Remarkable Providence Narratives

In a book of sermons, A Call from Heaven (1679), Increase Mather stated: "there should be a Collection of Special Providences of God towards his New England People; and that Memorials being duly communicated, a History should be compiled according to Truth, for the benefit of Posterity, that they might see how God hath been with their Fathers, in laying the Foundation of the Churches, and of the Common-Wealth."

In May, 1681, Increase Mather sent out "some Proposals" for "the RECORDING of ILLUSTRIOUS PROVIDENCES" to the ministers of New England:

1. In order to the promoting of a design of this nature, so as shall be indeed for Gods Glory, and the good of Posterity, it is necessary that utmost care shall be taken that All, and Only Remarkable Providences be Recorded and Published.

2. Such Divine Judgments, Tempests, Floods, Earth-quakes, Thunders as are unusual, strange Apparitions, or whatever else shall happen that is Prodigious, Witchcrafts, Diabolical Possessions, Remarkable Judgments upon noted Sinners: eminent Deliverances, and Answers to Prayers, are to be reckoned among Illustrious Providences . . .

5. It is therefore Proposed that the Elders may conjure in desiring some one that hath Leisure and Ability for the management of such an undertaking, with all convenient speed . . .

from Cotton Mather's Introduction in Magnalia :

"to regard the illustrious Displays of that PROVIDENCE wherewith our Lord CHRIST governs the World, is a Work, than which there is none more Needful or Useful for a Christian."

"But whether New England may live any where else or no, it must live in our History!"

from Increase Mather's Doctrine of Divine Providences (1684) (a book of six sermons):

"the God of Heaven has an over-ruling hand of Providence in whatever cometh to Pass in this World"

"the Lord in Heaven knows all that is done upon the Earth . . . [and He] is everywhere present . . . in all Places"

"there is a holy Decree and Predetermination in Heaven concerning all things which come to pass in the World"

Providence is "an Ancient, Eternal, Unchangeable decree of Heaven . . . It is extended unto all places of the world and unto all Creatures"

"To the sparrows, and to every single sparrow, not one of them is kill'd without the ordering hand of divine Providence."

"there are some events of providence in which there is a special hand of Heaven ordering of them."

"extraordinary mercies" and "extraordinary judgments"

Increase Mather's An Essay for the Reording of Illustrious Providences was published in 1684. The book was praised and remained popular, becoming an early American bestseller. During its first year An Essay was reprinted three times (twice in Boston and once in London). Later it was republished in part or in full throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.