Remarkable Providences

Of Remarkable Sea Deliverances. Mr. Anthony Thacher's Relation concerning his and his Wives being marvelously preserved alive, when all the ships company perished. The wonderful preservation of Major Gibbons and his company. Several other remarkable Sea-deliverances mentioned by Mr. Janeway, wherin N. E. men were concerned. Mr. Grafton's preservation. A vessel lately coming from Bristol for New-England, saved out of great distress at Sea. Some providentially met with by a New-England vessel in an open Boat, many Leagues off from anyshoar, strangely preserved. An account of a remarkable Sea-Deliverance which hapned this present Year. Another like unto it which hapned above twenty years ago.

p. 2THe Royal Pen of the Prophet David hath most truly affirmed, that they who go down to the Sea in Ships, that do business in great waters, see the works of the Lord, and his wonders in the deep. And in special, they see wonders of Divine goodness in respect of eminent Deliverances wrought by the hand of the most High, who stills the noise of the Seas, the noise of their waves. It is meet that such Providences should be ever had in remembrance, as most of all by the persons concerned in them, so by others, that the God of Salvation, who is the confidence of them that are afar off upon the Sea, may have eternal praise. Many remarkable Stories of this kind, are to be seen in Books already published. E. G. in Mandels◊o's Travels, H◊ck◊uit, and Linshoten's Voyages; Wanley's Histo◊y; Causin's Holy Court; Mr. Burton's Treatises lately printed, and in Mr. Ianeway's Sea-Deliverances. I shall in this Chapter confine my self unto things which have hapned either in New-England, or wherein N-England Vessels have been concerned. We shall begin with that Remarkable Sea-Deliverance which Mr. Anthony Thacher did Experience at his first coming to New-England. A full and p. 3true Relation whereof, I find in a Letter directed to his Brother Mr. Peter Thacher, then a Faithful Minister of Christ in Sarum in England (he was Father to my worthy dear Friend Mr. Thomas Thacher late Pastor of one of the Churches in this Boston.) This Letter of Mr. Anthony Thacher's to his Brother being written within a few dayes after that eminent Providence hapned unto him, matters were then fresh in his memory; I shall therefore here insert his Narrative in his own words; who expresseth himself as followeth▪ p. 3I must turn my drowned Pen and shaking Hand to Indite the Story of such sad News as never before this hapned in New-England. There was a League of perpetual Friendship between my Cousin Avery (note that this Mr. Avery was a precious holy Minister who came out of England with Mr. Anthony Thacher) and my self never to forsake each other to the Death, but to be partakers of each others misery or welfare, as also of habitation in the same place. Now upon our Arrival in New-England, there was an offer made unto us. My cousin Avery was invited to Marble-head to be their Pastor in due time; there being no Church planted there as yet, but a Town appointed p. 4to set up the Trade of Fishing. Because many there (the most being Fishermen) were something loose and remiss in their behaviour; my Cousin Avery was unwilling to go thither, and so refusing we went to Newbery, intending there to sit down. But being solicited so often both by the Men of the place, and by the Magistrates, and by Mr. Cotton, and most of the Ministers, who alledged what a benefit we might be to the People there, and also to the Countrey and Common-wealth; at length we embraced it, and thither consented to go. They of Marble-head forthwith sent a Pinnace for us and our Goods. We Embarqued at Ipswich, August 11. 1635. with our Families and Substance, bound for Marble-head, we being in all twenty three Souls, viz. eleven in my Cousin's Family, seven in mine, and one Mr. William Eliot sometimes of New Sarum, and four Mariners. The next morning having commended our selves to God, with chearful hearts, we hoised Sail; but the Lord suddenly turned our chearfulness into mourning and lamentations. For on the fourteenth of this August 1635. about ten at night, having a fresh Gale of wind, our Sails being old and done were split. The Mariners because that it was night, would p. 5not put to new Sails, but resolved to cast Anchor till the Morning. But before day-light, it pleased the Lord to send so mighty a Storm, as the like was never known in New-England since the English came, nor in the memory of any of the Indians.

p. 5It was so furious that our Anchor came home. Whereupon the Mariners let out more Cable, which at last slipt away. Then our Sailers knew not what to do, but we were driven before the wind and waves. My Cousin and I perceived our danger, solemnly recommended our selves to God the Lord both of Earth and Seas, expecting with every wave to be swallowed up and drenched in the Deeps. And as my Cousin, his Wife, and my tender Babes sat comforting and chearing one the other in the Lord against ghastly Death, which every moment stared us in the face, and sat triumphing upon each ones Forehead, we were by the violence of the Waves and fury of the winds, (by the Lords permission) lifted up upon a Rock between two high Rocks, yet all was one Rock, but it raged with the stroke which came into the Pinnace, so as we were presently up to our middles in water as we sat. The Waves came furiously and violently over us, and against us, but by reason of p. 6the Rocks proportion could not lift us off, but beat her all to pieces. …