then by declaring the Answer that is given in our Catechism unto the Question and by opening some of the Texts of Scripture which are there brought for the proof and manifestation thereof The Question is What is the Word of God The Answer is It is the Will of God written in the Bible whereby he rightly guideth man in every thing in this world and whereby he bringeth us to eternal salvation These are but few words but full of weight and proved by divers Scriptures Keit. What do you mean by Scriptures Ant. The word and will of God written in a Book whereby we may not onely hear it with our ears when it is spoken by others but we may see it with our eyes and reade the writing our selves And this is a great benefit to us to have Gods word and will written for a word spoken is soon gone and nothing retaineth it but our Memory and that impression which it made upon our minde and heart but when this word is written in a Book there it will abide though we have forgotten it and we may reade it over a thousand times and help our weak memories so that it shall never be forgotten yea and such as cannot have an opportunity of hearing the word yet they may alwayes have an opportunity of reading the word because it is written in the Bible which they have by them in their houses and may reade in it night and day We do therefore call the word of God Scripture because it is written in a book Keit. I am satisfied in what you say I pray go on to open those Texts of Scripture which the Catechism giveth for proofs Ant. The first Text I mention is Hos. 8.12 I have written to him the great things of my Law but they were counted as a strange thing Here God gives to man a Law and he writeth this Law and every thing in this Law is a great matter though some things are greater then other yet every thing that God hath written is a great matter But God doth blame men for counting them as strange things we should be well acquainted with them Dan. 10.21 when an Angel spake to Daniel he told him that he would declare to him that which is noted in the Scriptures of truth And we that teach others must carefully so do we must teach nothing but that which is noted in and grounded upon the Scriptures of truth And we need to teach nothing else for all things needful for salvation are contained in the Scriptures as appears 2 Tim. 3.16 17. Aâ—â— Scripture is given by interpretation from God â—nd is profitable for doctrine for reproof for correction for instruction in righteousness That the man of God may be perfect throughly furnished to all good works The man of God here meaneth or may be applied to any honest man that is willing to walk by the Rule of the word be he a Sachem or a Teacher or a Father c. Every man may finde in the Scriptures a perfect rule to guide him in every thought word or deed So that the word of God is a perfect Law to guide every man in every thing all the dayes of his life And the word of God is not onely a rule to guide us in this life but it also brings us to heaven Acts 20.32 I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up and give you â—n inheritance among them that are sanctified and Iames 1.21 Receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save your souls Many such testimonies I might adde to shew the fulness of perfection of the word of God but I forbear at present Will. I will adde a few words touching the perfection of the Scriptures Deut. 12.32 Whatsoever I command you observe to do it thou shalt not adde thereto nor diminish from it Here be two wayes of wronging the Scriptures 1. By adding to it 2. By taking from it Now these Popish Teachers and Ministers of whom I did discourse before they do most wickedly wrong the Scriptures especially by adding to them They say that their Offices are commanded in the Scripture and that the Pope is Christ his Vicar and that he hath power to pardon sin and abundance more such rotten stuff they adde unto the Scripture Now this is another reason why they will not suffer people to reade the Scriptures because then every body would finde out their false dealing and therefore if any body finde them out they will presently kill them The great wrong they do unto the Scriptures of truth is one of their great sins they adde their own wicked inventions unto the pure and perfect word of God Keit. Your discourse doth breed in my heart an admiration aâ— that excellent Book and I finde in my heart a longing desire to be acquainted with that Book and with those excellent matterâ— that are contained in it But although my heart doth begin â—â— reverence that Book for the sake of the matter contained in it yet I desire that you would proceed to give me your grounds why yoâ— believe that it is Gods word because I shall then reverence thâ— Word not onely for the matters sake but also for the Authorâ— sake Good words spoken by a good man do obtain respect â— much more may the words that God speaketh command all reverence This Point also being a great Principle in Religion I will taâ—â— the same course in it as I did in the former I will shew yoâ— what Answer we are taught in our Catechism and I will toucâ— some of the proofs 1. The first Reason to prove the Scriptures to be the Word oâ— God is Because they teach us the first Creation of the World and all things in it which no man nor Angel doth know or caâ— teach onely God and this is proved in the first Chapter of Genesis wâ—ere we reade the wonderful work of God in the Creation of the World where man was last made 2. The second Reason is froâ— the holiness and perfection of the word of God No man or Aâ—gel could give so holy pure and perfect a Law as Gâ—ds Law is Psal. 19.8 9 10 11. also Psal. 12.6 The words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace of earth purified seven tiâ—es 3. The third Reason is Because the word of the Lord is confirmed by such Miracles as onely God himself is able to perform Moses the first writer of Scripture did many great Miracles in Egypt in the Red Sea and in the VVilderness so did many other Prophets but especially Jesus Christ did many wonderful Miracles and so did the Apostles by which our Faith is confirmed that their writings are the word of God 4. Because the Scriptures doth reveal unto us Jesus Christ and salvation by Christ according to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This no man or Angel could ever have found out onely God 2 Cor. 5.19 God was in
Here be two sorts of wayes wherein men walk 2. Here be two sorts of men that walk in these two wayes The first way is described by four things 1. There is a strait little narrow gate to enter in at 2. It is a narrow way very rough â—ard and difficult to walk in 3. Here is the end of this way whether it leadeth viz. to heaven happiness glory and eternal life 4. Here be the Numbers that get into and walk in this way tâ— get to heaven Very few The second way is described by four things 1. The gate of entrance is broad and wide 2. The way it self is pleasant easie full of delights of the flesh and of worldly pleasures 3. Here is the end of this way it leads to Hell to torments and to eternal damnation 4. Here be the Numbers that walk in this way Very many most men in the world will choose to walk in this way and at last go to Hell torments 2. The first sort of persons are good men and women who 1. With much difficulty get into this way 2. They patiently endure all difficulties in it 3. They go to heaven and glory at last 4. The number of them they are but a few The second sort of persons are wicked people and these 1. Easily get into this way 2. They take pleasure in it and will not be perswaded to leave it and get into the hard way 3. The end of them all is they go to hell torments 4. The number of them A great many most men are found in this way All these particulars he openeth and insisteth upon and concludeth with an Exhortation 1. To come out of this broad easie way by considering the end of it whither it leadeth 2. To get into the hard way of praying to God and patiently continue in it considering the end it leads unto even Heaven and Glory Sont What Book is that you reade in and why do you call it The Word of God Pium. This is the Book of Gods Law which he hath taught holy men his Prophets and Apostles to write and give unto us to call us out of the broad way of sin and death and to call us into the narrow way of Repentance Faith in Christ Jesus and eternal life Sont It may be the English-men made it and tell you that they are the words of God Pium. This Book was written long before the English-men prayed to God and English-men have learned all their wisdome out of this Book and now they have Translated it for us and if we attend unto it it will teach us wisdome as it hath taught them Kinsm You speak much of Jesus Christ and his pardoning our sins and saving our Souls who is this Jesus Christ Pium. God is One in Three the Father Son and Holy Ghost Jesus Christ is God the Son who became a Man and when we deserved to die for our sins he came and died for us and God hath promised that all that believe in Christ shall be pardoned of all their sins and be glorified in heaven Touching this Point I will teach in the Afternoon The Afternnon Exercise Pium. GOD requires we should give him a whole day therefore it is not enough to worship God half a day We are again come together to worship God and we shall do the same this Afternoon as we did in the Forenoon Let us pray After Prayer he taketh this Text Mat. 1.21 22 23. This Text teacheth three things touching Jesus Christ 1. His wonderful Birth A Virgin conceived Of which see Luke 1.26 to 39. 2. Two Names Iesus Emmanuel 3. What Christ did for us and doth signified by his Name Iesus He taketh away our sins And this he doth two wayes 1. He taketh away our sins out of Gods sight by dying in our stead and so meriting a pardon for all our sins 2. He taketh away our sins out of our own hearts by working Repentance in us and Faith in his Name giving us his Spirit and sanctifying of us by his Grace and leading us in all holiness of life and conversation The third part of this Text is how Jesus Christ is enabled to do these great things for us This signified by his second Name God with us Christ was God and Man in one Person and that maketh his death of infinite value with God to obtain a pardon for all our sins And this maketh him of infinite power to overcome our hearts and turn them unto God These things are deep wisdome therefore pray unto God and he will give you wisdome to understand them Iam. 1.5 Kinsm I am amazed to hear these deep things I am now more discouraged about praying to God Alas we cannot Pray nor Reade how shall we keep a Sabbath and whall sâ—all we do Pium. I will speak unto the Church at Natik and we will send a wise man to teach you to keep Sabbaths among you and all that I shall perswade you unto is to come together on the Sabbaths as you have done this day and hear the Word of God and then God will teach you Kinsm Oh that it might be so I should gladly attend unto the Word Sont I say the same All. We like it well Kinsm I pray let it not be delayed Pium. Lo here is a manifest token of Gods presence according to his promise for who but God could bow all your hearts to hear the Word of God especially considering how averse you were at first Now let us pray and praise and give thanks to the God of Heaven for his mercy endureth for ever DIALOG II. About calling home poor INDIANS Waban was sent forth upon the Service of Christ unto sundry places where passed such like discourses and acts Waban Penoowot Waban HO well met friend how far travel you this way Pen. I am going to Napmuk a Town where Nishohkou is Sachem with him I have some business which occasioneth my going thither Wab. Ha! you and I are both alike in sundry things I wish we might be both alike in one thing more The things wherein we are alike are these We are bâ—th tall men We are mâ—t in the same way We are going to the same place Our business is unto the same person the Sachem of the place Pen. Ha ha he I acknowledge whâ—t you say but I pray what is that wherein you desire we might agree for I do not understand that you have yet named that and I the more desire to know that bâ—cause you do seem to put more weight upon that then upon all the rest which you have named Wab. You judge riâ—ht touching my opinion of that thing which I have not mentioned but I doubt that you will not be of my minde if I should speak it and for that reason I did conceal it Wise men will cover aâ—d hide their Jewels and not expose them to every bodies sight for they know some will lightly esteem them because they know not their worth but if
his blessing be at least the beginning of a Cordial to your heart and a Cure to your stain and wound Sin is a shame to any Nation or person but repentance is an honour Your griefs have the right savour of repentance It is said 1 Cor. 3.18 Let a man become a fool that he â—ay be wise you chide your self for your â—olâ—y you do well â—o to do it is an act of wisdome so to do go on in this frame of heart and be constant and you shall finde rest Christ calleth troubled souls to come unto him Mat. 11.28 and he promisâ—â—h to give them rest and he is able to perform his promise In his hand I leave this matter and your tossed soul with inward griefs that in him you may finde rest Will. My Brother haâ—h presented you with a Cordial for your heartâ—gâ—ief I will present you with some Balm to heal your soul wounds It is said Ier. 8.22 Is there no Balm in Gâ—lead is there no Physician there Why â—hen is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered Behold in Gods Word we finde a Balm for woundâ—d souls and that is the death and blood of Jesus Christ believed by faith for Christ hath died for our sins and rose again from the dead for our justification he offereth a pardon for all your sins and he will heal your soul and quiet your heart from all those turmoiling troubles and griefs Believe therefore in Jesus Christ and he will pardon and save you Keit. I thank you for these comfortable words I feel them in my heart and I desire to lay them up among other things which I ponder in my heart And now I will proceed to open such other doubts which lie in my minde as impediments which hinder me and delay me from accepting of this way of praying to God I perceive in all your discourses that you have a Book which you call The Word of God and you reade it to me I perceive also that in your worshipping of God morning and night you reade in that Book I pray tell me what Book that is what is written in it and how do you know that it is the Word of God Many say that some wise English-men have dâ—vised and framed it and tell us that it is Gods Word when as it is no other then the words of wise men Hoh we shall be interrupted in our discourse for here cometh in Sâ—chem that hateth praying to God and hath been a means of delaying my entrance into this way but if he come up unto us we will go on and let him be partaker of our discourse if he like of it aâ—d be willing so to do Eâ—â—h my friend I pray come and sit down here and hearken to our discourse Here be some of the Massachuset praying Indians who are soliciting me to pray unto God and we are now discoursing about a Book which they have which they say is the Word of God and I am now enquiring of them what is contained in that Book and how it may be made appear that it is the Word of Godâ— If you think good to joyn with us in this discourse it will be acceptable unto us to have your company and to hear what you have to say about it Sachem I am willing to be present and hear your discourse but as for this new way of praying to God I like it not We and our Forefathers have through all generations lived in our Religion which I desire not to change Are we wiser then our Forefathers And I like not to suffer our people to reade that Book which they call the Word of God If it be Gods Word it is too deep for ignorant people to meddle withall and it will â—ill them with new light and notions which withdraws them from our obedience and leadeth them to make trouble and disturbance unto us in those old wayes in which we and our Forefathers have walked and my Counsel is to suppress the reading of that Book Ant. With due respect unto you Sachem I shall thus answer unto what you sâ—y If a great Sachem in a far Country should send unto you a writing wherein he giveth you wise Counsel would you not reade it would you not hear what he saith and would you not suffer your people to learn wisdome but continue in their ignorance and blindness Sure you would shew so much respect to a man a Sachem that should do so kindly to you Now so it is that the great God who made these high heavens and the great Lights that be therein who made this Earth and all this great World and all things in it who is King of kings and Lord of lords I say this Great God pittying to see the ignorance that all men are darkned withall he hath sent us his VVord which will make wise the ignorant and will you not suffer your people to learn that wisdome do you love darkness better then light Besides all Mankinde live in the wayes of sin which lead them to hell torments where they shall be punished with eternal fire but God pittying this miserable condition of man hath sent us this VVord of his which sheweth us the way to escape hell torments and leadeth us into the way that leadeth us to eternal life happiness and glory And will not you suffer your people to learn this good way when God offereth it unto us Consider how your people will curse you when they feel these torments because you would not suffer them to learn the true way to heaven and happiness And what though we are not wiser then our Forefathers yet God can teach us such wisdome as our Forefathers did not know I think that we are bound to think that our fathers were so wise that if Gods VVord â—ad been brought and offered to them they would have received it and would have learned by it to be wiser then they were and why therefore should not we be so wise as to do that which our wise fathers would have done if this light had shined unto them as it now doth unto us Let not the deepness of that wisdome in Gods VVord hinder us that are ignorant from searching into it for by reading of Gods word the ignorant may be made wise Psal. 197. it maketh wise the simple and Prov. 1. â— The Word gives wisdome to the simple and to the young man knowledge and discretion David learned to be wise by reading the word of God Wiser then his Enemies wiser then his Teachers wiser then the Ancients Psal. 119.98 99 100. and so may we It is a vain word to say They are ignorant and therefore they may not reade the Word the contrary to this is true Because they are ignorant therefore let them search and reade the word of God because that will make them wise But you give the reason that lieth in the bottom of your heart when you say By reading of the word they will learn new light
I know that you sâ—y true Our fore fathers were many of them wise men and we have wise men now living they all delight in these our Delights they have taugâ—t us nothing about our Soul and God and Heaven and Hell and Jâ—y and Torment in the life to come Are you 〈◊〉 thâ—n our fathers May not we rather think that English men have invented these Storiâ—s to amaze and scare us out of our old Customes and bring us to stand in awe of them that they might wipe us of our Lands and drive us into Corners to seek new wayes of living and new places too and be beholding to them for that which is our own and was ours before we knew them Aâ—l. You say right Pium. The Book of God is no invention of English-men it is the holy Law of God himself which was given unto man by God before English-men had any knowledge of God and all the knowledge which they have they have it out of the Book of God and this Book is given to us as well as to them and it is as free for us to search the Scriptures as for them So that we have our instruction from an higher hand then the hand of man it is the great Lord God of Heaven and Earth who teacheth us these great things of which we speak Yet this is also true that we have great cause to be thankful to the English and to thank God for them for they had a good Country of their own but by Ships sailing into these parts of the World they heard of us and of our Country and of our nakedness ignorance of God and wilde condition God put it into their hearts to desire to come hither and teach us the good knowledge of God and their King gave them leave so to do and in our Country to have their liberty to serve God accordiâ—g to the Word of God And being come hitâ—er we gave them leave freely to live among us they have purchased of us a great part of those Lands which they possess they love us they do us right and no wrong willingly if any do us wrong it is without the consent of their Rulers and upon our Complaints our wrongs are righted They are many of them especially the Ruling part good men and desire to do us good God put it into the heart of one of their Ministers as you all know to teach us the knowledge of God by the Word of God and he hath Translated the holy Book of God into our Language so that we can perfectly know the minde and counsel of God and out of this Book have I learned all that I say unto you and therefore â—ou need no more doubt of the truth of it then you have cause to doubt that the Heaven is over our head the Sun shineth the Earth is under our feet we walk and live upon it and breathe in the Air for as we see with our eyes these things to be so so we reade with our own eyes these things which I speak of to be written in Gods own Book and we feel the truth thereof in our own hearts Kinswom Cousin you have wearied your legs this day with a loâ—g Journey to come and visit us and you weary your tongue with long Discourses I am willing to comfort and refresh you with a â—hort Supper All. Ha ha he though short if sweet that has good savour to a man that is weâ—ry Ha ha he Kinswom You make long and learned Discourses to us which we do not well understand I think our best answer is to stop your moutâ— and fill your belly with a good Supper and when your belly is full you will be content to take rest your self and give us leave to be at rest from these gâ—stering and heart-trembling discourses We are well as we are and desire not to be troubled with these new wise sayings All. You say true Ha ha he Pium. It is good to be merry and wise I am an hungry and â—eary and willing to eat God hath appointed food to be a means of sustaining relieving and repairing our spent strength This being a work above the power of the food we eat or of our selves that eat it and onely in the power of God himself to bless it for such great uses therefore God hath taught us and it is our custome among all that are godly to pray to God for a blessing before we eat and therefore I intreat you â—o have so much patieâ—ce and compliance as to give me the quiet liberty to pray to God bâ—fore we eat Kinsm I pray do and we shall with quietness and silence attend to such a service unto God Pium. Let us lift up our eyes and â—earts to God in heaven and â—ay Almighty glorious merciful and heavenly Father thou dwellest in the high Heavens and fillest both Heaven and Earth with thy presence thou takest care of and governest us here on earth we are poor worms under thy feet thou feedest every living Creature and â—akest our food to be like a staff to sustain our faint and weary boâ—ies thou renewest our strength every day and though we are sinners in thy sight yet thou art merciful to us and with long patience dost call us to repentance We confess all our sins before thee and prâ—y thee for Iesus Christ his sake who died for sinners to have mercy on us and freely to pardon and forgive us all our sins Bless us at this time and this food which is set before us let it be blessed to us make us wise to receive it at thy hand and to use the strength we get by it to the glory of thy Name through Iesus Christ. And bless all our Souls â—eed them by thy Word and Truth and guide our Tongues to speak wise words that may minister grace to the hearers and help us all to rejoyce in the Lord through Iesus Christ. Amen Now let us eat and rejoyce together for God filleth our bodies with food and our souls with gladness Kinsm When the body is full of meat and the head full of wit and the mouth full of words there will be wise discourse Pium. Adde but one thing more If the heart be full of grace then the discourse will be both wise and godly Kinswom You talk much of a belly full I wish we have victuals enough to fill them All. Ha ha he They be not half full yet Ha ha he Kinsm What News do the Ships bring from beyond Sea Pium. They say wicked men are bold and that good men who pray to God are hated vexed troubled persecuted and not suffered to pray to God according to the Laws of Gods Word but by the Laws of men All. It is an ill time for you to come to perswade us to pray God when praying to God is so opposed hated and hindred yâ—â— may be mâ—re like to prevail with us when praying to God is credit honour and good esteem Pium Such as
Christ reconciling the world unto himself and hath committed to us the word of Reconciliation John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to finde eternal life and they arâ— they that testifie of me Therefore they are the word of God 5. Because the word of God doth convert the soul from sin and Satan unto God It sanctifieth the soul and doth lead meâ—â— souls in the wayes of life unto salvation it is the sword of the Spirit to conquer the Devil Iam. 1.18 Of his own will begat â—e us with the word of truth Joh. 17.17 Sanctifie them through the trâ—th thy word is truth Ephes. 6.17 Take the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Such grounds as these we are taught in our Catecâ—ism Keit. Who can oppose or gainsay the mountainous weight of these Arguments I am more then satisfied I am ashamed of my ignorance and I abhor my self that ever I doubted of this point and I desire wholly to give up my self to the knowledge of and obedience to the word of God and to abandon and forsake these sins which the word of God reproveth and condemneth Will. I will adde one Consideration further to manifest that the Scriptures are the word of God and that is By the great Antiquity of these writings which have been extant so many thousand years and have passed through so many enemies hands who â—ave used all art and force to abolish them or corrupt them and yet they could never dâ— it Moses wrote the first Five Books of Scripture above a thousand and four hundred years before Christ came and it is above a thousand and six hundred years since Christ came and since the Gâ—spâ—l the last part of the Scripture was written Put these two Numbers together and they make three thousand years So long the Church have had the Scriptures and all this while the Devil and wicked men have endeavoured either to abolish them or corrupt them but they could never do it we have every word of God perfect and pure unto this day which cannot be said of any other writing in all the world And this wonderful divine protection of this Book doth greatly manifest that doubtless it is Gods own word over which he hath bestowed such eminent care Keit. But how do you know all this How do you know what was done so many thousand years ago Will. The Scriptures themselves have kept a perfect Record of Times from the beginning of the World unto the coming of Christ and out of that Chronologie we may perfectly know how long Moses was before Christ and there be other sure wayes to know how many years it is since Christ came And thus may we know certainly how long the Scriptures have been written Keit. If this be so the Reason is strong the Antiquity of the Book requireth reverence and Gods constant care of it sheweth he hath a divine influence in it But we are now called off from any further proceeding in our discourse at this time Before we part I have one motion and request to propose unto you To morrow is your Sabbath and I have a desire that you two would teach us that day and let us see the manner how you worship God it may please God to make more of his light to shine among us You remember what passed about this motion I do now with more desire confirm shat motion Ant. We also are still of the same minde and purpose and are the more confirâ—ed in our hearts because we see that Gâ—d is on the coming hand to incline your heart unto the Lord. After the Sabbath Philip Keitassoot Anthony William Keit. I Have now lived one Sabbath many a Sabbath have I been dead and followed works of darkness and sin when I should â—ave been following the Lord in such wayes of Worship as yesterdâ—y was spent in I am wounded at my heart to remember what I have done upon the Sabbath-day I â—ave served the Dâ—vil and lust and sins of all sorts even upon the Sabbath-dayes The sins that I have committed do render me vile in the sight of God and the time wherein I have committed mâ—ny of them doth render me more vile in the eyes of the Lâ—rd my Judge You said yesterday that Christ Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath and requires all men to spend that day in his service and when Christ Jesus shall judge the world he will examine all men how they spent every Sabbath Oh wretched man that I am what answer shall I make though I am a Sachem here on earth I sâ—all be but a subject in the day of Judgement I now sit upon the Bench to judge others then I must stand at the Barre to be judged my self Oh what mountains of sin have I heaped up in my wicked life I had forgot my sins and I thought God had forgot them too and I had thought my Conscience had forgot them also but now I see it is not so God hath numbred all my wayes my thoughts my words and works and I feel now that my Conscience remembreth them also though it hath been asleep in the times of my ignorance and profaneness Oh I am a wretch I should have been an example to my people an example of virtue of wisdome and of praying to God but I have done quite contrary to my duty I have been an example of lust of profaneness yea of all sin and in particular of this great sin of profaning the Sabbath my heart is wounded with the sense of this â—in especially and that forceth my troubled Conscience to gall and afflict my soul with the remembrance of all my sins But why say I all I now finde my sins are numberless my own personal sins are many great and vile my heart doth loath my self to remember them they make me an abhorring to God But moreover and besides my own personal sins other mens sins I am guilty of Oh how many have sinned upon my account many wayes I am a Sachem over my people to rule them in virtue and to do them good but I have done contrary to my charge I have led them out into all sin and thereby I have done them â—he greatest hurt and mischief I have been a means of their damnation Oh how many are gone and going to hell upon my account how shall I escape damnation who have led so many inâ—o that eternal pit Oh I am pained at my heart what shâ—ll I do Oh what shall I do Ant No creature can help you none but God in Jesus Christ he can help you Consider that Text Micah 6.6 7 8. Wherewith shaâ—â— I come before the Lord and bowe my self before the high God shall I come before him with burâ—â— offerings with calves of a year old Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thâ—usands of rivers of oyl shall I give â—y first born for my transgression the fruit of my boâ—y for the sin of