But let us now proceed with our story. Our colony of New-Haven apprehended themselves disadvantageously seated for the affairs of husbandry; and therefore upon these disasters they made many attempts of removing into some other parts of the world. One while they were invited, unto Delaware-bay, another while they were invited unto Jamaica; they had offers made them from Ireland also, after the wars there were over; and they entred into some treaties about the city of Galloway, which they were to have had as a small province to themselves. But the God of Heaven still strangely disappointed all these attempts; and whereas they were concerned how their posterity should be able to live, if they must make husbandry their main shift for their living; that posterity of theirs, by the good providence of God, instead of coming to beggary and misery, have thriven wonderfully: the colony is improved with many wealthy husbandmen, and is become no small part of the best granary for all NewEngland. And the same good Providence has all along so preserved them from annoyance by the Indians, that although at their first setting down there were few towns but what wisely perswaded a body of Indians to dwell near them: whereby such kindnesses passed between them that they always dwelt peaceably together; nevertheless there are few of those towns but what have seen their body of Indians utterly extirpated by nothing but mortality wasting them.

§ 7. But what is now become of New-Haven colony? I must answer, It is not: and yet it has been growing ever since it first was. But when Connecticut-colony petitioned the restored King for a CHARTER, they procured New-Haven colony to be annexed unto them in the same charter; and this, not without having first the private concurrence of some leading men in the colony; though the minds of others were so uneasie about the coalition, that it cost some time after the arrival of the Charter for the colony, like Jephtha's daughter to bewail her condition, before it could be quietly complied withal. Nevertheless they have lived ever since, one colony, very happily together, and the God of love and peace has remarkably dwelt among them: however, these children of God have not been without their chastisements, especially in the malignant fevers and agues, which have often proved very mortal in most or all of their plantations.

8. While the south-west parts of New-England were thus filled with new colonies, the north-east parts of the country were not forgotten. There were ample regions beyond the line of the Massachuset-patent, where new settlements were attempted, not only by such as designed a fishing-trade at sea, or a Bever-trade on shore; not only by some that were uneasie under the Massachuset-government in a day of temptation, which came upon the first planters; but also by some very serious Christians, who propounded the enlargement and enjoyment of our Lord's evangelical interests in those territories. The effect of these excursions were, that several well-constituted churches were gathered in the province of East

Hampshire, besides one or two in the province of Mam, whereto were added a large number of other congregations, wherein weekly prayers and sermons were made, although the inhabitants belonging to those congregations, proceeded not so far as to all the ordinances of a more compleat Church-State among them. That which contributed more than a little to the growth of Christianity in those parts of New-England, was the application, which the people being tired with many quarrelsome circumstances about their government, made unto the general court of the Massachusetbay, to be taken under their protection; which petition of theirs being answered by that general court, surely after a more charitable and accountable manner, than such authors as Ogilby in his America have. represented it, [Vos magis Historicis, Lectores, Credite veris !]* there followed many successful endeavours to spread the effects and orders of the gospel along that coast.

But thus was the settlement of New-England brought about; these were the beginnings, these the foundations of those colonies, which have not only enlarged the English empire in some regards more than any other outgoings of our nation, but also afforded a singular prospect of churches erected in an American corner of the world, on purpose to express and pursue the Protestant Reformation.

CHAPTER VII.

HECATOMPOLIS;† OR, A FIELD WHICH THE LORD HATH BLESSED. A MAP OF THE COUNTRY.

It is proper that I should now give the reader an Ecclesiastical Map of the country, thus undertaken. Know, then, that although for more than twenty years, the blasting strokes of Heaven upon the secular affairs of this country have been such, as rather to abate than enlarge the growth of it; yet there are to be seen in it, at this present year 1696, these Colonies, Counties, and Congregations.

The Numbers and Places of the Christian Congregations, now worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ, in the several Colonies of, New-England, and the Names of the Ministers at this time employed in the service of those Congregations. Notandum, Where the name of any minister hath H. C. added unto it in our catalogue, it is to be understood that Harvard-Colledge was the mother in whose arms that minister was educated.

I. In Plymouth colony there are three counties; and the several congregations therein are thus accomodated:

Readers. rather trust truthful historians than such.

A city of sacrifice.

Hereto an ecclesiastical reckoning may annex the Islands of— Martha's Vineyard, Mr. Ralph Thatcher, Mr. Denham, besides Indian churches and pastors. Nantucket,

Indian Pastors.

Newport, in Rhode-Island, Mr. Nathaniel Clap, H. C.

II. In Massachuset colony are four counties, and the several congregations in them are so supplied:

Boston,

THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK MINISTERS.

Of the old church, Mr. James Allen, Mr. Benj. Wadsworth, H. C.

Of the North church, Mr. Increase Mather, President of the Colledge, and his son Cotton Mather, H. C.
Of the South church, Mr. Samuel Wilward, H. C.

Besides these, there is in the town a small congregation that worship God with the ceremonies of the Church of
England; served generally by a change of persons, occasionally visiting these parts of the world.
And another small congregation of Antipedo-Baptists, wherein Mr. Emblin is the settled minister.
And a French congregation of Protestant Refugees, under the pastoral cares of Monsieur Daille.

III. In Connecticut colony there are four counties, and the several congregations therein are illuminated by these preachers of the gospel:

REMARKS UPON THE CATALOGUE OF PLANTATIONS.

§ 1. There are few towns to be now seen in our list but what were existing in this land before the dreadful Indian war, which befel us twenty years ago; and there are few towns broken up within the then Massachuset-line by that war, but what have revived out of their ashes. Nevertheless, the many calamities which have ever since been wasting of the country, have so nipt the growth of it, that its later progress hath held no proportion with what was from the beginning; but yet with such variety, that while the trained companies of some towns are no bigger than they were thirty or forty years ago, others are as big again.

§ 2. The calamities that have carried off the inhabitants of our several towns have not been all of one sort; nor have all our towns had an equal share in any sort. Pestilential sicknesses have made fearful havock in divers places, where the sound perhaps have not been enough to tend the sick; while others have not had one touch from that angel of death. And the sword hath cut off scores in sundry places, when others, it may be, have not lost a man by that avenger.

§ 3. 'Tis no unusual, though no universal experiment among us, that while an excellent, laborious, illuminating ministry has been continued in

a town, the place has thriven to admiration; but ever since that man's time, they have gone down the wind in all their interests. The gospel has evidently been the making of our towns, and the blessings of the upper have been accompanied with the blessings of the nether-springs. Memorable also is the remark of Slingsby Bethel, Esq., in his most judicious book of The Interest of Europe: "Were not the cold climate of New-England supplied by good laws and discipline, the barrenness of that country would never have brought people to it, nor have advanced it in consideration and formidableness above the other English plantations, exceeding it much in fertility, and other inviting qualities."

84. Well may New-England lay claim to the name it wears, and to a room in the tenderest affections of its mother, the happy Island! for as there are few of our towns but what have their name-sakes in England, so the reason why most of our towns are called what they are, is because the chief of the first inhabitants would thus bear up the names of the particular places there from whence they came.

§ 5. I have heard an aged saint, near his death, cheerfully thus express himself: “Well, I am going to heaven, and I will there tell the faithful, who are gone long since from New-England thither, that though they who gathered our churches are all dead and gone, yet the churches are still alive, with as numerous flock of Christians as ever were among them." Concerning the most of the churches in our catalogue, the report thus carried unto heaven, I must now also send through the earth; but if with as numerous, we could in every respect say, as gracious, what joy unto all the saints, both in heaven and on earth, might be from thence occasioned!