nay, hunted about like partridges on the mountains, and persecuted as pests of society. Under these burdens they groaned for a considerable time, but still continued, as they had done, to meet as often as they could for the worship of God, (though privately, for fear of their enemies) under the pastoral care of that famous and learned divine, Mr. John Robinson, the first pastor of this ancient Church; until at length they resolved to seek an asylum in Holland. 4. The undertaking was hazardous, for their enemies watched them continually, and did every thing in their power to prevent their escape. What a dreadful situation! they can neither be suffered to live at home in peace, nor to go abroad for it. The ports and har bours are watched: striet orders given, by authority, not to suffer them to escape. They are obliged to use the most private methods possible, and give the most extravagant fees to the sailors; and yet were often betrayed by them. 5. "The following instance is in the exact words of the record : "There was a large companie of them purposed to gett passage att Boston in Lincolnshire for Holland, and hiered a ship wholly to themselves, and made agreement with the master, to be ready att a certaine day, and take them and their goods in att a convenient place appointed, where they all accordingly attended in reddiness. 6. "After longe waiting, and large expenses, the master, tho' he kept not bis word as to the day, yett came att last, and tooke them in, in the night; and when he had got them and theire goods aboard, be betrayed them; having, before hand, complotted with the searchers and other officers soe to doe, whoe tooke them and putt them into open boates, and there rifled and ransacked them, searching them to their shirts for money; offering the most brutal violence to the women, such as is not fit to be named; and then carryed them back into the towne, marching them aboute the streets, and making them a spectacle and wonderment to the mul titude, who came flockinge on all sides to behold them.” 7. "The next year they made another attempt to get away, and finding a Dutch shipmaster at Hull, they made an agreement with him, and made him acquainted with their condition and design, hoping to find more friendship in him than in those of their own nation. He was to take them in from a large common, between Grimsby and Hull, at a good distance from any town. That they might be in less danger of being discovered, they divide their company, and send on the women and children, with the goods, to the place, first in a smali barque; and the men were to go by land, and meet them at the day appointed. 8. "But it so fell out that they were all at the place a day or two before the ship came. When she arrived, they found the barque, with the women, &c. aground near the shore, it being low water. The Dutchman perceiving this, sent his boat on shore to take the men in first, that no time might be lost; but when the first boatful had got on board, behold they saw a large company of horse and footmen coming with full speed upon them to apprehend them. For their enemies had got notice of their intention, and the whole country was raised against them. 9. "The men on shore escaped by flight, but the women and their children fell into their hands. The men in the ship, with unspeakable distress, beheld their wives and children taken by their enemies; and, notwithstanding all their remonstrances, were obliged to submit to be carried away to Holland; destitute of clothes and money, and not knowing that they should ever see their families again. 10. "We have then an account of a dismal storm, in which they were all likely to perish; and how, at last, through the mysterious Providence of God, they all got over to Holland, and met together-husbands and wives, and children and friends, minister and people. Here, for eleven years, they continued in a state of peace and comfort, under the ministry of their beloved pastor, Mr. Robinson. But various circumstances determined them at last to resolve upon removing to America. The strongest inducement to which was the desired hope of spreading the gospel of Christ, and laying a founda tion for the advancement of religion; and the kingdom of Christ, in this remote part of the world. 11. "After due deliberation and prayer, it was resolv ed that part of them should go over first, with their pious elder, Mr. Brewster; while the major part staid behind, and their pastor with them. The scene of their parting with each other, who were so knit together with cordial love, which had been strengthened by mutual sorrows and distresses, was most affecting. On this occasion they kept a day of humiliation and prayer. Mr. Robinson preached to them from Ezra, viii. ver. 21. "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves there before God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance." 12. "And now the trying time being come, that they must depart, (say the records) they were accompanied by most of their brethren out of the city, into a town called Half Haven, where the ship lay ready to receive them. The next day, the wind being fair, they went aboard, their friends accompanying them. But truly doleful was the sight of that sad partinge: to see what sighes, and sobbes, and prayers, did sound among them; what tears did gush from every eye, which soe piersed each other's harte, that sundrye of the Dutch strangers that stood on the kees, as spectators, coulde not refraine from tears. 13. "But the tyde callinge them to departe, theire reverend pastor, falling downe on his knees, and they all with him, with watery cheeks, commended them, with most fervet prayers, to the Lord, and his blessinge. And then, with mutual embraces and many teares, they took their leaves of one another, which proved to be their last leave with many of them. 14. "Now on they come, all alone, a small and feeble band, through contrary storms and boisterous seas, late in the year, a terrible winter approaching, their wives and poor piteous children with them, going to a strange land. But the Lord is with them and is their guide.” 15. "They arrived at Cape Cod, November 10, 1620, and gave thanks to God for their preservation. One died on the passage, but another was born, so that the same number arrived in America which sailed from Holland, viz. 101 souls." PART IV. NATURAL HISTORY SPIRITUALLY IMPROVED. THE LION. GOD, whose wisdom appears in all the infinitely diversified forms of nature, hath inscribed on every creature its proper character in marks indelible and unequivocal. Such is particularly the case with the Lion whose fiery eye and flowing mane inspire us with awe and terror. 2. The natural history of this animal is so well known, that we shall treat it very cursorily. Its native regions are in the interior of Africa, where he reigus "Sole monarch of all he surveys," few animals ever attempting to dispute with him the right of sovereignty. The magnanimous Dr. Vanderkemp, among other dangers, has been much among these terrible animals. He mentions herds of them, to the number of an hundred, whose footsteps he has traced in the desert; and from whom he was preserved, in several instances, almost by miraele. 3. It is a gracious dispensation of Providence, however, that this creature, in a great measure, loses its native courage and ferocity as it approaches the haunts of men; and is seldom known to make inroads on society, except when compelled by extreme hunger. And even when individuals of men and beasts have fallen within its power, it has been known generously to spare their lives, when it has not been in want of food. It is a creature also highly susceptible of grateful impressions for benefits long since received, and may be tamed more easily, if taken young, than many other beasts of prey. 4. The Scriptures name several kinds of this animal, to which it frequently alludes. Jacob blessing Judah, compares him, or rather his tribe, to a lion's whelpa full. 1-grown lion couched down, i. e. resting in conscious security, and (not an old lion, but) a lioness* having young, which makes her more ferocious than the male. Job distinguishes "the lion (Ariah, the usual name) the fierce," or rather the black (i. e. dark-coloured) “lionf the young lion-the old (full grown) lion, and the stout lien's whelps." 5. The woody parts of the banks of Jordant are par ticularly mentioned as the haunts of these terrible creatures; and we have repeated instances in Scripture of their being used as the instruments of the Divine displeasure ; while on the other hand, when they have been employed against his people, he hath shut their mouths, as in the case of Daniel, that they might not hurt them. Thus the Lord reigns even among the savages of the desert. 6. The Scriptures frequently make use of the character of the lion, as the type of a tyrant and a destroyer. Nero is compared to one; and a greater tyrant than even he was, is described as 66 a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." In one instance, however, they take the fairer part of this animal's character; his strength, courage, sagacity, magnanimity, are the quali ties intended to be conveyed when the great Messiah is described as "The Lion of the Tribe of Judah;" though it is probable also that it may contain an allu sion to the standard of that tribe, which the Rabius tell us was that animal borrowed from the form of the sacred cherubim, or rather, perhaps, from the blessing of the patriarch Jacob. 7. It may seem extraordinary that the sacred writers should borrow their illustrations from an object so terrible, when they meant to do honour to their subject ; but the fact is, they were so full of the glory of the *See Parkhurst. † Job, iv. 9, 10. # Jer. xlix. 19. |