forth weeds but a watchful and diligent husbandman will be often weeding over his Corn fields and so will ouâ— hearts be sending forth new weeds of sin but we must be daily diligent to watch and weed them out our hearts have a natural propensity to sin and therefore must be kept with all diligence Anâ— therefore that is the first counsel that I give you out of the experience of my own naughty heart Pen. Your words do put a fear into my heart I know that old customes of sin are very hardly left and I have been so long accustomed to sin that I am afraid of my self Wab. Fear is a good watchman Happy is the man that feareâ—â— alwayes and let this put you on to a second Counsel that I givâ— you Be much and often in prayer and that not onely among otheâ— in Family-worship and Publick-worship but also and most frequently in secret prayer for so Christ hath commanded Mat. 6â—â— and Christ himself hath set us an example who spent whole nights in prayer Pen. The night spent in prayer hath let me finde a sweet taste in it though I do already finde that it is a weariness to my flesh I thank you for this Counsel I desire I may remember and do it What further Counsel will you give me Wab. You must be much conversant in the Word of God and though you cannot yet reade the Word yet you must get the help of others and learn the word of God by heart and you must meditate upon the same night and day for so David did Psal. 1.2 And the meditation on the Word will sanctifie the heart and kill corruption and will mightily help you to subdue it Pen. I doubt it will be difficult for me to learn to reade I am dull of capacity Wab. A strong desire diligence and constancy will obtain any thing and you must pray God to teach you and to open your heart to learn Iam. 1.5 If any of you lack wisdome let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally and upâ—raideth not and it shall be given him And for a further help to you my fourth Counsel is That you diligently learn the Catechize and by learning to reade that you will learn to reade and understand the whole Bible Pen. I see my self very ignorant and therefore I am very desirous to learn Catechism because I have heard and do perceive that is the foundation of all knowledge in Religioâ— being wisely gathered out of the Scripture Wab. You say right about Catechism we do therefore teach it our Children that the principles of good knowledge may be sown and rooted in them from a Childe and for that reason also do we send them to School to learn to reade the Word of God that they may be acquainted with the Word from a Childe Pen. Oh what a loss is this to me that I am to begin to learn Catechize and the Word of God now I am a man which I might have been acquainted with from a Childe had I been brought up among the praying Indians How happy are your Children that are thus brought up I suppose you are very diligent in this matter in Training up of your Children Wab. We have great cause to judge our selves for too much negligence in this point A fifth Counsel I give you is That you be constant and diligent in the exercise of the Worship of God in your Family in these points 1. You must Morning and Evening pray in your Family and teach them in Catechism and reading of the Scriptures 2. Alwayes before and after Meat you must pray and give thanks to God Pen. Oh what an holy life do the praying Indians live Lord â—each me and help me thus to do VVhat further Counsel do you â—ive me Wab. A sixth Counsel I give you is That you do carefully reâ—ember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy and to come to the publick Assembly both Forenoon and Afternoon constantly and timely and there diligently to attend the worship of God Pen Oh how my heart approveth of this Couâ—â—el Have you any further Counsel to give me Wab. One thing more Let all your Conversation be a good example to others labour on all occasions to do good to others Pen. I requâ—st this of you that as we travel this day in our journey you would teach me the Principles of Catechism Wab. I do well like of your motion it s a good subject of discourse as we are in our way Thus are they imployed till they come at their journeys end Waban Nishâ—hkou Penooâ—ot Waban MY aged Uncle I am glad that it hath pleased God once more to give me an opportunity to see you alive in this world It is not unknown unto you that I and many others have undertaken a new way of life which is known to many by the name of Praying to God The way that I formerly and you still live in is a way oâ— worshipping the Devil it is a way of darkness and sin and though it is a way pleasant and easie to the flesh yet it leadeth to destruction and eternal torments Man is made for another life after this life is ended and though our body dieth and turneth to dust yet the Soul is immortal it dieth not but at the death of the body it departeth to a place of eternal being either in glory or in misery If we pray to God with a right â—eart penitenâ—ly turn from sin to God and believe in Jesus Christ then we shall have a pardon granted us and eternal happiness with Jesus Christ But if we do not turn to God but worship and serve the Devil and walk in the wayes of sin then at death our Soul must be dragged to hell and there tormented for ever among the Devils whom we have obeyed and served in this life These things and many more we do perfectly know and believe to be true by the Word of God which is the Sun-light of the Soul even as the Sun is the great light of the outward world God hath put it into my heart to desire that your Soul might be bleâ—â—ed for ever and the Church hath sent me and I come in the Name of Jesus Christ to tell you these things and beseech you to turn from these vain and evil wayes and to believe in Jesus Christ that your sins may be pardoned and that your Soul may be saved in eternal glory Nish Your love and desire of my good I have no reason but to accept with kindness but me thinks one thing in your discourse is doubtful We see with our eyes and know certainly that the body dieth and turneth to rottenness and dust and why may not the Soul dâ— so likewise we see not what becometh of it and to make such a stir and change our course upon uncertainties I have no liking to it my Age inclineth me rather to be quiet and not meddle with such unâ—een intricacies fitter for younger heads to
and the wicked shall be cast into Hell Soul and Body and there be tormented with the Devils for ever Kinsm These are great and strange things you speak of I understand them not but yet me thinks there is a majesty and glory in them I am amazed at what you say though I do not understand them distinctly Pium. You see then that we are grown rich with Riches that are above your capacity and these are the true Riches and about these things we spend most of our time And as for these worldly Riches we less regard them as being poor low little small contemptible things in comparison of those heavenly riches about which we spend our time and in which we have increased and gained by Gods grace in Christ so much as doth make you admire at us though we know but little of what is to be known but you cannot perceive the glory and excellency thereof And indeed it is the wisdome and love of God unto us that setteth us rather to grow in these riches which the eyes of worldly men cannot see then to grow rich in earthly and worldly riches which the carnal world can see because if we should abound in earthly riches we should be thronged with multitudes of carnal persons who love the world and love not God who would be a cumber and temptation to us And it is a sign that our wayes are good and godly and above the world because so few in comparison come unto us but rather fly from us because they love to live in wayes and deeds of darkness and hate the light and glory that is in our wayes But I pray Cousin whose house is that before us where I see so many going in and out and standing about in every place Kinsm That is my house and I am glad there be so many of our friends together who may have the opportunity of â—earing this good Discourse After their entrance into the house there be four Speakers Kinsman Kinswâ—man All the Company Piumbuhhou Kinsman I hâ—d raâ—hâ—r thâ—t my actions of love should testifie how wâ—lcome you are and how glad I am of this your kinde visiâ—ation then that I should say it in a multitude of words But in one word You are very welcome to my heart and I account it among the best of the jâ—yâ—s of this day that I see your face and enjoy your Company in my habitation Kinswoman It is an addition to the joyes of this day to see the fâ—ce of my loving Kinsman and I wish you had come a little earlier that you might have taken part with us in the joyes of this day wherein we have had all the delights that could be desired in our merry Meeting and Dancing And I pray Cousin how doth your Wife my loving Kinswoman is she yet living and is she not yet weary of your new way of praying to God And what pleasure have you in those wayes Pium. My wife doth remember her love to you she is in good health of body and her Soul is in a good condition she is entred into the light of the knowledge of God and of Christ she is entred into the narrow way of heavenly joyes and she doth greatly desire that you would turn from thâ—se wayes of darkness in which you so much delight and come taste and see how good the Lord is And whereas you wish I had come sooner to have shared with you in your delights of this day Alas they are no delights but griefs to me to see that you do still delight in them I am like a man that hâ—ve tasted of sweet Winé and Honey which hâ—ve so altered the taste of my mouth that I abhor to taste of your sinful and foolish pleasures as the mouth doth abhor to taste the most filthy and stinking dung the most sowre grapes or most bitter gall Our joyes in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ which we are taught in the Book of God and feel in our heart is sweeter to our soul then honey is unto the mouth and taste Kinswom We have all the delights that the flesh and blood of man can devise and delight in and we taste and feel the delights of them and would you make us believe that you have found out new joyes and delights in comparison of which all our delights do stink like dung would you make us believe that we have neither eyes to see nor ears to hear nor mouthes to taste Ha ha he I appeal to the sense and sight and feeling of the Company present whether this be so Aâ—â— You say very true Ha ha he Pium. Hearken to me my friends and see if I do not give a clear answer unto this seeming difficulty Your dogs take as much delight in these Meetings and the same kindes of delight as you do they delight in each others company they provoke each other to lust and enjoy the pleasures of lust as you do they eat and play and sleep as you do what joyes have you more then dâ—gs have to delight the body of fâ—â—â—h and blood But all mankinde have an higher and better part then the body we have a Soul and that Soul shall never die Our Soul is to converse with Gâ—d and to converse in such things as do concern Gâ—d and Heaven and an eternâ—l estate either in happiness with God if we walk with â—im and serve him in this life or in misery aâ—d torment with the Devil if we serve him in this life The service of God doth conâ—â—st in Virtue and Wisdome and delights of the Soul which will reach to Heaven and abide for ever But the service of the Devil is in comâ—itting sins of the flesh which defile both body and soul and reach to Hell and will turn all to fire and flame to torment your souls and bodies to all eternity Now consider all your pleasures and delights are such as defile you with sin and will turn to flame to burn and torment you they provoke God to wrath who hath created the Prison of Hell to torment you and the more you have took pleasurâ— in sin the greater are your offences against God and the greater shall be your torments But we that pray to Gâ—d repent of our old sins and by fâ—ith in Christ we seek for and finde a pardon of what is past aâ—d grace and strength to reform for time to come So that our joyâ—s â—re Soul-joyes in godliness and virtue and hope of glory in anothâ—r world when we die Your joyes are bodily fleshly such as Dogs have and will all turn to flames in Hell to torment you Kinsm If these things be so we had need cease laughing and fall to weeping and see if we can draw water from our mournful eyes to quench these tormenting flames My heart trembles to hear these things I never heard so much beâ—ore nor have I any thing to say to the contrary but that these things may be so But how shall
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
minde Wab. Our bodies are the product of the seed of man and that is made out of the food we eat and our food grows out of the earth so that our bodies are made of refined earth and therefore at death turn to earth again out of which it was made and so God speaketh Dust thou art and unto dust thou shalt return But the Soul is not so it is a Spirit of a purer nature then earthly things and it is immediately created by God and therefore dieth not Besides we are assured by many infallible proofs out of the Word of God and by evidence of good Reason that the Soul is immortal which point we are taught in our Catechism And not onely so but God hath taught us that at the end of the world the body shall be raised again out of the dust and the Soul and body joyned together again and then the person shall be judged by Jesus Christ according to their deeds done in the flesh those that live and die in their sins shall be turned into hell to be tormented by and with the Devils but they that turn to God and believe in Jesus Christ shall be judged to go with Christ to heaven and be ever with him in eternal glory Therefore this consideration doth more sharpen my request and intreaties of you how shall I endure to see this body of yours which I so respect and love and that Soul of yours also to go away unto eternal torments And I pray you consider what a wound and torment iâ— will then be to remember I was exhorted and intreated to turn to God and live mercy in Christ was offered me but I refused it and therefore deservedly do you lose what you refused and deservedly you suffer that torment you did choose rather then to trouble your self with this business of praying to God and believing in Jesus Christ. Nish These are great and deep things that I understand not you young men have your blood warm and your wits fresh and ripe you can reade and understand these things I am old and cold and dry and half dead already I have not strength enough left to be whetted up to such a new edge let me alone to die in quiet why should I take upon me such a disquiet to my minde and disturbance to my self and to my people I have two Sons young and active men I am very willing that they should take up this new way perswade them to it if you will but as for me I am too old for such an undertaking Wab. You do well to permit your sons to enter into a way of wisdome and pray unto God but I would propose two requests unto you 1. To do well for your 〈◊〉 as well as for your Sons for your soul is as preceâ—oâ—s as 〈…〉 And 2. the most effeâ—tuâ—l means to peâ—swadâ— yâ—ur Sâ—â—s unto this way of wisdome is for you to sâ—t them an 〈◊〉 iâ— you â—â—ould choose this way then it is like that thâ—y would follow your exâ—mplâ— but if you refuse it your self â—here iâ— the lesâ—â—ope â—â—at they will câ—oose it for it is a way hard to the fâ—eâ—â— and requires mucâ— subduing of lusts which will rather be done in your dâ—crepiâ— Age then by them in their flourishing youth Nish I aâ— weary and need some food and it is like so do you after your travel and here is Meat set before us therefore I pray eaâ— and you are welcome Wab. I pray you let us eat like praying Indians God hath taught us that alwayes when we eat we should pray and give thanks to God Nish I pray do so it pleaseth me well though I cannot do so my self for I am ignorant of the wayes of praying to God Waban prayeth for a blessing and then they eat and after meat doth the same again Pen. Aged Sachem now that you and we are refreshed and strengthned â—y this food I will declare unto you strange News to which I intreat your attendance a little while and all the people here present I am like a man that was looking for a shell and found a Pearl of inestimable value whereby he became very rich and renowned I had a small occasion to come and visit you graâ—â— Sachem and by the way I met with this good man a messenger oâ— God by whose discourse my blinde eyes are opened my dead heart is made alive my lame legs are inabled to walk in the way to heaven where I shall enjoy an eternal Kiâ—â—dome Many miracles â—ave been wrought upon me by the power of Gods Word spoken to me by this man and that I may stir up your heart and the hearts of the people here present to give diligent heed to what he saith I will dâ—clâ—re unto you what passed between us I was aâ— you are I lived as you live I did as you do and as the rest of ouâ— Countrymen and Neighbours do I followed the sports pleasures vanities and courses that other men and you to this day walk inâ— But I was not aware how blinde and dead and vile and wicked I was in the sight of God nor was I awâ—re that I was running oâ— in a pleasant delightful way which led mâ— down to hell and eternal damnation But when I met this man he discoursed with me about these things he opened unto me by the Word of God the great Majesty of God his Holiness Justice and Goodness how God hâ—â— made thiâ— great world and all things in it both things above anâ— things below how â—e made man an eminent Creature gave him dominion over all the creatures here below gave him an holy juâ—â— and good Law in Ten Commandments under the order of a Covenant of Works and if he kept and obeyed this Law he should live in glory and happiness for ever but if he did break this Law and sin against God that great Majesty of heaven then he should be answerably and justly punâ—â—hed with eternal torments in hell fire with the Devil and his Angels for evermore and this Lâ—w was for himself and all his posterity in whose stead he stoâ—d as a publick person Now he informed me that Adaâ— the first man sinned by the temptation of evil Angels which rebelled against God and tuâ—ned Devils by their temptation Adam â—inned and turned rebel against God and served believed and obeyâ—d the Devil and therefore by the Law of God he was judged and condemned and all his posterity All this I found to be true in â—y own experience for I went on in the same rebellion breaking the holy Law of God every day both in thought word and deed obeying the Devil and his temptations serving the lusts of my flesh and filâ—hy miâ—de I walked in the broad easie pleasant way tâ—at leadeth to destruction so that I have deserved to be damned a thousand thousand times and the greatness of the Majesty of God against whom I sinned did breed terrour in my soul my just condemnation
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
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
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
which will molest and trouble them that love and walk in their old lusts and deeds of darkness and therefore you will keep them from the light But I pray consider at what a dear rate you purchase your quiet in your old ways of sin and darkness which lead you to hell when you will compel all your people to live in sin and darkness for fear lest when they finde the light of Gods Word they should molest and trouble you in your lusts and sins Will. I will adde a few words to what my Brother hath spoken I have heard that in the other part of the World there be a certain people who are called Papists whose Ministers and Teachers live in all manner of wickedness and lewdness and permit and teach the people so to do and these wicked Ministers will not suffer the people to reade the Word of God and pretend the same reason as you do Because they be ignorant But the true reason is the same which you plainly speak out lest by the knowledge of the VVord they should have light to see into their vileness and molest them in their lusts and sins And they are so cruel that if they finde any one that readeth the word of God they will kill him They choose rather to lead all their people with them to hell then to suffer them to see the light whereby they may be saved lest when they see the light they should discover their filthiness and trouble them in their way to hell But God doth account these men Murtherers and hath threatned to bring upon them fearful destruction to revenge the blood of Gods people whom they have murthered Therefore I pray you to consider that the like vengeance from God will fall upon you if you will not suffer your people to search into and learn the word of God Keit. What you have said hath fully setled and satisfied my heart in this point I will never hinder my people from the knowledge of the word of God and I wonder at those vile Ministers that do so wickedly abuse the people and I wonder at the Sachems that they will suffer such vile Ministers to abuse their people in that manner why do they not suppress them and why do they not Command their people to Print the Bible and let it be free for any man that will buy them and reade them I wonder at these things Can you satisfie me in the reason hereof Will. I can say but little to it onely thus much I have heard Some Sachems are as bad as the Ministers and of the same minde with their Ministers they are liâ—e minded as this Sachem is other Sachems that are wiser and better minded yet they cannot help it because their Ministers are so rich and by that means have so many people depending on them that their Sachems dare not meddle with them and their Ministers take a cunning course to keep themselves and successors rich for they will not suffer one another to marry whereby they should have lawful Children to inherit their riches but when they die the next Minister hath all or most of the riches that he had And to the end they may keep one anotheâ— from marrying they suffer one another to keep VVhores so that they have Bastards good store but no lawful Children And by this means they maintain themselves in very great wealth so that the Sachems dare not meddle with them Keit. Doth no body see these base doings of these Ministers Will. Oh yes many but if any body speak a word against them they will kill him presently so that partly by their wealth and partly by their cruelty keep every body in fear of them Keit. Oh strange how many of these wicked Ministers be there that they are so potent Will. Oh a great many The Ministers of I know not how many Countries combine together and be of one minde to uphold one another and they choose one Chief and call him a Pope and say that he has power to pardon mens sins and will sel Pardons for Money and by that means they get a great deal of wealth for people are such fools as to think that he can pardon them when as the Popes be as vile sinners as any body and keep VVâ—ores and get Bastards Other of these Ministers they call Cardinals others Lord Archbishop others Lord Bishop other Lord Abbot other Lord Prior and I cannot tell how many more and many of these as rich as Sachems and leave their wealth to their successors because they have no lawful Children onely keep VVhores and get Bastards And they will allow their Sachems or any body else to keep VVhores and get Bastards and the Pope will pardon them for money And this that I tell you is but a little of the filthiness that is among these wicked Ministers Now if people should but look into the word of God they would presently finde that no body can pardon sins but God and they would presently finde that God has appointed no such Ministers as these they are all of them the Devils Ministers and not God's and if Sachems and people knew this they would buy no more Pardons of them and the Sachems would suppress them and take away their great riches or imploy them to better uses And for this reason they will not suffer any but themselves to reade the Scripture they will kill them if they do and they have Lords Inquisitors as they call them to watch and search if any body have a Bible or any other good Book that opens and discovers their Villany he shall be killed And these Lords Inquisitors are as rich as Sachems And thus they keep all men in subjection to them and in fear of them and Sachems are afraid of them and they do what they list Keit. Here be Ministers with all my heart are these the men thâ—t manage their Religion These are worse then our Pauwaus If any Pauwau in my dominions should be half thus vile I would scoure him I see that in some places of the world there be worse men then we Indians be I do not think there is such vileness to be found among any of the Indians in all this Country what may be further off I know not And if all this vileness be maintained by ignorance of the word of God it seemeth to me that it is a principal thing in Religion to know and be acquainted with the word of God and therefore I desire that now we may go on with our intended discourse And whereas I proposed two questions me thinks that much may be gathered out of this discourse we have had tending to shew what matter is contained in the word of God But it is like you will speak more fully to it I shall therefore bend my minde to give attendance unto what you shall further say Ant. This Question is one great Principle in Religion and I cannot take a surer and better course to answer it
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
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
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