Letter to Richard Earl
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo2/B09518.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
To His EXCELLENCY, RICHARD, Earl of BELLOMONT, Baron of Coloony, in the Kingdom of Ireland, GOVERNOUR and Commander in Chief of the Provinces of the Massachusetts-Bay, New-York and New-Hampshire.
The Address of the Ministers met at Boston in New England, May 31st. 1699.
May it please Your Excellency,
LONG ••• ore this Province • old • e irradiate • ••• h 〈◊〉 Excellency's Happy Arrival 〈◊〉 Us, there Dawn'd upon 〈◊◊〉 all O ••• e • s Joyful Certificati •• of You • Excellen • 〈◊〉
And indeed while we Congratulate Your Excellency's Arrival unto this part of Your Government, We do but Congratulate our own Felicity, in having the Helm of the Government, by His Majesty's Commission, put into the Hands of One, who is Adorned with so Charming an Image of His Own Royal Virtues.
His Majesty hath forever obliged the English Nation, by His Royal Assent to those Acts of Parliament, which have Enriched it with Blessings richly worth all the Expences of the Late Happy Revolu • ion. But Your Lordships Most Generous, and Prosperous Conduct, in laboring to bring about those Acts hath laid England under the same Obligation to Your Lordship, that Ireland hath to Your Illustrious Ancestors.
From doing of Benefits to the best Island and Garden of the other Haemisphere, Your Excellency is now come to be a Benefactor, unto the Continent of America, and Countries that have subdued an American Wilderness, to be a significant part of the English Empire.
His Majesty in His Royal Wisdom di • cerned, That the r • re Temper, which qualifies Your Excellency, for the most Honorable Undertakings, would best of all express His own Gracious Intentions, to this part of His Dominions. And the Prudence and Goodness, with which Your Excellency hath managed the Affairs of New-York, is an actual Demonstration of His Majesty's Wisdom in the Choice of an Healer for them.
The Condition of Scotland, hath been so considered by His Majesty, That He hath not only consented unto their Laws, which have Established their Church-Government, as 'tis now Reformed; but more than once or twice assured them of His Resolution to maintain that Church Government among them. This Greatest of Monarchs that ever Sat on the Throne of Great Britain, and best of Kings at this Day Swaying a Scepter upon Earth, hath now given Your Excellency the Command over New-England; and a People that are a Nation of Non-Conformists, which those in Scotland justly look upon as their United Brethren.
Your Excellency expressing so much good-will as You have done to the Late Act of Parliament, which hath made the Non-conformists in England, Legal Parts of the Church in England; well knew what Hearty Friends, the vast Body of Non-Conformists are to the English Liberties; and what Loyal Subjects to the High and Mighty Prince, unto whom (under God) We are all Indebted, for the Recovery of those Liberties; and how much an Union between all Good Men, whether Conformists or Nonconformists, will contribute unto the Strength of the Protestant Interest.
And we believe, That Your Excellency will on all occasions express the good-will of a Common Father unto the Churches of Non-conformists (if where they bear the proportion of more than One Hundred unto One, it be proper to call them So ) in New England: Churches wherein the pure Doctrine in the famous Articles of the Church of England is Owned and Preached with all possible Purity; and the Primitive Discipline which even the Liturgy of the Church of England wisheth to see Restored, is practiced.
But we cannot single out any one point, wherein w 〈…〉 • ble Importunity more Sollicit Your Excellency's Favo 〈…〉 our University. It's Languishing for want of 〈…〉 us to pray Your Excellency, That You would ca •• • uch a Benign ••• ect upon it; as that by Your Interest and Influence, in concurrence with our General Assembly, there may be obtained from His Majesty, a Settlement of that our University, upon such Foundations as may best answer the Ends, for which both It, and the Colonies hitherto kept alive by It, ha •• • hus Enlarged the English Empire.
Now 〈…〉 shall in our several places Endeavor, That our People may be Inspire • 〈◊〉 Evangelica Principles of Subjection to Government, Obedience to M 〈…〉 ates, and Readiness to every Good Work: So we shall make it our 〈…〉 That our Glorious Lord JESUS CHRIST, would Preserve the 〈…〉 MAJESTY, and bestow His manifold Benediction on Your Excellen •• •• d on Your Excellencys Noble and Hopeful Family.
Increase Mather,
In the Name, and at the Desire of the Ministers, in the Province of the Massachusetts-Bay, who Met at Boston, May 31. 1699.
BOSTON, Printed by Bartholomew Green, and John Allen, Printers to His Excellency the GOVERNOUR and COUNCIL, 1699.