Ecclesiastical History. 19 



that the solicitations of his friends obtained from him a resolution for 

 New-England also, where he hoped for a more settled abode, which was 

 most agreeable to his inclination. 



Accordingly, in the summer of the year 1635, he took ship, with his 

 wife and four children, and after a voyage by constant sickness rendered 

 very tedious to him, he arrived at Charlestown, where he found his de- 

 sired relations got safe before him. Several towns now addressed him to 

 become their minister ; but he chose with his father's family and some 

 other Christians to form a new plantation, which they called Hingham ; 

 and there gathering a church, he continued a faithful pastor and an able 

 preacher for many years. And his old people at Haverhil indeed, in 

 some time after, sent most importunate letters unto him, to invite his re- 

 turn for England ; and he had certainly returned, if the letters had not so 

 miscarried, that before his advice to them, there fell out some remarkable 

 and invincible hindrances of his removal. 



Not long after this, he had (as his own expression for it was) " his heart 

 rent out of his breast," by the death of his consort; but his Christian, 

 patient, and submissive resignation was rewarded by his marriage to a 

 second, that proved a rich blessing unto him. His house was also edified 

 and beautified with many children, on whom when he looked he would say 

 sometimes with much thankfulness, " Behold, thus shall the man be blessed 

 that feareth the Lord ! " and for whom he employed many tears in his 

 prayers to God, that they might be happy, and, like another Job, offered 

 up his daily supplications. 



His love to learning made him strive hard that his hopeful sons might 

 not go without a learned education ; and accordingly we find four or five 

 of them wearing laurels in the catalogue of our graduates ; and several of 

 them are at this day worthy preachers of the gospel in our churches. 



He was mostly a morning student, not meriting the name of Homo Lec- 

 tissimus, as he in the witty epigrammatist, from his long lying a bed; and 

 yet he would improve the darkness of the evening also for solemn, fixed, 

 and illuminating meditations. He. was much admired for well-studied ser- 

 mons ; and even in the midst of secular diversions and distractions, his 

 active mind would be busie at providing materials for the composure of 

 them. He much valued that rule, study standing ; and until old age and 

 weakness compelled him, he rarely would study sitting. . . . And when 

 he had an opportunity to hear a sermon from any other minister, he did 

 it with such a diligent and reverent attention, as made it manifest that he 

 worshipped God in doing of it ; and he was very careful to be present 

 still, at the beginning of the exercises, counting it a recreation to sit and 

 wait for the worship of God. 



Moreover, his heart was knit in a most sincere and hearty love towards 

 pious men, though they were not in all things of his own perswasion. He 

 would admire the grace of God in good men, though they were of senti- 

 ments contrary unto his ; and he would say, u I can carry them in my 

 bosome : " nor was he by them otherwise respected. 



There was deeply rooted in him a strong antipathy to all profanities, 

 whereof he was a faithful reprover, both in publick and in private ; and 

 when his reproofs prevailed not, he would " weep in secret places." 



Drinking to excess, and mispence of precious time in tipling or talking 

 with vain persons, which he saw grown too common, was an evil so ex- 

 tremely offensive to him, that he would call it " sitting at meat, in an idol's 

 temple ; " and when he saw that vanity grow upon the more high profes- 



