Historical Collections of the Indians in New England, Title page – To the reader
HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF THE INDIANS IN NEW ENGLAND.
OF THEIR SEVERAL NATIONS, NUMBERS, CUSTOMS, MANNERS, RELIGION AND GOVERNMENT, BEFORE THE ENGLISH PLANTED THERE.
Also a true and faithful Account of the present state and condition of the Praying Indians (or those who have visibly received the gospel in New England) declaring the Number of that people, the situation and place of their Towns and Churches, and their manner of worshipping God, and divers other matters appertaining thereto.
Together with a brief Mention of the Instruments and Means, that God hath been pleased to use for their Civilizing and Conversion, briefly declaring the prudent and faithful endeavours of The Right Honourable the Corporation at London, for promoting that affair.
Also suggesting some Expedients for their further Civilizing and propagating the Christian faith among them.
By DANIEL GOOKIN, GENTLEMAN.
One of the Magistrates of Massachusetts Colony in New England, who hath been for sundry years past, and is at present, betrusted and employed for the civil government and conduct of the Indians in Massachusetts Colony, by order of the General Court there.
Ps. ii.8.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee, the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Ps. lxxii.8, 9.
He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth. They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.
Is. xlix.6.
And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.
Now first printed from the Original Manuscript.
AT THE APOLLO PRESS; IN BOSTON, By BELKNAP and HALL. MDCCXCII.
THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY.
To the High and Mighty Prince Charles, by the grace of God, King of Great-Britain, France, and Ireland, Defender of the faith, &c. ROYAL SIR,
I HAVE read that Artaxerxes Mnemon, king of Persia, going his progress, the people used to present him with their several gifts in the way; and among the rest a countryman, having nothing else to present him with, ran to the river, and taking up his hands full of water, presented him with that. Artaxerxes was so taken therewith, that he gave the fellow a considerable beneficence.
So have I, dread Sovereign, presumed to offer this poor mite, as a testimony of my affection. I must acknowledge it is most unworthy to kiss your royal hands, being so meanly apparelled in an Indian garb. But the matter therein contained, being a true account of the progress of the gospel among the poor Indians, within your dominions, and that under the influence of your royal favour, this, as I conceive, is not unmeet for your Majesty's knowledge. Therefore let it please your Majesty graciously to accept and peruse these Collections, and especially that humble proposal made in Chap. 12. Sect. 5. as a necessary expedient to promote this great work, and which must have its life, under God, from the rays of your Majesty's favour.
The God of heaven and earth bless your Majesty with all temporal, spiritual, and eternal blessings in Christ Jesus; and make you more and more a nursing father to his church; that under your shadow it may rejoice, and every individual person thereof be encouraged in all ways of godliness and honesty.
So prayeth he that is one of the most unworthy, yet desirous to be reckoned among the number of your Majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects.
DANIEL GOOKIN. Cambridge in New England, December 7th, 1674.
AN EPISTLE GRATULATORY AND SUPPLICATORY.
To the Right Honourable the Corporation for propagating the gospel in America; residing in London; and particularly for the Hon. ROBERT BOYLE, Esquire, Governour thereof. RIGHT HONOURABLE,
THESE Collections do, in a special manner, implore your favourable aspect and protection; for God hath been pleased to honour and employ you, as eminent instruments to encourage and promote this great affair of his kingdom in this western world, for propagating the gospel of Christ among the poor and desolate Indians.
The unworthy penman hereof desireth in all humility, to offer three words to your Honours.
First, with all cordial acknowledgment, I thank your Honours for all that great condescension and labour of love, that from time to time you have shewed in your zealous and faithful promoting of this work, committed unto your care and trust by his Majesty.
Secondly, to supplicate your unwearied countenance therein, and putting forth, not only your prayers, but vigorous endeavours to further it; for truly the work is great, and that in special as it relates to the glory and honour of the great God, and his only Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ, in the salvation of these poor gentiles.
Thirdly, that you will please to peruse, and seriously to consider, and, if it may suit with your wisdoms, put in practice, these proposals, that I have presumed to make in the 12th Chap. of this tractate, as a means, under God, to civilize the barbarous Indians, and propagate religion among them; especially in setting up some free schools, to teach them to speak, read, write, and understand, the English tongue.
So praying unto the God of all grace, to multiply upon every one of you, his richest and best blessings, I take leave, and remain,
Right Honourable, your humble servant, DANIEL GOOKIN, Sen. Cambride, in N. E. Dec. 7th, 1674.
AN EPISTLE TO THE READER.
COURTEOUS READER,
I HAVE here, through the grace of Christ, transmitted to thy view a true and faithful account concerning the Indians, not clothed in elegancy of words and accurate sentences; but rather I have endeavoured all plainness that I can, that the most vulgar capacity might understand, and be thereby excited to praise and glorify God, and provoked to pray earnestly and constantly unto the most high God, that he will please to carry on this his work, and turn many more of them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive an inheritance among them that are sanctified through faith in Christ. I am not ignorant that there are some persons, both in Old and New England, that have low thoughts of this work, and are very prone to speak diminutively thereof; but I intreat it may be considered, that this frame of spirit is no new thing; for the servants of God heretofore have complained of it, and with reference to the greatest and best tidings that ever was declared unto men. Hence it is that the prophet Isaiah, in 53. Isaiah, 1. saith, Who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? And our Lord Jesus confirmed the same in John xii. 37, 38. But it is the wisdom of all to be cautioned by the Lord's words, that follow in verse 40. Left God hath blinded men's eyes, and hardened their hearts. I shall humbly desire all such, not to despise the day of small things, but to turn their doubtings into prayers, which will be more for God's honour and their comfort; and seriously to consider the words of our Lord Jesus, Mat. xi. 4, 5, 6. Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and show John again those things which you do hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them: And blessed is he that shall not be offended in me. These miracles are wrought spiritually among the poor Indians; of which we bear record. Thus, with my hearty prayers to God in Christ, that the candid and ingenious christian peruser hereof may be comforted and edified, and the objector convinced and reformed, I commit thee to God, and remain.
Thine in all service of love, D. G. Cambridge, in N. E. November 16th, 1674.