Selected quad for the lemma: england_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
england_n	work_n	worthy_a	year_n	86	3	4.0787	3	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A84357	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.	Eliot, John, 1604-1690.; Mayhew, Thomas.; Mather, Richard, 1596-1669.	1653 (1653)	Wing E524; Thomason E697_16; ESTC R207106	52,811	83

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 Vpon 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-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-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

in another case I beleeve God that it shall be even as it was told me Act. 27. 25. Yea to beleeve it and wait for it as for that which in Gods appointed and due time shall surely come to pass and not fail as Hab. 2. 3. And not only so but heartily to desire it and fervently to pray for it as a thing wherein the Glory of God and of Jesus Christ is not a little concerned and interessed for if the multitude of People be the Kings Honor Prov. 14. 28. it must needs be the Honor of Christ Jesus the King of Sion when multitudes of People do submit unto Him as to their King and therfore it should be earnestly craved of God by all his Saints in their Prayers that so it may be according as the Sanctifying of Gods Name and the coming of his Kingdom are the two first Petitions in that Rule and Pattern of Prayer commanded and taught by our Savior to His Disciples Matth. 6. 9 10. And no man needs to doubt but that those things which are matter for Faith and Prayer to be exercised about their accomplishment are matters of Thanksgiving when once they come to pass Which being so the godly Christian who shall read or hear this ensuing Relation concerning the workings of Gods Grace towards these Indians in new-New-England and the Confessions of sundry amongst them will I doubt not see abundant cause of thanksgiving to the Lord therein For hereby it will appear That the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus which every faithful soul doth so much desire to see enlarged is now beginning to be set up where it never was before even amongst a poor people forlorn kind of Creatures in times past who have been without Christ and without God in the world they and their Fathers for I know not how many Generations yea so far from knowing and acknowledging God in Christ that they have been little better than the Beasts that perish But now they that were far off the Lord is at work to make them neer unto himself by the Blood of Jesus as Eph. 2. 13. that they which in time past were not a People might ere long become the People of God and they be called Beloved which were not Beloved and in the place where it was said unto them Ye are not my People that there ere long they might be called The Children of the Living God as 1 Pet. 2. 10. Rom. 9. 25 26. which is the Lords doing and it ought to be marvelous in our eyes And the truth is there are many marvels in it marvelous free-grace and riches thereof to look upon a People so wretched and unworthy yea it were marvelous Grace so much as once to offer the Salvation of God in Christ to any such as they are being not only the poor and maimed halt and blind but also as it is in Luk 14. 21. ranging and roving in the High-waies and Hedges and yet behold even these are not only invited but their hearts inclined to come in Mavelous Wisdom and Power is in it also that of matter so rugged and unlikely the Lord should ever frame and fashion any gracious and holy building to Himself which I hope He is now a doing And to say no more His mervelous Soveraignty and Liberty is therein to be observed also who till now of late hath seen meet never to look after this People but hath suffered them all this while to walk in their own waies waies of Sin and waies of Death yea and though there hath been Plantations of the English in the Country now 20. years and more yea some a matter of 30. years or thereabout yet of all this time except some little workings in a few no considerable work of Grace hath appeared amongst the Indians till now of late so true is that saying The times and seasons the Father hath put them in his own Power Act. 1. 7. If any shall say Oh but we are doubtful whether any sound and saving work be yet wrought in them or no Such an one I would wish seriously to weigh and consider the ensuing Confessions and then perhaps he will be better satisfied touching this Point for there he shall find many expressions savoring of their clear sight and sence of sin and that not only of gross and external sins but also of such as are more inward in the Heart and Soul Also he shall find expressions tending to shew their expecting all righteousness and salvation by Christ alone Now considering how the Work of the Spirit of God is said by Christ Himself to consist in great part in convincing of sin and of righteousness of sin in mens selves and of righteousness in Christ Joh. 16. 9. And considering also how the least beginnings of Grace are accepted of him that would not break the bruised Reed nor quench the smoaking Flax Matth. 12. 20. And lastly considering how it were not reasonable to expect such ripeness in these people as might be expected and found in others who have had more time and means and better help and breeding than these have had If these things I say be considered it may be an Inducement to hope the best in charity concerning the Work of Grace in their Souls as Charity hopeth all things beleeveth all things 1 Cor. 13. But thus much at the least I conceive is cleer and cannot be denied that since the Word of God hath been taught and preached among them the Spirit of the Lord hath been working thereby in the hearts of many of them such Illumination such Conviction c. as may justly be looked at if not as a full and through Conversion yet as an hopeful beginning and preparation thereto if the Lord be pleased to go on with what he hath begun as I hope he will And if there were no more but only an hopeful beginning and preparative to Conversion yet even this were matter of much comfort to the Saints and of thanksgiving to the Lord as it was in Israel at the building of the Temple when no more was yet done but only the foundation laid Ezr. 3. 10 11. yet even then they sung for joy giving praise and thanksgiving to the Lord How much more should it be so if the Work of Regeneration be already truly wrought in any of them as I hope it is in sundry In such case how ever it be with men on Earth sure there is joy in Heaven amongst the Angels of God when there is so much as one sinner that is truly brought home to God by Repentance Luke 15. 7. 10. But how shall we know that the Confessions here related being spoken in their Tongue were indeed uttered by them in such words as have the same signification and meaning with these that are here expressed for we have only the testimony of one man to assure us of it It is true we have only the testimony of one man for it but yet it is such an one as is unwillingly