Indian Dialogues, Dialogue 2
DIALOG. II. About calling home poor INDIANS.
Waban was sent forth upon the Service of Christ unto sundry places; where passed such like discourses and acts.
Waban Penoowot.
Waban.
HO, well met friend: how far travel you this way?
Pen.
I am going to Napmuk, a Town where Nishohkou is Sachem: with him I have some business, which occasioneth my going thither.
Wab.
Ha! you and I are both alike in sundry things, I wish we might be both alike in one thing more. The things wherein we are alike, are these; We are b…th tall men, We are m…t in the same way, We are going to the same place, Our business is unto the same person, the Sachem of the place.
Pen.
Ha, ha, he. I acknowledge wh…t you say: but I pray what is that wherein you desire we might agree? for I do not understand that you have yet named that, and I the more desire to know that, b…cause you do seem to put more weight upon that, then upon all the rest which you have named.
Wab.
You judge ri…ht touching my opinion of that thing which I have not mentioned, but I doubt that you will not be of my minde if I should speak it, and for that reason I did conceal it. Wise men will cover a…d hide their Jewels, and not expose them to every bodies sight, for they know some will lightly esteem them, because they know not their worth: but if they fall in company with such as know the worth of their Jewel, they will be content to let them see it, and take a full view of it.
Pen.
Your discourse doth the more inflame my desire to know what this matter is that is so precious in your eyes and so doubtful to finde esteem with me. I confess I am foolish, but I hope you shall finde me one that would be wise, and love the company of the wise, and willing to learn of others that wisdome which I want; and therefore though I desire not to know other mens secrets, yet if this other matter you intimate be such as I may know, my desire is raised high to know it.
Wab.
Your words are good and wise, and give me hopes that what I have further to say unto you, will finde acceptance with you according to my desire. I will therefore open to you the truth of the matter. I am a praying Indian, I have left our old Indian Customs, Laws, Fashions, Lusts, Pauwauings, and whatever else is contrary to the right knowledge of the true God, and of Jesus Christ our Redeemer. It repenteth me of all my fore-past life, the lusts, vanities, pleasures, and carnal delights that were formerly very sweet and delightful to me, are now bitter as gall unto me, I hate and loath them. All the works of darkness in which I was wont to take pleasure, I do now forsake and abandon. I am come into the light, I now see things as they are indeed, and nor as they seemed to be in the dark. I now know the VVord of God, which sheweth me the way of eternal Life. I now know God who made all the world, against whom mankinde are turned rebels and sinners. I know the Law of God which I have broken, and by my sins I have deserved eternal damnation in the world that is to come. I now know Jesus Christ, who hath died for us, to procure a pardon for us, and to open a door and way to eternal life and salvation for us. Into this way I have entred, herein I walk, and I have promised to God, that I will live and walk in this way all the dayes of my life.
And not onelyonly so, but my desire is to perswade all others into the same way which I have entred, because I do certainly and experimentally know that my former wayes were darkness, sin, and led unto hell and damnation; and this way whereinto I am now entred, is a way of light, life, holiness, peace, and eternal salvation: therefore do I earnestly perswade all that I meet with to be wise, and turn from the wayes of darkness, and come into this way of light and glory. And this is the thing which I did mean, when I said, that there is another thing wherein I wish that we may be alike. I do therefore exhort and intreat you that you would do as I have done, forsake your old wayes of sin, of which you have cause to be ashamed, and turn unto God, call on God, be numbred among the praying Indians.
Pen.
Oh I am surprized, I am amazed, you have ravished my Soul, you have brought a light into my Soul. I wonder at m… self: where have I been? what have I done? I am like one raise… out of a dark pit; you have brought me forth into the Sunshine▪ I begin to see about me: if I look back, and down into the pi… where I have been all my dayes, I wonder at my self what a dea… dark thing I have been; when I look upon you, I see you like a… Angel of light. I have heard of this business of praying to God some have spoken ill of it, some have spoken favour…bly I coul… not tell what it was, but now by your discourse I begin to se… what an excellent thing it is: it changes men, and advances the… into a condition above other men. You have dealt with me like a… the Fishers do by the fish, you laid a Bait for me to make me de…sire it, and bite at it, but I saw not your hook, until you ha… catch'd my Soul; and now I am catch'd, I see it was not for m… hurt, but for my great good. The light which I do already see is beautiful and desireable thing, and therefore I pray you go on, a… tell me more of this new way.
Wab.
The two first things you are to consider of now you a… come into the light, and your heart willing to attend unto th… great work of praying to God, are these:
1. To know God.
2. Our selves.
Of God, know his Greatness, Goodness, VVisdome, and Powe… He hath made all things in this great world; all things above … are his works, he made the Heavens, the Sun, Moon, Stars, Cloud… &c. and all things below, the Seas, the Earth, and all things th… are in them: he made Man, and gave him dominion over all … works in this world, and a Law of Life, under the penalty▪ damnation: and all this God did in six days; so great is God above man. The Law which he gave to man is holy, just and good: but man by the temptation of evil Angels, who by their sin became to be Devils, I say man broke the Law which God gave him, and sinned against God, turned Rebel against God, and served the Devil: and in this rebellion all the children of men go on to this day.
Gods Law is in Ten Commandments, wherein he requireth of man to know and worship God, fear his Name, and keep his Sabbaths; and other Laws forbid Lust, Murther, Stealing, and all other evils. Moreover, God hath annexed unto his Law a great Promise, Do and live, with a just Punishment, Sin and die eternally; namely, that all the breakers of this Law, and sinners against him, shall be punished in hell fire with eternal torments. And this is the condition of all mankinde, and it is our estate, that by our sins against God we have deserved to die, and then to be cast away down into hell fire, to be tormented among the Devils, who tempted us to sin, and whom we have served in our life time: now together with them we must be tormented for ever.
Pen.
Oh you have now killed me again: By the first light you shewed me, I thought you had made me alive, and I joyed in the light, but I understood it not. Now your light is become a sword, it hath pierced through my heart, by it I now see I am a dead man. Alas, I have been a sinner all my dayes, I am guilty of more sins then I have lived dayes, many sins in a day have I committed: Night and day have I offended God, and broke his Law. I have served the Devil and not God, I have done nothing that God commandeth, I have only served the Devil, and committed sin; therefore I have deserved to be damned in hell, and to be tormented among the Devils for ever, whom in this life I have served with so much delight; And now poor miserable I, what shall I do? These Trees under whose shade we sit, why fall they not upon me and crush this rebellious worm in pieces, and send me away to the place of eternal torment? These Rocks and hills about us, why fall they not upon me and break me into dust and powder, and send me away unto perdition? will God regard these complaints of mine? what are these tears of mine? can they quench hell fire? nay, will they not rather be oyle unto those flames? I am in misery, help I can finde none; the greatness of Gods Majesty and power, against whom I a finite poor worm have sinned, doth most amaze me. I pray help me further to understand the great majesty of God.
Wab.
For this purpose this young man with us shall reade unto you some part of the VVord of God. Reade the 40 Chapter of Isaiah, begin at the 12 verse, and reade unto the 27. Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand? and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a ballance? &c. Ag…in, re…de some Chap…ers of Iob, Chap. 37, 38, 39, 40. VVhen these Chapters were read, Waban proceeded and said, Moreover, such is the Omniscience and Omnipresence of God, that we cannot …de from his sight any sin, or thought, nor yet can we hide our selves, or escape out of his hand. For this purpose reade Psal. 139. ver. 2, …o 14. Thou knowest my down-sitting and up rising: thou understandest …y tho…ghts afar off, &c. …lso God is Unch…ngeable: for that reade Mal 3.6. For I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of Iacob are not consumed. And without shedding blood there is no remi…sion, Heb. 9 22.
Pen.
Still I am more and more confounded: who is able to deliver a wretched rebellious worm out of his Almighty hand? where shall I hide my self from his eye? Oh that the Rocks and Mount…ins would fall upon me, and hide me from the stroke of his wrathful hand! And yet I see that my wi…h is vain, there is no escaping from his wra…ful vengeance. O… wretched I, what shall I do! had I a world to give, I would freely give it, to be sav…d out of those flames, which are ready prepared for me, and I have so justly deserved. And yet I see that I have no such thing to give in ransome for my Soul; or had I such a thing to give, would it be accepted? God hath no need of my gifts or s…crifices. Oh what shall I do? my miserable Soul must die.
Wab.
I am in the same condition with you, and so are we all: but I have rest and quiet in my Soul, because I have found a ransome, with which God is well pleased, his wrath is pacified, and I am delivered; I have escaped the danger of those deserved flames.
Pen.
Your speeches are some stay to my distressed Soul, it breedeth some h…pe in me to hear that there is a ransome to be found, and that y…u have found i…; …ay there be hope that I also may finde the s…me?
Wab.
Yea, there is hope in Israel touching this matter; it is as free for you as me.
Pen.
Oh that you would shew me this Remedy. You have shewed me my mis…ry and danger, effectually; may it please the Lord to make you as successful to shew me the Remedy. But my Soul is still drowned in doubt and fear: Oh how I long to hear where this Remedy is to be found. I would go to the worlds end to finde it, I would take any pains to obtain it; but m… trembling heart sai…h you and I bo…h may be deceived, for what Creature in all …he world is able to deliver a Soul from the hand of this Omnipotent and All-seeing God, whose Justice and Law are Unchangeable, a…d not…ing save blood and death can satisfie it.
Wab.
True, no Creature is able to deliver us, vain is the help of Man or Angel in this case. As you said before, your mournings, crie… a…d tears cannot do it, none but God himself can do it; and your heart will say and yield that God himself can do it: Isa. 55.9. As heaven is above earth, so are Gods thoughts above ours.
Pen.
Yea, that I can freely yield unto, that God himself can do it; what cannot he do? but will the offend…d just and holy God p…cifie himself for my offences, and pardon so great a sinner as I? God is just and holy, and how can it stand with his holy Justice to pardon a vile sinner, without satisfaction to his holy Justice? will the holy God cease to be just? will …e abrogate and disanul his holy Law, which I have so often, so deeply, so rebelliously broken? I have some hope, because you say it is so, but I see not yet how it can be, for God is Unchangeable.
Wab.
It is true that you say, God will never deny his own Justice, nor abrogate his holy Law for our sakes: But our God is a merciful God, a…d infinite in wisdome, and by his infinite wisdome he hath found out a way to satisfie the Justice of his own Law, and to deliver poor sinners from the condemnation of the Law.
Pen.
But how can that be? Can man, or any Creature for him, satisfie the Justice of the Law of God? Oh I am in the dark about this matter, you speak of impossibilities.
Wab.
Nothing that is holy just and good is impossible with God; and therefore to shew you God hath done this, know, that God hath done it himself, and whatever God hath done is holy just and good.
Pen.
But I pray tell me how this can be: Oh how I long to hear of this way of deliverance of a poor sinner out of the hands of Gods holy Justice and unchangeable Law.
Wab.
I will (as well as I c…n) declare it unto you. God is One in Three; Fa…her, Son, and Holy Ghost: which we must believe and admire, though we cannot demonstrate. I shall at this time say no further of that point, onelyonly thus much; God one in Essence, in his infinite Wisdome and Understanding, conceiveth the Image of himself as the onelyonly adequate object of his infinite wisdome. God conceiving is the Father: God conceived is the Son; this intellectual act of conceiving, is called Begetting: God conceiving, and God conceived, by an infinite act of volition, lov…h himself; and this Love is the holy Ghost, proceeding from th… Father and the Son. God as he is Father hath made all …ings, and given man a Law. God in the dispensation of the Covenant of Works hath agreed within himself that the Son of God should assume unto himself an humane Nature, which is subject unto the Law of God. This glorious Person is God and Man in one Person, named Iesus Christ. This glorious Person Jesus Christ, is a Person of more worth then all Mankinde beside. This glorious Person Jesus Christ came into this world, and offered to God by Covenant his own life in our stead, and died for us to satisfie divine Justice for the sin of man: with this Sacrifice God hath said he is …atisfied for the sin of man. Thus Jesus Christ hath honoured Gods Law, by s…tisfying of divine Justice, and now Jesus Christ hath power to pardon whom he will.
Pen.
These are strange and deep things which you say: in this way I do see that a person is found that is able to pay a ransome to God, and satisfie his Justice. But still I am in the dark about my self, how shall I be inter…sted in this Redemption wrought by Jesus Christ? If you have obtained it, I have some hope that so may I. I pray tell me how I may be m…de partaker of this great Redemption, from the condemnation of sin pronounced against me by the Law of God.
Wab.
According to my poor ability, as well as I can I will tell you, and I will tell you …ow I have obtained it, and in the same way you also may obtain it.
Pen.
O how this hope, by your experience, beginneth to raise my heart. I pray go on and declare it to me.
Wab.
God hath made a new Covenant of grace which he hath opened in the Gospel, and Jesus Christ hath published it to all the world: and the sum of it is this; That whosoever shall penitently turn from sin towards God, and believe in Jesus Christ, he shall have a pardon of all his sins, and be partaker of eternal life, through the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ. Iohn 3.16. God so loved the world, that he gave his onelyonly begotten Son, that whosoever …elieveth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Pen.
This puts me into another great difficulty: can I penitently turn from sin, and believe in Jesus Christ? Alas, I know not how to go about such a work, much less do I know how to accomplish the same; therefore I still am under great straights, and know not what to do.
Wab.
You say true, it is a work past your ability to do: But Jesus Christ hath undert…ken two great works in the salvation of sinners. The first is to pacifie Gods Justice, and satisfie the Law, and to reconcile God toward us; and that he hath done and finished effectually, when he was here on earth. 2. Christ hath undertaken to conquer the world of all Gods Elect (for it is onelyonly the Elect of God whom Christ hath undertaken for) and the Father and the Son have sent forth God the holy Ghost to effect this work: for none but God himself is able to convert … Soul, and create faith in the heart of man. We cannot do it of our selves, neither you nor I can do it, but by the assistance of the Spirit of God, by the Word of God.
Pen.
Still the difficulty lyeth before me, I am at a loss, and know not what to do. I fully believe I am not able to do it my self.
Wab.
I will help you as well as I can; and the Lord help you by his Word and Spirit. Your heart is now (in some measure) already turned away from sin; that part of the work is wrought in your heart, which I will demonstrate to you thus: I ask you, will you hereafter live and walk in the wayes of sin as you have formerly done?
Pen.
Oh no, no: I hope God will keep me and help me; I will never live again as I have f…merly done, I will binde my self from it. I abhor to do so, I will forsake them for ever: Lord help me so to do
Wab.
Well; therefore you are now converted from your sins: and who wrought this great Change in you? it was not your self did it, nor was it I that did it; I onelyonly opened unto you the word of God, but the Spirit of God, by the conviction of the Law, and by the word of God, hath wrought this work in you.
Pen.
I cannot gainsay you, I yield to what you say, and wonder at it.
Wab.
In the s…me manner the Spirit of God by the word is able to cre…te Faith in you to believe in Jesus Christ. This work the Lord useth to work in us by the Promises of the Gospel. Now I will propound unto you at present but one Promise, Mat. 11.28, 29. Come unto me all ye that la…our, and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall finde rest unto your souls. Now I ask you, Are you weary and heavy laden with your sins?
Pen.
Oh yes, God knows I am so; I never f…lt the like distress in my Soul since I was born, sin is the bitterest thing in the world to my Soul.
Wab.
Then hearken to this call of Christ, for he calls you in particular to come to him, and this coming is believing: are you willing to come to Christ, and ask a pardon of him, and beg his mercy?
Pen.
Yea, with all my heart. Lord help me.
Wab.
Then see the next words, what he promises, I will give you rest.
Pen.
Oh Lord let it be so, according to thy Word and Promise, thy will be done.
Wab.
Well, wait here, and see if God doth not quiet your Soul, and give you rest. Mean while I will further ask you in the next words, Are you willing to take upon you Christ his yoke, and this yoke consisteth of two parts: 1. The yoke of Commandments, to do whatever he commandeth. And 2. his yoke of Sufferings in this world for his Name sake: for now that you are converted, the carnal world will hate you, mock you, injure you, speak all evil against you, and it may be if they can they will kill you, as they did Christ; but are you willing …o su…er all for Jesus Christ his sake, who hath died for you? And further, are you willing to learn meekness of Jesus Christ? For they are the next words; and I do assure you, that you will have great need of patience, when you have done all the duties he commands, to suffer patiently what God himself shall inflict upon you by sicknesses, crosses and temptations, or what wicked men shall inflict upon you.
Pen.
These things which you speak are against the flesh and f…a…e that I used to be in; and I do finde that they are not so fully killed, but that they have a little stirring in them when you propound these cases to me.
But the experience I have now found of the love of God, and of Jesus Christ to my Soul, doth lay such an engagement upon my heart, that I will, by his grace and assistance, be for him onelyonly, serve him onelyonly, do all that ever he shall command me, suffer whatever he shall impose upon me; I will no more be for my self, but for him, who hath done all this for me. Oh what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits to my poor Soul!
Wab.
We are surprized by the night, we must rest under these Trees this night. I do account this day well spent, though we have made but little progress toward the place of our intendment: but I have been about the work I came abroad upon, though not the persons I intended. Thus God doth over-rule the wayes of men; he foreseeth and ordereth that which we had no thoughts upon: and therefore in that we have spent this day in such Conference and Discourse, wherein we have seen so much of the presence of Christ with us; let us now spend this night in prayers and praises unto the Lord, who hath found us before we sought for him. You were going about another business, you little thought of finding Jesus Christ by the way, and finding mercy to your Soul, a pardon of your sins, and to become a praying Indian.
Pen.
Your discourse doth heighten my admiration. I acknowledge God hath thought of me when I thought not of him; he had a care of my Soul when I had no care of my self; God hath plucked me out of darkness, and brought me into a most wonderful light, that I should be forced to see the wonderful things of Gods Law, & of my eternal condemnation by it, my helpless and hopeless condition that I was in.
And then, that the Lord should open unto me a possibility of escape, that a ransome and remedy might be found by the infinite wisdome and mercy of God; and that Jesus Christ had not onelyonly accomplished that great work, but offered the fruit and benefit of it to me, and called me to rest in him, and to betrust my Soul with him, for pardon of all my sins, and for eternal life in Jesus Christ. These things are matter of my admiration, and shall be to all eternity. My life remaining shall be spent in admiring, and in obeying and suffering, as you have now taught me; I shall account nothing …oo dear for Christ, who hath not accounted his own most precious life too dear for me. Whereas I am now instructed, that he being God and Man in one person, his life was of more value then all the lives of all mankinde; and that he did not forbear to offer that precious life for me; I must, I will, by his grace assisting, admire at this mercy for ever: and therefore the motion that you made of spending this night in prayer and praises unto his holy Name, it is a most acceptable motion to my heart. My experience suggesteth unto me matter abundantly to pray and praise his Name, but my ignorance is such as that I ca…not tell how to utter my minde in words of knowledge suitable unto so great mercies as I have now experienced.
Wab.
Your discourse doth lead me out to inform you in a great point of the grace and kingdome of Jesus Christ, and that is the gift and grace of Prayer, which the Spirit of Jesus Christ teacheth every new born Soul to perform: for so the Scripture saith, Rom. 8.15. He hath given the Spirit of his Son, whereby we cry, and crying is an earnest manner of praying; and the matter of our cry is to s…y Abba, Father, that is, to call God our Father, and to ask him a Childes portion in the Name of Jesus Christ, as he hath promised, that whatever we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ, it shall be surely granted, either the same thing or a better; for we are foolish children, and know not what is best for our selves, but our Father doth: and therefore when we make our prayers and request to God, we must leave the matter to his love & wisdome, to give us what, and when, and how he will.
And because we are ignorant what to pray for, therefore the Spirit of God who dwelleth in our heart, he is called the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication; and Rom. 8.26, 27. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings, which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the Saints, according to the will of God. Where we see that our weakness is supplied by the assistance of the Spirit, and he helpeth us to pray for such things as please God; and in such a manner as pleaseth God. And this is the condition of every true converted believer, that he can pray, and desires to pray, and is ever lifting up his heart to G…d in prayer: and therefore I like it well that my motion of spending this night in prayer, is so acceptable to you, a good sign it is that the Spirit of Jesus Christ hath taken possession of your Soul.
Pen.
This little sight and experience I have, hath so filled my heart with a sense of my own vileness, that I see matter of endless confession; and I see so much nothingness in my self, that I see endless matter of petition and supplication; and I see my self so infinitely obliged to God for the riches of his free-grace to me a rebellious worm, that I see infinite matter of praise, thanksgiving and admiration: My heart also longeth after others, that th… may be as I am. I pray tell me, what is my duty in that respe… to pray for others? my Relations, my Friends, my Neighbou… and for all?
Wab.
Christ hath taught us, When thou art converted, then streng…en thy brother, Luke 22.32, therefore you must pray for all t… Church of God; you must especially pray for them that are wea… and tempted, and afflicted; and you must pray for them that a… not yet converted, and for all Gods people, and for all Gods cau… in all the world, and for the fulfilling of all Gods Promises. The… is a world of matter to pray for: and for Kings and Rulers in … special manner.
Pen.
I feel my heart to answer your words like an eccho; m… heart answers, All these things I desire to pray for. But alas, … am ignorant of fit words in prayer, and therefore I do request o… you, first do you pray, and set me a pattern. Waban prayeth…
Pen.
Many whole nights have I spent waking, sometime in hun…ing, sometime worse, in dancing and other sinful revels; but … never spent a night so well in my life before: it is the first nigh… of my new life; I have begun to live well, oh how full of fea…, and care and desire my heart is, that I may go on according to thi… good beginning. I hope the sweet savour of this good beginning to live well, shall abide with me, and I desire your help and counsel how I may so perform it.
Wab.
Our state in this world is not perfect, corruption is killed but in part; there be old roots remaining, which upon occasio… offered will still be stirring, acting, appearing, as a tree that is cut down, the old roots will be growing, which must be kept dow… with a speedy cutting off. A field that is well weeded, will quickly produce new weeds again, out of that natural propensity of the earth to bring forth weeds; but a watchful and diligent husbandman will be often weeding over his Corn fields: and so will ou… hearts be sending forth new weeds of sin, but we must be daily diligent to watch and weed them out; our hearts have a natural propensity to sin, and therefore must be kept with all diligence. An… therefore that is the first counsel that I give you, out of the experience of my own naughty heart.
Pen.
Your words do put a fear into my heart, I know that old customes of sin are very hardly left, and I have been so long accustomed to sin, that I am afraid of my self.
Wab.
Fear is a good watchman; Happy is the man that feare… alwayes: and let this put you on to a second Counsel that I giv… you, Be much and often in prayer, and that not onelyonly among othe… in Family-worship, and Publick-worship, but also, and most frequently in secret prayer, for so Christ hath commanded, Mat. 6… and Christ himself hath set us an example, who spent whole nights in prayer.
Pen.
The night spent in prayer hath let me finde a sweet taste in it, though I do already finde that it is a weariness to my flesh. I thank you for this Counsel, I desire I may remember and do it. What further Counsel will you give me?
Wab.
You must be much conversant in the Word of God, and though you cannot yet reade the Word, yet you must get the help of others, and learn the word of God by heart; and you must meditate upon the same night and day, for so David did, Psal. 1.2. And the meditation on the Word will sanctifie the heart, and kill corruption, and will mightily help you to subdue it.
Pen.
I doubt it will be difficult for me to learn to reade, I am dull of capacity.
Wab.
A strong desire, diligence and constancy, will obtain any thing: and you must pray God to teach you, and to open your heart to learn: Iam. 1.5. If any of you lack wisdome, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and up…raideth not, and it shall be given him. And for a further help to you, my fourth Counsel is, That you diligently learn the Catechize, and by learning to reade that, you will learn to reade and understand the whole Bible.
Pen.
I see my self very ignorant, and therefore I am very desirous to learn Catechism, because I have heard and do perceive that is the foundation of all knowledge in Religio…, being wisely gathered out of the Scripture.
Wab.
You say right about Catechism; we do therefore teach it our Children, that the principles of good knowledge may be sown and rooted in them from a Childe: and for that reason also do we send them to School, to learn to reade the Word of God, that they may be acquainted with the Word from a Childe.
Pen.
Oh what a loss is this to me, that I am to begin to learn Catechize and the Word of God now I am a man, which I might have been acquainted with from a Childe, had I been brought up among the praying Indians. How happy are your Children that are thus brought up. I suppose you are very diligent in this matter in Training up of your Children.
Wab.
We have great cause to judge our selves for too much negligence in this point. A fifth Counsel I give you is, That you be constant and diligent in the exercise of the Worship of God in your Family, in these points: 1. You must Morning and Evening pray in your Family, and teach them in Catechism, and reading of the Scriptures. 2. Alwayes before and after Meat you must pray and give thanks to God.
Pen.
Oh what an holy life do the praying Indians live. Lord …each me and help me thus to do. VVhat further Counsel do you …ive me?
Wab.
A sixth Counsel I give you is, That you do carefully re…ember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy, and to come to the publick Assembly both Forenoon and Afternoon, constantly and timely, and there diligently to attend the worship of God.
Pen
Oh how my heart approveth of this Cou…el. Have you any further Counsel to give me?
Wab.
One thing more; Let all your Conversation be a good example to others, & labour on all occasions to do good to others.
Pen.
I requ…st this of you, that as we travel this day in our journey, you would teach me the Principles of Catechism.
Wab.
I do well like of your motion, its a good subject of discourse as we are in our way.
Thus are they imployed till they come at their journeys end.
Waban. Nish…hkou. Penoo…ot.
Waban.
MY aged Uncle, I am glad that it hath pleased God once more to give me an opportunity to see you alive in this world. It is not unknown unto you, that I and many others have undertaken a new way of life, which is known to many by the name of Praying to God. The way that I formerly, and you still live in, is a way o… worshipping the Devil, it is a way of darkness and sin: and though it is a way pleasant and easie to the flesh, yet it leadeth to destruction and eternal torments. Man is made for another life after this life is ended; and though our body dieth and turneth to dust, yet the Soul is immortal, it dieth not, but at the death of the body it departeth to a place of eternal being, either in glory, or in misery. If we pray to God with a right …eart, peniten…ly turn from sin to God, and believe in Jesus Christ, then we shall have a pardon granted us, and eternal happiness with Jesus Christ, But if we do not turn to God, but worship and serve the Devil, and walk in the wayes of sin, then at death our Soul must be dragged to hell, and there tormented for ever among the Devils, whom we have obeyed and served in this life. These▪ things, and many more, we do perfectly know, and believe to be true by the Word of God, which is the Sun-light of the Soul, even as the Sun is the great light of the outward world.
God hath put it into my heart to desire that your Soul might be ble…ed for ever; and the Church hath sent me, and I come in the Name of Jesus Christ to tell you these things, and beseech you to turn from these vain and evil wayes, and to believe in Jesus Christ, that your sins may be pardoned, and that your Soul may be saved in eternal glory.
Nish.
Your love and desire of my good, I have no reason but, to accept with kindness; but me thinks one thing in your discourse is doubtful. We see with our eyes, and know certainly that the body dieth, and turneth to rottenness and dust, and why may not the Soul d… so likewise? we see not what becometh of it, and to make such a stir, and change our course upon uncertainties, I have no liking to it, my Age inclineth me rather to be quiet, and not meddle with such un…een intricacies, fitter for younger heads to minde.
Wab.
Our bodies are the product of the seed of man, and that is made out of the food we eat, and our food grows out of the earth, so that our bodies are made of refined earth; and therefore at death turn to earth again, out of which it was made, and so God speaketh, Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return. But the Soul is not so; it is a Spirit, of a purer nature then earthly things, and it is immediately created by God, and therefore dieth not. Besides, we are assured by many infallible proofs out of the Word of God, and by evidence of good Reason, that the Soul is immortal, which point we are taught in our Catechism. And not onelyonly so, but God hath taught us, that at the end of the world the body shall be raised again out of the dust, and the Soul and body joyned together again, and then the person shall be judged by Jesus Christ, according to their deeds done in the flesh: those that live and die in their sins, shall be turned into hell, to be tormented by and with the Devils; but they that turn to God, and believe in Jesus Christ, shall be judged to go with Christ to heaven, and be ever with him in eternal glory.
Therefore this consideration doth more sharpen my request and intreaties of you, how shall I endure to see this body of yours, which I so respect and love, and that Soul of yours also, to go away unto eternal torments. And I pray you consider what a wound and torment i… will then be, to remember, I was exhorted and intreated to turn to God and live; mercy in Christ was offered me, but I refused it: and therefore deservedly do you lose what you refused, and deservedly you suffer that torment you did choose, rather then to trouble your self with this business of praying to God, and believing in Jesus Christ.
Nish.
These are great and deep things that I understand not: you young men have your blood warm, and your wits fresh and ripe, you can reade and understand these things. I am old and cold and dry, and half dead already, I have not strength enough left to be whetted up to such a new edge; let me alone to die in quiet, why should I take upon me such a disquiet to my minde, and disturbance to my self, and to my people? I have two Sons young and active men, I am very willing that they should take up this new way, perswade them to it if you will, but as for me, I am too old for such an undertaking.
Wab.
You do well to permit your sons to enter into a way of wisdome, and pray unto God; but I would propose two requests unto you: 1. To do well for your … as well as for your Sons, for your soul is as prece…o…s as … And 2. the most effe…tu…l means to pe…swad… y…ur S…s unto this way of wisdome, is for you to s…t them an …; i… you …ould choose this way, then it is like that th…y would follow your ex…mpl…, but if you refuse it your self, …here i… the les… …ope …at they will c…oose it: for it is a way hard to the f…e…, and requires muc… subduing of lusts, which will rather be done in your d…crepi… Age, then by them in their flourishing youth.
Nish.
I a… weary, and need some food, and it is like so do you after your travel, and here is Meat set before us, therefore I pray ea…, and you are welcome.
Wab.
I pray you let us eat like praying Indians. God hath taught us, that alwayes when we eat we should pray and give thanks to God.
Nish.
I pray do so, it pleaseth me well, though I cannot do so my self, for I am ignorant of the wayes of praying to God.
Waban prayeth for a blessing, and then they eat: and after meat doth the same again.
Pen.
Aged Sachem, now that you and we are refreshed and strengthned …y this food, I will declare unto you strange News, to which I intreat your attendance a little while, and all the people here present. I am like a man that was looking for a shell, and found a Pearl of inestimable value, whereby he became very rich and renowned. I had a small occasion to come and visit you, gra… Sachem, and by the way I met with this good man, a messenger o… God; by whose discourse my blinde eyes are opened, my dead heart is made alive, my lame legs are inabled to walk in the way to heaven, where I shall enjoy an eternal Ki…dome. Many miracles …ave been wrought upon me by the power of Gods Word spoken to me by this man: and that I may stir up your heart, and the hearts of the people here present to give diligent heed to what he saith, I will d…cl…re unto you what passed between us. I was a… you are, I lived as you live, I did as you do, and as the rest of ou… Countrymen and Neighbours do; I followed the sports, pleasures, vanities, and courses that other men, and you, to this day walk in… But I was not aware how blinde, and dead, and vile, and wicked I was in the sight of God; nor was I aw…re that I was running o… in a pleasant delightful way, which led m… down to hell and eternal damnation.
But when I met this man, he discoursed with me about these things; he opened unto me, by the Word of God, the great Majesty of God, his Holiness, Justice, and Goodness; how God h… made thi… great world, and all things in it, both things above, an… things below; how …e made man an eminent Creature, gave him dominion over all the creatures here below; & gave him an holy, ju… and good Law, in Ten Commandments, under the order of a Covenant of Works, and if he kept and obeyed this Law, he should live in glory and happiness for ever, but if he did break this Law, and sin against God, that great Majesty of heaven, then he should be answerably and justly pun…hed with eternal torments in hell fire, with the Devil and his Angels for evermore: and this L…w was for himself and all his posterity, in whose stead he sto…d as a publick person.
Now he informed me, that Ada… the first man sinned by the temptation of evil Angels, which rebelled against God, and tu…ned Devils: by their temptation Adam …inned, and turned rebel against God, and served, believed and obey…d the Devil, and therefore by the Law of God he was judged and condemned, and all his posterity. All this I found to be true in …y own experience, for I went on in the same rebellion, breaking the holy Law of God every day both in thought, word and deed, obeying the Devil and his temptations, serving the lusts of my flesh, and fil…hy mi…de: I walked in the broad, easie, pleasant way t…at leadeth to destruction; so that I have deserved to be damned a thousand thousand times: and the greatness of the Majesty of God against whom I sinned, did breed terrour in my soul; my just condemnation by the Law of God, was evident to me as the light; Gods pure and …nchangeable Justice, which sentenced me by the Law unto hell, I saw I could not possibly answer, seeing I am a poor finite worm, and what have I to satisfie infinite offended Justice? and therefore my soul mourned and lamented, and sunk into despair; for Gods Justice is unchangeable, and his Law must be satisfied, which I am never able to do, and therefore I must be eternally damn…d under that just sentence. I d…rst not pray God to pardon my transgression, by any absolute soveraign act of mercy, for then he should have offended his own Justice, which is unchangeable, and abolished his own Law, whose perfection is such that it must be fulfilled and satisfied; and to satisfie Gods just Law, was not in the power of any finite creature, Man or Angel: and therefore I despaired, no ransome could be found in all the world for me a poor sinner. Oh t…e bitterness that my soul felt, in the horrour of my damned estate! No tongue can utter what my soul felt. I had a taste of hell torments in my soul; my meditation of Gods Omniscience, whereby he knew all my sins, not onelyonly open, but secret ones, brought innumerable sins to my remembrance, one of which was enough to damn me, but I had mountains of guilt heaped upon my distressed soul; the impossibility for me to satisfie divine Justice, and the impossibility of pardon without satisfaction, because God cannot be unjust, and his Law is unchangeable: Such meditations cast me into the horrible pit of darkness and desperation. The redemption of the soul is precious, it ceaseth for ever, Psal. 498.
Then God opened the mouth of this dear Servant of his, who told me that the infinite mercy and wisdome of God had found out a ransome, a way to satisfie Justice, and fulfil the Law, and to save poor condemned sinners, and that he himself had found mercy in that way. This bred some hope in my soul, and stayed me from sinking quite down, when I heard of a possibility: but still I was in distressing doubt and fear that it was but some delusion, because I could not see a possibility for Man or Angel, or any Creature, to satisfie and give a ransome to infinite Justice.
Then he declared to me, that it is true that no Creature could give a ransome to satisfie Justice, but God himself was able to satisfie the infinite Justice of God. To that I yielded, that God himself might satisfie his Justice, but still I was in the dark, I could not see this could possibly be. Then he opened me, that adored Doctrine of God his being One and Three; how God was one in Essence, three in Persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the holy Ghost; how the Father doth by an eternal in…ellectual act conceive the Image of Himself, as being the only adequate Object he understands himself; and this is called the Bege…ting of the Son, by an intellectual conception of his own Image: and these two Subsistencies, do by an eternal act of Volition love each other; and this Love is the third Person in Trinity, proceeding from both the Father and the Son.
Now the eternal Majesty of God agreed within himself, that God the Son, the second Person in Trinity, should assume humane Nature to himself, and become a man, subject to the Law. This glorious Person is the greatest subject that ever the Law had, and this glorious Person is able perfectly to fulfil the Law, and perfectly to pay a ra…some satisfactory to infinite Justice, who hath done it. This depth of divine Wisdome my soul admired, and shall do to eternity.
But still I was at a loss how I should be interested in the ransome that this glorious Person hath paid. Then did this Messenger of God declare unto me, that this glorious Person Jesus Christ had undertaken both parts of this work: First to atone, and reconcile God to man, by paying the ransome required, and by perfect fulfilling the Law: Secondly, to subdue the soul and will of man to turn, and submit to be reconciled to God. But this work of converting … soul to God is such, that as no man can convert himself, so no other Creature is able to do it, onelyonly God himself can do it; and for that end, both the Father and Son have sent forth the holy Ghost, the eternal Spirit, to work upon the hearts of men, and to create the work of Faith in them by the Word, and then to take possession of, and dwell in believing souls, to mortifie their lusts, to sanctifie their hearts and lives, and to lead them in the way of grace unto glory.
And he further declared to me, that this blessed Spirit of G…d, by the Word of God, had already begun this great work in my soul: for a new light is set up in my soul, a work beyond the reach of man; and that light hath convinced me of sin, and of my my damned estate by sin; it had made a separa…ion and divorce betwixt sin and my soul; it had cut me off the old stock, and l…id my soul down at the foot of Christ, capable with all humble thankfulness to accept salvation, not by any merit of mine, but by free-grace of Christ unto a vile and unworthy sinner. This I could not deny, but I did finde such conviction, and such a submission to Christ: and this he declared to be the first step and beginning of the work of sound Conversion.
I crave your patience for a few words more. Then he proceeded to shew me that the work was finished by the Promise, which also the Spirit of God doth bring home unto the soul, and makes up the match betwixt Christ and the soul. And to that purpose he brought Mat 11.28, 29. by which Text he shewed me, as in a glass,
1. The distress my soul was in.
2. The call of Christ to such distressed soul.
3. The promise of Rest to such as come to him.
4. The obligation to learn meekness, both to do and suffer the will of Christ. And here my soul resteth.
Ah friends, we poor Indians are great sinners, but C…rist is great salvation for the greatest sinners. What …inite creature can outsin infinite satisfaction?
Nish.
I see you are strongly changed and transported: but my feeble Age needeth rest, and so may you also by this time.
Wab.
Aged Uncle, to morrow is the Sabbath-day: if you like of it, order all your people to come together in the morning, and by the Lords assistance I will further teach you by the Word of God.
Nish.
I like it well. Send out to all parts of the Town, that all meet to morrow morning.
The Sabbath. Many being met,
Waban.
THe Lord hath appointed that in our publick Worship first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men: For Kings, and for all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable li…e in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: Who will have all men to be saved, and to co…e unto the knowledge of the truth, 1 Tim. 2.…, 2, 3, 4. According to this appointment, let us pray. Which finished,
He took that Text, Matth. 20.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. In these words we may observe these things:
1. The Vineyard where men labour, is the Church, and this wa… of praying to God; and sheweth that it is a laborious and a good work, and will cause us to bring forth good fruits, grapes and wine, which is pleasing to God and man. But beware of bringing forth sowre grapes; especially suffer no briars and thorns, but cu… them down, and root them up, and cast them out.
2. The Lord of this Vineyard is Jesus Christ, who calleth all me… to come into this his Vineyard, and do these works. And th… day I do in the Name of the Lord Jesus call you all to pray to God, come and work in this Vineyard. Hearken to this Call, and be no longer idle, follow your sins no longer, you have lived in … long enough, stay no longer, but come in when you are called. Happy are you, if you obey and come; woe be to you, if you refuse.
3. Here be the several seasons of mens coming in, or the sever… Ages of men that do come in.
1. Some come in while it is morning, that is, while they b… young: therefore I call you Boyes, Youths a…d Girls, come yo… unto the Lords Vineyard, and give unto God the first-fruits o… your dayes.
2. The Lord went forth at the third hour, and called in youn… men and young women into his Vineyard: Hearken therefore yo… young men and young women to the Call of God, and come in.
3. The Lord went forth at the ninth hour, that is, he called i… men and women full grown, to ripeness of parts, and strength; you are called this day to come into the Lords Vineyard; be yo… perswaded to come in, and serve the Devil no longer: now tu… unto the Lord.
4. The Lord went forth the eleventh hour, that is, a little bfor… night; and this doth mean you old men, and old women, com… you into the Lords Viney…rd: you see the Lord will accept you … you come. Do not think you are too old to serve the Lord; … your dayes be near finished, you had the more need come in quic… ly, lest you die in your sins, and perish for ever.
When he had finished, an Objection was made by one; We d… not come in to pray to God, for we hear you are very severe if any … found in sin, of lust or the like, you Whip them and punish them, … maketh us afraid to pray to God.
…nsw. Wab. God hath appointed punishments of sin to be Ph… sick for their souls; and though Physick be bitter and sharp, y… its very wholesome, good and needful. If you were invited … dwell at such a Town where there is a Physician, would you sa… No, I will not dwell there, because if I be sick I must take Physic… sure you would therefore go dwell at that place. So it is in th… case; you should therefore desire to pray to God, because they use Physick to heal the sickness of your souls.
Afternoon. They being met,
Waban having first prayed, then taketh this Text, Psal. 2.8, 9, 10, 11.
In these words see these three things:
1. Christ Jesus taketh possession of the heathen, and utmost ends of the earth: and this is one description of our Country. And now Jesus Christ calleth us to come to him. Some of us have submitted unto Christ, and he hath mercifully accepted us, and so he will accept you, if you will come in unto him.
2. See what Christ will do to them that will not come in; He will break them with a Rod of Iron, and dash them in pieces like a potters vessel. Thus Christ will deal with our sins, if we submit to him. But if we will not submit to him, he will thus deal with our persons, and destroy them that refuse to serve him, Luke 19.27.
3. Here is the effect of Gods severity against sinners; Be wise therefore, O ye Kings; be instructed, ye Iudges of the Earth: serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling. Do not say, Because Christ is severe against our sins, therefore we will not come unto him, but fly from him: do not so, for then he will destroy you; but come trembling to him, and say, Lord take away our sins by sharpness, that our souls may be saved for ever.