The soveraignty & goodness of God, together, with the faithfulness of his promises displayed; being a narrative of the captivity and restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson. : Commended by her, to all that desires to know the Lords doings to, and dealings with her. Especially to her dear children and relations, / Written by her own hand for her private use, and now made publick at the earnest desire of some friends, and for the benefit of the afflicted. ; [Three lines from Deuteronomy]

The Preface to the READER.

IT was on Tuesday, Feb 1. 1675. in the afternoon, when the Narr••••g••nsets quarters (in or toward the Nipmug Country, whi|ther th••y are now retyred for fear of the English Army lying in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 own Country) were the second time beaten up by the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of the united Colonies •• who thereupon soon betook themselves to ••••ight, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 were all the next day pursued by the Engl••sh, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 overtaken and destroyed, But on Thursday, Feb. 3. The Eng••••sh having now been six dayes on their march, from their he••d qu••••ters, at Wickford, in the Narrhaganse•• Country, toward, and after the Enemy, and provision grown exceeding short, inso|much that they were fain to kill some Horses for the sapply, especi|ally of their Indian friends, they were necessitated to consider what was best to be done: And about noon (having hitherto followed the chase as hard as they might) a Councill was called, and though some few were of another mind, yet it was concluded by far the greater p••rt of the Councill of War, that the Army should desist the ••ursuit, and retire: the Forces of Plimouth and the Bay to the next ••own of the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Connecticut Forces to their own next Towns: Which determination was immed••ately put in execution. The con|sequent whereof, as it was not difficult to be foreseen by those that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the causless enmity of these Barbarians, against the English, and t••e malicious and revengefull spirit of these Heathen: so it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••••roved dismall.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 Narrhag••nsets were now driven quite from their own Coun|trey, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all their provi••ions there hoarded up to which they durst not at present return, and being so numerous as they were, soon de|v••ured those to whom they went, whereby both the one and other were now reduced to extream straits, and so necessitated to take the fir••t and best opportunity for supply, and very glad, no doubt of such an opportunity as this, to provide for themselves, and make spoil of the English at once; and seeing themselves thus discharged of their pursuers, and a little refreshed after their flight, the very next week on Thurseday, Feb. 10. they fell with mighty force and fur•• up••n Lancaster: which small Town, r••mote from aid of others, and not being Gerisoned as it ••ight, the Army being now come in, and as the time indeed required (the design of the Indians against

that place being known to the English some time before) was not able to make effectual resistance: but notwithstanding utmost endea|vour of the Inhabitants, most of the buildings were turned into ashes; many People (Men, Women and Children) slain, and o|thers captivated. The most solemn and remarkable part of this Trajedy, may that justly be reputed, which fell upon the Family of that reverend Serva••t of God, Mr. Ios••ph Rolandson, the faithfull Pastor of Christ in that place, who being gone down to the Cou••cill of the M••ssachusets to seek aid for the defence of the place, at his return found the Town in flames, o•• smoke, his own house being set on fire by the Enemy, through the disadvantage of a defective Forti|fication, and all i•• it consumed: his precious yo•••• fellow, and dear Children, wounded and captivated (as the issue evidenced, and fol|lowing Narrative declares) by these cruel and barbarous Salvages. A sad Catestrophe▪ Thus all things come alike to all: None knows either love or hatred by all that is before him. It is no new thing for Gods precious ones to drink as deep as others, of the Cup or co••mo•• Calamity: Take just L••t (yet captivated) for instance beside others. But it is not my business to dil••te on these things, but only in few words introductively to preface to the foll••wing script, which is a Narrative of the won••erfully awfull, wise•• ••oly, powerfull, and gracious providence of God, towards that worthy and precious Gentlewoman, the 〈…〉〈…〉 the said R••ve|rend Mr. Rowlandson, and her Children with her•• as ••n casting of her into suc•• a waterless pit, so in preserving, supp••rting, and c••r|rying thorow so many such extream haz••rds, unspeak••ble difficul|ties and discons••lateness, and at last delivering her out of them all▪ and her surviving Children also. I•• was a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••nd amazing di••|pensation, that the L••••d should so af••lict 〈…〉〈…〉 Servant, and Hand maid: It was as strange, if not more, 〈…〉〈…〉 up the spirits o•• ••is Servant under 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••nd|maid under suc•• captivity, 〈…〉〈…〉 much too h••rd for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and blood•• as he did, and 〈…〉〈…〉 and r••stor•• But he was their S••viour, who 〈…〉〈…〉 pass••st through the Waters, I will be with thee, and thorough 〈…〉〈…〉 no•• overflow thee: When thou walk••st 〈…〉〈…〉 burnt nor shall the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kindle upon 〈…〉〈…〉 and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 How 〈…〉〈…〉 in seven ••here s••all no 〈…〉〈…〉 he sh••ll ••••|deem 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••rom Death and in War 〈◊〉〈◊〉 power of the sw••rd. ••ob 5.18, 19, 20. Methinks t••is dispens••tion doth be••r 〈◊〉〈◊〉 resembl••••••e to those of Ios••ph, David and D••niel; yea, and of the three C••ild|ren too, the Stories whereof do represent us with the excellent tex|tures of ••ivine providence, curious pieces of divine work: and truly so doth this, and therefore not to be forgotten, but worthy to be exhibited to, and viewed, and pondered by all, that disdain not to cou••••d••r the operation of his hands.

The works of the Lord (not only of Crea••io••, but of Provi|nce also, especially those that do more pe••uli••rly c••ncern 〈◊〉〈◊〉

dear ones, that are as the Apple of his Eye, as the Signet upon Hi Hand, the Delight of his Eyes, and the Object of his tenderest Care) and great, sought out of all those that have pleasure therein. And of these verily this is none of the least.

This Narrative was penned by the Gentlewoman her self, to be to her a memorandum of Gods dealing with her, that she might never f••rget, but remember the same, & the severall circumstances there|of, all the dayes of ••er life. A pious sc••pe which deserves both commendation and i••itation: Some friends having obt••ined a sight of it, could not but be so much affected with the many passages of working providence discovered t••erein, as to judge it worthy of publick view, and altogeth••r un••••eet that such works of God should be hid from present and F••ture Generations: And therefore though this Gentlewom••ns modesty would not thrust it into the Press, yet her gratitude unto God made her not hardly perswadible to let it pass, that God might have his due glory, and others bene|fit by it as well as her self. I hope by this time none will cast any r••flection upon this Gentlewoman, on the score of this publication of her affliction and deliverance. If any should, doubtl••ss they may be reckoned with the nine lepe••s, of whom it is said, Were there not ten cleansed, where are the nine? but one returning to give God thanks. Let such further know that this was a dispensation of publick note, and of universall concernment, and so much the more, by how much the nearer this Gentlewoman s••o••d related to that faithfull Servant of God, whose capacity and employment was publick in the house of God, and his name on that account of a very sweet savour in the Churches of Christ, who is there of a true Christian spirit, that did not look upon himself much concerned in this bereavment, this Cap|tivity in the time thereof, and in his d••liverance when it came, yea more then in many others; and how many are there, to whom so concerned, it will doubtless be a very acceptable thing ••o see the way of God with this Gentlewoman in the aforesaid dispensation, thus laid out and pourtrayed before their eyes.

To conclude whatever any coy phantasies may deem, yet it highly concerns th••se that have so deeply tasted, how good the Lord is, to enquire with D••vid, What shall I render to the Lord for all his be|nefits to m••▪ Psal. ••••6.12. He thinks nothing too great; yea, be|ing sensible of his own disprop••rtion to the due praises of God he cals in help. Oh, magnifie the Lord with me, l••t us exalt his Name together, Psal. 34.3 And it is but reason, that our praises should hold pro|portion with our prayers▪ and that as many hath helped together by prayer for the obtaining of his Mercy, so praises should be returned by many on this behalf; And forasmuch as not the generall but par|ticular knowledge of things makes deepest impression upon the affe|ctions, this Narrative particul••rizing the several passages of this pro|vidence will nor a litt••e conduce thereunto. And therefore holy D••|vid in order to the attainment of that end, accounts himself concer|ned to declare what God had done for his soul, Psal. 66.16. Come and hear, a••l ye that fear God, and I will declare what God hath done for

my soul, i. e. for his life, see v. 9, 10. He holdeth our soul in life, and suffers not our feet to be moved, for thou our God hast proved us, thou hast tryed us, as silver is tryed. Life-mercies, are heart-affecting mercies, of great impression and force, to enlarge pious hearts in the praises of God, so that such know not how but to talk of Gods acts, and to speak of and publish his wonderfull works. Deep troubles, when the waters come in unto thy soul, are wont to produce vowes: vowes must be paid, It is better not vow, than vow and not to pay. I may say, that as none knows what it is to fight and pursue such an enemy as this, but they that have fought and pursued them: so none can ima|gine what it is to be captivated, and enslaved to such atheisticall proud, wild, cruel, barbarous, bruitish (in one word) diabolicall creatures as these, the worst of the heathen; nor what difficulties, hardships, hazards, sorrows, anxieties and perplexities do unavoid|ably wait upon such a condition, but those that have tryed it. No serious spirit then (especially knowing any thing of this Gentlewo|mans piety) can imagine but that the vows of God are upon her. Ex|cuse her then if she come thus into publick, to pay those vows. Come and hear what she hath to say.

I am confident that no Friend of divine Providence will ever repent his time and pains, spent in reading over these sheets, but will judg them w••rth perusing again and again.

Hear Reader, you may see an instance of the Soveraignty of God, who doth what he will with his own as well as others; and who may say to him, What dost thou? Here you may see an instance of the faith and patience of the Saints, under the most heart-sinking tryals; ••ere you may see, the promises are breasts full of consolation, when all the world besides is empty, and gives nothing but sorrow. That God is indeed the supream Lord of the world, ruling the most unruly, weakening the most cruel and salvage, granting hir People mercy in the sight of the unmercifull, curbing the lusts of the most filthy, holding the hands of the violent, delivering the prey from the migh|ty, and gathering together the out casts of Israel. Once and again you have heard, but hear you may see, that power belongeth unto God; that our God is the God of Salvation, and to him belo••g the issues from Death. That our God is in the Heavens, and doth what ever pleases him. Here you have Sampson Riddle examplified and that great pro••mise, Rom. 8.28. verified, Out of the Eater c••mes forth meat, and sweetness out of the strong; The worst of evils working together for the best good. How evident is it that the Lord hath made this Gentle|woman a gainer by all this affliction, that she can say, 'tis good for her, yea b••••ter that she hath been, then that she should not have been, thus afflicted.

Oh how doth God shine forth in such things as these?

Reader, if thou gettest no good by suc•• a Declaration as this, the fault must needs be thine own. Read therefore, Peruse, Ponder, and from hence lay up something from the experience of anothe••, against thine own turn comes, that so thou also through patience and consolatio•• of the Scripture mayest have hope.

PER AMICAM.