Creative Books

Nay, it
seems that in 1677, on a Sunday in Marblehead, "the women, as they came
out of the meeting-house, fell upon two Indians, that had been brought
in as captives, and in a tumultuous way very barbarously murdered them,"
in revenge for the death of some fishermen: a moral application which
certainly gives a singular impression of the style of gospel prevailing
inside the meeting-house that day. But it is good to know, on the other
side, that, when the Commissioners of the United Colonies had declared
an Indian war, and the Massachusetts Colony had become afterwards
convinced that the war was unrighteous, the troops were recalled, though
already far towards the field, and no pride or policy prevented the
order from being rescinded.
These were some of the labors of the clergy. But no human being lives
without relaxation, and they may have had theirs. True, "ministers have
little to joy in in this world," wrote old Norton; and one would think
so, to read the dismal diaries, printed or manuscript, of those days.


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