the days of the patriarchs and prophets, and speak of the blindness of the Sodomites, and the hard-heartedness of the Jews, mentioned in the lamentation of our Lord and Saviour over Jerusalem; who killed the prophets, and stoned them that were sent unto them, until the day of their visitation was over, and the things belonging to their peace were hid from them; but to come a little nearer to the day and time when our Lord and Saviour appeared in the prepared body to do the will of his Father, as the prophets had prophesied of him: though he wrought the works which no other could do, yet how few there were that believed in him; neither did many of the learned Jews, nor wise Scribes, and Pharisees, know him as he was the Lord of life and glory, otherwise they would not have crucified him, and put him to open shame; neither did they know holy Stephen whom they ran upon, and stoned to death; neither did Paul, while he was Saul, and brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, exceeding many in learning and zeal, know the believers in Christ Jesus, but had his commission from the high priests to bring all bound to Jerusalem; and persecuted the true church with great severity, until the Lord appeared unto him by the way, saying, "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?" And such was the ignorance when fear fell upon him, that he cried, Lord! who art thou? And

not to speak of the persecutions under the Roman Emperors, who knew not the Lord's people as they were truly his, and so persecuted them as deluded and heretics; but to come to the martyrs' day and time, who were persecuted by such as professed Christianity, under the name of being guilty of heresy and delusion, when they were never able to prove it, and yet used all manner of severity against them, which plainly shows they knew them not as they were the Lord's witnesses upon earth, counted worthy not only to believe, but also to suffer for his name's sake and to come a little nearer also, to the professors in New England, which is scarce an age past, who used such severity to our friends there, that they hanged three men and a woman, and others they whipped and beat severely, and some had their ears cut off, whereas nothing was ever yet proved against them by the testimony of the holy Scripture, that will render them unsound either in faith or principle; all which severity shows those professors in New England to be of the same spirit that crucified Christ, stoned Stephen, and murdered the martyrs. And though a cloud of witnesses may be brought out of the holy Scriptures and church histories, to prove that it was the birth born after the flesh that persecuted the birth born after the spirit; yet where do we read in the gospel dispensation, that the true

church, the bride, the Lamb's wife, used violence to any people as you have done to us these two times; and though this last time they were not so severe in beating us; yet the like severity in throwing an innocent people over a brow, as though they had been casting sheep into the water, not regarding old nor young, without any just occasion, hath not been often known: and one in performing a religious duty, which is, to pray every where, lifting up holy hands unto God, was violently pulled off his knees, and dragged through the river where the ford was deepest and amongst them that were severe, there was thy man, the clerk and schoolmaster, (as people said,) which, if so, shows no good government in thy family. Now seeing it hath been the advice of good men not to judge others before they hear them, all that we desire of thee is, to search us thoroughly, both by word and writing; and I do not doubt but when thou comest to know us as we are, thou wilt be made to say, as some of thy brethren have been, that never came to be of our society, "Ye are not such people as ye are represented to be."

"A few lines from thee is desired, hoping thou wilt be charitable for the future concerning us. To love enemies is an incumbent duty; and here we desire to remain.

"By a lover of Truth and Righteousness,
"CHRISTOPHER STORY."

The 26th day of the 6th month 1701, this foregoing paper was read publicly amongst them, in the hearing of many, as I am informed; and after divers consultations about it, at last they concluded to answer by silence would be best.

Some time after we had a meeting at the same place, and no disturbance; but they used their endeavours privately to persuade the people not to come to the meeting, but as to words or writing were pretty quiet.

The End of the Author's Narrative.

SUPPLEMENT.

HAVING carefully collected the foregoing sheets out of the papers of this our worthy friend; and no further account appearing among them of any thing particularly relating to himself for many years together, it is a demonstration to us that his concern has been rather to leave to succeeding times the way and manner how truth first brake in upon this barren country, (which at that time was like a wilderness as to the knowledge of God,) than to give a journal of his own services therein, which were not a few

in the church in his day; there being many remaining witnesses of his great diligence and application in the strengthening, encouraging, and confirming of the churches in this our country, where his service was truly great, and among whom he was honourably esteemed, being as a tender father and a faithful watchman over the flock of Christ, that nothing might get in among or prevail over them that might prove hurtful, and hinder the prosperity of the work of regeneration.

And the Lord having favoured him with a good understanding, and peculiar talent in the discipline of the church, he was careful and very diligent to exercise the same, to the comfort of God's people; and his labour among them was in much plainness and sincerity, being very tender over the weak, but zealous against the wilful and stubborn, to whom he was often a terror.

As he was favoured also with a good understanding in temporal affairs, in moral and civil rights, he was often employed in that good work of ending differences, and putting a period to strife among his neighbours of other communities, and with great success; often pleasing both parties; which is not frequent under common management.

Although he has given but little account of his services abroad in this collection, yet he