§ 1. IT is Reported concerning the Anci­ent Phrygians, that when a Priest ex­pired among them, they Honoured him with a Pillar Ten Fathom high, whereon they placed his Dead Body, as if he were to continue, after his Death, from thence Instructing of the People. Nor can a Mi­nister of the Gospel have any more Honourable Funeral, than That, by which his Instruction of the People, may be most continued unto the Peo­ple, after his Expiration. But I may without any Danger of Mistake, venture to affirm, That there cannot Easily be found, a Minister of the Gospel, [Page 34] in our Dayes, more worthy to have the Story of his Life employed for the Instruction of Mankind, after his Decease, than our Excellent Mitchel. And therefore I shall now Endeavour to set him on as high a Pillar, as the best History, that I can give of his Exemplary Life, can erect, for that Worthy man; for whom Statues of Corinthian Brass, were but Inadaequate Acknowledgments.

§ 2. If it were counted an Honour, to the Town of Halifax in York shire, that the famous John de Sacro Bosco, Author of the well known Treatise, De Sphaera, was born there; this Town was no less Honoured by it's being the Place of Birth to our no less worthyly famous Ionathan Mitchel, the Author of a better Treatise, Of Hea­ven, who being descended (as a Printed Account long since ha's told us) of Pious and Wealthy Pa­rents, here drew his first Breath, in the year 1624. The precise Day of his Birth is lost, nor is it worth while for us to enquire by an Astrological Calcu­lation, what Aspect the Stars had upon his Birth, since the Event has proved, That God the Father was in the Horoscope, Christ in the Mid Heaven, the Spirit in the Sixth-House, Repentance, Faith and Love, in the Eighth: and in the Twelfth, an Eter­nal Happiness, where no Saturn can dart any malig­nant Rayes. Here, while the Father of his Flesh was endeavouring to make him Learned by a pro­per Education, the Father of Spirits, used the Me­thods of Grace to make him Serious; especially by [Page 35] a sore Feavour, which had like to have made the Tenth year of his Life, the Last, but then settled in his Arm, with such Troublesome Effects, that his Arm grew, and kept, a little bent, and he could never stretch it out Right, until his Dying Day. And upon this Accident he afterwards wrote this Reflection; Thus the Lord sought to make me Seri­ous (Oh! when will it once be!) by steeping my first Entrance into years of Understanding, and into the Changes of Life, and my first motions to New-Eng­land, in Eminent and Special Sorrows. Now his First Motions to New-England, mentioned in this Reflection, invite us to Hasten unto that part of our History, which is to Relate, that his Parents were some of those Exemplary Christians, which by the Unconscionable Impositions and Persecutions of the English Hierarchy upon the Consciences of People, as Remarkable for True Christianity, as any in the Realm, were driven out of it. In the year 1635. the Ship, which brought over Mr. Richard Mather, and many more of those Puritans, which had found the Church of England, then governed by such an Assembly of Treacherous men, (a Faction to whom that Name, The Church of England, never truly belonged) that they were put upon wishing with the Persecuted Prophet, Oh! that I had in the Wilderness a Lodging place of way­faring men! was further enriched by having on Board our Jonathan, than a Child about Eleven years of Age; whose Parents with much Difficul­ty and Resolution carried him unto Bristol to take [Page 36] Shipping there, while he was not yet Recovered of his Illness. On the Coast of New England, they were delivered from a most eminent and amazing hazard of perishing, in a most horrible Tempest; upon which Deliverance Mr. Mather Preached a Sermon from that Scripture Joh. 5.14. Sin no more, least a worse thing come unto thee; whereby farther Impressions or Seriousness were made upon the Soul of this Young Disciple.

§ 3. The Godly Father of our Jonathan found, that America as well as Europe, New-England as well as England, was a part of Old Adam's World; well stocked every where, with the Thorns of Worldly Vanities and Vexations; and that a Wilder­ness was a Place, where Temptation was to be met withal. All his Family, and the Jonathan of the Family, with the Rest, were visited with Sickness, the Winter after their first Arrival at Charlstown, and the Scarcity then afflicting the Countrey, ad­ded unto the Afflictions of their Sickness. Re­moving to the Town of Concord, his greater mat­ters continually became smaller there, his Begin­nings were there Consumed by Fire, and some o­ther Losses befel him in the Latter End of that Winter. The next Summer he Removed unto Say brook, and the next Spring unto Weathersfield, upon Connecticut River, by which he Lost yet more of his Possessions, and plunged himself into other Troubles. Towards the Close of that year, he had a Son-in-law Slain by the Pequot In­dians; [Page 37] and the Rest of the Winter they Lived in much fear of their Lives from those Barba [...]ians, and many of his Cattel were destroyed, and his Estate unto the value of some Hundreds of Pounds was damnified. A Shallop, which he sent unto the River's mouth was taken, and burned by the Pequots, and Three men in the Vessel Slain, in all of whom he was nearly concerned: So that indeed the Pequot Scourge fell more on this Fami­ly, than on any other in the Land. Afterward there arose unhappy Differences in the place where he Lived, wherein he was an Antagonist against some of the Principal Persons in the place, and hereby he that had hitherto Lived in precious E­steem with Good men, wherever he came (as a Re­cord I have seen, testifies concerning him) now suffered much in his Esteem among many such men, as 'tis usual in such Contentions, and he met with many other Injuries: For which Causes, he transferred himself, with his Interests, unto Stam­ford in the Colony of New Haven. Here his House, Barn and Goods were again Consumed by Fire; And much Internal Distress of mind ac­companied these Humbling Dispensations. At last, that Most Horrible of Diseases, the Stone, ar­rested him, and he underwent unspeakable Do­lours from it, until the year 1645. when he went unto his Rest, about the Fifty Fifth Year of his Age.

§ 4. Although the Good Spirit of God, [...]ave our Jonathan to Improve much in Holy Disposi­tions [Page 38] while he was yet a Youth, by the Calami­ties, which thus befel his Father; and particularly upon Occasion of a sad thing befalling a Servant of his Father's, who instead of Going to the Le­cture at Hartford, as he had been Allowed and Advised, would needs go fell a Tree for himself, but a broken Bough of the Tree struck him Dead, so that he never spoke or stirred more; our Jonathan, who was then about Fifteen years old, in one of his Papers does Relate, This Ama­zing Stroke did much stirr my Heart, and I spent some time in Endeavouring the work of Repentance, accor­ding to Mr. Scudder's Directions in his Daily Walk: nevertheless he had this Disadvantage, that he was thereby Diverted from Study and Learning, for the first seven years after his Coming into the Countrey. Had it not been for the Disadvan­tage of this Intermission, we had seen some Lively Emulation of Bellarmine's open Lectures of Divi­nity, at Sixteen years of Age, or Torquato Quasso's Receiving his Degrees in Philosophy and Divini­ty at Seventeen, or Grotius's publishing of Com­mentaries, at the like Seventeen. For he was, as the Historian observes, all that will prove Considerable, must be, Puer, qui Seminario Vertutum Generosiore con­cretus, aliquid Inclytum designasset. But after so long an Intermission, as until September in the year 1642. and the Eighteenth year of his Age, upon the Earnest Advice of some that had Observed his great Capacity, and especially of Mr. Mather, with whom he came into New-England, he Re­sumed [Page 39] his Designs for Study and Learning: where­in he made so vigorous a Progress, that in the year 1645. he was upon a strict Examination, Ad­mitted into Harvard Colledge. Nor was it very long before Mr. Mather, who was the Adviser of this matter, had the Consolation of seeing the Excellent Labours of this person, in the Pulpit, worthy of his own Constant Journeys to his month­ly Lectures; yea, and the most Considerable Fa­thers of the Countrey, with himself, treating this person, as not Coming behind the very Chiefest of them all, and Tasting his Communications, not as Unripe Grapes, or Wine just out of the Press.

§ 5. But before we can fairly Arrive to that part of our Story, it will be as profitable, as necessary for us, to Observe the Steps whereby God made him Great. The Faculties of Mind, with which the God that Forms the Spirit of man, enriched him, were very Notable. He had a Clear Head, a Copious Fancy, a Solid Judgment, a Tenacious Memory, and a certain Discretion, without any Childish Laschete, or Levity in his Behaviour, which commanded Respect from all that viewed him: So that it might be said of him, as it once was of a Great Person, in the English Nation, They that knew him from a Child, never knew him any other than a Man. Under these Advantages, he was an Hard Student, and he so Prospered in his Indefatigable Studies, that he became a Scho­lar of Illuminations, not far from the First Magni­tude: Recommended by which Qualifications, it [Page 40] was not long before he was Chosen, a Fellow of the Colledge. But the main Strokes of his Colledge-Life, that I shall single out for my Readers Ob­servation, are of yet an higher Character. Know then, that as it was his own Counsel to his B [...] ­ther, The Writing of sometimes your former and pre­sent Life, would be a Thing of Endless Use, thus it was his manner, whilst in the Colledge, to keep a brief Diary, written in the Latine Tongue, which he wrote indeed fluently and handsomely; and from a part of this D [...]ry, by him Entituled, Vitae Hypomnemata, happily fallen into my Hands, I shall note some few Remarkables.

He kept a strict Eye upon his Interior State, before God; and upon the Dispositions of his Heart, as well in Sacred, as in Civil Entertain­ments: but with an Extreme Security of Reflection upon himself, when perhaps, at the same time the Severest Spectator upon Earth besides, would have judged every thing in him worthy to have been Admired, rather than Censured. He would Record such Things as these.

Again; He laid up the more especial Admoni­tions which touched him, in the Sermons that he heard Preached, or in other more private and useful Conferences, and the Resolutions which he thereupon, asked the help of Heaven to follow. He would Record such Things as these.

Furthermore, He Acquitted himself, as One concerned for the Souls of his Pupils, when he came to have such under his Charge; & was very desirous to see their Hearts renewed by Grace, the (Beginning or) Head of Knowledge, as well as their Heads furnished with other Knowledge. He would Record such things as these.

Yea, How watchful he was, on all Occasions, to Observe what Occasions he might have to Do Good among all the Scholars, I shall no more than Transcribe the following Passage, to intimate.

Reader, see how impossible it was, for this Excellent young man to Record any thing in this Diary, without some stroke of Humiliation and Admonition to himself in the Close of all: The ready way of becoming Excellent!

And while he was thus a young man, residing [Page 48] in the Colledge, he would sometimes, on the Sa­turday, Retire into the Woods, near the Town, and there spend a great part of the Day, in Ex­amining of his own Heart and Life, Bewailing the Evils, which made him want the Mercies of God, and Imploring the Mercies which he want­ed of the Lord: which Custome of spending Saturday, he had formerly attended also at South-Hampton, while he was yet, but as a School-Boy there. Moreover, it was, while he thus Resided at the Colledge, that his Brother David, under deep Distresses of mind about his Everlasting Interests, addressed him for Counsel; and our Jonathan then wrote unto his Brother that Golden Letter, which was almost Thirty years after, published in London, at the End of his Discourse of Glory; A Letter whereof the famous Collins makes this Re­mark, Every Reader sensible of Spiritual Things, will see it written with an Excellent Spirit, the Spirit of God, and drawn out of his own Experiences, and this when but newly Entring upon his Ministry: A Let­ter, wherein he Discovers that Experimental Ac­quaintance with the Operations of Sin, and of [...]ace, upon the Souls of men, which may Inti­mate how Eminent he was in One of the Accom­plishments most necessary to the Ministry of the Gospel, before he had yet Entred upon it. If Chrysostom, the Ancient, were sometimes called, Insignis Animorum tractandorum Artifex, Reader, here was a young man, who effectually proved himself, An Artist, at handling the Cases of a Son [...]! [Page 49] I Remember, that Alexander More judges Three certain Epistles, to be the most Consummate Pieces, that ever the World saw▪ Namely, That of Cal­vin before his Institutions; That of Thuanus, be­fore his History; and That of Casaubon, bfore his Polybius. Now though this Epistle of our young Mitchel, come not into that Class, for the Em­bellishments of Literature, yet it has been Reck­oned one of the most Consummate Pieces, in the Methods of Addressing a Troubled Mind.

§ 6. The Extraordinary Learning, Wisdom, Gravity and Piety of this Incomparable Young man, caused several of the most Considerable Churches in the Countrey, to contrive how they might become Owners of such a Treasure, even before ever he had, by one Publick Se [...]m [...]n, brought forth any of the Treasure wherewith Hea­ven had Endowed him The Church of Hart­ford in particular, being therein Countenanced and Encouraged by the Reverend Mr. Stone, [...]ent a Man, and Horse, above an Hund [...]ed miles, to obtain a visit from him, in expectation to make him the Successor of their ever famous Hooker, and though upon the first motion to him from Hartford, his Humble Soul, wrote these words, I had more need get alone into a Corner, and weep, than think of Going out into the World, to Do such Work: Darkness and Death clouds my Soul! Yet he was prevailed withal to visit them. At Hartford he Preached his First Sermon. ( June 24. 1649.) [Page 50] upon Heb. 11.27. He Endured, as seeing Him who is Invisible; On which Action, though with his usual Humility, he wrote this Reflection in his Diary; In Preaching I was not to seek of what I had prepared; but my own Heart was Drie, Carnal and Unaffected, and methought I could not speak with any Evidence, or Presence of the Spirit of God; so that when I had done, I was deeply ashamed within my self, and could not but Loath my self, to think how mi­serably I had behaved my self, in that High Employ­ment, and how unsavoury, sottish and foolish my Heart had been therein; I thought, I, and all I did, well de­served to be Loathed by God and man: Yet that Judicious Assembly of Christians, were so well pleased with the Labours whereof he himself thought so meanly, that in a Meeting the Day following, they Concluded to give him an Invi­tation to Settle among them: Adding, That if he saw it his best way to continue a year longer at the Colledge, they would however immediately upon his Acceptance of their Invitation advance a considerable Sum of Money, to [...] him in furnishing himself with a Library (not unlike what the Uratislavian Senate once did for the Hopeful young Lucas Pollio, when they saw him, Juvenem Dotibus Ornatum a Deo, non vulgaribus:) which they said, was, No new thing unto them, ha­ving had Mr. Hooker's Instruction for Doing so. But he durst not then Accept of their kind Pro­posals: For, before his Journey to Hartford, the Renowned Mr. Shepard, with the Principal Per­sons [Page 51] in Cambridge, had importunately pray'd him, that he would come down from Hartford, as free as he went up, insomuch as he did upon divers Accounts most belong to Cambridge, & Cambridge did hope, that he would yet more belong unto them. When Mr. Shepard first mentioned this thing unto him, he did with his constant Humility record it in his Diary, with this Reflection, Ego mirabar hinc rem: Quid in me videt Populus Dei! Totum Negotium Reliqui Deo agendum. I wondred at this matter! What is it that the People of God sees in me? I left the whole Business to the Divine Ma­nagement! And now Returning to Cambridge, he no sooner came into the Pulpit ( Aug. 12. 1649.) but Mr. Shepard, must go out of it! Mr. Shepard in the Evening told him, T [...]is was the Place, where he should, by right, be all the rest of his Dayes: and enquiring of some good Peo­ple, How Mr. Mitchel's first Sermon was approv­ed among them; they told him, Very well. Th [...]n said he, My Work is done! And behold, within a few Dayes more, that Great Man was by Death taken off, so that the Unanimous Desire of Cam­bridge for Mr. Mitchel to be their Pastor was Hastened, with several Circumstances of Necessi­ty, for him to Comply with their Desire. But as the Jewes use to say about the Birth of R. Je­huda, on the very same Day, that another famous Rabbi dyed, Eo die occidit Lax Israelis, et iterum Orta est; So I may now say, The same Day was the Light of New-England, Extinguished and Revived!

[Page 52]§ 7. Occubuit Sol; Nox nulla Secuta est. Upon the setting of Shepard there arose Mitchel, in whose Light not only the Church of Cambridge, but the Colledge, and the whole Country, were now to Rejoyce for a Season. The Eyes of all New-England were upon him, with Great Expectations; and he did more than answer their Expectations: for he was indeed, an Extraordinary Person. But scarce a Paragraph of his Life can be written to the Life, without some Reflection upon that Humi­lity, with which the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, both prepared him for, and adorned him in, all of that Figure, whereto he Arrived in the Ser­vice of the Churches. Just upon the Time of his Beginning his Ministry at Cambridge, he was taken dangerously Sick of the Small Pox, but though he were Sick nigh unto Death, God had Mercy on him, and not on him only, but on all the Churches thro' this Wilderness in him. No sooner was he Recovered of that Sickness, but this Humble Soul, wrote, Octob 4. 1649. in his Diary, (which after this time, spoke English,) these among other passages: It has been of late Weeks a special time of Adversity with me, The Lord Help me to Consider it! I might say, My skin is Broken, and become Loathsome; and, There is no Rest in my Bones because of my Sin, my Loins are filled with a loathsome Disease, & there is no soundness in my flesh; By such a foul, noisom, filthy Disease, it well appeared, what I indeed was; as the Prophet speaks, Full of putrefying Sores. [Page 53] It being at this Time, I was as a City set upon an Hill; That when I was attempting the Pure and Sacred Work of the Ministry, I should be surprized with that Horrible Disease! Do I begin to be some Body in the world? God will make me Vile in the Eyes of the whole Country; God will Humble me before the Sun, and in the Sight of all Israel. He will have me begin my Mi­nistry with this Disease: He knows, that I have need of a Great Deal of Purifying, before I come to that. A loathsome Sinner shall have a loathsome Sickness! And the Grace of Heaven that made this Fit of Sickness, to be Considered thus as an Humiliation, by this Eminent young man, then Entring upon his Ministry, did by continually Infusing other Thoughts full of Humiliation into him, lay the Foundation of stately Superstructures. As our Lord Jesus Christ, entring upon His Ministry, endured the forest Conflict of Temptation, that He had e­ver met withal, so did this Excellent Embassador of that Lord; He had his Mind sorely Buffeted with Amazing & Confounding Apprehensions. Per­haps it will be many ways profitable unto some Candidates of the Ministry, as well as others, to see these Papers Recite some of the sad Passages, that rolled over the Soul of a most Lovely Preacher, when he was Beginning to Preach the Gospel of Peace. We then find him at a Time, when every one admired the Excellencies that Beautifyed him, thus Writing and Thinking of himself, as the De­formedest Sinner in the World. At one time. ‘I have Lived in this World almost Twenty [Page 54] five years, and unto this Day have known lit­tle of God in Christ, made little Provision for Eternity, got little Acquaintance with the favour and love of God. How I have Improved this Time, Wo to me, I may be ashamed to speak, amazed to think!’ At another time, ‘Lord, I know not whether ever such a Sinner, as I, came to Thee for Mercy; whether ever such a work was done to any poor Wretch, as the saving of my Soul must be.’ At another time. ‘I have run through all the means of Knowledge, and yet see no Truth Really, and in the Glory of it; All Afflictions, and yet am not Humbled nor Serious; All Mercies, and yet am not Thank­full; All Means of Good, and yet am Evil, only Evil, Transcendently Evil, in the highest De­gree, to this Day.’ At another time. ‘If God do me any Good, or do any Good by me, it must be a Creating work. Lord, I am fit for nothing; (Good for nothing at all) neither to Live, nor Dy; neither to Teach, nor Learn; neither to Think, nor Speak; neither to Do, nor suffer; neither to Communicate Good, nor receive any; Go through all that I am, either within, or without, what am I, but Vile­ness, and Abomination?’ At another time. ‘The Church will (I suppose) this day, consider, & determine a Day for Ordination; but did there ever such a Creature, as I am, go about such a business? I was low, and vile this time Twelve-month, when they first made the Motion; but [Page 55] I am far lower and viler now. Great is the wrath of God that lyes upon me; and the to­kens of it are in some respects increased. I can­not, with Confidence go to God, as my Father in Jesus Christ. I know no Truth of God to any purpose. I have no Treasure of Christian Experience: I know not what belongs to the main matters of Conversion and Salvation. My Sin is enough to bring a Curse upon all I do, & upon the whole place: I am under the very feet of Satan, in respect of it. Object. But shall not my Sin then hinder me, and make me Refuse this Work of the Ministry?’ Answ. ‘That is to mend one Sin with another. The more evil, and the less good I have done, the more need I have to give my self up to do what good I can Now; Sure I should not chuse my Sin, and leave Gods Work; and if I cast it away, and go to God to take it away, and wait on Him, 'tis possible with Him, to deliver me from it, and to help me in His Work: Though that would be the greatest wonder, that ever was done! However, let me lye at His Feet, and leave my self with Him. Quest. Why do I enter upon it? Answ. Because God bids me, and Commands me? Luk. 5 He will have it so, and why should my self, or Sin, or Satan, say, What doest Thou? Object. But it may be God will take no Pleasure in me? Answ. I deserve He should not, but yet He deserves to be Honoured & Served; and let it be my Hap­piness and Joy to do that, whatever becomes of [Page 56] me at last.’ At another time. ‘My case is now such (so Dreadful, [...]esperate and Forlorn) as I think, there never was the like upon Earth, since Adam was formed, unto this Day: There is only this place of Hope, That there is a Degree of Mercy in God, beyond what any ever yet made use of! for no man ever came to the End of Infinite Mercy: Lord, Honour Thy self by me, some way or other, what ever become of me.’ At another time. ‘Lord, It is the Hour & Power of Darkness with me; I feel the Dreadful Rage of Satan, and my vile Heart, now against me, to overturn me, and to cut off thy Name, which Thou callest me to bear in this Place. I know not what will become of me, nor what to say to Thee: but I leave my Woful Soul, and self to thy Disposing, Lord, I am in Hell, wil [...] thou let me lye there?’ At another time. ‘God hath put this Fear into my Heart, lest this be the Fruit, and Recompence of my Sin, that I shall never know God for mine in Truth, but Live and Dy, in an unsound and self Deceiving way; that I should have many fears and Prayers, and Good Affections and Duties and Hopes, and Or­dinances, and Seemings, but never an Heart soundly Humbled, and soundly Comforted unto my Dying Day, but be a Son of Perdition to the last, and never have God's special Love Revealed and Assured to me! Lord, keep this Fear alive in my Heart!’ Such Passages as these, abundantly discover the Contritions, that laid [Page 57] him exceeding Low, in his own Apprehension of himself, at the Time, when God was Raising him to High Improvements, among His People; and it was by these Abasements, that Heaven prepared him for those Improvements. But being, after such Pre­parations, called forth to the Service of the Churches, his Employments came in so thick upon him, that he had not such liesure as heretofore to Enrich his Diarys, with his Observations. He was at length Reduced unto this Custom, that Ordinari­ly, on the Week before he Administred the Sa­crament of the Lords-Supper, which was once in two Months, he spent a Day in Prayer with Fasting, before the Lord; and one of his Exercises on such a Day, was to Remind and Record, such Passages of Divine Providence towards Himself, his House, his Flock, the whole Countrey, yea, and the whole Nation, as he judged Useful to be Remem­bred with him; and such especially as might Q [...]icken the Humiliations & the Supplications, where­in he was engaged.

§ 8. The Death of Mr. Shepard, was a Death-wound unto the Soul of Mr. Mitchel, whose Ve­neration for the Great Holiness, Learning, and Wisdom, of his Predecessor, caused him to La­ment exceedingly the Loss of so Rich a Blessing, and begin his own publick Ministry, at Cambridge, with Sermons full of those Lamentations. Indeed when he had Occasion to mention his own Li­ving Four years under Mr. Shepard's Ministry, he added, Unless it had been four years living in Hea­ven, [Page 58] I know not how I could have more cause to Bless God wi [...]h wonder, than for those Four years. Under an Affliction, which he so much Resented, the Comf [...]rt which he [...] [...]ught for himself, he thus expressed: What a blessed thing is it to have the Med [...]ator, the Man Christ Jesus to go unto, when I have n [...] Friend that I can fully speak to, and open all [...] and Ails into His Bosome? I think, were Mr. Shepard now alive, I would go and intreat his Counsel and Help, and Prayer. Why, now I may go freely into the Bosome of the Man Christ Jesus, who is able, faithful, tender hearted above the best of meer men. And I may Go, and tell him not only my Sorrows (and yet that is no small matter,) but also my Sins, all my Sins; though not without shame, yet without fearful Despair. I may Complain to Him of a strong Lust, and of an Hard Heart. And He does not only Pity me (and that He does more than any man could do) but is also fully able to Help me against Sorrow, yea, and against Sin too. And in Him, I may see, and take hold of the Pity, and Love, and Grace of God the Father, who through Him, is well-pleased. But that he might signalize his Affecti­on to the Memory of his Predecessor, he speedi­ly took the pains to peruse and publish the Ser­mons of that Worthy man, upon the Parable of the Ten Virgins, which make a Volumn in Folio; with a most Excellent, and Judicious Preface of his thereunto. Which afterwards, was not with­out its Recompence in the Providence of God, when after his own Death, his own Sermons upon, The [Page 59] Glory to which God hath called Believers by Jesus Christ (carefully Transcribed, and so Transmitted, by Captain Laurence Hammond of Charlstown, to whose cares about it, the Church is now behol­den for this Treasure,) were by some surviving Friends, Printed at London. And he whom I have once already compared unto Pollio, who Dy­ed, when between Forty and Fifty years old, was in this also, like that Germane Divine, who left behind him a Book of Sermons, De vita aeterna, whereof Melchior Adam says, Non solum suae Con­fessionis Homines omnium Ordinum in Deliciis habue­runt, atque habent; sed etiam Adversariorum nonnulli, minus morosi probaverunt: Both Friends and Fees approved it. The young Gentlewoman, whom his Predecessor had married a little before his De­cease, he now also married, upon the general Re­commendations of that Widow unto him: and the Epithalamiums, which the Students of the Col­ledge then Celebrated that Marriage withal, were expressive of the Satisfaction, which it gave unto all the Good people in the Vicinity. Howbeit, before this, he had addressed himself unto the Ve­nerable old Mr. Cotton, for leave to become his Son-in-law, and Mr. Cotton prognosticating the E­minency, which he would arrive unto, had given Leave unto it. But the Immature Death of that Hopeful young Gentlewoman, Mrs. Sarah Cotton, preventing so desirable a Match, made way for his pursuing and obtaining this other Settlement. Being so settled; he wholly gave himself up to [Page 60] the Services of his Ministry, with such a Disposi­tion, as h [...] ex [...]essed in his Parting Advice to a­nother, who Travelling from hence to England, had these words from him at his Farewel; My se­rious Advice to you is, That you keep out of Company, as far as Christianity and Civility will give you leave; Take it from me; The Time spent in your Study, you will generally find spent the most Profitably, Comforta­bly and Accountably.

§ [...]. Eighteen year ▪ did he continue a Pastor to the Church of Cambridge. And as that which Encouraged him to Accept at first the Pastoral Charge of that Flock, was his being able to write that Character of them, That they were a Gracious, Savoury-spirited people, principled by Mr. Shepard, liking an Humbling, Mourning, Heart-breaking Ministry and Spirit; Living in Religion, Praying men and women: Here (said He) I might have Occasions of many sweet Heart-breakings before God, which I have so much need of! So the Conti­nual Prayers of such a People to the Lord Jesus Christ, for him, doubtless contributed more than a little, unto his being furnished from Heaven with such Rich Treasures of Light and Grace, as made his Ministry richly serviceable unto them all. In this his Ministry, he Preached over a great part of the Body of Divinity. And as Paul appealed unto his two first Chapters to the Ephesi­ans, thus in some Degree, an Appeal might have been made unto those Labours of this Admirable [Page 61] Preacher, to Demonstrate his Knowledge of the Mystery of Christ. He made a most Entertaining Exposition on the Book of Genesis, and part of Ex­odus; he made many Incomparable Discourses on the four first Chapters of John: Occasional Subjects, he also Handled many, with much Variety: He likewise kept a Monthly Lecture, where he largely Handled Mans Misery by Sin, and Salvation by Christ, and entred on the Doctrine of Obedience due thereupon; and vast Assemblies of People from all the Neighbouring Towns, reckoned it, highly worth their pains to Repair unto that Le­cture. The Sermons wherewith he fed the Church of God, were admirably Well-Studied; they still smelt of the Lamp; and, indeed, if there were nothing else to prove it, yet the Notes which he wrote in his Preparations for his Publick Exerci­ses, were Proof enough of his being an Indefati­gable Student. He ordinarily medled with no Point, but what he managed with such an extra­ordinary Invention, Disposition, and Copious Appli­cation, as if he would leave no material thing to be said of it, by any that should come after him. And when he came to Utter what he had Prepa­red, his Utterance had such a becoming Tuneable­ness, and Vivacity, to set it off, as was indeed Ini­mitable; though many of our Eminent Preach­ers, that were in his Time, Students at the Colledge, did essay to Imitate him. It has been observed by others, as well as Jerom, that Quae firmiter con­ [...]epimus, bene loqui [...], siquidem Talia in Animae [Page 62] Substantiam quasi Concoquendo sunt Conversa: and our Mitchel, having accordingly well Concocted what he was to Deliver, with clear and strong Thoughts upon it, expressed it with a Natural E­loquence, which, (as Tully says of all True Elo­quence) cast the Hearers into Wonderment. Pro­found Meditation having first, in his Heart got rea­dy a well composed Meat-Offering for the House of God, his Tongue was as the Pen of a Ready Writer to bring it forth: and his Auditories usually count­ [...]d themselves at a Feast with the Inhabitants of Heaven, while he was thus Entertaining of them. His Preaching was not that which Dr. Manton would justly Rebuke under the Name of Gentle­man-Preaching: or, a sort of Harangue finely La­ced and guilded with such Phalerate Stuff, as plain­ly Discovers the Vanity of them, that jingle with it: but he still spoke, as reckoning, that, if Seneca's Philosopher was to Remember, Ad miseros vocatus as; o [...]em laturus Naufragis, Captis, Aegris, Inten­tae securi subjectum praestantibus Cap [...]: Such a thing is much more to be Remembred by a Mini­ster of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hence, though he had a very Clean Style, and spoke, — Munda, sed e medio, Consuetaque verba;— by the same token, that when he had once used one word, in the Pulpit, which it may be, no body else besides himself would have so severely Criticised upon, af­ter he came home, he wrote a severe Animadversion upon it; I was after, in my self Ashamed of it, (he wrote) as being a Phrase too Coarse for the Pulpit! [Page 63] Nevertheless, he had also a Plain Style, for which he might have been justly called, as Melancthon was by Keckerman, Ille, ut sie dicam, Perspicuitatis Genius: but so pungently improved, that what he spoke, was felt by his Hearers, as Quick and Power­ful. One, that hath addressed the World with a Treatise of Ecclesiastical Rhetorick, saith, Credat mi­hi Ministerii Candidatus; Tria sunt, quae valde com­mendant Concionatorem; Vocis Amabilitas, Epitheto­rem Emphasis, et Connexionis Concinnitas: Now all of these Three Commendations did belong to the Preaching of our Mitchel. And, as it was the Re­mark of that then Matchless Preacher, Bucholtzer, to whom I have often in my Thoughts Match'd our Mitchel, That a Preacher was known by his Pero­ration, So 'twas Remark't of our Mitchel, that tho' he were all along in his Preaching, as a very Love­ly Song of one that hath a pleasant Voice, yet as he drew near to the close of his Exercises, his Come­ly Fervency would Rise to a Marvellous measure of Energy; He would speak with such a Trans­cendent Majesty and Liveliness, that the People (more Thunderstruck than they that heard Cicero's Oration for Ligarius) would often Shake under his Dispensations, as if they had Heard the Sound of the Trumpets from the Burning Mountain, and yet they would Mourn to think that they were going presently to be Dismissed from such an Heaven upon Earth. He had indeed an Uncommon mea­sure of that Priviledge, that is Reported of Buch­oltzer, Ut, licet nonnisi finita Hora Altera per [...]raret, [Page 64] nullum tamen Audiendi Taedium, vel e media cuiquam plebe, Obrepserit: though he Preached Long Ser­mons, the People were never weary of Hearing them. Vast was the Happiness of the Scholars at the Col­ledge, and (in them) of all the Churches in the Country, while Cambridge was Illuminated with such a Ministry! It was a Reflection upon this matter, long since Printed unto the World; Rea­son and Prudence requireth, that the Minister of that Place, be more than Ordinarily endowed with Learn­ing, Gravity and Wisdom, Orthodoxy, Ability, Excellent Gifts in Preaching, that so the Scholars, which are De­voted to be Preachers of the Gospel, might be seasoned with the Spirit of such an Elijah: In which Regards this Holy man of God, was eminently furnished; and his Labours were abundantly blessed: For, very many of the Scholars bred up in his time (as is observ­ed) do savour of his Spirit, for Grace, and a most at­tractive manner of Preaching. Truly, as it was no rare thing for a German Divine to give solemn Thanks unto God, For being Born in the Dayes of Melancthon; so there is many a New English Di­vine, who has given Thanks to God, For their be­ing at ths Colledge in the Dayes of Mitchel. But it must here be added, That altho' the chief Labours of this Exemplary Pastor, were in the Study, and the Pulpit, yet he did not think himself thereby Excused from those Pastoral Visits which his Flock expected from him. Herein he visited at fit Hours, which he set apart for it, the several Fami­lies of his Flock; not upon Trivial Designs, but [Page 65] with serious and solemn Addresses, to their Souls upon the matters of their Everlasting Peace; and the Gildas Salvianus of Mr. Baxter, was herein out Mitchel himself, as well as much Read and Priz'd by this Faithful Pastor, who Watch'd for Souls, as one that was to give an Account.

§ 10. What he was in his Ministry, the same he was in his Discipline, when Offences arose, that called for his Consideration, in the Church where­to he was Related: Faithful, Prudent, Zealous, Ho­ly, and like an Angel of a Church, Not Bearing with those that are Evil. When a publick Admoni­tion was to be Dispensed unto any One, that had offended scandalously, one could have heard no­thing more Pathetical, or more Powerful, than his Discourses, on those unwelcome Occasions: the Hearers would be all Drowned in Tears, as if the Admonition had been, as indeed he would with much Artifice make it be, directed unto them all: bu [...] such would be the Compassion & yet the Gravity, the Majesty, the Scriptural and Awful Pungency of these his Dispensations, that the Conscience of the Offender himself, could make no Resistance there­unto. But when the Lord Jesus Christ in ends to make any Steward in His House, em [...]nently Prudent and Faithful, He commonly Tries that Person, by Ordering some very Difficult Church-Cases to arise, quickly after his fi [...]st Entrance up­on the Stewardship Some such Thorny Church-Cases did soon Exercise the Thoughts of this truly [Page 66] Aged young man; in all of which he conscienti­ously considered the Rights of the Fraternity to Judge in their own Church Cases, as that Renown­ed Minister, and Martyr, the Blessed Cyprian did, when he could say in one of his Epistles unto his Flock, From the very Beginning of my Ministry, I de­termined to do nothing without the Consent of my People: and again, All Church Affayrs, as mutual Respect requireth, [in commune tractabimus] we will manage them in common; and again, He would Restore and Admit none but those who should plead their cause before all the people; [Acturi apud plebem universam Causam suam:] and order none of their matters, but [praesentibus et Judi­cantibus vobis,] with their Presence and Judgment. And if Mr. Mitchel had heard any reckon the Liberty of the Brethren thus confessed in the Dayes of Cyprian, to be an Apostasy from what was in the Beginning, he would have ask'd them, whether they reckon'd the Loss of this Liberty afterwards, in the Rise of Popery, to be any Beginning, or Tendency towards Church-Reformation, & Recovery? Now tho' this Liberty of the Brethren, which our Mitchel according to the Primitive Congregational Church-Discipline allow'd, be that wherein for the most part the Repose of the Pastors has been by the compassionate wisdom of our Lord Jesus Christ provided for,) some Trouble sometimes has arisen to the Pastors from the Brethrens abuse of their Liberty, which has call'd for much Pati­ence and Prudence in those that have the Rule o­ver [Page 67] them. And so there did unto our Mitchel, who on this Occasion, as on all others, was rea­dier still to condemn himself, than any others▪ and once particularly, recorded this passage in his Diary. I was Troubled, [at some improper Cavils from the Brethren] and I fear spake not so Lovingly and Prudently as I should have done. I feel my Spirit ready to rise, and forget my Principles of Lying Low in the Dust, and bearing with others In­firmities, and becoming all Things to all men, for their Edification. Oh! Lord Humble me, and Teach me how to carry it! Thus did this Excellent person write, when he was Enumerating his Humbling Circumstances, in a Secret Fast before the Lord. But there was an Harder Case than any of these, to Exercise him. Our Mitchel, presently upon his becoming the Pastor of Cambridge, met with a more than ordinary Trial, in that the Good Man, who was then the Praesident of the Colledge, and a Member of the Church, there was unaccoun [...]a­bly fallen into the Briars of Antipaedobaptism; and being Briar [...]d in the Scrupl [...]s of that Perswasion, he not only forbore to present an Infant of his own unto the Baptism of the Lord, but also thought himself under some Obligation to bear his Testi­mony in some Sermons, against the Administrati­on of Baptism to any Infant whatsoever. The Brethren of the Church were somewhat vehement and vi [...]lent in their signifying of their Dissatis­faction, at the Obstruction, which the Reniten­cies of that Gentleman, threatned unto the Peace­able [Page 68] Practice of Infant Baptism, wherein they had hitherto walked; and judged it necessary for the Vindication of the Churches Name abroad in the Countrey, and for the safety of the Con­gregation at home, to desire of him, that he would cease Preaching as formerly, until he had better satisfied himself in the Point now Doubted by him. At these things, extream was the Uneasiness of our Mitchel, who told the Brethren, That more Light and less Heat would do better: but yet saw the zeal of some against this Good Man's Error, to push this matter on so far, that being but a Young man, he was likely now to be Embarassed in a Controversy, with so Considerable a Person, and with one who had been his Tutor, and a Wor­thy and a Godly man. He could give this Ac­count of it, Through the Churches being apt to Hurry on too Fast, and too Impatiently, I found my self much Oppressed; especially Considering my own Weakness to grapple with these Difficulties; This B [...]siness did lye down and rise up, sleep and wake with me: It was a dismal thing to me, that I should Live to see Trut [...] or Peace Dying or Decaying in poor Cambridge. But while he was with a Prudence incomparably be­yond what might have been expected from a Young man, managing this Thorny Business, he saw cause to Record a passage, which perhaps will be judged worthy of some Remembrance. That Day (writes he, Decemb. 24 1653.) after I came from him, I had a strange Experience: I found Hurrying and Pressing Suggestions against Paedobaptism, and in­jected [Page 69] Scruples and Thoughts whether the other way might not be Right, and Infant Baptism, an Invention of men: and whether I might with Good Conscience Baptise Children, and the like. And these Thoughts were Darted in with some Impression, and left a strange Confusion and Sickliness upon my Spirit. Yet me­thought, it was not Hard to Discern that they were from the EVIL ONE. First, Because they were rather Injected, Hurrying Suggestions, than any deliberate Thoughts, or bringing any Light with them. Secondly, Because they were Unseasonable; Inter­rupting me in my Study for the Sabbath, & putting my Spirit into a Confusion, so as I had much a do, to do ought in my Sermon. It was not now a time to Study that matter; but when in the former part of the Week, I had given my self to that Study, the more I Studied it, the more Clear and Rational Light I saw for Pae­do baptism. But now these Suggestions Hurryed me into Scruples. But they made me cry out to God for His Help; and He did afterward Calm and clear up my Spirit. I thought the End of them was, First, To shew me the Corruption of my Mind; How apt that was to take in Error, even as my Heart is to take in Lust. Secondly, To make me walk in Fear, and take hold on Jesus Christ to keep me in the Truth; and it was a check to my former Self Confidence, & it made me fearful to go needlesly to Mr. D. for me­thought I found a Venome and Poison, in his Insinuati­ons and Discourses against Paedo-baptism. Thirdly, That I might be Mindful of the Aptness in others to be soon shaken in Mind, and that I might warn others [Page 70] thereof, and might know how to speak to them from Experience. And indeed my former Experience of Irreligious Injections, was some Help to me to Disco­ver the nature of These. I Resolved also on Mr. HOokers Principle, That I would have an Argu­ment, able to Remove a Mountain, before I would Recede from, or Appear against a Truth or Practice, received among the Faithful. After the Sabbath was over, and I had time to Reflect upon the Thoughts of those things, those Thoughts of Doubt de­parted, and I Returned unto my former Frame. The Troubles thus Impending over the Church of Cam­bridge, did Mr. Mitchel happily wade through; partly by much Prayer with Fasting, in Secret, before God, for the Good Issue of these things; partly, by getting as much Help as he could from the Neighbouring Ministers, to be Interposed in these Difficulti [...]s; and partly, by using much Meekness of Wisdom towards the Erroneous Gentleman; for whom our Mr. Mitchel continued such an E­steem, that although his Removal from the Go­vernment of the Colledge, and from his Dwelling place in Cambridge, had been procured by these Differences, yet when he Dyed, He Honoured him with an Elegy, from which I will transcribe one Stanza or two, because it very truly points out that Generous, Gracious, Catholick Spirit, which adorned that Person, who wrote it.

But there was a special Design of Heaven, in Ordering these Trials to befal our Mithel, thus in the Beginning of his Ministry. He was here­by put upon Studying and Maintaining the Do­ctrine of Infant Baptism; and of Defending the Visible Interest of the Children of the Faithful in the Covenant of Grace, under the New Administra­tion of it, as well as under the Old, wherein we all know the Infants of Believers enjoyed the Seal of being made Righteous by Faith. In the De­fence [Page 72] of this Comfortable Truth, he not only Prea­ched more than half a score ungainsayable Ser­mons, while his own Church was in some Dan­ger by the Hydrophobie of Anabaptism, which was come upon the Mind of an Eminent person in i [...]; but also when afterwards the Rest of the Churches were Troubled by a strong Attempt up­on them from the Spirit of Anabaptism, there was a Publick Disputation appointed at Boston, two days together, for the clearing of the Faith, in this Article, this Worthy man was he, who did most Service, in this Disputation; whereof the Effect was, that although the Erring Brethren, as is usual in such cases, made this their Last Answer to the Arguments, which had cast them into much Con­fusion, Say what you will, We will Hold our Mind!

Yet others were happily established, in the Right Wayes of the Lord. Nor was this all the Good and Great Work, for which this rare per­son was marvellously prepared, by these Temptati­ons: there is a further Stroke of our Church Hi­story, to be here briefly Touched, though elsewhere more fully to be [...].

§ 11. New-England was a Wilderness Plant­ed by a People, generally so Remarkable in their Holy Zeal, for the Ordinances belonging to the House of God, that for the sake of Enjoying the [Page 73] Administrations of those Ordinances with Scrip­tural Purity, they had undergone the severe Perse­cutions which at last Exiled them into that Ameri­can Wilderness: And hence there were few peo­ple of any Significancy, in the Transplantation, but what at their first Coming over, joyned them­selves unto the full Communi [...]n of the Churches, in all special Ordinances, though many of them had (I say not, justifyably) made the Terms of their Communion so strict, that it might justly have been Reckoned a difficult thing for some Sincere Christians of smaller Attainments in Christianity to come up unto them. For this cause, although several of our Seers, did so far See the State, which our Matters would e're long devolve into, that they Laboured much to have the Principles of Truth concerning, The Church State of the Children born in the Churches, Declared and Asserted, in the Platform of Church Discipline, among the First Prin­ciples of New England, nevertheless many Worthy men, were slow to make any Synodical Decision of those Principles, until there should arise more occa­sion for the Practices, that were to be deduced from them. This Occasion did in Twenty or Thirty years time, come on with some Importunity and Impetuosity, when the Countrey began to be filled with the Adult Posterity of the First Planters; a­mong which, there were Multitudes or Persons, who by the good Effects of a pious Education under the Means of Grace, observable upon them, in their Profession of the Faith, not contradicted [Page 74] by any thing scandalous in their Life, deserved a­nother Consideration in the Churches, than what was allowed unto Pagans; and yet were not so far Improved, in all [...]he Points of Experimental Godliness, that they c [...]uld boldly Demand an Ad­mission unto the Mysteries, at the Table of the Lord; the Conditions whereof confined it unto persons that were sensibly Grown in Grace, and i [...] the Knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. The most of the Ministers then, and before then, in the Land were desirous to have the thus Qualified Posterity of the Faithful, acknowledged in the Churches, a [...] the Nursery, from whence a successive supply of Communicants, was to be expected; and it wa [...] their Desire, that this Nursery might be Watered with Baptism, and Pruned with Discipline, as well as otherwise Dressed by the Ministry of the Word. Yea, they thought, that besides the Internal Bene­fits of the New Covenant unto the Elect of God, the Sealing of that Covenant unto them, that were visibly the Right Subjects of it, would be an Assu­rance from God, that when these persons grow up to years of Discretion, He would infallibly make them the Offer of His Covenant, and so continue the Gospel of it, among them: whereas if They and Theirs were no other accounted of than Heathens, there would not pass many Generations, before the Sacred Religion of Christ, would, through the just wrath of Heaven, be lost among them, in ut­ter Heathenism. However, all men did not then see all things! When the Church of Roxbury par­ticularly [Page 75] in the year 1653. was put upon Doing what was their Duty in this Respect, our Mitchel was yet (he said) in the Dark about it; he wished and wrote, That it might not yet be pressed; and added, The Lord teach me Humility, Modesty, Wis­dom in these things! Many a day did this Excellent man spend now in Praying with Fasting before God; and when he was thus Engaged in the Exercises of a Sacred and Secret Fast, I find him, inserting this, as not the least cause of his being so Engaged: The Case of the Children of the Church, in Regard of the Doctrine and Practice about it. Oh! that God would show me His Mind, and Way clearly in those things: enable me to Teach them convincingly, and set upon the Practice thereof: and that the whole Countrey might be Guided aright therein; That Abra­ham's Commanding Power might have its due Exer­cise, as to the Children of our Churches. And that all the Remaining Knots, and Difficulties about Church-Discipline, and the Management of Christ's visible Kingdom, might once be clearly Resolved according to the Word. Lord, Humble me, and prosper my poor Studies, and Teach me to know and do thy whole Will herein! as Ezek. 43.11. And at another Time; The Points about Church Discipline, I have been long aiming to look more thoroughly into. Lord, Help and Guide me therein! and Grant that I may be kept from Extreams (the great Undoing of the World:) both from immoderate Rigidness, on the one Hand, either in Principles, Spirit, or Practice; and on the other hand, from wronging either Truth, or Conscience, by any sinful [Page 76] Compliance. To these Devotions, he joyned inde­fa [...]ig [...]ble Studies upon the Great Question, then Agitated; and the Determination of the Question at last, was more Owing unto him, than unto any One man in the World: For He was a Great part in that Renowned Synod; that met a [...] Boston in the year 1662. The [...] of the Synod afterwards published, was chi [...]fly of his Composure, and when a most Elaborate Answer to that Result, was Published by some very worthy Persons, that were then Dissenters, the Hardest Service in the Defence was Assigned unto him. In fine, Our Lord Jesus Christ made this Great Man, even, while he was yet a Young man, one of the Greatest Instruments we ever had, of Explaining and Maintaining the Truths, relating to the Church-State of the Posteri­ty in our Churches, and of the Church Care, which our Churches owe unto their Posterity: and I have laid before the Reader, one of the most Ex­tensive and Expensive Labours, that exhausted his Life, when I have mentioned, The Propositions of the Synod about the Subject of Baptism. All that re­mains necessary, to Illustrate this Paragr [...]ph of our H [...]story, is to Desc [...]ibe in a line or two, the Dis­position which our Mitchel did prosecute this Grand Concern withal; and I will therefore only Transcribe a Little from a Judicious Letter of hi [...], to Mr. Increase Mather, upon that Subject, which that Reverend Person afterwards Printed unto the World: with an Unanswerable Vindication [Page 77] of these First Principles of New-England, both from the Imputations of Apostasy, by some ignorantly cast upon them, and from whatever other Ob­jections might be advanced against them. ‘ As for the Substance of the Cause werein we have En­gaged (saith he) I am daily more and more Confirmed, that it is the Cause of Truth, and of Christ, and that wherein, not a little of the Inter­est of Christ's Kingdom, and of the Souls of men, is laid up. We have been Reflected upon by some, as seeking our selves, and Driving on, I know not what Design: though I cannot readily Imagine, what self Interest or self End, we here should be led by in this matter; Sure I am, that for my own part, I prejudice my self much, as to Name, Interest, and Ease, for my appearing in this Cause: Neither was I so unsensible, as not to feel it from the First. I know my self to be a poor, vile, sinful Creature, and I can with some feeling say, Chief of Sinners, and Least of Saints: but in this particular matter, I have often said, I wish my Brethren could see through me; for I know not any Design or Desire I have in it, in all the World, but only that the Will of God might be done among us, His Kingdom be ad­vanced, these Churches, settled on Right Bases, and flourish in the wayes of Truth, Purity and Peace, and that the Good of the Souls of men might be promoted, both in this, and after Ge­nerations. Touching the matter it self, that hath been in Debate, please to consider at Leasure, these Three Propositions.’

[Page 78] ‘First, The whole Visible Church, under the New Testament is to be Baptised.’

‘Secondly, If a man be one in the Church (whether admitted at Age, or in Infancy) no­thing less than Censurable-Evil, can put him out.’

‘Thirdly, If the Parent be in the Visible Church, his Infant Child is so also.’

‘Whether the Persons described in the Fifth Proposition of the Synod should be Baptised, as in a Catholick, or in a Particular Church State, is a­nother Question: And I confess my self not altogether so peremptory in this Latter, is I am in the Thing it self; [viz. That they ought to be Baptised,] yet still I think, when all Stones are Turned it will come to this, That all the Baptised are and ought to be under Discipline in particular Churches.’

And now 'tis more than time for us to Dismiss this part of our Mitchellian Pourtraiture, from any further Elaborations.

§ 12. Mr. Mitchel's Desire had been, To be kept from Extreams; and indeed there was nothing more Observable in his Temper, than such a Study of, a Temper in all Difficult Matters, as renders a Person amiable, wherever tis Observable. I re­member, I have met with a Note of a very fa­mous Preacher, who, in the midst of many Tem­tations on both Hands, relieved himself by Interpre­ting, from the Context, that Passage in Eccles 7.18. He that feareth God shall come forth from them [Page 79] all to be meant of [...] Deliverance out of all Ex­treams. The Fear of God in our Mitchel, had this Effect, and Reward: And his wise coming forth from all Extreams, was no where more Conspicu­ous, than in those points of Church-Discipline, for the clearing of which he had been, (I may say Extreamly) exercised. Had the sweet, Charitable, Amicable Spirit, that Signalized this Good man, [...]een expressed by all good men, as much as it was by him, a great part of the Ecclesiastical Dif­ferences in the World had been evaporated, and it had not been so long before the Names of Pres­byterian and Congregational, had been melted down into that One of United Brethren. It was the wish of our Mitchel, to have those Two Things, in the State of the Church, livelily Represented unto the Sense of the World. First, the Grace, and then at the same time, the Holiness, of the Lord Jesus Christ, the King of the Church: and for the Obtaining of such a Representation, he thought nothing more Effectual, than the middle way; For the Cildren of the Faithful, to be taken within the Verge of the Church, under the Wings of the Lord Jesus Christ, in his Ordinances, and under Church care, Discipline, and Government, and to be in a State of Initiation and Education, in the Church of God, and consequently to have Bap­tism, which is the Seal of Initiation: But that they shall not come up to the Lords Table, nor be ad­mitted unto an equal share, with the Communicants, in the Management of Church Affairs, peculiar to [Page 80] them, until, as a Fruit of the aforesaid Helps and Means, they attain to such Qualifications, as may render their Admission fair, safe, and com­fortable, both to themselves and others. His Words were, We make account, that if we keep Baptism within the Compass of the Non-Excommu­nicable, and the Lords Supper, within the Compass of those that have (unto Charity) somewhat of the Power of Godliness ( or, Grace in Exercise) we shall be near about the Right Middle-way of Church-Reformation. And hence, when he had pleaded with as Irresistible Reason, as Indefatiga­ble Study, for the Grace of the Kingdom of Hea­ven, to be exhibited in our Churches, by Admi­nistring the Baptism of the Lord unto the Persons, and Infants of all, who understand the Doctrine of Faith, and publickly profess their Assent thereunto, and are not Scandalous in Life, and Solemnly own the Covenant of Grace before the Church, & Subject them­selves, and theirs unto the Government of the Lord in His Church: He then set himself to plead for the Holiness of that Kingdom, to be exhibited in the Churches, not only by Censuring the Baptised, when they fell into Scandalous Evils, but also by Requiring further degrees of Preparation, in those that they received unto the Supper of the Lord. Nothing was more agreeable unto him, than such a Notion of Things, as Polanus had, when Wri­ting of the Lord's Supper, he had these words; Nec ad eam admittendi sunt [...], nisi prius Pastoribus Ecclesiae exploratum sit, eos veram Fidei Doctrinam [Page 81] recte tenere et profiteri, ac intelligere quid in sacra cae­na agatur, quove fine, et seipsos probare possent, an si [...]t in Fide.—Quocirca etiam Catechumeni aut Imperiti, e vulgo; tamdiu differendi donec de Fide, et vita eorum Pastoribus probe constet. Now, because it may be a singular Service unto the Churches, to lay before them the Judgment of so Eminent a Person, up­on a Concern of some Curious and Critical Con­testation in them, I shall Reckon it no Digression from the Story of his Life, to Recite the Result of those Meditations, in the Digesting of which, no little part of his Life did Roll away. He thus wrote for his own satisfaction, on Januar. 4. 1664. And I shall be glad, if it may now be for my Reader's.

Thus did a Manuscript of this Worthy Mans, now in my Hands, Harmonize with a Notable [Page 89] passage about the Bohemian Churches.

Reader, If the Beating out of Truth in Contro­versies, that have Risen among us, relating to our Church Discipline had not been the special Ser­vice, wherein all our Churches beheld the Lord Jesus Christ making use of this our Learned, Able Holy, and no less Considerate, than Considerable Mitchel, I had not given thee so long an Enter­tainment, as that of these Propositions; Propositions ▪ which if they should in the Opinion of any, fall short of Demonstrations, and Contribute nothing to Unite and Settle the various Apprehensions of some very Worthy men among us, about an Im­portant Point in our Church-Government, yet they will in the Opinion of all serve to express the Dispositions of Mind, which the rare Spirited Au­thor of them did both Live and Dye withal. They show how much [...]e was Against that Rigi [...] Unscriptural, Uninstituted, and Unwarrantable Insisting upon Modes, wherein some of our Chur­ches, had sinned sometimes against the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ; and yet how much he was For all Scriptural and Rational Methods to pre­serve the Churches from sinning against the Ho­liness, which does Become those Houses of God for e­ver.

[Page 91]§ 13. I have said, that the Life of our Mitchel was in a special manner Engrossed, by the Servi­ces of Explaining, Maintaining and Perfecting those Principles, whereby the Christian Religion▪ must be preserved, with a True and Pure Church-State among us, and Conveyed and Secured unto Posterity: and this Leads me to that part of his Character, which Distinguished him, as much as any One whatsoever; Namely, A Care of all the Churches. Our Lord Jesus Christ complains, That the Children of this World are (for so I read it) wiser for their own Generation, than the Children of Light. But our Mitchel was Wise for his Genera­tion, and Exercised his Wit with much Contri­vance, and much Diligence, that his Generation, even the Faithful People of God in the World, might be accommodated in all their Interests. He was Endued with a certain soaring and se­rious Greatness of Soul, which rendred Fly-catching too low a Business for him; though he were One of a very Lowly Spirit In his Disposition to be al­ways Condemning of himself, yet he nourished in himself a Generous Disdain of Low, Little, Trifling Matters, and was of a Leading Spirit where hard Service was called for, and of a Pub­lick Spirit, for Doing of Service to as many as he could: His Thoughts moved in a large Sphere of Usefulness, and he was continually projecting how to Do good, in the most extensive manner unto more than an whole Countrey. The Bucholtzeri­an [Page 92] Expression of the Apostolical ΠΑΝΤΑΧΟΥΣΙΑ might be transferred into our Account of Mr. Mitchel: He was a Circle, whereof the Center was at Cambridge, and the Circumference took in more than all New-England. Hence, when he set apart his Dayes for Secret Prayer with Fasting before God, he would Recapitulate in his private Pa­pers, the Humbling Occasions for Supplication, which he saw, not only in Afflictive Things on his own particular Flock, but also in all the sad Sights, which in Disasters either upon the Civil or Sacred Concerns throughout all our Three Colonies, and all Gradual Decayes of our Glory, occurr'd unto him; yea, and he would then Travel so far, as to Observe the Condition of the Church throughout Great Britain, and the Nations of the Europaean World: and all these Occasions of Dis­tress and Request, he would enumerate before the Lord, with the Matters of his own Everlasting Welfare. From the same Heroick Vertue (as I may properly call it) in him it was, that in the Weekly Meetings of the Neighbouring Pastors, after the Weekly Lectures in the Towns which he could vi­sit; and at all other such Meetings, he would with a most becoming Discretion and Modesty, be still putting forward something or other, that might be for General Advantage: And when the Ministers met at any time so much without Advantageous Effects of their Discourses, that it could be said, The Time had been Smoaked away to no purpose, he would be Troubled at it; It caused him once [Page 93] to write this Lamentation; Little done! I have begun to feel the sadness of the present time, and the Lord's withdrawing from us and our Chariot wheels taken off: I find that in all Societies, where I have any thing to Do, Common wealth, and Church and Colledge, things stick, and we draw Heavily, and No­thing can be gotten forward: All things, and all the Spirits of men, seem to be off the Hinges: Oh! Lord, Affect my Heart therewithal! In this Lamentation, the Reader finds the Colledge mentioned, and in­deed the Colledge was nearer unto his Heart, than it was to his House, though next adjoyning to it. He was himself an Accomplished Scholar, and he loved a Scholar dearly; but his Heart was fervent­ly set upon having the Land all over Illuminated with the Fruits of a Learned Education. To this End, he became a Father to the Colledge, which had been his Mother, and sought the Prosperity of that Society, with a very singular Sollicitude: but among other Contrivances which he had for the Prosperity of the Colledge, One was, A Model for the Education of Hopeful Students at the Colledge in Cambridge. His Proposals were, for Septennial Subscriptions by the more Worthy and Wealthy Persons, in this poor Wilderness; to be Disposed of by Trustees (namely, the Magistrates and Mi­nisters of the six next Towns, for the time being, with seven other Gentlemen by them Chosen out of the said Towns, of which any Seven to be a Quorum, if three Ministers were among them,) who should single out Scholars eminently preg­nant [Page 94] and pious, and out of this Bounty support them in such Studies, as they should by these Trus­tees be directed unto, until they had either perfor­med such profitable Services, as were Imposed on them in the Colledge it self, or prepared themselves for other Services abroad in the World. He was mightily affected with a Passage of Luther's, If e­ver there be any Considerable Blow given to the De­vils Kingdom, it must be by Youth excellently Educa­ted. And therefore, Res seria est, Ingens est, It is a serious Thing, a Weighty Thing, and a Thing that hath much of the Interest of Christ, and of Christianity in it, that Youth be well Trained up, and want no Helps for that end; that Schools, and School Masters, and poor Scholars be mentained. It is the Flourishing of a Common Wealth, to be well furnished with Learned, Worthy and Able men for all Purposes. And God will not give us such men by Miracle, seeing He hath vouchsafed us other wayes, and means to obtain them. Learning is an Unwelcome Guest to the Devil, and therefore he would fain Starve it out. But we shall never long retain the Gospel, without the Help of Learning. And, if we should have no Regard unto Religion, even the Outward Prosperity of a People in this World, would necessary Require Schools and Learned men. Alas, that none are carryed with Alacrity and Seri­ousness to take care for the Education of Youth, and to Help the World with Eminent and Able men. 'Twas from Considerations, like these of Luther's, that he did with an Accurate and judicious Pen, [Page 95] shape these Proposals. But, if New England then had not many Persons in it, of the same In­clination with Pope Paul 2. who pronounced them, Hereticks, that should mention the Name of an Academy, and exhorted People, that they would not put their Children to Learning, inas­much, as it was enough if they could but Read and Write; yet, through the Discouragements of Poverty and Selfishness, the Proposals came to nothing. Moreover, the Remarkable Acuteness joined with an Extraordinary Holiness, in this Renowned man, caused the Churches, in all Quar­ters far and near, when their Difficult Church-Cases called for the Help of Councils, to make their Applications unto Cambridge, for Mr. Mitchel to come and Help them in their Difficulties. And in these Councils, as well as when Weighty Cases have been laid before the Elders of the Churches, by the the General Courts, though usually most of the Ministers present were Elder than he, yet the Sense and Hand of no Man, was relied more upon than His, for the Exact Result of all. With so much humble Wisdom and Caution, did he Temper the Significant For­wardness at Well-Doing which he still carryed a­bout him, that the Disproportion of Age, hin­dered not the most Aged, and Able, and Vene­rable Angels in our Churches, from their Paying a very strange Respect unto him. However he Encountred with such Temptations as must Buffet all that have in them, any thing of Significancy; [Page 96] For which cause, Once particularly, when [...] had been Admirably Acquitting himself in an Undertaking of Great Consequence to the Churches, he came home, and wrote these words. My Spirit was carryed out in too much forward­ness: I see cause to be deeply abased and Loath my self, and hang down my Head before God and Men. How do I marr Gods Work, and marr what He gives me therein, by my own Folly! Sometimes [...] am ready to Resolve to put forth my self no more in publick Work, but keep my self Silent, and un­ingaged, as I see others do. But then I perceive, that this Tasteth of Forwardness and Pride. Lord, Give me more Wisdom to manage and demean my self! But if thy Service and Honour may be promoted by my Weakness and Folly, Let me be willing to be Vile, that God may be Exalted. 2 Sam. 6.21, 22. Upon the whole, he was unwilling to affect such an Un­serviceable Privacy, that they who passed by his House, might say, Hic situs est Mitchellus,

§ 14. I know not how far that Learned Frenchman, who Writes, The Conformity of the Con­gregational Church-Government unto that of the Anci­ent Primitive Christians, hath seen verified his Ob­servation, All Disinterested persons may easily be per­swaded that the Congregational Communion, retains most of the Apostolick, because it is not only the Cream and Best of the others, but also because it hath more Charity. 'Tis very rarely seen (saith he) that any One of the Congregational Way, does not Love all [Page 97] Good men of what Communion soever they be, and that they do not speak of them, as of the True Churches of Jesus Christ: whereas even the most Sober and honest party of the Episcopal men, and some of the Presbyterians, are so strongly possessed with Prejudices against those of Congregations, that they are in their Account, no better than Hypocrites, Schis­maticks, and men of strange Enthusiasms. If any of the Congregational way do not answer this Character, Let these Words Condemn them; as I know those of the Presbyterian way in this Country, have by their Charitable Temper, much Confuted that part of the Discourse, by which they are here Characterized. But the Observa­tion I am sure, was verifyed in our Mitchel; who was one fully Satisfyed and Established in the Congregational way of Church Government, and yet had a Spirit of Communion for all Godly men in other Forms, and was far from Confining of God­liness unto his own. It was a frequent Speech with him, The Spirit of Christ, is a Spirit of Communion! And I can tell, what he would have said, if he had lived to see the Books of so Ridiculous a Schismatick, as he that has made him­self Infamous by attempting to prove, That where there is no Episcopal Ordination, there is no True Church, Minister, Sacrament, or Salvation. His Great worth caused him to be called, forth several times, with an Early and Special Respect form the General Court of the Colony, to Preach on the Greatest Solemnity that the Colony afforded; [Page 98] Namely, The Anniversary Election of Governour & Magistrates: And one of the Sermons which he Preached on those Occasions, was after his Death, published unto the World, under the Title of, Nehemiah upon the Wall. In that Sermon, Reader, Take notice of the Discovery which he gave of his own Chatholick Charity, when he says, ‘Do not wrong and marr an Excellent work, and Profession, by Mixing and Weaving in Spurions Principles, or Practices; as those of Separation, Anabaptism, Morellian (Anarchical) Confusion. If any would secretly 'twist in, and espouse such things as those, and make them part of our Interest, we must needs Renounce it as none of our Cause, no part of the End, and Design of the Lords faithful Servants, when they followed him into this Land, that was [...] sown. Separation and Anabaptism, are wonted Intruders, and seeming Friends, but secret fatal Enemies, to Reformation. Do not, on pretence of avoiding Corruption, run into Sinful Separation from any True Churches of God, and that is Good there­in; and yet it is our Errand into the Wilderness to Study and Practise True Scripture-Reformation, and it will be our Crown, in the Sight of God and Man, if we find it and hold if, without Adulterating deviations.’ Thus, though he were a Reformer, yet he had nothing in him of a Donatist: For which cause Mr. Baxter hearing of him, said, If an Oecumenical Council could be ob­tained, Mr. Mitchel were worthy to be it's Mo­derator. [Page 99] And this Disposition of Charity, in him, was Rewarded, with the Respects, which he found from Learned and Pious men, that were in many things not of his own perswasion: Such Holiness, and Patience, and sweet Condescension, were his Incomparable Abilities accompanied withal, that Good men, who otherwise distered from him would still speak of him with Reve­rence. To give one Particular Instance: 'Tis well known that the Reverend Charles Chancey, Praesident of the Colledge, and a Neighbour in the Town and Church, with our much younger Mitchel, at the Time of the Synod, zealously [...]nd publickly, by Pen as well as by Speech, op­posed the Synodalian Principles whereof Mr. Mitchel was no small Defender: But so far was the Dissent between them, in the very Heat and Heighth of all the Controversy, from causing the Reverend Old Man to Handle his Antagonist, [...]n any measure as the Angry Dioscorus did the Dissenting Flavian, in the Council of Ephesus, [...]hat he would commonly say of him, I know no man in this World, that I could Envy so much, as Worthy Mr. Mitchel, for the Great Holiness, Learning, Wisdom and Meekness, and other Quali­ties of an Excellent Spirit, with which the Lord Jesus Christ hath Adorned him.

§ 15. And shall we a little more particular­ly Describe that Holiness, of this Excellent Man, which we have so often mentioned? It is [Page 100] an Aphorism of a Machiavel, [and, Rea [...]er, was it not worthy of a Machiavel!] That he who Writes an History, must be a man of no Religion. By that profane Rule, the first and the best Histo­rian in the World, the most Religious MOSES, was ill accomplished for a Writer of History. But the History, which we are now Writing, does Professedly intend nothing so much as the Ser­vice of Religion, even of that Religion, whereof our MITCHEL made an Exemplary Profession. Wherefore we go on, to say; Know, Reader, That he was a Great Example of a Walk with God. He was much in Prayer, much in Fasting, Sometimes taking his Virtuous Wife, therein to make a Consort with him; and sometimes also he kept, whole Dayes of Thanks­giving privately with his Family, besides what he did more publickly; Devoting himself, as a Thank Offering to God, for his Mercies, with a Rea­sonable Service. In his Diary, He betimes laid that Rule upon himself, Oh! that I could Remember this Rule, never to go to Bed, until I have had some Re­newed special Communion with God! He kept a strict watch, over not only his Words, but also his very Thoughts; and if by the Reflections, which he was continually making on himself, he judged that his Mind had not been always full of Hea­ven, that his Heart had been, what he called, hard and slight, that he had been Formal, in his Devoti­ons, that he had not profited abundantly by the Sermons of other men, that he had not made [Page 101] Conscience of Doing all the Good he could, when he had been in any Company; he would put Stings into his Reflections, and Rebuke and Reproach himself with an Holy Indignation. Severe might seem the Rule of R. Hanina. If two sit together and there be no Discourse of the Law, 'tis the Seat of the Scornful: Severe might seem the Rule of R. Simeon, If Three do Eat at one Table, and say nothing about the Law, they are as if they Eat the Sacrifices of the Dead: And severe might be the Rule of R. Hananiah, He that wakes in the Night or walks by the way, and let's his Heart lie Idle, sins against his own Soul: But our Mitchel reckoned it no Severity unto himself, to impose upon him­self such Rules as these for his Conversation. I have Read, That Five Devout persons being toge­ther, there was this Question started among them, How, In what wayes, By what means, they streng­thened themselves in Abstaining from Sin against the God of Heaven? The First Answered, I frequently, meditate on the Certainty of Death, and the Uncertain­ty of the Time for my Death, and this makes me Live in the Fear of Sin, every Day as my Last. The Second Answered, I frequently meditate on the strict Account of Sin that I am to give at the Day of Judg­ment, and the Everlasting Torments in Hell, to be inflicted on them that can give no Good Account. The Third Answered, I frequently meditate on the vile­ness, and filthiness, and loathsomeness of Sin, and the Excellency of Grace, which is contrary unto so vile a Thing. The Fourth Answered, I frequently medi­tate [Page 102] on the Eternal Rewards and Pleasures Reserved in Heaven, for them that avoid the pleasures of Sin, which are but for a moment. The Fifth Answered, I frequently meditate on the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and His wondrous Love to miserable Sinners, in Dying a Cursed and a Bitter Death for our Sin; and this Helps me to Abstain from Sin, more than any other consideration whatsoever; And the Answer of this last was indeed the greatest of all. Now all these were the Subjects, which our Holy Mitchel, ob­liged himself to an assiduous Meditation upon; and by Meditating on these it was, that he be­came very Holy. Moreover, he was as Holy men use to be, very solicitous to make a due Improve­ment of all Afflictions, that the Providence of Hea­ven dispensed unto him. He would say, When God personally Afflicts a man, it is as if He called unto the man by Name, and jogged him, and said, Oh! Re­pent, be Humbled, be Serious, be Awakened: Yea, he could not so much as be kept a little from the Labours of his Ministry, by an Hoarse Cold arresting him, without writing down this Improve­ment of it; My Sin is Legible in the Chastisement: cold Duties, cold Prayers (my voice in Prayer, i. e. my Spirit of Prayer fearfully gone) my Coldness in my whole Conversation, chastised with a Cold; I fear that I have not Improved my voice for God formerly as I might have done, and therefore He now takes it from me. But the Affliction which most of all Ex­ercised him, seems to have been in the successive Death of many and Lovely Children, though all of [Page 103] them, in their Infancy. 'Tis an Observation made by some, upon several Passages in the Scripture concerning that Generous and Grac [...]us man, Da­vid, that he was Liberorum Amantissimus, full of Affections to his Children; and that was to be Observed in our Mr. Jonathan Mitchel; for which cause, when his Children were Sick, his Paternal Bowels felt more than ordinary wounds; and when they were Dead, his Humil [...]ions thereup­on were extraordinary. He [...] whole Pages of Lamentations on these Occasions; and one of his Infants particularly Expiring before it could be brought forth to an orderly Baptism, I cannot but Recite a little of the Meditations then written by him: It was a further sad Hand of the Lord (saies he) that it should Dy Unbaptised. Though I do not think they are Orthodox, that hang Salvation upon Baptism, and not rather upon the Covenant, yet as it is appointed to be a Confirming Sign, and as it is an Ordinance of Grace, so to be Deprived of it, is a great Frown, and a sad Intimation of the Lord's An­ger: And though it may be well with with the Child notwithstanding (that it becomes me to leave unto the Lord!) yet it is to us a Token of Displeasure. And what Constructions or Thoughts tending to the Lord's Dishonour, it may Occasion, I know not: That after my Labours in Publick about Infant Baptism, the Lord should take away my Child without and before Baptism! Hereby the Lord does again and again make me an Example of His Displeasure before all men, as if He did say openly, that He hath a special Contro­versy [Page 104] with me; Thus [...] taking [...] One after another. The Lord brings me forth, and makes me go up and down, as one smitten of God: The Lord spits in my Face by this Thing. See 2 Sam. 12.12. Numb. 12.12. Deut. 28.45, 46, 58, 59. Such, and many more were the workings of his Tender Soul under his Repeated Afflictions. And such were the Unsearchable Dealings of God, that besides the Children which he sent unto Heaven before him, when he went unto Heaven himself, he left behind him Three Sons, and Two Daughters, all of which Lived unto somewhat of Youth, yet they have all of them since dyed in their Youth: except only a Virtuous Young Gentlewoman, married unto Captain Stephen Sewal of Salem; unto whom (with her Offspring, the only Poste­rity of this Great man) may the Lord multiply all the Blessings of that Covenant, for which their Progenitor proved so Serviceable a Pleader in his Generation!

The last Thing that ever he wrote in his Re­served Papers, after he had Bitterly Reproached, The Sinful Deadness, Straitness, Enmity, and Unsa­ [...]ouriness (as he called it) upon his own Heart, up­on which he added this Pathetical Expression, I feel I shall fall, and tumble down into the Pit of Hell, if left unto my self; It was June 7. 1668. To quick­en his Cares of Daily Meditation.

‘First. Far Younger than I, some of them now got to Heaven, have done much this way. Nulla Dies sine linea.’

[Page 105] ‘Secondly. Meditation, yea, Daily Meditation, in general, is an Indispensable Duty. Psal. 1.2. and Psal. 119.97. And because it is so, there may be something of Meditation in Prayer, in Reading the Word; Josh. 1.8. with Deut. 19 19. and in Occasional Transient Thoughts: yet surely some sett Meditation daily besides these, is at least to me a Duty, who am set apart, for the Holy Work of the Ministry, wherein it would be Helpful, as well as to my own Soul.’

‘Thirdly. Heaven is here begun upon Earth: shall I be Thinking on, and Talking with, Christ, to all Eternity, and not Discourse with Him, one quarter of an Hour in a Day now?’

‘Fourthly. The Great Enemies of all Good, Flesh, Satan, and World, do of all other things, most oppose Meditation which showes that there is much Good in it. Flesh, by Awkness, Giddi­ness; World, by Distractions; Satan, by stirring up both. Lord, Awaken me, and keep me Awake!’

§ 16. But what and when, was the End of this Holy Walk? The Incongruities, and Incon­sistences, of Historians, are not more notorious in any­one Article, than in that of, the Deaths of the Hero's, whose Lives they have Eternized. With what Varie­ties are the Deaths of Cyrus, of Antiochus, of Alexander, of Hannibal, of Romulus, of Scipio, of Plato, of Aristo­tle, reported? There is hardly any Philosopher, but he Dies Twice or Thrice over in Laertius; and there is hardly one of Plutarchs Worthies, [Page 106] but he Dies as many wayes, The Dea [...] of our Mitchel, remains now to be Related, with more of Certainty. Though Bodily Exercise does profit a little, as the Apostle concedes, namely, to the Health of the Body; and Mr. Mitchel had from a Principle of Godliness, used himself to Bodily Ex­ercise; nevertheless he found it would not wholly free him from an Ill Habit of Body. Of extream Lean, he soon grew extream Fat; and at last, in an extream Hot Season, a Fever arrested him, just after he had been Preaching on those words, I know that thou wilt bring me to Death and unto the House appointed for all the Living. The Fever did not seem to Threaten his Death; however in his Illness, to them, that visited him, he said, If the Lord Jesus Christ have any Service for me to Do for Him, and His Dear People, I am willing to Do it; but if my Work be Done, His Will be done! But the Distemper suddenly assaulting him, with a Mortal Malignity, and Summoning him to the House appointed for all the Living, he fell to Admi­ring the manifold Grace of God unto him, and broke forth into these words, Lord, Thou callest me away to Thee; I know not why, if I look to my self; but at thy Bidding, I come! which were some of the Last words, that he spoke in the World: For his Friends, who had not, for many Hours, En­tertained the Expectation of any such dismal E­vent, were compelled in Floods of Tears, to see him Dy, on July 9. 1668. in the Forty Third Year of his Age: When (as one expresses that [Page 107] matter.) he left his Body to be dipped in the [...] of Jordan, that afterwards in its Resurrecti­o [...] passing into Canaan, it may, beyond the Sto­ry of Achilles, become Impenetrable and Invulne­ [...]able. Wonderful were the Lamentations, which this Deplorable Death fill'd the Churches of New-England withal; For as the Jewish Rabbi's Lamen­ted the Death of R. Jose, with saying, That af­ter his Death, Cessarunt Botri, i. e. Viri tales, in quibus omnes, tum Eruditionis, cum Virtutis, o [...]uli erant: So, after the Departure of our Mitchel, it was fear'd there would be few more such Rich Grapes to be seen growing in this Unthankful Wilderness. Yea, they Speak of this Great man in their Lamentations to this Day: and what they speak is briefly the same, that One of our most Eminent Persons has Writ, in those Terms, All New-England shook, when that Pillar fell to the Ground.