Tears of Repentance, Title page – Letter
Tears of Repentance: Or, A further Narrative of the Progreſs of the Goſpel Amongſt the INDIANS IN NEW-ENGLAND:
Setting forth, not only their preſent ſtate and condition, but ſundry Confeſſions of ſin by diverſe of the ſaid Indians, wrought upon by the ſaving Power of the Goſpel; Together with the manifeſtation of their Faith and Hope in Jeſus Chriſt, and the Work of Grace upon their Hearts.
Related by Mr. Eliot and Mr. Mayhew, two Faithful Laborers in that Work of the Lord.
Publiſhed by the Corporation for propagating the Goſpel there, for the Satisfaction and Comfort of ſuch as wiſh well thereunto.
Iſay, 42. 3. A bruiſed Reed ſhall be not break, and the ſmoaking Flax, ſhall be not quench.
London: Printed by Peter Cole in Leaden-Hall, and are to Sold at his Shop, at the Sign of the Printing-Preſs in Cornhil, near the Royal Exchange. 1653.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY The Lord General CROMWEL.
WHat the Jews once ſaid of their Centurion, He loved our Nation, and built us a Synagogue, the ſame may we affirm upon a more Noble Accompt of Your Lordſhip, and of thoſe faithful Centurions and Soldiers under Your Conduct; by how much the Adventure of your Lives in the Cauſe of God, for the Good of your Country, is a more infallible Demonſtration of your Love to it: foraſmuch as the King of Saints, is alſo King of Nations, and when he ſhall be the deſire of all Nations, will prove their ſafeſt Intereſt. Ʋpon conſideration whereof, it was but equal that Mr. Eliot a faithful Laborer of Chriſt in ſpreading the Everlaſting Goſpel to the Poor Indians, ſhould prefix Your Lordſhips Name to his Relation of the Progreſs of Divine Grace amongſt them: And with his Judgment, We of the Corporation, who are ſubordinately intruſted, do ſo far concur, eſpecially moved thereunto by that liberal and Exemplary Contribution to this Glorious Work lately promoted by Your Lordſhip, and Your Officers with the Army, that we thought not fit either to ſever that Narrative, and this of Mr. Mayhew's, or to ſend them abroad under any other Name to the Publick View.
Coopers-Hall, London, March, 26. 1653. Signed in the Name, and by the Appointment of the ſaid Corporation, by William Steel, Preſident.
To the much Honored Corporation in London, Choſen to Place of Publick Truſt for the promoting of the Work of the Lord among the Indians in NEW-ENGLAND.
Worthy Sirs,
IT hath not been from any diſreſpect to your ſelves, that I have not formerly directed to your Preſence, and preſented into your Hand, what have already been let go, which made Relation of the Work of God among the Indians in this Iſland (commonly called Martins Vineyard) This year there was an opportunity not to be refuſed, of certifying the Right Worſhipful John Endicot Eſquire, Governor of the Maſſachuſſets in New-England of what I had to communicate concerning the Indians, from whoſe hand alſo you will receive it; but yet I may not for ſeveral cauſes, neglect the writing to your ſelves the ſame things, with more particulars ſince adjoyned, in the concluſion to accompany the former unto your Pious and Prudent conſideration, to which they are committed to be (as I have received them from God) the tokens of more Grace in ſtore to be beſtowed on Indian ſouls.
Highly eſteemed in the Lord Jeſus,
WHen the Lord firſt brought me to theſe poor Indians on the Vinyard, they were mighty zealous and earneſt in the Worſhip of Falſe gods, and Devils; their Falſe gods were many, both of things in Heaven, Earth, and Sea: And there they had their Men-gods, Women-gods, and Children-gods, their Companies, and Fellowſhips of gods, or Divine Powers, guiding things amongſt men, beſides innumerable more feigned gods belonging to many Creatures, to their Corn, and every Colour of it: The Devil alſo with his Angels had his Kingdom among them, in them; account him they did, the terror of the Living, the god of the Dead, under whoſe cruel power and into whoſe deformed likeneſs they conceived themſelves to be tranſlated when they died; for the ſame word they have for Devil, they uſe alſo for a Dead Man, in their Language: by him they were often hurt in their Bodies, diſtracted in their Minds, wherefore they had many meetings with their Pawwaws (who uſually had a hand in their hurt) to pacifie the Devil by their Sacrifice, and get deliverance from their evil; I have ſometimes marvelled to ſee the vehemency of their Spirits, which they acted with no leſs bodily violence therein. The Pawwaws counted their Imps their Preſervers, had them treaſured up in their bodies, which they brought forth to hurt their enemies, and heal their friends; who when they had done ſome notable Cure, would ſhew the Imp in the palm of his Hand to the Indians, who with much amazement looking on it, Deified them, then at all times ſeeking to them for cure in all ſickneſſes, and counſel in all caſes: This Diabolical way they were in, giving heed to a multitude of Heathen Traditions of their gods, and many other things, under the obſervation whereof, they with much ſlavery were held, and abounding with ſins, having only an obſcure Notion of a good greater than all, which they call Mannit, but they knew not what he was, and therefore had no way to worſhip him.
What an entrance I had at firſt amongſt theſe miſerable Heathen, how called thereunto, and what ſucceſs God bleſſed us with, hath been in ſome meaſure already publiſhed, which will I hope through the dew of Gods bleſſing from Heaven, have ſuch a gracious increaſe, that the bloſſoming and budding time ſhal at leaſt be acknowledged, and by many more God bleſſed for it, in the growth of the fruit to more maturity; Since it hath pleaſed God to ſend his Word to theſe poor captivated men (bondſlaves to ſin and Satan) he hath through mercy brought two hundred eighty three Indians (not counting yong children in the number) to renounce their falſe gods, Devils, and Pawwaws, and publickly in ſet meetings, before many witneſſes, have they diſclaimed the Divinity of their formerly adored multitude, defied their tyrannical Deſtroyer the Devil, and utterly refuſed the help of the Pawwaws in any caſe; neither have they at any time, either by threatnings or flatteries been drawn thereto, although their lives have been in hazard; yea, eight of their Pawwaws have forſaken their Devilliſh craft, and profitable trade as they accounted it, for to embrace the Word and Way of God. The Indians which do pray to God, were not compelled thereto by power, neither alſo could they be allured by gifts, who received nothing for about ſeven years time, much leſs that which counterpoyſe their troubles, and exceed to the drawing of them from the beloved waies of their own Worſhips: Surely it were great uncharitableneſs, and derogatory from the glory of God, to think that none of theſe are truly changed, and that God himſelf by his Word and Spirit, hath not in mercy prevailed in their hearts againſt theſe evils; nay, may we not hope and be perſwaded by this, and ſome other appearances of God amongſt them, that ſome of them are truly turned to God from Idols, to ſerve the Living and true God? Serve him, through mercy they do in ſome hopeful Reformations, walking inoffenſively and diligently in their way, which I hope will more plainly appear when they are in a way more hopeful (by the bleſſing of God to their further well-being) which I hope will be in the beſt time.
I cannot but take notice of this good providence of God by the way, That he hath mercifully preſerved all the Indians which call upon his Name (from the begining of the Work unto this day) from all extraordinary evil, whereby the Devil and Witches uſe to torment the Bodies and Minds of Men, not one of them or their children (as I know) or have heard have been touched by them in this kind (only a Pawwaw or two, have not been delivered from his Imps preſently after his renouncing of them, but for ſome time have had the ſence of them in his Body with much pain:) The miſchief that the Pawwaws and Devils uſually do to the common Indian this way, is both by outward and bodily hurt, or inward pain, torture, and diſtraction of mind, both which I have ſeen my ſelf: To accompliſh the firſt, the Devil doth abuſe the real body of a Serpent, which comes directly towards the man in the houſe or in the field, looming or having a ſhadow about him like a man, and do ſhoot a bone (as they ſay) into the Indians Body, which ſometimes killeth him. An inſtance whereof I can give, whereby it may the more plainly appear, that it is a great mercy to be delivered therefrom; and it is of a youth, who living with his Parents upon a neck of Land, They did not pray unto Jehovah, yet their Neighbors who lived there with them, did; This Youth was hurt after the ſame manner, and then preſently his Parents pulled down the houſe they lived in, and fled to an Iſland near by, where I ſaw the Indian thus hurt in his Thigh, he was grievouſly tormented, and his Kindred about him mourning, not knowing where to find any comfort, or help, for cure could not be had from their gods or Pawwaws: I then took the opportunity to reaſon with them about their way, with the beſt wiſdom God gave me, but all in vain, for they would not hear to ſeek the true God, notwithſtanding he had ſhewn his diſpleaſure ſo apparantly againſt them for their former refuſing of Him, but they ſtill followed on their wonted Serpentine Machinations: The Pawwaws, and their devilliſh train, with their horrible outcries, hollow bleatings, painful wreſtlings, and ſmiting their own bodies, ſought deliverance, but all in vain, for he died miſerably. Hereby, and by ſeveral other things, I perceive that they are not (in a manner) indifferent, whether they ſerve their own gods or not, or change them (as ſome think) for they are naturally like the Heathens of Chittim and Kedar, which would not change their gods, which yet are no gods; when God blames his people for changing their glory for that which doth not profit; I hope therefore that it is ſomething of Grace, that many chuſe to worſhip the true God. But touching the former vexing miſchiefs, A Sachem, and no good friend to the work, could not but acknowledg the bleſſing of God among the Praying Indians; When I came over (ſaid he) at the further end of the Iſland, there was a ſtorm (mentioning the aforeſaid evils, with ſome more) but when I came to this end I found a calm, the Praying Indians were all well, they aroſe in the morning, Prayed to God, and went about their buſineſs, and they are not hurt nor troubled like the other Indians: And the Pawwaws themſelves, ſome of them do ſay, That they cannot make their Power ſeize on any of them: Queſtionleſs they have tried their Skill, and Satan hath not been wanting to aſſiſt them, who is ſo unwilling to fall down from his Rule, and to be driven from his old Poſſeſſions. A Pawwaw told me, who was of no ſmall note among the Heathen formerly, and alſo with the beſt, now he hath forſaken his Pawwawing, That after he had been brought by the Word of God to hate the Devil, and to renounce his Imps (which he did publickly) that yet his Imps remained ſtill in him for ſome months tormenting of his fleſh, and troubling of his mind, that he could never be at reſt, either ſleeping or waking: At length one time when I went down to keep the fartheſt Lecture about ſeven miles off, he asked me ſome Queſtions, whereof this was one, viz. That if a Pawwaw had his Imps gone from him, what he ſhould have inſtead of them to preſerve him? Whereunto it was Anſwered, That if he did beleeve in Chriſt Jeſus, he ſhould have the Spirit of Chriſt dwelling in him, which is a good and a ſtrong Spirit, and will keep him ſo ſafe, that all the Devils in Hell, and Pawwaws on Earth, ſhould not be able to do him any hurt; and that if he did ſet himſelf againſt his Imps, by the ſtrength of God they ſhould all flee away like Muskeetoes: He told me, That he did much deſire the Lord, it might be ſo with him. He further ſaid, That ever ſince that very time God hath in mercy delivered him from them, he is not troubled with any pain (as formerly) in his Bed, nor dreadful viſions of the night, but through the bleſſing of God, he doth lie down in eaſe, ſleeps quietly, wakes in Peace, and walks in ſafety, for which he is very glad, and praiſes God.
This laſt ſpring, the Indians of their own accord made a motion to me they might have ſome way ordered amongſt them, as a means whereby they might Walk in good Subjection to the Law of God, wherunto they deſired to enter into Covenant; they told me that they were very deſirous to have their ſins ſuppreſſed which God did forbid, and the duties performed, which he hath Commanded in his Word; and thereunto they deſired me to inform them, what puniſhment the Lord did appoint to be inflicted on thoſe which did break any part of His Law, for they were very willing to ſubmit themſelves to what the will of the Lord is in this kind. I was not willing on the ſudden to draw forth in writing an Anſwer to their deſire, but rather choſe to take a longer time of Conſideration in a Work of ſo great Concernment, and refer them to the Word of God, ſhewing them many places for their information, moſt whereof they had heard of formerly: They alſo further deſired, That they might have ſome men Choſen amongſt them with my father and my ſelf, to ſee that the Indians did walk orderly, and that ſuch might be incouraged, but that thoſe which did not, might be dealt with acording to the word of the Lord; I could not but approve and incourage the motion, ſeeing they ſpake not as thoſe in Pſal. 2. 3. Let us break their bands aſunder and caſt away their cords from us, but ſought totall ſubjection and ſtrict obedience to God: yet I told them that it was a matter of great weight, ſhewing them many things which I thought neceſſary for them to know, but needleſs now to relate. A day of faſting and prayer to repent of our ſins, and ſeek the gracious help of our God for Chriſt Jeſus ſake, we appointed; and another ſhortly after to finiſh the work in: Some of the Indians ſpake ſomthing for their benefit; and about ten, or twelve of them prayed, not with any ſet Form like Children, but like Men indued with a good meaſure of the knowledg of God, their own wants, and the wants of others, with much affection, and many Spiritual Petitions, ſavoring of a Heavenly mind; and ſo are they ſtreitned in reſpect of help from man, that it appears the more plainly to be the Dictates of Gods Spirit. A Platform of the Covenant in Anſwer to their deſires, I drew forth the ſame morning in the Indian Language, which I have here ſent in Engliſh.
Wee the diſtreſſed Indians of the Vineyard (or Nope, the Indian name of the Iſland) That beyond all memory have been without the True God, without a Teacher, and without a Law, the very Servants of Sin and Satan, and without Peace, for God did juſtly vex us for our ſins; having lately through his mercy heard of the Name of the True God, the Name of his Son Chriſt Jeſus, with the holy Ghoſt, the Comforter, three Perſons, but one moſt Glorious God, whoſe Name is JEHOVAH: We do praiſe His Glorious Greatneſs, and in the ſorrow of our hearts, and ſhame of our faces, we do acknowledg and renounce our great and many ſins, that we and our Fathers have lived in, do run unto him for mercy, and pardon for Chriſt Jeſus ſake; and we do this day through the bleſſing of God upon us, and truſting to his gracious help, give up our ſelves in this Covenant, Wee, our Wives, and Children, to ſerve JEHOVAH: And we do this day chuſe JEHOVAH to be our God in Chriſt Jeſus, our Teacher, our Law-giver in his Word, our King, our Judg, our Ruler by his Magiſtrates and Miniſters; to fear God Himſelf, and to truſt in Him alone for Salvation, both of Soul and Body, in this preſent Life, and the Everlaſting Life to come, through his mercy in Chriſt Jeſus our Savior, and Redeemer, and by the might of his Holy Spirit; to whom with the Father and Son, be all Glory everlaſting. Amen.
After I had often read this Covenant and expounded it unto them, they all with free Conſent willingly and thankfully joyned therein, and deſired Jehovah his bleſſing for Jeſus Chriſt his ſake, the Lord be gracious to our beginnings.
Within two or three weeks there came an Indian to me in buſineſs, and by the way he told me, that ſome Indians had lately kept a day of Repentance to humble themſelves before God in prayer, and that the word of God which one of them ſpake unto, for their Inſtruction, was Pſal. 66. 7. He ruleth by his Power for ever, his eyes behold the nations, let not the rebellious exalt themſelves. I aſked him what their end was in keeping ſuch a day? He told me thoſe ſix things: Firſt, they deſired, That God would ſlay the rebellion of their hearts. Secondly, That they might love God, and one another. Thirdly, That they might withſtand the evil words and temptations of wicked men, and not to be drawn back from God. Fourthly, That they might be obedient to the good Words and Commands of their Rulers. Fiftly, That they might have their ſins done away by the Redemption of Jeſus Chriſt. And Laſtly, That they might walk in Chriſts way.
Now for the ſtate of things with us, we are by the help of God about to begin a Town that they may Cohabit and carry on things in a Civil and Religious way the better; The praying Indians are conſtant attenders to the word of the Lord, and ſome of them (I hope) conſcionable ſeekers after the knowledg of God, and themſelves, and not without obtaining (by the grace of God) ſome ſaving benefit to their own Souls, which will by his own bleſſing, in the beſt time, more plainly appear. About 30. Indian Children are now at School, which began the Eleventh day of the Eleventh month. 1651. they are apt to learn, and more and more are now ſending in unto them. The Barbarous Indians, both men and women, do often come on the Lecture dayes, and complaining of their ignorance, diſliking their ſinful liberty, and refuſing the helps, and hopes of their own power, ſeek Subjection to Jehovah, to be taught, governed, and ſaved by him, for Jeſus Chriſts ſake. The Name of the Lord alone be praiſed for what is begun; What is further needfull, I earneſtly deſire may be fervently prayed for, and expected by faith, to be effected, and finiſhed by the gracious hand of God, who have laid the foundation, and will not leave his own works unperfect, which is the comfort of an unworthy Laborer in the Lords Vinyard, and an earneſt deſirer to be remembred at the Throne of Grace.
Having a little more liberty, I ſhall certifie you of ſomthing more, which I have taken notice of amongſt the poor Indians.
I obſerved that the Indians when they choſe their Rulers, made choyce of ſuch as were beſt approved for their godlineſs, and moſt likely to ſuppreſs ſin, and encourage holineſs, and ſince they have been forward upon all occaſions, to ſhew their earneſt deſire thereof. There was an Indian that was well approved for his Reformation, that was ſuſpected to have told a plain Lye for his Gain; the buſineſs was brought to the publick Meeting, and there it was notably ſifted with zeal and good affection; but at length the Indian defending himſelf with great diſdain, and hatred of ſuch an evil, proved himſelf clear, and praiſed God for it. The ſame Indian was a little before, very ſick, and he told me that when he thought he ſhould die, he did ſo love God, that he was not unwilling to die, and leave his wife, and children, or any thing elſe, but that he was only deſirous to live for this cauſe, That he might be more taught by the Word of God, and be helpful to teach the Indians the Way of God.
I have alſo obſerved how God is pleaſed to uphold ſome of theſe poor Indians againſt oppoſition. I was once down towards the further end of the Iſland, and lodged at an Indians houſe, who was accounted a great man among the Iſlanders, being the friend of a great Sachem on the Mayn; this Sachem is a great Enemy to our Reformation on the Iſland: At this mans houſe when I had ſate a while, his ſon being about thirty years old, earneſtly deſired me in his Language, to relate unto him ſome of the ancient Stories of God; I then ſpent a great part of the night (in ſuch diſcourſe as I thought fitteſt for them) as I uſually do when I lodg in their houſes, what he then heard (as he expreſſed) did much affect him: And ſhortly after he came and deſired to joyn with the praying Indians to ſerve Jehovah, but it was to the great diſcontentment of the Sachems on the Mayn, and thoſe Indians about him: News was often brought to him that his life was laid in wait for, by thoſe that would ſurely take it from him, they deſired him therfore with ſpeed to turn back again; The man came to me once or twice, and I perceived that he was troubled, he aſked my counſel about removing his Habitation, yet told me, That if they ſhould ſtand with a ſharp weapon againſt his breaſt, and tell him that they would kill him preſently, if he did not turn to them, but if he would, they would love him, yet he had rather loſe his life than keep it on ſuch terms; for (ſaid he) when I look back on my life as it was before I did pray to God, I ſee it to be wholly naught, and do wholly diſlike it, and hate thoſe naughty waies; but when I look on that way which God doth teach me in his Word, I ſee it to be wholly good; and do wholly love it. Bleſſed be God that he is not overcome by theſe temptations.
The next thing I judg alſo worthy to be obſerved, My Father and I were lately talking with an Indian, who had not long before almoſt loſt his life by a wound his Enemies gave him in a ſecret hidden way, the mark whereof, he had upon him, and will carry it to his grave: This man underſtanding of a ſecret Plot that was to take away his Enemies life, told my Father and I, That he did freely forgive him for the ſake of God, and did tell this Plot to us that the mans life might be preſerved: This is a ſingular thing, and who among the Heathen will do ſo?
I obſerve alſo that the Indians themſelves do indeavor to propagate the knowledg of God, to the glory of God and the good of others: I heard an Indian (after I had ſome diſcourſe with the Indians in the night) aſk the Sachem, and many others together, how they did like that counſel they heard from the word of God: They anſwered, very wel; then ſaid he, why do you not take it? why do you not do according to it? He further added, I can tell you why it is, Becauſe you do not ſee your ſins, and becauſe you do love your ſins; for as long as it was ſo with me, I did not care for the Way of God; but when God did ſhew me my ſins, and made me hate them, then I was glad to take Gods Counſel: this I remember he ſpake, with ſome other things, with ſuch Gravity and truth, that the Sachem and all the company was not able to gain-ſay.
Myoxeo alſo lately met with an Indian, which came from the Mayn who was of ſome note among them; I heard that he told them of the great things of God, and of Chriſt Jeſus, the ſinfulneſs and folly of the Indians, the Pardon of ſin by Chriſt, and of a good life; and ſo were they both affected, that they continued this diſcourſe two half nights, and a day, until their ſtrength was ſpent: He told him in particular, how a Beleever did live above the world, that he did keep worldly things alwaies at his feet (as he ſhewed him by a ſign) That when they were deminiſhed, or increaſed, it was neither the cauſe of his Sorrow, or joy, that he ſhould ſtoop to regard them, but he ſtood upright with his heart Heavenward, and his whol deſire was after God, and his joy in him. Now Much honored in the Lord, and all that love Chriſt Jeſus in truth, let me prevail with you that we may be preſented by you at the Throne of Grace in his worthineſs to obtain thoſe bleſſings, that concerns his Kingdom and Glory; our comfort and Salvation: And you are, and ſhall alſo be, ever humbly ſo prayed for, by him, who is
From the Vinyard the 22. of October, 1652. Yours obliged, and ever to be commanded in the Work of the Lord Jeſus Thomas Mayhew.