observation, Magnam Famam et Magnam Quietem, eodem Tempore, Nemo potest Acquirere. Through the malice of Satan, and the envy of the satanical, there were now brought against him those complaints for his non-conformity to the ceremonies, which in August, 1633, procured him to be suspended. The suspension continued upon him till the November following, but then, by the intercession of some gentlemen in Lancashire, and the influence of Simon Biby, a near alliance of the Bishop's visitor, he was restored. After his restoration, he more exactly than ever studied the points of church-discipline; and the effect of his most careful studies was, that the Congregational way, asserted by Cartwright, Parker, Baines and Ames, was the pitch of Reformation which he judged the Scriptures directed the servants of the Lord humbly to endeavour. But this liberty was not longer lived than the year 1634, for the Arch-Bishop of York now was that gentleman whom King James pleasantly admonished of his preaching Popery, because of some unacceptable things in his conduct, which taught the people "to pray for a blessing on his dead predecessor;" and he now sending his visitors, among whom the famous Dr. Cousins was one, into Lancashire, where they kept their court at Wigan, among hard things, they passed a sentence of suspension upon Mr. Mather, meerly for his non-conformity. His judges were not willing that he should offer the reasons which made him conscientiously so disposed, as then he was, but the "glorious Spirit of God" enabled him, with much wisdom, to encounter what they put upon him; insomuch, that in his private manuscripts, he entred this memorial of it:

other

"In the passages of that day, I have this to bless the name of God for, that the terrour of their threatening words, of their pursevants, and of the rest of their pomp, did not ter rifie my mind, but that I could stand before them without being daunted in the least messure, but answered for my self such words of truth and soberness as the Lord put into my mouth, not being afraid of their faces at all: which supporting and comforting presence of the Lord, I count not much less mercy, than if I had been altogether preserved out of their hands."

But all means used afterwards to get off this unhappy suspension were ineffectual; for when the visitors had been informed that he had been a minister fifteen years, and all that while never wore a surpliss, one of them swore, "It had been better for him that he had gotten seven bastards."

§ 9. He now betook himself to a private life, without hope of again enjoying the liberty of doing any more publick works in his native land; but herewithal foreseeing a storm of calamities like to be hastened on the land, by the wrath of Heaven, incensed particularly at the injustice used in 'depriving the truly conscientious of their liberty, his wishes became like those of the deprived psalmist, "O, that I had wings like a dove! lo then would I wander far off, and remain in the wilderness; I would hasten my escape from the windy storm and tempest."

* Nobody can achieve great fame and great tranquillity at the same moment.

New-England was the retreat which now offered it self unto him: and accordingly, he drew up some arguments for his removal thither, which arguments were, indeed, the very reasons that moved the first fathers of New-England unto that unparalleled undertaking of transporting their families with themselves, over the Atlantic ocean:

I. A removal from a corrupt church to a purer.

[of more quiet and safety. II. A removal from a place where the truth and professors of it are persecuted, unto a place III. A removal from a place where all the ordinances of God cannot be enjoyed, unto a place where they may.

IV. A removal from a church where the discipline of the Lord Jesus Christ is wanting, unto a church where it may be practised.

V. A removal from a place, where the ministers of God are unjustly inhibited from the execution of their functions, to a place where they may more freely execute the same. VI. A removal from a place, where there are fearful signs of desolation, to a place where one may have well grounded hope of God's protection.

Such a removal he judged that unto New-England now before him. These considerations were presented unto many ministers and Christians of Lancashire, at several meetings, whereby they were perswaded, and even his own people of Toxteth, who dearly loved him and prized him, could not gain-say it, that by removing to New-England, he would not go out of his way. And hereunto he was the more inclined by the letters of some great persons, who had already settled in the country; among whom the renowned Hooker was one, who in his letters thus expressed himself: "In a word, if I may speak my own thoughts freely and fully, though there are very many places where men may receive and expect more earthly commodities, yet do I believe there is no place this day upon the face of the earth where a gracious heart and a judicious head may receive more spiritual good to himself, and do more temporal and spiritual good to others." Wherefore, being satisfied in his design for New-England, after extraordinary supplication for the smiles of Heaven upon him in it, he took his leave of his friends in Lancashire, with affections on both sides like those wherewith Paul bid farewell to his in Ephesus; and in April, 1635, he made his journey unto Bristol, to take ship there; being forced, as once Brentius was, to change his apparel, that he might escape the pursevants, who were endeavouring to apprehend him. § 10. On May 23, 1635, he set sail from Bristol for New-England: but when he came upon the coasts of New-England, there arose an horrible hurricane, from the dangers whereof his deliverance was remarkable, and well nigh miraculous. The best account of it will be from his journal, where the relation runs in these words:

“August 15, 1635.—The Lord had not yet done with us, nor had he let us see all his power and goodness, which he would have us take the knowledge of. And therefore about break of day he sent a most terrible storm of rain and easterly wind, whereby we were, I think, in as much danger as ever people were. When we came to land, we found many mighty trees rent in pieces in the midst of the bole, and others turned up by the roots, by VOL. I.-29

fierceness thereof. We lost in that morning three anchors and cables; one having never been in the water before; two were broken by the violence of the storm, and a third cut by the sea-men in extremity of distress, to save the ship and their and our lives. And when our cables and anchors were all lost, we had no outward means of deliverance, but by hoisting sail, if so be we might get to sea, from among the islands and rocks where we were anchored. But the Lord let us see that our sails could not help us neither, no more than the cables and anchors; for by the force of the wind and storm, the sails were rent asunder, and split in pieces, as if they had been but rotten rags; so that of divers of them there was scarce left so much as an hand's-breadth that was not rent in pieces or blown away into the sea; so that at that time all hope that we should be saved, in regard of any outward appearance, was utterly taken away; and the rather, because we seemed to drive with full force of wind directly upon a mighty rock, standing out in sight above water; so that we did but continually wait, when we should hear and feel the doleful crushing of the ship upon the rock. In this extremity and appearance of death, as distress and distraction would suffer us, we cried unto the Lord, and he was pleased to have compassion upon us; for by his over-ruling providence, and his own immediate good hand, he guided the ship past the rock, asswaged the violence of the sea and of the wind. It was a day much to be remembered, because on that day the Lord granted us as wonderful a deliverance as, I think, ever any people had felt. The sea-men confessed they never knew the like. The Lord so imprint the memory of it in our hearts, that we may be the better for it, and be careful to please him, and to walk uprightly before him as long as we live! and I hope we shall not forget the passages of that morning until our dying day. In all this grievous storm, my fear was the less, when I considered the clearness of my calling from God this way. And in some measure (the Lord's holy name be blessed for it!) he gave us hearts contented and willing that he should do with us and ours what he pleased, and what might be most for the glory of his name; and in that we rested ourselves. But when news was brought us into the gun-room that the danger was past, Oh! how our hearts did then relent and melt within us! We burst out into tears of joy among ourselves, in love unto the gracious God, and admiration of his kindness, in granting to his poor servants such an extraordinary and miraculous deliverance, his holy name be blessed for evermore."

The storm being thus allayed, they came to an anchor before Boston, August 17, 1635, where Mr. Mather abode for a little while, and, with his vertuous consort, joined unto the church in that place.

§ 11. He quickly had invitations from several towns, to bestow himself upon them, and was in a great strait which of those invitations to accept. But applying himself unto counsel, as an ordinance of God, for his direc tion, Dorchester was the place, whereto a council, wherein Mr. Cotton and Mr. Hooker were the principal, did advise him. Accordingly to Dorches ter he repaired; and the church formerly planted there being transplanted with Mr. Warham to Connecticut, another church was now gathered here, August 23, 1636, by whose choice Mr. Mather was now become their teacher. Here he continued a blessing unto all the churches in this wilderness until his dying day, even for near upon four and thirty years together. He underwent not now so many changes as he did before his coming hither; and he never changed his habitation after this till he went unto the "house eternal in the heavens;" albeit his old people of Toxteth vehemently solicited his return unto them when the troublesome Hier archy in England was deposed.

§ 12. Nevertheless, if Luther's three tutors for an able divine-study, and prayer, and temptation-as Mr Mather could not leave the two first, so the last would not leave him; the wilderness whereinto he was come, he found not without its temptations. He was for some years exercised with spiritual distresses, and internal desertions, and uncertainties about his everlasting happiness; which troubles of his mind he revealed unto that eminent person Mr. Norton, whose well-adapted words comforted his weary soul. It was in these dark hours that a glorious light rose unto him, with a certain disposition of soul, which I find in his private papers thus expressed: "My heart relented with tears at this prayer, that God would not deny me an heart to bless him, and not blaspheme him, that is so holy, just, and good; though I should be excluded from his presence, and go down into everlasting darkness and discomfort." But when these terrible temptations from within were over, there were several and successive afflictions, which he did from abroad meet withal: of all which afflictions, the most calamitous was the death of his dear, good, and wise consort, by whose discreet management of his affairs he had been so released from all secular incumbrances, as to be wholly at liberty for the sacred employment of his ministry. However, after he had continued in his widowhood a year and a half, the state of his family made it necessary for him to apply himself unto a second marriage; which he made with the pious widow of the most famous Mr. John Cotton; and her did God make a blessing unto him the rest of his days.

13. My describing his general manner of life, after he came to NewEngland, shall be only a transcribing of those vows which, though he made before his coming thither, yet he then renewed. In his private papers, wherein he left some records of the days which he spent sometimes in secret humiliations and supplications before the God of heaven, and of the assurances which with the tears of a melted soul in those days he received of blessings obtained for himself, his children, his people, and the whole country, I find recording the ensuing instrument:

"Promissiones Deo facto, per me,

"Richardum Matherum.*

"21 D. 6 M. 1633.

Psal. lxvi. 13, 14.
Psal. cxix. 106.

Psal. lvi. 12.

Neh. ix. 33, with x. 29, 30, 31, &c.

"I. TOUCHING THE MINISTRY,

"1. To be more painful and dilligent in private preparations for preaching, by reading, meditation, and prayer; and not slightly and superficially-Jer. xlviii. 10; Eccles. ix. 10; 1 Tim. iv. 13. 15.

"2. In and after preaching, to strive seriously against inward pride and vain-glory.

"3. Before and after preaching, to beg by prayer the Lord's blessing on his word, for the good of souls, more carefully than in time past.-1 Cor. iii. 6; Acts xvi. 14.

* Promises made to God by me, Richard Mather.

"II. TOUCHING THE FAMILY.

"1. To be more frequent in religious discourse and talk, Deut. vi. 7.

"2. To be more careful in catechising children.-Gen. xviii. 19; Prov. xxii. 6; Eph. vi. 4. And therefore to bestow some pains this way, every week once; and if by urgent occasions it be sometimes omitted, to do it twice as much another week.

"III. TOUCHING MY SELF.

"1. To strive more against worldly cares and fears, and against the inordinate love of earthly things.-Mat. vi. 25, &c.; Psal. Iv. 22; 1 Pet. v. 7; Phil. iv. 6.

"2. To be more frequent and constant in private prayer.-Mat. vi. 6, and xiv. 23; Psal lv. 17; Dan. vi. 10.

"3. To practise more carefully, and seriously, and frequently, the duty of self-examination.-Lam. iii. 40; Psal. iv. 4; Psal. cxix. 59; especially before the receiving of the Lord's Supper; 1 Cor. xi. 28.

(xx. 13.

"4. To strive against carnal security, and excessive sleeping.-Prov. vi. 9, 10; and Prov. "5. To strive against vain jangling, and mispending precious time.-Eph. v. 16.

"IV. TOUCHING OTHERS.

"1. To be more careful and zealous, to do good unto their souls, by private exhortations, reproofs, instructions, conferences of God's word.-Prov. x. 21, and xv. 17; Lev. xix. 17; Psal. xxxvii. 30.

"2. To be ready to do offices of love and kindness, not only or principally for the praise of men, to purchase commendation for a good neighbour, but rather out of conscience to the commandment of God.-Phil. ii. 4; 1 Cor. x. 24; Heb. xiii. 16.

"Renewed with a profession of disabilities in my self, for performance, and of desire to fetch power from Christ, thereunto to live upon him, and act from him, in all spiritual duties.-15. D. 6. M. 1636.

RICHARD MATHER.”

§ 14. His way of preaching was very plain, studiously avoiding obscure and foreign terms, and unnecessary citation of Latin sentences; and aiming to shoot his arrows, not over the heads, but into the hearts of his hear ers. Yet so scripturally and so powerfully did he preach his plain sermons, that Mr. Hooker would say, "My brother Mather is a mighty man;" and indeed he saw a great success of his labours, in both Englands, converting many souls unto God. His voice was loud and big, and uttered with a deliberate vehemency, it procured unto his ministry an awful and very taking majesty; nevertheless, the substantial and rational matter delivered by him, caused his ministry to take yet more where-ever he came. Whence, even while he was a young man, Mr. Gellibrand, a famous min. ister in Lancashire, hearing him, enquired what his name was? when answer was made, that his name was Mather; he replied, "Nay, his name shall be Matter; for, believe it, this man hath good substance in him." He was indeed a person eminently judicious, in the opinion of such as were not in controversies then managed of his own opinion; by the same token, that when Dr. Parr, then Bishop in the Isle of Man, heard of Mr. Mather's being silenced, he lamented it, saying, "If Mr. Mather be silenced, I am sorry for it; for he was a solid man, and the Church of God hath a great loss of him." And it was because of his being esteemed so judicious a person, that among the ministers of New-England, he was improved