died for us to satisfie divine Justice for the sin of man with this Sacrifice God hath said he is â—atisfied for the sin of man Thus Jesus Christ hath honoured Gods Law by sâ—tisfying of divine Justice and now Jesus Christ hath power to pardon whom he will Pen. These are strange and deep things which you say in this way I do see that a person is found that is able to pay a ransome to God and satisfie his Justice But still I am in the dark about my self how shall I be interâ—sted in this Redemption wrought by Jesus Christ If you have obtained it I have some hope that so may I. I pray tell me how I may be mâ—de partaker of this great Redemption from the condemnation of sin pronounced against me by the Law of God Wab. According to my poor ability as well as I can I will tell you and I will tell you â—ow I have obtained it and in the same way you also may obtain it Pen. O how this hope by your experience beginneth to raise my heart I pray go on and declare it to me Wab. God hath made a new Covenant of grace which he hath opened in the Gospel and Jesus Christ hath published it to all the world and the sum of it is this That whosoever shall penitently turn from sin towards God and believe in Jesus Christ he shall have a pardon of all his sins and be partaker of eternal life through the grace and mercy of God in Jesus Christ. Iohn 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his onely begotten Son that whosoever â—elieveth in him should not perish but have everlasting life Pen. This puts me into another great difficulty can I penitently turn from sin and believe in Jesus Christ Alas I know not how to go about such a work much less do I know how to accomplish the same therefore I still am under great straights and know not what to do Wab. You say true it is a work past your ability to do But Jesus Christ hath undertâ—ken two great works in the salvation of sinners The first is to pacifie Gods Justice and satisfie the Law and to reconcile God toward us and that he hath done and finished effectually when he was here on earth 2. Christ hath undertaken to conquer the world of all Gods Elect for it is onely the Elect of God whom Christ hath undertaken for and the Father and the Son have sent forth God the holy Ghost to effect this work for none but God himself is able to convert â— Soul and create faith in the heart of man We cannot do it of our selves neither you nor I can do it but by the assistance of the Spirit of God by the Word of God Pen. Still the difficulty lyeth before me I am at a loss and know not what to do I fully believe I am not able to do it my self Wab. I will help you as well as I can and the Lord help you by his Word and Spirit Your heart is now in some measure already turned away from sin that part of the work is wrought in your heart which I will demonstrate to you thus I ask you will you hereafter live and walk in the wayes of sin as you have formerly done Pen. Oh no no I hope God will keep me and help me I will never live again as I have fâ—â—merly done I will binde my self from it I abhor to do so I will forsake them for ever Lord help me so to do Wab. Well therefore you are now converted from your sins and who wrought this great Change in you it was not your self did it nor was it I that did it I onely opened unto you the word of God but the Spirit of God by the conviction of the Law and by the word of God hath wrought this work in you Pen. I cannot gainsay you I yield to what you say and wonder at it Wab. In the sâ—me manner the Spirit of God by the word is able to creâ—te Faith in you to believe in Jesus Christ. This work the Lord useth to work in us by the Promises of the Gospel Now I will propound unto you at present but one Promise Mat. 11.28 29. Come unto me all ye that laâ—our and are heavy laden and I will give you rest Take my yoke upon you and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart and ye shall finde rest unto your souls Now I ask you Are you weary and heavy laden with your sins Pen. Oh yes God knows I am so I never fâ—lt the like distress in my Soul since I was born sin is the bitterest thing in the world to my Soul Wab. Then hearken to this call of Christ for he calls you in particular to come to him and this coming is believing are you willing to come to Christ and ask a pardon of him and beg his mercy Pen. Yea with all my heart Lord help me Wab. Then see the next words what he promises I will give you rest Pen. Oh Lord let it be so according to thy Word and Promise thy will be done Wab. Well wait here and see if God doth not quiet your Soul and give you rest Mean while I will further ask you in the next words Are you willing to take upon you Christ his yoke and this yoke consisteth of two parts 1. The yoke of Commandments to do whatever he commandeth And 2. his yoke of Sufferings in this world for his Name sake for now that you are converted the carnal world will hate you mock you injure you speak all evil against you and it may be if they can they will kill you as they did Christ but are you willing â—o suâ—â—er all for Jesus Christ his sake who hath died for you And further are you willing to learn meekness of Jesus Christ For they are the next words and I do assure you that you will have great need of patience when you have done all the duties he commands to suffer patiently what God himself shall inflict upon you by sicknesses crosses and temptations or what wicked men shall inflict upon you Pen. These things which you speak are against the flesh and fâ—aâ—e that I used to be in and I do finde that they are not so fully killed but that they have a little stirring in them when you propound these cases to me But the experience I have now found of the love of God and of Jesus Christ to my Soul doth lay such an engagement upon my heart that I will by his grace and assistance be for him onely serve him onely do all that ever he shall command me suffer whatever he shall impose upon me I will no more be for my self but for him who hath done all this for me Oh what shall I render unto the Lord for all his benefits to my poor Soul Wab. We are surprized by the night we must rest under these Trees this night I do account this day well
will turn to God onely at such times when praâ—â—ing is in credit leave themselves under a doubt whether it be 〈◊〉 the love of God and his wayes that they pray or for love of theâ—â— selves and their own credit But when men will take up praying to God in evil times whâ— they must expect hâ—rd measure from the world for it this is a 〈◊〉 that they love God and love praying to God better then thâ—â— love themselves and that they deny themselves for Christ his 〈◊〉 Therefore I have taken the fiâ—test time to try you and to sift yoâ— to catch none but the good Corn and to let go and lose all tâ—â— dust and chaff Kinsm Some sâ—eak of very many English people killed wiâ—â— Thunder and many burnt in their houses is it so indeed Pium. It is so indâ—ed and in many parts of the Country Boston and in many other places Very lately there were in oâ—â— Winter eight or nine persons burnt to death in one house five another one in another Sicknesses are often sent of God amoâ—â— them which kill many Their Corn is Blasted and they are pâ—â—niâ—â—ed by God many wayes by Sea and Land in these late years Kinswom These are but cold and weak Arguments to perswaâ—â— us to take up the English fashion and to serve their God when 〈◊〉 tell us how sharply he dealeth with his Servants All. You say right we are better as we are Pium. We know there be many sins among the English whiâ—â— provoke God to be angry with them and to punish them to tâ—â— end he might bring them to repentance When we exhorâ— youâ— pray and to serve the God of the English we call you 〈…〉 the virtues and good wayes of the English wherein yoâ— shall acceptable to the Lord We do not call you to imitate their 〈◊〉 whereby they and you shall provoke the anger and displeasure the Lord. Anâ— what though God doth chastise his people for thâ— sins it is his wisdome faithfulness and love so to do a Châ—â—â— will not run away from his wise and loving Father because he 〈◊〉 him for his faults but will love him the better fear him tâ—â— more and learn thereby to be a good Childe The wise Englâ—â—â— love God the more for his wise Chastisement of them for thâ— sins And why may not I use it as an Argument to perswade yâ—â— to choose him to be your God who will love and encourage you all virtue and love and punish you for all sins that he might brâ—â—â— you to repentance and amendment of life Gods Rods have moâ—â— encouragement to a wise heart then discouragement in them Kinswom Cousin had you not a great Thunder and Lightniâ—â— to day as you came and were you not afraid We had it so with us and I was very much afraid and especially since I have heard of so many English stricken and killed by it and cannot refrain my self from fear Pium. I perceived the Thunder to be more this way then it was in the place where I was at that time travelling Touching the fear of Thunder the Word of God saith it is terrible and the bruit Beasts tremble at it it is sometime called The Voice of God by reason of the terribleness of it and the reason of its terrour to man is because we are great sinners and have deserved Gods wrâ—th and it should move our hearts to repentance for our sins and take heed of provoking the anger of that God who is able to utter so terrible a voice and can dash down destroying fire upon us worms who are no wayes able to defend our selves Kinsm Would you not lye down now you have eaten and take soâ—e rest after your long journey Pium. Nay we must first return to God and give Thanks to him for our food and health and strength by the same Kinsm I pray tell me why you are so careful to pray unto God before and after meat Pium. Let us first give Thanks and then we will discourse that point Attend all We do give humble thanks unto thy holy Name O Lord our God for our life health food raiment and for this present food whereby we are refreshed We thank thee O Lord for the love we finde among our friends and for our freedome in good discourse for the good of our Souls We do pray for a blessing upon both what our food may strengthen our Bodies and our discourse may do good to our Souls Help me so to declare thy Word and thy Works that I may win their Souls to love thee and to forsake their sins and turn unto the Lord by true Repentance These and all other mercies we pray for in the Name and for the sake of our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen All. Tabat tabat tabat Pium. Now my Kinsmen and Friends let us discourse a little about the Question propounded Why we pray unto God before and after Meat Our Lord Jesus Christ did so before meat as it is written of him in many examples and we are not to doubt but he did the same after meat because the Lord hath commanded the same so expresly saying When thou hast eaten and art full then beware lest thou forget the Lord. And to shew you what great reason we have thus to do consider that God doth some of his chief works in this world in the matter of our eating which no creature can do for take you a Tray of meat and ask Who can turn this into blood and flesh and siâ—ewâ— and bones and skin and who can give every part of our body its due proportion that one part shâ—ll not overgrow the other but every part alike Who but God can do this And who but God can make our bodies to grow to such an appointeâ— stature and then to grow no more And who but God can prâ—â—serve our health and turn away sicknesses Now these marvelloâ—â—â—hings God doth for us every day and every time we eat anâ— therefore is it not very good reason that we should pray and givâ— thanks to God at such time as he doth such great and obligiâ—â— things for us Again God provideth all our food for us he provideth Corâ— not we our selves we do but a little towards it the great work â— God 's all that we do is to put our Corn into the ground and kâ—â—â— the ground clean about it but God makes it to grow he gives 〈◊〉 a root a blade a stalk and ears whereby one Corn shall becomâ— three or four or five hundred Who but God can do this thereâ—fore Corn is of his providing Again who provideth water and watereth the Corn is it noâ— God for when Springs and Rivers are dried up what can meâ— do but cry to God and theâ— God will bring Clouds like greaâ— Bottles full of water and drop them down upon the withered anâ— parched Earth and thereby make the Corn and Grass and all fruiâ— to grow Who but God can do this Again God provides
you mercy through Jesus Christ do not harden your hearts against the Lord be therefore perswaded now to forsake your sins and turn unto the Lord come unto the light out of your darkness awake from your dead sleep stand up and Christ will give you life VVe speak by expâ—rience we were dead and blinde as you are we loved pleasures as you do but by the grace of Christ we have found ligâ—t and life and we now call you to partake with us in our mâ—rcies Pauwau VVe have not only pleasures but also Prayers and Sâ—crifices we beat and aâ—â—â—ict our selves to pacifie our gods and when â—e be â—ick wâ— use such wayes to recover our health and to obtain all such things as we want and desire to obtain from our gods Pium. Your Prayers and Pauwauings are worâ—hipping of the Devil and noâ— of God and tâ—ey are among the greatest of your sins Your â—urthers lusts stealing lying c. they are great sins your Pauwauings are wâ—rse sins because by them you worship the Devil instead of God VVhen you Pauwau's use Physick by Roots and such other tâ—ings which God â—ath made for that purpose that is no sin you do well to use Pâ—ysick for your recovery from sickness but your prâ—ying to and worshipping the Devil that is your great siâ— which now God calls you to forsake Use onely such Remedies as God hath appointed and pray onely to God this we call you to do and this is the way of true wisdome Kinsm I feel my heart broken and divided I know not what to do To part with our former lusts and pleasures is an hard point and I feel my heart very loth and backward to it many objections against it yet I cannot but confess that I do not in my inward heart approve of them I know they are vile and filthy and I deâ—ire to forsake them they are like burning coals in my bosome I will shake them out if I can I am ashamed of my old wayes and loth I am to keep that which I am ashamed to be seen in The wiser men be the more they abstain from such lusts and we account such to be foolish vile and wicked that are unbridled and unperswâ—deable I would not be my self of the number of them that are vicious and vile â—bove restraint VVhat I perswade others to leave I would not do the same my self VVe do account it commendable in such as do bridle and refrain themselves from those vices and what I judge to be commendable in others would be therein exemplar and a pattern unto such as be young and foolish and run mad after such beastly courses In that point I would easily be perswaded or at least I desire so to be But the greatest difficulty that I yet finde is this I am loth to divide my self from my Friends and Kindred If I should chaâ—gâ— my course and not they then I must leave and forsake their company which I am very loth to do I love my Sachem and all the rest of you my good Friends if I should change my life and way I greatly dâ—sire that we might agree to do it together Sont I like well that we should agree upon some amendment of some bad courses that are too oft among us and I love your love that would have us agree together and do what we do in these great matters by common consent but to do that is a matter of much discourse and deep consideration This Meeting was sudden we have other matters at present to attend we have been together long enough for this time we must leave the whole matter to some other time Pium. Two dayâ—s hence is the Sabbath-day God hath commanded all men to Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy I request all of you to come together that day and then I will further teach you by the assistance of the Lord touching this matter And to perswade you to make this beginning to keep the Sabbath besides the Commandment of the Lord we have the Reasons annexed by God himself unto it God himself Rested that day to set us an heavenly pattern and God hath also blessed that day and mâ—de it holy and hath promised that when we shall â—eet together in his Naâ—e then he will come among us and bring a blessing with him And when the Disciples of Christ were met to worship God upon that day before the day was done he came among them and blessed them So if you come together on the Sabbath-day my hope and trust is that we shall finde some special token of the presence of Christ Jesus among us Kinsm I do very well like of this motion and shall willingly attend and if you think good let my house be the place or if you our beloved Sachem think good we will all come together at your house Sont I like it well let it be so come to my house and you shall be welcome All. Content we like it well so let it be Pium. Let the time of Meeting be as early as you well can about Nine of the Clock All. So let it be The Sabbath Meeting Sontim Piumbuhhou Kinsman All. Sont IT is well done my Friends and Neighbours that you have remembred our agreement and are come together about this great business And now my kinde Friend what you have further to say unto us we are here ready to hear you Pium. Six dayes God hath given us wherein to do all our own business and works Every seventh day God hath commanded us to give unto him to rest from our own works and to do his work to pray unto him to hear his Word to talk and speak of heavenly matters for the good of our Souls We are all here this day before the Lord And first of all he hath commanded us to prâ—â— together therefore let us all either stand up like servants or kneel down like sons and daughters and pray unto the Lord. Then he prayeth The next work we use to do is to Catechize that is to teach by asking of Questions and they that are taught make Answer according as they have been taught but that work you are not yet fitted and prepared for therefore we lay it by The next work which we do is to Reade some Chapter of the Word of God Then he calleth one that came with him who Realeth When that is â—iniâ—hed then he saith Now we use to sing a Psalm which is one part of Gods Word and Worship but for that work you are not yet prepared therefore wâ— lay that by also And now I will teach you out of the Word of God The Text is Matth. 7.13 14. Enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat Because strait is the gate and narrow is the way which leadeth unto life and few there be that finde it In these words are two parts 1.
this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour Who will have all men to be saved and to coâ—e unto the knowledge of the truth 1 Tim. 2. â— 2 3 4. According to this appointment let us pray Which finished He took that Text Matth. 20.1 2 3 4 5 6 7. In these words we may observe these things 1. The Vineyard where men labour is the Church and this waâ— of praying to God and sheweth that it is a laborious and a good work and will cause us to bring forth good fruits grapes and wine which is pleasing to God and man But beware of bringing forth sowre grapes especially suffer no briars and thorns but cuâ— them down and root them up and cast them out 2. The Lord of this Vineyard is Jesus Christ who calleth all meâ— to come into this his Vineyard and do these works And thâ—â— day I do in the Name of the Lord Jesus call you all to pray to God come and work in this Vineyard Hearken to this Call and be no longer idle follow your sins no longer you have lived in 〈◊〉 long enough stay no longer but come in when you are called Happy are you if you obey and come woe be to you if you refuse 3. Here be the several seasons of mens coming in or the severâ—â— Ages of men that do come in 1. Some come in while it is morning that is while they bâ— young therefore I call you Boyes Youths aâ—d Girls come yoâ— unto the Lords Vineyard and give unto God the first-fruits oâ— your dayes 2. The Lord went forth at the third hour and called in younâ— men and young women into his Vineyard Hearken therefore yoâ— young men and young women to the Call of God and come in 3. The Lord went forth at the ninth hour that is he called iâ— men and women full grown to ripeness of parts and strength you are called this day to come into the Lords Vineyard be yoâ— perswaded to come in and serve the Devil no longer now tuâ—â— unto the Lord. 4. The Lord went forth the eleventh hour that is a little bforâ— night and this doth mean you old men and old women comâ— you into the Lords Vineyâ—rd you see the Lord will accept you 〈◊〉 you come Do not think you are too old to serve the Lord 〈◊〉 your dayes be near finished you had the more need come in quicâ—â— ly lest you die in your sins and perish for ever When he had finished an Objection was made by one We dâ—â— not come in to pray to God for we hear you are very severe if any 〈◊〉 found in sin of lust or the like you Whip them and punish them 〈◊〉 maketh us afraid to pray to God â—nsw Wab. God hath appointed punishments of sin to be Phâ— sick for their souls and though Physick be bitter and sharp yâ—â— it s very wholesome good and needful If you were invited 〈◊〉 dwell at such a Town where there is a Physician would you saâ— No I will not dwell there because if I be sick I must take Physicâ—â— sure you would therefore go dwell at that place So it is in thâ—â— case you should therefore desire to pray to God because they use Physick to heal the sickness of your souls Afternoon They being met Waban having first prayed then taketh this Text Psal. 2.8 9 10 11. In these words see these three things 1. Christ Jesus taketh possession of the heathen and utmost ends of the earth and this is one description of our Country And now Jesus Christ calleth us to come to him Some of us have submitted unto Christ and he hath mercifully accepted us and so he will accept you if you will come in unto him 2. See what Christ will do to them that will not come in He will break them with a Rod of Iron and dash them in pieces like a potters vessel Thus Christ will deal with our sins if we submit to him But if we will not submit to him he will thus deal with our persons and destroy them that refuse to serve him Luke 19.27 3. Here is the effect of Gods severity against sinners Be wise therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Iudges of the Earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoyce with trembling Do not say Because Christ is severe against our sins therefore we will not come unto him but fly from him do not so for then he will destroy you but come trembling to him and say Lord take away our sins by sharpness that our souls may be saved for ever DIALOG III. Anthony and William Ahauton were sent to Paganoohket where Philip is Sachem When they first came to the Town they went to the Sachems house Anthony William Philip Keitassoot All the Company Anthony SAchem we salute you in the Lord and we declare unto you that we are sent by the Church in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ to call you and beseech you to turn from your vain conversation unto God to pray unto God and to believe in Jesus Christ for the pardon of your siâ—s and for the salvation of your soul. We do unto you according to the holy Example which we finde Iohn 1.40 to 47. where Andrew called Peter and Christ himself called Philip and Philip called Nathaniel So we are come this day unto you in the Name of Jesus Christ to call you to come unto the Lord and serve him This Argument we perswade you by because we hear that many of your people do deâ—â—re to pâ—ay to God only they depend upon you We pray you to consider that your love to your people should oblige you to do them all the good you can In this point it lieth in your hand to do the greatest good in the world unto them to do good to their souls as well as to their bodies and to do them good to eternity as well as in this present world All this good you will do to your people if you will accept of this offer of mercy you will not only your self turn from sin unto God to serve the true and living God but all your people will turn to God with you so that you may say unto the Lord Oh Lord Jesus behold here am I and all the people which thou hast given me we all come into thy service and promise to pray unto God so long as we live Oh how welcome will you be unto the Lord And oh how happy and joyful will â—ll your people be when they and their Sachem are all owned by God to be in the number of his Children and Servants It will be a joy to all the English Magistrates and Ministers and Churches and good people of the Land to hear that Philip and all his people are turned to God and become praying Indians We reade in Luke 15.7 that there is joy in heaven over one poor sinner that repenteth and turneth unto God what great joy will it then be in heaven when so
his body for the Sin of his soul whether macerations of the body or any other fruit but alas all will not do And then ver 8. he shews what is the onely thing that will satisfie onely Jesus Christ belived on by faith held forth in those works of sanctification and holy life for so the Scripture testifies 2 Cor 5.19 God was in Christ Iesus reconciling the world unto himself And Acts 4.12 There is no other Name under heaven by which we can be saved Acts 16 3â— Belâ—eve in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt be saved and thy house I do not mention such Texts of Scripture as call to repentance because the end of repentance being â—o dispose the heart to believing it seemeth to me by your many gracious and penitent confeâ—â—ions thâ—t the Spirit of Gâ—d hath wrought in you a penitent heart already and your soul lyeth in the very next capacity of believing in our Lord Jâ—sus Christ by the Promise Yea further I say that your gracious acceptance of the Word of God love unto it and submission â—o its light and conduct these aâ—ts of grace in you are so powerful sweet and savoury that I know not but that the work of faith is already wrought in your poor mourning trembling but blessed soul and therefore be no more so disconsolate hope in the Lord and do as it is said Psal. 27.14 Wait on the Lord be of good courage and he shall strengthen thy heart wait I say upon the Lord. Penit. I do perceive that you take that to be a great work of grace and faith in my heart so gladly to receive the Word of God and submissively to give up my self to the conduct thereof I cannot deny but confess that my heart is really so as I have expressed and every thing that hath passed in this Conference hath had something in it to strengthen that frame of heart it me and now lastly and especially that you do bring forth that work which is wrought in me to be an evidence of faith this doth so much the more incline and oblige my heart to a great love and reverence to the Scriptures and a resolution through the grace help and assistance of Jesus Christ to spend the rest of my life in a more diligent and abundant attendance on the hearing reading meditating on and obeying of the Word of God If this be an act of faith I desire to live that part of the life of faith all the dayes of my life Lord help me to perform this promise unto God Iohn I will shew you the reason why I lay so much weight upon â—hat fâ—â—r of heart to embrace the Word to love it to obey it c. â—irst I finde that it is the character of those famous primitive Converts Acts 2.41 42. Then they that gladly received his word were â—aptized and the same day there were added unto them about three â—housand souls and they continued stedfastly in the Apostles doctrine â—nd fellowship Their obedience to and walking in the Word is a â—hief effect and Sign of the true and thorough work of grace in â—hem in that point their Conversion shined and it seemeth to me â—hat your Conversion doth in this point shine Again Iam. 1.21 it is said Lay aside all filthiness and superfluity â—â— naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is â—ble to save your souls Here be three things in this Text the first â—â— the preparative work to cast away all filthiness and out boilâ—ngs of naughtiness This work God hath wrought in your diâ—â—ressed heart which appeareth in your penitent confessions The â—econd work is to receive the word with meekness and so that it â—ay appear to be an ingrafted word connaturalized in your heart â—â—d this is the work which I observe to be wrought in your heart â—hich is the work of faith whereby you are united to Christ by â—â—e word so received and submitted unto The entrance of thy â—ord giveth life Psal. 119.130 Then the third thing this Word â—â— received and ingrafted whereby you are united to Christ this â—ill save your soul you are a veâ—â—el of grace and shall be a vessel â—â— glory fear it not God that cannot lie hath spoken it Again 1 Pet. 2.1 2. Laying aside all malice and all guâ—le and hyâ—â—crifies and envies and evil speakings As new-born baâ—es desire the 〈◊〉 milk of the word that ye may grow thereby Here see 1. A 〈◊〉 born babe that is a soul converted a new creature formed in the heart by faith laying hold on Christ and from him receiving the Spirit to dwell in him and to form this new creature in hiâ— heart Now what acts of life doth this babe perform they arâ— two 1. By mortification and repentance he purgeth out all hiâ— sins and this act of life you effectually do by your penitent coâ—fessions The second act of life is he desires the sincere milk oâ— the word that he may grow thereby The new creature is fed bâ— the same means by which it was begotten the word of God is tâ—â— seed of God to beget the new creature 1 Iohn 3.9 and then tâ—â— word of God is milk to feed and nourish the new creature Noâ— this is the thing that I observe in you that as a new â—orn babe yoâ— desire the milk of the word and note this word Sincere milk â— living babe of Christ cannot abide humane mixtures added to tâ—â— word of God he loves the pure word he cannot rellish mixâ—tures Penit. My dearest friend God hath made you an instrument â—â— his hand to lay before me unspeakable consolation and I cannâ—â— deny but I feel it in my heart I am another man then what I waâ— I looked on my self the most miserable of men I now am hapâ—â— being united to Christ. O blessed change I am in admiration 〈◊〉 this I admire the grace of Christ to a dead lost damned sinnâ—â— I am come into a new world I have other desires then I had 〈◊〉 other purposes I see things in another frame then I was wont see them I must live a new life and steer a new course But in this point my soul desires to begin I am not mine own am the servant of Jesus Christ he died for me and by his grace deâ—â—â—e to live unto him And now I finde my self greatly to 〈◊〉 Counsel how to order my self in my future course what shaâ—â— do for the Lord who hath done so much for me My dear frieâ—â— your Counsel hath been greatly owned and blessed by the Lord my new birth I desire to have great respect to your Counsel for ordering of my wayes in my new life You do partly know that my people and some chief ones amoâ—â— them have had but a final measure of respect for me but I have grâ—â—â— reason to overlook it and bury it because in his infinite 〈◊〉 Christ hath turned it about for my better good my heart tellâ— me that I must seek the good of my people how to manage 〈◊〉 work wisely is my difficulty wherein I need your Counsel â— would to God that all my people were as I am and tasted and 〈◊〉 what I have found but that is not yet so I desire to bring tâ—â— to be the Lords people how I shall accomplish that is my grâ—â—â—â—ifficulâ—y You know I have been frequently among you prâ—â— Indians and in my heart have adhered to you and it may be 〈◊〉 have found the less acceptation for it but I leave that God must do and perform the trust charge and duty that my Lord 〈◊〉 hath committed to me My question therefore is How 〈◊〉 comport with the present affairs and state of things how shall I bring the matter about to bring about my people to pray to God Iohn It joyes my heart to hear these gracious breathings of Gods Spirit in you I taste in your discourse evident tokens of a living childe of God I see that my judgement about the spiritual state of your soul was not a product of precipitate charity but an effect of the spirit of right discerning I will encourage you in your godly purposes with a modest application of some of the Angels words to Gideon Judg. 6.12 14. Go on thou mighty man of valour and go in this thy strength and thou shalt save thy people The Lord will be with thee But for the manner of your proceeding in this matter my thoughts incline me to propose this way Be open to own the grace of God bestowed on you to confess your former known crooked and dark wayes and the change which God by his grace hath wrought in you At present let your first motion be to stay a while at Natik adjoyn your self to the Church who when they hear your Confession will joyfully receive you In due season request of the Church to send some able pious and fitting Teachers with you among your people Prudent Counsel may be taken how to prepare and predispose your people for such a motion I do not doubt but the Governour and Magistrates of the Massachusets will be easily intreated to interpose in so good a work which may tend to the bringing in so many people to the service of Jesus Christ. Penit. I do well approve and accept of your Counsel it savoureth of discretion and wisdome in all things God hath guided your lips to drop like the honey-comb into my heart And now I have one request further unto you That while we are together in this solitary opportunity we may spend some time in conversing with God in Prayer turn all those things that have passed into Prayers and the future matters also let us spread them before the Lord and beg his guidance and blessing Iohn I do greatly accept this motion and it is another sign of the truth of the work of Gods grace in your heart because this is the property of the new creature a new-born babe that he will cry Abba Father Here we leave them at Prayer FINIS
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
by the Law of God was evident to me as the light Gods pure and â—nchangeable Justice which sentenced me by the Law unto hell I saw I could not possibly answer seeing I am a poor finite worm and what have I to satisfie infinite offended Justice and therefore my soul mourned and lamented and sunk into despair for Gods Justice is unchangeable and his Law must be satisfied which I am never able to do and therefore I must be eternally damnâ—d under that just sentence I dâ—rst not pray God to pardon my transgression by any absolute soveraign act of mercy for then he should have offended his own Justice which is unchangeable and abolished his own Law whose perfection is such that it must be fulfilled and satisfied and to satisfie Gods just Law was not in the power of any finite creature Man or Angel and therefore I despaired no ransome could be found in all the world for me a poor sinner Oh tâ—e bitterness that my soul felt in the horrour of my damned estate No tongue can utter what my soul felt I had a taste of hell torments in my soul my meditation of Gods Omniscience whereby he knew all my sins not onely open but secret ones brought innumerable sins to my remembrance one of which was enough to damn me but I had mountains of guilt heaped upon my distressed soul the impossibility for me to satisfie divine Justice and the impossibility of pardon without satisfaction because God cannot be unjust and his Law is unchangeable Such meditations cast me into the horrible pit of darkness and desperation The redemption of the soul is precious it ceaseth for ever Psal. 498. Then God opened the mouth of this dear Servant of his who told me that the infinite mercy and wisdome of God had found out a ransome a way to satisfie Justice and fulfil the Law and to save poor condemned sinners and that he himself had found mercy in that way This bred some hope in my soul and stayed me from sinking quite down when I heard of a possibility but still I was in distressing doubt and fear that it was but some delusion because I could not see a possibility for Man or Angel or any Creature to satisfie and give a ransome to infinite Justice Then he declared to me that it is true that no Creature could give a ransome to satisfie Justice but God himself was able to satisfie the infinite Justice of God To that I yielded that God himself might satisfie his Justice but still I was in the dark I could not see this could possibly be Then he opened me that adored Doctrine of God his being One and Three how God was one in Essence three in Persons God the Father God the Son and God the holy Ghost how the Father doth by an eternal inâ—ellectual act conceive the Image of Himself as being the only adequate Object he understands himself and this is called the Begeâ—ting of the Son by an intellectual conception of his own Image and these two Subsistencies do by an eternal act of Volition love each other and this Love is the third Person in Trinity proceeding from both the Father and the Son Now the eternal Majesty of God agreed within himself that God the Son the second Person in Trinity should assume humane Nature to himself and become a man subject to the Law This glorious Person is the greatest subject that ever the Law had and this glorious Person is able perfectly to fulfil the Law and perfectly to pay a raâ—some satisfactory to infinite Justice who hath done it This depth of divine Wisdome my soul admired and shall do to eternity But still I was at a loss how I should be interested in the ransome that this glorious Person hath paid Then did this Messenger of God declare unto me that this glorious Person Jesus Christ had undertaken both parts of this work First to atone and reconcile God to man by paying the ransome required and by perfect fulfilling the Law Secondly to subdue the soul and will of man to turn and submit to be reconciled to God But this work of converting â— soul to God is such that as no man can convert himself so no other Creature is able to do it onely God himself can do it and for that end both the Father and Son have sent forth the holy Ghost the eternal Spirit to work upon the hearts of men and to create the work of Faith in them by the Word and then to take possession of and dwell in believing souls to mortifie their lusts to sanctifie their hearts and lives and to lead them in the way of grace unto glory And he further declared to me that this blessed Spirit of Gâ—d by the Word of God had already begun this great work in my soul for a new light is set up in my soul a work beyond the reach of man and that light hath convinced me of sin and of my my damned estate by sin it had made a separaâ—ion and divorce betwixt sin and my soul it had cut me off the old stock and lâ—id my soul down at the foot of Christ capable with all humble thankfulness to accept salvation not by any merit of mine but by free-grace of Christ unto a vile and unworthy sinner This I could not deny but I did finde such conviction and such a submission to Christ and this he declared to be the first step and beginning of the work of sound Conversion I crave your patience for a few words more Then he proceeded to shew me that the work was finished by the Promise which also the Spirit of God doth bring home unto the soul and makes up the match betwixt Christ and the soul. And to that purpose he brought Mat 11.28 29. by which Text he shewed me as in a glass 1. The distress my soul was in 2. The call of Christ to such distressed soul. 3. The promise of Rest to such as come to him 4. The obligation to learn meekness both to do and suffer the will of Christ. And here my soul resteth Ah friends we poor Indians are great sinners but Câ—rist is great salvation for the greatest sinners What â—inite creature can out-sin infinite satisfaction Nish I see you are strongly changed and transported but my feeble Age needeth rest and so may you also by this time Wab. Aged Uncle to morrow is the Sabbath-day if you like of it order all your people to come together in the morning and by the Lords assistance I will further teach you by the Word of God Nish I like it well Send out to all parts of the Town that all meet to morrow morning The Sabbath Many being met Waban THe Lord hath appointed that in our publick Worship first of all supplications prayers intercessions and giving of thanks be made for all men For Kings and for all that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceable liâ—e in all godliness and honesty For
one and they will be found light and of no value Our desire is to deal fully with you and hear all that you have to say Cobwebs may seem thick and strong until they be handled but when they be touched and opened they will be found altâ—gether weak Keit. I perceive that in your praying to God and in your Churches all are brought to an equality Sachems and people they are all fâ—llow-brethren in your Churches Poor and Rich are â—qually priviledged the Voâ—e of the lowesâ— of the people hath as much weight as the Vote of the Sachem Now I doubt that this way will lift up the heart of the poor to too much boldness and debase the Rulers too low this bringing all to an equality will bring all to a confusion Ant. This also I confess is a great and weighty Point and must be looked upon with much prudence and caution The weight of a Vote lieth not so much in the man as in the matter wherein he Voâ—eth A poor wise man may give a better Reason then a rich man or a Ruler and then it is the Reason that prevaileth not the man We must all be ruled by the Word of God both Sachemâ— and people The Word of God in the mouth of a poor man must be regarded for the Words sake and not for the mans sake be he rich or poor The management of Church Liberties is a narrow edge and may easily be miscarried and prove hurtful which difficulty must be helped by good conduct the well-ordering of a Church is a point of great wisdome and care but we must not therefore fly off from a Rule because it is difficult but it must be acted with the more fear care and prayer There is such a Rule in the Gospel-way of the Churches as Equality of Vote among Believers in the matters of Jesus Christ And herein is a great point of Self denial in Sachems and chief men to be equal to his Brethren in the things that appertain to Christ who is no respecter of persons So it is said Col. 3.11 Where there iâ— neither Greek nor Iew Circumcision nor Vncircumcision Barbarian Scythâ—an â—ond nor free but Christ is all and in all And as Faith â—aâ—es all Believers equal in Christ so doth the Order of the Gospel all that are in Gospel-order are equally concerned in the â—ffairs of Jesus Christ. And this should not be a trouble but a comfort and joy to every one and therefore it is said Iam. 1.9 10. Let the brother of low degree rejoyce in that he is exalted but the riâ—h in that he is made low for by both these Christ is exalâ—ed and in that we must rejoice Will. All that my Brother hath said is weighty I will adde â— word further to the edge of your Objection Church-Order doth not abolish Civil Order but establish it Religion teacheth and commandeth reverence and obedience to Civil Rulers and when â— religious Ruler doth deny himself for Christ his sake to be equaâ— with his Brethren in Church-Order it obligeth all godly hearâ—â— the more to honour him in his Civil Oâ—der 1 Tim. 6.2 the Lord saith And they that have believing Masters let tâ—em not despise theâ— because they are brethren but the rather do tâ—eâ—â—ervice because theâ— are â—aiâ—hâ—ul and beloved partakers of the â—enefit These things â—eacâ— and exhort Do not fear any loss of honour by submiâ—â—ing â—o Gâ—spâ—â— Community in Church-Order but know that it is the rigâ—â—est way to true honour The hearts of all will honour those Rulers that are humble and holy And when you shall do this for the honour of Christ then Chriâ—â— will take care to honour such Rulers for God hath promised 1 Sam. 2.30 Tâ—em that honour me I will honour Believe the word of Gâ—d for you shall finde it true Keit. What second thoughts may come into my minde I cannot tell but at present I finde nothing in my minde to oppose against what you say But yet there is another tâ—ing that I am much afraid of and that is your Church-Admonitions and Excommunications I hear that your Sachems are under that yoke I am a sinful man as well as others but if I must be admonished by thâ— Câ—urch who are my Subjects I know not how I shall like tâ—at â— doubâ— it will be a bitter Pill too hard for me to get down and swallâ—w Ant. Still your Objections are great and weighty Sin is the sickness of the soul even as diseases are the sickness of the body Admonitions in the Lord by the holy Scriptures are the Pâ—ysicâ— of the Soul even as outward Medicines are Physick to the body Now if your body be sick you will not refuse Physick because iâ— is bitter or sharp and difficult to bear No but you will bear iâ— patiently because you know it is wholesome and a means to cure your sickness The same I say about the sickness of your soul that Medicine which God hath appointed to purge away your sinâ— you must patiently submit unto because it is wholesome and good for your soul. Yea and you must be so much the more careful and willing to submit thereunto by how much the danger oâ— soâ—l-sicknesses are deeper and greater then bodily sicknesses be A bodily sickness at the worst doth but kill the body but soul-sicknesses if not cured do damn both body and soul in hell with the Dâ—vil and his Angels for ever It is a desperate danger to lâ—â— soul sicknesses go uncured It is pleasant and dâ—lightful to the flesh to sin without controll but remember what the end of it wilâ— be Sâ—lo on that wise King saith Eccles. 11.9 Rejoyce O 〈◊〉 man in thy youth and let thy heart cheer thee in thy youth and waâ—â— in the wayes of thy heart and in the sight of thy eyes but know thâ—â— that for all â—heâ—e things God will bring thee into judgeâ—ent This is â— treâ—bling word Felix a great Ruler trembled when he heard thâ—â— word Acts 24.25 It is therefore against all wisdome to refuâ—â— to be subject to soul-physick It is a great mercy when God giveth a skilfâ—◠〈◊〉 to cure our bodies but it is a greater mercy to have a skilful Pâ—ysician to heâ—l and cure our souls This thereâ—â—â—e is so faâ— from being a discouragement from praying to God as that it is rather an encouragement Make haste â—o come into that way which provideth well fâ—r your souls health because eternal salvation dependeth upon it Will. I am willing to adde a word or two by way of lenitive Though the matter be harsh and bitter yet the manner of applying must be with all reverence gentleness meekness tenderness and love so as to â—void all exasperation or provocation So the Lord hath commanded Galat. 6.1 If a manâ—e overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such an one in the spirit of meekneâ—s considering thy self lest thou also be tempted And for your fuâ—ther encouragement we finde in the Scripture that
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
â—y soul He hath sâ—ewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do juâ—tly and to love mercy and to walk huâ—bly with thy God Nothing that you can do or bring to God can pacifie that divine wrath that is kindlâ—d â—gainst you but ver 8. he sheweth you the way Also consider that Text Iohn 14.6 I am the Way and the Truth â—nd â—he Life No man cometh unto the Father but by me You have been a great sinner now you lament it you would obtain a pardon and be reconciled to God This word of God sheweth you the way and thâ—â— is to humble your self before Christ Jesus believe in him and give up your self to be his servant your self to worship the Lord and to bring on all your people to do the same I remember two places in Daniel where Sachems were in trouble of minde as you now are and Daniel gave them counsel from the Lord the first place is Dan. 4.27 Wherefore O Sachem let my counsel be acceptaâ—le to thee and break off thy sins by righteousness and thy iniquities by sheâ—ing mercy to the poor if it may â—e a lengthning of thy tranquility Aâ—d my heart is perswaded with submission to the Lord that if you now turn unto God and promote praying to God among all your people you shall see better dayes tâ—en ever you have yet seen There is another sad story in the fifth Chapter of Daniel where the wicked Sachem did act profanely agaiâ—st the Gâ—d of heaven and then appeared fingers which wrote Mene Mene Tekel Vpharsin but let the interpretation of that be unto your enemies and not to you beloved Sachem I say unto you in that word of the Lord Acts 16.31 Believe in the Lord Iesus and thou shalt be saved and thy house Wiâ—â— Hope of relief is a means to ease grief and to raise the distressed heart to apply it self unto means of Remedy In the second of Chron. 33. we reade of a Sachem that was a greater sinner then you have been yet upon his repentâ—nce and change of life he obtained mercy His Name was Manasseh his sins were such as that it is an abhorring to reade them then God brought him into affliction and it is said ver 12 13. And when he was in affliction he â—esought the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers anâ— prayed unto him and he was intreateâ— of hiâ— anâ— hearâ— his supplication and brought him again unto Ierâ—â—aleâ— into his kingdâ—me Then Manasseh know that the Lord he was God So I say unto you Beloved â—achem humble your self before the Lord set up praying to God among all your people walk in wayes of wisdome and religion and you shall finde that God will be merciful to you and your latter dayes shall be blessed and be a blessing Keit. Words that come swimming in love with full sails of wisdome have great power to calm heart storms of grief and trouble I now finde it true my soul is wounded for my sin in profaning the Sabbath-day now I desire to look deeper into the matter I desire you would open unto me the Sabbath that I may know my former sins and future duty Ant. The doctrine of the Sabbath is a great Point in Religion It is one of the Ten Moral Universâ—l Commandments of God which are required of all Mankinde and the fourth Command a chief Hinge of all the rest By a religious keeping of the Sabbath we act our obedience to all the Commands By profaning the Sabbath we turn all Religion and good Order out of doors and set open a door unto all sin and wickedness so weighty a matter is the good keeping of the Sabbath-day For the opening of the Sabbath I know not a better way then to open briefly the fourth Command wâ—ich I shall do by laying it out into six parts 1. Here is the Preface in this word Remember the Sabbath-day to shew the great weight and worth of the Sabbath oâ— our proneness to â—light it and to stablish a perpetual and careful preparation to the Sabbath Neh. 13.19 And it came to pass that when the gates of Ierusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath I commanded that the gates should be shut and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath and some of my servants set I at the gates that there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day 2. Here is the Affirmative part of the Command wherein we are commanded to keep the whole Sabbath holy both in thought word and deed Isa. 58.13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath from doing thy pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath â— delight the holy of the Lord honourable and shalt honour him not doing thine own wayes nor finding thine own pleasure nor speaking thine own words 3. Here is an exact distribution of all time betwixt God and man wherein God hath appointed six parts or dayes to man and the seventh part is dedicated to God and hence it followeth that the Sabbath was capable of being changed from the lâ—st of seven to the first of seven and so the Lord hath changed it 1 Cor. 16 2â—â— Acts 20.7 Rev. 1.10 And when this Change was first made the Câ—urch kept two Sabbaths together as the Passover and the Lords Supper were together 4. Here is the Negative part of this Command wherein we are forbidden all our own works in that word or deed Thou shalt do no manner oâ— work 5 Here be the persons that be bound to keep the Sabbath All high and low rich and poor male and female in all societies â—nd relâ—tions and strangers Thou thy son thy â—aughter thy man-servant thy maid-servant thy cattel and thy stranger 6. Here be three Râ—aâ—ons to urge us to a reverent and careful keeping of the Sabbath 1. Taken from Gods most holy and wise Example who six dayes Created but on the sâ—venth dâ—y rested in his heavenly joyes 2. The second Reason is Because God hath put a blessing on the head of the Sabbath and on all that keep it holy He blessed the seventh day 3. The third Reason is Because the Lord made it holy he dedicated it to holy use aâ—d tâ—erefore may not be violated without sacriledge Mal. 3.8 Will ye rob God Thus have I opened this Command Will. I will onely adde two Texts of Scripture Ier 17.19 to the end Thus saith the Lord unto me Go and stand in the gate of the children of the people whereby the Kings of Iudah come in and by the which they go out and in all tâ—e gates of Ierusalem and say unto them Hear ye the word of the Lord ye kings of Iudah anâ— all Iudah and all the inhabitants of Ierusalem that enter in by â—hese gates Tâ—us saith the Lord Takâ— heed to your selves and bear no burden on the Sabbath day c. The other â—ext is Exod. 31 13 14 15 16
17. Speak thou also unto the children of Israel saying Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep for it is a sign â—etween me and you throughout your generatâ—ons that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth â—anctifie you c. Keit. I am now in a great strait my heart is bent within me to keep the Sabbaths but alas neither I nor any of my people know how to do it unless we have some body to teach us Ant. It is true that you say and I return you this answer When we return and make report of the grace of God poured out upon you and of your acceptance of the word of God and resolution to keep the Sabbath â—nd your desire of a Teacher We know that the Church will presently take care to send a Teacher unto you Or further we will propose If you and your people shall choose any one whom your souls desire and send your request unto the Church that he might be sent unto you We doubt not but the Church will readily grant your desire A penitent Soul in great distress cometh unto John Speen one of the Teachers of the Church at Natik where we shall finde the Penitent pouring out his griefs and John ministring Counsel and Comfort Penit. OH my friend I am glad I have met you in so opportune a time and place My heart is broken with griefs I am ready to â—ink into the ground because of my distressed mind I desire to pour out my melted heart into your loving bosom it may be you may give me Counsel what I shall do in my distress and advise me if there be any way or means to comfort this distressed soâ—l of mine Iohn Alas your sorrowful countenance doth indeed discover that your minde is oppressed with grief and in such cases men are miserable comforters God onely knoweth how to speak a word of Comfort to the heart he made the heart of man he knoweth all the sorrows and griefs thereof and usually God doth afflict the heart with grief out of great love that he might call the distressed soul to come to him and to make its griefs known to him and he is very gracious and pitiful to such afflicted souls for Christ hath said Mat. 11.28 Come unto me ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest My first Counsel therefore is that you would pray unto God and believe in Jesus Christ and he will surely give you rest Bâ—t as for man especially such a poor creature as I am I cannot help you nor is there any help for you in the hand of man Penit. But the words of a true-hearted loving friend may minister some comfort and I do already feel that your words have relief in them in that you tell me Jesâ—s Christ is so tender-hearted towards those that are of an afflicted spirit Iohn True it is that God hath said The Priests lâ—ps shall preserve knowledge and thou shalt enquire the Law at his mouth I am very weak but I am willing to help your afflicted soul to go to Jesus Christ who will not fail to comfort you Seeing therefore it is your desire let me hear your griefs and troubles it may please God to put a word into my mouth whereby the good Spirit of God may speak comfort to your sorrowful heart Penit. My outward condition is full of affliction and those frowns in the brow of Providence do make me fear that the wrath of God is set against me and will wear away my life with grief and then cast me away into hell among the damned where I shall perish for ever Iohn This is a wholesome fear and you shall finde it will end well My Counsel is mingle hope with your fear viz. that God doth outwardly afflict you that he might drive your distressed soul into the bosome of Jesus Christ who will graciously pardon all your sins and save your soul from those eternal flames which you so much dread It is Gods usual way of grace to put his Lambs into distress that he might cause them to fly for refuge into â—is bosome and I hope that it is his meaning so to deal with you because I see that his afflicting hand doth so kindly melt your heart and causeth you to seek refuge to save you from those everlasting burnings These distresses will make the salvation of Câ—rist precious unto you Consider that Text Eccles 7 3 4. Sorrow is better thâ—n laughter for by the sorrow of the countenance the heart is made better The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning But what are those outward distresses which do so aâ—â—â—ict you Penit. I know not where to begin or end The world hath alwayes promised me fair but it hath ever failed me my mornings have had some brightness but my rising day is alwayes clouded and full of darkness and I know not but my Sun will set in thick darkness and despair You know my Father was a Sachem of the Blood I was brought up under such high Capacities Expectaâ—â—â—tions I have been Chosen and Advanced as you know to the â—egree of a Sachem but so filled with Crosses and Distresses that I â—ever enjoy my self nor one quiet day my griefs are multiplied â—â—ke the waves of the Sea they break in upon me and are ready to overwhelm me Iohn You say the world hath ever failed you and so it alwayes dealeth with Gods children but I will shew you who will never â—â—il you Psal. 73.26 My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the â—â—rength of my heart and my portion for ever Let your soul ponder 〈◊〉 feed upon this Promise See also Heb. 13.5 He hath said I â—ill never leave thee nor forsake thee Mark that word Never leave â—hee nor forsake thee the word will hold both in this life and to â—ternity You further say that your bright mornings prove black and â—loudy dayes It hath been so with other of Gods Children Reade â—he 88 Psalm and you shall finde the Prophet just in your case in â—any verses of that Psalm I will mention some of the words â—er 6 7 8 9. Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit in darkness in the â—â—eps Thy wrath lyeth hard upon me and thou hast afflicted me with â—ll thy waves Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me â—hou hast made me an abomination unto them I am sâ—ut up and I â—â—nnot come forth mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction Lord â— have called daily upon thee I have stretched out mine hand unto â—â—ee c. And ver 15. I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth 〈◊〉 while I suffer thy terrours I am distracted c. Behold a dear â—â—ilde of God in as bitter distresses as you are yet the first sentence of this Psalm is a word of Faith he sâ—ith O Lord God of my sâ—â—vation Iâ— is some comfort to a distressed soul to havâ— good company with them you have
the best compâ—ny in the world for yoâ— have the company of Jesus Christ. See Isa. 53 3. He is â—espâ—sed aâ—â— rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grâ—efs 〈◊〉 we hid as it were our â—aces â—rom him he was deâ—pâ—â—ed and we esteâ—â—ed him not Wâ—en you â—re alone by your sâ—lâ— reâ—de all this Câ—â—pter you shall finde that Christ wâ—s in greaâ—er distreâ—ses then yoâ— are which he suffered patieâ—â—ly to procure for us pardon and salvation and by his â—uâ—fering he â—ad exâ—erience of suâ—ferings that â—â— might pity us in our gâ—ieâ—s and â—hâ—râ—forâ— it is said Heb. 4.15 For we have not an high Priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities but waâ— in all points tempted lâ—ke as we are 〈◊〉 without sin Our affâ—ictions alâ—s expose â—s oftentimeâ— to â—in bâ—â— in that case also Chr ist is very pitiful and gracious he remembreâ—â— that we are but duâ—â— Psal. 103.14 You adde You fear that your Sun will set in darkness and deâ—spair I answer to you Consider tâ—aâ— future things belong to God Do not afflict your self with future things Sufficient for the dâ—yâ— the evil thereof Mat. 6.34 Let â—he morrow care for it â—elf Bâ—â— suppose yâ—u should have no comfort tâ—ll you die it is the case â—â— many of Gods children to die in a dark cloud and Christ himseâ—â— sanctified that case Mat 27.46 50. He cried with a loud voice Eâ—â— Eli lamasabachthani Ver 5â— Iesus when he had cried again with loud voice yielâ—ed up the ghost Whâ—t if some of Gods childreâ— should in this point be conformed to Jesus Christ do not adde â—â— your sorrows fears of a sad condition which Christ hath sanctiâ—fied Touching your Parentage and present state I know how it iâ— very well In this case I advise you to consider that if yoâ—â— worldly Cup had been fillâ—d with such sweetness as flesh and blooâ— desire it might have been much worse for your soul. A soâ—â— drowned in earthly pleasure is rarely saved but a soul drowned iâ— worldly sorrows and griefs if instructed in the knowledge of Jâ—â—sus Christ shall never be lost because the sorrows and crosses â—â— the world will keep him from surfetting upon the Creature anâ— drive him to sâ—tiate himself in Christ by the promises of the Gâ—â—spel Thus have I answered to the chief points in your Coâ—â—plaint Penit. Oh the power of the word of God aptly applied unto tâ—â— case of a distressed soul The sweet experience that I have noâ— found in those â—criptures which you have produced and applieâ— to my case shall make me hereafter to search and reade the Scriâ—ptures more then I have done I do like Hagar complain for â—â—â—ter when it is just by me if I would search I hope I shall reaâ— the Scriptures more then ever I have done Iohn You have prevented me or rather the Spirit of God hath put into your heart by power and grace that which I intended to have presented to you by way of Advice and Counsel namely To be frequent and abundant in reading the Scriptures for you see that all Soul-cordials are laid up there fetch them out therefore from that divine Treasury and make use of them for your comfort I know the Devil will oppose you in this matter and keep you from conversing in the Scriptures because they are the sword of the Spirit Eph. 6.17 whereby we resist his temptations as Christ himself hath set us an example Mat. 4.4 7 10. when the Devil assaulted him with a temptation he drew forth the sword of the Spirit a Text of Scripture and opposed the temptation thereby and that presently conquered the Tempter Do you the same you cannot imitate a better pattern then our Lord Jesus Christ and it is his Command also that we should so do Iohn 5.39 Search the Scriptures and David made them his meditation day and â—ight Psal. 1.2 and he had the like experience that you now have found and came to the like resolution Psal. 119.93 I will never forget thy precepts for with them thou hast quickned me Penit. I feel much tranquility in my minde in this way of seeking Soul-comfort in the Scriptures Oh I have found out a way of refuge comfort and rest in a stormy time I hope the Lord will give me grace and wisdome to make more use thereof then ever I have done in my life But still my soul is in great doubts and fears about my eternal condition if I spend this life in griefs and sorrows and when I finish here I go away to eternal misery Oh what a lamentable case is that and my fear is that this will be my condition my griefs indeed are many but they are worldly sorrow I cannot say that I am converted I desire to know what it is to be converted Iohn All Mankinde are once born by natural birth they come into this world but all Gods children are born again Iohn 3.3 Except a man be born again he cannot enter into the kingdome of heaven and this is a spiritual birth ver 5. Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit c. Baptism is an outward sign of it but the inward grace is a work of the Spirit and the Spirit worketh by the Word of God Iames 1.18 21. Of his own will begat he us by the word of truth and ver 21. Wherefore lay apart all filâ—hiness and superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save your souls By faith in the Promise the soul is united to Christ and he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit 1 Cor. 6.17 When an afflicted soul doth venture it self and its All upon the faithful word of Promise and sayes to God as Iob said Iob 13.15 Though he kill me yet I will trust in him this is the new-born soul and this believing soul shall be surely saved at last whatever sorrows and afflictions it goes through in this life And wh ereas you say that your sorrows and griefs are but worldly sorrow I answer That the question is not what kinde of sorrow it is so much as what the effects of it is for no matter what the sorrow is if it drive the soul to Christ our salvation is by Christ and not by sorrow the use of sorrow is to imbitter sin and the world and to drive the soul to Christ for relief and rest if worldly sorrow or rather sorrow about worldly things do this it hath its end and proves to be a godly sorrow Sorrows are not to merit any thing from God but to force the afflicted soul to fly to him for refuge We shall finde examples in Scripture where sorrows about worldly things have effectually driven the soul to fly to God for refuge Psal. 88.18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me and mine acquaintance into darkness This was an outward affliction and yet in the first verse of that Psalm it drives him
to fly and cry to the God of his salvation and this is an act of faith So Psal. 35.15 But mine adversaries they rejoyced they gâ—thered themselves together yea the abjects gathered themselves together against me and I knew it not they did tear me and ceased not With hypocritical mockers in feasts they gnashed upon me with their eeeth that is some broke jests upon him at their Taverns and Tiplings and others scorned him c. all these were outward afflictions but they drove David to fly and cry to God ver 17. Lord how long wilt thou look on rescue my soul c. and this is an act of faith So it was with Iob in his affliction Iob 30.8 9 10. the basest of the people made songs and jests upon him but mark what end God made with Iob. So Iames speaks Iam. 5.12 Therefore whatever your griefs be turn them into prayers and cry to God for relief and then your grief hath a sanctified end and you will at last learn to say after David in that high strained string of Faith and Experience It is good for me that I was afflicted that I might learn thy statutes Psal. 119.71 And ver 67 of that Psalm Before I was afflicted I weâ—t astray but now I have kept thy word And therefore what though your afflictions be outward afflictions seeing God is pleased mercifully to bless them unto your spiritual and eternal good But I further observe that sundry of your expressions do hold forth a spiritual sorrow for your sin and a fear of Gods wrath and an earnest desire to flee from and escape wrath to come I pray therefore express your self what sorrows and griefs you have of that kinde for although such sorrows do not deserve any thing at Gods hand yet they are of a more spiritual nature and spring from a deep reverence and fear of God and do more immediately and effectually drive the soul for refuge to Jesus Christ who onely delivereth the soul from the guilt and condemnation of sin Utter some drops of those soul-wounding terrours which afflict you in the sense of your sin guiltiness Penit. Still my soul admireth to see the great use is to be made of the word of God which doth engage my soul more and more to a more frequent use of the Scriptures Lord Jesus help me to perform it My fore-mentioned griefs about my outward condition are but the Porch of those troubles that Iodge in my distressed soul. When I look down into the dungeon of my heart and the dunghill of my life I am filled with an abhorrence of my self and wonderment at Gods patience to suffer such a wretch as I am to live I know much of the sins of others but I know more by my self then I know by any body else considering circumstantial aggravations I can truly say with Paul 1 Tim. 1.15 sinners of whom â— am chief If my Companions have mis-led me or my leaders have caâ—sed me to erre it may aggravate their sin but be no excuse or apologie for mine I have done as evil as I could and had not God hampered me with outward affliction and trouble it is not to be said by man how vile I â—hould have been It is sometimes a quieting argument to my heart to be patient under â—y outward crosses because they be Mustard on the Worlds Nipples to keep me from surfetting upon the Creature If I look into the glass of Gods Law and behold the face of my life and of my soul as they are there represented I am afraid of my self I abhorre my self I am confounded Gods Sabbaths I have profaned Gods Word I have neglected Gods Grace I have despised and resisted I have broken the whole Law of God every Command have I violated for there be some acts of sin that I never did actually commit yet the habit of sin is in me and in inclination and desire I am guilty of it and for a foundation of this mountainous heap of guilt I am guilty of Adams fall the first the worst the root of all the sins of the sons of men My sinful habit and disposition by nature doth viciously incline me to sin against my desires purposes promises and resolutions When I strive and labour and cry and pray against my sins yet upon the opportunity and occasion offered my sin will return I am weak that is strong I am subdued and that prevaileth Oh wretched man that I am who shall deliver me When I consider the infinite Justice of God offended the infinite Wrath of God provoked the eternal Law of God violated and the eternal torments provided and prepared in hell for sinners and the insuperableness of my sin by any means I can use it will prevail over me it will keep me in bondage it will inslave me and I fear it finally will damn me In these considerations my soul is sunk and drowned If therefore there be any Balm for my sore any succour for my distressed soul shew me the way how I shall escape these everlasting burnings that are the just recompence of my transgressions Iohn The first endeavour of the heart of man is to pacifie Gods wrath with something of our own and first by mincing excusing and apologizing as they did Ier. 2.33 34 35 36 37. Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love thou teachest wayes and arts to sin cunningly and hence the blood of innocent souls is openly found in thy skirts yet thou sayest I am innocent and his anger shall be turned away But then divine Justice taketh the cause in hand Why gaddest thou about to seek so many shifts I will never leave thee till I have made thee ashamed of them all for none of them shall prosper to turn away divine wrath â—r to procure thee a pardon But I finde not your soul mincing or your â—in nor making excuses for your self The next course the heart of man will take is to purchase a pardon by giving to God some great sacrifice or by doing some great penance as it is expressed in Micah 6.6 7 8. Wherewith shall I come before the Lord and bowe my self before the high God shall I come before him with burnt offerings with calves of a year old Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams or with ten thousands of râ—vers of oyl shall I give my first born for my transgression the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul He hath shewed thee O man what is good and what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humâ—ly with thy God The inquiry is wherewith a sinner shall pacifie God he proffers great matters more then he can perform he bids low at first onely burnt-offerings and calves but when that will not be accepted he rises higher â—hewing what he would do if he had wherewith he bids thousands of rams ten thousand rivers of oyl if that will not do he offers the fruit of