Identity of the Antichrist

 

SERMON TWENTY-THREE2
[For the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool: but my righteousness shall be for ever, and my salvation form generation to generation.] Isaiah 51:8

[DOCTRINE]
NOTE: the first section is not in the 1808 edition.

[The Work of Redemption is a work that God carries on from the fall of man to the end of the world.]

IN showing from this text how the Work of Redemption is carried on ‹from the fall of man to the end of the world›, we were last showing how the success of Christ's purchase was carried on from the destruction of the heathen empire in the days of Constantine the Great till the fall of Antichrist, which is the third and last period of the suffering state of the Christian church. And for the clearer and later view of the progress of the success of Christ's purchase through this period, it was divided into four parts, viz. [the first, from the fall of Rome to the rise of Antichrist; the second, from thence to Luther; the third, from the Reformation to the present time; the fourth, from the present time till Antichrist is fallen].3 And it [was]4 proposed through each of them to take notice both of the opposition of Satan and also [how the church was upheld].5 We entered on the second part of this period, viz. that from the rise of Antichrist till the time of the beginning of the Reformation, in which it [was]6 proposed to take7 notice first, of the great works that the Devil wrought in opposition, and second, to show how the church was upheld through this evil time. The former has been already done in showing how that Satan set up and maintained these two great kingdoms of his, viz. his Antichristian and Mohammedan kingdoms.

2. (1808 edition, Kindle location 14426) I come now to show how the church of Christ was upheld through this dark time. And here 

(1) it is to be observed that towards the former part of this space of time, some of the nations of Christendom held out a long time before they complied with the corruptions and usurpations of the church of Rome. Though all the world wondered after the beast, yet all nations did not fall in at once. Many of the principal corruptions of the church of Rome were brought in with a great deal of struggle and opposition; and particularly when the Pope first gave out that he was universal bishop, many churches greatly opposed him in it, and it was a long time before they would even yield to his exorbitant claims. 

And so when the worship of images was first brought into the churches, there were many faithful that who greatly opposed it, and long held out against it. And so with respect to other corruptions of the church of Rome. Those people that who dwelt nearer to the city of Rome complied sooner, but some of the more remote were a long time before they could be induced to put their necks under the yoke; and particularly ecclesiastical history gives an account, that it was so with great part of the churches in England and Scotland, and France, who retained the ancient purity of doctrine and worship much longer than many others that were much nearer the chief seat of Antichrist.

(2) In every age of this dark time there appeared many particular persons in all parts of Christendom that who bore a testimony against the corruptions and tyranny of the church of Rome. There is no one age of Antichrist, even in the darkest times of all, but ecclesiastical historians mention a great many by name that manifested an abhorrence of the Pope and his idolatrous worship, and pleaded for the ancient purity of doctrine and worship. 

God was pleased to maintain an uninterrupted succession of witnesses through the whole time in Germany and France, Britain, and other countries, as historians do demonstrate and mention 'em by name and give account of the testimony that which they held. Many of them were private persons, and many of them ministers, and some magistrates, and persons of great distinction. And there were numbers in every age that were persecuted and put to death for this testimony.

(3) Besides these particular persons dispersed here and there, there was a certain people called the Waldenses, who that lived separate from all the rest of the world, that who kept themselves pure, and constantly bore a testimony against the church of Rome through all this dark time. 

The place where they dwelt was the valleys of Piedmont, a very mountainous country between Italy and France. The valleys where they lived were compassed about with those exceeding high mountains called the Alps which were almost impassable. The passage over these mountainous desert countries was so difficult that the valleys where this people lived were almost inaccessible. 

There this people lived for many ages, as it were, alone, in a state of separation from all the world, having very little to do with any other people. And there they served God in the ancient purity of his worship, and never submitted to the church of Rome. This place in this desert mountainous country probably was the place especially meant in the Revelation 12:6, as the place prepared of God for the woman, that they should feed her there during the reign of Antichrist.

Some of the Popish writers themselves own, that that this people never submitted to the church of Rome. One of the Popish writers speaking of the Waldenses, says the heresy of the Waldenses is the oldest heresy in the world. 'Tis supposed that [the reason that] this people first betook themselves to this desert and secret place among the mountains was their fleeing thither to hide themselves from the severity of the heathen persecutions that were before Constantine the Great; and thus the woman fled into the wilderness from the face of the serpent, Revelation 12:6. And so verse 14 Revelation 12:14, "And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent." 

And the people being settled there, that their posterity continued there from age to age to age afterwards; And being, as it were, by natural walls, as well as by God's grace, separated from the rest of the world, never partook of the overflowing corruption.

These especially were those virgins that were not defiled with the rest of the women, or when other women prostituted themselves and were defiled, but kept themselves pure for Christ alone. They followed the Lamb, their spiritual husband; wherever whithersoever he went: They followed him into this hideous wilderness, Revelation 14:4–5. 

Their doctrine and their worship, as there still remain accounts of them, appear to be the same with the Protestant doctrine and worship; and by the confession of Popish writers were a people remarkable for the strictness of their lives, for charity and other Christian virtues. 

They lived in external poverty in this hideous country, but they chose this poverty rather than to comply with the great corruption of the rest of the world. They living in so secret a place, it was a long time before they seem to have been much taken notice by the Romanists. But at last falling under observation, they went out in mighty armies against them, and fell upon them with insatiable cruelty, barbarously massacring and putting to death men, women, and children with all imaginable tortures; and so continued persecuting them with but little intermission for several hundred years; by which means many of them were driven out of their old habitations in the valleys of Piedmont, and fled into all parts of Europe, carrying their doctrine, to which many were brought over. 

So their persecutors could not by all their cruelties extirpate the church of God, so fulfilling his word, "that the gates of hell should not prevail against it."

(4) Towards the latter part of this dark time, several noted divines openly appeared to defend the truth and bear testimony against the corruptions of the church of Rome, and had many followers. The first and principal of these was a certain English divine whose name was John Wycliffe, who appeared about 140 years before the Reformation, and strenuously opposed the Popish religion, and taught the same doctrine that the reformers afterwards did, and had many followers in England. 

He was hotly persecuted in his lifetime but yet died in peace, and after he was buried his bones were dug up by his persecutors and burnt. His followers continued in considerable numbers in England till the Reformation, and were cruelly persecuted and multitudes put to death for their religion. 

Wycliffe had many disciples and followers not only in England but in other parts of Europe where his books were carried, and particularly in Bohemia among whom were two eminent divines. The name of the one was John Huss; the other's name was Jerome, a divine belonging to Prague, the chief city in Bohemia. These strenuously opposed the church of Rome and had many that adhered to them. They were both burnt by the Papists for their doctrine, and their followers in Bohemia were cruelly persecuted, but never extirpated, till the Reformation.

Thus having gone through this dark time of the church, which is the second part of the space from Constantine the Great to the destruction of Antichrist, I come now 

3dly. To the, third part, viz. that which begins with the Reformation, and reaches to the present time. And here I would, 1. speak of the Reformation itself, 2. the opposition that the devil has made to the Reformed church, 3. what success there has lately been of the gospel in one place and another, and 4. what the state of things is now in the world with regard to the church of Christ and the success of Christ's his purchase. 

1. Here the first thing to be taken notice of is the Reformation. This was begun about 220 years ago: First in Saxony in Germany, by the preaching of Martin Luther, who, being stirred in his spirit, to see the horrid practices of the popish clergy, and having set himself diligently to inquire after truth, by the study of the holy Scriptures and the writings of the ancient fathers of the church, very openly and boldly decried the corruptions and usurpations of the Romish church in his preaching and writings, and had soon great numbers that fell in with him; among whom was the Elector of Saxony, the sovereign prince of the country to which he belonged.

This greatly alarmed the church of Rome, and it did, as it were, rally all its force to oppose him and his doctrine; and fierce wars and persecutions were raised against it. But yet it went on by the labors of Luther and Melanchthon in Germany, and Zwingli in Switzerland, and other eminent divines that who were contemporary with Luther and fell in with him, and particularly Calvin, who appeared something after the beginning of the Reformation, but was one of the eminent of the reformers. 

Many of the princes of Germany soon fell in with the Reformed religion, and many other states and kingdoms in Europe, as England, Scotland, Sweden and Denmark and Norway, great part of France, and Poland and Lithuania and Switzerland and the Low Countries. So that it is thought that heretofore about half Christendom were of the Protestant religion, though since then the Papists have gained ground, so that the Protestants now have not so great a proportion.

Thus God began gloriously to revive his church again and advance the kingdom of his Son after such a dismal night of darkness as had been before from the rise of Antichrist to that time. 

There had been many endeavors used by the witnesses for the truth for reformation before. But now when God's appointed time was come, his work brake forth was begun and went on with a swift and wonderful progress; and Antichrist, who had been rising higher and higher from his very first beginning till that time, was swiftly and suddenly brought down, and fell half-way towards utter ruin, and never has been able to rise again to his former height.

A certain very late expositor (Mr. Lowman) who explains the five first vials in the 16th chapter of Revelation, with far greater probability perhaps than any that ever who went before him, explains the fifth vial that which was poured out on the seat of the beast as what came to pass in the Reformation, explaining the four preceding vials as of certain great judgments God brought on the Popish dominions before the Reformation. 

It is said, Revelation 16:10, that "the fifth angel poured out his vial on the seat of the beast." In the original it is the throne of the beast; "and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, and blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds." He poured out his vial on the throne of the beast, i.e. on the authority and dominion of the Pope: So the word throne is often used in Scripture, so 1 Kings 1:37. "As my Lord hath been with my lord the king, even so be he with Solomon, and make his throne greater than the throne of my lord King David," i.e. make his dominion and authority greater, and his kingdom more glorious. 

But now in the Reformation the vials of God's wrath were poured out on the throne of the beast. His throne was terribly shaken and diminished. The Pope's authority and dominion was greatly diminished, both as to extent and degree. He lost, as was said before, about half his dominions. And besides, since the Reformation the Pope has lost great part of that authority, even in the Popish dominions, that which he had before. He is not regarded and his power in no measure dreaded as it used was wont to be. The powers of Europe have learned not to put their necks under the Pope's feet, as formerly they used were wont to do. So that he is as a lion that has lost his teeth in comparison of what he was once. used to be.

And when the Pope and his clergy, when they were enraged to see their authority so diminished at the Reformation, laid their heads together and joined their forces to destroy the Reformation; their policy, that used which was wont to serve 'em so well, failed; they found their kingdom full of darkness, so that they could do nothing, any more than the Egyptians, who rose not from their seats for three days. 

The Reformed church was defended as Lot and the angels were in Sodom by smiting the Sodomites with darkness or blindness, that they could not find the door. God then fulfilled that in Job 5:11, &c. "To set up on high those that be low; that those that which mourn may be exalted to safety. He disappointeth the devices of the crafty, so that their hands cannot perform their enterprise. He taketh the wise in their own craftiness: and the counsel of the forward is carried headlong. They meet with darkness in the daytime, and grope in the noonday as in the night. But he saveth the poor from the sword, from their mouth, and from the hand of the mighty."

Those proud enemies of God's people, being so disappointed and finding themselves so unable to uphold their own dominion and authority, this made them, as it were, to gnaw their tongues for pain, or bite their tongues for mere rage. And therefore I proceed now,

2. I proceed therefore to show what opposition has been made to this success of Christ's purchase by the Reformation by Satan and his adherents; observing, as we go along, how far they have been baffled, and how far they have been successful. 

The opposition that Satan has made against the Reformed religion has been principally of the following kinds: 1. that which was made by a general council of the church of Rome, 2. by secret plots and devices, 3. by open wars and invasions, 4. by cruel oppression and persecution, 5. by Satan's bringing in corrupt opinions.

(1) The first opposition that I shall take notice of is that that was made by the clergy of the church of Rome uniting together in a general council. This was the famous Council of Trent which the Pope called a little while after the Reformation. 

In that council there met together 6 six cardinals, 32 thirtytwo archbishops, 228 two hundred and twentyeight bishops, besides innumerable others of the Romish clergy. This council in all their sessions, taking with including the times of intermission between their sittings, was held for twenty-five years together. Their main business all this while was to concert measures for the establishing the church of Rome against the reformers and for the destroying the Reformation. 

But it proved that they were not able to perform their enterprise. The Reformed church, for all notwithstanding their holding so great a council and for so long a time together against it, remained and remains still. So that the counsel of the froward is carried headlong, and their kingdom is full of darkness, and they weary themselves to find the door.

Thus the church of Rome, instead of repenting of their deeds when such clear light was held forth to them by Luther and other servants of God, the reformers, does, by general agreement in council, persist in their vile corruptions, and wickedness, and obstinate opposition to the kingdom of Christ. 

The doctrines and practices of the church of Rome, that which were chiefly condemned by the Reformed, were confirmed by the decrees of their council; and the corruptions in many respects were carried higher than ever before, and they uttered blasphemous reproaches and curses against the Reformed religion, and all the Reformed church was excommunicated and anathematized by 'em, and so according to the prophecy, "blasphemed God." Thus God hardened their hearts, intending to destroy them.

(2) The papists have often endeavored to overthrow the Reformation by secret plots and conspiracies conspiracy. So there were many plots against the life of Luther. The papists seemed engaged to contrive to dispatch him and to put him out of their way, and he, as he was a very bold man, often very much exposed himself in the cause of Christ; but yet they were wonderfully prevented from hurting him, and he at last died in his bed in peace.

And so there have been from time to time innumerable schemes secretly laid for the overthrow of the Protestant religion, among which that which seems to be most considerable and which seemed to be the most likely to have taken effect, was that which was in the time of King James II of England, which is within the memory of many of us you. 

There was at that time a strong conspiracy between the king of England and Louis XIV of France, that who were both papists, to extirpate the Northern heresy, as they called the Protestant religion, not only out of England but out of all Europe; and had laid their schemes so, that they seemed to be almost sure of their purpose. They looked upon it that if the Reformed religion was suppressed in the British realms, and in the Netherlands, that which were the strongest part and chief defense of the Protestant interest, they should have easy work with the rest. 

And just as their matters seemed to be come to an head, and their enterprise ripe for execution, God, in his providence, suddenly dashed all their schemes in pieces by the revolution, at the coming in of King William and Queen Mary, by which all their designs were at an end; and the Protestant interest was more strongly established by the crown of England's being established in the Protestant house of Hanover, and a Papist being, by the constitution of the nation, forever rendered incapable of wearing the crown of England. 

Thus they groped in darkness as at noonday, and their hands could not perform their enterprises, and their kingdom was full of darkness, and they gnawed their tongues for pain. 

After this there was a deep design laid to bring the same thing to pass in the latter end of Queen Anne's reign by the bringing in of the Popish pretender; which was no less suddenly and totally baffled by divine providence as the plots against the Reformation, by bringing in the pretender, have been from time to time.

(93) The Reformation has often been opposed by open wars and invasions. So in the beginning of the Reformation, the emperor of Germany, to suppress the Reformation, declared war with the duke of Saxony, and the principal who favored and received Luther's doctrine. But they could not obtain their end; they could not suppress the Reformation. [and had to] make peace. 

For the same end was war made with the Bohemians by the Emperor. 

For the same end the king of Spain maintained a long war with Holland and the old Low Countries in the century before last. But those cruel wars issued greatly to the disadvantage of the Romish church, as they occasioned the setting up one of the most powerful Protestant states in Europe which, next to the kingdom of Great Britain, is at this day the chief bearer of Protestant religion. And the design of the Spanish invasion of the kingdom of England in Queen Elizabeth's time was to suppress and root out the Reformed religion; and therefore they brought in their fleet all manner of instruments of cruelty wherewith to torture the Protestants that who would not renounce the Protestant religion. But their design was totally baffled, and their mighty fleet in a great measure ruined.

(4) Satan has opposed the Reformation with cruel persecutions. The persecutions with which the Protestants in one kingdom and another have been persecuted by the church of Rome have in many respects been far beyond any of the heathen persecutions that were before Constantine the Great, and beyond all that ever were before. 

So that Antichrist has proved the greatest and cruelest enemy to the church of Christ that ever was in the world, in this as well as other respects; agreeably to the description given of the church of Rome in the Revelation, Revelation 17:6, "And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus." And, chap, 8:24. "And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all them that were slain upon the earth." 

The Heathen persecutions had been very dreadful; but now persecution by the church of Rome was improved and studied and cultivated much as they would have done as an art or science; 

Such ways of afflicting and tormenting were found out, as are beyond the thought and invention of ordinary men, or men that are unstudied in those things, and had been beyond the invention of all former ages. And that persecution might be managed the more effectually, there was certain societies of men established in various parts of the Popish dominions, whose business it should be to study and improve and practice persecution in its highest perfection, which are those societies called the courts of inquisition. A reading the particular histories of the Romish persecution and their courts of inquisition will give that idea of them that which a few words can't convey.

When the Reformation began, the beast with seven heads and ten horns began to rage in a dreadful manner. 

After the Reformation, the church of Rome renewed its persecution of the poor Waldenses, and great multitudes of them were cruelly tortured and put to death. Soon after the Reformation, there were terrible persecutions in various parts of Germany, and especially in Bohemia, which lasted for thirty years together; in which so much blood was shed for the sake of religion that a certain Swedish writer compares it to the plenty of waters of the great rivers of Germany. The countries of Poland, Lithuania, and Hungary was were in like manner, as it were, deluged with Protestant blood, shed with like cruelties. 

By means of these and other cruel persecutions, the Protestant religion was in a great measure suppressed in Bohemia, and the Palatinate, and Hungary? that were which before were as it were Protestant countries. 

Thus was fulfilled what was foretold of the little horn, Daniel 7:20–21 "And of the ten horns that were in his head, and of the other which came up, and before whom three fell; even of that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spake very great things, whose look was more stout than his fellows. I beheld, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them". And what was foretold of the beast having seven heads and ten horns, Revelation 13:7, "And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them: And power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations."

Also Holland and the other Low Countries were for many years a scene of nothing but the most affecting and amazing cruelties, being deluged with the blood of Protestants under the merciless hands of the Spaniards that to whom they were then in subjection to. But in this persecution the devil in a great measure has failed of his purpose; by issuing as it issued in great part of the Netherlands casting off the Spanish yoke, and setting up a wealthy and powerful Protestant state, to the great defense of the Protestant cause ever since.

France also is another country, which, that since the Reformation, in some respects perhaps more than any other, has been a scene of dreadful cruelties suffered by the Protestants there. 

After many cruelties that had been executed towards the Protestants in that kingdom alone, there was begun a persecution of them in the year 1571, in the reign of Charles IX, king of France. It began with a cruel massacre wherein 70,000 Protestants were slain in a few days' time, as the King boasted: And in all this persecution, he slew, as is supposed, 300,000 martyrs. And 'tis reckoned that about this time, within thirty years, there were martyred in this kingdom, for the Protestant religion, 39 princes, 148 counts, 234 barons, 147,518 gentlemen, and 760,000 of the common people. 

But all these persecutions were, for exquisite cruelty, far exceeded by those that followed in the reign of Louis XIV which, indeed, are supposed to exceed all others that ever have been; which and being long continued, by reason of the long reign of that king, almost wholly extirpated the Protestant religion out of that kingdom, where had been before a multitude of famous Protestant churches all over the kingdom. Thus it was given to the beast to make war with the saints and to overcome them.

There was also a terrible persecution in England in Queen Mary's time wherein great numbers in all parts of the kingdom were burnt alive. And after this, though the Protestant religion has been for the most part established by law in England, yet there have been very severe persecutions by the high church men, that who symbolize in many things with the papists. Such a persecution was it that that which occasioned our forefathers to fly that country, and to come and settle in this land, which was then a hideous howling wilderness. 

And these persecutions were continued with little intermission till King William came to the throne. 

Scotland has also been the scene, for many years together, of cruelties and blood by the hands of high church men, such as fell very little short of the Popish persecution in Queen Mary's days, and in many things much exceeded it, which continued till they were delivered by King William.

Ireland also has been, as it were, overwhelmed with Protestant blood. In the days of King Charles I of England, above 200,000 Protestants were cruelly murdered in that kingdom in a few days; the Papists by a secret agreement, among 'em rising all over the kingdom at an appointed time, intending to kill every Protestant in the kingdom at once. 

Besides these there were very cruel persecutions in Italy and Spain and other places, which I shall not stand to relate.

Thus did the devil, and his great minister Antichrist, rage with such violence and cruelty against the church of Christ! And thus did the whore of Babylon make herself drunk with the blood of the saints and martyrs of Jesus! And thus by these persecutions, the Protestant church has been much diminished! Yet withal have they not been able to prevail, but still the Protestant church is upheld, and Christ fulfils his promise, "That the gates of hell shall not prevail against his church."

(5) The last kind of opposition that Satan has made to the Reformation is by corrupt opinions. Satan has opposed the light of the gospel that shone forth in the Reformation with many corrupt opinions, which he has brought in and propagated in the world. 

And here in the first place, the first opposition of this kind was by raising up the sect of the Anabaptists, which began about four or five years after the Reformation itself began.... 

This sect as it first appeared in Germany were vastly more extravagant than the present Anabaptists are in England. They held a great many exceeding corrupt opinions. One tenet of theirs was, that there ought to be no civil authority, and so that it was lawful to rebel against civil authority. And on this principle they refused to submit to magistrates, or any human laws, and gathered together in vast armies to defend themselves against their civil rulers, and put all Germany into an uproar and so kept it for some time.

The next opposition of this kind that was made against to the Reformed religion was that which was made by enthusiasts. Those are called enthusiasts that falsely pretend to be inspired with by the Holy Ghost, as the prophets were. These began in Germany about ten years after Luther began the Reformation, and there arose various sects of them that who were exceeding wild and extravagant. The followers of these are the Quakers in England and other parts of the British dominions.

The next to these were the Socinians, that who had their beginning chiefly in Poland by the teaching of two men; the name of the one was Laelius Socinus and the other Faustus Socinus. They held that Christ was only a mere man, and denied Christ's satisfaction and most of the other fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion. Their heresy has since been greatly propagated among Protestants in Poland, Germany, Holland, and England, and other places.

After these arose the Arminians. These appeared in Holland about 130 years ago. They take their name from a Dutchman whose name was Jacobus von Harmin, which turned into Latin is called Jacobus Arminius, and from his name the whole sect are called Arminians. 

This Jacobus Arminius was first a minister in Amsterdam, and then a professor of divinity in the University of Leiden. He had many followers in Holland. There was upon this a synod of all the Reformed churches called together, who met at Dort in Holland. The Synod of Dort condemned them, but yet they spread and prevailed. 

They began to prevail in England in the reign of King Charles I, especially in the Church of England. The Church of England divines before that were almost universally Calvinists, but since that, Arminianism has gradually more and more prevailed, till they are become almost universally Arminians. And not only so, but Arminianism has greatly prevailed among the Dissenters, and has spread greatly in New England as well as Old.

Since this, Arianism has been revived. As I told you before, Arianism a little after Constantine's time almost swallowed up the Christian world, like a flood out of the mouth of the serpent that threatened to swallow up the woman.... And of late years this heresy has been revived in England, and greatly prevails there both in the Church of England and among Dissenters. These hold that Christ is but a mere creature; though they grant that he is the greatest of all creatures.

Again, another thing that which has of late exceedingly prevailed among Protestants, and especially in England, is deism. The Deists wholly cast off the Christian religion, and are professed infidels. They are not like the heretics, Arians and Socinians, and others, who own the Scriptures to be the word of God, and hold the Christian religion to be the true religion, but only deny these and these fundamental doctrines of the Christian religion; they deny the whole Christian religion. 

Indeed, they own the being of God; but deny that Christ was the son of God, and say he was a mere cheat; and so they say all the prophets and apostles were. And they deny the whole Scripture; they deny that any of it is the word of God. They deny any revealed religion, or any word of God at all, and say that God has given mankind no other light to walk by but their own reason. 

These sentiments and opinions our nation, which is the principal nation of the Reformation, is very much overrun with, and they prevail more and more. 

Thus much concerning the opposition that Satan has made against the Reformation.

 1808 edition, Kindle at 14426

http://edwards.yale.edu/archive?path=aHR0cDovL2Vkd2FyZHMueWFsZS5lZHUvY2dpLWJpbi9uZXdwaGlsby9nZXRvYmplY3QucGw/Yy44OjQud2plby4xMjYyMzU1LjEyNjIzNjEuMTI2MjM2NC4xMjYyMzY4

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And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness

(Deuteronomy 28:29)

n that they are walking in darkness at noon-day.

(Doctrine and Covenants 95:6)

Letter about the French and Indian War

 

63. TO A CORRESPONDENT IN SCOTLAND

In this, his first letter on the Concert for Prayer, Edwards gives the movement his enthusiastic endorsement. It was a cooperative effort begun by ministers in Scotland to enlist all Christians in active intercession before God. Edwards recounts promotional efforts he has already made for the Concert and pledges more. He heralds revivals elsewhere, hoping that the Concert will increase them.1

Edwards and all New England were preoccupied at this time with the English military campaign against Louisburg, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Reports by church members who were on the scene enable him to supply graphic details. He sees every event as a sign of divine guidance and protection.

(Published in CMH 8 [1745], 234—54; Works, 5, 444—60. The recipient was probably Rev. John MacLaurin of Glasgow, an initiator of the Concert.)

∗ ∗ ∗

Northampton, November 1745Rev. and Most Dear Sir,

I am greatly obliged to you for your large, friendly, profitable and entertaining letter of February last. I esteem my correspondence with you, and my other correspondents in Scotland, a great honor and privilege; and hope that it may be improved for God's glory, and my profit. The church of God, in all parts of the world, is but one; the distant members are closely united in one glorious head; this union is very much her beauty, and the mutual friendly correspondence of the various members, in distant parts of the world, is a thing well becoming this union (at least when employed about things appertaining to the glory of their common head, and their common spiritual interest and happiness), and therefore is a thing decent and beautiful, and very profitable.

When the day is so dark here in New England, it is exceeding refreshing and reviving to hear, by your and other letters, and Mr. [James] Robe's History,2 of religion's being to such a degree upheld in the power and practice of it, in those parts of Scotland that have been favored with the late revival, and of such a number of the persevering subjects of it and of the works now going on in the north of Scotland, under the labors and conduct of such pious, solid, judicious and prudent instruments, that Christ there makes use of; and one thing that has been very joyful to me, that I have been informed of in the letters I have received from you, and my other correspondents, your dear neighbors and brethren, is that Concert that is come into, by many of God's people in Scotland and England, for united prayer to God, for

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the pouring out of his Holy Spirit on his church and the world of mankind. 

Such an agreement and practice appears to me exceeding beautiful, and becoming Christians; and I doubt not but it is so in Christ's eyes. And it seems to me to be a thing peculiarly becoming us, in the state that things are in at the present day. 

God has lately done great things before our eyes, whereby he has shown us something of his wonderful power and mercy; but has withal so disposed things, that events have tended remarkably to show us our weakness, infirmity, insufficiency, and great and universal need of God's help; we have been many ways rebuked for our self-confidence and looking to instruments, and trusting in an arm of flesh; and God is now showing us that we are nothing, and letting us see that we can do nothing. 

In many places where God of late wonderfully appeared, he has now in a great measure withdrawn; and the consequence is, that Zion and the interest of religion are involved in innumerable and inextricable difficulties. And it is apparent that we can't help ourselves, and have nowhere else to go, but to God. 2 Chronicles 20:12, "We know not what to do; our eyes arc upon thee." 

Now how fit is it that God's people, under such circumstances, should go to God by prayer, and give themselves more than ordinarily to that duty, and be uniting with one another in it, agreeing together touching what they shall ask, taking some proper course to act in it with a visible union, tending to promote their offering up their cries with one heart, and, as it were, with one voice. 

Oh that this duty might be attended with real meekness towards our opposers, lifting up holy hands without wrath; and that we may go to God, self-empty, brokenhearted, looking to God only through Christ, and without making any righteousness of our performances, or any exalting thoughts of ourselves for our secret or social religion, or our differing from others, in being either friends or partakers of the late revival of religion.

I have taken a great deal of pains to promote a falling in with this Concert in New England, at least so far as relates to the quarterly seasons agreed upon. I read those passages of your and your brethren's letters, that relate to this affair, publicly in my own congregation, using many arguments with them to comply with the thing proposed. And many praying societies here have complied. I gave an account of the affair to several of the neighboring ministers, that I thought most likely to fall in with it: two of them seem to like it very well, and to determine to propose it to their people; but one of them [Stephen Williams], who seemed very much to approve of it, the next week was

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called away to serve as chaplain to the soldiers at Cape Breton, and is not yet returned, and so I suppose nothing is done there. 

When he was here, I talked with him about this affair, showed him your letters, and urged, wherever he went, to give an account of this Concert to the people of God, and to press their coming into it. He seemed forward to do as I desired; but I have not heard what he has done. I wrote to–––3 about it, who was then in Connecticut, giving him an account of the proposal, desiring him to mention it to other ministers, that they might promote it among their people. He wrote me word back, that he had mentioned it to several ministers, and desired them to speak to others; but whether anything is done, I have not heard.

I hope, dear Sir, that you will do what in you lies, still to uphold, promote, and propagate this Concert. I should be very sorry to hear of its sinking. I don't think it ought to be let fall, though you should meet with considerable difficulties and discouragements in the affair. 

Jacob and the woman of Canaan, met with great discouragements, while they were wrestling for a blessing: but they persevered, and obtained their request. I should have more hope from the union, fervency, and unfailing constancy of the prayers of God's people, with respect to the religious affairs of the present day, than anything else; more than from the preaching and writings of the ablest and best friends to the work of God's Spirit. 

For my part, I am not disheartened with respect to this Concert, though I have met with great discouragements in my endeavors to promote it hitherto: I shall not cease still to do what in me lies to promote and propagate it, according as favorable junctures and opportunities do present. Please to remember me to the correspondent meeting in Glasgow, that you speak of, as one whose heart is with them, particularly in the business of this Concert. Oh! that our hearts, and the hearts of all God's people everywhere, might be united in such an affair, that we might be assisted to be in good earnest in it, and give God no rest, till he shall establish, and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. I desire you would mention it to this meeting, as my desire, that on the times agreed on for this united prayer, they would pray for America and New England, and (if it be not too much to ask) that they would sometimes think of me in their addresses to heaven. 

I am sensible it would be too much for me to expect, that they should commonly mention me in particular in their prayers; it would be impracticable for such societies, in all their prayers, to pray particularly for every

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minister, that is sensible of the worth of the prayers of God's people, and would highly prize them. But I should esteem it a great privilege, to be sometimes thought of by the Christian people there, in their prayers to God. I hope the time is hastening, when God's people in all the different parts of the world, and the whole earth shall become the sensibly, as it were, one family, one holy and happy society, and all brethren, not only all united in one head, but in greater affection, and in more mutual correspondence, and more visible and sensible union and fellowship in religious exercises, and the holy duties of the service of God; and so that in this respect, the church on earth will become more like the blessed society in heaven, and vast assembly of saints and angels there.

I am persuaded that such an agreement of the people of God in different parts, to unite together, to pray for the Holy Spirit, is lovely in the eyes of Jesus Christ the glorious head of the church. And if endeavors are used to uphold, and promote, and enlarge such a Concert, who knows what it may come to at last? 

Who knows but that by degrees, it may spread all over the British dominions, both in Europe and America, and also into Holland, Zeeland, and other Protestant countries, and all over the visible church of Christ, yea, far beyond the present limits of the visible church? And how glorious a thing will this be, to have the people of God everywhere thus agreeing together, touching such a thing that they would ask! 

And what blessed fruits and consequences might reasonably be hoped for, from such united prayers! Might it not be hoped, that they would open the doors and windows of heaven, that have so long been shut up, and been as brass over the heads of the inhabitants of the earth, as to spiritual showers; and that God, in answer to such prayers, would speak the word, and say, Drop down ye heavens from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness"? [Isaiah 45:8].

As there is a great need of God's people's uniting their cries to God for spiritual blessings at this day, so I can't but think that there is much in the present aspects of divine providence to encourage them in it. For although there are many dark clouds, and God's Spirit is greatly withdrawn from some places where it has lately been remarkably poured out, and Satan seems at present greatly to rage and prevail; yet God is still carrying on his work, if not in one place, yet in another. 

Though it seems in some measure to cease in the west of Scotland, yet it is carried on in the north, and breaks out in some parts of the United Netherlands. And since the work has ceased very much in New England,

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it has broke out wonderfully in Virginia, and has prevailed there, for, I suppose, more than a year and half. The work that is lately broke out among them, was begun by the labors of one Mr. [William] Robinson a young minister that went down among them from Pennsylvania, the last year, and spent much time in preaching there, with great success, multitudes being greatly awakened as he preached from place to place, a great thirst appearing in the people after the means of grace, and eagerness to hear the Word preached, and fondness to wards the instrument of their awakening. 

This Mr. Robinson, by all that I can learn of him, from those whose intelligence and judgment I rely upon, is a man of sprightly abilities, fervent piety, and very solid, judicious and prudent.

The governor [William Gooch] encouraged Messrs. [Gilbert] Tennent and [Samuel] Finley to preach in Virginia and invited them to make his house their home, when it was in their way. Accordingly they continued preaching for some time in the country with great success; and, by the last accounts that I heard, the work continued to go on wonderfully there. Mr. [Samuel] Buell, I hear, is gone down into those parts, designing to continue there this winter. He is one that you have probably heard of, has been a zealous and successful preacher in New England.

Besides the work in Virginia, Mr. William Tennent in the Jerseys, has lately had great success among his people; a greater work having been lately carried on among them than at any time these seven years past. And the above-mentioned Mr. Robinson, besides his success in Virginia, has lately had great success in the parts below Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania. The provinces of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, are become exceeding populous; and there are great numbers in those provinces that show a forwardness to hear the Word preached; but there are few ministers. "The harvest is plenteous, but the laborers few" [Matthew 9:37].

The ministers of the three forementioned presbyteries, that are friends to the late work, who have lately formed themselves into a new synod, who had their first meeting September last, at Elizabeth, in New Jersey; I say these ministers, taking into consideration the very calamitous circumstances of those provinces, by reason of the scarcity of ministers, have formed a design of erecting a college there, for the educating young men for the ministry, hoping, through the influence of some particular gentlemen, to obtain a charter for the establishment of such a society from the king. I think the design to be very

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glorious, and very worthy to be encouraged, and promoted by all the friends of Zion. 

In the meantime, these ministers have determined that private academies should be kept in certain ministers' houses, for the instructing and educating young candidates for the ministry, till this design of a more public school can be ripened. Accordingly they have determined that such academy should be kept by Mr. [Jonathan] Dickinson, Mr. [Aaron] Burr, Mr. [Samuel] Blair, and Mr. Finley; all of them excellent men, well capable of, and fitted for such business.

Besides those things that have a favorable aspect on the interest of religion in these parts, among the English, and other inhabitants of European extract, Mr. [David] Brainerd, a missionary employed by the Society in Scotland for Propagating Christian Knowledge to Breach to the Indians, has lately had more success than ever. This Mr. Brainerd is a young gentleman of very distinguishing qualifications, remarkable for his piety, and eminent zeal for the good of souls, and his knowledge in divinity, and solidity of his judgment, and prudence of conduct. And I hope he will be improved to be a great blessing. 'Tis [fitting] that he should have all the encouragement from those that employ him, that shall put him under the best advantage in his work.

While I am speaking of the late wonderful works of God in America, I cannot pass over one, which, though it be of a different kind from those already mentioned; yet is that wherein the Most High has made his hand manifest, in a most apparent and marvelous manner, and may be reckoned among the evidences of its being a day of great things, and of the wonderful works of God in this part of the world. 

What I have reference to, is the success of the late expedition, from New England, against Cape Breton; a place of vast importance, and a place from whence New England, and all the English colonies on the American continent, have been chiefly, and almost only infested by our French enemies since the beginning of the war. I have had much opportunity to be well-informed of the circumstances of this affair, about twenty of my parishioners being present at the siege and surrender of the place: and among others, a major of one of the regiments [Seth Pomeroy], and the general's chaplain [Joseph Hawley], both worthy pious men. 

There was very discernibly an extraordinary spirit of prayer given the people of God in New England, with respect to this undertaking, more than in any public affair within my remembrance; and many praying pious persons were immediately concerned in it; others, several of the chaplains and principal officers. 

Some of the chief officers that I am well acquainted with, and conversed

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with a little before they embarked, seemed to have special and extraordinary assistance, to commit themselves to God in the under taking, to resign their lives to his disposal, and trust in him; and I was informed of the same in many others. Providence made provision for the expedition, by giving us an extraordinary plenty the summer be fore; and they were remarkable providences that led us into the design. 

The state of the place was strangely concealed from us, which if it had been known, would have effectually prevented the design. We seem to be under great advantages to be informed; for we had many that very lately had been prisoners there, and others that had traded, and been very conversant there, and some that had dwelt there a considerable time, and our governor [William Shirley] and General Assembly were very diligent in making inquiry, and all seemed to be well satisfied that we had full information; and yet the representations that were relied upon as true, were exceeding wrong. 

It was unaccountable that so many that had been conversant there, should be kept in such ignorance. If one half of the strength of the place had been known, the expedition had never been thought of; or if they had imagined the number of soldiers and inhabitants there, or if the expensiveness of the undertaking had been conceived of, it never would have been meddled with; for it soon abundantly exceeded the expectations of our General Assembly. 

After all, when the affair was first proposed to the Assembly, it was not fallen in with; it was thought too great an undertaking. But afterwards, the affair was unexpectedly reconsidered, and then it was carried by a majority of one single vote among fourscore representatives; and such a majority would not have been obtained, had not several of the members of the House, that were against it, been at that time providentially absent; nor yet would it have been, had it not been so ordered, that one of the voters present, that had been against it on a committee, changed his mind and voted for it in the House. 

After the affair was determined, it was surprising to see how the people were spirited to offer themselves. When the determination of the General Court was first noised abroad, it was not known but that men would be impressed into the service; and many, through fear of being impressed, hid themselves, particularly there were many in a neighboring town, viz. Westfield, that were so afraid of being obliged to go in the expedition, that they ran away, and hid themselves in the woods; and yet afterwards, when orders came for enlisting volunteers, eleven of those same persons that had hid themselves, came and voluntarily offered their service. 

There were also such in stances in other towns.

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We were marvelously smiled upon in our preparations for the expedition; so that within two months, from the resolution of the government (which was January 29) the whole military force was under sail. It was wonderful, that during this whole time of preparation, which was in those usually stormy months of February and March, we had a constant series of moderate and fair weather, such as was scarce ever know at that time of year: so that there was hardly any impediment from the weather to our officers, in going about and enlisting, or our soldiers in marching, or our coasters in bringing provisions, or the Committee of War in their various preparations, till all were ready to sail; not so much as the loss of one day, either by snow, rain, or cold. 

Some who have preserved an account of the Weather for more than twenty years, have been surprised to behold the difference between the months of February and March this year, and the foregoing ones; this a continued course of good weather, those as continually intermixed with storms of snow, or rain, or severity of cold. And we seemed in other respects to be strangely succeeded in our preparations. 

Some have been heard to express themselves with wonder, how things would happen; just as they wanted some kind of materials or provision, an unexpected vessel would come in, and bring them.

It was strange, that while this affair was managing in New England, and the whole country full of the noise of it, it should be concealed from our French enemies, in Cape Breton and Canada. It was very early known in Albany, a place where the Indians that live in Canada are abundantly conversant; so that it was very much concluded by some of the most discerning and judicious of our rulers, that they had notice of our design in Canada, long before our forces embarked; which, if it had been, would in all probability have frustrated the whole design. But it proved afterwards, that it was wonderfully concealed from them, not only till our forces sailed, but a long time after, till it was too late for them to send any succors to their friends. 

And the design was also kept wholly concealed from the French in Cape Breton; which was in some respects more wonderful; especially considering how many friends they had, French and Indians in Nova Scotia, on the borders of New England; and not only so, but the Indians in the eastern parts of this province, that have always been friends with the French, and have since openly sided with them, and must needs know of our design. 

'Tis unaccountable, that none of these should inform our enemies.

Our soldiers were wonderfully preserved from the smallpox, which is a distemper very fatal to the people of New England, and was in

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Boston, as our troops were gathering there, both by land and water, and continued all the while they were quartering and anchoring there, very few of the officers or soldiers having had it. 

And 'tis thought the time was never known, when so many persons, in so many different parts of the town, were ill with this distemper, and it was notwithstanding stopped in its progress. If it had prevailed, and got among the soldiers, it would unavoidably have put an end to the expedition.

When the expedition was first determined by our authority they were not sure they should have the assistance of one man-of-war; without which our forces would (as it proved by what appeared afterwards) [have] been easily swallowed up by their enemies. 

Indeed the governor, soon after the expedition was fully determined, dispatched a packet for England, to the Lords of the Admiralty desiring their assistance. And it was so ordered in providence (which was perhaps much in favor to the design), that there had been a change made a little before in the Board of Admiralty, and such commissioners introduced, that were thought to be much spirited for the interest of the nation, and sincerely to seek the success of the war against the French. 

However, if we had no assistance of men-of-war, till those arrived that the Lords of the Admiralty sent, it would have been too late (as events proved), to have saved our forces from their enemies. Our governor at the same time that he sent a packet to England, sent another to the West Indies to Commodore [Peter] Warren, in hopes of persuading him to send some assistance of men-of-war; but the Commodore sent back the packet-boat with a denial, thinking himself not warranted to come without orders from England. 

But so wonderfully was it ordered that within a few days after messenger was sent back with his discouraging answer, the Commodore received express orders from the Lords of the Admiralty, forthwith to come to Boston, to act in concert with our governor, for the defense of these northern English settlements; not that they knew anything of the intended expedition against Cape Breton, but only expected, that the French would that spring make an attempt on Annapolis, and would endeavor extraordinarily to annoy our seacoasts. 

Thus the designs that our enemies were forming against us, were made an occasion of their ruin, and our great advantage. They were taken in the pit that they had digged; for had it not been for their extraordinary designs against us, Commodore Warren would not have had orders at that time to come hither, which if it had not been, our forces must have fallen a prey to the French, and Cape Breton not have been taken. The Commodore having received

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these orders, with all speed sent the news of it to Governor Shirley; which, when it arrived was like life from the dead to him and others, that were ready to sink in distress and discouragement.

Commodore Warren, after receiving the forementioned orders, soon set sail, with three ships from the West Indies, for Boston. But still if he had not been prevented from coming to Boston, as he intended before he went to Cape Breton, he would have been too late there, to have prevented the Vigilant (a strong ship from France of sixty-four guns, with all manner of warlike stores) from getting into the harbor, which if it had done, would (as is judged on all hands) [have] prevented the taking of the place. But so wonderfully was it ordered, that Commodore Warren in his voyage hither, near Cape Sable on April 12th, met with a fisherman, who informed him of our army's being gone to Canso the week before; that on board the fisherman, there was one of the best of pilots, who had got out of the way of our Committee of War, to avoid being pressed for the service. 

On which information, and being now furnished with a good pilot, so wonderfully thrown in his way, the Commodore dropped his design of coming to Boston, tacked about, and went directly to our forces to Canso, to their great joy; and then without stopping there, went on to his station before Louisburg, to block up that harbor. The Commodore also, by the said fisherman, sent his order for the king's ships that should be found in these ports, forthwith to follow them. The order came to the Eltham, a forty-gun ship at Piscataqua, after she was actually got to sea, having set sail for England, as convoy to the mast-fleet. The order reached her by a boat, sent after her from the shore, before she was got quite out of call, on which she bore after the Commodore, and quickly joined him; so that now our army had four men-of-war, under God, to protect them.

It was remarkable, that when so many vessels sailed from this province, New Hampshire and Connecticut, being in all about eighty sail, in a time of year that used to be the most turbulent and tempestuous of any, all arrived safe (through a course of five or six hundred miles on the ocean) at Canso, the place of concourse, a place about sixty miles on this side Cape Breton without the loss of more than one soldier, and three seamen, and fifteen sick. 

And 'tis to be observed, that the Connecticut forces very narrowly escaped being taken by a French ship of force, that came in sight of them in their voyage; but were kept in play by some vessels of ours, of inferior force, till the fleet of transports got out of reach. And 'tis remarkable, that of all the vessels that have been employed in this affair (who had their voyages at a very difficult time

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of year), transports and vessels of force from New England, packet boats to and from England and the West Indies, men-of-war from the West Indies and England to Cape Breton, not one of them failed in any of those voyages, either by being cast away or taken.

It seemed to be ordered wholly in favor to the design, that our forces that went from this government were detained by contrary winds for near three weeks at Canso. If they had sailed before, as appeared they would have found the harbors and bays full of ice, and could not have landed, so that they would only have discovered themselves to the enemy, and given them timely notice to prepare for their defense, without being able to come near them, which (as after-events confirm) would wholly have defeated the design; and besides, the weather, while they lay in Canso harbor, was exceeding bad, being very cold, with storms and snow; so that if the wind had been fair, and they could have landed at Cape Breton, they could not have lived ashore so ill provided as they were with tents. 

By this means the enemy would have had a vast advantage against them; but God held them at Canso, till the Connecticut forces and Commodore Warren were come up, and till the bays were clear of ice, and till the time was come that he intended the weather should be good, so that our men could live ashore, and then the wind sprung up fair to carry them to Cape Breton.

While our forces lay at Canso, their cruisers were succeeded to intercept and take many French vessels that were coming to Cape Breton, and in them to take some things that the army greatly needed; and particularly it is judged by some of the officers that were there, that are persons of good judgment, that the army could not have subsisted (so exposed as they were to cold at that time of year in that cold climate) without the rum they took from the enemy.

It was very strange, that when our army lay so long at Canso, within sight of the island Cape Breton, they should be wholly concealed from the French on that island; so that the people of Louisburg had no notice of the expedition against them, till they were surprised with the sight of the fleet coming upon them, and entering the bay where they landed.

Our forces, when they went from Boston, had orders to land in the night, and go upon a certain plan of operations, established on the false representations we had had of the state of the place. Accordingly they set sail from Canso, with a design to land in the night, and prosecute their plan; which if they had done, it is judged it would have proved fatal to the design; therefore divine providence prevented it,

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by causing the wind suddenly to die away, in the midst of their way from Canso to Chappe-rouge Bay, where they intended to land; so that they could not land in the night, but were obliged to land in the daytime which proved greatly for their advantage.

When they came into the bay, about five miles from Louisburg, in the daytime, in the sight of their enemies, the French were seized with such surprise, that they seemed hardly to know what they did, and were left to act very foolishly. 

They sent out eighty-eight persons to resist their landing, when, if they had consulted their interest, they should have sent seven or eight hundred, which might have rendered the landing of our men extremely difficult. These eighty-eight men were left to discover themselves, and appear openly; whereas if they had concealed themselves, and lain in ambush, as there were places enough convenient for their so doing, they might have cut off many of our men. 

Our men were, on this occasion, wonderfully animated with courage, and between twenty and thirty that first landed, boldly encountered those eighty-eight of the French, and killed eight of them, without the loss of a man on their side, and drove the rest back to the town in a great fright, setting all the city and garrison into a terrible consternation; so that in their fright they immediately deserted the Grand Battery, a fort about a mile and half from the city, on the other side the harbor; a fortress of great strength, and the principal fortification that defended the harbor, furnished with thirty-two great cannon, thirty of them forty-two-pounders; a fortress which might have maintained itself alone against all our army. 

Our men soon perceiving the fortress to be deserted, took possession of it the next morning; and without this, none imagines that ever the city would have been taken. 

It was principally by the weapons the French left there, that our army annoyed their enemies; and all say they could have done nothing without them. And if the French had kept this fort, they would have had the advantage vastly to have annoyed our army in their siege, and kept them at a distance from the city. 

'Tis not imagined, that the French would ever so foolishly have left this fortress, had it not been for their surprise, through the unexpected arrival of our forces, and those that came out to resist our landing, being driven back in so great a fright: so that here appeared the advantage of the above-mentioned concealment of the expedition; and also hereby it appears, how it was in favor to us, that the French came out to oppose our forces at their landing as they did.

The enemy spiked up their cannons before they left the fort, but did

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not do it effectually. Our men soon got them all clear again. They carried away most of their powder, or threw it into the sea; but left what was much more needed by our men, viz. their balls, suited to the bores of their huge pieces (for our army had none such) and shells, that happened to be suited to the bores of our mortars; and did not knock off the trunnions of their cannon, nor destroy the carriages.

It was a remarkable favor of providence, that our men discovered that the Grand Battery was deserted, and took possession of it, just as they did; for if this discovery had been delayed but an hour or two longer, the enemy would have repossessed themselves of it, and so our whole design probably have been defeated. For just after our soldiers had taken possession of this fort, the enemy, being on consideration aware of their fatal error in leaving of it, were coming out in great numbers in many boats to recover it, but were repulsed by a handful of our men.

Soon after the siege began, the officers of the army, in a council of war, had determined a general assault to be made by scaling the walls; which, though it appeared to be a very adventurous and dangerous attempt, yet was thought necessary to hasten the taking of the city, because, from what they had heard, they were in daily expectation of a strong French fleet, greater than our naval force before the harbor could resist. (The Commodore also was in expectation of orders from England, sending him elsewhere.) 

But just as they were going to put this in execution, the officers, unexpectedly, changed their minds, and presently after several men-of-war arrived from England, to add to our naval strength (with orders to the Commodore to continue in his present station, at assisting in the siege of Louisburg), and put the army out of fear of the French fleet; and so this desperate attempt was prevented, which if it had gone on, would have proved fatal to our army, as all are sensible since the strength of the city is fully known.

When the army began to fall short of ammunition, and were like to be run out, God sent the Vigilant, the strong French ship from France before mentioned, with all manner of warlike stores, and plenty of ammunition, which fell into the hands of our fleet, and so our army was supplied with what they wanted, to enable them to carry on the siege, which otherwise they could not have done. (And the ship itself was added to our fleet, and was the strongest and best ship in the whole fleet.) This ship, and her warlike stores, was intended to be improved against the English settlements. 

Thus again our enemies fell into the pit which they digged.

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Another remarkable incident, by which that which our enemies had done, was an occasion of a great advantage to our army against them, was this: the French, for some reason or other, had sunk a number of cannon in the sea by the Lighthouse Point, over against the Island Battery (a strong battery that defended the mouth of the harbor). These cannon were providentially discovered by our men, which gave them the hint of erecting a battery on the Lighthouse Point. 

Accordingly they got up these cannon out of the water; and though while they were at work at it, they were right before the mouths of the cannon of the Island Battery, within about half a mile, yet they went through with the business, without the loss of a man. 

The enemy in the city also seeing what they were about, came out a great number of them in boats to resist them; but after they were landed, our men ran between them and their boats to hinder their return. Upon which the French immediately fled to the woods, and so the town was weakened; and then our men erected a battery on the Lighthouse Point, which being higher ground than the Island Battery, they had a great advantage to annoy them from thence, and did greatly annoy and distress them, which was one of the chief means of their being brought to capitulate.

Our soldiers seemed to be inspired with resolution, eagerness and activity, in a kind of miraculous manner, greatly to the surprise of their enemies, and were marvelously supported, during the long siege of seven weeks, under their extraordinary and Herculean labors and fatigues–in carrying stores, drawing cannon by their own strength over hills and valleys, among rocks, and even drawing great forty-two-pounders for two miles, through morasses, up to the middle in mire, and in digging trenches, and erecting batteries, and watching continually against the enemy, not only in the town, but the French and Indians from the country, in the woods, that were lurking about them seeking advantages against them–our men being unexperienced in war, having never seen a siege before in their lives, and very few of them ever before engaged in any warlike enterprise of any kind, and a great many of them never heard the report of a cannon before.

But the miracle of their preservation, in the midst of so many continued great dangers, was yet greater. Our nearest batteries were erected within thirty rods of the town-wall; and the enemy were constantly, day and night, discharging their cannon and small arms from the town-wall, and their mortars from the many strong fortifications in and about the town; and the air was, as it were, continually full of bombs, and other instruments of death, and our soldiers were abundantly

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exposed at their batteries, and moving from place to place. 

But yet the whole number that were killed by the enemy's fire, from the town and forts, during the whole siege (excepting what were killed at an unsuccessful attempt, made in the night, on the Island Battery), did not amount to twenty. Our men at length were so used to their bombs and cannonballs, and found them harmless for so long a time, that they learned at length but little to regard them; so wonderfully did God cover their heads.

Things were wonderfully ordered from time to time, so as tended to keep up the courage of the army, during this long siege, and to revive their spirits, and give new life to them, when their spirits and courage began to fail; when they were very much beat out, and things looked dark, something new that was prosperous or promising would happen to encourage them, either some additional force would arrive, some men-of-war would be added to the fleet, or some new prizes would be taken, or some remarkable advantage gained against the enemy. 

And as was observed, that such things happened from time to time, at critical seasons, when most needed to encourage the army. Once in digging a trench, our men came upon a rock, which they fatigued themselves in vain, in endeavoring to remove, and labored till they were quite discouraged; and just as they had left it, there came a bomb from the enemy, and fell under that very rock, in the most suitable spot, so as at once to do their work for them, and cast the rock quite out of the way; so that then their work lay fair before them, and they went on with digging their trench.

There once happened something very discouraging to the army, and that was, that they split their large mortar, that they chiefly depended on, and had none but small mean ones left. But it so wonderfully happened, that a mortar of just the same size, was that very day put on board at Boston, to be sent to them, without the people at Boston knowing anything of this special need; which mortar they soon joyfully received; and it was with that mortar, that they afterward chiefly distressed the enemy, from the battery they had erected at the Lighthouse Point, and drove them from the Island Battery, that defended the mouth of the harbor.

God's providence in disposing the circumstances of the surrender of the place, was wonderful. There was an army that had gathered, and laid siege to Annapolis, in Nova Scotia, the last spring, in expectation of a strong naval force from France to assist them, as had been before determined by the French. This army was made up partly of French

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and Indians from Canada, and partly of the Indians of Nova Scotia, that are at war with us. This army was disappointed of the expected ship from France; some of them were taken by our squadron, under Commodore Warren (the Vigilant forementioned was one of them), others were driven away. 

And the French at Cape Breton sent for this army come to their relief; so that siege was raised, and Annapolis and Nova Scotia saved, and the army were on their way to Cape Breton, and if they had arrived before the surrender of the city, they had, in all probability, disappointed our enterprise. 

But our fleet and army before Louisburg, being wearied with the length of the siege, the sea and land officers met in council, and determined, without further delay, to make a general assault upon the city, and attempt to take it by storm. But this desperate attempt was wonderfully and happily prevented; for just as the council of war was broke up, before Commodore Warren was gone off the ground, came out a flag of truce from the city, desiring a cessation of acts of hostility, till they might meet together, to consider what proposals to make to the English, as terms of the surrender of the city; and the consequence was, that they soon agreed to give up the city, and all its fortifications, and king's stores, and the whole country depending, on condition of their being transported, with their movable effects, to France. 

Thus God gave into our hands the place of greatest importance of any that the French have in North America, the principal fountain of the king of France's wealth, from these parts of the world, and the key to all his northern colonies, and the chief annoyance of the British colonies. 

When our men entered the city, they were amazed at the strength of it, and to see how they should have been exposed, if providence had not prevented their design that was resolved upon, of scaling the walls. The walls, which were of a most prodigious thickness, they found to be about twenty-five foot high, very much higher than they had imagined, by reason of a trench, of about twelve foot deep, and a vast wraith under the walls, that they were not aware of; so that their ladders would have proved vastly too short; and it would have been a wonder if so much as one of the land army had got into the city. 

And, besides the strength of the place, it was found, that there were many more soldiers, and others, capable of bearing arms, in the city and country about, than in our whole army.

Another wonderful circumstance of the taking of this place, was this, that during this long siege, our army had almost a constant series of fair good weather, there being scarce any rain, so as to incommode

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our army during the whole time, which was to the amazement of the French; for it was a time of year, wherein, in all former years, used to be almost perpetual rains and fogs. And the French inhabitants agreed, that there never had been any instance of such weather at that time of the year, since the place was settled. And it was apparent to the French, by this and other things, and much taken notice of by them, that God fought for the English, and some of them said, "that their God was turned an Englishman." 

Though it was constantly such good weather, during the seven weeks of the siege, yet (as the major general of the army told me)4 as soon as ever they had entered the city, before the general had reached his quarters, it began to rain, and continued raining almost constantly for eight days together, which, if it had been before the surrender of the city, would have filled our trenches with water, have stopped all business, and extremely incommoded and distressed the army (who were very ill-provided with tents, and very many of them at that time sick), and must have confounded the whole affair. 

Some of the French took notice of this, and said one to another, "If we had held out a little longer, we should have done well enough"; but others replied, "No; for if the English had continued in the siege, it would still have been fair weather." Thus the clouds and winds, and sun, moon and stars in their courses, from the beginning, fought for us. 

While we were preparing in New England, for two months, was a constant series of good weather, in February and March, such as was never known at that time of year. And the winds and weather favored us in all our voyages, that were made about this affair; while God detained the army for three weeks at Canso, till the harbors at Cape Breton were cleared of ice; when good weather was not needed, then was a constant series of bad weather, but after they landed at Cape Breton, till the city surrendered, was again constant good weather; but as soon as they entered the city, and did not stand in need of good weather any longer, then they had no more of it.

This place, since it has fallen into our hands, has proved a snare to our enemies abroad; for they not knowing that it was taken, nor imagining that it could be taken, have resorted thither, as they used to do, with their wealth, from the East and West Indies; two East-India ships and one South-Sea man, immensely rich, besides several other vessels, have come there, into our mouths. And now we are freed from the

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noise of the archers, or gunners, on board their ships of war, that infested us, and made havoc on our coasts the last year.

Thus, Sir I have given you a particular account of this affair, it being perhaps a dispensation of providence, the most remarkable in its kind, that has been in many ages, and a great evidence of God's being one that hears prayer; and that it is not a vain thing to trust in him; and an evidence of the being and providence of God, enough to convince any infidel; and a great argument with me, among other things, that we live in an age, wherein divine wonders are to be expected; and a dispensation wherein God has so apparently manifested himself, that it appears to me it ought not to be concealed, but to be declared in the world amongst his people, to his praise.

We have lately heard of the Pretender's eldest son5 his entering Scotland, and being joined there by a number of Highlanders. How far God may punish the nations of Great Britain by him, we cannot tell. We have not yet heard of the rebellion's being suppressed, but are ready to hope, by the aspect of affairs, from what we hear, that it is done before this time. It is a day of great commotion and tumult among the nations, and what the issue will be we know not: but it now becomes us, and the church of God everywhere, to cry to him, that he would overrule all for the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, and the bringing on the expected peace and prosperity of Zion.

I desire, honored Sir, that you would favor me with some further accounts of the progress of religion in the north of Scotland, and in the Netherlands, and in general of the state of things on your side the world, relating to late revivals of religion. And please send me a particular account of things relating to the Concert for joint prayer, whether it be like to be upheld, how far it is spread, etc. And remember in your prayers, dear Sir,