History of the War with Indian Savages, Article 22
ARTICLE. XXII. A Conference with an Indian-Sagamore.
BUt now Bommaſeen is fallen into our Hands, let us have a little Diſcourſe with him.
Behold, Reader, the Troubles, and the Troublers of New-England! That thou mayſt a little more Exactly Behold the Spirit of the matter, I'l Recite certain paſſages, occurring in a Diſcourſe that paſs'd between this Bommaſeen (who was one of the Indian Princes, or, Chieftanes,) and a Miniſter of the Goſpel, in the year. 1696.
Bommaſeen, was, with ſome other Indians, now a Priſoner, in Boſton. He deſired a Conference with a Miniſter, of Boſton, which was granted him. Bommaſeen, with the other Indians aſſenting and aſſerting to it, then told the Miniſter, That he pray'd his Inſtruction in the Chriſtian Religion; inaſmuch as he was afraid, that the French, in the Chriſtian Religion, which they taught the Indians, had Abuſed them. The Miniſter Enquired of him, What of the Things taught 'em by the French, appear'd moſt Suſpicious to 'em? He ſaid, The French taught 'em, That the Lord JESUS CHRIST, was of the French Nation; That His Mother, the Virgin Mary, was a French Lady; That they were the Engliſh who had Murdered him; and, That whereas He Roſe from the Dead, & went up to the Heavens, all that would Recommend themſelves unto His Favour, muſt Revenge His Quarrel upon the Engliſh, as far as they can. He ask'd the Miniſter, whether theſe Things were ſo; and pray'd the Miniſter to Inſtruct him in the True Christian Religion. The Miniſter conſidering, that the Humour and Manner of the Indians, was to have their Diſcourſes managed, with much of Similitude in them, Look'd about for ſome Agreeable object, from whence he might with apt Reſemblances Convey the Idae's of Truth unto the minds of Salvages: and he thought, none would be more Agreeable to them, than a Tankard of Drink, which happened then to be ſtanding on the Table. So he proceeded in this Method with 'em.
He told …hem, [ſtill with proper Actions painting, and pointing out the Signs unto them,] That our Lord JESUS CHRIST, had given us, a Good Religion, which might be Reſembled unto the Good Drink in the Cup, upon the Table.
That if we Take this Good Religion, (even that Good Drink,) into our Hearts, it will do us Good, and preſerve us from Death.
That Gods Book, the Bible, is the Cup, wherein that Good Drink, of Religion is offered unto us.
That the French, having the Cup of Good Drink, in their Hands, had put Poiſon into it; and then made the Indians to Drink that Poiſoned Liquor, whereupon, they Run mad, and fell to killing of the Engliſh, though they could not but know, it muſt unavoidably iſſue in their own Deſtruction at the Laſt.
That, it was plain, the Engliſh had put no Poiſon, into the Good Drink; for they ſet the Cup wide open, and invited all men, to Come & See before they Taſt; even, the very Indians themſelves; for we Tranſlated the Bible into Indian. That they might gather from hence, that the French had put Poiſon into the Good Drink; inaſmuch, as the French kept the Cup faſt Shut, (the Bible in an Unknown Tongue,) and kept their Hands upon the Eyes of the Indians, when they put it unto their mouths.
The Indians Expreſſing themſelves to be well-Satisfied, with what the Miniſter had hitherto ſaid, pray'd him, to go on, with ſhowing 'em, what was the Good Drink, and what was the Poiſon, which the French had put into it.
He then ſet before them diſtinctly the chief Articles of the Chriſtian Religion, with all the Simplicity and Sincerity of a Protestant: Adding upon each, This is the Good Drink, in the Lords Cup of Life: And they ſtill profeſſed, That they liked it all.
Whereupon, he demonſtrated unto them, how the Papists had in their Idolatrous Popery, ſome way or other Depraved, and Altered, every one of theſe Articles; with Scandalous Ingredients of their own Invention; Adding upon each, This is the Poiſon which the French have put into the Cup.
At laſt, he mentioned this Article.
To obtain the Pardon of your Sins, you must confeſs your Sins to God; & pray to God, That He would Pardon your Sins, for the ſake of Jeſus Chriſt, who dyed for the Sins of His People: God Loves Jeſus Chriſt infinitely, and if you place your Eye on Jeſus Christ only, when you beg the Pardon of your Sins, God will Pardon them. You need confeſs your Sins to none but God, Except in caſes, where men have known your Sins, or have been Hurt by your Sins; & then thoſe men ſhould know that you confeſs your Sins; but after all, none but God can Pardon them.
He then added; The French have put Poiſon into this Good Drink; They tell you, that you muſt confeſs your Sins to a Prieſt, and carry skins to a Prieſt, and Submit unto a Penance enjoyned by a Prieſt; and this Prieſt is to give you a Pardon. There is no need of all This: 'Tis nothing but French Poiſon, all of it.
The Wretches appearing aſtoniſh'd, to meet with one who would ſo fairly put them into a glorious way to obtain the Pardon of their Sins, and yet take no Bever Skins for it: in a Rapture of Aſtoniſhment, they fell down on their knees, and got his Hand into theirs, and fell to kiſſing of it with an Extream ſhow of Affection.
He ſhaking them off, with diſlike of their poſture, Bommaſeen with the reſt of them ſtood up; and firſt lifting up his Eyes, and Hands, to Heaven; declaring, That God ſhould be Judge of his Heart in what he ſaid; he then ſaid, Sir, I thank you for theſe Things; I Reſolve to Spit up all the French Poiſon; You ſhall be my Father; I will be your Son; I beſeech you, to continue, to Inſtruct me, in that Religion, which may bring me to the Salvation of my Soul! — Now, God knows, what Heart this Indian had, when he ſo Expreſſed himſelf: To Him let us leave it.
But ſo much for this Digreſſion.