so much as any Reliques of any of those principles which belong to that Mysterie, although in some place may be discoved some foot-steps of the knowledge of GOD, of the Creation, and of some Legall Observations. As in New England the Nations beleeve the Creation of the world by God, the Creation of one man and woman, their happy condition at the first, and seduction by the envy (as they say) of the Cony which moves them to abhorre that creature unto this day more then any Serpent. It is also reported that they seperate their women in the times appointed by the Law of Moses, counting them and all they touch uncleane during that time appointed by the Law: whether upon any other ground, or by a tradition received from the lewes, it is uncertaine. Some conceive, their Predecessors might have had some commerce with the lewes in times past, by what meanes I know not: Howsoever it bee, it fals out that the name of the place, which our late Colony hath chosen for their seat, prooves to bee perfect Hebrew, being called Nahum Keike, by interpretation, The bosome of consolation: which it were pitty that those which observed it not, should change into the name of Salem, though upon a faire ground, in remembrance of a peace setled upon a conference at a generall meeting betweene them and their neighbours, after expectance of some dangerous jarre. Now then, if all nations must have Christ tendred unto them, and the Indies have never yet heard of his name, it must follow, that worke of conveighing that knowledge to them, remaines to bee undertaken and performed by this last age. 3. Reason from the miraculous opening of the passage to these parts of the world. Againe, what shall we conceive of that almost miraculous opening the passage unto, and discovery of these formerly unknowne nations, which must needs have proved impossible unto former ages for want of the knowledge of the use of the Loadstone, as wounderfully found out as these unknowne Countries by it. It were little lesse then impietie to conceive that G O D, (whose Will concurres with the lighting of a Sparrow upon the ground) had no hand in directing one of the most difficult and observeable workes of this age; and as great folly to imagine, that hee who made all things, and consequently orders and directs them to his owne glory, had no other scope but the satisfying of mens greedy appetites, that thirsted after the riches of that new found world, and to tender unto them the objects of such barbarous cruelties as the world never heard of. Wee cannot then probably conceive that GOD, in that strange discovery, aymed at any other thing but this, that, after hee had punished the Atheisme, and Idolatry of those heathen and bruitish Nation by the Conquerors cruelty, and acquainted them by mixture of some other people, with civility, to cause at length the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ to shine out unto them, as it did to our forefathers, after those sharpe times of the bitter desolations of our Nation, betweene the Romanes and the Picts. the nearnesse of sion. A fourth reason, to prove that God hath left this 4. Reason from great, and glorious worke to this age of the world, the lewes conver is the nearnesse of the Lewes conversion; before which, it is conceived by the most, that the fulnesse of the Gentiles must come in, according to the Apostles prophesie, Rom. 11. 25. That this day cannot be farre off appears by the fulfilling of the prophesies, precedent to that great and glorious worke, and the generall expectation thereof by all men, such as was found among the lewes both in Judea and in some other parts of the world before the comming of Christ in the flesh, now then let it bee granted that the lewes conversion is neare, and that the Gentiles, and consequently the Indians must needs be gathered in before that day; and any man may make the conclusion, that this is the houre for the worke, and consequently of our duty to endeavour the effecting that which God hath determined; the opening of the eyes of those poore ignorant soules, and discovering unto them the glorious mystery of Iesus Christ. T CHAP. III. The English Nation is fit to undertake this taske. Hat this Nation is able and fit to send out Colonies into Forraigne parts will evidently appeare by the consideration of our overflowing multitudes: this being admitted for a received principle, that Countreyes super abound in people when they have more then they can well nourish, or well employ, seeing we know, men are not ordained to live onely, but, withall and especially, to serve one another through love, in some profitable and usefull calling. Granting therefore that PLANTERS PLEA. OR THE GROVNDS OF PLANTATIONS EXAMINED, And vsuall Objections answered. Together with a manifestation of the causes mooving such as have lately vndertaken a Plantation in NEW-ENGLAND: For the satisfaction of those that question the lawfulnesse of the Action. John Wr 2 THES. 5. 21. Prove all things, and holde fast that which is good. LONDON, Printed by WILLIAM IONES. |