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Papers of the Winthrop Family, Volume 4

Edward Howes to John Winthrop, Jr.1
Howes, Edward Winthrop, John, Jr.

1639-04-14

To his much esteemed frind Mr. John Winthrop Junr. at Boston in the Massachusetts Bay or elsewhere in New England these deliver
Sir,

Yours I receiued with 2 relations of Monstrous births and a generall earthquake.2 When I had read them; they seemed to me like Pharaohs dreames; but whoe can tell certainely wherefore God sent them; where is there such an other people then in N: E:? that labours might and maine to haue Christ formed in them, yet they would giue or appoynt him his shape, and cloath him too. it cannot be denyed but we haue conceiued many monstrous imaginations of Christ Jesus, the one imagination sayes loe here he is, the other sayes loe, there he is, multiplicitie of conceptions, but is there any one true shape of him; and if one of many produce a shape tis not the shape of the sonne of God man , but an vglie horridd Metamorphosis, neither is it a liuinge shape, but a dead one, yet a Crow thinkes her owne bird the fairest, and most preferre theire owne wisedome before Gods, Antichrist before Christ; to you I write with whome I may be bold; and is't a wonder the Earth should quake at this. O Earth, Earth, Earth, heare the voyce of the Lord, a still silent voyce, yet where it comes it maketh the mountaines to quake, and the hills to tremble.

The bookes you writt for, I haue not mett with them as yet, at the shopps where I haue bin; I could wish you some bookes, but one booke were enough, if you could come by it. its written within and without, its calld by many names, but it is not knowne by the names, but to those that have the nature thereof; to giue you the name and nature in a word, its The booke of life (et est elixir vitae), where you may read all within you and all without you; and him that is all in all; to whose protection I leaue you and rest Your frind in the best I may

Edward Howse Cursistors Courte neere Lincolnes Inn the 14th of Aprill 1639 116

Pray present my Loue to your best beloued wife. My father and mother are in health and salute you so doth my wife vnknowne to you, but by my relation; we should be glad to see you at our habitacion, if your affaires drawe you to London. For newes, I referr you to the vulgar Athenians. Vale.

Shall I hide any thinge from my frind, read this to Mr. J: S. and doe with it as you please. if it may doe him, or any other, good: God speed it.

1.

W. 2. 169; 4 Collections , VI. 505–506.

2.

I.e., Mrs. Dyer's and Mrs. Hutchinson's monsters and the earthquake of June 1, 1638.