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Increase Mathers

from an original Painting in the Possession of Mr Fennsend, Hotoren.

Published by Bulten & Son, Paternoster Row.

FILTON [R.] WILLIAM BLACKWELL, B. A. After his ejectment he continued to live, not at Felton, in Herefordshire, as before supposed, but FILTON, in this county, which is about four miles from Bristol, where he was so reduced, that for a time he maintained himself, by stitching of bodice, or womens stays. Bigland decides the place of his ejectment, as well as the spelling of his name and his degree, in this entry: " "1645. Will. Blackwell, B. A. ejected for Nonconformity, 1662."

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GLOUCESTER. INCREASE MATHER, D. D. He was the youngest son of Mr. Richard Mather, who went to America, in 1635, because he could no longer exercise his ministry with satisfaction to his conscience in his native country, and became minister at Dorchester, in New-England; where this his son was born, A. D. 1639. After gaining a good knowledge of the languages at school, and spending some time in Harvard college, he lived in the family of that worthy divine, Mr. John Norton, several years. It pleased God to make serious impressions upon his heart betimes, by which he was fitted for great service in his church. In 1657 he took a voyage to England, and after visiting his friends in Lancashire, went to Ireland to see his eldest brother, Mr. Samuel Mather, then minister in Dublin. He entered himself in Trinity College there, and in 1658 proceeded Master of Arts, performing the usual exercise with. great applause. He was much respected by Dr. Winter, then Provost of the college, and was chosen Fellow, but did not accept it. The air of that country not agreeing with him, tho' he met with great civilities, and some good offers there, he returned to England, and was for some time a preacher to Mr. Howe's parish, at Torrington, in Devonshire, which was in the neighbourhood of another of his brothers, Mr. Nathaniel Mather, then minister of Barnstaple. Upon Mr. Howe's return to Torrington, after Richard quitted the protectorship, he accepted an invitation of Col. Bingham, governor of Guernsey, to go into that island, in the year 1659, where he preached every Lord's-day morning at the castle, and in the afternoon at the town called Peter's Port.

From thence he removed to Gloucester, at the earnest solicitation of Mr. Forbes and his friends there; but after some time he returned to Guernsey, where he was at the time of the Restoration. Upon his refusing to set his hand to a paper, which was sent thither by General Monk, to be signed by all commissioned

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commissioned officers in those parts, by which they were required to declare, "That the times then were and would be happy;" he was in danger of losing the arrears of his salary, which amounted to above 100l. but providentially he escaped that loss. And upon Sir Hugh Pollard's being made governor of that island, when he came to be under the necessity either of conforming or quitting the place, he left Guernsey and came into England, where he was offered a living of some hundreds a year, if he would forsake his principles, But he chose rather to trust God's providence, than violate the tranquillity of his mind; and so he sailed again for NewEngland to his aged father, and there settled in the New Church, in the north part of Boston. He was ordained May 27, 1664, when his father gave him the charge. He married the daughter of Mr. John Cotton, by whom he had three sons, Cotton Mather, D. D. well known by his writings; Mr. Nathaniel Mather, who died at the age of nineteen, whose life is printed; and Mr. Samuel Mather, who had a small congregation at Witney, in Oxfordshire, and published several valuable writings. The old gentleman had also seven daughters; and he and his wife had this uncommon comfort and satisfaction, of having seven of their children receiving the Lord's Supper at the same communion with them. In 1680, when the Synod sat at Boston, and the confession of faith was agreed upon, Mr. Mather was the moderator, and drew up the preface to it.

In 1683 K. Charles, by a declaration, required from the inhabitants of New-England, a full submission, and an entire resignation of their charter to his pleasure; or else signified a quo warranto should be prosecuted. Mr. Mather being desired to be present at a public assembly of the freemen of Boston, to give his thoughts about that matter, complied, and publicly declared against their having a hand in their own ruin; persuading them rather to leave themselves in the hands of God, and submit to his will, in a faithful discharge of their duty, than deliver themselves immediately into the hands of men, by a full submission and entire resignation to their pleasure. The question was carried in the negative nem. con. And this had a great influence on the country in general. Some malicious people, in order to be revenged on him for this, forged a letter, full of impertinent as well as treasonable expressions, and dating it Boston, 10 M. 3d 1683, they subscribed his name to it, and sent it to a worthy person at Amsterdam: This letter being conveyed to London, was

read

read before the king and council; but it carried such evidence of its being a forgery, that tho' Sir Roger L'Estrange published some scraps of it, with his own comments, there was no prosecution of Mr. Mather. But judgment was entered against the charter of Massachusetts colony. K. Charles died soon after, and in 1686 K. James sent a governor, with a commission that enabled him, with three or four other men, to make what laws, and levy what taxes, they pleased.

But in a little time that king published a Declaration for liberty of conscience. Some of the ministers of New-England, and their churches, drew up addresses of thanks to him, for the benefit enjoyed by this Declaration; and Mr. Mather was desired to take a voyage to England and deliver them. A copy of the forged letter before-mentioned coming to New-England, Mr. Mather wrote to a gentleman that had it, to vindicate himself, and named a person whom he suspected to have had a hand in the contrivance. This person arrested Mr. Mather in an action of defamation, and 500l. damage, purely, as was apprehended, with a design to stop his voyage. But the jury cleared him, and ordered the plaintiff to pay costs of court, and he embarked for England, April 7, 1688.-He landed at Weymouth, and hastening to London, presented the addresses to the king; when he laid before his majesty the state of the country, and was favourably received.

Upon the Revolution, he waited on the prince of Orange, and was instrumental in preventing the sending a letter to New-England (in common with the other plantations) confirming their old governor till farther order, which would have had pernicious consequences. After the coronation of K. William, Mr. Mather frequently waited upon him, and was very much assisted by Philip lord Wharton, and others. His great endeavour was to get New-England resettled upon the charter foundation; but he was disappointed in his object by the unexpected dissolution of parliament. His next attempt was to get a writ of error in judgment, by which the case relating to the Massachusett colony might be brought out of Chancery into the King's-bench; but herein he also failed. All therefore he had left for him to do was, to petition the king for a new charter, containing all the old one, with the addition of new and more ample privileges; which, after some time, he obtained, and then, March 29, 1692, he set sail for New-England, in the company of Sir William Phips, whom his majesty sent over governor, and they ar

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rived safe at Boston, May 14 following. Soon after, there being a meeting of the general assembly of the province, the speaker of the house of representatives, or commons, publicly returned him thanks for his faithful and indefatigable endeavours to serve the country.

He now returned to his more pleasing employment, the care of his church, and of the college, of which he was President, and was created D. D. But in 1701 he resigned his charge in the college, because the general assembly required the President to reside at Cambridge. He continued at Boston preaching to his beloved people. He had several fits of sickness, from which he was remarkably recovered; but till he was past 80 years of age, his intellects did not appear enfeebled. He at last expired (in the arms of his eldest son) Aug. 23, 1723; and was honoured by his church (who ever shewed a great esteem and veneration for him) with a more splendid funeral than ever had been seen for any divine in those parts. His funeral sermon was preached by Mr. Foxcroft, on 2 Chron. xxiv. 15. And the ministers of Boston, for nine or ten weeks successively, supplied his pulpit, and expressed their condolence with his church. He kept a constant diary, in which he inserted remarks upon the most eminent dealings of God with him, both in a way of providence and grace.

WORKS. A Discourse on the Mystery of Israel's Salvation.— The first Principles of New-England, on the Subject of Baptism and Communion of Churches.-A brief History of the War with the Indians in New-England, from June 24, 1675, to Aug. 12, 1676. -Some important Truths about Conversion.-The Divine Right of Infant Baptism.-Practical Truths, tending to promote Godliness in the Power of it.-Diatribe de signo Filii Hominis, et de secundo Messiæ adventu.-An Essay for the recording illustrious Providences. The Mystery of Christ opened and applied, in several Sermons concerning the Person, Office and Glory of Jesus Christ. De successu Evangelii apud Indos in Nova Anglia. Epist. ad Cl. Virum, D. Joh. Leusdenum.-A Discourse on Comets, 1683.-A Call to the rising Generation.-A Funeral Sermon for Mr. John Bailey. The Doctrine of Div. Providence.-Sermons on Ezek. ix. 3.-The Folly of Sin.-The Excellency of a public Spirit. A Disc. on the Truth of the Christian Religion.-A Disc. concerning Angels...The Life and Death of Mr. Richard Mather. ..A Sermon against Drunkenness...The Day of Trouble, &c.. A Disc. on the Subject of Baptism, &c...The Wicked Man's Portion...The Times of Men in the Hand of God...A Relation of the Troubles of New-England from the Indians, from the Beginning,

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