Indian Dialogues, Dialogue 1
DIALOG. I.
Kinsman. Piumbuhhou. Speakers.
Kinsman.
WEll met, and welcome beloved Cousin, I am glad you are still alive; can you make shift to live in that new way of living that you have taken up at Natik? I am glad of your coming, because I shall thereby have an opportunity to be informed truly of your wayes, and what your doings be, about which there be such various reports, some commending, some condemning, some deriding, some wondering; but so far as I see few desire to imitate you.
Pium.
I am very glad that God hath guided my way so well, so that I should meet you, whom I have longed to see: you are my friend whom I purposed first to look out, and lo God hath ordered us to meet each other, at my first coming to your Town. Likewise I am glad that you are so desirous to speak with me about our Religion, and praying to God, for that is the very Errand I come upon, that I might perswade you to do as we do. I am like a friend that have found honey, and plenty of food, and I come to call my friends to come partake with me. But what noise is this that I hear?
Kinsm.
I perceive you have quite left off those delights and solemnities that your Country men use, and which you were in your young time accustomed to, because you have forgot the meaning of such noises. There is a great Dancing, and Sacrifice, and Play, and that is the noise that you hear.
Pium.
You say right, we have indeed quite left off and cast away those works of darkness for we have great light shining among us, which discovers the filth and folly of those things; as when a light is set up in a dark room, in a dark night, it discovereth all the dirty corners of the house, and all the evil actions, that are wont to be done in the dark, without discovery. We plainly see the sinfulness of our own former, and of your still continued wayes; and I desire that God would help me to open among you some of the Divine Light which God hath shewed us, that it may shame you from such filthy practices and shine them away for ever as the rising Sun doth dissipate and drive away all the darkness of the night, and maketh Wolves, Bears, and all other wilde beasts hide themselves in thickets, and not dare to be seen in the daylight.
Kinsm.
Will you go with me unto them, and see what they do? I will give you this encouragement to perswade you to it, becaus… you shall there see many of your friends and kindred.
Pium.
I cannot serve two Masters: I have undertaken and promised to serve God, and therefore I cannot now go back again and serve the Devil. I have found that Jesus Christ is a good Master, and I come to perswade you to come and be his Servant: Far be it from me that now I am come among you, I should forsake my Master, and serve the Devil; or that I should so far grieve my Master, as to go unto those Games which his Soul hateth.
And whereas you say that many of my friends are there, the more is my grief. I desire that I were able to pull you all out of that deep pit and filthy puddle; which to perform, I should utterly be disabled, if I should go in my self, and so be d…filed with the same filth, which I perswade them to forsake and cast away.
Kinsm.
Let us go unto my house, that you may take there some refreshment of food after your weary journey, and there we shall have liberty to discourse fully of these matters. And while we are in the way, let me ask you of the estate and welfare of our friends and kindred at Natik; doth your praying to God exempt you from Sicknesses, Poverty, Nakedness? will praying to God fill you with food, gladness, and garments?
Pium.
Our friends at Natik were when I left them in good state of health, peace and comfort: for which we give God thanks, who is the Father of all mercies.
Touching your question, Whether praying to God doth exempt us from Sicknesses, Poverty, and fills us with food and garments: I answer, If praying to God did bring with it outward plenty and worldly prosperity, then all carnal people would pray to God, not because they love God, or praying to God, but because they love themselves, and love food, clothing, and worldly pleasures; but the benefits of praying are spiritual and heavenly, it teaches us to know God, and the evil of sin; it teacheth us to repent of sin, and seek for pardon, and it teacheth us to forsake sin for ever: and if we are loth to part with sin, God will chastise us with Sicknesses, Poverty, and other worldly crosses, to call us to repentance, and therefore many times we fare worse in the world, then wicked men do, that thereby we might be weaned from the world, and brought and taught to love and long for heaven. And yet I further tell you, that Religion doth teach the right way to be rich and prosperons in this world, and many, English especially, have learned that way. For Religion teacheth us to be diligent in labour six dayes, and on the seventh day to rest, and keep it an holy Sabbath; and God hath promised that the diligent hand shall make rich: and when we walk with God in godliness and obedience, …e will give us the blessing of this life, so far as is best for us, he will withhold no good thing from us; if any thing be withheld from us, or taken away from us, it is because it is not good for us: Our Father better knoweth what is good for us, then we our selves know.
Kinsm.
If your praying to God do indeed teach you the true way of being rich, as you say, how then cometh it to pass that you are so poor still? for you have prayed to God these twenty years and more, and I do not see that you have increased in riches ver… much, you are still poor: where be your Riches? where be you… flocks and herds of Cattel? where be your Clothes? what grea… Houses have you built? where be your fields of Corn, Barns an… Orchards? Alas, you are not like the English; and therefore … doubt upon this point, it is not as you say, that praying to Go… teacheth you the right way to be rich.
Pium.
This is one of the least, the last, the lowest of those things that our Religion teacheth us. There be two sorts of riches; Earthly riches, of which onelyonly you speak, and Heavenly riches, which Gods Word calleth true riches. These Earthly riches are but temporary, and shall soon perish, but the true riches are heavenly, and eternal, they last for ever. And we have spent these twenty Years in seeking chiefly after heavenly riches, for so God commandeth us in his Word, Seek first the Kingdome of Heaven, as for these earthly riches they shall be added to you, so much as you need. And the Word of God commandeth us to be content if we have food and clothes; Now we have food and clothes more then we were wont to have before we prayed to God, and we have contented our selves therewith, and have bent our mindes more to look after heavenly riches, and in those things we have increased more, then in earthly riches.
Kinsm.
I pray tell me what are those heavenly riches of which you speak so highly, and upon which you do bestow your chief care and pains, and so much prefer before earthly riches, which we account so much of, and think to be the best things attainable in this world?
Pium.
The true riches which we spend our time to seek after, are,
1. The knowledge of the great God, who hath made this vast World, and governeth the same by his Wisdome and Power, and who hath made Man, and governeth us by his holy Laws and Commandments.
2. The knowledge of our selves, to be miserable sinners, and do daily o…fend and sin against God, provoking his wrath against us, to pu… … for our transgressions against his holy Laws and Commandments.
3. The knowledge of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world, who hath in unspeakable love took a course to deliver us from the wrath of God▪ for whereas we have by our sins deserved Death & Damn…tion Christ became a Man, and died for us, and thereby hath pacified the Justice and Wrath of God, and opened a way of Salvation for us, obtaining a Pardon for us, and offering grace unto us, whereby we may be saved, and be brought to eternal glory and …appines….
4. The knowledge of the grace of God in Jesus Christ, whereby he bringeth us to repent of our sins, to convert and turn from all our evil wayes, and to believe in the Lord Jesus, and to walk with God in the wayes of holiness and righteousness before him.
5. The knowledge of the Means of grace, the Ordinances of God; whereby we walk with God in wayes of Civil Government, in wayes of Justice, and good Order. And in the Ordinances of Worshipping God, in the sanctifying of the Sabbaths, and walking in the Communion of Saints, by the Word of God, and Prayer, and Singing of Psalms.
6. In the knowledge of the estate of all men after death; how the godly men that penitently believe in Christ, go to Heaven when they die; and the wicked, that refuse to repent and believe, they go to Hell, and there abide till the Day of Judgement: at which day or time, when it cometh, all men shall rise again, and be judged according to their deeds in this life; and then shall the godly go with Christ to eternal Glory, and the wicked shall be cast into Hell Soul and Body, and there be tormented with the Devils for ever.
Kinsm.
These are great and strange things you speak of, I understand them not, but yet me▪ thinks there is a majesty and glory in them. I am amazed at what you say, though I do not understand them distinctly.
Pium.
You see then that we are grown rich with Riches that are above your capacity; and these are the true Riches, and about these things we spend most of our time. And as for these worldly Riches, we less regard them, as being poor, low, little, small, contemptible things, in comparison of those heavenly riches about which we spend our time; and in which we have increased and gained, by Gods grace in Christ, so much as doth make you admire at us, though we know but little of what is to be known, but you cannot perceive the glory and excellency thereof.
And indeed it is the wisdome and love of God unto us, that setteth us rather to grow in these riches, which the eyes of worldly men cannot see, then to grow rich in earthly and worldly riches, which the carnal world can see: because if we should abound in earthly riches, we should be thronged with multitudes of carnal persons, who love the world, and love not God, who would be a cumber and temptation to us. And it is a sign that our wayes are good and godly, and above the world, because so few (in comparison) come unto us, but rather fly from us; because they love to live in wayes and deeds of darkness, and hate the light and glory that is in our wayes. But I pray Cousin whose house is that before us, where I see so many going in and out, and standing about in every place?
Kinsm.
That is my house; and I am glad there be so many of our friends together, who may have the opportunity of …earing this good Discourse.
[After their entrance into the house there be four Speakers; Kinsman. Kinsw…man. All the Company. Piumbuhhou]
Kinsman.
I h…d ra…h…r th…t my actions of love should testifie how w…lcome you are, and how glad I am of this your kinde visi…ation, then that I should say it in a multitude of words. But in one word, You are very welcome to my heart; and I account it among the best of the j…y…s of this day, that I see your face, and enjoy your Company in my habitation.
Kinswoman.
It is an addition to the joyes of this day, to see the f…ce of my loving Kinsman: and I wish you had come a little earlier, that you might have taken part with us in the joyes of this day, wherein we have had all the delights that could be desired, in our merry Meeting, and Dancing.
And I pray Cousin how doth your Wife, my loving Kinswoman, is she yet living? and is she not yet weary of your new way of praying to God? And what pleasure have you in those wayes?
Pium.
My wife doth remember her love to you, she is in good health of body, and her Soul is in a good condition, she is entred into the light of the knowledge of God, and of Christ; she is entred into the narrow way of heavenly joyes, and she doth greatly desire that you would turn from th…se wayes of darkness in which you so much delight, and come taste and see how good the Lord is.
And whereas you wish I had come sooner, to have shared with you in your delights of this day; Alas, they are no delights, but griefs to me, to see that you do still delight in them. I am like a man that h…ve tasted of sweet Winé and Honey, which h…ve so altered the taste of my mouth, that I abhor to taste of your sinful and foolish pleasures, as the mouth doth abhor to taste the most filthy and stinking dung, the most sowre grapes, or most bitter gall. Our joyes in the knowledge of God, and of Jesus Christ, which we are taught in the Book of God, and feel in our heart, is sweeter to our soul, then honey is unto the mouth and taste.
Kinswom.
We have all the delights that the flesh and blood of man can devise and delight in, and we taste and feel the delights of them, and would you make us believe that you have found out new joyes and delights, in comparison of which all our delights do stink like dung; would you make us believe that we have neither eyes to see, nor ears to hear, nor mouthes to taste? Ha, ha he! I appeal to the sense and sight and feeling of the Company present, whether this be so.
A….
You say very true. Ha, ha, he!
Pium.
Hearken to me, my friends, and see if I do not give a clear answer unto this seeming difficulty. Your dogs take as much delight in these Meetings, and the same kindes of delight as you do; they delight in each others company; they provoke each other to lust, and enjoy the pleasures of lust as you do; they eat and play and sleep as you do▪ what joyes have you more then d…gs have? to delight the body of f…h and blood.
But all mankinde have an higher and better part then the body, we have a Soul, and that Soul shall never die: Our Soul is to converse with G…d, and to converse in such things as do concern G…d, and Heaven, and an etern…l estate, either in happiness with God, if we walk with …im and serve him in this life, or in misery a…d torment with the Devil, if we serve him in this life. The service of God doth con…st in Virtue, and Wisdome, and delights of the Soul, which will reach to Heaven, and abide for ever.
But the service of the Devil is in com…itting sins of the flesh, which defile both body and soul, and reach to Hell, and will turn all to fire and flame to torment your souls and bodies to all eternity.
Now consider, all your pleasures and delights are such as defile you with sin, and will turn to flame, to burn and torment you; they provoke God to wrath, who hath created the Prison of Hell to torment you, and the more you have took pleasur… in sin, the greater are your offences against God, and the greater shall be your torments.
But we that pray to G…d repent of our old sins, and by f…ith in Christ we seek for, and finde a pardon of what is past, a…d grace and strength to reform for time to come. So that our joy…s …re Soul-joyes in godliness, and virtue, and hope of glory in anoth…r world when we die.
Your joyes are bodily, fleshly, such as Dogs have, and will all turn to flames in Hell to torment you.
Kinsm.
If these things be so, we had need cease laughing, and fall to weeping, and see if we can draw water from our mournful eyes to quench these tormenting flames. My heart trembles to hear these things: I never heard so much be…ore, nor have I any thing to say to the contrary, but that these things may be so. But how shall I know that you s…y true? Our fore fathers were (many of them) wise men, and we have wise men now living, they all delight in these our Delights: they have taug…t us nothing about our Soul, and God, and Heaven, and Hell, and J…y and Torment in the life to come. Are you … th…n our fathers▪ May not we rather think that English men have invented these Stori…s to amaze and scare us out of our old Customes, and bring us to stand in awe of them, that they might wipe us of our Lands, and drive us into Corners, to seek new wayes of living, and new places too? and be beholding to them for that which is our own, and was ours, before we knew them.
A…l.
You say right.
Pium.
The Book of God is no invention of English-men, it is the holy Law of God himself, which was given unto man by God, before English-men had any knowledge of God; and all the knowledge which they have, they have it out of the Book of God: and this Book is given to us as well as to them, and it is as free for us to search the Scriptures as for them. So that we have our instruction from an higher hand, then the hand of man: it is the great Lord God of Heaven and Earth, who teacheth us these great things of which we speak. Yet this is also true, that we have great cause to be thankful to the English, and to thank God for them, for they had a good Country of their own, but by Ships sailing into these parts of the World, they heard of us, and of our Country, and of our nakedness, ignorance of God, and wilde condition; God put it into their hearts to desire to come hither, and teach us the good knowledge of God; and their King gave them leave so to do, and in our Country to have their liberty to serve God accordi…g to the Word of God. And being come hit…er, we gave them leave freely to live among us: they have purchased of us a great part of those Lands which they possess; they love us, they do us right, and no wrong willingly; if any do us wrong, it is without the consent of their Rulers, and upon our Complaints our wrongs are righted. They are (many of them, especially the Ruling part) good men, and desire to do us good. God put it into the heart of one of their Ministers (as you all know) to teach us the knowledge of God, by the Word of God, and he hath Translated the holy Book of God into our Language, so that we can perfectly know the minde and counsel of God: and out of this Book have I learned all that I say unto you, and therefore …ou need no more doubt of the truth of it, then you have cause to doubt that the Heaven is over our head, the Sun shineth, the Earth is under our feet, we walk and live upon it, and breathe in the Air; for as we see with our eyes these things to be so, so we reade with our own eyes these things which I speak of, to be written in Gods own Book, and we feel the truth thereof in our own hearts.
Kinswom.
Cousin, you have wearied your legs this day with a lo…g Journey to come and visit us, and you weary your tongue with long Discourses. I am willing to comfort and refresh you with a …hort Supper.
All.
Ha, ha, he: though short, if sweet, that has good savour to a man that is we…ry. Ha, ha, he.
Kinswom.
You make long and learned Discourses to us which we do not well understand, I think our best answer is to stop your mout…, and fill your belly with a good Supper, and when your belly is full you will be content to take rest your self, and give us leave to be at rest from these g…stering, and heart-trembling discourses. We are well as we are, and desire not to be troubled with these new wise sayings.
All.
You say true. Ha, ha, he.
Pium.
It is good to be merry and wise. I am an hungry and …eary, and willing to eat. God hath appointed food to be a means of sustaining, relieving and repairing our spent strength: This being a work above the power of the food we eat, or of our selves that eat it, and onelyonly in the power of God himself to bless it, for such great uses; therefore God hath taught us, and it is our custome, among all that are godly, to pray to God for a blessing before we eat: and therefore I intreat you …o have so much patie…ce and compliance, as to give me the quiet liberty to pray to God b…fore we eat.
Kinsm.
I pray do, and we shall with quietness and silence attend to such a service unto God.
Pium.
Let us lift up our eyes and …earts to God in heaven, and …ay, Almighty, glorious, merciful and heavenly Father, thou dwellest in the high Heavens, and fillest both Heaven and Earth with thy presence; thou takest care of, and governest us here on earth: we are poor worms under thy feet, thou feedest every living Creature, and …akest our food to be like a staff to sustain our faint and weary bo…ies; thou renewest our strength every day: and though we are sinners in thy sight, yet thou art merciful to us, and with long patience dost call us to repentance. We confess all our sins before thee, and pr…y thee for Iesus Christ his sake, who died for sinners, to have mercy on us, and freely to pardon and forgive us all our sins. Bless us at this time, and this food which is set before us, let it be blessed to us, make us wise to receive it at thy hand, and to use the strength we get by it to the glory of thy Name, through Iesus Christ. And bless all our Souls, …eed them by thy Word and Truth, and guide our Tongues to speak wise words, that may minister grace to the hearers; and help us all to rejoyce in the Lord through Iesus Christ. Amen. Now let us eat and rejoyce together, for God filleth our bodies with food, and our souls with gladness.
Kinsm.
When the body is full of meat, and the head full of wit, and the mouth full of words, there will be wise discourse.
Pium.
Adde but one thing more, If the heart be full of grace, then the discourse will be both wise and godly.
Kinswom.
You talk much of a belly full, I wish we have victuals enough to fill them.
All.
Ha, ha, he. They be not half full yet. Ha, ha, he.
Kinsm.
What News do the Ships bring from beyond Sea?
Pium.
They say wicked men are bold, and that good men who pray to God are hated, vexed, troubled, persecuted, and not suffered to pray to God according to the Laws of Gods Word, but by the Laws of men.
All.
It is an ill time for you to come to perswade us to pray God, when praying to God is so opposed, hated and hindred; y… may be m…re like to prevail with us, when praying to God is credit, honour, and good esteem.
Pium
Such as will turn to God onelyonly at such times when pra…ing is in credit, leave themselves under a doubt, whether it be … the love of God and his wayes, that they pray, or for love of the… selves and their own credit.
But when men will take up praying to God in evil times, wh… they must expect h…rd measure from the world for it, this is a … that they love God, and love praying to God, better then th… love themselves, and that they deny themselves for Christ his … Therefore I have taken the fi…test time to try you, and to sift yo… to catch none but the good Corn, and to let go and lose all t… dust and chaff.
Kinsm.
Some s…eak of very many English people killed wi… Thunder, and many burnt in their houses: is it so indeed?
Pium.
It is so ind…ed, and in many parts of the Country, Boston, and in many other places. Very lately, there were in o… Winter eight or nine persons burnt to death in one house, five another, one in another. Sicknesses are often sent of God amo… them, which kill many: Their Corn is Blasted, and they are p…ni…ed by God many wayes, by Sea and Land, in these late years.
Kinswom.
These are but cold and weak Arguments to perswa… us to take up the English fashion, and to serve their God, when … tell us how sharply he dealeth with his Servants.
All.
You say right: we are better as we are.
Pium.
We know there be many sins among the English, whi… provoke God to be angry with them, and to punish them, to t… end he might bring them to repentance. When we exhor… you… pray, and to serve the God of the English, we call you … the virtues and good wayes of the English, wherein yo… shall acceptable to the Lord: We do not call you to imitate their … whereby they and you shall provoke the anger and displeasure the Lord. An… what though God doth chastise his people for th… sins? it is his wisdome, faithfulness and love so to do: a Ch… will not run away from his wise and loving Father, because he … him for his faults, but will love him the better, fear him t… more, and learn thereby to be a good Childe. The wise Engl… love God the more, for his wise Chastisement of them for th… sins. And why may not I use it as an Argument to perswade y… to choose him to be your God, who will love and encourage you all virtue, and love and punish you for all sins, that he might br… you to repentance and amendment of life. Gods Rods have mo… encouragement to a wise heart, then discouragement in them.
Kinswom.
Cousin, had you not a great Thunder and Lightni… to day as you came, and were you not afraid? We had it so with us, and I was very much afraid, and especially since I have heard of so many English stricken and killed by it, and cannot refrain my self from fear.
Pium.
I perceived the Thunder to be more this way, then it was in the place where I was at that time travelling. Touching the fear of Thunder, the Word of God saith it is terrible, and the bruit Beasts tremble at it: it is sometime called The Voice of God, by reason of the terribleness of it; and the reason of its terrour to man is, because we are great sinners, and have deserved Gods wr…th, and it should move our hearts to repentance for our sins, and take heed of provoking the anger of that God, who is able to utter so terrible a voice, and can dash down destroying fire upon us worms, who are no wayes able to defend our selves.
Kinsm.
Would you not lye down now you have eaten, and take so…e rest after your long journey?
Pium.
Nay, we must first return to God, and give Thanks to him for our food, and health and strength by the same.
Kinsm.
I pray tell me why you are so careful to pray unto God before and after meat?
Pium.
Let us first give Thanks, and then we will discourse that point. Attend all. We do give humble thanks unto thy holy Name, O Lord our God, for our life, health, food, raiment; and for this present food whereby we are refreshed. We thank thee, O Lord, for the love we finde among our friends, and for our freedome in good discourse for the good of our Souls: We do pray for a blessing upon both, what our food may strengthen our Bodies, and our discourse may do good to our Souls. Help me so to declare thy Word and thy Works, that I may win their Souls to love thee, and to forsake their sins, and turn unto the Lord by true Repentance. These, and all other mercies we pray for, in the Name, and for the sake of our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen.
All.
Tabat, tabat, tabat.
Pium.
Now my Kinsmen and Friends let us discourse a little about the Question propounded, Why we pray unto God before and after Meat? Our Lord Jesus Christ did so before meat, as it is written of him in many examples; and we are not to doubt but he did the same after meat, because the Lord hath commanded the same so expresly, saying, When thou hast eaten and art full, then beware lest thou forget the Lord.
And to shew you what great reason we have thus to do, consider that God doth some of his chief works in this world, in the matter of our eating, which no creature can do: for take you a Tray of meat, and ask, Who can turn this into blood, and flesh, and si…ew…, and bones, and skin? and who can give every part of our body its due proportion, that one part sh…ll not overgrow the other, but every part alike? Who but God can do this? And who but God can make our bodies to grow to such an appointe… stature, and then to grow no more? And who but God can pr…serve our health, and turn away sicknesses? Now these marvello… …hings God doth for us every day, and every time we eat, an… therefore is it not very good reason that we should pray and giv… thanks to God at such time as he doth such great and obligi… things for us?
Again, God provideth all our food for us; he provideth Cor… ▪ not we our selves, we do but a little towards it, the great work … Gods: all that we do is to put our Corn into the ground, and k… the ground clean about it, but God makes it to grow, he gives … a root, a blade, a stalk, and ears, whereby one Corn shall becom… three or four or five hundred. Who but God can do this? there…fore Corn is of his providing.
Again, who provideth water, and watereth the Corn? is it no… God? for when Springs and Rivers are dried up, what can me… do, but cry to God? and the… God will bring Clouds, like grea… Bottles full of water, and drop them down upon the withered an… parched Earth, and thereby make the Corn and Grass, and all frui… to grow. Who but God can do this?
Again, God provides Flesh for us to feed upon, for he maket… the grass and herbs to grow, and when the beasts do feed thereo… he doth turn those Leaves into blood, flesh, sinews and bones; an… this he giveth us for food, and turneth it into blood, flesh, sine… and bones in us. All these wonderful works God doth, in t… matter of feeding us; and therefore is it not good reason w… should then pray to him?
Kinsm.
I never heard so much before, nor thought of thes… things; but now you declare and teach them, my heart saith, tha… all is true which you say, and I now see great reason for this practise of you that pray to God, to pray and give thanks both befor… and after meat: and I see not but that there is good and just re…son so to do, every time we drink, and take in any sustenance, a… l…ast to lift up our hearts to God, who hath so eminent an hand i… doing us good thereby, or hurt if he will.
Pium.
Your acceptance and approbation of what I say, and … what we do in this point, is a great argument that God doth bo… your heart to pray unto God; for you acknowledge it to be o… duty so to do, and the neglect of it would be against the light o… your own Reason: so that this Conviction hath cast a chain upo… your soul, to binde you to pray unto God. What say you m… friends?
All.
We cannot say any thing against what you say, but wh… we shall do, we cannot yet tell: we must first consider of it, fo… we are ignorant and foolish, we cannot do as you do.
Pium.
Bend your hearts to it, and God will teach you by hi… Word: for we were at first as ignorant as you are, but God helped us to hear the Word, and do what we could, and you see what God hath brought the matter unto. We now walk in the light, and now we call you to come into the light: therefore I say, Awake you that sleep, stand up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.
Kinsm.
We shall tire you with these discourses after your long and weary journey; it is time for you to go to rest.
Pium.
This discourse is better to me then meat, drink and sleep, if I may do good to your Souls, and turn you unto God.
But before we go to r…st and sleep we must pray unto God, for it is God that giveth rest and sleep unto his Servants.
Kinsm.
Do all you praying Indians thus do when you are weary and tired with labour, or travel, or hunting, &c. do you pray before you go to rest? what is the reason of your so doing?
Pium.
We alwayes do so: and if any should at any time through sloth and sleepiness fail so to do, we judge our selves for our sin, & repent, and confess our sin unto God, and beg pardon and mercy for Christ his sake.
And there is great reason thus to pray unto God before we go to rest; for besides what I said that God giveth us rest, and therefore it is fit humbly to ask it of him; There be many other Reasons why we should thus do: for
1. VVe must give God thanks for all the mercies we have received all the day, which are more then the moments of the time that we live.
2. VVe must pray for Gods protection of us when we are asleep, we lye like so many dead men, and how easily might mischief befall us, either by Fire, or by an Enemy, if God did not defend and keep us; but when God is our keeper we may rest quietly, in safety without fear, under the covert of his hand: and by faith in Gods protection we sleep quietly without fear, whereas you that do not pray, nor believe, nor commit your selves to God, you do alwayes sleep in fear and terrour.
3. Moreover, our sleep and rest is a great reparation of our strength and spirits, and preservation of our health. VVhile we sleep our food is boiled up within us, and digested into all parts of our body, and new spirits are extracted out of our food, and sent up both to our head, heart, and all parts of our body, so that we are fresh and strong in the morning after a good nights rest. Now all this is the special work of God, beyond the power and skill of man to perform for us, and therefore it is great reason to pray for this blessing when we go to rest.
Kinsm.
VVhat you say is plain, clear and true in every bodies experience, though I did never hear nor consider so much of it before: if therefore you will pray we will attend you.
Pium.
Let us all appear before God reverently and with godly fear; let none lye along or sit, which are postures of unreverence, but either stand like servants, or kneel like sons and daughters before the Lord; and so let us pray. O merciful Lord God, &c.
Kinsm.
I perceive that you pray for all our Countrymen, who do not yet pray unto God; it is your love so to do. But what is the effect of your prayers? there are not many, that I hear of, tha… pray unto God; and you that do pray unto God, what do you get by it? wherein are you be…tered by your praying to God?
Pium.
These are two great Points which you have propounded. I am willing to speak to both. First, for the numbers that pray to God: At first this a…er of praying to God was a little thing, like a Cloud in the VVest of the bigness of a mans hand, but now the Cloud is great …nd wide, and spreadeth over all the Country. Nop and Nantuket, and P…umenuk Islands, Mahshepog, and many parts of the main Land, to the utmost bounds of this Country Eastward. And VVestward, not onelyonly all the Massachusets pray, but also a great part of Nipmuk; yea and the fields are ripe unto the harvest in many places more, whom I will not name until they have given up themselves to the Lord, to forsake their vanities, and to pray unto God. The Church of Christ at Natik have sent forth many into many parts of the Country, to call them in unto Jesus Christ. I am sent unto you, and I have good hope that God will bow your hearts to pray unto God. So that the praying Indians are many, and like to be more every year: And our hope is the greater, because the Lord hath r…ised up sundry of our young men (who were children when we first prayed unto God) unto good knowledge in the …criptures, and are able to teach others the good knowledge of God, and are sit to be sent forth unto all parts of the Country, to …each them to pray unto God.
Kinswom.
Husband, what do you mean to withhold our Friend from …e…t so long, so l…te? Alas Cousin, you had need be at rest; I pray tire not your s…lf with these long discourses.
Pium.
I tha…k you for your care of me. There is but one thing more that I am to speak to, viz, the second part of your question, What we have gained and got by praying to God? Of which Point we discoursed before we came into the house, and therefore I shall but touch it now.
1. We are come into the light, and it is an heavenly light, which le…deth us to God, and to the eternal enjoyment of happiness by Jesus Christ.
2. VVe have attained to some measure of the true Riches, by faith in Jesus Chri…t, and love to God and his people.
3. VVe are content with that portion of food and raiment which God giveth us.
4. VVe enjoy the Lords Sabbath dayes for our Souls good, and communion with God.
5. VVe have Government, and all Gods Ordinances in peace.
6. VVe can lie down in peace, and sleep quietly without fear.
In all which, and many more respects, our condition do…h far exceed what we were and had afore we prayed to God, or what you have or enjoy unto this day. And now let us lie down in Gods bosome, and take our rest.
Next Morning. Kinsman. Kinswoman. Piumbuhhou.
Kinsm.
ARe you well this morning? have you slept well this night? doth not your weary journey l…e in your bones? is not the skin of your feet that was worn thin with rocks and rough wayes, still tender?
Pium.
By the mercy of God through Jesus Christ, I am every way well refreshed. The comfort of my Soul doth make my bodily infirmities inconsiderable. And that which addeth much to the comfort of my Soul, is the good attention which you and some other of our friends gave unto our disconrse and prayers the last night, which giveth me hope that you are not far from the Kingdome of God.
Kinsm.
I confess my thoughts have troubled me this night, I have a great strife in my heart, I think your way is right, I cannot gainsay any thing of which you discoursed: but on the other side, if I should forsake our former wayes, all my friends would rise up against me like a stream too strong for me to stand against, and I am not able to defend my self against them; I do not know what to do.
Pium.
God is above man. VVhen I began to pray to God, I had the same temptation, but I quickly found how vain and weak it was; God will defend all his servants against all gainsayers: the light and power of Gods word and wayes will soon shame all sinners into silence.
But I will tell you a further help in this case: VVe shall endeavour to convince and perswade all your friends to turn unto God also, and then that Temptation will quite sink. Let us therefore get your Friends and Neighbours together, and labour to perswade them all first to hea… the word of God preached among you, and my hope is that God will perswade so many of them, as that the rest will be ashamed to oppose; for darkness and sin are weak, Truth and Light are powerful.
Kinswom.
My thoughts have also troubled me this night, but if you shall take that course, then I shall gladly joyn with my Husband in this Change. I will therefore get you some Victuals to eat, and then go about that business.
Pium.
VVe are not ready for eating yet, we must first go to prayer, and give God thanks for his mercies the night past, and this morning, and we will pray unto God for his blessings all this day, and pray that he would bless our endeavours to perswade them, for the hearts of all men are in Gods hand, and he can overcome them and perswade them.
Kinsm.
I like well what you say. I pray therefore do so, we will attend and joyn with you.
Pium.
Let us humbly bow our knees and hearts before the Allseeing God, and in the Name of Jesus Christ pray unto him. But there come some company, let them first come in, it may be they will joyn with us in our prayers.
Kinsm.
A good morning to you my friends, you come in a good season. Our friend is come from far to visit us, he is now going to prayer, I pray you to joyn with us, and attend unto what …e prayeth.
All.
VVe shall willingly keep silence and attend.
Pium.
Prayeth—
Kinsm.
This good friend of ours is come to visit us, and doth perswade us to pray unto God, and you hear how heartily he prayeth unto God for us: what think you of it?
All.
VVe cannot tell, we do not yet understand the matter, how then should we answer to it?
Kinsm.
Your answer is right and discreet; let us therefore discourse about this matter. VVise men will look before they leap.
All.
VVe are but a few, and weak men, let us send for the Sachem, and the rest of the old and wise men, and especially for the Pauwau, and then let us discourse of such matters: they better know what to say in these matters then we do.
Kinswom.
I like the motion. And I pray you in the mean time eat soch food as I have pr…pared for you, that when they come together, you may be ready without interruption, to attend unto what you are purposed to do.
Pium.
Alwayes b…fore we eat we must pray, the last night I gave you some reasons for it by the word of God; and seeing here be more of our friends come in, who heard not our discourse last night, I will again rehearse the same or the like Reasons for this Religious practice. He discourseth of them—
Kinswom.
Your meat is ready: if therefore you will please to pray, according as you wisely discourse, I hope we shall all attend.
All.
VVe shall attend.
Pium.
Pr…yeth for a blessing—
Kinswom.
Cousin, I am glad to see you eat so heartily, you are very welcome to it. And I see that praying to God doth not fill your bellies, you need food to eat for all that.
All.
Ha, ha, he. Praying to God would starve them if they should …ot eat. Ha, ha, he. Praying Indians are as weary and hungry as other men, for ought we ever saw by them. Ha, ha, he.
Pium.
It is tru… that you say, and therefore we pray unto God to give us food, and to bless it to us when we eat it.
This discourse bringeth to my mind a word which Christ spake, Man liveth not by bread onelyonly, but by every word of God Man ha… …wo parts, A Soul, and a Body, and both are to be fed. The body …s fed by food, the Soul is fed by the Word of God and Prayer. You that pray not to God, you feed you… bodies onelyonly, but you …tarve your Souls: we that pray to God f…ed our Souls as well as …ur bodies. And this is one reason why we perswade you to pr…y …o God, because we would not have you to starve your Souls. T…e Soul is the most excellent part of man, and shall never die; the …ody shall die. If you have so much wisdome as to fe…d your …odies we pray you be yet more wise, and f…d your Souls also.
Kinsm.
Every thing that liveth doth live by feeding, as Birds, Beasts, Fishes, and so do men.
Pium.
You say true; and the Souls of men are living Souls, and …herefore should be fed with the food which God hath appointed …or them, and that is the word of God and prayer.
Kinsm.
If our Souls be living Souls, what do they feed upon? we having neither the word of God …or praye…?
Pium.
Your Souls feed upon nothing but lust, and lying, a…d …ealing, and killing, and Sabbath breaking, and Pauwauing; and …ll these are sins which poison, starve, and kill your Souls a…d …xpose them to Gods wrath that they may be tormented among De…ils and wicked men in Hell fire for ever: and therefore it is in …ove to your Souls that we perswade you to pray unto God. But …ow that we have eaten and are sufficed wi…h food, let us give …hanks to God for it, and pray that it may be blessed to us. [He …iveth Thanks]
Kinsm.
Yonder come a great company of our friends, order the …ouse against they come.
Kinsman. Sachem. Pauwau. Piumbuhhou. All.
…insm.
WElcome Sontim; welcome my Friends …nd Kinsmen all: here is a Kinsman and friend of ours come …om Natik to visit us, he prayeth for us, and expresseth love …o …r Souls, which you take no thought or care ab…u… He tell… of Light and Wisdome which they learn out of the Word o… God, which we are strangers unto. He telleth us of Hell fire … Torments, to be the reward of our sins which we walk in. … telleth us of Repentance for our sins, and of Faith to believe Christ for a pardon, and of Salvation in heaven with eternal g… ry. He telleth us of the danger of living as we do. He telleth of a better way of living then yet we know. Many such things have discoursed, which are beyond my understanding. I am … pleased with his love, but I know not what to say to his Pers… sions: for which cause I have intreated your company, that may confer together about matters of so great importance, … that we may be mutual helps to each other for our best good.
Sont.
If any man bring us a precious Jewel, which will mak… rich and happy, every body will make that man welcome; an… this friend of ours do that, who more welcome? but if by re… ving his Jewel, we must part with a better Jewel for it, then … men should do well to consider, before they accept his offer. T… things you speak of are great things, but if we accept of th… consider what we must part with and forgo for ever; viz. All… pleasures and sports, and delights and joyes in this world.
All.
You say true. Ha, ha, he.
Pium.
If foolish Youths play in the dirt, and eat dung, and … ing fish and flesh, and rotten Corn for company's sake, their … chem makes this Law, If you come forth from that filthy … and company, and feed upon this wholsome and good food … provided, and keep company with the wise, then you shall b… … noured and well used all your life time: But if you so love your company, as that you choose rather to feed on trash, and …e… to perish among them, then perish you shall, a…d thank you… for your foolish choice. This was our case at …rst, and is you… this day. You walk in darkness, defile your selves with a … Conversation, you feed your Souls with trash and poison, and choose to do so for your company's sake. Behold, God calls to come out from among them, and touch no unclean thing; to verse among the wise, and offereth you pardon, life and salv… in heaven, in glory, among all the Elect, Saints and Angels. … you are at your choice, will you forsake those bad course… companions, and live in glory? or will you choose your old courses and companions, and perish for ever?
Sont.
All our forefathers, (so far as ever we have heard) walked and lived as we do, and are we wiser then our fathers…
Pium.
No, we are foolish, weak and sinful, and love to be but God is wiser then our fathers, and he hath opened to … way of wisdome and life, and calleth us to enter, and walk … in; therefore be wise, and submit your selves to the … Christ.
Sont.
But why do you say that we feed upon trash, st… meat and poison? wherein doth our food differ from yours, and wherein do you in that respect excel us?
Pium.
In bodily food we differ not from you; but it is Soul food I speak of. We feed our Souls with the Word of God and Prayer; you feed and satiate your Souls with lust, lying, stealing, Sabbath-breaking, and such like sins: and I appeal to your own Conscience, whether these are not trash and filthiness; and what fruit can you expect from such actions, but punishment and wrath?
Pauwau.
Let me adde a few words to give check to your highflown confidence in your new Way, and new Laws, and to your deep censoriousness of our old Wayes, the pleasancy and delight whereof, every one, both man, woman and childe can judge of; and we cannot but dislike to have such pleasant Delights taken from us. Tear our hair from our heads, our skin from our flesh, our flesh from our bones, you shall as soon perswade us to suffer you to do so by us, as to perswade us to part with our old delights and courses. You tell us of the English-man's God, and of his Laws: We have Gods also, and more then they; and we have Laws also by which our forefathers did walk, and why should not we do as they have done? To change our Gods, and Laws, and Customs, are great things, and not easily to be obtained and accomplished. Let us alone, that we may be quiet in the wayes which we like and love, as we let you alone in your Changes and new Wayes.
All.
You say right: why trouble they us in our pleasures and delights? Let us alone in our enjoyments.
Pium.
You have spoken many things, which do minister matter to me of much discourse, both concerning God, and our selves, and concerning you, & the offer of Gods mercy to you at this time. You say you have many Gods, but they are no Gods. There is but one God, the great Creator of this great World. Did your Gods make this World? the Heavens, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars, the Clouds, the Seas, and the whole Earth? No, no; God made this whole world. Can any of your gods give Rain, or rule the Clouds? it is the Devil that blindeth your eyes, and covereth you with darkness. We teach you to know the true God, who can kill us, or keep us alive at his pleasure. Your gods shall all perish with you, for they are no gods.
As for your pleasures and delights, they are all sins against God, which provoke his wrath to plague you for ever. VVe now call you to repent of your evil wayes, and to reform your lives to serve the true and living God, to seek for pardon of your sins, and mercy to appease his wrath which is kindled against you. I do now offer you mercy through Jesus Christ; do not harden your hearts against the Lord: be therefore perswaded now to forsake your sins and turn unto the Lord, come unto the light out of your darkness, awake from your dead sleep, stand up, and Christ will give you life. VVe speak by exp…rience, we were dead and blinde as you are, we loved pleasures as you do; but by the grace of Christ we have found lig…t and life, and we now call you to partake with us in our m…rcies.
Pauwau.
VVe have not only pleasures, but also Prayers and S…crifices; we beat and a…ict our selves to pacifie our gods, and when …e be …ick w… use such wayes to recover our health, and to obtain all such things as we want, and desire to obtain from our gods.
Pium.
Your Prayers and Pauwauings are wor…hipping of the Devil, and no… of God, and t…ey are among the greatest of your sins. Your …urthers, lusts, stealing, lying, &c. they are great sins, your Pauwauings are w…rse sins, because by them you worship the Devil instead of God. VVhen you Pauwau's use Physick by Roots, and such other t…ings which God …ath made for that purpose, that is no sin, you do well to use P…ysick for your recovery from sickness; but your pr…ying to, and worshipping the Devil, that is your great si…, which now God calls you to forsake. Use onelyonly such Remedies as God hath appointed, and pray onelyonly to God; this we call you to do, and this is the way of true wisdome.
Kinsm.
I feel my heart broken and divided, I know not what to do. To part with our former lusts and pleasures is an hard point, and I feel my heart very loth and backward to it, many objections against it: yet I cannot but confess, that I do not in my inward heart approve of them. I know they are vile and filthy, and I de…ire to forsake them, they are like burning coals in my bosome, I will shake them out if I can. I am ashamed of my old wayes, and loth I am to keep that which I am ashamed to be seen in. The wiser men be, the more they abstain from such lusts, and we account such to be foolish, vile and wicked, that are unbridled and unpersw…deable. I would not be my self of the number of them that are vicious and vile …bove restraint. VVhat I perswade others to leave, I would not do the same my self. VVe do account it commendable in such as do bridle and refrain themselves from those vices; and what I judge to be commendable in others, would be therein exemplar and a pattern unto such as be young and foolish, and run mad after such beastly courses. In that point I would easily be perswaded, or at least I desire so to be: But the greatest difficulty that I yet finde, is this; I am loth to divide my self from my Friends and Kindred. If I should cha…g… my course and not they, then I must leave and forsake their company, which I am very loth to do. I love my Sachem, and all the rest of you my good Friends; if I should change my life and way, I greatly d…sire that we might agree to do it together.
Sont.
I like well that we should agree upon some amendment of some bad courses that are too oft among us: and I love your love, that would have us agree together, and do what we do, in these great matters, by common consent; but to do that, is a matter of much discourse, and deep consideration. This Meeting was sudden, we have other matters at present to attend: we have been together long enough for this time, we must leave the whole matter to some other time.
Pium.
Two day…s hence is the Sabbath-day: God hath commanded all men to Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy. I request all of you to come together that day, and then I will further teach you (by the assistance of the Lord) touching this matter. And to perswade you to make this beginning to keep the Sabbath, besides the Commandment of the Lord, we have the Reasons annexed by God himself unto it. God himself Rested that day, to set us an heavenly pattern; and God hath also blessed that day, and m…de it holy, and hath promised that when we shall …eet together in his Na…e, then he will come among us, and bring a blessing with him. And when the Disciples of Christ were met to worship God upon that day, before the day was done, he came among them and blessed them. So if you come together on the Sabbathday, my hope and trust is, that we shall finde some special token of the presence of Christ Jesus among us.
Kinsm.
I do very well like of this motion, and shall willingly attend; and if you think good, let my house be the place: or if you our beloved Sachem think good, we will all come together at your house.
Sont.
I like it well, let it be so, come to my house, and you shall be welcome.
All.
Content, we like it well: so let it be.
Pium.
Let the time of Meeting be as early as you well can, about Nine of the Clock.
All.
So let it be.
The Sabbath Meeting. Sontim. Piumbuhhou. Kinsman. All.
Sont.
IT is well done my Friends and Neighbours, that you have remembred our agreement, and are come together about this great business. And now my kinde Friend, what you have further to say unto us, we are here ready to hear you.
Pium.
Six dayes God hath given us, wherein to do all our own business and works. Every seventh day God hath commanded us to give unto him, to rest from our own works, and to do his work, to pray unto him, to hear his Word, to talk and speak of heavenly matters, for the good of our Souls. We are all here this day before the Lord: And first of all he hath commanded us to pr… together; therefore let us all either stand up like servants, or kneel down like sons and daughters, and pray unto the Lord. Then he prayeth— The next work we use to do, is to Catechize, that is, to teach by asking of Questions, and they that are taught make Answer according as they have been taught: but that work you are not yet fitted and prepared for, therefore we lay it by. The next work which we do is to Reade some Chapter of the Word of God. Then he calleth one that came with him, who Realeth. When that is …ini…hed, then he saith, Now we use to sing a Psalm, which is one part of Gods Word and Worship: but for that work you are not yet prepared, therefore w… lay that by also.
And now I will teach you out of the Word of God. The Text is Matth. 7.13, 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life, and few there be that finde it.
In these words are two parts. 1. Here be two sorts of wayes wherein men walk. 2. Here be two sorts of men that walk in these two wayes. The first way is described by four things.
1. There is a strait, little, narrow gate to enter in at.
2. It is a narrow way, very rough, …ard and difficult to walk in.
3. Here is the end of this way whether it leadeth, viz. to heaven, happiness, glory, and eternal life.
4. Here be the Numbers that get into, and walk in this way t… get to heaven, Very few.
The second way is described by four things.
1. The gate of entrance is broad and wide.
2. The way it self is pleasant, easie, full of delights of the flesh, and of worldly pleasures.
3. Here is the end of this way, it leads to Hell, to torments, and to eternal damnation.
4. Here be the Numbers that walk in this way, Very many; most men in the world will choose to walk in this way, and at last go to Hell torments.
2. The first sort of persons are good men and women, who
1. With much difficulty get into this way.
2. They patiently endure all difficulties in it.
3. They go to heaven and glory at last.
4. The number of them, they are but a few.
The second sort of persons are wicked people: and these
1. Easily get into this way.
2. They take pleasure in it, and will not be perswaded to leave it, and get into the hard way.
3. The end of them all is, they go to hell torments.
4. The number of them, A great many; most men are found in this way
All these particulars he openeth, and insisteth upon, and concludeth with an Exhortation:
1. To come out of this broad easie way, by considering the end of it, whither it leadeth.
2. To get into the hard way of praying to God, and patiently continue in it, considering the end it leads unto, even Heaven and Glory.
Sont.
What Book is that you reade in? and why do you call it The Word of God?
Pium.
This is the Book of Gods Law, which he hath taught holy men his Prophets and Apostles to write, and give unto us, to call us out of the broad way of sin and death, and to call us into the narrow way of Repentance, Faith in Christ Jesus, and eternal life.
Sont.
It may be the English-men made it, and tell you that they are the words of God.
Pium.
This Book was written long before the English-men prayed to God, and English-men have learned all their wisdome out of this Book, and now they have Translated it for us, and if we attend unto it, it will teach us wisdome, as it hath taught them.
Kinsm.
You speak much of Jesus Christ, and his pardoning our sins, and saving our Souls; who is this Jesus Christ?
Pium.
God is One in Three; the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Jesus Christ is God the Son, who became a Man; and when we deserved to die for our sins, he came and died for us: and God hath promised that all that believe in Christ shall be pardoned of all their sins, and be glorified in heaven.
Touching this Point I will teach in the Afternoon.
The Afternnon Exercise.
Pium.
GOD requires we should give him a whole day, therefore it is not enough to worship God half a day. We are again come together to worship God, and we shall do the same this Afternoon, as we did in the Forenoon. Let us pray.
After Prayer, he taketh this Text; Mat. 1.21, 22, 23.
This Text teacheth three things touching Jesus Christ,
1. His wonderful Birth; A Virgin conceived. Of which, see Luke 1.26, to 39.
2. Two Names; Iesus, Emmanuel.
3. What Christ did for us, and doth, signified by his Name Iesus; He taketh away our sins. And this he doth two wayes:
1. He taketh away our sins out of Gods sight, by dying in our stead, and so meriting a pardon for all our sins.
2. He taketh away our sins out of our own hearts, by working Repentance in us, and Faith in his Name, giving us his Spirit, and sanctifying of us by his Grace, and leading us in all holiness of life and conversation.
The third part of this Text is, how Jesus Christ is enabled to do these great things for us. This signified by his second Name, God with us.
Christ was God and Man in one Person; and that maketh his death of infinite value with God, to obtain a pardon for all our sins.
And this maketh him of infinite power to overcome our hearts, and turn them unto God.
These things are deep wisdome; therefore pray unto God, and he will give you wisdome to understand them, Iam. 1.5.
Kinsm.
I am amazed to hear these deep things: I am now more discouraged about praying to God. Alas, we cannot Pray, nor Reade, how shall we keep a Sabbath? and whall s…all we do?
Pium.
I will speak unto the Church at Natik, and we will send a wise man to teach you, to keep Sabbaths among you; and all that I shall perswade you unto, is to come together on the Sabbaths, as you have done this day, and hear the Word of God, and then God will teach you.
Kinsm.
Oh that it might be so, I should gladly attend unto the Word.
Sont.
I say the same.
All.
We like it well.
Kinsm.
I pray let it not be delayed.
Pium.
Lo, here is a manifest token of Gods presence according to his promise: for who but God could bow all your hearts to hear the Word of God, especially considering how averse you were at first. Now let us pray, and praise, and give thanks to the God of Heaven, for his mercy endureth for ever.