Lord Rich not coming to the University, Mr. Bradstreet returned after a year to the Earl of Lincoln's; and Mr. Dudley then removing to Boston, his place of steward unto the Earl was conferred on Mr. Bradstreet. Afterwards he with much ado obtained the Earl's leave to answer the desires of the aged and pious Countess of Warwick, that he would accept the stewardship of her noble family, which as the former he discharged with an exemplary discretion and fidelity. Here he married the daughter of Mr. Dudley, by whose perswasion he came in company with him to New-England, where he spent all the rest of his days, honourably serving his generation. It was counted a singular favour of Heaven unto Richard Chamond, Esq., one of England's worthies, that he was a Justice of Peace near threescore years; but of Simon Bradstreet, Esq., one of New-England's worthies, there can more than this be said; for he was chosen a magistrate of New-England before New-England it self came into NewEngland; even in their first great voyage thither, Anno 1630, and so he continued annually chosen; sometimes also their secretary, and at last their governour, until the colony had a share in the general shipwreck of charters, which the reign of King Charles II. brought upon the whole English nation. Mr. Joseph Dudley was placed, Anno 1685, as president over the territory for a few months, when the judgment that was entred against the charter gave unto the late King James II. an opportunity to make what alterations he pleased upon the order of things, under which the country had so long been flourishing. But when the short presidentship of that New-English and well accomplished gentleman, the son of Mr. Thomas Dudley above mentioned, was expired, I am not in a disposition here to relate what was the condition of the colony, until the revolution whereto their condition compelled them. Only I have sometimes, not without amazement, thought of the representation which a celebrated magician made unto Catherine de Medicis, the French Queen, whose impious curiosity led her to desire of him a magical exhibition of all the Kings that had hitherto reigned in France, and yet were to reign. The shapes of all the Kings, even unto the husband of that Queen, successively showed themselves, in the enchanted circle, in which that conjurer had made his invocations, and they took as many turns as there had been years in their government. The Kings that were to come, did then in like manner successively come upon the stage, namely, Francis II., Charles IX., Henry III., Henry IV., which being done, then two cardinals, Richlieu and Mazarine, in red hats, became visible in the spectacle: but after those cardinals, there entred wolves, bears, tygers and lions, to consummate the entertainment. If the people of New-England had not imagined that a number of as rapacious animals were at last come into their government, I suppose they would not have made such a revolution as they did, on April 18, 1689, in conformity to the pattern which the English nation was then setting before them. Nevertheless, I have nothing in this paragraph of our History

to report of it, but that Mr. Bradstreet was at this time alive; whose paternal compassions for a country thus remarkably his own, would not permit him to decline his return unto his former seat in the government, upon the unanimous invitation of the people thereunto. It was a remark then generally made upon him, "That though he were then well towards ninety years of age, his intellectual force was hardly abated, but he retained a vigour and wisdom that would have recommended a younger man to the government of a greater colony." And the wonderful difficulties through which the colony under his discreet conduct waded, until the arrival of his Excellency Sir William Phips, with a commission for the government, and a new charter in the year 1692, gave a remarkable demonstration of it. Yea, this honourable Nestor of New-England, in the year 1696, was yet alive; and as Georgius Leontinus, who lived until he was an hundred and eight years of age, being asked by what means he attained unto such an age, answered, "By my not living voluptuously;" thus this excellent person attained his good old age, in part, by living very temperately. And the New-Englanders would have counted it their satisfaction, if, like Arganthonius, who had been fourscore years the governour of the Tartessians, he might have lived unto the age of an hundred and twenty; or, even unto the age of Johannes de Temporibus, who was knighted by the Emperour Charlemaign, and yet was living till the Emperour Conrade, and saw, they say, no fewer years than three hundred threescore and one. Though, "to be dissolved and be with Christ," was the satisfaction which this our Macrobius himself was with a weary soul now waiting and longing for; and Christ at length granted it unto him, on March 27, 1697. Then it was, that one of the oldest servants that God and the King had upon earth, drew his last, in the very place where he drew his first, American breath. He died at Salem, in a troublesome time, and entred into everlasting peace. And in imitation of what the Roman orator said upon the death of Crassus, I will venture to say, Fuit hoc, luctuosum suis, Acerbum Patriæ, Grave Bonis Omnibus: scd ii tamen Rempublicam casus Secuti sunt, ut mihi non Erepta Bradstreeto Vita, sed donata mors esse videatur.*

The epitaph on that famous lawyer, Simon Pistorius, we will now imploy for this eminently prudent and upright administrator of our laws:

ЕРІТАРН.

SIMON BRADSTREET.

Quod Mortale fuit, Tellus tenet; Inclyta Fama
Nominis haud ullo stat violanda Die.†

AND ADD,

Extinctum luget quem tota Nov-Anglia Patrem,
O quantum Claudit parvula Terra Virum!‡

His death was mournful to his household, a bitter loss to his country, a heavy blow to all good men: and yet such calamities have since then befallen our Republic, that it does not seem as if [Bradstreet] was bereft of life, but as if death were conferred upon him as a boon.-CICERO, Oration for Crassus.

+ Earth holds his mortal part: his honoured name Shall put Time's impious hand to open shame.

Here lies New-England's father. Woe the day!
How mingles mightiest dust with meanest clay!

wna 'hva, Id est, VIRI ANIMATI;* OR ASSISTENTS.

THE freemen of New-England had a great variety of worthy men, among whom they might pick and chuse a number of MAGISTRATES to be the assistants of their GOVERNOURS, both in directing the general affairs of the land, and in dispensing of justice unto the people. But they wisely made few alterations in their annual elections; and they thereby shewed their satisfaction in the wise and good conduct of those whom they had elected. If they called some few of their magistrates from the plough to the bench, so the old Romans did some of their dictators; yea, the greatest kings in the world once carried plough-shares on the top of their scepters. However, the inhabitants of New-England never were so unhappy as the inhabitants of Norcia, a town scarce ten leagues from Rome; where they do at this day chuse their own magistrates, but use an exact care, "That no man who is able to write, or to read, shall be capable of any share in the government." The magistrates of New-England have been of a better education. Indeed, several deserving persons, who were joined as associates and commissioners unto these, for the more effectual execution of the laws in emergencies, cannot be brought into our catalogue; but the names of all our magistrates, with the times when I find their first advancement unto that character are these:

MAJOR-GENERALS OF THE MILITARY FORCES IN THE COLONY, SUCCESSFULLY CHOSEN.

That these names are proper and worthy to be found in our ChurchHistory, will be acknowledged, when it is considered, not only that they were the members of Congregational churches, and by the members of the churches chosen to be the rulers of the Commonwealth; and that their exemplary behaviour in their magistracy was generally such as to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour," and, according to the old Jewish wishes, prohibitum est Homini, instar principis Dominari super populum et cum elatione Spiritus, sed, my cum mansuetudine ac Timore;* but also that their love to, and zeal for, and care of these churches, was not the least part of their character.

The instances of their concern for the welfare of the churches were innumerable. I will single out but one from the rest, because of some singular subserviency to the designs of our Church-History, therein to be proposed. I'll do it only by transcribing an instrument, published Anno 1668, in such terms as these:

To the Elders and Ministers of every Town within the Jurisdiction of the Massachusets in NewEngland, the Governour and Council sendeth Greeting.

"Reverend and Beloved in the LORD: We find in the examples of holy Scripture, that magistrates have not only excited and commanded all the people under their government, 'to seek the Lord God of their fathers, and do the law and commandment,' (2 Chron. xiv. 2, 3, 4; Ezra vii. 25, 26, 27,) but also stirred up and sent forth the Levites, accompanied with other principal men, to teach the good knowledge of the Lord throughout all the cities,' (2 Chron. xvii. 6, 7, 8, 9,) which endeavours have been crowned with the blessing of God. “Also we find that our brethren of the Congregational perswasion in England, have made a good profession in their book, entituled, ‘A declaration of their faith and order,' (page 59, sect. 14,) where they say, 'That although pastors and teachers stand especially related unto their particular churches, yet they ought not to neglect others living within their parochial bounds; but besides their constant public preaching to them, they ought to enquire after their profiting by the word, instructing them in, and pressing upon them, (whether young or old) the great doctrines of the gospel, even personally and particularly, so far as their strength and time will permit.'

"We hope that sundry of you need not a spur in these things, but are conscientiously careful to do your duty. Yet, forasmuch as we have cause to fear that there is too much neglect in many places, notwithstanding the laws long since provided therein, we do therefore think it our duty to emit this declaration unto you, earnestly desiring, and, in the bowels of our Lord Jesus, requiring you to be very diligent and careful to catechise and instruct all people (especially the youth) under your charge, in the sound principles of Christian religion; and that not only in publick, but privately 'from house to house,' as blessed Paul did; (Acts xx. 20,) or at least three, four, or more families meeting together, as time and strength may permit; taking to your assistance such godly and grave persons as to you may seem most expedient: and also that you labour to inform your selves (as much as may

It is forbidden to man to rule like a prince over a people, and with a proud spirit: he should exercise authority in meekness and fear.

be meet) how your hearers do profit by the word of God, and how their conversations do agree therewith; and whether the youth are taught to read the English tongue: taking all occasions to apply suitable exhortations particularly unto them, for the rebuke of those that do evil, and the encouragement of them that do well.

"The effectual and constant prosecution hereof, we hope will have a tendency to promote the salvation of souls; to suppress the growth of sin and profaneness; to beget more love and unity among the people, and more reverence and esteem of the ministry: and it will assuredly be to the enlargement of your crown, and recompence in eternnl glory. "Given at Boston, the 10th of March, 1668, by the governour and council, and by them ordered to be printed, and sent accordingly.

"EDWARD RAWSON, Secretary."

CHAPTER VII.

PUBLICOLA CHRISTIANUS.

THE LIFE OF EDWARD HOPKINS, ESQ., GOVERNOR OF CONNECTICUT COLONY.

Superiores sint, qui superiores esse sciunt.†

§ 1. WHEN the great God of heaven had carried his "peculiar people" into a wilderness, the theocracy, wherein he became (as he was for that reason stiled) "the Lord of Hosts," unto them and the four squadrons of their army, was most eminently displayed in his enacting of their laws, his directing of their wars, and his electing and inspiring of their judges. In some resemblance hereunto, when four colonies of Christians had marched like so many hosts under the conduct of the good spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ into an American wilderness, there were several instances wherein that army of confessors was under a theocracy; for their laws were still enacted, and their wars were still directed by the voice of God, as far as they understood it, speaking from the oracle of the Scriptures: and though their judges were still elected by themselves, and not inspired with such extraordinary influences as carried them of old, yet these also being singularly furnished and offered by the special providence of God unto the government of his New-English people, were so eminently acted, by his graces, and his precepts, in the discharge of their government, that the blessed people were still sensibly governed by the Lord of all. Now, among the first judges of New-England, was EDWARD HOPKINS, Esq., in whose time the colony of Connecticut was favoured with "judges as at first:" and put under the power of those with whom it was a maxim, Gratius est pietatis Nomen, quam potestatis.‡

§ 2. The descent and breeding of Mr. EDWARD HOPKINS, (who was born I think near Shrowsbury, about the year 1600,) first fitted him for the

The Christian Patriot.

+ They should be superior, who feel that they are superior.

The reputation of piety is dearer than the fame of power.