The Life and Death of John Eliot, Preliminary 2
PRAELIMINARY II. Mr. Eliot's early Conversion, sacred Employment, and just Removal into America.
BUT all that I have hitherto said, is no more than an entrance into the History of our Eliot. Such an Enoch as he, must have something more than these things recorded of him; his Walk with God must be more largely laid before the World, as a thing that would bespeak us all to be Followers, no less than we shall be Admirers, of it.
He had not passed many turns in the World, before he knew the meaning of a saving turn from the Vanities of an Unregenerate State, unto God in Christ, by a true Repentance; he had the singular happiness and priviledge of an Early Conversion from the ways which Original Sin disposes all Men unto. One of the principal Instruments which the God of Heaven used in tinging, and filling the mind of this Chosen Vessel with good Principles, was that Venerable Thomas Hooker, whose Name in the Churches of the Lord Jesus, is As an Oyntment poured forth; even that Hooker, of whom Worthy Master Fuller could write: As Latimer would not stick to say, St. Bilney, so neither I to say, St. Hooker; that Hooker, who having Angled many scores of Souls into the Kingdom of Heaven, at last laid his Bones in our New-England; it was an Acquaintance with him, that contributed more than a little to the Accomplishment of our Elisha, for that Work unto which the most High designed him. His Liberal Education having now the Addition of Religion to direct it, and improve it, it gave such a Biass to his young Soul, as quickly discovered it self in very signal Instances. His first appearance in the World after his Education in the Ʋniversity at Cambridge, was in the too difficult, and unthankful, but very necessary Employment of a School-Master, which Employment he discharged with a good Fidelity. And as this first Essay of his Improvement was no more Disgrace unto him, than it was unto the famous Hierom, Whitaker, Vines, and others, that they thus began to be serviceable; so it rather prepared him for the further Service which his mind was now set upon. He was of Worthy Mr. Thomas Wilson's mind, that the calling of a Minister was the only one, wherein a Man might be more serviceable to the Church of God, than in that of a School-Master. Wherefore having Dedicated himself unto God betimes, he could not reconcile himself to any lesser way of Serving his Creator and Redeemer, than by the Sacred Ministry of the Gospel; but, alas, where should he have Opportunities for the exercsing of it? It was now a time when some hundreds of those amiable People which had the Nick-name of Puritans put upon them, Transported themselves, with their whole Families and Interests, into the Desarts of America, that they might here peaceably erect Congregational Churches, and therein attend and maintain all the pure Institutions of the Lord Jesus Christ; having the encouragement of Royal Charters, that they should never have any Interruption in the Enjoyment of those precious and pleasant Things. Here was a prospect which quickly determined the devout Soul of our young Eliot, unto a remove into New-England, while it was yet a Land not sown; he quickly Listed himself among those Valiant Soldiers of the Lord Jesus, who cheerfully encountred first the Perils of the Atlantick Ocean, and then the Fatigues of the New-English Wilderness, that they might have an undisturbed Communion with him in his Appointments here. And thus did he betimes procure himself the Consolation of having afterwards, and for ever, a room in that remembrance of God, I remember thee, the Kindness of thy Youth, and the Love of thine Espousals, when thou wentest after me into the Wilderness.
On his first arrival to New-England, he soon joyned himself unto the Church at Boston; 'twas Church-work that was his Errand hither. Mr. Wilson, the Pastor of that Church, was gone back into England, that he might perfect the Settlement of his Affairs; and in his Absence, young Mr. Eliot was he that supplied his place. Upon the return of Mr. Wilson, that Church was intending to have made Mr. Eliot his Collegue, and their Teacher; but it was thus diverted, Mr. Eliot had engaged unto a select Number of his Pious and Christian Friends in England, that if they should come into these Parts before he should be in the Pastoral Care of any other People, he would give himself to Them, and be for Their Service. It happened, that these Friends transported themselves hither the year after him, and chose their Habitation at the Town which they called Roxbury. A Church being now gathered at this place, he was in a little while Ordained unto the Teaching and Ruling of that holy Society. So 'twas in the Orb of that Church that we had him as a Star fixed for very near Threescore years; it only remains that we now observe what was his Magnitude all this while, and how he performed his Revolution.