Chapter IX: Curious Boston Lectures

BOSTONIAN EBENEZER.

There was published in Boston, in 1698, a very small thin volume of 82 pages, 3 x 5 inches, entitled "The Bostonian Ebenezer." "Some Historical Remarks on the State of BOSTON, the _Chief Town of New England_ and of the _English_ AMERICA, with some _agreeable methods_ for Preserving and Promoting, the _Good State_ of THAT, as well as any _other Town_, in the like circumstances." "Humbly offered by a native of Boston." Ezk. 48, 35, "The Name of the City from that day, shall be THE LORD IS THERE." Boston: printed by B. Green and F. Allen, for Samuel Phillips, at the Brick Shop, 1698.

This singular little volume contains two lectures. Preceding the first lecture at the top of the page are these lines:--

"THE HISTORY OF BOSTON,
Related and Improved.
At _Boston_ Lecture 7_d._ 2_m._ 1698." [April 7, 1698.]

The remainder of the page is occupied with this preface:--

"Remarkable and memorable, was the Time, when an _Army_ of Terrible
_Destroyers_ was coming against one of the _Chief Towns_ in the Land
of Israel. God Rescued the _Town_ from the Irresistible Fury and
Approach of those Destroyers, by an Immediate Hand of Heaven upon
them. Upon that miraculous Rescue of the _Town_, and of the whole
Country whose Fate was much enwrapped in it, there follow'd that
Action of the Prophet, SAMUEL, which is this Day, to be, with some
Imitation Repeated, in the midst of thee, O, BOSTON, _Thou helped of
the Lord_."

At the head of the next page we have the text,--