History of the War with the Indians, Half title – To the reader
THE WARS OF New-England.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE WAR WITH THE INDIANS IN NEW-ENGLAND.
From June 24. 1675. (when the first Englishman was Murdered by the Indians) to August 12. 1676. when Philip, alias Metacomet, the principal Author and Beginner of the War, was slain.
Wherein the Grounds, Beginning, and Progress of the War, is summarily expressed. Together with a serious▪EXHORTATION to the Inhabitants of that Land.
By INCREASE MATHER, Teacher of a Church of Christ, in Boston in New-England.
Lev. 26. 25. I will bring a Sword upon you, that shall avenge the quarrel of the Covenant.
Psal. 107. 43. Whoso is wise and will observe these things, even they shall underst and the loving Kindness of the Lord.
Jer. 22. 15. Did not thy Father do Judgment and Justice, and it was well with him?
Segnius irritant animos demissa per aures,
Q…am quae sunt occulis commissa fidelibus.
Lege Historiam ne fias Hi…o…ia. Cic.
Horat.
London, Printed for Richard Chiswell, at the Rose and Crown in St. Pauls Church-Ya…d, according to the Original Copy Printed in New-England. 1676.
Licensed,
Decemb. 2. 1676. Roger L'Estrange.
To the Reader.
ALthough I was not altogether negligent, in Noting down such Occurrenecs, respecting the present War with the Heathen in New-England, as came to my knowledg, in the time of them; yet what I did that way, was meerly for my own private use; nor had I the least thought of publishing any of my Observations, until such time as I read a Narrative of this War, said to be Written by a Merchant in Boston, which it seems met with an Imprimatur at London, in December last: The abounding Mistakes therein, caused me to think it necessary, that a true History of this Affair should be Published. Wherefore I resolved (foreign) to Methodize such scattered Observations as I had by me, so were the Horae subsecivae of a few days improved. Whilst I was doing this, there came to my hands another Narrative of this War, written by a Quaker in Road-Island, who pretends to know the Truth of things; but that Narrative being fraught with worse things than meer Mistakes, I was thereby quickned to expedite what I had in hand. I moved that some other might have done it, but none presenting, I thought of his saying, Ab alio quovis hoc fieri mallem quàm à me, sed à me tamen potius quàm à nemine. And I hope that in one thing, (though it may be in little else) I have performed the part of an Historian, viz. In endeavouring to relate things truly and impartially, and doing the best I could that I might not lead the Reader into a Mistake. History is indeed in it self a profitable study. Learned Men know that Polybius, and the great Philosopher call it, foreign. And there is holy Scripture to encourage a work of this nature; For what was the Book of the Wars of the Lord? Num. 21. 14. And that Book of Jasher, which we read of in Joshua and in Samuel? Yea, and the Book of the Chronicles, mentioned in the Book of Kings (for we find not some of those things referred unto in the Canonical Book of Chronicles). What were these Books, but the faithful Records of the Providential Dispensations of God, in the days of old? Yea, and it is proper for the Min…sters of God, to ingage themselves in Services of this nature; Witness the History, or Commentary foreign of the Prophet Iddo, 2▪ Chro. 13. 22. Whether my defective manner of management in this History renders it unprofitable, I know not. Consid…ring the other employments that are always upon me, together with my personal inabilities, I have cause to suspect it may be so, in a great measure. If any one shall hereby be incited to do better, I hope I shall rather thank than envy him, foreign. And I earnestly wish that some effectual Course may be taken (before it be too late) that a just History of New-England, be written and published to the World. That is a thing that hath been often spoken of, but was never done to this day, and yet the longer it is deferred, the more difficulty will there be in effecting of it.
Moreover the thing which I mainly designed, was the subsequent Exhortation, which is annexed herewith, wherein I have desired to approve my self as in the sight of God, speaking what I believe God would have me to speak, without respect to any person in this world. And there is one thing insisted on therein, concerning which I could wish that I had said more, I mean that which doth respect endeavours for the Conversion of the Heathen unto Christ. There are some that make a wrong use of a Notion of Mr. Cottons touching this matter, alledging that he taught that a general Conversion of Indians is not to be expected before the seven Vials are poured forth upon the Antichristian State, nor before the conversion of the Jewish Nation. It is far from my purpose to contradict that Great Author, unto whose dust (in respect of near Affinity as well as on the account of his Eminency in Grace and spiritual Gifts) I ow a sacred Reverence, and it is known that I have my self asserted the same Notion both in Sermons, and in a printed Discourse concerning the Salvation of the Tribes of Israel. But it was never intended that that Assertion should be improved, so as to discourage from the prosecution of that which was the professed, pious, and a main design of the Fathers of this Colony; viz. To propagate the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ among these Indians, who in former Ages had not heard of his fame and Glory. It is indeed true, that although a Fulness of the Gentiles in respect of Apostasy, shal be accomplished (so must they fulfill their Times) before the calling of the Jews, yet the fulness of the Gentiles in respect of Conversion, will not come in before that. Nevertheless a glorious Sprinkling, and great success of the Gospel may be in particular places at present, even amongst Heathen. And the Salvation of a few immortal Souls is worth the labour of many all their lives. And happy experience hath confirmed this; for here in New-England, six Churches have been constituted amongst the Indians. And the labours of Robert Junius forty years since amongst the East-Indians in Formosa, were wonderfully successful; for (as Caspar Sibellius, Pastor of the Church in Daventry in Holland, writing the History of that affair doth relate) there were no less than five thousand and nine hundred Indians that became professedly subject to the Gospel, and were all, together with their children, baptized into the Name of Jesus Christ. Junius having learned the Indian Language, and being a Man of exemplary Piety in his conversation, and one also that excelled in wisdom and spiritual Abilities, God was with him, and made him an happy Instrument of wining Souls. He Translated some part of the Scripture, and wrote Catechisms, and other profitable Books in their Language. He caused Schools to be erected among those blind Barbarians, so as that six hundred of them were able to read and write, and about fifty who excelled in knowledg, and were of approved godliness, became Instructors of others in the Principles of the true Christian Religion: Yea, in three and twenty Towns, there were Indian Christian Churches Planted. And learned Men were sent out of Holland, in order to a further propagation of the interest of the Gospel in those remote parts of the World. Also Justus Heurnius, who was at first a Physitian, being inflamed with a singular, zeal after Gods Glory, and the Salvation of Souls of Men, left his practising in Medicinal Cures, and betook himself wholly to the study of Divinity; after which he engaged in a Voyage towards the East-Indians, designing their Conversion; and having learned their Language, spent fourteen Years amongst them: and as the great Voetius (in his Disputation, De Vocatione Gentium) testifieth, was instrumental to the Conversion of many of those Indians, so as to erect Churches of them in divers places, yea, and took care for the learned Education of divers Youngmen, even amongst the Indians themselves, so as that they were able to instruct the several Churches, which by the blessing of God upon his Labours had been lately formed. It is great pity then, that we in New-England, who do not come behind others in Profession, and Pretences to Religion, should fall short in real endeavours, for the promotion and propagation of Religion, and Christianity amongst those that have been for ages that are past, without God, and without Christ, and Strangers to the Common-wealth of Israel. It troubleth me, when I read how the Papists glory in that they have converted so many of the East and West▪ Indians to the Christian Faith, and reproach Protestants, because they have been no more industrious in a work of that nature. Though I know they have little cause to Glory, if the whole truth were known. For as for many of their Converts, inasmuch as they are become Vassals, not only to the Heresies, but to the Persons of those who have Proselyted them, they are as Christ said concerning the Proselytes of the Scribes and Pharisees, twofold more the children of Hell, than they were before; and many of them know little of Christianity besides the Name. Witness the celebrated Story of that Franciscan, who wrote a Letter to a Friend of his in Europe, wherein he glorieth that having lived six and twenty years amongst the Indians, he had converted many thousands of them to the Faith, and he desired his Friend to send him a Book called the Bible, for he heard there was such a Book in Europe, which might be of some use to him. Surely, Francis himself did not excel this Franciscan, in profound ignorance. It is also true, that the Hollanders have formerly (as was in part intimated but now) done something towards the Conversion of those Indians where they have Plantations settled. For they have caused some part of the Scripture to be Translated into the Indian Language, and have out of their publick Treasuries maintained some Learned and meet Persons, on purpose, that they might become Preachers to the Indians: Nevertheless, Voetius in his dissertation de plantatoribus Ecclesiarum, greatly bewaileth it, that no more care hath been taken about that concern of the Gospel and Kingdom of Christ; and declareth what were the unhappy obstructions, hindring the Belgick Churches, from attaining a further progress in a work so desirable; but (as he there speaketh) Infanda illa nihil attinet hie referre. And I know not, but that the Lords holy Design in the War which he hath brought upon us, may (in part) be to punish us for our too great neglect in this matter. I would not detract from what hath been done that way, but rather with my Soul bless God for it. It is well known, that sundry of the Lords Servants in this Land, have laboured in that work: Especially Reverend Mr. Eliot hath taken most indefatigable pains, having Translated the whole Bible into the Indian Language, in which respect New-England (let Christ alone have the praise of it) hath out-done all other places, so far as I have heard or read. But it cannot be long, before that faithful, and now aged Servant of the Lord rest from his Labours: Sad will it be for the succeeding Generation, if they shall suffer the Work of Christ amongst the Indians, to die with him who began it. Sed meliora speramus.
I shall add no more, but leave the success of this undertaking to him, who alone can give it. And I earnestly desire the Prayers of every Godly Reader.
Increase Mather.