ing whereof to K. William was (as I have heard) of some small service to you in obtaining his royal determination, that you should have his commission for the government, brought upon me an extreme displeasure in the country. I proposed therein to return good for evil, to conquer evil with good, and retaliate (in my own way) the venoms which you poured upon me, in your last conference with my father, at your leaving New England. And if I never saw after this an expression of your gratitude, yet I saw all that I proposed. However, to hand such a gross untruth about the country, as a report (which I hear some of your counsellors do as from you) that at the time of my writing that letter, I wrote another quite the contrary, to do you a disservice, is but a very mean requital. When that letter was written, I weakly believed that the wicked and horrid things done before the righteous revolution, had been heartily repented of; and that the rueful business at New York, which many illustrious persons of both houses of parliament often called a barbarous murder, and which the king, lords and commons, by an act of parliament invited all persons to think so, had been considered with such a repentance, as might save you and your family from any further storms of heaven for the revenging of it. I flattered myself with a belief, that you would know no interests but those of a glorious Christ, and of his people and kingdom, and study what you should render to him for his wonderful dispensations towards you, in restoring you to your family, with the government of a people, with whom you had been in such evil circumstances. The whole country were witnesses to some of my poor and plain endeavours, to do the part of a faithful monitor unto you, in the portraiture of a good man, at your arrival. Sir, had you then received your government with serious and thankful considerations, perpetually carried on, how to discharge it as a stewardship for the glorious Lord, and how to make this an holy and an happy people; and resolution in it to do nothing but what should be just and good; how honourably, how comfortably would your government have at last expired! Your late epitaph would have been, Them that honour me, I will honour. And in the mean time, you would not have known the meaning of a troubled sea. You might have maintained a very inoffensive conduct towards the gentlemen of whom most of all you have stood in fear: or if they had been uneasy, the great God would have accomplished for you the word which the Emperor Maximilian wrote upon his tables: whereas now, they are the very persons by whose means most of all your fear is like to come upon you. It seems as if the glorious Lord had a controversy with you. He has raised you up very powerful enemies. The best office of love that can be done for you, is, to assist you that your ways may please the glorious Lord, and remind you wherein you have not pleased him. Sir, your snare has been that thing, the hatred whereof is most expressly required of the ruler, namely COVETOUSNESS. When a governour shall make his government more an engine to enrich himself, than to befriend his country, and shall by the unhallowed hunger of riches be prevailed withal to do many wrong, base, dishonourable things; it is a covetousness which will shut out from the kingdom of heaven; and sometimes the loss of a government on earth also is the punishment of it. Now, Sir, much of this has appeared in your administration; and the disposition to make haste to be rich has betrayed you unto things, from which many have wondered, that the natural goodness, which they thought was in your temper, has not restrained you. Un SAMUEL SEWALL [Samuel Sewall was born in England in 1652, and died in Massachusetts in 1730. His grandparents were residents of America, and his parents had been married in this country, though they lived in England during his early boyhood. He was graduated from Harvard in 1671, and became a resident fellow of the college and for a time keeper of the college library. He studied for the ministry, but finally decided to enter business. During almost all his life he was prominent in public affairs. As one of the Salem witch-judges, he was vigorous in performing what he thought to be his duty. But when, five years later, he had become convinced of his mistake, he caused his famous Bill to be read in the public congregation, while he stood with bowed head in token of penitence. This action, which for a time cost him the friendship of the Mathers and others of his old associates, has done much to heighten the respect with which he has been deservedly held by later generations. Judge Sewall's voluminous "Diary," which was begun in 1673, when he was still a student at Harvard, and continued until 1729, just before his death, is one of the most readable and valuable writings of the colonial time. It gives a picture of the political and social life of a half century, as it appeared to an alert man of affairs; and it reveals with perfect frankness the personality of the author. Like all works of the kind, it cannot be adequately represented by selections. In the following pages the Diary for January, 1701, contains a sufficient number of consecutive entries to give a slight idea of the whole; and the other selections are detached passages of special interest. Judge Sewall was three times married, and in the intervals of his widowhood conducted several unsuccessful courtships. The propriety of publishing the parts of the "Diary" in which these are recounted may well be questioned, but since they have been made public, a few entries are given regarding the most famous of these unfortunate love affairs. In his lifetime Judge Sewall published only a few pamphlets, including "The Selling of Joseph," said to be the first anti-slavery tract issued in America, and "Phænomena quaedam Apocalyptica ad Aspectum Novi Orbis configurata. Or, some few Lines towards a description of the New Heaven as It makes to those who stand upon the New Earth." This last aims to prove from the more mystical prophecies of the Bible that America may be the seat of the New Jerusalem; and shows something of the minute study of the Scriptures which formed one of the author's chief avocations throughout his life. His "Diary," his "Letter-Book," and some other manuscripts have been published by the Massachusetts Historical Society. The selections from the "Diary" are from the Collections of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Fifth Series. The passage from "Phænomena quaedam Apocalyptica" is from the second edition, Boston, 1727.] DISCIPLINE AT HARVARD COLLEGE IN 1674 [From the "Diary"] Thomas Sargeant was examined by the Corporation: finally, the advice of Mr. Danforth, Mr. Stoughton, Mr. Thatcher, Mr. Mather, (then present) was taken. This was his sentence. That being convicted of speaking blasphemous words concerning the H. G. he should be therefore publickly whipped before all the Scholars. 2. That he should be suspended as to taking his degree of Bachelour (this sentence read before him twice at the Prts. before the committee, and in the library I up before execution). 3. Sit alone by himself in the Hall uncovered at meals, during the pleasure of the President and Fellows, and be in all things obedient, doing what exercise was appointed him by the President, or else be finally expelled the Colledge. The first was presently put in execution in the Library (Mr. Danforth, Jr. being present) before the Scholars. He kneeled down and the instrument Goodman Hely attended the President's word as to the performance of his part of the work. Prayer was had before and after by the President. JUDGE SEWALL'S PETITION OF PENITENCE [From the "Diary" for 169] Copy of the Bill I put up on the Fast day; giving it to Mr. Willard as he pass'd by, and standing up at the reading of it, and bowing when finished; in the Afternoon. Samuel Sewall, sensible of the reiterated strokes of God upon himself and family; and being sensible, that as to the guilt contracted upon the opening of the late Commission of Oyer and Terminer at Salem (to which the order for this Day relates) he is, upon many accounts, more concerned than any that he knows of, Desires to take the Blame and shame of it, Asking pardon of men, And especially desiring prayers that God, who has an Unlimited Authority, would pardon that sin and all other his sins; personal and Relative: And according to his infinite Benignity, and Sovereignty, Not Visit the sin of him, or of any other, upon himself or any of his, nor upon the Land: But that He would powerfully defend him against all Temptations to Sin, for the future; and vouchsafe him the efficacious, saving Conduct of his Word and Spirit. THE EVENTS OF A MONTH [From the "Diary"] Jany. 1. 178. Just about Break-a-day Jacob Amsden and 3 other Trumpeters gave a Blast with the Trumpets on the common near Mr. Alford's [in Margin, - Entrance of the 18th Century]. Then went to the Green Chamber, and sounded there till about sunrise. Bellman said these verses a little before Break-a-day, which I printed and gave them. [in Margin - My verses upon New Century.] Once more! our God vouchsafe to shine: Make haste with thy Impartial Light, Give the poor Indians Eyes to see So Asia, and Africa, Europa, with America; All Four, in Consort join'd, shall Sing New Songs of Praise to Christ our King. The Trumpeters cost me five pieces. Gave to the CollegeLibrary Dr. Owens two last Volumes on the Hebrews. Sent them by Amsden. When was about to part with Dr. Owen, I look'd, to read some difficult place; pitch'd on v. 11th of the 8th Chapter Know the Lord - I read it over and over one time and another and could not be satisfied: At last this came in my mind Know the Lord, i.e. Know the Messiah, to whom the word Lord is very much appropriated &c. vide locum. Now my mind was at quiet, and all seem'd to run smooth. As I hope this is Truth, so I bless |