "who equalled him in this
respect. In the vast variety of business through
which he raced in his time, he met with many
and mighty injuries ; but although I have heard
all that the most venomous malice could hiss at
his memory, I never did hear, unto this hour,
that he ever once deliberately revenged an inju
ry.* Under great provocations, he would com
monly say, ' It is no matter ; let them alone.
Some time or other they will see their weakness
and rashness, and have occasion for me to do
them a kindness ; and then they will see that I
have quite forgotten all their baseness.' "
It is not uncommon for persons, when sud
denly raised from humble life to the possession
of great wealth and honors, to become purse-
proud, imperious, and overbearing. But nothing
of this was observable in the case of Sir William
Phipps. On one occasion, in the latter part of

* His biographer admits that, upon "sharp affronts he sometimes
made sudden returns, and by a word or a blow chastised incivili
ties ;" but he harbored no deliberate revenge. He possessed emi
nently a forgiving spirit.
24*

282 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
his life, he made a splendid entertainment for
the ship carpenters of Boston, in the midst of
whom he sat down to commemorate God's mer
cy to him, who had been a ship carpenter him
self. And not unfrequently did he affirm, when
in the chair of state, that were it not for his
obligations to the public, he would much prefer
to return to his broad-axe.
In his frequent voyages to and from the east
ern parts of Maine, he passed in sight of the
hills among which he was born. On such oc
casions he would call the young soldiers and
sailors round him, and speak to them after this
fashion : " Young men, it was upon those hills
that I kept sheep, only a few years ago. And
since you see how the Almighty has led me
along, do you learn to fear God, and be honest,
and mind your business, and follow no bad
courses, and who can tell what he may have in
store for you ?" And who can tell how much
good may have resulted — how many good reso
lutions may have been awakened and strength
ened, in consequence of these homely, but
impressive appeals ?
Sir William Phipps was an ardent lover of
his country ; and by his country I mean more
especially New England. It will be recollected

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 283
that, when returning from the West Indies, with
his immense cargo of gold and silver, he made a
vow, that if the Lord would bring him safe to
England, he would forever devote himself to the
interests of his people, more especially in the
land which gave him birth. This solemn Vow
was never afterwards forgotten. From that time,
he seemed to identify himself with the interests
of New England, and to live almost entirely for
his country. He was always planning, and la
boring, and exposing himself to hardships and
perils, for her good. And though he was often
ungratefully treated, still his love and his care
for her were not diminished. The last thoughts
of his busy life were occupied in forming and
maturing plans for the welfare of his country.
But the most important trait in the character
of Sir William Phipps remains to be mentioned.
He was a sincere, devout, and on the whole a
consistent Christian. He became deeply im
pressed with religious truth, under the ministry
of Dr. Increase Mather, during the first or sec
ond year of his residence in Boston. In subse
quent life, he made an open profession of his
faith in Christ, and although not free from re
maining imperfections, (of which he was himself
more sensible than others could be,) yet he

284 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
adorned that profession to the day of his death.
"It was not his habit," says Mather, "to affect
any mighty show of devotion ; and when he saw
persons evidently careful to make a show, who
at the same time were defective in the duties of
common justice or goodness, he from his heart
despised them. Nevertheless, he did show a
conscientious desire to observe the laws and or
dinances of the Lord Jesus Chris.t." He was
constantly present at the house of God on the
Sabbath, and at the stated lectures of the church.
He maintained the worship of God, morning and
evening, in his family. He usually attended the
private religious meetings which devout people
observed every fortnight in his neighborhood.
When about to undertake any great and difficult
enterprise, he would invite some of his Christian
brethren to keep a day of fasting and prayer
with him at his house. And when success had
crowned his undertaking, he would prevail with
them to come and keep a day of solemn thanks
giving. Sir William Phipps was, in the best sense of
the term, a liberal Christian. He was an earn
est advocate of the rights of conscience, being
equally unwilling to suffer injury himself in this
matter, and to injure others. " He did not con-

LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS. 285
fine his Christian regards," says Mather, " to
this or that sect or party, but wherever he saw
the fear and the love of God, whether among
Congregationalists, or Presbyterians, or Anti-
Pedobaptists, or Episcopalians, he did, without
any difference, express towards them a reverent
affection." That he was a man of great personal courage,
a variety of incidents in his life bear witness ;
and the foundation of his courage, as he himself
explained it, lay in his piety. When asked by
some one who had observed his valor, what it
was that made him so little afraid of dying, his
answer was, " I do humbly hope that the Lord
Jesus Christ has shed his precious blood for me,
and thereby procured my peace with God, and
why should I be afraid to die ?" A much better
answer this — more reasonable, more Christian,
than any that should have been based on mere
natural fortitude.
The following passage occurs in a sermon
preached at Boston, on occasion of the death of
Sir William Phipps, by the venerable Dr. In
crease Mather ; and with it, I close the consid
eration of his character : " Governor Phipps is
now dead, and no longer capable of being flat
tered ; but this I must testify concerning him

286 LIFE OF SIR WM. PHIPPS.
that though, in the providence of God, I have
been much with him, at home and abroad, near
at hand and afar off, on the land and on the sea,
yet I never saw him do an evil action, or heard
him speak anything unbecoming a Christian."
Such then was the man — a puritan, a Christ
ian, a true son of New England, and an orna
ment of our New England history, whose life
and example I have endeavored to portray. I
know that my task has been but very imperfect
ly accomplished. I have said but little, in com
parison with what might and ought to be said,
in order to a full delineation of the remarkable
character which has been before us. But if the
facts which have been stated shall have the ef
fect to arouse one of my young readers to great
er energy, activity and enterprise, to impress
him with sentiments of honor and integrity, to
quicken his conscience, to soften his heart, to
inspire him with love of country, and the love
and the fear of God, and thus lead him on to
the possession of a pure, a holy, a spiritual, a
useful character ; — if such shall be the effect of
the memoir, the labor of preparing it will be
richly compensated. WiaartAAA/ul/lAAA(V\AAAA/V|/va/vvv\TO(E IKHS.aaaaaaS
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