Wigwams, I thought I should have been blind, I could scarce discern one Wigwam from another. There was here one Mary Thurston of Medfield, who seeing how it was with me, lent me a Hat to wear: but as soon as I was gone, the Squaw who owned that Mary Thurston came running after me, and got it away again. Here was the Squaw that gave me one spoonfull of Meal. I put it in my Pocket to keep it safe: yet notwithstanding some body stole it, but put five Indian Corns in the room of it: which Corns were the greatest Provisions I had in my travel for one day.

THE CONCLUDING MEDITATION

[From "The Narrative of the Captivity," etc.]

I can remember the time, when I used to sleep quietly without workings in my thoughts, whole nights together, but now it is otherwayes with me. When all are fast about me, and no eye open, but his who ever waketh, my thoughts are upon things past, upon the awfull dispensation of the Lord towards us; upon his wonderfull power and might, in carrying of us through so many difficulties, in returning us in safety, and suffering none to hurt us. I remember in the night season, how the other day I was in the midst of thousands of enemies, & nothing but death before me: It was then hard work to perswade my self, that ever I should be satisfied with bread again. But now we are fed with the finest of the Wheat, and, as I may say, With honey out of the rock: In stead of the Husk, we have the fatted Calf: The thoughts of these things in the particulars of them, and of the love and goodness of God towards us, make it true of me, what David said of himself, Psal. 6. 5. I watered my Couch with my tears. Oh! the wonderfull power of God that mine eyes have seen, affording matter enough for my thoughts to run in, that when others are sleeping mine eyes are weeping.

I have seen the extrem vanity of this World: One hour I have been in health, and wealth, wanting nothing: But the next hour in sickness and wounds, and death, having nothing but sorrow and affliction.

Before I knew what affliction means, I was ready sometimes to wish for it. When I lived in prosperity; having the comforts of

the World about me, my relations by me, my Heart chearfull: and taking little care for any thing: and yet seeing many, whom I preferred before my self, under many tryals and afflictions, in sickness, weakness, poverty, losses, crosses, and cares of the World, I should be sometimes jealous least I should have my portion in this life, and that Scripture would come to my mind, Heb. 12. 6. For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every Son whom he receiveth. But now I see the Lord had his time to Scourge and chasten me. The portion of some is to have their afflictions by drops, now one drop and then another; but the dregs of the Cup, the Wine of astonishment: like a sweeping rain that leaveth no food, did the Lord prepare to be my portion Affliction I wanted, and affliction I had, full measure (I thought) pressed down and running over; yet I see, when God calls a person to any thing, and through never so many difficulties, yet he is fully able to carry them through, and make them see, and say they have been gainers thereby. And I hope I can say in some measure, as David did, It is good for me that I have been afflicted. The Lord hath shewed me the vanity of these outward things. That they are the Vanity of vanities, and vexation of spirit; that they are but a shadow, a blast, a bubble, and things of no continuance. That we must rely on God himself, and our whole dependence must be upon him. If trouble from smaller matters began to arise in me, I have something at hand to check myself with, and say, why am I troubled? It was but the other day that if I had had the world, I would have given it for my freedom, or to have been a Servant to a Christian. I have learned to look beyond present and smaller troubles, and to be quieted under them, as Moses. said, Exod. 14. 13. Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

INCREASE MATHER

[Increase Mather was born in Dorchester, Mass., in 1639. His father, Richard Mather, was one of the ministers who left England in the time of Archbishop Laud, and has already been mentioned as one of the authors of the "Bay Psalm Book." Increase was graduated from Harvard, and afterward studied in Dublin and preached in various parts of Great Britain. Like his father, he was driven out for nonconformity, and returned to America, where he at length became pastor of the North Church, Boston.

Increase Mather's active life, which extended until 1723, coincided with a troubled period in the history of New England. The wars with the Indians, which began about 1675, were followed by serious difficulties with the English authorities regarding the form of colonial government. At the same time a change was taking place in the Church. The power of the ministers was declining, and the people were becoming, as Conservatives like. the Mathers believed, hopelessly lax in their beliefs and practices. In this time of change, Increase Mather was a leader in both political and religious movements. He maintained that the afflictions of the colonies were a divine punishment for lack of religious devotion, and his "Brief History of the War with the Indians in New-England" (1676), and "A Relation of the Troubles which have hapned in New-England by reason of the Indians there" (1677) were written to emphasize this lesson. He opposed the "half-way covenant" and all liberal tendencies in the church, and was instrumental in the calling of the "Reforming Synod" which proposed to remove God's displeasure at New England by returning to a stricter and purer faith. He served as president of Harvard College from 1685 to 1701, when the Liberal party secured legislation that forced him to resign. Meanwhile he had visited England as the agent of the colony, and had attempted to have the old charter restored. Finding this impossible, he procured a new charter, which was probably as liberal as could have been secured, but which was unsatisfactory to the Radical party in the colony.

Both Increase Mather and his son Cotton incurred something of the obloquy which is sure to devolve on Conservatives who fight for a hopeless cause. He has been charged, in particular, with responsibility for the witchcraft persecutions. It is true that he seems to have been eagerly credulous regarding the direct workings of Satan, as is shown in his "Essay for the Recording of Illustrious Providences" (1684), and other writings; but he had little direct connection with the affairs at Salem, and he always advised against proceeding on insufficient evidence.

Increase Mather was the author of nearly one hundred and fifty published works, including many sermons, and some pamphlets on the political

situation printed anonymously. His style, while not wholly free from pedantry, is more direct and simple than that of his son. Perhaps his most readable work, though not the one that does most credit to his judgment, is the "Essay for the Recording of Illustrious Providences."

The selections from the "Historical Discourse Concerning the Prevalency of Prayer" and from the "History of the War with the Indians" are from the editions edited by Samuel G. Drake; the passages from "An Essay for the Recording of Illustrious Providences" are from the first edition, Boston, 1684; the Letter to Governor Dudley is from the Massachusetts Historical Society Collections.]

THE POWER OF PRAYER

[From "An Historical Discourse Concerning the Prevalency of Prayer"]

It was a great Word (and if rightly understood, a true Word) which Luther spake when he said, Est quaedam precum omnipotentia, there is a kind of Omnipotency in Prayer; and the Reason is obvious, viz. In that the Almighty doth suffer himself to be prevailed upon and overcome by Prayer. Had not Jacob in this respect Power with God? Yea when he made his Suplication, he had Power, and prevailed over the Angel, even that Angel who is the Lord of Hosts, the Lord is his Memorial. Where do we find in all the Books of God a more wonderfull Expression, then that of the Lord to praying Moses, Now let me alone? That ever the eternal God should become thus a Petitioner to a poor mortal Man! Feriendi licentiam petit a Mose qui fecit Mosen. Prayer then is like the Sword of Saul, or the Bow of Jonathan, which never returned empty from the Battle. Prayer is stronger than iron Gates. At the Prayers of the Church the iron Gates fly open, and the Apostles Fetters fall off. Sometimes the Prayers of one Man that hath an eminent Interest in God, are a Means to preserve a whole Town, yea a whole Land from Destruction, wel might the Antient say, Homine probo orante nihil potentius. How far did Abrahams Prayers prevail for Sodom? Did not Elijahs Prayers open and shut the Windows of Heaven? Did they not bring down Showers when the gasping Earth was ready to dy for Thirst? When a fiery Drought had like to have devoured the Land of Israel, and the Prophet Amos prayed and cried to the Lord, saying, O Lord God, Cease I beseech thee, by whom shall

Jacob arise? for he is small; the Lord repented for this, and sqid this shall not be.

Wars, when justly undertaken, have been successful through the prevalency of Prayer.

Moses in the Mount praying, is too strong for all the Armies in the Valley fighting. When the Philistines went up against the Children of Israel, Samuel ceased not to cry to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord thundered with a great thunder that Day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them, that they were smitten before Israel. Jehoshaphat, when surrounded by a Multitude of heathen Enemyes, by Prayer overcame them. When Zera the Ethiopian came against the Lords People with an Host of a thousand thousand Men, Asa by Prayer and Faith overcame them all. Hezekiah and Isaiah by their prayers brought an Angel down from Heaven, who slew an hundred and fourscore and five thousand Assyrians, in the Host of Sennacherib in one Night.

And besides these and many Scriptural Examples in ecclesiastical Story, Instances to this Purpose are frequently observed. The History of the thundering Legion is famously known. Thus it was..

The Emperour Marcus Aurelius going to war against the Quads, Vandals, Sarmats and Germans, who were nine hundred seventy and five thousand fighting Men; The Imperialists were so cooped up by their numerous Enemies, in strait, dry, and hot Places, that the Souldiers having been destitute of Water for five Days together, they were all like to have perished for thirst. In this extremity, a Legion of Christian Souldiers being in the Army, withdrew themselves apart from the Rest, and falling prostrate on the Earth, by ardent Prayers prevailed with God, that he imediately sent a most plentiful Rain, whereby the Army that otherwise had perished, was refreshed and dreadfull Lightnings flashed in the Faces of their Enemies, so as that they were discomfited and put to flight. The Effect of which was, that the Persecution which before that the Emperour designed against the Christians, was diverted; and that praying Legion did afterwards, bear the Name of κepuvoßolos the Lightning Legion.

Constantine the Great, being to join the Battle with the Heathen Tyrant Licinius, singled out a number of godly Ministers of Christ,