Jews in America, Part 3 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. The ſucceſſe of the Novangles in Goſpellizing the Indians.
THE Reader here ſhall have a Breviate inviting him to peruſe thoſe larger diſcourſes, printed Day breaking if not the Sunriſing of the Goſpel with the Indians in New-England. Printed for Fulk Clifton, on New Piſh. ſtreet hill. 1647.on purpoſe to raiſe our hearts in lifting up the high praiſes of God, that hath given this grace unto men.
Firſt Treatiſe.
FOure of the Engliſh, having ſought God, went among the Indians, Octo. 28. 1646. to make knowne the things of their peace, they were conducted into the principall Wigwam of Waaubon, their chiefe miniſter of juſtice, who like another Cornelius, Act. 10. 24. had called together many men, women, and children to hear and learne, they began with prayer in Engliſh, not for want of language, but to ſhew them the duty was ſacred, and that wee might agree together in the ſame page. 1. & 2:heart-ſorrowes for them, even in that place where God was never wont to be called upon: It was an affecting ſpectacle, after prayer, to ſee a company of forlorne outcaſts diligently attending upon the word of ſalvation, which in the ſpace of an houre and a quarter diſcovered to them the grounds of Religion, repeating, expounding, and applying the ten Commandements, then preaching Jeſus Chriſt the onelyonly meanes of recovery from ſinne and wrath, perſwading them to repentance for ſeverall ſinnes which they live in. Wee next p. 3.asked them if they underſtood what was ſpoken, which they affirmed with many voices, and then wee deſired to know if they would propound any queſtions to us, for their further ſatisfaction, and this they did, but not ſuch curioſities as ſome others of them had done before, as, what was the cauſe of thunder, of the ebbing and flowing of the ſea, of the wind: no, the wiſdome of God directed Queſtions of the Indians.them to aske, How wee may come to know Ieſus Chriſt? one of them after wee had anſwered, ſaid, hee was praying in his Wigwam to Chriſt that hee would give him a new heart, but another Indian interrupted him, ſaying, p. 4.hee prayed in vaine, becauſe Chriſt underſtood not what Indians ſpeake in prayer, as not being acquainted with their language, his queſtion therefore was, Whether Ieſus Christ did underſtand the prayers of Indians? another demanded, if Engliſh men were once ſo ignorant of p. 5.Chriſt as themſelves? and how can there be an image of God, ſeeing it is forbiden in the ſecond Commandement? If the father be bad, and the child good, will God be offended with that child? for tis ſaid in the ſecond commandement, hee will viſit the ſinnes of the fathers upon the children? How is all the world become ſo full of people, being all p. 6.were once drowned in the floud?
Wee then asked them three queſtions. 1. If they Queſtions to them.did not deſire to ſee God, and if they were not tempted to thinke there was no God, becauſe they could not ſee him? ſome of them replyed they did indeed deſire to ſee him, but we had taught them that could not be, yet they believed, though their eyes could not ſee him, hee was to be ſeen with their ſoules within. 2. Wee asked if it were not ſtrange to them there ſhould be but one God, yet this God ſhould be in Maſſachuſets, Conectacut, Quimipenik, in old England, in this Wigwam, in the next, every where? It is ſtrange one of them ſaid, as all elſe is we hear preached; yet they thought it might p. 7.be true that God was ſo big every where. 3. Whether they did not finde ſomething troubling them within after the commiſſion of ſinne, as murther, adultery, theft, lying, &c. they confeſt the trouble, but could not tell what to ſay to it, he therefore that firſt ſpake to them concluded with a dolefull deſcription (as far as his language permitted) of the trembling condition of every ſoule that dies in ſinne, and ſhall be caſt out of favour from God. Having thus ſpent three houres, wee asked them if they were not weary, they ſaid no, wee reſolved to leave them with an appetite; the chiefe of them ſeeing us conclude with prayer, deſired to know when wee wou'd come againe, wee appointed the time, gave the children ſome Apples, and the men what was at hand, they asked more ground to build a Towne together, which wee liked well, and promiſing our furtherance for them at the Generall Court, wee departed with many welcomes from them.
November 11. 1646, Wee came againe to the ſame Second comming.Wigwam, there was a greater concourſe, and ſeats provided for us, wee began againe with prayer in Engliſh, and then catechized the younger ſort, wee asked them p. 8.onelyonly three queſtions in their own language. 1. Who made you and all the world? 2. Who ſhall ſave you from ſinne and hell? 3. How many commandements hath God given you to keepe? The Preacher then proceeded, Wee are come to bring you good newes from the great God, and to ſhew how evill men may come to be good, and be happy while they live, and goe to God when they die; then in familiar deſcriptions hee ſet forth God to them in his glorious power, goodneſſe and greatneſſe, ſhewing what his will was, and what he required, even of the Indians, in the ten Commandements, and how angry God was for any ſinne, yet that hee ſent Chriſt to die for their tranſgreſſions, and to pacifie God by ſuffering in their roome, if they did repent and believe the Goſpell, and that hee would love the poore Indians if now they ſought God, threatning wrath againſt all ſuch as ſtood out and neglected ſo great ſalvation, &c. In hearing theſe things about ſinne, and hell, and Chriſt, one of them ſhewed much affliction, p. 9.deſiring to conceale his griefe; about an houre thus ſpent, wee deſired them to propound ſome queſtions, and the firſt was by an old man, If it were not to late for Queſtions.ſuch an old man as hee to repent and ſeeke after God? which cleared, 2. They demanded, How the Engliſh came to differ ſo much from the Indians in knowledge, ſeeing at p. 10.firſt they had all one father? 3. Being ſatisfied in this alſo, they ſaid, How may wee come to ſerve God? which being anſwered, their fourth queſtion was, Why the ſea water was ſalt, and the land water freſh? and their fifth, If the p. 11.water be higher then the earth, why did it not overflow it? a Philoſophicall anſwer was given to this, and they conferred much among themſelves about theſe queſtions, but night haſting wee deſired them to proceed, thereupon one of them ſaid, If a man hath committed adultery, p. 12.or ſtollen goods, and the Sachim doth not puniſh him, and hee reſtore the goods, is not all well, will no puniſhment come from God, as if restitution made God amends? this anſwered, wee asked two things. 1. What doe you remember of that ſpoken to you the laſt time wee p. 13.were here? after ſome ſpeech among themſelves, one of them ſaid, They did much thank God for our comming, and the things they heard were wonderfull to them; then Secondly wee ſaid, Do you believe the things we tell you, and that God is Muſquantum, i. e. very angry for the leaſt ſinne in your thoughts, or words, or works? they ſaid yes, and we ſpake further of the terrors of God againſt ſinners, and his mercy to the penitent, ſeeking after Chriſt; night being almoſt come, conſidering the Indians deſired to know how to pray, and thought that Chriſt did not underſtand their language, one of us therfore prayed in their tongue above a quarter of an houre, divers of them holding up eyes and hands, and one of them hung downe his head, with his rag before his eyes, A weeping Indian.which when hee had wiped, hee held up his head againe, yet ſuch was the power of God upon his heart, that hee hung downe his head againe, covered his eyes, wiping them and weeping abundantly, till prayer was ended, p. 14.then hee turned to a corner of the Wigwam, and wept more by himſelfe, which one of us perceiving, ſpake encouraging words, hee then wept more and more; when he came out of the Wigwan, wee ſpake to him againe, hee then fell into more abundant weeping, like one deepely affected, ſo as wee could not forbeare weeping over him alſo; wee departed greatly rejoycing for ſuch ſorrowing. And while I am tranſcribing this, I know not whether firſt, to pitty the poore Natives in their ſpirituall diſtres, or ſympathize with the Engliſh in their holy compaſſion, or praiſe God more for diſcovering to the Indians their loſt condition by n…ture, or that hee hath made our Countreymen ſo induſtrious in recovering them out of it; however I cannot but remind my Reader of the relators obſervations hereupon, at leaſt ſome of them.Obſervations.
1. That none of them ſlept ſermon, nor derided Gods Meſſengers; Woe to thoſe Engliſh that are growne p. 17.bold to doe that which Indians will not, heathen dare not.
2. There is need of learning in Miniſters, who preach to Indians, much more preaching to gracious Chriſtians, theſe had ſundry Philoſophicall queſtions which could not have bin anſwered without ſome knowledge of the Arts; worſe than Indian ignorance hath blinded their eyes, that renounce learning as an enemy to Goſpel miniſteries.
At a third meeting it did appeare that the Indians notwithſtanding diſcouragements from other Indians, Third meeting Novemb. 26. …did encreaſe in their deſires after the word, and propounded more queſtions.
What is the meaning of the word Humiliation, ſo often Queſtions.heard of by them in our Churches?
2. What a ſpirit is?
3. Whether they ſhould believe dreames?
4. How the Engliſh know God ſo much, and they ſo little?
Being ſatisfied in this, they deſire a place for a Town. A day or two after Wampas a wiſe Indian offered his own ſonne, and three more Indian children, to be trained up p. 19.by us, ſaying they would grow wicked at home, and never know God, hee with two other young luſty Indians tendred their ſervice to dwell in ſome of our families, they are two of thoſe weeping Indians, and they are received into two of the Elders houſes, where one of them confeſſed his former adulterous life, and feared that God would never looke upon him in love; upon p. 20.our declaring the greatneſſe of that ſinne, yet hope of pardon through repentance and faith in Chriſt, hee wept bitterly; the other then preſent alſo confeſſed his like guiltines, & brak out into great mourning, wherein they both continued above halfe an houre. An Engliſh youth occaſionally lodging in Waaubons Wigwam the third night of their hearing, aſſured us he inſtructed his company in the things he heard, and prayed among them.
While the generall Court was conſidering where to lay out a towne for the Indians, they conſulted about p. 22.lawes for themſelves.
1. If a man be idle a week, at moſt a fortnight, hee muſt Indian Lawes.pay five ſhillings.
2. If a man unmarried lie with a woman unmarried hee ſhall pay twenty ſhillings.
3. If a man beat his wife his hands ſhall be tied behind him, and he ſeverely puniſh'd.
4. If a womans haire hang looſe, or cut as a mans, ſhe ſhall pay five ſhillings.
5. If a woman goes with naked breaſts ſhe ſhall pay two ſhillings ſix pence.
6. All men that weare long locks ſhall pay five ſhillings, &c.
They were deſirous to know the name of their Town, it was ſaid Noonanetum, i. e. rejoycing, becauſe the Engliſh rejoyced at their deſires to know God, and God did rejoyce at it; this pleaſed them much. The two honeſt Indians told us that Waaubon and the reſt uſed p. 23.theſe expreſſions in prayer, Take away Lord my ſtony heart, Indian prayersanother, O Lord waſh my ſoule, another, Lord lead me when I die to heaven.
December 9. The children being catechized, and that of Ezechiel touching the dry bones opened, they offered Fourth meeting.their children to be inſtructed by us, complaining they had nothing to give us. We propounded ſundry p. 24.queſtions to them, and one of them being asked what was ſinne, ſaid, a naughty heart, another old man complained of his feares, he purpoſed to keepe the Sabbath, yet he was afraid whether he ſhould goe to hell or heaven, another p. 25.complained of other Indians reviling and calling them rogues for cutting off their lockes, for ſince the word hath wrought upon them, they diſcerne the vanity of their pride in their hair, of their owne accord therefore they cut it modeſtly.
Second Treatiſe.
THE awakening of theſe Indians raiſed up a noiſe The clear ſunſhine of the Goſpel upon the Indians, &c. by Mr. Shepheard. 1648.round about, a Sachim from Concord ſide came to Noonanetum to an Indian lecture, where the Lord ſpake ſo to his heart, that hee deſired to caſt off his ſinnefull courſes, &c. ſome of his men oppoſed him therein, he called the chiefe of them about him, and ſpake to this effect, That they had no reaſon at all to oppoſe the way of the Engliſh for their good; while you lived after the Indian faſhion, what did the Sachims for you? onelyonly ſought their owne ends out of you, taking away your skinnes, kettles, and Wampam at their pleaſure, but the Engliſh care not for your goods, onelyonly ſeeke your good, &c. Upon this they deſired Mr Elliot ſhould come among them and preach, and they framed to p. 3.themſelves certaine lawes for their more religious and civill government.
1. Abuſers of themſelves by wines or ſtrong liquors ſhall pay Orders made by divers Sachims, at Concord, 1646.for every time 20 s.
2. There ſhall be no more Powawing, the penalty 20 s.
3. They deſire to be ſtirred up to ſeeke God.
4. And underſtand the wiles of Sathan.
5. And deteſt them.
6. That they may improve their time better.p. 5.
7. A lyar ſhall pay for the firſt fault 5 s. for the ſecond 10 s. for the third 20 s.
8. Againſt ſtealing.
9. Having more wives than one.
10. Againſt pride.
11. For paying their debts to the Engliſh.
12. Obſerving the Lords day, prophaners of it pay 20 s.
13. VVeare their haire comely as the Engliſh, offenders pay 58.
14. None greaſe themſelves as formerly, penalty 5 s.
15. Set up prayer in their VVigwams, before alſo, and after meate.
16. Adultery puniſh'd with death.
17. So wilfull murther.
18. Not come to an Engliſh mans houſe without knocking.
19. VVhoſoever beates his wife ſhall pay 20 s. &c.
Moſt of theſe Indians ſet up prayer morning and evening in their families, before and after meate, keep the Lords day, cut their haire, miniſter what edification p. 6.they can one to another, manifeſting great willingneſſe to conforme unto the Engliſh faſhions.
March, 3. 1647. At the Lecture in Noonanetum, wee ſaw ſome Indian women well affected, and conſidering how unmeet it is for women to aske queſtions publikely, p. 7.they were deſired to acquaint their husbands privatly therewith, or the Interpretor, the firſt was propounded by the wife of one VVampooas, VVhether ſaid Indian womens Queſtions.ſhe doe I pray when my husband prayeth, if I ſpeake nothing as he doth, but I like what he ſaith, and my heart goes with it? The wife of one Totherſwampe propoſed this, VVhether an husband ſhould doe well to pray with his wife, and yet continue in his paſsions and be angry with her, &c.
An aged Indian complained of an unruly ſonne, asking p. 8.what ſhould be done with him, when hee will not heare Gods word, though his father command him, nor forſake his drunkenneſſe. An aged Indian told us openly, p. 9.that the very things which Mr Elliot taught them of God and his Commandements they have heard ſome old men ſpeake, &c. and many of them have now this apprehenſion among them, that their forefathers did know God, but after this they fell into a great ſleepe, and when they did awaken they quite forgate him. Another p. 10. An Indians dreame.Indian told his dreame, that about two yeeres before the comming over of the Engliſh, one night hee could not ſleepe a good while, then he fell into a dream, thinking he ſaw a great many men come into thoſe parts cloathed as the Engliſh now are, a man roſe up among them all in blacke, with a thing in his hand, which hee now ſees was all one Engliſhmans booke, hee ſtood upon a higher place than the reſt, on one ſide the Engliſh, and a great many Indians on the other, he told all the Indians that God was Mooſquantum or angry with them, and would kill them for their ſinnes, whereupon himſelfe hee ſaid ſtood up, and deſired to know of the blacke man what God would doe with him, and his Squaw, and Papooſes, but hee would not anſwer him a firſt time, nor a ſecond, till hee deſired the third time, and then hee ſmiled on him, and ſaid, Hee and his Papooſes ſhould be ſafe, God would give unto them Mitchen, i. e. victualls, and other good things, and ſo he awakened.
At Noonanctum the Indian men women and children, eſpecially upon the Lecture daies, are clad partly by the p. 11.gift of the Engliſh, and partly by their owne labour. Iune, 9. the firſt day of the Synods meeting at Cambridge, the morning ſpent in a preparative Sermon to that worke, in the afternoone there was a great confluence of Indians from all parts, to heare, Mr Elliot out of Ephe. 2. 1. ſhewed them their miſerable condition out of Chriſt, dead in treſpaſſes and ſinnes, pointing unto them the Lord Jeſus who onelyonly could quicken them. They then propounded queſtions.
What Countreyman Chriſt was?
How far that place from them?Indian Queſtions.
Where Chriſt was now?
How they might lay hold on him?
And where being now abſent from them?
The Engliſh Magiſtrares, Miniſters, and people, were much affected at what they ſaw and heard. An Indian brake out into admiration, that God ſhould looke upon p. 13.them that had bin ſo long in darkneſſe; Me wonder ſaith he at God, that hee ſhould thus deale with us.
That winter many queſtions were propounded.
Why ſome ſo bad that they hate thoſe that would teach them?
A Squaw ſaid, might ſhe not goe and pray in the wood alone, when her husband was not at home, becauſe ſhe was aſhamed to pray in the Wigwam before company?
To what Nation Ieſus Chriſt came firſt, and when?
If a man ſhould be incloſed in iron a foot thicke and thrown into the fire, what would become of his ſoul, would it come forth thence?
Why did not God give all men good hearts?
How long is it before men believe that have the word of God made knowne unto them?
How they ſhould know when their faith and prayers bee good?
Why did not God having all power, kill the devill, that made all men ſo bad?
If we be made ſo weake by ſinne in our hearts, how can wee p. 19. p. 20.come before God and ſanctifie a ſabbath?
They propounded three caſes about the Sabbath.
In the exerciſes, beſides prayer for a bleſſing, Mr. Elliot doth four things.
1. He catechizeth the children and youth, by which the aged learne.
2. He preacheth out of ſome Scripture plainely and briefely.
3. If there be cauſe, admonition follows.
4. They aske us queſtions and we anſwer them.
Some caſes and admonitions are there mentioned. Indian caſes and admonitions, of one beating his wife.1. Wampoonas upon a light occaſion beat his wife, for this hee was brought before the Aſſembly, where the quality of the ſinne was opened, as againſt Gods command, cruelty to his owne body, &c. hee turned his face to the wall and wept, hee was ſo penitent and melting, that all forgave him, but the Indians would have his fine notwithſtanding his repentance, which he paid alſo willingly. Another caſe of was of Cutſhamaquin a p. 21. Or an unruly ſon recovered.Sachim, who had a ſon fourteen or fifteen yeeres old, hee was drunk, and behaved himſelfe diſobediently againſt his father and mother, they rebuked him, but he deſpiſed their admonition, hee was brought before the Aſſembly, ſtood out a long time, though his father for his example confeſſed his owne faults, the young man ſtill perſiſted, divers of us called upon him to acknowledge his offence againſt his parents, and entreat their forgiveneſſe, yet he refuſed; the Indians alſo affectionately put him on, divers ſpake one after another, and p. 22.ſome ſeverall times, at laſt hee humbled himſelfe, confeſſed his ſinne, and asked forgiveneſſe of his father, taking him by the hand, at which his father burſt into p. 23.teares, he did the ſame to his mother, who wept alſo, as did divers others, and many Engliſh wept alſo, the houſe was filled with weeping, wee went to prayer, all the time thereof the Sachim wept ſo abundantly, that Prayer.the boord hee ſtood upon was all dropt with his teares. Some queſtions were after this propounded.
An old Powoow asked, Why we had not taught them to p 24. Queſtions.know God ſooner?
Another ſaid, Before he knew God he was well, but ſince I have knowne God and ſin, I finde my heart full of ſin.
Whether their children goe when they die, becauſe they have not ſinned?
If any of them ſhall goe to heaven, ſeeing their hearts are ſo full of ſin, eſpecially Nanwunwudſquas, mad after women?
If they leave Powawing and pray to God, what ſhall they doe when they are ſicke, having no skill in Phyſick?
What ſhall we ſay to ſuch Indians as oppoſe our praying unto God, and believing in Chriſt, what get you ſay they by this, p. 25.you goe naked ſtill and are as poore as we, our corne is as good as yours, and we take more pleaſure then you, &c.
They bring their caſes to Mr. Elliot. A Law is now among them againſt gaming, other Indians demand Indian caſes.their old debts, which they refuſe to pay becauſe it was a ſinne to play, and they muſt not pay ſuch ſinnefull p. 27.debts. They tooke it to heart when Mr. Elliot told them he was afraid they were weary and cooled in their love to religion, and enquired when they did heare and pray aright, how they might know when they were weary of them, what time it might be before the Lord might come and make them know him, &c. ſome other caſes were moved by them. A man before hee knew God had two wives, the firſt is barren, the ſecond p. 33.brought forth ſweet children, which of theſe muſt hee put away? if the former, they offended God, if the latter, they illegitimate their owne deare children? And, a Squaw leaves her husband, commits adultery with remote Indians, heares the word, repents, and returnes to her husband ſtill unmarried, is not he bound to receive her? An old widdow Squaw ſaid, if when men know God, p. 34.God loves them, why then are any afflicted after they know him?
Mr. Elliot preaching upon Epheſ. 5. 11. Have no fellowſhip, &c. They asked what Engliſhmen thought of him; p. 35.becauſe he came among the wicked Indians and taught them?
Another ſaid, Suppoſe two men ſin, one knowes it, the other doth not, will God puniſh both alike?
Againe, If a wiſe Indian teach good things to other Indians, ſhould not he be as a father or brother to ſuch?
One Tutaſwampe prayed at the buriall of an Indian child, with ſuch zeale, variety of gracious expreſſions, p. 37.and abundance of tears, that the woods rang with their ſighs and prayers, the Engliſhman that heard him, ſaid, hee was aſhamed of himſelfe and ſome others, that have had ſo great light, but want ſuch good affections.
Third Treatiſe.
THat woman that propounded the firſt queſtion according The glorious progreſſe of the Goſpel among the Indians, &c. publiſhed by Mr Winſlow, 1649. An Indian woman living and dying Chriſtianly. p. 6.to appointment by another man (2. Treatiſe, p. 6. hujus p. 4.) moved this alſo.
When my heart prayeth with my husband praying, is this praying to God aright?
This woman kept at home, learned quickly to ſpinne well, held her children to labour, after ſhe ſubmitted to the Goſpel her life was exemplary, ſhe died of a ſickneſſe taken in childbed; Mr. Elliot viſited her ſeverall times, prayed with her, asked her about her ſpirituall eſtate, ſhe ſaid ſhe ſtill loved God though he made her ſicke, and was reſolved to pray unto him as long as ſhe lived, and to refuſe Powawing, ſhee believed God p. 7.would pardon all her ſinnes, becauſe Jeſus Chriſt dyed for her, that God was well pleaſed in him, that ſhe was willing to die, believed ſhee ſhould goe to heaven, and live happy with God and Chriſt; of her owne accord ſhe called her children, and ſaid to them, I ſhall now die, and when I am dead, your grandfather, grandmother, and Unkles, &c. will ſend for you to live among them, and promiſe you great matters, but I charge you doe not believe them, live not among them, for they pray not to God, keepe not the Sabbath, commit all manner of ſinnes, and are not puniſht; but I charge you live here, for they pray to God, his word is taught, ſins are ſuppreſt, and puniſh'd by lawes, therefore I charge you live here all your daies, ſhe died, and it fell out as ſhe ſaid. Tis obſerved many other Indians would come in, but they have neither tooles nor skill to ſence p. 8.in their grounds, if the word were conſtantly taught, government exerciſed, encouragements for the induſtrious, with meanes to inſtruct them in letters, trade and labour, as building, fiſhing, flax, hemp, &c. many wellminded Indians would thus be drawne together. Mr. Elliot ſtirres up the Miniſters to learne the language, and aſſiſt in the worke, there is nothing elſe to invite but the good of ſoules, not ſo much as meate, drinke, and lodging to be had among the Indians, but ſuch as wee muſt carry with us, beſide what wee give away to them, &c.
Severall queſtions they then propounded.p. 10. Indian Queſtions.
Doth the Devill dwell in us, as we dwell in an houſe?
When God ſaith honour thy Father and thy Mother, doth he meane three Fathers, our Father, our Sachim, and God?
When a ſoule goes to heaven what doth it ſay? And what ſaith a wicked ſoule when it comes to hell?
Why did Chriſt die in our ſteads?
Why muſt we love our enemies, and how ſhall we do it?
How doth Chriſt redeeme and deliver us from ſin, when every day my heart thinkes I must die, and goe to Hell for my ſins, what ſhall I doe in this caſe?
How long was Adam good before he ſinned?
If two families dwell in one houſe, one prayeth, the other doth not, what ſhall they that pray do to them that pray not?
Now the Indians deſire to go to heaven, what ſhall we doe that we may goe thither when we die?
How ſhall I bring my heart to love prayer?
Doe not Engliſhmen ſpoile their ſoules to ſay a thing cost them more than it did, and is it not all one as to ſteale?
I ſee why I muſt feare hell, and do ſo every day, but why muſt I fear God?
If I reprove a man for ſin, and he anſwer why do you ſpeak thus angerly, Mr. Elliot teacheth us to love one another, is this well?
If a wife put away her husband becauſe he will pray to God and ſhe will not, what muſt be done in this caſe? May ſuch women as pray to God, marry thoſe that do not pray to God?
If my wife doth ſome worke on the night before the Sabbath, and on the Sabbath night alſo, is it a ſin?
If I do that which is a ſin, and know it not to be a ſin, what will God ſay to that?
Whether is faith ſet in my heart or in my minde?
Why have not beaſts a ſoule as well as man, ſeeing they have p. 20.love, anger, &c. as man hath?
Why doth God puniſh in hell for ever, man doth not ſo, but after a time lets out of priſon againe?
What is faith?
How ſhall I know when God accepts my prayers?
How doth Chriſt make peace betwixt God and man, what is the meaning of that point?
In wicked dreames doth the ſoule ſin?
Doth the ſoule in heaven know things done here on earth?
If my heart be full of evill thoughts, and I repent and pray, and a few houres after it be full againe, and I repent and pray againe, and after this it be full of evill thoughts again, what will God ſay?
What force of wicked men is lawfull, and what not?
What if a Miniſter weare long haire, as ſome other men do, what will God ſay?
Why doth God ſo hate them that teach others to commit ſinne?
If a man will make his daughter marry one ſhe doth not love, what will God ſay? &c.
There be ſundry of them begin to enquire after Baptiſme and Church Ordinances, and Mr. Elliot with conſideration ſpeakes ſolemnly not ſuddenly, nor lightly, but before the Lord, As I apprehend, ſaith he, in my conſcience, were they but in a ſetled way of civility and government, cohabiting together, and I called, according to God, to live among them, I durſt freely joyne into Church fellowſhip with them, and could find out at leaſt twenty men and women in ſome meaſure fitted of the Lord for it. That Indian that was Mr Elliots Interpreter, and firſt taught him words, was joyning himſelfe to the Church of Dorcheſter, and the very day of this writing was the day for the triall of that Indian in order to his admiſſion, and this was 2. of the 12. 1648. Since which time theſe labourers with the Lord have not been idle in this Vineyard, they are digging, and fencing, and gathering out the ſtones thereof, and planting it with the choiſeſt vine, &c. Eſa. 5. 2. and though ſome informations of their happy endeavours have unhappily miſcarried, there be other paſſages that have arrived hither, to give us aſſurance that they wax not faint in that Goſpel worke, they are not indeed yet printed, but I have obtained leave to give the Reader a little taſte thereof, for as we here long to underſtand what further foot ſteps be made, ſo the diſcoveries thereof will in due time and better manner be recommended.
Mr Elliot in the beginning of the laſt ſpring prepared for his journey among the Indians, to a great fiſhing Letter to Mr Winſlow. 18. of the 8. 1649.place upon Merimak, and hired an Indian to mark trees, and pilot him thither, which he did, with the helpe of ſome Indians, they paſſed by other of the Natives, who had heard of his preaching, and were very glad of his comming that way, but ſickneſſe prevented him at that time; howbeit upon his recovery, he went to another place call'd Pantuket, where from all parts they meet, there he asked them if thoſe Indians were deſirous to pray to God, and when they ſaid yea, he demanded how many deſired it, they anſwered Wamee, i. e. all. The chiefe Sachim of this place had heard him before, and now ſhewed great affection to him, and the word of God, uſing many arguments to perſwade him to tarry among them, ſaying, his comming but once a yeere did them little good, it was as if one ſhould come and throw a fine thing among them, and they like it well, but cannot tell what is within, whether ſomething, or nothing, but if it be opened and they ſee it precious, they ſhould believe it, &c.
Another Indian learning from Mr. Elliot that hee had five ſonnes, asked him if they ſhould all teach the Indians to know God, as he did, which when hee affirmed, the other was well pleaſed, and Mr. Elliot himſelfe much encouraged, for hee had often dedicated them in his prayers to that ſervice of the Lord, deſiring no better preferment for them, than to be fitted for that worke, hee endeavours therefore with that ſmal meanes he hath to traine them up in learning, and God will I doubt not raiſe up ſome liberall hearts and hands to aſſiſt him therein.
This ſummer hee was making another journey, but in regard of ſome quarrells among the Indians, the Church was doubtfull at firſt of his going, which when the Nashaway Sachim heard, he took twenty men armed after their manner, and was his guard, with many other neerer Indians, ſo much do they hunger after inſtruction; this was a long journey into the wilderneſſe of ſixty miles, it proved very wet and tedious, ſo that hee was not dry three or foure daies together night nor day, but the Lord upheld him and his company in ſtrength and health. One of the Indians would needs know of Mr Elliot the reaſon why they that pray to God, love the Indians ſo doing, more than their owne Brethren, and when the reſt of them ſaid they all found it ſo in their hearts, this gave him occaſion to diſcourſe to them of the unity of the ſpirit. They propounded queſtions.
If a man know Gods word, but believe it not, and yet teach others, is that good teaching, and if others believe that teaching, is that good believing?
And when Mr. Elliot asked them How they could tell, when a man knoweth Gods word, and doth not believe it, they anſwered, When he doth not in his practiſe anſwerable to that he knoweth.
If I teach on the Sabbath that which you taught us, and forget ſomething, is that a ſin?
What ſhould I pray for at night, what at morning, and what on the Sabbath day?
What is true repentance, and how ſhall I know when it is true?
How muſt I waite on God?
When I pray for a ſoft heart, why is it ſtill hard?
Can one be ſaved by reading the booke of the creature?
When ſuch die as never heard of Chriſt, whither do they go?
VVhat is the meaning of the name Hebrews, why doth God ſay he is the God of the Hebrews?
If one purpeſe to pray, and die before that time, wither goeth his ſoule?
Doth God know who ſhall repent and believe, and who not? why then did God uſe ſo much meanes with Pharaoh?
VVhat meanes that, Bleſſed are they that mourne?
VVhat meaneth lifting up hands to God?
VVhat anger is good, and what is bad?
If a child die before he ſin, whither goeth his ſoule?
If one that prayes to God ſin, like him that prayes not, is not he worſe?
And while they diſcourſed of this, and about hating of wicked perſons, one of them ſaid, they must love the man and doe him good, but hate his ſin, &c. For I will not foreſtall but prepare the publication of thoſe other remarkeable occurrences; and now ex pede Herculem, when this little of thoſe many matters worthy of obſervation, is ſeen together, none will call it a day of ſmall things, Zach. 4. 10. Shall we call this a day of ſmall things? Shall not thoſe poore Natives in New England riſe up in judgement againſt Old England and condemne it? they at once or twice preaching of the Law and Goſpel, repent, and weepe, and pray, and heare, and moſt earneſtly enquire after God; but wee, when the Sunſhine of truth hath been ſo long cleare among us, degenerate into thoſe very ſinnes which they abandon and deteſt, and with indignation ſay, get ye hence, Eſ. 30. 22.
They willingly forſake their Powawing, and inchantments; but the devill is broke looſe among us, and many deſire commerce with thoſe that have familiarity with him.
The Indians ſet a mulct upon thoſe women that tie Day break. p. 22.not up their haire, that goe with naked breaſts, what would they ſay, what would they doe, if that ſex were as immodeſt as ſome in this Nation, bepainted, bedaubed, debauched, not more with ſpots in their faces, then ſtains in their glory, if Chriſtianity be to them any honour?
The Indians weare their haire comely as the Engliſh, Cleare Sunſhine. p. 5.and puniſh thoſe that doe otherwiſe; there be among us that would account it piacular it ſhould be ſaid of them that in the leaſt they looke Rome-wards, yet like thoſe locuſts having the faces of men, they have haire as the hair of women, Rev. 9. 8. grace is pleaſed to borrow that from nature, if a man have long haire, it is a ſhame to him, 1 Cor. 11. 14.
Thoſe Natives ſurely will riſe up in judgement with the men of this generation and condemne them; they pray in their families morning and evening, and upon other occaſions, they ſanctifie the ſabbath; wee have thoſe among us, that ſcoffe and ſcorne theſe practiſes of piety, and call the practiſers thereof Duty-mongers.
The Indians deſire publique meetings, and delight in the places where God is worſhip'd and his word is taught; but there be thoſe in this England that make it a great piece of religion to divide and ſeparate, though God himſelfe would not have us forſake the aſſembling of our ſelves together, as the manner of ſome is, Hebr. 10. 25.
The Indians asked Mr. Elliot, if any teach us good things ſhould wee not love him as a father, or a brother? 2 Treatiſ. p. 35▪but tis now among ſome eſteemed a ſigne of grace, and a badge of holineſſe, to deſpiſe their teachers, as if that Scripture of truth were never againe to be fulfilled. They mocked the Meſſengers of God, and deſpiſed his words, and miſuſed his Prophets, untill the wrath of the Lord aroſe againſt his peaple, till there was no remedy, 1 Chron. 36. 16. But many other be the ſad ſymptomes of our Englands defection and danger, and our God hath made himſelf many waies marvelous in New-England, Wee cannot call it a day of ſmall things, Or if at firſt it was like a little cloud ariſing out of the ſea as a mans hand, 1 King. 18. 44. certainely it carried with it a a ſound of abundance of raine, ver. 41. even that raine that commeth downe from heaven and returneth not thither but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give ſeed to the ſower, and bread to the eater; Gods word hath not returned unto him void, it hath accompliſhed that which he pleaſed, and it ſhall proſper in the thing whereto I ſend it, Eſ. 55. 10, 11.
Now the bleſſing of the God of Iacob be upon them and their endeavours, even the bleſsing of Iacob upon Ioſeph, the God Almighty help them and bleſſe them with bleſsings of heaven above, bleſsings of the deep that lieth under, Gen. 49. 25, 26. That God by their meanes may ſay to the North give up, and to the South keepe not backe, bring my ſonnes from farre, and my daughters from the ends of the earth, Eſa. 43. 6. ſo from the uttermoſt parts ſhall we hear ſongs, ſongs of praiſe, even glory to the righteous, 24. 16. and not onelyonly glory to the Lord our righteouſneſſe, but thoſe that winne many to this righteouſneſſe ſhall ſhine as the ſtarres for ever and ever, Dan. 12. 3. and not onelyonly hereafter in that heaven of heavens, but this ſhall bee told as Englands memoriall, in preſent and ſucceeding generations, and thoſe American Nations eſpecially ſhall call them bleſſed (Mal. 3. 12.) yea the bleſsings of them that were ready to periſh, will come upon them, Job 29. 13. for they have done worthily in Ephrata, and are famous in Bethelem (Ruth 4. 11) and when they be indeed ſenſible of this great mercy, they will not onelyonly ſay, thanks be unto God for this unſpeakeable gift, 2 Cor. 9. 15. But they will long to require this kindneſſe to the Engliſh alſo: and as of old almoſt all Nations receiving from Ieruſalem the firſt meanes of their. Chriſtianity, expreſſed their gratefull mindes by their charitable beneficence upon all occaſions to thoſe that dwelt there, this began in the Apoſtles daies, Act. 11. 19. Rom. 15. 26. Thoſe of Macedonia and Achaia diſtributed to the poor Saints at Ieruſalem, ſo it was the uſe till Ieromes kT. 2. Ep. p. 126.time, that all the Churches of the Gentiles ſent collections to the Chriſtians at Ieruſalem, becauſe they all from thence received firſt the glad tidings of the Goſpel; where the ſame Chriſt is preached, there will be the like Chriſtian affections, which likewiſe will be demonſtrable upon every poſſible opportunity.
Gregory in ſeverall Epiſtles, not leſſe then twenty foure, to the great perſonages of thoſe times, ſhewes Lib. 4. Ep. 52. l. 5. 10. 152. &c.much zeale in this kind, ſometimes encouraging them, afterwards commending them for their aſſiſtance afforded to that glorious worke, the firſt converſion of our Countreymen.
Nothing more ſhall now be added but the praiſe and practiſe of nCrantz. Metrop. l. 5. c. 18.Albertus the Arch-Biſhop of Hamburgh, who tooke upon him a reſolution to viſit in his owne perſon all the Northerne Provinces, not leaving ſo much as any one Iſland unbenefitted by his preaching; when all things were prepared, and his attendants choſen, and ſhipping ready, hee was diſwaded by Zueno King of Denmarke, who told him thoſe people would ſooner be inſtructed by men of their owne Nation, who were beſt acquainted with the rites, manners, and language thereof; the Arch-Biſhop hereupon dealt earneſtly with others to that purpoſe, and made them moſt willing to the work, for there was not a man among them whom hee had not encouraged, and by his bounty hee warmed their zeale in publiſhing the Goſpell, frequently repeating that ſentence of our Saviour, The harveſt indeed is great, but the labourers are few, pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that hee will ſend forth labourers into his harveſt, Mat. 9. 37. 38. Finally as David to Solomon in the bulding of the Temple, 1 Chr. 22. 16. I wiſh it were effectually ſpoken to, and by all the Engliſh here and there, Vp and be doing, and the Lord will bee with you.