a great furtherance of the work I wholly leave it to your wisdom Having some leasure by the Ships delay I will insert a few questions which they have propounded viz. If a man know Gods Word but beleeve it not and he teach others is that good teaching and if others beleeve that which he teacheth is that good beleeving or faith upon this question I asked them how they could tell when a man knoweth Gods Word that he doth not beleeve it They answered me When he doth not do in his practice answerable to that which he knoweth If I teach on the Sabbath which you have taught us and forget some Is that a fin and some I mistake and teach wrong Is that a sin Do all evill thoughts come from the Devill and all good ones from God What is watchfulnesse How shall I finde happinesse What should I pray for at night and what at morning and what on the Sabbath day What is true Repentance or how shall I know when this is true How must I wait on God Shall we see Christ at the day of Judgment Can we see God When I pray for a soft heart why is it still hard Can one be saved by reading the book of the creature This question was made when I taught them That God gave us two books and that in the book of the creature every creature was a word or sentence c. You said God promised Moses to go with him how doth he go with us When such die as never heard of Christ whether do they go When the wicked die do they first go to heaven to the judgment seate of Christ to be judged and then go away to hell What is the meaning of the word Hebrews Why doth God say I am the God of the Hebrews When Christ arose whence came his soul When I answered from heaven It was replyed How then was Christ punished in our stead Or when did he suffer in our stead afore death or after When I pray every day why is my heart so hard still even as a stone How doth God arise and we worship at his feet what meaneth it This was when I preached out of Psal. 132. Why did they eate the Passeover with loynes girt and shooes on their feet What meaneth arise O Lord into thy resting place What meaneth hunger and thirst after righteousnesse and they blessed What meaneth thou shalt not covet any thing that is thy neighbours If one purposeth to pray and yet dieth before that time whether goeth his soul If I teach on the Sabbath something that some other Englishman taught me the Indians do not like it if it be not that which you have taught is this well Why must we be like Salt If I do not love wicked men nor good men am I good What meaneth that love enemies and wicked men Doth God know who shall repent and beleeve and who not When I answered in the affirmative then it was replyed Why then did God use so much meanes with Pharaoh What meaneth that his wife shall be like a Vine and his children like young plants What meaneth that blessed are they that mourn When I see a good example and know that it is right why do I not do the same What meaneth lifting up hands to God Whot anger is good and what is bad Do they dwell in severall houses in heaven or altogether and what do they How do you know what is done in heaven If a child die before he sinne whether goeth his soul By this question it did please the Lord clearly to convince them of original sin blessed be his name If one that prayes to God sins like him that prayes not is not he worse And while they discoursed of this point and about hating of wicked persons one of them shut it up with this They must love the man and do him good but hate his sin Why do English men so edgerly kill all shakes May a man have good words and deeds and a bad heart and another have bad words and deeds and yet a good heart What is it to eate Christ his flesh and drink his blood what meaneth it What meaneth a new heaven and a new earth Much honoured and respected in the Lord Jesus YOur faithful and unwearied paines about the Lords work for the good of his dear children here and for the furtherance of the Kingdome of Christ among these poor Indians shall doubtlesse be had in remembrance before the Lord not through merit but mercie By former Letters sent by Mr. Saltonstall I informed you of the present state of the Indian work and though I might adde farther matters yet I shal forbear only this still they continue constant and earnestly desire to set upon the way of cohabitation prepare for their enjoyment of that great blessing to gather a Church of Christ among them and since the writing of my last a Nipnet Sachem hath submitted himself to pray unto the Lord and much desireth one of our chief ones to live with him and teach him and those that are with him You wrote I thank you much encouraging to lose no time and follow the work though I borrow materials but I durst not do so the work is great as I informed you in my former Letters and I fear lest it should discourage you nor would I be too hasty to run before the Lord do clearly by Scripture rules say go nor on the other side would I hold them too long in suspence there may be weaknesse that way to their discouragement but it is the Lords work and he is infinite in wisdome and he will suit the work in such a time and place as shall best attain his appointed ends and his great glory Touching the way of their Government I also intimated the purpose of my heart that I intend to direct them according as the Lord shall please to help and assist to set up the Kingdome of Jesus Christ fully so that Christ shall reigne both in Church and Common-wealth both in Civil and Spiritual matters we will through his grace fly to the Scriptures for every Law Rule Direction Form or what ever we do And when every thing both Civil Spiritual are done by the direction of the word of Christ then doth Christ reigne and the great Kingdome of Jesus Christ which we weight for is even this that I do now mention and by this means all Kingdomes and Nations shall become the Kingdomes of Christ because he shall rule them in all things by his holy word humane wisdome in learned Nations will be loth to yeeld to Christ so farre much lesse will Princes and Monarches readily yeeld so farre to stoop to Christ and therefore the Lord will shake all Nations and put them into distresse and perplexity and in the conclusion they will be glad to stoop to Christ But as for these poore Indians they have no principles of their own nor yet wisdome of their their own I meane as
and engaged but if you let them alone till they be grown up it may be they will flie off and neither care for God nor for Baptisme I approved of this answer also and asked what else they spake of He said farther they spake of Ministers and said they teach you that you must have Ministers but that is a needlesse thing I asked what reason they gave He said they gave these reasons First Ministers know nothing but what they learn out of Gods book and we have Gods book as well as they and can tell whaâ— God saith Again Ministers cannot change mens hearts God must do that and therefore there is no need of Ministers I asked him what he said to that He said that he told them that we must do as God commands us and if he commands to have Ministers we must have them And farther I told them I thought it was true that Ministers cannot change mens hearts but when we do as God bids us and hear Ministers preach then God will change our hearts I approved this answer also I asked what else they spake of He said They teach you that you must have Magistrates but that is needlesse nor ought to be I asked what reason they gave He said That they gave this reason because Magistrates cannot give life therefore they may not take away life besides when a man sinneth he doth not sinne against Magistrates and therefore why should they punish them but they sinne against God and therefore we must leave them to God to punish them I asked him what he said to that he answered I said to that as to the former we must do as God commands us If God command us to have Magistrates and commands them to punish sinners them we must obey I approved this also I asked farther what they said then both of them considered a while and said they could remember no more only they said somewhat of the Parliament of England which they did not understand And by such time as we had done this conference the company was gathered together and we went to Prayer and I did solemnly blesse God who had given them so much understanding in his truth and some ability to discerne between Truth and Error and an heart to stand for the Truth and against Error and I cannot but take it as a Divine Testimony of Gods blessing upon my poor labours I afterwards gave him an answer to his first question viz. Why they having the same Bible with us yet spake not the same things And I answered him by that Text 2 Thes. 2. 10 11. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved for this cause God shall send them strong delusions that they should beleeve a lye This text I opened unto them I will adde no more at present to manifest their proficiency in knowledge The present work of the Lord that is to be done among them is to gather them together from their scattered kinde of life First unto Civil Society then to Ecclesiastical and both by the Divine direction of the Word of the Lord they are still earnestly desirous of it and this Spring that is past they were very importunately desirous to have been upon that work and to have planted corne in the place intended but I did disswade and was forced to use this reason of delay because I hoped for tools and meanes from England whereby to prosecute the work this Summer But when ships came and no supply you may easily think what a damping it was and truly my heart smote me that I had looked too much at man and meanes in stoping their earnest affections with that barre which proved a Blank I began without any such respect and I thought that the Lord would have me so to go on and only look to him for help whose work it is and when I had thus looked up to the Lord I advised with our Elders and some other of our Church whose hearts consented with me then I advised with divers of the Elders at Boston Lecture and Mr. Cottons answer was my heart sayeth go on and look to the Lord onely for help the rest also concuring So I commended it to our Church and we sought God in a day of fasting and prayer about it together with other causes and have been ever since a doing according to our abilities and this I account a favour of God that that very night before we came from our place of meeting we had notice of a Ship from England whereby I received Letters and some encouragement in the work from private friends a mercy which God had in store but unknown to some and so contrived by the Lord that I should receive it as a fruit of prayer The place also is of Gods providing as a fruit of prayer for when I with some that went with me had rode to a place of some hopefull expectation when we came to it it was in no wise sutable â— went behind a Rock and looked to the Lord and committed the matter to him and while J was travelling in Woods Christian friends were in prayer at home and so it was that though one of our company fell sick in the Woods so that we were forced home with speed yet in the way home the Jndians in our company upon enquiry describing a place to me and guiding us over some part of it the Lord did both by his providence then and by after more diligent search of the place discover that there it was his pleasure we should begin this work When grasse was fit to cut J sent some Jndians to mow and others to make some hay at the place because we must oft ride thither in the Autumn when grasse is withered and dead and especially in the Spring before any grasse is come and there is provision for our horses this work was performd well as I found when I went up to them with my man to order it We must also of necessity have an house to lodge in meet in and lay up our provisions and clothes which cannot be in Wigwams I set them therefore to fell and square timber for an house and when it was ready I went and many of them with me and on their shoulders carried all the timber together c. These things they chearfully do but this also I do I pay them wages carefully for all such works I set them about which is a good encouragement to labour I purpose God willing to call them together this Autumne to break and prepare their own ground against the Spring and for other necessary works which are not a few in such an enterprize There is a great river which divideth between their planting grounds and dwelling place through which though they easily wade in Summer yet in the Spring its deep and unfit for daily passing over especially of women and children therefore I thought it necessary that this Autumne we should make a foot Bridge over
and masse of them there is one above doth know that my heart melteth towards it desiring the Lord to give me grace to sorrow in secret for millions of them who were never yet acquainted with what many of these poore Indianns have felt and found of the things of Christ and that multitudes of such who hold forth a profession of Christian Religion yet fall short of them in regard of their belief and practise Here I helped my self by comparing the one with the other and that in divers particulars 1. These Indians are found to speak of such whose hearts the Lord hath opened by his Word and Spirit to prize Ordinances and such as bring the Light to them even that poor Indian whose best clothing is a simple skin about him of whom you read in the first Letter yet they honour him for his works sake and for those gifts piety and modesty they see in him Here Ministers of Christ are despised though many of them are eminent for parts wisdome and known integrity 2. These Indians are plain-hearted seek for Christ to enjoy him for himself they receive the Truth in the love of it and obey it without shifting or gain-saying Here men have their own ends to tend to in matter of Religion take up the forme and let the power lie as not serving their turn have evasions to get from under the authority of the truth and the Majesty of the Rules of Christ here is rending and tearing of wits whilst we wrangle one another out of the truth till love and peace be lost 3. These Indians are industrious and pursue the things of their salvation rest they cannot have it they must what ever it cost them bearing up strongly against all opposition We have weak and bed-rid dispositions sunk down into a sottish and sensuall way in many the kingdome of Hell suffers violence and none can withstand them but thither they will 4. These mourn and weep bitterly and are pained under the sight and sense of their sins when convinced of them that some of them have been known to have wet with their teares the places weere they have stood We here for the most part the Lord knowes live with dry eyes and hard hearts and sleight spirits 5. They are careful and constant in duties of worship both in private and family prayer hearing the Word observation of the Sabbath meet often together and will pray together as occasion serves converse lovingly together are teachable patient and contented O that there were such hearts in us O that their example did not shame multitudes of us who are fearfully guilty of omitting what the very light of Nature cals for from us For this my heart is sad fearing that if the Lord do not mightily step in the next generation will be betrayed to Ignorance of the Truth as it is in Jesus to Delusions and Profanenesse and be rendred odious to all our neighbour Nations and that these Indians will rise up in judgment against us and our children at the last day Brethren the Lord hath no need of us but if it please him can carry his Gospel to the other side of the world and make it there to shine forth in its glory brightnesse power and purity and leave us in Indian darknesse And concerning these Indians who have tasted how gracious the Lord is though it cannot be expected but that the Devil should be like himself by the counter-working of this blessed work both by himself and his instruments so as to cause many of them to totter back slide and fall away from what they have professed yet I have ground to conceive and hope that there is such a candle lighted amongst the Indians in those parts which shall not be put out till Christ comes to judgment for the accomplishment of which he shall not cease to pray who is Your loving friend in all Christian duties HENRY WHITFELD FINIS Some call it Marthaes Vineyard By this name they call their Kings and Governors * An Indian house or Wigwam is made with smal poles like an arbour covered with mats and their fire is in the midst over which they leave a place for the smoak to go out at Though I have written this passage to Mr. Winslow in my Letter to him which is printed yet it is not so full a story as here and therfore I have added it This man when I was in the Iland I often saw and spake with seeing also the skar upon his eye-brow and nose Although I was present at this meeting from the beginning to the end yet it was done without my privity or putting them on upon it but it came meerly from themselves This was Towanqueticks eldest sonne Gen. 10. Vide Ainsw. 〈◊〉 loc. Ezek. 11. 16.
that they were desirous to strengthen themselves in the way of God to have good hearts and one heart and to walk together in love in the wayes of God So after they had eaten together the victuals of their own providing and we had sung part of a Psalme in their own language and I had prayed with them they returned with the manifestation of much joy and thankfulnesse and this I can say they are generally constant in the way of God and I have great hopes of some of them blessed be his name year 1649 After this it pleased the Lord to stirre up the hearts of the Indians to appoint another meeting and many Indians being met they fell to a great discourse about the Pawwawes power to kill men and there were many stories told of the great hurt they had done by their witchcraft many wayes here you must know that though the Indians many of them were brought by the knowledge they had of God to renounce the Pawwawes help in time of sicknesse or otherwise yet they found it hard to get from under the yoake of cruelty that they and their forefathers had so long groaned under for I know some that then groaned under it acknowledged they did see that in God which would free them from it if they had but confidence to trust in him Then the question was asked Who is there that doth not fear the Pawwawes answer was made by some who favoured them there is not any man which is not afraid of the Pawwawes then looking upon Hiacoomes who was one that protested most against them told him that the Pawwawes could kill him he answered they could not they asked him againe why he told them because he did beleeve in God and trust in him and that therfore all the Pawwaws could not do him any hurt Then they all wondered exceedingly when he spake thus so openly Then divers of them said one by one though before I was afraid of the Pawwawes yet now because I hear Hiacoomes his words I do not fear them but beleeve in God too Then the meeting at this time was carried on and Hiacoomes is desired by the Indians to reckon up their sins unto them he presently found 45. or 50. and as many good duties his work was very well liked and in the conclusion twenty two Indians were found to resolve against those evils and to walk with God and attend the word of God year 1650 But I may not here forget an Indian called Hummanequem who exceeded all the rest to the wonderment of the Indians he with much sorrow hatred and courage related about twenty of his own sins and professed to follow the one God against all opposition He told them he was brought into this condition by Hiacoomes his counsel from the Word of God which at first he said he liked not afterwayes laid it by him as a thing to be considered not knowing well what to do at last looking over things again he came to this resolution which you have now heard I confesse this action makes me think he spake more then from a natural principle considering that the man hath been since an earnest seeker of more light both publike and private as also for refusing the help of a Pawwaw which lives within a bow shoot of his doore when his wife was three dayes in travel and waited patiently upon God till they obtained a merciful deliverance by prayer And whilst we were making progresse in the work of the Lord on a Lecture day an Indian stood up and said he had been a sinner and committed many evill things but now was sorry for them and did repent desired to forsake his sins and to walk in Gods way Then he went to the Sagamore Towanquetick and took him by the hand saying I do love you and do greatly desire to go along with you for Gods sake the like also he said to some others and then came to me in like manner saying I pray love me and I do love you and am desirous to go with you for Gods sake so he was received with many thanks and since I know him to be diligent and laborious I confesse I marvelled to see them act with such a spirit but I considered it was sutable to their own meeting in 48. Now the Indian accompanied his friend that suddenly lost his two sons he I say remaining still in his obstinacy is also found out and feeles the wrath of God being stricken with a dead Palsie all one side of him but his eye and eare The dead Palsie is a strange and unwonted disease amongst the Indians I have beene sometimes with him when I spake to him he fetched many sighs he is at this day a living and a dead monument of the Lords displeasure having hurt himself most and done them most good he hated Another thing is a remarkable combate between two Indians and a Pawwaw who on the Lords day after meeting came in very angry saying I know the meeting Indians are lyars you say you care not for the Pawwawes then calling two or three of them by name and railing at them told them that they were deceived for the Pawwawes could kill all the meeting Indians if they did set about it with that one of the young men replyed with much courage saying it is true I do not fear the Pawwawes neither do I desire any favour at their hands pray kill me if you can And Hiacoomes told him also that he would be in the midst of all the Pawwawes of the Iland that they could procure and they should do their utmost they could against him and when they did their worst by their witchcrafts to kill him he would without feare set himself against them by remembring Jehovah he told him also that he did put all the Pawwawes under his heel pointing unto it which answers did presently silence the Pawwawes devillish spirit and had he nothing to say but that none but Hiâ—â—oomes was able so to do I have observed the wise disposing hand of God in another Providence of his there have not as I know any man woman or child died of the meeting Indians since the meeting began untill now of late the Lord took away Hiacoomes his child which was about five dayes old he was best able to make a good use of it and to carry himself well in it and so was his wife also and truly they gave an excellent example in this also as they have in other things here were no black faces for it as the manner of the Indians is nor goods buried with it nor hellish howlings over the dead but a patient resigning of it to him that gave it There were some English at the burial and many Indians to whom I spake something of the Resurrection and as we were going away one of the Indians told me he was much refreshed in being freed from their old customes as also to hear of the Resurrection of good men
and their children to be with God There are now by the grace of God thirty nine Indian men of this meeting besides women that are looking this way which we suppose to exceed the number of the men though not known by open entrance into Covenant as the men but are now near it These in general have the knowledge of the fundamental points of Religion your self when you were with us had some tryal of it it was a great while my maine work to administer light in general to them and there now through mercy appears some life hoping that some of them have received this great mercy of God in Christ This is a great incouragement to me as also that their hearts are engaged in the way of the Lord for the salvation of their own souls upon Gods ends One of these meeting Indians said and I hope feelingly that if all the world the riches plenty and pleasures of it were presented without God or God without all these I would take God And another said that if the greatest Sagamore in the Land should take him in his armes and proffer him his love and riches and gifts to turn from his way he would not go with him from this way of God I heard one of them of his own accord and to the same purpose in complaining against head knowledge and lip prayers without heart holinesse loathing the condition of such a man saying I desire my heart may taste the word of God repent of my sinnes and leane upon the Redemption of the Lord Jesus Christ Some of them having a discourse with Vzzamequin a great Sachem or Governour on the maine Land coming amongst them about the wayes of God he enquired what earthly good things came along with them and demanding of them what they had gotten by all they had done this way one of them replyed we serve not God for cloathing nor for any outward thing I have observed many such like passages but my occasions at present will not permit me to set them down I only bring you those things which are most ready in my minde The last thing that I took special notice of is the receiving of the five men when your self was present into the meeting Indian number one of them the young man you saw was sent at first about two or three months before by one of the greatest Pawwawes upon the Iland to learn and spy what was done at the meeting and carry him word but at the last he learned so much as he then openly profest to hate the Pawwawes and their witchcrafts and that he did repent of his sinnes and desired to go with the meeting Indians in Gods ways another said he desired to joyn with the meeting Indians that he might have a renewed good heart the other were much like affected only one of them reckoned up the commandments and as he proceeded he protested against the sins forbidden and professed obedience to the duties commanded the last answered the question put to him by your self viz. by what power they did think to do this who answered First by his good desire and secondly by the help and blessing of Jesus Christ Just now whilst I am a writing there comes an Indian unto me and tels me his minde in these words I shall long for your returne back again out of the Bay that we may hear the good word of God the former sins of my heart in the time of my youth I now remember when I hear the word of God and when I walk in the woods alone I have much talk with God and great repentance for my sins and now I throw behind me all my strange gods and my heart goes right to God in prayer The way that I am now in through the grace of God for the carrying on of this great work is by a Lecture every fortnight whereunto both men women and children do come and first I pray with them teach them chatechise their children sing a Psalm and all in their own language I conferre every last day of the week with Hiacoomes about his subject matter of preaching to the Indians the next day where I furnish him with what spiritual food the Lord is pleased to afford me for them wherein God hath much assisted him for his own and their spiritual good and advantage who is diligent and conscionable to hold forth the grace of Christ to the Indians For this purpose your servent and frequent prayers together with all those who rejoyce in advancing the Scepter of Christ are by me earnestly desired and for me that I may preach him amongst the Heathen to the praise of the excellency of his own power and not mine and that the Indians in this small beginning being Gods husbandry and Gods building may be a fruitful glorious spreading Vine and builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit unto whom I commend you in Jesus and in him rest From Great Harbor in Martins Vineyard Sept. 7. 1650 Yours in the Lord to be commanded THOMAS MAYHOW NOw to speak somewhat farther of the proceeding of the things of Christ amongst the Indians of Mattacusets and thereabouts since the last books came forth Somewhat I saw and understood concerning those Indians which are under the care of Mr. Eliot unto whom I repaired at my coming from Martins Vineyard who acquainted me with the state of things amongst the Indians as they were at present at which time I rode with him to the Water-town Indians and heard him preach to them and catechize their children in the Indian tongue who wrote also by me to Mr. Winslow the Agent of the Countrey which Letter together with some other sent since the last publication by the Presse the Corporation of New England desired me that they might be joyned and printed with this written by Master Mahu which letters here follow Much honoured Sir YOur very loving acceptance of my Letters doth engage me very much unto you but especially your cordial rejoycing in the progresse of this work of the Lord among these poor Indians Sir I shall first answer some material things in your Letter First for that opinion of Rabbi-ben-Israel which you mention I would intreat you to request the same godly Minister nay I hope he hath already done it to send to him to know his grounds and how he came to that Intelligence when was it done which way were they transported into America by whom and what occasion how many and to what Parts first or what steps of intimation of such a thing may there be I had some thoughts in my heart to search the Original of this People that I might finde under what Covenant and Promise their fore-fathers have been for the help of my faith for Jehovah remembers and giveth being to ancient Promises What had become of us sonnes of Japhet if the Lord had not remembred that and such like ancient Promises God shall perswade Japhet to dwell in the Tents
him with a Ditch and two Railes about it they paid a debt for him of 3. li. 10. s. only some others were contributors in this money one of them gave him a skin of Beaver of two pound at his returne from building besides many dayes works in planting corne altogether and some severally yea they said they would willingly do more if they would govern well by justice and as the word of God taught them when I heard all this I wondred for this cometh to neere 30. livre. and was done by a few and they thought it not much if he had carried matters better and yet his complaint was they do nothing But the bottome of it lieth here he formerly had all or what he would now he hath but what they will and admonitions also to rule better and he is provoked by other Sachems and ill counsel not to suffer this and yet doth not know how to help it hence arise his tentations in which I do very much pity him Having all this information what they had done and how causelesse his complaint and discontent was I thought it a difficult thing to ease his spirit and yet clear and justifie the people which I was to endeavour the next day of our meeting after the former contestations therefore I was willing to get some body with me And by Gods providence Elder Heath went with me and when we came there we found him very full of discontent sighing sower looks c. but we took no notice of it I preached that day out of the fourth of Matthew the temptations of Christ and when I came at that temptation of the Devils showing Christ the kingdomes and glories of the world thereby to tempt him from the service of God to the service of the Devill I did apply it wholly to his case shewing him the Devill was now tempting him as he tempted Christ and Sathan sheweth him all the delights and dignities and gifts and greatnesse that he was wont to have in their sinfull way Satan also tels him he shall lose them all if he pray to God but if he will give over praying to God he shall have them all again then I shewed him how Christ rejected that temptation and exhorted him to reject it also for either he must reject the temptation or else he will reject praying to God if he should reject praying to God God would reject him After our exercise was ended we had conference of the matter and we gave him the best counsel we could as the Lord was pleased to assist and when we had done Elder Heath his observation of him was that there was a great change in him his spirit was very much lightned and it much appeared both in his countenance and carriage and he hath carried all things fairly ever since But the temptation still doth work strongly in the Countrey the Sachems opposing any that desire to submit themselves to the service of the Lord as appeareth sundry wayes some that began to listen are gone quite back I meane Sachems and some people that have a mind to it are kept back this last Lecture day one came in and submitted himself to call on God and said he had been kept back this half yeer by opposition but now at last the Lord hath helped and emboldned him to break through all opposition Thus Sathan seeketh to beat off these poore creatures from seeking after the Lord by opposing the highest powers they have against the Lord and this work of his knowing that the light of the Gospel and kingdome of Jesus Christ if it once get footing will scatter and dissipate that darknesse whereby his kingdome is maintained But I beleeve verily that the Lord will bring great good out of all these oppositions nay I see it already though I see not all I beleeve more then I can see you who can know the thoughts of Gods love to his people it is yet a secret but this I see that by this opposition the wicked are kept off from us and from thrusting themselves into our society at least sundry are who else might croud in among us and trouble us besides it is become some tryall now to come into our company and call upon God for besides the forsaking of their Pau-waus which was the first triall and their old barbarous fashions and liberty to all sinne and some of their friends and kindred c. Now this is added they incurre the displeasure of their Sachems all which put together it cannot but appear there is some work of God upon their hearts which doth carry them through all these snares and adde to this that if upon some competent time of experience we shall finde them to grow in knowledge of the principles of Religion and to love the wayes of the Lord the better according as they come to understand them and to yeeld obedience to them and submit to this great change to bridle lust by lawes of chastity and to mortifie idlenesse by labour and desire to traine up their children accordingly I say if we shall see these things in some measure in them what should hinder charity from hoping that there is grace in their hearts a spark kindled by the Word and Spirit of God that shall never be quenched and were these in a fixed cohabitation who could gain-say their gathering together into a holy Church-Covenant and election of Officers and who can forbid that they should be baptized And I am perswaded that there be sundry such among them whom the Lord will vouchsafe so far to favour and shine upon that they shall become a Church and a Spouse of Jesus Christ and among whom the pure and holy Kingdome of Christ shall arise and over whom Christ shall reigne ruling them in all things by his holy word But though this trouble and oppsition is turned and shall be more unto a spiritual gaine yet it behoveth us not to be secure and regardlesse of our safety for if the Adversary should discerne us naked and weak and see an opportunity who knoweth what their rage and Sathans malice may stirre them up unto to work us a mischief Nay it is our duty to be vigilant and fortifie our selves the best we can thereby to put the enemy out of hope to hurt us and to prevent them from attempting any evill against us if it be the will of God and to that end we purpose if the Lord will to make a strong Palizado wanting means of doing better and if we cannot get any Guns Powder Shot Swords c. we will make us Slings Bowes and other Engines the best the Lord will please to direct us for our safety and when we have used the best meanes we can I hope the Lord will help us to trust in his great name to make that our strong Tower to flie unto I see the Lord delighteth to appear himself in the work and will have us content our selves with little low poor things that all the
power and praise may be given to his great name Our work in civilizing them will go on the more slowly for want of tools for though I have bought a few for them we can do but little for alas a few will set but a few on work and they be very dear too had I store of horses this Autumne either to lend them or sell them at moderate prizes we should prepare by Gods blessing good store of ground for corne against next yeere and had I wherewith to buy corne to carry up to the place and have it in a readinesse to supply them that so they might tarry at their work and not be shut off through necessity to go get food that also would be a great furtherance and had we but means to maintaine a discreet diligent man to work with them and guide them in work that also would much further the work and many such things I could propound as very requisite unto the work but I lay my hand upon my mouth I will say no more I have left it with the Lord who hath hitherto appeared and he will appear for his own eternal praise in shining upon the day of our smal things in his due season The blessing of God upon this work doth comfortably hopefuly successefuly appear in the labours of my brother Mahu at Martins Vineyard insomuch that I hope they also will be after awhile ripe for this work of Civility and Cohabitation if once they see a successeful pattern of it and I doubt not but they will as these do ere long desire Church-fellowship and the Ordinances of Gods worship the cloud increaseth and the Lord seemeth to be coming in among them they are very desirous to have their children taught which is one argument that they truly love the knowledge of God as on the contrary it is a great ground of doubt of the truth of grace in that mans heart when he hath not an heart to take care to traine up his children in the truth and in the practise of all godlinesse but this care is in them and it is pity it should not be furthered by all meanes I have intreated a woman living neer where they dwell to do that office for their children and I pay her for it but when they go to their plantation we shall be in a streight for help that way the Indians so well like the parties who performeth that service that they intreat them to go with them which I look at as a finger of God they are I hope a godly couple and might be a blessing to them had we meanes to encourage them unto so difficult an enterprize for it is a great matter to go and live among such a people but in that case also I look up to the Lord and leave it with his holy care and wisdome and if the Lord move any hearts to help in this work I desire that the care of their schooling may be among the chiefest cares If the Lord please to prosper our poor beginnings my purpose is so for as the Lord shal enable me to give attendance unto the work to have schoole exercises for all the men by daily instructing of them to read and write c. Yea if the Lord affords us fit instruments my desire is that all the women may be taught to read I know the matter will be difficult every way for English people can only teach them to read English and for their own Language we have no book my desire therefore is to teach them all to write and read written hand and thereby with pains taking they may have some of the Scriptures in their own Language I have one already who can write so that I can read his writing well and he with some paines and teaching can read mine I hope the Lord will both inlarge his understanding and others also to do as he doth and if once I had some of themselves able to spell aright write and read it might further the work exceedingly and will be the speediest way Sir When I had gone thus farre in my Letters by a Ship that came in you wrote unto our Governour touching the two Libraries my brother Welds and Mr. Jenners and of the willingnesse of the Corporation to discharge for them for which cause I do humbly thank the Worshipful Corporation all the Christian and much respected Gentlemen my loving friends And Sir I thank you for all your faithful pains in this work and the more I am obliged thereunto because herein I am like to partake of the fruit of your labours the Lord Jesus give you a full reward Whereas you require the Catalogue of both Libraries it shall be done if God will but I am to go into the Countrey to the Indians now and have much businesse therefore know not whether I can do it by this Ship if I can I will This last Court of Commissioners sate at Hartford Conecticot so that I could not speak with them but this course I took by our Governours advice our General Court gave him with some other power to give instructions to our Commissioners therefore all my requests I did write unto him and he gave them in his Instructions to our Commissioners so they went strong Sir I have done at present Mr. Whitfeld will informe you farther in any particulars if need be The Lord of heaven blesse and assist you in all your wayes and I beg your prayers for me still and so rest Roxbury this 21 of the 8th 50 Yours in our Lord Jesus JOHN ELIOT The Conclusion ANd now loving Reader having brought thee along through these Divine dispensations of Gods merciful dealing with the Indians I shall briefly acquaint thee with the workings of my own thoughts under the apprehension of these things First I see plainly the fulfilling of that Divine truth and promise spoken of by David Psal. 138. 2. Thou hast magnified thy Word above all thy Name i. e. The Word in the Gospel brought and preached to men The Lord hath made this Word the only outward instrumental means to bring home these wandring sinners to this Word they have attended from the first from this they have received their light unto this they have given up themselves without this they will not stirre from this they will not depart from hence they have their peace and have seen good dayes under the Kingdome of our Lord Christ Secondly the Lord hath now declared one great end he had of sending many of his people to those ends of the earth for besides that the Lord hath made that Land a place of rest and a little sanctuary to them in these troubleous times and hath made it a place where mamany very many have been brought home to Christ even amongst themselves so now apparently in the conversion of many of the Heathens who sing and rejoyce in the wayes of the Lord Thirdly when I looked on my dear native Country in the bulke