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
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
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
Flesh for us to feed upon for he maketâ— the grass and herbs to grow and when the beasts do feed thereoâ— he doth turn those Leaves into blood flesh sinews and bones anâ— this he giveth us for food and turneth it into blood flesh sineâ—â— and bones in us All these wonderful works God doth in tâ—â— matter of feeding us and therefore is it not good reason wâ— should then pray to him Kinsm I never heard so much before nor thought of thesâ— things but now you declare and teach them my heart saith thaâ— all is true which you say and I now see great reason for this practise of you that pray to God to pray and give thanks both beforâ— and after meat and I see not but that there is good and just reâ—â—son so to do every time we drink and take in any sustenance aâ— lâ—ast to lift up our hearts to God who hath so eminent an hand iâ— doing us good thereby or hurt if he will Pium. Your acceptance and approbation of what I say and 〈◊〉 what we do in this point is a great argument that God doth boâ— your heart to pray unto God for you acknowledge it to be oâ—â— duty so to do and the neglect of it would be against the light oâ— your own Reason so that this Conviction hath cast a chain upoâ— your soul to binde you to pray unto God What say you mâ— friends All. We cannot say any thing against what you say but whâ—â— we shall do we cannot yet tell we must first consider of it foâ— we are ignorant and foolish we cannot do as you do Pium. Bend your hearts to it and God will teach you by hiâ— Word for we were at first as ignorant as you are but God helped us to hear the Word and do what we could and you see what God hath brought the matter unto We now walk in the light and now we call you to come into the light therefore I say Awake you that sleep stand up from the dead and Christ will give you light Kinsm We shall tire you with these discourses after your long and weary journey it is time for you to go to rest Pium. This discourse is better to me then meat drink and sleep if I may do good to your Souls and turn you unto God But before we go to râ—st and sleep we must pray unto God for it is God that giveth rest and sleep unto his Servants Kinsm Do all you praying Indians thus do when you are weary and tired with labour or travel or hunting c. do you pray before you go to rest what is the reason of your so doing Pium. We alwayes do so and if any should at any time through sloth and sleepiness fail so to do we judge our selves for our sin repent and confess our sin unto God and beg pardon and mercy for Christ his sake And there is great reason thus to pray unto God before we go to rest for besides what I said that God giveth us rest and therefore it is fit humbly to ask it of him There be many other Reasons why we should thus do for 1. VVe must give God thanks for all the mercies we have received all the day which are more then the moments of the time that we live 2. VVe must pray for Gods protection of us when we are asleep we lye like so many dead men and how easily might mischief befall us either by Fire or by an Enemy if God did not defend and keep us but when God is our keeper we may rest quietly in safety without fear under the covert of his hand and by faith in Gods protection we sleep quietly without fear whereas you that do not pray nor believe nor commit your selves to God you do alwayes sleep in fear and terrour 3. Moreover our sleep and rest is a great reparation of our strength and spirits and preservation of our health VVhile we sleep our food is boiled up within us and digested into all parts of our body and new spirits are extracted out of our food and sent up both to our head heart and all parts of our body so that we are fresh and strong in the morning after a good nights rest Now all this is the special work of God beyond the power and skill of man to perform for us and therefore it is great reason to pray for this blessing when we go to rest Kinsm VVhat you say is plain clear and true in every bodies experience though I did never hear nor consider so much of it before if therefore you will pray we will attend you Pium. Let us all appear before God reverently and with godly fear let none lye along or sit which are postures of unreverence but either stand like servants or kneel like sons and daughters before the Lord and so let us pray O merciful Lord God c. Kinsm I perceive that you pray for all our Countrymen who do not yet pray unto God it is your love so to do But what is the effect of your prayers there are not many that I hear of thaâ— pray unto God and you that do pray unto God what do you get by it wherein are you beâ—tered by your praying to God Pium. These are two great Points which you have propounded I am willing to speak to both First for the numbers that pray to God At first this aâ—â—er of praying to God was a little thing like a Cloud in the VVest of the bigness of a mans hand but now the Cloud is great â—nd wide and spreadeth over all the Country Nop and Nantuket and Pâ—umenuk Islands Mahshepog and many parts of the main Land to the utmost bounds of this Country Eastward And VVestward not onely all the Massachusets pray but also a great part of Nipmuk yea and the fields are ripe unto the harvest in many places more whom I will not name until they have given up themselves to the Lord to forsake their vanities and to pray unto God The Church of Christ at Natik have sent forth many into many parts of the Country to call them in unto Jesus Christ. I am sent unto you and I have good hope that God will bow your hearts to pray unto God So that the praying Indians are many and like to be more every year And our hope is the greater because the Lord hath râ—ised up sundry of our young men who were children when we first prayed unto God unto good knowledge in the â—criptures and are able to teach others the good knowledge of God and are sit to be sent forth unto all parts of the Country to â—each them to pray unto God Kinswom Husband what do you mean to withhold our Friend from â—eâ—t so long so lâ—te Alas Cousin you had need be at rest I pray tire not your sâ—lf with these long discourses Pium. I thaâ—k you for your care of me There is but one thing more that I am to speak to viz the second
Here be two sorts of wayes wherein men walk 2. Here be two sorts of men that walk in these two wayes The first way is described by four things 1. There is a strait little narrow gate to enter in at 2. It is a narrow way very rough â—ard and difficult to walk in 3. Here is the end of this way whether it leadeth viz. to heaven happiness glory and eternal life 4. Here be the Numbers that get into and walk in this way tâ— get to heaven Very few The second way is described by four things 1. The gate of entrance is broad and wide 2. The way it self is pleasant easie full of delights of the flesh and of worldly pleasures 3. Here is the end of this way it leads to Hell to torments and to eternal damnation 4. Here be the Numbers that walk in this way Very many most men in the world will choose to walk in this way and at last go to Hell torments 2. The first sort of persons are good men and women who 1. With much difficulty get into this way 2. They patiently endure all difficulties in it 3. They go to heaven and glory at last 4. The number of them they are but a few The second sort of persons are wicked people and these 1. Easily get into this way 2. They take pleasure in it and will not be perswaded to leave it and get into the hard way 3. The end of them all is they go to hell torments 4. The number of them A great many most men are found in this way All these particulars he openeth and insisteth upon and concludeth with an Exhortation 1. To come out of this broad easie way by considering the end of it whither it leadeth 2. To get into the hard way of praying to God and patiently continue in it considering the end it leads unto even Heaven and Glory Sont What Book is that you reade in and why do you call it The Word of God Pium. This is the Book of Gods Law which he hath taught holy men his Prophets and Apostles to write and give unto us to call us out of the broad way of sin and death and to call us into the narrow way of Repentance Faith in Christ Jesus and eternal life Sont It may be the English-men made it and tell you that they are the words of God Pium. This Book was written long before the English-men prayed to God and English-men have learned all their wisdome out of this Book and now they have Translated it for us and if we attend unto it it will teach us wisdome as it hath taught them Kinsm You speak much of Jesus Christ and his pardoning our sins and saving our Souls who is this Jesus Christ Pium. God is One in Three the Father Son and Holy Ghost Jesus Christ is God the Son who became a Man and when we deserved to die for our sins he came and died for us and God hath promised that all that believe in Christ shall be pardoned of all their sins and be glorified in heaven Touching this Point I will teach in the Afternoon The Afternnon Exercise Pium. GOD requires we should give him a whole day therefore it is not enough to worship God half a day We are again come together to worship God and we shall do the same this Afternoon as we did in the Forenoon Let us pray After Prayer he taketh this Text Mat. 1.21 22 23. This Text teacheth three things touching Jesus Christ 1. His wonderful Birth A Virgin conceived Of which see Luke 1.26 to 39. 2. Two Names Iesus Emmanuel 3. What Christ did for us and doth signified by his Name Iesus He taketh away our sins And this he doth two wayes 1. He taketh away our sins out of Gods sight by dying in our stead and so meriting a pardon for all our sins 2. He taketh away our sins out of our own hearts by working Repentance in us and Faith in his Name giving us his Spirit and sanctifying of us by his Grace and leading us in all holiness of life and conversation The third part of this Text is how Jesus Christ is enabled to do these great things for us This signified by his second Name God with us Christ was God and Man in one Person and that maketh his death of infinite value with God to obtain a pardon for all our sins And this maketh him of infinite power to overcome our hearts and turn them unto God These things are deep wisdome therefore pray unto God and he will give you wisdome to understand them Iam. 1.5 Kinsm I am amazed to hear these deep things I am now more discouraged about praying to God Alas we cannot Pray nor Reade how shall we keep a Sabbath and whall sâ—all we do Pium. I will speak unto the Church at Natik and we will send a wise man to teach you to keep Sabbaths among you and all that I shall perswade you unto is to come together on the Sabbaths as you have done this day and hear the Word of God and then God will teach you Kinsm Oh that it might be so I should gladly attend unto the Word Sont I say the same All. We like it well Kinsm I pray let it not be delayed Pium. Lo here is a manifest token of Gods presence according to his promise for who but God could bow all your hearts to hear the Word of God especially considering how averse you were at first Now let us pray and praise and give thanks to the God of Heaven for his mercy endureth for ever DIALOG II. About calling home poor INDIANS Waban was sent forth upon the Service of Christ unto sundry places where passed such like discourses and acts Waban Penoowot Waban HO well met friend how far travel you this way Pen. I am going to Napmuk a Town where Nishohkou is Sachem with him I have some business which occasioneth my going thither Wab. Ha! you and I are both alike in sundry things I wish we might be both alike in one thing more The things wherein we are alike are these We are bâ—th tall men We are mâ—t in the same way We are going to the same place Our business is unto the same person the Sachem of the place Pen. Ha ha he I acknowledge whâ—t you say but I pray what is that wherein you desire we might agree for I do not understand that you have yet named that and I the more desire to know that bâ—cause you do seem to put more weight upon that then upon all the rest which you have named Wab. You judge riâ—ht touching my opinion of that thing which I have not mentioned but I doubt that you will not be of my minde if I should speak it and for that reason I did conceal it Wise men will cover aâ—d hide their Jewels and not expose them to every bodies sight for they know some will lightly esteem them because they know not their worth but if
spent though we have made but little progress toward the place of our intendment but I have been about the work I came abroad upon though not the persons I intended Thus God doth over-rule the wayes of men he foreseeth and ordereth that which we had no thoughts upon and therefore in that we have spent this day in such Conference and Discourse wherein we have seen so much of the presence of Christ with us let us now spend this night in prayers and praises unto the Lord who hath found us before we sought for him You were going about another business you little thought of finding Jesus Christ by the way and finding mercy to your Soul a pardon of your sins and to become a praying Indian Pen. Your discourse doth heighten my admiration I acknowledge God hath thought of me when I thought not of him he had a care of my Soul when I had no care of my self God hath plucked me out of darkness and brought me into a most wonderful light that I should be forced to see the wonderful things of Gods Law of my eternal condemnation by it my helpless and hopeless condition that I was in And then that the Lord should open unto me a possibility of escape that a ransome and remedy might be found by the infinite wisdome and mercy of God and that Jesus Christ had not onely accomplished that great work but offered the fruit and benefit of it to me and called me to rest in him and to betrust my Soul with him for pardon of all my sins and for eternal life in Jesus Christ. These things are matter of my admiration and shall be to all eternity My life remaining shall be spent in admiring and in obeying and suffering as you have now taught me I shall account nothing â—oo dear for Christ who hath not accounted his own most precious life too dear for me Whereas I am now instructed that he being God and Man in one person his life was of more value then all the lives of all mankinde and that he did not forbear to offer that precious life for me I must I will by his grace assisting admire at this mercy for ever and therefore the motion that you made of spending this night in prayer and praises unto his holy Name it is a most acceptable motion to my heart My experience suggesteth unto me matter abundantly to pray and praise his Name but my ignorance is such as that I caâ—not tell how to utter my minde in words of knowledge suitable unto so great mercies as I have now experienced Wab. Your discourse doth lead me out to inform you in a great point of the grace and kingdome of Jesus Christ and that is the gift and grace of Prayer which the Spirit of Jesus Christ teacheth every new born Soul to perform for so the Scripture saith Rom. 8.15 He hath given the Spirit of his Son whereby we cry and crying is an earnest manner of praying and the matter of our cry is to sâ—y Abba Father that is to call God our Father and to ask him a Childes portion in the Name of Jesus Christ as he hath promised that whatever we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ it shall be surely granted either the same thing or a better for we are foolish children and know not what is best for our selves but our Father doth and therefore when we make our prayers and request to God we must leave the matter to his love wisdome to give us what and when and how he will And because we are ignorant what to pray for therefore the Spirit of God who dwelleth in our heart he is called the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication and Rom. 8.26 27. Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought but the Spirit it self maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the minde of the Spirit because he maketh intercession for the Saints according to the will of God Where we see that our weakness is supplied by the assistance of the Spirit and he helpeth us to pray for such things as please God and in such a manner as pleaseth God And this is the condition of every true converted believer that he can pray and desires to pray and is ever lifting up his heart to Gâ—d in prayer and therefore I like it well that my motion of spending this night in prayer is so acceptable to you a good sign it is that the Spirit of Jesus Christ hath taken possession of your Soul Pen. This little sight and experience I have hath so filled my heart with a sense of my own vileness that I see matter of endless confession and I see so much nothingness in my self that I see endless matter of petition and supplication and I see my self so infinitely obliged to God for the riches of his free-grace to me a rebellious worm that I see infinite matter of praise thanksgiving and admiration My heart also longeth after others that thâ—â— may be as I am I pray tell me what is my duty in that respeâ—â— to pray for others my Relations my Friends my Neighbouâ—â— and for all Wab. Christ hath taught us When thou art converted then strengâ—â—â—en thy brother Luke 22.32 therefore you must pray for all tâ—â— Church of God you must especially pray for them that are weaâ— and tempted and afflicted and you must pray for them that aâ—â— not yet converted and for all Gods people and for all Gods cauâ—â— in all the world and for the fulfilling of all Gods Promises Theâ—â— is a world of matter to pray for and for Kings and Rulers in â— special manner Pen. I feel my heart to answer your words like an eccho mâ— heart answers All these things I desire to pray for But alas â— am ignorant of fit words in prayer and therefore I do request oâ— you first do you pray and set me a pattern Waban prayethâ— Pen. Many whole nights have I spent waking sometime in hunâ—â—ing sometime worse in dancing and other sinful revels but â— never spent a night so well in my life before it is the first nighâ— of my new life I have begun to live well oh how full of feaâ— and care and desire my heart is that I may go on according to thiâ— good beginning I hope the sweet savour of this good beginning to live well shall abide with me and I desire your help and counsel how I may so perform it Wab. Our state in this world is not perfect corruption is killed but in part there be old roots remaining which upon occasioâ— offered will still be stirring acting appearing as a tree that is cut down the old roots will be growing which must be kept dowâ— with a speedy cutting off A field that is well weeded will quickly produce new weeds again out of that natural propensity of the earth to bring
great Kings and rulers have meekly submitted to this soul-physick David was sharply reproved by the Prophet and he meekly submitted to it 2 Sam 12. and so it was with Eli 1 Sam 2.27 Let it not therefore be unacceptable unto you to imitate so great so good Examples If Sachems might sin and no body might admonish them because they be rulers and the Ministers and people are the subjects it were the most miserable condition in the world to be a Sachem or a ruler they run to hell without controll and no body may say unto him Why do you so It is said Isa. 30.33 Tophet is ordained of old yea for the King iâ— is prepared If God have ordained hell for Sachems then sure he hath ordained means to keep them out of it as well as for other men for God desireth not the death of a sinner but rather that â—e should repent and live If therefore you desire to escape hell and to go to heaven submit your soul to such means as God hath appointed to bring you to repentance and salvation When you put the Objection you sâ—id you are a sinful man as well as others therefore your own heart will tell you that you have need of such helps as God hath appointed to bring you to repentance else you cannot be saved Keit. I feel your words sink into my heart and stick there you speak arrows I feel that you wound me but I do not think that you hurt me nor do you mean me any hurt but good I dâ—sire to ponder and consider of these things I have more matters to object but I will forbear at this time and besides it is time for you to eat and to take rest and therefore I will proceed no further at this time Ant. We thankfully accept your patience thus long and your good acceptâ—nce of what we say God hath been present with us and we perceive that the Spirit of God is at work in your heart this putteth us in hopes of a good issue We have one request unto you beloved Sachem That while we abide in your house we may have liberty to carry our-selves like praying Indians namely that when we eat we may prâ—y and give tâ—anks to God before and after meat also before we lie down at night and when we rise up in the morning we may pray and give thanks to God and that discourses may be grave and for edification that there may be no Games or Sports or such other things which we have abandoned Keit. I do like well what you say all things shall be as you dâ—sire it will be a gâ—od opportunity for us to see what manner of Conversâ—â—ion you praying Indians use I will prâ—pose it unto so many â—f my people as be here present how they like of tâ—is last motion you make of allowing you free liberty of all such Exercises as you praying Indians practise What say you my friends to this lâ—st moâ—â—on of theirs All. We like it very well and shall willingly give attendance unâ—â— their prayers And besides it is not long to their Sabbath we desire they would stay the Sabbath and teach publickly and let us see their Sâ—bbath Conversâ—tion also It may be we shall see so much beauty and desireableness in their wayes that it may much heighten and raise our affections to embrace and submit our selves unto this way of praying to God Keit. You go too fast your answer goes beyond my proposal or their request we spake onely of private Conversation I said nothing of the Sabbath nor of their publick Teaching this is a greater matter But go to seeing you have made the motion I will not refuse it What say you my friends you hear what these people desire will you tarry the Sabbath among us and teach publickly amongst my people for if you accept the motion we shall take a course to give notice thereof to all parts of the Town Ant. We are sent by the Church in the Name of Jesus Christ to call you up unto the way which leadeth to heaven One part of this heavenly way is to Keep holy the Sabbath day by exercising our selves in the Word of Gâ—d and prayer I perceive the forwardness of your people hereunto and your own wary condescendence unto their desires which amounteth unto more then a calling unto us to attend the motion it addeth encouragement and hope of good acceptance with man and a divine blessing from heaven Philip Keitassoot Anthony William Sachem Keit. I Have so ordered my occasions that they will give way to my attendance to the matter you come about therefore this Afternoon I have set apart that we may have further Conference about them The former points we discoursed I am willing they should still lie soaking in my heart and minde I am not ready to make Replies or to draw forth any further speech about them I choose rather to draw forth some of my other Doubts and Objections unto which if your Answers be as considerable and weighty as they were to my former doubts I shall then sâ—e cause to lay them up also a soaking and pondering in my heart Know this that in the rowlings of my thoughts the disquiet turnings and tumblings of my minde do oft-times molest me with variety of passions I am sometimes in grief and anguish of minde especially when I over look my life past and remember the many sins and follies that I have stained my life and honour withall I think with my self What a fool have I been that for the love of a lust which Dogs and brute Creatures delight in that I a Man a Sachem should be so besotted as to stain my honour wound my Soul offend God and expose my self to eternal damnation and all this for a short delight that is gone with a blast and leaves nothing behinde but shame and sorrow and these are durable and indelible a sad effect of sensual pleasures Ah what a fool have I been when I should have imployed my self in higher and greater matters for the honour of God and the good of my people I have wasted my precious time and strength to satiate my pleasures which have left such a sting and torment in my soul which all my Estate and Honour cannot ease me of but they are like to torment me for ever I am never without wicked company to draw me out unto such iniquities but none of them can ease the torment of my minde and conscience though some apply themselves so to do I do finde their remedies are false and uneffectual But I have quite lost my self I did not intend to open and pour out my minde and thoughts about these matters but full vessels are ready to run over I will come to that which I did intend Ant. Beloved Sachem as the overflowings of your grief have interrupted your intended discourse so let me take so much boldness to lengthen this your interruption with a word of God that may by
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